Navigation was the most excellent of late times Here are also the Townes of Lidston or Lidford Plimpton Modbery or Champernouns Dartmoth Exminster and many other This Countie containeth 394. Parishes The Rivers here are Lid Teave Plim Dert Totnes Teigne Isca Creden Columb Otterey Ax Towridge Taw Oâ—k and North Ewe Somerset-shire followes the bounds whereof on the East are Wiltshire on the South Dorcetshire on the West Devonshire on the North the Bay of Severne and Glocester-shire This is a verie rich soile being in every place exceedingly fertile in fruits and Pasturage in some places affording many Diamonds which do exceed those of India for beautie though they are not so hard The chiefe Citie of this shire is Bristoll called anciently by the Brittaines Caer Brito and by the Saxons Britstow a pleasant place which is beautified with many faire houses a double River and wall a faire Haven much traffique and the populousnesse of Citizens It hath also the towne of Theodorudunum now called Welles from the many wells or springs that there breake forth and Bathonia stiled anciently by the Brittaines Caer Badon by Stephanus Badiza but commonly called Bathe And in this countrie are 385. Parishes The Rivers are Ivell Erome Pedred Thon Avon Somer Brui and Welwe In the next place Dorcetshire which is bounded on the East with Hampshire on the VVest with Devonshire on the South with the Brittish Ocean and on the North with VViltshire and Somersetshire It is of a fertile soile and the North part full of many woods and forrests from whence even to the Sea coast it descendeth with many grassie hills on which feed innumerable flocks of sheepe Durnovaria which Ptolemie according to divers copies calls Durnium and Duneum now is called Dorchester is the chiefe towne of this Shire yet it is neither very great nor faire her walls being ruined long since by the fury of the Danes There are also other towns as Birt-port or Burt-port Lime Weymouth Poole Warham so called because it stands by the River Varia Shirburne Sturminster Winburne called by Antoninus Vindogladia from the Brittish word Windugledy because it stands betweene two Rivers Here are in this Shire 248. Parishes The Rivers are Lim Trent now called Piddle Carr Ivell Wey Sturn Alen Varia so called by the Latines but Fraw or Frome in the Saxon tongue Wiltonia so called by the Latines from Wilton once its chiefe Towne but commonly called VVilshire is an inland Countrie having Oxfordshire and South-hamptonshire to bound it on the East on the West Somersetshire on the North Glocestershire and on the South Dorcetshire and South-hamptonshire The Countrie is every where full of pasturage and fruits The Townes are first VVilton anciently called Ellandunum which was heretofore the head Towne of the Shire Secondly Sarisbury or new Sarum now the chiefe citie and famous for its Cathedrall Church and for that a streame of water runneth through every street thereof Here are also the Townes of Malmesburie Chippenham Trubridge Calne Marleburrow c. And this Shire containeth 304. Parishes The rivers are Isis Avon VVilleybourne Adderburne Ellan and Kennet Glocestria commonly called Glocestershire hath on the West VVales on the North VVorcestershire on the East Oxfordshire on THE FOVRTH TABLE OF ENGLAND Cornub. Devonia Somerset etc. the South VViltshire it is a pleasant and fertile Countrie lying East and West and hath in it many other mines The chiefe Citie of this Countie is Glocester which Antoninus calleth Cleve and Gleve the Latines Glovernia and some Claudiocestria it is an ancient Citie built by the Romans and is seated by the River Severne having a strong wall in those places where the River doth not wash it There are also other Townes as Teukesburie anciently called Theocsburie Deohirst Campden or Camden VVincelscombe Cirencester or Circester Tetburie Barkley c. and 280. Parishes contained in this Countie The Rivers which water it are Severne Avon and Isis commonly called Ouse which afterward by the marriage of Thame unto it is called by a compounded name Thamisis or Thames The Countie of Monmouth called anciently VVentset and VVentsland and by the Brittaines Guent is enclosed on the North with the River Munow which doth part it from Herefordshire on the East with the river Vaga or VVye which divides it from Glocestershire on the West with Remney which disjoynes it from Glamorganshire and on the South it is bounded with the Severne Bay into which those former Rivers together with the River Isc which runneth through the middle of the Countrie do rowle themselves It hath not onely sufficient provision of things necessary for life for it but also furnishes other Countries The chiefe Towne thereof is Monmouth called by the Inhabitants Mongwy towards the North where the River doth not fence it it was encompassed with a wall and a ditch In the middle neare the Market-place is a Castle There are also the Townes of Chepstow called Castlewent Abergevenny or contractly Abergenny which Antoninus calls Gobanneum New-port or Brunepegie and the Citie which Antoninus called Ifa where the second Legion named Augusta lay now stiled by the Brittaines Caerleon and Caer Leonar Vsk. Here the Saxon Heptarchie obeyed the Welch Mountainers who notwitstanding as we may discerne by the auncient Lawes were under the government of the West Saxons But at the comming in of the Normans the Captaines of the Marches did grievously afflict them especially Hamelin Balun Hugh Lacy Gualter and Gilbert de Clare called Earles of Strigulia and Brian of Wallingford to whom when the King had granted whatsoever they could get in that Countrie by conquering the Welchmen some of them reduced the Higher part of the Countrie into their power and others the Lower part which they called Netherwent Glamorganshire lyeth wholy by the Sea side it is longer than broad and is beaten on the South side with the Bay of Severne But on the East side it hath Monmouthshire on the Norrh Brecnock-shire and on the West Caermardenshire The Northerne part swelleth with mountaines which descending toward the South remit somewhat of their height and at the foot of them the Countrie lyeth plaine toward the South In this countrie is the litle Citie of Landaffe that is the Chappell at Taff under which there are 156. Parishes Also Caerdiffe or as the Britons call it Caerdid Cowbridge called by the Brittaines Poratuan from the stonebridge which is there Neath Sweinsey and Loghor which Antoninus calleth Leucarum The Rivers that wash it are Ramney Taff Nide and Loghor The Earles of this Province from the first vanquishing were the Earles of Glocester descending in a right line from the Fitz-hamons the Clares the Spencers and after them the Beauchamps and the two Nevils and by a daughter of a Nevill Richard the third King of England who being killed Henry the seventh enlarged the
inheritance of this Countrie and gave it to Gaspar his Unkle and Earle of Bedford but hee dying without issue the King tooke it againe into his owne hands Caermardenshire is bounded on the East with Glamorganshire and Brecknock-shire on the West with Penbrockshire on the North with the River Tay separating it from Cardiganshire on the South with the Ocean It is sufficiently fruitfull abounding with flocks of cattle and in some places with pit-coales The chiefe towne of the Shire is Caermarden which Ptolemie calls Maridunum Antoninus Muridunum having pleasant Meadows and woods about it it is very ancient and as Giraldus saith it was encompassed with a stone wall part whereof yet standeth There is also the auncient towne of Kidwilly which now is almost ruinated for the Inhabitants passing over the River Vendraeth Vehan did build a new Kidwilly being drawne thither with the conveniencie of the Haven which yet is of no note The Rivers are Vendraeth Vehan Towy or Tobius and Taff. Penbrokshire is on every side encompassed with the Sea except on the East where part of Caermardenshire and on the North where part of Flintshire lyeth against it The countrie beeing neare Ireland hath a temperate and wholesome aire and is plentifull in all kinde of graine The chiefe towne hereof is Penbro now called Penbroke and seated on a craggie long rocke The other Townes of note in this Countrie are Tenby Hulphord now called HarfordWest and Menevia or Tuy Dewi which the English at this day do call S. Davids I finde but two Rivers in this Shire but here is a Port called Milford-Haven which is the fairest and safest in all Europe Gilbert Strongbow was the first Earle of this Countie on whom King Stephen did first conferre the title of Earle of Penbroke and hee left it to his sonne Richard Strongbow who subdued Ireland from whom with his daughter Isabel William Lord of Hempsted and Marshall of England a man flourishing both in times of peace and warre received it as her dowry Concerning the other Earles read Camden Brecnockshire is called so from the Prince Brechanius as the Welchmen suppose This is bounded on the East with Hereford on the South with Monmouthshire and Glamorganshire on the West with Caermardenshire on the North with Radnorshire The countrie is very full of Mountaines yet it hath every where fruitfull vallies The chiefe towne in it is Brecnock stiled in the Brittish tongue Aber-hodney and placed in the midst thereof There are also the townes of Blueth or Bealt Hay or Trekethle The River Vaga called by the Brittaines Gowy and by the English Wye watereth the Northerne part of the countrie and Vsk runneth through the middle thereof Herefordshire called in the Brittish tongue Ereinuc is as it were of a circular forme it is environed on the East with Glocester-shire on the South with Monmouthshire on the West with Radnor and Brecnock shire and on the North with Shropshire It is a pleasant countrie full of fruit and cattle Hereford or Hareford is the chiefe citie of this countrie having round about it faire medowes and fruitfull fields it is encompassed with Rivers almost round about on the North West with a namelesse river on the South with Vaga which hasteneth its course hither out of Wales There are also the townes of Lemster called anciently Leonis monasterium and by the Brittaines Lhanlieni Webley Ledburie and Rosse and there are in it 157 Parishes The chiefe Rivers here are Vaga Lug Munow and Dor. THE FIFTH TABLE OF ENGLAND Containing these Shires Yorkeshire Lincolnshire Darbyshire Staffordshire Nottinghamshire Leicestershire Rutlandshire and Northfolke THE fifth Table of England comes to be unfolded in the which the first that wee meete withall is Yorkeshire the greatest Shire in all England and called by the Saxons Ebona-yâ—yne On the East it is bounded with the German Ocean on the West with Lancashire and Westmoreland on the North with the Bishoprick of Durham and on the South with Cheshire Darbyshire Nottinghamshire and Lincolneshire It is held to be temperate and fruitfull If in one place it bee sandie stony and barren in an other place it hath fruitfull fields if heere it be voide of woods there it is shadowed with thick trees Nature being so provident that the Countrie is more pleasant by this variety Here is Eboracum called by Nennius Caer Ebrauc and by the Brittaines Caer Effroc but commonly stiled Yorke It is the second Citie of all England and the fairest in all this Country which is a great strength and ornament to all the North parts It is pleasant large strong beautified both with private and publick Buildings and full of wealthy Citizens The River Ouse doth as it were part it and divide it into two Cities which are joyned together by a great stone Bridge There are also the Townes of Kingston upon Hull Dancaster called by the Scots Doncastle and by Antoninus Danum Halifax anciently Horton Pontfreit Shirborne Wetherby Kingston Patrington called anciently Praetorium and many others for there are in this Shire 39 great Townes and 459 Parishes besides many private Chappels of ease which great Parishes are faine to provide in regard of the multitude of the Inhabitants The chiefest Rivers are Don or Dune Calder Arc Wherfe Nid and Ouse which arising out of the Mountaines doe runne through the fruitfullest parts of the Country There are also other Rivers as Cokar Fosse Derwent Foulnesse Hull Teyse Dow Rhie Recal and Wisck Lincolneshire is a great Country being almost three score miles long and in some places more than thirty miles broad On the East it is beaten with the German Ocean on the North it toucheth the Aestuarie of Abus or Humber in the West it looketh toward Nottinghamshire and on the South it is parted from Northamptonshire with the River Welland It is a Country that produceth much fruit and breadeth up abundance of cattell The chiefe Citie of this Shire is Lincolne which Ptolemie and Antoninus call Lindum The Citie it selfe is large and faire being seated on the side of a Hill where the River Witham bendeth toward the East There are also the Townes of Stanford Grantham Ancaster anciently called Crococalana Crowland Spalding Boston rightly called Botolps towne and others And there are in this Shire about 630 Parishes This Countrie is watered with many Rivers as Witham which is full of Pikes Lud Trent Welland Idle Pan c. The next Countrie that followeth is Darbyshire which on the South is enclosed with Leicestershire on the West with Staffordshire on the North with Yorkeshire on the East with Nottinghamshire It is of a triangular forme but not equilaterall or having equall sides It is divided into two parts by the River Derwent The Easterne and Southerne parts are tillable and fruitfull the Westerne part is all rockie and full of craggie barren Mountaines
Daughter of Charles the 7. and dying without issue left his Dukedome to his younger Brother Peter Peter the second Duke of Burbon of this name had by Anne the Daughter of Ludovick the eleventh Susan the Inheritrix of Burbon who was wife to the aforesaid Charles the younger Sonne of Gilbert who also was the younger Sonne of the abovenamed Ludovick Earle of Montpenser and Brother to Charles Duke of Burbon But he having no issue the Line of the eldest Sonne of Ludovick who was the first Duke of Burbon was extinguisht Iames of Ponthium the younger Son of Ludovick the first Duke of Borton aforesaid had Iohn Earle of March by Ioane the Daughter of the Earle S. Paul After him succeeded Ludovick Iohn Vendemensis the second of this name Francis Charles created Duke of Vendomium by King Francis the first and also Antonius who was afterward King of Navarre He had by Ioane Albretane Queene of Navarre the Daughter of Henry the second King of Navarre and Margaret Valesia Cosin-germane to Francis the first King of France Henry the first of this name King of France by his Fathers right and the third King of Navarre of that name by the right of his Mother the Father of Ludovick the 13. Let us returne to Claramont which is a Towne fortified with a Castle and here the Lord de la Rocque a famous French Poet was borne There is also the Towne Belmontium or Bellus Mons that is the faire Mount commonly called Beaumont which lyeth neere the River Aesia commonly called Oyse The County is commonly call'd la Comté de Beaumont sur Oysâ— being an ancient Praefectureship under which are Persang and Metu The County of Belmontius hath Princes of the Royall Stock of Vendomium which are Lords thereof Neere to this Towne beyond the River Aesia or Oyse the Country of Bellovacum beginneth P. Merula supposeth that Beaumont was the same with that which Antonius calleth Augustomagum and Ptolemy corruptly moveth Ratomagus Some thinke it to be that Towne which Caesar describeth Lib. 2. Belli Gal. being well fortified by nature as having high Rocks round about it and on one side away into it somewhat steepe And so much concerning the Country of Bellovacum I passe to Bolonia THE COVNTIE OF BOVLONGNE VVherein are these Countries Guines Ardres and the Baronry of Fiennes Also the Bishoprick of Tarvania and Morinea by which the other Countries in spirituall matters are subject The Meridians thereof are placed at the Parallels 50. and 45. THE Country of Bolonia or as some call it of Bononia in French Conté de Boulogne is very large All this Country is Sandy having a kinde of Sande which they call burning Sand whence some doe judicially thinke that it was called Bolonia from Boullir whereas indeed it was so named from the Towne of Bulloigne which is now devided into the Higher and the Lower The County of Bononia beginneth at the Mountaines of S. Ingelbert and runneth forth to the River Cancha which is the length thereof and to the Wood Tournoth which is the breadth thereof Bolonia was made a County in the time of Carolus Calvus King of France at what time S. Paul Oye Guines and Artesia were honored with the same Title It hath many Townes and Villages and amongst the rest there is Bulloigne which is twofold the Higher and the Lower The former is seated on a high ground on which was onely a Burrough Towne before the English besieged it The latter being seated in a plainer soyle is washed with the Sea and they are distant from each other an hundred paces or there abouts And a certaine Panegyrick written by an unknowne Author and spoken before the Emperour Constantine calleth it Bononiense opidum or the Towne of Bononia Now it is commonly called Boulogne and the Low-Countrymen comming neerer to the ancient appella tion doe call it Beunen Ioseph Scaliger in his Letters to Merula Papiriut Massorius Leland Ortelius and others doe think that it was anciently called Gessoriacum Also Peutingers Table doth confirme the same in which Gessoriacum is put for Bononia Antoninus calleth it Gessoriacum and doth place there the 15. Legion and otherwheres he calleth it Gessoriacensis Portus or the Haven of Gessoriacum or Gessoriagum Ptolemy calls it Gessoriacum a Haven of the Moriakans Iohn Talbot thinketh it should bee named Galesium and others that it should bee called Saint Audâ—mar Turnebus calleth it the Towne of Soacum and Boetius Slusa Hermolaus Barbarus calleth it Brugas and Bilibaldus Gandâ—vum Robert Caenalis distinguisheth Gessorlacum Portum and Gessoriacum Navale and thinketh the one to be Bâ—nâ—nia and the other Cassell Hence came that Godfrey of Boulogne the Sonne of Eustathius Earle of Boulogue who was Duke of Lotharingia and the first King of the Christian Solonians Neere to Boulogne was the Haven Itius which some thought to be the Towne of Calis whom Ptolemy easily confuteth who first placeth the Promontory of Itius behinde the mouth of the River Seyn and afterward Gesoriacum a Haven of the Morinnians from which the Towne of Calis is above tweenty Miles distant M. Velserus is perswaded that Gessoriacum is the same with Itium Some thinke the Haven Itius to be S. Andomar enduced thereunto both because this City was in ancient times called Sitieu as it were the Bay of Itium and also by the situation thereof which being very low yet by the high shores which lie round about the City it seemes it was a great Bay of the Sea Camden in his Brittannia sheweth that the Haven Itius was long accounted to bee in that place which they now call Withsan neere Blanestum But we leave these things to be decided by others Next to the County of Bononia is Guisnes which is parted from the County of Oye by a great Channell which making the Territory impregnable and glideth by the chiefe Towne called Guisnes being devided into two parts one whereof is seated in the Marish ground the other on the Continent and is naturally strong and well fortified King Henry the second tooke it Francis Lotharingeus Duke of Guise being sent thither in the yeere 1558. Concerning the Danes right heretofore to the Country of Guise Meyerus writeth much in the Annals of Flanders and concerning this Country other Historiographers do write other things which are not now to be mentioned There are also other Townes as Hartincourt Peuplinge Conquelle the Nievelletian Haven This Country hath under it the Baronies of Ardres and Courtembrone which are so called from these two Townes Ardres and Courtembrone and also the Barony of Fiennes Two miles from Ardres towards the Ocean is Calis a Towne well fortified both by nature and Art esteemed alwayes to be the Key and Gate of France which Philip of Boulogne Unkle to S. Ludovick as they report first walled about it having a Castle with a strong Tower which commands the entrance into the Haven Edward the fifth King of England tooke it the day before the Nones
to Ferraria concerning the name whereof there are divers opinions But it is most probable that it was called from the Inhabitants of Ferrarida which was beyond Po who were translated hither in the yeare 423. by the Decree of the Emperour Theodosius at what time it was a Village without walls and afterward about the yeare 658. it was walled about by Smaragdus Exarchus and by degrees it was so much enlarged that at length it became a noble Cittie The Bishoprick was translated hither by Pope Vitellianus about the yeare 658. and 12. neighbouring Villages made subject unto it by the Emperour Constantine the 2. who gave it also many Priviledges It is now called Ferrara And it is seated on the Banck of the River Po which watereth it on the East and South sides The ayre is thick in regard that it is situate in the Marshes It hath straite long broade streetes the most whereof the Marquesse Leonell caused to be paved with brick and it is wonderfully beautified with publike and private buildings There is a greate Church and two Castles the one by the River the other over against S. Georges Church which is the Dukes Seate and both are well fortified it is populous and aboundeth with plenty of all things and it is one of the pleasantest Citties in Italie being the head seate of the ancient and noble family of the Atestines The Emperour Frederick the second did institute heere an University in contempt of Bononia It hath a greate Plaine round about it but barren I passe by the other Citties of Romandiola and the lesser Townes THE FOVRTH TABLE OF LOMBARDY· ROMANIOLA cum D. PARMsENSI The Dukedome of PARMA THE Dukedome of Parma is so called from the Citty Parma The Soyle is pleasant and beareth excellent fruite and good Vines it hath also wholesome waters and pleasant Meddowes and it is very much commended for cheese and fleeces of wooll This Citty of Parma from whence the Dukedome is denominated was built by the Tuscians and as many other Citties in these parts afterwards it was possessed by the Borians and in Processe of time the Romans were Lords of it who as Livy delivers Lib. 29. in the yeare 570. brought thither a Colonie Mar. Tul. in the last of his Philippicks bewaileth that calamity which L. Antoninus brought upon it Afterward it was freed from the power of the Romane servitude and now it sometimes belonged to the Emperours sometimes to the Popes but it was alwayes joyned in friendship with Bononia It endured two whole yeares a grievous siege which was laid against it by the Emperour Frederick the second about the yeare 1248. because it tooke part with the Pope But he being driven away it had afterward many Earles as the Corregians Scaligers Atestians also the Galeatians and the Sforzas who were Vicounts and lastly the Frenchmen with whom the Pope of Rome did often contend for the Dominion and Soveraignty over this Citty who at last being ayded by the Emperour Charles the fifth expulsed the Frenchmen out of Italy and got the Citty Now it hath Dukes the first whereof was instituted by the Pope namely Peter Aloysius Farnesius the Sonne of Pope Paul the third who within two yeere being cruelly murder'd his Sonne Octavius was put in his place and after his decease his Sonne succeded him But Strabo and Ptolemy doe place Parma in the Aemilian way five miles from the Apennine It was so called from the River Parma or as others suppose Quod Parmam hoc est breve scutum referat that is because it resembleth a little round Buckler or Target which is called Parma It hath faire houses strait broad streets and plenty of all things necessary It is very populous and seated on a Plaine the ayre is very wholesome so that Pliny maketh mention of 5. men of Parma three whereof lived 120. yeeres and two 130. yeeres The Winters and Summers are temperate It hath a strong Castle and many Palaces belonging to Princes and noble Families In the Market-place which is very large there is a faire Fountaine and a Church built in imitation of the Romane fashion and a Bell hung on three Pillars and a Steeple like that at Bononia The Suburbs are devided from it by a River of the same name and it is an Archbishoprick The Inhabitants are comely noble Martiall couragious and witty Also the ancient and noble Citty Placentia hath a Duke as well as Parma which Ptolemy and others call Plakentia and commonly Piazenza It is seated neere Po from which it is distant about 1000. foote it standeth in a pleasant soyle and glorieth in her fruitfull fields and famous Citizens The walls are new the Bulwarkes and Fortifications very large and strong It is also a Bishoprick It hath a Schoole for all Arts and Disciplines The fields round about this Citty in regard they are well watered doe yeeld Wine Oyle Corne and all kinde of Fruits for it hath many Springs Rivers and Rivulets which doe water the Pastures and Meddowes The Dukedome of MANTUA THe Dukedome of Mantua is so named from the Citty Mantua It was first governed by the Thuscians who built this Citty afterward the French Cenomanian did governe it after whom the Romanes obtained it It endured much misery under the Triumvirate For when Cremona was left as a prey to the Conquerours it lost a great part of his Territory by his vicinity and neighbour-hood unto it Whence Virgil saith Mantuavae miserae nimium vicina Cremona Mantua alas doth stand too nigh Cremona opprest with misery There succeeded after the Romanes the Gothes and Langbards who being expelled it was reduced to the obedience of the Romane Empire which afterward decaying it got liberty with many other Citties which it enjoyed untill the Emperour Otho the second gave it to Theobald Earle of Canossaw There succeeded after him his Sonne Boniface and he dying without any Issue Male his Wife Beatrix and his Daughter Mathilde succeeded who much enlarged Mantua That Citty which Strabo and Ptolemy did call Mantua is now called Mantoa Divers have sundry opinions concerning the originall of this Citty Howsoever the originall is most ancient It is seated in the middest of the Marshes which the River Mincius flowing out of the Lake Benacum doth make neither can you goe unto it but by great high Bridges hence in regard of the naturall situation it is accounted one of the strongest Citties of Italy It is a faire Citty adorned with magnificent publike and private buildings and faire streets THE COVNTY OF BRESSIA AND THE DVKEDOME OF MEDIOLANVM THE COVNTY OF BRESSIA AND THE DVKEDOME OF MEDIOLANVM BRESCIA Episcopatus MEDIOLANŪ Ducatus Hic locus odit amat punit conservat honorat Nequitiem pacem crimina jura Probos This place doth love 1 hate 2 punish 3 keepe 4 and reverence 5 Wickednesse 1 peace 2 faults 3 lawes 4 and good mens 5 innocence There are many inscriptions upon Marble and many Elogies of Statues and divers
and substitutes under him with the Bishop of Maeth and Deren Ardach or Apde Kilmore Clogher Doune Coner Klancknos Raboo or Ropo and Dromoore For the keeping of the Inhabitants of this Country and Province in order it was fortified with six and fiftie Castles there are also nine Market Townes in it And it is divided into the Hithermost and Furthermost The Hithermost hath three Counties Louth Downe and Antrimme The Farthermost hath seven Monahon Tiroen Armack Colrane Donergall Fermanagh and Cavon Connacia is the second part of Ireland some call it Connachtia the English call it Connagh and the Irish Connaghti it is bounded on the East with part of Lagenia on the North with part of Vltonia on the West it is beaten with the Westerne Ocean and on the South it is environed with part of Momonia or Munster which is inclosed with the River Sineo or Shennin and lyeth over against the Kingdome of Spaine The Figure of it is long and at either end both Northward and Southward it is very narrow but towards the middle it growes longer on either side It is an hundred and sixe and twentie miles long from the River Shennin in the South to Engi Kelling in the North the greatest breadth is about foure-score miles from Tromer the Easterne bound to Barrag-Bay the Westerne limit The whole circuit and compasse of it is about foure hundred miles The Aire in this Region is not so pure and cleare as in the other Provinces of Ireland by reason of some wet places bearing grasse which are called in regard of their softnesse Bogges being dangerous and sending out many thicke vapours The chiefe Citie of this Province being the third Citie of note in Ireland is Galway in Irish Gallive Built in the forme of a Towre having a Bishops See in it and being famous for the frequent resort of merchants thither and also profitable to the Inhabitants by the conveniencie of the Haven which is beneath it and by the easie exportation of Merchandise not far from hence on the Westerne sidely the Islands which are called Arran of which many things are fabled as if they were the Isles of the living in which no man could either die or be subject to death The Province of Connaught at this time is fortified with foureteen Castles it hath nine Market Towns it is divided into sixe Counties or Shires in this manner the Countie of Clare of Galway of Mago of Slego of Letrimme and of Roscomen Media is the third part of Ireland which in their Countrie speech they call Mijh the English Methe Giraldus Midia and Media perhaps because it is in the very middle of the Island For the Castle Killaire in these parts which Ptolemie seemes to call Laberus is in the middle of Ireland as the name Killair doth denote The Countrie reacheth from the Irish Sea even to the River Shennin which river parts it from Connacia It hath a wholsome and delightfull aire It is fruitfull in corne pasturage and flocks abounding with Flesh-meate Butter Cheese Milke and the like and in regard of the multitude of people the strength of faire Castles and Townes and the peace arising from thence it is commonly called the Chamber of Ireland Here is the Towne Pontana which is commonly called Drogheda a faire Town and having a convenient Haven for Ships to ride in But there are some who thinke that the middle part of this Towne on the other side the River is in Vltonia There are also these Townes in Media Molingar Four Delvyn Trimme Kelleâ— Navan Aboy Dulek and Scrin THE THIRD TABLE OF IRELAND IN WHICH ARE MOMONJA AND THE REMAINDER OF LAGENIA AND CONNACH CONNACIA is the second part of Ireland some call it Connachtia the English Connach and the Irish Connachty It lyeth toward the West and is bounded with the River Sen the River Banna and the Ocean This the Auteri and Nagnatae in the time of Ptolomie did inhabite But there is so neare an affinitie betweene these two wordes Nagnatae and Connaghty that they seeme one to bee derived from the other unlesse we suppose that the word Connaghty did arise from the Haven Nagnatae which Ptolomy mentions and from thence the Country got this name For a Haven is called in their native speech Cuon to which if you adde Nagnata it will not bee much different in sound from Connaghty The Country as it is in some places fruitfull and pleasant so in some wet places covered o're with grasse and by reason of their softnesse called Bogs it is very dangerous as other parts of the Island are and full of darke and thicke woods But the Coasts having many Bayes and navigable in-lets doth as it were invite and stirre up the inhabitants to imploy themselves in navigation yet sloath is so sweet unto them that they had rather begge from doore to doore then seeke to keepe themselves from Poverty by honest labour It is reported in the Irish Histories that Turlogus O-mor O-conor was sole Governour of this Country and that hee divided it betweene his two sonnes Cabelus and Brienus But when the English came into Ireland Rodericke did governe it and called himselfe King of Ireland but he being afraid of the English warres not trying the chance or fortune of the field put himselfe under obedience to Henry the Second King of England Who after revolting from his faith given Miles Cogane was the first English-man who did attempt but in vaine to get Connachtia Afterward William the sonne of Adelme whose posterity were called in Irish Bourki Gilbert de Clare Earle of Glocester and William de Bermingham chiefe men in England did subject this Country and brought it to civilitie But Bourke or de Burgo and his Posterity were a long time stiled and called Lords of Connach governing this Province together with Vltonia in great peace and tranquillitie and did receive great revenewes out of it untill the onely daughter of Richard de Burgo being sole inheretrix of Connachtia and Vltonia was married to Lionell Duke of Clarence the sonne of King Edward the third But he living for the most part in England and his successors the Mortimers did neglect their Patrimonie the Bourks being their kinsemen to whom they had committed the overseeing of those Lands making use of the absence of the Lords and the troublesome times in England contemned the authority of the Lawes entring into league with the Irish and making marriages with them and got all Connachtia to themselves and by degrees degenerating having left off the English habit they followed the Irish manners It is at this day divided into sixe Counties Clare Letrimme Galwey Resecomin Maio and Sligo There are in it the Baron of Atterith the Baron of Clare and others Here is also Galloway a Towne much frequented by forrain Merchants It is reported that an Outlandish Merchant who did traffique with the Townesmen did once aske an
Irishman in what part of Galloway Ireland stood valuing this Towne as the whole Country and the whole Country as this Towne There are reckoned to Galloway Anner Clare Sligo Arctlo and Alon Townes of note The Auteri whom I mentioned before did heretofore possesse the more Southerne part of this Connacia where is now Twomondia or Claria the Country of Clan-Richard and the Baronie of Atterith which plainely intimateth whence came the name of the Auteri Twomond called by Giraldus Theutmonia which though it lie beyond the River Senus or Shinnin may be added to Momonia is stretched forth into the Sea with a great Promontorie famous for the Seat of an Archbishop which they call Toam and for the Earles thereof namely the O-Brennis who descending from the ancient Earles of Connack were honoured by Henry the Seaventh with the Title of Earles of Twomond This Country or the most part of it the English call Clare-shire from Thomas Clare the youngest sonne of Gilbert the first Earle of Glocester to whom King Edward the first gave this Country Clan-Richard that is the Land of the sonnes of Richard is next unto this it tooke its name according to the Irish custome from one Richard an Englishman called de Burgo or Burgensis who afterward in this Country became a man of great note and power and out of this Family Henry the eighth created Richard de Burgo Earle of Clan-Richard Atterith commonly Athenri doth glory in that warlike Baron Iohn de Bermingham an Englishman out of which Family the Earles of Louth are descended but these Berminghams of Atterith degenerating into the Irish Wildenesse and incivilitie will scarce acknowledge that they were once English In this Atterith Geographers doe place the mouth of the River Ausoba which is now called the Bay of Galway for Galway in Irish called Gallive is seated on it being a faire Towne which through the benefit of the River is filled with many commodities brought thither both by Sea and Land Geographers doe also place the River anciently called Ravius but now Trowis in Connack it is also knowne by the name of Bannus for the inhabitants do call it Banny This River comming out of the Lake Ernus is the bounds of Connack and Vlster THE THIRD TABLE OF IRELAND ULTONIA CONATIA et MEDIA MEDIA MEDIA is the third part of Ireland which in the Country speech is called Mijh the English call it Methe Giraldus Midia and Media because perhaps it lyeth in the very middle of the Island For the Castle of Killaire in those parts which Ptolomie calls Laberus is held to be in the middle of Ireland and so much the name it selfe doth expresse for Lair in the Irish speech signifies the middle Richard Stanthurst writeth thus concerning the Etymon or signification of the word Media In the yeare of the World 2535. five brethren possessing the Islands they resolved to divide it equally into foure Provinces that so they might governe in them severally But least their younger brother whose name was Slanius might bee without some honour they consented together to bestow on him a share taken out of all foure partes Which was received by him chearefully and hence some suppose that it was called Media It stretcheth and extendeth it selfe from the Irish Sea even to the River Shennin which River doth part it from Connack It hath a wholesome pleasant Aire and deligthfull Prospect It aboundeth with corne pasturage and cattle having store of Flesh Butter Cheese Milke and the like and in regard of the strength of the Townes and Castles and the peace arising thence it is called the Chamber of Ireland The Irishmen doe write that this Country heretofore had Kings and that Slanius afterward became sole Monarch of all Ireland But when the English had set foote in Ireland Hugh Lacey did conquer the most part of it and King Henry the Second King of England granted it unto him to hold in fee and stiled him Lord of Media He having his head on a suddaine cut off by an Irishman while he was building the Castle of Derworth left behinde him Hugh Earle of Vltonia and Walter Lord of Trim the Father of Gilbert who dyed before him But by the daughters of Gilbert Margaret and Matilda the one part fell by the Ienvills of the House of Lorraine and the Mortimers unto the King for Peter of Ienvill being borne of that Matilda had issue Ioane who was married to Roger Mortimer Earle of March the other came by the Verdons to many Families in England In our forefathers time by an Act of Parliament it was divided into two parts namely into East and West Media The River Boand or Boyne which Ptolomie calleth Buvinda runneth through the East side and afterward when it hath washed Droghda a faire and populous Town called so from the bridge it divideth that part from Vltonia The Westerne Media hath nothing worthy of memory or note beside Laberus which Camden seemes to call Kaillair and the Towne of Delvin which heretofore did honour Peter Meset and now the renowned English Familie of the Nogents with the title of Barons For Gilbert Nogent as Richard Stanihurst hath it who writ eloquently of Irish matters having a gentlemans estate was rewarded by Hugh Lacy for his service performed in the Irish warres with the Colonies of Delvin and Four from him are the Barons of Delvin descended Those Irish Countries of O-Malaghlem Mac-Coglan O-Madden and Mogoghian whose names have a barbarous sound we leave unto others Among the Townes of Media Pontana is reckoned which is commonly called Droghda being a faire Towne and having an Haven fit for the receipt of Shippes But there are some who place the middle part of this Towne in Vltonia beyond the River There are also in Media these Townes Molingar Four Delvin Trimme Kelles Navain Aboy Dulek and Scrin There are also in this Province neare Fonera three Lakes not farre one from another whereof every one containeth his severall sorts of fish which never come one to another although the way be passable by the River flowing betweene them and beside if the fish be carried from one Lake to another they either die or returne to it againe Here is the River Boand aforesaid called so from the swiftnesse of it for Boan both in Irish and Welch doth signifie swift and Nechamus hath sung of it THE FOVRTH TABLE OF IRELAND WHICH CONTAINETH THE EASTERNE PART AND DOTH present these following Territories to view Glandeboy Tirone Arde Lecale Enaugh Arthule Newry Morne Fuse Vriel and many others also the Cities Armack and Downe LAGENIA THE FOVRTH TABLE OF IRELAND ULTONIA ORIENTAL Et quantum longis carpunt armenta diebus Exiguâ tantum gelidus ros nocte reponit How much the flocks doe eate in the long day The cold dew in the short night doth repay But for the company of Gyants which Giraldus placeth in this Country I leave it to those who admire fabulous
antiquities for I would not willingly doate too much on fables Beyond the Cauci liv'd the Eblani where is now the Countrie of Dublin and Meth being one of the five parts of Ireland The County of Dublin towards the Sea is of a fertile soyle having pleasant Meddowes but so bare of Wood that for the most part they use Turfe and Coale digged in England It is full of Townes and People where the River Liffe hideth it selfe in the Sea Houth is almost environed therewith from whence the Family of the Laurences are called Barons of Houth On the North side of Dublin lyes Fingall a faire Country well tilled and is as it were the store-house or Barne of the Kingdome in regard it yeeldeth yearely so great a quantitie of corne that in a manner the earth doth strive with the labour of the husbandmen which lying in other parts of the Island neglected and untill'd doth seeme to complaine of their ignorant sloath These things being unfolded let us now passe to the Cities and Townes Here Kilkenny meetes us in the first place being neare to the River Neorus Kilkenny signifies the Cell or Chappell of Canicus who formerly in this Country was famous for his Religious solitary life It is a neate fine Towne abounding with all things and the chiefe of the innermost Townes of this Island The Towne is divided into the English and Irish part the Irish part is as it were the Suburbs wherein is the Temple of Canicus who gave the name to it and it is the Seat of a Bishop The English Towne is newer being built by Ralph the third Earle of Chester it was fortified as some doe suppose with walls on the West side by Robert Talbot a Noble man and strengthned with a Castle by the Butlers Below this upon the same River of Neorus a walled Towne is seated called in English Thomas Towne in Irish Bala mac-Andan that is the Towne of Antonius his sonne both names were given unto it by the builder Thomas Fitz Antonius an Englishman whose heires are still acknowledged the Lords thereof There stood in this Country that ancient City Rheba mentioned by Ptolemy which was also called Rheban but instead of a Citie it is even 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Citie and no Citie as he himselfe saith being a few Cottages with a Forte It honoureth the Saint-michaells with the title of Baronet There is Lechlinia in Irish Leiglyn a royall Towne fortified with a Castle by that Noble Deputie Bellingham The great Citie of Rosse hath likewise here flourished in times past as having beene full of Inhabitants and Merchandise and fortified with a wall of great circuit by Isabell the daugher of Richard Strongbow Earle which walls doe now onely remaine For discord arising among the Citizens concerning Religion the Towne is ruinated and fallen to nothing but enough of these things I passe to the Mountaines and Rivers Beneath Ormund the hills Bliew Blemi which Giraldus calleth the Mountaines of Bladina doe lift up their heads with their convex tops out of whose bowels as it were the Rivers Suirus Neorus and Birgus doe arise and running in severall channels before they come to the Ocean they joyne all in one stream whence the Ancients did call them Tres Sorores the three Sisters Neorus hemmeth in many Castles and Townes Birgus now called Barrow flowing out of the Mountaine Bladina and running along by it selfe with many windings at last passeth Rheba and other Townes Afterward Neorus and Birgus do mingle their Waters and having for some miles runne in one channell they resigne their name and waters to their elder sister Suirus which by a rocky mouth dischargeth her selfe into the Ocean where on the left hand there runneth forth a little Promontorie with a straight necke which beares a little Tower as a defence or marke for Shippes built by the Rosses when they flourished that they might safely enter into the Haven In this part Ptolemie placed the River Modanus aforesaid and Ovoca neare the Sea on the back whereof the Castle Arcklo is seated which River as Giraldus saith both in the flowing and ebbing of the Sea water doth still retaine its native sweetnesse and doth preserve its waters unstained or unmingled with saltnesse a great way in the Sea Here is the River Liffie which slideth by Dublin it is not carried with any violence except after a great storme of raine but floweth very gently This River without doubt is mentioned by Ptolemie but by the carelesnesse of Bookemen it is banished out of its place For the River Liffie is placed in Ptolemies Tables in the same Latitude toward the other part of the Island where there is no such River But let us call it backe again to Eblana its proper place and give these verses of Necham concerning it Visere Castle-cnock non dedignatur Aven-liff Istum Dublini suscipit unda Maris Aven-liff to see Castle-cnock doth not disdaine Which the Sea neare Dublin doth receive againe I will also adde that which Giraldus hath concerning Wiclo a Porte or Haven neare to Ovoca which he calleth Winchiligello There is a Haven at Winchiligello on that side of Ireland which looketh toward Wales whose waters doe flow in when the Sea doth ebbe and when the Sea floweth it ebbeth There is also another very notable one which when the Sea ebbeth yet still continues salt and brackish in every part and creeke thereof There is one Archbishop in Lagenia which hath his seate at Dublin and Clandelachy hee is called Glandeloylong and Primate of Ireland having these following Suffragan Bishops under him the Bishop of Elphine or Bishop Helphen of Kildare of Fernes Ossorie and of Leighlyn called by some Laghlyn THE FIFT TABLE OF IRELAND CONTAINING THE BARONIE OF Vdrone part of the Queenes Countrie and the Lord Fortonesy in the middle of Vdrone lyeth the Citie Laglyn otherwise Leighlin adorned with a Bishops Seat MOMONIA MOMONIA followes in our propounded method in Irish called Mown in English Munster the fift and last part of Ireland it lyeth on the South upon the Vergivian Sea being divided in some places from Connacia by the River Shennin and from Lagenia by the River Neorus it was formerly divided into two parts the Westerne and the Southerne The Westerne part the Gangani Luceni Velabri and Vterim did anciently inhabit the Vdiae or Vodiae the Southerne part Now it is divided into seven Counties namely Kerry Limrick Corck Tripperary the Countie of the Holy Crosse the Countie of Waterford and Desmond Wee purpose to runne briefly over these Counties with Cambden according to the severall people which the Cosmographer attributeth to them The Gangani whom we formerly mentioned in the first place do seeme by the affinitie of their name to be the same with the Concani of Spaine whose originall was from the Scythians and Silius witnesseth that they dranke horses blood which heretofore the Wild Irish did often use to doe Kerri as it
Seneca Nonatus and Mela Lucius Iunius Moderatus Columella C. Iulius Hyginus Sotion and Iohannes Vives Valentinus If wee search for Mathematicians behold Pomponius Mela Abrahamus Cacutius Alphonsus King of Castile Henricus the Infanta of Portugall Henricus Marquesse of Villena Arnoldus Villanovanus and his Scholler Raimundus Lullius If we enquire for Orators we shall finde beside Seneca Portius Latro and M. Fabius Quintilianus Lastly if we would reckon up some Poets borne here we may make account of Sextilius Hena L. Annaeus Seneca and Lucan who were Cosins M. Valerius Martialis Rufus Festus Avienus Aurelius Prudentius Pope Damasus Caelius Sedulius and many others I omit for brevities sake the later moderne Poets The Spaniards are by nature hot and drie swarthe-coloured to helpe which the women use a kinde of painting they are well limb'd and strong set They are the most superstitious of all people so that other people doe learne from them both ceremonies complements and large titles They have a great dexteritie in concealing their thoughts both by silence and dissimulation They have a kinde of an affected gravitie which maketh them incurre the hatred of all other Nations which as Marianus sheweth is an individuall concomitant or companion to great Kingdomes The women are not very fruitfull in bearing children they abstaine much from wine and are seldome seene abroade as imitating therein the Roman Matrons They use strangers discurteously and in forraine Countries they will reverence prayse and extoll one another They are great observers of Justice so that Justice is administred to all even from the highest to the lowest and so great is the painfull industrie of Magistrates that there are few or no robberies committed Beside they keepe their hands free from bloud and other wicked acts and whosoever offendeth the Lawes or doth trespasse against any one though never so meane is punished for it They are still attempting some greate matter for having supprest their enemies at home and overthrowne the Saracens they seeke for to discover and get for their King the most potent parts of the world When two or three meete together of what place or condition soever they alwayes discourse of the Common-wealth and serious affaires they seeke wayes how to weaken their enemies force they devise stratagems and invent a thousand engines which they open and make knowne to the Captaines In the field they can endure both hunger thirst and labour In battle and matters of warre they are more politick than stout they are of a light body and being lightly armed they not onely easily pursue their enemies but when they are put to it they can easily save themselves by flight alwayes meditating on some militarie or warlike designe In their feastes and banquets at home they are frugall sober and content with a little but abroade they have more delicate fare They use handsome convenient garments well made fashioned Spaine doth affoord to the neighbour Countries and also to remote Nations Silke-wooll Cloath of all kindes Salt Sugar Honey Orenges Pome-Granats Lemmons pickled Olives Capers Grapes Figges Pruines Almonds Chesnuts Anny-seed Cumming-seed Coriander-seed Rice Saffron Oyle Waxe Alume Vermilion Purple Saltfish Bay-berries preserv'd Fruits of all sorts Alablaster Corall Gold Silver Iron Steele Tinne Copper Leade Dying Oade Quick-silver Gotten pretious stones Aromatickes and sweet Spices which are brought from the Indies and other places And in exchange for these the Europaeans the Africans the Asiatians and the Americans doe give the Spaniards such commodities as their owne Country doth not affoord PORTVGALL AND ALGARBIA HItherto wee have described Spaine in generall now our Method requireth that wee should decipher it in particular and by parts Wee said in our generall Description that it was diversly divided But wee will make a faithfull Description of the parts of Spaine in such order as it is delineated by Hondius Hee describeth it in sixe Tables in this order In the first Portugall is described in the second Biscay Guipuscoa and Legio in the third the New and Old Castiles in the fourth Andalusia in which is the Countrey of Hispalis and Gades in the fifth is Valentia and in the sixth is Aragon and Catalonia Portugall which offers it selfe in the first place was anciently called Lusitania and M. Varro and Plinte doe affirme that it received this name from Lusus the Sonne of Liber and Lysa who was drunke with him for it was called Lusitania as it were the Countrey of Lusus Marcianus thinketh it was called Lusitania from a River which is now called Tagus Some suppose it was called Portugall à Portu Gallorum which is as much to say as the Frenchmens Haven But Andraeas Resendius whose opinion other learned men doe follow doth observe that the name of Portugall is derived â Portu Cale This Countrie if wee consider the breadth thereof from the South Northward is greater than Old Lusitania but if wee consider the length from the West Eastward it is lesser Portugall at this day runneth forth Northward beyond the meeting of the two Rivers Minius and Avia even to the Towne Ribadania seated on that banke of Avia which looketh toward Gallicia and a straight line being drawne from thence Eastward it reacheth even to Miranda seated upon the River Durius and from thence toward the South to the Mouth of the River Ana on that side where it bordereth on Castile Estremadura and Andaluzia on the Northwest it looketh toward the Atlantick Ocean so that the whole compasse thereof is thought to bee 879 miles This countrie hath an excellent sweete and temperate Ayre and a cleere and fruitfull Climate It aboundeth with Wine Oyle Oranges Pome-citernes Almonds Honey and Waxe The fruite of this Countrie doth excell that which growes in others neere unto it And though the Inhabitants have not out of their fields sufficient store of corne to sustaine them with foode yet there is much transported thither out of France and Germanie This Countrie doth breede many living creatures especially great store of Horses and those so swift of foote that they imagin'd them to bee begotten by the winde The Kingdome of Portugall began about the yeare 1100 for at that time it became a part of Spaine Chronicles doe mention that the first of the Line of the Kings of Portugall was Henry Duke of Lotharingia Earle of Limburg a man of a great courage and ready of hand who removing into Spaine married Tyresia the Daughter of Alphonsus the sixth King of Castile and Legio and tooke for a Dowrie that part of Gallicia and Lusitania which is now called Portugall and which not long before by his owne valour hee recovered and got from the Saracens and Moores Hee dying about the yeare 1112 there succeeded him his Sonne Alphonsus who calling himselfe Dake of Portugall was enstiled King thereof by his whole Armie in the yeare 1139 having obtained a victory against Ismarius and foure other Kings of the Siracens and Moores leaving to posteritie five
Kingdome of all Spaine There are carried hither out of divers parts of Spaine downe the River Anas all sorts of Wines Sacks Bastards Roman Wine and others of the like sorts which being shipped are transported into France the Low-Countries and other parts It hath in it the Townes of Balsa so called by Ptolemie Plinie Antoninus and Pomponius Mela but now Tavila as Coquus supposeth and Ossonoba so called by Plinie Antoninus it is called also by Pliny Lusturia by Ptolemy Ossonaba by Pinetus Gibraleon by Clusius Exuba by Varrerius Estombar as also by Moralis and it is thought to bee the same which is now called Silvis or Selves There was also in the same place neere the Holy Promontory the Citie which Pomponius calleth Lacobriga the ruines whereof are yet to be seene neere the Sea-Towne Lagos at a Village which is called in the Portugall language Lagoa as Vasaeus writeth Algarbia at the first was given in dowry by Alphonsus the 10 King of Legio or Leon as ancient Annals doe report unto Alphonsus the third King of Portugall when hee married his daughter Beatrice which hee begate on a whore Dionysius was derived from this marriage who first of all began to usurpe the title of King of Algarbia But thus much shall suffice concerning Portugall Algarbia I passe to the other parts of Spaine GALLICIA LEON AND ASTVRIA DE OVIEDO GALLICIA which is also written Galecia or Gallaecia and taketh its name from an ancient people called Callaâ—â—i hath on the North and West the Ocean on the South Portugall with the River Durius flowing betweene them and on the East Asturia This Countrie in regard it hath many rugged mountaines and wanteth water is but thinly inhabited It aboundeth so with Horses that they are supposed to be begotten by the winde Pliny noteth that here are rich mines of Gold Niger writeth that the rivers hereof do bring downe earth mingled with gold silver and tinne and that the soyle it selfe is full of gold brasse and lead so that golden clods are oftentimes ploughed up The mountaines afford great store of wood for building of ships Gallicia doth exceedingly abound with fish especially with Salmons Congers a kinde of fish which they call Pescades and many other daintie fishes which being salted are carried into divers parts of Spaine In the moneth of November and December a great number of those fish are taken which they commonly call Vesugos being two or three pound weight they are carried fresh and sweete into Castile and are sold there for the cold doth easily preserve them they have an excellent taste yet those are best tasted which are taken in the Ocean and not in the Meditterranean Sea For the coldnes of the Ocean doth fatten the fish and therefore those which are taken most Northward are the best The most part of the Inhabitants doe live in mountaines on which they build convenient houses Concerning the name and originall of the Callaicians let the Reader have recourse to Iohannes Bishop of Gerunda Lib. 2 Paralipomenorum Hispaniae Roderieus Toletanus Lib. 10. de rebus Hispanicis cap. 4. and others The Metropolis of Gallicia is Compostella where is worshipped S. Iames the Apostle who together with the Universitie making the Citie famous giveth unto it the name of S. Iago it was heretofore called Briantia as Franciscus â—arapha Ambrosius Moralis and Villanovanus do thinke Orosius calleth it Brigantia who saith that there is in it a very high watch-towre Ptolemie calleth it Flavium Brigantum Beuterus Câ—qâ—us and Iohannes Mariana do call it Betancos Florianus and Gomectus call it Coruna and Iohannes Bishop of Gerunda Lib. 1. calleth it Compostella saying it was so called quasi Compos Stella for so the evening starre was called which maketh these countries wholsome There is extant at Salamantica in the Library of the Colledge of our Saviour the Historie of Compostella the growth and increase of the Church of Compostella described in two volumes written by the command of Didacus the first Archbishop thereof concerning which you may also read Lucius Marineus Siculus in his fift Booke and in GALLICIA LEGIO GALLICIA Chapter concerning religious houses in Spaine and the wonderfull miracles done therein The Lesser Townes are Orensium a Citie neare the River Minius and called by Ptolemie Thermae Calidae as Gomecius thinketh in the life of Franciscus Zimenius where hee addeth that the Swedish people of Germany who heretofore did subdue these parts in their native language did call it Warense though Ortelius saith it should rather be written Warmsee which signifies the Warme Lake Also a Town called in Latine Lucus and by the Inhabitants Lugo Pomponius calleth it Turris Augusti Pliny Aresti and Arae Sextianae and Ptolemie Promontonum Arae Sestii neare to the Cantabricke Ocean in Artabria Also Pons vetus Ponte Vedra and Ribalaeum commonly called Ribadeo Other towns Marinaeus Siculus mentions in the beginning of his third Booke Gallicia got the title of a Kingdome a thousand and sixtie yeares after Christ For that yeare Ferdinand the sonne of Sanctius Major King of Navarre being King of Castile when hee had married Sanctia the daughter of Alphonsus the fift and so united the Kingdome of Castile and Legio having three sonnes hee made by his will Sanctius King of Castile Alphonsus King of Legion and Asturia and Garcia King of Gallicia which hee enjoying in the right of his wife was till then but an Earledome and Portugall Sanctius being not content with this division which his father made thrust his brother Alphonsus out of his Kingdome and slew Garcia his other brother Now when Sanctius had ruled about sixe yeares and was at last beheaded by Vellidus through trecherie Alphonsus who lived as a banisht man with the King of the Moores at Toledo did not onely recover the Kingdome of Legio which his father gave him by Will but also got the Kingdome of Castile Gallicia and Portugall Alphonsus had three children lawfully begot on three wives by Isabell Queen of France hee had Sanctia who was married to the Earle Rodoricke who brought new Colonies into the Citie which is commonly called Ciudad-Rodrigo by Zaida a Moore daughter to the King of Sevill he had Sanctius who was slaine in a battell against the Saracens and lastly by Constantia he had Vrraca who out living Sanctius and Sanctia who dyed without issue after shee had beene wife to Raimundus Berengarius Earle of Tolosa married Alphonsus King of Aragon and had an heire by him who was afterward Alphonsus the seventh the most powerfull King of all his predecessours and one that deserved to be called Emperour of Spaine From that time Gallicia Castile and Legio have alwaies but one King Neare to Legio bounding thereon on the North is Asturia on the West Gallicia and on the South and East old Castile It taketh its name from the seventh German Legion which was seated and placed here under the command of the Emperour Nerva as some
to the Romans When Caius Iulius the Dictator being kill'd at Rome Octavianus Augustus succeeded him For Augustus sent foure Legions against them who entring the Province did waste it with fire and sword When therefore they saw that they were unable to resist the Roman forces the most of them fled to the mountaines which were very steepe and inaccessible and are now called Navaia lying length-wayes betweene Mescua and Eulates Heere when they had dwelt a long time they were called from those Mountains Navinii and afterwards the Moores possessing Spaine did corruptly call them Navarri But being opprest by the Tyrannie of the Moores and compelled to forsake their owne habitations they betooke themselves to the Pyrenaean Mountaines where they chose themselves a King and for many successions of Kings lived according to their owne Lawes even till the yeare a thousand five hundred and thirteene when Pope Iulius the second did by the sentence of Excommunication deprive Iohannes Albretus King of Navarre of his Kingdome as a Schismatick adhering to Lewis the 12 King of France and gave a faire pretext occasion to Ferdinand the Catholick K. to invade Navarre which hee long gaped for he therefore sending Duke Alban did drive King Iohn out of his Kingdome and left it to his Successours The chiefe Citie of Navarre is now commonly called Pampelona some call it Pompeiopolis as if it were built by Pompeius Magnus It is situated under the sixteenth Degree and eleven Minutes of Longitude and the 44 Degree and 43 Minutes of Latitude There are besides these chiefe Cities Sanctus Iohannes Pedis Portus Mons Regalis Amaya Estella Olyta Taffala and Tudela THE OLD AND NEW CASTILE CASTILIA or Castella which taketh its name from the Castle that King Pelagius having recovered Legion from the Moores did build was heretofore called Bardulia The describers of Spaine doe make it twofold the Old and the New Asturia and Biscay doe compasse the Old Castile on the North on the West Portugall on the South New Castile the Mountaines which runne through the length of Spaine lying betweene them and on the East Aragon and Navarre The Country is very fertile full of wine and all kinde of Fruits Saffron and all kinde of living Creatures and this was the beginning of the Kingdome Pelagius having taken againe Legio from the Moores built a Castle as a defence against the violence of the Barbarians the Governours wherof were called Earles of Castile and did acknowledge the King of Legio a long time as their Prince even to Ordonius the second the fourteenth King of Asturia and Legio who having called the Earles and Nobles of Castile unto him under the colour of parley beheaded them This wicked act the Castilians stomacking and having cast off their obedience to the Kings of Legio they choose two Judges out of themselves Nunius Rasura and Lainus Calvus one to give Judgement and the other to oversee matters of warre whose children and posteritie were afterward called Earles of Castile even to Sanctius Major King of Navarre who when by his warlike valour hee had taken Corduba and Toledo from the Saracens and had thrust out all the Moores out of Navarre Aragon Castile 〈◊〉 Portugall and other parts of Spaine restored all Spaine to the Christians and having married Eluira the daughter of Sanctius Earle of Caâ— and sister to the last Earle of Garsia writ himselfe in the right of her dâ—â—y not Earle but King of Castile and left the Kingdome to his Son 〈◊〉 who was enriched with the Kingdome of Legio by his wife 〈◊〉 Sanctius the sonne did succeed Ferdinand and after him his brother 〈◊〉 whose daughter Vâ—raca for the heire male died when after the decease of Raâ—mundus Berengarius Earle of Tolosa her former husband shee had married Alphonsus King of Aragon the Kingdomes of â—â—raâ—on Castile and Legio came to be united The Metropolis of 〈◊〉 Castile is the Citie of Burges commonly called Burgos Ptolemie thinketh it should bee called Bravum It is an ancient Citie famous for many things and deserveth to be accounted one of the chiefe Cities of Spaine for it hath an hundred and fiftie lesser Townes under it every where beautified with great faire and convenient houses adorned with market places streetes bridges Temples Friaries and Rivers and is very notable for the incredible diligence of the Inhabitants of whatsoever age sexe or condition Round about the Metropolis divers Towns are pleasantly and commodiously seated as Palentia situated THE OLD AND NEW CASTILE CASTILIA VETUS et Nova on the banke of Carion Pliny calls it Palantia as also Mela Ptolemy and Appianus Strabo calls it Pallantia and Antoninus corruptly Peralantia Also the Towne Valdoletum heretofore a Royall Seate and one of the seven Ancient Universities of Spaine It is the fairest and most delightfull place not onely in Spaine but also in all Europe as being seated on the most pleasant banke of Pesuerga neither is there any Citie which can be preferr'd before it for the fertilenesse of the soyle round about it It hath a faire and large market-place the circuit wereof is seven hundred paces and whereas this Towne is very famous for many respects yet it is especially honoured by the birth of Philip the second King of Spaine It is commonly called Valladolid which some doe interpret the Vale of Oletus Ptolemie calls it Pintia and Antoninus Pinâ—â—a as Cusius thinketh Also Simanca called by Antoninus Septimanca and Camora which Ptolemy calls Sarabris as Clusius thinketh but Antoninus corruptly Sabaria Yet Florianus del Campo and Gomerâ—us doe thinke that Sarabris was that Town which is commonly called Tora and in Latine Taurus neare to the River Durius Salmantica is not the last in account which Pylaenus calls Salmatis but is commonly called Salamanca Not farre from hence neare the River which is commonly called Gada is the Citie of Count Rodoricke called anciently Ciudad Rodrigo which as Vasaeus and Clusius thinke Ptolemy would have to bee Myrobriga From hence Southward is Coria heretofore called Caurita as Clusius writeth Andraeas Schottus doth affirme that by the Moderne Latine Writers it was called Cauria About nine leagues on the East from Cauria is Placentia a faire Citie whose Cittrons and other Fruites as also their white bread are chiefly commended and desired it is commoâ—â—â— called Plazentia Placentia hath many pleasant Townes undâ— jurisdiction among which is Xavahicium proud of her woods and lying in a Valley like an Altar as Marinaeus noteth in the innermost part of a Church The Mountaines adjacent and lying neare to Placentia are named from the Citie Verade Placentiae Also Avila called by Ptolemie Olbula as Clusius would have it Not farre from the Fountaines of Areva lyeth Segobia which Pliny and Antoninus call Segovia and Ptolemie Segubia it is a Citie famous for Cloath-making and wherein as Vasaeus writeth this is memorable that no man is seene idle neither are there any beggars unlesse it
which is called Magistratus S. Iacobi And the other part toward the South is enclosed with Gades and the Mediterranean Sea It is in a temperate and flourishing Climate and is miraculously fertile in bringing forth Corne Wine Oyle and all kindes of fruits with which it replenishes forraine Countries Spaine in these parts that are encompassed with the Sea as Pliny saith may be compared with Italy which commendations wee suppose may be chiefly understood of that part which looketh toward Hispalis as being exposed to the Sea and the gentle Westerne gales of winde And indeed this Countrie so aboundeth with all kind of things therein so farre excells all the Provinces of the World that Pliny had worthily preferred it before Italie but that he being an Italian would not disgrace his owne Countrie Here is great store of all kindes of Cattell and especially of Cunnies Wee said before that Andaluzia tooke that name from the Vandalls because they being driven out by the Gothes seated themselves in this place though afterward being thrust out from hence they went into Africke Thus it was Rodericke the 25 King of the Gothes in whom the line of the Kings of the Gothes was extinguisht did send one Iulianus an Earle to Mauritania Tingitana as Governour thereof and in his absence did violate his daughters chastitie making a whore of her which when her father heard he called the Saracens out of Africke thinking thereby to ease his just sorrow by revenging it on the King who was the cause thereof These Saracens comming in by the Straits of Hercules in the yeare of Christ 714. under the conduct of their Captaine Muzamissus in two yeares space got possession of all Spaine except Asturia which was fortified by the naturall situation of the place In this little time there were slaine on both sides 700000 men The Saracens having gotten the Empire and having rooted out the Christian Religion as much as they could they divided the Kingdomes among themselves The first Kingdome that they instituted was at Corduba which they called Abenalibeticum The other was at Hispalis and the third at New Carthage But at last being driven out of these parts by Ferdinand the third they went unto Granada in the yeare 1216. and afterward by Ferdinand the sixt were quite thrust out of Spaine in the yeare 1494. The Metropolis of this Countrie is that which Pliny calls Hispalis Ptolemie Ispalis Silius Hispal Gratianus Spalis and which now is called Sevill Arius Montanus thinketh that Hispalis is a Carthaginian name derived from Spila or Spala which signifies a plain or greene country Some among whom is F. Tarapha do referre the name thereof to Hispalis the son of Lybian Hercules but Isidorus as in many other things is ridiculous in this matter for when he had noted that this Citie was built by Iulius Caesar and so called from his name and the Citie of Rome Iulia Romula he saith that it was so named Hispalis from Piles or Stakes upon which hee supposed either all or part of the Citie to be built as being situate in a moorish place It is a Citie neare Baetis pleasantly seated great in compasse round in forme beautifull and adorned with Temples and many houses So many things may be declared concerning it that there is an ancient Proverbe of it Quien no ha Visto Sevilla no ha visto Maravilla It hath beene the mother and fosterer of many happie wits among which was Benedictus Arias Montanus a great Divine and very skilfull in divers languages as his workes set forth by him do witnesse Having spoken something of the Metropolis I will describe some of the other Cities not keeping any certaine order yet so as that which is nearest to the Metropolis shall be placed first Five leagves from Hispalis is Palatium or Palantia which is commonly called Palacios from an ancient Castle that standeth on one side of it It is seated in the way which leadeth to S. Lucar and the Gaditane Straits Next unto this is Cabaca a little Town seated in the entrance of the mountaines which do extend themselves Southward toward Malaga and Cabecis three leagves off toward the North-East commonly called Lebrixa by Ptolemie Nebrissa and by Pliny Veneria The builder thereof is supposed to be Liber Pater It is a pleasant and a prettie little Towne with an ancient Castle encompassed round about with pleasant fields and is famous by reason of Aelius Antonius once a citizen thereof and an ornament and honour to all Spaine Moreover the Towne which is commonly called Carmona by Strabo Carmon by Antoninus Carme and by Ptolemie Chermenia and Marchena heretofore as saith Onuphrius called Martia this Towne is seated on a little hill which hath a plaine on every side for its prospect There are also these townes Loja on the right hand banke of Baetis Axalita built of old stone as Clusius witnesseth and called Flavium Axalitanum as appeareth by an ancient inscription Moron heretofore called by Clusius Arucci Ossuna called by Appianus Orsona by Strabo Orson by Pliny Vrso and Genua or Gemina Vrbanorum by ancient Inscriptions Vrsaon and by Hirtius Vâ—sao The towne Eceja by the river Singulis Xenil or Chenil called by Ptolemie Astygis and by Pliny Augusta Firma is a little Towne 13 leagues from Hispalis Penastor in the mid way betweene Hispalis and Corduba on the right hand banke of Baetis which Ptolemie thinketh to be Illipula magna but Pliny Ilpa Italica in the Iurisdiction of Hispalis and not ANDALVZIA ANDALUZIA many miles hence on the banke of the same River Corduba commonly called Cordova Pliny saith it was named Colonia Patricia and Moralis doth also prove the same by inscription on an ancient marble Iohannes Gerundensis saith that it was called Corduba quasi Cor Batis that is the heart of Baetis It hath bred famous Souldiers and great Schollers And it is happie in her fruitfull fields pleasant gardens and beside many other gifts in her wholesome waters Silius the Italian Poët lib. 3. calleth the soile of Corduba a golden soile when he saith Nec decus auriferae cessavit Corduba terrae Corduba's soile is of so rich a mould It will not yeeld to that which beareth gold Five leagues from Corduba Southward is Mons Major commonly called Monte Major Ptolemie thinketh it to be Vlia a Citie in Hispania Baetica and so doth Antoninus Some few leagues from Corduba is Montoro Antoninus supposeth it to be Epora Ptolemie erroneously calleth it Ebura instead of Epora when notwithstanding the former is not a Towne of Baetica but of Lusitania but worst of all Pliny who nameth it Ripepora Foederatorum Not farre from Lucar is the Towne which the Spaniards call Xeres de la Frontera as though it were the beginning and bound of Spaine on that side where it standeth This towne Navagierus thinketh to be the same with that which Livie and others call Asta Antoninus with an asperation calleth it Hasta Moralis
five Bishops the Bishop of Aps of Freâ—ul of Sesteron of Ere 's and of Vapinte Fifthly the Archbishop of Arclatum or Arles under whom are the Bishops of Massilia of Vasison of Tricaste of Cavallion of Avignon of Orange of Carpentras and of Tollon The Archbishop of Lyons and Primate of all France hath his residence in the Citie of Lions and hath foure suffragan Bishops under him as the Bishop of Autun of Mascon of Chalon by the River Saone and of Langres PROVINCIA OR PROVENCE HItherto wee have described Aquitania and the Kingdome of Arelatum Provincia followeth This most excellent part of France from beyond Rhodanus even to the River Garumna was called Provincia because the Romans many yeares before the Nativitie of Christ did reduce it into the forme of a Province which name it still retaineth in a small portion thereof wherein is Massilia and Aquae Sextiae by way of excellencie to declare that it had preheminence both in order and dignitie above all the Provinces of the Roman Empire Daulphine lyeth neere to Provincia on the North side being parted from it with the Mountaines commonly called the Mountaines of Velay and by a great part of the River Drueâ—â—ius or Durance running betweene It is enclosed on the East side by the Alpes and the River Varus on the left hand banke whereof stands the Towne Nicaea where Italie beginneth on the South the French Sea beateth on it and the Westerne bounds of it are partly the Principalitie of Arausio or Orange and the Countie of Avenio or Avignon which did formerly belong unto it though now they appertaine to other Princes and partly the whole River Rhodanus as farre as Lions and Arclatum belonging to the Jurisdiction of the Parliament of Languedock The Ayre here is gentle milde and very pure The Countrie doth produce not onely excellent Corne but also Fruites with litle labour or tillage and heere is as great plenty of Rasons and Figges as may furnish the greatest part of Europe Heere is such great store of Rosemarie Juniper-berries Chesse nuts Pome-Citternes Lemmons Oranges Saffron Rice and the like as if the horne of plenty were poured forth upon this Countrie The Vines yeeld excellent rich Wines heere and the Soyle is every where very good and fruitfull Concerning the ancient Earles of Provincia some things are to be noted Wee reade in ancient Annals that in the time of Ludovicus the eigth King of France Raymundus Berengarius was Earle of Provence and that Charles Earle of Anjou and Sonne to the afterward King Ludovicus did marrie Beatrice his onely Daughter and Heire by that meanes got this Country After him succeeded Charles surnamed the Lame being Prince of Salernum and King of Naples After him his Sonne Robert succeeded being Duke of Calabria and King of Naples and after him his Grand-childe Ioane whose Father Charles Duke of Calabria was dead before for by the last Will of this Robert she was made Queene of Naples and Countesse of Provence This woman that shee might be revenged on her Adversaries did adopt Ludovicus of Anjou Sonne to Iohn King of France and left him her successor both in other Principalities and also in this Countie After this Ludovicus his Sonne Ludovicus the second was made Earle and next after him his Son Ludovicus the third who was also adopted by Ioane the second Queene of Naples to be King of Sicily and Duke of Calabria This Ludovicus having no issue by the consent of the aforesaid Ioane instituted his brother Renatus to bee successor in those Principalities And he being unwilling to resigne his right in the Kingdome of Naples and the Countie of Provence to Renatus Duke of Lotharingia his Nephew did passe it over unto his brother Charles Earle of Maine who made his sonne Charles dying Ludovicus the eleventh King of France his heire Some would have it that Renatus made him heire after Charles by his last will although Renatus Duke of Lotharingia did justly expostulate with him concerning the same Heere dwelled heretofore the Salyi the Aquenses the Arelatenses the Sextani the Sentij the Ebroduntij the Dinienses the Vesdiantij the Sanicienses the Nerucij the Vencienses the Vulgientes the Aptenses the Reienses the Ostaviani the Commoni the Foro-Iulienses the Segestorij the Albici the Oxubij the Deciates and others There are in Provence under the Aquensian Parliament besides many Townes of no small note two Cities which have Archbishops and eleven that have Bishops in them The Archiepiscopall Cities are Aquae Sextiae and Arelatum The Latines Paterculus Solinus and others doe call the first Aquae Sextiae Colonia Plutarch in the life of C. Marius Sextilia the Itinerarie tables Aquae Sestiae The inscription of a stone at Lyons neare to S. Benedicts Church Colonia Iulia Aquae Lastly a certaine ancient inscription and Vespasians coyne Colonia Iulia Aquae Sexiae Legio 25. It was called Aquae because there are bathes of hot water whence also it is now called Aix and it was called Sextiae from C. Sextius who was Consul in the yeare from the building of the Citie of Rome 630. For he having subdued the Nation of the Salyi built this Citie to the end that hee might place a Roman garrison therein and that hee might drive the Barbarians from those coasts which open a way from Massilia into Italy seeing the Massilians were not able to suppresse them you may reade Livy lib. 61. from the 10. cap. But concerning the same it was called Iulia Augusta from C. Iulius Caesar Augustus who did enlarge it with colonies bringing thither the old Souldiers of the 25 Legion The Parliament of Provence is held here which therefore is called Parliamentum Aquense Partly at this Citie and partly in Italie did C. Marius overcome the Cimbrians a people of Germanie and the Tigurini and Abrones French Nations that banded themselves with them of which Historie elsewhere The second Citie Orosius and Ausonius Lib. de urbibus in Epigraphe ipso carmine 7º do call Arelas the same Ausonius elsewhere doth call it Arelatus Caesar calls it Arelate as also Suetonius in the life of Tiberius Mela and others Strabo calls it Areletae Ptolemie Arelaton Salyorum Colonia and Pliny Arelate Sextanorum but now by a word of the plurall number it is called Arles Festus Avienus doth report that the Graecians heretofore inhabiting it did call it Tâ—elinis Iulius Scaliger witnesseth that in a faire inscription on a pillar which hee had seene it is called Mamiliaria but the reason why is unknowne Fl. Constantinus the Emperour did enact and ordaine that it should be called Constantia and that the assemblies and conventions of seaven Provinces namely of Vienne of both the Narbons of both the Aquitanes of PROVENCE PROVINCIA Novem-Populana and the Maritime Alpes should be held and kept there and Ausonius calleth it Gallula Roma in those verses which I mentioned before It is a Citie seated neare Rhodanus on the left hand banke thereof The Itinerarie table
now called Meaulx Provinse and others Castellum Theoderick commonly called Chasteau Thierry is the Metropolis of the Country of Brye having a Baily and President in it It hath also a Bishops Seate of which Belleforrestius reckoneth 101. Bishops the last of which number was Ludovicus Bresius Provinsy a Towne famous for the sweete red Roses that are in it and for the Rose-cakes and Rose-water which are made of them in the Summer time Here are some ruinous Monuments of Antiquity And so much shall suffice concerning Campania THE COVNTRY OF BELLOVACVM COMMONLY CALLED BEAVVAIS OR BEAVVOISIN The State Ecclesiastick THE BISHOP OF BELLOVACVM IS A SPIRITVAL and temporall Lord an Earle and Peere of FRANCE The Country of BELLOVACUM THE Country or County of Bellovacum called in French Con té de Beanvais or Beauvoisin did receive that appellation by name from the Metropolis or chiefe City Bellovacum It is a pleasant Country having Hills and Mountaines round about it not very high planted with Vines here also Meddowes and there Pastures and Fields fitt for tillage Beauvois hath a thinne subtile kinde of earth found in it of which divers kindes of vessels are made and transported into many Countries and it is famous for the Flax which groweth at a little Towne commonly called Rule For those of Flanders and Hannonia or Henegou doe buy it and doe make fine webs of cloth of it which they sell at home and transporte abroad both by Sea and Land The ancient Inhabitants of this part of France were the Bellovaci whom Caesar and Pliny doe often mention called by Strabo Bellolakoi and by Ptolemy Belluakoi Caesar witnesseth that these Bellovacians where the chiefest of the Belgians both for prowesse authority and number of men as being able to bring 100000. men into the Field The Author of the 8. Booke de Bello Gallico writeth that the Bellovacians did exceed all Frenchmen and Belgians for matters of warre And Strabo in his 4. Booke saith that the Bellovacians are the best of the Belgians and after them the Suessones Caesar doth in some manner paint out the Common-wealth of the Bellovacians when hee sheweth that they were wont to elect their Princes out of themselves as amongst the rest they did that Corbeus who albeit his Army of Citizens was overcome yet no calamity could make him leave the Field retire to the Woods or yeeld himselfe upon any conditions offerd to him by the Romanes but sighting valiantly and wounding many he did enforce the enraged conquerers to cast their Darts at him Caesar also doth mention the Senate of the Bellovacians and the authority of the common people whence that excuse of the Bellovacian Senate to Caesar That while Corbaeus lived the Senate could not doe so much in the City as the unskilfull multitude But although the Bellovacians in Caesars time had a great opinion for their courage and fortitude yet at length being overcome they yeelded to the Romanes and were subject to them untill the Frenchmen passing over the Rhene possessed France The Husbandmen of this Country in King Iohn time did stirre up a sedition which was commonly called laquerte And they especially aymed at the Nobles of whom they slew many and pulled downe their Houses At length Charles the Dolphin of France who was afterward King and surnamed the Wise The King of Navarre the Duke of Bourbon and other Princes and Nobles of the blood Royall did quiet this sedition as knowing what would be the event of it and what troubles would spring there from if it were not extinguisht in time The Metropolis or Mother City of this Country is Bellovacum commonly called Beauvois Guicciardine endeavoreth to prove by many reasons that this Bellovacum is that Belgium which Caesar mentioneth in his Commentaries when he saith that he wintered part of his Army in Belgium and addeth withall that it is the Seate of the most valiant Bellovacians for hee saith that Caesar meant by this name Belgium not a whole Province but a City or some other particular place They faboulously report that Belgius a King of France the Sonne of Lugdus did lay the foundation of this City and of the City Lugdurum a long time before the building of Troy and called it Belgium whence Gallia Belgica hath its denomination It is an ancient famous City as having besides a Bishoprick an Earle who is one of the twelve Peeres of France and there are also divers Monuments found in it which doe witnesse that it was once a great rich and populous City It hath an excellent situation and is fortified with Walls and Towers entrenched with broad deepe Ditches well furnished with Ordnance as also adorned with faire Churches The chiefe Church whereof is the Cathedrall Church consecrated to S. Peter which is one of the fairest Churches in France and in which they report that the bones of Iustin Martyr Eurotus and Germerus are kept The Bishops of Bellovacum doe write themselves Earles and Peeres of France The first of them was S. Lucian after whom succeeded 84. Bishops whom Belleforrestius doth reckon up and maketh Charles of Bourbon the last of them Bellovacum is governed by a Maior in like manner as the Merchants of Paris by a Proefect and also by twelve Peeres who are as so many Consuls being annuall Magistrates and elected by the people as the Magistrates of Rome were usually chosen This City is rich by clothing and gaines this honour to it selfe that the fairest and best Carpets in all France are made therein A Nation Counsell was here held and kept in the yeere 1114. Here was borne the great Historian Vincentius a Doctor and Governour of the Monastery of the Dominicans who lived in the yeere 840. In this City was also borne Guilielmus Durandus who was THE COVNTRY OF BELLOVACVM BELoVACIUM Comitatus first here a Canon afterward Deane of Chartes and last of all Bishop of Mande He lived in the yeere 1286. There was the place of Iohannes Choletus his nativity who founded a Colledge at Paris commonly called le College des Cholets and was a Cardinall though of meane birth and lastly here was borne Iohannâ—s Michael Bishop of Angiers whom in Anjou they esteeme as a Saint This is an argument of the riches of this Territory of Beavais that 11. or 12 miles round about this City there are so many Townes and Villages and those so neere one to another that none of them are above a mile distant This City was exchanged for the County of Sancerrane which Roger Bishop of Bellavaâ—nm surrenderd up to Eudon Earle of Campania for the County of Bellovacum the Goods Lands and Dominion whereof he joyned to his Bishoprick The Country of Bellovacum containeth Clermont not farre from Bellovacum which is a County and appertaineth to the Royall house of Burbon Charles Duke of Burbon had by his wife Agres Daughter to Iohn Duke of Burgundie two Sonnes Iohn and Peter Iohn the second of this name married Ione the
and the house of the Burbons that so the title thereof might remaine to posteritie Which being done Robert the sonne of Ludorick the ninth who was canonized for a Saint did propagate and enlarge the name of the Borbons For his sonnes were Ludorick surnamed the greate who succeeded his Father Iohn Clarâ—mâ—nt Lord of the Towne of the Fane of Iustine in Campania Peter Archdeacon of Paris and two daughters This Ludorick Philip Valesius the sixt created the first Duke of Burbon in the yeare 1339. or thereabout who had by his wife Mary the daughter of Iohn Earle of Hannonia Peter the first who succeeded him and Iames the Father of the Earles of March and Vendosme Philip Lord of Belloâ—â—â— Mary and Beatrix This Peter was created the second Duke of Burbon and Lord of Molin Hee was slaine in a Battell fought betweene the Picts and the English Hee had by Isabell the daughter of Charles Earle of Valence Ludorick the 2. who succeeded his Father Iames the Lord of March and seven daughters Ludorick surnamed the good married Anna. the daughter of Peralâ—us the Dolphine of Avercia who was called Duke Sâ—mus and of Ione Forresâ—aria who brought him Iohn who succeeded his Father Ludovick and Iames Lord of Pransium Iohn the first of that name marrying Mary the daughter of Iohn Duke of the Biturigians was Duke of Burbon and Avernia Earle of Claromont Mâ—mpensper Forrest and Lord of Bellyocum and the Castle of Chinon From him issued Charles who succeeded his Father Iudorick Earle of Montpenser from whom the Dukes came of Montpenser and Iames. Charles tooke the part of King Charles the 7. and Philip the good Duke of Burgundie with whome at last by the meditation and perswasion of his wife Agnes a Burgundian sister to Philip hee made a peace with him Agnes brought him Iohn who succeeded after him Ludovick Peter who was afterward a Duke Charles a Cardinall and Archbishop of Lions Ludâ—â—ick Bishop of Leâ—dium Iames and five daughters Iohn the second was Duke of Borbon and Avernia Earle of Claromont of Forrest the Iland and March Lord of Belliocum and of the Castell of Chinon a â—eere and Constable of the Kingdome of France Hee marryed thrice but dyed without issue Peter the 2. succeeded his brother John who was high Chamberlaine of the Kingdome of France and hee had by Anne daughter of King Ludorick the 11. one onely daughter called Susan who succeeded her Father Shee marrying Charles Burbon Earle of Montpenser the sonne of Gilbert Burbon Nephew to Iohn Ludorick the first aforesaid Duke of Burbon Earle of Montpenser and Dolphine of Avernia by her marriage made her Husband Duke of Burbon This was that Charles who being Constable of France revolting from his Prince Francis King of France tooke part and sided with the Emperour Charles the fifth and besieged Rome where being shot with a bullet in the yeare 1527. the day before the Nones of May he dyed having obtained no victorie nor left no children After the death of his wife Susan the King getting Burbon to himselfe the Dukes of Vendâ—sme kept onely their armes and their bare title by the right of affinitie The Earles of Flanders did first lineally descend from the familie of the Burbons and many great Kings and Princes have sought to bee linkt in affinitie with this royall and Princely house Moreover the French Geogrophars doe make two parts of the Dukedome of Burbon the lower and the higher The lower containeth divers Cities and two Countries Concerning the Cities The Metropolis of the whole Dukedome is Molirum or Malins a Towne by the River which Caesar calls Elaver now Alâ—ieâ— it was the ancient Seate of Dukes afterward it was a house of pleasure and a pleasant retyring place for the Kings of France Some thinke that that which Caesar calls Gergobina was a Towne among the Celta whom Caesar in the Helvetian Warre placed there The Marshall of Burbon hath his Presidiall Seate here which was erected by King Francis the first of that name Molins hath a very faire Castle and a curious Garden adjoyning to it in which there are great store of Oranges and Citernes In the Castle Xystum you may see the lively Pictures of the Dukes of Burbon and their Genealogies Here is also a faire Fountaine THE DVKEDOME OF BVRBON BORBONIUM Ducatus The other Cities and Townes are Burbon famous for antiquity and which heretofore did name the whole Province Caesar in his 7. Booke calleth it Boia This City is situated betweene the Rivers Elaveres and Caris commonly called Cher well knowne and famous in the time of Charles the great It hath a strong Castle and Baths also L'Archimont Montmerant And Cosne surnamed en Burbonnois neere the River Lotre having a Castle and in regard that the Territory is fitt for Pasturage it exceedeth other parts also Montlusson and S. Porcin whose Fields doe bring forth excellent Wines yet some doe ascribe it to â—vernia also Cusset Chancelle Charroux Vernueil famous for Wines also Varennes a famous Towne by the River Elaveres Gannat confining upon Avernia also Le Mont aux Moines Souvigni le Comte ou aux Mâ—ines la Palisse having a stately Castle also Erisson Sancoings the Fane of S. Peter commonly called S. Pierre le Monstier which is not very ancient It hath a President under whom are the Baylies of the same Towne and the Townes which are commonly called Douziois Xaincoâ—â—usset and others one part whereof are seated in Avernia and anothâ—◠〈◊〉 Nervernesium there is also Ainayla Chasteau so named from the Caâ— S. Amand and others So much concerning the Cities and Townes The Counties are two which are commonly called Beaujolois and Fâ—â—est The former Bello Iolesius containeth all that lyeth betweene the River Ligeris and Araris being situated towards the East betweene the Forestians and Burgundians being the Patrimony of the ancient Burbons The chiefe City is called in French Beau-jea The other is named not from the Woods and Forrests as the word doth seeme to intimate but from the Forensians for so I name those people on the North lyeth Burbon on the West Avernia on the South the Lugdunians confine upon it on the East the Bello-Jolesians Heretofore it had Earles from whose Stock did arise the noble of Bello-Iolesius A certaine Earle of Forrest and Bello-Iolesius is celebrated by French Historians who had three Sonnes Arthauldus Earle of Lugdunum Stephen Earle of Forrest and Emfrid Earle of Bello-Iolesius When thus the Counties of Forrest and Bello-Iolesius had beene for a long time distracted they were united againe by the death of Guicaâ—d Earle of Bello-Iolesius who was Master of the horse in the time of Philip the 2. King of France for his Sister Isabel Countesse of Bello-Iolesius was married to Reginaldus Earle of Fortest who was discended of the stocke of Arthauld aforesaid as shee from the ofspring of Stephan who was brother to Arthauld as is mentioned before From this marriage there proceeded Guido who was
new kind of people Cadurcium hath two Diocaesses Doveoni Cadurecorum and Moâ—talbarum Dâ—veoma well knowne to Ptolemie which some badly interpret Duâ—â—na It is commonly called Canors neere the River Lothus Some learned men doe call it Divona Truly howsoever it is written Ioseph Scaliger in his letters to Merula thinketh it to bee the Metropolis of the Cadurcians and also Vinetus writing to Ausionius and others Iustus Lipsius in his golden Booke concerning Amphitheaters supposeth that Doveona is a Towne commonly calld Dowe about halfe a dayes journey distant from Ligeris on that side where the way lyeth from Andegavia to Pictavia And so the name doth intimate but then Dâ—veona according to the opinion of Ptolomie cannot bee the Metropolis or mother Citie of the Cadurcians which is 60. leagues from that place Besides that which Antonius calleth Aunedâ—nacum and Peutingers Tables Avedonacum in the way betweene Burdâ—gala and Augustâ—dunum cannot be the same with Ptolomies Doveona which is commonly called Cahors For Aunedonacum and Mediolanium of the Santonians are 16. Miles asunder but betweene Dâ—veona and Mediolanium called in the Country speech Cahors and Saâ—â—â—â—s there are about 40. leagues which make almost an hundred Miles Besides the Metropolis of the Cadurcians standeth so farre Eastward that it cannot be in the way to Burdigala Let us therefore conjecture with Merula that Aunedonacum is that Towne commonly calld Aulnay being distant Northward from the Mediolanum of the Santones somewhat more than sixe leagues Ausâ—nius doth designe and shew the Metropolis of the Cadurcians Lib. Professorum at the 18. verse concerning Ex superius a Rhetorician of Tolouse Decedens placidâ—s mores tranquillaque vitae Tempora praedives fimsti sede Caduâ—ca Thou dying rich at Cadurcum didst end Thy life which thou so quietly didst spend CADVRCIVM CADURCIUM BRESSIA OF THE SEGVSIANS BRESSIA is a Country lying under the Alpes in Sabaudia where Caesar heretofore placed the Segusians according to Villonovanus although Ptolomy doth make Lions a City of the Segusians At the least these people were next to the Aedus which he affirmeth lib. 7. de bello Gallico in these words His constitutis rebus or imperat· These things being thus setled he levieth 10000. Foote out of the Aeduans and Segusians which are Provinces neere unto him Also Pentingers Chart doth hereabouts place Segusione in the Alpes Ammianus who lived in the time of â—ulian the Apostate in the 15. Chapter of his History maketh mention of the Towne Segovium situated at the foote of the Alpes Bressia therefore is situate betweene the Rivers Rhodanus and Araris now called Saona and Marcellinus Sacona at the beginning of the Alpes in a fruitfull place so that it may compare with any Country of France for plenty of Wine Corne and all kindes of fruits and for Rivers Cattell and Woods It is neighboured with the Burgundians and was sometime subject to the Princes thereof afterward it was a part of the Kingdome of Arelatum which being devided into divers parts was afterward governed by Earles one of which Vlrick Earle of Bresse and Baugenciak lived about the yeere 1300. who much enlarged his Territories and left one onely Daughter and Heire Sibyll of Bressia who was marryed to Amades the fourth the 8. Earle of Sabaudia who brought her Husband beside a large Inheritance the County of Bressia which being afterward united to Subaudia remained in that Family 300. yeeres even untill our age when Henry the fourth King of France for his vertue surnamed the Great understanding that the Saluffians a people of France were possessed and overcome by Sabaudus by treachery and deceit and that Henry the third was almost oppressed by his rebelling Subjects and was engaged in a dangerous Warre he thought it fitt to recover that part of France and seeing the Duke of Sabaudia did delay the restitution thereof by making many exceptions and deceiving promises which by reason hee could not doe he thought it meete by force of Armes to regaine that which was lost and having levied an Army he tooke Bressia by the helpe and assistance of the Marshall Byroone and brought the Duke to that straite and was content to end the matter by exchange and that the King for the Salussians taken from him should have the Bressians the Brengeans the Virroneans and generally all that belong'd to France on the other side of Rhodanus so that all that Country which lookt toward France from the issuing of that River out of the Lemanick Lake should be afterward united to the Kingdome of France And so the Duke should wholly deliver into the Kings hands the BRESSIA· BRESSE strong Castle of the Towne with all the Warlike furniture thereof by which Bressia and all that Province were as it were fetterd and manacled so that France was secured from any future attempt from those parts And so Sabaudus learnt with his owne losse how dangerous a thing it is to use violence with those that are stronger than our selves since such rashnesse redounds to his harme that attempts it and most commonly he is compell'd to restore againe unto them with interest that which he had so gotten THE PROVINCE AND CITIE OF LIONS THE Court of Lions is the last and remotest of all the Presidiall Courts which depend on the chiefe Senate of Paris But Lions is the chiefe and principall City of Gallia Celtica which from thence is called Lions being a strong Fortresse of France being the Primate Seate of all France in spirituall matters and being the Shop for Traâ—ing and commerce for the whole World The Bressians confine oâ— it on the North on the East the Sabaudians on the South the Alâ—oâ—â—oâ—ians and the Narbonians along the River Rhodanus and on the West the Avernians It is situate in the most beautifull and convenientest soyle of al Europ for there is no place which hath two riches fruitfuller Nurses than the Rivers Rhodanus and Arar are unto this Country in whose bosome the horne of plenty filled with the Gods bounty doth rest and is largely powred forth upon it so that it alwayes enjoyeth a continuall plenty The ancients called it Lugdunum as if you should say the happy or blessed Mountaine Titus Livius calleth it an Iland Lib. Hist 21. In these words the next day Amiball marching on the contrarie banke of Rodanus went up into the Mediterranean parts of France not because it was a straiter way to the Alpes but the more he went from the Sea the more hee should bee sure not to meete with the Romanes with whom he did not purpose to sight before he came into Italy Hee came with the fourth part of his Camp to the Iland where the Rivers Arar and Rhodanus running out of divers parts of the Alpes and having encompassed some part of the Country doe meete together from whence the Country in the middle is called the Iland which words may seeme to be translated out of a credible Writer who lived about the same time and was familiarly acquainted
with Scipio but that he addeth that this Iland being populous and abounding with all things necessary was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is abounding with people and well stored with food Plutarch in the life of Ainnbal doth deliver the like but more plainely and calleth it Liâ—ns whose words according to the Translation of Acciarolus He remov'd his Tents and marching by the banke of Rhodanus up against the streame in few dayes he came to that place which the French men call the Iland which the Rivers Rhodanus and Aâ—ar flowing out of diver Mountaines doe encircle where there is the City of Lions the most famous City of all France which long time afterward was built by Plancus Muâ—â—atius Some call it the City of Sequanians and Maxima Sequanorum which appeareth by an ancient Inscription on S. Peters Church which is this JOVI OPT. MAX. Q. ADGINNIUS URBICI FIL. MARTINUS SEQ. SACERDOS ROMAE ET AUG AD ARAM AD CONFLUENTES ARARIS ET RHODANI FLAMEN II. VIR IN CIVITATE SEQUANORUM And Seneca doth celebrate the praise of this place in his Verses concerning the death of Claudian I sawe a Hill that hangeth or'e two streames Which Phaebus rising glideth wiâ—h his beames Where the great River Rhodanus doth flowe And Arar doubtfull whether he should goe Thorow quiet Foords his course along doth guide Washing the Bankes as he along doth glide THE PROVINCE AND CITIE OF LIONS LYONNOIS Forest et Beaujolois LANGVEDOC A PART OF AQVITAINE THE Occitane Country of France commonly called Languedec is a part of Aquitane and is so named as some conceive from the Gothes the Possessions thereof as if you should say Land-Got That is the Gothes Province Some derive it from the word Lingua a tongue and the word Oâ— I suppose that these conjectures are more vaine than Sicilian toyes and are but meere vulgar trifles The ancients tooke it for the Province of Narbon neere the Pyrenaean Mountaines Strabo calleth it Tectosages the Metropolis whereof Tolouse is accounted one of the chiefe Cities of France having an Archprelate a Senate and a University Some derive the name thereof from those which fled from Tâ—oy Caesa mentioneth it in his first Booke of Commentaries where he speaketh thus It was told Caesar that the Helvetians purposed to travell thorow the Sequans and Aeduans Country unto the borders of the Santones which are not farre from Tolouse which is a City in Province and also Lib. 3. concerning P. Crassus Moreover valiant men being levied out of Tolouse Carcasson and Narbon which are Cities of France neere to Province c. Ammianus Marcellinus giveth it the prerogative above all the neighbour Cities Neither can we omit that worthy Elogie of the ancient magnificence and power thereof written by Ausâ—nius a most famous Poet and a Consull of Rome in praise of his Nurse and Foster-mother in these Verses Non unquam altricem nostri reticebo TOLOSAM Coctilibus muris quam circuit ambitus ingens Perque latus pulâ—ro perlabitur amne Garumna Innumeris cultam populis cenfinia propter Nirgida Pyrenes Pinea Gabennarum Inter AQUITANAS gentes nomen Iberum Quae modo quadruplices ex se cum effuderit urbes Non ulla exhaustae sentit dispendia plebis Quos genuit cunctos gremio complexa colonas My Nurse Tolasaes praises I will sound Which with a Brick wall is encompas'd round And faire Garumna runneth by her side And many people doe in her reside Cause the Pyrenean Ningide confines Upon it and the Pinean Gabinines Betweene the Country of faire AQUITAINE And Iberus which now is called SPAINE· LANGVEDOC A â—T OF AQVITAINE LA PARTIE Septentrionale du LANGUEDOC And having yeelded people unto four Large Cities out of her abundant score Yet in her no want of people doth appeare Which done within her bosome nourisht were Whence the Viâ—i-Gâ—thâ— having droveâ— out the Romaneâ— from thence did make this City the royall Seate of the Kingdome untill they were quite expulsed by the French in the raigne of 〈◊〉 the first Christian King at what time all that Province was subjected to France Concerning the State Ecclesiastick the Tolousians were instructed in the Christian faith by Maâ—tiall who was their first Prelate after whom succeeded Saturninus Honoratus Silvius Hilarius Exâ—perâ—uâ— and many others even to Ludâ—vâ—â— Stâ—ulus the Sonne of Charles 〈◊〉 King of Sicily in whose time this Bishoprick was translated 〈◊〉 to an Archbishoprick under whom are these Suffragan Bishopâ—â— the bishop of Mâ—nta ban 〈…〉 of S. 〈…〉 created by Pope 〈◊〉 the â—2 An has this City is largâ— and populâ—uâ— to it hath many 〈◊〉 built Churches and also Colledâ—â—s 〈◊〉 Moâ—â—â—â—â—ries The chiefe Church belonging to the Bishop 〈…〉 crâ—ted to S. 〈◊〉 It hath also an University famous for 〈…〉 and for the great number of Students which study there Here â—omerly Playeâ— iâ— hoâ—our of 〈◊〉 the Goddesse oâ— Flowers were â—â—brated of which there doe yet remaine some toâ—â—â—s But the Famiâ—â— of the Eâ—â—â—â—ingling with the Royall Stock this Couâ—try waâ—â—â—ted to the Kingdome of 〈◊〉 It will be hâ—â—â— convenient to nominate some of them aâ— namely 〈…〉 others â—â—metus reckonâ—tâ— the Earles of 〈…〉 the 〈…〉 France who enjoyed that dignity uâ—to 〈…〉 Theâ—â—â—ly who after the decease of his Brother â—â—phonsus did unite 〈◊〉 County unto his Kingdome There are also among others these Townes in Languedoc Narbon Mons â—essusanus Carcassona Nemansus Vzes THE DELPHINATE OF FRANCE ON the South Province is neere to the Delphinate and on the North it hath the Bressians who are parted from it by the River Rhodanus flowing betweene them on the West is the County of Venusinum and lastly on the East the Pedemontian and Sabaudians doe encompasse it Caesar by one common name calleth those of the Delphinate and the Sabaudians Allobrogians who were then confederate with the Romanes The Country is now devided into the higher part the chiefe City whereof is Ebrodunum and the lower part in which the prime Cities are Gratianâ—polis and Vienna Those of the Delphinate who dwelt beyond Rhodanus were hertofore a part of the Kingdome of Burgundy and then of Orleans and afterward of Burgundy the head City whereof was then Arelate which afterward from that City was called the Kingdome of Arelatum but when that Kingdome came to the Emperour Conradus the 2. after the decease of Rodolfus the first the last King thereof there arose one Guigno a man of base birth who was called afterward the fat Earle Grinmand hee through his owne industry and the confusion of the times obtained most of the chiefest Cities of this Country so that at last he possessed Gratianopolis and made himselfe Lord of the whole Province which to honour his Sonne who had married Delphina the Daughter of the Earle of Albon and Vienna he called it the Delphinate After this the Province of the Delphinate became subject to Provinces who ruled it untill the time of Philip Valerius King of France who annexed it to
a Parliament The parts of Sabaudia are the Counties following I will adde something concerning the Lordships Fossigni is neere the Lake Leman In it they say is Ripalia allusively Ripam Alos or the Sea-banke for some of the Inhabitants doe call the Leman Lake the Sea and truely it rages oftentimes like the Sea it is commonly called Ripaille It is a pleasant place and famous because Amedes the 8. the first Duke of Sabaudia did there live a Monke having formerly resigned up his Principalities and was chosen and consecrated Pope by the Fathers of the Counsell of Basill after Eugenius the fourth the 9. before the Kalends of September in the yeere 1440. and was called Faelix the 5. he lived a while and built some smal Aedifices which I saw in the yeere 1585. He dyed there in the yeere 1452. in the moneth of January having three yeeres before for quiet sake passed over the Papall dignity to Nicolas he being content to be a Cardinall onely Elenor Daughter to the Lord of Fossignij married Peter the sixt Earle of Sabaudia And also Mary the Daughter of Amedes the fourth the 8. Earle of Sabaudia of the Brabantine family was married to the Duke of this Country Amedes the third got the Principality of Chablasius which is neere to Fossigni Eastward commonly call'd Chablois and joyned them to his Dominions seeing there were no lawfull Heires Male to inherit it Some doe reckon the Townes of Tononium Evianum Guingaunum and others which I am afraid to write as having no warrant for it Concerning the Lordship commonly call'd Val d'Osta we will speake in a more convenient place in the Description of Italy where we will entreat of Piemont The chiefe Mountaines are the Alpes which now as it were a wall doe separate Italy from France and Germany Festus thinketh that the Alpes were so called from their whitenesse and the most doe affirme that the Alpes are the highest Mountaines in Europe And many names of the Alpes are found in ancient Monuments which doe shew that there were many parts of the Alpes but we will by the way touch onely those parts which for the most part doe lye in and about Sabaudia as the Sabbatian Alpes from whence it is thought that Sabaudia is denominated which begin neere to Samona neere a place called Vay which the ancients call Vada Sablatia from whence they bend like a Bow towards Monegne which was heretofore called Portus Herculis Monaeci and from thence they doe stretch out toward the River Var or Varo which parteth France from Italy There are also the Sea Alpes but these we passe over as we goe towards Province as also the Penine Alpes The Cotrian Alpes follow which begin at a place called Saulteron where there are two wayes both which doe encline towards the Marquiship of Salutium In these Alpes there is the Mountaine Agno and the Mountaine Viso which the ancients did call the Mountaine Vesulus through which there is a hollow passage from France into Italy after this passage there are two wayes the one whereof leadeth toward Verguel the other toward Rauel which are Fortresses to the Marquiship of Salutium And betweene this Mountaine and the hollow-way three Fountaines doe spring up and flow-into one Channell doe make the famous River of Po. In this Country is the Hill of the Crosse and the Mountaine Genebre or Genevre ther Mountaines end neere Luze where the River Doria separateth them from the Graecian Alpes The Graecian Alpes doe follow the name whereof is derived from Hercules the Sonne of Amphytrio a Graecian who travaild over these Mountaines out of Italy into France In that part of these Mountaines which is toward France the Ceentronians were seated who are now called Tarantasy by whom the way to Chamberry lyeth There are also betweene these Mountaines the Veragra who containe the lower Valesians and the Countries Gauot and Focigny and the way of these Mountaines is called the Mountaine of S. Bernard There are many others besides which for brevity sake we omit The nature and quality of these Mountaines is miraculous for he that passeth over them meeteth still with new variety of wayes because now the way is wide and by and by it growes strait now the Mountaines seeme to touch the ayre and by and by doe descend againe there is a Plaine and here a Vale enclosed with high Hills neverthelesse the Valleyes in many places doe bring forth good Corne on the Mountaines also there is much Grasse for Pasturing of Cattell and in some places there is Wine There are also divers Mines and some kindes of living Creatures which are not found any where else and many other rarities which for brevity sake we omit Besides Rhodanus these Rivers doe water Sabaudia Araru Isura Doria Arva Danius and others There are also the Lakes Leman de Nicy de Bourget c. HELVETIA VVITH THE NEIGHBOVRING CONFEDERATE COVNTRIES NEXT to Lions Mercator placeth that Country which the Romanes called Helvetia Now it is called or the greatest part of it Suicia or Suitia from the Vitians a people of Saxonie who being throwne out of their habitations for their often violating of the faith Charles the great seated them on the Alps as in like manner hee convay'd some thousands of the Nordalbingians into Flanders and Brabont Or else it was so called from the Suecians who in the raigne of King Sigebert did remove out of Suecia into Helvetia being compel'd to leave their former Habitations either by the inundations of waters or by populousnesse of the Inhabitants or lastly it is so called from the Towne Suitium it iâ— commonly Switscherland It is called the Land of Confederates and in their owne speech Eydignoschaft from the League and confederacie which is betweene the Helvetians These Eutropius did sometime call Quadians Moreover Helvetia is situate betweene the Mountaine Iura the Lake Leman Italy and the Rhene and it hath on the East the Country of â—irolum on the South the Cottian Alpes Lombardie the Dukedome of Mediolanum and Piemont on the lowest Sabaudia and Buâ—guâ—gie on the North the River Rhene Helvetia is 240. Miles long as Caesar saith Lib. 1. de bello Gallico and 80. Miles broad which Caesar maketh somewhat larger The Countrie hath a wholesome ayre and though it have many high rugged Mountaines yet it is so well husbanded by the Inhabitants that it is no where barren but that it produceth nor onely things necessary to sustaine life but also many delicacies It bringeth forth abundance of Corne although in many places unlesse the gleabe land be burnt it is in vaine to sowe it but the labour and industrie of the Husbandman doth helpe this inconvenience It produceth in many places exellent wine which doth fâ—rre exceed Rhenish wine both in state and quantitie Besides there are fat Meddowes in which many flockes and heards doe graze to the great commoditie of the Inhabitants This Countrey also doâ—â— breed great store of
der Gotthuss bunt in regard of the Bishopricke and Colledge of Curiense it hath 21. conventions or partnerships in it which are sometimes contracted into eleaven greater The Citty Curia is the head of this confaederacie and hath a speciall Commonwealth not unlike unto Tigurinum After them the chiefe partnerships are Ingadinus and Bregalianus in whose Territories are the heads of the Rivers Athesis and Oenus The third confaederacie hath 10 Iurisdictions the first whereof is Davosian so called from the Towne Davosium in which is the Court for this confaederacie and the Assises for all the jurisdictions are held The second is the Belfortian jurisdiction the third the Barponensian the fourth the Praelonganian the fifth of S. Peter the sixth the Coenobrensian in the Rhetian Valley the seaventh the Castellanean the eighth the Aceriensian the ninth the Malantiensian the 10 the Maievillâ—nsian But these 3 confaederacies have 50 jurisdictions of which one Common-wealth is framed For albeit the most of them have meetings of their owne and also Magistrates Lawes or rather customes and power to judge of civill and criminall matters yet the Senate of the three confaederacies hath the greatest power and authoritie And sometimes they haue entred into other confaederacies notwithstanding this perpetuall confaederacie In the yeare 1419. the Bishop and the Curiensian Colledge made a league with the Tigurinians for 51. yeares having formerly entred into societie with the Glaronians The Rhaetians also of the higher confaederacie did a long time joyne themselves with the Vrians and the confaederates of the house of God did joyne themselves in perpetuall league with the 7 Cantons as they call them of the Helvetians He that desireth to know more concerning these matters let him have recourse to Sprecherus his Rhaetia and Egidius Scudius his Rhaetia and Simlers Helvetia I will onely adde that the length of Rhaetia at this day if it be taken from the South unto the North is about 15 Rhaetian or Germaine miles accounting 8000 paces to every mile the breadth of it from the East to the West is thirteene miles or there abouts THE RHETIANS Novv called the GRISONES RHAETIA Karte vand ' Grisons ende veltolina A DESCRIPTION of the Low COVNTRIES BEing now to describe that part of France which belongeth to the King of Spaine I will follow that order which I have observed in the description of France The Index of the Tables of the Low Countries 1. The Low Countries in generall 2. Flanders 3. The Easterne part 4. Brabant 5. Holland 6. Zeland 7. Gelderland 8. Zutphania 9. Vltrajcitum 10. Mechlinia 11. Groâ—niâ—ga 12. Transisulania 13. Artesia 14. Hannoma 15. Namurcum 16. Lutzenburg 17. Limburgh THE DESCRIPTION OF THE LOVV COVNTERIES INFERIOR GERMANIA It hath also great plenty of Ew trees which is a poysonous tree but excellent Bowes are made of them Of the juyce thereof a poyson is made with which Caesar reporteth that Cattivalcus king of the Eburonians did make away himselfe There is also another kind of tree which is not found any where else which is like a white Poplar the inhabitants doe call it in the plurall number Abeelen There is great store of them in Brabant which serve for divers uses especially at Bruxels The Low Countriemen may prayse the goodnesse of their soyle for bringing up of Cattell For Oxen horses sheepe and great heards of cattell are bred there And especially great strong horses fit for service in the warres There are also the best Oxen especially in Holland and Friesland where an Oxe often waigheth a thousand and two hundred pound waight Ludovicke Guicciardine an Italian unto whom our Country is much beholding for making an accurate and true description thereof saith that the Earle of Mechlin had an Oxe given him which weighed two thousand five hundred and eight and twentie pound which he caused afterward to be painted in his Pallace The Kine have loose great Vdders and full of milke For in some parts of Holland in Summer time they will give foure and forty Pints of milke I passe by many other things least I should bee tedious For hunting they have abundance of Does Harts Goates Boares Badgers Hares and Conies and other games besides And for Hawking they have Hernes Kites Vultures Partridges Phesants Turtle Doves Starlings Thrushes Storkes Duckes Geese Woodcockes or Snipes which Nemesianus describeth thus Praeda est facilis amaena Scolopax Corpore non Paphijs avibus majore videbis Illa sub aggeribus primis qua proluit humor Pascitur exiguos sectans obsonia vermes At non illa oculis quibus est obtusior et si Sint nimium grandes sed acutus naribus instat Impresso in terram rostri mucrone sequaces Vermiculos trahit atque gulae dat praemia vili The Woodcocke is easie to ensnare Their bodies no bigger than Doves are And by some watry ditches side Feeding on wormes he doth abide Not by his eyes though they be great But by his bill he finds his meate Thrusting his bill into the ground Where when he a worme hath found He drawes him forth and so doth live By that foode which the earth doth give They have also Affricke Hens and great plenty of other Hens But enough of these things let us now proceede to other matters It is worth your knowledge to know how the Provinces of the low Countries were united and grew to be one body and how it fell to Charles the fifth and his sonne Philip. Ludovicke Malanus Earle and Lord of Flanders Nivernia Rastella Salina Antuerp and Mechlin and after his Mothers death Earle of Burgundie and Artesia marryed Margaret daughter to Iohn Duke of Brabant by which marriage he came to be Duke of Brabant Limburg and Lotaringia By his wife he had one onely daughter who was the inheritrix to her fathers Lands who in the yeare 1369. at Gandave married Philip Valesius Duke of Burgundie who for his singular Valour was surnamed the Bold He lived 70 yeares and dyed at Halla neere to Bruxells in the yeere of Christ 1404. He left these children behind him Iohn Antony and Philip Valesius Catharine Mary and Margaret All of them did encrease their Patrimonie by marriage Catharine married Lupoldus Duke of Austria Mary married Amedees Duke of Sabaudia Margaret married the Earle of Holland and Hannonia Antonius Vaselius was made by his father Duke of Brabant Lotaringia and Limburg he married Elizabeth Dutchesse of Lutzenburg by whom he had these sonnes Iohn who married Iacoba Countesse of Holland and Philip both Dukes of Brabant Antonius and his younger brother Philip Valesius were slaine in the French warres neere Teroana in the yeare 1415. Antonius his sonnes dying afterward without issue left their Vncle Iohn Valesius their heyre and Iohn Valesius who was called the Vndanted being the elder brother succeeded his father in the yeare 1404 and obtayning by his brothers and Nephewes death many large possessions was miserably and unjustly put to death in the yeare 1419 by Charles
10 Colledges of Cannons Atrebaâ—â—â—se Audomarense Bethuniense Arience Hesdinense Lensiense Sanpaulitanum â—alleriense Falkoburgense Douriense The second member is the Nobles among whom there is one Prince of Espinoy one Marquesse of Rentinium 7 Earles S. Pol Falquenberch Harliensis Busquetensis Henniensis Arquensis and lastly Blangiacensis But these two last Earledomes did fall of late to the Abbey of Saint Bertin and foure chiefe Earles are not called or summoned to this meeting as Atrebatensis Audomarensis Bapalmensis and Lensiensis The families of the Gentrie counting them by an Alphabeticall order are these Aussi Averdom Aubigni Aix Annequin Anvezin Aneroult Avion Allenes Anvin Bailleul Beaufort Beaumez Beauraines Beausart Bellone Berles Billy Bofles Boisleux Bonnieres Boncourt Boubers Bours Brias Buissi Caumont Conroy Contes Coupigny Croisilles Cunchy Divion Douvrin Enne Erin Esquerdes Estree Fosseux Frevin Fleshin Gomiecount Gouy Greboval Geulesin Habarcque Hachicourt Hamelaincourt Helfault Houchin Houdin la Viesville la Plancque Liguereul Licques Longastre Malanoy Maisnil Mammez Marles Mes en Contire Mingoual Moiry Nedoncelles Neufville Nojelle Noircarmes Ococh Olham Oignies Oresmaux Plancques Plovicke Pronville Querecques Ranchicourt Ransart Recouet Rebecque Regnauville Rely Rolancourt Rumenghien Sains S. Aldegonde S. Venant Sombrein Sovastre Tieuloie Tramerie Vaulx Villers Vrolant Wancourt Warluzelle Waurans Willerval The third member is the especiall Citties 7 Royall Citties as Atrebatum Saint Omers Bethunia Aria Hesdinum Lens and Bapalina private Lordships as S. Pol Perne Lillers and also these Townes which have the praerogative of Citties and called to the assembly of the States and there be 28 of them Arques Aubigny Avesnes Aussi Benurains Blangij en Ternois Busquoy Carwin Caumont Choques Dourier Franquenberghe Fressin Fleurbay Frevene Frages Gorgue Hennin Lietard Huchin Hosdaine Labroy Libourg Oisy Pas Richebourg Tornehem Ventie Vitry The Provinciall Counsell is held at Atrebatum from whence all appeales are brought to the Parlament at Mechlin But the Bishop of Atrebatum hath all power in spirituall matters and is subject to the Bishop of Rhemes This Table also containes true Picardie and the Dukedome of Cambresi which is a Principallitie of the Empire and is governed both in temporall and spirituall matters by the Bishop of Cambresi But yet sometimes in spirituall matters it is subject to the Bishop of Rhemes and in temporall matters it is under the protection of the King of Spaine And so much may suffice concerning Artesia Let us proceede to Hannonia THE COVNTIE OF HANNONIA unto which is joyned the Countie of NAMVRCIVM THE COVNTIE OF HANNONIA HAÌ„NONIA The Politicke state of Hannonia doth consist of five members which are first the 12 Peeres namely Longueville Lens Filly Chievre Auâ—sne Chimay Levreux Barbanson Baudour Rebaux Walecourt 2. Ecclesiasticall Prâ—lates namely the Abbot and Earle of S. Waldrut 26 Abbots S. Guislaine Marchennes Cambron Hasnon Marville Anein Haultmot â—â—essy S. Denys Vicogne â—eullien Crespin Bâ—nne Esperance S. Iean S. Aldegonde Geilenghien Spinleu At h Fontenelle Beaumont Denain Quesnoy Watâ—â—braine Lolive Bâ—lliay Leture besides the Colledges of Cannons Thirdly Noble men and one principality of Chimay 10 Counties as Laâ—ain Beaumont Ostervant the chiefe Cittie whereof is Bouchin also Barbanson Auesne Barlaymont Bossu Montigni Reux Terrache 22 Baronies as Enghâ—â—n Leuze Havre Lâ—agne Aâ—â—oing Vuerchin Fontaine Havaide Kinrain Barlaymont Ville Gomegnie S. Aldegonde Seâ—zelle Condet Haurdain Belleule Fagneille Bousie Roesin Frusne Harchies One Marshall one Steward one great Ranger one Chamberlaine And foure ordinary Officers The Countie of Namuâ—â—â—â—m remaineth It is seated betweene Brabant Hannonia and the Dioecesse of Leodium it is a small mountainous Territorie but pleasant having a sweete and temperate ayre The soyle is fruitfull yeelding all things which are necessary for the sustentation of mans life It hath also Mines of Iron and Lead and stone Quarries out of which divers kinds of stones are cut and especially blacke Marble and stones like Iasper And not long since those stones were digged forth which were good to burne we may call them Iathantracas of which we spoke in the aforesayd description Moreover this Countrie at first was governed by a Marquesse and afterward it changed often her Lord. Philip the brother of Balduin Earle of Flanders was Marquesse hereof in the yeare 1200. And Theodorus was Earle of it after whose decease the whole Country came to Philip Bonus Duke of Burgundie as we have declared in the description of the Low Countries There are foure walled Citties in this Country Namurcum Bovina Carlomontium and Valenâ—ourâ—ium And 182 Villages Namurcum or Namur is the chiefe Cittie whence the name thereof is derived is uncertaine some suppose from Nanus a God of the Heathens who being used formerly to deliver Oracles yet at Christs comming grew dombe and spake no more And therefore from this dumbe mute god Nanus it was called Namurcium some think it was so called from a new wall which was built there by the Romanâ—s The Cittie is situate betweene two Mountaines on the left hand bancke of the River Mosa where it receiveth Sambra It is eight miles distant from Lovanium 10 from Leodium and as many from Bruxells It is rich and hath many faire publicke and private buildings and it is fortified with a strong Castell Foure miles from Namurcium is Bouvinae a small towne which was often wasted by the warres and last of all it was for the most part ruinated by Henry the second King of France in the yeare 1555. Afterward the Cittizens did reedifie it Charlemont was built by Charles the fifth in the yeare 1555 against the French-men who then possessed Marâ—enburg Valencourtium is a town of good noate being distant from Namurcium 7 miles This Country hath many Rivers which are full of fish the chiefe whereof are Mosa and Sambra it hath also faire fresh springs It hath also woods for pleasure and hunting which are full of wilde beasts There are many Churches in this Country famous Monasteries which were built heretofore at the costs and charges of the Earles of Namurcium and endowed with great revennewes Three miles from Namurcium there is the rich Towne Audennas in which there is an auncient Nunneâ—ie for noble women built by Begga daughter of Pepin from whom they were first called Baggine Vestalls The politicke state of the County of Namurcium doth consist of three members which are the Clergie the Nobility and the chiefe Citties The Clergie are the Abbots of Floref Granpre Anden Bonef Wassore Hastieis The Nobility are the Vicount Done c. The chiefe Citties are Namur Bovinae Charlemont Valencourt or Walencourt In the Cittie of Namurcum there is a Royall Counsell from whence appeales are brought to the Court of Mechlin There is also a Bishops seate whose Cathedrall Church is consecrate to S. Albine The Cittizens are used to armes and martiall discipline they speake French but corruptly There are few merchants and Tradesmen but a great company of Nobles but such as be either the Princes Bastards or comming
is now at this day in which the Emperour builded a royall and magnificent Pallace The Towne Helmstad is in the middle way betweene Brunswicke and Magdeburg which William Duke of Brunswicke redeemed from the Abbot of Werden with a certaine summe of money payd unto the said Abbot and so reduc'd it into his owne power Halberstad is an Episcopall Cittie by which glideth the River Oltemia In the middle of this Cittie there is a hill which is two furlongs in length and on the top of it there is a large plaine at the two farthest Corners whereof there are two Churches In the middle there is a Market place which is encompassed round with Religious houses but that part which is situate on the Mountaine is called the Cittie and that part which lyeth at the foote of the hill is called the Suburbs The soyle round about this Cittie is very good having standing Corne which is higher than a man on horsebacke Quedelimberg is an auncient Cittie and not farre distant from Magdeburg which was built by the Emperour Henry Auceps There is also the Towne Hannovera by the bancke of the River Leine over against an ancient Castell belonging to the Earles of Lauwenrod but now in the time of Henry Leen about the yeare of Christ 1056 it was subject to this Castell which because it stood on the other side of the River the Courtiers called it Hannover It is now a flourishing Cittie in Saxonie For it is well fortified with ditches and very populous Hildesheimum or Hildesium which Ptolomie and Irenicus call Ascalingium is an auncient Cittie being at first divided into two parts but afterward it was united It hath a very faire Church and the steeple is gilded It is a pleasant Cittie and Ludolphus of Colen an excellent Mathematician was borne heere being a Bishops seate Irenicus doth reckon up the bishops thereof which Crantzius also doth in his Metropolis and Antonius Monchâ—acinus more accurately Lib. 2. of the first beginning of Christian religion But the Bishopricke of Hildesheim was first founded and instituted in Saxonie by Charles the Great King of France and Empeperour of Germanie Northausen is an Emperiall Cittie There are also contained in this Table the Dukedome of Grubenhagen which is a member of the Empire and also the Principalitie of Anhalt also Mansfielde and auncient Countie of auncient Saxonie by the river Sala so that Hegenus who lived in the time of King Arthur of Brittaine was Earle of Mansfeld in the yeare 542 it was so called from Mannus the sonne of Thuiscon The chiefe Citties are Mansfeld neere the River Wiperus also Eislebia and Wypra Eâ—slebia is the Metropolis betweene the Rivers Sala and Wiperus which was so called from Isis who as Tacitus reporteth did wander after her husbands death through the coasts of Suevia Neere unto it there are mettall Mines in the Mountaines Melliboci It is supposed that the Tubantians did inhabit these parts This Countie hath under it these foure Counties Wippra Arnslein Wâ—tin and Quernfurt Also the Counties of Barby Stolberg Hohenstein Regenstein and Plesse There are also these Ecclesiasticall principalities Meydburg the Archbishoprick of Germanie and primate of Germanie the Bishoprick of Hildesheim and Halberstat Also the Bishopricke of Quedelborg and Gernroade and Stifien which are in the eight circle of the Empire There remaineth in this Table the Bishopricke of Magdeburg The Bishopricke of Magdeburg commonly called Meydburg is so called from the cheefe Cittie Charles the Great having reformed all Saxonie did institute twelve Bishoprickes in it the chiefe whereof was the Bishopricke of Magdeburg whose seate was at the first in Styde afterward it was translated to Valersleve and thirdly to Vrese And afterward in the yeere 1130 Otto did translate it to Magdeburg who made it the primate of Germanie as it appeareth by a great booke of Chronicles which hath no Authors name set to it Albeit the Archbishop of Saltzburg and other Archbishops that are Electors doe not yeeld priority or supremacy to the Bishop of Magdeburg as Crantzius delivers iâ— his Metropolis But Otto the first did make the Burggrave of Magdeburg that he might sit in publike judgement in the Emperours steede both in this Country and Bishopricke and in the adjacent Countries Gero Marquesse of Lusatia was the first that bore this office by the ordination and appointment of Otto whose memory is preserved by a Monument which is in the Friary of Geroden After him they reckon some others who followed successively in this order Hermann Duke of Saxonie Lotharius Earle of Waldeck Fredericke the sonne of Lotharius Conradus his Nephew Manfred halfe brother by the mother side to Conradus He being slaine in the warres Dittericus Earle of Plocensium had his honors whose Daughter Vdo Marquesse of Brandenburg having married and thereby got the Burgaviate he left his sonne Henry his successor After whose decease Lotharius did leave the same office to Burchard of the house of the Lords of Quetfort from whom the Earles of Manifeld are originally descended After whom there were the Lords of Schrapela after whom the Emperour did translate it to the Dukes of Saxonie Electors for the Empire The chiefe Cittie is Magdeburg heeretofore called Parthenopolis from Venus Parthenia who was worshipped there situated by the River Albis Iohn Capniâ— calleth it Domadum Pyrgum Aeneas Silvius calleth it Magdeburg and writeth that Virginopolis was a famous Metropolitan Cittie in Saxonie memorable both for wealth and strength Ligurinus calleth it the Virgin Cittie and the habitation of Virgins and Ptolomie calls it Mesovion Otto builded this Cittie as Lupoldus writeth Otto Frisingensis did enlarge it and was buried there This is a famous Emperiall Cittie it is divided into three parts and fortified with walls and Bulwarkes having strong Towers and Rampiers also faire houses large beautifull streetes and magnificent Churches especially the great Church of Saint Maurice being built by the Ottoes of square free stone The Magistrate doth keepe the civill law of the Romanes written in the Saxon language which was confirmed and established by Charles the Great so that the neighbour Nations doe thereby decide controversies and this law is much reverenced and esteemed And let so much suffice concerning the Bishopricke of Magdeburg And now to conclude this description let us set downe the Rivers which are in the Countries contained in this Table which are Albis Onacra Oltemia Sala Wiperus Inderst Struma Roide Ruma Vker Fues and others It hath also the Mountaines der Ramelberg Meliborus and others and also divers woods as Auff dem Hartz-waldt Solingerwaldt and others which you may behold in the Table or Chart. HASSIA or the Landgraviate of HESSEN Hassia hath great store of Nobilitie and Noble places which it would be convenient to know but I could discover nothing hitherto of them nor of the state of the government I have onely found out that there are two Counties Solms 30.15.50.35 and Witgenstein 30.17.50.50 The Meridians are distant according to the proportion of
or Master of the Court which is such an office as the Governour of the Kings House in France Hee dwelleth for the most part at Haffnia being as it were the Kings Substitute and doth dispatch matters as hee is directed by the King Next to him is the Marshall which in the time of warre and peace doth provide those things which appertaine to expedition In the third place is the Admirall which doth build new ships repaire the old and every year order the seaâ—matters for the securing of the coasts He hath under him an other Admirall appointed and in every ship a Captaine who must bee borne a Gentleman There is also the Chancellour of the Kingdome to whom out of all the Provinces and Isles they appeale and make suite unto and from whom appeale is also made to the King and the Senate of the Kingdome All the Provinces are divided into Haeret as they call them or into Dioceses under which are many Parishes heere if there be any controversies matters are first tried And from hence they appeale to the Judge of the Haeret. Afterward to the Chancellour and last of all to the King and Senatours where it hath a determinate and finall Judgement They have a written Law composed by Woldemare the first together with the Bishops and Senators which is very agreeable to the law of Nature and not much differing from the Roman Lawes and that causes and suites may sooner have an end and judgement be given and put in execution It is provided that Judges if they doe any wrong or give false judgement are condemned to lose halfe their goods whereof the King hath the one part and the injured partie the other Woldemare the first except I be deceiv'd added the Bishops to the Senators whom Christianus the third for rebellion and certaine other causes did put out againe The Kings Chancellour who for the most part followeth the King in the Court hath seven or eight Noble men adjoyned unto him as Assistants besides Secretaries and Clerkes and all businesses are dispatch'd by the King himselfe But if it be some matter of consequence as concerning peace or warre entring into league with forraine Nations or into consultation concerning the defending of their owne Territories then the King calleth a Councell of Senators Neither can the King impose any taxe upon the Kingdome or Countrie without their consent and the consent of the Nobles There is also in this Kingdome a Master of the Exchequer who collecteth and gathereth all the Revenues of the whole Kingdome both of Castles Farmes and Customes as well by Sea as by Land Hee taketh account of them enquireth into them and giveth acquittances for the receit of them Hee hath two Assistants of the Nobilitie and many Clerkes under him and for his office hath a yearely stipend or pension The third State is of the Clergie in which there are seven Bishops as the Bishop of Lunden the Bishop of Roâ—schild the Bishop of Otthon of Rip of Wiburg of Arhuse and the Bishop of Sleswich to whom the other Canonicall persons have relation These have the Tenths of the Kingdome which in divers Countries are divided in a divers manner for the Bishops have an halfe part of the Tenths and the King an halfe part the Canonists and Preachers have a part and a part is contributed toward the building and repairing of Churches And as concerning the Popes authoritie in this Kingdome as also in France the ordination of Prelates and Bishops have beene alwayes in the Kings power as may appeare by the answer of Woldemare the first King of Denmarke which heere I have annexed When the Pope required these and the like priviledges from the King it is reported that the King writ back unto him Wee have our Kingdome from our Subjects our life from our Parents our Reliligion from the Romish Church which if you will take from us I send it you by these presents And as the wise Decree of Charles the fifth is praised prohibiting Ecclesiasticall persons from buying any immoveable thing without the consent of the King so Christian the third as wisely did ordaine that the Clergie should not sell any thing without the Kings expresse commandement In other matters the Clergie-men through the whole kingdome are well provided for by Christian the third of famous memorie and many Schooles erected in many places as also two in Iseland where they have likewise a Printing-House There is but one Universitie in the whole kingdome called the Universitie of Haffen or Hafnia founded by Christerne the first by permission of Pope Sixtus in the yeare of Christ 1470 which Frederick the second although hee were seven yeares incumbred with the Swethish warres did so enrich that the yearely revenues thereof are very much The fourth State is of the Citizens and Merchants dwelling in Cities and Townes These have proper and peculiar priviledges which they enjoy besides certaine fields and woods that belong to them and these doe traffique both by Sea and Land in all parts of Europe Out of these as also out of the Countrey-people the Bishops the Canonists the Preachers and Senators of Cities the Clerkes of Bands the Lievtenants of Towres and the Masters of Ships are chosen and some of them are Masters of the Customes or Tributes lastly of these all lesser Councels of Justice doe consist one of the Nobility for the most part sitting as President The fifth State is of the Rustick or Countrey-people and there are two sorts of them the first they call Freibunden that is Free-holders These doe hold Lands of Inheritance yet paying for the same some little free-rent every yeare These doe also use merchandise and fishing They are not opprest with doing services neither doe they pay any taxes unlesse the Senators of the kingdome doe grant it as a subsidie The other sort is of those who doe not possesse goods of inheritance but doe farme them of the King the Nobles or Ecclesiasticall persons and are constrained to doe many services for their Lords in such manner as they shall covenant with their Land-lord These are the chiefe things which I thought good to declare concerning the State politick of Denmarke whereby it appeareth that the Danish Monarchie was for the most part well framed for the free election of the Kings being in the hands of the Nobilitie and yet notwithstanding out of the royall Progenie as wee said before it followeth that the Danes have no civill warres or dissentions unlesse those which are betweene such as bee of the Blood Royall which are quickly composed by the mediation and helpe of the Nobles but especially seeing the Kings younger Sonnes can have no part of the kingdome Moreover as they are all stiled but Nobles and know not the titles and names of Barons Earles and Dukes so there are none that have so much wealth and power as that reposing trust therein they dare oppose themselves against the Royall Familie because the Fathers Inheritance is alwayes
divided betweene the Sonnes and Daughters Thus the Kings of Denmarke have a flourishing Common-wealth which may easily bee defended from forraine enemies whom their Subjects living in unanimity and concord with them as their naturall Lords are able to resist both by sea and land THE KINGDOME OF DENMARKE BEING THE THIRD KINGDOME OF THE NORTH DENMARKE is joyned only in two places to the Continent on the West the Ocean beateth on it on the East the Balticke Sea on the North lyeth Norwey and Swethland and on the South Holsatia Megalopolis and Pomerama It hath many severall Islands lying by it The temper of the Climate together with the wholsomnesse of the Aire that I may use Ioh. Coldingensis his words doth make the Danes fresh complexioned The fruitfulnesse of the Earth doth nourish them the sweete harmony of Birds doth recreate them their Woods and Groves in which great numbers of Hogges do feed and fat themselves with Akornes and Beech-maste do refresh them and the divers sorts of Cattle and flourishing Medowes do yeeld them much delight The Sea doth afford them such plentie of provision that the Danes thereby not onely furnish themselves but also many other parts of Europe In a word they want nothing that is necessarie to life so loving hath Nature shewed her selfe to this Countrie Concerning the ancient Government thereof Munster writeth that one Danus many ages before Christ was the first King of Denmarke from whom the other Kings of Denmarke did descend in a faire and orderly succession therefore concerning the names of his successours and the other Kings of Denmarke read Munster largely discoursing All the Countrie of Denmarke having many armes of the Sea reaching farre into the Land doth consist of many parts the chiefe whereof are these Iutia Fionia Zelandia and Scania besides the Islands lying neare to severall parts thereof Iutia which some would have called Gotâ—a being heretofore the Seat of the Cimbri is called by Historians and Geographers the Cimbrian Chersonesus and is divided into the Southerne and Northerne Iutia The Description of this Northerne Iutia you may behold in the second Table of Denmarke Southerne Iutia heretofore called Nordalbingia doth containe the famous Dukedome of Sleswick to which the Dukedome of Holsatia may now be added whereof you shall finde a more ample declaration in the third Table of Denmarke Also there followeth a more particular Description of Fionia in the fourth Table of Denmarke THE KINGDOME OF DENMARKE DANIAE REGNUÌ„ THE SECOND TABLE OF DENMARKE WHICH CONTEINETH PART OF THE NORTHERNE IVTIA THE Westerne and speciall part of Denmarke is Iutia commonly called Iutland which Ptolemy calleth the Cimbrian Chersonesus and Pliny Cartrin This runneth forth Northward in manner of a Peninsula betweene the Brittish and Germane Seas as Italy doth toward the South The Southerne bound thereof is the River Eydera and it lyeth many miles in length from the River Albis or Elve toward the North The greatest breadth of it is not much This Country is divided into the Northerne and Southerne part as we have already spoken The Northerne Iutia called the Northerne Cimbrica which is described in this Table extending it selfe toward Norwey doth over against Saga a Towne famous in regard of the quick-sands and shallow Sea neare it end in a straite and narrow forme like a wedge This Country is broadest about the Market Towne of Aleburg where Lymford winding it selfe into it and passing almost through all Iutia Westward parteth the Country Wensussel from the rest except it be for a very little space and so maketh it as it were an Island This River being carried in a great channell maketh many famous Islands by encompassing them about and having many Bayes as it were and severall branches it doth divide and give limits to divers Provinces Northerne Iutia is fertile in producing and bearing Fruits Corne Barley and the like It hath also in some places very fruitfull pastures It aboundeth with so many heards of Oxen and bringeth up so many Cowes that it sendeth an incredible number of cattle into forreine Countries and especially into Germany whither there are yearely brought almost 150 thousand Oxen besides Cheese Butter Tallow and Hides It doth bring forth an excellent breede of Horses of which a great number are transported to other places Iutia heretofore was subject to the Saxons but not the other Northerne Countries Out of this Country the Cimbri 150 yeares before Christs birth came and fell upon Italie like an impetuous storme to the great terrour thereof For they having joyned to themselves the Tentons the Tigurines and Ambrones conspired utterly to extinguish the Roman Empire Syllanus could not resist the violence of their first approach nor Manilius their second on-set nor Caepio the third All of them were put to slight and beaten out of their Tents insomuch as Florus thinketh they had beene quite undone and overthrowne if Marius had not lived in that age This Cimbrian warre continued eight yeares after the Consulship of Syllanus even to the fift Consulship of Marius who at the Râ—ver Athesis called by the Germanes Etsâ—h and by the Italians â—adica did quite cut off their Army consisting of Cimbrians Teutâ—us and and Ambrones But because in this place wee have by chance made mention of the Cimbrians whose name is famous in Histories we will speake somewhat more of them and because Iunius a learned â—an doth discourse most learnedly of them I will not thinke it much to set downe his owne or other words to the same effect It appeares in Moses Bookes saith he that Iaphet had a sonne called Gomer or by changing of a letter Gomer which word signifies with the Hebrewes one perfecting a circle But the genuine sense of the word hitherto unknowne to Writers unskilfull in the Cimmerian language because none hath declared the obscuritie will bee as manifest and cleare as the Meridian Sunne if you gently breake the word in pieces For what other thing does Goom her being disjoyned signifie in that language or if you pronounce it Gomer than I goe about in a circle or I finish a perfect course Hence also is that orbicular order of Artes which the Grecian Writers call Encyclopedia and Fabius the circle of learning because it is endlesse as a ring called Gomera Rightly therefore that auspicious name hapned unto the offspring of Iaphet which spread themselves over the World and as the name doth signifie did finish that course that was given and prescribed to them by lot having travell'd over all Countries from the rising of the Sunne to the setting thereof For no man is so rude and ignorant in the knowledge of Historie that knoweth not that the Gothes and Vandales who were the ofspring of the Cimmerians or Cimbri did possesse both the Hesperiaes Wherefore since by the consent of all men the Cimmerians did descend from Gomer who at first did possesse the inward part of Asia and being