Country as it is thus on the one side freed by the natural resistance of the Sea from the force of Invasions so is it strengthened on the other by many Castles and fortified places that take away the opportunity of making Roads and Incursions in the Country And as it was with the first that felt the fury of the Saxons cruelty so was it the last and longest that was subdued under the Wâ—st-Saxons Monarchy 9 In this Province our noble Arthur who died laden with many Trophies of honour is reported by Ninius to have put the Saxons to flight in a memorable Battel near Duglasse a little Brook not far from the Town of Wiggin But the attemps of War as they are several so they are uncertain for they made not Duke Wade happy in his success but returned him an unfortunate enterpriser in the Battel which he gave to Ardulph King of Northumberland at Billango in the year 798. So were the events uncertain in the Civil Wars of York and Lancaster for by them was bred and brought forth that bloody division and fatal strife of the Noble Hoâ—ses that with variable success to both Parties for many years together molested the peace and quiet of the Land and defiled the earth with blood in such violent manner that it exceeded the horror of those Civil Wars in Rome that were betwixt Marius and Scylla Pompey and Caesar Octavius and Antony or that of the two renowned Houses Valoys and Burbon that a long time troubled the State of France for in the division of these two Princely Families there were thirteen Fields fought and three Kings of England one Prince of Wales twelve Dukes one Marquess eighteen Earls one Vicount and three and twenty Barons besides Knights and Gentlemen lost their lives in the same Yet at last by the happy Marriage of Henry the Seventh King of England next Heir to the House of Lancaster with Elizabeth daughter and Heir to Edward the Fourth of the House of York the white and red Roses were conjoyned in the happy uniting of those two divided Families from whence our thrice renowned Soveraign Lord King Iames by fair sequence and succession doth worthily enjoy the Dâ—adem by the benefit of whose happy government this County Palatine of Lancaster is prosperouâ— in her Name and Greatness 10 I find the remembrance of four Religious Houses that have been founded within this County and since suppressed both fair for Structure and Building and rich for seat and Situation namely Burstogh VVhalleia Holland and Penwortham It is divided into six Hundreds besides Fourness Felles and Lancasters Liberties that lie in the North part It is beautified with fifteen Market-Towns both fair for situation and building and famous for the concourse of people for buying and selling It hath twenty six Parishes besides Chappels in which they duly frequent to Divine Service and those populous as in no part of the Land more York SHIRE YORK-SHIRE CHAPTER XXXVIII AS the courses and confluents of great Rivers are for the most part fresh in memory though their heads and fountains lie commonly unknown so the latter knowledg of great Regions are not traduced to oblivion though perhaps their first originals be obscure by reason of Antiquity and the many revolutions of times and ages In the delineation therefore of this great Province of York-shire I will not insist upon the narration of matters near unto us but succinctly run over such as are more remote yet neither so sparingly as I may seem to diminish from the dignity of so worthy a Country nor so prodigally as to spend time in superfluous praising of that which never any as yet dispraised And although perhaps it may seem a labour unnecessary to make relation of ancient remembrances either of the Name or Nature of this Nation especially looking into the difference of Time it self which in every age bringeth forth divers effects and the dispositions of men that for the most part take less pleasure in them than in divulging the occurrents of their own times yet I hold it not unfit to begin there from whence the first certain direction is given to proceed for even of these ancient things there may be good use made either by imitation or way of comparison as neither the reperition nor the repetition thereof shall be accounted impertinent 2 You shall therefore understand That the County of York was in the Saxon-tongue called Ebona ycyne and now commonly York-shire far greater and more numerous in the Circuit of her miles than any Shire of England She is much bound to the singular love and motherly care of Nature in placing her under so temperate a clime that in every measure she is indifferently fruitful If one part of her be stone and a sandy barren ground another is fertile and richly adorned with Corn-fields If you here find it naked and destitute of Woods you shall see it there shadowed with Forrests full of Trees that have very thick bodies sending forth many fruitful and profitable branches If one place of it be Moorish miry and unpleasant another makes a free tender of delight and presents it self to the Eye full of beauty and contentive variety 3 The Bishoprick of Durham fronts her on the North-side and is separated by a continued course of the River Tees The German-Sea lyeth sore upon her East-side beating the shores with her boisterous Waves and Billows The West part is bounded with Lancashire and Westmerland The South-side hath Cheshire and Darby-shire friendly Neighbours unto her with the which she is first inclosed then with Nottingham and with Lincoln-shires after divided with that famous Arm of the Sea Humber Into which all the Rivers that water this Country empty themselves and pay their ordinary Tributes as into the common receptacle and store-house of Neptune for all the watry Pensions of this Province 4 This whole Shire being of it self so spacious for the more easie and better ordering of her Civil Government is divided into three parts which according to three quarters of the World are called The West-Riding The East-Riding and The North-Riding West-Riding is for a good space compassed with the River Ouse with the bounds of Lancashire and with the South limits of the Shire and beareth towards the West and South East-Riding bends it self to the Ocean with the which and with the River Derwent she is inclosed and looks into that part where the Sun rising and shewing forth his Beams makes the World both glad and glorious in his brightness North-Riding extends it self Northward hemmed in as it were with the River Tees and Derwent and a long race of the River Ouse The length of this Shire extended from Horthill in the South to the mouth of Tees in the North are neer unto seventy miles the breadth from Flambrough-head to Horn-Castle upon the River Luâ— is fourscore miles the whole Circumference is three hundred and eight miles 5 The Soil of this County for the generality is reasonable fertile
he was heir in general by marriage of a daughter But the truth is we have been ever easie to part with our hold there or at least forced to forgo it by our civil dissentions at home else after all those glorious Victories of our Predecessors we might have had some Power more to shew there as well as Title 11 There are very many Provinces belonging to this Kingdom more than will find room here for their full Descriptions in several and therefore we will reduce as well this new France as the old Gallia to the four parts of Ptolomies division 1 Aquitania 2 Lugdunensis 3 Narbonensis and 4 Galâ—ia Ielgica To these we will add 5 the Isles adjoyning Their principal underâ—Territories shall be mentioned as Maginus ranks them 12 Aquitania lieth on the West of France close upon the Pyrenean Mountains and Countries 1 Another part of Biscay mentioned in the Map of Spain and indeed differeth from that but very little 2 Gascoign and Guien The first to this day keeps its name with a very little change from the Spanish Vascones The chief City is Burdigala or Burdiaux a Parliamentary and Archiepiscopal Seat and University of good esteem was honoured with the birth of our Richard the Second Another City of note is Thoâ—ouse a seat Parliamentary and supposed to be as ancient as the rule of Deborah in Israel This Gascogin contains in it the Earldomes of Fory Comminges Armeniaci and the Dutch Albert. 3 Pictavia Poictou on the north of Guien a pleasant Region and a plentiful It contains three Bishopricks Poâ—tiers Lucon and Mailazai Her chief Cities are Poictiers an ancient and the largest next Paris in all France Castrum Heraldi once the title of the Scotch Earls of Hamildon In this Province was fought the great Battel betwixt our black Prince and Iohn of France where with eight thousand he vanquished forty thousand took the King Prisoner and his Son Philip 70 Earls 50 Barons and 12000 Gentlemen 4 Sonictonia severed from Poictiers but by the River Canentell and so differs but little from her fertility Her Metropolis Saints Her other chief Bourg Blay Marennes S. Iohn D'angely and Anglosme Betwixt this Country and Poictiers stands â—ochel a place the best fortified both by nature and art of any in Europe And is at this tiâ—â—e possest by those of the reformed Religion where they stand upon their guard and defend their freedom of conscience against the Roman Catholicks of France 5 Limosin in Limo sita say some Maginus takes 〈◊〉 from Limoges her chief City toward the North which revolted and was recovered by our black Prince Her other Towns of note are Tulles and Vxerca and Chalaz where our Richard the first was shot It hath been by turns possest of French and English till Charies the Seventh since we have had little hold there 6 Berry regio Biturigum from her chief City Bituris now Burges an Archiepiscopal See and University It is exceedingly stored with sheep and sufficiently well with other Merchandise of value 7 Burbone from her chief City Burbone heretofore Boya a Dukedom aâ—d much frequented by Princes and the Nobility of France by reason of her healthful air and commodious Baths 8 Turiene the Garden of France Her chief Cities â—loys Amboyse Taurs and a little higher upon the Layre stands Orleance 13 Lugdunensis or Celtica lieth betwixt the Rivers Loyre and Seyne and takes the name from Lugdunum or Lions her chief City This Province comprehends 1 Brittany heretofore Armoâ—ica till subdued by Maximinus King of England about the year 367 since it hath had the name of Britanny and for distinction from this of ours it is commonly stiled Minor Britannia There is yet remaining a smack of the Wâ—lch tongue which it seems the Invaders had so great a desire to settle in those parts as a trophy of their Conquests that when they first mingled in marriage with the Inhabitants they cut out their wives tongues as many as were Natives that no sound of French might be heard among their children It hath few Rivers but that defect is in some measure made up by the neighbourhood of the Sea insomuch that the Countrey is reckoned one of the most fertile in all France for Corn Wine and Wood. It breeds good Horses and special Dogs Iron Lead c. Her chief Cities are Nants Rhenes S. Breny and Rohan It is divided into Britanniam inferiorem the base or lower Britanny West-ward and nearest England and Superiorem toward the Loire East-ward Her chief parts are S. Malo and Breste 2 Normandy a part of the Region which was heretofore called Newstria and took the name it hath from the Norwegians Their first Duke was Rollo and the â—ixth from him our William the Conquerour It was lost from his Successors in the time of King Iohn Her chief Cities are Rhothomagus or Rhoan the Metropolis Constance and Cane memorable for the siege of our English Henry the fifth And Verveile besieged by Philip the second of France in the time of our Richard the first which when the King heard as he sate in his Palace at Westminster it is said he sware he would never turn his back to France till he had his revenge and to make good his oath brake through the walls and justly performed his threat upon the besieger Her principal parts are Harflew the first which King Henry the fifth of England assaulted and New Haven given up by the Prince of Conde to Queen Elizabeth as a Pledge for such Forces as she would supply him with to maintain wars with the King in defence of Religion And Diep c. 3 Anjove regio Audegarensis a fertile Country and yields the best Wine of France excellent Marble and other fair stone for buildings Her chief City is Anjours which Ortelius takes to be Ptolomy's Iuliomagum It is now an University To this Dukedome there are four Earldomes which owe a kind of homage Manie Vandosm Beauford and Laval 4 Francia which gives name to the whole Kingdom and received it her self from the German Francones which before inhabited the great Forrest called Sylva Hircinia Her chief City and the glory of France is Paris or Luteâ—ia quasi in luto sita in compass twelve miles is reckoned the first Academy of Europe consists of 55 Colledges And here was Henry the sixth crowned King of France and England In this Province stands S. Vincent where Henry the fifth died and Saisons and the Dukedome of Valoys c. 5 Campaigne and Bye partners in the title of Earldom it is severed from Picardy only with the River A fertile Country and hath many eminent Cities The principal is Rheimes where the Kings most commonly are crowned and anointed with an Oyl sent they say from Heaven which as oft as it hath been used never decreaseth It is the seat of an Arch-Bishop and University of note especially with our English Roman Catholiques who have a Colledge there appointed for their Fugitives And others of
dead in a dejected Nation and now they break out into flames which stirred them to require that by force of Arms which they could not request by submissive Oratory 4 Hence grew their first quarrel with the Romans which they put on with that courage and success that they were emboldened at last to assault the very City with so strong Forces that the glory of it began to shake and had shattered to pieces had not the victory followed rather the fortune of one Marius than the valour of the whole Roman Legions and that too as some relate it was bought of his heathenish gods at a dear rate by the bloudy sacrifice of his own daughter The great and most memorable encounter was six hundred and forty years after the City was built about an hundred and eleven before Christ. And then indeed they received in a manner a fatal crush which quelled them for the present yet not so but that in after ages they recovered strength and same spread their victories over the most part of Europe and left their name for many years since that in Italy it self 5 For without doubt those Cimmerii mentioned by Starbo which lived on the North side of the Appennine Mountains near Boianum were of this stock and of that note as they gave occasion for many Proverbs and Fables to both Greek and Latin Poets It was a people which belike seldom saw Sun but lurked for the most part under ground lived upon theft and issued forth only in the night a season most fit for deeds of darkness and so was their whole course which caused our well known Adage of tenebrae Cimmeriae pro densissimâ caligine The horrid dens and dismal Rivers which ran by the place of their abode bred at length a terrour in the silly Heathens and was esteemed by them the passage down to their Elizium So Homer gives it in the second of his Odysses and Virgil in his sixth of the Aeneidos and here did Naso feign his house of sleep Metamorph. 11. Est propè Cimmerios longo spelunca recessu Mons Carus ignavi domus penetralia Somni 6 Thus was their Original and progress for the first Age whilst it continued iâ— the possession of the Cimmerians The next which succeeded were the Saxons a people no less famous but since their story hath been elsewhere remembred in our other Descriptions it must give place here to the third Invader the Danes who whilst the Saxons were employed with us here in the Conquest of England start out of those petty Isles in the Sinus Codanus and took up their room in this Peninsula There they have continued to this day and added other Territories to their Dominions so that the then Cimbria Chersonesus is but a parcel of the now Kingdom of Denmark as shall appear when we come to her division and that only which in our latter times is called Iuitland and runs North ward in form almost of a Hounds tongue into the Baltick Ocean 7 The Danes like enough were at first one Nation with the Cimbri but being together expulsed by the Scythians from their native soyl they were severally dispersed though not at any great distance These setled themselves in the Northern Isles as the other did in their Chersonesus The first at their removal varied not their antique name of Cimbri As for Chersonesus it is not peculiar to this Country being as common as Peninsula for it imports no more than 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 à terrâ insulâ and of these there are many more some perhaps of equal same Taurica Chersonesus was not far distant from the place of their first abode Peloponnesus well known in Greece Thracia Chersonesus in Thrace and Aurea Chersonesus in India 8 But the Danes it seems suffered some change as well in their name as fortunes Saxo Grammticus gives it to one Dan the son of Huniblus which was their first Governour in their new Commonwealth But this is controuled by Reccanus saith Quade who renders another Etymon how likely I leave to those who can best judge by their skill in the Danish Language The Cimbri saith he when they were grown to great multitudes bethought themselves of several names to distinguish their Colonies Each following their own conceiâ— best to express the quality in which they most gloried Among the rest some there were which affecting at least the opinion of a valiant people such as scorned riches without honour honour without victory and victory without the bloud of their enemies assumed their name from that creature which Nature had marked out with this Character Gallum igitur gallinaceum tum bellicae laudis generosissimi animi tum indolis regalis militis strenui adomnia momenta vigilis optimum exemplar ut pro Symbolo synthemate quodam sivi acceperunt it a nomen quoque ab eo placuit mutuari vocarunt enim sese Dic Hanem compositae per concisâ—onem Danem quod Gallinaâ—â—â— significat 9 However the Etimon may be far fetcht for ought I know yet doubtless at this day they make good the Elogy of a valiant and warlike Nation strong of body big boned and of a terrible countenance ambitious of a glorious death rather than a sluggish idle life It is the saying of Valerius Maximus Cimbros Celteberos in acie gaudio exultare consuevisse tanquam gloriosè feliciter vita excessuros lamentari vero in morbo quasi turpiter perituros We our selves heretofore have felt their stroaks and submitted to their Conquests in the time of Osbert King of Northumberland They were provoked by a rape done upon the Sister of the Danish King for which the poor English dearly paid with two hundred fifty five years servitude under their tyranny Yet since we have had and at this time do enjoy the benefit of their magnanimity under the personal conduct of the right valiant and illustrious King Christian who hazards both his state and life in the behalf of his dear neece Elizabeth and her Royal Husband the Prince Palatine of the Rheine 10 Their first Prince which established them a setled and civil government was Gotricus in the year seven hundred ninety seven Before it was but a confused state and affords us little certainty of their story From that time the government hath been under a sole King of equal power with the greatest though his Revenues are hardly answerable His best profit is from a breach of the Sea which runs into the middle part of the Countrey commonly called the Sound which is a passage so narrow that no shipping can pass that way without the licence and favour of the Wathch-men keeping Garrison there to receive the Imposts and Customs of the arriving Vessels for the King It is easily gathered to what sum of money that Impost amounteth by the infinite number of Shipping of Hâ—lland Zealand France England Sâ—otland Norway and the Baltick Sea that sail in those Seas and of necessity must
pass the â—aws of that narrow strait The Inhabitants are as greedy of Rhâ—nish French and Spanish Wines the Spices of Portugal and the fruits of Andaluzia as they again are needy of the Wax Honey and Skins which are brought thither from Prussia Livonia Muscovia and the bordering Nations The other chief riches of Denmark are goodly Horses great store of Cattel and Corn enough sent to the supply of divers other parts of Christendome It hath been observed that 50000 Oxen have been driven out of these Provinces into Germany for which toll hath been paid at Guttaorp Such incredible plenty of Herring near the Isle of Scania that the Ships they say are searce able by main strength of Oars to row out of the Harbour Besides these here are furniture for War both by Sea and Land Armour Masts Cables Steel Saddles c. 11 Their chief person of fame in course of Learning was Ticho Brahe an excellent Mathematician memorable for his artificial Tower in the Isle of Fimera In Religion the greatest part of them are now Lutherans but were first converted to Christianity by Ansuerus 12 We are come to her division which the Sea almost hath made to our hands For her several Provinces are well-nigh so many Islands at least Peninsula The chief are 1 Iuttia or the old Cimbria Chersonesus 2 Diethmarsia 3 Scania 4 Hollandia 5 Blesâ—ide 6 The Islands in the Sinus Codanus which lye betwixt Iuttia and Scanta That is the West and this is the East limits of the Danish Dominions North and South are the Ocean and the River Esdora or Hever 13 Iuttia as it was the first so it is the principal part of this Kingdom Her bounds upon the West and East and North are the Bâ—ltick Seas and upon the South it â—s joyned to Holjatia and the Istumes of Dithâ—arsex It is in length 〈◊〉 Muginus eighty German 〈◊〉 from the River Albis to the Cimbrick Promontory called Seagen and in breadth twenty It is a fruitful Region for Wheat Rie Barley c. And in the North-west there is good pasture though more North-ward it becomes sandy and barren and puts the Inhabitants to fish for their victuals by which they make a shift to live though hardly enough God Knows in poor sheds sleightly clapped together and of a slender stuff such as if need be they can remove at their pleasure upon very short warning and bear them away almost upon their back They transport into other Countries great store of good Horses for service besides Barley Cheese Butter Suet Hides and rich Skins Nuts and Fish In this Province are twenty eight Cities twenty Castles and four Bishops Sees Ripensis Arthusienses and AElburga all near to the Sea-side wilburga in the up-land Country From this Province came the Iuits who joyned in with the Saxons and Angles to conquer England Her chief Towns are Rincopen Hoine and Achausen 14 Diethmarsia is situated betwixt the Rivers Albis and Eidera They were a parcel of the old German Saxons and the Country it self is by some yet reckoned the lower Saxony but it is in subjection to the King of Denmark for it is the seat and title of his first Son and heir apparent as the Dauphinate is to the Son of France and Wales to the Son of England Her Metropolis is Breme the rest Meldorp and Heininckst and Tellinckst and other rich Towns yet the soyl cannot be very fertile by reason of the moist air and her many Marshes especially toward the North which makes it unfit for tillage and indeed impassable for travellers Upon which impediments the Inhabitants have made this advantage to keep out all forein Invaders and appropriate what wealth they have to their own secure possession 15 Scania or Scandinaria in the largest compass comprehends more than belongs to the Kingdome of Denmark and is invironed round about with Seas except on that side where it is joyned to Muscovy On her West â—s the Kingdom of Norway on her East Swethland and upon the South of that is this Scania which gives place to no Region at least within these Dominions either for wholsome air or fertile soyl for commodious Havens and plenty of Merchandise for dainty Rivers of store of Fish for Cattel Mines of Iron Lead Silver and Gold fair Towns and civil Customs The Metropolis is Lumpis This whole Province is some eighteen miles in length and in breadth about twelve in some places in others not above six 16 Hollaudia on the North of Scania and South of Suecia is bounded with the Seas upon the West and on the East with vast Woods which divide her from Gothland It is a fertile Region and not much unlike unto Scandia but that it comes somewhat short of her happiness in soyl Her chief Town is Hallausoc 17 Blescida or Blicker is bounded on the East and South with Baltick Ocean and on the North is parted from Scania by a little patch of the Sea It is a Region full of Rocks Woods and Mountains Her chief City and Castle is Culmaria a strong defence against the Swethelander and the next Town of note is Malmagia the birth-place of Casparus Bartholinus a late approved Writer in the Arts. 18 In the Sinus Codanus near to the Cimbria Chersonesus there are numbred 35 Islands The chief are 1 Zealand in length 64 miles in breadth 52 it contains in it 13 Cities 7 Castles with divers pretty Towns and Villages The Metropolis is Haâ—â—nia the single University within the King of Denmarks government And here is his chief place of reâ—idency which by the Germans is called Koppâ—nhagen the Merchants Haven Her other Towns are Roschilt a Bishops See and heretofore a strong Fortress well furâ—isht for war and honoured with the Sepulchres of some of their Kings but yet it is now at a lower ebb and of little respect Elsner or Helsinura is a Sea-town That in Helsinura is called Croneburgh well furnished with all provision The other in Scania Hepsigburgh of equal strength to cause the best Ship to cast Anchor and satisfie their King before they shall have the way open out of the Baltick into the Ocean 19 2 Fionia or Fimera is second to Zealand both in bigness and plenty of rich commodities It is in length 12 miles and 4 in breadth A pleasant Region fertile and fruitful Here are in this Island 8 Cities the chief is Ottonium Odensch or Oâ—sell in the very middle almost It was a Bishops See well built but ill fenced for it hath been oft times wasted and burnt by the Enemy The other Towns are upon the Seaâ— coast and their names are Neburgh Sinborgh Feborch Ascens Eorgena Middlesar and Kortemunde beside some Castles many Villages and Noble-mens houses 20 3 Laglant 7 miles in length and hath in it many Villages and fair buildings The City Râ—theopinga and the Castle Trancura 4 Loilant near Seelant It is full of Hazels that they fraught Ships with Nuts and traffique for them into many other
Inhabitants there of Spain after the Syrians and indeed the first which affords us any Story worth observing were the Carthaginians and the first cause of their entrance was to defend the Islanders of Cales but when they had once got firm footing and sucked the sweetness they were not to be removed by the easie term of friendship but there kept hold till a people stronger than themselves dispossessed them The attempt was made by Scipio and the Roman forces but they withstood their assault with so resolved a courage and so strong a hand that it might oft times be questioned Vter populus alteri esset pariturus and so held play almost 200 years and could not be fully subdued into the form of a Province till the Reign of Augustus Caesar yet after they were held to it till Honorius 3 About his sixth year was there a second Invasion made by the Vandales and soon after by the Gothes which bare sway for above 300 years The last King was Rodericus who lost both himself and Kingdom for a rape committed upon the Daughter of Iulian a Noble Gentlemen and at that time Embassadour with the Moors in Africa When the Father had understood of his Daughters unworthy injury he brought back his revenge with him 30000 Horse any 180000 Foot of Moors and Sarazens which discomfited the King overthrew all the ressistance which he could make and bespread the Countrey with their Forces where they and their posterity stood firm till within the memory of some which yet live 4 This change of State was before prophesied and concealed in a large Chest within a part of the Palace which both the last King and his Predecessors were forewarned not to discover But the hope of an inestimable treasure made him transgress and when he had entred there appeared nothing but the Portraictures of armed Moors with a presage annexed that when the part of the Palace should be forced open such enemies should ruine Spain It is now at last but one people but yet retains the mixtures of those many Nations which have heretofore possest it Goths Sarazens and Iews who were partly banisht hither by Hadrian the Emperour and partly sent hither by Vlider Vbit the Caliph after the Moors conquest 5 In all this discourse touching the beginning and setling of the State of Spain it appears not from whence she derives her several names of Iberia Hesperia and Hispania It seems they are more ancient than the entrance of the Carthaginians and therefore they allow us no certain Story nor other reason indeed more than likely conjecture and in some scarce that Her first name of Iâ—eria was given by her ancients from a River that runs almost through the middle of the Countrey So saith Maginus and relies upon Pliny and Iustin for his Authors Others give it rather to the Iberi the ancient people of Asia thas came in under Panus from toward Syria and possest it before the Carthaginians Her second name admits as much question Some fetch it from Hesperus the brother of Atlas and their twelfth King from Tubal Others beyond the Moon from the Evening star because it is situate upon the West of Europe The last Hispania is supposed from one Hispanus or Hispalus who reigned in those parts and was the third in the account of some from Tubal or else from Hispalis now Seril rather we may take it from the fore-mentioned Panus Captain of the Iberians by the prefiction of an S. for so the Greeks give it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and since by their own addition and corruption it is made Espania Hispania 6 Her whole compass is reckoned to be 1893 English miles and her bounds are Seas on every side unless on the East towards France from which she is severed by the Pyrenaean Mountains On the West the Atlantick Ocean on the North the Cantabrick and on the South the Fretum Herculeum and other of the Mediterraneum which divide her from Africa Her Rivers of note are specially 1 Minius of Mingo 2 Dorio now Duerus 3 Tagus now Taio famous for her golden sands 4 Botis or Guadilquiver 5 Iberius now Ebro and 6 Ana or Guadiana which in one place glides under ground for fifteen miles together and gives the Spaniard an occasion as he will catch at any to brag that they have ten thousand Cattel daily feeding upon one bridge Yet give them their own sense the truth may be questioned For they have not such plenty of meat as they have of sawce 7 It yields indeed abundance of Oranges Lemmons Capers Dates Sugar Oyl Honey Licorish Horses It hath been heretofore noted for rich Mines insomuch that Hannibal received daily 3000 from one Mine in Spain The number is not answerable in proportion to other Regions of Europe Their Cities not so great nor so many The reason may be because indeed their Women are not so fertile to multiply among themselves and their usage of strangers so uncivil that very few of other Countries seat themselves there as in France England and Germany And yet they have of late times sent many Colonies abroad into both Indies 8 They are extreamly proud and the â—illiest of them pretend to a great portion of wisdom which they would seem to express in a kind of reserved state and silent gravity when perhaps their wit will scarce serve them to speak sense But if once their mouths be got too open they esteem their breath too precious to be spent upon any other subject than their own glorious actions They are most unjust neglecters of other Nations and impudent vain flatterers of themselves Superstitious beyond any other people which indeed commonly attends those which affected to be accounted religious rather than to be so For how can hearty devotion stand with cruelty lechery pride Idolatry and those other Gothish Moorish Iewish Heathenish conditions of which they still savour 9 Yet it hath yielded heretofore men very famous for their excellent endowments both of wit and Religion The Apostle himself expresseth a great desire to see Spain as hoping to do much good among those which had entertained the name of Christ. Osius a learned Bishop in the time of Constantine the Great And Pacianus mentioned by S. Hierome Isidore â—ulgentiuâ— Arius Montanus Tostatus and 〈◊〉 were all Spaniards Sâ—neca Quintilian the Orator Lumen Romanae elâ—quentiae as Valla stiles him Martialis Lucan Silius and Pomponius Mela were Spaniards Trajan the Emperour Theodosius Ferdinand the Catholick and Charles the Emperour were Spaniards To this day it breeds good Souldiers â—low but sure and successful in their Conquests Yet such as prevail more by art than valour Their continual scarcity of victuals inureth them to hunger and other hardness which oft times wearieth out their enemy and makes him yield at least to their patience if not to their strength 10 She hath been subject to many divisions according to the humour of those that have been her Lords The first of note was made by
several noted Rivers the chief whereof are Iames River formerly called Powhatan the denomination of a very potent King of this Countrey at the time of the English first adventuring thither this River is found navigable 50 leagues or thereabout 2. York River otherwise Pamaunke in the language of the natives which lies about 14 miles Northward from the other and is navigable 26 Leagues 3. Rapaâ—anock or Topahanock the last River of Virginia Northward and navigable 40 leagues 4. Patowmec River mentioned in the Description of Mary-Land to which part of the Countrey this River also belongs Besides these greater Rivers there are some others of lesser note which fall into them as into Poâ—hatan or Iames River Southward Apameâ—uck Eastward Quiyonycohanuc Nansamund and Chesopeac Northward Chickamahania into Pamaunkee Payankatank The English Plantation here is divided into 22 Counties on the Eastern shore Northampton County in Acomac on the Western shore Carotuc Iames Henrico Charles York Glocester Surry Hartford Warwick Lancaster New Kent Surrey Middlesex Nansemund Lower Norfolk Northumberland Westmorland Northampton Warwick Isle of Wight and Rappahanoc in each of which are monthly held those inferior County Courts where matters not of highest concernment or relating to life are tried and from whence appeals are made to the Quarter Court at Iames-Town where all criminal and Civil Causes are determined and where the Governor and Counsel sit as Iudges The Metropolis or chief Seat of the English here is Iames-Town or rather Iames-City so denominated in honour of King Iames where the Quarter Courts General Assemblies and Secretaries Office are kept This Town adorned with many fair Brick-houses and other handsome Edifices is situated in a Peninsula on the North-side of Iames River The other Towns and Places of chief note are Elizabeth City seated nearer the mouth of the same River on the same side near which at a place nam'd Green-spring Sir William Berkley the present Governor hath a very pleasant Mansion-house built of brick Henricopolis or Henry's Town so denominated from Prince Henry living when it was first built seated in a commodious place about 80 miles from Iames City Dale's gift so named from Sir Thomas Dale Deputy Governor of the Place in the year 1610 at whose charge it was built and a Colony here planted besides others of less note some whereof still retain the Indian names as Wicocomoco c. which doubtless are by this time increased to a very considerable number in regard of the amplitude and grandeur to which by the continual access of people this Plantation is of late arrived VIRGINIA and MARYLAND The Description of Mary-Land IT was in the year 1631 that his late Majesty gave a grant to George Lord Baltimore for the possessing and planting the Southern part of New-Netherland now New-Yorkshire lying toward Virginia when upon his Embassy to the States of Holland they declared by publick writing their dissent to what-ever had been acted by any of their subjects in prejudice of his Majesties Right and Title in those parts as hath been already mentioned Crescentia was the name first in designation for this Countrey but it being left to his Majesty at the time of his signing of the Bill to give it what denomination he judged fittest he was pleased in honour of his Royal Consort Queen Mary to erect it into a Province by the name of Mary-Land which Patent upon the death of his Lordship before the final ratification thereof was not long after confirmed under the Broad-Seal of England bearing date Iune 20 Ann. 1632 to his Son and Heir Coecilius the now Lord Baltimore investing him his heirs and successors with the Sovereignty attended with all Royal Prerogatives both Military and Civil as absolute Lords and Proprietors of the said Province saving only the Allegiance and Sovereign homage due to his Majesty his Heirs and Successors of whom they were to hold it as of his Majesties honour of Windsor for the yearly payment at the Castle of the said honour of Windsor on every Easter Tuesday of two Indian Arrows of those parts and the fifth part of all the Gold and Silver Oar which should happen to be found there The next year after this Patent had past viz. in the year 1633 a Colony of about 200 in all Servants and Planters whereof some persons of quality was sent over by the Lord Proprietor under the Conduct of his Lordships two Brothers Mr. Leonard and Mr. George Calvert the first of whom was made Governor of the Province for his Lordship and from thence forward this Plantation hath prospered and by the several supplies since sent very much increased to which good success the good Government of the said Mr. Leonard and his strict observance of his Lordship's prudent instructions very much conduced The first place they pitch'd upon to plant themselves in was Yaocomaco now St. Maries which the Governor purchased of the Natives for never hath any forcible or violent invasion of any mans right been made here by any of his Lordships Ministers with such commodities as they brought from England though at so much the more easie rate in regard of their pre-intentions to leave this place as thinking it their safest course to remove farther off from their too potent and valiant Neighbours the Sesquehanocks After the happy restauration of his present Mâ—jesty viz. in the year 1661 the Lord Proprietors only Soâ— Mr. Charles Calvert went over into these parts his Fathers Lieutenant in which charge he hath continued ever since in great tranquility and prosperity and with general contentment and satisfaction by his obliging carriage to all that live under his Government or have any interests or concerns in the Province This Province according as it is bounded and set out by the forementioned Patent extends one way from the most Northernly part which bounds it to the South and from which it is parted by the Southernly bank of the River Patowmeck to New-York or the most Southernly part of New-England which bounds it Northward and from the Atlantick Ocean and Delaware-Bay Eastward to the true Meridian of the first Fountain of the River Patowmeck Westward The Climate here in Summer time inclines to an extraordinary heat and in Winter is very cold but both the heat of the Summer is very much allayed by cool Breeses and the cold of the Winter is of short continuance so that the Country is accounted sufficiently healthful and of late agrees well enough with English bodies since the abatement and almost extinction through the regulation of diet felling of the woods c. of that distemper called the Seasoning which used to be very fatal to the English at their first landing This Countrey is for the most part champain the Soil fruitful and abounding with many sorts of fruits and other commodities which are common in our parts of the World and for those that are peculiar it cannot be imagined that in so small a distance and even in the same Country as