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A07266 The heroyk life and deplorable death of the most Christian King Henry the fourth Addressed to his immortall memory; by P: Mathieu, counceller and historiographer of France. Translated by Ed: Grimeston, Esquire.; Histoire de la mort déplorable de Henry IIII. English Matthieu, Pierre, 1563-1621.; Grimeston, Edward.; Sylvester, Josuah, 1563-1618. 1612 (1612) STC 17661; ESTC S112465 671,896 410

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though they be rich in Mynes of Lead and are commodious for to feede sheepe The head Towne of the Shire is Darbie famous for the best Ale in England which is brewed there There are also the Townes of Saint Diacre Workesworth so called from the Lead-workes there and Bakewel And this Shire doth containe an hundred and sixe Parishes The Rivers that water it are Trent Dove and Derwent The Westerne part of this Shire which is mountainous is called the Peake and is very full of Lead for in these Mountaines Lead-stones as the Mettallists call them are daily digged forth which when the winde is Westward they dissolve with a wood fire and having made trenches for the mettall to runne in melt into pieces which they call Sowes Moreover not onely Lead but also veines of Antimonie which the Grecian women were wont to use in dying are found in these Hils Heere also Mill-stones are cut forth as also whet-stones and somtimes a white substance is found in the Mynes like to Chrystall But of this enough I passe to Stafford-shire which is encompassed on the East side with Warwick-shire and Darby-shire on the South with Glocester-shire on the West with Shropshire and on the North with Cheshire It beareth the shape of a Rhombus running from South to North and being broadest in the middle and narrowest toward the two ends The Northern part is mountainous and lesse pleasant the middle part is more delightfull as being watered with the River Trent cloathed with green woods and diversified with variety of fields and meddowes The Southerne part is rich in Pit-coales and veines of Iron The head Towne hereof is Stafford or Stratford anciently called Betheney and is much graced by the Castle called Stafford adjoyning to it which the Barons of Stafford built for their owne dwelling Heere are also the Townes of Lichfield or Licidfield Burton Vtcester anciently called Etocetum Stone Drayton Basset Tameworth Wolverhampton or Vulfrunshampton Theotenhall or Tetnall and Weadesbrig or Wedsborow And in this Shire are reckoned 130 Parishes The chiefe Rivers which glide through this Countrie are Dove Hanse Churnet Tayn Blith and Trent which arising from two spring-heads is the third chiefe River of Brittaine There are also Sous Tam and Penke The Northerne part is somewhat mountainous and full of hils which beginning heere doe runne like the Apennine Hils of Italie with a continued ridge through the middle of England even to Scotland yet often changing their name In the midst of this Shire is Needwood a spatious wood in which the Nobilitie and Gentrie of the Countrie doe THE FIFTH TABLE OF ENGLAND EBORACUM Lincolnia Derbia Stafford etc daily recreate themselves with hunting Nottinghamshire is bounded on the East with Lincolnshire on the North with Yorkeshire on the West with Darbyshire and on the South with Leicestershire The Southerne Easterne part of the Countie is fructified by the famous River of Trent and other Rivulets that flow into it The Forrest of Shirwood taketh up the whole Westerne side this because it is sandie the Inhabitants call the Sand the other by reason the soyle consisteth of Clay they call the Clay and they divide their Countrie into these two parts The chiefe Towne which gives a denomination to the Shire is Nottingham being pleasantly seated for on one side faire Meddowes lye along the River side and on an other little Hils doe raise themselves to adde a grace thereunto It is a Towne abounding with all things necessary to life For besides other conveniences it hath Shirewood which doth furnish it with store of fuell and the River Trent doth yeeld it plenty of Fish The Streetes are large having faire buildings and two great Churches with a spacious Market-place and a strong Castle Besides heere are other great Townes namely Suthwel Newarke Mansfield Blith Scroby and Workensop And in this Shire there are 168 Parishes The Rivers are Trent Lin Snite and Idle Leicester-shire anciently called Ledecester-shire bordereth upon the South with Northampton-shire on the East with Rutland shire and Lincoln-shire on the North with Nottingham shire and Darby-shire and on the West with Warwick-shire It is all field-field-ground and very fruitfull but for the most part it wanteth wood The chiefe Citie is Leicester called heretofore Legecestria Leogara and Legeocester more ancient than beautifull There are also the Townes of Longburrow Lutterworth Hinckly and Bosworth neere which Richard the third was slaine and in this Shire there are 200 Parish Churches The River Soar running toward Trent waters the middle of it and the little River Wrek which at last mingleth his waters with Soar doth gently winde about through the Easterne part Rutland-shire which was anciently called Rudland and Roteland that is red land is as it were emcompassed with Leicestershire except on the South side where it lyeth by the River Welland and on the East where it joyneth to Lincolne-shire It is the least Shire in England for it lyeth in a round circular forme so that a man may ride quite round about it in one day This Countrie is no lesse pleasant and fruitfull than others although it bee not so spacious The chiefe Towne in it is Vppingham so called because it stands on the ascent of an hill it hath a faire free Schoole in it which was built for the nurture and bringing up of children to learning by R. Iohnson Minister of Gods word who also built an other at the towne of Okeham so called because it is situated in a vale which once was very woody and full of Oakes This Shire can reckon 47 Parish Churches The little River Wash or Gwash gliding through the middle of it from East to West doth divide it into two parts Northfolke remaines yet to be described that is to say the Northerne people The bounds thereof on the South are Suffolke on the East and North the German Ocean and on the West the River Ouse The Countrie is large for the most part field-field-ground unlesse it bee where there are some smaller hils it is very rich full of flocks of sheepe and especially of Cunnies it is watered with pleasant Rivers and is sufficiently stored with wood The soyle differs according to the diversitie of places for in some parts it is fat and rich in other parts light and sandie and in other clayie and chalkie Amongst the chiefe townes in this Shire old Thetford is the first which Antoninus calleth Sitomagus that is a towne situate by the river Sit. It hath now but few dwelling-houses though heretofore it were faire and very populous There is also in this Shire the famous Citie of Norwich called by the Saxons North that is the North Castle and Yarmouth or Garmouth a faire Haven Towne fortified by its situation and mans industrie for it is almost entrenched with water on the West
with the River over which there is a draw Bridge on other sides with the Ocean except it be on the North side toward the Land and there it is encompassed with strong wals which with the River doe lye in a long square-sided-figure There are also these Townes Ashelwel-thorp Dis or Disce Shelton Skulton or Burdos Attleburgh Wauburne Lynne Swaff ham North Elmeham Dereham Windham Icborow and others For this Countrie hath 27 Market Townes and 525 Villages and about 660 Parish Churches The rivers that doe water it are Ouse Thet anciently called Sit Wauency Gerne or Yere and Wents anciently Wentfare There is not in the world any towne which getteth so much by taking and catching of Herrings as the towne of Yarmouth in this Shire For it is incredible to thinke what great Faires and Markets they have here at Michael-tide and what a number of Herrings and other fish are carried from hence into other parts Besides from hence as Varro adviseth thou maist collect the goodnesse of the shire the Inhabitants being well coloured craftie witted and sharpely insighted into the Lawes of England But of these Counties wee have entreated largely enough I passe now to the sixth Table THE SIXT TABLE OF ENGLAND IN WHICH ARE THESE Shires Warwick-shire Northampton-shire Huntingdon Cambridge Suffolke Oxford-shire Buckingam Bedford Hartford Essex Bark-shire Middlesex Hampshire Surrey Kent and Sussex IN the Sixt Table of England is first Warwick shire being bounded on the East with Leicester●shire and Watling-street way on the South with Oxford shire and Glocester-shire on the West with Wiltshire and on the North with Stafford-shire This Country is divided into two parts Feldon and Woodland heretofore called Arden that is into the Field and Wood-Country The chiefe Towne hereof is Warwicke called by the Brittaines ●aer-Leon besides the Townes of Leamington called so from the River Leame by which it standeth V●hindon now called Long Ichingdon Harbury Mancester called anciently Manduessedum Coventry called heretofore Conventria Stratford upon Avon and others and there are in this County 158 Parish Churches The Rivers are Avon Leam Arrow and Allen commonly called Aln● The next that followes is Northampton-shire which from the East where it is broadest lesseneth by degrees and is extended Eastward The County is bounded on the East with Redford-shire and Huntingdon-shire on the South with Bucking●am shire and Oxford shire on the West with Warwick-shire and on the North with Leicester-shire Rutland-shire and La●colne-shire which are parted from it by the River Welland It is a field Country of a very rich soyle both in upland grounds and meddowes The shire Towne hereof is Northampton the other Townes are Frakley Torcester anciently called Tripontium Grafton Daventr● W●d●n Higham Oundale rightly Avondale Peterborow called anciently Pe●●●●urg●● Welledone c. A● to this Shire there appertaines 326 Parishes the Rivers are Ouse Avon and Welland In the third place is Huntingdon-shire being so situated that on the South it looketh toward Bedford shire on the West toward Northampton-shire on the North where it is parted with the River Avon and on the East toward Cambridge-shire It is a Country fit for tillage and feeding of cattle and toward the East where it is low ground it is very fruitfull having every where pleasant hills and shadie woods The chiefe Towne of this Country is Huntingdon called heretofore Huntesdune to which it gives the name of Huntingdon-shire Here are THE SIXTH TABLE OF ENGLAND Warwicum Northampton Huntingdon Cantabr etc. also the Townes of S. Ives which the Saxons anciently called Slepe Saint Needes or Saint Neotifanum and Cunnington here are 78. Parishes The two Rivers Ouse and Avon doe water the Country In the fourth place is Cambridge-shire which lying toward the East doth butte upon North-folke and Suffolke on the South on Essex and Harford-shire on the West on Huntingdon-shire and on the North on Lincolne-shire and the River Ouse which running through it from East to West doth divide it into two parts The Lower and Southerne part is more tilled and planted then the rest and therefore more pleasant it lyeth in the manner of a bending plaine being a Champion Country and yeelding excellent Barley except where it beareth Saffron the farther and Northerne part flourishes more with greene Meddowes The chiefe Towne in this Shire is Cambridge anciently called Camboritum and by the Saxons Grantcester this is one of the Universities of England yea the Sunne and Eye thereof and a famous Nurserie of good learning and pietie it is seated upon the River Cam. Besides here are these Townes Roiston Rech Burwell Ely and here are 163 Parishes in this Countie and the Rivers are Cam and Stour Suffolke followes in the next place having on the West Cambridge-shire and on the South the River Stour which divides it from Essex on the East the Germane Ocean and on the North the two little Rivulets Ouse the lesse and Waveney which arising as it were from one spring head and running a diverse course doe part it from North-folke The Country is large and of a fat soyle except it be toward the East for it is compounded of clay and marle so that the fields doe flourish every where here is fruitfull pasturage for fatting of cattle and great store of cheese made The Townes in this County are Sudbury that is the South-Towne Ixning Saint Edmunds-bury called anciently Villa Faustini Bretenham Hadley Ipswich called anciently Gippwic Debenham Oreford and many others The Rivers are Stour Breton Gipping Deben Ore Ouse Waveney and Gerne or Yere Oxford-shire which commeth next to be spoken of on the West is joyned to Glocester-shire and on the South it is parted from Barke-shire by the River Isis or Ouse on the East it is bounded with Buckingham-shire and on the North with Northampton-shire and Warwick-shire It is a fertile and rich Country the plaines thereof being adorned with faire fields and meddowes and the hills crowned with many woods filled with fruits and all sorts of cattle which graze thereon In this Shire the Citie of Oxford anciently called Ousford from the River Ouse lifteth up her head being the other Universitie of England the other Sunne Eye and Soule thereof and a most famous Nurserie of Learning and Wisedome from whence Religion Humanitie and Learning are plentifully diffused and dispersed into other parts of the Kingdome Here are also the Townes of Bablac Burford which the Saxons called Beorford Minster Lovell Whitney Woodstocke Banbury Burcester or Burencester Tame Dorchester called by Bede Civitas Dorcinia and by Lelandus Hydropolis Watlington and 280. Parishes in it the rivers here are Isis Cherwell Windrush and Evenlode Buckingham-shire so called because it is full of Beech-trees commeth to be viewed in the seaventh place which being but narrow doth runne length-wayes from Thamisis Northward On the South it looketh towards Berk-shire
one channell to the Ocean and there rushing down headlong from the steepe Rocks as Leunclavius saith doth make those dease which dwell neere unto it as they report the Water-fals of Nilus doth those who inhabite neere unto them The Countrie hath no mountaines but is full of thick woods for heere are the great armes of Hercynia and other such At the mouth of Duina neere to the Sea is Dunamunta or Dun●mund an impregnable Castle not farre from Riga kept by a Polish Garrison to which all ships doe pay a certaine tribute as they passe by There is also in the mid-way Blokaus a royall fortresse which commandeth ships as they sayle by it There is moreover the castle and citie Felinum or Fellin in the Dukedome of Estland which the German hired Souldiers together with the last Governour of Lavonia William Furstenberg by most detestable treachery did betray to the Duke of Moscovia Ternestum which others call Taurum in this Country was heretofore a strong castle but after it had beene taken by the Moscovites the Lithuanians marching under the conduct of their Captaine Nicholas Radziwilus Palatine of Vilna by undermining and by planting powder under it did quite demolish it in the yeare 1561. In Livonia many yet doe live in a heathenish manner and wanting the true knowledge of God some adore the Sunne some a Stone and there are those who doe worship Serpents and Bushes When they are to interre and burie a dead body they banquet freely round about the dead carkasse and doe drinke to the dead man powring also upon him a great pot of drinke Afterward they put him in a Sepulchre and lay by him an hatchet meate drinke and some money for his journey and then they crie out Get thee gone into an other world to rule over the Germans as they have heere ruled over thee and thine They first received the Christian faith under the Emperour Frederick They account it a fault to be laborious and painfull The women borne in the countrie carrie a great state with them doe despise those women which come from other parts They will not bee called women but Mistresses and they never busie themselves with any womans worke but doe vagarie and wander abroad in the Winter time in Chariots and in the Summer by Boate. The drinke of the countrie is Mede Beere and Wine which the richer sort onely use being brought from forraine countries especially Rhenish Wine The women doe disgrace the beauty and comlinesse of their bodies by the disguisednesse of their garments The commodities which are transported out of Livonia into Germanie other Countries are Waxe Honey Ashes Pitch and Tarre Hemp Skins of divers wilde beasts and Hides Also that kinde of corne which the Latines call Secale and wee Rye is yearely transported in great plenty from hence into Germanie and other bordering countries Having explained and declared thus much concerning Livonia I hope it will bee a matter acceptable to the Reader if heere for conclusion I shall adde some thing concerning those Lycaons or men transformed into wolves who are reported to be very frequent and common in this place There are Writers who thinke themselves worthy to be beleeved among which is Olaus Magnus that doe affirme that in this Countrie every yeare some men are turned into wolves I will heere set downe his owne words thereby to recreate the minde of the Reader with the relation of an unheard of noveltie and thus hee writes in his 18 Booke cap. 45. Although in Prussia Livonia and Lithuania all the Inhabitants all the yeare are much endammaged by ravening Wolves because every where in the woods they teare in pieces and devoure a great number of their cattell if they stray never so little from the flock or heard yet they esteeme not this losse so great as that which they sustaine by men changed and transformed into wolves For in Christmas in the night time such a companie of men●wolves doe gather themselves together and shew such fierie cruelty both towards men and other creatures which are not wilde by nature that the Inhabitants of this Countrie doe receive more detriment and losse from these than from true and naturall wolves For as it is found out by experience they doe besiege mens houses standing in the woods with much fiercenesse and doe strive to breake open the doores that so they may destroy and prey upon the men and other creatures that are within But of these things wee have spoken enough let us goe forward to Russia RUSSIA OR MOSCOVIA RUSSIA which is called also Roxolonia is twofold the Blacke and the White The former bordereth on Polonia the latter is a part of Moscovia Moscovie was without doubt so called from the River Moschus or Morava which giveth its name also to the chiefe Citie Mosco through which it floweth The Territories thereof are extended farre and wide and it is bounded on the North with the Icie Sea on the East it hath the Tartarians on the south the Turkes and Polonians and on the West the Livonians and the Kingdome of Swethland In all which spaces of ground many large countries are contained and therefore the Duke of Moscovie doth thus enstile himselfe The Great Lord and by the grace of God Emperour and Governour of all Russia also Great Duke of Volodimiria Moscovia great Novogrodia Pskovia Smolonskia Thweria Iugaria Permia Viathkia Bulgaria c. Governour and Great Prince of Novogrodia the Lesse of Czernigovia Rezania Wolochdia Resovia Bielloia Rostovia Iaroslania Poloskia Biellozeria Vdoria Obdoria and Condimia c. The temperature of the Aire in Muscovia is immoderately cold and sharpe yet it is so wholsome that beyond the head of Tanais toward the North and East there is never any plague knowne although they have a disease not much unlike unto it which doth so lye in the head and inward parts that they die in few daies of it The Countrie in generall neither bringeth forth Vine nor Olive nor any fruit-bearing tree except it be Mellons and Cherries in regard that the more tender fruits are blasted with the cold North windes The corne fields do beare Wheat Millet a graine which the Latines call Panicum and all kinde of Pulse But their most certaine harvest consists in waxe and honey Here is the wood Hercynia being full of wild beasts In that part which lyeth toward Prussia great and fierce Bugles or Buffes are found which they call Bison And also the beast called by the Latines Alces like an Hart save that hee hath a fleshie snout like an Elephant long legges and no bending of the hough and this creature the Moscovites call Iozzi and the Germans Hellene Besides there are Beares of an incredible bignesse and great and terrible Wolves of a blacke colour No Countrie hath better hunting and hawking than this For they take all kinde of wild beasts with Dogges and Nets and with Haukes which the
Aquitania and the Vibiscian or Viviscian Bituriges whose chiefe Citie was Burdigala in the second Aquitania Both of them were free Cities under the Romanes as Pliny witnesseth The Register of the Provinces calleth it the Citie of the Bituricians or Berotigians in the first Aquitania or Sexta Vienne sis Iohn Calamaeus writeth much concerning the appellation and name of this Country who containeth the lustorie of the Biturigians in sixe Bookes THE DVKEDOME OF BITVRICVM BITURIGUM Ducatus Here are seventeene Collegiat Churches as they call them and seventeene Parish Churches This City hath an Archbishoprick and a flourishing University to which there is none equall in France being Mother and Nurse of most learned men The study of the Law is in greatest estimation there of which there are excellent Professours As Avaricum is the chiefe Tribunall of the whole Dukedome where the Monarch of the Biturigians sitteth as President and is commonly called le Bailly de Berry Hither are all appeales brought both from the City Praetor and from all Magistrates of other places in the Territory of Bituricum But the Prefect of Bituricum hath under him the Metropolis it selfe Avaricum and 5. Dioeceses Yss●udum Dum le Roy Vi●son Mehun Con●ressault There are reckoned with the Metropolis the County of Sancerre and S. Aignan the Barony of Mountfaulcon and almost Some suppose that Sancerra was so called from Ceres who was there reverenced and worshiped as it were the Chappel of Ceres The more learned Latine Writers leaving this Etymologie doe call it Xantodorum It hath the Title of a County which in the yeere 1015. it exchanged with Bellovacum and in the yeere 1573. it indured a hard Siege that they were enforced to eate Dogges Cats Horses Dormice Mice Moles and after they had eaten Hornes skins and the like they were compelled to eate their owne excrements and mans flesh These Cast●llania are subject to it Sanceges Beaufeu Chapelle d'Anguillon le Chastel de Boncard ●alonges ●arenay Verdigny Menesme Charentomry Brie and others S. A●gnan is so called from the Bishop S. Anianus The Barony of Mountfaulcon which signifies in Latine Montem Faulconis or the Mountaine of the Faulcon doth containe the Signiories of Baugy and Gion also la Fane Lyvr●n ●ony Villab●n Seury Marcilly Marnay Farges Av●r Saligny Per●igny ●●u Lassax Boisbos●n Nuissement Villiers Compoy Lastly the Castellania are Ays d Anguillon Sury en Vaux S. Soulange S. Palais la Salle du Roy Bueil Quintilly P●morigny Francheville la Chapelle Nancay Drye Levreux Beaulicu Brecy Beugy S. Fleurant Neufvi sur Baranion Morthonnier Maymaignes Maubranches S. Vrsin Tillay Brilliers Vatan S. Satur Lury Estrechies Maulpas Villeneusve S. Crapaix Ascilly Iussy le Chauld●●er la Corne les Ch●●zes Vaulvrilles les Cloy●s Bonge So much concerning the Metropolis and the large Jurisdiction thereof the other Dioeceses are Yssouldun a Royall City and a Bayliwick which hath under it the Baronies of Chasteauroux Gracay Ceracoy S. Severe Lynieres to which is joyned the Castelania of Rizay also Argenton in which are the Marshalship of Ravennes and the Praefectureship of Servignet The Castelania are Bourssac Chasteau Meillant Mareul Nef si S. Sepulchre ●ully Puuldy Massy Cahors Perouse Chastellet Masseuvre Augurandae S. Chartier le Palleteau Bomm●eres Moche Fully Voullon la Ferte N●hant Ville Dieu Chastre Charroux There is also Dunum Regium or Dun le Roy under which are these Castelaniae besides others Pra dict ●a●●aut a Baronnie Chasteauneuf neere the River Caris S. Iulian. Vierzon a royall City and a Dioecese having these Signiories under it Champ●e M●tte d' A●sy Saragosse Brivay Mery. Mehun hath under it the Castellania Love and Foici Concourfault or Concressault hath under it Vailly Argeny Clemon Beaujeu This Country is watered with the Rivers Ligeri Souldra Aurrona Che●re Theone ●●dro Creusa and some other smaller Rivulets Here are no Mountaines of any note The Country is interlaced here and there with Woods the chiefe whereof are Si●va Roberti Lacenna Sylva or Robert● Wood and the Wood Lacenna I come to the publike and private workes At Avar●●um besides the 34. Churches aforesaid There are foure Monasteries of Mendicant Friers two Abbies for men the one dedicated to S. Sulpitius being strong rich and standing without the Walls the other within the City dedicated to D. Ambrosius and well endowed and three Nunneries Not long since a godly Magistrate thereof did build an Hospitall for the reliefe of poore and decreped people Of all the faire Aedifices here which are many the chiefe is the stately and sumptuous House of Iames Cordus who lived in Charles the 7. time There are also the Almanes Houses who were formerly the Kings Treasurers before the Faires to which a great concourse of Strangers were wont to resort were kept at Lions Here are infinite ruines both within and without the Walls of old Aedifices which were built with curious workmanship and many are daily digged forth especially out of the Sand-pits as they call them where sometime stood the Amphitheater The Archbishop of Bourges hath these Suffragan Bishops under him the Bishop of Clermont of Rhodes of Lymoges of Mende of Alby of Cahors of Castres of Tulles and of S. Flour but the Bishop of Puy is exempted THE DVKEDOME OF BVRBON· THE Country and Dukedome of Burbon or le Pays and Duché de Burbonneis was so called from the Dukes of Burbon who were Governours thereof On the West it is neighboured with the Biturigians and Lemonicians on the North with the Nivernianis On the East lyeth Burgundie on the South are the Lugdunians The Soile for the most part is all pasture ground and hath no Corne but in some few places But there are very good Wines and great plenty of Corne. Those people whom Caesar Lib. 1. de Bello Gallico calleth Boij were supposed to have dwelt here formerly and hee calleth their Towne Lib. 7. Gergovia where hee also mentioneth Boia which doubtlesse was the Boians Towne Their strength was so greate that joyning themselves with the Cenomanians and Insubrians they pluckt downe the pride and arrogancy of the Thuscians possest their dominions and seated themselves in that parte of Italie which is now calld Romania The Romanes did call it Gallia Togata because the Frenchmen who were subject to the Romanes dwelt there The Sugusians also did inhabit all that part which is called le Pays de Fores. All this Territorie as many other bordering Countries was heretofore subject to the Kings of Aquitaine Afterward it had Dukes who from a Towne of no meane note were called Dukes of Burbon The last of them was Arcibaldus who had one onely daughter and heyre called Agnes Shee marrying Iohn Duke of Bugundie gave her daughter Beatrix which shee had by him the Dukedome of Burbon for her dowry having married her to Robert the Son of Ludovick the ninth yet with this caution that it should be called after his wives name
Mountaine neere the Citty Aust and hath great store of Salmons There is also Multavia which Ptolemy calleth Cassurgis and the Germanes Molea and the Inhabitants Vltauva there are also the Rivers Egra ●assava Gisera Misa and others some whereof have fine sands of gold and some of them have shells out of which they get Pearles The Mountaines Sud●ta doe encompasse Bohemia on the South and West The Mountaine Pinifer which is so called from the abundance of Pines growing there which riseth in the Mountaines of the Maraniship of Brandenburg betweene Franconia Voitlandia and Bohemia in the compasse of two miles doth send forth foure famous Rivers towards the foure parts of the World namely Moenus in Francia Sala i● 〈◊〉 Nabus in Bavaria and Egra in Bohemia This Mountaine also hath Gold Silver Quick-silver Iron and Brimstone It hath also 〈◊〉 of Precious-stones The whole Country is as it were walled 〈◊〉 with Woods of which that part which lyeth between 〈…〉 West and the North Strabo calleth the Wood Gabreta and Ptolem● 〈…〉 that part which streteheth from the South to Danubius Ptolemy calleth the Moones Wood but now it is called Passavica Silva or De● Passawerwaldt on the West where it joyneth to Moravia it is called Der Scheib The Emperour Charles in the yeere 1361. did devide the Kingdome of Bohemia into 12. Countries which are governed by Captaines and Barons who doe first decide small controversies and secondly if there bee any theeves they may call the Nobility to ayde them in suppressing of those Robbers and at last in time of warres every one repaireth to his owne Captaine I finde that the Burpaviate of Carlstein is in this Kingdome where the Crowne of the Kingdome is kept There are these Countries Lob●●wits Hassenstain Litzkaw Camethaw Passau Melnis Rosenberg Hadretz Dominia Hasenburg Leip Perstain Dobitschaw Walstain R●schatec Dachaw Totsnick Wartenberg Schellenberg Kost Schmirits Lissaw Kunewaldt Dessaw Schonpeck Slawa Grossen Bora Liebenstain Ioppendorff Gradetz and Colourat some of which are Counties also the Baronies of Trachenberg and Millusch Prague was made an Archbishops seate by Charles King of Bohemia and Emperour of Germany and the Bishop of Litomisliens was made his Suffragan I come unto their manners concerning which Iohn Dubravius writeth thus The Bohemians in their manners and habit doe shew a kinde of Lion-like courage under which signe Bohemia lyeth whether you consider the great stature of the Bohemians or their strong broad breasts or neckes coverd with stiffe yellow hayre or their great voice or glistering eyes or their courage and strength Moreover the Lion is wont to swell in contempt of other beasts and cannot be disarmed especially if you set upon him by force Neither doth the Bohemian degenerate from him in this also for he contemneth others both in word deed and sheweth much pride and arrogancy both in his gate and gesture And he is most fierce when he is roughly entreated Moreover he is as bold as a Lion in any enterprise and stout and hardy in the Execution but yet he is ambitious and vaine-glorious And besides he is as hungry and sharpe as a Lion and immoderate in his Dier THE MARQVISHIP OF MORAVIA MORAVIA commonly called Marnhern doth confine on Polonia Westward It is so called from the River Moravia which runneth thorow this Country The Ancients did call it Marcomannia because it did border Germany on that part where Danubiu● glideth towards Pannonia For in the Germane language Marck signifies a limmit or bound and those which dwelt there were called Marcomanni the Inhabitants of the Frontiers or Marches as Dubravius thinketh But Arrianus saith thus The last saith he of these Nations are the Quadians Marcomannians after them the Iazyges or Sarmatians then the Getes and lastly a great part of the Sarmatians And it appeareth manifestly that this Moravia was the Seate of the Marcomannians because neere the River Hana the Husbandmen as they were ploughing did often finde certaine coynes of the ancient Romane Emperours as of M. Antoninus who as Histories doe witnesse did conquer and subdue this Nation There was also mony taken from the enemy as a booty with this Inscription De Marcomannis There are some doe conjecture by the Etymologie of the word that the Marcomannians did possesse that Province of Germany which is commonly called Die Marck or the Marquiship of Brandenburg beyond Albis toward the Ocean for the Inhabitants thereof are called Die Marcker that is Marcomannians as it were Marcmenner some say the Marcomannians were so named from Horses as we call Mareschalcus a Praefect of the Horse and Mar-staller a Master of the Horse for Marrha and Merrhen doe signifie in the Germane language a Horse and a Mare whence they translate Merrhenlandt the Country of Mares But the former reason is more probable Moravia as it is now is bounded on three parts of it with Mountaines Woods Forrests or Rivers on the East from Hu●garia on the West from Bohemia on the North from Silesia For on the South towards Austria it is plaine ground and in some places it is parted from it by the River Thaysa and in other places by a small River The ayre of this Country is gentle and warme and so more subject to corruption And as this Country is populous so it yeeldeth great store of Corne and Wine and all things necessary for mans use It hath also great store of Saffron The inward part of the Country is Champion ground the Fields are of a fat and fruitfull soyle and therefore good for tillage there are Hills crowned with Vineyards and in regard it hath a better soyle for Vines than Bohemia therefore THE MARQVISHIP OF MORAVIA MORAVIA it excelleth it for goodnesse and plenty of Wine It is all tilled so that there is no part left for feeding of Flocks and Cattell unlesse it bee in the Woods and Desarts The Mountaines Sudetae neere the Citty Igla are thought to bee full of Mines Moreover it is wonderfull that there is Frankincense and Myrrh in Moravia which doth not distill out of a sweating Tree as in other parts but is digged out of the ground especially in one place called Gradisco in which there is both male and female Frankincense But of late Venceslaus a Nobleman as he was laying the foundation of the head of a Fish-pond in his owne grounds at Sterenberg found the whole body of a man which was nothing but Myrrhe This Country was heretofore adorned with the title of a Kingdome and it had formerly Kings who governed all Bohemia and Poleland and it was a very large and potent Kingdome About the yeere of Christ 700. Zuantocopius did possesse Moravia Bohemia Silesia and Poleland and the Dukes thereof were subject unto him But hee being proud of his large Territories did deny to pay the Emperour that tribute which hee had sometime paid to Lodovick King of Germany So that the King made warres upon him but hee drew up great forces to defend
Taury The Country is full of woods which are parts of the wood Hercinia But so much hitherto The Politick state of the Kingdome of Poland hath 2. Members The first are the Clergie in which are the two Archbishopricks of Gnesna and Leopolis The Bishops of Cracovia of Ploczko of Chelma Vladislavia Pomesania Varmia Culma and Sambiensis Posnonia Proemislia Cavenez Vilna Medincque Luceoria In Livonia the Bishops of Riga Dirpta Absel and Revalia Secondly the Nobles in which there are Castellanus Cracowvia the Palatine of Cracovia Posnania Sandomiria Kalischy Siradia Lancisa Brezeste Inowladislavia Russia Podalia Lublin Belze Plocense Mozavia Rava Also in Lithuania the Palatines of Vilna of Trochy Poletsho Novogrod and Vitellia Also in Prussia the Palitnes of Culma Marienbourg Pomerania The Counts are of P●snania Sand miria Kalische Voinice Gnesne Siradi● Lancise Brizeste Inowladeslavia Leopolis Camenezia Lublin Belze Plocense Geine Ravense Sandecia Myedzeris Vis●icie Biece Rogostia Radom Zawichost Land●nse Streme Zarnowe Mologost Vi●lune Premis●ia Haine Sa●●e Chelme Dobrine Polane●ce Premetense Criswinense Czecovia Nacle Rospirie Byechov●a Bydgostia Brezezine Crininice Osvecimense Camenetz Spicimirie Inowlodense Revalia Zavoloo Sachazonia Vasovia Gostine Visne Raciez Sieprecense Wisogrod Riprin Zabrochzinense Circhanouia Livense In Lithuania there are old Palatines of Vilna and Trochi In Prussia of Culma Elbingen and Pomerania There are many Captaines in the Kingdome of Poland And two Mars-halls of the Kingdome and the Court. The Ecclesiastick doth consist of these Archbishops Bishops aforesaid The Noble men are very sharpe witted and they doe travell into forraigne Countries to get knowledge and languages They are couragious and doe not feare the stoutest Enemie and if the Nobles doe wrong them all their kinsfolkes and friends doe joyne with them to revenge it and doe never cease untill they have revengd it or lost their owne lives Lastly they are not so liberal as Prodigall both in Banqueting and imoderate guifts and also in keeping a great retinew or number of Servants whom they cloth and feede SILESIA ANd so much concerning the Kingdome of Poland Silesia remaineth which I will briefely unfold It was so called from a River of the same name as Conradus Celtes witnesseth Others have other derivations It is bounderd on the North and East with Polonia on the South with Moravia and the Wood Hercynia on the West with part of Lusitia and Bohemia It is 200. Mile long and 80. broade Though the ayre be somewhat cold yet it is milde and gentle The Country in regard it is watered with many Brookes and Rivers is very fruitfull in most places and it hath in some parts Veines of Gold Silver Lead and Iron it yeeldeth also clothing for it selfe and many other Countries beside The Citties are well inhabited and adorned with Lawes and good Arts. The Metropolis thereof is Vratislavia some would have it to be that which Ptolomie cals Budorchis it is comonly call'd Breslaw Duglossus writeth that it was built by Mieslaus Duke of Polonia a little before the yeere of Christ 1000. And 40. yeeres afterward it was adorned with a Bishoprick by Casimirus King of Poland and it encreased so much that the Bishops of this Citty were called the golden Bishops in regard of their wealth and riches In the yeere 1341. it was burnt downe But the Emperour Charles the third made it in stead of Brick of Gold On the Steeple of St. Elizabeths Church there is this Inscription Mirabilis in altis Dominus The Situation the beauty of the Houses Towers and Churches the faire Bridges and large Streets doe much set forth this Citty Nissa is an Episcopall Citty There are besides in this Country 15. Dukes Lignicensis Bregensis Teschinensis Monsterbergensis Olsvicensis and Beoustadiensis and three ancient Families namely Ligvicensis Teschinensis and Monsterbergensis Tropaviensis Opeliensis Nissensis Vratislavensis or Breslauw Swidnisensis Hurensis Glagoviensis Ratibonensis and Sagonensis But these latter honours the Kings of Bohemia since the decease of their Lords have gotten There are three Baronyes namely of Trachenberg of Vertenberg and Plessensis The Kings high Court in Silesia is kept at Vratislavia where there is a Bishops seate as also at Kissa Viadrus runneth thorow this Country into which many Rivers and Streames doe flow as Elsa Ola Bobrus Barusins and others POLAND POLAND which is situate in the Europian Sarmatia is both long and wide and doth take up a great part of it it was so called from the Fields and plaine ground for Pole signifies as much as Plaine it is a very great Country having on the North Borussia and Pomerania on the East Massovia and Lithuania on the South Russia and the Mountaines of Hungaria on the West Lusatia Silesia and Moravia It is devided into the greater and lesser Poland The greater is more Northward and the River Varta runneth thorow the middle of it The lesser is Southward and the River Vistula glideth thorow it The Polanders are descended from the Sclavonians as Neugebaverus witnesseth Lib. Rer. Polonicar and their Kingdome was never so large as it is now because the great Dukedome of Lituania Livonia are joyned unto it albeit the King of Swethland hath lately gotten a great part of these Provinces It reacheth from the River Notes Obrá which doe devide it from Marchia and from the River Odera which doth part it from Silesia even to Beresaia and Borysthenes which seperateth it from Moscovia and so it extendeth West and East 120. Germane miles and as much from the farthest part of Livonia to the confines of Hungarie And so being of a round forme it is very wide and capacious There are in the greater Poland these principall Citties Posnavia built by the Rivers Varta and Prosna betweene the Hills with a double wall it hath faire slated Houses and great Suburbs by the farther banke of the River Varta being encompassed with a great Lake and Marshes and having two famous Faires every yeere it is a Bishops seate and hath many Townes under it Calisia is a walled Citty among the Marshes by which the River Prosna runneth It had sometime a strong well fortified Castle as the ruines doe testifie there are other Townes also subject unto it Gnesna is walled about being situate in a Plaine betweene Lakes and Hills and it is an Archbishops seate This Citty was first built by Lechus in which Boleslaus Chabri Prince of Polonia received the royall Diadem from the Emperor Otto the III. when before that time Poland was onely a Dukedome Siradia is a woodden Citty walled and seated on a Plaine it hath a strong Castle by the River Varta This Citty was honoured with the title of a Dukedome which dignity belonged to the Kings second Sonne It hath also many Townes under it among which is Petricovia which was heretofore of great note where the Sessions for the whole Kingdome were wont to bee held which are now translated to Warsavia Lancicia is a pleasant Citty seated on a Plaine and walled about having a
HEERETOFORE CALLED PELOPONNESVS SO much concerning the chief Countries of Greece which are in the Continent Morea and Candia are next to be unfolded The former Ptolemy Strabo and Steph. doe call Peloponnesus it is a Peninsula but now it is happily called Morea from the incursions of the Moores Heretofore as Apolloderus and Pliny doe witnesse it was called Apia and Pelasgia Strabo delivers that it was Argos and afterward Argos Achaicum and Orosius Lib. 1. cap. 11. saith that it was called Achaja And also Apulejus in his 6. Booke of the golden Asse Eustathius did also call it Pelopia and Stephanus Inachia And in Eusebius Chronicle it is called Aegialia It was called Pelopon●esus from Pelops a barbarous man who comming out of Asia raigned here For Pelopis signifies an Iland whereas it is not an Iland but a Peninsula and as Mela writeth it is most like to a Plantine leafe being as broad as long The Perimeter or compasse of it is 4000. Furlongs unto which Artemedorus addeth 400. It is joyned to the continent by an Isthmus or necke of Land the breadth whereof is 40. Furlongs Many have vainely attempted to cut thorow this narrow tongue of ground as Demetrius C. Caesar Caligula Nero and others but being frustrated of their purpose they made a wall there which they called Hexamilium Amurath the Turke threw it downe and the Venetians re-edified it in the yeere 1453. in 15. dayes space but the Turkes afterward did raze it downe to the ground In this Isthmus there was heretofore the Temple of Neptune where the Isthmian sports and Playes were celebrated Pel ponnesus hath on the East the Cretian Sea on the West the Jonian or Hadriatick Sea on the North it hath the Corinthian and Saronick Bay betweene which is the Isthmus on the South it hath the Mediterranean Sea This Peninsula is the Castle and chiefe part of all Greece and Pliny saith that it is not inferiour to any Country For it hath plenty and abundance of all things which serve rather for pleasure or necessity It hath fruitful Plaines and Hills and it is full of Bayes and Havens which doe make many Promontories The Elians the Messenians the Achivi the Sicyonians the Corinthians the Laconians the Argives and the Arcadians did heretofore inhabite Pel●ponnesus And this part of Greece was famous heretofore thorow the whole world for the Common-wealths of the Myceneans Argives Lacedemonians Si●vonians Eliensians Arcadians Pylions and Messenions out of which there came many famous Princes as Agamemnon Menelaus Ajax and others For this Country in regard of the situation and Maiesty thereof did governe all the other parts of Gree●e But now all Pel●ponnesus is under MOREA· MOREA the Turkes Dominion as also the rest of Greece although it were valiantly defended by some Earles of Greece whom they call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Lords and also by the Venetians But now a Sangiack doth governe 〈◊〉 ●rea under the Turke who is more potent than all the rest who ●●●deth at Modonum and at the Beglerbeys of all Greeces command hee i● to bring a thousand Horse into the Field at his owne cost and charges This Sangiack is called by the Barbarians Morabegi whose yeerely revenewes in this Province 700000. Aspers that is 14. thousand Crownes But it appeareth in Ptolemy and other Authors that all this Country was devided into 8. Provinces which are Corinth Argia Lacon●a Messenia Elis Achaja Sicyonis and Arcadia Corinth is seated in the Isthmus it was so denominate from the chiefe Citty which was first called Ephyre Cicero doth worthily call it the light of Greece It hath a Haven on either side the one whereof looketh toward Asia the other toward Italy so that the convenient situation made it soone grow famous and the Isthmian Playes which were celebrated here Acrocorinthe was seated on a Mountaine 3. Furlongs and a halfe high and under it was Corinth 40. Furlongs in compasse On the top of the Mountaine there was a temple dedicated to Venus neere which was the Fountaine Pyrene which did first spring up as the Poets report from a stroke of Pegasus his hoofe who was the winged Horse of the Muses This Citty was raz'd by L. Mummius because they had discourteously entertained the Romane Embassadours after it had beene builded 952. yeeres by Aletes the Sonne of Hippotes as you may finde it in Pater●u●us Argia followeth which Ortelius calleth Romania The Citties of this Country are Mycenae where Agamemnon had his Palace whence Ovid calleth it Agamemnons Mycenae it was famous for the ancient temple of Iuno whence Iuno was called Argiva They report that the Cyclops did wall it about Not farre from hence was the Lake Lerna where Hercules kild the Lernaean Hydra or rather did scatter and kill the Theeves that did rob in those parts The Citty Argo● was built as some report by Argus Nauplia now called Neapolis is a strong Citty of Romania Epidaurus is in the innermost part of the Saronian Bay a Citty famous for Esculapius temple Next to Argia is Laconia The Metropolis or Mother Citty whereof is Sparta which was also called Lacedaemon and now Misithra it was heretofore a great potent Citty being not fortified with walls but by the valour of the Cittizens neither doth Pomponius praise it for magnificent Buildings but for Licurgus his Lawes and Discipline in which it contended with Athens as Thucidides noteth in his 8. Booke Leuctra may be knowne out of Plutarch by that sad and tragicall History of Scedasus Daughters There is also Epidaurus which is now called Malvasia Messenia reacheth from the Mountaine Taygetus and the River Panijsus even to Alpheus The chiefe Citty of it is Messene situate by the Sea it is now called Mattegia Aristomenis was the Country where renowned Messenius was borne who as Pausanias reporteth being ripped open after he was dead had a hairy Heart There is also Methone now called Modon where the Turkish Sangiack did sometimes keepe his residence Corone is now called Coron Pilus was the Country where Homers eloquent Nestor who lived three ages was borne And Ciparissi is now called Arcadia Elis is situate betweene Messenia Achaja and Arcadia The Citties are Elis thorow the middle whereof Peneus and Alpheus did runne famous for Iupiters temple Olympia was famous for the solemne Graecian Playes which were called Olympian games and for the sumptuous Temple of Iupiter Olympius which by the offrings and gifts of potent Princes and other men grew so great and beautifull that there was no Church in all Greece that could compare with it for magnificence and riches for Iupiter was religiously reverenced here Cipselus the Tyrant of Corinth did consecrate and sett up a golden Iupiter at Olympia of massie gold Afterward Phidius the Athenian did sett up a great Image of Iupiter of Gold and Ivory being 60. foote high which worke was reprehended by other Artificers because the Image was not proportionable to the Temple For whereas this Iupiter sate in an Ivory
drinke of the water of the other River their hide and haire groweth black There is an arme of the Sea which Livie calleth the Euborian Bay which is a violent Sea and floweth and ebb●th 7. times by day and 7. times by night with such a violent course that no Ship can sayle against it There is also the Mountaine ●apha●●us famous for the Shipwrack of the Graecians as they returned from Tr●y and for the death of Pa●amedes at Troy the Sonne of E●ripides N●●plius King of the Eubaean Iland CERIGO PTOLEMIE calls it Cythera Pliny heretofore called it Porpyris and ●u●●a hius calleth it P●rphyrusa from the great store of Porphirie Marbles which i● in the Mountaines It is now called Cerig●●● is th● first Iland of the Aegaean Sea on the West over-against the La●onick 〈◊〉 It 〈◊〉 it from the shoare of Peloponnesus 5. miles and it is 60. miles in compa●se It hath a Towne of the same name and many Havens which are not safe and secure for there are many Rocks which lye scatteringly round about this Iland RHODES· THERE remaineth in this Table the Iland of Rhodes This as Pliny witnesseth was heretofore called Ophtusa Asteria Aethraea Trin●●hia Corimbia A●abiria and Macarta It is distant from the continent of Asia 20. miles The compasse of it is 140. miles It hath a temperate and gentle Ayre and it was consecrate to the Sunne because there is no day wherein the Sunne doth not shine upon it The soyle is fruitfull and the Meddowes fertile and it hath great store of fruit Trees of which many are alwayes greene It hath now but one strong Citty of the same name which is situate in the Easterne part of the Iland partly on a steepe Hill and partly on the Sea Coast It hath a faire and safe Haven and it is well fortified with a double Wall thirteene high Towers five Castles and other Forts and Bulwarkes And it hath an University which heretofore was as famous as that at Massils Athens Alexandria and ●arsus and it had a brazen Colossus of the Sunne which was seventy Cubits high which after it had stood 56. yeeres it was throwne downe by an Earthquake and when it lay on the ground it was a wonderfull sight to behold For a man of a good stature could not fathome or embrace his Thumb And the Fingers were greater than most Statues and when it was broke his Belly did gape like a great Cave This Colossus was making twelve yeeres and three hundred Talents of Brasse went to the making of it and within there were great stones layd that might make the worke stand firme The Sultan laded 700. Camels with the Brasse of this Statue THE KINGDOME OF PERSIA OR THE EMPIRE OF THE SOPHI THE Persian or Sophian Empire as it was renowned heretofore so now also it is very famous The Inhabitants are Persians They are called also Ayami or Azamij from the Kingdome of Azamia which some thinke was heretofore called Assyria they were called Persians from Persides and Cheselbas from the red Cap or Hatt which they used to weare They were called Sophians from Prince Sophos The Kingdome of Persia is situate betweene the Turkish Empire the Tartarians the Zagatheans the Kingdome of Cambaia and betweene the Hircanian or Caspian Sea and the Persian Bay It hath thereof on the East the Indies and the Kingdome of Cambaja from which it is separated and parted by the Mountaines and Desarts on the North are the Tartars neere the River Albianus or Oxus the rest is enclosed with the Caspian Sea on the West are the Turkes neere the River Tigris and the Lake Giocho on the South it is washed with the Persian Bay and the Indian Sea which is a large space of ground for it containeth 38. degrees of longitude from the East to the West And from the South to the North 20. degrees Concerning the temper of the ayre of Persia Q. Curtius Lib. 5. writeth thus There is no whole-sommer Country in all Asia for the ayre is temperate here a continued shady Mountaine doth qualifie the heate thereof and there it is joyned to the Sea which doth cherish it with a temperate warmth But this Country is not all of one quality nor of one soyle That part which lyeth toward the Persian Bay in regard it is watered with Rivers and also that part toward the Caspian Sea having pleasant Rivers a milde gentle Ayre are both happy and fruitfull and doe yeeld all kindes of fruits and doe breed all kindes of living creatures It hath abundance of Wheate Barley Millet and the like Graine and also Mettals and Pretious Stones and Paulus Venetus witnesseth that it hath great plenty of Wine The other parts are desolate by reason of the heate and drynesse Moreover the Persians were at first an obscure Nation but they grew famous afterward by their King Cyrus who having gotten the Empire Media and Lydia joyned it to Persia and so having conquerd Asia and subdued all the East he left it a faire and flourishing Kingdome Cambyses succeeded his Father who added Aegypt to the Empire after whom Persia continued in one Estate untill Da●ius raigned who being conquerd by Alexa●der of Maced●n lost his life together with his Kingdome It was governed by Kings 230. yeeres as Q. Curtius affirmeth Lib. 4. and the Prophet Ieremiah doth assent unto him at the 9. Chapter of Daniel But now the Persian Empire which is subject to the great ●ophy is accounted one of the most potent Empires of all the East which though it were sometimes oppressed by the Sarazens and sometimes by the Tartars yet it grew up againe in the raigne of King Ismael The Countries which are subject to the Persian Empire are these Media Assyria Susiana Mesopotamia Persis Parthia Hyrcania Marg●a●a Bactriana Par●pamissus Aria Drangiana Gedrosia and Carmania Media is now called Servan which is situate betweene Persia and the Hyrcanian Sea it hath on the East Hyrcania and Parthia on the West the greater Armenia and Assyria It is devided into the greater or the Southerne and the Northerne Atropatia The latter is colder and therefore lesse inhabited The chiefe Citty is Sm●chia there are moreover these Citties Derb●nt Ere 's Sechi and Giavot The greater is more inhabited it hath also the Citty Tauris which is placed at the foote of O●ontis being 8. dayes journey distant from the Caspian Sea The compasse of it is almost 16. miles in which it is supposed that there are 200000. Citizens The Ancients did call it E●batana where the Kings of Persia doe dwell in Summer In the same Country there are Turcomian ●aru Sus●an Nassiva Ardavil and Marant Assyria which is now called Arzerum hath on the East Media on the West Mesopotamia on the North Armenia on the South ●usiana It had heretofore these Provinces Arrapach●tes Adiabena and Sittacena the Citty Ninive is by Tigris which is 60. miles in compasse Susiana is now called Chus or Cusistan it was so named
himselfe The Hungarians were as it were a bolt or barre which the King of Moravia had placed to shut up the passage that way The Emperour who purposed not to depart from Moravia without victory perceiving where they were ayded opened a passage to Hungaria and let in the Turkes amongst them who did grievously afflict this Province And so the Emperour using the Turkes Forces did suppresse the King of Moravia and having made a great slaughter and taken many prisoners he put him to flight Who by this meanes escaping betooke himselfe to a thicke Wood and having cast away his royall Robes and apparell hee went to a Hermit with whom hee liv'd a solitary Hermits life untill his death and then hee discovered who hee was and so slept in Christ After that the Princes of Bohemia Poleland and Silesia had every one Dukes of their owne yet they payd some tribute to the Emperour At the same time when Michael was Emperour of Greece there came Cirillus Doctor and Apostle of all Sclavonia together with Merodius who layd the foundation of the Christian faith in Moravia and erected an Episcopall Church in the Towne Vielagrad So that being called and summoned by the Pope to answer why they read Masse in the Sclavonian tongue they answered because it is writtten Omnes Spiritus laudet Dominum Let every spirit praise the Lord. But afterward Moravia was governed by Dukes and Marquisses and it is now devided so that the better part of it and almost all of it is subject to the Kings of Bohemia the other part is subject to Barons and Lords The chiefe head-Citty of this Marquiship is Brunna which the Germanes call Brin and the Bohemians Brino and some doe call it Olmuzium and Olomontium it is a Bishops Seate and heretofore it was called Volograd It hath also many other faire walled Citties as Zwoyma Radisch Iglavia Nova Civitas Niclosburg Mons Nicolai Weiskirchen Cremser Boserlitz heretofore a Marquiship and many others which may be found in the Table or Card. The chiefe Rivers in Moravia are Morava or Ma●ava●a Ptol●my calls it C●abrus it is commonly called die Marche which floweth by the chiefe Citty Olomuz●um and so running into ●a●rovia it falleth at last into Di●ubius It is thought that this River named the Country but it is more likely that the Country named the River The other chiefe Rivers are Iheya or Deins which Dubravius calls Tha●sa and some Thysia It floweth by Zuoyna which is memorable in regard that the Emperour Sigismund dyed here and it doth border Mo●avania and Austria The River Igla whence the Citty Iglavia is so called doth devide the Maravanians from the Bohemians and doth enter also into Marava●ia But the River Odera which riseth not farre from Olomuzium doth keepe his owne name untill hee falleth into the Ocean Some suppose that Ptolomy doth call it Viadrum They called Odera by a word borrowed from Fowlers who set down daring Glasses to catch and allure Birds to their Nets which they call Odri and the Fowlers doe now set downe such Glasses in Moravia by the Fountaine of Odera Neither can wee passe by Hama although it bee a small streame yet it watereth those Fields which are the fruitfullest in all Moravia so that the Husbandmen in regard of their great plenty of Corne which they yeeld doe call them the light or eye of Moravia And also Gold and Silver coynes of M. An●●●us and Commodus and some other of the Emperours are very often found in these parts which are manifest tokens of the warres which the Romanes had against the Marcomannians in Moravia There is also the River Nigra ●ommonly called Suarta and Suittaw which doth glide by the Citty Brunna and is next in esteeme to Olomuzium These Rivers have great store of divers kindes of Fish This Country is not so Mountainous as Bohemia neither is altogether plaine Ptolemy placeth here the Wood Orcynium and the Wood Gabreta The Inhabitants are very rude and doe use a mixt kinde of speech But they speake just the Bohemian language for the Germane speech is onely used in Citties and that among the Nobles and chiefe men In other matters Dubravius saith that they are like the Bohemians in their rites and manners In the Villages of this Country there doe dwell divers Anabaptists who professe that there ought to be a community of all things Mercator placeth these Counties in Mo●avia Huckenwaldt Schonberg and these Signiories or Lordships Lomnicz Dubrantiz Gemniez Walstain Pietnix Neuhauss Telesch Bozkowitz Trebits●h Dernowitz and Ragetz THE ARCHDVKEDOME OF AVSTRIA The third Circle of the Empire is AUSTRIA in which there are two Orders THe next that followeth in our method is Austria called heretofore Pannonia the higher The name of Austria as Wolfgangus Lazius witnesseth is but of late time being called so either from the South wind which is frequent in that Country or from the Germane word Oostreich for so the Frenchmen called the Easterne bounds of their Kingdome as they call'd the Westerne bounds Westretch But that which the Frenchmen called Oostreich was situated by the Rhene and called afterward Austrasia which name having lost they call'd it Pannonia as Lazius testifieth Lib. 1. Cap. 11. Comment Gent. Aust Moreover the Austrians are descended from the Frenchmen and Saxones who by the sword got this Country from the Hungarians Austria hath on the East Hungaria on the South the Mountaines of Styria which doe runne out with one continued Bridge from the Alpes into Hungary and other Countries beyond it it hath on the East Bavaria and on the North the Rivers Tejus and Moravia It hath a milde pleasant ayre and wholesome in regard that the East winde doth purifie it The soyle is very fruitfull and not chargable in tilling For the Husbandman in that part which is called Campus Transdanubianus or the Fields beyond Danubius will plough the ground with one poore leane Horse The Austrians doe not know what Marle is with which the barren leane Fields in Bavaria are manured All the Country hath excellent Wine which is purer then the Germane wine and weaker then the Spanish wine which it doth transport to Moravia Bohemia Silesia and Bavaria Besides it hath excellent good Saffron It hath also abundance of Silver but no Gold it hath Salt also which is partly made at home partly imported and brought in from other parts The Earles of Babenberg did sometime governe Austria the first was Lupold whom the Emperour Otto the second created Marquesse of Austria whose Line being extinct Rudolphus of Habspurg who was elected Emperour in the yeere 128● did governe it and made it a Dukedome And Frederick the second made it a Kingdome The armes of this Country were heretofore five golden Larkes painted in a Sky-colour Field but the Marquesse Lupold the V. had new Armes given him by the Empire which were set forth in white and red colours because his Buckle● was so bloody in the Battaile against Ptolomies that it was all
which neere to Newland are found rich veines of Brasse not without Gold and Silver Heere also is found that minerall-earth or hard and shining stone called by the English Black-lead which the Painters use to draw their lines and proportions withall That famous Wall which was the limit or bound of the Roman Empire being 122 miles in length doth divide and cut through the higher part of this Country it was built by Severus who as Orosius saith tooke care that this part of the Island should be seperated by a trench from the other wilde and untamed people Beda writeth that it was eight foote broad and twelve foote high standing in a right line from East to West some ruines and pieces whereof standing for a good way together but without Battlements may be seene at this day as Camden witnesseth The Bishoprick of Durham or Duresme bordereth upon Yorkeshire Northward and lyeth in a triangular or three cornered forme the top whereof is made by the meeting of the Northerne bound and the Fountaines of Teisis On the Southerne part almost where the River retreateth back againe the Cathedrall Church is seene being beautified with an high Steeple and many Pinnacles on the top of a great Hill the Castle is seated in the middle of two Bridges made of stone by which the two streames of the River Vedra the one on the East side the other on the West side are joyned together On the North side from the Castle lyes the Market place and S. Nicholas Church Here are also these Market Townes Standrove or Stanthorpe Derlington Hartlepole or Heorteu Binchester or Binovium and Chester upon the streete which the Saxons called Concester with many Villages and Castles In this Shire and Northumberland there are an hundred and eighteene Parishes besides many Chappels Heere are many Rivers of which the chiefe is Tees called in Latine Tesis and Teisa Polidorus cals it Athesis Camden thinkes it was called by Ptolemie Tuesis though this name be not found in him by reason of the carelesnesse of the Transcribers of his Booke This River breaking out of the Quarri-pit of Stanemore and having gathered into it selfe many torrents running by the Marble Rocks neere Egleston and afterward washing many places at last by a great inlet it casts it selfe into the Ocean whence the basis of the Triangle beginneth There is also the Rivers Vedra or Weare Gaunlesse Derwent c. THE THIRD TABLE OF ENGLAND CONTAING THESE FOLLOWING Shires Westmorland Lancashire Cheshire Caernarvanshire Denbigh-shire Flint-shire Merionedh-shire Montgomerie-shire and Shropshire with the Islands of Mann and Anglesey I Come unto the third Table wherein Westmorland first offers it selfe being bounded on the West and North with Cumberland and on the East with Yorke-shire and Durham It is so called because for the most part it is unfit for tillage for such places as cannot be till'd the English call Moores so that Westmoreland signifies in English nothing but a Morish and for the most part untillable Country towards the West The Southerne part being narrowly inclosed betweene the River Lone and Winander Mere is fruitfull enough in the Valleyes although it hath many ruffe and bare cliffes and is called the Baronie of Kendale or Kandale Afterward above the spring heads of Lone the Country groweth larger and the Mountaines runne out with many crooked windings In some places there are deepe Vales betweene them which by reason of the steepnes of the Hills on both sides seeme like Caves The chiefe Towne here is Aballaba now called Apelby The antiquity and situation whereof is onely worth regard for it is so farre from elegant and neate building or structure that if the antiquity thereof did not give it the prioritie to be the chiefe Towne of the Country and the Assises held in the Castle it would not differ much from a Village There is also a Towne of great resort called Kendale famous for Cloath-making and in this Shire there are sixe and twenty Parishes The Rivers are Lone Ituna or Eden and Eimot Lancastria is commonly called Lancashire and the County Palatine of Lancaster because it is a County adorned with the title of a Palatine It lyeth Westward under the Mountaines which doe runne through the middle of England and is so enclosed betweene Yorke shire on the East and the Irish Sea on the West that on the Southerne side where it looketh toward Cheshire from which it is divided by the River Mersey it is broader and so by degrees as it goeth Northward there where it boundeth on Westmoreland it groweth straighter and narrower and there it is broken off with a Bay of the Sea yet so as a great part of it is beyond the Bay and joyneth to Cumberland Where it hath a levell of field ground it hath sufficient store of Barley and Wheate but at the foote of the Mountaines it beareth most Oates The Soyle is tolerable unlesse it be in some moorish and unwholesome THE THIRD TABLE OF ENGLAND WEST MORLAND CASTRIA CESTRIA etc. places which yet doe requite these inconveniences with greater commodities For the upper grasse being pared off they afford Turfes for fuell in digging of which trees are often found which have laid a long time buried in the earth digging a little lower they furnish thēselves with Marle or Marmure to dung their fields In this Country the Oxen excell all other both for the largenesse of their hornes and fairenesse of their bodies I passe now to the Cities among which wee meete first with the ancient Towne of Manchester which Antoninus calleth Mancunium Mannucia this doth exceed the neighbour Towns for beautie populousnes the trade of Cloathing and for the Market-place Church and Colledge There is also Ormeskirke a Towne of traffique famous by being the burying place of the Stanleyes Earles of Derby There is also Lancaster the chiefe Towne of the Country which the Inhabitants doe more truly call Loncaster the Scots Loncastle because it took that name from the River Lone vulgarly called Lune Camden supposeth this Citie to be that which the Romans did call Alona insteed of Arlone which signifies in the Brittish language at or upon Lone In this Shire are but 36. Parishes but those very populous Here are many Lakes and Moores among which is the Moore Merton and the greatest Lake of all England called Winander Mere which hath abundance of one sort of Fish peculiar unto it self Huls which the Inhabitants call Charre The Rivers are Mersey Idwell Duglesse Ribell Wyre Lack and Lone which flowing out of the Mountaines of Westmoreland toward the South with narrow bankes and an unequall channell enricheth the Inhabitants in the Summer season with Salmon-fish Here are many Mountaines and those very high among which is that which is called Ingleborrow Hill which as Camden saith we have admired rising by degrees with a great ridge toward the West and the
Southwest also Helsinger where those ships that saile or passe by do pay custome or tribute and the Castle Cronaburg both distant from it on the Northwest 8 miles Helsingburg which lies on the shoare of Scania is as farre distant from it toward the North and on the same shoare is Landskrone being foure miles from it toward the East lyeth Lunda or Londen which although it be not a Sea-towne yet is but 16 miles distant from hence And although the Island be not very great yet no part of it is barren or unfruitfull but produceth great store of fruit and aboundeth with cattell it bringeth forth Does Hares Cunnies and Partridges in great plentie and is very convenient for fishing It hath a wood of Hasell trees which are never worme-eaten but hath no Dormise Heretofore it was remarkable for foure Castles whose names do yet remaine Synderburg which was seated on the Southerne shoare Norburg on the opposite Northerne shoare Karheside which stood toward the East side of the Island and Hamer toward the West the foundation of these foure Castles may be yet seene but there are no ruines thereof remaining This Island lyes very deepe in the Salt-sea and yet it hath many fresh Rivers and Springs among which there is one Spring that never freezeth with the violence of the Winters cold a strange thing in these Countries BORVSSIA OR PRVSSIA BORVSSIA being the farthest coast of Germany taketh its name from the people called Borussians as Erasmus Stella witnesseth These as Ptolemy affirmeth placed themselves by the Riphaean Hills where they runne out Northward not far from the head of Tanais arising out of them and weary of their owne habitations with a strong head and violent force they seated themselves in these places and called the whole Country from their owne name Borussia which now by wiping out one letter and pronouncing another more softly is called Prussia Borussia beginning from the River Vistula which boundeth it on the West and running to the Balticke Sea which compasseth the Northerne side thereof hath the Alani or Lituanians on the East and on the South the Hamaxobij i. the Scythians inhabiting the European Sarmatia It hath a pleasant ayre but somewhat cold All the Country is more fruitfull than the neighbour Provinces The ground is very fertile in bearing of corne and such as farre excells the corne of Poland and Lithuania It hath as great store of Bees and Honey as any of the other Northerne Countries There is also in it much cattle and great store of game for hunting The great and vast woods bring forth many kindes of wild beasts as Beares Boares with which they abound yeelding a sort of Beares very strong and swift called Bubali They bring forth Buffons being a wilde kinde of Oxen and wilde Horses whose flesh the Inhabitants do eate They bring forth Alces which they commonly call Elandes and white Weesels or Ferrets The Borussians for the most part were Idolaters untill the time of the Emperour Fredericke the second in whose raigne and in the yeare 1215. some Knights of the Dutch order or the order of the Crosse did overcome them and taught them the Christian Religion After the Provinces and Cities of Borussia An. 1419. being mooved thereunto by the covetousnesse and cruelty of those of the order of the Crosse did revolt to Casimirus King of Polonia And 30 yeares after the first defection revolting againe they sold Mariburg with other Castles and Cities to the King for 476000 Florens But the Marians refusing to yeeld obedience to the King they a long while contended by a doubtfull and uncertaine warre untill at last the whole Country came into the hands of Albert Marquesse of Brandenburg the last Governour of that Order who afterward at Cacrovia was made a Duke and a secular Prince by Sigismund King of Polonia They report that Prince Venedusus did divide Borussia into twelve Dukedomes whereof these are the names Sudavia Sambia Natangia Nadravia Slavonia Bartonia Galinda Warmia Ho●kerlandia Culmigeria Pomesania and Michlovia BORVSSIA OR PRVSSIA PRUSSIA Sudavia was so wasted by those of the order of the Crosse that now of a Noble Dukedome at this day there are scarce seven Townes remaining and those very meane In Sambia are many Cities as Lebenicht built in the yeare 1256 Kneyback built in the yeare 1380. Regimount called by the Germans Keningsberg and built in the year 1260 by Duke Albert Fischusen built in the yeare 1269 lastly Lechstet built in the yeare 1289. In Natangia there are these Cities Valdonia Girania Zinten Crentzburg Heiligenbeil Fridland Shippenbeil Brandenburg In Nadravia there are a few Cottages onely remaining but all the Townes of note wasted In Slavonia are these Cities Ragnet Tilse Renum Liccow Salaw Labia Tapia Vintburg Christaderder Baytia Cestia Norbeitia Vensdorfe Angerbury and Dringford In Bartonia are these Townes Nordenburg Iabansburg Iurgburg Insterburg Richtenerder Barton and Rhenum In Galindia are these Towns Ortleburg Rastenburg Neyburg Passenhume Dreschdow and Luzenburg In Warmia are Ressen Seburg Bitstein Wartenburg Allensteyn Melsak Heilsberg Werinedit and Gustat In Hockerlandia are Brunsburg Tolkemit Munhuse Scorpow and Elbing the greatest of them all being built on the Sea shoare and famous for the wealth of the Citizens and frequencie of Merchants In Culmigeria are Turuma or Thorn a famous Marti Towne built neare the River Vistula or Weisel in the yeare 1235. Also Culmina or Culine Wentslaw Althasis Graudentz Gilgehburg Schonsee Strasburg Bretchen Neumarckt Pappaw Fridech Leippe Lesen Golb Reden Berglaw and Lantenburg In Pomerania is Marienburg a large City built in the yeare 1402. Also Newtich Stum Christburg Preusmarck Salfeld Merine Holand Lichstad Osterod Rosenburg Mariemweder Garnesie Lebmul Hohenstein Schonenberg Culenburg Neunburg and Salaw In Michlovia all is wasted and destroyed except Straburg onely Prussia is a Country in regard of the navigable Rivers Bayes and Havens fit for the importation or exportation of divers commodities and merchandises The chiefe Rivers are Vistula Nemeni Cronon Nogent Elbing Vusera Passerg Alla Pregel Ossa Vreibnitz Lua and Lavia In which as in the Lakes there are great store of fish Moreover on the shoares of Borussta neare the Balticke Sea a certaine kinde of Amber is gathered which the Inhabitants call Barstein from burning and Augstein because it is very good for the Eyes The Greeks call it Electrum because the Sunne is called Elector having recourse as it were to the fable of Phaethon Servius upon the eighth Aeneid saith that there are three kindes of Amber one of which commeth out of trees another which is found in the earth a third which is made of three parts gold and one part silver Plinie writeth that the Germanes called it Glessum or Glesse because it is not unlike unto it seeing both of them are perspicuous and transparent and from thence the Romans did call this Country Glessaria There are many kindes of it the white
Minsko and the Castle ●●●lanaw also Radoscowice Borissow Lawisko or Liwsko Swislo●z Bobreisko and Odruck The fourth Palatinate is the Novogrodian in which is Novogrodeck a large Citie and built of wood also Slonim Wolkowi●z and many other Townes The fift Palatinate is the Briestian so called from the Citie Briesti being large and built of wood and here is the Citie of Pinsko The sixt is the Palatinate of Volhinia in which is Luezko the Seate of a Bishop also Voladamire and Kerzemenesia The seventh Palatinate is Kiovia in which there was heretofore a large and ancient Citie of the same name seated by the River Boristhenes as the ruines which lie sixe miles in length doe easily demonstrate There are also the Townes Circasia or Kerkew Kamova and Moser The eighth is the Palatinate of Miceslow neare to the Rivers Sosa and Borysthenes in the borders of Moscovie wherein are the Townes of Miceslaw Dubrowna 〈◊〉 and Sklow beside Mohilow By●how ●●czycza and Strissin with their Castles The ninth Palatinate is the Witebscian in which is the Citie Witebsk situated by the River Duna and Orsa neare Borysthenes The tenth Palatinate is the Polocensian which is so called from Poloteska a Citie lying neare to the confluence of the River Polota and Duna betweene Witsbek and Livonia There are also the Townes Disna Drissa and Dr●●●a with their Castles These things being explained let us speake something of the Rivers of Lithuania On the East side Lithuania is bounded with the Rivers Oscol Ingra and the lesser Tanais all which with many others doe runne into great Tanais There is also in Lithuania the River Borysthenes which arising out of a plaine marish ground and running through Russia doth vent it selfe at last into the Euxine Sea and the Rivers Wilia and Niemen the latter whereof runneth a great way with a very crooked winding streame and at last disburthens it selfe into the Prutenick or Finnish Sea also Duina and other Rivers beside Lakes and standing waters of which the Country is full and all these do afford great plenty of fish which are very delectable pleasant in taste Moreover the Country is covered with very great and spacious woods Sigismund that happie and auspicious King of Poland did unite the Palatines and Castellans of the Provinces of Lithuania into one body of a Common-wealth with the Polanders and did designe a certaine place and order in the Senate of the Kingdome to all the Noble men Bishops and Palatines of this Country so that out of the Kingdome of Poland and the Provinces united unto it there are in the Senate fifteene Bishops one and thirty Palatines thirty of the greater Castellans or governours of Castles and fiftie of the lesse beside those who are called the Officials of the Kingdome as the Marshalls the Chancellours the Vicechancellors and the Treasurers of which wee will speake more largely in the description of Poland Marriages amongst the Lithuanians are easily dissolved by mutuall consent and they marry againe and againe The wives have openly men-concubines by their husbands permission whom they call connubij adjutores i. helpers in marriage but on the contrary for men to follow whores is counted a reproach When any one is condemned to die he is commanded to punish himselfe and to hang himselfe with his owne hands which if he refuse to doe hee is threatned and beaten with stripes untill he kill himselfe Their flockes doe afford them great store of milke for their food The common bread which they use is very blacke being made of Rye or Barley together with the branne but the rich mens bread is very white being baked and made of pure Wheat They seldome use any wine for the common people drinke water and such as are of abilitie drinke Ale which they brew of divers sorts of corne as Wheat Rye Barley Oates and Millet but such as is unsavory They have abundance of thicke and thinne Mede boyled in divers manners and with it they make themselves merrie and oftentimes drunke Lithuania seemeth almost to be inaccessible as being almost all overflowne with waters but in Winter there is more convenient trafficking with the Inhabitants and the wayes are made passable for Merchants the Lakes and standing waters being frozen over with yee and spread over with snow Their chiefe wealth is the skins of beasts as of Weesills Foxes and those which are more precious as Martens and Scythian Weesills Of these they make a great profit as also of their Waxe Honey Ashes and Pitch The best Wainscot is cut here and brought into Germany through the Balthick and Germane Sea and out of this Country all woodden Architecture both publique and private through all Germany and the Low countries is made as also for the most part such woodden housholdstuffe as belongeth to houses but enough of Luthuania we will now adde something concerning the rest There followes in our Title Samogitia which in their language signifies the Lower land the Russians call it Samotzekasemla it is a Northerne Country and very large being next to Lithuania and environed with Woods and Rivers On the North it hath Livonia on the West it is washed with the Balthick or Germane Sea which is properly called the Balthick Bay and towards the Northwest Borussia joyneth unto it It aboundeth with the best whitest and purest Honey which is found in every hollow tree It hath no Towne nor Castle the Nobles live in Lodges the Country people in Cottages The people of this Country are of a great and large stature rude in behaviour living sparingly drinking water and seldome any drinke or Mede they knew not untill of late the use of Gold Brasse Iron or Wine It was lawfull with them for one man to have many wives and their father being dead to marrie their step-mother or the brother being dead to marrie his wife The Nation is much enclined to Fortune telling and Southsaying The God which they chiefly adored in Samogitia was the fire which they thought to be holy and everlasting and therefore on the top of some high mountaine the Priest did continually cherish and keepe it in by putting wood unto it In the third place is Russia by which name in this place wee understand the Southerne or Blacke-Russia whose chiefe Country is Leopolis or Lemburg built by Leo a Moscovite it is famous by reason of the Mart kept there and the Bishops Seat Beside the Country of Leopolis there are three other in this Russia to wit the Country of Halycz Belz and Praemislia In the fourth place is Volhinia which is situate betweene Lithuania Podolia and Russia it aboundeth with fruits in regard of the fertility of the soile The Inhabitants are strong and warlike and doe use the Ruthenian language This Country did pertaine once to the great Duke of Lithuania but now it is joyned to the Kingdome of Polonia It hath three divisions the Lucensian
nothing and when they are 8. yeeres old 50. of the handsomest and hopefullest of them are placed in the Emperours Palace at Constantinople which is called Saray and there they are instructed in learning and rudiments of warre untill they have attained to 20. yeeres of age Out of these beside other Officers of the Court the Janitzaries are chosen of whom there are 12000. who are the Turkes Garde Out of the Janitzaries 3000. Spachoglani are chosen who goe on the Princes right hand and doe every one keepe 4. or 5. Horses for service Hemus is a very high wood so that from the top thereof you may behold the Euxine and Adrian Sea The Inhabitants of this Country are yellow of complexion long hayrd couragious fierce and cruell they are great drinkers and doe love Wine GREECE VVHICH CONTAINETH THESE CHIEFE COVNTRIES ALBANIA MACEDON EPIRE ACHAIA and MOREA GREECE followes which is a famous Country of Europe and the Fountaine and mother of learning The Inhabitants did call it Hellas But these that doe now inhabite it doe call it Romechi and the Turkes Haromeli Leunclavius calleth it Rumelia and the 70. Interpreters Ihobel and Iava But Greece hath severall bounds assignd it It reacheth properly from Ep●e by the River Achelous On the East it hath the Aegean Sea and thus Greece is properly bounderd Which Pliny doth intimate who saith that Greece beginneth from the Istmus and againe he saith that Gre●ce is joyned to Peloponesus with a short neck of ground Sometimes also Pel●ponesus and Thessalia are comprehended in Greece So L. Aemilius Paulus when he travaild thorow Greece he went to Delphos thorow Thessaly from thence to Lebadia then to Chalcides afterward to Aulides and from thence to Athens then to Corinth Sicyon Argos Epidaurus Lacedemon Megalopolis Olympia and so having travelled thorow Greece he returned to Amphipolis Homer calleth the Phtiotae onely Graecians Herodotus maketh a difference betweene the Thracians and Pelasgans But now we call Greece all the Country which lyeth Westward and is washed with the Jonian Sea on the South with the Libian Sea on the East with the Aegean on the North it is parted from Thrace Mysia and Dalmatia This Country did heretofore excell other parts of Europe both for the temper of the climate and fertility and Heards of Cattell This is that Country which flourished along time and was a famous Empire for Learning Arts and warlike Discipline It was first free but while it affected Sove●●●nty over others it was it selfe brought into servitude for now it is under the Turkes Dominion And heretofore Cyrus afterward Xerxes and other Kings of Persia did vexe it Afterward the Macedons governd it and then the Romanes after the division of their Empire it was subject to Constantinople untill the Gothes the Bulgarians and Sarazens did waste and destroy it and now last of all the Turke hath brought it all into miserable servitude except some Ilands which are subject to the Venetian namely Cor●yra Cephalenia Zacynthus Crete and other little Ilands Greece had heretofore many flourishing Citties as Athens La●●demon Delphos Argis Mycenis Corinth and many others the most of which are ruinate and decayd Here are 32. great Rivers as Strymon Chabrius Eched●us A●●●s ●rigo● Lydius Alia●m●n GREECE· GRAECIA Pha●ybus Feneus Spe●chius Pa●yassus Apsus Lous Celidnus Thyamus A●h●r●n ●●a●h●hus A●h●lous Ev●●us Ilissas As●pus Ism●nus Cephisus ●oag●●us ●●●us Sus Peneus Alphejus Selas Pa●ysius Eurotas and ●nachus The Sea● are called the Jonian Sea from Ionia who was a Queene in the farthest parts of Italy as Soli●us affirmeth or as Archidamus thinketh from I●nius a King of the Illyrians or from the Jonians who were drownd in passing that Sea It was called before the Cronian and Rhaean Bay and the Cretian from the I le Creete as ancient Writers doe witn●●se it is now called Mar di Candia or the Gandian Sea There is also the Carpathiam Sea so called from the Iland Carpathus which lyeth by the Easterne Promontory of Creete The Aegaean Sea as Fest●● and others doe write was so called from Aegeus the Father of Thel●us who cast himselfe into it I omit other opinions Valerius Flaceus calleth it Aego● and Aegeon Thu●ydides calleth it the Greeke Sea and the ●ropeans doe call it by a Greeke name Archipelagus The Turkes call it the white Sea The Romanes did heretofore call this Sea by two names as Pliny witnesseth namely all that which touched Maced●n and 〈◊〉 the Macedonian Sea and that which touched Greece the Graecian Sea Ptolemy calls it Myrtoum or the Myrtoan Sea being a p●●● of the Aegean which beareth on Caria a Country of Asia the less● C●staldus calleth it Mar d● Mandria Strabo Pliny and others doe place it betweene Pel●ponesus and Attica It was so called from Myrthus the Sonne of Mercury who as Solinus and Isodorus report was cast into this Sea by O●n●maus or as Pliny thinketh from a small Iland situate not farre from the Towne Carystum The most doe call it the Icarian Sea from the fable of Icarus It is now called Mar di Nicaria as Cast●ldus writeth It hath also divers Mountaines as Bertiscus Athos Olympus Ossa Pelion Citerius Othris Oeta Pindus Aroceraunij Stimphe Calidromus Carax Pa●nassus Hel●●on Cithaeron Himettus Stimph●lus Pholoe Cr●●us Zarex Minthe Taigetus and others Moreover Athens famous for Arts and Disciplines was in Greece So that Diodorus Siculus calleth it the common Schoole Cicero Lib. 4. Epist Famil calleth it the famousest University of Europe whether Romanes and other Nations did repaire to study Philosophy and the Greeke tongue Cicero doth often commend Greece for Arts Eloquence good wits and plentifull speech so that the Romanes got the knowledge of Philosophy and other Arts and Sciences from them And Flaccus singeth thus Graijs ingenium Graijs dedit ore rotundo Musa loqui The Muses gave the Graecians wit And eloquence of speech to it GREECE hath yeelded these famous Schollers Nus●us the Poet Solon Socrates the Prince of Philosophers Xenophon Plato Isocrates Demosthenes Thucidides and many others Concerning the Graecians religion Idolatry raigned amongst them so that they had an infinite number of Gods and Goddesses Augustine Lib. 3. of the Citty of God affirmeth according to Varros opinion that the Romans and Graecians together had above 3000. gods of which there were 300. Iupiters Every one had his Lar or Houshold god And they had Tutelary gods for every affection of the minde and for defence and protection from danger and every god had distinct and peculiar Ceremonies Prayers Priests Sacrifices and Offerings The common people doe not now keepe their ancient fashions For they let their haire grow long and doe onely cut the forepart of their haire and doe weare a double thicke Hat They use but little houshold stuffe as the Turkes neither doe they lye on Fether-beds but on Flock-beds or Beds stuffed with Wooll or Toe They never mingle any wine with water and women are not present at their drinking feasts and meetings