Earls and nine hundred Barons not Titular only but men of great Estates It hath had twenty six Kings of several Countries beginning first with the Norman race and now being in the hand of Spain The disease called now the French Pox was first in all Christendome found here The Arms of this Kingdome are Azure seme of Fleur de Lices Or a file of three Labels Gules It s revenue is two millions and an half of Crowns whereof twenty thousand are the Popes for his chief rent and the rest so exhausted in maintaining Garrisons upon the Natives and a strong Navy against the Turks that the King of Spain receiveth not a fourth part theâ—…eof clearly It hath twenty Arch-bishops and one hundred twenty seven Bishops-seas This Crown and Kingdom hath been in long dispute between France and Spain Charles the Eighth of France won and lost it in a Dream so transitory was his possession of it much blood being spilt in the quarrel The Duke of Guise of the Family of Lorrain now pretends a right to it and hath attempted the Conquest of it of late years twice being called in by the Citizens of Naples in 1647. after that famous insurrection in the City of Naples under Mâ—…ssianelio the Fisherman who led and commanded 100000 men at his beck and pleasure for 14. dayes at the end whereof he and his mutinous Government expired being supposed to be poysoned by the Artifice of the Spaniard In the year 1654. the same Duke of Guise having better retained in mind the Courtshâ—…ps of the Neapolitans than his own misfortunes and his promises made at Madrid where he was kept prisoner from the time that Naples was reduced 1647. equipped another Fleet from that Kingdome from Toulon and Marseilles which nâ—…rrowly escaped the English Fleet under General Blake designed against it and after much bad weather landed and was defeated by the Spanish Vice-roy his Lieutenant General Marquis du Plessis being killed in the place with 2000 more and so the French were forced to re-imbarque and the Expedition frustrated The Spaniards how quietly hold it from the Papacy by a fealty Present yearly of a White Horse to his Holyness The Kingdom of Sicilia in Italy is situate under the fourth climate the longest day being thirteen hours and an half it shoots forth into the Sea with three Capes or Promontories The People are Ingenious Eloquent and Pleasant but withall very inconstant and full of talke they Invented Oratory Pastorall Eclogues Hour-glasses with Military Engins The Soyl is incredibly fruitfull in Wine Oyl Honey Minerals of Gold Silver and Allum together with plenty of Salt and Sugar there are also gems of Agats and Emeralds it yieldthe also great store of the richest Silk hath most excellent and delicious Fruits both for tast and colour with abundance also of all sorts of Grain Here is the hill Aetna which many have taken to be Hell and ignorant Papists Purgatory because of its sending forth of flames of fire which eth brimstone there causeth It hath many Cities Rivers and Lakes of which I cannot stand to treat There were eight Kings of Sicilia six of the first whereof were called to rule In the year one thousand two hundred eighty one the house of Arragon governed it and there hath succeeded ten Kings It is now united to the Crown of Spain the revenue is eight hundred thousand some say a million of Ducats disbursed again on the entertainment of the Vice-Roy defence of the Island the Arms are four Pallets Gules Sable being those of Arragon between two Flanches Argent charged with as many Eâ—…g'es Sable beaked Gules It hath had seven Princes four Dukes thirteen Marquisses fourteen Earls one Viscount and fourty eight Barons the People are Papists and have three Arch-bishops and nine Bishops The Island and Kingdom of Sardinia in Italy lieth west from Sicilie from the neerest point Cape Boy or Cape Bara It is distant about two hundred miles it is in length one hundred eighty miles ninety in breadth five hundred sixty in the circuit and is situate under the fourteenth Climate the longest day being fourteen houres there is neither Wolf nor Serpent neither venomous or hurtful beast but the Fox only and a little creature like a Spider which will by no means endure the sight of the Sun except held by violence Some pools it hath very plentiful of Fish but generally are so destitute of River-water that they are fain to keep the rain which falls in winter for their use in summer by means whereof and for that there is no passage for the Northern Winds being obstructed by the high Mountains neer Cape Lugudori the air is generally unhealthy if not pestilential The soil is very fertile but ill manured well stored with all sorts of cattel the horses hereof hot head-strong and hard to be broken but will last long the bullocks naturally gentle so that the Country-man doth as familiarly ride them as they do in Spain on Mules or Asses Here is also the beast called Mufr nes or Muscriones found in Corsica also but in no other part of Europe somewhat resembling a Stagg but of so strong an hide that it is used by the Italian in stead of Armour of the skin of which carryed to Cordova in Spain and there dressed is made the right Cordovant leather also there is an Herb whereof if one eat it is said that he will die with laughter the Herb being of such a poysonous nature that it causeth the Man to die with such a convulsion of sinews that he seemeth to grinn or laugh at the time of his death The People are small of stature their Complexion inclining unto swarthiness rude in Manners very slothful and rebellious yet given to Hunting their Diet mean their Apparel in Towns Gorgeous in Villages base their Religion Papistically formal little Curious their Clergy being counted the most illiterate and ignorant in that part of the World called Christendome it is now in the hands of the King of Spain governed by a Vice-Roy who resides at Calaris and must of necessity be a Spaniard under whom are two Deputies-Governours Spaniards also inferiour Officers of command may be of the natives what profits arise here to the King of Spain I have no where found The arms hereof are said to be Or a cross Gules betwixt four Saracens heads Sable curled argent There are also divers small Islands belonging thereunto And lastly it hath three Arch-bishops and fifteen Bishops The lands of the Church or the Popes Dominions in Italy lie west of the Realm of Naples extended north and south from the Adriatick to the Tuscan-Seas bounded on the north-east with the river Trontus on the south-east with the Axofenus by which two it is parted from that Kingdom as on the north-west by the rivers Poe and Frore by which it is separated from the State of Venice and on the southwest by the river Pisco by which it is divided from the modern Tuscany
Dominions forsook his side and turned enemy a practise used to the Swedes by the German Princes before for just so the Elector Duke of Saxony served them in the German War This lost the Swede all he had got save his plunder who by a Peace now resigned the Dutchies of Prussia which he had Garrisoned and possessed and took a sum of Money in lieu thereof like a cunning Merchant as my Lord Bacon observes in Hen. 7. that gets by importing and exporting of Merchandize such indeed is War to the Swede But the Duke of Brandenburgh is invested and possessed of the Ducal Prussia seldome is it also that the Poles are without War either at home or abroad abroad now with the Muscovite at home a difference betwixt the Senators and the Confederate Army which threatens some danger if not timely composed by the Prudence of the King who is a most Excellent Prince and aâ—…isted by very able Noblemen such as is the Renouned old General Czarnecki he who hath so often defeated thâ—… Muscovites and Tartars and once overcame the Swedes whose Prince Adolph Iohn was wounded by Sandomiria in 1657. They are a very warlike people and the bravest enemy both for gallantry in mind and body in the world carrying most of their wealth with them into the field Their arms and horse-furnitures glittering with gold and silver They serve most on Horseback the Gentry mounting their Tenants and Servants and charge furiously with Lances and then expertly manage a Shabel or Scymiter they have this year had two victories against the Muscovites They have been often vexed with the Cossacks a People bordering upon the black Sea where they annoy the Turk mercenary and stipendiary to this Crown who under 〈◊〉 their Generall often combated them but are now in a better understanding and good complyance by a late Treaty The Tartars are as well disposed to be quiet so that at present Poland seems likely to enjoy some respite and draw breath after so many Conâ—…ulsions and Concussions of its State and Government Hungary is bounded on the south with Bosnia and Croatia on the west with Germany on the east with Transylvania Moldavia and Walachia and on the north with Polonia A great and mighty Kingdome and exceeding fruitful it hath many Navigable Rivers wherein are multitudes of Fish The People are strong and shew their antiquity to be of the Scythians by their neglect of Learning and barbarous manners their Sons equally inherit without priviledge of Birth-right their Daughters Portion is onely a new attire The German Emperour and the Turk share it between them the Commodities that go from thence are divers sorts of colours wheat beef salt wine and river-fish salted the Aâ—…ms are bar-wise of eight pieces Gules and Argent there are here two Arch-bishops thirteen Bishops This Kingdom of Hungary was anciently that Fortress against the Turks which now Poland is several of its Kings being slain in the fields thereof in battel against them so very remarkable is that War maintained by them throughout all the Turkish History This Crown was devolved at last to Maximilian as Hereditary to the House of Austria who a long while also grapled against the same power to a greater expence of men and money than the Title Revenue and Possessions were worth and could not expel nor drive them out being put to it to defend his own Sultan Solyman in the raign of H. 8. carrying his Army to the Walls of Vienna the Emperours Imperial City in Austria The Emperours chief City and assembly of the States is Presburgh where the King his Son is usually Crowned The grand Siegnieurs is Buda upon the River Danubius Governed by one of his Principal Bashaws The Hungarians have enjoyed a long though narrow peace some part thereof being disquietted by the troubled affairs of their Neighbours such as are the Wayvods of Moldavia and Walachia who are tributary Princes to the Grand Signiour and are invested by him who not seldome revolt and as often pay the price of it with their heads and lately and at this time the Princes of Transylvania Of which next Transylvania a Principallity is bounded on the north with Poland on the east with Servia and Bulgaria on the west with Hungary and on the east with Moldavia and Walachia two other small Principallities Tributaries and Vassals to the Turks This Country of Transylvania is notable for good Warriours being beholding for their stoutness to the strength of their Countrey which toward the south-east is surrounded with Mountains For these four last years it hath been the Seat of a cruel War for the King of Sweden having invited Prince Ragotzki to the spoyles of Poland in 1657. The Pole complained of this Invasion to the Grand Seigniour who commanded Ragotzki to withdraw and withal sent an Army to depose him for presuming against his leave and permission to engage against the Pole Ragotzki defended â—…mself a while but being over-toyled and spent with care and hard service against so potent an Enemie dyed Whereupon the States chose one Remini Ianosch to be their Prince whom the Turks likewise rejecting the States stood by him against Prince Michael Abassi invested by the Grand Signiour After severall encounters and the loss of Waradin Remini was taken and strangled and his head and quarters set upon the Gates of one of the chief Cities Michael Abassi is now in authority and the Country subdued which makes the Emperour fear an invasion of the Turks in Hungary and his hereditary Countryes wherefore he is now in Treaty with those Infidel Sclavonia hath on the South the Adriatick Sea on the west part of Italy Greece on the southeast and Hungary on the north part of it belongs to the Turk some to the Venetian Estate some to the Hungarians and some to the Austrians The arms Argent a Cardinals Hat the strings meeting in bsae Gules perpendant and placed in a true lovers knot there are four Arch-Bishops twenty six Bishops In a part of this Country called then Epirus but losing now its name with its Liberty under the Turkish Yoke was born that famous Warriour Scanderbâ—…g the Scourge of the Turks whose bones he being dead the Turks long time after took out of his grave and made them Meddals and Rings therewith there are few of this whole Nation left that have any spark of their Ancestors Spirit or valour against their Tyrannical Masters but onely a People called the Morlacks who valiantly side with the Venetians and are a great assistance to them in keeping that footing they have in Dalmatia The rest are buried im their slavery and by the heaviness of their Fetters are so benummed that they stir not a hand either in holding it up to Heaven or in putting it out to the aid of others who would endeavour their redemption so that the Country may better be called Slavonia Greece once a Mother of Learning and Arts now the Den of the Turkish Empire who hath its
the Chinese or with the Russe but the Crim Tartar is wholly Mercenary being in the late War of Poland employed first by the Pole and then by the Swede and Transylvanian Prince Ragotzki China is bounded on the east by the east Sea on the west with India and Bramus and on the north it is divided from Tartaria with a wonderfull Wall four hundred miles long built between the Mountains It is divided into fifteen Kingdoms or great Provinces each having a peculiar Prince but all yielding obedience to their great King It is reported that he may bring into the Field three hundred thousand Foot and two hundred thousand Horse-men The Land is fruitful of Grain and Beasts wild and tame Wines of Precious Stones Gold Copper Iron Steel Pearl and good store of Silk Also very great Cities well peopled Paqu'n is the Royal City of which things be written that be incredible The People are lively witty wonderous Artists they make Waggons that sail over the land as Ships do over the Sea the Art of Printing and making of Guns is more ancient with them than with us they have good Lawes according to which they do live but they want the knowledge of God for they are Heathens and Worship the Sun Moon and Stars yea and the Devil himself that he may not hurt them Of this Kingdome of China there is little writ either certain or true because of its vast distance which if the North-west passage had been passable and not frozen might have been throughly known The last news from thence was that the Tartars had invaded that Kingdome and had thrown down part of that eminent Wall abovesaid that was built for a Fence against their incursions and defeated the Chinese in several Battels It hath been travelled of late by some forraign Friers but our English Ships seldome thriving in the Voyage is the reason no better account can be given of their Government Lawes and Customes From thence come the China dishes called Porcelane which the Fathers prepare 40 years under ground and lay up for their Sons as an Estate before it be fit for use its fineness and transparency requiring such a time of perfection Iapan aboundeth so with Gold that it is reported that the Kings Pallace was covered therewith in the time of Paulus Venetius These Iapanneses are the best Navigators and Sailers of the Nations of those parts of the World for which they are beholding to the situation of their Country being an Island so that they are very frequent and use Commerce in all that Quarter and prove good Auxiliary Souldiers to the several Princes They are much entertained by the Dutch as may be seen in the business of Amboyna India situated between Persia and the Tartars Sinca and the Indian Sea all Writers account the best and goodliest Land in the World for it fills almost the whole World with precious Jewels and Pearls Medicinal Drugs and Perfumes that it may be called an earthly Paradise The King of this Country the Great Mogul is certainly the richest and most Magnificent Prince in the World which to shew to his Subjects at the several seasons of the year as it grows Hot or Cold he removes his Court from City to City of great distance south and north his Countrey being very vast and well peopled But his chief Imperial City is Agraâ—… where as most great Cities of the East Lime trees and others of great shade and sweet sent are placed along the streets most beautifull and pleasant to behold The Mogul is altogether if not more absolute than any of the Eastern Princes all whose Governments are Monarchical Tyrannies Every morning he shews himself in great State to his Nobles and Princes who prostrate and adore him and at the same time the Elephants of which he keeps many hundreds are brought to Salam that is to bow and bend their knee which being taught they will do very readily To this Mogul King Iames sent the Earl of Denbigh Ambassador to Treat or rather to Complement about our Trade in the East-Indies Surrat being in his Dominions where constantly one of his chief Nobles is resident as Governour The Earl carried Presents with him but was most magnificently and costly Re-presented by the Mogul even to an Estate and his Ambassie civilly and effectually answered we count them Barbarians but they are a Nation of extraordinary Civility as our Commerce witnesseth where they love they love ardently and constantly and where they hate they hate furiously and deadly At present they are engaged in a Civil War for the Mogul Sultan Coram lately dying left his Estate in Dispute though divided to his three Sons of whom he most loved his youngest who by the favour and practice of the chief of the Nobility having gained the Army which is alwayes kept standing possest himself of most part of the Empire while his Brothers were disputing with one another about other the private Limits and Boundaries of their Lands Both are now joyned against him but with what successe is not yet known The English Trade is neverthelesse no way molested or impeached their Governour now siding with the Younger Brother but is carried on as formerly the chief Merchants of that Nation being the Banians a sect and preciser sort of People than the rest the most of them being Mahometans who are just dealers and very rich and negotiate in all the Traffique of the East The Hollanders have some places of Strength here also and are in League with the Mogul though in War with some of the adjacent lesser Princes The King of Portugal is possest of the Kingdome of Goa and other large Provinces and Territories which were formerly distinct Kingdomes and Principalities but Conquered and won by his Sword but hath been disquieted and disturbed very often as well by the Natives as the Dutch but yet he hath made a shift to keep the greatest part still in his hands and consequently a very rich Trade and Traffique which he manageth himself There is alwayes resident at Goa his Vice-roy one of the Portugal Nobility who lives in great Pompe and State in a very fair Palace The City is strongly fortified and several out-Forts and Guards circumjacent to prevent a sudden attempt of an Enemy and other Fortresses are erected in that Kingdome some whereof are put into the hands of the English by agreement the Coast being beneficial to our Navigation into the Indies The Portugal Inhabitants follow the Habit and Fashion of the Indians as all Nations whatsoever Trading thither do their Habit. Persia is a mighty rich Land governed by the Sophy though he be a Mahometist yet he warreth against the Turk for the Religion of Mahomet concerning the expounding of the Alcoran out of Persia are brought the Bezoar-stone and other precious Stones Pearls of great value and many Silk-works This Kingdom once honoured with the Universal Empire as absolutely lost it self under the Turkish Slavery as before under the victorious