place Sommerset-shire THis Country besides other Commodities in some places is inriched by Lead-mines which yields great Plenty the most Marchantable Commodity that is in England and vented into all parts of the World Some places are beautified with Diamonds as St. Vincent Rock whereof there is great plenty and so bright of colour as they might equalize Indian Diamonds if they had their hardness yet being so many and so common they are less sought after or commended In this Country is the City of Bathe which takes name of the hot Baths A place of continual concourse for Persons of all degrees and almost of all diseases who by Divine Providence do very often find relief there the Springs thereof by reason of their Mineral and sulphurous passage being of such exceeding power and medicinal heat as that they Cure and Conquer the rebellions stubbornness of corrupt humors At Dunstere where as is reported a great Lady obtained of her Husband so much Pasture Ground in common by the Town side for the good and benefit of the Inhabitants as she was able in a whole day to go about bare-foot Wilt-shire SAlisbury the chief City in which every street almost hath a River running thorow in her midst The Cathedral a most rich Magnificent Church wherein are as many Windows as there are days in the year as many cast Pillars of Marble as there are hours in the year and as many Gates for entrance as there are months in the year Aurelius Ambrosus buryed at Stonheng Anno 500. THis ancient Monument was erected by Aurelius Surnamed Ambrosus King of the Britiains whose Nobility in the Reign of Vortiger his Countrys scourge about the year 475. by the Treachery of the Saxons on a day of parley were there slaughtered and their bodys there Interred In Memory whereof this King Aurel caused this Trophy to be set up Admirable to Posterities Both in form and quantity the matter thereof are stones in great bigness containing twenty eight foot and more in length and ten in bredth these are set in the ground by two and two and a third laid Gate-wise over-thwart fastn'd with tenons mortasses wrought in the same which seem very dangerous to all that pass there under The form is round and as it seemeth hath been circulated with three ranks of these stones Many whereof are now fallen down and the uttermost whereof containeth in compass three hundred foot by measure of assize They all are rough and of a gray colour standing within a Trench that hath been much deeper In this place this foresaid King Aurelius with two more of the Brittish Kings his Successors have been buryed with many more of their Nobility and in this place under little banks to this day are found by digging bones of Mighty men and Armour of large and ancient fashion Not far hence is seen the ruins of an old Fortress thought by some to be built there by the Romans when this Kingdom was possessed by their Emperours Bark-shire IN Reading in the Collegiate Church of the Abbey King Henry the first and Queen lay both veiled and Crowned with their Daughter Maud the Empress called the Lady of England were Interred as the private History of the place avoucheth But of far greater Magnificence and State is the Castle of Windsor A most Princely Pallace and Mansion of His Majesty In this Castle was King Edward the third born and here held at one and the same time Prisoners John King of France and David King of Scotland Neither was it ever graced with greater Majesty then by the Institution of the most Honourable Order of the Garter the invention thereof some ascribe to be from a Garter falling from his Queen or rather from Joan Countess of Salisbury a Lady of an uncomparable beauty as she danced before him whereat the by-standers smiling he gave the impress to check all evil conceits and in Golden Letters imbellished the Garter with this French Posie Honi Soit Qui Maby Pense The Princely Chappel of Windsor is graced with the bodies of Henry the 6 th and Edward the 4 th Kings of England the one of Lancaster the other of York as also King Henry the 8 th lyeth there Interred Finch-hampsted For wonder inferiour to none where as our Writers do witness that in the year a thousand one hundred a Well boiled up with streams of bloud and fifteen days together continued that Spring whose Waters made red all others where they came to the great amazement of the beholders Middlesex LOndon This City doth shew as the Cedars among the other trees being the seat of the British Kings the Chamber of the English the Model of the Land and the Mart of the World For thither are brought the silk of Asia the spices from Africa the balms from Grecia and the riches of both the Indies East and West No City standing so long in Fame nor any for Divine and Politick Government may with her be compared In King Johns time a Bridge of Stone was made over Thames upon nineteen Arches for length breadth beauty and building the like again cannot be found in the World Essex IN the year 1581. an Army of Mice so over ran the Marshes in Deugâ—y Hundred near unto South-Minster in this County that they shore the grass to the very roots and so tainted the same with their venemous teeth that a great Murrain fell upon the Cattel which grazed thereon to the great loss of their owners Suffolk RAlph Coggeshall in the Monuments of Colchester declareth that a Fish in all parts like a Man was taken near Orford and for six Months was kept in the Castle whence after he escaped went again to the Sea As strange but most true was a crop of Pease that without tillage or sowing grew in the Rocks betwixt this Orford and Aldebrough in the year 1555. when by unseasonable weather a great dearth was in the Land there in August were gathered above one hundred Quarters and in blossoming remained as many more where never grass grew or Earth ever seen but hard sollid Rocks three yards deep under the roots Hereford-shire AT Langley in this Country was buryed Richard the second that unfortunate King who in the Cell of Fryers Preachers was there first buryed but afterwards removed and enshrined at Westminster And in another Langley near the East from thence was born that Pontifical Breakspear Bishop of Rome known by the name of Hadrian the fourth and famous for his Stirrup-holding by Frederick the Emperour whose breath was lastly stopped by a fly that flew into his mouth Bedford-shire IN the year 1399. immediately before those Civil Wars broke out between the Princes of York and Lancaster The River Ouse near unto Harwood stood suddenly still and refrained to pass any further so that forward men passed three miles together on foot in the very depth of her channel and backwards the waters swelled unto a great height which was observed by the judicious to fore-tell some
and his son Philip 70 Earls 50 Barons and 1â—000 Gentlemen Normandy where our William the Conqueror was Duke It was lost from his Successors in the time of King John Her chief Cities are Roan and Cane memorable for the Siege of our English Henry the Fifth and Verveille Besieged by Philip the second of France in the time of our Richard the First Which when the King heard as he sate in his Pallace at Westminster it is said he sware he would never turn his back to France till he had his revenge and to make good his Oath brake through the Walls and justly performed his threat upon the Besieger The Low-Countries The People are very thrifty painful and ingenuous in the invention of many pretty things which draw many other Nations to them for traffique and they lye as fit for it They have the name for the first Authors of the Compass Clock and Printing They are excellent Artificers for working of Pictures in Glass for laying Colours in Oyl for Tapestry and other Hangings in brief for any oeconomical commodity either for use or Ornament And in their own private families excel any other people In the Dukedom of Lutzenburg Luick the chief City of the University Memorable for this one story above any other in Christendome That at one time there studied nine Kings sons twenty four Dukes sons twenty nine Earls Sons c. Geldria The Province stands on the East of Brabant and North of Lumburg It is a very fertile soil especially if it be well tilled Her Pastures are excellent insomuch that they feed up their Cattel to an incredible bigness and weight a report passeth of one Bull which weighed 3200 pound It was killed at Antwerp 1570. Hague a Village yet the fairest in Christendome and seat of the States Councel The report lyeth upon this Province of Margaret Sister to the Earl of Floris that she brought at one birth 36â— children all living till they were Christned Spain A memorable story of King Rodericus who lost both himself and Kingdome for a Rape committed upon the Daughter of Julian a noble Gentleman and at that time Ambassador with the Moors in Africa When the Father had understood of his Daughters unworthy injury he brought back his Revenge with him 30000 Horse and 180000 Foot of Moores and Sarazens which discomfited the King overthrew all the resistance which he could make and bespread the Country with their Forces where they and their Posterity stood firm till within the Memory of some living 1630. This change of State was before prophesied and concealed in a large Chest within that part of the Pallace which both the last King and his Predecessors were fore-warned not to discover But the hope of an inestimable Treasure made him transgress and when he had entred there appeared nothing but the portractures of Armed Moores with a presage annexed that when that part of the Pallace should be forced open such Enemies should ruin Spain The River Guadiana which in one place glides under Ground for 15 Miles together and gives the Spaniard an occasion as he will catch at any to brag that they have 10000 Cattel daily feeding upon one Bridge yet give them their own sense the truth may be questioned For they have not such plenty of Meat as they have of Sauce It yields indeeds abundance of Oranges Limons Capers Dates Sugar Oil Honey Liquorish Raisons Saffron Rice excellent Sacks and other Wines and in some places Sheep Goats and swift Horses They are extreamly proud and the silliest of them pretend to a great portion of Wisdom which they would seem to express in a kind of reserved State and silent Gravity when perhaps their wit will scarce serve them to speak sense But if once their Mouths be got too open they esteem their breath too precious to be spent upon any other subject than their own glorious actions They are most unjust neglectors of other Nations and impudent vain flatterers of themselves superstitious beyond any other people In the City Saint Jago in the Island of Gallicia was St. James the Apostle buryed his Reliques kept Worshipped and visited by Pilgrims ITALY MEmorable for Rhea a Virgin which was cloystered up into the Temple of Vesta by her Uncle Amulius Silvius that she might not bring forth an Heir to endanger his Title Notwithstanding means was found so that she conceived at once two Children by Mars and was delivered among her Sisters Vestals For this her self as the censure was upon such Delinquents was buryed alive her Boys exposed to be destroyed Italy is a happy Soil pleasant and Fertile at all times moderate Weather and healthful Air full of Variety as Rice Silks Velvets Sattins Taffaties Grograms Rash Fustians Gold-wyer Armour Allom Glasses c. The Rich are very Rich for Wealth will come with much labour in great abundance but the Poor are extream poor for they are most of them very idle Rome retains a 11 Miles round and 200000 Inhabitants a great part Fryers and such odd idle fellows which pretend to Religion for want of other means to live Cloyster themselves up to a single life only to avoid the charge of Incumbrances of Marriage not to separate themselves from the World or desires of the Flesh for among them they maintain commonly 40000 Curtezans in good Custom and so Rich that they are able to pay 30000 Duckets yearly to the Pope The buildings in which they most glory in are the Church of St. Peter the Castle of St. Angelo the Vaticane Library and the Popes Pallace The truth is their Pride is enough to attire the Whore of Babylon as there can hardly be any other meant than Rome She sits upon the Beast with seven Heads for she was built upon seven Hills was ruled first by seven Kings and hath been since subject to seven several forms of Government HUNGARY HEre are many Waters of excellent Vertue whereof some turn Wood into Iron others Iron into Brass some very Medicinal for sundry Diseases others again so pestiferous that they kill the Creature which doth but taste them The like is reported of an Hiatus in the Ground unaccessable by any but the fowls of the Air and those fall suddaily dead with the stench which ascends from it It is hard to believe what most Geographers report of her Fertility That she yields Corn thrice in one year almost without any Tillage or care of the Husband-man Fruit of all kinds in great abundance and Grapes which make an excellent wholsome and rich Wine It breeds Cattel in such plenty that this one Country besides store of her own Inhabitants sends Sheep and Oxen into Forrain Nations which lye about her and might say they suffice to feed all Europe with Flesh Venison is not here any dainties Does Hares Harts Goats Boars c. are every Mans Meat and the Game common as well to the Boors as Gentry And so for Phesant Partridge Black-birds Pigeons most Fowl wild and tame The Earth
was unsightly their necks was hung with Chains and Carkaneths their Arms wreathed with many Bracelets and over their side garments the Shag Rug Mantles purfled with a deep fringe of divers colours both Sexes accounting idleness their only liberty and ease their greatest riches In Warâ— they were forward and fought with Battle-axes whose bearers were called Galloglasses the common souldier but lightly armed who served with darts and sharp skeines their Trumpet was a Bag-pipe and word for encounter Pharroh which at the first Onset with great acclamation they uttered and he that did not was taken into the Air and carryed into the Vale of Kerry where transformed as they did believe he remained until he was hunted with hounds from thence to his home For the dying and dead they hired Women to mourn who expostulated with the sick why he would die and dead at his Funeral such out-crys were made such clapping of hands such howlings and gestures that one would think their sorrows unrecoverable holding the opinion of Pythagoras for their souls departed Their Diet in necessity was slender feeding upon Water-cresses Roots Mushrooms Shamroh Butter tempered with Oatmeal Milk Whey yea and raw fish the bloud being crushed out their use was also to let their Kine bloud which standing a while and coming to Jelly with Butter they did eat as a very good dish Out of the Description of the Civil Wars fought in England Wales and Ireland FRance felt the heavy hands of Edward and Henry our English Kings when the one of them at Poictiers took Prisoners John King of France and Philip Sirnamed the hardy his son the other Henry the fifth at Azincourt in a bloudy battel took and slew four thousand Princes Nobles Knights and Esquires even all the flower of France as their own writers have declared And at Paris the Crown of France was set upon Henry the 6 th his Head homage done unto him by the French that Kingdom made subject and their Flower deluces quartered with our Lions of England An enterprize remaining fresh in Memory of Philip date King of Spain against our Dread Soveraign Queen Elizabeth in the year 1588. attempting by his invincible Navy as he thought and so termed under the Conduct of the Duke of Medina Celi which with great Pride and Cruelty was intended against us arrived on our Coasts to Englands Invasion and Subversion had yet nevertheless here in the narrow Seas the one part of his Fleet discomfited taken and drowned and the other part forced to their great shame in poor Estate to make a fearful and miserable flight about the Coast of Ireland homeward so that of 158 great ships furnished for War came to their own Coast of Spain but few and those so torn and beaten by the English Canons that it was thought they were unserviceable for ever and eleven of their Ensigns or Banners prepared for Triumph and Pride in Conquest were contrariwise to their dishonour shewed at Pauls Cross and in other places of this Realm Out of the Description of the Turkish EMPIRE WE will take notice of their Religion how it is a meer Couzenage thrust upon the filly people by the impious subtilty of one Mahomet whose story is well worth our knowledge and may cause us to commiserate the desperate Estate of those ignorant yet perverse and bloudy Antichristians His place of Birth is questioned whether he were a Cirenick an Arabian or Persian it is not yet fully decided certain enough it is he was of base Parents his Father some say a Worshipper of Devils and his Mother a faithless Jew betwixt them they sent into the World a pernicious deceiver which none but two such Religions could have made up In the year 597. when he had been for a while thus instructed by his distracted Parents poverty and hope to improve his Fortunes perswaded him from his Native soil to live for another while among true professed Christians where he received so much knowledge of the Word and light of the Gospel as to pervert it to his destruction and ruine of many Millions of souls In his first adventurous travels abroad he fell into the hands of theevish Saracens which sold him to a Jewish Merchant and he imployed him to drive his Camels through Egypt Syria Palestine and other forrain Countries where he still gathered farther instructions of that truth which he intended to abuse His wickedness first brake forth into fraud open Theft and Rapine and other sins of highest rank in which he continued and seduced others till the death of his Master and after marryed his Aged but rich Mistress He had means now to act his malicious purposes and wealth to countenance his exceeding Pride which would not be satisfied with a lower Ambition then to be called a Prophet of God This he began to practice by the Counsel of one Sergius a Monk who being cast out for Heresie from Constantinople betook himself into Arabia and joyned in with Mahomet to make up this mischief perfect see now their Juggling There wanted no craft betwixt them to make use of his worst actions to gull the simple For when by his debaucht drinking and gluttony he was fallen into an Epilepsie and in his fits lay Bear like grovelling and foaming upon the Earth as one without sense he pretended an Exta-like swoon wherein his soul was wrapped from his body in which he converst with Gabriel an Angel from Heaven To make this familiarity with God the more to be believed he had bred up a Dove to take her meat from his ear which he most blasphemously professed to be the Holy Ghost who in such times and in that shape infused the prophesies which he was to preach Lastly what they in their wicked fancies had conceived and meant to propagate they digested into a Volume and called it the Alcoran For this too they had a trick that it might seem to have been sent from Heaven into the hands of Mahomet and to this purpose he had himself fed up a tame Bull which by custom became so familliar that no sooner he heard the voice of his Master but he would straight run cast the head in his lap and use his wanton dalliance as with a Fellow Betwixt the horns of this Bull had he fastned the Alcoran and conveyed him into a by-place near where he had assembled the Multitude at a set time to expect a wonderful Miracle from Heaven that might confirm his Prophecy The Scene thus ordered on the sudden he lift up his voice and made a loud cry which no sooner the beast heard but he brake his way through the Press over-turned many of the Spectators which now stood at a gaze and gently laid his horns and book in the bosom of this false couzener which he with much ceremony and feigned Reverence received and in their presence opening the Volume began to interpret the chief of their Laws which for hereafter they were to observe Circumcision he allowed and with the