thereof the dayes exceed not the length of twelve houres but after in every clime encrease the length of half an hour and when they come to forty eight parallels and twenty foâ—r climates as I said before the dayes being then twenty four houres long their encrease is then by whole weeks and moneths till in the twenty fourth clime about the pole the day is full half a year long and it is thus between the Equator and the north pole So it is between the said Equator and the south pole wherefore there are two sorts of climes that is twenty four northern and as many southern touching the names of which and other circumstances I shall say nothing here but leave the readers to other more long discourses thinking this enough in a tract of this nature to have spoken of things generally concerning the whole earth The whole earth is now divided into four parts Europe Asia Africa America Of each part and their several regions Empires kingdoms dominions Common-wealths Titles of honours and laws as briefly as I can together also with their sundry trade and commodities Europe though the least of the three first parts of the world nevertheless excelleth all other parts in worthiness power renown multitudes of well-builded cities and of people skilful in all kind of arts also excelling in vertue and the knowledge of God better then all the riches of the world Through the Grecian and Romane Empire in it it hath had once the dominion over Asia and Africa Mr. Heylin mentions in it fourteen mother tongues which I will not stand now to name It hath plenty of grain plants fruits coles rivers and fountains of admirable vertue it needs nothing but what may be well spared as hot spices not so fit for our temper precious jewels the nourishers of vain and soul-destroying pride and wild beasts which cause deserts where they breed yet of gold silver and other commodities it hath a part it is divided on the east from Asia partly by the rivers Duina and Tunnis and partly by the lâ—ke called Meotis now termed Mare de le Zabbacche pone Euxine or Mare Maggiore From Africa it is severed by the midland sea on the west and north side it hath the great Ocean I shall follow Mr. Heylins method in the desciption of the regions and countries thereof beginning with first Italy then going secondly to the Alps thirdly France fourthly Spain fifthly Britain sixthly Belgia sevently Germany eighthly Denmark ninethly Swethland tenthly Russia eleventh Poland twelfth Hungary thirteenth Sclavonia fourteenth Dacia and the fifteenth Greece speaking of the several islands as they relate to some or other of these greater countries Italy the mother of all Latine learning stretcheth out easterly on Asia between the Adriatick and Thuscan Seas and borders towards the west upon France and towards the north on Germany and is severed from those countries by the river Varus and the mountains called Alpes the rest being compassed with the sea It hath had seven kinds of government first Kings second Consuls third Dictators fourth Decemviri fifth Tribunes sixth Emperours seventh Popes It flourished most in the time of Christ and a little afterwards by means of the great and wide dominion of the mighty city of Rome which then reigned as Queen of the world over many lands of Europe Asia and Africa This land excelleth all the lands of Europe in fruitfulness and pleasantness the inhabitants are witty industrious and frugal yet hot and lascivious And withall the men very jealous and that taken to be not without cause The religion there now professed is the Popish Religion unto which they are more straitly kept by the Inquisition The chief wares which are carried out of Italy into other countries are rice silks velvets sattins taffaties grogrems rashes stamels bumbasins fustians felts serving for clokes costly arras gold and silver-thred allum gals Venetian drinking and looking-glasses It containeth at this day the kingdoms of Naples Sicily and Sardinia the lands and patrimony of the Church so called which the Pope possesseth the great Dukedoms of Urbin and Tuscani the Common-wealths of Venice Genoa and Luca and the estates of Lumbardy being the Dukedoms of Millain Mantua Modena Parma Montferrat and the principality of Piemont of all which I shall observe somewhat The Kingdome of Naples in Italy is environed on all sides with the Adriatick Ionian and Tuscan seas excepting where it joyneth on the west to the lands of the Church from which separated by a line drawn from the mouth of the river Tronto or Druentus falling into the Adriatick to the spring head of Axofenus taking up all the east of Italy one thousand four hundred sixty eight miles it hath anciently been called the kingdome of both the Sicilies The fertilest place of all Italy abounding in all things necessaâ—y for life delight and Physick Hence are also brought the Neapolitan horses It hath had thirteen Princes twenty four Dukes 25. Marquesses ninety Earles and nine hundred Batons not titular onely 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 Azureâ—seme of Fleur de Lices or a file of three Labels Gules Its revenue is two millions and an half of crowns whereof twenty thousand are the Popes his chief rent and the rest so exhausted in maintaining Garisons upon the Natives and a strong Navy against the Turks that the King of Spain receiveth not a fourth part thereof clearly it hath twenty Arch-bishops and one hundred twenty seven Bishops-Seas 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 withal very inconstant and full of talk they invented Oratory Pastoral Eclogues hour-glasses with military Engins The soyl is incredibly fruitful 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 yieldeth 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 the 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 million of Duckets disbursed again on the entertainment of the
from hence are gold silver coper divers colours wines and velvets Damask and Turkish Grogram their religion hath in it some substantial error as that they deny that the Holy Ghost proceedeth from the Father and the Son they hold also baptisme of fire to be necessary yet they resist the Authority of the Bishop of Rome And thus now have I finished Europe the first part of the world The names of the greatest and most famous cities and Rivers in the world IN Italy the cities of Genoa Milan Venice Florence Rome Bologne and Naples the rivers most famous are Arnus Tiber and Po. The cities in France that are most famous are Amiens Rouen Paris Troyes Nantes Orleans Dâ—ion Lyons Burdeaux Toulose Marseilles Greâ—â—ble Anverse the rivers that are most remarkable are the Lâ—yre the Garone the Rhone the Sâ—yne The cities in Spain that do most prefer themselves to observation are Toledo Madrid Leon Pampelunc Bilbo Priede Saint Iames of Compostella Lisbone Fax Siville Grenade Mursy Sarragosa Barcelona and Valentia the rivers there most famous are the Dower the river of Tagus the Gadian and the Guadalguinur The cities in England that be most famous are London York Bristol the rivers most famous are the Thames the Severn the river of Humber and the Ouâ—â— The cities in Scotland most famous are Edinborough Sterlin Aberdin and Saint Andrews the most famous River is the River of Tay. The most famous city in Ireland is Dublin and the greatest River is the River of Shannon The chiefest cities in the Netherlands belonging to the Catholicks are Metz Besancon Chambery Antwerp the chief city belonging to the united States is Amsterdam the two most famous Rivers are the River of Scheld and the River Mosa The most famous cities in Germany are Strasborough Colen Munster Norimbergh Ausburgh Numick Vienna Prague Dresda Berlin Stettin and Lubeck the chiefest Rivers are the Rhine the Weser the Elbe the Oder and the Danow the most famous cities in Denmark are Coppenhague and Trondon the chiefest River is the Wezer The chiefest cities in Swedeland are Calmar Stockholme Abo and Riga the last whereof is in Livonia but now in the possession of the King of Sweden the most famous River is the River of Torne The chiefest cities of Russia are Mucow Wolodimax Saint Michael the Arch-Angel Cazan and Astracan the most famous Rivers are the Dwine the Volga the Don or Tana The most famous cities in Poland are Cracovia Warsovia Dantzick Vilna Kion Cameneca and Smolensco which is part of Muscovy and now again in the possession of the great Duke the chiefest Rivers in Poland are the Vistula or Weisser the Niemen the Duna or the Niester and the Boristhenes The chiefest cities in Hungary Transylvania Valastia Moldavia and little Tartary are Buda Presborough Hermonstade Tergoguis Czuchan or Sozow Craffa and Burgos the chiefest Rivers are the Drin the River of Oxfeus or Alfeus the River of Peneus the Vardax the Marize and the Danubius The most famous cities in Dacia are Trieste and Pedena The most famous cities in Bohemia are Cuttenbergh Pilzen Dommingraci and Budrozis The most famous cities at this time in Greece Buda Salonique Andrianopolis Scutary Durazzo La Valone L Armiro Prevezza Larta Lepanto Setines or Athens Stines or Thebes Corinth Patras Misira or Lacaedemonia which are all now in possession of the Turks The most famous cities in Bosnia are Iuycza Bagnalone Fruansaray in Croatia is the famous city of Wihitz The chiefest cities in Sclavonia are Nona Zara Nonigrad Tinâ— Sebenico Saint Nicolo Trau Spalato Salona Almisse Starigrad Vesiâ—chio Catara Buda and Dolcigno The most famous city in Walachia is called Tergovis and in Moldavia Zaczow In the land of Sicily there are the famous cities of Messina and Palermo in the Island of Sardinia the city of Calari and in Corsica the city Bastie The renowned cities in Romania are Constantinople and Adrianopolis Asia ASia is now the second part of the world eparated from Europe by the floods Tanais and Duina and from Africa by the narrow part of Lod le lakis Unto Egypt it is bigger then Europe or Africa and doth far exceed them in riches as precious stones and spices this region hath been renowned by the first second Monarchs of the world there man was created placed in Paradise seduced by Sathan and redeemed by our Saviour In this part was done most of the histories mentioned in the Old Testament and many things also in the New the eminent persons that have the rule of Asia are the Kings of China the King of Persia the great Turk and the Emperour of Russia Tartaria is bordered upon the north sea eastward upon the Sea of China southward upon the Provinces of China of India with the flood Oxdo and the Sea Mare Caspium and towards the west with the flood Mare Steneum and Morâ—ovia The Tartariaus are divided into certain commonalties ot colonies one from another so they differ in manners and trade of life they are men of a squaâ—e stature broad and gross faces their eyes sink into their heads and looking somewhat a squint they are strong of body and hardy they eat horses and all other beasts except hogs howsoever they are slain 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 wonderful wall four hundred miles long built between the mountaines it is divided into fifteen Kingdoms or great Provinces and 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 horsemen The land is fruitful of grain and beasts wild and tame wines of precious stones gold copper iron steel and pearl and good store of silk also very great cities well peopled Paquin is the royal city of which things be written that be incredible the people are lively witty wondrous artists they make waggons that sayl over the land as the ships do over the Sea the art of Printing and making of guns is more ancient with them then with us they have good laws 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 Iapan aboundeth so with gold that it is reported that the Kings palace was covered therewith in the time of Paulus Venetius India situated between Persia and the Tartars Sinca and the Indian Sea all writers account it the best and goodliest land in the world for it 〈◊〉 almost the whole world with precious Jewels and pearls medicinal drugs and perfumes that it may be called an earthly paradise and it belongs to the Spaniards Persia is a mighty rich land governed by the Sophy though he a Mahometist yet warreth against the Turk for the religion of Mahomet 〈◊〉 differences in expounding the Alcoraâ—â—
Wallisland and part of Piemont on the west with Daulphin and La Bress on the south with some parts of Daulphine onely and on the north with Switzerland and the lake of Geneva The country is altogether hilly and mountainous very healthful but not very fruitful the common people are naturally very dull but the Gentry pleasant ingenious and civil there have been neer thirty Earls and Dukes of Savoy it is a very strong place with fortifications of nature the revenue ordinarily a million of crowns yearely The onely order of Knighthood here is that of the Anunciado ordained one thousand four hundred and eight their collar is of fifty links to shew the mysteries of the Virgin at the end is her portraiture with the history of the annunciation instead of a Motto these letters F. E. R. T. i. e. Fortitudo ejus Rhodum tenuit are engraven to every plate or link of the collar each link being interwoven one within another in form of a true lovers knot the number of the Knights is fourteen beside the Duke the Soveraign of the order the solemnity held annually on our Lady day the Arms are G. a cross A. Geneva is a city of the Dukedome of Savoy now a free State having cast off both the Pope and their own Duke and kept freely by their neighbours jealousie each of other touching it the religion is Calvinist Protestant the government Presbyterial the language the worst French the people industrious and Merchants their situation for neighbours advantagious thereunto Wallisland reacheth from the mountain de Burken to the town of Saint Maurice where the hills do close and shut up the valley which is so narrow in that place that a bridge laid from one hill to another under which the river Rosue doth pass is capable of no more then one Arch onely and that defended with a Castle and two strong gates on other parts it is invironed with a continual wall of steep and horrid mountains covered all the year long with a crust of ice not passable at all by armies and not without much difficulty by single passengers so that no citadel can be made so strong by Art as this country is by nature The valley is very fruitful in Saffron corn wine and most delicate fruits having medows and pleasant pastures They have also a Fountain of Salt and many hot Bathes and medicinal waters they have cattle enough to serve them also a wild Buck equal to a Stagg in bigness footed like a Goat and horned like a fallow Deer leaping with wonderful agility and so not easily caught but in summer time for then with the heat he is blind The people are courteous towards strangers but very rough and churlish towards one another they are of the Romish religion and subject to the Bishop of Sion The Deputies of the seven Resorts having not only voices with the Cantons in his election but bein chosen they joyn with him also in the Diets for choosing Magistrates redressing grievances and determining matters of the State Switzerland hath on the east the Grisons and some part of Tyrol in Germany on the west the mountain Iove and the lake of Geneva which parts it from Savoy and Burgundy on the north Suevia another province also of the upper Germany and on the south Wallisland and the Alps which borders on the Dukedome of Millain It is totally in a manner overgrown with craggy mountains but such as for the most part have grassy tops and in their hollowness rich medows and nourishing pastures being two hundred forty miles in length and one hundred eighty in breadth the inhabitants are rich and rugged of disposition like their land good souldiers and mercenary almost to every one their religion mixed some Papists some Protestants Zwinglians yet they have agreed to tolerate one another their government popular The country of the Grizons is bounded on the east with the country of Tyrol with Switzerland on the north with Suevia and a part of the Switzers on the south with Lombardy a very mountanous and barren land the people now Protestant their government popular in these Alpine parts there are two Arch-Bishops thirâ—teen Bishops France hath alwayes been held the principal and worthiest kingdom of all Christendome it is bounded on the east with Germany and southward with the Mediteranian Sea south-east with the Alps and on the north with the Brittish Sea It is very fruitful in all sorts of grain and whatsoever is needful for the maintenance of life especially it hath great abundance of wines wherewith many other lands are also served It is divided into many great Dukedoms and Provinces hath in it also divers great mighty and famous cities the people are heady but ingenious and good warriours The government is meerly regal and at the pleasure of the Prince of which it hath had many great and powerful ones the religion of the Land is Popish but there are many Protestants there who although they have been greatly persecuteed yet sometimes their number hath indulged them in the exercise thereof the chief orders of Knighthood yet extant here are first of Saint Michael instituted one thousand four hundred and nine It consisted first of thirty persons but after of three hundred the habit of the order a long cloak of white damask down to the ground with a border interwoven with cocklsheells of gold interlaced and furred with Ermins with a hood of Crimson Velvet and a long tippet about their necks they wear a collar woven with Cockle-shels the word immensi tremor oceani the picture of Saint Michael Conquering the Devil was annexed to the collar the seat thereof anciently Saint Michaels mount in Normandy and the day Saint Michaels day Secondly of the holy Ghost ordained one thousand five hundred seventy nine The order of Saint Michael is to be given to none but such as were first dignified with this whereunto none were to be admitted but such as could prove their nobility by three descents their oath to maintain the Romish Catholick religion prosecute all opponents to it their robe a black velvet mantle pourtrayed with lillies and flumes of gold the colar of Flower-de-luces and flowers of gold with a Cross and a Dove appendent to it The Arms of France are Azure three Flower-de-luces Or it hath seventeen Arch-Bishops one hundred and eight Bishops and one hundred thirty two thousand Parishes The Pirenean Hills are onely a bound between France and Spaine two potent kingdoms the whole length not reckoning in the windings turnings affirmed to be eighty Spanish Leagues at three miles to a league the people barbarous but of what religion my Author saith not It may be he esteemed them so barbarous that he thought they could live without any religion at all Spain is severed from France by the Pirenean Mountains on all other sides it is invironed with the Sea it containeth at this day divers kingdoms one Gothes two Navars there have been fourty one Kings The
arms are Gules a carbuncle nowed Or the chief order of knighthood was of the Lilley their Blazon a pot of Lilies with the pourtraiture of the Virgin ingraven upon it their duty to defend the faith and dayly to repeat certain Avemaries thirdly Biscay and Empascon hath had nineteen Lords their arms Argent two wolves sable each of them in his mouth a lamb of the second four Leon and Oviedo hath had thirty Kings the arms are argent a Lion passant crowned Or five Gallicia hath had ten Kings the arms Azure semee of Cressets fiched a Chalice crowned Or six Corduba hath had twenty Kings the arms Or a Lion Gules armed and crowned of the first a border Azure charged with eight towers argent seven Granado hath had twenty Kings the arms Or a Pomgranate slipped Vert eight Murcia nine Toledo hath had eleven Morish Kings ten Castile hath had twenty Kings the order of Mercie is his chief order here their arms are a cross argent and four beads Gules in a field Or their habit white the rule of their order that of Saint Augustine their duty was to redeem Christians taken by the Turks with such money as was bestowed upon them eleven Portugal hath had twenty one Kings the principal orders of Knighthood here are first of Avis wearing a green cross second of Christ instituted one thousand three hundred twenty one their robe is a black Cassock under a white surcoat wherewith a red cross stroked in the midst with a white line their duty to expel the Moores out of Boetica the next neighbour to Portugal the arms of this kingdome are argent on five Escouchins Azure as many Befants in Saltire of the first pointed sable within a border Gules charged with seven towers Or eleven Majorca hath had successively four Kings twelve Aragon hath had twenty Kings the order of Knighthood is of Mintesa their robe a red cross upon their breast the arms Or four Pallets Gules all these are now united in one Monarchy of the King of Spain Their religion Popish whereunto they are kept by the violence of the Inquisition The land yields all sorts of wines oyles sugar grain metals as gold and silver it is fertile enough for the inhabitants whose ambitions for the most part are base the meanest proud the best superstitious and hypocrites many of them lascivious yet good souldiers by patience in enduring hunger thirst labour The King is not rich by reason of his great expences to keep his dominions in which he hath eleven Arch-bishops fifty two Bishops England together with Scotland on the north part thereof maketh the greatest Island of Europe and the richest in the world situated in a very temperate soil and wholesome air and exceeding fruitful in wheat and other grain hath many pleasant rivers plentifully stored with fish excellent havens commodious and safe mines of silver lead iron espetially of fine tinne innumerable flocks of sheep bearing fine wool of which is made cloth that serves not only themselves but is also transported into other parts the chief city is London the inhabitants are brave warriers both at sea and land and many of them learned and witty the orders of Knight-hooâ— are of Saint George or of the Garter there are twenty six Knights of it whereof the King of England was the Soveraign the Ensigne is a blew Garter buckled on the left leg on which these words are embroidered Honi soit qui mal y pense about their necks they weare a blew riband at the end of which hangeth the image of Saint George upon whose day this order is for the most part celebrated Secondly of the Bath instituted one thousand and nine They used to be created at the Coronation of Kings and Queens and the installing of the Prince of Wales Their duty to defend true religion Widows Maids Orphans and to maintain the Kings rights the Knights thereof distinguished by a red riband which they weare ordinarily about their necks to difference them from Knights Bachelours of whom they have in all places the precedence unless they be also the sons of noble men to whom their birth gives it before all orders Thirdly of Baronets an hereditary honour the arms are Mars three Lions passant gardant Sol. Scotland invironed with the sea except on the south side where it bordereth with England is not so fruitful yet hath of all things enough to sustain it self the head-city is Edenborough Scotland giveth not many sorts of course woollen cloth wool mault hides fish The principal order of Knighthood here is that of Saint Andrew The Knights did weare about their necks a collar interlaced with thistles with the picture of Saint Andrew appendant to it The Motto is Nemo me impune lacessit Secondly of Nova Scotia ordained by King Iames one thousand six hundred twenty two hereditary but the Knights thereof distinguished by a riband of Orange Tawney the arms of the kingdome are Sol a Lion rampant Mars within a double Tressure counter-flowred Ireland is full of brooks marshes waters and woods hath good pasture and abundance of tame and wild beasts but little grain the inhabitants are rude and wild people yet through the conversation and government of the English are dayly more and more brought to civility the aire here is very temperate cooler in summer and warmer in winter then in England the arms of Ireland are Azure and Harp Or stringed Argent The Isles belonging to great Brittain are the Surlings or Scillies Garnesey Iarsey Wight Anglesey Man Hebrides Orcades and many others All which three Kingdoms and Islands aforesaid make up one Common-wealth under the government of his now Highness OLIVER Lord Protector Their religion is Calvinist Protestant their government called Independent The Low Countries contain seventeen Provinces the Dukedoms of Brabant Guelderland Lymburge and Lisenburge the countries of Flanders Artois Henault Holland Zeland Namen Zukfen the Marquisate of the holy Empire the Lord-ships of Freezland Michlen Ouserisen and Graving all which are lands above measure well tilled and inhabited containing two hundred and eight cities fortified with walls and ditches and about six thousand three hundred villages with parish Churches besides the Castles Forts and Noble mens houses which are almost infinite in number This land is watered with many excellent rivers as the Rhine the Mose the Mard the Scheld and others It hath also many commodious Sea-Havens abounding in ships and very skilful and expert Mariners and Pilots as by their navigations may appear whereby they have compassed as it were the whole world The inhabitants also are very valiant and notable warriors as well by sea as by land as their enemies themselves will witnes They are excellently well skilled in all cunning and handy-crafts Many attribute unto them the invention of the Sea-compass as also the needle and laudable art of printing of books they send abroad into other parts all sorts of linnen and wollen cloth Camerick Pasementlace of gold silver and silk