also sheep whose tailes are of incredible greatnes conteyne 5 or 6 yea 8 or 9 pound of flesh A certaine beast there is which is called Hyena which draweth dead bodies out of the graues vnto his den and their feedeth on them it is about the bignes of a wolf the people of the country are of opinion that these beastes do vnderstand their speech espetialy when they go about to catche them These people are generally held to be very crafty fals deceatful NATOLIA EGIPT THis ritch ancient kingdome hath on the north syde thereof the Midland sea on the east the desert of Sues the northerne end of the Red sea on the south the countrie of Nubia on the west the land of Barcha In this country of Egipt it raineth not but the riuer of Nyle ouerflowing it at sundry tymes doth make it of great fertilitie in the said riuer is a piller of marble whereon are made certaine markes of the height that the water doth arise vnto when the yeare wil prooue plentiful The riuer is deep great ships may pas on it the great serpent called the Crocodile liueth heere and eateth both men horse the fish of the riuer The greatest cittie is called Cairo or Alcaire it is meruelous great of great welth Not far from hence are the moste wonderful Pyramides vpon the greatest whereof as Plinie writerh 2060 men did continually woork for the space of 20 yeares they are buylded foure square from the foot vnto the top do stil grow sloping lesse lesse a man standing on the top for there is some space to stand or go shooting a bolt out of a crosbow the bolt in falling downe wil light on the same Pyramide which argueth the greatenes of the space it carieth beneath at the foot which greatnes also apeereth in that it neuer yeildeth any shadow from it These Pyramides haue bene buylt by the ancient kinges of Egipt to serue for their sepulchres these sepulchres the Egiptians vsed for the conseruation of their dead bodies which euen at this present are found vnrotten the flesh of them is called Mummia caried thence into other countries to bee vsed in medicyne The 2 principall sea-hauens of Egipt are Alexandria Damiata EGIPT THE porte of CARTHAGE THe countrie enuyroning the gulf of Golette otherwise called Sinus Cartha ginensis hauing at the south end thereof the cittie of Tunis is now after the name of that cittie called the kingdome of Tunis It lieth on the northsyde on the Midland sea almost directly ouer against Sardinia on the west it extendeth to Algiers eastward to Mesurata all along on the southsyde it hath the mountaines that seperate Barbarie from Biledulgerid This kingdome conteyneth 5 prouinces to wit Bugia Constantine the iurisdiction of the cittie of Tunis Tripoli and Ezzab On the west syde of thesaid Gulf are the ruynes of an aquaduct of the Ancient cittie of Carthage whereof but some sew ruynes els are left behynde to testify that once so famous a cittie hath flowrished in that place some number of howses village-lyke to that it hath bin about 25 shops of marchants are now there to bee found This cittie of Carthage is a true glasse wherein the incertitude of this vaine world may bee seene that no glorie on earth can haue euerlasting durance THE porte of CARTHAGE ABISSINE or the EMPYRE of PRESTER-IOHN THe great King comannder of all Aethiopia sundry other kingdomes countries is called of Christians Proster Iohn of the moores Arictabassi of his owne people Acegue that is Emperor His dominions are limited on the southsyde with the Mountaines Lamae on the west with the kingdome of Congo the riuer Nyger c. on the north with Nubia Bugia that confyne vpon Egipt on the east with the Red sea Synus Barbaricus The country generaly is very fruteful albeit there bee litle corne yet is there other grayne other good frutes not found in Europe vineyards they haue but no olyue trees yet make they oyle of an herbe called Gena Of hony and wax they haue meruelous great store They haue al sortes of great beastes as Elephants Lions Camels horses red-deere kyen gotes c. they are much endamaged by great multitudes of grashopers Good mynes of metals they haue but not theskil to make vse of them They haue 2 somers 2 winters which are not greatly denyded by heat or cold but by rainy faire wheather The people are of a kynde of tawny colour vnseene in notable scyences without knowlege of Phisick They haue no coyned mony but vse peces or wedges of gold by waight They are Christians but hold many grosse errors both men and women are circumsised they are Christened at 40 dayes old They haue a book which is deuyded in 8 partes which they beleeue the Apostles to haue written before their departure from Ierusalem Mōnasteries they haue many both of men women wherein they do liue stricktly but it is lawfull for lay men to haue 2 or 3 wyues at once deuorcements are also allowed The Emperor affirmeth him self to be descended from the lyne of King Dauid he hath no one setled place of residence but remoueth from one prouince to another dwelleth in tents It is said hee is not of the colour of his people but of a whyter fairer skin He may surely bee accompted one of the greatest princes of the world is esteemed able to bring to the feld a million of men 500 elephants a great nomber of horses camels ABISSINE or the EMPYRE of PRESTER-IOHN BARBARIE ON the northsyde of Africa all along by the Mediteraneum sea oueragainst the south partes of Spaine France Italy lieth this country of Barbarie al along on the southsyde thereof are certaine woodie mountaines that deuyde it from Biledulgerid in these hilles are great store of wyld beastes This country of Barbarie is held the best moste fruteful parte of Africa conteyneth 4. kingdomes or rather in deed prouinces to wit Maroco Fez Telesine and Tunis The inhabitants are of a duscish colour are called Barbarians of the woord Barbara which in the Arabee tongue signifieth grumbling because their speech soundeth in the eares of the Arabians as no perfect or cleere pronunced speech but as a kynde of grumbling they were first Idolaters afterward conuerted to the faith of Christ yet at the length they came to Mahometisme wherein they yet continew are for the most parte subiects or tributaries to the Turck except some few places which are in the possession of the King of Spaine BARBARIE FESSE and MAROCCO AT the west end of Barbarie are thease 2 kingdomes of Fesse Marocco that of fesse lieth of the twaine more toward the north the Mediteraneum sea that of Marrocco more inward toward the south The realme of Fesse taketh name of
tempestes is free from foule contagious mistes According to a vulgar saying three thinges in Spaine are for the rarety of them very memorable to wit A bridge ouer the which water runneth which vsually runneth vnder bridges entending thereby the aquaduct of Segouia A towne enuyroned with fyre meaning Madrid the walles whereof are of flint And a bridge whereon ten thowsand beastes are continualy pastured which is vnderstood by the riuer Guadiana which running into the earth hydeth it self the length of seauen leagues then coming foorth againe holdeth his course as before SPAINE PORTVGAL THis country of Portugal is enuyroned about with other countreys of Spaine except on the west syde for their it bordereth vpon the great westerne Ocean It is in Latin called Lusitania taking this name as is said from Lusus sonne vnto the nynteenth King of Spaine Sundry faire riuers do take their courses through this region of which the riuer Tagus now called Tâ—lo is the principal was of old tyme more famous for that his sandes along by the banck sydes were mingled with gold The whole country is wel inhabited and albeit Portugal hath litle or no wyne yet Algarbe which is ioyned reconed with it yeildeth very good wynes Mountanous it is not neither reported to haue mynes This kingdome began about the yeare of our Lord 1100 in this sorte Henry an Earle of Loraine coming into Spaine shewed himself very valiant had many victories against the Saracins for the which Alfonsus the sixt King of Castilia gaue him his base daughter Tyresia in mariage bestowed with her this country vpon him Of these twaine came Alfonsus the first King of Portugal the first that gat out of the handes of the Saracins the citie of Lisboa He also ouercame in one battaile fyue Kinges in memorie whereof he bore in his armes fyue shieldes as in the armes of Portugal do yet appere This kingdome albeit but litle yet hath it enlarged it self in glory fame euen to the farthest boundes of the world by the great trade of spices other pretious wares from the east Indies hath bin moste mightely enriched This trade began in the raigne of King Iohn he second and hath continued with exceeding comodite the augmentation of sundry tytles of other crownes kingdomes This realme of Portugal after the death of Henry first Cardinal lastly King who succeeded Sebastian that was slaine in Africa became with whatsoeuer belonged vnto it to bee vnder the obeysance of Philip the second King of Spaine so remaineth ioyned with the other kingdomes of Spaine in one entyre monarchie PORTVGAL ANDALVZIA THis countrie hath on the east syde Granada on the west Algarbe on the north the prouince called Magistratus S. Iacobi on the south the straight begining of the Mediteraneum sea comonly called the straight of Gibraltar On either syde this straight are two moste high mountaines to wit Gibraltar in Andaluzia whereof that straight taketh name and Abyla in Mauritania These two mountaines are of many called the columnes of Hercules yet there are that affirme the columnes of Hercules to haue bin two pillers of brasse in the temple of Hercules which was in the I le of Gades now called Cadiz or Cales in which they say was grauen the charges which the building of the said temple did coste howbeit the certainty is altogether vncertaine whether the two pillers of Hercules were these two mountaines or two artificial pillers of brasse This countrie of Andazulia is the moste fertil parte of all Spaine for aboundance of all sortes of fruits great plenty of other necessary thinges The inhabitants are courteous ciuil very opulent It is replenished with almoste 200 syne townes but the great ritch citie of Siuil is the Chiefest citie of all this prouince The name it hath of Andazulia is growne but by corruption for the right name is Vandazulia of the Vandules that heere made there habitation when by the Gothes they were chased out of other partes ANDALVZIA VALENCIA THe Kingdome of Valencia bordereth on the east syde vpon the Mediterraneum sea is on all other sydes enuyroned with other countries of Spaine The chief citie of this realme is also called Valencia of this citie the whole country taketh name Some authors do witnes it receaued the name of a Kingdome in the yeare of our Lord 162. There are two principal mountaines in this country the one called Mariola the other Penna Gâ—lofa which do produce many sortes of medicinal herbes for which cause diuers phisitions apothecaries repaire thether for simples There is in this country at a place called in the spanish tongue â—uriol a myne of siluer And in a place called Aioder there are stones found stryped with golden vaines At the promontorie of Finistrat are certaine mynes of Iron though of no aboundance About Segorbia is a quarry out of which marble in tymes past was taken sent to Rome In Piacent Alablaster is found in sundry places great store of Allum Red-Oker Lyme Chalk This country yeildeth fyne wool which as is said cometh of the race of cotsold sheepe transported out of England into Spaine by licence of King Edvvard the fowrth in the fift yeare of his raigne There is great comoditie made in this country by the making of certaine earthen vessels which the Spagniards call Procellana This country was long inhabited of the Moores vntil at last King Iames after a long siege constrayned them to leaue the citie of Valencia out of the which there departed at once more then fyfty thowsand in number who caried with them all their riches left the citie voyd both of people and welth There is not as is thought any corner of the world so replenished with goodly gardens abounding with such rare excellent flowres herbes as is this countrie of Valencia VALENCIA GADES THe Spagniards call at this present this Ile Cadiz corruptly it is called Caliz It is as deuyded into two partes so seemeth two Iles. In the lesser is now the Citie of Cales in the greater was Iulia Gaditana Augusta which as Strabo saith was called Naples The Citie of Cales is now a Bishops sea By moste auncient authors it appeereth that this I le was found out by the Phenitians others hold that after them the Geryons inhabited heere whose cattel was taken away by Hercules In this I le was a temple of this Hercules which for the founder for Antiquitie religion riches was very famous This Church saith Mela is become holy because the bones of Hercules are here buried In the Temple of Hercules Ceasar did behold the picture of Alexander the great as Sueton telleth vs. There was a well which at ful sea yeilded salt water and at the ebbe fresh Sundry temples the pagans buylded in this I le as a temple of Iupiter a temple of Iuno a temple of Saturne a temple of old age
England Scotland is the chiefest next vnto it haue ye Ireland then more northerly is Island Frisland lastly Groonland all in the Ocean sea In the Mediteraneum sea it hath Sicilia Sardinia Corsica Candie Maiorica Minorica Corphum Nigropont and others of lesse fame whose seueral names and situations do appeere in the Mappe This our Europe besides for the Romaine Empier honorable throughout all the world hath aboue 28 Christian Kingdoms yf you adde the 14 which some recon only in Spaine It is passing fertil naturally temperate and of a milde aier And inferior to no other parte in plentie of all kinde of fruit wyne and plants but to be compared with the most exellent beeing made pleasant with most faire Citties Villages and Throughfares And although it be in compas lesser then the other yet for the woorthinesse of the people it is preferred before all other partes of the world euer hath bin by all auncient writers hauing both for the Empier of the Macedonians and mightynesse of the Romaines bin moste renowmed EVROPA ASIA ASIA being the second parte of the world hath on the west syde to deuyde it from Europe the riuer Tanais from the head whereof the deuision is made as it vvere by a lyne extended vnto Sinus granduicus It is moreouer denyded by Mare Magiore a pece of the Mediteraneum sea On the south syde it hath the sea of India On the east the Ocean called Eous otherwise the east sea And on the north the icy sea of Sithia Asia by estimation seemeth as great as Europe and Affrica yet is it not taken to bee so populus as Europe having many wonderfull great deserts huge mountaines spatious sandy regions the mount Taurus stretcheth it self very farr through the middest thereof Some haue deuyded this parte of the earth into fyue portions The first is that which ioy neth vnto Europe obeyeth vnto the great Duke of Muscouy The second that which is vnder the great Cham Emperor of the Tartars The third that which is occupied by the race of the Ottomans vnder the fowrth is comprehended the kingdome of Persia gouerned by the Sophie And the fift last parte is that which as of old so yet at this present it retayneth the name of India beeing denyded vnder the comaund of many pety Kinges whereof diuers are tributaries to the great Cham. And in this parte is also conteyned the great mighty kingdome of China This parte of the earth is not only famous among prophane authors for the first monarchies of the world as of the Assyrians Persians Babilonians Medes but it is more illustred aboue other partes in sacred scripture wherein not only appeereth that in the same mankynde was first created by Almighty God but our Lord sauiour Iesus Christ coming into this world for the redemption of man did choose to make herein his birth place It is also to bee considered that the most pretious thinges that the world doth yeild are fonnd in this noble parte thereof as besydes great varietie diuers kyndes of beastes birds excelent sortes of spices frutes medicinall herbes rootes other thinges As also the moste pretious metalles pretious stones and pearles ASIA AFRICA THis third parte of the vvorld the auncient writers haue diuersty deuided But as Ioannes Leo vvitnesseth it is now deuyded into fowre partes to vvitt Barbaria Numedia Libia and the country of the Negroes or moores The first of these beeing Barbarie is the best and moste frutefull enclosed with the Atlantike and Mediterraneum seas the mount Atlas and the region called Barcha which confyneth on Egipt Numedia which yeildeth dates is of the Arabies called the date countrie is otherwise called Biledulgerid this beeing the second parte bordereth on the Atlantike sea in the west and the mount Atlas in the north in the east it reatcheth vnto the citie Eloacat and southward vnto the sandie deserts of Libia Libia the third parte is in the Arabeck tongue called Saâ—ra which signifieth wildernesse it beginneth at the riuer Nilus and reatcheth to the Atlantyke sea having on the south the Negroes or Moores and on the north Numedia The fourth and last parte is that which is called the country of the Negroes or Moores for that they are black people it hath Libia on the north The AEthiopian sea towardes the south the Gualates towardes the west and on the east syde the kingdome of Goaga It is further to be considered that all Africa is enuyroned with the Mediteraneum Atlantyke and Aethiophian seas and the riuer Nilus Some haue accompted Aegipt and Aethivpia to bee of Asia but with more reason all moderne Cosmographers do recon them to belong to Africa The south parte or coaste of Africa was vndiscouered vnto the yeare of our Lord 1497 that Vasca de Gama passed the promontorie or cape de Bona speranza and sailing round about all the south coast of this parte of the world arryued at Calecut in the east Indies Africa hath great and dry deserts wherein many strange beastes and serpents are nowrished and in some partes there of as about the riuer Nilus sundry new creatures or monsters are often produced AFRICA AMERICA THis fowrth parte of the world for the exceeding largenesse thereof is called the new-world altogether vnknowne vnto all Consmographers vntil the yeare of our Lord 1492 in which it was discouered by Christopher Columba of Genua who for that discouery was employed by Ferdinand King of Castille Queene Isabel his wyf It seemeth moste strange that so great a parte of the world should so long remaine vnknowne considering the dilligent search of Geographers to describe the whole earthe the oportunitie to search out countries the insatiable desyre that man hath of gold siluer wherewith this America aboundeth yet could neuer before bee found out Some think it was decyphered by Plato vnder the name of Atlas others affirme a pece of coyne to bee found there having on it the Image of Augustus the Emperor about the which there are diuers opinions and disputes This parte of the world hath bene all sailed about except on the north syde which coast is yet vndiscouered It seemeth to forme it self into two peninsulaes whereof the one which is northerly conteyneth new Spaine the prouince of Mexico the landes of Florida Terra noua etc. That which is southward called Terra firma conteyneth the regions of Peru Bresilia and others America had not in tymes past either wheat or wyne kyne shepe gotes asses or dogges but it hath since the discouery there of bene enriched from Europe with all these and sundry other comodities AMERICA ENGLAND THe whole I le of Albion called also Britannie beeing the greatest Ile of this parte of the world is at this day by two seueral names called England and Scotland because it contayneth those two kingdomes The Meridional greatest best parte thereof is called England of Englishmen somtyme a people of
a temple of death In these temples alters were erected to the Gods of the yeare to monethly Gods to Arte pouertie The inhabitants of this prouince did in tymes past excel in nauigation they do not now degenerate from their anceters Their chief comodities rise of salt fish This was the last I le knowne in the world as antiquitie belieued And there they said the Sunne beeing weeried with running his dayly race descended into the Ocean sea tooke rest therefore this I le is of Statius called the Sunnes bed GADES FRANCE THe realme of France as now it is limitted hath on the north syde the narrow seas that deuyde it from England westward it hath the west Ocean in the southwest it ioyneth to Spaine directly south it bordereth vpon the Mediterraneum sea On the Eastsyde to begin from the south downward vnto the north it bordereth first vpon Sauoy then on the Countie of Burgundie otherwise called La Franche Countè so along by Lorraine vpon Luxembourg Heualt Ã…rtois This goodly kingdome is aboundant in corne and wyne al sortes of frutes hauing plenty of cattel and foule wanteth not all other necessarie thinges mynes it is not renowmed to haue yet is it moste ritch opulent beeing situate in the middest of the chief countries of Europe hauing trafike on all sydes It shal not be needful to shew the three parts wherein Ceasar recounteth it to haue bene deuyded of oldtyme seeing both the limitts and inhabitants are since altered At this present it is deuyded into eight prouinces which are vnder eight continual courtes of Parlament The first is the prouince of France otherwise called the I le of France wherein the citie of Paris is situate In which citie the first courte of parlament resideth The second prouince is Languedoc the parlament whereof is in Tholouse The third Guienne whose parlament is in Bourdeaux The fowrth is Normandie whose parlament is in Roan The fist is Burgundie whose parlament is Dijeon The sixt is Dauphinè whose parlament is in Grenoble The seauenth is Prouence whose parlament is in Aix The eight is Britannie whose parlament is in Renes and vnder these eight prouinces all France is conteyned limitted for recours of iustice vnto these parlaments FRANCE GASCONIE THis prouince of Gasconie is situate on the southwest syde of France reatching on thesaid syde vnto the Pireney mountaines by the which France Spaine are deuyded On the east syde it hath Languedoc and on the north Guienne and Arminac The people are valiant warlyk The country is very plentiful of all thinges but it chiefly aboundeth in wyne where with it not only serueth it self but sundry other countryes in Europe besydes In the tyme of Carolus Magnus it was called the kingdome of Gascony In this country thesaid Charles the great marching against the Saracins of Spaine did lose in a battaile forty thowsand men in which battaile his noble nephew the Earle Roland was slaine This country was first subdued vnto France by Dagobert the first of that name In the yeare of our lord 1155 both it and all Aquitaine came to bee subiect vnto the crowne of England through the mariage of King Henry the second of that name with Elinor daughter and heyr vnto VVilliam Duke of Aquitaine And it was lost in the yeare of our lord 1453. in the 31 yeare of the raigne of King Henry the sixt so as it remayned vnder the obeisanâ—e of England about 300 yeares GASCONIE POICTOV THis prouince of Poitou called in Latin Pictauia is detryded into two partes to wit the Superior Inferior The vpper Poitou is that which stretcheth east-ward towards the countries of Towrs Berry the nether Poitou is that parte which westward extendeth it self to the Ocean sea It is a country frutefull in Corne Cattel rich in wynes furnished with great store of fish And the great aboundance of wyld beastes fowle doth cause the delightfull sportes of hunting hauking to bee here much vsed The chief citie of this prouince is called Poitiers having a notable vniuersitie chiefly for study of the Ciuil law this citie is of great antiquitie as appeereth by the Theatre Aquaduct monuments which are there yet remaining POICTOV BRITANNIE BRitannie called in tyme past Armorica bordereth eastward vpon the country of Maine and a parte of Aniou towards the north it hath the narrow sea a parte of the country of Constantin towards the west the maine Ocean towards the south the country of Poitou It is reconed in two partes to wit the higher the lower Britany There are in it nyne Bishoprykes which are deuided into three distinckt quarters Three of these which are Cornuaille S. Paul Treguiers do speake the British tongue the inhabitants are called Cornubians Other three to wit those of Dol Renes S. Malo do speake the French tongue The third beeing those of Nantes Vannes and S. Brieu do speak both French and British The principall townes in Britannie are Nantes and Renes but in Renes resydeth the courte of Parlament for the whole prouince The chief hauen of all Britany is that of Brest It is not to bee omitted that the hauen of S. Malo is garded with mastiues which beeing thereto trayned do there kepe diligent night watch It is generally a pleasant fertile country the earable land beeing as good as can be desyred hauing also plenty of wood pasture exceeding great store of medow ground There are in it mynes of Iron lead in some places siluer fyne salt is there boyled through the heat of the Sun And the country through the many comodities thereof the sea trafike is very welthy BRITANNIE NORMANDIE NOrmandie hath on the north syde thereof the narrow seas that seperate England France on all sydes els ir is enuyrond with seuerall countries prouinces of France From whence this Duchie taketh name the name it self of Normandie doth declare to wit North-mandie that is the dwelling or region of the men of the North for from Norvvay othewise North-vvay came Rolo afterward called Robert with his Northmen and of Charles the simple King of France hee and his people obtayned heere there habitation about the yeare of our Lord. 9 12. This prouince of Normandie is a moste pleasant fertil soile so wel furnished of all necessaries as sildome any place better It hath great store of flesh and fish of corne and vvood much wyne it hath not there growing but is furnished with great store by the riuer of Scine which coming through Paris passeth by Roan the chief citie of this prouince All the corne feilds as also the high wayes passages are set planted about with frute-trees espitially aples peares which yeildeth great aboundance of tider perry The riuer of Seine as a foresaid passing by Roan falleth into the sea at Haure de grace or nevvhauen where ships arryuing do
haue made their residences This citie of Auignion among other rareties hath seauen thinges of note seauen againe of each of them to wit seauen Pallaces seauen Parishes seauen Hospitales seauen Monasteries of women seauen Colleges seauen Couents seauen Gates PROVENCE THE COVNTIE OF BVRGVNDY THe countie of Burgundy the frenchmen call La franche Conté that is to say a free earldome the limits of this earldome northward are Lorraine Germany southward Sauoy westward the Duchy of Burgundy eastward Svvitserland Besançon Dole are the two chief cities of this country The former of these beeing very auncient is the principall of all It hath as good pleasant a situation as any citie els beeing enuyroned with ritch mountaines plentiful vineyards forests of goodly Oakes the riuer of Doux which passeth through the middest thereof doth yeild vnto it very good fish Dole standeth also vpon the same riuer and hath a flourishing vniuersitie in all faculties of learning In a parte of this country there are salt pittes which do yeild moste excellent pure whyte salt In that parte called Arbois groweth the excellent wyne called vin d'Arbois The whole country although but litle is both fruteful wel inhabited albeit it bee said of Orgelet a place where very industrious people dwel that liue by clothmaking that by reason of the rocks mountaynes the fields are without gras the riuers without fish the hilles without wood THE COVNTIE OF BVRGVNDY THE DVCHIE OF BVRGVNDIE THis second or lower Burgundie now a Dukedome was in former ages a kingdome the kinges where of did for the moste parte make their residences in the citie of Arles so as the boundes of this kingdome stretched much farther then this Duchie now doth the which paleth with Campaigne on the north syde with Niuernois Bourbonnoys on the west with the country of Lions on the south the countie of Burgundie on the east Of this Duchie Dijeon is the chief citie it lieth vpon the riuer of Ouche here is held the tribunall or courte of Parlament for Burgundie c. The riuer whereon this citie standeth is full of fish The country is very frutefuul yeildeth very good wyne The Dukes of Burgundie haue heretofore bene very famous of great power opulence and the people valiant The country taketh name as Saniulianus saith of a Burg or castle in the vally of Ogue therefore called Burgogue It hath besydes Dijeon diuers fair cities as Beaunle Chalon Mascon sundry others among which Autun sheweth it self to bee of great antiquitie where the ruynes of a great Theatre are yet to bee seene The cronicles of Aemylius do shew how about the yeare 1044 the whole country of Burgundie was deuyded into two partes to wit into a Dukedome and an Earldome THE DVCHIE of BVRGVNDIE LORRAINE THis Dukedome accompted to bee of Germanie hath on the east syde the country of Alsatia in the south the countie of Burgundy in the west Champaigne on the north the forest of Arden It was heretofore a kingdome and called Austrasia but then extending it self much farther then it now doth It tooke the name of Lorraine of Lotbarius nephew vnto Charles the great was annexed vnto the Empyre vnder Otho the first The country is hilly but wanteth nothing necessary for mannes vse It is furnished with cattel hath very good medowes pasture groundes it yeildeth corne wyne It hath mynes of Siluer Tin Copper Iron Lead Pearles are found in some waters in the valley of vaguy The pretious stone called the Calcedony with sundry other stones of woorth are here fomid as also azure More-ouer here is exceeding pure whyte salt which is said to yeild yearly vnto the Duke all charges borne 100000 Franckes There is a lake about 14 leagues in compas wherein amonge other sortes of fish are carpes of exceeding sweet taste comonly of three foote long one foote large this Lake beeing fished euery three yeares doth yeild somuch that it maketh in yearly value vnto the Duke 16000 Franks Lorraine hath many fyne riuers the holesome warm bath of Plombiers The chief citie is Nancy there the Duke moste comonly resydeth LORRAINE CALIS and BVLLEN OF all partes of the maine continent this only parte is in the view of England England thereof is viewed These two townes with their territories are paled on the east syde with west Flaunders on the west syde with the English or narrow seas northward with the Germaine Ocean southward with Artois Picardie The country aboute Bullen is good pleasant inward into the land are hilles some woods which are accompted portions or partes of the great forest of Arden which the french call Boys de morman The country about Calis is vnpleasant low warrish Calis of sundry authors is called Iccius Portus but others atribute that name vnto Bullen At Bullen is yet beheld a strong tower built by Iulius Ceasar of Englishmen called the old man The towne territory of Calis was subiect to the crowne of England from the yeare 1346 what tyme through force of armes it was by Edvvard the third taken from the french vnto the yeare 1557 when the Lord vventvvorth beeing gouernour thereof for Queene Marie it was taken againe by the French so that it remayned in the possession of the English 210 yeares and the towne of Calis became famous through the Staple of wool by them there holden In tymes past the towne of Calis belonged vnto Flaunders after vnto France then to England so to France agame as hath bin said in the yeare 1596 It was taken from the French through force by the Archduke then Cardinal Albertus of Austria gouernour of the Netherlands at that tyme for the King of Spaine in the yeare 1598 vpon a peace concluded betwene France Spaine it was rendred againe to the French CALIS and BVLLEN VERMANDOIS VErmandois is almost enuyroned with Picardy saue that on the one syde thereof it ioyneth vpon Artois and Cambresy It is a litle prouince but the name is of antiquitie the people thereof were of old called Veromandui The chief towne hereof is called S. Quintins which was long since called Augusta Veromanduorum howbeit one author saith that thesaid Augusta was two myles from the towne of S. Quintines and was since called the Abbey of Vermond This was wont to bee a Bishopryke but S. Medard the fourteenth Bishop of Vermandois translated that seat vnto Noyon in the yeare 524 when the Vandales came into France Phillip the second King of Spaine tooke this towne by force of armes in the yeare 1557 with great discomfiture losse of the French men In this country of Vermandois two notable riuers haue there begining the one not far from the other The one is the riuer of Somme which passing through Picardie falleth into the sea at S. Valeries The other is the riuer of Skeld which passing
through Cambressi Tournay into Flannders cometh vnto Antwerp so downe into Zealand is there receaued into the sea VERMANDOIS PICARDIE PIcardie accompted of old a parte of Galia Belgica hath on the east syde Vermandois on the west Normandie a parte of the narrow sea on the north it hath Artois and on the south Champagne The riuer of Somme which of Ptolomey seemeth to bee called Phrudis watreth this country maketh it frutefull and the townes to bee furnished with all necessary prouision The soile yeildeth great aboundance of corne albeit it hath no wyne it is rather thought to procede of the negligence of the inhabitants in not planting vineyards then through the vnfitnes of the soile to nourish them The principall citie of this country is Amiens which is a Bishops sea ancient very famous and aswel fortified as any citie in France Next vnto this is Abbeuile then haue ye Peronne as also the towne of Guyse whereof the how 's family of Guyse taketh name From whence the name of Picardie is deryued there are diuers opinions Some think that the Begardi should be changed into Picardos which Caenalis wil not affirme of certainty Others do say that these people haue the name of Picardes consequently their country the name of Picardie for hauing in warr first taken vp the vse of pykes PICARDIE GERMANIA THis great spatious country hath on the northsyde thereof the Germaine Baltish sea southward it confyneth with Italy westward it reatcheth vnto France eastward northerly it ioyneth on Polonia southerly vpon Hungaria within it lieth the Kingdome of Bohemia It is a country mightely replenished with goodly cities townes and villages exceeding populus hauing therein many goodly riuers whereof the Rhene the Danubie the Elbe are the chief It is deuyded into sundry Dukdomes Earldomes other gouernments yet all in some sorte depending on the Empyre for here in Germany the Emperor hath his seat residence for whose election Pope Gregory the fyft beeing of the how 's of Saxony ordayned seauen Princes electors to wit three spiritual 4 temporal the spiritual are the Bishops of Magunce Cullin Treuers The 4 temporal are the Dukes of Saxon and Bohemia for Bohemia now a kingdome was then a dukdome The Palsgraue of the Rhene the Marquis of Brandenbourg The earth ayre as also the people of Germanie seeme much altered since the tyme of C. Tacitus who described the soyle to be barren the ayre not very good the country woodie watrish the people very rude vnciuil for now wee fynde the ayre to be helthsome good the country fruteful the inhabitants courteous ciuil It hath now good wyne growing in it such aboundance of corne in the east partes thereof that it sustayneth sundry other countryes neither is it vnfurnished of all other necessaries It hath also mynes of Gold Siluer Copper Iron other metalles The people are warlyke very industrious many rare inuentions haue bene by them found out GERMANIA INFERIOR GERMANIE INferior Germany conteyning the seauenteene prouinces which the Emperor Charles the fift left vnto his sonne King Philip the second of Spaine Is corruptly of some strangers called Flaunders the inhabitants Flemings whereas Flaunders is but one of these prouinces the inhabitants thereof properly Flemings The names of the prouinces are these The Dukedomes of Brabant Geldres Limbourg and Lutzembourg The Earldomes of Flanders Artois Henalt Holland Zeland Namure and Zutphen The Marquesat of the holy Empire The Signories of Friseland Macklin Vtreck Ouerysel and Grooning The prouinces are generally by the inhabitants called by the name of Nederlant which in English is Netherland and the people generally call themselues Netherlanders There are in it as Levvis Guicciardyne affirmeth the number of 226 walled townes diched about and more then 6300 villages each village hauing a parish Church then are there Castles fortresses noble mennes howses a great number Some parte of this country is very euen flat lyke vnto Lombardy other partes are more high hilly It is very frutefull having plenty of corne of flesh and fish some of which comodities are in some prouinces more or lesse abounding then the others according to the nature situation of the place The people are maruelous industrious and do excell in all artes and sciences whereby as also by their great trade of marchandise this country may wel bee said to bee one of the moste pecuniary countryes of the world INFERIOR GERMANIE LIEGE THis Bishopryk ioyneth on the north west syde unto Brabant on the east on the duchie of Limbourg southward it extendeth vnto Lutzembourg partly vnto France The ayre is sweet the country exceding frutefull in corne and other graine it hath wyne albeit but smalle it hath store of beastes both wyld tame It hath exceeding good Iron it hath lead also gold Alablaster very faire marble is digged out of the hilles with great labor and arte of vndermyning Stone-coles are digged out of deepe pittes which kynde of cole was first discouered to be there in the yeare 1198 whereof besydes those there spent there is transported yearely to other prouinces to the value of more then 100000 ducates Sr Iohn Mandeuill knight doctor of phisick beeing borne in England having trauailed so farr through somany countries kingdomes did not fynde a place that for the sweetnes of the ayre the frutefulnes of the earth accompagned with a very great freedome that better pleased him then did this country of Liege where he chose to end the rest of his dayes there died in the yeare 1272. The citie of Liege is the chief of all the townes in this country wherein are 8 collegiat Churches with ritch Canonries Tungres for the antiquitie thereof is reconed next vnto Liege the ruynes without and within the towne do aswel as old bookes declare the oldnes of this citie there apeereth yet the paued high way that reatched from thence vnto Paris Some thinke the fountaines to bee about Tungres whose vertues Pliny somuch comendeth but experience sheweth them to bee at the Spaw LIEGE LVTZEMBOVRG THis Duchie is bordered on the northsyde with the Bishopryk of Liege the Earldome of Namure on the south Lorraine on the east the Mosel the Bishopryk of Treuers westward partly with the Mose partly with the forest of Arden The country is altogether hilly woody much of the wood of late yeares is turned to corne land The chief cirie is of the same name that the whole Duchie beareth but was by Ptolomey called Augusta Romanduorum It lieth parte on a hil parte on low ground The inhabitants do speake the high duitsch for the more parte except those which dwel on the syde towards France for they vse the french tongue By reason of the situation of this country beeing frontyred with so many seueral iurisdictions it hath
bin a tayler hauing endured the moste extremitie of a hard siege were at the last by the Bishop true lord of that citie subdued punished and according to their demerits VVESTPHALIA DITMERS DItmers called in latin Thietmarsia or rather Teutomarss lying at the mouth of the riuer of Elbe where Cimbrica Chersonesus taketh begining hath on the northsyde the riuer Eyder on the east the dukdome of Holsteyn on the south the riuer Elbe and Stâ—rmarsia on the west the Germaine sea All the country is ful of brooks marish groundes for which cause the frutefulnes of the soile is the lesse praise woorthy the name of Ditmers betokeneth the nature of the place for mers or meyrish with them is the same that marish is in English These people were of old accompted amongst the Saxons but they are now subiect vnto the king of Denmarck and were subdued by force in the yeare of our lord 1559. by Aduphus the sonne of Frederik king of Denmarck since which tyme it alwayes remayneth vnto the king of Denmarckes eldest sonne DITMERS DENMARCK THis kingdome is by the sea denyded into sundry portions the first is eastward called Scandia which hath on the west the kingdome of Svveeden the ayre thereof is good and the country fruteful hauing great store of corne flesh fish it hath also mynes of Gold siluer copper lead 7. The west portion of Denmarck is Iutia called of Ptolomey Cimbrica Chersonesus which stretcheth it self out betwene 2 seas not much vnlyke though much lesse then Italy hauing on the east syde the Germaine Ocean on the west the Baltishsea There are also belonging to Denmarck diuers Iles whereof the chiefest is Seland Iutland was in oldyme in habited by the Saxens who afterward by the Danes were chased thence Munsterus saith that Denmarck was a kingdome long before the birth of Christe that of the first king thereof called Dan the country took the name which it yet retayneth but yf Iunius bee to bee belieued then hath Denmarck taken appellation of the firrtres other wise called den trees which do grow in the country in all aboundance The inhabitants of this kingdome haue in former ages borne their armes through out Europe established their power in the moste noble regions thereof for from hence came both the Gothes the Gothes the Longobardes DENMARCK SAXONIE THe name of Saxonie heretofore comon to diuers protinces now remaineth vnto two to wit the higher the lower Saxonie high Saxonie hath the dignitie of the prince elector the principall cities thereof are VVittenberg Torga Nether Saxonie hath the cities of Flamburg Breme and in the middest lieth the citie of Brunsvvik It ioyneth eastward vnto the marquesdome of Brandenbourg westward vpon VVestphalia southward on Thuringia northward it extendeth to the Germanie sea Besydes sundry necessary thinges for the vse of man where-with Saxonie is wel furnished it hath diuers mynes as of Siluer Copper and Lead There is taken out of pits a certaine kynde of stone called in their tongue Schyffer for it lightly shelfereth or shiuereth it is black of colour it is mixed with copper brimstone the copper by fyre is gotten out of it VVhen this stone is shelfered in peces there are seene in it diuers veynes of a golden colour which is a most wonderful woork of Nature there apeereth the pictures of diuers sortes of beastes fishes foules serpens as perfectly as yf they were drawne thereon by the arte of a painter The inhabitants of Saxonie are strong hardy people which is held to proceede of there diet which is nothing dainty or curious they feed yong children with chewed flesh rather then with pap or milk VVyne groweth not in Saxonie but their ordinary drinck is beere SAXONIE BRANDENBOVRG IN tyme fore-past all the countrey beyond the riuer Albis vulgarly Elbe whereof this Marquisdome of Brandenbourg was a parcel was inhabited by the Vandales This prouince confyneth eastward with Polonia westward with Saxonie Northward with Meckelburg Pomerania and southward with Mifnia and Silesia The chief citie is called Brandenbourg therof the whole Marquisdome taketh name the citie it self took name of Brandus a prince of the Franckes Henry the Emperor surnamed the faukner besieged this citie in winter when the waters about it were frosen his soldiers passing ouer the yse took it by assault he placed here a Marckgraue thus began the greatnes of this Prince who aftward be came so remaineth one of the Princes electors The countrey is very fruteful espetially in come it hath many fish-pondes meddowes It hath moreouer vineyardes which were first planted by the Marck-graue Albertus At Francford vpon the riuer Oder which is in this marquisdome is an vniuersitie founded by the Marck-graue Ioachim in the yeare 1506. neere to this citie from the vyne-hilles runneth a small brook which is length of tyme conuerteth wood other thinges throwne into it into stone BRANDENBOVRG POMERANIA POmery whereof the Latin name Pomerania cometh signifieth in the vandalish language a country lying neere the sea euen as this country so named doth which al along the northsyde lyeth on the Baltish sea on the east it ioyneth to Prusia southward it hath the Marquisdome of Brandenbourg westward the Dukedome of Mekelbourg In this country of Pomerania and the confyning places the Vandales inhabited the people yet dwelling there beeing of that race who after they were brought from paganisme to the Christian faith began to frame both their language customes neerer vnto their neighbours the Saxons The country hath many riuers meynes or litle lakes The meddowes are very good on the higher groundes there are woods Beastes both wyld tame it hath great store of great plentie of corne fish butter hony wax and wanteth no necessary comoditie Amber is here gotten out of the sea albeit not in such aboundance as in Prusia The chief citie of this prouince although there be other cities of more antiquitie is called Stetin beeing very pleasantly situated vpon the syde of the riuer of Oder POMERANIA SILESIA SIlesia lieth eastward confyning on Polonia southward vpon Morauia VVesterly vpon Bohemia northwest vpon Lusatia This country hath heretofore bene many yeares vnder the dominion of the King of Polonia afterward it came to belong vnto the crowne of Bohemia The chief citie is Preslavv which is built with a very great vniformitie The inhabitants of the greater parte of Silesia to speake the Germaine tongue the rest the polonian language The country is hilly yet hath it many woods from the mountaines of Bohemia many riuers brooks descending do take diuers passages through this prouince and increase the fertillitie thereof The gentlemen of this country are giuen to husbandry which is not vsuall with the gentlemen of other parts of Germany and yet are they not-with-standing wel trayned exercysed in feates of armes SILESIA AVSTRIA
ruled this cittie the rule thereof is stil continued in that famile The territories of Siena Perugia are in this epitome perticularly described The cittie of Luca albeit within the boundes of Tuscane is a free cittie state by it self Viterbo lieth not farr from monte Fiascone which yeildeth the moste excellent wyne of all Italy Pisa is situated somwhat neere the sea not far from the hauen of Linorno TVSCANE THE KINGDOME of NAPLES AT the farthest southeast end of Italy lieth this kingdome of Naples the limits whereof are in the west the riuer Trâ—ntâ— in the north the Adritatyk sea the sea of Sicilia in the south and the Ionish sea in the east And herein are enclosed besydes a parte of Latium 8 of the goodliest regions of Italy as namely Terra di Lauora Basilicata Calabria inferiore Calabria superiore Terra d Otranto Terra de Barri Puglia Piana and Abrazzo The country generally is mountanous yet are there also plaine euen fieldes faire riuers it is very fruteful yeilding aboundance of all necessaries it hath also faire hauens as Gaeta Taranto Naples and Brindiso If we look into the histories of former ages wee shal not see any knowne kingdome in the world that hath seemed more vnforunate then this hauing bene as it were the very butte whereat fortune hath shot her sharpest-hedded arrowes heer haue the Romanes the Gothes the Lougebards the Greekes the Saracius the Normannes the Frenchmen Spagniards at seuerall tymes had their seueral dominations It is at this present vnder the comaund of Philip the 3. King of Spaine who hath there his vice-roy for the gouerning thereof The noble cittie of Naples which lendeth that name to the whole kingdome is situate on the sea syde at the foote of pleasant hilles it is great spatious inhabited with the nobilitie of the whole realme who haue herein their goodly palaces gardens so pleasant it is without the cittie by reason of the fyne walkes odoriferous trees that it seemeth an imitation of Paradise Eight miles from this cittie lieth the mount Somma of old called Veseuium accompted though now it hath left burning among the burning mountaines of the world heere Plinie the curious searcher of natural causes shewed himself too curius when of the fyre he was consumed THE KINGDOME of NAPLES ABRVZZO THis territorie lieth on the north east syde vpon the gulf of Venice other wise the Adriatyk sea and the other sydes are limitted with the riuers Tronto Salino the Apenyne hilles From whence the name Abruzzo cometh is vncertaine through the difference of opinions thereof This prouince is somwhat colder then the others of Italy it yeildeth much saffron though not so good as that of England nowrisheth great store of cattel It hath sundry high steepe mountaines that which is called Mounte Maiella is alwayes couered with snow Monte de la Virgine is very famous for the faire Church of the B. Virgin which is builded vpon the highest parte thereof The chief cittie is Aquila but of no antiquitie Beneuento is very old was first called Malenentum as both Plinie Liuius do witnes because the wynd was there so forceible that a man fitting on horseback was thereby throwne to the ground Ortano is a place exceeding ancient and there the ships out of Epirus Dalmatia do arryue with comodities for the faire or mart of Lanciano which lieth 4 myles from the sea is a towne of trafike Sulmo is wel knowne through the famous poet Ouid who heere was borne as himself doth tel vs. Ascoli is by Leander accompted among the chief townes of Abruzzo was the birth-place of Ventidius Bassus who of poore yea contemptible race himself beeing but a mule-keeper was by the Romaines made Consul a comaunder of the world of whose rising from so low estate to such greatnes the poet Iuuenal maketh memorie Aquino where S. Thomas the great diuine philosopher was borne is also in this territorie sundry other townes citties of name ABRVZZO SICILIA THis Iland kingdome lieth in the Mediteraneum sea at the northeast end thereof it is neere vnto the southeast end of Italy It is of diuers authors holden to haue bin continent with Italy that the force of the sea hath broken through deuyded it It is a fertile country but moste of all abounding incorne where with sundry partes of Italy from thence are serued The whole I le is deuyded in 3 partes the first is called Valle di Demona herein is the cittie of Catania more famous heretofore then at this present In this valley lieth Mount Aetna knowne through the world for the flaming syte thereof it was in opinion confirmed that the stuf or matter where through this fyre was caused was wholy consumed that therefore the fyre was ceassed but in the yeare 1536 the flame againe burst foorth to the great terror and annoyance of the inhabitants there abouts The cittie of Messino is also in this parte hauing a comodibus hauen neere thereunto is the dangerous Caribdis as much feared by sea as Aetna by land but the danger is now farr lesse then of old by reason that the hollow places on the land syde beeing stopped the sea yeildeth not such violence smalle botes may pas ouer there as ouer a calme riuer The second parte of the I le is Valle di Mazzara and in it is the cittie of Palermo therein the vice-Roy for the King of Spaine with moste of the Nobilitie resideth there is a plaine or spatious place where Constanza Normanna was deliuered of Frederyk the second vnder a pauilion vvould so bee deliuered not in any hovvs because it should not so be said that her chyld-bearing vvas vncertaine or by stelth this she did for that she vvas past the ordinary yeares of conception The third parte is Valle di Noto heerin lieth the ancient cittie of Syracusa famous heretofore through the infamous tyrants thereof It is at this present much decayed SICILIA SARDINIA THis I le lieth in the Midland or Mediterraneum sea hauing Tunes in Africa ouer against it on the south syde the I le of Corsica on the north The ayre of this country is not held very pleasing espetialy in somer That syde which lieth towards Corsica is hilly but that which is towards Africa is more plaine euen It yeildeth much corne good wyne Oliue trees it hath great store but no oyle is there made Many horses are there bred there are also wyld horses which are lesse then the other of lesse accompt Heer moreouer is bred a certaine heast called Musions which in other places is not found the skin heare thereof is lyke vnto that of the hert the hornes wreathing turned lyke vnto the hornes of a ram it is lesse in bignes then a hert it feedeth liueth vpon high mountaines and the
Sigismond the first so annexed vnto Polonia OZVVICZIN and ZATOR TRANSSILVANIA THis country called in latin Transsiluania is of the Germaines called Seuenbergher-Lant that is the Seuen-hily country of seauen principall hilles where with among other that bee lesser this country is enuyroned It confyneth on the west syde with Hungary hath Moldauia VValachia ioyning to it on the northeast southeast The country albeit mountainous is very good yeilding both corne wyne cattel very aboundantly There are in it wyld oxen which haue beardes vnder their chinnes and wyld horses whose manes do hang downe to the ground Mynes there are also both of gold siluer The chief cittie is called Hermenstat but Alba-Iulia is the oldest The people are very valiant haue bene very victorious against their cruel easterne neighbours the Turcks from whose inuasions they are much defended through the mountaines that enuiron the whole countrie euen as a cittie is enuyroned with a walle The Ceculiernes are esteemed moste valiant these haue among them no difference betwene gentlemen boores but liue all in an ordinary state Parte of the Transsiluanians do speak the Germaine tongue but these the Hungarian The Prince of this country is called the Vayuode these vayuodes were wont to bee placed there by the kinges of Hungara TRANSSILVANIA PRVSSIA THis country bordereth eastward on Lituania southward with Polonia northward with Liuonia westward with Pomerania The Knights of the Teutonic or Duitsche order haue here borne great anthoritie the which at last by the King of Polonia was abridged Albert Marck-graue of Brandenbeurg was the last great-master who by an agreement with k. Sigismond of Polonia left his habit held this country in see of the King and so became duke thereof It is now denyded into 2 partes the one belonging vnto the King of Polonia the other vnto the duke of Prusia who keepeth his residence in the cittie of Coningsperg The sea shore of this country doth yeild the fairest sorte of amber the which is aswel drawne vp out of the sea with nets as gathered on the sea syde The country is maruelous aboundant in corne cattel wel furnished with fish it hath great store of woods wildernesses There are many Beares stagges wyld swyne wyld horses a greater kynd of buffulaes then are in Italy or other partes the wyld horses are neuer tamed beeing found not seruiceable through their weaknes of back The beast Alces is heerfound who resembleth the horse in proportion the hert in hornes sauing that the hornes bee more broder are yearly cast new grow againe In the woodes wildernesses are great store of bees which yeild aboundance of hony wax PRVSSIA POLONIA VVestward is this kingdome aioyning vnto Germany northward vnto the Baltish sea Prusia eastward vnto Lituania southward vnto Hungarie It is deuyded into 2 partes the greater the lesser the greater lieth toward the north the lesser towardes the south Cracouia is the chief citie there the King keepeth his court it is also an vniuersitie Danske which lieth on the Baltish sea is a cittieof great trafike of marchandise espetialy of corne the other citties are but meanly builded of no great same The whole country is plaine vnhilly therefore of the inhabitants called Pole which in their tongue signifieth plat or plaine The people of Polania Lituania Samogithia Masouia Volhini Podolia Russia Moldauia are those which of old authors were called Sarmates Lituania is great but not greatly inhabited a beast is there found called Rosomacka of the ordinarie bignes of a dog hauing a face lyk a cat a taile lyk a fox it feedeth on carren beeing ful it forceth it felf to pas betwene the narrownes of 2 trees thereby voydeth all that it hath eaten then goeth to eat againe returneth to voyd it as before continueth so long as the carren that it feedes vpon lasteth Samogithia ioyneth to Lituania the country is cold the people are strong helthful do fare hard Massonia yeildeth much hony the inhabitants mak their drinck therewith Volhinia is very fertile full of townes vilages Podolia is of corne gras so aboundant that the lyk is not knowne Russia aboundeth in horses oxen sheep In this countrie in somer are certaine woormes called Ephimere which beeing newly bred do in the morning run vpon the water at none they haue winges fly aboue the water they die before the Son setting of these woormes Aristotle speaketh in his first book of beastes Moldauia is a parte of walachia the chief cittie is Sotschen the people are good soldiers is it said that the regents of this country do cause their yong children to be marcked with hot irons that thereby their descent may the more certainly bee knowne POLONIA LIVONIA LIuonia called in the Germaine tongue Lysland lieth on the eastsyde on Russia on the westsyde on the Baltish sea northward an arme of the sea seperateth it from Eniland southward it bordereth vpon Prussia The chief cittie of this country is Riga which is a place of great trafike as are the other principall places of Reuel Narua The country is somwhat sandie not mountanous Great woods there are store of wyld beastes as foxes Martres Sables Ermynes hares It yeildeth wax hony wheat rie and furres The people are not greatly industrious nor wholy ciuil The faith of Christ was preached vnto them about the yeare 1270 diuers of the rude people are yet heathenish nor letting to pray vnto the Sun to the Moone or to some great tree or to one thing or other according as their blynd folly leades them VVhen one of them is dead they put with him into his graue an ax bread wyne meat some peece of mony bid him go his wayes into the other woorld where he shall raigne ouer the Duitschmen as they haue raigned ouer him in this They are subiect vnto a certaine order of Germane knights that do rule gouerne them The great master of which order keepeth his court residence at VVenden a towne situate in the middest of the country LIVONIA THE NORTHERNE REGIONS THe Septentrional regions of Europe that hetherto are knowne are first that which is called the I le of Scandia which conteyneth the kingdomes of Sweden Norwey a parte of Denmarck then the famous I le of Albion conteyning England Scotland VVales then are there the Iles of Ireland Friesland Island Groeneland Grecland c. the rest yet vndiscouered Of all which regions the realme of England is the principal best parte by reason of the goodnes of the soile and myldnes of the ayre in that it lieth more to the south then any of the other Sweden is a country very mountanous ful of lakes riuers aboundant in cattel fish hauing also mynes of siluer copper lead Iron The chief
cittie thereof is Stokholme builded vpon pyles of wood on the sea shore Norwey extending in length north south hath the Deucalidon Ocean on the west syde Sweden on the east beeing from thesame seperated by high mountaines This country is full of rocks howbeit the goodliest oakes of the world do grow there thereof the wainscots clabords are made The chief citie is called Berghe The I le called Frisland is not wel knowne yet seemeth is about the bignes of Ireland Island is famous through the great store of dried fish which is fetched thence the burning hil Hecla Groeneland is a very great I le the people by reason of the coldnes of the country are faine to make their dwellinges in the earth The further partes are yet vndiscouered so is the Ile which Mercator calleth Grecland sundry other lesser Iles of these farthest northerne regions THE NORTHERNE REGIONS RVSSIA or rather MVSCOVIA ON the north syde this country hath the Icysea on the east syde it hath Tartarie on the south a parte of Polonia a parte of Turkie on the west Liuonia the kingdome of Svveden The country is very great it is for the moste parte euen hath many meddowes in the Somer many standing waters caused through the melting of the snow The black forest of Germany extendeth it self into this country passeth through it from the south to the north in it are great store of wyld beastes as Elends beares black wolues c. VVyne or oyle groweth not heer but wheat rie other graine Great store of wax hony it yeildeth the which is not made in hines but in hollow trees Mynes they haue not nor pretious stones that there are found but costly faire furres good store also flax The chief cittie where the great Duke or Emperor keepeth his court is very great and called Musko lying on the riuer Muskâ—a the howses are built all of wood not high but large euety how 's hauing a yeard or garden plot belonging vnto it They are Christians but of the Greek Church their date they vse not from the tyme of Christe but from the beginning of the world Their lawes are very plaine according to an ancient simplicitie no aduocates are admitted but euery man to tel his owne tale for himself RVSSIA or rather MVSCOVIA TARTARIE AS there is a Sarmathia in Europe so is this parte of Asia where the Tartarians inhabite also so called It hath on the northsyde the Scythian sea on the east the Eoish or east sea on the south it hath India on the west the Caspium sea Muscouie The country is wonderful great spatious hauing in it maruelous great deserts the people liue not in townes or vilages but in tents and remoue their dwellinges according to the seasons of the yeare they eat sheep kyen horses their drink is water milk beer brewed with barley Sigismond Baron of Herbestein in Germany recouneth to haue vnderstood of Demetrius Daniel a man of much reputation among all the muscouites that in the countrie betwene the riuers of VVolga Laick a certaine feed much lyke vnto the seed of a melon beeing cast into the ground groweth foorth about 2 foot high beareth a moste strange frute lyke vnto the shape of a lamb which of the people there abouts is called Bonarets the stalk goeth from the nauel into the earth there hath his root it hath head eares mouth eyes legges semeth to haue blood within it but not flesh for the substance is lyke vnto the meat of a creuis it is couered with a thin skin it consumeth the gras or herbes growing about it endureth so long as they last the woules other raneuous beastes belight much to feed on this beast plant yf this be true as it is for a truth reported it is one of the moste wonderful miracles of nature The royal pallace of the great Cham who is Emperor of Tartarie is in the cittie of Cambalu in Cathay which cittie is buylt fouresquare in compas said to conteyne 24 Germaine myles The country is in sundry places so very euen plaine that wagons hauing sailes lyke vnto ships are driuen forward by the wynde TARTARIE CHINA THis great country of China lieth in the furthest easterne syde of East India ouer against the Iland of Iaponia on the northsyde of it lieth Tartarie on the southsyde Canchinchina on the west the Brackmani on the east the Oriental sea The country except on the sea syde is with a wal mountaine compassed about is exceeding good fruteful the people wonderful industrious It hath plentiful mynes of Gold store of Rheubarb The fieldes hilles are ful of beastes both wild tame the sea inland riuers very fish-ritch numbers of familes dwel on the riuers in botes do nowrish exceeding store of ducks The drie groundes they sow with wheat barley the moist low grounds with rice that 4 tymes in the yeare no parte of the country lieth vnused to some profit the very hedges are of roses some of flax They haue great store of mulbery trees to the maintenance of their silk wormes The inhabitants do sildom trauel into other countryes other nations come not into theirs but by espetial licence They eat not setting on the ground as other people of Asia are wont but at tables They are heathens in religion beleeue that al thinges haue bene created They pray to the Sun Moon Starres also to the Diuel to do them no hurt their priestes marry not but other men haue as many wyues as they wil yet must keep how 's only with one They call their King the lord of the world the sonne of the Sun who when he goeth to the field against the great Cham of Tartarie his army conteyneth 300000 foote 200000 horse Some say they haue long since had artillery printing but that they had artillery before it was knowne in Europe is doubtful printing they haue had but not such as may bee compared with the excelencie of ours theirs beeing no other then carractered stamps or formes of wood those thrust downe on their sorte of paper as wee vse to seal our letters or set a marck or stamp CHINA INDIA ALl authors do hold East-India for the noblest greatest country couteyned vnder one name Tartarie only excepted It taketh name of the riuer Indus of Strabo Plinie India is limitted by the riuer Indus in the west with the mounts Tauri in the north with the Eoish sea in the east with the Indian sea in the south It is a land moste faire holesome yet the temperature somwhat different in sundry prouinces by reason of the greatnes thereof It yeildeth frute twice in the yeare freeing thereby the inhabitants from hunger pouertie vast steril places there are also in India but they serue for
the habitation of sundry sortes of wyld beastes And albeit no great store of corne groweth heere yet hath is barley rice the Indians by rice cheese milk flesh fish delicate frutes are nowrished besydes their store of frutebearing trees they haue great reedes or canes whereout whyte hony lyke vnto gum is pressed Silk is heer in great aboundance beastes both wyld tame are in infynit numbers greater then in other places of the world as Kyen Camels Lions Dogges Elephants there are also dragons serpents whyte apes camelions that liue by the ayre all sortes of the best kynde of foule The spyces of India are knowne to all the world Heben wood groweth heer the trees that yeild frankensence the shores or sydes of the riuers do deliuer gold the sea faire pearles Diamonds Rubies Saphires Amatistes Agates sundry other sortes of pretious stones are found in this noble country The inhabitants of India are of different languages different in apparel of different religions some beeing Christians some Mahometaines some Iewes some Pagans The people are generally talle of stature strong of a tawny or browne colour many do liue to 130 yeares or thereabouts INDIA PERSIA THe name of Persia is very ancient but the country was in tymes heretofore far lesse then it now is It hath on the eastsyde of it parte of Tartarie parte of East India on the south syde Sinus Persicus parte of the Indian sea on the west syde it confyneth with the dominions which the Turk now occupieth in Asia on the north it hath the Caspium sea c. The beginning of the greatnes of this kingdome was in the yeare 1269 when a noble persian of the cittie Ardenelim named Sophi being also a Mahometain reuolted from the Turk beganby war to conquer countries and his successors haue since both augmented their possessions continued the great quarrel about the right successor of Mahomet The Persians are a more humane people then the Turkes not beeing so rigorous against the Christians which liue among them hauing among them noble gentlemen which the Turkes haue not The countrie is very fruteful except in the mountanous desert partes It yeildeth aboundance of fyne silke the best Iron for armour steele for armes of the whole world is here found It hath also ritch mynes pretious stones pearles and the fertillitie thereof in many places may bee compared vnto that of the neighbouring India PERSIA TVRKIE THe Turkish Empyre conteyneth the foutheast parte of Europe the northeast of Africa the southwest of Asia so as it lieth where these 3 partes of the world do meet taketh a parte of each of them howbeit the fargreater parte is in Asia which far exceedeth the partes both in Africa Europe At Constantinople which is in Europe the great Turk keepeth his residence This cittie was taken by force of Mahomet the eight Turkish Emperor vpon the last day of May in the yeare 1453. after it had bene besieged 54 dayes after sundry other victories this Mahomet died on the first day of May in the yeare 481 was buried in the said cittie of Constantinople In Europe is subiect vnto the Turk the greater parte of Hungarie all Bulgarie Greece Macedonia Romania Morea sundry other prouinces In Africa Barcha Egipt besydes the kinges kingdomes there tributarie vnto him In Asia hee hath Natolia the two Arabiaes to the great grief of Christians the countrie of Palestyne where Christ our sauiour liued died many other prouinces to long heer to describe Both Christians jewes are suffred to liue in this Turkish Empyre vnder tribute albeit the Turkes do carry somwhat a better opinion of Christians then of jewes yet are the Christian inhabitants subiect to very great inconueniences The Turkes according to the law of their great reputed prophet Mahomet are circumsised they are forbidden to drink wyne to eat swynes flesh allowed to haue many wyues TVRKIE PALESTYNE THe old pagan authors called this country Palestyne the Iewes called it The land of prontis Christians haue termed it the Holyland It hath al along on the west syde the Mediteraneum sea on the east syde Arabia northward it hath Mount Libanus southward it reatcheth downe towards Egipt the Red sea This countrie was denyded among the 12 trybes of Israel but after the tyme of King Salomon it was denyded into a kingdomes In this moste noble country liued the holy prophets And the Sonne of God did heer receaue humaine flesh It was in former tymes so excellent aboue other countries that it was called the land that flowed with milk hony but it is now greatly altered the sinnes of the inhabitants hauing deserued no better Burcardus saith that it yet excelleth in yeilding aboundance of pure wheat that with litle laboring of the ground Roses Sage fenel other flowers herbes do without the industrie of man grow in the feilds The riuer of Iordan hauing his issue vnder Libanus runneth through the lake of Genazareth into the dead sea the country half a dayes iorney euery way from this sea is barren by reason of the euil vapors sauouis thereof It seemeth to haue the name of Mare Mortuum because there is in it no liuing thing The ancient famous cittie of Ierusalem is situate in a hilly place Mount Syon lieth on the southsyde Mount Gyon on the west By the encreased greatnes of this cittie the holy sepulchre wherein Christ was buried hauing a church built ouer it is now within the walles The mount of Caluarie whereon our Lord was crucified is 108 foot from the graue there is a pauement to pas from the Chruch to the place where the crosse did stand which riseth in height to 28 foote on the same rock the clifts rentings do yet appeere which hapened at the death of our deere lord and sauiour PALESTYNE NATOLIA NAtolia extendeth it self from Asia where vnto on the eastsyde it is aioyned and lieth in length westward towards Europe hauing on the northsyde Mare Maggiore and on the south the Midland sea and at the west end the sea called Archipelago The Turkes who now possesse it do call it Litle Asia It conteyneth Phrygia Galathia Bithinia Pontus Lydia Caria Paphlagonia Lycia Magnisia Capadocia and Comagena all goodly countries ancient renowmed prouinces some of them Kingdomes yea a perticular Empyre of Trehizonde whereof Nicomedia heretofore a moste noble cittie appeereth now but in the ruynes thereof Nyce is also here to bee seene where the famous great Councel heertofore was holden Amasia is the chief cittie of Capadocia was the birth-place of Strabo the wel-knowne Cosmographer And the renowmed martyr and Patron of England S. George was also of this country of Capadocia In Natolia are gotes which haue that fyne heare or rather wolle whereof the thamlets are made There are
the chief cittie thereof which is so called it is the greatest cittie of all Barbarie hauing in it 500 Moschees to wit churches wherein their Mahometical seruice is said for the inhabitants are Mahometaines as those of Marocco also are they are vncourteous vnciuil espetialy toward strangers they are of a pale-tauny collour often subiect vnto agues by reason of the vnhole somnes of the ayre The cittie of Marocco whereof that kingdome also taketh appellation is not as it was of old hauing lost the third parte of the wonted greatnes thereof as the yet remayning ruynes do testify where were wont to bee goodly edifices there are now gardens groues of palme trees That which doth now retaine any beauty therin is the royal pallace which the King Mansor caused to bee buylded FESSE and MAROCCO THE TABLE A AByssine 108 Africa 4 America 5 Ancona 71 Andalusia 12 Aniovv 20 Asia 3 Abruzzo 80 Artois 37 Austria 52 B Barbarie 109 Bauaria 55 Bohemia 53 Berry 21 Brabant 39 Brandenbourg 49 Brescia 74 Britannia 18 Burgundie countie 26 Burgundie Duchie 27 C Calis Bullen 29 Candie or Creet 87 Carthage porte 107 China 100 Como lake 72 Corfu 86 Carsica 83 Crema 77 Cremona 76 Cyprus 88 D Denmarck 47 Ditmers 46 E Egipt 106 England 6 Europe 2 F Fesse 110 Flanders 40 France 15 Franconia 57 Friuli 62 Friesland 44 G Gades 14 Gasconie 16 Geldres 41 Germanie 32 Greece 89 H Henalt 36 Holland 43 Hungarie 91 I Illyricum 90 India 101 Inferior Germanie 33 Ischia 84 Istria 63 Ireland 8 Italia 61 L Larius lake 72 Liege 34 Limousin 22 Lituania 95 Liuonia 96 Lorraine 28 Lutzenburg 35 M Malta 85 Marroc 110 Milan 65 Misnia 48 Mosscouie 98 N Namure 38 Natolia 105 Naples 79 Nortgoia 56 Normandie 19 Northern Regions 97 O Orange 23 Oruieto 70 Ozvviczin 92 P Padua 73 Palestyne 104 Persia 102 Perugia 69 Picardia 31 Piemont 26 Poictou 17 Polonia 95 Pomerania 50 Portugal 11 Prouence 25 Prussia 94 R Roome territ Russia 98 S Salisburg Dioces 54 Sardinia 82 Sauoy 24 Saxonie 48 Scotland 7 Sclauonia 90 Siena territ 68 Sicilia 81 Silesia 51 Spaine 10 Suitzerland 60 Svveden 97 T Tartarie 99 Tercera 9 Thuringia 48 Tirol 59 Transsilunia 92 Tunis 107 Turkie 103 Tuscane 78 V Valencia 13 Vermandois 30 Verona 75 VV VVestphalia 45 VVirtenberg 58 The VVorld 1 Z Zara Zebenico 64 Zator 92 Zeland 42 AN ADDITION OF CERTAINE MAPS VNTO THIS EPITOME OF THE THEATRE OF ABRAHAM ORTELIVS LIMAGNE THis region conteyneth the best parte of the countrie of Auuergne It is most pleasant delectable with goodly forests pure fointaines hot bathes mines of siluer and many sortes of good frutes in it is a certaine water that turneth thinges cast into it into stone Here in is the chief cittie of all Auuergne called Clerment the which francis Belforest affirmeth to haue bene of old tyme that much renowmed cittie Gergonie where Vercingetorix King of Auuergne was wont to kepe his residence In this cittie in the yeare of our lord 1095 was hild the great counsel by meanes of Pope Vrban the fifth about the solicitation of Christian Princes to vndertake war against the infidels for the winning of the Holy land more Christian Princes nobillitie were here then met together then scarsly can bee remembred to haue bene at one tyme place in one assembly Here was also holden in the yeare 1374 a generall meeting of the states of France vnder King Charles the fifth about the expelling of the Englishmen out of such strong places as they then possessed in Auuergne LIMAGNE CHAMPAGNE THe name of this prouince is not ancient the first knowne author that nameth it Champaigne is Aimon as it seemeth it taketh this appellation because it is a champaine vnhillie countrie It is frontyred on the east syde with Lorraine on the south with the Duchie of Burgundie on the west with Brie on the north it hath Retelois It is very plentiful of wyne corne in it are sundry principal citties townes whereof Trois Rbemes are the chief The first beeing a ritch cittie of marchandise where great store of paper is made the other an vniuersitie the staple for wynes of those partes whereof the countrie people haue among them an old prouerb that hee that hath the purs of Troys the seller of Rhemes is able to make war against the King The cittie of Rbemes is very ancient as apeereth by Ceasars comentaries and in this cittie the kinges of France are wont to bee anioynted CHAMPAGNE TOVRAINE THis countrie of Touraine beeing not great hath on the west syde Anion on the south Poictou on the east the territorie of Blois on the north the countrie of Maine parte of Veudome The chief cittie is called Towers which may be reconed among the richest citties of France aswel for the fertillitie of the countrie about it seeming rather gardens then feildes as also for the industry of the inhabitants both in their trasike of marchandise and in their skil in the woorking weauing of silk as fyne wel as yf it came out of Italy VVestward from Towers downe the riuer of Loyre is the cittie of Amboise situate in a healthful ayre moste pleasant territorie Vpon the riuer of Indre which falleth in fyne into the Loire standeth the towne of Laches which hath a faire castle the which through the situation of the place is held impregnable for that it standeth on a rock In this castle was discouered a passage through an Iron gate into a deep caue or dongeon therein was found sitting a Giant resting his elbow vpon the syde of the place where he sat his head vpon his hand as yf he had slept but beeing touched his flesh fel to duste the bones only remayned besydes him stood a cofer which beeing opened their was found in it whyte linen folded together but in the opening of it it brake in peces How this Gigant came to bee here so set seeing no records do shew it s it is left vnto sundry supposals Diuers othergood townes there are in this territorie as Paâ—trâ—y Chastillion Cormery Beaulieu others TOVRAINE THE TERRITORIE of BLOIS VPon the riuer of Loyre about the midway betwene Orleans Amboys lieth the cittie of Blois whereof the territorie about it is accordingly named The soile is very fruteful espetially in corne and the ayre so holesome that sundry noblemen beeing sickly haue bene by their phisitians aduysed to go liue for the recouery of their health in this cittie or territorie for which cause of holesomnes of the ayre diuers kinges of france haue not only here much resyded but haue made it the nercery or place for the bringing vp of their children The cittie of Blois is very ancient at a place called Orcbeze which is about two leagues from it was sometyme Ceasars Magasin or the place of prouision of graine