De Bello Turcico who said that the Emperour of Germany was Rex Regum meaning that his Princes were so great men The King of Spaine was Rex Hominum because his People would obey their Prince in any reasonable moderation The King of England was Rex diabolorum because the subjects had there divers times deprived their Kings of their Crowns and Dignity But the King of France was Râ—…x asinorum in as much as his people did beare very heavy Bâ—…thens of Taxes and Impositions In this Kingdome of France is one great Misery to the Subjects that the places and Officers of Justice are ordinarily bought and sold the beginning whereof was this Lewis the twelfth who was called a Father of the Country began to pay the debts of his Predecessor Charls the seventh which were very great and intending to recover unto France the Dukedome of Millain and minding not to burden his people further than was need thought it a good course to set at sale all the Offices of the Crown but with the places of Justice he did not meddle But his successors after him took occasion also to make great profit of them witness the Author contra Machiavel l. 1. c. 1. By the customes of that Country the King of France hath not that absolute power to muster and presse out Souldiers as in England and some other places of Christendome the Princes have But the manner is when the King will set forward any Military Service he sendeth abroad his Edicts or causeth in Cities and good Towns the Drum to be strucken up and whosoever will voluntarily follow he is enrolled Notwithstanding he wanted few Souldiers because the Noble and Gentlemen of France do hold it their duty and highest honour both to attend the King unto the wars and to beare their own charges yearely for many months The person of the King of France hath in former times been reputed so sacred that Guicciardine saith of them that their people have regarded them in that respect of devotion as if they had been demi-gods And Machiavel in his Questions upon Livie saith that they doted so much upon their Kings that they thought every thing did become them which they did and that nothing could be more disgracefull than to give any intimation that such or such a thing was not well done by their King But this opinion is much now decayed the Princes of the bloud are in the next ranke under the King himself There be many and very rich goodly Cities in France but the chiefest of all is Paris called Lutetia quasi Luto sita as some have merrily spoken which place is especially honoured first by the presence of the King most commonly keeping Court and Residence there Secondly by the great store of goodly houses whereof part belong to Noblemen and part are houses of Religion Thirdly by the University which is incomparably the greatest most ancient and best filled of alâ—… France Fourthly in that it is the chiefe Parliament City of that Kingdome without the Ratification of which Parliament at Paris Edicts and Proclamations coming from the King are not held authenticall Fifthly by the great Traffique of all kind of Merchandize which is used in that place The Parliament Cities in France are places where their Termes are kept and in severall Provinces are seven unto which the causes of inferiour Courts within their distinct Provinces may be brought by appeale but the Parliament of Paris hath that Prerogative that appeales from all Courts of the Kingdome do lie there That which we call our Parliament in England is amongst them tearmed Conventus Ordinum or the States France in ancient time as Caesar reporteth in the first of his Commentaries was divided into three parts Aquitania which was towards the West Celtica towards the North and West and Belgica which is towards the North. Belgium is sometime called Gallia inferior and sometime Germania inforior but we commonly call it the Low-Countries the Government whereof at this day is not at all under France but Gallia Celtica and Aquitania are under the French King The ancient Inhabitants of this Country were the Gaules who possessed not only all that we now call France being the greatest part of that the Romans called Gallia Transalpina but also a good part of Italy which they call Gallia Cisalpina a people whose beginnings are unknown this of them is certaine that they were a Nation of valourâ—… for they not only sackt Rome buâ—… also carried their conquering armeâ—… into Greece where they sate downâ—… and were called by the Name oâ—… Gallogrecians or Galathians Some report also that they enâ—… tred into Spaine and subdued anâ—… inhabited that part which was calâ—… led Lusitania now Portugallia buâ—… howsoever their former victoriâ—… and greatnesse they were by Iuliâ—… Caesar subdued and made a Provinâ—… of the people of Rome and so coâ—… tinued under the Romane Empiâ—… till about four hundred yeares afâ—… ter Christ when in the ruine an dismembring of the Roman Empirâ—… the French invaded Gaule and erâ—… cted a Monarchy which hath coâ—… tinued to this day in the successioâ—… of sixty four Kings of three sevâ—… ral races that is to say the Merâ—… vingians Carolovingians and Capâ—… vingians about twelve hundre years and now flourisheth undeâ—… Lewis the 13. the now raigning Kâ—… of France Although the French have done many things worthily out of their own Countrey in the East against the Saracens although they have â—…or a while held Sicily the Kingdome of Naples and the Dutchy of Millaine yet it hath been observed of them that they could never make good their footing beyond the Alpes or in other for reign Regions Howbeit in it self France is one of the strongest Kingdomes in all Europe at this day That which we commonly call the Low-Countries containeth seventeen several Provinces whereof the most part have several titles and Governours as the Dukedome of Brabant the Earledome of Flanders c. Of which the inheritance at several times did fall on Daughters who being married unto the Heire of some of the other Provinces did in the end bring the whole Country into one entire Government which was commonly called by the name of the Dukedome of Burgundy and yet so that in the uniting of them together it was by composition agreed that the severall Provinces should retaine their severall ancient Laws and Liberties which is the reason yielded why some of those Provinces in our age thinke themselves freed from obedience unto the King of Spain unto whom by inheritance they did descend because he hath violated their liberties to the keeping whereof aâ—… the first composition he was bound When this whole Country did be long unto the Crown of France the Dukedome of Burgundy was bestowed by Philip de Valois K. of France unto John de Valois a younger Soâ—… of his from whom by descent iâ—… came at last to Charles the Bold otherwise Proud Duke of Burgundy who left one
defloured the Daughter of the said Julian which the Father took in such indignation that he procured those Saracens to come over into Spaine that so he might be revenged on his King but when those barbarous people had once set foot in there they could never be removed untill the time of Ferdinando and Elizabeth King and Queen of Spaine about a hundred years since The Author before named writeth that before the comming of those Moores into Spaine the King Rodericus would needs open a part of a Palace which had been shut long before and had by descent from hand to hand been forbidden to be entred by any yet the King supposing there had been great Treasure therein broke into it but found nothing there saving in a great Chest the Pictures of Men who resembled the proportion Attire and Armour of the Moores and a Prophecy joyned therewithall that at that time when the Palace should be entred such a people as was there resembled should invade and spoyle Spaine which fell out accordingly The Spaniards that now are be a very mixt people descended of the Goths which in former times possessed that Land and of those Sarazens and Jews which are the basest people of the World The Kingdome of Portugall dâ—…d containe under it Regnum Algarbiâ—…rum but both of them are now annexed unto Castile by the cunâ—…ing of the K ng of Spaine Philip he Second who took the advantage after the death of Sebastian who was slaine in Barbary in the year 1578. Then after him raigned Henry who sometimes was Cardinall and Uncle to Sebastian in whose time although shew was made that it should be lawfully debared unto whom the Crown of Portugal did belong yet Philip meaning to make sure worke did not so much respect the right as by maine force invaded and since to the great griefe of the Portugals hath kept it The chief City of Portugal is Lisbone called in Latine Olysippo from whence those Navigations were advanced by which the Portugals discovered so much of their South part of Africk and of the East-Indies possessed by them to this day The City from whence the Castilians do set forth their ships to the West-Indies is Sevill called in Latine Hispalis Another great City in Spain is Toledo where the Archbishoprick is the richest spirituall dignity of Christendome the Papacy only excepted In the time of Damianus à Goes there were reckoned to be in Spain foure Archbishopricks of great worth three other inferiour and forty Bishopricks as also in Portugal three Archbishopricks and eight Bishopricks He reckoneth up also in Spaine besides the great Officers of the Crown 17 Dukes 41. Marquesses 87. Earles or Counts and 9. Vicounts as also in Portugal besides the Officers of the Crown fix Dukes four Marquesses nineteen Earles and one Vicount In Spaine he saith are seven Universities The Country is but dry and so consequently barren in comparison of some other places What commodities it doth yeeld it may be seen in a Treatise of Damianus à Goes which he calleth his Hispania Not only this great and large Country heretofore divided into so many Kingdomes is now under one absolute King but that King also is Lord of many other Territories as namely of the Kingdome of Naples in Italy and the Dutchy of Millain of the Isles of Sicily Sardinia Majorque Minorque Evisa in the midland sea of the Islands of the Canaries in the Atlantique besides divers strong Towns and goodly Havens in Barbary within and without the Straits On the back side of Africk he commands much on the Frontiery besides the Islands adjoyning to the maine Land In the Westerne Indies he hath Mexico Brasil large Territories with the Islands of the South and the North Sea And Philip the second getting Portugall as a Dowry to that soâ—…ct Marriage got also all the dependances of that Crown in Africke the East-Indies and the Atlantique Sea the Towns of Barbary and the East-Indies willingly submitting themselves unto him but the Terceras he won by force at the first and second Expedition so if we consider the huge tract of ground that is under the Kings Dominion we will say that the Empery of the King of Spaine is in that respect the largest that now is or ever was in the World Of France THe next Country is France which is bounded on the west with the Pyrenay hils on the North with the English Seas on the East with Germany on the South-east with the Alpe-hils on the South-west with the Mediterranean Sea The Kingdome of France is for one entire thing one of the most rich and absolute Monarchies of the World having both on the North and South side the Sea standing very convenient for profit of Navigation and the Land it selfe being ordinarily very fruitful The consideration whereof caused Francis the first King of France to compare this Kingdome alone to all the Dominions and Seigniories of Charles the fifth Emperour for when the Herauld of the said Charls bidding Defiance to the King Francis did give his Majesty the title of Emperour of Germany King of Castaile Arragon Naples Sicily c. Francis commanded his Herauld to call him so often King of France as the others had Titles by all his Countries implying that France alone was of as much strength and worth as all the Countries which the other had Concerning this Argument see the warlike and politick Discourses of Monsieur de la Nove. He who writeth the Commentaries of Religion and state of France doth shew that when there had been of late in France in the daies of Francis the Second and Charles the Ninth three Civill Wars which had much ruinated the glory and beauty of that Kingdome when a little before the great Massacre in the yeare One thousand five hundred seventy two there had been peace in that Countrey scant full two yeares yet so great is the riches and happinesse of that Kingdome that in that short time all things were renewed and repaired again as if there had never been any such desolation The Revenue of the Crowne of France is exceeding great by reason of the Taxes and impositions which through the whole Kingdome are laid upon the Subjects for their Sizes and Toules do exceed all the Imposts and tributes of all the Princes of Christendome in as much as there are few things there used but the King hath a commodity issuing out of them and not only for matters of Luxury as in other states but from such things as be of necessity as Flesh Wood Salt c. It is supposed at this day that there be in the Kingdome thirty thousand men who are under-officers and make a good part of their living by gathering of the Kings tribute This is much increased no doubt in these latter times but yet of old it was in so great measure which caused that speech of Maximilian the Emperour as Iohannes Eventinus witnesseth
and of likelyhood gave unto him somewhat to maintaine his Estate And afterward King Pâ—…pin oâ—… France and Charls the Great his Son getting by means of the sâ—…d Bishop the Kingdome of France and the one of them to the Empire did bestow good possessions upon the Papacy and since that time the Popes have had so much wit as by destruction of the Princes of Italy by encroaching on the favour of others the great Monarchs of Europe and by their waries and other devices to keep and encrease that Land of the Church which in our time is well inlarged by the policy of Clement the 8. late Pope who hath procured that the Dukedome of Ferrara is or shall be shortly added to his Dominion The chief residence of the Bishop of Rome is Rome it self which was first founded by Râ—…mulus and afterward so increased by others who succeeded him that it was built upon 7. hils and hath had onely raigning in it 7. Kings and hath been ruled by 7. severall sorts of Chiefe government that is Kings Consuls Decâ—…m-viri Tribunes of the People Dictators Emperours and Popes They first incroached on the neighbours about them in Italy afterward on all Italy Sicily some of the â—…ands till at length it proved to be the Lady and chiefe Mistress of the world whose incredible wealth and greatness in men treasure shipping and armor was so huge that it did eveâ—… sink under the weight of it self Whereupon after divers civill wars as between Marius and Sylla Pompey and Caesar with oâ—…hers it was at length revoked unto one absolute and Imperiall Government The Majesty whereof notwithstanding was afterward somewhat impaired by the building of Constantinople which was erected or rather inlarged by Constantine the Great and called Nova Râ—…ma But when the division was made of the East and West Empire it received a greater blow yet the maine overthrow of it was when the Gothi and Vandals entred Italy sacked it and possessed it at their own pleasure so that it was for a time almost quite forsaken and had no inhabitants till the Bishops of Româ—… did make means to gather together some to people it again and since those times a good part of the old building upon the Hils hath beeâ—… quite decaied and ruiâ—…ated and thâ—…t Rome which now may be called in comparison of the old new Rome is built on a lower ground where the place was which in times past was termed Campus Martius very neer unto Tyber the River which too well appeareth by the sudden inundation of that Tyber destroying and spoiling Men Cattell and Houses as very lately to their great losse was experimented The Bishops of Rome as sometimes for their pleasure or profit they do withdraw themselves unto 〈◊〉 or some other Townes of Italy so the time was when they removed their Court unto Avignon a City in France standing near the Mediterranean sea and not far from Mersiles in Province where continuing for the space of seventy years they so afflicted the City of Rome for lâ—…cke of resort which is very great when the Pope is there that the Italians to this day do remember that time by the name of the Captivity of Babylon which continued as appeareth by the Scripture for seventy years Who so looketh on the description laid down by the Holy Ghost in the Revelation shall see that the Whore of Babylon there mentioned can be understood of no place but the City of Rome In the South part of Italy lyeth the Kingdome of Naples which is a Country very rich and full of all kind of pleasure abundant in Nobility whereof commeth to be said that Proverb Naples for 〈◊〉 Rome for Religion Millain for beauty Florence for Policy and Venice for Riches This was heretofore ruled by a King of their owne till the time of Joan Queen of Naples who by deed of gift did first grant that Kingdom to the Kings of Arragon in Spaine and afterwards by will with a Revocation of the former Grant did bequeath it to the house of Anjâ—…u in France Since which time the Kingdome of Naples hath sometimes been in the hands of the Spaniard sometimes possessed by the French and is now under the King of Spaine unto this is annexed also the Dakedome of Calabria This Kingdome of Naples lieth so neare to some part of Graecia which is now in possession of the Turke that iâ—… may justly be feared lest at some time or other the said Turk should make an invasion thereinto as indeed he hath offered divers times â—…nd sometimes hath landed men to the great terror of all Italy but for the preventing of that mischief the King of Spaine is inforced to keep a good Fleet of Gallies continually at Otranto where is the neerest passage fâ—…om Italy into Greece This part of Italy was it which in times past was named Magna Graecia but in â—…ter ages it hath been unproperly called one of the Sicilies which was reproved long since by Aeneus Silvius in his twelfth Epistle and yet till of late time the Kings of Spaine have been termed Kings of boâ—…h â—…he Siciliâ—…s There be moreover in Italy many other Princedomes and States 〈◊〉 the Dukedom of Ferrara the Dukedome of Mantua the Dukedome of Urbine the Dukedome of Parma and Placentia the State of Luca the State of Genua commonly called the Genowaies which are 〈◊〉 by their Senate but have a Dâ—…ke as they have at Venice There be also sâ—…me others by which meanes the glâ—…ry and strength of Italy is decayed Of Denmarke Sweden and Norway AS Italy lieâ—…h on the Sâ—…uel side of Germany so Denmarke lieth on the North iâ—…to the middle of which Land the sea breakeâ—…h in by a place called the Sound The Impost of which passâ—…ge 〈◊〉 gâ—…eat riches as an ordinary Tribuâ—…e unto the Kiâ—…g of Denmarke This is a Kingdome and ruled by an absolute Goveâ—…nour Oâ—… the North and East side of Denmarke lieth Suezia commonly caâ—…led Swâ—…den or Swetheâ—… which is also a Kingdome of it self Where the King professeth himself to be Rex Suecorum Gothorum Vandalorum whereby we may know that the Gâ—…thes and Vandals which in times past did waste Italy and other Nations of Christendome did come out of this Countrey This whole Countrey which containeth in it 〈◊〉 Suâ—…zia and some part of Denmarke is Peninsula being very much compassed about with the Sea and this is it which in Olâ—…s Magnus Joannes Magnus is termed Archiepiscoâ—… us Upsalensis as also in some of the 〈◊〉 ancient Writers is called Sâ—…aÌ„dinavia on the North aâ—…d Weâ—…t side of Sweden lieth Norâ—…egia or Norway which is at this day under the Governmeâ—…t of the King of Denmarke alâ—…hough heretofore it hath been a â—…ee Kingdâ—…me of it self Beyond Norway toward Russia on the Northern sea lieth â—…via beyond that Biarmia then Happia or Hapland a poor and cold Countreâ—… neare Sinâ—…s Bâ—…ddicus whereof there is little to be spoken but that it is said to be
the overthrow of that Kingdome It should seem that about this mountaine it is very cold by reason of that jest which Athenaeus reported Stratonieus to have uttered concerning that Hill when he said that for eight months in the yeare it was very cold and for the other foure it was winter From Haemus toward the South lieth Grecia bounded on the West by the Ad iaticke sea on the East 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thracianâ—… sea and Maâ—…e Aâ—…geum on the South by the main Mediterranean sea This contained an old time four speciall parts Peloponnesus Achaia Macedonia and Epirus Adjoining whereunto was Illyricum Peleponnesus which is now called Moreah in the south part of Grecia being Peninsula or almost an Iland for that it is joined by a little strait called Istâ—…es unto the rest of Graecia Herein stood Sparta and the ancient state of Lacedemon the lawes thereof were made by Lycurgus by the due observation of which Tullie could say in his time that the title of Sparta in Lacedemon had continued in the same means and behaviour for the space of 700. yeares This Sparta was it which so often made warre against the Athenians and this and Athens were called the two edges of Grecia Neare the Isthmos or Straits stood tâ—…e famous City of Corinth which was in old time called the Key of Greece and whether St. Paul wrote two of his Epistles Aereus Sylvius in his Cosmograph call Treatise De Europa cap. 21 saith that the straits which divide Moreah from the rest of Grecia are in bredth but five miles and that divers Kings and Princes did go about to dig away the earth that they might make it to be an Iland He nameth King Demetrius Julius Caesar Caius Caligula Domitius Nero of all whom he doth note that they not onely failed of their purpose but that they came to violent and unnaturall deaths From the Isthmos which is the end of Pelopennesus or Moreah beginneth Achaia and spreadeth it self Northwards but a little way unto the Hill Othris which is the bounds between Achaia and Macedonia but East and West much more largely as Eastward even unto the Island Euâ—…oea with a great Promontory and Westward bounding unto Epirus The inhabitants of this place were they which properly are called Achivi which word is so oft used by Virgil. Here towards the East part stood Beotia and upon the Sea-coast looking South-ward towards Moreah was Athens which was famous for the lawes of Solon for the warres against Sparta and many other Cities of Grecia and for an University of learned men which long continued there In this part of Greece stood Pernassus and Helicon so much talked of by Poets and Phocis and Thebes and briefly all the Cities whereof Livie speaking doth term by the name of Achai or 〈◊〉 Archaeorum The third Province of Graeciâ—… câ—…lled Epirus lyeth Westward from Achala and exâ—…en s it self for a good space that â—…av but toward the North and South it is but narrow lying along the sea-coast and looking Souâ—…hward on the Islands of Conegra and Cephalonia This was be Counâ—…ry wherein Olympias wife unto Philip of Macedâ—…nia and Mother unto Alexander the gâ—…ea was born This also was the Kingdome of that noble Pyrrhus which made such great warres against the Romans and in our lâ—…tter age it was made reâ—…owned by the valiant Scand rberg who was so great a scouâ—…ge unto the Turke whose life is so excellently written by Martinus Partesius From the East part oâ—… Epiruâ—… Northward lyeth a Country which was never noted by anâ—… famous name but as it should seen was sometime under Epirus from which it lieth Northward some imes under Macedonia from which it lyeth Westward and sometimeâ—… under Illyris or Dalmatia from which it lyeth Southward and i may be that there was in old time divers free Cities there Illyricum which confineth upon Graecia toâ—…ard the North and West near un â—…o the top of the Adriatick sea and not far from Venice is for a good part of it at this day under the Vene iâ—…s The soâ—…rth and greatest part oâ—… â—…ld Grecia was Macedâ—…nia which is faâ—…sty by the Maps of the Râ—…man Empâ—…re placed on the West side of Gâ—…aecia for in truth it â—…yeth on the East side looking toward Asia the lesser being bounded on the East side by the Sea called Mare Egeum on the South side by Achaia and the Hill Othris and part of Epirus and on the West side by certaine great mountains but on the North by the Hill Haemus This was the Kingdome so famous in times past for Philip and Alexander his son who conquered the whole world and caused the name of the third Empire to be attributed unto this place Here stood the hill Athos whereof part was digged down by the army of Xerxes the great King of Persia who warred against the Grecians Here was the Hill Olympâ—…s the City of Philipai 〈◊〉 he e the Philippians dwelt to whom Sr. Paul wrote Here was Ampollonia Amphipolis Edâ—…ssa Pella Thessalonica and Bâ—…rea yea and the whole Couâ—…try of Thessalia lay on the South side of this part oâ—… Greece In this Country of Grecia were in ancient times many Kingdomes and States as at this day there are in Italy as the Macedâ—…nians the Kingdome of Epirus the State of Athens the government of Spartaâ—…he â—…he City of Thebes and very many other places insomuch that almost every Town had a peculiar government But now it is all under oneâ—… Monarchy From Grecia in old time did almost all famous things come These were they that made the waâ—… against Troy that resisted Xerxes the mighty King of Persia that had the famous Law-makers as Solon in Athens and Lycurgus of Lacedemon that took away the Monarchy from the Persians that brought forth theâ—… famous Captaines as Themistceles Milâ—…iades Alexander and many others that were the Authours of civility unto the Western Nations and to some in the East as Asia the lesse that gave to Italy and to the Romans the first light of learning because from them arose the first Poets as 〈◊〉 Hesiodus Sophocles and divers others The great Phâ—…losophers Socrates Plaâ—…o Aristotle and all the Sects of the Academicks Stoicks Peripateticks Epicureâ—…ns and almost all their Scholars The great Oratours Demosthenes and Aeschines and in one word the Mathematicks excepted which came rather from the Chaldeans and the Egypâ—…ians the whâ—…le flowers of Arts and good Learning On the North-East part of Graecia standeth Thracia which thoâ—… hereâ—…ofore it hath been distinguished yet now is accounted as the chiefe part of Greece Here on the edge of the sea-coast very near unto Asia stâ—…deth the City called Bizantium but since Constantinople be cause Constantine the Great did new build it and made it an Imperiall City This was the chiefe residence of the Emperour of Graecia sometimes called New Rome and the
great Country called Cathaie the bounds whereof extend themselves on the North and East to the uttermost Seas and on the South to China The people are not much learned but more civill then the Tartars and have good and ordinary traffick with the Countries adjoining This Country hath in it many Kings which are tributaries and do owe obedience unto one whom they call the great Cham or Can of Cathaie who is the chief governor of all the Land and esteemed for multitude of people and largenesse of dominion to be one of the greatest Princes of the World but his name is the lesse famous for that he lyeth so far distant from the best Nations and the passage into this Country is so dangerous either for the perils of the sea or for the long space by Land His chief Imperiall City is called Cambalu On the South side of Cathaie and East part of Asia next to the Sea lyeth China and the people thereof Osorius describeth by the name of Sina and called their Countrey Synarum Regio This is a fruitfull Countrey and yieldeth as great store of rich commodities as almost any Country in the World It containeth in it very many severall Kingdomes which are absolute Princes in their Seats The chief City in this Countrey is called Quinsay and is described to be of incredible greatnesse as were wont to be the ancient Cities in the East as Babylon Ninive and others This Countrey was first discovered by the late Navigation of the Portugals into the East Indies The people of China are learned almost in all Arts very skilful workmen in curious fine Workes of all sorts so that no Country yieldeth more precious Merchandise then the workmanship of them They are great souldiers very politick and crafty and in respect thereof contemning the wits of others using a Proverbe That all other Nations do see but with one eye but they themselves have two Petrus Maffaeus Historiographer to the King of Spaine for the Eastern Indies doth report of them that they have had from very ancient time among them these two things which we hold to be the miracles of Christendome and but lately invented The one is the use of Guns for the wars and the other is Printing which they use not as we do writing from the left hand unto the right or as the Hebrewes and Syrians from the right hand unto the left but directly downward and so their lines at the top do begin again Of the East Indies ON the South side of China toward the Molucco llands and the Indian Sea lyeth the great Country of India extending it self from the South part of the Continent by the space of many thousand miles westward unto the River Indus which is the greatest Riverâ—… in all the Country except Ganges one of the greatest Rivers in the World which lyeth in the East part of the same Indies This is that Country so famous in ancient time for the great riches thereof for the multitude of people for the conquest of Bacchus over it for the passage thither for Alexander the Great throughout all the length of Asia for his adventuring to go into the South Ocean with so mighty a Navy which â—…ew or none had ever attempted before him And certainly thither it was that Solomon did send once in three yeares for his gold and other rich Merchandise for the Scripture saith that he sent his fleet from Ezion-geber which stood upon the mouth of the Red Sea and it was the directest passage which he had unto the Eastern Indies whereas if his purpose had been to send to Peru as some lately have imagined his course had been thorow the Mediterranean Sea and the Straits of Gâ—…lbraltar This Countrey had in ancient time many absolute Kingdomes and Provinces as in the time of Alexander Porus Taxiles and divers others In it were many Philosophers and men of great Learning whom they called Gymnosophistae of whom was Calanus who burnt himself before Alexander The men of the South part of India are black and therefore are called men of Inde The cattell of all sorts that are bred there are of incredible bignesse in respect of other Countries as their Elephants Apâ—…s Monkies Emets and others The riches hereof have been very great with abundance of gold insomuch that the Promontory who is now called Malacha was in times past named Aurea Chersonesus The commodity of spice is exceeding great that comes from thence The Portugals were the first which by their long Navigations beyond the Equinoctiall and the farthermost part of Africke have of late yeares discovered these Countries to Christendome as heretofore to the use of the King of Portugall so now of the King of Spaine who is reputed owner of them The Portugals did finde divers Kingdomes at their first arrivall in those parts as the Kingdome of Calâ—…cut the Kingdome of Cambaia the Kingdome of Cananor the Kingdome of Cochin and very many other with the Kings whereof they first entring League and Traffick and having leave given to build Castles for their defence they have since by policy incroached into their hands a great part of the Countrey which lieth neer unto the Sea-coast and are mighty now for the space of many thousand miles together The K. of Spain hath there a Vice-Roy whose residence is commonly in the Imperiall City called Goa They do every year send home great store of rich commodities into Spaine The people of the Country when the Portugals came first thither were for the most part Gentiles beleeving in no one God yea at this day there are divers of them who do adore the Sunne as their God and every morning at the rising thereof do use very superstitious Ceremonies which our Mer chants who do trade to Aleppo do oftentimes see for divers o these Indians do come thither witâ—… Merchandize But the Saracens whâ—… reverence the Prophet Mahomet from the Bayes or Gulphes of Persia and Arabia do traffick much thither so that Mahomet was known among them but in one Town called Granganor they found certain Christians dissenting in many things from the Church of Rome and rather agreeing with the Protestants which Christians had received by succession their Religion from the time of Thomas the Apostle by whom as it is recorded in the ancient Ecclesiasticall History part of India was converted In this Countrey of India are many great and Potent Kings and Kingdomes which had been alto gether unknown and unheard of in our part of the World but that we were beholding to the Portugals for their discovery and before their Navigation thither by the back side of Africkâ—… to some Relations that we had from the Venetians who traded and travelled thither by land out of Turkie The 〈◊〉 of these Kings and Kingdomes are these The King of Bâ—…arme the great Mogol the King of Narsing Pegu Siam the forenamed King of
Calecut and others Of Persia. THere be divers Countries between India and Persia but there are not famous Persia is a large Country which lyeth far West from India it hath on the North Assyria and Media on the West Syria and the Holy Land but next unto it Mesopotamia on the South the main Ocean which entreth in notwithstanding by a Bay called Sinus Perficus This is that Countrey which in ancient time was renowned for the great riches and Empire thereof These were they that tooke from the Assyrians the Monarchy and did set up in their Countrey the second great Empire which began under Cyrus and continued unto that Darius who was overthrown by Alexander the Great In this Countrey reigned the great Kings Cyrus Cambyses Darius the Son of Histaspes the great Xerrxes Artaxerxes and many others which in prophane writings are famous for their wars against the Scythians Egyptians and Grecians and in the Scripture for the delivery of the Jews from Babylon by Cyrus for the building of the 〈◊〉 Temple at Jerusalem and for many things which are mentio ed of them in the Prophency of Daniel The 〈◊〉 of this Nation although they were in former times very riotous by reason of their great wealth yet after they had lost their Monarchy by the Macedonians they have grown great Souldiers and therefore as they did ever strongly defend themselves against the old Romans so in the time of Constantine and the other Emperours they were fearefull Neighbours to the Romane Government and of late Time they have strongly opposed themselves against the Turkes ever making their party good with them And yet notwithstanding in the daies of Amurath the third father to Mahomet the Turke now reigning the Turke had a great hand upon the Persians going so farre with his Army as that he took the strong City Taunus standing within the Persians Dominions neer unto the Caspian sea but this losse was to be attributed partly to the great dissentions which were among the Persians themselves and partly to the multitude of the Turke his Souldiers who by fresh supply did overthrow the Persian although he slew down many thousands of them They fight commonly on horseback and are governed as in time past by a King so now by an absolute Ruler and a mighty Prince whom they terme the Shaw or Sophy of Persia. He hath many Countries and small Kings in Assyria and Media and the Countries ad joning which are tributaries Among other the Sophies of Persia about a hundred years since there was one of great power called Ismael the Persian who procured unto himself great fame by his many and valorous attempts against the Turk Surius in his Commentaries writting upon him saith that upon some fond conceit the Jewes were strongly of opinion that he was that Messias whom unto this day they expect and therefore hoped that he should have been their Deliverer and Advancer But he addeth in his report that it fell out so clean contrary that there was no man who more vexed and grieved them than that Ismail did The Persians are all at this day Sarazens in Religion beleeving in Mahomet but as Papists and Protestants do differ in opinion concerning the same Christ so do the Turks and Persians about their Mahomet the one pursuing the other as Herericks with most deadly hatred insomuch that there is in this respect almost cominâ—… all war between the Turk and the Persians Of Parthia and Media ON the North-East side of Persia lieth that Countrey which in old time was called Parthia but now named Arach of whom those great wars of the Romans with the Medians or Armenians in Tacitus and ancient Histories are true This Country aboundeth on Media by the West and it was in ancient time very full of people whose fight as it was very much on horseback so the manner of them continually was for to give an Onset and then to return their waies even to return again like to the Wild-Irish so that no man was sure when he had obtained any victory over them These were the people that gave the great Overthrow to that rich Marcus Crassus of Rome who by reason of his covetousnesse intending more to his getting of gold than to the guiding of his Army was stain himself and many thousand of the Romanes The Parthians with exprobration of his thirst after money poured molten gold into his mouth after he was dead Against these the great Lucullus fought many battles but the Romanes were never able to bring them quite to subjection On the West side of Parthia having the Mare Caspium on the North Armenia on the West and Persia on the South lyeth that Country which in time past was called Media but now Shirvan or Sirvan which is at this day governed by many inferiour Kings and Princes which are tributaries and do owe subjection to the Sophi of Persia. So that he is the Soveraign Lord of all Media as our English men have found who passing through the Dominion of the Emperour of Russia have crossed the Mare Caspium and Merchandized with the Inhabitants of this Media This Nation in former times was very famous for the Medes were they that removed the Empire from the Assyrians unto them which as in themselves it was not great yet when by Cyrus it was joyned to that of the Persians it was very mighty and was called by the name of the Empire of the Medes and Persians Here it was that Astyages reigned the Grandfather of Cyrus and Darius of the Mâ—…des The chief City of this Kingdome was called Ecbatana as the chief City of Persia was Babylon It is to be observed of the Kings of Media that in the summer time they did use to retire themselves Northward unto Ecbatana for avoiding of the heat but in the winter time they came down more South unto Susis which as it seemeth was a warmer place but by this meanes they were both taken for Imperiall Cities and chiefe residences of the King of Media which being known takes away some confusion in old stories The like custome was afterward used also by the Kings of Persia. Of Armenia and Assyria ON the West side of the Mare Caspium and of Media lyeth a Countrey called by a generall name Armenia which by some is distinctly divided into three parts The North part whereof being but little is called Georgia the middle part Turcomania the third part by the proper name of Armenia By which a man may see the reason of difference in divers Writers Some saying that the Countrey whence the Turkes first came was Armenia some saying Turcomania and some Georgia the truth being that out of one or all these Countries they did descend These Turks are supposed to be the issue of them whom Alexander the Great did shut up within certain mountaines neer to the Mare Caspium There is this one thing memorable in Armenia that after the great
for the convenience of the Sea every way and so many good Havens hath been reputed alwaies a very commodious and pleasurefull Countrey It is wholly at this day under the Turke The mountaine Taurus goeth along from the West unto the East part of it The greatnesse of this Countrey is such that it hath comprehended many Kingdomes and large Provinces besides Cities of great fame On the South-East part thereof neare to Palestina lyeth Cilicia the chiefe City whereof is Tarsus the Countrey of Saint Paul the place whither Solomon sent for great store of his gold and provision for the Temple whither Jonas also fled when he should have gone to Niniveh In the straits of the Cilicia neare to the mountaine Taurus did Alexander give a great overthrow in person to Darius in the joining of their first battell This place seemes to have been very fortunate for great Fights in as much as there also neare unto the straits was the baâ—…ell fought out between Severus the Emperour and Niger who being Governour of the Romanes of Syria would needs have aspired to the Empire but in a battell which was very hardly fought out he was overthrown in the straits of Cilicia In the very corner where Cilicia is joined unto the upper part of Syria is a little Bay which in times past was named Sinus Isicus near unto which Alexander built one of his Cities which he called by his own name But howsoever in times past it was named Alexandria it is now by the Venetians and other Christians called Alexandretta who should say little Alexandria in comparison of the other In Egypt the Turkes do call it Scandarond and it is a petty Haven where our Merchants do land most of their goods which are afterwards by Camels carried up to Aleppo At this day the City is so decayed that there be onely a few houses there Westward from Cilicia lieth the Province called Pamphylia wherein stands the City Seleucia built by Seleuchus one of the foure great successours of Alexander the Great On the West of this Pamphylia standeth Lycia and more west from thence confining upon the I le of Rhodes is Caria one of the Sea-Townes whereof is Halicarnassus which was the Countrey of Herodotus who is one of the most ancient Historians that is extant of the Gentiles and who dedicated his nine bookes to the honour of the Muses Here also was that Dionysius borne who is called commonly Dionysius Halicarnassus one of the Writers of the Romane Story for the first three hundred yeares after Rome was built The whole Countrey of Caria is sometimes signified by the name of this Halicarnassus although it was but one City and thereupon Artemisia who in the dayes of Xerxes came to aid him against the Graecians and behaved her selfe so manfully in a great fight at sea when Xerxes stood by as a coward is intituled by the name not of Queen of Caria but of Halicarnassus Also in the daies of Alexander the Great there was another Queen named Ada who also is honoured by the title of Queen of Halicarnassus We have thus farre described those Cities of Asia the lesse which do lie from that part that joineth unto Syria along the Sea coast Westward but being indeed the Southern part of Asia minor Now upwards towards the North standeth Ionia where those did dwell who had like to have joined with Xerxes in the great battell at sea but that Themistocles by a policy did winne them from him to take part with the Grâ—…cians Diodorus Siculus writeth that the Athenians who professed to be of kin to those Ionians were on a time marvellous importunate with them that they should leave their own Country and come and dwell with them which when the Ionians hardly but yet at length did accept the Athenians had no place to put them in and so they returned with great disgrace to them both A little within the Land lying North and East from Ionium was Lydia which sometimes was the Kingdome of Croesus who was reputed so rich a King when he was in his prosperity making best of his happinesse he was told by Solon that no man could reckon upon felicity so long as he lived because there might be great mutability of Fortune which he after ward found true For he was taken prisoner by Cyrus who was once minded to have put him to death but hearing him report the advertisement of Solon formerly given to him he was moved to thinke that it might be his own case and so took pity on him and spared his life These Lydians being inhibited afterward by Cyrus to use any Armour and give themselves to Bathes and Stewes and other such effeminate things Upon the sea-coast in Ionia standeth the City Ephesus which was one of the seven Cities unto which John in his Revelation did write hiâ—… seven Epistles and Saint Paul also directed his Epistle to the Ephesi ans unto the Church which was in this place This was one of the most renowned Cities of Asia the lesse but the Fame thereof did most arise from the Temple of Diana which was there built and was reputed for the magnificence thereof one of the seven wonders of the world This Temple was said to be two hundred yeares in building and was burnt seven severall times whereof the most part was by lightning and the finall destruction thereof came by a base person called Herostratus who to purchase himself some fame did set it on fire This was the place of which it is said in the Acts of the Apostles that all Asia and the whole World doe worship this Diana Tully reporteth De natura Deorum that Tinâ—…us being asked the reason why the Temple of Diana was on fire that night when Alexander the Great was born gave that jest thereof that the mistresse of it was from home because she being the Goddesse of Midwives did that night wait upon Olympias the Mother of Alexander the Great who was brought to bed in Macedonia Another of the seven Cities unto which John did write is Smyrna standing also in Ionia upon the Sea coast but somewhat more North then Ephesus which is the place where Polycarpus was Bishop who sometimes had been Scholler unto Iohn the Evangelist and living till he was of great age was at lâ—…st put to death for Christs sake when before he had been moved by the Governour of the Countrey to deny his Sa viour and to burn Incense to an Idoll But he answered that â—…ourescore and six yeares he had served Christ Jesus and in all that time he had never done him harm and therefore now in his old age he would not beginne to deny him The third City unto which the Epistle is directed in the Apocalyps is Sardis which standeth within the land in Lydia as is described by the best Writers and it was a City both of great pleasure and profit unto the
destroy so many ships and was called Syrtis magna as also on the North and West part was the other sand called Syr t is parva Some part of this Country was heretofore under the Sultan of Egypt whose Dominion did extend it self so farre to the West and there was divided from the Kingdome of Tunis but it is now wholly under the Turke and is commonly reputed as a part of Barbary For now by a generall name from the confines of Cyrene unto the West as farre as Hercules Pillar is called Barbary though it containe in it divers Kingdomes as Tunis Fessa and Morocco Of Mauritania and Caesariensis A Part of that Countrey which by a generall name is called at this day Barbary hath in old time been called Mauritania which was divided into two parts The East part whereof next to Africa minor was called by the Romanes Mauritania Caesariensis as the other was called Mauritania Tingitania In Mauritania Caesariensis was the Countrey of Numidia the people whereof were used in the warres of the Carthaginians as Light-horse-men and for all nimble services were very active In the East part of this Countrey standing in the sea was that famous City of Carthage supposed to be built by Dido who came from Tyâ—…us This City was it which for the space of some hundred yeares contended with Rome for the Empire of the world In the Romane histories are recorded the great warres which the people of Rome had with the City of Carthage In the first war of the three the contention 〈◊〉 the Iles of Sicilia Corsica and Sardinia when the victory fell to the Romans and the Carthaginians were glad to redeem their peace with the leaving of those Ilands The second warre was begun by Hanniball who brake the league and after he had taken same part of Spaine from the Romanes and sacked Sagantum a City of their friends came first over the Pyrena hils to France then over the Alpes to Italy where he overthrew the Romanes in three great battels and much endangered their estate he continued in Italy with his Army sixteen yeares till Scipio attempting on Carthage forced Hanniball to return to rescue his own Countrey There was Hanniball overthrowne and his City put to a great pension by Scipio who for his victory there was named Africanus In the third warre because the people of Carthage still brake the league their City was razed to the very ground by the earnest and continuall counsell of Cato the elder fearing evermore so dangerous a Neighbour though Scipio Nasica counselled to the contrary fearing lest if the dread of that enemy were taken away the Romanes would grow either to idlenesse or civill dissention which after they did It is reported of Cato that he never spake his judgement of any thing in the Senate but his conclusion was thus Thus I think for this matter and withall that Carthage is to be razed down And Scipio Nasica would reply in his conclusion Thus I think for this matter and withall that Carthage is not to be razed down Livy reporteth that the way whereby Cato prevailed that Carthage should be razed down was this while the question was very hot he bringeth into the Senate-house green Figs and let the Senators understand that the same day three weekes those figs were growing in Carthage Town whereby he made mannifest unto them that it was possible that an Army might be conveied from Carthage to Rome in so short a time as that they would not be able on a sudden to resist and so Rome might be surprized whereby they all concluded that it was no safety for their City to have so bad a neighbour so neare unto them In this Countrey toward the West not farre from Carthage stood Utica whereof the younger Cato was termed Cato Uticensis because he killed himself there in the Civill warres betwixt Caesar and Pompey because he would not come within the hands of his enemy Caesar. Not far from thence Westward standeth Hippo which was the City where S. Augustine was B shop This whole Countrey at this day is called the Kingdome of Tunis the King whereof is a kind of stipendary unto the Turke the people that inhabit there are generally Saracens and do profess Mahomet Some do write that Tunis standeth in the very place where old Carthage was which is not so but is siâ—…ua ed very neare unto the old ruines of the other Against the King of Tunis Charles the fifth had some of his warres by Sea Of MauritaniaÌ„ Tingitania THE other part of Barbary that lyeth along the Mediterranean farthest into the West was called in old time Mauritana Tingitana The people of which Country were those which almost in all the old histories were called by the name of Mauri Those of the other Mauritania being rather termed Numidia Into the Northwest part thereof did Hercules come and there set up one of his Pillars which answereth to the other in Spain they both being at the straits of Gilbralter in times past called Fretum Herculeum On the South part thereof lay the Kingdome of Bocchus which in the tiaâ—… of Marius had so much to do with the Romans In the west part of this Mauritania standeth on the hill called Atlas minor and on the South part is the great hill called Atlas major whereof the maine Ocean which lyeth between Mauritania and America is called Mare Atlantum This hill is so high that unto those who stood on the bottome of it it seemed to touch heaven with his shoulders This Country hath been long inhabited by the Saracens who from thence finding it to be but a short passage into Spaine did goe over now seven hundred yeares ago and possessed there the kingdome of Granado on the South side of Spain till they were thence expelled by Ferdinandus and Elizabeth or Izabell King and Queen of Castile In this Countrey since that time have the Spaniards taken some Cities and Holds and so also have the Portugals which by the divers event of victory have often been lost and won by them Here it was that the Emperour Charles the fifth had divers of his great warres against the Moores as well as in the Kingdome of Tunis For the assistance of one who claimed to be King of a part of this Country did Sebastian the King of Portugall go with all his power into Africa in the year 1578. where unadvisedly bearing himself he was slain together with two other the same day who claimed to be Kings so that there it was that true battell was fought whereof it was said that three Kings died in one day which battel is called the battell of Alcazar and was the ruine of the Kingdome of Portugall and the cauâ—…e of the uniting it to the Crowne of Spaine Astrologers did purpose that the blazing Starre which appeared the â—…eare before did signifie that iâ—…l eâ—…ent This whole Countrey doth maisâ—…aine in it besides some Imperiaâ—… government two absolute Kingdomes
the one of Fezza or Fez which lyeth on the North part toward the Mediterranean and Spain the other is the Kingdome of Morocco which lyeth from above the hill Atlas minor to the South and West part of Mauritania These are both Saracens as be also their people holding true league with the Turke and with some other Christian Princes a league onely for Trafficke and Merchandize It may be doubted whether it was in this Mauritana Tingitana or rather but near unto it in Mauritania Caesoriensâ—… that which Saint Augustine in his book De doctrina Christiana doth of his own knowledge report that in a City of that Countrey was this brutish custome that once in the year for certaine dayes the Inhabitants of the place did assemble themselves into wide and large fields and there divided themselves each from other so that perhaps the Fathers were on one side and the children or brother on the other and did throw stones with such violence that many were hurt and divers killed with the fury of that assault But S. Augustine relleth that he deâ—…esting the brutishnesse thereof dâ—…d make a most eloquent and elaborate Oâ—…ation or Sermon unto them whereby he did prevaile with those of the City where he was that theâ—… give over that foolish and rude exercise Yet Leo Assâ—…icanus who lived about a hundred yeares since and in his owne person travelled over the greate part of Africke doth write in his description of Africke that in one place of the Kingdome of Fez this barba â—…us custome is yet retained Of the other Countries of Africke lying neare the Sea FRom beyond the hill Atlas major unto the South of Africke is nothing almost it Antiquity worthy the readiag and those things which are written for the most part are fables For towards the South parâ—… of Africke as well as towards the North part of Europe and Asia be supposed to be men of strange shapes as some with Dogs heads some without heads and some with one foot alone which was very huge and such like which that counterfeit Fryer who write that book which is counted Saint Augustines ad fraetres in Eremo and who would gladly father upon Saint Augustine the erecting of the Augustine Fryers doth say that he saw travelling down from Hippo Southward in Africa But as the Asse in Aesope which was cloathed in the Lyons skin did by his long ears shew himself to be an Ass and not a Lyon so this foolish fellow by his lying doth shew himself to be a counterfeit and not Saint Augustine In the new Writers there are some few things to be observed as first that all the people in generall to the South lying with the Zona Torrida are not onely blackish like the Moor but are exceeding blacke And therefore as in old time by an excellency some of them are called Nigritae so at this day they are named Negro's as then whom no men are blacker Secondly the Inhabitants of all these parts which border on the Sea coast even uâ—…to Caput bonae spei have been Gentiles adoring Images and foolish shapes for their Gods neither bearing of Christ nor beleeving on Mahomet till such time as the Portugals comming among them having professed Christ for themselves but have won few of the people to embrace their Religion Thirdly that the Portugals passing along Africa to the East Indies have setled themselves in many places of those Countries building Castles and Townes for their own safety and to keep the people in subjection to their great commodities One of the first Countries famous beyond Morocco is Guinea which we call Ginnie within the compasse whereof lyeth the Cape called the Cape Verde and the other the Cape of the three points and the Towne and Castle named Siâ—…rta Liâ—…na at which place as commonly all Travellers do touch that do pâ—…sse that way for fresh â—…er and â—…ther shâ—…p-provision â—…ur English men have found traâ—… icke into the parts of this Countrey where th iâ—… greatest commâ—…dity is Gold and Elephants teeth of both which there is good store Beyond that toward the South not â—…arre from the Equinoctiall lyeth the Kâ—…gdome of Congo com monly called Mani-congo Where the Portugals at their first arrivall finding the people to be Heathens without Gâ—…d did induce them to a profession of Christ and to be baptized in great abundance allowing of the principles of Religion untill such time as the Priest did teach them to lead their lives according to their profession which the most part of them in no case enduring they returned back again to their Gentilisme Beyond Mani-congo so fare to the South as almost ten degrees beyond the Tropicke of Capricorne lyeth the Lands end which is a promontory now called Caput bonae spei which Vascus Gama the Portugâ—…l did discover and so called it because he had there good hope that the Land did turn to the North and that following the course thâ—…reof hee might bee brought to Arabia and Persia but esâ—…ecially to Calecut in India Which course when himself and other oâ—… his Countrey-men after him did follow thâ—…y fouâ—…d on the coast up towards Arabia the Kingdome of Mosambique Melinda Magadazo and others whose people were all Gentiles and now are in league with the Portugals who have built divers holds for their safety Of which Countries and manners of the people he that listeth to read may finde much in the History of Oso 〈◊〉 and Petrus Maffaeus but there is no matter of any great importance Beyond the Cape toward the North before you come to Mosumbique between the Rivers of Cuama and Sancto Spirito lyes the Kingdome of Monomotapa where the Portugals also have arrived and so much was done there by the preaching of Gonsalvo de Silva a Jesuite that the King and Queen of that Countrey with many others were converted from Gentilisme to Christianiâ—…y and baptized But certaine Mahumetans incensing the King thereof afterwards against the Portugals made him to revolt from his Religion and to put to death this Jesuite and divers others Which fact of his the Portugals assaviâ—…g to revenge with an Army sent for out of Portugall they profited little against him but were themselves consumed by the discommodities of the Countrey and the distemperature of the aâ—…e There are also other Kingdomes sin this part of Africke of whom we know little besides their names and site in generall as Adel Monomugi Angola and therefore it shall be sufficient to have named them in a word Of Abissines and the Empire of Prester John IN the Inland of Africke lyeth a very large Countrey extending it self on the East to some part of the Red Sea on the South to the Kingdome of Molinda and a great way farther on the North to Egypt on the West to Manicongo The people whereof are called Abissini and it self the dominion of him whom we commonly call in English Prester John
world is Albion or Britania which hath heretofore contained in it many severall Kingdomes but especially in the time of the Saxons It hath now in it two Kingdomes England and Scotland wherin are four several languages that is the English which the civill Scots do barbarously speake the Welch tongue which is the language of the old Britains the Cornish which is the proper speech of Cornewall and the Irish which is spoken by those Scots which live on the West part of Scotland neer unto Ireland The commodities and pleasures of England are well known unto us and many of them are expressed in this verse Anglia Mons Pons Fons Ecclesia Foemina Lana England is stor'd with Bridges Hils and Wooll With Churches Wels and Women beautifull The ancient inhabitants of this land were the Britaines which were afterward driven into a corner of the Countrey now called Wales and it is not to be doubted but at first this Countrey was peopled from the continent of France or thereabout when the sons of Noah had spread themselves from the East to the West part of the world It is not strange to see why the people of that Nation do labour to fetch their pedigree from one Brutus whom they report to come from Troy because the original of that truth began by Galfridus Monumentensis above 500. yeares agone and his book containeth great shew of truth but was noted by Nubringensis or some author of his time to be meerly fabulous Besides that many of our English Nation have taxed the saying of them who would attribute the name of Brittannia unto Brutus and Cornubia to Corynaeus Aeneas Sylvius Epist. 1. 3. hath thought good to confirm it saying The English people saith he do report that after Troy was overthrown one Brutus came unto them from whom their Kings do fetch their pedigrees Which matter there are no more Historians that deliver besides a certaine English man which had some learning in him who willing to aequall the blood of those Iflanders unto the Roman stock and generosity did affirm and say that concerning Brutus which Livy and Salust being both deceived did report of Aeneas We do find in ancient Records and Stories of this Island that since the first possessions which the Britains had here it was over-run and conquered five several times The Romans were the first that did attempt upon it under the conduct of Julius Caesar who did onely discover it and frighted the inhabitants with the name of the Romans but was not able to sarre to prevaile upon it as any way to possesse it yet his successours afterwards did by little and little so gain on the Country that they had almost all of it which is now called England and did make a great ditch or trench from the East to the West sea between their dominion here and Scotland Divers of the Emperours were here in person as Alexander Severus who is reputed to be buried at York Here also was Constantius father unto Constantine the Great who from hence married Helena a woman of this Land who was afterward mother to the renowned Constantine But when the Romans had their Empire much weakned partly by their owne discords and partly by that decay which the irruptions of the Gothes and Vandals and such like invaders did bring upon them they were forced to retire their legions from thence and so leaving the Countrey naked the Scots and certaine people called the Pictes did breake in who most miserably wasted and spoiled the Country Then were the Inhabitants as some of our Authors write put to that choise that either they must stand it out and be slaine or give ground till they came to the sea and so be drowned Of these Pictes who were the second over-runners of this Land some do write that they did use to cut and pounse their flesh and lay on colours which did make them the more terrible to be seen with the cuts of their flesh But certaine it is that they had their name for painting themselves which was a common thing in Brittaine in Caesars time as he reporteth in his Commentaries the men colouring their faces with Glastone or Ode that they might seem the more dreadfull when they were to joyn battell To meet with the cruelty and oppression of these Barbars the Saxons were in the third place by some of the Land called in who finding the sweetnesse of the soile and commodiousnesse of the Countrey every way did repaire hither by great troops and so seated themselves here that there were at once of them seven several Kingdomes and Kings within the Compasse of England These Saxons did beare themselves with much more temperance and placability towards those few of the Countrey that remained then the Pictes had done but yet growing to contention one of their Kings with another partly about the bounds of their territories and partly about other quarrels they had many great battels each with other In the time of these Religion and Devotion was much embraced and divers Monasteries and rich Religious houses were founded by them partly for pennance which they would do and partly otherwise because they thought it too meritorious insomuch that King Edgar alone is recorded to have built above foure severall Monasteries And some other of their Kings were in their ignorance so devoted that they gave over their Crownes and in superstition did goe to Rome there to lead the lives of private men These seven Kingdomes in the end did grow all into one and then the fourth and most grievous scourge and conquest of this Kingdome came in the Danes who Lording it here divers yeares were at last expelled and then William Duke of Normandy pretending that he had right thereunto by the promise of adoption or some other conveiance from Harald did with his Normans passe over into this Land and obtained a great victory in Sussex at a place which he caused in remembrance thereof to be called Battell and built an Abby there by the name of Battell Abby He took on him to winne the whole by conquest and did beare himselfe indeed like a Conquerour For he seised all into his hands gave out Barons Lordships and Mannors from himself reversed the former Lawes and Customes and instituted here the manners and orders of his own Country which have proceeded on and been by little and little bettered so that the honourable government is established which we now see at this day It is supposed that the faith of Christ was first brought into this land in the days of the Apostles by Joseph of Arimathea Simon Zelotes and some other of that time but without doubt not long after it was found here which appeareth by the testimony of Tertullian who lived within lesse then 200. yeares after Christ And there are records to shew that in the daies of Eleutherius one of the ancient B shops of Rome King Lucius received here both Baptisme and
the Gospel insomuch that it is fabulous vanity to say that Austin the Monk was the first that here planted the Christian Faith for he lived 600. yeares after Christ in the time of Gregory the great Bishop of Rome before which time Gildas is upon great reason thought to have lived here of whom there is no doubt but that he was a learned Christian Yea and that may be perceived by that which Beda hath in his Ecclesiasticall story concerning the comming in of Austin the Monk that the Christian Religion had been planted here before but that the purity of it in many places was much decaied and also that many people in the Island were yet Infidels For the conversion of whom as also for the reforming of the other Austine was sent hither where he behaved himselfe so proudly that the best of the Christians which were here did mislike him In him was erected the Archbishoprick of Canterbury which amongst old writers is still termed Dorobarnia The Archbishops do reckon their succession by number from this Austine The reason whereof Gregorie the great is reported to have such care for the conversion of the Ethnicks in Britaine was because certain boyes which were brought him out of this Countrey which being very goodly of countenance as our Country children are therein inferior to no Nation in the world he asked them what country-men they were and it was replyed that they were Angli he said they were not unfitly so called for they were Angli tanquam Angeli nam vultum habent Angelorum And demanding further of what Province they were in this Island it was returned that they were called Deires which caused him again to repeat that word to say that it was great pitty but that by being taught the Gospel they should be saved de ira Dei England hath since the time of the Conquest grown more and more in riches insomuch that now more then 300. years since in the time of King Henry the third it was an ordinary speech that for wealth this Countrey was Puteus inexhaustus a Well that could not be drawn dry Which conceit the King himself as Matthew Paris writeth did often suggest unâ—…o the Pope who there upon took advantage abusing the simplicity of the King to suck out inellimable summes of money to the intolerable grievance of both the Clergy Temporalty And among other things to bring about his purpose the Pope did perswade the King that he would invest his young son in the Kingdome of Apulia which did contain a great part of all Naples and for that purpose had from thence many thousands besides infinite summes which the King was forced to pay for interest to the Popes Italian Usurers Since that time it hath pleased God more and more to blesse this Land but never more plentifully then in the daies of our late and now raigning Soveraigne whose raigne continuing long in peace hath peopled the Land with abundance of inhabitants hath stored it with Shipping Armour and Munition hath fortified it many waies hath encreased the trafficke with the Turk and Muscovite and many parts of the earth farre distant from us hath much bettered it with building and enriched it with Gold and Silver that it is now by wise men supposed that there is more Plate within the Kingdome then there was Silver when her Majesty came to the Crowne Some Writers of former times yea and those of our owne Countrey too have reported that in England have been Mynes of Gold or at the least some gold taken out of other Mynes which report hath in it no credit in as much as the Country standeth too cold neither hath it sufficient force of the Sun to concoct and digest that metall But truth it is that our Chronicles do witnesse that some silver hath been taken up in the Southerne parts as in the Tin-mines of Devonshire and Cornwall and such is sometimes found now but the virtue thereof is so thin that by that time it is tried and perfectly fined it doth hardly quit the cost notwithstanding Lead Iron and such basers metals be here in good plenty The same reason which hindreth gold ore from being in these parts that is to say the cold of the climate doth also hinder that there is no wine whose grapes grow here For although we have grapes which in the hotter and warm summers do prove good but yet many times are nipped in the frost before they be ripe yet notwithstanding they never come to that concocted maturity as to make sweet and pleasant wine yet some have laboured to bring this about and therefore have planted vineyards to their great cost and trouble helping and aiding the soil by the uttermost diligence they could but in the end it hath proved to very little purpose The most rich commodity which our Land hath naturally growing is Wooll for the which it is renowned over a great part of the Earth For our Clothes are sent into Turkie Venice Italy Barbary yea as farre as China of late besires Moscovie Denmarke and other Northerne Nations for the which we have exchange of much other Merchandize necessary for us here besides that the use of this Wooll doth in several labours set many thousands of our people in worke at home which might otherwise be idle Amongst the Commendations of England as appeareth in the place before named is the store of good Bridges whereof the most famous are London Bridge and that at Rochester In divers places here there be also Rivers of good Name but the greatest glory doth rest in three the Thames called in Latine of Tame and Isis Tamesis Servene called Sabrina and Trent which is commonly reputed to have his name of trente the French word signifying thirty which some have expounded to be so given because thirty several Rivers do run into the same And some other do take it to be so call'd because there be thirty several sorts of fishes in that water to be found the names whereof do appear in certain old verses recited by Master Camden in his booke of the Description of England One of the honourable commendations which are reputed to be in this Realme is the fairnesse of our greater and larger Churches which as it doth yet appear in those which we call Cathedrall Churches many of them being of very goodly and sumptuous buildings so in times past it was more to be seen when the Abbies and those which were called religious houses did flourish whereof there were a very great number in this Kingdome which did eate up much of the wealth of the Land but especially those which lived there giving themselves to much filthiness and divers sorts of uncleannesse did so draw downe the vengeance of God upon those places that they were not only dissolved but almost utterly defaced by King Henry the eighth There are two Archbishopricks and 24 other Bishopricks within England and Wales It was a
tradition among old writers that Britaine did breed no Wolves in it neither would they live here but the report was fabulous in as much as our Chronicles do write that there were here such store of them that the Kings were enforced to lay it as an imposition upon the Kings of Wales who were not able to pay much mony for tribute that they should yearly bring in certaine hundreds of Wolves by which meanes they were at the length quite rid from Wolves The Country of Wales had in times past a King of it self yea and sometimes two the one of North-Wales and the other of South-Wales between which people at this day there is no great good affection But the Kings of England did by little and little so gain upon them that they subdued the whole Country unto themselves and in the end King Henry the 8. intending thereby to benefit this Realme and them did divide the Country into Shires appointed there his Judices Itinerantes or Judges of the circuit to ride and by Act of Parliament made them capable of any preferment in England as well as other Subjects When the first newes was brought to Rome that Julius Caesar had attempted upon Britain Trully in the elegance of his wit as appeareth in one of his Epistles did make a flout at it saying That there was no gain to be gotten by it For gold here was none nor any other commodity to be had unlesse it were by slaves whom he thought that his friend to whom he wrote would not look to be brought up in learning or Musick But if Tully were alive at this day he would say that the case is much altered in as much as in our Nation is sweetness of behavior abundance of learning Musick all the liberal Acts goodly buildings sumptuous apparel rich fare and whatsoever else may be truly boasted to be in any Country near ad joining The Northern part of Britaine is Scotland which is a Kingdome of it self and hath been so from very ancient time without any such conquest or maine transmutation of State as hath been in other Countries It is compassed about with the sea on all sides saving where it joyneth upon England and it is generally divided into two parts the one whereof is called the Highland and the other the Low-land The Low-land is the most civill part of the Realm wherein religion is more orderly established and yieldeth reasonable subjection unto the King but the other part called the High-land which lyeth further 〈◊〉 the North or else bendeth towards Ireland is more rude and savage and whither the King hath not so good accesse by reason of Rocks and mountaines as to bring the Noblemen which inhabite there to such due conformity of Religion or otherwise as he would This Countrey generally is more poor then England or the most part of the Kingdomes of Europe but yet of late yeares the wealth thereof is much encreased by reason of their great traffick to al the parts of Christendome yea unto Spain it self which hath of late years been denied to the English and some other Nations and yet unto this day they have not any ships but for Merchandize neither hath the King in his whole Dominion any vessel called A man of war Some that have travelled into the Northerne parts of Scotland do report that in the Solstitium aestivele they have scant any night and that which is is not above two houres being rather a d mnesse then a darknesse The language of the Countrey is in the Lowland a kind of barbarous English But towards Ireland side they speak Irish which is the true reason whereof it is reported that in Britain there are four languages spoken that is Irish in part of Scotland English for the greatest part Welch in Wales Cornish in Cornwall In the confines between the two Kingdomes of England and Scotland which are commonly called the Borders there lye divers out-laws and unruly people which being subject to neither Prince by their good wits but so far as they list do exercise great robberies and stealing of cattell from them that dwell therabout and yet the Princes of both Realmes for the better preservation of Peace and Justice do appoint certain Warders on each side who have power even by Martiall Law to represse all enormities The Queen of England had on her side three whereof one is called the Lord Warden of the East Marches the other of the west Marches the third the Warden of the middle Marches who with all their power cannot so order things but that by reason of the outrages thereabouts committed the borders are much unpeopled whiles such as desire to be civill do not like to live in so dangerous a place It hath been wondred at by many that are wise how it could be that whereas so many Countries having in them divers Kingdomes and Regiments did all in the end come to the dominion of one as appeareth at this day in Spaine where were wont to be divers Kings and so in times past in England where the seven Kingdomes of the Saxons did grow all into one yet that England and Scotland being continuate within one Iland could never till now be reduced to one Monarchy whereof in reason the French may be thought to have been the greatest hindrance For they having felt so much smart by the Armes of England alone insomuch that sometimes all that whole Country almost hath been over run and possessed by the English have thought that it would be impossible that they should resist the force of them if both their Kingdoms were united joined into one The Custome theresore of the Kings of France in former times was that by their gold they did bird unto them the Kings and Nobility of Scotland and by that means the Kings of England were no sooner attempting any thing upon France but the Scots by and by would envade England Whereupon the Proverb amongst our people grew That he who will France win must with Scotland first begin And these French-men continuing their policy did with infinite rewards breake off the Marriage which was intended and agreed upon between King Edward the sixth and Mary the late unfortunate Queen of Scotland drawing her rather to be married with the Dolphin of France who was son to King Henry the second and afterward himself reigned by the name of King Francis the second But this was so ill taken by the English that they sought revenge upon Scotland and 〈◊〉 them a great overthrow in that 〈◊〉 which was called Musselborough field The people of this Country were in times past 〈◊〉 barbarous that they did not refuse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 flesh which as S. Hierom doth 〈◊〉 of them he himselâ—… saw some of 〈◊〉 to do in France and the 〈◊〉 hereof went so far that Chrysostome in one place doth allude to such a matter There be many little Islands adjoining unto the
great Island Bri tain as at the very North point of Scotland the Orcades which are in number above thirty the chiefe whereof is named Orkney whereof the people are barbarous On the West side of Scotland towards Ireland lie the Islands called Hebrides in number 4. where inhabite the people ordinarily called the Red-shankes Not farre from thence is the Isle Mona commonly is called the Isle of Man the peculiar jurisdiction of the Earls of Darby with homage notwithstanding reserved to the Crowne of England On the North part of Wales is the Island of Anglisey which is reputed a distinct Shire Towards France side on the South part of England is the Isle of Wight in Latine called Victis which is a good hold in the narrow seas against the French More neer France are the Isles of Gernsey and Jernsey where they speak French and are under the Crown of England There are also many other but of small account As the Isles of Thanet and Sheppy on the side of Kent the Sorlings or Sullâ—…y at the end of Cornwall in number as it is said 145. Caldey Lunday and the Flatholns with others in the mouth of Severn Holy-farn Cocket Ilands on the side of Northumberland And thus much of Great Britaine and the Islands thereunto adjoining Of the Ilands in the Mediterranean Sea THere be many Ilands in the Mediterranean renowned in all the old Writers but the chiefe of them onely shall be touched From the Pillars of Hercules going East-ward are two Islands not faâ—…re from Spaine which in times past were called Insulae Baleares for that the people of them did use both for their delight and armor sâ—…ings which they continually almost carried about with them and whereunto as Pliny writeth they did traine up their Children from their youngest years not giving them any meat till they had from some post or beam cast it down with a sâ—…ing Of these were those Fonditors or Sling-casters which the Carthaginians and Spaniards did use in their wars against the Romans The lesser of these which lyeth most West was called in the old time Minorica The bigger which lyeth more East was called Majorica and now Minorica and Majorica are both under the domiâ—…ion of the King of Spaine More Eastward in the Sea called Mare inferum or Tyrrhenum â—…ieth the Iland of Corsica over against Genua and direct Southward from thence lieth the great â—…sland Sardinia for the quiet possession of which two the warres were oftentimes revived between the old Carthaginians and the Romans for these two Islands lie in the middle very fitly The Island of Corsica is subject to the state of Genua whither the Genoes do transport things out of the Maine and are ruled by their Governours as the Venetians do Candy This Island is but barren either in respect of some other that lye neere unto it or of the Country of Italy but yet yeeldeth profit ease and honour unto the States of Gâ—… nua which hath little land besidâ—… it The Island of Sardinia also is nâ—… way so fruitful as Sicily but it is under the government of the King of Spain and was the same which was promised to Anthony the King of Navarre father to Henry the fourth King of France in recompence of 〈◊〉 and the rest of the Kingdome of Navar then and now detained from him and his heires by the Spaniard But this was the device onely of the Cardinall of Lorain who intending to draw him to Papistry and to order his politick purposes did make shew of this which was no way meant by the Spaniard Further to the East at the very point of the South pâ—…rt of Italy lyeth the great Iland Sicilia which some have supposed to have been heretosore a part of the continent but by an earth-quake and inundation of water to have been rent off and so made an Iland The figure of this Country is Triquetra triangle or three square Justin in his 4 Book doth seem to suspect that Sicily was in times past fastned unto Italy But Seneca in consolatione ad Martian cap 97. doth say plainly that it was sometimes a piece of the continent There was also a great contention for this Countrey between the Carthaginians and the Romans but the Romans obtained it and had from thence exceeding store of Corn yearly whereupon Sicily was called Horreum Pope Rome Here stood the goodly City called Siracusa which was destroyed and sacâ—…ed by Marcellus the Roman When as Livy writeth of him he being resolved to set on fire that City which was then one of the goodliest places of the world could not choose but breake forth into teares to see how vain and transitory the glory of worldly things is here At that time lived Archimedes who was a most admirable ingenious Engine-maker for all kind of fortifications of whom it is said that by burning glasses which he made he did set on fire divers ships which the Romans had lying in the Haven When the City was taken he was making plots and drawing figures on the ground for to prevent the assaults of the Romans and being unknown he was slaine by some of the Souldiers which did break in upon him Some think that it was he and not Architas which made the dove of which it is written that it was so equally poised that being thrown up into the aire it would hover or flutter there and in a good space not fall down This was in times past a Kingdome where the two Tyrants the elder and the younger Dyonisius did reigne where Gelo also that great friend to the Romans did remain It was afterward made a province and goverâ—…ed by a Praetor or Deputy of the Romans whereof Verres was one who was so inveighed against by Tully It grew afterward to be a Kingdome again in so much that Tancredus was King of Sicily which entertain'd our Richard the first when with Philip the King of France he went to the conquest of the Holy Land Here was likewise Phalaris the Tyrant so famous King of Agragentum The tyrannies which were used in Sicily were in times past so famous that they grew into a Proverb as Invidi â Siculinon invenêre Tyranni tormentum majus but they who were the causes of all did oftentimes speed very ill themselves as appeareth by the elder Dionysius who being driven out of his Dominion did flee into Italy and was glad there to teach children that so he might supply his necessity His son grew more tyrannous then the father and stood so farre in fear of his own people that many times he caused himself to be shut up in a Tower and his guard to keep the door that nobody might come at him He durst not trust his barber to shave or clip him for fear of cutting of his throat but that which was done he caused his Daughters to do who with the
erected it a Kingdome They were utterly expelled by Philip the Tâ—…ird Spaine in â—…ormer time twelve several Kingdomes Granada 700. yeares Possessed by the Moores Sarazens 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A strange and unexpected prophesie Portugal added to the Kingdome of Spaine Lisbone the chiefe City of Portugal Sevill Toledo The Magnificent greatness of Spaine and Portugal The Empery of the Kingdome of Spain the greatest in theâ—…â—…an world France how bounded France one of the most absolute Kingdoms of the world Civill wars in France Revenue of the Crown of France exceeding great In France the Offices of Justice bought and sold. The Custom of France for mustering and pressing Souldiers Paris the chief City France The Kingdome of France divided into three parts Gaules the ancient inhabitants of France Note The riches of the states in General The names of the 17 Provinces By this Law Ed. the 3 K of England was put by the Crown France The Switzers Government 23 Cities or Cantons in Switzerland Geneva A rare and excellent Law Germany how bounded The Emperor Governor of Germany Who be the seven Electors His manner of Election The Empire went sometimes by succession and sometimes by election Ferdin Emâ—…eror Caesar or Romani Imperii Imperator The Empire divided by Theodosius A great policy in the Bishops of Rome Munsters complaint Most of the Princes of Germany take onthem as absolute Governours How they came by a great strength The strengh of the Princes of Germany The titles of their Nobility Free States and Cities A Note worthy of observation Scituation of Italy Italy divided into four parts Lombardy the Garden of God The policy of the Bishop of Rome The States of Venice The Venetians impoverished The ex â—…llency of their Government Tuscany Florence The great Duke of Tuscany A great part of Italy under the Bishop of Rome The manner of the rising of the Popes greatnesse Denmarkes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Riches of Denmarke Their Religion Russia sâ—…tuate Emperor of Russia Possevin a Iesuit sent by the Pope to the Emperor A fine excuse for the Popes pride â—…he Emperours rage 〈◊〉 the Pâ—…pe Possevinus fear of the Emperor Difference between the Greek and Latine Church The people of Lapland very heathenish The passage by sea into this Country The first attempt Sir Hugh Willobies Land This Empire one of the greatest in the world Prussia hew scituated Spruce Leather Pâ—…lands sci tuâ—… ion Their ii ves Reti gons They hate the Iesuites Thâ—…ir chief City Cracovia Hungary 〈◊〉 Bunda Austria Vienna Arch Duks of Austria The River of 〈◊〉 Scituâ—…tion of Dacia Transylvania Walachia Moldavia Servia The mountain Hamus Grecia bounded Moreah Sparts Corinth Achaia Euboea Beotia Athens Pernassus Helicou Epirus Illyricum Macedonia Many famâ—…us things from Greece Famcus Laws Famous Captaines The firstPoets The great Oratours Thracia Constantinople Northerne parts were not discovered in times past Meotis Palus Iustine Ovid. Bosphorus Cimmerius Pontus Euxinus Thracius Bosphorus A strange custome among the Turks Hellespon â—…us Xâ—…rxes bâ—…idge Mare Aegeum Tartary bâ—…unded Their Religion Their manner of wars Tamberlain the Great â—… Tartarian Scituation of Cathaie The great Can of Cathaie Cambalu the chiefe City of China A very rich Country Quinsay the â—…hiefe City The people skilfull in Arâ—…s Their Proverbe Two rare wonders invented in Chinai guns and printing The situâ—…tion of the Indies In India are many Kingdomes Their Cattle vâ—…ry big Their Richs The Portugals first discovered the Indies Four Kingdoms by the Portugals discovered The City of Goa The Indians Religion Six Kingdomes 〈◊〉 of Persia. The great and famous Kings of Persia. Persians great Souldiers Sophy of Persia. Their Religion Scituation of Parthâ—…a Their manner of fight Great wars of the Perthians against the Romanes A famous Nation Situation of Armenia Divided into three parts A memorable Note Bathing of thâ—…ir children Assyria bounded Kings of Assyria The swift River Tygris The City Ninive Situation of Chaldea Babylon be chief City of Chaldea The admirabâ—… power of God in preseâ—…ving the peâ—…ple Note Here were the fiâ—…st A strologians Cilicia The City Tarsus Alexanders overthrow of Darius The City of Alexandria Pamphylia â—…he City of Seleuchus Lycia Caria Halicarnassus Ionia Lydia Croesus overthrowne by Cyrus Ephesus The Temple of Diana City of Smyrna Polycarpus Scholar to St John the Evangel st City of Sardis Four Cities of â—…ote Eolis Mysia major Mysia minor The City of Troy Phrygia Gordianus knot Bythinia Ciâ—…y of Nice Chalcedon Paphlagonia Pompciopolis Galatia Lyeaonia Pisidia The Kingdome of Pontus Mithridates Pompey brought Mithridates to distresse Cappadocia Armenia minor Syâ—…ia bounded Their â—…ient â—…ames Ciâ—…y of 〈◊〉 Alâ—…ppo Tripolis Thirty Kings Note The River Iordan Asphaltites Mare mornum Twelve Tribes of Israel Ierusalem Twelve Tribes divided The Iews Ierusalem destroied Note Jerusalem twice destroied 1 By Nebuchadnezzar 2. By Vespasian Jerusalem in the Turks dominion Arabia bounded Arabia divided into three parts Of the Desart of Arabia Mahomet born in Arabia The Turks Alcaron The Turks Religion The City Mecha The blasphemous prophecy of Mahomet Mahomet a lascivious person The red sea Mount Horeb. Situation of Africke The Country of Egypt In fertility The flowing of Nilus Learning very ancient in Egypt Their Pyramides one of the wonders of the world The City Memphis Good Laws made by the King of Egypt The Country of Cyrene Carthage a famous City The Kingdome of Bocchus Atlas minor Atlas major The Kingdome of Morocco A brutish customâ—…uled in this counâ—… Their Religion The Portu gals have there setled themselves The Country of Guinea Their Commodities for Trade The Kingdome of Congo Their Religion The Kingdom of Monomotapa Their Religion The Kingdome of Adel c. The Situation of the Empire of Prester John One of the greatest in the world Lunae Montes The Abissines drowned Egypt The River Nigar Their commodities Their Religion Frizeland Zealand in it standeth Flushen Middleburge Ireland * A rare admirable Note Of Britain Four languages there spoken Their originall The Briâ—…taines five times conquered First by tâ—…e Romans Secondly the Pictes who used to paint or pounse their faces Thirdly the Saxons Their religion and devotion Fourthly the Danes King Lucius the first that here received Baptism the Gospel Note No Country like England The riches of the countrey The rich commodity of wooll Bridges Rivers Faire and large Churches 2. Archbishopricks and 24. other Bishopricks Note Of Scotland Scotland very poor in formertimes The reason why it is said that in Britain are foure languages Borderers great robbers and stealers Lord Warden of the Marches Note A Proverb The policy of the French Musselborough field The barbarousnesse of the Scots in former times The Orcades the people barbarous The Redshankes The Isle of Man The Isle of Anglisey The Isle of Wight The Isles of Gernsey Jernsey Divers other Ilands Insulae Baleares The Iland of Corsica The Iland of Sardinia Note The Iland of Siâ—…lia The City Siracusa Note Arthimides the famous
A BRIEFE DESCRIPTION OF THE WHOLE WORLD WHEREIN Is particularly described all the Monarchies Empires and Kingdoms of the same with their Academies AS ALSO Their severall Titles and Scituations thereunto adjoyning Written by the Reverend Father in God George Abbot late Archbishop of Canterbury The Fifth Eddition LONDON Printed for Margaret Sheares at the Blew Bible in Bedford-Street in Coven-Garden and John Playâ—…ere at the White-Beare in the upper Walk in the New-Exchange 1664. A Briefe Description of the whole World THe Globe of the Earth doth either shew the Sea or Land The Sea general is called by the name or Ocean which coasteth all the World and taketh his name in speciall either of the place neare which it commeth as Oceanus Britanicus Mare Germanicum Sinus Perficus Mare Atlanticum of the Hill Atlas in the West part of Africke or of the finder out as Fretum Magellanicum or of some other accident as the Red Sea because the sand is red Mare Mediterraneum because it runneth between the lands of Europe and Africke Mare Icarium because Icarus was drowned there or the like There be some few Seas which have no intercourse with the Ocean as Mare Mortuum neare Palestina Mare Caspium sive Hircanum not far from Armenia and such a one is said to be in the North part of America The Straits or Narrow Seas are noted in the Latine by the name of Fretum as Fretum Britannicum The English Narrow Seas Fretum Herculeum the Straights between Barbary and Spaine Fretum Magellanicum c. The Earth is either Islands which are those which are wholly compassed by the Sea as Britannia Sicilia Corsica or the Continent which is called in the English The firme Land in the Latine Continens The old known firme Land was contained only in Asia Europe and Africa Europe is divided from Africa by the Mediterranean Sea from Asia by the River Tanais whereby appeareth that the North parts of Asia and Europe in old time were but little known and discovered Africa is divided from Europe by the Mediterranean Sea from Asia by the River Nilus and so Asia by Tanais and Nilus is severed from Europe and Africke Of Spaine TO say nothing of England and Ireland the most Westerne Country of Europe is Spaine which is bounded on the South with the Mediterranean on the West with the Atlanticke on the North with Oceanus Cantabricus or the Spanish Seas on the East with France from which it is severed with certaine Mountaines called Montes Pyrenei or the Pyrenay hils If we should enquire into the times that were before the comming of the Carthaginians and Romans into Spaine we shall find nothing but that which is either fabulous or neare to sables here it was first called Iberia ab Ibero flumine afterwards Hispania ab Hispane we may take as a tradition but their Gargoris their Ha bis their Geryon exceed beleefe of any but those that will take all reports on trust It is certain that the Syrians planted a Colony there in the Isle of Gades corruptly now called Cadiz or Cales These troubled by their Neighbours desired aid of the Carthaginians a flourishing neighbour Common-wealth descended of the Syrians as well as themselves who sent first to defend the Gaditanes against their neighbours afterwards heartned on by their successe in their first Expedi tion these Carthaginians succes sively sent thither three Captaines Hamilcar Hasdrubal and Hanibal who for the most part subdued the Province and held it till by Scipio's and the Romans Forces they were dispossessed of it Yet for many years after the fortunes of the Romans stuck as it were in the subduing of that Province so that from the time of â—…he second Punick war untill the time of Augustus they had businesse made them in that Country continually neiâ—…her could they till then bring it peaceably into the forme of a Province It continued a Province of the Roman Empire untill the time of Honorius the Emperour in whose dayes the Vandals came into it conquering and making it theirs then the Goths the Vandals either driven out or called over into Africk entring erected there a Kingdome which flourished for many yeares till by the comming of the Saracens and Moores their Kingdome was broken who setling themselves in Spaine erected it a Kingdome changed the names of many places and Rivers and gave them new names such as they retaine to this day and continued for the space of some hundred of yeares mighty in that Countrey till they were first subdued by Ferdinand afterwards and that now lately utterly expelled by Philip the Third After the comming in of these Africans in this Country there were many Kingdomes as the Kingdome of Portugall toward the West the Kingdome of Granado toward the South the Kingdom of Navarre and Arragon toward the East and the Kingdome of Castile in the middle of the Land but the whole Dominion is now under the King of Spaine As Damalanus à Goes doth write in the Treatise intituled Hispania there were in times past twelve severall Kingdomes in Spain which he nameth thus Castellae antiquae novae Leonis Aragoniae Portugalliae Navarrae Granatae Valentiae Toleti Galitiae Algarbiâ—…rum Murtiae Cordubae which is not to be wondred at since in England a farre lesse Country there were in the time of the Saxons seven severall Kingdoms and Monarchies In the best Maps of Spaine the Armes of these severall Kingdomes do yet distinctly appeare where for the Armes of Leons is given a Lion which manifestly argueth that whereas by some it is called Regnum Legionis that name is false for it is Leonis surable thereunto for the Armes of Castile is given a Castle which was the cause that John of Gaunt Son to Edward the Third King of England did quarter with the Armes of England the Castle and the Lion as having married Constance Daughter to Peter King of Castile and at this day the first and chief Coat of the King of Spain is a Castle quartered with a Lion in remembrance of the two Kingdomes of Castile and Leons In Corduba as in times past it was called standeth Andaluzia neare unto which the Island called properly Gades but since by depravation of the word Cadiz and commonly Cales which was lately surprized by the English The Kingdome of Granada which lieth nearest to the Mediterranean was by the space of seven hundred years possessed by the Moores and Saracens who do professe the Reâ—…igion of Mahomet the reason whereof Rodericus Toletanus in the third book of history doth shew to be this that whereas the Sarazens after Mahomets time had spread themselves all along Africke even unto the Westerne part of Barbary a King of Spaine called Rodericus employed in an Embassage to them one Julian a Nobleman of his who by his wise Demeanour procured much Reputation amongst the Moores but in the time of his service the King Rodericus
only Daughter and she was married to Maximilian the Emperour of the house of Austria from whom the inheritance descended unto Charles the fifth Emperour who yeelding it over to his Son Philip the second did charge him to intreat that people well which he forgetting to do under pretence of rooting out the profession of Religion did intangle himselfe and all that Countrey with a very long bloudy and wearisome warre There is no part of Europe which for the quantity of the ground doth yeeld so much riches and commodities as the Low-Countries do besides their infinite store of shipping wherein they exceed any Prince of Christendome They were in time past accounted a very heavy dull people and unfit for the Wars but their continual combating with the Spaniards hath made them now very ingenious ful of action and managers of great causes appertaining to fights either by sea or land The 17 Provinces are these Brabāt Gelderlād Artois Valencois Luxenburg Flanders Henault Lile Namurce Holland Zeland Tornabū Tornacetium Mechlin Utrecht and the East and West Freezeland France hath many petty Governments that do border upon it as the Dukedome of Savoy the State of the Switzers the Dukedome of Lorraine the Burgundians or Walloons against all which the King is forced to keep his frontier Towns There is nothing more famous in this Kingdome then the Salique law whereby it is provided that no woman nor the heire of her as in her right shall injoy the Crown of France but it goeth alwaies to the Heire Male. The Author of the Commentaries against Machiavel reputeth it a great blessing of GOD that they have the Salique Law in France and that not so much saith he because Woman by the infirmity of their Sex are unfit to govern for therein many men who have enjoyed Kingdomes have been and are very defective but because by that meanes the Crowne of France is never endangered by Marriage of a forraigner to come under the subjection of a stranger And this is the opinion of Philip de Comines in the 8 Booke of his Commentaries This Law is very ancient among them so that it cannot certainly be defined when it was Enacted but by vertue thereof Edward the 3. King of England and his Heires were cut off from inheriting the Crowne of France whereunto by marriage of a Daughter he was Heire in generall And by reason of this Law Henry the fourth late King of France rather injoyed that Dominion than the Sonne of the Duke of Lorraigne who-was neerer of blood by descending from the Elder Daughter of King Henry the second The Switzers are a People called in old time Helvetii who have no Noblemen or Gentlemen among them but only the Citizens of their Townes the yearely Officers whereof and their Council do govern their State There are in Switzerland 23 Cities or Towns which they call their Cantons although some rather think that name properly doth signifie the Rulers of those Towns and of them some do retain to this day the Romish Religion but some others have embraced the Gospel The Country where they live is not very fertile and being farre from any Seas they have no vent for their people but by sending them forth as hired souldiers which for their pay do fight oftentimes in Italy and France and sometimes in Germany Neare unto one part of them standeth Geneva which is challenged by the Duke of Savoy to have heretofore belonged to his Dominion but they pretend themselves to be a free City and by the help of Protestant Princes but especially by some of the Helvetians do so maintain it In this place there is a rare Law that if any Malefactor who hath fled out of his own Country be convinced of any grievous crime he suffereth there as if he were in his own Country Which they are forced to do because their Cities would be full of all sorts of Runnagates in as much as they stand on the confines of divers Princes and States Of Germany THE next Countrey unto France on the East side is Germany which is bounded on the West with France and the Low-Countries on the North with Denmark and the Danish Seas on the East with Prussia Polonia and Hungary on the South-East with Istria and Illyricum on the South with the Alpe-hils and with Italy The Governour General of this Country is called the Emperour of Germany who is chosen by three spiritual Princes the Archbishop of Collen called Coloniensis the Archbishop of Ments called Moguxtinus and the Archbishop of Trevers called Treverensis and three temporall Princes the Duke of Saxony the Marquesse of Brandenburgh and the Count Palatine of Rhene which if they cannot agree as to make a major part in their election then the King of Bohemia hath also a voice whereof it commeth to be said that there be seven Princes Electors of the Empire The manner of the choice of the Emperor was established by a Decree which is commonly called Bulla Aurea which was made by Charles the 4 Emperor of Germany and King of Bohemia wherein he doth set down all the circumstances of the Election of the Emperor and appointeth the King of Bohemia to be Sacri Imperii Archipincerna which is the Cup-bearer The 3 Bishops of Colen Ments and Trevers to be the Arch-Chancellours of the three several parts of the Empire the Count Palatine of the Rhene to be Sacri Imperii Archidapifer which should have the setting on of the first dish the Duke of Saxony to be Sacri Imperii Archimariscallus whose office is to beare the sword and the Marquesse of Brandenburgh to be Sacri Imperii Archi-Camerarius or great Chamberlaine all which Offices they supply on the day of the Emperours Coronation It appears by all the Romane Stories that in times past the Empire went sometimes by succession as unto the Sons of Constantine and Theodosius sometimes by Election and that either of the Senate or of the Souldiers who oftentimes also in mutiny did elect men unworthy yet such as fitted their purpose But now of late the Electors do choose some Prince of Christendome who hath otherwise a Dominion of his own which may helpe to back out the Empire and therein of late hath appeared the great cunning of that which we call the house of Austria whose greatest title within this 300 yeares was to be a mean Count of a mean place namely the County of Haspurg But since that time they have so planted and strengthened themselves that there have been 7 or 8 Emperours lately of that family but the Empire is not tied unto them as may appeare by the possibility which the Duke of Saxony and Francis the great King of France had to ascend to that Dignity When Charls the fifth was chosen Emperour one of the meanes whereby the possession hath been continued to that house hath been the electing of some one to be Rex Romanorum whilest
Country are none but Christians but so that liberty of â—…ll Religion is pâ—…rmitted insomuch â—…hat there be Papists Coilâ—…dges of 〈◊〉 boâ—…h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 iâ—… opinion 〈◊〉 Ar 〈◊〉 and diâ—…ers others But of 〈◊〉 years there 〈◊〉 been 〈◊〉 ea nest mâ—…tions in their Par 〈◊〉 that their Co ledges of Jâ—…suites shâ—…uld be dissolved and they banâ—…shed our of that Kâ—…ngdome as of laâ—…e they were from France The â—…eason of i is because that under colour of Religion they doe secretly deale in 〈◊〉 causes and many times sow sedi â—…ons and some of them have given couâ—…sell to murther Princes and â—…ever they be they are the only in telligencers for the Popâ—… besides that many of the Papiâ—…s but especially their Fryars and orders of Religion do hate and envye them first for that they take upon them with such pride to be called Jesuits as if none had to do with Jesus but they and are more inward with Princes then the rest are Secondly because many of them are more learned then common Monks and Fryars And thirdly because they professe more strictly and severely than others do the Capushins only accepâ—…ed This is that Country which in times past was called Sarmatia the chiefe City whereof is named Cracovia Of Hungaria and Austria ON the South-East side of Germany lyeth Hungaria called in the Latine Pannonia which hath been heretofore divided into Pannonia superior Pannonia inferior it is an absolute Kingdome and hath been heretofore rich and populous The Christians that do live there have among them divers sorts of Religion as in Poland This Kingdome hath been a great obstacle against the Turkes comming into Christendome but especially in the time of John Hunniades who did mightily with many great victories repulse the Tuâ—…ks Here standeth Bunda which was heretofore a great Fortresse of Christendome but the glory of this Kingdome is almost utterly decaied by reason that the Turk who partly by policy partly by force doth now possesse the greatest part of it so that the people are fled from thence and the Christians which remaine there are in miserable servitude Notwithstanding some part of Pannonia inferior doth yeâ—… belong to Christendome The Turks for the space of these forty or fifty years last past have kept continuall garrisons and many times great Armies in that place of Hungary which yet remaineth Christned yea and sometimes thâ—… great Turks themselves have come thither in person with huge Hosts accounting it a matter of their re ligion not only to destroy as many Christians as they can but also to win their land by the revenueâ—… whereof they may maintain some Religious house which they think themselves in custome bound to erect but so that the maintai ning thereof is by the sword to be wonne out of the hands of some of those whom they hold enemieâ—… to them Hungary is become the onely Cockpit of the World where the Turkes doe strive to gain and the Christians at the charge of the Emperor of Germany who entituleth himselfe King of Hungary doe labour to repulse them and few summers do passe but that something is either wonne or lost by eâ—…ther party That corner of Germany which lieth neerest to Hungary or Pannonia inferior is called Austria or Pannonia a superior whâ—…ch is an Arch-Dukedome From which house being of late much sprung come many of the Princâ—…s of Germany and of other parts of Europe so that the Crown Imperiall of Germany hath lately oft besallen to some one of this house In this Country standeth Vienna that noble City whâ—…ch is now the principle Bulwarke of Christendome against the Turke from whence Sâ—…liman was repelled by Ferdinandus King of Hungary in the time of the Emperour Charles the fift It was in this Country that Richard the first King of England in his return from the Holy Land was taken prisoner by the Arch-Duke of Austria and so put to a grievous ransome There were lately divers brothers of the Emperour Rodolphus the second which were all called by the name of Arch-Dukes of Austria â—…ccording to the manner of the Germans who give the titles of the Fathers nobility to all the children The names of them were Matthias Ernestus the youngest Albertus who for a good space held by dispensation from the Pope the Archbish oprick of Toledo in Spaine although he were no Priest and had then also the title of Cardinall of Austria and was imploied for Viceroy of Portugall by Philip the 2d King of Spain but after the death of the Duke of Parma he was sent as Lievtenant general Governor of the Low-Ciuntries for the K. of Spaine where since he hath attained to the marriage of the Infanta Isabella Eugenia Clara eldest daughter to K. Philip the second and last King of Spaine and by her hath he the stile of Duke of Burgundy although peaceably he cannot enjoy a great part of that Countrey Thorow both Austria and Hungary doth runne the mighty River Danubius as through Germany doth runne the Rheinc whereon groweth Vinum Rhenanum com monly calâ—…ed Rhenisir wine Of Greece Thracia and the Countries neere adjoining ON the South side of Hungary and South-East lieth a Country of Europe called in old time Dacia which is large and wide comprehending in it Transylvania Walachia Moldavia Servia Of which little is famous save that the men are warlike and can hardly bee brought to obedience They have lately been under the K of Hungary These Countries of Transylvania Walachia and Moldavia have certaine Monarchs of their owne whom they call by the name of Vâ—…gnode which do rule their Countries with indifferent mediocrity while they have the sway in their own hands but confining upon the Turke they are many times oppressed and overcome by him so that often they are his Tributaries yet by the wildnesse of the country and uncertaine disposition of the Rulers and their people he never hath any hand long over them but sometimes they maintain warre against him and have slain down some of his Bassaes comming with a great Army against them by which occasion it falleth out that he is glad now and then to enter confederacy with them so doubtfull a kind of regiment is that which now adaies is in those Countries The River Danubius doth divide this Dacia from Mysia commonly called Bulgaria and Russia which lyeth on the South from Danubius and is severed from Graecia by the Mountaine Haemus This Mountain is that whereof they reported in times past though but falsly that who so stood on the top thereof might see the sea four severall waies to wit East West North and South under pretence of trying which conclusion not Philip Alexanders Father but a latter Philip King of Macedonia did go up to that Hill when in truth his meaning was secretly to meet with others there with whom he might joine himself against the Romans which was shortly
Land about the River it hath been so calme that men did go in single thin linnen garments In this Countrey standeth the Lake called Lacus Asphaltites because of a kinde of slime called Bitumen or Asphaltum which daily it doth cast up being of force to joine stones exceeding fast in building And into this Lake doth the River Jordan runne This Lake is it which is called Mare Mortuum a Sea because it is salt and Mortuum or Dead for that no living thing is therein The water thereof is so thicke that few things will sinke therein in so much that Josephus faith that an Oxe having all his legges bound will not sinke into that water The nature of this Lake as it was supposed was turned into this quality when God did destroy Sodome and Gomorrah and the Cities adjoining with fire and brimstone from Heaven for Sodome and the other Cities did stand near unto Jordan and to this Mare Mortuum for the destruction of whom all that Coast to this day is a witnesse the Earth smelling of brimstone being desolate and yielding no fruit saving apples which grow with a faire shew to the eye like other fruit but as soon as they are touched do turn presently to soot or ashes as besides Josephus Solinus doth witnesse in his 48 Chapter The Land of Palestina had for iâ—…s Inhabitants all the Twelve Tribes of Israel which were under one Kingdome till the time Rehoboam the Sonne of Solomon But then were they divided into two Kingdomes ten Tribes being called Israel and two Iudah whose chiefe City was called Ierusalem The ten Tribes after much Idolatry were carried prisoners unto Assyria and the Kingdome dissolved other people being placed in their roome in Samaria and the Country adjoining The other two Tribes were properly called the Iewes and their Land Iudea which continued long after in Ierusalem aâ—…d thereabout till the Captivity of Babylon where they lâ—…ved for seventy-yeâ—…es They were afterward restored but lived without glory till the comming of Christ But since that time for a curse upon them and their children for putting Christ to death they are scattered upon the face of the earth as Runnagates without certaine Country King Priest or Prophet In their chiefe City Ierusalem was the Temple of God first most gloriously built by Solomon and afterward destroied by Nebuchadnezzar By the commandement of Cyrus King of Persia was a second Temple built much more base than the former For besides the poverty and smalnesse of it theâ—…e wanted five things which were is the former as the Jewes write First the Arke of the Covenant Secondly the pot of Manna Thirdly the Rod of Aaron Fourthly the two Tables of the Law written by the finger of God And fifthly the fire of the Sacrifice which came down from Heaven Herod the Great an Edomite stranger having gotten the Kingdome contrary to the Law of Moses and knowing the people to be offended therewithall to procure their favour he built a third Temple wherein our Saviour Jesus Christ and his Apostles did teach The City of Jerusalem was twice taken and utterly laid desolate first by Nebuchadnezzar at the Captivity of Babylon and secondly after the death of Christ by Vespasian the Roman who first began the Warres and by his sonne Titus who was afterward Emperour of Rome who brought such horrible desolation on that City and the people thereof by fire sword and famine that the like hath not been read in any History He did afterwards put thousands of them on one some day to be devoured of the Beasts which was a cruel custome of the Romans Magnificence Although Numbers and Times be not superstitiously to be observed as many foolish imagine yet it is a matter in this place not unworthy the noting which Josephus reporteth in his seventh booke and tenth Chapter de bello Judaico that the very same day whereon the Temple was set on fire by the Babylonians was the day whereon the second Temple was set on fire by the Romanes and that was upon the tenth day of August After this destruction the Land of Iudea and the ruines of Jerusalem were possessed by some of the people adjoining till that about six hundred yeares since the Saracens did invade it for expelling of whom from thence divers French men and other Christians under the leading of Godfrey of Bullen did assemble themselves thinking it a great shame that the Holy Land as they called it the City of Jerusalem and the place of the Sepulchre of Christ should be in the hands of Infidels This Godfrey ruled in Jerusalem by the name of a Duke but his successours after him for the space of 87. yeares called themselves Kings of Jerusalem About which time Saladine who called himself King of Egypt and Asia the lesse did winne it from the Christians For the recovery whereof Richard the first King of England together with the French King and the King of Sicilia did go in person with their Armies to Ierusalem but although they wonne many things from the Infidels yet the end was that the Saracens did retaine the HOLY LAND Roger Hoveden in the Life of Henry the second King of England doth give this memorable note that at that time when the City of Ierusalem and Antioch were taken out of the hands of the Pagans by the meanes of Godfrey of Bullen and others of his Company the Pope of Rome that then was was called Urbanus the Patriach of Ierusalem Heraclius and the Roman Emperour Fredericke and at the same time when the said Ierusalem was recovered again by Saladine the Popes name was Urbanus the Patriarke Ierusalem Heraclius and the Roman Emperour Fredericke The whole Countrey and City of Jerusalem are now in the dominion of the Turke who notwithstanding for a great tribute doth suffer many Christians to abide there There are now therefore two or more Monasteries and Religious houses where Fryars do abide and make a good commodity of shewing the Sepulchre of Christ and other Monuments unto such Christian Pilgrims as do use superstitiously to go in pilgrimage to the Holy Land The King of Spaine was wont to call himselfe King of Jerusalem Of Arabia NExt unto the Holy Land lieth the great Country of Arabia having on the North part Palestina and Mesopotamia on the East side the Gulph of Persia on the South the maine Ocean of India or Ethiopia on the West Egypt and the great Bay called Sinus Arabicus or the Red Sea This Countrey is divided into three parts North part whereof is called Arabia Deserta the South part which is the greatest is named Arabia Foelix and the middle betweene both that which for the abundance of Rocks and stones is called Arabia Petrea or Petrosa The Desart of Arabia is that place in the which God after the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt by passing thorow the Red Sea did keep his people under Moses for
Alexandria in Egypt and from thence dispersed into Christendome by the Venetians which spices and Apothecaries drugs are found to be farre worse than before time they were by reason of the great moisture which they take on the water by reason of the long navigation of the Portugals by the back parts of Africa This is the sea through the which Solomon did send for his gold and other precious Merchandise unto the East Indies and not to the West-Indies as some lately have disputed Whereout the vanity of that opinion may appeare that America and the West Indies were known in the time of Solomon For if he had sent thither his course had been along the Mediterranean and through the straits of Gibraltar commonly called Fretum Herculium between Spain Barbary But the Scripture telleth that the Navy which Solomon sent forth was built at Ezion Geber which is there also said to stand on the Red Sea So his course might be East-ward or South-ward and not West-ward In the Desart of Arabia is the Mount Horeb which by some is supposed to be the same that is called Mount Sinai where they think it was that Abraham should have offered up his sonne Isaac But this is certaine that it is the place where God in the wildernesse did give unto the people of Israel his Law of the ten Commandements in thundering lightning and great earth quake in most fearefull manner Of Africke and Egypt FRom Arabia and Palestina toward the West 〈◊〉 A fricke having on the North side from the one end of it to the other the Mediterranean sea The greatest p rt of which Coun try although it hath been guessed at by Writers in former time yet because of the great heat of it lying for the most part of it under the Zona Torrida and or the Wildernesses therein it was in former time supposed by many not to be much inhabited but of certainty by all to be very little discovered till the Portugals of late began their navigation on the backe side of Africa to the East Indies So exact a description is therefore not to be looked for as hath been of Asia and Europe Joining to the Holy Land by a little Istmos in the Countrey of Egypt which is a land as fruitful as any almost in the world although in these daies it doth not answer to the fertilty of former times This is that which in the time of Joseph did relieve Canaan with corne and the family of Jacob which did so multiply in the land of Egypt that they were grown to a huge multitude when God by Moses did deliver them thence This Countrey did yield exceeding abundance of corne unto the City of Rome whereupon Egypt as well as Sicilia was commonly called Horreum populi Romani It is observed from all antiquity that almost never any raine did fall in the land of Egypt Whereupon the raining with thunder and lightning and fire running on the ground was so much more strange when God plagued Pharaâ—…h in the daies of Moses But the flowing of the River Nilus over all the Countrey their Cities onely and some few hils excepted doth so water the Earth that it bringeth forth fruit abundantly The flowing of which river yearly is one of the greatest miracles of the world no man being able to yield a sufficient and assured reason thereof although in Herodotus and Diodorus Siculus many probable causes and opinions are assigned thereof That there doth not use any rain to fall in Egypt besides other heathen testimonies and experiences of Travellers may be gathered out of the Scripture for in the 10 Chapter of Deuteronomy God doth make an Antithesis between the Land of Canaan and Egypt saying that Egypt was watered as a man would water a garden of herbes that is to say by the hand But they should come into a Land which had hills and mountaines and which was watered with the raine of Heaven and yet some have written that ever now and then there is mists in Egypt which yield though not raine yet a pretty dew It is noted of this River that if in ordinary places it doe flow under the height of fifteen cubits that then for want of moisture the earth is not fruitfull and if it doe flow above seventeen cubits that there is like to be a dearth by reason of the abundance of moisture the water lying longer on the Land than the inhabitants do desire It is most probably conjectured that the falling and melting of snow from those hils which be called Lunae Montes do make the increase of the River Nilus And the custome of the people in the Southerne parts of Arabia is that they do receive into ponds and dams the water that doth hastily fall and the same they let out with sluces some after some which causeth it ordinarily to come down into the plaines of Egypt For the keeping up of these Dammes the Countrey of Egypt hath time out of mind paid a great tribute to Prester-John Which when of late it was denied by the Turke Prester John caused all the sluces to be let go on the sudden whereby he marveliously annoied and drowned up a great part of the Countrey of Egypt In Egypt learning hath been very ancient but especially the knowledge of Astronomy and Mathematicks whereof before the time of Tully their Priests would report that they had the discent of 1500 yeares exactly recorded with observations Astrological which as it is a fable unlesse they do reckon their yeares by the Moone as some suppose they did every month for a year so it doth argue knowledge to have been among them very ancient Their Priests had among them a kinde of writing and describing of things by picture which they did call their Hieroglyphica This in times past was a Kingdome and by the Kings thereof were built those great Pyramides which were held to be one of the seven wonders of the world being mighty huge buildings erected of exceeding height for to shew the magnificence of their founders There is part of two or three of them remaining unto this day Divers learned men are at this day of opinion that when the children of Israel were in Egypt and so oppressed by Pharaoh as is mentioned in the beginning of the booke of Exodus their labour in burning of bricke was partly imployed to the erecting of some of those Pyramides but the scripture doth onely mention walling of Cities The founders of these Pyramides were commonly buried in or under them and it is not unfit to remember that the Kings and great men of Egypt had much cost bestowed upon them after they were dead For in as much as Arabia was neare unto them whence they had most precious balmes and other costly Spices they did with charge embalme their dead and that with such curious art that the flesh thereof and the skin will remaine unputrified for divers hundred years and all learned men
think thousands of yeares Whereof experiments are plentifully at this day by the whole bodies hands or other parts which by Merchants are now brought from thence and doth make the Mummia which the Apothecaries use the colour being very black and the flesh clung unto the bones Moses doth speak of this when he saith that Jacob was embalmed by the Physicians after the manner of embalming of the Egyptians But this manner of embalming is ceased long since in Egypt In Egypt did stand the great City Memphis which at this day is called Caire one of the famous Cities of the East Here did Alexander build that City which unto this day is of his name ca led Alexandria being now the greatest City of Merchandized in all Egypt of which Ammianus Marcellinus doth observe that there was never any or almost have ever been but that once in the day the Sun hath been ever seen to shine over Alexandria This City was one of the four Patriarchall seas which were appointed in the first Niâ—…ene Councill This Countrey was governed by a King as long agoe as almost any Countrey in the World Here reigned Amasis who made those good Lawes spoken of by Herodotus and Diodorus Sioulus in whose writings the ancient customes of the Egyptians are worthy to bee read After Alexanders time Ptolomeus one of his Captaines had this Kingdome of whom all his successors were called Ptolomeis as before time all their Kings were called Pharaohs they continued long friends and in league with the people of Rome till the time of Julius Caesar but after wards they were subjects to the Romanes till the Empire did decay When they had withdrawne themselves from the Romanes government they set up a Prince of their owne whom they termed the Sultan or Souldan of Egypt of whom about 400 yeares since Saladine was one But when the race of these were out the Mamabucks who were the guard of the Sultaine as the Janizaries be to the Turke appointed a Prince at their pleasure till that now about an 100 yeares ago or lesse the Turk Solimus possessed himself with the sole government of the Countrey so that at this day Egypt is wholly under the Turke There be Christians that now live in Egypt paying their tribute unto the Turke as others do now also in Graecia Aeneas Sylvius doth report in his History de mundo universo cap 60. that divers did go about to dig through that little Istmos or strait which at the top of the Red Sea doth joyne Egypt to some part either of Arabia or of the Holy Land imagining the labour not to be great in as much as they conceived the space of ground to be no more then one thousand five hundred furlongs Sesostris the King of Egypt as he saith did first attempt this Secondly Darius the great Monarke of the Persians Thirdly Ptolomy one of the Kings of Egypt who drew a ditch a 100. foot broad 30. foot deep and 37. miles and a halfe long but when he intended to go forward he was forced to cease for fear of inundaiton and over-flowing the whole land of Egypt the Red Sea being found to be higher by three Cubites than the ordinary plaine of Egypt was But Pliny affirmeth that the digging was given over lest the Sea being let in should marre the water of Nilus which alone doth yield drinke to the Egyptians Pet. Maffaeus in his Indian story doth tell that there was a Portugal also that of late yeares had a conceit to have had this work finished that so he might have made the third part of the old known world Africa to have been an Iland compassed round with the Sea Men commonly in the description of Egypt do report that whole Country to stand in Africk but if we will speake exactly and repute Nilus to be the bound between Asia and Africa we must then acknowledge that the Easterne part of Egypt from Nilus and so forward to the Red Sea doth lye in Asia which is observed by Peter Martyr in that pretty Treatise of his Delegatione Babylonica Although this Country of Egypt doth stand in the selfe same Climat that Mauritania doth yet the inhabitants there are not black but rather dunne or tawny Of which colour Cleopatra was observed to be who by inticement so won the love of Julius Caesar and Antonie And of that colour do those runnagates by devices make themselves to be who go up and down the world under the name of Egyptians being indeed but counterfets and the refuse of rascality of many Nations Of Cyrene and Africke the lesse ON the West side of Egypt lying along the Mediterranean is a Country which was called in old time Cyrene wherein did stand that Oracle which was so famous in the time of Alexander the Great called by the name of the Temple or Oracle of Jupiter Hammon whither when Alexander did repaire as to take counsell of himselfe and his successe the Priests being before taught what they should say did flatteringly confesse him to be the Sonne of God and that he was to be adored so that as the Oracle of Delphos and some other were plaine delusions of Sathan who did raigne in that darke time of ignorance so this of Jupiter Hammon may be well supposed to be nothing else but a cousenage of the Priests In this Countrey and all neare about where the Oracle stood are very great wildernesses where did appeare to Alexander for foure daies journy neither Grasse Tree Water Man Bird nor Beast but onely a deep kind of Sand so that he was enforced to carry water with him for himself and his company and all other provision on Camels backs At this day this Countrey hath lost his old name and is reckoned as a part of Egypt and lieth under the Turke In dry Countries as in Africa and the Wildernesse of Arabia they have much use of Camels First because they can carry a huge burthen of water and other provision Secondly because that themselves will go a long time without drinke travelling as Solinus writeth foure daies together without it but then drinking excessively and that especially of muddy and puddle water And thirdly because that in an extremity those that travell with them do let them blood in a veine and sucke out the blood whereby as the owner is much relieved so the Camell is little the worse Westward from this Countrey along the Mediterranean lieth that which in ancient time was called Africa minor for as in Asia one part above another was by an ex cellencie called Asia or Asta the lesse so this part of Africa was termed by the Romanes sometimes Africa simply some Africke the lesse In this Countrey did stand that place so famous mentioned by Salust under the name of Philionorum aroe which was the bound in that time betweene Africke and Cyrene On the North and East part hereof in the Sea neere unto the shore was the Quick-sand which in times past did
but in Latin some terme him Prestiosus Johannes but the most part Presbyter Johannes writing of him As he is a Prince absolute so he hath also a Priest-like or Patriarchall function and jurisdiction among them This is a very mighty Prâ—…nce and reputed to be one of the greatest Emperors in the world What was known of this Countrey in former time was knowne under the name of Ethiâ—…pia but the voyages of the Portugals in these late daies have best described it The people therefore are Christians as is also the Prince but differing in many things from the West Church and in no sort acknowledging any supreme Prerogative of the Bishop of Rome It is thought that they have retained Christianity even from the time of our Saviour being supposed to be converted by the Chamberlaine of Candace the Queen of Ethiopia who was instructed concerning Christ by Philip the Evangelist in the Acts of the Apostles Eusebius 〈◊〉 his Ecclesiasticall story doth make mention of this But they do to this daâ—… retaine Circumcision whereof the reason may be that the 〈◊〉 their Converter not having any fuâ—…ther conference with the Apostle nor any else with him did receive the ceremonies of the Church imperfectly retaining Circumcision which among the Jewes was not aboli shed when he had conference with Philip. Within the dominion of Prester John are the mountaines commonly called Lunae montes where is the first well-spring and rising of the river Nilus yet there are that fetch the head of this River out of a certaine great Lake toward the South called Zembre out of which toward the West runnes the River of Zaire into the Kingdome of Mani-congo The Râ—…ver of Zuama or Cuama towards the South to the Kingdome of Monomoâ—…apa or Benomotapa as the River Nilus towards the North through the Kingdome of the Abissines to Egypt which River running violently along this Countrey and sometimes hastily increasing by the melting of much snow from the Mountaines would over-runne and drown a great part of Egypt but that it is slaked by many ponds dammes and sluces which are within the Dominion of Prester John And in respect hereof for the maintenance of these the Princes of Egypt have paid upto the Governour of the Abissines a great Tribute time out of mind which of late the great Turke supposing it to be a custome needlesse did deny till the people of the Abissines by commandement of their Prince did breake downe their dams and drowning Egypt did enforce the Turke to continue his pay and to give much money for the making of them very earnestly to his great charge desiring a peace In this Countrey also of Prester John is the rising of the famous River Nigar supposed to have in it the most and the best precious stones of any River in the World which rising likewise out of a great Lâ—…ke out of that Mount after it hath runne a good space hideth it self for the space of 60. miles under ground then appearing again after it hath runne somewhat further makes a great Lake and again after a great tract another and at last after a long course fals at Cape Verde into the Atlantick sea Ortelius in his larger Maps describes it falling into the Sea like Nilus in Egypt with seven streames or Ostia but those that travell these parts say that there are only some Bayes but there is no River in those parts running into the Sea but 〈◊〉 There be other Countries in Africke as Agâ—…simba Libia interior Nubia and others of whom nothing is famous but this may be said of Africke in generall that it bringeth forth store of all sorts of wild Beasts as Elephants Lyons Panthers Tygers and the like yea according to the Proverbe Africa semper aliquid oportet novi Oftentimes new and strange shapes of wild Beasts are brought forth there the reason whereof is that the Countrey being very hot a d full of Wildernesses which have in them little water the Beasts of all sorts being enforced to meet at those few watering places that be where oftentimes contrary kindes have conjunction the one with the other so that there arifeth a new kind of Species which taketh part of bo h. Such a one is the Leopard begotten of the Lyon and the Beast called Pardus and somewhat resembling ei her of them A d thus farre of Africke Of the Northern Ilands THE Ilands that do lye in the North aâ—…e in number almost infinite the chiefe of them only shall be briefly touched Very farre to the North in the same Climate also with Sweden that is under the circle Articke lyeth an Iland called in old time Thule which was then supposed to be the farthest part of the world North ward and therefore is called by Virgil Utima Thule The Countrey is cold the people barbarous and yielde hâ—… liâ—…tle commodity saving Hawkes in some part of the yeare there is no night at all Unto this land divers of our English Nation do yearely travel and do bring from thence good store of fish but especially our deepest and thickest Ling which are therefore called Isl nd â—…ings It hath pleased God that in these latter times the Gospell is there preached and the people are instracted in Christianity having also the knowledge of good Learning which is brought about by the meanes of the King of Sweden unto whom that Iland is now subject There is lately written by one of that Nation a pretty Treatise in Latine which describeth the manner of that Countrey and it is to be seen in the first Tome of Master Hackluits Voyage Southward from thence lyeth Frizeland called in Latine Frizlandia whereas the Frizeland joyning to Germany is in Latine called Frizia On the coast of Germany one of the seventeene Provinces is called Zealand which continueth in it divers Ilands in whom little is famous saving that in one of them is Flishen oâ—… Flushen a Town of war and Middleburge is another a place â—…f good Mart. Livinus Limnius and some of the low Germans be of opinion â—…hat this City was fiâ—…t built by Metellus the Roman and that which now is called Middlâ—…burge was at the first termed Metolli Burgum The States of the Low-Countries do hold this Province against the King of Spain These Ilands have been much troubled of late with inundation of water The Iland that lyeth most West of any Fame is Ireland which had in it heretofore many Kings of their own but the whole land is now annexed to the Crowne of England The people naturally are rude and superstitious the Country good and fruitfull but that for want of tillage in divers places they suffer it to grow into boggs and deserts It is true of this Countrey which Solinus writeth of some other that Serpents and Adders do not breed there and in the Irish timber of certaine experience no Spiders web is ever found The most renowned Island in the
Pliny the fire did breake forth there and so strongly as that the elder Pliny who spent all his time in discovering the secrets of Nature pressing neer to behold it was stifled with the flame smoak ashes or that he died in the place as is most excellently described in the Book of his Epistle 〈◊〉 his Nephew the yonger Pliny Not farre from Sicily on the â—…outh lieth the little Isle called in old â—…ime Melita whence those dogs come which are so much desired under the names of Canes Melitenses This was the place where S. Paul was cast up after his ship-wrack in his journy to Rome where the Viper hanged on his hand and did not hurt him This Country is now called Malta and is one of the places most renowned in the world for repelling of the Turks When Soliman the Emperour of them did send against it a most mighty arm it was then defended by them who are called the Knights of Malta which by sea do great spoile to the Gallies of the Turk that passe that way There were in times past diverâ—… Orders of Knights and men that â—…ad vowed themselves to adventure their lives and whole state for the maintenance of Christs Religion and some places of the earth against the Infidels and Sarazens The most ancient of all those were called the Templers who were a great corporation or society consisting of divers Gentlemen yonger brothers for the most part out of all the Realms of Christendome Their chiese charge was to defeâ—…d the City of Jerusalem and the Reliques or remainder of the Temple there and Sepulchre of Christ for the preservation of which places together with the rest of the Holy Land they had given unto them and purchased for their mony very rich and ample possessions in England France Spaine Italy and other places of Europe insomuch that in the daies of Matthew Paris he reporteth that they had under them many thousands of Mannors They had also in every Kingdome where their Order was permitted a great and ample house where some chief of their company did lye who received the Rents within that Kingdome and caused the money to be transported into the Holy Land and other Ordinances to be made and executed belonging unto their Order of which Houses the Temple that is now in London was a chiefe one which had in former times belonged to the Jewes but was afterwards translated to that use when the Holy Land was quite taken by Saladine and could never be recovered into the hands of the Christians since the society of these Templers ceased the Pope and the King of France conspiring their ruines and their Land were dispersed into divers mens hands In the same time when the Timplers were in their strength there was another sort called the Hospitallers whose condition and im ployment was very like unto the other both of them fighting for the preservation of Palestina We read that sometimes these two companies had great jarrs between themselves whereby grew much hinderance to the wars against the Infidels All these were accounted as Orders of Religion and therefore it was forbidden them at any time to marry without dispensation from the Pope because not being entangled to Wife and Children they might be more resolute to adventure their lives After them grew up the Order of the Knights of Rhodes who since they could not live in the Holy Land yet would abide as near unto it as possibly they might and therefore partly to preserve Pilgrims which should go to visit the Sepulcher of Chirst and partly to infest the Turke and Saracens but especially to keep the enemies of Christs faith from encroaching further upon Christendome which most earnestly they did and do desire they placed themselves in the Island of Rhodes where daily doing grea fâ—…th to the Turk Soliman the great Warriour could not endure them but with a mighty Army so ove lâ—…id them that he won the Island from them After the losse of Rhodes the Iland of Malta was given unto these Knights by Charles the 5. Emperour whereupon they are now called the Knights of Malta for the great Master after he came from Rhodes went into Candy and from thence into Sicily and so into Italy from thence he made a voyage into England and then into France and hastly inâ—…o Savoy from whence he departed with the Religion into this Island and there they continue and behave themselves as in the former Iland and offering no violence unto Christians they much hinder the courses of the Turkes from Graecia and Asia and of the other Sarazens from Fez and Morocco They are very valiant men fit to do great service either by Land or Sea as appeared when Soliman did think to have surprised them and their Iland the description of which war is dilipently laid down by Caelius sâ—…undus Curio in a Treatise dedicated to Elizabeth Queen of England There have been divers other Orders of Knights yea and some of them reputed to be a kinde of Religion in Portugal France England Burgundy and some other places of Christendome but because their service hath not been emploi'd purposely as these which are before mentioned we do not touch them in this place Neer unto Graecia and Peloponnsus on the West side towards Italy is the Isle of Corcyra now termed Corfu and not far South from that is Cophalenia from thence South is Zon called by Virgil Nemerosa Zacynthus all which Ilands are at this day under the Venetians The greatest commodity which that Countrey doth yield are Corans which are gathered of a kind of small Grapes and for the making whereof they commonly one time every summer for the space of three weekes have a continuall drought day and night in which time the Currans are laid abroad in the open aire and may not be taken in insomuch that if the season do continue hot and dry their merchandize is very good but if there fall any raine untill the time be expired of their full drying the Currans are not good but do mould and change their colour to be somewhat white like meale The State of Venice under whom this Iland is doth make a great commodity of the impost or taxation which is laid upon this Merchandize calling the Tribute which is paid for them the Revenue of Saint Mark for unto that Saint is the City of Venice dedicated and they hold him for their Patron In this Iland besides the Merchants who repaire thither are divers Italians who be there in Garison for the Venetians in one special Castle which commandeth the whole Iland There are also divers Fryars of that Nation who perform nnto their Country men such exercises of Religion as are convenient They will not fuffer any of our Merchants to have Christian buriall among them unlesse at his death he be confessed after the Romish fashion whereupon some have been forced to convey over some of their
dead bodies into Morea which is not farre distant to be buried there among the Greekes and after their fashion The naturall Inhabitants of Zant are Greeks both by Language and Religion and observe all fashions of the Greekish Church in whose words being now much corrupted depraved there may yet be found some tokens and remainders of the old pure and uncorrupted Greek There are in this Countrey great store of Swine kept whereof the Inhabitants do feed and carry them into Morea but the Turks there by their Mahumetane profession will taste no Swines flesh In Zacynthus our English Merchants have an house of abode for their Traffick South-East from Moreah lyeth the great Island Creta where Minos sometimes did reign so famous for his severity This Countrey was then called Hecâ—…tompolis as having in it a hundred Towns and Cities Here stood the labyriâ—…th which was the work of Dedalus who conveighed the house so by the manifold turnings infiniteness of Pillars and Doors that it was impossible to find the way yet Theseus by the help of Ariadne the Daughter of King Minos taking a bottome of thred and â—…ing the one end at the first doore did enter and slâ—…y the Minotaur which was kept there and afterwards returned safe out again The ancient Inhabitants of this Country were such noted lyars that beside the Proverbs which were made of them as Crettenscmendacium Cretisandum est cum Cretensibus the Apostle Paul in his Epistle to Titus who was left there by him as Bishop of that Island doth cite a verse out of the Heathen Poet Epimenides that the Cretians are ever lyars evil beasts slow bellies This Island is in our daies called Candy being the place from whence our Sugar of Candy is brought It is under the Venetians and repute a part of their Seigniory although the Turks when they had taken Cyprus did think also to have surprised it but that it pleased God by the meanes of Don John of Austria in the behalf of his brother the King of Spaine and the Venetians to give the Turke that great overthrow at sea in the sight near unto Lepanto Yet since that time no doubt the Turks have a greedy eye upon the sland of Canay Between Creta and Peloponnesus lyeth Cithera There was the fine Temple of Venus who thereof by the Poets is called Citherea The Islands are many which lye in the Sea called Mare Aegeum from the bottome of Greece unto the top of the Hellespont as all the Cyclades Euboia and the great Iland Samos and Chios so Seyres where Achilles was born and was King of that Coutrey There is also Lesbos and Cemnos Mytilene and Ithaca where Ulysses was King and Andnos whither Themistocles was sent by the Athenians for Tribute as Plutarch layeth down the History Themistocles did tell them that he came to demand Tribute or some great imposition upon them being ' accompanied with two goddâ—…sses the one was Eloquence to perswade them and the other Violence to enforce them Whereunto the Andrâ—…ans made answer that they had on their side two goddesses as strong whereof the one was Necessity whereby they had it not and the other was Impossibilitie whereby they could not part with that which they never possessed Of these places something may be read in the old History of the Greekes Divers of these did strive that Homer was borne in them but of certain many of those Kings which Homer saith came with Agamemnon to the siege of Troy were Kings but of those small Ilands Eastward from thence not farre from some part af Natolia or Asia the lesser is the Iland of Rhodes the friendship of the inhabitants whereof was in ancient time very much desired by the Princes that had to do that way so that Alexander first and the Romans afterwards did embrace their league Here was that huge and mighty Image of the Sun which was called Colossus Rhodius This Country was long defended by those who were called the Knights of Rhodes against the power of the Turke and it was a great bulwarke to defend Christendome till that in the yeare one thousand five hundred twenty and one Solyâ—…an the Great Turke did win it from the Christians by force From thence Southward is the Isle Carpathus but in the farthest end of the East part of the Mediterranean is Cyprus which about 300. yeares since was a Kingdome and did afford great aide unto the Christians that went to conquer the Holy Land but it is now under the Turke The chief City thereof is â—…amogusta which is an Archbishops sea for Christians for their tribute do yet live there In this Countrey in old time was Venus much honoured and therefore she was called Cypria as also Paphia because she had a temple in a City there called Paphos Neer unto Syria stood the Island Tyrus against the pride whereof the Prophets doth much speak this was a rich City for Merchandise and Navigation in old time and is the place from whence Dido and the builders of Carthage did come The destruction of it is most famous by Alexander the great Of the rest of the small Islands we do say nothing Of the Islands in the Indian Sea THe Islands are very many that do lye in the Sea adjoining to the East Indies but the most famous among them shall onely be touched Among old writers as especially appeareth by Solinus was well known that which was then called Tâ—…probana which lieth neer the Equinoctiall Line It was in that time a Monarchy where the Kings reigned not by succession but by election and if any of them did grow intolerable he was deposed and enforced to dye by withdrawing from him all things necessary This is now called Sumatra and hath in it divers Kings Not far from thence lâ—…e Eastward the two Islands called Java major and Java minor which were also known to the old Writers as in general may be noted that all the East part either in the Continent or in the Ilands have very many smal Kings and Kingdomes From whence yet more East lieth a great number of â—…les which are now called the Molucco's which are places as rich for their quantity as any in the World from these it is that the Spaniards have yearly so great quantity of all kinds of spice neither is there any place of all the East-Indies that doth more richly furnish home their Carracts than do these Molucco's The Islands which are called by that name are by some of our writers accounted to be at least four twenty or five and twenty and some of them which are the bigger have in them two or three Kings apiece and some of them which are lesse are either the several Dominions of several Kings or else two or three of them do belong to some one Prince When Sir Francis Drake did compasse the whole World he came near unto these
affaires of those Countries the King caused a Councell and Councell house to be newly erected at Sivill where all things should be handled that did grow to any controversie and where the intelligences and advertisments might be laid up as in a place of record which should from time to time bee brought out of America Of this Councell Peter Martyr who wrote the Decades was one and continued there till he was very old and therefore might upon the surest instructions set down these things which he committed to story The desire of gain caused the Spaniards to seek further into the Countries but the tyranny and the covetousnesse of the Spaniards was such in taking from them their goods in deflowing their Wives and Daughters but especially in forcing them to labour in their Gold Mines without measure as if they had been Beasts that the people detesting them and the name of Christians for their sakes did some of them kill themselves and the mothers destroyed their children in their bellies that they might not be born to serve so hate full a Nation and some of them did in war conspire against them so that by slaughter and otherwise the people of the Countrey are almost all wasted nowwithin a hundred years being before many millions and those which remain are as Slaves and the Spaniards almost only inhabite those parts It is not unknown to all the parts of Europe that the insolencie of the Spaniards is very great even over Christians tyrannizing and playing all outrages wheresoever they get men in subjection and this maketh them so hatefull to the Portugals at home to the Italian in Milluin and Naples but especially to the Low-Countrey-men who have therefore much desire to shake off the yoke of their Governour Besides thaâ—… they are men immoderately given to the lust of the Flesh making no conscience even at home even to get Bastards in their young dayes and reputeth it no infamy unto them to frequent Harlots and Brothel-houses but when they are abroad especially in warlike services they are very outragous impudently and openly deflouring mens Wives and Daughters It may easily then be guessed what disorder they kept in the West-Indies where the Countries are hot and the women were not able to resist their insolencies and how they did tyrannize over the poor unarmed people making them to drudge for them not only like slaves but bruit beasts which gross over-sight of theirs was at the first so apparent that all of good minds did complaine thereof as appeareth by Peter Martyr himself who in his writing to the Pope and other Princes doth much deplore the ill usage of them who in name were Christians towards those simple Infidels And certainly it caused many of them to blaspheme the name of God and of Christ and to renounce their Baptisme whereunto they were either forced or intreated when they measured the God of the Christians by the actions of his servants whom they sound to be blasphemers and swearers riotous and great Drunkards ravenous tyrannous and oppressors unsatisfied covetous fornicators beyond measure given to incredible wantonnesse and exercising even among themselves all kind of envie contention murthers poisonings and all sort of inhumane behaviour Not long after the arrivall of the Spaniards there there were certain Fryars and religious men who moved with some zeale to draw the people there to the Christian faith did travell into those parts that so they might spread abroad the Gospel of Christ and when they came there beholding the intemperance of their Country-men which turned many away from the profession of Religion they were much moved in their hearts and some of them by writings and some other of them by travelling personally backe againe into Spaine did informe the King and his Court how dishonorable a thing it was to the name of Christ that the poor people should be so abused and how improbable it was that those courses being continued any of them would hardly embraced the faith The earnest Petition of these caused Charles the fifth the Emperour and King of Spaine by his Edict and open Proclamation published in the West-Indies to give liberty unto the Inhabitants and Naturals of the place that they should be in state of free-men and not of bond but his subjects were so inured proudly to domineere over them that this did little amend the condition of the people Since these daies notwithstanding the blind zeal of the Spaniards hath been such as that the Kings have been at some cost and other men also have been at a great charge to erect divers Monasteries and religious Houses there and many have taken the pains to go out of Europe as they think for Christs sake to reside as Monks and Friars in America There be established some Biâ—… shopricks there and other Governments Ecclesiastical and the Mass is there published and Latine service according to the custome of the Church of Rome labouring to root out their infidelity but mingling the Christian Religion with much Popish superstition By reason that the Country is exceeding rich and fruitful the Spaniards with great desire did spread themselves towards the North where they found some more resistance although nothing incomparison of Warriours but the greatest of their labour was to conquer the Kingdome of Mexico which Mexico is a City very great and as populous almost as any in the the world standing in the midst of a great Marsh or Fen. The conquerour of this was Ferdinandus Cortesius so much renowned in Spaine unto this day If there were any thing at all in these West-Indies which might savour of civility or any orderly kind of government it was in the Kingdome of Mexico where it appeared unto the Spaniards that there is a certain setled state which was kept within compasse by some degrees and customes of their own and which was able to make some resistance as it may be termed if it be compared with the other inhabitants of America although little if it be conferred with the courses of Christendom But the policy of the Spaniards was that by private means they came to understand of a King that confined neer upon Mexico who as he was of good strength so was he of exceeding malice towards these his borderers and by his forces and intelligence Ferdinandus Cortesius and his company came to have their will upon Mexico In this Countrey there standeth a very great Lake which at the one end is very large and almost round but towards the other end doth contract it self again into a narrow room and then spreadeth wide again and round onely about the third part of the compasse of the greateâ—… end In the lesser of the two their are set some houses in four or five severall places which represent our Villages but in the greatest pan of the Lake standeth Mexico it self being a City built of bricke to â—… good and elegant proportion where the water
of his Book De navigatione in Brasiliam doth tell that Sir Francis Drake of England when he passed through Magellane straights and so to the Molucco Ilands and then homeward from the East by Africk did in a device give the Globe of the earth with this word or Motto Primus mâ—…â—…ricumdedisti which is not simple to be understood that never any had gone round the world before him but that never any of fame for Magellane himself was slain as before is noted or else he did doubt of the truth of that narration that the Ship called Fictoria did return with safety into Spaine The Maps which were made at first concerning America and Peru did so describe the western part of Peru as if when a man had passed Magellane straits and did intend to come upward towards nova Hispania on the further side he must have born West by reason that the land did shoot out with a very great Promontory and bending that way But our English men which went with S. Francis Drake did by their own experience certainly find that the land from the uttermost end of the Straits on Peru side did go up towards the South directly without bending to the West and that is the cause whereof all the new Maps and Globes especially made by the English or by the Dutch who have taken their directions from our men are reformed according to this new observation When the Spaniards had once found an ordinary passage from the South Sea towards the Moluccoes they never ceased to travel that way and discovered more and more and by that means they had found out divers Islands not known in former ages as two for example sake a good distance from the Molucco's which because they be inhabited by men which do steal not only each from other but do pilfer away all things that they can from such strangers as do land there abouts they are called Insulae Latronum They have also descried some other neerer unto the East Indies which they now term Insulae Salomonis But the most renowned of all are those to whom the name is given Philippinae in remembrance of Philip the second King of Spaine at whose cost they were discovered These Philippinae are very rich and from thence is brought abundance of costly Spices and some other rich merchandize yea and Gold too There were also some other Islands descried by Magellanus himself which he called Insulas Infortunatas as being of quality contrary to the Canaries which are termed the Fortunate Islands For when he passing through the South sea and meaning to come to the Moluccoes where he was slain did land in these Islands thinking there to have furnished himself with victuals and fresh water he found the whole place to be Barren and not Inhabited Of the Countries that lie about the two Poles HAving laid down in some measure the description of the old known world Asia Africa and Europe with the Islands adjoyning unto them also of Americk which by some hath the title of New found World it shall not be amiss briefly to say some thing of a fift and sixt part of the Earth the one lying neer the South Pole and the other neer the North which are places that in former times were not known nor though of When Magellanus came down to the Southern end of Peru he found on the further side of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 main and hugh Land lying towards the South Pole which some have of his name called since Regio Magellanica and that so much the rather because he touched upon it again before he came to the Moluccoes Since his time the Portugals trading towards Calecâ—… and the East Indies there hath some of them been driven by tempest so far as to that which many now call the South Continent and so divers of sundery Nations have there by occasion touched upon it It is found therefore by experience for to go along all the degrees of longitude and as in some places it is certainly discovered to come up so high towards the North as to the Tropicke of Capricorn so it is conjectured that towards the South it goeth as far as to the Pole The ground whereof is that never any man did perceive the Sea did passe through any part thereof nay there is not any great river which hath yet been described to come out oâ—… iâ—… into the Ocean whereupon it is concluded that since somewhat must fill up the Globe of the Earth from the first appearing of this land unto the very Pole and that cannot be any Sea unless it should be such a one as hath no entercourse with the Ocean which to imagine is uncertain therefore it is supposed that it commeth whole out into the land to the Antartick Pole which if it should be granted it must needs be acknowledged withal that this space of earth is so huge as that it equalleth in greatness not only Asia Europe and Africa but almost America being joyned unto them Things memorable in this country are reported to be very few only in the East part of it over against the Moluccoes some have written that there be very waste Countries wildernesses but we find not so much as mention whether any do inhabite there or no. And over against the Promontory of Africk which is called Caput bonae spei there is a country which the Portugals called P sittacorum regio because of the abundant store of Parrets which they found there Neer to the Magellane straits in this south part of the world is that land the Spaniards call Terra delfuego those also which have toucht at it in other places have given to some parts of it these names Beach Lucath Maletur but we have no perfect description of it nor any knowledge how or by whom it is inhabited About this place the said Portugals did at one time saile along for the space of 2000. miles and yet found no end in the land And in this place they reported that they saw inhabitants which were very fair and fat people and did go naked which is the more to be observed because we scant read in any writer that there hath been seen any people at all upon the South coast More towards the East not far from the Muluccoes there is one part of this Country as some suppose although some doubt whether that be an Island or no which commeth up so high towards the North as the very Aequinoctial line and this is commonly called Nova Guinea because it lieth in the same Climate and is of no other temperature then Guinea in Africk is I have heard a great Mathematitian in England find fault both with Ortelius and Mercator and all our late makers of Maps because in describing this Continent they make no mention of any Cities Kingdoms or Common-wealth which are seated and placed there whereof he seemed in confidence of words to