also the Gothes subjecting of Spaine the Longobards establishing of a Kingdome in Italie the Normans seating themselves in France the erecting of the Kingdome of Naples and Sicilie and the attempt of Godfride upon Freseland against Charles the Great Canutus the Great his holding five Kingdomes a long time For he was King of Denmarke Swethland Norwey England and Normandy and sonne in law to Henry the third Emperour of whom these verses are yet extant Desine mirari quos garrula laudibus effert Graecia quos jactat Roma superba duces c. Cease thou to wonder at those Captaines bold Of which both Greece and Rome did boast of old For now the Danish Land hath brought forth one That is in vertue second unto none By my atchievements I much fame attain'd Five Kingdomes subject were to my command And me he chose his sonne in Law to be Who was third Emperour of Germanie My Iustice famous was I shew'd the way How powerfull Kings should their owne Lawes obey By which it appeares as also by the following warres which divers Kings of the Familie of the Oldenburgs happily waged that it is a warlike Nation and fortunate in vanquishing their enemies both by Land and Sea The Noble men and Senatours of the Kingdome have a free power to elect the Kings but for the most part they chuse the Kings eldest sonne unlesse there be some sufficient cause for the contrary However they alwayes chuse one of the Royall bloud and they doe not suffer the Kingdome to be divided unlesse they be compelled thereunto by civill warres They send the younger sonnes or brothers into other Countries seeing they cannot participate in the government of the Kingdome and hence it is that so many expeditions are undertaken by them Moreover seeing all the Nobles and Common-people cannot live conveniently in their owne Countrie therefore they seeke out to get themselves a more fit seate For the Northerne people have abundance of children in regard of their abundance of bloud and heate they are quarrellers and fighters they drinke and eate much for the cold Ayre excites their appetite and yet digest it well whence it is that they live long they are faire complexioned of great stature crafty and faithfull And an argument that they are long liv'd is that their Kings have raigned very long many of them thirty yeares some forty and some longer The Politicall government THere are five States or Orders in the Common-wealth of Denmarke The first is of the Kings Familie the second of the Nobles among which there are neither Earles nor Barons yet all of them can shew how their Nobilitie descended to them by a long pedigree of Ancestours They carry Bucklers which they will not change nor alter because they anciently used them There are some Families yet living whose Ancestors were present at the Parley between Charles the Great Hemmingus King of Denmarke upon the River Egidora or Eider as the Familie of Vren and others These hold their goods and lands in Capite and they have free liberty to hawke and hunt in their owne lands as the Counts have in Germany Their goods are not feudatory but hereditary All the Castles lands and goods as well moveable as immoveable left them by their parents are equally divided among the brethren and the sisters by a speciall priviledge have a share also yet so that the brother hath two parts with the Castles and places of strength and the sister but one By this meanes the eldest sonnes have not much lands yet some of them comming of a good Familie and being endued with vertue through the Kings favour doe advance themselves to great possessions by marriage Out of this order the Senatours of the Kingdome are chosen who are seldome more then 28. These Senatours have a certain allowance from the King and Kingdome for they have Castles so long as they bee Senatours for which they pay no rent to the King but are charged to keepe certaine horses both in peace and warre and whensoever the King calls them they are to be ready at the proper charge of the Kingdome If they be sent on any Embassage out of the Kingdome they have allowance out of the Exchequer that they may performe their journey in a Princely manner as becommeth a Kings Embassadours The other Nobles also have sufficient maintenance from the King whether they live at Court or not For the King hath lands which in the Danish speech are called Verleghninge or Benefices and out of these hee giveth maintenance either for terme of life or for yeares to those who have done him or the Kingdome any service And those who hold these Benefices of the King are charged to keepe certaine horses and to pay yearely a certaine summe of money into the Exchequer yet so as they may gaine something in reward of their labour and service There is also a good Law Institution in the Kingdome of Denmarke whereby the King is prohibited and restrained from buying any immoveable goods of the Nobles least any dissention should arise betweene the King and them For otherwise the King might by violence take into his hands those lands which the Nobles would not sell yet the King may change any immoveable goods with the Nobles though on the contrary the Nobles cannot buy any of them of the Kings Farmers many of which have hereditarie and as it were free lands Here followes the names of the speciall Families of the Nobility in the Kingdome of DENMARKE THe Lords of Kaas the L. Guldensteen the Lords of Munc of Rosencrantz of Grubbe of VValkendorp of Brahe of Schram of Pasberg of Hardenberg of Vlstant of Bing of Below of VVepfert of Goce of Schefeldt of Ranzow of Schelen of Frese of Iul of Bilde of Dresselberg of Green of Brockenhusen of Holke of Trolle of Knutzen of Biorn Schested of Iensen of Steuge of Mattiesse of Lunge of Banner of Luc of Rastorp of Krusen of Fassi of Lindeman of Suvon of Stantbeke of Quitrowe of Lange of Gelschut of Glambeke of Krabbe of Marizer of Kragge of Achsel of Beâ— of Ruthede of Negel of VVirfelt of Split of Ofren of Appelgard of Iuenam of Poldessen of Reuter of Podebussen who were all in times past Barons in the Dukedome of Pomerania and some of whose Familie are still remaining there Also the Lords of Vren who lived in the time of Charles the great Also the Lords of Bliâ— of Galle of VVogersen of Bassi of Solle of Daac of Bax of Basclich of VVensterman of Hoken of Lindow of Bille of Reutem of Hundertmarâ— of Heiderstorper of VVolde of Papenhaimb of Spar of Falster of Narbu of VVorm of Bilde of Bocholt of Budde of Swaben of Santbarch of Gram of Lutken of Vhrup of Spegel of Bammelberg of Rosenspart of Duve of Hube of Schaungard of Must of Gris of Falcke of Brune of Laxman of Duram of Baggen of Norman of Goss of Matre of Rosengard of Tollen of Ronnoun of
the East side of the Citie is the Kings pallace which they call King Arthurs Chaire on the West there is a steepe Rock and on the Rock a great Towre which the Scots doe commonly call the maiden Towre which is the same which Ptolemie cals the Winged Castell There are also other Cities and famous Townes in this Kingdome which we will describe particularly in their places In the Valeys there are many Lakes Marshes Fountaines and Rivers full of Fish the greatest part whereof arise out of the Mountaine Grampius of which wee will make mention in our next Description The Scottish Sea is full of Oysters Herrings Corall and shell-fish of divers kindes Scotland hath many Havens Bayes amongst which Letha is a most convenient Haven The Country it selfe is very rugged and mountainous and on the very Mountaines hath plaine levell ground which doth afford pasturage for Cattell Grampius is the greatest Mountaine and doth runne through the middle of Scotland it is commonly called Grasebaim or Grantzbaine that is to say the crooked mountaine for it bending it selfe from the shore of the German Sea to the mouth of the River Dee and passing through the middle of this Countrey toward the Irish Sea endeth at the Lake Lomund it was heretofore the bounds of the Kingdome of the Picts and Scots At Aberdon there are woody mountaines It is thought that here was the Forrest of Caledonia which Lucius Florus cals saltus Caledonius very spacious and by reason of great trees impassable and it is divided by the Mountaine Grampius Moreover not onely ancient writings and manuscripts but also Temples Friaries Monasteries Hospitals and other places devoted to Religion doe testifie that the Scots were not the last among the Europaeans who embraced the Christian Religion and did observe and reverence it above others The royall Pallace of Edenburgh of which I spake before is very stately and magnificent and in the midst of the Citie is their Capitoll or Parliament-house The Dukes Earles Barons and Nobles of the Kingdome have their Pallaces in the Citie when they are summoned to Parliament The Citie it selfe is not built of bricke but of free squared stone so that the severall houses may bee compared to great Pallaces But enough of this let us passe to other things The people of Scotland are divided into three Rankes or Orders the Nobility the Clergie and the Laiety The Ecclesiasticall Order hath two Archbishops one of S. Andrewes Primate of all Scotland the other of Glasco There are eight Bishopricks under the Archbishop of Saint Andrewes of Dunkeld of Aberdon of Murray of Dunblan of Brecchin of Rosse of Cathanes and of Orkney Under the Bishop of Glasgo there are three to wit the Bishop of Candida casa the Bishop of Argadia and the Bishop of the Isles namely Sura Mura Yla c. This is the manner and order of the Nobilitie the Kings and the Kings Sonnes lawfully begotten have the first place of which if there bee many the eldest Sonne is called Prince of Scotland the rest are onely called Princes but when the King is publickly crowned hee promiseth to all the people that he will keepe and observe the Lawes Rites and Customes of his Ancestours and use them in the same manner as they did The Dukes have the second place the Earles the third and those Nobles the fourth place who are not known by that Title in forraine Countries but the Scots doe call them My Lords This name is so much esteem'd amongst them that for honours sake they attribute it to their Bishops Earles and chiefest Magistrates In the fifth place are the Knights and Barons who are usually called Lords They are in the sixth and last place who having attained to no title of honour but yet descended from a noble Familie are therefore commonly called Gentlemen as the Brothers and Sonnes of Earles and Lords the youngest Sonnes of Knights who have no part in the Inheritance because by the Lawes of Scotland that commeth unto the eldest Sonne for the preservation of the Familie but the common people call all those Gentlemen who are either rich or well spoken of for their hospitality The whole weight of warre doth depend on the Nobility of the lowest degree The Plebeians or Citizens are partly chiefe men who beare office in their Cities partly Merchants and partly Tradesmen or Handy-craftes-men all which because they are free from Tribute and other burdens doe easily grow rich And least any thing should be too heavily enacted against any Citie the King permits that in publick assemblies or Parliaments three or foure Citizens being called out of every Citie should freely interpose their opinion concerning matters propounded Heretofore the Clergie was governed by the authoritie of Decrees Councels but now as the rest they are ruled by the Lawes which the Kings have devised or confirmed by their royall assent The Booke which containeth the municipall Lawes written in Latine is entituled Regia Majestas the Kings Majestie because the Booke begins with those words In the other Bookes of the Lawes the Acts of their Councels which are called Parliaments are written in Scotch There are many and divers Magistrates in Scotland as in other Nations Among these the chiefe and next to the King is the Protectour of the Kingdome whom they call the Governour Hee hath the charge of governing the Kingdome if the Common-wealth at any time be deprived of her King or the King by reason of his tender age cannot manage the affaires of the Kingdome There is also a continuall Senate at Edenburrough so framed of the Clergie and Nobilitie that the Clergie doth in number equall the Laiety The Clergie have a President over them who hath the first place in delivering his opinion unlesse the Chancellour of the Kingdome bee present for hee hath the chiefe place in all affaires of the Kingdome Hee that sits on matters of life and death they call The great Justice hee that lookes to Sea-matters the Admirall he that lookes to the Campe the Marshall and he that punishes offences committed in the Court is called the Constable There are also in severall Provinces which they call Viecounties those which are Governours of them whom by an ancient name they call Vicounts Their authority in deciding those matters which belong to civill causes doth depend on a certaine hereditary right by which they claime also unto themselves those Vicountships So that these Vicounts may be said not to be created by the King but borne unto it by right from their Parents The Cities also and Townes have their Governours their Bailiffes and other Magistrates of that kinde who keepe the Citizens in obedience and doe maintaine and defend the Priviledges of the Cities whereby it comes to passe that the Common-wealth of Scotland by the apt disposition and ranking of Degrees by the holy Majestie of Lawes and the authority of Magistrates doth flourish and deserveth great
or Northerne Countrey It hath on the South Denmarke on the West the Sea on the East Sweth-land and it is bounded on the North with Lapland from which it is parted with high and rugged Mountaines covered over with continuall snow All the Countrie toward the West is unpassable by reason of rocks and sharpe cliffes and it is also stony toward the South especially in that part which lyeth against the Cimbrick Chersonesus from whence it is 250 miles distant But all the Countrie both toward the West and South hath a gentle Ayre for the Sea is not frozen neither doe the Snowes lye long And though the Countrie it selfe bee not so fertile that it is able to furnish the Inhabitants with foode yet it aboundeth with cattell and wilde beasts as white Beares of an unusuall bignesse Beavers and innumerable other Norwey was somtime a very flourishing Kingdome under the jurisdiction whereof were Denmarke and the Isles of the Sea untill it came to be govern'd by hereditarie succession Afterward in the Interregnum it was agreed upon by the consent of the Nobles that the Kings should bee chosen by election From Suthdager the second to Christierne the last there were 45 Kings Now it is under the command of Denmarke There are at this time in it five royall Castles and so many speciall Provinces whereof the first and farthest toward the South is Bahusia or Bay The Townes subject unto it are Marstand seated on a rocky Peninsula and famous for herring-fishing and the Townes of lesser note are Koengeef or Congel neere Bahus and Oddewold otherwise called Odwad The second Castle is Aggerhusia out of the Province whereof high Masts of ships oaken and maple plankes and wood fit for building houses is yearely carried into Spaine and other Countries The Townes subject unto it are Astoia the Seat of a Bishop to which strangers doe chiefly resort because there is held the Court whither causes are brought for triall out of all parts of Norwey Also Tonsberg or Konningsberg Fridrichstad Saltzburgh and Schin or Schon where there are Mynes of Coppresse and Iron also Hammaria the Greater and the Lesser heretofore being Bishopricks but now committed to the care of the Asloian Bishop and divided by the Bay of Mosian gliding betweene them The third is the Castle Bergerhusia under which are the Cities of Bergen or Berga and Staffanger But Berga is the most famous Citie of all Norwey for traffique and as it were the Barne thereof heere resideth the Kings Lievtenant and a Bishop and heere that delicate fish is sold which being taken neere the shore of Norwey is called the fish of Bergen being transported from hence by Merchants into divers Countries Heere lye the Factors of the Vandals the Sea Townes who continuing heere all the yeare for traffique sake doe take up one part of the Citie which the Inhabitants call the Bridge Heere is also an excellent and safe Haven The Citie Staffanger although it have the same Governour with Bergen yet it hath a Bishop peculiar to it selfe and living therein The fourth Castle is Nidrosia called so from the River Nideros Rosa which is the name of a Temple commonly called Trundtheim and heretofore Trondon it is the Metropolis of all Norwey and now reduced into the forme of a Towne It was the chiefe seat heretofore of the Archbishop and of the whole Kingdome It hath a large Jurisdiction in which much fish and pretious skins are gotten and afterward carried to Bergen to be sold And heere is at this day a Cathedrall Church and such a one as there is scarce an other like it in the Christian world both for the largenesse of the stones and for the carved worke The Border and ground-worke about the Altar in this Church was burnt with fire in the yeare 1530 and the losse redounding thereby was valued at seven thousand Crownes The fifth and last Towre toward the North of Norwey is Wardbuise standing on the little Island Ward it is now very small and almost decayed having neither castle nor munition yet hath it a little Towne adjoyning unto it which consists all of fisher-mens houses In this Towre or rather Cottage the Kings Praefect liveth in Summer and governeth this cold Northerne part of Norwey even to the borders of Russia Moreover the Westerne shore of Norwey because it is of an unsearchable depth in the Spring time is much troubled with Whales to prevent whose violence the ship-men use a kinde of Oyle made of Beavers stone which is a present remedie for assoone as it is cast into the Sea and mingled with the water straight-way that great Sea-monster maketh away and hideth himselfe in the deepe Heere is good fishing in the neighbouring seas especially of Stock-fish which being dried and hardened in the cold and hung up upon poles they send into other Kingdomes of Europe The best taking of them is in the Moneth of Ianuary for as then in regard of the cold they are more easily dried so the sea doth yeeld more plenty of them and fatter The commodities of this countrie in generall are pretious Skins Tallow Butter Hides the fat of Whales Tarre Oake timber Masts and Planks and Boards of all sort to the great commoditie of those who sell them The Inhabitants are honest loving and hospitable to strangers neither NORWEY AND SWETHLAND SVECIA ET Norwegia etc have they robbers theeves or Pirates among them The Kingdome of Swethland is an ancient Kingdome as Pliny witnesseth It hath on the West Norwey on the North Lapland and Botnia on the East â—â—â—land seperated from it by the Botnian Bay or Finnish Sea Lâ—â—onia 〈◊〉 Lâ—sland disjoyned from it by the Baltick Sea called by Taâ—â—â—us Marâ— pâ—grum by the Sucâ—ians Mare Suâ—vicum and on the South Gothia It is a comâ—â—â— the most fruitfull of all the North parts it hath a plentifull soyle and seas lakes and rivers abounding with fish of divers â—â—ndes it hath also Mettals as Lead Iron Brasse and Silver which is digged up in very pâ—â—e oaâ—e neere Slâ—burg and likewise woods full of wilde beasts and honey It is thought that it doth doubly exceede Norwey both in largenesse fruitfulnesse and goodnesse of soyle yet in some places it is â—ugged and moorish This Countrie being for some ages valiantly and happily defended enlarged by the native Kings thereof afterward came to the Kings of Denmarke and having beene subject to them more than an hundred yeares at last did shake them off under colour that the Lawes wh\ich they were sworne unto at their Coronation were not observ'd and hence it stood a while in a very uncertaine condition But now it is returned againe to the natives out of which it chooseth it selfe a King There are divers Provinces of this â—ingdome some belonging to the Gothes as Ostgothia whereof Lincop is the Metropolis Westgothia seperated with an ancient Lake from Ostgothia whereof Scara
is the Bishops seate Also Southerne Gothia or Sâ—â—alandia â—uâ—sâ—ia Verendia in which Vexio or Wexo is the chiefe Town Also Meringia and the Isle of Oâ—land fortified with the Castle Borgholm Other Provinces there are that belong to Swethland specially so called as Oplandia in which is Vpsal in the very centre of Swethland heere are an Archbishops seat publick Schooles and many sepulchres of the Kings of Swethland magnificently and fairely built Also Stocholm a faiâ—e Mart Towne and one of the Kings places of residence being fortified both by Nature and Art It is seated in a marshie fenny place like Venice and is named as aforesaid because it is built upon stakes There is a passage to it out of the Easterne Sea by a deepe channell through the jawes of Mâ—lerus and it doth let the sea flow so farre into it that ships of great but then may easily come with full sayles into the Haven But the towre Waxholme on the one side and Digna on the other side doe so straighten the entrance that no ships can come in or goe forth against the Governours will who keepe watch there On the Southerne banke of Mâ—leâ—â—â— lyeth Sudermannia whose townes are Tolgo Strengenes the seate of a Bishop and the Castle Gripsholme In the third place is Nâ—â—â—ctâ— in which is the castle Orebo toward the West the countrie of Westmannia and the cities Arosia neere to which there is such excellent silver that Artificers can extract out of fifteene pounds of silver one pound of gold and Arboga doe lye neere unto a Lake From thence toward the West doe lye Westerne Dalia the Easterne and Solâ—es Dalia so called from the Lake Solâ—on which three Provinces together with the greater part of the mountainous Provinces are under the Bishop of Saâ—â—â—sâ— Heere are minerall veines which stretch themselves Eastward to the Baltick Sea and to the Bay of Helsingâ—a and toward the West they runne almost without interruption through Wermeland to the Westerne Ocean so that in every part there is digged up some kinde of mettall as Silver Coppresse Lead Iron Steele or Sulphure Toward the North neere unto Opland are these Countries first Gestricia then Helsing after that Midelpadia and beyond that the Northerne and Southerne Angermannia Then is there North-Botnia divided into West-Botnia and East-Botnia both of them being large Provinces and after these towards the North lye Scricfinnia Lapland and Biarmia These or most of these ancient Provinces of the Kingdome of Swethland the Botnick Bay stretched forth from the Balthick straight Northward to Toronia beyond the Artick Circle doth divide from Finland a large Peninsula at the Southward point whereof are the Islands of Alandia or Alant and Abo a Bishops Seate and on the North point Withurgeum Finland is divided into the Northerne Southerne Finland to which the higher and lower Natagundia Savolosia Tavastia all very large countries are adjoyned From thence beyond the Finnick Bay is Corelia the Metropolis whereof is Hexholme or Kexholme and toward the West Wotichonia in which is the mouth of the River Lovat that glideth by Novogardia which the Inhabitants call Ny above Copora is Ingria in which standeth the Forts Iamagrod and Solonseia wherein standeth Ivanogrod over against Nerva or Narva confining upon these toward the South are the provinces of Lieflandia or Civonia extended even from Nerva to Revalia or Revel and Prenovia or Parniew as first Allantacia wherein Nerva is a Bishops See then Wiria whereof Wesemberg is a Bishops See besides Wichia wherein Habsay is a Bishops seate and the Isle Dagen or Dachlen most of which Countries beyond the Finnick Bay were added to the Kingdome of Swethland in the yeare 1581 by the valour and good successe of King Iohn the third after that Revalia had willingly yeelded it selfe to Ericus the fourteenth King of Swedes Anno 1561. Swethland hath many fishing-waters and many rivers gliding through it The Countrey it selfe is rugged being full of mountaines and woods The subjects are partly Church-men partly Lay-men the Lay-men are either Nobles or Commons The chiefe title of Nobility is Knighthood which is solemnly conferr'd by the King as a reward of vertue The provinces are governed by the natives If the Inhabitants be compar'd with the Germans they have lesse civilitie but are more industrious and witty so that every countrey-fellow with them hath skill almost in all trades and all mechanick Arts. THE STATE POLITICK OF THE KINGDOME OF DENMARKE DENMARKE is a large and populous Kingdome commonly called Danemarch as it were the Countrie of the Danes But whence the originall of the Danes came they themselves doe not know Some doe fetch it from Danus their first King and some from the Dahi a people of Asia Dudo de S. Quintino an ancient Writer as Camden reporteth doth affirme that they came out of Scandia into the ancient seats of the Cimbrians But they seeme to be so called from the waters because AHA with them signifies a River and they doe call themselves Daneman that is as it were River-men or Water-men All Denmarke is a Peninsula as the Description sheweth and is divided into 184 Prefectships or Provinces which they call Horret and they are governed by so many Prefects skilfull in the Danish Lawes It hath a King rather by election of the Nobles than by succession of birth the ancient manner of chusing him was that when they gave their voyce they stood in the open field upon stones devoting by the firme stabilitie of the stones under them the constancy of their election The Kings are crowned at Hafnia in the Church of the blessed Virgine Mary before the Altar and are led into the aforesaid Church by the Senatours of the Kingdome the ensignes of regality being carried before them as the Sword Globe and Crown Neither are these things attributed to speciall Families as it is in most Countries but as every one excelleth in vertue and dignitie so is hee chosen to that place First the King is compelled to sweare that he will observe certaine written Articles and that hee will strictly defend the Christian Religion and the Lawes and Customes of the Kingdome Afterward hee is anoynted by the Bishop of Roeschild and first the Crowne is set upon his head by all the Senatours who then take their oath to his Majestie if they have not done it before the Coronation and then the King maketh out of the Gentry some Knights by the light stroke of a sword for some service done either in peace or warre Thus the ancient Danes did establish an excellent Politicall State and Monarchie neither hath any Nation ever brought them into subjection or tooke away their Country Rites and Priviledges But on the contrary the Northerne people as the Danes Swedens Norwegians have wasted almost Europe and in some places have established Kingdomes For the expedition of the Cimbrians against Italie is knowne unto all Historiographers as
the Royall Familie because the Fathers Inheritance is alwayes divided betweene the Sonnes and Daughters Thus the Kings of Denmarke have a flourishing Common-wealth which may easily bee defended from forraine enemies whom their Subjects living in unanimity and concord with them as their naturall Lords are able to resist both by sea and land THE KINGDOME OF DENMARKE BEING THE THIRD KINGDOME OF THE NORTH DENMARKE is joyned only in two places to the Continent on the West the Ocean beateth on it on the East the Balticke Sea on the North lyeth Norwey and Swethland and on the South Holsatia Megalopolis and Pomerama It hath many severall Islands lying by it The temper of the Climate together with the wholsomnesse of the Aire that I may use Ioh. Coldingensis his words doth make the Danes fresh complexioned The fruitfulnesse of the Earth doth nourish them the sweete harmony of Birds doth recreate them their Woods and Groves in which great numbers of Hogges do feed and fat themselves with Akornes and Beech-maste do refresh them and the divers sorts of Cattle and flourishing Medowes do yeeld them much delight The Sea doth afford them such plentie of provision that the Danes thereby not onely furnish themselves but also many other parts of Europe In a word they want nothing that is necessarie to life so loving hath Nature shewed her selfe to this Countrie Concerning the ancient Government thereof Munster writeth that one Danus many ages before Christ was the first King of Denmarke from whom the other Kings of Denmarke did descend in a faire and orderly succession therefore concerning the names of his successours and the other Kings of Denmarke read Munster largely discoursing All the Countrie of Denmarke having many armes of the Sea reaching farre into the Land doth consist of many parts the chiefe whereof are these Iutia Fionia Zelandia and Scania besides the Islands lying neare to severall parts thereof Iutia which some would have called Gotâ—a being heretofore the Seat of the Cimbri is called by Historians and Geographers the Cimbrian Chersonesus and is divided into the Southerne and Northerne Iutia The Description of this Northerne Iutia you may behold in the second Table of Denmarke Southerne Iutia heretofore called Nordalbingia doth containe the famous Dukedome of Sleswick to which the Dukedome of Holsatia may now be added whereof you shall finde a more ample declaration in the third Table of Denmarke Also there followeth a more particular Description of Fionia in the fourth Table of Denmarke THE KINGDOME OF DENMARKE DANIAE REGNUÌ„ THE SECOND TABLE OF DENMARKE WHICH CONTEINETH PART OF THE NORTHERNE IVTIA THE Westerne and speciall part of Denmarke is Iutia commonly called Iutland which Ptolemy calleth the Cimbrian Chersonesus and Pliny Cartrin This runneth forth Northward in manner of a Peninsula betweene the Brittish and Germane Seas as Italy doth toward the South The Southerne bound thereof is the River Eydera and it lyeth many miles in length from the River Albis or Elve toward the North The greatest breadth of it is not much This Country is divided into the Northerne and Southerne part as we have already spoken The Northerne Iutia called the Northerne Cimbrica which is described in this Table extending it selfe toward Norwey doth over against Saga a Towne famous in regard of the quick-sands and shallow Sea neare it end in a straite and narrow forme like a wedge This Country is broadest about the Market Towne of Aleburg where Lymford winding it selfe into it and passing almost through all Iutia Westward parteth the Country Wensussel from the rest except it be for a very little space and so maketh it as it were an Island This River being carried in a great channell maketh many famous Islands by encompassing them about and having many Bayes as it were and severall branches it doth divide and give limits to divers Provinces Northerne Iutia is fertile in producing and bearing Fruits Corne Barley and the like It hath also in some places very fruitfull pastures It aboundeth with so many heards of Oxen and bringeth up so many Cowes that it sendeth an incredible number of cattle into forreine Countries and especially into Germany whither there are yearely brought almost 150 thousand Oxen besides Cheese Butter Tallow and Hides It doth bring forth an excellent breede of Horses of which a great number are transported to other places Iutia heretofore was subject to the Saxons but not the other Northerne Countries Out of this Country the Cimbri 150 yeares before Christs birth came and fell upon Italie like an impetuous storme to the great terrour thereof For they having joyned to themselves the Tentons the Tigurines and Ambrones conspired utterly to extinguish the Roman Empire Syllanus could not resist the violence of their first approach nor Manilius their second on-set nor Caepio the third All of them were put to slight and beaten out of their Tents insomuch as Florus thinketh they had beene quite undone and overthrowne if Marius had not lived in that age This Cimbrian warre continued eight yeares after the Consulship of Syllanus even to the fift Consulship of Marius who at the Râ—ver Athesis called by the Germanes Etsâ—h and by the Italians â—adica did quite cut off their Army consisting of Cimbrians Teutâ—us and and Ambrones But because in this place wee have by chance made mention of the Cimbrians whose name is famous in Histories we will speake somewhat more of them and because Iunius a learned â—an doth discourse most learnedly of them I will not thinke it much to set downe his owne or other words to the same effect It appeares in Moses Bookes saith he that Iaphet had a sonne called Gomer or by changing of a letter Gomer which word signifies with the Hebrewes one perfecting a circle But the genuine sense of the word hitherto unknowne to Writers unskilfull in the Cimmerian language because none hath declared the obscuritie will bee as manifest and cleare as the Meridian Sunne if you gently breake the word in pieces For what other thing does Goom her being disjoyned signifie in that language or if you pronounce it Gomer than I goe about in a circle or I finish a perfect course Hence also is that orbicular order of Artes which the Grecian Writers call Encyclopedia and Fabius the circle of learning because it is endlesse as a ring called Gomera Rightly therefore that auspicious name hapned unto the offspring of Iaphet which spread themselves over the World and as the name doth signifie did finish that course that was given and prescribed to them by lot having travell'd over all Countries from the rising of the Sunne to the setting thereof For no man is so rude and ignorant in the knowledge of Historie that knoweth not that the Gothes and Vandales who were the ofspring of the Cimmerians or Cimbri did possesse both the Hesperiaes Wherefore since by the consent of all men the Cimmerians did descend from Gomer who at first
the West even to the Celtick Promontorie divide Spain into that part which lyeth on the hither side of the mountaines and that which is on the further side thrusteth forth a mountaine neare the fountaine of Iberus towards the South through the breadth of Spaine Strabo and Ptolemie do name it Idubeda But it is commonly called Saltus Aucencis and Monte d' Oca from the ancient Citie Auca some ruines whereof may be discerned at Villa Franca beyond Burgos Also there is the mountaine which ariseth out of Idubeda called by Strabo Orospeda by Ptolemie Otrospeda Yet hath it not one certaine name for all the whole mountaine for whereas Alvarius Gomecius calleth it Sierra Vermigia Florianus Sierra Mollina and Clusius Sierra Morena these names are but names to part of it Calpe is reckoned with Orospeda For so this mountaine is called by Ptolemie and others It is neare to the Bay of Hercules which is commonly called the Bay of Gibraltar Part of Orospeda is high and â—ockie and reaching from the Citie of Hispalis to Granada it doth lift up it selfe neare Archidona It hath its name and deserveth still to be famous by reason of a memorable example of love which was shewed thereon for the Spaniards call it La Penna de les Enamorades or the Lovers Mountaine Paulinus calleth it Bimaris because it looketh on two Seas the Inward and the Outward Strabo saith that the mountaine Calpe is not very large in compasse but that it is so high that to those who are farre off it may seeme an Island some do fabulously suspose it to be one of Hercules Pillars and Abela over against it in Africke to be the other both being the bounds of Hercules labours they say that it was heretofore one mountaine and that Hercules digged it through and so altered the shape of it Out of Alcarassum do arise the mountaines called by Pliny Montes Mariani by Ptolemie in the singular number Marianus and by Antoninus mons Mariorum They are now called Sierra Morena The noble river Baetis doth water the bottomes of their mountains on the left side Neare to Barcinon or Barcilona there is a mountaine which the Inhabitants call Mon-Iui some do translate it Iupiters mountaine and some do better render it the Iewes mountaine for that they were heretofore buried in this place where many of their Graves and Sepulchers do yet remaine On the top thereof there is a Towne from whence a watchman by setting up a linnen flagge in the day time and a fire in the night doth give notice to the Citie Barcinon of the approaching of any ships Spaine is every where full of woods and trees bearing singular and excellent kindes of fruit which it would be too long to recite in particular There is a wood neare unto the Towne called Monte Majore in which Nature alone hath planted Oakes Chestnut-trees Nuts Filberds Cherries Prunes Peares Figges wild Vines and all kinde of fruit-trees very high and fairely spred Not farre from the Towne Beiar or Bigerra is a most pleasant wood where Lucius Marinaeus Siculus writeth that hee hath measured Chesnut-trees which have beene fortie foot about It hath many woods also to fell and cut which do afford the Spaniard wood enough for the building of ships What shall I speake of the publike or private workes in this kingdome here are many magnificent Temples many Abbeys Friaries Monasteries Hospitals for strangers and for the sicke Here are many famous Kings Pallaces many magnificent and faire houses belonging to Noble-men and Knights and innumerable other publike and private edifices The King of Spaine is borne not chosen or elected to the Crowne yet is hee inaugurated and sworne to defend this people and their priviledges when hee taketh the oath of alleagiance of them The Kings children are called Infantaes Among whom the eldest sonne who in his fathers life is declared King by the consent and oath of the Nobles the Cittizens and people is called Prince of Spaine Although the King have supreme power over all persons and over all causes yet hee seldome decreeth any thing but with the consent and by the counsell of twelve men who being the chiefe of the whole Kingdome do make a royall Senate By them matters of moment are discussed and determined but matters of more secresie are consulted of by a Privie Counsell which consisteth of the King the Dictator of Leon the President and the third part of the Kings Counsell Those things which concerne the Indies and their government are handled in the Senate which they call the Indian Senate by one President and twelve Counsellers Matters of warre are handled in the militarie and warlike Senate which the 12 Royall Senators the Dictators of Leon and Castile with others doe make up Besides these there are also in Spaine three Prefectureships of Right and Justice which they call Places of hearing or Chanceries one being in Castile the other in Granada and the third in Gallicia Every one hath a President and 12 Senators and if that Suiters receive no satisfaction or redresse of their greevances from them their causes are brought before the Royall Senate Lastly there is the Treasurer of Castile having foure Questors under him whose office is to receive the Kings Treasure and to take and give accompt thereof There is a great company of Dukes Marquesses and Earles in Spaine Besides the Prince of Asturia and others I finde that there are about 23 Dukes as the Friensian Duke the Duke of Medina-Rivi-Sicci of Alua of Alcala of Albuquerqua of Scalona of Osuna of Averi of Bejar of Gandia of Sessa of Infantasg of Medina Caeli of Medina Sidonia of Maqueda of Najar of Feria of Segorbia of Sonna of Villa-Formosa of Verragua Pastrana and Franca-Villa And these have for their yearely revenues some fortie some an hundred thousand Duckets The Dukes of Infantasg and Medina-Sidonia have a farre greater revenue for the latter hath 130000 and the former 120000 Duckets per annum These are the Marquesses the Marquesse of Villa Nova of Astorga of Aquilar of Denia of Mondejar of Navares of Savia of Velleza of Comares of Aiomonte of Altamir of Veladra of Vearina of Carpio of Camarassa of Cortes of Monte-Majore of Guardia of Monte-Clare of Las Navas of Poza of Steppa of Tanara of Villa-Franca of Drada of Cavietis of Falcis of Fomesta of Molina of Ciralva of Valesis of Vallis of Zaara of Ardalis of Tarifa of Alcanisa and others the greater part having annuall revenues from ten thousand to 40000 Duckets There are also about an hundred Earles whose yearely revenues are from ten thousand to 25 thousand Duckets the chiefe of them are the Earles of Benaventum of Albua Miranda and Oropoza It would be too tedious to the Reader to reckon up the Vicounts which are ten in number the Barons the long roll and Catalogue of Vice Roys Governours Prefects of Provinces and of the Sea and lastly the
yet at the last they were wholly subdued and brought into obedience to the Romans When Caius Iulius the Dictator being kill'd at Rome Octavianus Augustus succeeded him For Augustus sent foure Legions against them who entring the Province did waste it with fire and sword When therefore they saw that they were unable to resist the Roman forces the most of them fled to the mountaines which were very steepe and inaccessible and are now called Navaia lying length-wayes betweene Mescua and Eulates Heere when they had dwelt a long time they were called from those Mountains Navinii and afterwards the Moores possessing Spaine did corruptly call them Navarri But being opprest by the Tyrannie of the Moores and compelled to forsake their owne habitations they betooke themselves to the Pyrenaean Mountaines where they chose themselves a King and for many successions of Kings lived according to their owne Lawes even till the yeare a thousand five hundred and thirteene when Pope Iulius the second did by the sentence of Excommunication deprive Iohannes Albretus King of Navarre of his Kingdome as a Schismatick adhering to Lewis the 12 King of France and gave a faire pretext occasion to Ferdinand the Catholick K. to invade Navarre which hee long gaped for he therefore sending Duke Alban did drive King Iohn out of his Kingdome and left it to his Successours The chiefe Citie of Navarre is now commonly called Pampelona some call it Pompeiopolis as if it were built by Pompeius Magnus It is situated under the sixteenth Degree and eleven Minutes of Longitude and the 44 Degree and 43 Minutes of Latitude There are besides these chiefe Cities Sanctus Iohannes Pedis Portus Mons Regalis Amaya Estella Olyta Taffala and Tudela THE OLD AND NEW CASTILE CASTILIA or Castella which taketh its name from the Castle that King Pelagius having recovered Legion from the Moores did build was heretofore called Bardulia The describers of Spaine doe make it twofold the Old and the New Asturia and Biscay doe compasse the Old Castile on the North on the West Portugall on the South New Castile the Mountaines which runne through the length of Spaine lying betweene them and on the East Aragon and Navarre The Country is very fertile full of wine and all kinde of Fruits Saffron and all kinde of living Creatures and this was the beginning of the Kingdome Pelagius having taken againe Legio from the Moores built a Castle as a defence against the violence of the Barbarians the Governours wherof were called Earles of Castile and did acknowledge the King of Legio a long time as their Prince even to Ordonius the second the fourteenth King of Asturia and Legio who having called the Earles and Nobles of Castile unto him under the colour of parley beheaded them This wicked act the Castilians stomacking and having cast off their obedience to the Kings of Legio they choose two Judges out of themselves Nunius Rasura and Lainus Calvus one to give Judgement and the other to oversee matters of warre whose children and posteritie were afterward called Earles of Castile even to Sanctius Major King of Navarre who when by his warlike valour hee had taken Corduba and Toledo from the Saracens and had thrust out all the Moores out of Navarre Aragon Castile 〈◊〉 Portugall and other parts of Spaine restored all Spaine to the Christians and having married Eluira the daughter of Sanctius Earle of Caâ— and sister to the last Earle of Garsia writ himselfe in the right of her dâ—â—y not Earle but King of Castile and left the Kingdome to his Son 〈◊〉 who was enriched with the Kingdome of Legio by his wife 〈◊〉 Sanctius the sonne did succeed Ferdinand and after him his brother 〈◊〉 whose daughter Vâ—raca for the heire male died when after the decease of Raâ—mundus Berengarius Earle of Tolosa her former husband shee had married Alphonsus King of Aragon the Kingdomes of â—â—raâ—on Castile and Legio came to be united The Metropolis of 〈◊〉 Castile is the Citie of Burges commonly called Burgos Ptolemie thinketh it should bee called Bravum It is an ancient Citie famous for many things and deserveth to be accounted one of the chiefe Cities of Spaine for it hath an hundred and fiftie lesser Townes under it every where beautified with great faire and convenient houses adorned with market places streetes bridges Temples Friaries and Rivers and is very notable for the incredible diligence of the Inhabitants of whatsoever age sexe or condition Round about the Metropolis divers Towns are pleasantly and commodiously seated as Palentia situated THE OLD AND NEW CASTILE CASTILIA VETUS et Nova on the banke of Carion Pliny calls it Palantia as also Mela Ptolemy and Appianus Strabo calls it Pallantia and Antoninus corruptly Peralantia Also the Towne Valdoletum heretofore a Royall Seate and one of the seven Ancient Universities of Spaine It is the fairest and most delightfull place not onely in Spaine but also in all Europe as being seated on the most pleasant banke of Pesuerga neither is there any Citie which can be preferr'd before it for the fertilenesse of the soyle round about it It hath a faire and large market-place the circuit wereof is seven hundred paces and whereas this Towne is very famous for many respects yet it is especially honoured by the birth of Philip the second King of Spaine It is commonly called Valladolid which some doe interpret the Vale of Oletus Ptolemie calls it Pintia and Antoninus Pinâ—â—a as Cusius thinketh Also Simanca called by Antoninus Septimanca and Camora which Ptolemy calls Sarabris as Clusius thinketh but Antoninus corruptly Sabaria Yet Florianus del Campo and Gomerâ—us doe thinke that Sarabris was that Town which is commonly called Tora and in Latine Taurus neare to the River Durius Salmantica is not the last in account which Pylaenus calls Salmatis but is commonly called Salamanca Not farre from hence neare the River which is commonly called Gada is the Citie of Count Rodoricke called anciently Ciudad Rodrigo which as Vasaeus and Clusius thinke Ptolemy would have to bee Myrobriga From hence Southward is Coria heretofore called Caurita as Clusius writeth Andraeas Schottus doth affirme that by the Moderne Latine Writers it was called Cauria About nine leagues on the East from Cauria is Placentia a faire Citie whose Cittrons and other Fruites as also their white bread are chiefly commended and desired it is commoâ—â—â— called Plazentia Placentia hath many pleasant Townes undâ— jurisdiction among which is Xavahicium proud of her woods and lying in a Valley like an Altar as Marinaeus noteth in the innermost part of a Church The Mountaines adjacent and lying neare to Placentia are named from the Citie Verade Placentiae Also Avila called by Ptolemie Olbula as Clusius would have it Not farre from the Fountaines of Areva lyeth Segobia which Pliny and Antoninus call Segovia and Ptolemie Segubia it is a Citie famous for Cloath-making and wherein as Vasaeus writeth this is memorable that
Citty Sassaris which hath a pleasant soyle watered with many Springs abounding with divers sorts of fruites but it is weakely fortified Algher is a new small Citty but yet populous and strong and adorned with many faire aedifices and buildings the inhabitants whereof are almost all Tarraconians Sardinia hath also other Citties and Townes which for brevitie sake wee omit It hath many pleasant Rivers which are not deepe so that in sommer time you may passe over the bards There are many Magistrates in Sardinia The chiefe is the Viceroy who hath al the Kings authority and according to their ancient lawes none but a Spaniard can beare this office The King doth assigne and appoint him one assistant who is Doctor of both Lawes whom they call there the Regent Moreover hee hath other Counsellors who dispose and order all matters and this Court is called the Kings audience Heretofore it was a priviledge of the Kingdome that no man could beare this office longer than three yeres and then another succeedeth in his place But now one continueth in that office as long as the King pleaseth Concerning the manners and dispositions of the Sadinians they are strong of body and inured to labour except it be some few who are given to effeminacy and wantonesse Many of them doe keepe Cattell and are contented with poore fare and water Those that dwell in the Townes and Villages doe live peaceably and quietly together They love strangers and doe use them kindly They live from hand to mouth and goe in a poore habbit And which is strange there is not one Artificer in all the Iland that can make either Swords Daggers or other weapons so that they fetch them out of Spaine and Italy Mercator mentioneth these Bishops The Archbishop Claritanensis under whom are these Bishops Sulcitanus or Sulciensis Doliensis Suellensis The Archbishop Turitanus under whome are these Bishops Sorrensis Plotanensis Ampuriensis Gifacensis or Girardensis Castrensis Othanensis or Othricensis Bosanensis or Bossa The Archbishop Alborensis under whom are the Bishops of Vssellensis S. Iustia Terra Alba Civitatensis and Gastelliensis are excepted THE KINGDOME OF SICILIE· SICILIE is next to bee described which excelleth all the Ilands of the Mediterranean Sea Thucidides calleth it Sicania from Sicanus who as Solinus and Capella doe write came with a band of Iberians into that Country before the Trojan warres Many doe call it Trinacria and especially the Poets in regard it hath 3. Promontories Or else because it resembleth a Triangle or three cornerd figure for it runneth forth divers wayes with three Promontories and so is like the greeke letter Delta which beareth this shape Δ. These three Promontories are Pelorus Pachynus and Lilybaum The Graecians did call it Sicelia But some suppose Trinacria quondam Mutavere situm rupit confinia Nereus Italiae pars una fuit sed pontus aestus Victor abscissos interluit aequore monteis Trimacria hath her situation chang'd And now the Sea their borders hath estrang'd Heretofore it was a part of Italie From whence 't is now divided by the Sea And hence Rhegium is so called in Italie because Sicilie is there divided from Italie On the North it hath the Tyrrhene Sea on the East the Hadriatick and Ionian Sea on the South the Affrick Sea and on the West the Sardinian Sea Thycydides writeth Lib. 6. that the compasse of Sicile is about 8. dayes journey and yet it lyeth but 20. furlongs from the maine land or continent of Italy Moreover this Iland doth excell for the wholesomenesse of the ayre the fruitfullnesse of the soyle and plenty of all fruite and other things which are necessary for the use of man For it lyeth in the 4. Climate which for the gentlenesse and temperatenesse of the ayre doth exceede the sixe others So that Sicilie produceth the best fruites So that Marcus Cato calleth it the Stoarehouse of the Commonwealth and the Nurse of the Romane People and Strabo the Barne of Rome In the Sunensian fields where the ancients doe faine that Proserpine was tooke away violently which they call the Navell of Italie the Corne yeeldeth so great an increase insomuch that one bushell of Wheate sowed yeeldeth an hundred which field they call therefore Campe dallo cento Salme The Leontine fielde is not inferiour unto this concerning which Cicero saith in his third Oration against Verres Quid Vina commorabo optimi saporis adorisque What should I mention the fragrant pleasant Wines Pliny who was most diligent and curious in reckoning the best sorts of Wines doth affirme that there is excellent good Wine made in Sicilie And hee saith that there is the Balincian Wine in Sicilie which tasteth like Methegling or Wine mingled with honey So that they suppose the Balincian Wine is that which they call Muskadine which is very sweete For both Alpes Muskadine whence so called that is Bees and Muscae that is flies doe haunt these Grapes which are therefore called Muskadine Grapes out of which a sweet pleasant wine is pressed which they call Muskadine though some suppose that it was so called because it smelleth like Muske So that the Wine of Sicilie may be rightly esteemed the best for it is as good as the Italian Wine and as pleasing to the Pallat and will keepe as long Moreover Sicilie hath great store of Oyle Suger Saffron Honey Salt all sorts of fruites and excellent Silke Besides Sicilie is rich in Mettalls for it hath Gold Silver Iron and Allom. It produceth also Pretious stones as the Emerald the Achates the Berill the red Marble stone the Iasper and it hath great heards and flocks of Oxen and Cattell There is excellent hunting of Does and Boares and Hauking at Partridges and Quailes which they commonly call Francolinas And Falcons who are enimies to all flying fowle are taken heere The fierce Lestrigonians did first possesse this Country afterward the Sieanians a Colonie of Spaniards and lastly the Trojans and Cretensians came hither Afterward the Graecians did invade it then the Romanes and after the division of the Easterne and Westerne Empire it was subject to Constantinople almost 200. yeares But in the raigne of the Emperour Iustinian the Gothes invaded this Iland who 17. yeares afterward were expelled and droven out by Belisarius Afterward the Saracens did possesse it under Michael Balbus and held it 400. yeares The Normans succeeded them and afterward the Langbards Suevians and Germanes but they being droven out by Clement the 4. the Frenchmen possessed it 16. yeares Afterward it was subject to the Aragonians untill the raigne of King Ferdinand after whose decease the Kings of Spaine were also Kings of Aragon and Sicilie Pliny reckoneth that there are 72. Citties in it But now there are 173. Citties and Townes as Maginus witnesseth The Metropolis or mother Citty of the Kingdome is Panormus which Ptolomy and others doe call Palernum it is now called Palermo It is an ancient Citty and a Colony of the Phoenicians as
mans life Yet it hath not vines everywhere but where wine is wanting it supplies the defect thereof with drinke made of fruits This for here I cannot refraine from praising it is the mother of the Conquerours of the World Here Macedon did heretofore bring forth Alexander Italie the Romanes who in a certaine succession God in his Eternall Providence so decreeing did conquer the whole World so farre as it was knowne and Germany doth at this day bring forth Princes of great Prowes Have not here beene borne many noble Heroes which have added to their Empire America unknowne as the most do suppose to the Ancients and the better and stronger parts of Asia and Africke Is it not the onely mother of many Kings and Princes fighting in Christs cause This our Europe besides the Romane Empire hath above eight and twentie Kingdomes instructed in Christian Religion if we adde the foureteene which Damianus à Goes reckons to be in Spaine whence wee may estimate the dignitie of this Countrie what shall I speake of the populousnesse and renowne of the cities thereof Heretofore Africa hath beene proud of her Carthage Asia hath beene puffed up with her three Cities Babilon Ninivie and Hierusalem America doth glory at this day in Cusco and new Spaine in Mexico but who seeth not in these times the like and greater almost in every Countrie of Europe Let any one in his minde onely walke over Italy for this doth afford an example of all the rest the sumptuous magnificence of Rome the Royall wealth of Venice the honourable Nobilitie of Naples the continuall commerce and traffique of Genoa the happie and fertile pleasantnesse of Millaine and the famous wonders and commodities of other places So that the other parts of the World may be silent for none are equall to Europe The Countries in it as they are now called are Spaine France Germanie Italie Hungarie Transilvania Dalmatia Greece Poland Lithuania Moscovie Russia Denmarke Swethland Norway besides the Isles in the Northerne Ocean which are England Scotland Ireland Island Frisland and others in other places and those in the Mediterranean Sea as the Baleares which are two Isles in the Spanish Sea called Majorica and Minorica also Corsica Sardinia Sicilia with the Isles of Malta Corfu Creete and many others And as for the Lakes standing Pooles Rivers and Waters having diverse vertues in them which beside their fish whereof they yeeld an incredible company are as it were a wall unto Countries who can number them What should I mention the Seas it would be tedious in this place to reckon up their commodities profits and delights these things shall therfore be unfolded in their proper places Europe doth not want Mountaines among which the Pirenean hills and the Alpes are alwaies white with continuall snow and it hath many woods and forrests which afford pasturage for cattell and have few harmefull beasts in them What should I speake of the private or publique workes both sacred and profane that are in this part of the World Here are innumerable magnificent Temples innumerable Abbies many famous Pallaces of Kings innumerable faire and magnificent houses belonging to Noble-men and Princes and many rare buildings both publique and private We have here Justice and Lawes we have the dignitie of Christian Religion we have all the delights of mankinde we have the strength of Armes innumerable Senators Men venerable both for Wisedome and Learning and if you please to compare famous men together there was never so great a company of Heroes and Noble men in other parts of the World as in any one part of Europe Besides this part of the World is so studious of Arts and Sciences that for the invention and preservation of many things it may worthily be called the Mother and Nurse of Wisedome In this are many excellent and flourishing Universities but in other Countries there is nothing but meere Barbarisme It would be too much to reckon up the vertues of the Inhabitants but as for the vices as who is without some they are noted in some short sayings which I will here adde The people of Franconia are foolish rude and vehement The Bavarians are prodigall gluttons and railers The Grisons are light talkative and braggers The Turingi are distrustfull and contentious The Saxons dissemblers craftie selfe-willed The Low-country-men are horsemen delicate and tender The Italians proud desirous of revenge and wittie The Spaniards haughtie wise covetous The French eloquent intemperate and rash The People of Denmarke and Holsteine are great of stature seditious and dreadfull The Sarmatians great eaters proud and stealers The Bohemians inhumane new-fangled and robbers The Illyrians unconstant envious seditious The Pannonians cruell and superstitious The Greekes miserable And there is another saying no lesse pleasant A Bridge in Poland a Monke of Bohemia a Knight of the South a Nunne of Suevia the Devotion of Italie the Religion of Prutenicks the Fasts of Germans and the Constancie of Frenchmen are nothing worth AFRICKE AFRICKE followes which was so called if we beleeve Nisias from Afer a companion of Hercules who accompanied him even as faire as Calis But if we trust Iosephus and Isidorus from one of the posteritie of Abraham whose name was Afer or as Festus doth suppose from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies cold for it is free from cold because the most part of it is situated betweene the Tropicks The Arabians doe call it Fricchia from the word Farruca which with them signifies to divide for Africke is almost divided from the other parts of the Earth Or else it was so called from Ifricus a King of Arabia Foelix who they report did first inhabite this Country The Greekes call it Libya either from Libya the daughter of Epathus or from the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies stonie or because Libs or the Southwest-wind bloweth from thence In the Scriptures it is called Chamesia the Arabians and Aethiopians doe call it Alkebula and the Indians Besechath The Aequinoctiall Circle doth almost cut the middle part of Africke The AFRICKE AFRICAE DESCRIPTIO Tropicks passe not beyond it either Northward or Southward but it is stretched out beyond either of them ten degrees and more It is bounded towards the North with the Mediterranean Sea and the Streights of Hercules towards the East with the Arabian Bay or the Erythraean Sea and with the Isthmus which is betweene the Mediterranean Sea and the Arabian Bay to the South it is washed with the Aethiopian Ocean and on the West with the Atlanticke It hath the forme of a Peninsula which is joyned to Asia by the Isthmus above mentioned And though the length thereof which lyeth from West to East is shorter then the length of Europe yet the length thereof from the North toward the South is such as Europe can hardly be compared with it for it taketh
The figure of it is Triangular or three cornerd and it runneth forth into three severall Angles The first Promontorie towards the West the Englishmen doe call the Cape of Cornewall The second in Kent which looketh towards the East the English call it North-forland The third is Orcas or Tarvisium which lyeth farre North the Scots call it Dâ—ngisbehead Livius and Fabius Rusticus have likened it to a Cheesell On the West side whereon Ireland lyeth the Vergivian Sea breaketh in on the North it is beaten with the wide and great Northerne Ocean on the East where it lyeth against Germany with the Germane Sea on the South where it butteth upon France it is beaten with the Brittish Sea Diodorus in his sixt booke writeth that the compasse of it is two and forty thousand furlongs Martian saith that Brittaine is eight hundred miles long and three hundred broad and in compasse 6000. miles The learned and accurate Writer Camden doth thus account it from the Promontorie Tarvisium to Belerium following the winding of the shoare is eight hundred and twelve miles from thence to Kent 320. miles Lastly from Kent to Tarvisium seaven hundred and foure miles the whole summe is 1836. miles This Iland formerly was divided into two parts as Ptolomie witnesseth in his second Booke where he parts the whole Iland into Great Brittaine and Little Brittaine The Great he calls the Hither part towards the South the Lesser the Farther toward the North. But the Romans neglecting the farther part because as Appian saith it could not be commodious to them the hither part being reduced into a Province they at first divided into the Lower and Higher as it is gathered out of Dion For the hither part of England with Wales he calleth the Higher the farther and Northerne he calleth the Lower Afterward they divided it into three parts as appeares by Sextus Rufus into Maxima Caesariensis Brittania Prima and Brittania Secunda Afterward when the forme of the Common-wealth was daily changed they divided Brittaine in five parts the First Second Maxima Caesariensis Valentia and Flavia Caesariensis And these were divisions of Brittaine when it was under the Romans Some have written that the whole Iland was heretofore divided into three parts Leogria Cambria and Albania but Camden beleeveth that this was a later division which seemeth to arise from those three People the Englishmen Welch and Scots who last of all divided this Iland among themselves Afterward the Iland was divided into two Kingdomes namely England and Scotland but at last under the happy raigne of Iames the sixt King of Scotland these two Kingdomes were united and the whole Iland called Great Brittaine Brittaine as we said before is every where environed with the great and wide Ocean which S. Basil saith is a great Sea and very terrible for those that sayle on it Now it floweth farre into the Land and then it returneth backe againe and leaveth the Sands naked it feeleth the efficacy of the encreasing Moone very powerfully and doth flow in with so great a force that it doth not only drive backe Rivers but it sometimes sweepes off cattle from the Land casts forth the fishes on the shoare and at the ebbe leaveth them there In a word so great a matter it was held to sayle upon this Sea that Iulius Firmicus in his Booke concerning the errours of prophane Religions cryeth out thus to Constantine the Emperour In Winter which was never heretofore done nor shall bee done you have passed over the swelling raging waters of the Brittish Ocean the waves of a Sea almost unknowne to us have trembled under our Oares and the Brittaines have beene afraid at the unlookt-for presence of the Emperour What would you more The Elements themselves were conquered by your valour It doth not belong unto us to speake here of the commodities which this Sea yeeldeth of the time when it cherishes the Earth of the vapours with which it nourishes the Aire and bedewes the fields of the divers kindes of Fish as Salmons Playces Crabfishes Codfishes Herrings c. of which it bringeth forth infinite numbers Yet the Pearles are not to bee passed over in silence which in a round shape doe swimme in great shoales as it were following one Leader like Bees so that Iubas calleth it the Sea of Bees and also Marcellus makes mention of it Suetonius doth report that Caesar did first attempt Brittaine in hope of getting these Pearles and so much concerning Albion or England now let us passe over to the rost Among all of them Ireland doth farre excell of which wee will speake nothing here intending to speake of it in particular Tables The Orcades doe follow now called the Iles of Orkney which are about thirty in number and doe lie a little way distant one from another which a certaine ancient record doth so call as if it were Argath which is there expounded as much as supra Getas above the Getes Camden would rather have it above Cath for it lyeth over against Cath a Country of Scotland which in regard of the Promontorie they now call Cathnesse whose Inhabitants Ptolomy though wrongfully doth call Carini instead of Cathini In the time of Solinus they were not inhabited being overgrowne with Reedes and Bullrushes but now they are tilled and bring forth Barley enough though they want both wheat and trees there is no Serpent or poysonous Creature in them They have great numbers of living Creatures in them as Hares Cunnies Cranes and many Swans There is good fishing in them of which the inhabitants make great profit Iulius Agricola first sayling in a Shippe round about Brittaine did finde out and conquer the Orcades at that time unknowne and therefore it is unlikely that Claudius did first overcome them as Hierom affirmeth in his Chronicle Afterward when the Romans were Commanders over Brittaine they were the seats of the Picts and after that they came under the power of the Norwegians and Danes whence the Inhabitants doe speake the Gothicke tongue Last of all Christiernus King of Denmarke in consideration of a summe of money in the yeare 1474. did passe over all his right unto the King of Scotland The chiefe of these is Pomonia famous in regard it is the seate of a Bishop which was called by Solinus for the continuall length of the day Pomona diutina now it is called by the Inhabitants Mainland as if it were a Continent It hath abundance of Tinne and Lead and is adorned with a Bishops See in the Towne Kirkwale and with two Castles Among these Ptolomie also reckoneth Ocetis which Camden supposes should now be called Hethy And saith the same Camden I am not yet resolved whether I should call Hey which is among these Plinies Dumna If it bee not so I had rather thinke Faire I le which hath onely one Towne called Dume to bee that Dumna than with Becanus to thinke that it is Wardhuys in Lappland
the other smoothe with a plaine webbe There are other Birdes which they call Marinetae lesse than a Blackbird being short like a Starling yet differing from him by the whitenesse of the belly and the blacknesse of the back It is a wonderfull thing which was reported concerning these Birdes for if when they are dead they be kept in a dry place they will not putrifie or corrupt and being placed among garments and other things it will preserve them from moathes That which is more worthy of admiration is that if being dead they be hanged up in some drie place they will every yeare renew and change their feathers as if they were alive Ireland contayneth all kindes of wilde beasts It hath Harts that are so fat that they can hardly runne and by how much they are lesser in body by so much the larger are their hornes There are great store of Bores many Hares c. but the bodies of all the wilde beasts and birds are lesser here than in other places It hath many Badgers and Weesils It hath few or no Goates fallow Deere Hedghogs Moles but infinite store of Mice It hath also Wolves and Foxes But enough of these things I returne to other matters Heretofore Ireland was ruled by many Earles now it is subject to England and is governed by the Kings Substitute who is called the Lord Deputie It came to be under the dominion IRELAND IRLANDIA of the Kings of England about the yeare 1175 at which time Roderick King of Connaught stiled himselfe King of all Ireland and striving to subject the whole Kingdome to himselfe waged continuall warre with the other Earles by whose sedition it came to passe that the other Earles of their owne accord and without any effusion of blood did put themselves under the obedience of Henry the second King of England from whom all the Kings of England were called Lords of Ireland untill the time of Henry the eigth who by the Nobles of Ireland was declared King of Ireland because the name of Lord grew hatefull to some seditious people There are foure speciall Cities in this Island First Dublin the Metropolis or Mother-Citie of Ireland being the royall Archiepiscopall Seat giving name to a County The next in dignity is Waterford the third Limbrick the fourth Corke There are many other very great Townes of which wee will speake more largely in the particular Descriptions of Ireland This Country hath many Lakes and standing waters among which there is a Lake in Vlster twenty miles distant from the Lake Erne of which wee will speake more largely hereafter There is a little Lake beyond the Citie Armack in which if you stick a Speare up some moneths that part which stuck in the mudde will bee iron that which is in the water stony and that which is out of the water will remaine wood There is also the Lake Erne which is thirty miles long and fifteene miles broad being compassed about with thick woods and so full of Fish that the Fisher-men often breake their nets by taking too many at one time This Island is divided and watered with many faire Rivers whose names are these Avenliffe running through Dublin Boandus through Methe Banna through Vltonia Linuâ— through Connack and Moadus through Kenel cunillia Slicheia and Samaira Besides Modarnus and Furnus through Keneleonia and many other But of all the Rivers of Ireland the River Synnenus is the chiefe both for the breadth and length of its course and for the plenty of Fish which is in it But in generall the Rivers and Lakes are full of fish bred in them This Countrie is unequall and mountainous soft and waterish you shall finde Lakes and standing waters on the top of the Mountaines The Mountaines abound with Cattell the woods with wilde beasts Solinus writeth thus concerning the Sea which floweth between Ireland and England The Sea betweene Ireland and England is rough and unquiet all the yeare and is scarce navigable but in some part of the Summer But hee erres for it is quiet enough unlesse it bee stirred up with windes And not onely in Summer but also in Winter passengers doe sayle to and fro All the Sea shores doe abound sufficiently with Fish Ireland hath in all three and thirty Counties and foure Archbishops The Bishop of Armach Primate of all Ireland the Bishop of Dublin the Bishops of Cassil and Toam and these foure have nine and twenty Suffragans or Vicegorents Ireland from the manners of the Inhabitants is divided into two parts For those who refuse to obey the Lawes and live more uncivilly are called Irishrie and commonly Wild Irish But those who are willing to obey the Lawes and appeare before the Judges are called the English-Irish and their Country the English Pale they speake English naturally and uncorruptly yet they understand Irish in regard of their daily commerce with the Irish-men The Irish-men have some certaine Lords under whose command the most of them are but they live under the jurisdiction of the English but counterfeitly and as long as the English Souldiers doe waste their Territories yet they appoint Sessions to be kept at certaine times and places to restraine and punish robberies and theft committed by night There those that are accused if they be convicted have certaine Arbitratours to judge of the cause whom they call Brehoni these are all of one familie and although they have no knowledge in the Law yet for their wisdome honestie of life they are accounted divine Their warre is partly on horsback and partly on foote The Gentrie have horses well managed so that without any advantage they will mount them in their armour and taking a Javelin or dart of great weight by the middle they will throw or brandish it against their enemie with much ease Among the footmen some are Souldiers in Cassocks very strong whom they call Galeglacii having Cuttle-axes as sharpe as razors and they are the chiefe strength of the Irish warres The next are Footmen wearing a light armour with swords in their hands and these are called Karnes and they thinke a man is not dead untill they have cut off his head In the third place are footmen whom they call Daltines who going unarmed attend upon the horsmen The footmen as well as horsmen as oft as they come to fight with their enemies doe crie with a great voyce Pharro Pharro and they use a Bagpipe in stead of a Trumpet The Irish doe fare sumptuously and magnificently for though they have no delicate dishes nor great service in their banquets yet their Tables according to the season of the yeare are well furnished with Beefe and Porke and other meate In their Feasts they lye upon Beds the first place at the Table belongs to the Mother of the Family who weares a long Gowne or Mantell reaching to her ancles often dyed and also sleeved THE SECOND TABLE OF IRELAND IN WHICH
This Citie was built by Pyrats of Norway which although it have a thick aire a soile not very pleasant and very narrow streets yet such is the conveniencie of the Haven that it is the second Ctity in Ireland for wealth populousnes is filled with many wise well behaved Citizens It hath a safe quiet Haven which is often full of outlandish forraine ships For there are many Merchants in Waterford who in trading do so wisely use their stock so warily cast up their accoūts that in a short time they get great store of wealth they are not for the most part indebted but have ready money There are very few usurers which by fraudulent intolerable interest live upon the goods spoile of the Cittizens by taking them to pawne The Citizens are curteous bountifull thriftie hospitable to strangers and serviceable both in private and publique affaires This Citie was anciently called Menapia as Dublin Eblana or rather Amellana from Amellanus who built it as it is reported that Sitaracus built Waterford and Ivorus Limrick They being Cosen-Germans and heretofore of great authoritie in Ireland There is also in this Countrie Limrick which is the third Citie that excells the rest for commodious situation and for the fairenesse of the River being watered with Shennin the chiefe of all the Irish Rivers though this Citie bee distant from the Sea sixtie miles yet the ship-masters doe bring shippes of great burthen even to the walls of the Citie neither neede they feare any rockes all the way they come up It is wonderfull to see what store and plentie of fish you shall finde there Iohn King of England being enamoured with the pleasantnesse of this Cittie built there a faire Castle and a Bridge There is also Corcagia in the Countie of Corke which the English call Cork and the natives Korkeach environed with a wall not very wide in compasse It is stretched out so as to make but one street yet there is a prettie and very faire market place it hath an excellent safe harbour but hath heretofore beene so encompassed with seditious neighbours that they keepe continuall watch and ward as if they were alwaies besieged and they scarce marrie their daughters into the countrie by reason whereof marrying among themselves all the Citizens are somewhat allied one to another The Citizens are strong in Souldiers they addict themselves to merchandise and governe their affaires both at home and abroad very frugally Coenalis writeth that the holy man Briacus came from hence from whom the Diocesse of Sanbrioch in Brittaine commonly called S. Brieu tooke its name But in this hee wandereth from the truth because he placeth the Coriondi of Ireland in this Citie For Ptolemie doth not mention it at all Yet the River which floweth by it seemeth to be the same which Ptolemie calls Daurona and Giraldus calls Sauranus and Saverenus by changing one letter Learned Camden saith that the affinitie which is betweene these names did intimate so much unto him and that with greater probalitie then if hee should call the next River Daurona which running through the Countie Corke and Triperarie falls into the Ocean by Lysmor and is called by Historians Avenmor that is the Great River of which Nechamus thus writeth Vrbem Lissimor pertransit flumen Avenmor Ardmor cernit ubi concitus oequor adit Avenmor runneth by Lissimors wall And at Ardmor into the Sea doth fall THE KINGDOME OF SCOTLAND THE Northerne part of the Island of Brittaine is called Scotland heretofore Albania The Inhabitants who keepe their ancient speech doe call it Albain and the Irish Albany as if it were an other Ireland which the Bardes call Banno For Historians doe call Ireland Greater Scotland the Kingdome of Scots in Brittaine the Lesser Scotland Ptolemie doth call it Little Brittaine Rufus the Second Brittaine Tacitus calleth it Caledonia from a certaine Forrest so called But the Scots were so called from their Neighbours the Scyths For as the Dutchmen call the Scyths and Scots by one name Scutten that is Archers so also the Brittains did call both of them Y-scot as appeareth by the Brittish Writers And 't is manifest that they descending from the Scyths came out of Spaine into Ireland and from thence into that part of Albain which they now possesse and grew with the Picts into one Nation Thus much of the Name the Situation followes The Southerne bounds towards England are the Rivers Tweede and Solwey on the North is the Deucaledon Ocean on the West the Irish on the East the German other parts the Ocean and the German Sea doe compasse It is 480 miles long but no where above 112 miles broad The Country is more temperate than France the heate and cold being more remisse in like manner as it is in England but yet it cannot be compared unto it in fruitfulnesse The Earth for the most part is full of Sulphure or moorish which affordeth them coale and turfe for firing especially in those places where there is want of wood Yet here groweth as much corne as the Inhabitants can spend The Earth also bringeth forth divers mettals as Gold Silver Quicksilver Iron Lead and Copper It hath in Drisdale a Gold Myne in which the Azure stone is found It hath also pretious stones especially the Gagate which burneth in the water and is quenched with oyle Also excellent pastures which doe feed and bring up all kinds of Heards whence they abound with plenty of flesh milke butter cheese and wooll When the Scots came to the Picts into Brittain although they stil provok't the English by warres robberies yet the Scottish affaires grew not upon a suddain but a long time they lay hid in that corner in which they first arriv'd neither as Beda noteth for more than an hundred and seven and twenty yeares durst they beare Armes against the Earles of Northumberland untill at one and the same time they had almost slaine all the Picts and the Kingdome of Northumberland by domestick troubles and by the incursions of the Dane was almost ruined For then all the North part of Brittaine came to be called Scotland together with the Countrie beyond Cluide and Edenburgh-Frith The Scots are valiant in warre and stout souldiers to endure hunger watching or cold The chiefe Citie of Scotland is Edenburgh commonly called Edenburrow THE KINGDOME OF SCOTLAND SCOTIA this royall Seate Ptolemie cals the Winged Castell and not onely the Metropolis of Lauden but also of all Scotland it hath its situation on the Mountaines much like to Prague in Bohemia the length stretched from East to West is a thousand paces or a mile the breadth is halfe as much The whole Citie hangeth as it were on the side of a Mountaine and is highest toward the West toward the North it fortifies the Citie with its steepnesse the other parts toward the East and South are environ'd with a wall On
tempered The Court of Requests heareth the causes of the poore and of the Kings Servants The chiefe spirituall Courts are the Corporatition of the Clergie the Courts which belong to the Archbishop himselfe and the Chancellours Courts kept in every Diocesse There are two famous Universities in this Kingdome Oxford and Cambridge England doth produce happy and good wits and hath many learned men skilfull in all Faculties and Sciences The people are of a large stature faire complexion'd and for the most part gray-eyed and as their Language soundeth like the Italians so they differ not from them in the habite and disposition of their body Their foode consisteth for the most part of Flesh They make Drinke of Barley being a very savorie and pleasant drinke It is transported often into forraine countries They use a habite not much different from the French And thus much shall suffice concerning England in generall wee will declare the rest in the particular Tables following THE SECOND TABLE OF ENGLAND CONTAINING The Counties of Northumberland Cumberland and the Bishoprick of Durham WEE have finished that which wee intended to speake concerning England in generall Our Method doth require that wee should goe through the parts thereof in particular The Romans diversly divided the hither part of Brittaine being reduced into a Province But the Saxons instead of the Pentarchie of the Romans made an Heptarchie of it in which are Kent Sussex Eastanglia Westsex Northumberland Essex and Mercia At this day it is divided into Counties which the English by a proper word call Shires And first in the yeare of Christ 1016 in the Reigne of Ethelred there were onely two and thirty Afterward under William the Conquerour there were 36. And lastly these being augmented by three more came to be 39 Counties To which are added 13 Shires in Wales six whereof were in the time of Edward the first the other Henry the eigth ordained by Parliamentarie Authoritie These Counties or parts of England with some Islands our Mercator doth lively expresse in six Tables Of all which Tables wee will make a briefe Description or Delineation in that order as our Author propoundeth them In the first place Northumberland offereth it self commonly called Northumberlant lying in a manner in the forme of a triangle but not equilaterall The Southerne side thereof Derwent flowing into Tine and Tine it selfe doe enclose where it looketh toward the Bishoprick of Durham The East side is beaten with the German Sea But the Westerne side is drawn out in length from the North to the South first by a continued ridge of Mountaines and afterward by the River Tweede and being opposite to Scotland it is the bound of that Countrie The Soyle it selfe for the most part is barren and unfit for tillage Toward the Sea and the Tine if tillage be used the Husband-man receiveth sufficient increase but in other places it is more unfruitfull and rugged In many places great store of Sea-cole as the English call them are digg'd forth There is in Northumberland the Citie of New Castle famous for the Haven which the River Tine maketh having so deepe a chanell that it receiveth ships of great burthen and desends them both from tempests and sands The last Towne in England and the strongest in all Brittaine is Berwick which some doe derive from a certaine Captaine called Berengarius Leland from Aber which in the Brittish Language signifies the mouth of a River as if it were Aberwick a Towne at the mouth of a River But whence soever it hath its name it stands farre in the Sea so that it is THE SECOND TABLE OF ENGLAND Northumbr Cumberlādia Dunelm Episcop compassed round about therewith and the River Tweede The Rivers here are the Southerne and Northerne Tines which are so called because they are bound in with straight and narrow bankes for so much Tine doth signifie in the Brittish speech as some doe affirme the Southerne riseth out of Cumberland neere Alstenmore where there is an ancient Myne of Brasse having runne a good while toward the North it turneth toward the East and runneth straight forward with the Picts Wall The Northerne Tine arising out of the bordering Mountaines doth joyne it selfe with the River Reade which being powred out at the Mountaine Redsquier watereth Readsdale that is the Vale of Reade which nourisheth the best Fowle Both the Tines doe flow beneath Collerford and growing bigger and bigger doe hasten their journey to the Ocean in one channell Tweede for a great way parteth England from Scotland and is called the Easterne bound This River breaking forth of the Mountaines of Scotland runneth a great while in a winding course but where it comes neere unto the Towne Carram growing strong in waters it beginneth to distinguish the Limits of the two Kingdomes and at last having received the River Till it disburthens it selfe into the German Sea There are also other Rivers as Coquet Alaunus or Alne Blithe Wanspethel which I omit and so passe to the second part and that is Cumbria commonly called Cumberland this lieth before Westmoreland on the West side It is the farthest Shire in this part of England insomuch that it toucheth Scotland it selfe on the North side being beaten on the South and North with the Irish Ocean but on the East side above Westmoreland it joyneth to Northumberland It takes its name from the Inhabitants who were the true and native Brittains calling themselves in their Language Kumbri Kambri Although the Countrey seemeth in regard of the Northerne situation to bee cold and verie mountainous yet it delights the beholder with much variety For behinde the Cliffes and cluster of Mountaines betweene which the Lakes doe lye there are grassie Hils full of Flocks under which againe there lye plaine and fruitfull Valleys There is in this Countrie an ancient wel-seated Citie called Carlile being defended on the North with the deepe Channell of Ituna or Eeden on the East with Peterill on the West with Cauda and besides these fortifications of Nature it is strengthened with strong Wals of square stone with a Castle and a Cittadell There are other Townes as Keswick Wirkinton Bulnesse called anciently Blatum-Bulgium Penrith or Perith that I may passe over Villages and Castles This Shire hath 58 Parish-Churches It hath also Lakes abounding with all kinde of flying Fowles and many Rivers among which is the little River Irton in which while the gaping shell-fish receive the dew they become presently as it were great with childe and bring forth pearles which the Inhabitants when the water setleth doe seeke for There are also the Derwent Cokar Olen or Elen Eden and others all abounding with Fish Besides this Ocean which beateth on the shore doth bring forth great shoales of excellent fish and doth seeme to reproach the Inhabitants with negligence because they use fishing so lazily Heere are many Mountaines close together being full of mettall among
the South Saxons After that Caedwalla King of the West Saxons the aforesaid Edwalch being slaine and Arnaldus Governour of the Island being made away adjoyned it to his territories But see more concerning these things in Camden The Inhabitants by nature are warlike bold and forward and the Souldiers very stout In Bedes time there were thought to be in this Island a thousand and two hundred families but now it hath sixe and thirtie Townes besides Villages and Castles The chiefest Townes are New-port the chiefe Market-towne of the Island heretofore called Medena and Novus Burgus de Meden from whence the whole Countrie is divided into East-Meden and West-Meden according as it lyeth East or West Also Brading Newton Yarmouth which have their Majors and do send up their Burgesses to the Parliaments of England This Yarmouth and another also called Sharpnore have Castles which together with the Fort Worsteys doe defend the coast on the West side Over against which scarce two miles off standeth the Fort Hurst on a little tongue of ground in Hampshire Here is also the Towne Quarre where a litle Monasterie was built in the yeare 1132 for vailed Virgins or close Nunnes and Gods Hill where I. Worseley founded a Schoole for the nurture of children Here is situate Westcow and Eastcow now ruinated which Henry the eight built in the very jawes and entrance of New-port And on the East is Sandham a Castle fortified with great Ordinance as the rest are beside the fortifications of nature for it is encompassed about with ragged cliffes underneath which are hidden rocks As these two Islands lye neare to the English shoare somewhat more toward the West some Islands do appeare in the Sea neare to France and yet belong to England among which are Gerzey and Garnzey and first Gerzey called Caesarea by Antoninus lyeth neare to Normandie or the shoare of Lexobii whom our Brittaines do call Lettaw that is dwellers on the shoare or coasters this word Caesarea the Frenchmen have contracted into Gersey even as Caesaris Burgus a towne in Normandie is by them contractly called Cherburgh and Caesar Augusta a Towne in Spaine is by the Spaniards called Saraggosa Into this Island condemned men were heretofore banished for the Bishop of Lyons was banished hither Papirius Massonius calleth it the Isle of Constantine shoare because it lyeth over against the ancient citie of Constantia which Ammianus thinketh was heretofore called Castra Constantia and in former times Muritonium This Island is about 20 miles in compasse being defended by rockes and such sands as are dangerous to sea-men The earth is sufficiently fertile abounding with divers fruits and with flockes of cattell it hath many sheepe and most of them such as have foure hornes is beautified with so many greene Orchards and Gardens and those so fruitfull that the Inhabitants make a kinde of drinke of apples which they call Sisera and the English Side◠therewith but in regard they have little fuell instead of wood they use Sea weeds by them called Vraic which seemes to be that sea-grasse which Pliny mentions and they grow so plentifully on these rocks that they seeme a farre of to be thicke woods These being dryed in the Sun and after burnt for fuell they make use of the ashes for manuring their fields and making them fruitfull This Island is likewise full of Villages having twelve Parishes It is fortified with a strong Castle seated on the hill Montorguel and hee that governes it for the English is also governour of the whole Island Twentie miles hence towards the West is another Island which Antoninus named Sarnia the English at this day call it Garnsey lying from East to West in the forme of a harpe it is not to be compared either for largenesse or populusnesse with the aforesaid Gersey for it hath onely tenne Parishes Yet in this it is to be preferred before it because it hath no venemous thing in it beside it is more fortified by nature as being encompassed on every side with broken cliffes among which the Smyris an hard and rough stone is found which the English call an Emrall with which Jewellers do cut their stones and Glaziers do cut their glasse This Island also as the former hath greene Gardens and Orchards planted with divers trees whence for the most part the Inhabitants use the drinke made of apples called Cider as the Gersey people doe in regard of the convenience of an Haven and the traffique of Merchants it is more famous than Gersey For on the farthest part toward the East on the Southerne side it hath a Haven like an halfe Moone neare which is seated the Towne of Saint Peter being one long narrow streete full of warlike provision and frequented much with Merchants when warres begin in other places The entrance into the Haven is fortified on either side with Castles on the left hand is an anciēt Castle on the right hand another which they call Cornet seated on a high rock environed with the Sea The Inhabitants of either Isle are originally either Normans or Brittaines and do speake French In both Islands they use that which they call Vraic instead of fuell or pit-coales digged in England both of them have great store of fish These Islands with other adjacent and lying neare unto them did heretofore belong to Normandie but when Henry the first had overthrowne his brother Robert in the yeare of Christ 1108 he adjoyned Normandie these Islands to the Kingdome of England since which time they have continued in faithfull obedience to England although the French banishing King Iohn possessed Normandie and Henry the third sold his right in Normandie and yeelded up the possession of Aquitaine in consideration of a certaine summe of money 'T is true that the French in the raigne of Henry the fourth did hold Garnsey but by the industrie of Richard Harleston Valectus de Carona as they then called him they were driven out in reward whereof the King did conferre and bestow upon him the government of the Island and Castle And let so much suffice to have beene spoken concerning these foure Islands and also concerning England both in generall and particular NORWEY AND SVVETH-LAND The first and second Kingdome of the North part of the World BRITTAINE being described as faithfully as wee could that Northerne part of the world now followeth in our method which the Ancients did call Scandia and Scandinavia Pliny calleth it the Nurser of Nations and the receptacle of people of a great stature That part which is neerest to the farthest Northerne shore of Germanie is distinguished at this time into the three Kingdomes of Norwey Swethland and Denmarke Norwey or Norwegia commeth in the first place to be viewed The Etymologie whereof is easie to be knowne for it is so called from Nord which signifieth the North and Weg which signifies a way as if wee should say the Northway
Krimpen Out of this Nobilitie is chosen the Praefect or Master of the Court which is such an office as the Governour of the Kings House in France Hee dwelleth for the most part at Haffnia being as it were the Kings Substitute and doth dispatch matters as hee is directed by the King Next to him is the Marshall which in the time of warre and peace doth provide those things which appertaine to expedition In the third place is the Admirall which doth build new ships repaire the old and every year order the seaâ—matters for the securing of the coasts He hath under him an other Admirall appointed and in every ship a Captaine who must bee borne a Gentleman There is also the Chancellour of the Kingdome to whom out of all the Provinces and Isles they appeale and make suite unto and from whom appeale is also made to the King and the Senate of the Kingdome All the Provinces are divided into Haeret as they call them or into Dioceses under which are many Parishes heere if there be any controversies matters are first tried And from hence they appeale to the Judge of the Haeret. Afterward to the Chancellour and last of all to the King and Senatours where it hath a determinate and finall Judgement They have a written Law composed by Woldemare the first together with the Bishops and Senators which is very agreeable to the law of Nature and not much differing from the Roman Lawes and that causes and suites may sooner have an end and judgement be given and put in execution It is provided that Judges if they doe any wrong or give false judgement are condemned to lose halfe their goods whereof the King hath the one part and the injured partie the other Woldemare the first except I be deceiv'd added the Bishops to the Senators whom Christianus the third for rebellion and certaine other causes did put out againe The Kings Chancellour who for the most part followeth the King in the Court hath seven or eight Noble men adjoyned unto him as Assistants besides Secretaries and Clerkes and all businesses are dispatch'd by the King himselfe But if it be some matter of consequence as concerning peace or warre entring into league with forraine Nations or into consultation concerning the defending of their owne Territories then the King calleth a Councell of Senators Neither can the King impose any taxe upon the Kingdome or Countrie without their consent and the consent of the Nobles There is also in this Kingdome a Master of the Exchequer who collecteth and gathereth all the Revenues of the whole Kingdome both of Castles Farmes and Customes as well by Sea as by Land Hee taketh account of them enquireth into them and giveth acquittances for the receit of them Hee hath two Assistants of the Nobilitie and many Clerkes under him and for his office hath a yearely stipend or pension The third State is of the Clergie in which there are seven Bishops as the Bishop of Lunden the Bishop of Roâ—schild the Bishop of Otthon of Rip of Wiburg of Arhuse and the Bishop of Sleswich to whom the other Canonicall persons have relation These have the Tenths of the Kingdome which in divers Countries are divided in a divers manner for the Bishops have an halfe part of the Tenths and the King an halfe part the Canonists and Preachers have a part and a part is contributed toward the building and repairing of Churches And as concerning the Popes authoritie in this Kingdome as also in France the ordination of Prelates and Bishops have beene alwayes in the Kings power as may appeare by the answer of Woldemare the first King of Denmarke which heere I have annexed When the Pope required these and the like priviledges from the King it is reported that the King writ back unto him Wee have our Kingdome from our Subjects our life from our Parents our Reliligion from the Romish Church which if you will take from us I send it you by these presents And as the wise Decree of Charles the fifth is praised prohibiting Ecclesiasticall persons from buying any immoveable thing without the consent of the King so Christian the third as wisely did ordaine that the Clergie should not sell any thing without the Kings expresse commandement In other matters the Clergie-men through the whole kingdome are well provided for by Christian the third of famous memorie and many Schooles erected in many places as also two in Iseland where they have likewise a Printing-House There is but one Universitie in the whole kingdome called the Universitie of Haffen or Hafnia founded by Christerne the first by permission of Pope Sixtus in the yeare of Christ 1470 which Frederick the second although hee were seven yeares incumbred with the Swethish warres did so enrich that the yearely revenues thereof are very much The fourth State is of the Citizens and Merchants dwelling in Cities and Townes These have proper and peculiar priviledges which they enjoy besides certaine fields and woods that belong to them and these doe traffique both by Sea and Land in all parts of Europe Out of these as also out of the Countrey-people the Bishops the Canonists the Preachers and Senators of Cities the Clerkes of Bands the Lievtenants of Towres and the Masters of Ships are chosen and some of them are Masters of the Customes or Tributes lastly of these all lesser Councels of Justice doe consist one of the Nobility for the most part sitting as President The fifth State is of the Rustick or Countrey-people and there are two sorts of them the first they call Freibunden that is Free-holders These doe hold Lands of Inheritance yet paying for the same some little free-rent every yeare These doe also use merchandise and fishing They are not opprest with doing services neither doe they pay any taxes unlesse the Senators of the kingdome doe grant it as a subsidie The other sort is of those who doe not possesse goods of inheritance but doe farme them of the King the Nobles or Ecclesiasticall persons and are constrained to doe many services for their Lords in such manner as they shall covenant with their Land-lord These are the chiefe things which I thought good to declare concerning the State politick of Denmarke whereby it appeareth that the Danish Monarchie was for the most part well framed for the free election of the Kings being in the hands of the Nobilitie and yet notwithstanding out of the royall Progenie as wee said before it followeth that the Danes have no civill warres or dissentions unlesse those which are betweene such as bee of the Blood Royall which are quickly composed by the mediation and helpe of the Nobles but especially seeing the Kings younger Sonnes can have no part of the kingdome Moreover as they are all stiled but Nobles and know not the titles and names of Barons Earles and Dukes so there are none that have so much wealth and power as that reposing trust therein they dare oppose themselves against
Dropsie or Ptisicke Achilles Gassarus affirmeth that Guns were here first invented by a Monke THE THIRD TABLE OF DENMARKE Jn which are part of the Dukedome of SLESWICH and HOLSATIA SO much concerning Northerne Iutia the Southerne followeth which the Ancients did call Nordalbingia because it is seperated and parted toward the North from the rest of Germanie by the river Albis It containeth the two Dukedomes of Sleswick and Holsatia of which wee will speake in order The Dukedome of Sleswick taketh his name from the Metropolis and ancient Mart Towne of Sleswick Heretofore this Countrie was called the Dukedome of Iutia which Woldemare Nephew to Abel King of Denmark received to hold in fee of King Ericus about the yeare 1280. But the Royall Line of the Kings and Dukes being extinct and the Dukedome of Sleswick being thereby fallen to the Crowne Margaret Queen of three Kingdomes gave it to Gerard Earle of Holsatia on this condition that hee should acknowledge to hold it of the King of Denmarke The Cities which are subject to this Dukedome because they have the same priviledge with other parts of Denmarke therefore they have the same Lawes with them The Subjects may appeale from the Sentence of the Magistrates of any place to the Princes and their Senators and not farther as it is provided by their priviledges But the generall government of both these Dukedomes belongeth to the King of Denmarke and the Duke of Holsatia by turnes When it is devolved and doth fall to the King it is governed by his Substitute in his name The chiefe Towne of this Dukedome is Slesvicum commonly called Schleswick It hath its name from a German word in regard it is situated neere Slia in the Bay of the Baltick Sea for Wick signifies in the Saxon language both a Towne and a crooked winding or Bay of the Sea as Becanus hath observed in his Bookes of Gothish Danish matters Crantzius and those who have writ the Saxon Histories doe give it an other appellation besides Sleswick which is still in use with the Danes Freeslanders for they call this Towne in their language Heidebui or Heideba because they say it was first built by a certaine Queene of Denmarke whose name was Heth. It hath a convenient situation for traffick and a convenient Haven for commerce and trading Not farre from this Towne is seated the Castle Gotorpi Heere is a famous Custome or Toll for it hath beene observed that in plentifull yeares fifty thousand Oxen being driven out of Denmarke into Germanie have heere beene paid toll for There is also in this Dukedome Flensburg a famous Towne lying among the high Mountaines neere the shore of the Easterne Sea It HOLSATIA THE THIRD TABLE OF NORWEY hath a Haven so convenient deepe and safe that many of the Citizens may loade and unloade ships even at their owne doores And heere are the Townes Husenum or Hussum and Haderslebia This Dukedome hath onely one Bishoprick two Chapters three Monasteries and divers Castles belonging to the Prince and his Nobles The order of Senators whereof I have heretofore made mention doth consist of the number of 24 persons of the Gentry to whom is joyned a generall Chancellour and two Doctors of the Law The Dukedome of HOLSATIA SOme doe suppose that Holsatia was so called from the many Woods and Forrests which are in it for the Cimbrians and Low Germans doe call a wood holt and some doe derive the Etymologie of the word from a hollow stone because the Dukes of Holsatia were formerly called Dukes of the hollow Stone It is bounded on the East with the River Bilena on the West with Stora or Steur on the South with Albis and on the North with Eider The Countrie it selfe is woody and full of Forrests whence they have such store of fuell that they are able to supplie Freesland with wood when they themselves also doe keepe great fires But although their woods are very spatious so that they seeme to have no end yet they seldome have any great Oakes in them but are full of Beech-trees with whose waste an innumerable sort of Hogges are fatted The Land for the most part doth afford them every three yeares great store of fishing and a very rich and plentifull harvest For three yeares together it is tilled sow'd and mow'd and three yeares afterward the Lakes are let in to feede the fish and grasse thereby a certaine fat and slimie matter is brought in which doth fertilize the fields This place beares neither Vines nor Olives but there is much hunting of wilde beasts And this Countrie doth breede a great number of horses Holsatia is divided into foure parts Dithmarsh Holsatia Stormaria and Wagria These were heretofore Counties and afterward chang'd into a Dukedome by Frederick the third Emperour at the suite and request of Christierne the first who now is charged to maintaine 40 horsemen and fourescore foot for the use of the Roman Empire Dithmarsh at the first enjoy'd freedome and libertie for some hundred yeares and albeit it were granted by the Emperour Frederick to Christierne the first in fee yet it was not at that time subjected Afterward his Sonnes King Iohn and Duke Frederick did undertake to make an expedition against it in the yeare of our Lord 1500 but the Dithmarsians having overthrowne their Armie defended their owne libertie untill they were conquer'd overcome by the Nephews of Christierne the first namely Duke Iohn Adolphus and Frederick the second King of Denmarke in the yeare of our Lord 1559. In Holsatia are these Cities first Segeberg in Wagria a Countrie of Holsatia 16 miles from Lubeck 2 Itzohoa a faire Towne in regard of the nature and situation of the place and the resort of ships unto it 3 Stormaria is encompassed and as it were embraced in the armes of a fishie and navigable River which arising in the inner parts of Holsatia doth wash the wals of certaine Townes and the noble Ranzovian House of Bredenberg and afterward doth discharge it selfe into the River Albis Heere is in this Countrie Chilonium commonly called Kile which is an ancient Towne and hath a large Haven in which to the great commoditie of the Holsatians divers sorts of merchandize are brought out of Germanie Livonia Denmarke and Swethland Also Krempe and Reinholdsburg or Rensburg the former taketh his name from the River gliding by it the later from the first builder Here are moreover Meldorp Heiningsted or Henste and Tellingsted in Dithmars and Hamburg the Metropolis of Stormaria a renowned Mart-Towne neere the River Albis which after many devastations and calamities suffered in the warres was at last reedified and in the time of Henry the fourth Emperour it began to be encompassed with wals and to be beautified with three Gates and twelve watch-towres In this Citie Albertus Crantzius an eloquent and true Historian lived and was buried This Countrie is full of Lakes and especially Dithmars
Glessaria There are many kindes of it the white hath the best smell which was cheape at the first the next are the yellow and waxe-colour the yellow is the best of all having a translucent shining colour like flames of fire There is some which is as soft as boyled or decocted Honey and therefore is called Honey-Amber there is much used of this Amber in many things being heated with rubbing it draweth unto it chaffe and drie leaves as the Load-stone doth Iron Borussia hath also woods which were never cut whence great store of wood is carryed away for the building of shippes and houses they have streight trees to make Mastes for Shippes which are carried from thence into farre Countries and lastly they have other riches of their owne from which the Inhabitants receive great profit as Bees and wilde Beasts of which wee spoke before The Country is divided at this day into Russia Regis and Russia Ducalis The King of Poland doth immediatly possesse either banke of the River Vistula even to the mouth therof Also the Island which is enclosed with Vistula and Nogo the Towns and Castles to the new Bay as Elbing Tolkenit Frawenberg and Brunsberg even to the mouth of Passaria and the whole Diocese of Warmia being large toward the South and adorned with Townes and fields hanging like a Bladder in the middle part of Borussia But although Borussia be immediatly subject to the King and is but one Kingdome with Poland yet it hath a publike Councell Lawes and Judgements an Exchequer and the management of warres peculiar to it selfe There are two Bishops in it one of Warmia who hath his residence at Brunsburg and the other at Culmes There are three Palatines as the Palatine of Culmes of Marienburg and of Pomeran Three Castles as the Castle of Culmes Elbing and Gedane commonly called Dantzick and so many Under-chamberlaines There are three chiefe and prime Cities Turuma Elbing Dantzick These assemble themselves together to deliberate and give Judgement in matters of controversie twice every yeare in the moneth of May at Margenburg and at Michaelmas at Graudents There are eighteene Captaines or Prefects of the Kings Castles and revenues As in the Palatinate of Marienburg the Captaine of Stuma Gneva Meva Stargardia In Pomeran the Captaine of Slochovia above Tuchol neare the River Bro the Captaine of Sueza Tuchol Dernias and Puske In the Palatinate of Culmes the Captaines of Brodnicke Graudents Radine or Reden Colba Rogosna Rogenhausen and three others The Dukedome of Borussia belonged heretofore to the Germane Order or the order of the Crosse being converted into an hereditary Dukedome by Albert of Brandenburg Master of the Order and being rent away from the Germane Empire it came into the protection and obedience of the King of Poland in the yeare 1525. The Prince thereof taking his place in all Counsells meetings and assemblies next to the King If any contention arise betweene the King and the Duke it is decided at Marienburg or Elbing by the Kings Counsell who are sworne by a new oath to Judge rightly But the Nobles or others having an action against the Duke doe commence it before the Dukes Vassalls being deputed and appointed by the Duke to give judgement and from them an appeale is permitted to the Kings and the Dukes Counsell residing at Martenburg Every one ought there to be called into judgement where his goods are or where hee dwelleth neither can he be compelled to stand to forraine tryalls and so be kept from his right The Judges are so placed in the Provinces that out of three named by every Province the Duke chuseth one to judge according to the Law of Culmes and the Institutions of the Province But if the Duke doe any thing against then Priviledges Lawes or customes and upon suite made doe not heare their grievances it is in the choice of the chiefe men in the Province without being thought to be rebellious and seditious to flie unto the protection of the Kings Majestie of Poland and by the vertue of some covenants and agreements betweene the King and the Duke may request him to defend their Priviledges There are in the Dukedome of Borussia two Bishops one of Sambia who hath his residence at Kings Mount commonly called Konningsperg the other of Pomesania whose seat is at Marienwender and these have all Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction in their owne power Concerning the Religion and Rites of the ancient Borussians Meletius telleth wonderfull things in his tenth Epistle to Georgius Sabinus They worshipped Divells saith he instead of Gods and now also in many places doe secretly worship them They Religiously worshipped severall uncleane creatures namely Serpents and Snakes as if they had beene the servants and messengers of the Gods for these they kept within their houses and sacrific'd unto them as unto their houshold Gods They held that the Gods did dwell in Woods and Groves and that they were to please them by sacrificing unto them in those places and to pray unto them to send them raine or faire weather They held that all wilde Beasts especially the Alces living in these Woods were to be reverenced as the servants of the Gods and therefore they were to abstain from injuring of them They beleeved that the Sunne and Moone were the chiefest of all the Gods They did worship Thunder and Lightning according to the opinion of the Heathens and were of opinion that they might by prayers raise or calme stormes and tempests They used a Goate for their sacrifice in regard of the generative and fruitfull nature of that creature They said that the Gods did inhabite in excellent faire trees as Oakes and the like wherefore they would not cut downe such trees but did religiously worship them as the houses and seates of the Gods In such account also was the Elder tree and many others They were heretofore barbarous ignorant of Learning so that they would have thought it an incredible thing if any one should have told them that men could make knowne their mindes one to another by the sending of letters But of these things enough hee that desireth to know more let him have recourse to Erasmus Stella his antiquities of Borussia in his second booke thereof LIVONIA OR LIEFLAND IN my method Livonia or Levonia commonly called Liefland doth follow concerning the originall of whose name I dare affirme no certainty But Althamerus writeth thus of it It may be saith hee that the Livonians the farthest people of Germanie toward the Venedick shore dwelling under the Parallel of the Island Scandinavia which is called Gothland were derived from the Lemovians but I had rather derive them from the Efflui for that they are commonly called Eyslenders Ptolemie also mentioneth the Levonians in his second Booke cap. 11. And a litle after speaking of the Aestii hee saith that Beatus Rhenanus did correct the corrupt reading of Tacitus and did againe rightly set downe the Nation
of the Aestii In as much as Rhenanus saith it did appeare that it was in the first copie Aestui in stead of Aestii the ancient Writers of Bookes putting U for I. And Althamerus saith if it were in the ancient copie the Efflui hee durst affirme that the Eyslanders were so called from them by a litle alteration of the word These people also are called Sudini and their Countrie Sudina joyning to Prussia Some doe place the Lectunni hereabouts from whom it may be that their name was derived Livonia is stretched toward the Balthick Sea or the Venedick Bay being 500 miles in length and 160 in breadth Borussia Lithuania and Russia doe encompasse most part of it the rest the Livonian Bay doth hemme in The Countrie is plaine and very fertile it bringeth forth corne in such abundance that in deare times and yeares of scarcity it supplieth the wants of other Countries It aboundeth also with the best flaxe and breedeth store of cattell Besides there are in the woods of this Countrie many Beares Alces Foxes Leopards Cats of the mountaines and here are many Hares which according to the season of the yeare doe change their colour in like manner as they doe in Helvetia upon the Alpes in the Winter they are white in Summer of an Ash colour And heere is such plentifull hunting of wild beasts that the Countrie people though they be cruelly used by the Nobles are not prohibited from it In briefe Livonia wanteth none of those things which are necessarie for the preservation and sustentation of mans life except wine oyle and some other things granted by the divine bountie to other Countries as being under a more warme and gentle Climate which yet are brought hither in great abundance Livonia being Anno 1200 by the industrie and labour of the Merchants of Bremes and especially by the Knights of the Dutch order brought and converted to the Christian Faith when it had a long time suffered the miseries of forreine and civill warres and had beene made as it were a prey to the neighbour Kings and Princes at length in the yeare 1559 being under Gothardus Keâ—lerus the last Governour of the Dutch Oder it was received into the protection and government of Sigismundus the King of Poland as a member of his Kingdome and of the great Dukedome of Lithuania But Gothardus resigning his Order on the fifth day of March Anno 1562 in the Castle of Riga before Nicholas Radziwilus the King of Polands Commissarie and Palatine of Vilna as first the Crosse afterward the Seale then his Letters Patents and all Charters which the Order had received from the Emperours and Popes besides the keyes of the Castle of Riga and of the gates of the Citie the office of Commendator the priviledge and power of coyning money the custome of fish and all other rights belonging to him hee was presently proclaimed by the aforesaid Palatine in the Kings Majesties name Duke of Curland and Semigallia and straightway the Nobilitie of Curland and Semigallia did take their oath of allegeance before him as to their lawfull and hereditary Lord. The next day the Duke of Curland sitting in estate was proclaimed in the Court of Riga Governour of Livonia and received the keyes of the castle and the gates of the Citie after which the Nobility and the Citizens had all their rights and priviledges restored and confirmed unto them Livonia is divided into three parts distinguished both by situation and language namely into Estia Lettea and Curlandia The Provinces of Estia or Eastland are Harria or Harland the chiefe Citie whereof is Revalia or Revel being situated toward the North neere unto the Balthick Sea and nothing inferiour unto Riga it was built by Voldemata and hath a famous Haven The Citizens use the Lubeck Law and doe coyne foure-square money Also the Province of Viria Virland or Wirland in which are Weisenburg Tolsberg and Borcholm the Seate of the Bishop of Revalia In the third place is Allantika where is the Towne Nerva or Nerve by a River of the same name over against which is the Castle called Ivanow Gorod belonging to the Moscovites for the river that runnes between these townes doth part Livonia from Moscovia also Nyschlot or Neuschlos In the fourth place is Odenpoa in which is Derpt or Topatum an Episcopall Citie Wernebes Helmet and Ringen In the fifth place is Iervia or Ierven in which are Weâ—ssenslein Lais Overpolen or Ober Paln and Vellin or Fellin In the sixth place is Wichia or Wicke wherein is Abseel or Hapsel Leal Lode and Pernaw Neere to the Estians lye the Islands Osilia or Osel Dageden or Dachden Mona Wormse or Worist Wrangen Kien and many others in which they use partly the Estian language and partly the Swedish The Cities of Lettea or Letten are Riga Kokenhusen Wenden and Wolmar Riga is the chiefe citie of Livonia neere the River Duina which doth discharge it selfe into the Venedick Bay This citie is fortified with a strong Wall with strong Towres and pieces of Ordnance against any assault and is strengthned or fenced with double ditches and sharpe stakes round about it It hath a Castle well provided in which heretofore the Governour of Livonia being of the Teutonick or Dutch Order kept his residence and this Castle though Gothardus Ketlerus aforesaid did governe in the King of Polands right yet hee did usurpe no authoritie over the Citie for the Citizens being strong and defenders of their libertie cannot endure to have any Governour or Captaine over them They doe onely pay tribute and yeeld obedience LIVONIA OR LIEFLAND LIVONIA to the King of Poland in other things they have Lawes peculiar to themselves Besides heere is a Market of all Northerne commodities as of Pitch Hemp Waxe Timber and such other things The Townes and Castles of Curland are Goldingen Candaw Windaw which the Polanders call Kies and the Germans Wenden this Towne was famous heretofore for that the Master of the Teutonick Order did keepe his Court heere Parliaments were here wont to be held now it is defended by a Garrison of Polanders There are also the Cities Durbin Srunden Grubin Pilten Ambâ—tâ—n and Haseâ—â—ot The Cities of Semigallia are Mitovia commonly called Mitaw where the Duke of Curland kept his Court also Seleburg â—aâ—â—â—burg Doblin and Dalem The River Duina doth divide Semiâ—allia and Curland from Lettea and the rest of Livonia In Livonia there are many Lakes the chiefest is Beibus which is 45 miles long and doth abound with divers kindes of fish The Rivers are Duina Winda Beca and some others Duina or Duna which Ptolemie cals Turuntus and Peâ—cerus Rubo running out of Russia a great way through Lithuania and Livonia at length eight miles below Regia powreth it selfe into the â—avorick Bay and the Balthick Sea Winda in like manner dischargeth it selfe into the Balthick Sea which neere unto the mouth thereof is very deepe and dangerous The River Beca
third Palatinate is the Minscensian wherein is the Citie Minsko and the Castle â—â—â—lanaw also Radoscowice Borissow Lawisko or Liwsko Swisloâ—z Bobreisko and Odruck The fourth Palatinate is the Novogrodian in which is Novogrodeck a large Citie and built of wood also Slonim Wolkowiâ—z and many other Townes The fift Palatinate is the Briestian so called from the Citie Briesti being large and built of wood and here is the Citie of Pinsko The sixt is the Palatinate of Volhinia in which is Luezko the Seate of a Bishop also Voladamire and Kerzemenesia The seventh Palatinate is Kiovia in which there was heretofore a large and ancient Citie of the same name seated by the River Boristhenes as the ruines which lie sixe miles in length doe easily demonstrate There are also the Townes Circasia or Kerkew Kamova and Moser The eighth is the Palatinate of Miceslow neare to the Rivers Sosa and Borysthenes in the borders of Moscovie wherein are the Townes of Miceslaw Dubrowna 〈◊〉 and Sklow beside Mohilow Byâ—how â—â—czycza and Strissin with their Castles The ninth Palatinate is the Witebscian in which is the Citie Witebsk situated by the River Duna and Orsa neare Borysthenes The tenth Palatinate is the Polocensian which is so called from Poloteska a Citie lying neare to the confluence of the River Polota and Duna betweene Witsbek and Livonia There are also the Townes Disna Drissa and Drâ—â—â—a with their Castles These things being explained let us speake something of the Rivers of Lithuania On the East side Lithuania is bounded with the Rivers Oscol Ingra and the lesser Tanais all which with many others doe runne into great Tanais There is also in Lithuania the River Borysthenes which arising out of a plaine marish ground and running through Russia doth vent it selfe at last into the Euxine Sea and the Rivers Wilia and Niemen the latter whereof runneth a great way with a very crooked winding streame and at last disburthens it selfe into the Prutenick or Finnish Sea also Duina and other Rivers beside Lakes and standing waters of which the Country is full and all these do afford great plenty of fish which are very delectable pleasant in taste Moreover the Country is covered with very great and spacious woods Sigismund that happie and auspicious King of Poland did unite the Palatines and Castellans of the Provinces of Lithuania into one body of a Common-wealth with the Polanders and did designe a certaine place and order in the Senate of the Kingdome to all the Noble men Bishops and Palatines of this Country so that out of the Kingdome of Poland and the Provinces united unto it there are in the Senate fifteene Bishops one and thirty Palatines thirty of the greater Castellans or governours of Castles and fiftie of the lesse beside those who are called the Officials of the Kingdome as the Marshalls the Chancellours the Vicechancellors and the Treasurers of which wee will speake more largely in the description of Poland Marriages amongst the Lithuanians are easily dissolved by mutuall consent and they marry againe and againe The wives have openly men-concubines by their husbands permission whom they call connubij adjutores i. helpers in marriage but on the contrary for men to follow whores is counted a reproach When any one is condemned to die he is commanded to punish himselfe and to hang himselfe with his owne hands which if he refuse to doe hee is threatned and beaten with stripes untill he kill himselfe Their flockes doe afford them great store of milke for their food The common bread which they use is very blacke being made of Rye or Barley together with the branne but the rich mens bread is very white being baked and made of pure Wheat They seldome use any wine for the common people drinke water and such as are of abilitie drinke Ale which they brew of divers sorts of corne as Wheat Rye Barley Oates and Millet but such as is unsavory They have abundance of thicke and thinne Mede boyled in divers manners and with it they make themselves merrie and oftentimes drunke Lithuania seemeth almost to be inaccessible as being almost all overflowne with waters but in Winter there is more convenient trafficking with the Inhabitants and the wayes are made passable for Merchants the Lakes and standing waters being frozen over with yee and spread over with snow Their chiefe wealth is the skins of beasts as of Weesills Foxes and those which are more precious as Martens and Scythian Weesills Of these they make a great profit as also of their Waxe Honey Ashes and Pitch The best Wainscot is cut here and brought into Germany through the Balthick and Germane Sea and out of this Country all woodden Architecture both publique and private through all Germany and the Low countries is made as also for the most part such woodden housholdstuffe as belongeth to houses but enough of Luthuania we will now adde something concerning the rest There followes in our Title Samogitia which in their language signifies the Lower land the Russians call it Samotzekasemla it is a Northerne Country and very large being next to Lithuania and environed with Woods and Rivers On the North it hath Livonia on the West it is washed with the Balthick or Germane Sea which is properly called the Balthick Bay and towards the Northwest Borussia joyneth unto it It aboundeth with the best whitest and purest Honey which is found in every hollow tree It hath no Towne nor Castle the Nobles live in Lodges the Country people in Cottages The people of this Country are of a great and large stature rude in behaviour living sparingly drinking water and seldome any drinke or Mede they knew not untill of late the use of Gold Brasse Iron or Wine It was lawfull with them for one man to have many wives and their father being dead to marrie their step-mother or the brother being dead to marrie his wife The Nation is much enclined to Fortune telling and Southsaying The God which they chiefly adored in Samogitia was the fire which they thought to be holy and everlasting and therefore on the top of some high mountaine the Priest did continually cherish and keepe it in by putting wood unto it In the third place is Russia by which name in this place wee understand the Southerne or Blacke-Russia whose chiefe Country is Leopolis or Lemburg built by Leo a Moscovite it is famous by reason of the Mart kept there and the Bishops Seat Beside the Country of Leopolis there are three other in this Russia to wit the Country of Halycz Belz and Praemislia In the fourth place is Volhinia which is situate betweene Lithuania Podolia and Russia it aboundeth with fruits in regard of the fertility of the soile The Inhabitants are strong and warlike and doe use the Ruthenian language This Country did pertaine once to the great Duke of Lithuania but now it is joyned to the Kingdome
Dominions neare the Sea This Chersonesus hath hard and rugged mountaines that running through the middle of it do divide it into the Northerne and Southerne part as the Apennine Mountaine doth divide Italie Mahomet in the yeare 1475 did possesse the Southerne part and made it tributarie to himselfe But in the Northerne part the Tartars wandering in the broad fields betweene Borysthenes and Tanais and continually changing their places of feeding their cattell possessed the Towne called Crim as a royall Seat and from thence they were called Crim Tartars Afterward having cut through the Isthmus of the Taurick Chersonesus when neare unto the Ditch which they call Praecop they built a Citie a royall Seat of the same name they were from thence called Praecopenses The King of these Tartars when being joyned in league and societie with the Turkes hee had at their request banisht his owne brother who made warre against him and had besieged Capha at last both himselfe and his two yong sonnes were cut in pieces by his Counsellers whom hee had with large gifts corrupted for the aforesaid purpose and so gave an unhappie example of the Ottoman friendship For hee being slaine the Tartarians who were hitherto free untamed and companions and brethren to Ottoman were now made servants and after the manner of the other Turkish Provinces were compelled to receive and acknowledge not a King but a Beglerbeg that is a Vice-Roy to governe TAVRICA CHERSONESVS Taurica Chersonesus them But the Turkish Empire may be easily known by the Descriptions of Wallachia Greece and the Turkish Empire and therefore for brevities sake wee referre the Reader thither Besides Cazan and Astrachan which are Kingdomes belonging to the Tartarians who do till fields dwell in houses and at this day are subject to the Moscovite and besides the aforesaid Praecopenses there are other Field Tartars who live in the fields in great companies obseruing no limits and of these we will speake in their proper place to wit in the Tables of Asia In the Southerne part of this Chersonesus is the Metropolis Capha heretofore called Theodosia a famous Mart-towne being the ancient Colonie of the Genois It is situate neare the Sea And hath a faire Haven It seemes that in the time of the Genois it was very populous But when the Turkes almost two hundred yeares since in the time of Mahomet the Great tooke it from them the Italians were reduced to such a strait that there are few tokens remaining of their being there for the Citie hath for the most part lost her former beautie The Italian Churches are throwne downe the houses decayed and the walls and Towers on which the Genois colours and ensignes were placed with Latine Inscriptions are fallen to ruine It is now inhabited by Turkes Armenians Iewes Italians and a few Grecian Christians It is famous for traffique as being the chiefe Haven of the Chersonesus and hath an infinite companie of Vine-yards Orchards and Gardens Besides this towne there is Perecopia called by the ancient Greekes Eupatoria Pompeiopolis Sacer Lucus Dromon Achillis Graecida Heraclium or Heraclia Also Cosâ—ovia a famous Mart-towne and Iâ—germenum having a stone Castle beneath which is a Church and many Caves that with great labour and paines are cut and hewed out of a rocke for this towne is seated on a great high Mountaine and taketh its name from those Turkish Caves It was heretofore a faire Towne and full of wealth and riches Here is Chersonesus Corsunum or Cherso which is the ancientest citie of Taurica This the Turkes called Saci Germenum as it were the Yellow Castle for this Countrie hath a kinde of yellow soyle The admirable and wondrous mines of this place do testifie that it was heretofore a proud rich delicate and famous Colonie of the Grecians and the most ancient citie of the whole Peninsula being much frequented magnificent and having a faire Haven Here is the Castle and Towne of Iamboli or Balachium Mancopia or Mangutum as the Turkes call it and the Towne of Cercum with a Castle Here is the citie and castle of Cremum which the Tartars call Crim having an ancient wall very strong high and in regard of its largenesse it is farre unlike the other cities of the Taurick Chersonesus And in the utmost part of this Countrie is the citie Tanas neare the mouth of the River Tanais the Russians call it Azac It is a famous Mart-towne unto which Merchants do come out of divers parts of the world for that every one hath here free accesse and free power to buy or sell There are many great Rivers in this Countrie running downe out of the Mountaines The chiefest whereof is Borysthenes commonly called Nieper a deepe and swift River which runneth from the North into the river Carcinites or Hypaciris now called Desna and so into the Euxine Sea neare the Towne Oczacow Also Don or Tanais Ariel Samar that runneth into Don with many others The Cimmerian Bosphorus to which this Chersonesus as we said before is extended It is a narrow Sea two miles broad which divideth Europe from Asia and by which the Maeoticke Lake doth â—low into the Euxine Sea It is called from the Cimmerians who dwell upon the coldest part thereof or froÌ„ the towne Cimmerium as Volaterranus would have it The Maeotick Lake is neare the mouth of Phasis commonly called Fasso and by the Scythians Phazzeth receiving Tanais into it The Scythians call it Temerenda that is the mother of the Sea as Dionysius witnesseth because much water floweth from thence through the Cimmerian Bosphorus into it as also much from other places which doth so replenish and fill the Lake that the bankes thereof can hardly containe it This Lake in regard it receiveth many rivers aboundeth with fish There is also the Euxine Sea the upper part of whose water is sweete and the nether part salt This being heretofore called the Axine and according to Sophocles the Apoxine Sea because no Ships could arrive here or in regard of the barbarous Scythian borderers who killed strangers they afterward called the Euxine by the figure which they call Euphemismus But they called it Pontus as if it were another Ocean for they supposed that those who sailed on it did performe some great and memorable act And therefore saith Strabo they called it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pontus as they called Homer the Poet. There are many rugged and steepe mountaines in this Chersonesus especially those which runne through the middle thereof The greatest and highest of them hath a great Lake on the toppe of it But so much hitherto concerning these things Now let us proceed to other matters Justice is administred among the Tartarians by the Law of Mahomet in the Cities and Townes of the Chan and the other Sultanes They have their Priests their Judges in their Townes and their Begi or Praefects who do heare and decide private injuries But the Chan himselfe with his
Portugall this Kingdome of Algarbia which is the least and unnoted'st Kingdome of all Spaine There are carried hither out of divers parts of Spaine downe the River Anas all sorts of Wines Sacks Bastards Roman Wine and others of the like sorts which being shipped are transported into France the Low-Countries and other parts It hath in it the Townes of Balsa so called by Ptolemie Plinie Antoninus and Pomponius Mela but now Tavila as Coquus supposeth and Ossonoba so called by Plinie Antoninus it is called also by Pliny Lusturia by Ptolemy Ossonaba by Pinetus Gibraleon by Clusius Exuba by Varrerius Estombar as also by Moralis and it is thought to bee the same which is now called Silvis or Selves There was also in the same place neere the Holy Promontory the Citie which Pomponius calleth Lacobriga the ruines whereof are yet to be seene neere the Sea-Towne Lagos at a Village which is called in the Portugall language Lagoa as Vasaeus writeth Algarbia at the first was given in dowry by Alphonsus the 10 King of Legio or Leon as ancient Annals doe report unto Alphonsus the third King of Portugall when hee married his daughter Beatrice which hee begate on a whore Dionysius was derived from this marriage who first of all began to usurpe the title of King of Algarbia But thus much shall suffice concerning Portugall Algarbia I passe to the other parts of Spaine GALLICIA LEON AND ASTVRIA DE OVIEDO GALLICIA which is also written Galecia or Gallaecia and taketh its name from an ancient people called Callaâ—â—i hath on the North and West the Ocean on the South Portugall with the River Durius flowing betweene them and on the East Asturia This Countrie in regard it hath many rugged mountaines and wanteth water is but thinly inhabited It aboundeth so with Horses that they are supposed to be begotten by the winde Pliny noteth that here are rich mines of Gold Niger writeth that the rivers hereof do bring downe earth mingled with gold silver and tinne and that the soyle it selfe is full of gold brasse and lead so that golden clods are oftentimes ploughed up The mountaines afford great store of wood for building of ships Gallicia doth exceedingly abound with fish especially with Salmons Congers a kinde of fish which they call Pescades and many other daintie fishes which being salted are carried into divers parts of Spaine In the moneth of November and December a great number of those fish are taken which they commonly call Vesugos being two or three pound weight they are carried fresh and sweete into Castile and are sold there for the cold doth easily preserve them they have an excellent taste yet those are best tasted which are taken in the Ocean and not in the Meditterranean Sea For the coldnes of the Ocean doth fatten the fish and therefore those which are taken most Northward are the best The most part of the Inhabitants doe live in mountaines on which they build convenient houses Concerning the name and originall of the Callaicians let the Reader have recourse to Iohannes Bishop of Gerunda Lib. 2 Paralipomenorum Hispaniae Roderieus Toletanus Lib. 10. de rebus Hispanicis cap. 4. and others The Metropolis of Gallicia is Compostella where is worshipped S. Iames the Apostle who together with the Universitie making the Citie famous giveth unto it the name of S. Iago it was heretofore called Briantia as Franciscus â—arapha Ambrosius Moralis and Villanovanus do thinke Orosius calleth it Brigantia who saith that there is in it a very high watch-towre Ptolemie calleth it Flavium Brigantum Beuterus Câ—qâ—us and Iohannes Mariana do call it Betancos Florianus and Gomectus call it Coruna and Iohannes Bishop of Gerunda Lib. 1. calleth it Compostella saying it was so called quasi Compos Stella for so the evening starre was called which maketh these countries wholsome There is extant at Salamantica in the Library of the Colledge of our Saviour the Historie of Compostella the growth and increase of the Church of Compostella described in two volumes written by the command of Didacus the first Archbishop thereof concerning which you may also read Lucius Marineus Siculus in his fift Booke and in GALLICIA LEGIO GALLICIA Chapter concerning religious houses in Spaine and the wonderfull miracles done therein The Lesser Townes are Orensium a Citie neare the River Minius and called by Ptolemie Thermae Calidae as Gomecius thinketh in the life of Franciscus Zimenius where hee addeth that the Swedish people of Germany who heretofore did subdue these parts in their native language did call it Warense though Ortelius saith it should rather be written Warmsee which signifies the Warme Lake Also a Town called in Latine Lucus and by the Inhabitants Lugo Pomponius calleth it Turris Augusti Pliny Aresti and Arae Sextianae and Ptolemie Promontonum Arae Sestii neare to the Cantabricke Ocean in Artabria Also Pons vetus Ponte Vedra and Ribalaeum commonly called Ribadeo Other towns Marinaeus Siculus mentions in the beginning of his third Booke Gallicia got the title of a Kingdome a thousand and sixtie yeares after Christ For that yeare Ferdinand the sonne of Sanctius Major King of Navarre being King of Castile when hee had married Sanctia the daughter of Alphonsus the fift and so united the Kingdome of Castile and Legio having three sonnes hee made by his will Sanctius King of Castile Alphonsus King of Legion and Asturia and Garcia King of Gallicia which hee enjoying in the right of his wife was till then but an Earledome and Portugall Sanctius being not content with this division which his father made thrust his brother Alphonsus out of his Kingdome and slew Garcia his other brother Now when Sanctius had ruled about sixe yeares and was at last beheaded by Vellidus through trecherie Alphonsus who lived as a banisht man with the King of the Moores at Toledo did not onely recover the Kingdome of Legio which his father gave him by Will but also got the Kingdome of Castile Gallicia and Portugall Alphonsus had three children lawfully begot on three wives by Isabell Queen of France hee had Sanctia who was married to the Earle Rodoricke who brought new Colonies into the Citie which is commonly called Ciudad-Rodrigo by Zaida a Moore daughter to the King of Sevill he had Sanctius who was slaine in a battell against the Saracens and lastly by Constantia he had Vrraca who out living Sanctius and Sanctia who dyed without issue after shee had beene wife to Raimundus Berengarius Earle of Tolosa married Alphonsus King of Aragon and had an heire by him who was afterward Alphonsus the seventh the most powerfull King of all his predecessours and one that deserved to be called Emperour of Spaine From that time Gallicia Castile and Legio have alwaies but one King Neare to Legio bounding thereon on the North is Asturia on the West Gallicia and on the South and East old Castile It taketh its name from the seventh German Legion which was seated
and placed here under the command of the Emperour Nerva as some suppose The Metropolis hereof is that famous Citie which taketh its name from the Countrie and is called by Ptolemie Legio septima Germanica Antoninus calleth it Legio Gemina but it is now commonly called Leon which name I cannot see why Franciscus Tarapha should rather derive from Leonigildus King of the Gothes than from the Legion it selfe Moralis doth deliver also that it was heretofore called Sublantia and writeth that some evidences of that name are extant in a place but a little distant from Legio called Sollanco L. Marinaeus Siculus writeth thus concerning the Church of Legio in his third Booke of Spaine Although the Church which the Citie of Hispalis hath built in our age doth exceed all the rest for greatnesse although the Church of Toledo surpasse the rest for treasure ornaments and glasse windowes and the Church of Compostella for strong building for the miracles of Saint Iames other things yet the Church of Legio in my judgement is to be preferred before them all for admirable structure and building which hath a Chappell joyning to it in which lye buried seven and thirtie Kings and one Emperour of Spaine It is worthy of memorie that this Citie was the first from which about the yeare 716. the recoverie of Spaine which formerly the Moores and Saracens almost wholly possessed was begun For as also Rodericus Toletanus in his sixt Booke of Spanish matters for many Chapters together and Roderick Sanctius in the first part of his Spanish Historie cap. 11. do relate Pelagius the sonne of Fafila Duke of Cantabria and descended of the royall blood of the Gothes being made King by the remainder of the Christians who fled into the mountaines made a great slaughter on the Moores and being scarcely entred into his Kingdome tooke Legio from the enemies This man afterwards making it the Seate of his Principalitie built a new Castle there as a Fort and defence against the violence of their incursions And laying aside the armes of the Kings of the Gothes gave the Lion Rampant Gules in a field Argent which the Kings of Legio do use at this day Fafila the sonne of Pelagius succeeded him in the Kingdome and he dying issuelesse there succeeded him Alphonsus Catholicus the sonne of Peter Duke of Cantabria being descended from the stocke of Ricaredus Catholick King of the Gothes who married Ormisenda the onely sister and heire of Fafila The government of Legion remained in the hands of Alphonsus his familie even to Veremundus the 24 King of Legio who dying in the yeare 1020. without a Successour his sister Sanctia married Ferdinando of Navarre King of Castile and brought the Kingdome of Legio to be joyned and united to his kingdome Asturia hath on the North the Ocean on the East Biscay on the South old Castile and on the West Gallicia It produceth and bringeth forth gold divers sorts of colours otherwise it is but little tilled and thinly inhabited except it be in those places which are next to the Sea Here was the Seat of the ancient Astures who were so called as Isidore writeth lib. 9. Etymolog cap. 2. from the River Asturia whereof Florus maketh mention in the fourth Book of his Roman Histories and others From whom Ptolemie calls the Countrie it selfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Latines Asturia as also Astyria as is evident by what I have read in ancient marbles At Rome in the pavement of the Chappell which is in the Temple of Saint Gregorie in the mountaine Caelius there is a broken marble-table engraved with these words Acontit L. Ranio Optato V. C. Cos Curatori Reip. Mediolanensium Curat Reip. Nolanorum Procos Provincia Narbonensium Legato Aug. Et Iuridico Astyriae Et. Galaecia Curatori Viae Salariae c. Moreover I see it called Asturica in a marble-Table which is at Rome beyond Tiber in a private Roman-citizens house I will set downe the words in the Description of Italie where I shall speake of the Alpes joyning to the Sea And it is called at this day Asturias Pliny lib. 3. cap. 3. doth divide the Astures into the Augustini and Transmontani The one being on the hither side of the mountaines toward the South and the other beyond the mountaines Northward neare the Ocean Concerning the Astures Silius the Italian Poet writeth thus lib. 1. Astur avarus Visceribus lacerae Telluris mergitur imis Et redit infelix effosso concolor Auro The covetous Asturian will goe Into the bowels of the earth below Whence he returnes in colour like gold Oare Which hee unhappily digg'd up before The Metropolis of the Province is Oviedo of which Rodericus Toletanus writeth much lib. 4. de rebus Hisp cap. 14. where among other things he giveth the reason wherefore it was called the Bishops Citie Here is also Astorga called anciently Asturica Augusta and some other small Townes BISCAY GVIPVSCOA NAVARRE and Asturia de Santillana BISCAY as Iohannes Bishop of Gerunda affirmeth taketh its name from the Bastuli the ancient Inhabitants of Baetica for they comming from Lybia into that part of Spaine which is called Baetica and being beaten and expulsed thence by the Moores they fled into the Mountaines of Galaecia and so building themselves houses the whole Countrie was called from that time Bastulia which is now called Biscay Some doe call Biscay Viscaia which word hath some affinity with the name of the Vascones Biscay is a Countrie of Spaine lying neere the Ocean and very full of hils out of which arise 150 Rivers It hath a more temperate Climate than other parts of Spaine For being environ'd with great Mountaines it is not troubled with too much cold nor burnt with too much heate The Countrie is full of trees fit for the building of Ships which not onely Spaine doth acknowledge but other Countries whither whole ship-loades are often transported Heere are abundance of Chesse-Nuts Hasel-Nuts Oranges Raizins and all kind of Mettals especially Iron and Black-lead besides other commodities Where they want wine they have a kinde of drinke made of prest Apples which hath an excellent taste Heere are also store of beasts fish fowle and all things which are convenient and necessarie for the sustaining of mans life The Cantabrians did heretofore inhabite that Countrie which wee now call Biscay but it was larger than Biscay is now and contained Guipuscoa and Navarre These Cantabrians were a famous people and much celebrated by many Writers They thought that was no life which was without warres and when all the people of Spaine were subjected and reduced to the obedience of Rome they alone with the Asturians and some others who joyned with them could not be overcome untill at last C. Caesar Octavianus Augustus did subdue this stout Nation being broken wearied by a warre of almost five yeares continuance hee himselfe going against them and the rest that were not
himselfe might studie there The Citie of Valentia in regard of its government of the Common-wealth doth excell all the Cities in Spaine The Countrey wherein this Citie is seated is inhabited for the most part by a Nation which are descended from the Moores and therefore they doe yet retaine their Ancestours speech and manner of life That is not to bee omitted which M. Tully doth speake in his last Oration against Verres in the praise of Valentia Valentinorum saith hee hominum honestissimorum testimonio that is by the testimonie of the Valentians who are most honest men Much silke is made in this Kingdome Valentia as Olivarius Valentinus writeth hath great store of traffique and trading for divers sorts of wares are exported from thence as silke-thread of all colours and raw silke as it comes from the Silke-worme the best cloth also is carried from thence into the Isles called Baleares and into Sicilie and Sardinia Besides there is exported from thence Rice Wheate Sugar Raizins Figges and preserv'd fruites into many Countries in Europe ARAGON AND CATALONIA ARAGON tooke its name either from the Autrigonians a people of Spaine as Laurentius Valla witnesseth or from Tarracone an ancient Citie as it pleaseth Antonius Nebrissensis and Vasaeus Some suppose it was so called from the River Aragon which rising there doth flow into Iberus Some doe derive it from the the Altar of Hercules called in Latine Ara and his sports called Agonalia which if it be true it is a wonder that Ancient Writers are so silent concerning Aragon Navarre cleaveth to this Kingdome on the Northwest Calatrava toward the Southeast On the Southwest it looketh towards Castile and on the North it hath the Pyrenaean Mountaines The Country is for the most part rugged drie towards the Pyraenean hills so that you shall not meete with a house for many dayes journeys yet here are some fruitfull Valleyes abounding with the best corne and other fruits and it is refreshed with sweet Rivers All Writers do report that Ranimirus was the first King of this Kingdome He was made King of Aragon in the yeare 1016. But concerning the Kingdome and the Kings of Aragon as also Valentia and Catalonia how and from whom they had their beginnings and of their union you may reade Rodericus Sanctius in the first part of his Spanish Historie cap. 13. Also Lucius Marinaeus Siculus de Regibus Hispaniae lib. 8. and others The Metropolis and head Citie of the Kingdome Pliny and others doe call Caesar-Augusta Ptolemy Caesarea-Augusta It is now called Sarragosa and is a famous Universitie They report that the builder thereof was Iuba King of Mauritania who called it Saldyba that is the house of Iuba but afterward the former name being left off it was called Caesar-Augusta It is seated on the banke of Iberus in a plaine place and hath a long stone bridge which serveth the Inhabitants to passe over the River as Strabo speakes in his third booke The Citie lyeth in the forme and shape of a shoo-soale It hath foure gates looking to the foure quarters of the world It is encompassed with strong walls and well fortified with many Towres In this Citie the Kings of Aragon were wont to be crowned by the Archbishop Primate of the whole Kingdome The other Cities are these first that which Ptolemy and Plutarch doe call in Latine Osca and is now called Huesca but Velleius Paterculus fabulously calleth it Eteosca where he writeth that Sertorius was slaine Secondly the Citie Tyriassona neere the Mountaine Cacus which some doe suppose was built by the Tyrians and Ausonians Thirdly Iacca lying in a valley heretofore the Seate of the Iaccetani Fourthly Calatajut standing in a Plaine and built out of the ruines of Bilbilis which together with many other Monuments of Antiquitie are to be seene a mile and an halfe from the Towne on a Hill which is commonly called Bambola or Banbola This Mountaine is enriched almost on every side with the River Salon or Xalon where Valerius Martialis lib. 10. Epigram 103. doth place Bilbilis being borne a Citizen of it Paulinus calleth it Bilbilis hanging on the rock Ptolemie corruptly calleth it Bilbis and Martiall calleth it Augusta Bilbilis as also doe the Inscriptions of ancient coyne Fifthly Barbastrum famous for Iron Crosse-bowes which Ptolemie cals Burtina and Antoninus Bortina as some thinke Sixthly Monsonium seated in the midle or navell of the Kingdome not farre from the Banke of the River Cinga neere which there is a hill from whence the Towne taketh its name It is a Towne that is famous by reason of the meeting and convention of the Kingdomes of Aragon and Valentia and the Principality of Catalonia where it standeth It is commonly called Moncon and hath not onely a fruitfull Soyle but a sweete and open Ayre Seventhly Fraga between Ilerda and Caesar-Augusta Ptolemie cals it Gallica Flavia and Antoninus Gallicum as Varronius thinketh though some doe place Gallicum there where now stands Zuera Eigthly Gurrea heretofore called Forum Gallorum which Antoninus placeth betweene Caesar-Augusta and the Pyrenaean Hils Ninthly Ajerbium where it is thought that Ebellinum sometime stood which Antoninus and others doe mention 10 ly Vrgella which Aimonius calleth Orgellum and Ptolemie Orgia It is a Towne not farre from the Fountaines of Sicoris or Segre There were also other Townes which are now so ruinated that there remaines nothing of them among which was the Towne Calagurris Nassica being an other besides that in Navarre The Citizens thereof are called Calagurritani by Caesar in his first Booke of Commentaries and Suetonius noteth that Augustus had a Guarde of them in the life of Augustus cap. 49. Pliny nameth them Nassici The Rivers heere are Iberus or Ebro and Gallego or Gallicum with others ARAGON AND CATALONIA Arragonia et Catalonia Aut fugies Vticam aut unctus mitteris Ilerdam From Utica thou either now shalt flee Or else sent to Ilerda thou shalt bee Heere Pope Calixtus the third taught publickly the knowledge of the Law as Platina witnesseth These things may suffice which have beene spoken hitherto concerning Spaine But yet I thinke it fit to adde by way of conclusion the excellent testimonie of a French-man concerning this Kingdome wherein whatsoever wee have hitherto said in praise and commendation thereof is briefly and pithily repeated by way of recapitulation This French-man whom I mentioned was called in Latine Pacatus who writ a most learned Panegyrick to Theodosius the Emperour being a Spaniard in which hee speaketh to this purpose Now it will appeare that hee is declared Prince who ought to bee chosen of all men and out of all men For first Spaine is thy Mother a Land more happie than all other Countries the great Fabricator and Maker of all things hath beene more favourable in enriching and adorning this Countrie than the Countries of others Nations for it is neither obnoxious to the Summers heate nor subject to the Northerne
the lowest degree of Nobility whence their proprieties and order of government doe most clearely appeare A Knight saith this author or a Chevalier shall be thus created of one that was a Squire before and bore armes in his Escutcheon If hee having long followed the warres exercised armes beene present at many conflicts hath sufficient meanes to maintaine the state of his degree and commeth of a great noble and rich Familie then in any skirmish hee shall make knowne his request to the Generall of the Army or to some valiant generous Knight and when the battell is ended hee shall come unto the said Generall or Knight and entreate him in the name of God and S. George to give him the Order of Knighthood Whereupon hee shall draw out his Sword and strike him thrice with it saying I make thee a Knight or Chevalier in the name of God and S. George faithfully to defend the Faith Iustice the Church Widowes and Orphanes But if the supplicant although he be valiant yet be poore hee shall not bee admitted unlesse so much yearely revenues be assigned and given unto him as is necessarie to preserve and maintaine the honour and dignitie of his Order And this is the first degree of Nobility arising from the lowest A militarie Tribune called een Bander-heer shall be made of a Knight if having long followed the warres hee hath lands and revenues enough to keepe and maintaine fiftie Gentle-men in pay that is one Band of horse men which shall follow his colours in the war For no man can set up a Colours or standerd of his owne unlesse hee can bring into the field at his owne charge a Troupe or Band at the least of fiftie Gentlemen who receive pay from him A Baron may bee created of a Knight or also of a Noble Squire which hath foure Castles in his dominion and all power within himselfe for then the King may conferre a Baronrie upon him yet hee cannot give him this honour unlesse he hath behaved himselfe valiantly in the warres Therefore after the first conflict or battell he is made a Knight after the second a militarie Tribune and after the third a Baron The degree of an Earle is the next and first an Earle of the Marches whom wee call a Marquesse that is Marcgrave And hee may be created one who hath two or three Baronies included in one Dukedome and that by the Duke in whose precincts they lye Hee may be made a Provinciall Earle that is a Landgrave who hath foure Baronies in one Dukedome by the Duke or the King by the instance or permission of the Duke Hee may bee made a Vicount who hath five Counties or more within one Dukedome or which are joyned together by vicinitie of situation And by the Kings permission he may be created by the Duke with great solemnitie But if the King himselfe be present the Principality is more honourable The Duke who is to be made of an Earle must first possesse in the Kingdome wherein hee is to bee crowned foure principall Counties and must have in every one of them foure other Counties or Baronies which must bee bound to doe fealtie and service to them But he must be crowned by the King or Emperour whose subject hee is his Hatt being adorned with pearles and pretious Stones in the most flourishing Citie of his territories and that in a great assembly of Princes Dukes Earles and Barons a solemne festivall being also held as it is the custome as the Coronation of Kings Hee that is to bee King must have foure Dukedomes lying neere together subject unto him and in every Dukedome foure Cities which hee alone governeth in every one of these foure Cities one Archbishop and under euery one of these againe ten Provinciall Bishops Hee being endowed and adorned with these dominions and dignities shall come unto the Emperours Majestie as to his superiour or shall invite him by an honourable Embassage to come unto him and so desire to be crowned by him But this seemes to be a later manner of electing the Kings and other Princes for as long as those wandring Nations of the Gothes Vandals Longobardes and many others did bring in their Kings with them they did not measure the royall dignitie by large possession of lands but by the multitude and strength of the people which they brought in Neither was there any other choise of Dukes who first began to bee instituted by Longinus Governour of Ravenna in the yeare 569 and afterward by the Longobards than for their valour and wise atchievements Adde to this that which Paulus Aemilius witnesseth namely that Dukes and Earles were in the beginning made Prefects by the King over Nations and Cities on this condition onely that as often as there was occasion they should bee dismissed or changed Now how could the afore said Lawes of creating Princes which are measured by and doe claime the hereditarie possession of Lands be in force at that time seeing Dukedomes and Counties were conferr'd by Kings and Emperours as a temporary bountie Therefore though the precise time of the Institution of them cannot be shewed for that French Booke doth mention nothing of it yet it is very likely that under Otto the second Emperour or about the yeare one thousand or a litle after that manner of constituting and confirming dignities was ordained by the Monarches For even untill Otto the second every Prince according to his power and ambition did aspire to greater dignitie and royall Majestie So out of one Kingdome of Lotharingia or Lorreine which being extended from the Rhene even to the River Scaldis was bounded with the Friesland Sea and belonged to Lotharius the Sonne of Lodovicus Pius more Kingdomes did afterward arise namely the transjurane Burgundie which being extended from the Mountaine Jura even to the Alpes did containe all Helvetia the Rauraci the Allobroges and the transjurane Burgundians and the Kingdome of Provence which did certaine some part of Burgundie and Sabaudia and was afterward called the Kingdome of Arelatum of which at this day the Elector of Trevers is called the Archchanâ—â—liour It did also containe the Kingdome of Lotharingia now also called Lotharingia and other Kingdomes betweene the Rhene and Scaldis even to the Friesland Sea and heretofore it was called the Kingdome of Austrasia Againe this Kingdome of Lotharingia Charles the bald and his Brother Lodovick did part betweene them both of them preserving the title of a King in all places I omit the other Kingdomes which sprung up in that agely the desire and asseciation of Soveraignty But the Emperour Otto the second did divide Lotharingia having tooke away the name of a Kingdome into nine Dukedomes and Earledomes as it were into members pulled and separated from the body as Cuspinian hath it and having made a division thereof Anno 981 be first made Charles the Brother of Lotharius King of France Duke of that Countrie which is now called Lotharingia aâ— Richardus Wissenburgius
pertusa Merula who once passed by it witnesseth that it is truly and accurately described by Sebastian Munster And the same Merula mentioneth a faire Inscription over the Gate but that the letters of the first word are more worne out than the rest This is it N Augusti via ducta per ardua montis Fecit iter Petram scindens in margine fontis This is the way which once Augustus made Through this Mountaine which his power obey'd Hee cut a way quite through this rocky mountaine Even neere unto the brim of a faire Fountaine By this Fountaine the Poët understandeth the River Byrsa which breaketh there out of a rock with a violent streame of water From thence Iura runneth Northwestward betweene the Helvetians and the Sabaudians and then by Burgundia which it leaveth upon the South-South-west whence Caesar saith in his first Booke that Iura in two places divideth the Sequani from the Helvetians and by divers Lakes the chiefe whereof is Lemanus where the Mountaine of S. Claudius running farre and wide at last endeth neere to the River Rhodanus Concerning other Mountaines which doe also belong to France and namely the Pyrenaean Mountaines I have spoken in the Description of Spaine and I will discourse of the Alpes when I come to entreate of Italie I will therefore now speake something of the Woods in France which are many yet not so great or thick of trees bushes and briars as in other Countries there are many among the Cenomanni as Les Forests de Versay Longoulney Persi Sille Charnay Audain Maine Concise In Lower Brittaine there are le Forest de Bostblanc de Toriant de Guierche Amongst the Picts in Poictou there are le Forest de Mouliore Dyne Bresse Ligne and others Amongst Bituriges in Berry the wood Roberto may be seene with others And amongst the Andegavi there are the Forests of Loursaie and Marson The whole Countrie of Bononia is as it were one entire wood the parts whereof are Le Bois de Surene Celles Hardelot Dalles and Boursin Among the Verumandui not farre from Perona there are the woods Recoigne and Bouhan In Picardia there are Bois de Baine de Beaulieu de la Fere and de Coussi Neither doth Lotharingia want woods as Warned-wald le Banbois Bois de Moudon de Heyde de S. Benoyt de la Voyge Mortaigne and Doseyne In Burgundie there are many woods whose names I cannot now rehearse I passe by also the other woods which are dispersed all over France Also for the Forrest of Arduenna the chiefest part of it is in Low-Germany and therefore it is to be described there though Claudian call it the French Wood and Caesar lib. 6. de bell Gall. call it the great wood of France Not onely ancient Monuments Records but also Churches and other places dedicated to Religion of which there is a great number in the Cities and Townes of France doe witnesse that the French-men were very much addicted to Religion and were the chiefe of those that embraced the Christian Faith In the Citie of Paris alone there are 69 Churches but the fairest of them is the Cathedrall Church dedicated to the blessed Virgin Mary the foundation whereof being long before laid it began to bee built in the reigne of Ludovicus in the yeare 1257 and is the chiefe wonder of France It is borne up by an hundred and twenty Pillars the length is 174 paces the breadth threescore and the heigth an hundred The Quire is built of faire Stone on which are engraven divers Histories out of the Old and New Testament It hath in the whole compasse of it 45 Chappels strengthened with Iron Grates the Gates are eleven in all On the front of the Church there are three double Gates beautified and adorned with the Statues of 28 Kings On the sides there are Towres or rather Steeples which are 34 Cubits high The greatest Bell which taketh its name from the Virgin Mary requireth twenty men to ring it and the second thereof when the ayre is cleare may be easily heard seven leagues It were an infinite thing to describe the other Churches which are heere and in other places or to reckon up the Abbyes the Friaries the Monasteries the Hospitals for strangers the Hospitals for the sick the Hospitals for the poore and the Hospitals for Orphans What should I speake of the Castles or of the Kings faire Pallaces What of the faire houses belonging to Noblemen and Knights What of the other publick and private buildings Concerning these matters I had rather be silent than speake too litle The State of France is now Monarchicall which kinde of government Aristotle thought was most ancient and divine The King thereof is borne not chosen by suffrages and none can governe but one of the Masculine Sexe as the Salick Law doth require The Subjects doe so love adore and reverence their King as nothing more The arbitrating and judging of all matters is in his power There is in France a Colledge of twelve Peeres instituted by Charles the great in his warre against the Saracens and they are commonly called les Pairs de France because they were next as it were equall in dignitie to the King They have power to consecrate the King and put him into possession of the Kingdome Sixe of these are commonly called Laicks the rest are called Ecclesiasticks or Clergy-men The Laicks are Dukes or Earles as the Dukes of Burgundie Normandie and Guienne the Earles of Campania Flanders and Tholouse The Ecclesiasticks also are Dukes and Earles the Dukes are the Archbishop of Remes the Archbishop of Laon and the Archbishop of Langers the Earles are the Bishop of Chaulons of Noyon and Beavois There are also eight chiefe Senates in France which they commonly call Parliaments from which it is unlawfull to make any appeale as the Parliament of Paris of Tholouse of Rotamagum or Roven of Grenoble of Burdeaux of Dijon of Aix and of Bretaigne As concerning the Ecclesiastick State there are twelve Archbishopricks in France to wit the Archbishop of Lyons which is the Primate of Aix of Vienna of Rhemes of Narbone of Tholouse of Burdeaux of Aux of Bourges of Tours of Roen and of Sene. There are these Universities in the Kingdome to wit Paris Poictiers Bourges Tholouse Burdeaux Nantes Lyons Orleans Mompellier Cahors Grenoble Valens Rhemes Angiers Caen Avenion Dol and Massils which is the ancientest of them all and founded by the Grecians Out of these as it were out of so many Trojan Horses an innumerable sort of learned men both Divines Lawyers Physicians and others have come forth whom if I should endeavour to number I should take upon my selfe a great taske and should be tedious to the Reader The Nobilitie of France doe in generall follow the studies of good learning with earnest diligence and continuall paines so that they excell in all kindes of Disciplines and Arts. You may see there those that are of great
of shot scaling Ladders underminings and all manner of engines which could bee invented or used And on the besieged side you might have seene men women and children with great courage of minde sustaine the furious assaults of their enemies and with constancie and cheerfulnesse repaire the ruines of the wals keepe down those that would have ascended up drive back their enemies to their trenches pursue them and at last fight it out for the most part with good successe Moreover you might have beheld them wearying the besiegers with daily sallying out upon them and lastly subsisting after nine assaults in which though their enemies did fight valiantly yet they were enforced to retire with great losse At length the Ambassadours of Polonia comming the 15 of Iune that they might bring with them Henry Duke of Anjou whom the States of the Kingdome had chosen for King God used this as a meanes to free Rochelle being now exhausted and drawne drie of Corne and being weakned in warlike fortifications besides the losse of many thousand men for now the King by Articles of peace confirmed by his royall solemne edicts did grant that Rochelle Montalban Nemansum and other Cities which did defend themselves should bee free to use their owne Religion such an event had this grievous siege which endured almost for seven moneths In which time more than twentie thousand men perished in conflicts sallies besieges by wounds hunger and sicknesse Rochelle is a constant Seate for presidiall Senatours and other Lawyers The other Cities Townes of note in Santonia are commonly called S. â—ean d' Angely Ponts or Pont l' Oubleze Blaye Taillebourg Borbesieux Brovage and Iosac S. Iean d' Angely otherwise called Angeliacum and S. Ioannes de Angeria is a new Citie although it be one of the speciallest and greatest of all Santonia It renewed its name from an Abbey which was built in that place to the honour of S. Iohn the Baptist the foundation whereof happened to be in the reigne of King Pipin who kept his Court in the Pallace of Angeria neere the River commonly called Boutonne in the Countrie of Alnia for hither as they say came certaine Monkes out of the Holy Land who brought with them the head of S. Iohn Baptist by whose comming the King obtained a famous victorie over his enemies and therefore in remembrance thereof hee built in that place where was the Pallace of Angeria the Abbey of Saint Iohn there placing religious men and endowing them with great revenues that they might there devote themselves to the service of God now by this meanes people flocking thither and building round about the Abbey by degrees it began to be a Citie as it is now at this day and was called by the name of S. Iohn All these things happened about the yeare of our Lord seven hundred sixtie eight while Pipin waged warre against Gaifer King of Aquitania whom hee overcame as it may bee read in the Historie of the Foundation of this Abbey This Citie the Duke of Andegavium or Aniou did besiege in the yeare 1569 and it was yeelded to him after 50 dayes siege the King granting the Citizens thâ—se conditions That they should march forth of the Citie with their Armour Horses and Colours displayed Santonia raiseth great store of money by its Corne which the Spaniards every yeare doe transport from thence or Merchants which fell it unto them And the Citie of Rochelle is very rich in regard of its neerenesse to the Sea and especially because of the traffick of the English and Dutch whose shipping doe often arrive there AQVITANIA AQVITANIA whose Southerne part is delineated in this Table some would have so called from the waters wherewith it doth abound and some derive it from the Towne Aquis or Aqs. It was extended according to Ptolemie from the Pyrenaean Mountaines even to Liger But now as Ortelius witnesseth from the River Garumna to the Ocean and the Pyrenaean Hils Towards the North-West it hath the Ocean which is called the Aquitanick Bay on the West Spaine on the North Gallia Lugdunensis and on the South Gallia Narbonensis In it according to Mercators account there are five Dukedomes twentie Counties and sixe Seigniories The Dukedomes are Vasconia or Guienna Avernia the Countrie of Engoulesme Berrie and Turonia Vasconia or Guienna being situated neere the Sea betweene Bayon and Burdeaux yeeldeth great store of wine which is transported from thence into other parts of Europe The chiefe Citie in it is Burdigala or Burdeaux the other Cities as Nerac Condom Mirande Nogerat Orthes Bazes and Dax are of no great note yet Dax is famous for her hot Fountaines Salt-pits and Iron-mettle Burdigala so called by Ptolemie is situated in a marsh which the overflowing of Garumna maketh and is adorned both with a Parliament and an University in which the Professours of all Arts and Sciences doe instruct Youth Avernia or the Dutchie of Avergne is partly a plaine and partly a mountainous Countrie It hath on the East Forest on the South Languedock on the West Quercy Perigort and Lemosin and on the North Berry and Bourbon Avernia is two-fold the Higher and the Lower The Higher which is called Le hault pays d' Avergne and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Avernia hath one prime Citie in it called S. Flour being seated on a high Rock the other Townes are commonly called Orillac Carlatum Muratum Buillons le Puy c. There is also in it the Territorie and Bayliwick of Beaucaire The Lower is rich and very fertile being full of excellent Wine Fruit Honey Saffron Cattell Wooll Medowes and Woods The Metropolis of it is Clarimontium commonly called Clermont It is proude of her Castle and is a Bishops Seate The other Cities or Townes are 13 in number of which Rion Monferrat and Isoire doe excell the rest Engoulesme on the North joyneth to Poictou on the West to Santonia on the South to Perigort and on the East to Lemosin It hath abundance of very good Wine fruit and Hempe The Metropolis of it is Inculisma now called Engoulesme being an ancient Citie It is seated on a hill which hangeth over the River Charente in a remote place from the Kings high way The lesser Towns are those which are commonly called Marton Chasteau Neuff Blaisac Chabannes Confollant Cuffec Aigres Gourville la Roche-Foucault Marveil Lanzac Villebois Momberon and Bouteville Concerning the Countrie of Berry wee will speake in a Table by it selfe Turonia commonly called Touraine beginneth somewhat beyond the Citie Amboise towards Belsia and endeth at the towne which is commonly called la Chapelle Blanche AQVITANIA AQUITANIA being subject in spirituall matters to the Bishops of Anjou and Chousai For they appoint and set downe limits betweene the Turonians and Andigavians The sweetnesse of the Ayre doth make this pleasant country more delightfull so that it is called the Garden and Orchard of France It is fruitfull in Wine and
of Grenoble and of Romans Fourthly the Archbishop of Aix under whom there are five Bishops the Bishop of Aps of Freâ—ul of Sesteron of Ere 's and of Vapinte Fifthly the Archbishop of Arclatum or Arles under whom are the Bishops of Massilia of Vasison of Tricaste of Cavallion of Avignon of Orange of Carpentras and of Tollon The Archbishop of Lyons and Primate of all France hath his residence in the Citie of Lions and hath foure suffragan Bishops under him as the Bishop of Autun of Mascon of Chalon by the River Saone and of Langres PROVINCIA OR PROVENCE HItherto wee have described Aquitania and the Kingdome of Arelatum Provincia followeth This most excellent part of France from beyond Rhodanus even to the River Garumna was called Provincia because the Romans many yeares before the Nativitie of Christ did reduce it into the forme of a Province which name it still retaineth in a small portion thereof wherein is Massilia and Aquae Sextiae by way of excellencie to declare that it had preheminence both in order and dignitie above all the Provinces of the Roman Empire Daulphine lyeth neere to Provincia on the North side being parted from it with the Mountaines commonly called the Mountaines of Velay and by a great part of the River Drueâ—â—ius or Durance running betweene It is enclosed on the East side by the Alpes and the River Varus on the left hand banke whereof stands the Towne Nicaea where Italie beginneth on the South the French Sea beateth on it and the Westerne bounds of it are partly the Principalitie of Arausio or Orange and the Countie of Avenio or Avignon which did formerly belong unto it though now they appertaine to other Princes and partly the whole River Rhodanus as farre as Lions and Arclatum belonging to the Jurisdiction of the Parliament of Languedock The Ayre here is gentle milde and very pure The Countrie doth produce not onely excellent Corne but also Fruites with litle labour or tillage and heere is as great plenty of Rasons and Figges as may furnish the greatest part of Europe Heere is such great store of Rosemarie Juniper-berries Chesse nuts Pome-Citternes Lemmons Oranges Saffron Rice and the like as if the horne of plenty were poured forth upon this Countrie The Vines yeeld excellent rich Wines heere and the Soyle is every where very good and fruitfull Concerning the ancient Earles of Provincia some things are to be noted Wee reade in ancient Annals that in the time of Ludovicus the eigth King of France Raymundus Berengarius was Earle of Provence and that Charles Earle of Anjou and Sonne to the afterward King Ludovicus did marrie Beatrice his onely Daughter and Heire by that meanes got this Country After him succeeded Charles surnamed the Lame being Prince of Salernum and King of Naples After him his Sonne Robert succeeded being Duke of Calabria and King of Naples and after him his Grand-childe Ioane whose Father Charles Duke of Calabria was dead before for by the last Will of this Robert she was made Queene of Naples and Countesse of Provence This woman that shee might be revenged on her Adversaries did adopt Ludovicus of Anjou Sonne to Iohn King of France and left him her successor both in other Principalities and also in this Countie After this Ludovicus his Sonne Ludovicus the second was made Earle and next after him his Son Ludovicus the third who was also adopted by Ioane the second Queene of Naples to be King of Sicily and Duke of Calabria This Ludovicus having no issue by the consent of the aforesaid Ioane instituted his brother Renatus to bee successor in those Principalities And he being unwilling to resigne his right in the Kingdome of Naples and the Countie of Provence to Renatus Duke of Lotharingia his Nephew did passe it over unto his brother Charles Earle of Maine who made his sonne Charles dying Ludovicus the eleventh King of France his heire Some would have it that Renatus made him heire after Charles by his last will although Renatus Duke of Lotharingia did justly expostulate with him concerning the same Heere dwelled heretofore the Salyi the Aquenses the Arelatenses the Sextani the Sentij the Ebroduntij the Dinienses the Vesdiantij the Sanicienses the Nerucij the Vencienses the Vulgientes the Aptenses the Reienses the Ostaviani the Commoni the Foro-Iulienses the Segestorij the Albici the Oxubij the Deciates and others There are in Provence under the Aquensian Parliament besides many Townes of no small note two Cities which have Archbishops and eleven that have Bishops in them The Archiepiscopall Cities are Aquae Sextiae and Arelatum The Latines Paterculus Solinus and others doe call the first Aquae Sextiae Colonia Plutarch in the life of C. Marius Sextilia the Itinerarie tables Aquae Sestiae The inscription of a stone at Lyons neare to S. Benedicts Church Colonia Iulia Aquae Lastly a certaine ancient inscription and Vespasians coyne Colonia Iulia Aquae Sexiae Legio 25. It was called Aquae because there are bathes of hot water whence also it is now called Aix and it was called Sextiae from C. Sextius who was Consul in the yeare from the building of the Citie of Rome 630. For he having subdued the Nation of the Salyi built this Citie to the end that hee might place a Roman garrison therein and that hee might drive the Barbarians from those coasts which open a way from Massilia into Italy seeing the Massilians were not able to suppresse them you may reade Livy lib. 61. from the 10. cap. But concerning the same it was called Iulia Augusta from C. Iulius Caesar Augustus who did enlarge it with colonies bringing thither the old Souldiers of the 25 Legion The Parliament of Provence is held here which therefore is called Parliamentum Aquense Partly at this Citie and partly in Italie did C. Marius overcome the Cimbrians a people of Germanie and the Tigurini and Abrones French Nations that banded themselves with them of which Historie elsewhere The second Citie Orosius and Ausonius Lib. de urbibus in Epigraphe ipso carmine 7 o do call Arelas the same Ausonius elsewhere doth call it Arelatus Caesar calls it Arelate as also Suetonius in the life of Tiberius Mela and others Strabo calls it Areletae Ptolemie Arelaton Salyorum Colonia and Pliny Arelate Sextanorum but now by a word of the plurall number it is called Arles Festus Avienus doth report that the Graecians heretofore inhabiting it did call it Tâ—elinis Iulius Scaliger witnesseth that in a faire inscription on a pillar which hee had seene it is called Mamiliaria but the reason why is unknowne Fl. Constantinus the Emperour did enact and ordaine that it should be called Constantia and that the assemblies and conventions of seaven Provinces namely of Vienne of both the Narbons of both the Aquitanes of PROVENCE PROVINCIA Novem-Populana and the Maritime Alpes should be held and kept there and Ausonius calleth it Gallula Roma in those verses which I mentioned before It is
after a certaine victory obtaind against them were all slaine at this Towne who could not pronounce the name thereof for they pronouâ—ced it â—equeny in stead of Pequigny The Geographers that describe 〈◊〉 doe note that Veromandois doth containe under it the Territories of â—issenois Laâ—nnâ—is and â—artencis and the Cities Nâ—yon and S. Quintins The City of Soissâ—ns is subject to Themes the chiefe City of Calaa Belgica and was honoured by Caesar with the title of a Royall City It was in the power of the Romanes but was taken from them by Cladoveus after whose decease his Sonnes restored it to that former honour which it enjoyed in Caesars time The Inhabitants are a warlike people In this City in the raigne of Philip Augustus there was a Consell held by the Clergie of England and France for that the King of England having thrust the Bishops out of their Seates had kept the Churches goods in his owne hands for 6. yeeres and afterward had banisht the Bishops into Franâ—e In this Couâ—sell he had excommuâ—ication and warres denounced against him as an enemy to the Church upon which he was overcome in Battell and all his auxiliary Forces which he had out of Planders were overthrowne the Suessâ—nes among the rest behaving themselves very valiantly against him The Temple and Monastery of the blessed Virgin in the City Soissâ—ms was built by Ebroynus the Tyrant who was Master of the Palace of â—rauce The Bishops of Soissons from Sixtus to Mathew Paris were 79. The Country of Laonois so called from the City Laon which iâ— situated betweene the Rivers Ayne and Oysa on a Hill and â—gisbertus saith that â—lâ—doveus in the yeere 500. did honour this City with a Dukedome and a Bishoprick Hee constituted Genebaldus to bee the first Bishop thereof and after him unto Iohannes Buâ—â—erius there are reckoned 72. Bishops It is also a Bayliwick under which are these Cities Soissons Noviomagus or Noyon S. Quintins Ribuaria or Ribemont Câ—uâ—y Chauâ—y Guise Perona Mondidier and Roia Next adjacent unto Laon is â—â—mpendium called by the French Compiegne and by others Parâ—pâ—â—is from Carolus Calvus who in the yeere 896. did enlarge and fortifie it like Constantinople erecting there also a Monastery to Saint Cornelius The Church of Compiegne and the Monastery of the Dominicans and Franciscans were built by S. Ludovicus King of France The Metropolis of Tartenois is Fera commonly called La Fere being a City well fortified and commodiously seated at the confluence and meeting of the Rivers Oysa and Serva and having a strong Castle Concerning the Cities Noyon and S. Quintins there is enough spoken in the Description of a former Table So much therefore concerning true Picardie There are divers parts of the lower Picardie called Le Basse As Sancterra Pontium Bolonesium Guâ—naeum and Oyum. Sancterra or Sancterre lyeth betweene Mons S. Desiderij Perona Roye and Nesla Mons S. Desiderij or Mondidier is a strong Place or Hold. Perona is situated at the River Somona here Herebert Earle of Veromandois kept Chaâ—les the Simple King of France Captive where he died and left the Kingdome much troubled Roye is a faire Towne fortified with a Castle Antoninus calleth it Caesaremagnus as also the Itinerary Tables â—essa is a strong Fortresse as many other places are in this part of the Kingdome In Sancterra have many famous men beene borne and the ancient Lords thereof being Marquesses formerly joyned in affinity and allyed to the Family of the Courtneys which descended from the Kings of France Pontium or in French Le Conté Ponthieu is so named from the great company of Bridges and Marishes which discharge and empty themselves into the Sea neere to S. Valeri The chiefe Towne of the County is Abatisvilla commonly called Abbeville neere the River Oyse being a Bailiwick and the Seate of a President from whence Causes and Suites in Law are brought to Paris The other Townes are Crâ—toy Rua Treport and S. Richeri besides Cressiacum or the little Towne of Cressi famous for the slaughter of 36000. Frenchmen under the conduct of Philip of Valots in the yeere 1346. This Country also doth containe two other under it to wit the Counties of Mâ—â—streul and S. Paul some thinke the former was so called quasi Mâ—rs Reguis that is the Royall Mountaine but others imagine it to bee so named from a Monster which had his dwelling house here Lower Picardie containeth the County of Bononia commanly call'd Coâ—â—â— de Boleigne and the County of Guisne of which we will speake in the Description of Bononia The chiefe Rivers of Picardie are Somona neere to which lye the Towne Ambianum or Amiens and Abbe-Villa Oyse or Esia Scaldis Escault or Sceldt and those which are commonly call'd Aâ—â—â— and Scarpe I come to their manners The Picardians are of a good disposition well set courteous Officious valiant and prone to anger whence they are called hot heads they are so soone assuredly given and addicted to wine so that a man can hardly obtaine any thing of them unlesse he will beare them company in drinking Yet they agree so well among themselves that if you offend one of them all the rest will be your enemies The Nobles are warlike and doe most of all delight in military affaires So much concerning Picardy CAMPANIA THE STATE ECCLESIASTICK Here is the Archbishop of Rhemes under whom are eight suffragan Bishops as the Bishop of Laon a Duke and Peere of France the Bishop of Chalon an Earle and Peere of France the Bishop of Suesson the Bishop of Terwaen whose Seate was translated to Boulogne the Bishop of Amiens the Bishop of Noviomagum or Noion an Earle and Peere of France the Bishop of Senlis and the Bishop of Beauvais an Earle and Peere of France Here is also the Archbishop of Sens under whom are seven Bishops to wit the Bishop of Paris of Chartres of Orleans of Nivers of Auxerre of Trois en Champaigne and of Meaux CAMPANIA CAMPANIA called in French Comté de Champaigne is derived as I have said before if we shall beleeve Graegorius â—uronensis from the great and spacious Field wherof it consisteth For it is a very plaine and Champion Country The Territories of Brie Burgundie Carolois and Lotharingia doe encompasse it on every side The Tricasses Lingones the Râ—mi the Catalaunians the Meldae the Senones and others who are now worne out of memory were heretofore seated in this Country The Tricasses nominated in Plinies chiefest Bookes Ptolemy calls Trikasstoi and Ammianus Tricassini as also in certaine Panegyricks and in the Inscription of an ancient Stone Hericus calleth the Trecae in the life of S. Germane and others call them by contraction Tresses Their City is called Tricassium and commonly Trois en Champaigne Those which Caesar Pliny and others doe call Lingâ—nes Ptolemy calls Doâ—gones and the same Pliny Faederati That Province which containes their City which is Langres is now called La Duché Patre and
Evesche de Langres Those which Caesar calleth Râ—mi Ptolemy calleth Rhemâ—i Pliny Faederati and the Country in which is their City of Rhemes is called Duché Pairie and Archenesché de Râ—ims as wee have before mentioned The Learned doe thinke that the Cathelaum mentioned in Amianus Marcellinus should bee written Catalauni And so they are nominated CAMPANIA CHAMPAGNE comitatus CAMPANIA in Eutropius his Bookes Their City is now called la Evesché de Challon In the Catalannian Fields Atilla King of the Hunnes in the yeere from the building of the City of Rome 1203. and after the birth of Christ 450. was overcome by the Romanes Gothes and Frenchmen under the conduct of their Captaines Actius Patricius Theodoricus and Merovaeus there being slaine on both sides 162000. except 90000. Gepidaans and Frenchmen who were slaine before Iornandes cap. 36. doth delmeate and set forth these Fields and the place of the Battell The Meldae Pliny calleth Liberi Strabo Meldoi Ptolemie Meldai and an Inscription engraven on an ancient Stone Meldi Strabo precisely maketh them and the Leuxovians to bee the Parokeanitae which are in the middle of the Country where there is now the Towne Meaulx neere the River Matrona The Senones which are celebrated by Caesar Pliny and others Ptolemy calleth by the same name and placeth them in Gallia Lugdunensis Strabo thinketh that there are other Senones neere to the Nerviais towards the West The former of them did make those horrible incursions into Italy so much spoke of and they did moreover wage a most fierce warre against the Romanes in the yeere from the building of the City 364. which they called The Senonick French warre Their Captaine was Brannus an Nobleman of France After the Fight or Battell they entred the City of Allia and there having slaine all they met and wasted all with fire they besieged for many moneths the Capitall into which the Romane youth had fled for their safegard but at last having made a peace with them for a certaine summe of money contrary to faith and promise they were partly slaine and partly put to flight by M. Furius Camillus the Dictator who entred the City with an Army All these things Livie Lib. 5. Florus Lib. 1. cap 13. and many other Writers doe delineate in their proper colours Campania is honoured with the title of a County and was once the Inheritance of Eudo Nephew to Gerlo the Norman by his Sonne Theobaldus This Gerlo was he that accompanied into France Rudulphus or Rollo the Norman to whom Charles the Simple granted Neustria which was afterward called Normandie After Eudo there succeeded in a right Line Stephen Theobaldus the 2. whose sonne Theobaldus the third dying without issue there succeeded him his Cosin germane Henry surnamed the large the sonne of Stephen King of England who was Brother to Theobaldus the second Henry had a sonne who was Earle of Campania and the other Territories but he dying without issue his Brother Theobaldus invaded the County and writ himselfe Count Palatine of Campania This Theobaldus being afterward made King of Navarre upon the death of Grandfather by the Mothers side brought the County to belong to the Crowne and left Henry his Successor both in Campania and in that Kingdome Lastly Ioane Daughter and Heir to this Henry being married to Philip the Faire King of France Campania and the other Provinces were united to the Crowne of France from which they were never after separated Campania as I have already spoken is usually now describ'd both by it selfe and with the Principalities adjacent and lying round about it As it is considered properly and by it selfe it is twofold the Lower and the Higher In the Lower is Tricassium and the Territories which are commonly called Ivigny â—assgâ—y and Vallage Moderne Writers doe call that Tricassium which is now called 〈◊〉 Thâ—se who were heretofore Earles of Campania from this City were called Earlâ—s of Tricassium It is one of the greatest and fairest Cities in this Kingdome The Latitude thereof is 47. degrees and some few minutes towards the North. It is a Bishops Seate and Bellesâ—â—rrâ—tius reckons 83. Bishops thereof Among these was that famous Luâ—â—â— whom Sidonius Apollinaris praiseth for his vertues Lib. 6. Ep. 1.4 〈◊〉 9. as also Paulus Diaconus in Marciano Bede Lib. 1. Histor cap. 17. and others This City hath a large Jurisdiction and it is the seate of a President of Counsellors of Judges and others of the Kings Officers The Townes have reference to it namely Bar Sur Seine Mussil â—â—â—tique La ferté Sur Auge Nâ—gent Pent Sur Seine Fruille Chastel and S. Florentin being all Townes of Campania The Territory of Ivigny separateth â—ampania from Burgundie The chiefe Towne thereof is Ivigny which is under the Jurisdiction of the Bayliwick of Tricassium Bassigny is so named because it is the better part of Lower Campania as we have before declared The Metropolis thereof is named from the bald Mountaine which Ivonus mentioneth Ep. 105 commonly call'd Chaumâ—nt on Bassâ—gny It hath an ancient Castle seated on a Rock and well fortified the Tower on the West side whereof is called in French Donyon and La haulte fueille This Castle the Earles of Campania did heretofore make their Palace No River runneth by it nor affordeth water unto it but that which Cesternes doe yeeld and a Fountaine at the foote of the Tower There are also in Bassigny the Townes of Montigny Goâ—ssy Nâ—gent le Roy Monteclar Andelot Bisnay Châ—iseul Visnorry and Clismont being all strong Townes and the most of them well fortified with Castles besides Andomatunum Lingonum commonly called Langres of which we shall speake in an other place The Territory of Vallage is supposed to be so called from the Valleys in it which are both faire and fruitfull The Townes of chiefest note in Vallage are first Vasscium or Vassy neere Blois in the Country of Guise Francis Duke of Guise comming hither in the yeere 1562. was the Author of that Vasseian Massacre mentioned by the French Historiagraphers wherein many that professed the reformed Religion were slaine on the Kalends of March Not farre from thence there is a kind of earth found of which Bâ—le Armenack is made The second Towne of not is S. Dâ—â—â—re or Deduâ—â— which was taken by the Emperour Charles the fifth and afterward a peace being concluded was restored againe to the French It hath a strong Castle The third is the Towne of Ianâ—â—â—ille or as some write is â—oâ—â—t ville which some doe fabulously report was so called from Ianus It belongeth to the Families of the Guises Prye so called from a Towne commonly named Brye or Bray Counte Robert is reckoned by some with Campania The Country of Brye although it were heretofore and also now is very wooddy yet in fertility and fruitfulnesse it is not inferior to any part of Campania For it hath a cleare skie and a sweete and temperate ayre It is watered with great wholesome
into the Haven Edward the fifth King of England tooke it the day before the Nones of August 11. moneths after that cruell Battell fought against Philip the sixth King of France neere to Cressy in the yeere 1347. which Paulus Aemilius lib. 9. lively delineateth The English did possesse it 211. yeeres for Philippus Bonus a Burgundian did in vaine besiege it in the yeere 1431. his Flandrians forsaking him and did keepe it as the English were wont to say as the Key of France the Duke of Guises afterward tooke it and the Frenchmen regain'd it in the yeere 1558. in the moneth of February In the mid-way betweene Calis and Bononia towards the Mediterranean Sea is Teroane which still retaineth that name although Charles the fifth passed it and call it Terrennerbereâ— Antenâ—â—â—â— nameth it Tervanna or Tarvenna the Itinerary Tables Tervanna and Ptolemy Tarvanna Bovillus affirmeth that some doe call it Tarubaâ—um Tâ—â—themius in his History of France mentioneth the Terrabaniaâ—â— BOVLONGNE· BOLONIA Some call it Tervana as it were Terra-vana in regard of the meanenesse of the Territory In the Register of the Provinces where the Cities of Belgia are reckoned up it is called the City of the Morinneans that is l' Evesché de Teroane In the Inscription of an ancient Stone which in former time was found in Gilderland it is called the Morineans Colony The Territory of Oyana or Terre de Oye doth reach even to Dunkerk a Towne of Flanders There are also beside Oya some other smal Towns I returne now to Boulogne which is watered with stremes and Rivulets which running by the Towne Arque and S. Audomare doe come to Graveling Not farre from thence is the Bay of Scales flowing even to the Castle of Ardera There are also two other Rivulets namely one in Marquisia the other in Bolonia There is also the River Hantia or Hesdin which doth impart his name to the Towne Hesdin There is also in this Country the Moorish streames of the Pontinians and the River Cauchia Some of these Rivers doe make Lakes and Fish-pits which are full of Fish and are denominated from the neighbouring Townes as those which they call in French le Vivier d' Hames d' Andre d' Arbres All this Country toward the Sea is environd with sundry Hills and in the inner part thereof there are those Hills which they call in French les Mons de S. Ingelvert and les Mons de neuf Castel and Dannes All the Country is interlaced with many Woods as the Woods les Bois de Surene Celles c. The Inhabitants are accounted to be froward and too much conceited of themselves ANIOV THE DVKEDOME OF ANDEGAVIA The Dukedome of Anjou containeth Counties Baronnies and Seigniories as Câ—aon 1856. 4743 c. which I have not yet found out nor can distinguish these foure Counties Maine Vendosme Beaufort and La Val doe hold of it by Homage and Fealty THE IVRISDICTION The Praesidiall Seate of the whole Kingdome is Angiers under which are these particular Juridicall Seates Angiers Samur Bauge 1945. 4725. and Beaufort en Valleé 1940. 4716. The State Ecclesiastick Angiers hath one Bishop of Andegauja who is subject to the Archbishop of Turone The Meridians are placed according to the Proportion of the 47. and 15. Parallels to the greatest Circle The Dukedome of ANIOU THE Dukedome of Anjou followes in our Method or la Ducké d' Anjou C. Caesar calleth the people of this Province Andes and Pliny nameth them Andegavi It beginneth at the Village Towne Chousay and endeth betweene Moncontour and Herrant where the Territory of the Picts beginneth lying South of it on the East the Turonians and Vindocinians doe border on it on the North the County commonly called Maine and lâ— Val and lastly on the West it joyneth to Brittaine The Country is more fruitfull and pleasant than large having every where Hills planted with Vines and Valleies crowned with greene Woods flourishing Meddowes excellent Pastures for Cattell Here are good white Wines commonly called Vins d' Aniou In briefe this Country doth afford all things necessary for life In some parts also of this Province they digge forth those blue kind of Stones with which being cleft in pieces they do slate their Churches and Houses to keep off the weather and in French they call them Ardoises King iâ—ecâ—â—us after the Earle Paul was slaine got the City of Indegâ—â—â—a and left it to his Posterity who were Kings of France among whom â—arolus Calvus gave the higher part of the Province to Iorquatus retaining still the Royalty thereof to himselfe and the lower part to Eudâ—â— Earle of Paris whose Nephew Hugo magnus by his Brother Rupert Earle of Andegavia and Duke of Celtica gave it to Fulco the Nephew of Iorquatuâ— After Fulco there succeeded in order Fulco the 2. and Gotefridus commonly called Grisgonella Fulco the 3. Gotâ—fridus the 2. Fulco the 4. Fulco the 5. who was King of Hierusalem after Baldwin whose Daughter he being a Widdower had married and lastly Godfridus Barvatus the 6. who was married to Machtildis the Daughter of Henry the first King of England His Sonnes were Henry who was the second King of England of that name and Gotefridus the sixth and William were Earles of Anjou whom when their Brother the King had overcome by warre and droven them out of their Country his eldest Sonnes did succeed him in the Kingdome of England and Gotefridus the 8. in the County of Anjou The Unckle â—ohn King of England did wage warre against the Earle Arthur the Sonne of Gotefrid and Duke of Bâ—ittaine by the Mothers side Arthur had now done Homage and Fealty to Philip Augustus King of France for his Principality which he had of him by whose instigation leaving to take away Picardy from his Unckle the King and having passed his Army over the River and Ligoris the King comming upon him on a sudden tooke him prisoner and brought him to â—otomagum where not long after he was put to death The Mother of Arthur Constantia by name the Daughter and Heire of Conan Prince of Brittaine did accuse King Iohn of Parricide before the King of France aforesaid who being summoned and not appearing the Peares of France did condemne him of parricide and those Provinces which he had in France they confiscated to the King which sentence the King exâ—cuting he tooke Anjou into his owne hands and left iâ— to his Sonne Ludovick the 8 King of France After whom succeeded his Son Ludovick the 9. surnamed the Holy who granted this Province to his Brother Charles by right After him followed Charles the 2. who marrying hâ—s Daughter Clemeâ—tia to Charles Valesius he gave this Province with her for her Dowry After whom succeeded Philip Valesius the Sonne and after him his Nephew Iohn who gave the greatest part of this Country which was honourd with the Title of a Dukedome in the yeere 1350. to his Sonne Ludovick After him there follow'd in a
direct Line Ludovick the 2. and Ludovick the 3. who dying without an Heire the Principality came to his Brother Renatus Hee having no issue living made Charles his Brothers Sonne his Heire and he made King Ludovick the 11. his Heire And thus it was annexed to the Crowne of France and continued so united untill Francis the first gave the revenue thereof to his Mother Aloisia â—abande King Charles the 9. gave it to his Brother Henry who was afterward King of Polonia and France The Metropolis or Mother City of the Dukedome is Andegavum Paulus Diacorus calleth it the City of Audegavia it is commonly called Angiers Ptolemy calls it Iuliomagus Andicavarum It is seated THE DVKEDOME OF JANIOV ANIOU on both the bankes of the River Maine which hath a Stone bridge over it It is well governed having a Bishop a Marshall and a Baily and a President It hath a famous University instituted by Ludovick the second Duke of Anjou in the yeere 1389. Francis Baldwine being called thither who professed the Law there This Dukedome hath many faire Townes some whereof are bigger than others I will reckon some Townes according as they are called in French as namely Samur neere Liguris with a Castle also Montrencau Bauge Beaufort Brissac Monstreul-Belay Maleuvrior Ghantoceau Viliers Duretail la Plesche Chasteau-Gontier Segre In this Province there are many Lakes and Rivolets and above 40. Rivers There are also great Fish-pits and an infinite number of Fountaines The chiefe Rivers are Lagures Loire Vigenna called la Vienne Viane and Vignane Meduana now called Mayne Sarta commonly called Sartra and Lorius Beyond the City of Andegavum there are some ancient ruines which are commonly called Grohan Here they say that the Romanes did heretofore build a Theater and some of the Walls doe yet remaine And great store of old coyne is digged forth Besides other Counties Baronnies and Signiories these foure Counties doe Homage and Fealty to this Dukedome Maine Vendosme Beaufort and la Val of which we will entreate in order The County of Maine commonly called Conté de Maine is the first In Ptolemies time the Cenomanians did inhabit this Country And the Province of the Cenomanians was inhabited as soone as any other part of France The bounds thereof were heretofore longer than they are now which may be gathered by that which Livie Polybius and Iustine have deliverd concerning the irruption of the Cemonians into Italy One part of the Country is fruitfull the other barren and the Inhabitants live more by hunted flesh than by bread or wine which yet they doe not altogether want for some parts of this Province are so fruitfull that neither Andegavia nor Tutonia can excell it for good wine or fruits The Soyle is full of Herbage and fit for Pasturing of Cattell But we reade that this Province being comprehended under Aquitania was sometime subject to the Dukes of Aquitania untill the King of France Ludoviâ—k the 9. and Henry â—he 3. King of England did agree that that which belonged to the King of England in Aquitania which was bounded on the North with the River Caranton and on the South with the Pyrenaean Mountaines should for ever belong to Normandy and to the Countries of the Cenomanians and Andegavians in consideration wherof 1500. Crownes were to be paid unto him Iohn King of France gave Andium and the County of the Cenomanians to his second Sonne Ludovick The Letters Patents of this Donation or Guift dated 1360. may bee seene in the Kings Rolles After Ludovick there succeeded Ludovick the second his Sonne and Ludovick the third his Nephew These three were Kings of Naples Ludovick the third dying without issue his Brother Renatus succeeded after him whom Ieane Queene of Naples the second of that name did make her Heire both of the Kingdome of Naples and of the County of Province Renatus had by Isabeâ—l the daughter of Charles the Bold his Sonne Iohn Duke of Calabria who dyed before his Father Renatus This Iohn had by Mary the Daughter of Chaâ—â—â— Duke of Purbor Nicolas Duke of Calabria and Marquesse of Ponâ—unâ— who dyed wâ—thout issue his Grandfather Renatus yet living Renâ—â—â— would not resigne his righâ— to the Kingdome of Naples and the County of Proâ—â—râ—t to his Nephew Renatus but left it to his Brother Charles Earle of the Cenomanians who dying a little after did instituâ—e and make Ludovick the 11. his Heire In former times the whole Country was devided into two parts The City of the Cenomanians belongeth to the King of France but the City Maena or Maine with the Marquiship being now made a Dukedome acknowledgeth the Guises to be Lords thereof The chiefe Towne is by the River Sartra commonly called le Mens At the first it was a Bayliwick and after Henry the second time it had a President and divers Townes did bring their appeales and suites hither The Dukedome of Vendâ—sme or the Putâ—he de Vendâ—sme beginneth at Baugenciaâ—um which is the bounds betweene the two Belsia which are called Solâ—nia and Vindocina which stretcheth out farre and wide even to the Saâ—tones It is so called from the Towne Vindocinum commonly called Vendosme That which Ptolemy calls Ovindikon for so it is read is a City of the Aulercian Cenomanians in Gallia Lugdunensis We doe affirme nothing For that Ovinatken is perhaps the Towne which is now called le Maâ—s which is Scaligâ—rs opinion also The Earles of Vendâ—sme are descended from from the Stock of the Burbons We reade that the first Earle hereof was Ludovick Barbonius the Sonne of Iohn Earle of Marc and Clermont after whom there succeeded Lineally Iohn his Sonne and Franciâ— and Charles his Nephews whom Francis the first King of France did create the first Duke of Vendosme Charles was succeeded by his Sonne Antony who was Duke of Vendosme a Peere of France and in the right of his wife Ieane Albreta King of Navarre of whom came Henry Buâ—bon the fourth King of France of that name and the most potent King of Navarre Prince of Bearne Duke of Vendosme c. There are also Beaufort and la Val. THE DVKEDOME OF BITVRICVM THE Dukedome of Bituricum or le Duché de Berry which followeth in our Method on the North looketh toward Solonia the lower part of Belsia from which it is parted by the flowing streames of Caru on the East it looketh toward the Hurepensians Nivernensians and Borbontans being bounderd here with a little Rivalet called la Fay on the South is Lemovicum where the River Croure floweth on the West are the Picts and Turonians from whom it is parted by a little River commonly calld Clery It is fruitfull in Corne Wine and other things necessary for mans life It chiefely aboundeth with Cattell which the Inhabitants doe disperse through all France Here the Biturigians were seated formerly who as Strabo Ptolemie and others doe write were called Cubi For the Biturigians a people of France were heretofore twofold
the Delphinate After this the Province of the Delphinate became subject to Provinces who ruled it untill the time of Philip Valerius King of France who annexed it to his Crowne about the yeere of Christ 1348. which was the cause that Humbert Delphine of Vienna having lost his eldest Sonne in the Battell of Cressey and his yonger Sonne dying by sicknesse when hee was provoked to warre and set upon by Amades the 6. of that name he determined to put himselfe into the Kings protection and to leave him Heire to his Dominions on this condition that from thenceforth the eldest Sonnes of the Kings of France during their Fathers life time should beare the Armes and Title of the Delphinate And so this Country came into the Kings hands who thought fit to annex so noble a Prince neighbouring on Italy for ever to his Kingdome The Delphinate therefore being one of the chiefe Countries of France is devided as I said before into the higher and lower part and hath many faire Cities and Townes in it In the higher there are Ebrodunum which hath a Prelate also Valence Dium and S. Pauls Church In the lower is Vienna which was formerly the Metropolis and Mother City of the whole Delphinate which is now Gratianopolis there are also Romanium Brianconium Mons-Limartium upon Rhodanus a Towne much frequented by Merchants where there are also many Monuments of Antiquity also S. Antonies Church Valerians Church and the Monastery Gratianopolis was so called from the Emperour Gratian who reedified it and beautified it with many Buildings now it hath a Parliament and a President with Senators and other Officers belonging thereunto and it hath a Prelate who is one of the chiefe men of the Province under the Metropolitan of Vienna But Vienna venerable for Antiquity hath a long time had a Metropolitan Bishop Valence is converted and raised to a Dukedome and hath a Bishop and a University in which the Romane Lawes are read and declared in which Iames Cuyacius taught who was the Prince of all those Lawyers which flourished in former times whose name shall live as long as Lawes continue in the world Here are found Romane Inscriptions and other ancient Romane Monuments King Francis intended to have newly fortified Gratianopolis against the invasion of enemies but hee left it undone THE DELPHINATE OF FRANCE DAVPHINE Par IEAN de BEINS THE DVKEDOME OF LOTHARINGIA THE SOVTHERNE PART whereof is painted forth in this Table AFter Pictavia according to my method the Dukedom of Lothariâ—gia followeth Lothoringia according to the Latines was so called from Lotarius the Sonne or Nephew of the Emperour Ludovick King of France Truely Ludovick Pius had foure Son who warring like Parracides against their Father having shut him up into a Monastery among the Suesâ—ons they devided his Principalities amongst themselvs so made it a Tetrarchie Afterward by the meditation of the Nobles of the Empire the matter came to that passe that Lotarâ—us the eldest Sonne should enjoy the Title of the Empire with Italy Gallia Narbâ—nensis and those Territories which were called by the name of Lotharingia and that Ludovick should possesse Germany Charles should have France from the River Mosa to the Ocean and lastly Pipin or his Sonne should have Aquitaine Lotarius had besides Ludovick who succeeded him in the Empire a Sonne named Lotarius King of Lotaringia And as the Germanes as first called it Lotar-rijck or Lot-reych that is the Kingdome of Lotarius so the Latines afterward called it Lâ—tharingia The Inhabitants and the other French doe call it Loraine as it were Lotregne The French Writers doe report that the bounds of Lotaringia were heretofore larger and that it was heretofore called Austrasia or Austria or Oost-reych having Westrasia or Westria now called West-reych and corruptly Neustria a Westerne Kingdome lying over against it and that being devided into the higher and the lower and contained betweene the Rivers Rhene Scaldis and Mosa the lower part hath divers names and is subject to divers Princes and that the higher part which is called Mossellanica and Tullingia is all except some parts thereof under ones command so that on the East of Lotaringia there lyeth Alsatia and Westrasia on the South Burgundy on the West Campania on the North it is bounded with the Wood Arduenna the Leuceburgians Treverians and other people bordering thereon which were heretofore the chiefest parts of Lotharingia Lotaringia although it be full of high Mountaines and thick Woods yet it needeth not the supplies of forraigne Countries for it hath good store of Corne and Wine It hath divers kinde of Mettalls as Silver Brasse Iron Tinne and Lead It hath also Pearles for which there THE DVKEDOME OF LOTHORINGIA LOTHARINGIA is excellent fishing at the foote of Vâ—gesus There are also certain Stones found which the Inhabitants in regard of their â—â—lac colour doe call Lazuli and doe make great benefit of them There is also a certain substance of which they make Looking-glasses the like wherof is not found in other Provinces of â—urâ—â—â— Here are also Calâ—iâ—â—nes of great bignesse so that great cups are made of small pieces thereof It produceth divers kindes of living Creatures especially excellent Horses like to Neapolitan and Turkish Horses Lotaringia was heretofore a Kingdome as appeareth in the French Writers But there are not mentioned above two or three Kings thereof For Câ—arâ—â—s the Bald presently after the decease of his Unckle Lotarius invaded his Territories and joyned them to his Principalities And not long after it was made a Dukedome The first Dukes are scattringly mentioned by Historians and divers Writers In the raigne of Henry the 4. â—â—tâ—fridus held Lotariâ—gia hee who afterward having sold his Dukedome â—â—uâ—â—gnâ— together with his Brothers Baldwin and Eustathius made a memorable expedition to the Holy Land and carried his conquering Army thorow Asia and Syria even to the City of Hierusalem and was created King of Hierusalem After him succeeded Baldwin and after Baldwin Eustathius Afterward King Henry the fifth gave the Dukedome to William Earle of â—â—vaniâ— after whom Theodore Theoâ—â—â—â— Frederick others were created Princes of Lotariâ—gia whom from the â—â—â—â—edome was passed to Frederick Earle of Vadimomium from whom the Dukes of Lotaringia are descended Mercator doth plainely dâ—scrâ—be be it in two Tables in one whereof he painteth out the Northerne part in the other the Southerne part Heretofore the Medâ—â—maâ—â—ices and Leuâ—â— did inhabit Lâ—taringia Lib. 4. Tacitus Pliny Strabâ— and Ptolemy doe call them Medâ—â—maâ—â—ices and Caesar also Lib. â— calleth them Medâ—â—matriâ—â— whose Metropolis is called Dâ—vodurum and â—ow Mâ—tz In the Register Booke of the Provinces of Belgia it is called â—vâ—â—as Medâ—â—â—aâ—riâ—um or le Evesâ—he de Metz le Pays Mâ—ssin Caeâ—â—◠〈◊〉 Lu an lib. 1. and Pliâ—y doe call the Leuâ—tâ—â—beri Ptolemy also calls them Leuâ—â— and maketh their Metropolis to be â—uâ—â—um And so 〈◊〉 called in the Register Booke of the Provinces of Belgia Civitas
doe now call Virdunum and Verdunum Antonius calleth it Verodunum And in the Register Booke of the Provinces it is called Civitas â—erduneâ—sium or l' Eueschâ— de Verdun And the three Cities aforesaid have Counties belonging to them THE DVKEDOME OF LOTARINGIA The Southerne part OUR order and Method doth now require that we should reckon up the chiefe Rivers of Lotaringia but first wee will speake concerning the Lakes It hath many Pooles and Lakes which are full of fish Among which there is one that is 14. Miles in compasse in which there are great Carpes of three foote long which are so pleasant in taste that they farre exceede the Carpes in other Countries for sweetnesse The Duke of Lotaringia receaveth 16000. Franks every third yeare for fish taken in this Lake It is watered with these famous Rivers Mosa Mosella Saravo Voloia Mortana Muâ—ta Sella Hidia and others Concerning Mosa it appertaineth to lower Germanie The other Rivers doe properly belong to this Dukedome the better part of Mosella and Saravus the rest wholy Mosella riseth in the Mountaine Vogâ—sus not farre from the Springhead of Araris a little above the Towne which is commonly called Bussan and so gliding downe from Vulturnum to the West having view'd those Townes which are call'd in French l' Estrate Remiremont Espinal Charmes Baton it bendeth his course from the East westward and runneth straite forward to Tullum an Episcopall Citie whence running againe Eastward it bendeth Northward even to Fruardum and having visited the Mediomatricians the Treverians and other people it runneth into the River of Rhene That which the Germanes call Mosel the French call Moselle It is thought that Rhenanus Ptolemie Lib. 11. Cap. 9. and others did call it Obriâ—gos But Iohn Herold noteth that Obringen so called by Ptolemie is not a River but a part of Land neere the River Rhâ—me which is now called Ober Rhingham also Clemens Trolaeus Mosellanus witnesseth as Abraham Ortelius writeth that a certaine Country of â—and neere Mosella is yet called Obrincum Ausonius Eidyll 3. doth celebrate the praise of Mosella in learned verses both for the clearenesse of the water and easy sayling thereon and for the Townes and Pallaces which beautified the bankes thereof and also for the fish therein as the Mullet the Trout the Barbell the Salmon the â—amprey the Perch the Tench the Bleake and the Gudgeon of which iâ— hath great store and lastly for the Rivers which runne into it as Pronaea Nemesa â—ura Gelbi Erubro Lesura Drahona Salmona Saranus and Alisontia L. Vetus in the Raigne of Domitius Nero the Emperour attempted to joyne Mosella and Araris by making a channell beâ—weene them that the armies being convey'd out of Italie by Sea and afterward on the Rivers Rhodanus and Arar by that channell and so passing by the River Mosella into the Rhene might at last be brought againe to the Ocean that so the jouney might bee more easie and the westerne and northerne shoares betweene them might be made navigable as Cornelius Tacitus writeth Lib. 18. Of which Ausonius Te foutes vivique lacus te caerula noscent Flumina te veteres pagorum gloria luci Te Druna te sparsis incerta Druentia ripis Alpinique colent Fluvij dupitemque per Vrbem Qui meat dextrae Rhodanus dat nomina ripa Te stagnis ego caruleis magnumque sonoris Amnibus aquorea te commendabo Garumnae The Fountaines Lakes and blew streames shal know thee And woods which of Villages the glorie be Thee Druna thee Druentia that doth glide With winding course betweene his bancks so wide And all the Rivers on the Alpine hill Shall thee adore and reverence thee still And Rhodanus that doth through the Citie flow Naming the right hand banck as it doth goe With the blew Lakes and streames that greatest are And Sea-like Garumne I will thee compare Saravus rising not farre from the Salmensians is the greatest of all those Rivers which runne into Mosella it is navigable and famous for the receipt of other Rivers and after it hath view'd the Cities and Townes which are commonly called Sar-Burg Fenestrange Sar-Vberden Sar-Abben Guemund Sar-Pruck Walderfing Sar-Brug and others at length it meeteth with Mosella neere the walls of Augusta of the Treverians not farre from Kontherbruck Ausonius mentioneth it in praysing Mosella It retaineth that name still For the Inhabitants call it Sar. And the ancients did call it Sarta as appeareth by an inscription which was brought to Trevers from a Towne seated by that River which is now called Sarpruck that is Sarrae Pons or Sarra Brigde CAES RO. EXER IMP. P. P. S.C. Au. TREVE INGR. ESSUM H. CASTRA SARRAE FLU PRO. MIL. CUSTODIA BIENN POTITUS EST. THE DVKEDOME OF LOTHORINGIA Lotharingia Meridiona THE DVKEDOME OF BVRGVNDIE· LET so much according to our Method suffice concerning Lotharingia The Dukedome of Burgundie followes or lower Burgundie The name of Burgundie commeth from the Burgundians who being a people of Germanie descended of the Vandalls and so called from the word Burgis that is from the Townes of Garrison being disturbed by the Almaines who violently seated themselves in their Countrie which is now cal'd the Palatinate under the conduct of Theodisius the sonne of Arcadius the younger they drove out the Sequeans and Aedians and possest themselves of this part of ancient France with the Nuithons whom Tacitus mentioneth Peter Sancto-Iulianus deriveth the Etymologie of Burgundie from a certaine place commonly call'd Burg-ogne in the Countrie of Langrenia It was heretofore a Kingdome about the yeare 1034. and afterward it was divided into a Dukedome and Countie the former toward the East called the lower and royall Burgundie the latter toward the East called the higher and Imperiall Burgundie Wee will entreate of the Dukedome in this Description and of the Countie in the next The Dukedome is encompas'd on the East side with the Counties of Sabaudia and Burgundie having the River Rhodanus flowing betweene them on the South is the Territorie of Lions on the West the faire fields of the Nevernians and Borbonians on the North lies Campania It is a Champion Countrie and inferiour unto none for fertilitie and fruitfullnesse for here is plenteous stoare of Wine and Corne so that Bacchus and Ceres seeme to contend who should exceede the other in bestowing their guifts most liberally upon this Country Richard Earle of Augustodunum a stoute man and well experienced in warlike matters was created Duke of all Burgundie beyond Araris by Odon King of France who was afterward Duke of Burgundie 32. yeeres Hee left Burgundy to his Sonne Rudolphus who was afterward chosen King of France and Hugo Niger his Brother succeeded him in his Dukedome After him succeeded Odo his Brother or his Sonne for I finde Authors of both opinions After whom followed Henry his Brother who dying without Issue Robert King of France got the Dukedome of Burgundy Henry having left it him as they say by his last
they should be free from the oath which they had taken to the Helvetians and might yeeld themselves up unto him But when they saw there was no hope of the Duke of Austria's comming they joyned themselves in confederacy with the Helvetians The Canton of Tugium hath two parts and foure hundreds in them out of every hundred eleaven Senators are chosen to governe the Country The Towne it selfe standeth for two hundreds the Countrie next unto it hath three as Montanus Vallis Egâ—ria or Aquae Regiae and the Parish of Bara But the Townes of Tugiâ—â—um by Prefects resident in the City doth governe these places the Town Cham Andrewes Village Hunelbergo Waâ—â—hâ—ville Steinhuse S. Wolfargo So much concerning the first Province of this Card the other followes namely Basil so called from the famous City Basilea It is called also â—ungâ—nia which name we may easily conjecture was derived from the Seqnanes which Rhenanus also approveth in his third Book of Germany The Country is fruitfull and bringeth forth good Wine and Corne so that it supplieth the Neighbour Countries that want Corne. There are also faire Pastures for Cattell Those whom Ptolemy calls Rauricians and Caesar Rauracians as Scudus witnesseth did heretofore inhabit this Country who as he reporteth taking example by the Helvetians did burne up all their Townes Villages and Houses Basil is now the chiefe City of the Country Some would have it so called from a Basilisk found here but their opinion is absurd Others from Basilema the Mother of Iulian the Emperour Rhenanus would have it call'd Basilea because it was a royall passage And he addeth it is likely that there was a passage in this place while Augusta was yet standing because here in regard of the Valley through which the Torrent floweth out of the Lake Byrsa the banke is lower and thereby more easily to passe but neere Augusta it is more steepe But Munsterus doth reject this conjecture by the authority of Marcellinus who calleth that City by a Greeke word Basileian that is a Kingdome as it were Regnopolis or the Royall City This City is watered with the River Rhene which devides it about the middle of it where it is united and joyned together againe with a Bridge The River Rhene is very commodious to the City because it is Navigable and bringeth up many great Vessels to it Two hundred yeeres since it was much shaken with Earthquakes but it was afterward re-edified and Pope Pius in the yeere 1460. did adorne it with an University which he endowed with all the Priviledges Statutes and Immunities which the Universities of Bononia Coline Heidelberg Erdford Lipsick and Vienna doe enjoy Basil hath these Prefectureships Faren-Sperg Castle Rinfeld seated on a high Mountaine the Towne Wallenburg Hâ—mburg Munchensleiâ— â—amstein the County of Toggius where I suppose is Tognyl which is subject to the Abbot of S. Gallus when the Citizens of Toggius belong to Suitia and Glaronia also the County of Rapperswijl which I suppose should be the County of Straesberg and the Barony of Kilâ—hâ—erg The other Townes of Tuginum and Tigurinum are in the Table of Argow The Townes in the Country of Abbatium which are neither mentioned in Suevia nor in all Germany are these Reichenouw Schaffusen Kreutslinge Pfeffers or as I suppose Pfefficon This Country is watered with many Rivers and little streames all which the River Rhene at last receiveth Among which are the Rivers Rhene Byrsa and Wiesa Byrsa floweth out of the Mountaine Iura thorow many Valleyes even to Basilâ—a carrying downe with it many Boat-loads of Wood. On the other side the River Wiesa doth part it from the Black wood and much Timber for Building is brought downe this River and afterward it filleth many Cisternes and serveth many Houses in the lesser Basil with water For it driveth a Mill which saweth Trees into Bards and square Studdes it grindeth Corne and Grindstones to sharpen Carpenters tooles it serveth to draw Iron into thin Plates and for many other uses besides it hath excellent fish especially Trouts And though it be lesse than the River Byrsa over against it yet it is fuller of Fish than it serveth for more uses although Byrsa doth drive many Mills and is very commodious for â—â—ner-men who have Houses by this River or rather neere the little 〈◊〉 which parteth from it and runneth even to the walls of the greater Basil There are also here Toldeâ—us Largus and other Rivers 〈◊〉 of this enough It remaineth that wee should adde something â—â—ncerning the government of the Common-wealth in these Proviâ—â—â—s All that are admitted to publike Counsell are chosen equally â—ut of the severall Cantons as well out of the Tugurians as Basilians But there are two publike Counsels which have chiefest authority in these Cities The greater when many meete together in behalfe of the Commons and this for the most part is called when there are some serious waighty affaires which appertaine to the Common-wealth the lesser is that which looketh daily to the government of the Common-wealth and determines matters of controversie between the Citizens The greater Counsell of Tigurum doth consist of 200. men that of Basil of 244. The lesse Counsell of Tigurum hath 50. men chosen out of every Tribe and Basil it hath 60. For 12. are elected out of every Tribe to make up the greater Counsell besides at Tigurum there are 18. chosen out of the Nobles To the lesser Counsell of Tiguri the severall Tribes doe send three men at Basil foure men and to these are added two Counsels in every City who are the chiefe Heads of the City and moreover at Basil there are so many Tribunes whom they call the Heads of the Counsell in like manner as they doe the Consuls besides at Tigurum there are 6. chosen out of the Nobility to make up the lesser Counsell when there are but 3. chosen out of the other Tribes and moreover 6. others are chosen by free Suffrages out of any Tribe which the Magistrate shall thinke fitt The lesser Counsell is devided into the old and the new they call those the old Senate who have borne office halfe a yeere the other although they are called when the Senate is held yet they are not alwaies called and there are some matters which the new Senate doth onely dispatch The greater Counsell also at Basil is devided in the same manner and of 12. men chosen out of the Tribes 6. are joyned or added to the new Senate and so many to the old The lesser Counsell doth meete for the most part thrice and sometimes 4. times every weeke There is one Consull belonging to the Senates whom in their speech they call Burgermeister that is the Master of the Citizens and the greater Counsell doth choose him The Tribunes are next to the Consuls in power whom the Tigurinians call Oberistemeister and those of Basil call Zunffâ—meister there are 3. of them at Tigurum and two onely at Basil who together with the two Consuls are
Eberhard Earle of Wirtemberg a Duke Duke Eberhard the second continued but two yeares in his Dukedome but having melted his gold and silver plate he fled first to Vlma and afterward to the Prince Palatine and dyed without isâ—ue After that the Emperour Maximilian created Eberhard the Nephew of Eberhard Duke of Wirtemberg But hee was droven out of his Country in the yeare 1519 by the Swedlanders Christopher succeeded his father Vlricke and Ludovicke his sonne succeeded after Christopher And Ludovicke was succeeded by Fredericke the sonne of George Earle of Mount Vellicard The Intcurgians were formerly seated heere but Rhenanus called them the Vuithungians This Dukedome is as it were circular and round and doth containe many Citties and Townes The chiefe Citties are Tubinga Stutgardia Tubinga is commonly called Tubingen which is situate neere the River Neccarus being a very neate Cittie having store of bread and Wine which is transported to Swethland and it hath a stone Bridge over the River Neccarus It hath also a Castle and a hill planted with Vines a Colledge of Câ—nnons and an Vniversitie In this Cittie besides Iohn Stoffler and others Leonard Fuchsius did professe Physicke And the most famous and learned Martin Crusius was the Rhetoricke professor in the same Academy It was instituted by Eberhard Earle of Wirtemberg whom Maximilian as we sayd before created a Duke in the yeere 1477. Iohn Herold in his booke of the Germaine antiquities sheweth by an inscription engraven there that Augustus had a Mansion house at Tubinga Which Peter Appianus in his booke of auncient inscriptions doth set downe thus MAX. IN AVâ— EM GER MAX. DAâ— MAX. ARM. MAX. TRIB P. COS. ET But Heroldus setteth downe the whole inscription as the Emperour was usually enstiled at Rome Imp. Caes. Divi. L. Sept. Sever. Pert. Aug. Parth. Tarah Adiab F. M. Aurel. Antonin Aug. Sarmat Max. Ger. Max. Dac Max. Armen Max. Britan. Max. Arab. Max. Aleman Max. Parth. Max. P. E. Pont. Max. Trib. Pote vi Cos. Procos Perpet Leg. 8. Ant. Aug. P. E. Ejus Num. Devot Prin. Opt. Fortis THE COVNTIE OF WIRTEMBERG WIRTENBERG THE LOWER ALSATIA ALsatia commonly called Elsasz was so called as some suppose as it were Edelsalz that is a Noble and famous seate others thinke it was so named from the River Illa by changing a into i as it were a seate by the River Illa whence some doe affirme that it was called the Country of Illesass and not Alsas It is as fruitfull a Country as any that lyeth by the side of the Rhene on the East it hath Helvetia which parteth it from Rhene on the West Lotharingia where the Mountaine Vosagus is the bordering limit betweene Lotharingia and Germanie on the South it hath part of Helvetia Burgundie on the North it is boundred with the Dukedom of Wiriemberg It is nine Germaine miles long and from Rhene to the Mountaines it is three Germaine miles broad but towards Haganoa it groweth broader betweene the Mountaines But this Country is so fruitfull and there is such great plenty of all things especially of Wine and Corne in this little tract of Land that it doth not onely serve the inhabitants but other people also of Germanie both farre and neere Therefore Iames Wimphelingus in his Epitomy of Germany doth call it the Store house and Nurse of Germanie For excellent Wines are continually brought out of this Country in Carts and sometimes are convayd by shipping into Helvetia Swethland Bavaria Lotharingia and the Low Countries and sometimes into England In Sungoja there is great store of corne and all over the plaine ground of Alsatia even to Argentina there is every where great store of corne so that the inhabitants of the Mountaines of Lotharingia the Burgundians and a good part of Helvetia are sustained by it It hath Mountaines which yeeld excellâ—nt good Wines and in the plaine ground it hath Corne and divers kindes of fruite trees It hath also on the Mountaines Woods of Chesnuts and Mines of Silver Brasse and Lead especially in the valâ— Leberthal Iâ— hath also faire pastures both upon the Mountaines and valleyes as appeareth by those excellent fat cheeses which are made in Munsterthall so that there are great store of Kine and cattle bred in this Country And it hath in some parts many wilde horses also Leopards Beares Martines and Harts and innumerable other wilde beasts Alsatia was heretofore under the Dominion of the Kings of France as also a part of the Kingdome of Austria Alsatia was held to be the chiefest Dukedome which Hâ—ldericke King of France did honour with that title and gave it to his Cosen Etico in the yeare â—84 After Etico there succeeded his sonne Adelprechtus who being slaine with an arrow left two sonnes Linfrid and Eberhard who were governours of Alsatia Afterward their familie was expelled forth of Alsatia by Charles Martell Palatine and Master of the Court in the Kingdome of France But in the time of Otto the first the Earles of Kyburg who where allyed by consanguinitie to the Emperour did governe Alsatia Some say that they were made Landgraves of Alsatia others say that Otto the third did divide it into Landgraveships and that the higher Landgraveship which contayneth the Towne Einsheim and the adjacent Townes did fall to the Earles of Habsburg The other to the Earles of Ottingen to whom it descended from Henry Landgrave of Lower Alsatia who dying without issue did sell it to the Bishop of Argentine But this small Country is so fruitfull and pleasant that it hath 46 Citties and Townes in it which are walled about Fiftie Castels which are situated on Mountaines and Plaines and an innumerable sort of Villages Alsatia is two fold the Lower which is described in this present Chart and the higher which is painted forth in the Table following the Tribocians did possesse them both The chiefe Cittie is called by moderne writers Argentina Sextus Aurelius and Ptolomie doe call it Argentoratum Reginus nameth it Strasburg who writ five hundred yeeres before and more Rob. Constantinus supposeth it to be the same with that which Aurelius Victor and Diacâ—nus doe call Angentaria It is commonly called Strasburg from the number and capacity of the streetes This Cittie is situated in a fertile soyle and hath great store of Wine and Corne. And Munster writeth that there are in this Cittie above an hundred Gardiners who make a great gaine out of Turnips Onions Radishes Cabigges and the like An arme of the River Rhene and three other Rivers doe run through this Cittie and the severall Channells doe glide through the streetes as at Venice It is well governed and it hath a famous schoole and a Church On the West there are the Tabernae celebrated by Antoninus Simler calleth them Zaborn Frodoard nameth it Zabreni Ortelius calleth them tres Tabernae Concerning which Antoninus saith thus Riguasque perenni Fonte Tabernas THE LOWER ALSATIA ALSATIA INFERIOR The Country is partly Mountainous and partly
Wood called De Stubhenitza that is a heape of Stubs of Trees doe yeeld firewood enough for the whole Iland The Clergie here have both Meddowes and Fields of their owne and have also tythe Cattell and tythe Corne. There are great store of Nobility in this Country who are discended from ancient Families of which some are more hospitalious and bountifull and some more sparing some doe addict themselves to the warres and some to study and most of them doe travell to forraine Princes and Kings Courts and doe goe to Universities and to the Warres And so are chosen to be Governours both in forraine Countries and Provinces and also in their owne Country in times of parre and weace not onely in Politick but also in Ecclesiastick affaires The Country people also doe live well in this Principality who doe onely pay the Magistrates a certaine summe of money and doe certaine services and some of them doe none at all And let so much suffice concerning the Iland and Principality of Rugia THE KINGDOME AND ELECTORSHIP OF BOHEMIA BOHEMIA Boemia or Bojemia as some would have it was so called from the Wood Hercynia For in the Germane language Baum and in Dutch Boom signifies a tree the Graecians call it Baemia and Ptolomy calls the Inhabitants Baemi and Strabo Lib. 7. calleth them Kolduli Some would have it so named from the Bojans who fled and transmigrated thither which seeme to bee so called from Bois that is from Wood. Ptol. lib. 2. cap. 11. in his description of Germany doth place the Baemians under the Wood Harcynia being a great Nation spreading even to Danubius Strabo calleth it Bubiemium for so Rhenanus Aventine and others doe read it but yet in the Graecian printed Copies it is called Boviasmon but Rhenanus thinketh this to be a corrupt reading of it and Causabon noteth that in ancient Bookes it is called Boviaâ—mon Tacitus calleth it Bojemum On the East it hath the Marcomannians and Quadians on the West the Noricians on the South the higher Pamonia now called Austria and on the North it is bounded with Saxonie and Misnia The Wood Hercynia doth encompasse it round about and encloseth it in manner of a Romane Amphitheater So that the length and breadth is all one being above two hundred mile broad and as many long The ayre in regard the Country standeth Northward is cold and sharpe but yet wholesome But the soyle yeeldeth such great store of Barly and Wheate so that it furnishes and supplies other Countries But it hath but little Wine and that which growes there is very tart and sharpe It hath excellent Saffron both for colour and sent This Country also yeeldeth very rich Drugs yet it hath no Oyle nor any other parts of Germany It hath many rich mines the chiefe whereof are in the Countries of Cromelaw Budeveisz and Kuttenberg Also neere the Towne Beraun there are Iron Mines And in other parts it hath Tinne Leade and Brasse And moreover it hath Carbuncles and Amethists which are taken out of the Oare Moreover there are great store of wilde Beasts for hunting as Foxes Beares Harts and wilde Oxen which they call in their language Lomi And they report that this wilde Beast Lomi when hee is hunted filleth a Bladder which hee hath beneath his necke with hot water and therewithall hee sprinckles the Dogs that follow him which burneth whatsoever it toucheth like scalding water so that it will make the hayre and skin come of This Country was governed at first by a Duke The first Duke was Zechus who comming out of Crotia did first establish this Country of Bohemia After him succeeded Crocus and his Daughter Labussa with her Husband Primislaus after him Nimislaus and his Nephew Mnato and Vrislaus the Sonne of Mnato also Necla Noctericus and Borsinous In whose time Bohemia received the Christian faith in the yeere 900. in the time of THE KINGDOME AND ELECTORSHIP OF BOHEMIA BOHEMIA the Emperour Arnulph but in the yeere of our Lord 1086. Bohemia was made a Kingdome and in the Counsell at Moguntine Vratisslaus the first was created King by the Emperour Henry the fourth and Gilbert Bishop of Trevers was sent to Prague to annoynt the King in the presence of the people and to invest him with the Royall ornaments his wife also Swatana was crowned Queene But afterward it fell to bee a Dukedome againe when it came to Vratislaus the fourth who for his service in the Mediolanian expedition was created by the Emperour Frederick King of Bohemia and an associate in the Empire and had given him for his armes a red Lyon with a forked tayle in a white Field from whom some Emperours discended after that Bisâ—tislaus had carried away Iutha the Daughter of the Emperour Otho the II. whence they began to bee a kinne to the Emperours The King of Bohemia is one of the seven Electors Bohemia hath some Citties which are subject to the King and some to the Lords and Nobles The chiefe Citty is Prague which was walled about by Primistaus the third Duke of Bohemia and his wife Libusla It hath the Castle Vâ—segradum or Herschin which is seated on a Mountaine The whole Citty is divided into three Citties the Higher the New and the Lesse The River Muldavia doth seperate old Prague from the new in which there is a Castle and the Cathedrall Church of Saint Vitus and these two parts of the Citty are joyned together with a stone Bridge of 24. Arches which was built by King Vladislaus The Emperour â—harles the IV. and the King of Bohemia did much adorne and enlarge this Citty The Castle standeth on a very steepe Hill In the Church of the Castle there is an Alablaster Monument wrought with curious workmanship in which divers Princes and Emperours have beene buryed Ptolomy would have it call'd Casurges Aventinus Maâ—â—budum and Strabo Bubienum In the yeere 1370. King Charles erected here an Academy or Vniversity which continued untill the yeere 1308. And afterward by reason of a faction which arose it was translated to Lapsia The Citty Egra is situated in the first entrance into Bohemia which was so named from the River Egra by which it was seated It was heretofore subject to the Romane Empire but now to the Kingdome of Bohemia It is faire and beautifull within it hath faire houses and civill courteous and magnificent Citizens And without it hath pleasant Orchards and fruitfull Fields and a River full of Fish This Citty is famous for a kinde of drinke called Mede which is made of Honey The chiefe Townes of Bohemia towards Moravia are Mutha Chrudima Hradecium Pardubitium Litomossium and from thence toward Noricia there are Glatovia Dornazlicium Misa and Tacovia On the South side the chiefe Townes are Budvicium Crumâ—â—via Trebonia Hadrecium Hencici and on that side which is toward Misma it hath these Townes Pons Cadana Chomutavia and Austio And these Townes are neere the confines of Slâ—â—ia Hiaromirium Glaâ—â—um
Curta and some others The Inland Townes are Cuthna Colen Belsina Verena Zateâ—â—um Launa Slana â—â—tomericum Tabortum The chiefe Rivers are 〈◊〉 which they call Labe it breaketh forth of the Mountaine neere the Citty Aust and hath great store of Salmons There is also Multavia which Ptolemy calleth Cassurgis and the Germanes Molea and the Inhabitants Vltauva there are also the Rivers Egra â—assava Gisera Misa and others some whereof have fine sands of gold and some of them have shells out of which they get Pearles The Mountaines Sudâ—ta doe encompasse Bohemia on the South and West The Mountaine Pinifer which is so called from the abundance of Pines growing there which riseth in the Mountaines of the Maraniship of Brandenburg betweene Franconia Voitlandia and Bohemia in the compasse of two miles doth send forth foure famous Rivers towards the foure parts of the World namely Moenus in Francia Sala i◠〈◊〉 Nabus in Bavaria and Egra in Bohemia This Mountaine also hath Gold Silver Quick-silver Iron and Brimstone It hath also 〈◊〉 of Precious-stones The whole Country is as it were walled 〈◊〉 with Woods of which that part which lyeth between 〈…〉 West and the North Strabo calleth the Wood Gabreta and Ptolem◠〈…〉 that part which streteheth from the South to Danubius Ptolemy calleth the Moones Wood but now it is called Passavica Silva or Deâ— Passawerwaldt on the West where it joyneth to Moravia it is called Der Scheib The Emperour Charles in the yeere 1361. did devide the Kingdome of Bohemia into 12. Countries which are governed by Captaines and Barons who doe first decide small controversies and secondly if there bee any theeves they may call the Nobility to ayde them in suppressing of those Robbers and at last in time of warres every one repaireth to his owne Captaine I finde that the Burpaviate of Carlstein is in this Kingdome where the Crowne of the Kingdome is kept There are these Countries Lobâ—â—wits Hassenstain Litzkaw Camethaw Passau Melnis Rosenberg Hadretz Dominia Hasenburg Leip Perstain Dobitschaw Walstain Râ—schatec Dachaw Totsnick Wartenberg Schellenberg Kost Schmirits Lissaw Kunewaldt Dessaw Schonpeck Slawa Grossen Bora Liebenstain Ioppendorff Gradetz and Colourat some of which are Counties also the Baronies of Trachenberg and Millusch Prague was made an Archbishops seate by Charles King of Bohemia and Emperour of Germany and the Bishop of Litomisliens was made his Suffragan I come unto their manners concerning which Iohn Dubravius writeth thus The Bohemians in their manners and habit doe shew a kinde of Lion-like courage under which signe Bohemia lyeth whether you consider the great stature of the Bohemians or their strong broad breasts or neckes coverd with stiffe yellow hayre or their great voice or glistering eyes or their courage and strength Moreover the Lion is wont to swell in contempt of other beasts and cannot be disarmed especially if you set upon him by force Neither doth the Bohemian degenerate from him in this also for he contemneth others both in word deed and sheweth much pride and arrogancy both in his gate and gesture And he is most fierce when he is roughly entreated Moreover he is as bold as a Lion in any enterprise and stout and hardy in the Execution but yet he is ambitious and vaine-glorious And besides he is as hungry and sharpe as a Lion and immoderate in his Dier THE MARQVISHIP OF MORAVIA MORAVIA commonly called Marnhern doth confine on Polonia Westward It is so called from the River Moravia which runneth thorow this Country The Ancients did call it Marcomannia because it did border Germany on that part where Danubiuâ— glideth towards Pannonia For in the Germane language Marck signifies a limmit or bound and those which dwelt there were called Marcomanni the Inhabitants of the Frontiers or Marches as Dubravius thinketh But Arrianus saith thus The last saith he of these Nations are the Quadians Marcomannians after them the Iazyges or Sarmatians then the Getes and lastly a great part of the Sarmatians And it appeareth manifestly that this Moravia was the Seate of the Marcomannians because neere the River Hana the Husbandmen as they were ploughing did often finde certaine coynes of the ancient Romane Emperours as of M. Antoninus who as Histories doe witnesse did conquer and subdue this Nation There was also mony taken from the enemy as a booty with this Inscription De Marcomannis There are some doe conjecture by the Etymologie of the word that the Marcomannians did possesse that Province of Germany which is commonly called Die Marck or the Marquiship of Brandenburg beyond Albis toward the Ocean for the Inhabitants thereof are called Die Marcker that is Marcomannians as it were Marcmenner some say the Marcomannians were so named from Horses as we call Mareschalcus a Praefect of the Horse and Mar-staller a Master of the Horse for Marrha and Merrhen doe signifie in the Germane language a Horse and a Mare whence they translate Merrhenlandt the Country of Mares But the former reason is more probable Moravia as it is now is bounded on three parts of it with Mountaines Woods Forrests or Rivers on the East from Huâ—garia on the West from Bohemia on the North from Silesia For on the South towards Austria it is plaine ground and in some places it is parted from it by the River Thaysa and in other places by a small River The ayre of this Country is gentle and warme and so more subject to corruption And as this Country is populous so it yeeldeth great store of Corne and Wine and all things necessary for mans use It hath also great store of Saffron The inward part of the Country is Champion ground the Fields are of a fat and fruitfull soyle and therefore good for tillage there are Hills crowned with Vineyards and in regard it hath a better soyle for Vines than Bohemia therefore THE MARQVISHIP OF MORAVIA MORAVIA it excelleth it for goodnesse and plenty of Wine It is all tilled so that there is no part left for feeding of Flocks and Cattell unlesse it bee in the Woods and Desarts The Mountaines Sudetae neere the Citty Igla are thought to bee full of Mines Moreover it is wonderfull that there is Frankincense and Myrrh in Moravia which doth not distill out of a sweating Tree as in other parts but is digged out of the ground especially in one place called Gradisco in which there is both male and female Frankincense But of late Venceslaus a Nobleman as he was laying the foundation of the head of a Fish-pond in his owne grounds at Sterenberg found the whole body of a man which was nothing but Myrrhe This Country was heretofore adorned with the title of a Kingdome and it had formerly Kings who governed all Bohemia and Poleland and it was a very large and potent Kingdome About the yeere of Christ 700. Zuantocopius did possesse Moravia Bohemia Silesia and Poleland and the Dukes thereof were subject unto him But hee being proud of his large Territories did deny
call by divers name on the West there is Gastein â—aurn Villacher Taurn Rastatter Taurn and Karnâ—n Taurn But some of the Alpes doe keepe their owne names as Modringalbin Serbisalbin Sanalbin c. Dietzperg hangeth over the River Dravus and above it there is the Mountaine Argentatus which the Inhabitants call Silber Berg in the Mountaine Rasperg there are the Fountaines and Spring-heads of the Rivers Mura and Isara the one running Southward the other Eastward And betweene these high Hills of Taurus and the Alpes there are many woods which are parts of the wood Hercynia as Hirschpuhl Priewalt Adelwaldt Eremus commonly called in der Einod The aforesaid Alpes have Gold Silver and Iron in them Concerning the Ecclesiasticall government it is devided as Paracelsus saith betweene the Bishop of Saltzburg and the Patriarch of Aquilegium Munster in his third Booke of Cosmographie and Pius 2. in his Europe doth describe a strange custome which they have in inaugurating their Princes THE KINGDOME OF POLAND· POLAND was so called from the Planesse of the Country which they themselves call Pole It is a very great Country on the North side it hath Borussia and Pomerania on the East Massovia and Lithuania on the South it is enclosed with the Mountaines of Russia and Hungaria on the West it hath Lusatia Silesia and Moravia it is 480. Miles long and three hundred broade The ayre of this Country is pure but the Winters are cold and sharpe All the Country is plaine and yeeldeth good store of Barley Wheate and Pulse It hath abundance of fruites Waxe Honey and Butter It hath also great store of Salt which is digged out of the earth I and there are in these Mountaines Mines of Brasse which the inhabitants call Tatri and also Mines of Brimstone It hath also great store of Cattell so that Saxonie and many Countries of Germanie doe live by Poland Oxen. There is great variety of living creatures and great store of cattell and wild beasts It hath wild Oxen Buffones Bulls and wild Horses and Ounces and the like There are also great store of foule for Hawking Poland was dignified with the title of a Kingdome in the yeare 1001. in the raigne of Boleslaus Chabri who received his royall Diadem from the Emperour Otto the third But 77. yeares after in the raigne of Boleslaus Audaci or the bold who cruelly murdered Stanislaus Bishop of Cracovia the Pope devested it of that dignity and tooke it away And it was made a Kingdome againe in the yeare 1295. and Primislaus the second Duke of the greater Poland and Pomerania was elected King This Country is divided into the greater and lesser Poland The greater is more Northward and the River doth part it in the middle The lesser is Southward and the River Vistula runneth through it In the greater Poland the principall Cities are these Posnania by the Rivers Varta and Prosna it is situate betweene the Hills and walled with a double wall it hath many faire tiled or slated houses the Suburbs are large on the farther banke of the River Varta encompassed with a great Lake and Marshes it hath every yeare two famous Faires and it is a Bishops seate It hath these Townes under it Koscien among the Marshes which is 7. Miles distant Also Meidzyrzexze in which the houses are built all of wood and it is neere to Silesia and Pomerania Also Ostresow which is situate on a plaine betweene the Woods and the Townes Wschow Sremick Prenez and Rogozno Calisia is a walled Citie among the Marshes the River Prosna runneth by it and there are some ruines of a Castell Vnder this Citie there are Gnesna Pizary Wartha Noklo Land Konin Slupeza and Kolo Gnesna is walled about and seated on a Plaine betweene Lakes and Hills This Citie was first built by Lechus in which Boleslaus THE KINGDOME OF POLAND· POLONIA et SILESIA Chabri Prince of Poland received the Royall Diadem from the Emperour Otto the third which the Kings of Poland doe still enjoy Siradia is a Citie built of wood walled about and seated on a Plaine Vnder it there are the Cities Vielunia Sadeck Petricovia Rosprza and Spicimiria Petricovia is seated in a moorish ground Lancisia is a pleasant Citie walled about and seated on a plaine Vnder it there are Orlovia Piatec Bresma Kornazew Biechow and some other Townes Cuiauia or Vladislauia is a faire Citie and it hath under it Bistgostia by the navigable River Buda by which commodities are transported out of Poland into Vistula Brestia hath under it Radziciow Crusphicia and Cowalow Crusphisia is the chiefe Citie of all Poland next to Gnesâ—a it is built of wood with a brick Castell and it is seated by the Lake Goplo out of which Lake Mice heretofore came forth who by the just judgement of God did devoure Pompilâ—us Prince of Poland in that Castle Raua is a woodden Citie by the River Raua it hath under it these Townes Sochaczouia Gostinin and Gamhâ—â— Ploozko is a pleasant Cittie seated on a Hill by the River Vistula it is a Bishops seate under it there are Bielsko Raczyayaz Steperoz Streâ—sko Mlawa Plonsko and Radzanow Dobrinta is situated on a rock by the River Vistula it had a Castle which the Crucigerans did demolish Vnder it there are 〈◊〉 Ripin and Gorzno In the lesser Poland there are these Principall Citâ—ties Cracovia Sandomiria and Lublinum Cracovia is built on a Plaine by the River Vistula Peter Appiarus supposeth it to be the same which Ptolomy calls Carrodunum being walled with a double wall It hath a Castle on a high rock which they call Vanel In this Citty the King of Poland keepe their residence and are buryed It hath also a Vniversity famous for study and Arts. But the Cracovians have no chiefe Advocate so that the King himselfe is the Praetor of Cracovia There are three Cities neere unto Cracovia Clepardia Stradonia and Casimiria It hath two Dukedomes under it Biecz Wonincz Sandecz Lelow Kâ—yaz and Proszovice Sandomirta is a principall Cittie walled about being situated on a Hill by the River Vistula 22. Miles distant from Cracovia It hath an ancient Castle well fortified Vnder which is Cheâ—â—â—y seated on a Plaine and famous for Mines of Blew in which there is also some silver found also Korzin Wislicia Pilzno Opoczno Radomia Pâ—â—onieck Zannichost Zarnow and Mologost Lublinum is a chiefe Citty well-fortified with a wall and a Castle In which there are yearely three Faires to which both Turkes Armenians Graecians Germanes Moschovites Lithuanians and others doe resort the River Bâ—sterra doth runne by the Castle Vnder it there are Vrzendow Lulow Parcâ—â— and Casimiria Moreover the Kingdome of Poland hath many Lakes in which there are all sorts of Fish It is watered also with many faire Rivers the chiefe whereof is Vandalus or Vistula which the Germanes call De Wixel The next are Chronus now called Pregell Nyennien Ruhon Viadrus Varta Tyras now called Nyester Hypanis now Bugh Borysthenes now Nyeper
note where the Sessions for the whole Kingdome were wont to bee held which are now translated to Warsavia Lancicia is a pleasant Citty seated on a Plaine and walled about having a walled Castle on a Rocke by which the River BÃsura glideth Cujavia or Vladislavia is a faire Citty being a Bishops seate Bidgostia is subject unto it which is seated by the navigable River Buda Brestia hath under it Radzieiow Crusphicia and Cowalow Crusphicia is the chiefe Citty of Poland next to Gnesna it is built of wood with a slated Castle by the Lake Golpo Rava is a wodden Citty situate by a River of the same name Ploczko is a pleasant Citty seated on a Hill by the River Vistula in which there was a Castle which the Crucigerians did demolish In the lesser Polonia the chiefe Citties are these Cracovia Sandomiria and Lublinum Cracovia is built on a Plaine neere the River Vistula being fortified with a double wall and a deep ditch It hath a Castle on a high Rockâ— which they call Vanel in this Citty the Kings of Poland keepe their residence and are buried It hath a famous Schoole for the study of Philosophie The Castellanus of Cracovia taketh place of the Palatine in the Senate but in other Provinces the Palatine is preferd before the Castellanus Moreover there are three Citties neere unto Cracovia Clepardia Stradomia and Cassimiria It hath two Dukedomes under it Zarocensis and Oswiecimensis It hath many Townes under it Sandomiria is a principall Citty walled about and situate on a Hill by the River Vistula being 22. miles distant from Cracovia It hath an ancient Castle well fortified under it there are Checiny in a Plaine which is famous for Mines of Blue in which there is Silver also found also Korezin Malogast and other Townes Lublinum is a Citty beyond Vistula being fortified with a Wall a Ditch a Lake and a Castle In which there are 3. Faires every yeere unto which both Turkes Armenians Grecians Germanes Muscovites and Lithuavians doe resort The Iewes doe ininhabite a great part of the Suburbs and have a Sinagogue there The River Bystizna doth runne by the Castle Poland as we said before is a plaine Country the most part of it is coverd with Woods and it yeeldeth good store of Barley Wheate and Pulse It hath abundance of Cattle It hath Lakes which are full of all kindes of Fish The chiefe Rivers are Vistula Viadrus commonly called Odera Tyres now Niester Hypanis which is called Bugh Vistula now called die Weixel was heretofore called Vandalus some call it Issula and Vissula This River riseth in the Carpathian Mountaines and before it commeth to Cracovia it is enlarged by the receit of many Rivers and afterward being growne very deepe and broad before it come to Dantiscum it dischargeth it selfe into the Codan Bay Boristhenes so well knowne of old is now called Nieper It hath a few Mountaines and those Southward where it looketh toward Hungaria The State of the Kingdome consisteth of the Clergie and Nobles The Ecclesiastick Order hath two Bishops the Bishop of Ghesnia who is Primate of the Kingdome who doth also crowne the King and the Bishop of Leopolis in blacke Russia The Bishops are of Cracovia in lesser Poland the Bishop of Posnia in the greater Poland and in other Provinces the Bishops Plocensis Chelmensis Vilnensis Kioviensis Lucensis Ianoucensis Samogitiensis Warmensis Culmensis Sambiensis Pomasaniensis Rigensis and others The Politick order of the Nobles hath 26. Palatines 60. Counts 4. Marshals a Chancellor and a Vicechancellor two Generals or Captaines in the lesser Poland there are forty common Captaines in the greater 30. in Massovia 12. So that the Kings when occasion requires can raise 200000. Nobles He that desires to know more concerning the state of this Kingdome let him have recourse to Stanislaus Kizistanowie his POLAND POLONIA description of the State of the Kingdome of Poland or to Guagninus or Boterus their description of Germany and Neugebaverus his Polonian History There are also in Poland Mines of Salt by Bochnia and Veliscus which doe exceed all others Veliscum is 8. miles distant from Cracovia Bochina is a faire Towne with a Castle where the Governour of rhe Saltpits dwels who is called Zupparius The Country round about is barren but this Country maketh a greater revenue out of these Mines then some Countries doe out of Gold and Silver Mines The people of Poland especially the Nobles doe now differ much from the Scythian barbarisme of the ancient Sarmatians They have no Robberies so that in Summer time they ride in Waggons and in Winter time in Coaches safely and without danger Most of the Nobility are very sharpe witted and doe get experience and languages by travelling into forraine Countries They are couragious and will not shun the stoutest enemy if any one bee wronged by the Nobles all their kindred and friends doe joyne together in revenging it and doe never cease untill they have revenged it or lost their owne lives Lastly they are not so liberall as prodigall both in their frequent Banquets and in the great retinue and number of Servants which they keepe and clothe THE KINGDOME OF HVNGARY HUNGARIA commonly called Hongeren which name it received from the Huns or Hungarians who came out of Scythia and did inhabit it doth containe Pannonia and the Countries of Iazigus and the Dacians beyond Danubius On the South it hath the River Savus which devideth it from Croatia and Servia which are a part of Illyrici over against the Adriatick Sea On the North it hath Poland and Russia which are disjoyned by the Mountaine Carpatus On the West it hath Austria which was heretofore the head of the higher Pannonia together with Moravia and Styria on the East Mysia which they now call Rhetiana It is an excellent Country both for the goodnesse of the soyle and the pleasantnesse of the Situation The Country is very fruitfull and fertill and yeeldeth Pearles Gold Silver Colours and Salt which are to be digged out of the Earth It hath abundance of Grasse Wheate Pulse and Fruit. That Country which is by Danubius doth yeeld excellent wine even from the Country of the five Churches to Taurunus or Belgrad But there is no Oyle and excepting that it is adorned with all the gifts of nature It hath divers kindes of living Creatures having such great plenty both of Oxen and Sheepe that great Droves are carried into other Countries especially into Italy and Germany It hath also abundance of wilde beasts as Hares Does Goats Harts Wolves Beares and the like And also great store of Birds especially Thrushes Partridges and Pheasants The Paeonians or Pannonians did first inhabit this Country afterward the Gothes who were expulsed by the Huns and the Huns by the Longobards who were seated here 13. yeeres But the Huns came in againe under the conduct of their Captaine Attila after whose death Charles the Great tooke it into his owne possession But in the yeere 700. the Huns
comming out of Scythia in the Raigne of the Emperour Arnulph possessed those parts being Pagans untill King Stephen whom they called the holy was inaugurated and made King And after him even untill our times Hungary did professe the Christian Religion Hungary doth containe all the whole Country of Iazigus Metanastarum which Ptolemy circumscribeth or boundeth with Danubius â—ibiscus and the Sarmatian Mountaines There are some ruines yet remaining which by contracting the word are commonly called â—az But they inhabit those parts which Plâ—â— describeth and their speech differs from the Hungarian language The first King of Hungary after the Christian Religion was established therein was Stephen surnamed the Holy after whom there followâ—d his Coâ—â—a Peter his Kinsman Andreas also Bela Salomon Geysa Ladislaus Almus Stephanus the II. Bela Caecus Geysa the II. Stephen the III. Bela the III Emericus Ladislaus the II. and others even untill the time of the Emperour Rudolphus King of Hungary The King of Hungary doth governe his Kingdome by two Magistrates the higher is devided into three Magistrates the first of which governeth the Kingdome in the Kings name in which are the Palatine of the Kingdome who is next to the King and judgeth the King if he be accus'd whom the people of the Kingdome doe chuse neither is it an heriditary office Also the Judge of the Court who is one of the ordinary Judges of the Kingdome The Chancellor who is the Metropolitan of Strigonium who is called the Primate and Secretary of the Kingdome and he hath power to annoynt the King that is chosen and he keepeth the Privie Seale The Master of the Court doth follow the Kings and is one of his Privie Counsell The Master of the Regallities doth judge of all matters concerning Mines of Gold and Saltpits and lastly all matters which appertaine to the Exchequer Secondly those which sit in Judgement of which there are certaine Officials three of greater authority as the Vice-Palatine of the Kingdom the Judge of Personall Presence The Vice-Palatines Protonotary or chiefe Clarke the Vice-Judges Protonotary They are all called Masters and have these assistants or associates joyned to them the Archbishop of Strigoniums Secretary who is called the Secretary of the Exchequer twelve Assistants and some sworne Clarkes Thirdly those that serve the King as the Treasurer the Master of the Bed-chamber the Cup-bearer the Master of the Pantry the Master Porter and other lesser offices Moreover because the Country is large there are severall Judges appointed thorow the Provinces which the Hungarians call Counties And they are these beyond Danubius on the West of the River Tibiscus Posoniensis Nitriensis Cepusiensis Gewinariensis Posthiensis Semliniensis Comariensis Leptoniensis Novigradiensis Abavivariensis Bathiensis Vâ—gensis Traachimensis Barsiensis Hontensis Borsodiensis Bodroghtensis Peregriensis Turoezensis Omuzolis Tornensis Heweciensis Zolnocensis Moramarusiensis Above Danubius on the East of Tibiscus there are Vgoghiensis Bihoriensis Zatmariensis Oradiensis Zabolciensis Temesiensis Betweene the Rivers Danubius and Dravus there are Musunensis Zaladiensis Tolnensis Rhab or Iauriensis Vespriniensis Strigoniensis Soponiensis Albensis Sinigiensis Castriferrensis Pelisiensis Waranlensis Betweene Dravus and the River Savus there are Valkonensis Rifiensis Syrimiensis Warasdiensis Prosegiensis and Zagrabiensis The Ecclesiasticall government belongeth to the two Archbishops of Gran or Strigonia the Popes Legate and Primate of the Kingdome It hath under it Agriensis Vaciensis Nitriensis Quinque Ecclesiensis Vespriniensis who is the Queenes Chancellor and crowneth her and the Bishop Iauriensis commonly called Rab Colosensis or Colotz under whom are Sagabriensis Transilvaniensis Voceadrensis Visemburgensis Sulniensis Cenadiensis or Chonad and Bosnensis All Hungary is devided into the hither-most and the farther The hither-most Hungary doth containe all that Country which is on this side Danubius the farther-most doth containe that Country which is beyond Danubius and Tibiscus THE KINGDOME OF HVNGARY HUNGARIA glideth thorow the middle of it The Metropolis and Mother Citty of this Kingdome is Buda which was so denominated as the most doe suppose from Buda the builder of it who was Brother to King Artila or as others write from the Budines a People of Scythia of whom Herodotus maketh mention If you consider the Situation of this Citty it is seated partly on a Mountaine and fortified with strong Bulwarkes so that it is the strongest and pleasantest Citty in all Hungaria it hath many faire buildings both publike and private It standeth in a fruitfull soyle Soliman the Turkish Emperour tooke it from the Christians in the yeere 1526. on the 20. day of August The Next is Posonium commonly called Prezborgh which is a noble Citty Here the River Leyta deviding the higher Pannonia from the lower doth mingle it selfe with the River Istrus It is an ancient faire Citty having a pleasant ayre and situation and doth therein excell all the Citties of Pannonia It hath Mountaines planted with Vines which are also full of Wood. In the Suburbs it hath a Castle seated on the top of a high Rocke There is also Belgâ—ad at the meeting or confluence of the Rivers Savus and Danubius it is commonly called Alba Graeca the ancients called it Taurunum and the Germanes Griechs Weissenburgh Soliman the Turke tooke it in the yeere 1520. and having beene before a Towne of defence against the cruell enemy of Christianity now it is the Turkish Emperours seat A little lower downe the River Danubius there is Singidunum which was taken by the Turke in the yeere 1439. In the midst betweene these two Citties there is a Field famous for the victory of Hunniadus against Mâ—homet the Turkish Emperour they call this Field Maxons This Battle was fought in the yeere 1456. Downe the River there are many places where the Christians have received many fatall overthrowes The Citty Valpo was taken in the yeere 1543. Quinque Ecclesiae by Dravus in the yeere 1543. Zigetha was taken in the yeere 1566. Buda wee have mentioned before Strigonium by Danubius commonly called Gran was heretofore an Archbishops seat but it is now in the Turkes hands Alba Regalis or Stulweyssenburg is famous in regard the Kings are crowned and buried here it was taken in the yeere 1543. In the same Country there is Stridon where Saint Hierom was borne There is also the Citty Comara in an Iland of the same name which the Turkes in vaine attempted Iaurinum commonly called Raab is an impregnable Citty by the River Danubius I passe by the other Townes There are also in Hungaria many famous Lakes the chiefe whereof is Balaton which the Germanes call Platze being 40. Italian miles broad and 8. Hungarian miles The chiefest Rivers are Danubius Savus Dravus and Tibiscus the three former are common to other Countries but Tibiscus runneth onely thorow Hungary It riseth in Maramusia in the high cliffes of Carpatus and for plenty of Fish it exceedeth all the Rivers in Hungary for it hath abundance of all kindes of Fish as great Pikes Lampreys and Sturgeons There are also other Rivers
appeareth by some Epitaphs written in Caldean letters It is thought that it was built in Abrahams time being seated in a pleasant fruitfull soyle It looketh Northward and is washed with the Tyrrhene Sea having high walls which were built by King Frederick Neere the Sea there is a Castle which hath beene much enlarged which they call Castrumad Mare or the Castle by the Sea There are also three Gates of the ancient Citty yet standing and the old Walls with many Towres built of foure square stone There is a Church at Panormus consecrate to S. Peter which was built by Rogerius King of Sicilie which excelleth both for beauty and costly building all the ancient and new Churches in THE KINGDOME OF SICILIE· SICILIA Italy so that learned men and travellers that come to see it doe much admire it The greater Church of this Citty is of a kind of a networke building carved with divers figures and Images and built by Gualther the second Archbishop of that name which was founded in the yeare 1185. where the bodies of the Kings and Queenes and Dukes are buried and interr'd There is also a publike Schoole and an Hospitall for strangers It would be tedious to rehearse the other faire buildings and aedifices which are in this Citty The other Citties are Siracusa which was heretofore a great Cittie which the Orator thus describeth in his 4. Oration against Verres You have often heard that Siracusa is the greatest and fairest of all the Graecian Citties And so it is O Iudges as you have heard For it is strongly situate and hath a faire comming to it both by Sea and Land and it hath Havens which are inclosed on every side with bvildings which having divers entrances doe at last meete and flow together Where a part of the Towne which is called the Ile being disjoyned by their meeting together with a straite Sea is joyned together againe with a Bridge It is so great a Citty that they say it doth consist of 4. great Citties one of which is the Iland aforesaid which is encompassed with two Havens at the Mouth of one of which there is King Hierons Pallace in which the Praetors now dwell There are many Churches in it but especially two which doe farre exceede the rest one consecrate to Diana and the other to Minerva which was a faire Church before Verres came thither In the farthest part of the Iland there is a Fountaine of sweet water which is called Arethusa which is very great and full of fish which would be coverd with the waves of the Sea but that it is walled about with stones But there is another Citty of Syracusa which is called Acardina in which there is a great Market-place a faire Gallery and Counsell-house a great Court and a Temple of Iupiter Olympus and many private Aedifices There is a third Citty which is called â—yche in which there is a great Schoole and many Churches and it is well inhabited and frequented The fourth Citty is that which because it was last built is called Neapolis or the new Citty in which there is a great Theater two great Churches one consecrate to Ceres and another to Bacchus and a faire Statue of Apollo which is called Tennites But not all the beauty of this Citty is decayd and onely some ruinous parts of the Towne are remaining Messana is a Citty by the Sea side the Inhabitants whereof were first called Messanians and afterward Mamertinians which Herodotus and Thucydides doe mention There is also Catina which is called Catana where Charonda the Lawmaker was borne and it hath now a famous Schoole Taurominium is a Citty built by the Zanclaeans it is now called Taormina There is also Leontium where Gorgias Sophista was borne Agrigentum is an ancient Citty which heretofore the Carthaginians raced and Megalus and Feriscus re-edified it againe There are also Augusta which was heretofore called Megara also Castrogianum heretofore Ennea Drepanum Monreale Heraclea and many other Citties It is watered with many Rivers in which as in the Lakes there are good store of Mullets Eeles Tenches and Trowts And in the Sea there is good fishing for Tunyes not onely at Pachynum but also at Panormum and Drepanum and all that Coast which lyeth by the Tyrrhene Sea There are also Sword-fishes taken in the Massonian Sea Lastly there is excellent good fishing in the Sicilian Sea for there are great store of Mullets which the Grecians call Trichias and Sophronius and Cicero doe call them Barbels and also great store of Lampreys But the Cicilian straites are narrow dangerous and rough and are called by the name of Scylla and Charybdis The chiefe Mountaines Aetna Eryx Aetna by Pindarus is called the Pillar of Heaven Silius Italicus calleth it Tiphoeum It is now called Monte Gibella or Mongibello Eryx is much memoriz'd for Venus Chappell which was built by Aeneas In Sicily are the Archbishops Panormitanus under whom are the Bishops Agrigentinus Masarensis Milevitanus or Maltensis The Archbishop of Montis Regalis under whom are Siracusanus and Cothanensis The Archbishop of Messanensis under whom are Cephaludensis Pacensis Lipariensis Marcus and Militensis now Milaza STIRIA COMMONLY CALLED STIRMARCK which was made a Dukedome by FREDERI OR BARBAROSSA In it there are many Countries among the which is WARASDEN by the River DRAVUS and LEBNAW by the River MURA. STIRIA commonly called Stirmarck was without doubt so called from a Bull or Steere to which opinion Aegidius Tschudus subscribeth where he reporteth out of Pliny that Caro doth affirme that the Lepontians and Salassians were of the Taurick Nation but these Tauriscians were Frenchmen who in the ancient French warres seated themselves beyond the Alpes of which Polybius Lib. 2. of the French warre writeth thus Those that are called the Transalpine French doe dwell by the Alpes on either side of Mountaines on that side which looketh Northward and towards the River Rhodanus but on that side which lyeth towards the plaine ground there are the Tauriscians the Agonians and many other barbarous people from whom the Transalpines are onely distinguisht by their different habitation and therefore called Transalpines because they live beyond the Mountaines But after these Tauriscians departed hence they sought themselves other habitations and possessed the Country which is now called the County of Goerts and so comming into Stiria they left their name unto that Country For a Bull in the Germane language is called a Stier And so they spred and dispersed themselves into Austria and Hungary Some affirme that Stiria was heretofore called Valeria in honour of Valeria the Daughter of Dioclesian as Marcellinus doth report Volateranus thinketh that it was called Iapidia for so he writeth in the 8. Booke of his Geogr. The next unto this Iapidia which they now call Styria though Pope Pius thinketh it should bee called Valeria by according to Rufus his description doe thinke that Valeria should be rather called Croatia betweene Danubius and Dravus
Mediterranean Sea The Ayre and Climate of this Country is various and different In the Spring the ayre is gentle milde and cleare in Summer the heate is most vehement especially in the Moneths of June and July but in Autumne it is somewhat cooler in the Winter the cold is somewhat sharpe especially about December and January but it is but in the morning onely so that no man is compelled thorow cold to come to the fire The end of Autumne and all the Winter and a good part of the Spring hath great store of impetuoâ—s and violent windes and stormes And sometimes they are troubled with Hayle Lightning and fearefull Thunder and in some placeâ— there is thick Snow This Country yeeldeth greaâ— store of Dares and Pomegrants but it hath but little Wheate so that the Inhabitants for the most part doe make Barley bread It hath also great store of other fruit as Cherries Figges Apples Peares Prunes Peaches Apricotts Quinces Olives and the like It hath abundance of Oyle Honey and Sugar and great store of Heards of Cattell and wilde beasts For this Country doth breed Dragons Elephants Goats Bulls or wild Oxen and the like also Lyons and Libbards it hath also Wesils which are as bigge as Cats but that they have not such great jawes and great store of Apes The Phaenicians and others who came out of Asia or Aegypt did first inhabit this Country afterward it was subject to the Romanes then to the Graecian Emperous and afterward to the Vandals Sarazens and Arabians now it is partly subject to the Turke and partly to a Sâ—ritiâ— of itâ— owne also the King of Spaine hath some Castles BARBARY· BARBARIA in it There are foure Kingdomes in Barbary the Kingdome of Morocco of Fesse of Teleusinum and Tunis unto which some doe adde Barca We will entreate of the two former namely Morocco and Fesse in the following Tables but of the other we will entreate here The Kingdome of Teleusinum which they call Tremisen is Mauritania Caesariensis The length of it from the West to the East is 380. miles The breadth of it is narrower being 25. miles namely from the Desarts of Numidia even to the Mediterranean Sea The most part of this Country is unhabited dry and rugged especially Southward But the Coasts by the Sea side are somewhat more fruitfull and fertile There are few Citties or Castles in it The Metropolis is Teleusina which was heretofore a great Citty but now it is for the most part ruinated In the same Country there is also Algiers a great Citty and well fortified This Citty did first revolt from the King of Telusiaâ—um and paide tribute to the King of Bugia afterward it revolted from him and received Ferdinand King of Spaine to be their King And at last it was taken by Barbarossa and added to the Ottoman Empire it is famous for the Shipwrack of Charles the 5. for the sad captivity and slavery of the Christians and the excursions of the Turkish Pirates It is now so fortified that it is thought to be impregnable Castaldus supposeth that Ptolemy did call this Salden but Ortelius and our Mercator doe thinke that that which Ptolemy called Salden is now called Tadelis â—ovius thinketh it to be Iulia Caesarea and others Crita There are also the Citties Mersalcabir Messagran Mustaganin and others This Kingdome hath two famous Havens the one the Haven of Horamus or Orania with a strong Castle the other of Marsa Eltabirus whether great store of Merchants Ships doe resort especially from Italy both which the King of Spaine got some yeeres agoe to the great detriment and losse of this Kingdome The Kingdome Tunitanum doth containe Affrick the lesse and a great part of Numidia For it reacheth from the River Major which Maginus supposeth to be that which Ptolemy calls Audum even to the River of the Country of Mesrata AEGYPT· AEGYPT is a noble ancient Country which was first inhabited by Misraim the Sonne of Chus Nephew to Cham and Nephew once remoov'd to Noah Wherefore in Osiris sacred rights it was called from Cham Chemia in stead of Chamia as from the other Misraim for the Arabians doe still call it Mesre The Turkes call it Elquibet or Elchebit The bounds of it on the West beyond Nilus are the Desarts of Barch Libya and Numidia with the Kingdome of Nubia On the South it is enclosed with the Bugiensian Country and Nilus where Nilus bendeth his course from the West Eastward Pliny doth bounder it with the Citty Syene which is now called Asna On the East it hath the Desarts of Arabia which lye betweene Aegypt and the red Sea On the North it is enclosed with the Mediterranean Sea which is there called the Aegyptian Sea It seldome raineth in Aegypt and Plato saith that it was never seene to raine in Aegypt so that the ayre is continually serene and cleare whence happily it was formerly called Aâ—ria The Country is wonderfull fruitfull being full of men and all kinde of creatures The River Nilus which runneth thorow the middle of it and doth overflow it every yeere doth so moisten and fatten it so that it is wonderfull fertile and fruitfull Writers have left many Elogies in praise of the fruitfulnesse of this Country Iustine affirmeth that there is no Country more fruitfull than it For saith he there is in Aegypt great store of Wheate Pulse Barly Oates Beanes and other kinde of Graine and also excellent Wine It hath also pleasant Pastures but hath but little Oyle and Wood. Besides wilde beasts of which this Country hath abundance it doth breed great store of tame Cattell as Buffes Oxen Camels Horses Asses Rammes and Goates all which are of a great size as Bâ—lâ—â—iâ—s witnesseth in regard of the temper of the ayre the abundance of Fother and the sweet Grasse which groweth there by the overflowing of Nilus among the rest there are very fatt great Rams which have a great thick taile that hangeth downe to the very ground and dewe lappes hanging downe under their neck as Oxen have and their wooll is black Moreover all Aegypt did heretofore flourish under divers Kings of divers names even to the Ptolemies for there were few Phaâ—â—es But the Ptolemies raigned a long time even to the Romane Empire which declining Aegypt was governd by the Agarenes of Arab a felix the Prince whereof was called the Sultan and those that followed him were also called Sultanes being all Mahometans they raigned many yeeres untill they were expulsed by the Turkes But now Soliman the great Turke doth possesse all Aegypt and leaveth there a President who is called the Bâ—xa of Aegypt Alexander of Macedon did devide it into Praefectureships of Townes whereof Herodâ—tus reckoneth 18. Strabo one more and Ptolemy 46. Pliny 50. who also addeth that some of them had changed their names so that it is not to be imagined that there were heretofore so many Praefectureships of Aegypt as are nominated in Historians seeing there might
of Barley Millet Vetches Beanes and other Pulse It hath abundance of Ebon wood and Indian Pepper Cinamon and Ginger It hath also great store of Sugar Canes but they know not how to boyle and refine the Sugar Here are many Vines but they use no Wine except it be in the Kings or the great Patriarks Court It hath also great store of Oranges and Lemmons and also great store of Honey For Bees doe breed even in their houses So that they make such store of Waxe as serveth all the Country to make Candles without Tallow or Suet. This Country hath also Hempe and Flaxe but the Inhabitants have not the Art to make Linnen THE DVKEDOME OF THE ABISSINES· ABISSINORUM REGNUÌ„ cloth of it and therefore they make their cloth of Cotton wooll of which there is great store here They have Mettals as Gold Silver and Brasse but they have not the art to refine it Moreover this Country hath all kindes of Beasts and Birds as Elephants Lions Tigers Leopards Rhinocerites Apes and Harts which is against the opinion of the ancients who deny that Affrick hath any Harts also Oxen Sheepe Goates Asses Cammels Horses and they are oftentimes much troubled with Locusts This Country was heretofore governd onely by Queenes So that wee read in the Old Testament that the Queene of Sheba of the South came to King Salomon to heare his admirable wisedome about the yeere of the world 2954. This Queenes name was Maqueda The Aethiopian Kings doe beleeve that they are descended of the Stock of David and the Family of Salomon And therefore they are wont to stile themselves the Sonnes of David and Salomon and of the holy Patriarcks because they are come of their Seed For they doe faine that the aforesaid Queene Maqueda had a Sonne by Salomon whom they called Meilech And afterward he was called David He according to their fiction when he had attained to 20. yeeres of age was sent by his Mother to his Father Salomon that he might instruct him in all profitable and wholesome learning and wisdome Which as soone as Meilech or David had attained unto he chose many Priests and Earles out of every one of the 12. Tribes and so returning back to the Kingdome of Aethiope he tooke upon him the government thereof And hee brought in with him the old Law and Circumcision These were the first beginnings of the Jewes Religion in Aethiopia and they say that untill this day there are none admitted to any Office in Court or Canonicall place unlesse he be descended from the Jewes And by them the knowledge of God was propagated in Aethiopia and tooke roote and so was derived and spred abroad by succeeding ages For the Aethiopians had the Bookes of the Prophets and went to Hierusalem to adore and worship the true God of Israel Which may bee understood by the story of Queene Iudiths Eunuch who is properly called Iudith For hee 10. yeeres after the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ came 240. miles journey to Ierusalem And when he had there worshipped God and was returning home sitting in his Chariot he read the Prophet Esaiah And so Philip one of Christs Disciples by Gods command was sent unto him And when they came both to the Citty Bethzur three Miles from Ierusalem there the Eunuch spyed a Spring or Well at the foote of the Mountaine with the water whereof he was baptized by Philip. But as soone as the Eunuch returned into Aethiopia he baptized the Queene and a great part of her houshold and people From which time the Aethiopians began to be Christians and alwaies afterward profest the Christian Faith There are few Citties in all this Empire so that they dwell in Villages The chiefe Kingdomes belonging to the higher Aethiopia which are for the most part subject to Prester Iohn are these following The Kingdome of Barnagues which is enclosed with the River Abanthus and the red Sea the chiefe Citty is Beroae or Barnae which Ptolemy calls Colone here the Viceroy liveth who payeth yeerely to the King of the Abissines an 150. Horses for a tribâ—te with silke and other commodities and 1000. Ounces of Gold to the Turkes Bashaw Tigremaon which is next unto the River Marabus and the red Sea doth pay yeerely to the King 200. Horses which are brought out of Arabia Unto this Kingdome the Kingdome of Tigrai is subject in which there is the Citty Caxumo or Cassume which was heretofore the Seate as appeareth by their Annalls of the Queene of Sheba and afterward of Queene Candaces The Kingdome of Angote hath no money and therefore they use in stead thereof pieces of Salt and Iron Amara is so called from the Mountaine in which the Emperours Sonnes are kept with a strong Garrison that after the Emperours decease the Heire may be brought out There are two memorable Rivers in this Kingdome which doe glide thorow Aethiopia Abanhi which Ptolemy calls Astapus and Tacassi which Ptolemy calls Astraboras into which many other Rivers doe runne The Fountaine of Abanhi is the great Lake of Barcena lying under the Aequinoctiall in which there are many Ilands This Lake Ptolemy calls Coloe Palus or the Lake Coloe The Inhabitants doe professe the Christian Religion and the chiefe Articles of their Faith are these They beleeve in one God Creator of Heaven and Earth distinguisht into three Persons God the Sonne begotten of the Father from all Aeternity who for our sakes tooke flesh upon him was dead and rose againe and God the Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Sonne This is the summe of their Religion They doe joyne the Old Testament with â—he New so that they follow some Judaicall and some Christian Rites and Ceremonies On the eight day they circumcise all their Infants both Male and Female But they thinke that Circumcision availeth nothing to salvation but onely Faith in Christ Jesus But they baptize their Male children on the 40. day and their Females on the 80. day unlesse the weakenesse of the childe doe require haste They every yeere baptize them anew both those that are come to ripenesse of yeeres and also Infants saying these words Ego te baptizo in nomine Patris Filij Spiritus Sancti That is I baptize thee in the Name of the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost And they doe religiously keepe this custome from their Ancestors not to extenuate or weaken the first baptisme but that they may have absolution from their sinnes every yeere They receive the Lords Supper sub utraque specie or in both kindes both the Lay-people and the Clergie They doe not esteeme or use Confirmation and extreme Unction as a Sacrament They keepe the Sabbath and the Lords day without doing any worke according to the ancient manner of the Christians They hold that the chiefe use of the Law is to shew us our sinnes and they beleeve that wee can bee saved by no other but Jesus Christ who fulfilled and satisfied the
Law for us They love and reverence Saints but make no Invocation unto them They doe much honour Mary the Mother of Christ but yet they doe not worship her nor implore her helpe The Clergie and the Priests are permitted to many as well as the Lay-people And they punish all kinde of Lust and Fornication They have a Patriarke who is President of all their Churches who is a man of approoved honesty grave well learned and ancient in yeeres whose Office it is to keepe the Clergie in concord and union to defend the Ecclesiastick Discipline and to excommunicate rebellious persons The Election and choosing of Bishops and other Ecclesiasticall persons belongeth onely to the King GVINEA VVITH THE ILANDS OF St. THOMAS OF THE Prince and the Good-yeere THE Kingdome of Guinea is in that Country where the Ganginean Aethiopians are whom Orosius and Ethicus doe mention as Ortelius witnesseth The Inhabitants doe call it Ghinui It is the Blackmoores Country The Blackmoores are called the Inhabitants of the Black River which floweth thorow the middle of the Country and like Nilus doth fertilize the Fields round about it This River doth increase as Nilus doth in the moneth of June 40. dayes together all which time you may goe by Boate into Countries neere unto it And the Earth is so dunged with mudde and slime so that it yeeldeth a great increase About the River there are large Plaines but no Mountaines or Hills There are also many woods in the which there are Elephants There are also many Lakes which are caused by the overflowing of the River Niger The Ayre is wholesome in so much that those who are sicke of the Spanish disease if they come unto that Country doe certainely recover their health and grow well These Blackmoores have a divers kinde of speech according to the Soyle and Climate Their religion is also diverse In the Mediterranean parts they are Christians Mahumetans and Heathens But those that dwell by the Sea Coast doe worship Idols There are three Kings of the Blackmoores Tombuti Borni and Gaogae The Gualatians also have a King of their owne They are all Cole-black The Kingdome of Guinea is seated betweene Gualata Tembutum and Melli and it reacheth from the River Niger to the Aethiopian Ocean The Ayre of Guinea is not agreeable to our bodies both in regard of the untemperatenesse of the Climate and by reason of the raine both which doe breed putrifaction and Wormes But it hath abundance of Barley Rice Cotton Gold Ivory also Sheepe and Hens There is also a kinde of Spice which casteth like Pepper which the Portugals call Melegneta And another Spice as strong againe as Calicut Pepper which the aforesaid Portugals doe call Pimiente del Rabo which it is unlawfull to sell lâ—st they should thereby bring downe the price of common Pepper It hath no fruit but Dates and the Inhabitants are faine to fetch them out of Numidia or Gualata They have great store of Elephants and Apes and Birdes especially Peacocks and Ash-colour Popinjays or Parroâ—s And they have certaine small Birds which doe curiously â—â—ild themselves a nest which hangeth in the boughes of the Trees Thâ—â— have neither Castle Towne nor Citty But they have one great Village in which the Princes Priests Doctors and Merchants doe dwell the others live scatteringly here and there About Caput Lupi Conzalui the Inhabitants doe adore the Sunne the Moone and the Earth upon which to spet they account it a hâ—inous offence They doe out and launce their flesh and afterward they paint it with a certaine coloured Oyntment which they thinke to bee very comely but to us it seemeth a fearefull spectacle When they salute their Prince they fall downe upon their knees and clap their hands together but in common salutations they cry Fuiâ— Futâ— Fuiâ— They doe not drinke all Dinner time but when they have din'd they drinke water or wine that commeth out of the Date Tree But yet this Date Tree doth not beare Dates but is a Tree different from it which sendeth forth a kinde of Juyce at all times of the yeere They cut the body of the Tree and receive the bleeding juyce which distilleth from it into a Vessell and drinke it till they are drunke for it is a liquor that is purer than any Wine it is of an ashie colour and they call it Mignolum This Tree will yeeld but two or three measures in one day This Tree beareth Olives the Oyle whereof hath a threefold vertue it smelleth like a Violet tasteth like an Olive and if it bee powr'd or laide upon meate it dyeth it like Saffron The men and women doe both goe bare-headed some have Hats made of barkes of Trees or of the Indian Nut. Some of them doe bore holes thorow their upper Lippe and their Noses and doe weare pieces of Ivory in them and doe thinke it becomes them very well And some doe weare Ivory and Fishes Shells in their Noses and Lippes They make their Aprons of the Barkes and rindes of Trees and with them they hide and cover their secret parts also they weare the skins of Apes and Monkies which are fastned together with a little Bell. They paint one eye red and the other blue The richer sort of women doe weare great Rings of Iron Copper or Tinne upon their Thighes And they delight very much in their foolish ill-favoured barbarousnesse Their Gold coyne hath no Inscription on it and they use Iron money upon ordinary occasions and for petty matters The Iland of S. THOMAS THE Iland of S. Thomas is next to be described which the Portugals discoverd on S. Thomas day and upon this occasion they called it the Iland of S. Thomas It is situate under the Aequator being almost round The Diameter of it is 60. miles When this Iland was discoverd it was full of great Trees whose boughes did grow upward It hath never any plague the Ayre is warme and wholesome but few Christians doe live here to 50. yeeres of age so that it would be a wonder to see one there with a white beard But the native Inhabitants doe live untill they be an hundred yeeres old The dayes and nights are alwaies equall In the Moneths of March and GVINEA GVINEA IS THOMAE September they have many great showres of raine which doe moisten the ground but in the other moneths the fruits are watered and refresht with the dew that falls upon them This Iland hath a stiffe clommy soile of a red duskish colour It doth not beare Corne Vines or any Tree that hath stone fruit but it beareth Mellons Cowcumbers Gourds Figges and great store of Ginger and especially Sugar for which they doe bring in Wine Cheese Corne Hides and other necessaries But this traffick hath ceased since that certaine wormes began to eate the rootes of the Sugar-canes so that now scarce 6. Ships doe goe from thence loaded with Sugar It hath also great store of Millet Rice
â—dumaea It was so called from Iudah which was the chiefe Tribe in which there were many Citties and Townes but the fairest of them all was Hierusalem the Metropolis of Iudaea and the most famous Citty in the World In Ptolemies time it was called Aeâ—ia Capatolia and now the barbarous Inhabitants doe call it Coz or Godz or Chutz There are also other Townes and famous places in Iudaea beside Hierusalem as Iericho Ioppe which is now called Iâ—ffa Stratoes Towre afterward call Caesars Towre also Bethlehem Chebron or Hebron before called Arbee and Mambre and Cariatharbe that is the Citty of foure men And the Towne Macherus with a strong Castle beyond Iordane â—ere were also Sodom and Gomorrah which were destroyed for their abominable wickednesse Samaria followeth which is situate in the middle betweene Iudaea and Galile It was so called from the Metropolis of the same name which Amri King of Israel built it is now called Sebaste here are these Townes Sichem afterward called Neapolis also Capernaum Bethsaida and Chorazin Galiley is situate beweene the Mountaine Libaâ—us and Samaria and it is devided into the higher and the lower the higher is otherwise call'd the Galiley of the Gentiles neere to Tyre The lower is situate by the Sea of Tiberias or Genezareth The Citties in it are Naim Cana Nazareth and Gadara Butthe whole Country is situate betweene two Seas and the River Iordane It hath many Lakes which are Navigable and have great store of good Fish But the Riuer Iordane which the Hebrewes call Iarden runneth thorow all the length of this Country This River as Hierome writeth issueth from two Fountaines not farre distant one from another namely â—or and Dan and afterward these two forked streames joyning together doe make the River Iordan It hath two chiefe Mountaines Hermon on the East and Tabor on the West which are very high and all the other Mountaines are but armes and parts of them For Ebal Bethoron and Misha or Maspha and Beâ—el by Hermon Gelboe Gerizim Sarona and lastly Carmel neere to the Sea are but part of the Mountaine Tabor There are also these Mountaines Mount Sion Mount Moriah Mount Olivet Mount Calvary and others It hath also many Woods Wildernesses and Groves Here are many faire buildings and especially at Hierusalem But of all those workes which were famous in ancient time the chiefe is Mons Domus and the Jebusians Tower into which King David carried the Arke of the Lord and there is continued untill Salomons Temple was built and consecrated of which there are some ruines yet remaining where it is thought that Christ supped at the time of the Passeover There are also some Monuments of David and the Kingdome of Iudah There was also Davids House which is still preserved and called by the name of Davids Tower Here also some ruines of Mello at the farthest part of the Mountaine Moriah Here was Salomons famous Temple which was 7. yeeres building and had 50000. men working daily at it Concerning the magnificence and statelinesse whereof you may reade in Lib. 1. of the Kings Cap. 6.7 Chron. Lib. 2. Cap. 3. 4. Concerning their Lawes and Customes for brevity sake I will adde nothing but referre the Reader to the Bookes of Moyses Exodus Leviticus Numbers and Deuteronomy ASIA THE LESSE VVHICH IS NOVV CALLED NATOLIA ASIA the lesse so called to distinguish it from the greater is now to be described for so the Romanes when they made a Province did call it after the name of the Continent The Turkes doe call it now Natolia or Aâ—atolia as if you should say the East Country from the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies the East which Peter Bellonius sheweth in his learned observations of his travels And it is called of late the greater Turky Marius Niger delivers that the Low-Country-men call it new Turky and the Barbarians Rom namely the Northerne part which containeth Bithynia Galatia and Cappadocia But they call the Southerne Country in which are Licia Cicilie and Pamphilia Cottomanidâ—a The bounds of this Country on the East is the River Euphrates on the South the Mediterranean Sea on the West the Aegean Sea or the Archipelagus of Greece on the North it is washed with the Euxine Sea and the greater Sea It containeth therefore all that Chersonesus which lyeth betweene the Euxine the Cilician and Pamphilian Sea The breadth of it according to Pliny is about 200. miles namely from the Isacan Bay now called Golfo de Lajazzo and the Amanian Haven even to Trapezuntes which is on the Sea Coast in which he consenteth with Herodotus who saith that the Isthmus of the lesser Asia is 5. dayes journey This Country is not inferiour to any other both for the gentle temperatenesse of the ayre and the fertility and goodnesse of the soyle Which Cicero witnesseth in these words The Custome and Revenues of other Provinces O Citizens are so small that we are not content to undertake the defence of the Provinces for them But Asia is so fat and fruitfull that it excelleth all other Countries both for the fertility of the Fields the variety of Fruits faire Pastures and divers commodities which are exported from thence So that it was heretofore enriched with fruitfull Fields fatt Pastures and Gold-bearing Rivers Besides it hath all things that can be desired wanting nothing but is content with her owne commodities It hath great store of Wine and Oyle But it hath one shrewd inconvenience which is that it is often troubled with Earth-quakes so that Citties are over-throwne by them as in the raigne of Tiberius Caesar 12. Citties in Asia fell downe in one night as Pliny reporteth Lib. 2. In this Asia there were heretofore the great Kingdomes of the Trajans of Craesus Mithridates Antiochus of the Paphlagonians Galatians Cappadocians and others It was first governed by Cyrus King of Persia afterward the Macedons and Alexanders Captaines together with Syria Aegypt and Babylon did devide it amongst themselves afterwards it was wasted by the Romanes and then by the Turkes so that it hath now nothing memorable in it and it is all subject to the Turkish Emperour Here are no Nobility THE LESSER ASIA· PEREGRINATIO PAULI In qua omnis loca queritâ—â— fit 〈◊〉 in actis et epistolis Apostolorum et Apocalâ—psi describuntâ—â— by blood or descent but all are equall and the great Turke uses them as slaves who hath here his Beglerbeys and Sangiacks in divers Countries and Provinces Natolia containeth these Countries Pontus Bithynia Asia properly so called Lycia Galatia Pamphilia Cappadocia Cilâ—cia and the lesser Armenia Pontus and Bithynia were heretofore devided and parted by the little River Sagaris flowing between them afterward they were reduced into one Province which is now called Birsia or Beâ—sangial It was heretofore Mithridates his Kingdome The chiefe Citties are Chalcedon Niâ—â—media Cerasus Prusa by the Mountaine Olympus where the great Turke kept his residence before he tooke
that there are two Rivers in this Iland Cerus and Neleus which are of divers natures For if beasts drinke out of one of them their haire groweth white but if they drinke of the water of the other River their hide and haire groweth black There is an arme of the Sea which Livie calleth the Euborian Bay which is a violent Sea and floweth and ebbâ—th 7. times by day and 7. times by night with such a violent course that no Ship can sayle against it There is also the Mountaine â—aphaâ—â—us famous for the Shipwrack of the Graecians as they returned from Trâ—y and for the death of Paâ—amedes at Troy the Sonne of Eâ—ripides Nâ—â—plius King of the Eubaean Iland CERIGO PTOLEMIE calls it Cythera Pliny heretofore called it Porpyris and â—uâ—â—a hius calleth it Pâ—rphyrusa from the great store of Porphirie Marbles which iâ— in the Mountaines It is now called Cerigâ—â—â— is thâ— first Iland of the Aegaean Sea on the West over-against the Laâ—onick 〈◊〉 It 〈◊〉 it from the shoare of Peloponnesus 5. miles and it is 60. miles in compaâ—se It hath a Towne of the same name and many Havens which are not safe and secure for there are many Rocks which lye scatteringly round about this Iland RHODES· THERE remaineth in this Table the Iland of Rhodes This as Pliny witnesseth was heretofore called Ophtusa Asteria Aethraea Trinâ—â—hia Corimbia Aâ—abiria and Macarta It is distant from the continent of Asia 20. miles The compasse of it is 140. miles It hath a temperate and gentle Ayre and it was consecrate to the Sunne because there is no day wherein the Sunne doth not shine upon it The soyle is fruitfull and the Meddowes fertile and it hath great store of fruit Trees of which many are alwayes greene It hath now but one strong Citty of the same name which is situate in the Easterne part of the Iland partly on a steepe Hill and partly on the Sea Coast It hath a faire and safe Haven and it is well fortified with a double Wall thirteene high Towers five Castles and other Forts and Bulwarkes And it hath an University which heretofore was as famous as that at Massils Athens Alexandria and â—arsus and it had a brazen Colossus of the Sunne which was seventy Cubits high which after it had stood 56. yeeres it was throwne downe by an Earthquake and when it lay on the ground it was a wonderfull sight to behold For a man of a good stature could not fathome or embrace his Thumb And the Fingers were greater than most Statues and when it was broke his Belly did gape like a great Cave This Colossus was making twelve yeeres and three hundred Talents of Brasse went to the making of it and within there were great stones layd that might make the worke stand firme The Sultan laded 700. Camels with the Brasse of this Statue THE KINGDOME OF PERSIA OR THE EMPIRE OF THE SOPHI THE Persian or Sophian Empire as it was renowned heretofore so now also it is very famous The Inhabitants are Persians They are called also Ayami or Azamij from the Kingdome of Azamia which some thinke was heretofore called Assyria they were called Persians from Persides and Cheselbas from the red Cap or Hatt which they used to weare They were called Sophians from Prince Sophos The Kingdome of Persia is situate betweene the Turkish Empire the Tartarians the Zagatheans the Kingdome of Cambaia and betweene the Hircanian or Caspian Sea and the Persian Bay It hath thereof on the East the Indies and the Kingdome of Cambaja from which it is separated and parted by the Mountaines and Desarts on the North are the Tartars neere the River Albianus or Oxus the rest is enclosed with the Caspian Sea on the West are the Turkes neere the River Tigris and the Lake Giocho on the South it is washed with the Persian Bay and the Indian Sea which is a large space of ground for it containeth 38. degrees of longitude from the East to the West And from the South to the North 20. degrees Concerning the temper of the ayre of Persia Q. Curtius Lib. 5. writeth thus There is no whole-sommer Country in all Asia for the ayre is temperate here a continued shady Mountaine doth qualifie the heate thereof and there it is joyned to the Sea which doth cherish it with a temperate warmth But this Country is not all of one quality nor of one soyle That part which lyeth toward the Persian Bay in regard it is watered with Rivers and also that part toward the Caspian Sea having pleasant Rivers a milde gentle Ayre are both happy and fruitfull and doe yeeld all kindes of fruits and doe breed all kindes of living creatures It hath abundance of Wheate Barley Millet and the like Graine and also Mettals and Pretious Stones and Paulus Venetus witnesseth that it hath great plenty of Wine The other parts are desolate by reason of the heate and drynesse Moreover the Persians were at first an obscure Nation but they grew famous afterward by their King Cyrus who having gotten the Empire Media and Lydia joyned it to Persia and so having conquerd Asia and subdued all the East he left it a faire and flourishing Kingdome Cambyses succeeded his Father who added Aegypt to the Empire after whom Persia continued in one Estate untill Daâ—ius raigned who being conquerd by Alexaâ—der of Macedâ—n lost his life together with his Kingdome It was governed by Kings 230. yeeres as Q. Curtius affirmeth Lib. 4. and the Prophet Ieremiah doth assent unto him at the 9. Chapter of Daniel But now the Persian Empire which is subject to the great â—ophy is accounted one of the most potent Empires of all the East which though it were sometimes oppressed by the Sarazens and sometimes by the Tartars yet it grew up againe in the raigne of King Ismael The Countries which are subject to the Persian Empire are these Media Assyria Susiana Mesopotamia Persis Parthia Hyrcania Margâ—aâ—a Bactriana Parâ—pamissus Aria Drangiana Gedrosia and Carmania Media is now called Servan which is situate betweene Persia and the Hyrcanian Sea it hath on the East Hyrcania and Parthia on the West the greater Armenia and Assyria It is devided into the greater or the Southerne and the Northerne Atropatia The latter is colder and therefore lesse inhabited The chiefe Citty is Smâ—chia there are moreover these Citties Derbâ—nt Ere 's Sechi and Giavot The greater is more inhabited it hath also the Citty Tauris which is placed at the foote of Oâ—ontis being 8. dayes journey distant from the Caspian Sea The compasse of it is almost 16. miles in which it is supposed that there are 200000. Citizens The Ancients did call it Eâ—batana where the Kings of Persia doe dwell in Summer In the same Country there are Turcomian â—aru Susâ—an Nassiva Ardavil and Marant Assyria which is now called Arzerum hath on the East Media on the West Mesopotamia on the North Armenia on the South â—usiana It had
heretofore these Provinces Arrapachâ—tes Adiabena and Sittacena the Citty Ninive is by Tigris which is 60. miles in compasse Susiana is now called Chus or Cusistan it was so named from Susis a chiefe Citty which is 15. miles in compasse and was so called from the Lillies which grew there as Atheneus noteth for Susum in the Persian language signifies a Lilly Mesopotamia which in Scripture is called Padan Aram is now called Dâ—arbecha it is situate betweene the Rivers Euphrates and Tigris whence it was so named because it lyeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or in the middle betweene two Rivers this Country hath a divers situation part of it the Rivers doe fertilize or make fatt part of it is dry and barren and without Grasse or Trees The chiefe Citties are Oâ—pha which is 7. miles in compasse and Caâ—amil which is farre greater than it being the Metropolis of Mesopotamia which Selimus the Turkish Emperour tooke from the Sophi Merdin is the seate of the Patriarke of Chaldaea and Mosus of the Patriarke of the Nertorianians whose authority reacheth even to the Indies and Cathaja In Persidis which they call now Farsi or Parsitum there is the chiefe Citty Siras which was heretofore called Persâ—polis which was the Seate of the Magi. Pliny calls it the head Citty of the Persian Kingdome and Q. Curtius the royall Palace of the East Hyrcania which is now called Grigta or Corâ—a or Dargameâ—t is next unto the Caspian Sea which is therefore called the Hyrcanian Sea It hath these Citties Hyrcana which the Scythians call THE KINGDOME OF PERSIA· PERSICUM REGNUM Carizath also Besta and Mesandra Margiana which is now called Iselbas is bounderd on the North with the River Oxus The chiefe Citty is Iodion which was anciently called Antiochia Bactrina now called Batter or Charassa is a part of Tartaria The Citties are Bactra which is now called Bochara and also Istigias Paropamissus is a part of Bactriana by the Mountaine Paropamissus it is now called Candahar or Amblestam The chiefe Citty is Candabar which is a famous Mart Towne Aria is so called from the Metropolis thereof Eri which is 13. miles in compasse Carmania which is called Circa or Chermaine reacheth to the Indian Sea even to Gedrosia having many Citties and Havens The Metropolis is Chirmain There are also in Carmania these Kingdomes Maâ—ram Eraâ—a Guadel and Paran Some doe falsely suppose Gesia to be Guzarate seeing Guzarate is the Kingdome of Cambaja Babylon is situate betweene the Persian Bay and Mesopotamia and on the right and left hand it is enclosed with the Desarts of Susia and Arabia is was so named from Babylon the chiefe Citty thereof Chaldaea ioyneth to it In Chaldaea was the Citty Vr which Iosephus calleth Vra from whence Abraham being admonished by God removed and went to Haran in Mesopotamia This Kingdome hath many Rivers as Canac Araxes and â—iâ—us which doe water the Southerne part of Media In Assyria is the River Tigris In Susania the River Enelaeus Mesopotamia hath the River Euphrates In Margiana Oxus Arius and Margis Bactria hath the Navigable River Ochus and others in Aria are the Rivers Arius Toncletus Arapenes and others It hath also divers Mountaines as Orontes in Media and the Mountaine Coronus in Hyrcania Also the Mountaine Taurus which cutteth thorow the middle of Persia which hath divers names given it by the people that dwell neere it It hath also many woods especially Parthia is very wooddy and the Northerne part of Hyrcania which hath great woods which have store of Oakes Pinetrees and Firre-trees and are full of wilde Beasts as Tigers Panthers and Libards Also Aria is full of Woods and Mountaines as also all Persia Concerning the publike works there are many stately and magnificent Buildings in this Kingdome and especially in Babylon As that magnificent Bridge in the Citty of Babylon which the Queene Semiramis built over Euphrates concerning which see Munster Lib. 5. who also in the same Booke describeth a strange Garden which Semiramis caused to be planted In the Citty Susia was the Castle Susa in which the Kings of Media dwelt which as Cassiodorus reporteth Memnon built with stones laid in Gold in stead of morter this is one of the 7. wonders of the world But of these things enough I come to their manners They created their Kings out of one Family He that did not obey the King had his head and armes cut off and his Carkasse was afterward left unburied They had all of them many Wives and many Concubines which they kept for Of-spring sake that they might have Children by them They never consulted of waighty matters but when they had their Cups about them for they supposed that they could then determine better of matters than when they were sober Acquaintance and equalls did salute one another with a kissâ— The 〈◊〉 â—â—rious did shew reverence by outward gestures They buried their dead bodies in the ground and anoynted them with waxe It was counted a hainous offence to laugh or spet before the King Concerning the burying of their dead others doe write the cleane contrary namely that the Persians did bring forth the bodies of their dead without the Citty into the Fields and there cast them forth naked to be devourd by Dogs and ravenous Fowles And moreover that they would not suffer the bones of the dead to be buried or interr'd And when any Carkasse was not presently devoured by the Fowles and the wild Beasts they accounted it an unlucky signe superstitiously beleeving that that man had a wicked impure soule and therefore worthy of Hell and his neighbours did lament him as a man who after this life had no hope of Felicity But if he were soone devoured by the Beasts they judged him happy But now the Persians are more soft and gentle in their manners and behaviour then either the Turkes the Tartarians or the Sarazens They are by nature liberall and doe love civility and they reverence Learning and Arts but especially Astrologie Phisick and Poesie They use Parents and Brethren with much respect and Nobility of blood is greatly esteemed wherein they differ from the Turkes which make no differences of blood or dissent Moreover they doe entertaine and use strangers curteously but yet they are very jealous So that they suffer not their Wives to come in a strangers sight though in other matters they use them with great respect contrary to the maner of the Turkes who use their Wives like slaves The Persian women are very faire They doe addict themselves to Mechanick Arts and especially weaving of Silke stuffes which are transported thorow all Syria and other Easterne Countries They did feed heretofore on the fruit of the Turpentine Tree and on Acornes and wilde Peares their daily food after running or other exercises of the body was hard bread their drinke was water They get much by buying and selling of Pearles and sweet Spices but especially of Silke of which here is great store
the heate and warmth whereof young Duckes are hatched And they doe the same in the Winter time but then they doe not lay their Egges in the Sand but under a Wicker Basket or Pannier on which they strew warme ashes the heate whereof in some few dayes doth hatch the Egges This Country is under one King and Monarch whom the people call Lord of the World and sonne of Heaven There are in it 250. chiefe Citties whose names doe end in Fu which signifies a Citty as Cotonfu Panquinfu And their Townes which are many doe end in Cheu There are innumerable sort of Villages which are inhabited by reason of their continuall tillage and Husbandry All the Citties are situate by the banke of some Navigable River fortified with strong walls and deepe ditches There are many pleasant Lakes as the round Lake in the Province of Sancius which was made by an Inundation in the yeere 1557. which is memorable in regard that 7. Citties besides Townes and Villages and a great number of people were drowned in it onely one Boy saved in the body of a Tree The Rivers and the Seas are full of Fish And this Country because it bordereth on the Sea and hath many Navigable Rivers is very populous both by Sea and Land The Gates of their Citties are very magnificent and stately built The streetes are as strait as if they were made by a line and so broad that 10. or 15. men may ride together in a ranke and these are distinguisht and severd one from another with triumphall Arches which doe grace the Citty very much The Portugals doe report that they saw in the Citty Fuchus a Towre which was built on 14. Marble Pillars which were 40. hand breadth high and 12. broade This is such a curious beautifull and costly worke that it farre exceedeth all the proud and magnificent structures in Europe They have faire Temples both in their Citties and in the Countrey The King of China hath a Governour under him who is as it were a Viceroy whom they call Tutan Hee judges and determines all suites and controversies within the Kingdome and is very severe in administring Justice Theeves and murtherers are kept continually in prison untill they dye with whipping and with hunger and cold For though they are condemned to dye which is for the most part by whipping yet the execution is so long delayd after the sentence is given that the most part of those which are condemned doe die in prison Hence it comes to passe that there are so many prisoners in every Citty So that there are sometimes a thousand Prisoners in the Citty Canton Theft than which no crime is more hatefull in these parts is punisht with whipping and cruell stripes And this is the manner of their whipping They set a man with his face bending downeward with his hands bound behind him and then they whipp him on the THE KINGDOME OF CHINA· CHINA thighs with a whipp made of Reedes and Canes which giveth such a vehement stroke that the first blow will make the blood spring forth and the second blow will so torment the malefactor that he cannot stand upon his feete Two Beadles doe whipp him on both his thighs with such vehemency that the most of them do dye at the 50. or 60. stroke for al their sinewes are broken The Portugals report that every yeere above 2000. men are put to death in this manner Their whipp is 5. fingers thick and one broade which they wet continually with water that it may be more flexible and may give the stronger blow It is lawfull for the men to have many wives one of which they keepe at home and the rest in other places They punish adultery with death In the Citties there are no Brothells for all the whores are banisht into the Suburbs They celebrate their Nuptiall Feasts and weddings at the time of the new Moone and commonly in the Moneth of March which is the first day of their new yeare And they doe keepe these Festivalls with great solemnity and for many dayes together with Organs Musick and Comicall Playes The Chinoans have for the most part broad faces thin beards flat Noses and little Eyes yet some of them are well favoured enough Their colour and complexion is like the Europeans but they are somewhat browne and swarfie that dwell about Canton They seldome or never goe out of their owne Countrey neither doe they admit any stranger to come into the innermost parts of their Countrey unlesse the King give him leave They are as stout drinkers as the Germaines and Dutchmen Concerning the Religion of this Countrey they beleeve that all things were created that all things here below are governd from above and from the Heaven which they beleeve to be the greatest of al the Gods whom they expresse by the first Character of their Alphabet They doe worship the Sunne the Moone and the starres and the Divell whom they painte in the same manner as the Europaeans doe least hee should doe them harme as they say The Chinoans are so neate in making all kind of household stuffe that they seeme rather the workes of nature then of Art The use of Ordinance and the Art of Printing is here of such antiquity that they know not the first Inventor thereof The Portugalls doe write much concerning their sagacitie and craftinesse and that they have Coaches which will goe with Sayles which they know so well how to guide that they will make them in a short time carry them by Land whither the list Neither can I omit their cleare white kind of Potters ware which wee call China ware which they make in this manner They mingle Sea snales or Periwinkles with egge-shells and putting some other things to them they beate them till they become one substance Then they lay it under the ground and there they let it lye to season and ripen 80. or 100. yeare and they leave it to their heyres as a precious treasure so that they commonly do come to use that which their Grandfathers first laid to ripen And it is an ancient custome observd amongst them that he that takes away the old must lay new in the place Here is much commerce and trading especially for sweete spices and â—ilkes For out of Malacca Bengala and other places Pepper Saffron Muske Nutts Cassia and other kindes of sweete Spices are brought into China But their chiefest trading is in Silke For Iohn Barrius in his Decads of Asia doth write that at the Citty Nimpo which some doe call Liampo that hee saw some Portugals in three moneths space that carried away by Shippin 166000. pound waight of silke Also Antonius Pigiafetta doth afirme that Muske is brought from hence into other parts of the World and Andreas Corsalis saith that Rheubarb and Pearles are brought from hence THE EAST INDIES THE Indies is the greatest Country in Asia it is so called from the River Indus Ptolemie devideth it into two parts
and so transported to other Nations Heere are many Hils on which flocks of sheep doe graze which are esteemed not onely for their flesh which is very sweete and pleasant but also for the finenesse of their wooll and these flocks of sheepe doe prosper and increase through the wholsomnesse of the Ayre and goodnesse of the Soyle as also by reason of the scarcitie of trees on the Hils and the freenesse of the whole Countrie from Wolves This Countrie aboundeth with all kinde of Cattell living Creatures except Asses Mules Camels Elephants and a few other There are no where better or fiercer Mastiffes no where greater store of Crowes or greater plenty of Kites that prey upon young Chickens than here The Romans did command the better part of Brittaine almost five hundred yeares namely from the time of Caius Iulius Caesar to the time of Theodosius the younger when the Legions and Garrisons of Rome being called to defend France they left the Isle of Brittaine whereby it came to passe that the Southerne parts thereof were invaded by the Picts and Scots whose violence when the Brittaines could no longer sustaine they called the Saxones out of Germanie men accustomed to warre for their Ayde These Saxons assisted them in the beginning but afterward being allured with the temperature of the Ayre or perswaded by the friendship and familiarity of the Picts or stirred up by their owne treacherous mindes they made a league with the Picts against the Brittaines and having driven out their Hosts they themselves possessed their places England containeth many Cities and faire Townes among which the chiefe are London Yorke Canterbury Bristoll Glocester Shrewsbury Winchester Bathe Cambridge Oxford Norwich Sandwich with many other which wee will delineate in our particular Descriptions The chiefe Rivers are Thames Humber Trent Ouse and Severne of which in their places The Ocean which washeth this Isle doth abound with plenty of all kindes of Fish among which is the Pike which with the Inhabitants is in great esteem so that some times they take him out of moorish Lakes into fish-ponds where after hee hath scoured himselfe being fed with Eeles and little fishes hee growes wonderfull fat Moreover there are no where more delicate Oysters or greater plenty of them than heere The especiall Havens of England are these first Davernas commonly called Dover which is the farthest part of the Countie of Kent it is fortified with a Castle seated on a Hill and well furnished with all kinde of Armour secondly Muntsbay of a great breadth in Cornewall where there is a safe harbour for ships There is also Volemouth or Falemouth Torbay South-hampton and many others The King of England hath supreame power and acknowledgeth no superiour but God his Subjects are either the Laiety or the Clergie the Laiety are either Nobles or Commons The Nobles are either of the greater ranke as Dukes Marquesses Earles Vicounts Barons and Bannerets who have these Titles by inheritance or else are conferr'd upon them by the King for their vertues The lesser Nobles are Baronets Knights Esquires and those which commonly are called Gentlemen the Gentlemen are those who are honoured by their birth or those whose vertue or fortune doe lift them up and distinguish them from the meaner sort of men The Citizens or Burgesses are those who in their severall Cities doe beare publick Offices and have their places in the Parliaments of England The Yeomen are those whom the Law calleth legall men and doe receive out of the Lands which they hold at the least forty shillings yearely The Tradesmen ENGLAND ANGLIA are those who worke for wages or hire All England is divided into nine and thirty Shires and these Shires are divided into Hundreds and Tithings In each of these Counties is one man placed called the Kings Praefect or Lievtenant whose office is to take care for the security of the Common-wealth in times of danger and every yeare there is one chosen whom they call the Sheriffe that is the Provost of the Shire who may bee rightly called the Questor of the Countie or Province For it is his office to collect publick money to distraine for trespasses and to bring the money into the Exchequer to assist the Judges to execute their commands to empannell the Jurie who are to enquire concerning matters of fact bring in their verdict to the Judges for the Judges in England are Judges of the Right not of the Fact to bring the condemned to execution to decide of thēselves small controversies But in great matters those Judges do administer right whom they call Itinerarie Judges Judges of Assise who twice every year do visite most of these Shires to determine and end matters of difference and also to give judgement upon Prisoners For asmuch as concernes Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction England hath now two Provinces and also two Archbishops the Archb. of Canterbury Primate of all England and the Archb. of Yorke Under these are seven and twenty Bishops two twenty under Canterbury and the other five under Yorke The Tribunals or Courts of Justice in England are of three sorts for some are Spirituall some Temporall and one mixt which they call the Parliament consisting of the three Orders of England and it representeth the body of the whole Kingdome This Parliament the King cals and appoints according to his pleasure Hee hath the chiefe authority in making confirming abrogating and interpreting of Lawes and in all things that belong to the good of the Common-wealth The temporall Courts are two-fold namely of Law and of equity The Courts of Law are the Kings Bench the Starre-Chamber the Common Pleas the Exchequer the Court of Wards and Liveries the Court of the Admiraltie and Assises wee omit others which are obscure The Kings Bench is so called because the King is wont to sit in it and it handleth Pleas of the Crowne The Starre-Chamber or rather the Court of the Kings Counsell is that in which criminall matters are handled as perjuries impostures deceits and the like The Common Pleas is so called because common pleas are tried there betweene the Subjects by the Law of England which they call the Common Law The Exchequer deriveth its name from a foure square Table covered with a Chequer-Cloth at which the Barons sit in it all causes are heard which belong to the Exchequer The Court of Wards hath his name from Wards whose causes it handleth The Admirals Court handleth Sea-matters Those which wee call the Assises are held twice in a yeare in most Shires in which two Judges of Assise appointed for it with the Justices of peace doe enquire and determine of civill and criminall matters The Courts of Equity are the Chancerie the Court of Requests and the Councell in the Marshes of Wales The Chancerie draweth its name from the Chancellour who sitteth there This Court gives judgement according to equitie and the extreame rigour of the Law is thereby
doth speake more at large It seemeth that after that time the arâ—itrarie erection and raising of Kingdomes and Principalities did fâ—â—le the Monarches now contriving how to establish a setled Empire which consisteth in the just proportion and harmonie of its parts as in man the parts of the body to the head Therefore that some order might be perpetually kept in Principality and in government I suppose that at length about the same time which I mentioned before these afore-said Lawes were devised And so Reader thou hast the distinct Degrees of all the Nobilitie and the differences of their dignities Now if thou observe how Provinces in every Kingdome are divided in respect of them how the government and administration of the whole and in what proportion it is distributed among these degrees what is every ones peculiar office what is the habitude or relation which they have one to an other and especially to their head you shall behold either an excellent harmony tending to the preservation of peace and tranquillity strength and power riches and state vertue and wisedome to the Majestie of a Kingdome and the enlarging of territories or a confused disorder tending to instabilitie declination destruction or inundation according as there are divers kindes of government If those matters which thou shalt see or judgest did succeed ill thou maist consider whence that ill successe proceeded but if thou finde any prosperous and successefull event search the cause thereof so thou shalt behold which is the best policie in governing of Common-weales and shalt studie Geographie with more profit An Admonition concerning the use of the Tables following WHen it was my purpose to reduce all Geographie to the consideration of the Heavens that the just symmetrie of places as they lye in the Sphericall figure of the Earth might as neere as could be observed in plano or on a plaine superficies a due proportion of degrees of Longitude was to be set down according to the degrees of Latitude Seeing therefore the Table could containe but a few degrees of Latitude I have reduced the proportion thereof almost to the midle Parallel of the Table so that what the proportion is of that Parallel to the Meridian the same should be the proportion of the degrees of Longitude in the same Parallel to the degrees of Latitude and so all the Meridians are Parallels one to an other But seeing there were more degrees of Latitude because there is a great difference of proportion in the Parallels both in the top and the bottome unto the Meridian lest the symmetric of places should not be true I have chosen two Parallels almost equally distant from the midle and the extreames to the proportion whereof I have drawne the Meridians to designe and note out the degrees of Longitude which are not then Parallels but according to the greater or lesser distance of the assumed Parallels they doe encline more or lesse one to an other and to the midle Meridian of the Table Moreover thou shalt finde the degrees of Latitude and Longitude designed and set forth on the sides of the Tables and for the most part the degrees of Latitude on either side of the Table and of Longitude on the top and bottome seeing according to the usuall manner of Geographers wee place the North on the higher part But if the Countrie to be described be more extended toward the South and North than toward the East and West then commonly wee place the West upward Howsoever it be made the East and West sides shall alwayes represent unto thee the degrees of Latitude the other two sides the degrees of Longitude And all the degrees are divided into 60 partes which they call minutes sometimes into single parts when the magnitude will permit sometimes into two five or ten This foundation being laid wee have followed the best descriptions in delineating of Countries in which I had much helpe from a famous Measurer of Countries and a most diligent Geographer to the King of Spaine called Christianus Grothenius who had viewed many Countries and described them more largely and exactly than any other and also from a most diligent Geographer to the King of Spaine Abraham Ortelius who was candor and curtesie it selfe and who in evidence thereof liberally communicated unto mee what Tables soever hee had gotten though he had the same purpose that I intended Those who besides did helpe mee any thing at all I will mention in due place so that Students may give them their deserved praise and I may not bee found ungratefull And whatsoever hath beene offerr'd mee by others and I found out by my owne diligent search I have compar'd together that as neere as may bee I might set forth accurate descriptions yet in one thing which I chiefly desired I am defective namely in an exact numbring and reckoning up of Principalities Noble-mens places which are much sought for in Tables that are set forth therefore READER thou must pardon that defect and vouchsafe to helpe mee in describing the Politicall Order of the Nobilitie and in shewing their places names and qualities which will be an honour and grace unto thy name Litle round circles doe shew the true situation of every place from whence their distance is to be taken and these have some markes whereby places are distinguisht one from an other The Villages are marked onely by round circles where wee meete with a Castle wee marke it in this manner and where with Friaries with a Crosse thus Townes have two Towres at least and Villages of note where Noble-men reside one These things wee observed as notes And wee have taken easie markes for distinction that so any may supply those things which are omitted If any one would finde out the Longitude and Latitude of any place hee shall do it where the Meridians are Parallels by taking with a paire of Compasses the distance thereof from the one side of the Table and by applying the Compasse so opened to the other side If you have taken the distance from the East side the Compasse from the same side in the North side will shew the degree and minute of Longitude But if you have the distance from the North side it will shew you the Latitude in the East side When the Meridians are not Parallels the Latitude of a place shall bee found out in the same manner as in universall Tables where the Parallels are circular for the distance of the place taken from the next Parallel will shew the same in the East side But the Longitude is to be sought out with a thread or ruler laid upon the place and turned about untill on the North and South side the same minute of the same degree be on either side designed and whatsoever that is is the Longitude of the place assumed The miles in divers Countries do differ much therefore if you please to compare them one to an other bring them with your Compasses to the degrees of
there are also many other small Rivers There are almost no Mountaines except Southward where it is parted from Huâ—gary by the Sarmatian and Carpathian Mountaines which the inhabitants call Taury The Country is full of woods which are parts of the wood Hercinia But so much hitherto The Politick state of the Kingdome of Poland hath 2. Members The first are the Clergie in which are the two Archbishopricks of Gnesna and Leopolis The Bishops of Cracovia of Ploczko of Chelma Vladislavia Pomesania Varmia Culma and Sambiensis Posnonia Proemislia Cavenez Vilna Medincque Luceoria In Livonia the Bishops of Riga Dirpta Absel and Revalia Secondly the Nobles in which there are Castellanus Cracowvia the Palatine of Cracovia Posnania Sandomiria Kalischy Siradia Lancisa Brezeste Inowladislavia Russia Podalia Lublin Belze Plocense Mozavia Rava Also in Lithuania the Palatines of Vilna of Trochy Poletsho Novogrod and Vitellia Also in Prussia the Palitnes of Culma Marienbourg Pomerania The Counts are of Pâ—snania Sand miria Kalische Voinice Gnesne Siradiâ— Lancise Brizeste Inowladeslavia Leopolis Camenezia Lublin Belze Plocense Geine Ravense Sandecia Myedzeris Visâ—icie Biece Rogostia Radom Zawichost Landâ—nse Streme Zarnowe Mologost Viâ—lune Premisâ—ia Haine Saâ—â—e Chelme Dobrine Polaneâ—ce Premetense Criswinense Czecovia Nacle Rospirie Byechovâ—a Bydgostia Brezezine Crininice Osvecimense Camenetz Spicimirie Inowlodense Revalia Zavoloo Sachazonia Vasovia Gostine Visne Raciez Sieprecense Wisogrod Riprin Zabrochzinense Circhanouia Livense In Lithuania there are old Palatines of Vilna and Trochi In Prussia of Culma Elbingen and Pomerania There are many Captaines in the Kingdome of Poland And two Mars-halls of the Kingdome and the Court. The Ecclesiastick doth consist of these Archbishops Bishops aforesaid The Noble men are very sharpe witted and they doe travell into forraigne Countries to get knowledge and languages They are couragious and doe not feare the stoutest Enemie and if the Nobles doe wrong them all their kinsfolkes and friends doe joyne with them to revenge it and doe never cease untill they have revengd it or lost their owne lives Lastly they are not so liberal as Prodigall both in Banqueting and imoderate guifts and also in keeping a great retinew or number of Servants whom they cloth and feede SILESIA ANd so much concerning the Kingdome of Poland Silesia remaineth which I will briefely unfold It was so called from a River of the same name as Conradus Celtes witnesseth Others have other derivations It is bounderd on the North and East with Polonia on the South with Moravia and the Wood Hercynia on the West with part of Lusitia and Bohemia It is 200. Mile long and 80. broade Though the ayre be somewhat cold yet it is milde and gentle The Country in regard it is watered with many Brookes and Rivers is very fruitfull in most places and it hath in some parts Veines of Gold Silver Lead and Iron it yeeldeth also clothing for it selfe and many other Countries beside The Citties are well inhabited and adorned with Lawes and good Arts. The Metropolis thereof is Vratislavia some would have it to be that which Ptolomie cals Budorchis it is comonly call'd Breslaw Duglossus writeth that it was built by Mieslaus Duke of Polonia a little before the yeere of Christ 1000. And 40. yeeres afterward it was adorned with a Bishoprick by Casimirus King of Poland and it encreased so much that the Bishops of this Citty were called the golden Bishops in regard of their wealth and riches In the yeere 1341. it was burnt downe But the Emperour Charles the third made it in stead of Brick of Gold On the Steeple of St. Elizabeths Church there is this Inscription Mirabilis in altis Dominus The Situation the beauty of the Houses Towers and Churches the faire Bridges and large Streets doe much set forth this Citty Nissa is an Episcopall Citty There are besides in this Country 15. Dukes Lignicensis Bregensis Teschinensis Monsterbergensis Olsvicensis and Beoustadiensis and three ancient Families namely Ligvicensis Teschinensis and Monsterbergensis Tropaviensis Opeliensis Nissensis Vratislavensis or Breslauw Swidnisensis Hurensis Glagoviensis Ratibonensis and Sagonensis But these latter honours the Kings of Bohemia since the decease of their Lords have gotten There are three Baronyes namely of Trachenberg of Vertenberg and Plessensis The Kings high Court in Silesia is kept at Vratislavia where there is a Bishops seate as also at Kissa Viadrus runneth thorow this Country into which many Rivers and Streames doe flow as Elsa Ola Bobrus Barusins and others POLAND POLAND which is situate in the Europian Sarmatia is both long and wide and doth take up a great part of it it was so called from the Fields and plaine ground for Pole signifies as much as Plaine it is a very great Country having on the North Borussia and Pomerania on the East Massovia and Lithuania on the South Russia and the Mountaines of Hungaria on the West Lusatia Silesia and Moravia It is devided into the greater and lesser Poland The greater is more Northward and the River Varta runneth thorow the middle of it The lesser is Southward and the River Vistula glideth thorow it The Polanders are descended from the Sclavonians as Neugebaverus witnesseth Lib. Rer. Polonicar and their Kingdome was never so large as it is now because the great Dukedome of Lituania Livonia are joyned unto it albeit the King of Swethland hath lately gotten a great part of these Provinces It reacheth from the River Notes Obrá which doe devide it from Marchia and from the River Odera which doth part it from Silesia even to Beresaia and Borysthenes which seperateth it from Moscovia and so it extendeth West and East 120. Germane miles and as much from the farthest part of Livonia to the confines of Hungarie And so being of a round forme it is very wide and capacious There are in the greater Poland these principall Citties Posnavia built by the Rivers Varta and Prosna betweene the Hills with a double wall it hath faire slated Houses and great Suburbs by the farther banke of the River Varta being encompassed with a great Lake and Marshes and having two famous Faires every yeere it is a Bishops seate and hath many Townes under it Calisia is a walled Citty among the Marshes by which the River Prosna runneth It had sometime a strong well fortified Castle as the ruines doe testifie there are other Townes also subject unto it Gnesna is walled about being situate in a Plaine betweene Lakes and Hills and it is an Archbishops seate This Citty was first built by Lechus in which Boleslaus Chabri Prince of Polonia received the royall Diadem from the Emperor Otto the III. when before that time Poland was onely a Dukedome Siradia is a woodden Citty walled and seated on a Plaine it hath a strong Castle by the River Varta This Citty was honoured with the title of a Dukedome which dignity belonged to the Kings second Sonne It hath also many Townes under it among which is Petricovia which was heretofore of great