Van that had passed resolutely returning to the assistance of those Companies in the Reer thus endangered the French their first fury being over fled back over the same Cawsey with more Confusion than the English were driven before and durst never attempt any further upon them but permitted them and gladly too to embarque where the Duke of Buckingham stayed eight dayes resolving to do something more if the supply under the Earl of Holland had come sooner This Invasion of the English put the French into another pannick Fear of their Victorious Armes but Providence and the Policy of Cardinal Richleiu secured them by whose Conduct the Raign of this Prince was very fortunate though embroyled in a War with Spain and the House of Austria for some years before his death which a while after the decease of the said Lewis 14 and Cardinal Richleiu by the prudence of Cardinal Mazarine was Concluded in a Peace and Marriage betwixt Lewis the 14. present King of France and the Infanta of Spain by which Treaty France gained some Provinces and since by the Surrender of the Duke of Lorrain is possest also of that Soveraignty The Nobility are Couragious and valiant but the Plebe or Peasants the most abject heart-less People in the World the Gentry also of a like temper with the Nobility so that if they have no War abroad to spend that fury they will waste it among themselves in intestine troubles as long Experience hath demonstrated it Spain is severed from France by the Pyrenaean Mountains on all other sides it is environed with the Sea it containeth at this day divers Kingdoms One Goths Two Navars There have been fourty one Kings The Arms are Gules a Carbuncle nowed Or. The chief Order of Knighthood was of the Lilly their Blazon a pot of Lillies with the pourtraicture of the Virgin ingraven upon it their Duty to defend the Faith and daily to repeat certain Ave Maries Third Biscay and Empascon it hath had nineteen Lords Their Arms Argent two Wolves Sable each of them in his mouth a Lamb of the second Four Leon and Oviedo hath had thirty Kings The Arms are Argent a Lion passant crowned Or Five Gallicia hath had ten Kings the Arms Azure semee of Cressets ficed a Chalice crowned Or Six Corduâ—…a hath had twenty Kings the Arms Or a Lion Gules armed and crowned of the first a border Azure charged with eight Towers Argent Seven Granado hath had twenty Kings the Arms Or a Pomgranate slipped Vert Eight Murcia Nine Toledo hath had eleven Moorish Kings Ten Castile hath had twenty Kings the Order of Mercy is the chief Order here their Arms are a Cross Argent and four Beads Gules in a field Or their Habit white the rule of their Order that of St. Augustine their Duty was to redeem Christians taken by the Turks with such Money as was bestowed upon them Eleven Portugal hath had twenty one Kings the principal order of Knighthood here are first of Avis wearing a green Cross second of Christ instituted one thousand three hundred twenty one their Robe is a black Cassock under a white Surcoat wherewith a red Cross stroked in the midst with a white line their duty to expel the Moors out of Boetica the next neighbour to Portugal the Arms of this Kingdome are Argent on five Escouchins Azure as many Besants in Saltire of the first pointed sable within a border Gules charged with seven Towers Or Twelve Aragon hath had twenty Kings the Order of Knighthood is of Mintsea their Robe a red Cross upon their breast the Arms Or four Pallets Gules All these but Portugal and Navar are united in one Monarchy of the King of Spain their Religion is Popish whereunto they are kept by the violence of the Inquisition The Land yields all sorts of Wines Oyles Sugar Grain Mettals as Gold and Silver it is fertile enough for the Inhabitants whose ambitions for the most part are base the meanest proud the best superstitious and hypocrites many of them lascivious yet good Souldiers by patience in enduring hunger thirst labour The King is not rich by reason of his great expences to keep his Dominions in which he hath eleven Arch-bishops fifty two Bishops This Kingdome of Spain is risen to this grandeur and united strength within the Memory of our Grandfathers Ferdinand King of Aragon by his valour in vanquishing the Moors and expelling them out of Spain and his prudence and happiness in marrying with the Heir of the Kingdome of Castile made it of many one entire Realm The wealth of the Indies by the offer and fortunate discovery of Columbus being thrown as an addition to his Felicity This was further aggrandized and increased by the Marriage of his Heir Ioan to the House of Austria who by a late Marriage with the Heir of Burgundy was reckoned the most considerable Prince in Europe This was Philip the first of that name King of Castile Son to Maximilian Arch-Duke of Austria Duke of Burgundy and from which Marriage with Ioan descended Charles the fifth Emperour of Germany who had Issue Philip the second King of Spain who by pretence of a Right by his Wife and by Force of Arms wrested Portugal from the right Heir the House of Braganza This Philip long Coveted an universal Empire and for which ambition many thousand lives and more hundred thousand pounds drawn from his inexhaustible Mines have been expended His War in the Low-Countries 〈◊〉 the United Provinces which revolted from him lasted above 80. years during which time He had several ruptures with the French and English both being his constant Enemy all Queen Elizabeths Reign Yet since the Peace of the United Provinces he hath been as hard put to it as before his Provinces in the Low-Countries much harassed and his Forces over-powered by the united French and English Forces sent by Oliver Cromwell to attaque him there while a Fleet was sent to the West Indies to seize his Mines that his Treasure by the great charge difficulty and danger in bringing it from thence was neer exhausted so that a Peace was very requisite for him whereby he regained Catalonia who revolted at the same time in the year 1640. with Portugal and hath advantage of employing his Armies solely against that Kingdome but it is not to be doubted with but little success so that he will be constrained to abandon his pretences as he did to the Hollander He hath quitted the Provinces of Artois and Henault in Flanders and the County of 〈◊〉 to the French as Dower with his Daughter England together with Scotland on the north part thereof maketh the greatest Island of Europe and the richest in the World situated in a very temperate Soil and wholesome Air and exceeding fruitful in Wheat and other grain hath many pleasant Rivers plentifully stored with Fish excellent Havens both commodious and safe Mines of Silver Lead Iron especially of fine Tinn bearing fine Wool of which is made
the Chinese or with the Russe but the Crim Tartar is wholly Mercenary being in the late War of Poland employed first by the Pole and then by the Swede and Transylvanian Prince Ragotzki China is bounded on the east by the east Sea on the west with India and Bramus and on the north it is divided from Tartaria with a wonderfull Wall four hundred miles long built between the Mountains It is divided into fifteen Kingdoms or great Provinces each having a peculiar Prince but all yielding obedience to their great King It is reported that he may bring into the Field three hundred thousand Foot and two hundred thousand Horse-men The Land is fruitful of Grain and Beasts wild and tame Wines of Precious Stones Gold Copper Iron Steel Pearl and good store of Silk Also very great Cities well peopled Paqu'n is the Royal City of which things be written that be incredible The People are lively witty wonderous Artists they make Waggons that sail over the land as Ships do over the Sea the Art of Printing and making of Guns is more ancient with them than with us they have good Lawes according to which they do live but they want the knowledge of God for they are Heathens and Worship the Sun Moon and Stars yea and the Devil himself that he may not hurt them Of this Kingdome of China there is little writ either certain or true because of its vast distance which if the North-west passage had been passable and not frozen might have been throughly known The last news from thence was that the Tartars had invaded that Kingdome and had thrown down part of that eminent Wall abovesaid that was built for a Fence against their incursions and defeated the Chinese in several Battels It hath been travelled of late by some forraign Friers but our English Ships seldome thriving in the Voyage is the reason no better account can be given of their Government Lawes and Customes From thence come the China dishes called Porcelane which the Fathers prepare 40 years under ground and lay up for their Sons as an Estate before it be fit for use its fineness and transparency requiring such a time of perfection Iapan aboundeth so with Gold that it is reported that the Kings Pallace was covered therewith in the time of Paulus Venetius These Iapanneses are the best Navigators and Sailers of the Nations of those parts of the World for which they are beholding to the situation of their Country being an Island so that they are very frequent and use Commerce in all that Quarter and prove good Auxiliary Souldiers to the several Princes They are much entertained by the Dutch as may be seen in the business of Amboyna India situated between Persia and the Tartars Sinca and the Indian Sea all Writers account the best and goodliest Land in the World for it fills almost the whole World with precious Jewels and Pearls Medicinal Drugs and Perfumes that it may be called an earthly Paradise The King of this Country the Great Mogul is certainly the richest and most Magnificent Prince in the World which to shew to his Subjects at the several seasons of the year as it grows Hot or Cold he removes his Court from City to City of great distance south and north his Countrey being very vast and well peopled But his chief Imperial City is Agraâ—… where as most great Cities of the East Lime trees and others of great shade and sweet sent are placed along the streets most beautifull and pleasant to behold The Mogul is altogether if not more absolute than any of the Eastern Princes all whose Governments are Monarchical Tyrannies Every morning he shews himself in great State to his Nobles and Princes who prostrate and adore him and at the same time the Elephants of which he keeps many hundreds are brought to Salam that is to bow and bend their knee which being taught they will do very readily To this Mogul King Iames sent the Earl of Denbigh Ambassador to Treat or rather to Complement about our Trade in the East-Indies Surrat being in his Dominions where constantly one of his chief Nobles is resident as Governour The Earl carried Presents with him but was most magnificently and costly Re-presented by the Mogul even to an Estate and his Ambassie civilly and effectually answered we count them Barbarians but they are a Nation of extraordinary Civility as our Commerce witnesseth where they love they love ardently and constantly and where they hate they hate furiously and deadly At present they are engaged in a Civil War for the Mogul Sultan Coram lately dying left his Estate in Dispute though divided to his three Sons of whom he most loved his youngest who by the favour and practice of the chief of the Nobility having gained the Army which is alwayes kept standing possest himself of most part of the Empire while his Brothers were disputing with one another about other the private Limits and Boundaries of their Lands Both are now joyned against him but with what successe is not yet known The English Trade is neverthelesse no way molested or impeached their Governour now siding with the Younger Brother but is carried on as formerly the chief Merchants of that Nation being the Banians a sect and preciser sort of People than the rest the most of them being Mahometans who are just dealers and very rich and negotiate in all the Traffique of the East The Hollanders have some places of Strength here also and are in League with the Mogul though in War with some of the adjacent lesser Princes The King of Portugal is possest of the Kingdome of Goa and other large Provinces and Territories which were formerly distinct Kingdomes and Principalities but Conquered and won by his Sword but hath been disquieted and disturbed very often as well by the Natives as the Dutch but yet he hath made a shift to keep the greatest part still in his hands and consequently a very rich Trade and Traffique which he manageth himself There is alwayes resident at Goa his Vice-roy one of the Portugal Nobility who lives in great Pompe and State in a very fair Palace The City is strongly fortified and several out-Forts and Guards circumjacent to prevent a sudden attempt of an Enemy and other Fortresses are erected in that Kingdome some whereof are put into the hands of the English by agreement the Coast being beneficial to our Navigation into the Indies The Portugal Inhabitants follow the Habit and Fashion of the Indians as all Nations whatsoever Trading thither do their Habit. Persia is a mighty rich Land governed by the Sophy though he be a Mahometist yet he warreth against the Turk for the Religion of Mahomet concerning the expounding of the Alcoran out of Persia are brought the Bezoar-stone and other precious Stones Pearls of great value and many Silk-works This Kingdom once honoured with the Universal Empire as absolutely lost it self under the Turkish Slavery as before under the victorious
which is exported and receiveth the Merchandize imported at the City of Arica Peru. THis Kingdom is governed by a Council and Viceroy It hath to the North the Council of Quito on the south Charchas and to the west the south-sea and to the east without limits This Kingdom is well peopled with civil orderly Indians that are in great subjection to the Spaniards Peru doth abound in all sorts of Fruits Seed Cattel Horses Sheep Swine rich Mines of Gold Silver Quick-silver plentifull of Wine Oil and Sugar The Andes runs through this Province within ten Leagues of the Sea In all which Coasts it never raineth but on the said hills it raineth continually and beyond as in other Regions The Plains between the Sea and the said Hills have few or no Rivers but the industry of the Inhabitants draw in trenches which are artificially made the water either from those few Rivers or from the side of the said Andes which maketh that the said plain is mighty populous fruitful and pleasant even as a Garden The City of Cusco is the head City of Peru by a Title that it hath from the King of Spain It lyeth in 13 degrees and a half south of the Equinoctial It is a very great City and hath four great streets that go to the four parts of the World It hath many Monasteries and Nunneries with a Cathedral and divers Schools of Indian Children Quito THis Kingdome is governed by a Council whose bounds lyeth between Peru and Panama It hath two mighty Countreys or Provinces within his circuit that is to say first Quits and then Popyan Quito lieth between Peru and Popyan on the south sea and far into the land under the Equinoctial line and contrary to the opinion of the Ancients it is a most wholsome temperate Countrey and rather cold than hot in most places of it In those places where the Snow continues all the year it raineth from October to March which they call Winter This Province is rich in Mines of Emralds and Gold Silver and Quick-silver plentiful of English Grain and Cattel Horse and Swine This Region is happy in the temperature of the Air there being neither extreme cold nor heat as lying Equinoctial to these extremes and which is more delightful to mans nature always a clear Skie The Province of Popyan lyeth between Quito and Panama the greatest part of it is Inland yet doth it for a good way lie on the south sea The Eastern part bordereth on the Kingdom of Granado and Cartagena The temperature of Air is very different in this place for here are some places indifferent temperate and cool other places are very hot and sickly This Province hath some Indians peaceable other some extraordinary savage insomuch that about the Village of Arma and Canarna they eat not only those that they take in War cutting off slivers eating one part while the other liveth but sell their Children and the Sons their Fathers and Mothers to the Butchers who keep shambles of mans flesh This Countrey is exceeding rich in Gold Mines which maketh that the Spaniards endure the other inconveniencies of the Countrey with great patience Magellan-Straight This Straight is famous for the troublesome passage of Drake Candish and Haukins three English men Generals each in a several Fleet Drake and Candish being the first that sailed along the coast of Peru and so to the East Indies and came home by the cape of Bona Speranza circum-navigating the Globe The last being much over-matched was taken by the Spaniards on the coast of Peru and conveyed from thence Prisoner to Spain From whence with much difficulty he obtained his freedom although solemn engagements passed from the General his Taker for his freedome The entrance into this Straight is in 52 degrees and the coming out into the south sea the same height It is an extreme difficult passage by reason of the meeting of the north and south seas in the channell driving each other back prevailing as they are favoured by the wind which commonly bloweth there exceeding boisterously and cold There are divers Caves and Bayes in it but no encouragement for a Seaman to adventure that way The Inhabitants on this Straight are few and extreme savage neither is this passage any more in use for those that will go by the south of America to the East Indies or into the south sea to any part of the west coast of America have a more convenient passage south of this Straight in an open sea The entrance into it is called Lamair but the sea was discovered by Sir Francis Drake and Sir Richard Haukins both which were driven back by foul weather into those seas after they had passed the Strait On the coast of the south sea which lyeth between the Straight and Chilli there are no inhabitants save the wild Natives but it hath the Bay of Horses in 52 degrees and the Bay of Saint Iohn in 50. The cape of Saint Francis in 51. And 18 Leagues before you come to Port Hearnan the Bay of Galago in 48 degrees 40 Minutes and north of it the Bay of Kings and the Isle of Catilina then the Cape of Saint Andrew in 42 degrees where Chilia beginneth There is a coast between the River of Plate and the Straight of Magellan The Straight lyeth southwest from the mouth of this River and is distant thence 400 Leagues It hath on the said coast first the point of Saint Helena in 37 degrees the point of Francis in 38 the River of Canobi in 45. And to the south the Isle of Ducks And in 47 the River of Seriani and in 49 the Port of Saint Iulian the River of Sancta Crux in 50. And 12 leagues before you come to the Straight of Ilefonsus But the Land possest with no other but the Natives which are a Giantly people This Magellanica belongs to the King of Spain which some Geographers would have now the fifth part of the World it is since found out to be a very little part as consisting only of some few Islands on the southern side of the Magellanick-Straights so called by Fredericus Magellanicus who discovered it in the year one thousand five hundred and twenty writing moreover that there he had seen tall men about nine and ten foot high and he saw many fires which the inhabitants had kindled doubtless by reason of the coldnesse of the weather he named it the land of fire or smoky whereby he presumed the more that it must needs be a very vast great countrey reaching east and westwards unto new Guinney according to which ghessing it hath hitherto been delineated by the Maps of Geographers but since hath there instead thereof a large and wide sea been found out both by Iacob Le Mair who in the year one thousand six hundred and sixteen sayling about the southern coast of these Islands entred into the Indies and by Iohn Davis in the year one thousand six hundred forty two who
Earls and nine hundred Barons not Titular only but men of great Estates It hath had twenty six Kings of several Countries beginning first with the Norman race and now being in the hand of Spain The disease called now the French Pox was first in all Christendome found here The Arms of this Kingdome are Azure seme of Fleur de Lices Or a file of three Labels Gules It s revenue is two millions and an half of Crowns whereof twenty thousand are the Popes for his chief rent and the rest so exhausted in maintaining Garrisons upon the Natives and a strong Navy against the Turks that the King of Spain receiveth not a fourth part theâ—…eof clearly It hath twenty Arch-bishops and one hundred twenty seven Bishops-seas This Crown and Kingdom hath been in long dispute between France and Spain Charles the Eighth of France won and lost it in a Dream so transitory was his possession of it much blood being spilt in the quarrel The Duke of Guise of the Family of Lorrain now pretends a right to it and hath attempted the Conquest of it of late years twice being called in by the Citizens of Naples in 1647. after that famous insurrection in the City of Naples under Mâ—…ssianelio the Fisherman who led and commanded 100000 men at his beck and pleasure for 14. dayes at the end whereof he and his mutinous Government expired being supposed to be poysoned by the Artifice of the Spaniard In the year 1654. the same Duke of Guise having better retained in mind the Courtshâ—…ps of the Neapolitans than his own misfortunes and his promises made at Madrid where he was kept prisoner from the time that Naples was reduced 1647. equipped another Fleet from that Kingdome from Toulon and Marseilles which nâ—…rrowly escaped the English Fleet under General Blake designed against it and after much bad weather landed and was defeated by the Spanish Vice-roy his Lieutenant General Marquis du Plessis being killed in the place with 2000 more and so the French were forced to re-imbarque and the Expedition frustrated The Spaniards how quietly hold it from the Papacy by a fealty Present yearly of a White Horse to his Holyness The Kingdom of Sicilia in Italy is situate under the fourth climate the longest day being thirteen hours and an half it shoots forth into the Sea with three Capes or Promontories The People are Ingenious Eloquent and Pleasant but withall very inconstant and full of talke they Invented Oratory Pastorall Eclogues Hour-glasses with Military Engins The Soyl is incredibly fruitfull in Wine Oyl Honey Minerals of Gold Silver and Allum together with plenty of Salt and Sugar there are also gems of Agats and Emeralds it yieldthe also great store of the richest Silk hath most excellent and delicious Fruits both for tast and colour with abundance also of all sorts of Grain Here is the hill Aetna which many have taken to be Hell and ignorant Papists Purgatory because of its sending forth of flames of fire which eth brimstone there causeth It hath many Cities Rivers and Lakes of which I cannot stand to treat There were eight Kings of Sicilia six of the first whereof were called to rule In the year one thousand two hundred eighty one the house of Arragon governed it and there hath succeeded ten Kings It is now united to the Crown of Spain the revenue is eight hundred thousand some say a million of Ducats disbursed again on the entertainment of the Vice-Roy defence of the Island the Arms are four Pallets Gules Sable being those of Arragon between two Flanches Argent charged with as many Eâ—…g'es Sable beaked Gules It hath had seven Princes four Dukes thirteen Marquisses fourteen Earls one Viscount and fourty eight Barons the People are Papists and have three Arch-bishops and nine Bishops The Island and Kingdom of Sardinia in Italy lieth west from Sicilie from the neerest point Cape Boy or Cape Bara It is distant about two hundred miles it is in length one hundred eighty miles ninety in breadth five hundred sixty in the circuit and is situate under the fourteenth Climate the longest day being fourteen houres there is neither Wolf nor Serpent neither venomous or hurtful beast but the Fox only and a little creature like a Spider which will by no means endure the sight of the Sun except held by violence Some pools it hath very plentiful of Fish but generally are so destitute of River-water that they are fain to keep the rain which falls in winter for their use in summer by means whereof and for that there is no passage for the Northern Winds being obstructed by the high Mountains neer Cape Lugudori the air is generally unhealthy if not pestilential The soil is very fertile but ill manured well stored with all sorts of cattel the horses hereof hot head-strong and hard to be broken but will last long the bullocks naturally gentle so that the Country-man doth as familiarly ride them as they do in Spain on Mules or Asses Here is also the beast called Mufr nes or Muscriones found in Corsica also but in no other part of Europe somewhat resembling a Stagg but of so strong an hide that it is used by the Italian in stead of Armour of the skin of which carryed to Cordova in Spain and there dressed is made the right Cordovant leather also there is an Herb whereof if one eat it is said that he will die with laughter the Herb being of such a poysonous nature that it causeth the Man to die with such a convulsion of sinews that he seemeth to grinn or laugh at the time of his death The People are small of stature their Complexion inclining unto swarthiness rude in Manners very slothful and rebellious yet given to Hunting their Diet mean their Apparel in Towns Gorgeous in Villages base their Religion Papistically formal little Curious their Clergy being counted the most illiterate and ignorant in that part of the World called Christendome it is now in the hands of the King of Spain governed by a Vice-Roy who resides at Calaris and must of necessity be a Spaniard under whom are two Deputies-Governours Spaniards also inferiour Officers of command may be of the natives what profits arise here to the King of Spain I have no where found The arms hereof are said to be Or a cross Gules betwixt four Saracens heads Sable curled argent There are also divers small Islands belonging thereunto And lastly it hath three Arch-bishops and fifteen Bishops The lands of the Church or the Popes Dominions in Italy lie west of the Realm of Naples extended north and south from the Adriatick to the Tuscan-Seas bounded on the north-east with the river Trontus on the south-east with the Axofenus by which two it is parted from that Kingdom as on the north-west by the rivers Poe and Frore by which it is separated from the State of Venice and on the southwest by the river Pisco by which it is divided from the modern Tuscany
hath three great Kingdomes The first and principal is the Kingdome of New-Spain The second is the Kingdome of Galisia The third the Kingdome of Gutemalia and the Province of Varagua that adjoyneth to the Straight of Darian and is properly of the Council of Panama The Kingdome of Spain hath in it a Viceroy and Council intituled the Viceroy of Mexico And within his Government the Province and Bishoprick of Mexico that of Tlascala Guaxaâ—…a Mechoachan Chiapa Yucatan and Panuco The Indians of this Kingdome are of two sorts the Chickamecans which are a sort of Rogues that live much after the manner of Toriges or ancient Irish by robbing and spoiling Passengers on the way Towns and Villages and the other live even as decently as the Spaniard and are of all Trades and Vocations as they are of sharp wits and of great agility of body as appeareth by their extraordinary feats of Activity on the Rope and tumblings This Kingdome is a high Country for the most part of it and for riches pleasantness and wholesomeness accounted one of the best in the world as lacking nothing naturally that is to be had excepting Wine and Oil which they might also have but that it is forbidden to plant Vineyards or Oliveyards by the King of Spain and it hath divers things not elsewhere to be had both of Trees Herbs and Drugs New-Galicia THis Kingdome of New Galicia hath no Viceroy but is governed by a Council whose bounds is parted from New Spain at the Port of Nativity on the South Sea to the North North-west and North-east It hath no bounds but may inlarge their Territories as they see occasion on the Indians It hath already these Provinces The first Guadalaica Xalisco Sacaticas Chiamerla Culiacan New-Biscai and Sivaloa And this Kingdome is not much inferiour to New Spain and it hath the same sort of Indians Gutamalia This Kingdome of Gutamalia is governed as the other by a Council without a Viceroy and is the Southwardliest Region of this North America and hath within its bounds the Provinces of Gutamalia from whence the Kingdome taketh name Soconusco Chiapa Suchiâ—…epoque Verapas Honduaras and Cacos Saint Saviour and Saint Michael Nievaraqua Chuluteca Taquesgalpa and Costarica or the rich Coast. The Indians here are more warlike than the rest and have more unwillingly submitted to the Spanish Yoke and therefore they have had almost continual wars the most of the Indians living till very lately after the manner of the Chickamecians though many of them are docible as the Indians of Mexico This is a rich wholsome Kingdome not inferiour to Galicia but rather exceeds it But when I come to each particular Province I shall name them as they adjoyn on the Coast of the Sea Panuco is a Province near adjoyning to Florida and parted from it by the River of Palms which lyeth in 28 degrees of North Latitude That part of it that lyeth next to Mexico is the best and hath the greatest plenty of Victuals with some gold the other side which is next Florida is poor and barren The next to Panuco on the Coast of the North Sea lyeth the Province of Talascalia or Losangels It hath abundance of Flax Wheat Sugar and Ginger diversity of herbs and fruits abundance of Cattel Hogs and Horses many silver mines 200 chief Indian Towns and at least 40 Monasteries of Friers Youcatan The North part of this Province adjoyneth to the South of Talascalia It is a peninsula and in compasse 150 Leagues The temperature is hot and moist it hath no Rivers but is full of good willows It is a woody country nor will it bear English grain neither hath it gold or other mineral The Province of Honduras adjoineth unto the South part of Youcatan this coast stretcheth along the north Sea as far as Nicaragua which is near 150 leagues It is a hilly Countrey plentiful of all sorts of Cattel and store of Wheat and Mines of Gold and Silver Nicaragua lyeth next to the South-side of Honduras it is a plentiful Countrey of Coco Cotten-Wool Millet Cattel and much gold It hath five Spanish Towns and abundance of peaceable Indians which are most expert in the Spanish tongue The Province of Costarica lyeth between Nickuragua and Caragua between which it hath 90 Leagues in length It is a good Land and very fruitful in Millet Wheat Flax and Sugar plenty of Mines both of Gold and Silver and it hath two Spanish Towns The Province of Varagua lyeth between Costarica and Panama adjoyning on the South part to the Straight of Dariana The northerliest is in eleven degrees it hath East and West 50 leagues and in breadth 25 and is washed as Costarica with the north and south seas It is a Mountainous Country full of bushes without Pasture or Cattel Wheat or Barley but it hath some Millet and is full of rich Mines of Gold The Indians are few and they be in continual wars with the Spaniards And at the end of this Varagua beginneth the southern America And therefore I shall return back to the other parts of this north America which is not yet discovered The Province of Cibloa is the most northerly Province that the Spaniards possess in America It hath but one Spanish Town Here are store of all sorts of our Cattel and the Ox of the Countrey which hath a bunch of Flesh on his back of the bignesse of a mans head and his hair is shaggy and long his horns smaller then our Kines horns but his body much bigger this is an Inland Province and lyeth from the Sea many Leagues The Province of New-Biskay lyeth on the south-west of Cibloa it hath store of Provision and Cattel and divers Mines of Silver It hath two fair Spanish Towns that is to say Sancta Barbola and the Baro of Saint Iohn with divers peaceable Indians It is an Inland Province but of much Commerce by reason of the silver Mines The Province of Chiamerla lyeth in more than two and twenty degrees of hight It is ten Leagues broad and something more in length it lyeth along the south Sea but hath no Ports of name The Province of Guliacan is the most northerly Province the Spaniards possesse on the Coast of the south Sea It lyeth west of Chiamerla there are much Cattel Seeds and Fruits of England Sacetas lyeth south-east from Biscay It is very wholesome in some parts of it and as sickly and unwholesome in other parts which causes that in some places there is much want and in other places as much plenty But to amend all defects there are in most places rich silver Mines The Province of Xalisco hath the City of Compostella near the south Sea in one and twenty degrees nineteen Minutes there is the Village of the Purification south-west from Gudalaria thirty leagues this land is hot and sickly but hath Mines of Gold and Silver good store of provisions and excellent Horses that are well bred for any service Guadalaira is the best
who maintained the Isle of Rhee against the Duke of Buckingham newly before This Ducall Family is now by Marriage principally allyed to the Emperour and House of Austria I shall pass by the Dukedoms of Modena Parma and Mountferrat as being all three but small estates of Italy and havinâ—… but four Bishops amongst them all the arms of Modena the same with the Dukedom of Ferrara and the arms of Mountferrat Gules a chief Argent thus much for Italy These three small principalities have afforded very excellent Couragious Princes Not to mention the exploits of that renowned Alexander Duke of Parma Governour of the Low-Countries for the King of Spain in the time of Queen Elizabeth it shall suffice to say that they ballance the over-growing Power of either of the Monarchs of France or Spain siding alwayes with the weakest lest they become a prey to the Conqueror and to that purpose are commonly divided in the Quarrel siding in opposition yet exercise no Hostility upon each others Dominions Moun ferrat is now annexed to the Dutchy of Mantua whose Duke is Prince of the same The Principality of Piemont a part of the Alpes situate at the foot of the Mount is bounded on the east with Millain and Mountferrat on the west with Savoy on the north with the Switzers and on the south it runneth in a narrow valley to the Mediterranean having Mountferrat on the one side Provence and a part of the Alpes upon the other it is very fertile compared with Savâ—…y and Switzerland but thought to be inferiour to the rest of Italy the Arms of this Principality are Gules a Cross Argent charged with a Label of three points Azure It is now subject to the Dukedom of Savoy This Principality hath been often made the seat of War especially in the Reigns of Hen. the 4. and Lewis the 13th of France in the passage of their Armies into Italy and the Duke of Savoy who is Prince and Soveraign thereof hard put to it most of his strong holds being seized while he partaked with the Spaniard but since the alliance of that Duke with the French it hath had a refreshment which hath been inteâ—…rupted by some intestine troubles about Religion a great part thereof being of the Reformed Religion witness that Massacre there for which such liberal Collections and Contributions were made in 〈◊〉 for those Protestants in time of Oliver Savoy strictly and specially so called is bounded on the East with Wallisland and part of Piemont on the west with Daulphin and La Bresse on the south with some parts of Daulphine only and on the north with Switzerland and the lake of Geneva The Country is altogether Hilly and Mountainous very healthful but not very fruitful The Common People are naturally very dull but the Gentry pleasant ingenious and civil There have been near thirty Earls and Dukes of Savoy It is a very strong place with fortifications of nature the Revenue ordinarily a million of Crowns yearly The onely Order of Knighthood here is that of the Aâ—…nunciado ordained one thousand four hundred and eight their Collar is of fifty links to shew the mysteries of the Virgin at the end is her pourtraicture with the history of the Annunciation in stead of a Motto these Letters F. E. R. T. i. e. Fortituâ—…o ejus Rhodum tenuit are engraven to every plate or link of the Collar each link being interwoven one within another in form of a true lovers knot the number of Knights is fourteen beside the Duke the Soveraign of the Order the Solemnity held annually on our Lady-day the Arms are G. a crosse A. Geneva is a City of the Dukedome of Savoy now a free State having cast off both the Pope and their own Duke and kept free by their neighbours jealousie each of other touching it the Religion is Calvinist Protestant the Government Presbyterial the Language the worst French the People industrious and Merchants their situation for neighbours advantagious thereunto Of the Duke and this Dutchy enough hath been said before in the Historical description of Mantua and Piedmont onely thus much may be added that the present Duke is Cousin German to our Soveraign King Charles the Second by his Mothers side who is Sister to our present Queen Mother and that he is the powerfullest Arbitrator of the Affairs of Italy and hath the peculiar stile of His Highness Royal as a pretender to the Kingdoms of Cyprus as also Ierusalem and Portugal Wallisland reacheth from the Mountain de Burken to the Town of St. Maurice where the hills do close and shut up the valley which is so narrow in that place that a bridge laid from one hill to another under which the River Rosne doth passe is capable of no more than one Arch onely and that defended with a Castle and two strong Gates on other parts it is invironed with a continual Wall of steep and horrid Mountains covered all the year long with a crust of Ice nor passable at all by Armies and not without much difficulty by single passengers so that no Citadel can be made so strong by Art as this Countrey is by nature The Valley is very fruitful in Saffron Corn Wine and most delicate Fruits having Meadows and pleasant Pastures They have also a Fountain of Salt and many hot Baths and Medicinal VVaters they have Cattel enough to serve them also a wild Buck equal to a Stag in bigness footed like a Goat and horned like a fallow Deer leaping with wonderful agility and not so easily caught but in Summer time for then with the heat he is blind The People are courteous towards Strangers but very rough and churlish towards one another They are of the Romish Religion and subject to the Bishop of Sion The Deputies of the seven Resorts having not onely voices with the Cantons in his Election but being chosen they joyn with him also in the Diets for choosing Magistrates redressing grievances and determining matters of State Of this Countrey few Military Occurrences are historified for that it is by Nature as it is described no way fit for the entertainment of Mars and is onely a nursery no residence for Souldiery Switzerland hath on the east side the Grisons and some part of Tyrol in Germany on the west the Mountain Iove and the lake of Geneva which parts it from Savoy and Burgundy on the north Suevia another Province also of the Upper Germany and on the south Wallisland and the Alpes which borders on the Dukedome of Mâ—… It is totally in a manner over-grown with craggy Mountains but such as for the most part have grassy tops and in their hollowness rich Meadows and nourishing Pastures being two hundred fourty miles in length and one hundred eighty in breadth The Inhabitants are rich and rugged of disposition like their Land good Souldiers and mercenary almost to every one their Religion mixed some Papists some Protestants-Zwinglians yet they have agreed to tolerate one another their
Cloth that serves not onely themselves but is also transported into other parts their chief City is London the Inhabitants are brave Warriors both at Sea and Land and many of them learned and witty The Orders of Knighthood are of St. George or of the Garter there are twenty six Knights of it whereof the King of England is the Soveraign the Ensign is a blew Garter buckled on the left leg on which these words are embroidered Hony soit qui mal y pense about their necks they wear a blew Ribond at the end of which hangeth the Image of Saint George upon whose day the Order is for the most part celebrated Secondly of the Bath instituted one thousand and nine They use to be created at the Coronation of Kings and Queens and the installing of the Prince of Wales Their duty to defend true Religion Widows Maids Orphans and to maintain the Kings Rights the Knights thereof distinguished by a red Riband which they wear ordinarily about their necks to difference them from Knights Batchelours of whom they have in all places the precedence unless they be also the Sons of Noble-men to whom the Birth gives it before all Orders Thirdly of Baronets an hereditary Honour the Armes are Mars three Lions passant gardant Sol. This Kingdome famous for Warlike Exploits abroad there being no Nation in the known world but where their dreadful Arms have been carried witness our Holy-Land Expeditions our Atchivements in Spain several Times our Conquests in France our defence of the Netherlands our Triumphs over Scotland and subduing of Ireland our Naval Power not less formidable in 88. and lately with the stubborn Dutch whom for all our more than uncivil Broyls we humbled into an intreaty of Peace was infinitely more terrible to it self in the late Convulsion and Subversion of the Laws and Government by a fatal Quarrel of the Parliament with the King A Prince no doubt of the greatest vertues piety and abilities that ever Swayed this Scepter nor could the Malignity of our Distempers have seized one of a sounder Constitution as to Honour Conscience Clemency Justice or what ever good quality is requisite for a King being absolutely the best of all the Princes that ever Reigned in this Island It will be alike grievous and tedious to relate the Miseries of this unnatural War the Battels Seiges and Surrenders that happened therein It will be too much to say that after a bloody Contest the King was worsted and with him the Laws and afterwards by his own rebellious and traite ous Subjects brought to a new unparallel'd High Court of Justice and by Sentence thereof beheaded before his own Court-Gates at White-Hall Ianuary 30. 1648. By the perpetration of this Murder and by a thing called an Act of Parliament Monarchy seemed to be actually dissolved it being made Treason to Proclaim the Prince or any other Person King or Queen of England All Empires have their certain periods and measures of Time at the Expiration whereof they tast of that Vicissitude and Change to which all other sublunary things are more frequently subject This Monarchy had â—…asted without any great alteration in a direct Line the Name only changed from Plantagenes which begun in Henry the second who restored the Saxon Line to Tâ—…wdor in the Person of Henry the seventh who united the two Houses of York and Lancaster after to Stuart in the Person of King Iames who united the two Kingdomes of England and Scotland and continuing and long may it in our present Soveraign six hundred years and upwards till this fatal Revolution was come when we were under an Anarchy no Government at all in reality There are reckoned during this interregnum no less then seventeen Forms of Authority we were under in the space of eleven years betwixt the Parliament Protector and Army In the year 1651 our present Soveraign to regain his Right entered England from Scotland where Cromwell had p evailed and very like to carry all before him and got a start of three dayes march and came to Worcester where he was not long after defeated but most miraculously escaped into France where Divine Providence preserved him safe and after many strange over-turnings after we had been ridden by a Rump of a Parliament and tyrannised over in our Lives and Estates by the Protector Oliver Cromwell who by wicked means had scrued himself into the Supreme Power and wearied with the lording Insolencies of an Army by the Conduct of General Monk returned him in Honour and safety to his Kingdomes and his Kingdomes to Peace and Prosperity on his most happy Birth-day May 29. 1660. since which His Majesty is most happily Married to the Infanta of Portugal and such an alliance made as will be most beneficial to the Trade and consequently promote the Glory of these Nations Scotland invironed with the Sea except on the south side where it bordereth with England is not so fruitful yet hath of all things enough to fustain it self the head-City is Edenborough Scotland giveth many sorts of course Woollen Cloth Wool Mault Hides Fish The principal Order of Knighthood here is that of St. Andrew The Knights did wear about their necks a Collar interlaced with Thistles with the picture of St. Andrew appendent to it The Motto is Nemo me impune lacesset Secondly of Nova Scotia ordained by King Iames one thousand six hundred twenty two hereditary but the Knights thereof distinguished by a Riband of Orange Tawney the Arms of the Kingdome are Sol a Lion Rampant Mars within a double Tressure counter-flowered Little can be said of Scotland because its story is all one with England as to latter Times But be it remembred that soon after the union of the two Kingdoms was dissolved by dividing the Head thereof by the hand of Violence that Realm was totally Conquered by the English which all the English Prowess and valour of our Ancestors could never effect This was atcheived by the incomparable Felicity and conduct of the thrice renowned General Monck who in 1653. marched over Hills Rocks and Praecipices into the furthest Northern parts of Scotland and there forced General Middleton to fight where the said Middleton was overthrown and the whole Countrey thereupon submitted to the Conquerour Ireland is full of brooks marshes waters and woods hath good pasture and abundance of tame and wilde beasts but little grain the Inhabitants are rude and wilde People yet through the conversation and Government of the English are daily more and more brought to Civility the air here is very temperate cooler in Summer and warmer in Winter than in England the Arms of Ireland are Azure an Harp Or stringed Argent This Kingdom was never in a better constitution of Government as to appearance than in the beginning of our Troubles in 1639. by the prudent steerage of the Earl of Strafford Deputy thereof but in 1640. the 23. of October such a sudden and bloody Rebellion broke out that from that day
to the 25. of March 1641. but five months there are reckoned 150000. Protestants slain and murthered by the Catholick confederate Rebels After many Combats and change of Fortune and Governors in that Kingdom it was by Ireton Cromwel's Son in Law totally reduced and the prime ringleaders of the Rebellion with Sir Phelim O Neale of the Family of Tyrone their Generalissimo deservedly executed The Isles belonging to Great Brittain are the Surlings or Scillies Garnesey Iarsey Wight Anglesey Man Hebrides 〈◊〉 and many others All which three Kingdoms and Islands aforesaid make up one Realm restored to the Government of his most Sacred Majesty Charâ—…es the second whom God long preserve Their Religion is Protestant their Church Government by Gods mercy again Episcopal The Low Countries contain seventeen Provinces the Dukedoms of Erabant Guelderland Lymburge and Luxenburgeâ—… the Counties of Flanders Artois Utrecht Henault Holland Zeland Nâ—…men Zutfen the Marquisate of the Holy Empire the Lordships of Freezland Mechlen Overysel and Graving All which are Lands above measure well tilled and inhabited contaâ—…ning two hundred and eight Cities fortified with Walls and Ditches and about six thousand three hundred Villages with Parish-Churches beside the Castles Forts and Noble-Mens Houses which are almost infinite in number This Land is watered with many excellent Rivers as the Rhine the Mose the Mard the Scheld and others It hath also many commodious Sea-Havens abounding in Ships and very skilful and expert Mariners and Pilots as by their Navigations may appear whereby they have compassed as it were the whole World The Inhabitants are also very valiant and notable Warriours as well by Sea as by Land as their Enemies themselves will witness They are excellently well skilled in all cunning and handy-crafts Many attribute unto them the Invention of the Sea-Compass as also the Needle and laudable Art of Printing Books they send abroad into other parts all sorts of Linnen and Woollen Cloth Camerick Pasement-lace of Gold Silver and Silk Taffata Wrought Velvet Grograms Sayes whole and half Velvet Bags Silk Laces Say and Liâ—…en All manner of twined Thred wrought Silk refined Sugar prepared Buff and Ox-hides as also Spanish Leather Pictures Books Cables Ropes and other Ship-furniture Cards Pins and all kind of Mercery dried and salt Fishes Herrings Butter Cheese and Bisket the People are of the Reformed Religion except the Spanish Provinces and they are Papists they suffer any Religion among them the principal Order of Knighthood ordained by these Princes is that of the Golden Fleece instituted one thousand four hundred thirty nine ordained as someâ—… conceive from Gideons Fleece Their Habit is a Collar of Gold interlaced with Iron seeming to strike fire out of a Flint Or Ex ferro flammam being the word at the end whereof hung the Foison'd Or or a Fleece of Gold the King of Spain may now make as many of them as he please There are in these parts three Arch-bishops fifteen Bishops These Provinces have been Governed by several distinct Soveraigns as the Dukes of Brabant and Guelderland Earls of Flanders Holland Henault and Zeland c. All which by several Marriages of the Co-heirs for want of Issue-male at last devolved the entire Soveraignty into the House and Family of the Dukes of Burgundy the Male-line whereof expiring the Heir General Married with Maximilian Arch-Duke of Austria in the time of H. 7. and conveyed these seventeen Provinces to her Son Philip the 1 of Spain by Marriage with Ioan Daughter and Heir of Castile and Arrâ—…gon in whose Posterity they continue the Emperour Charles the fifth in his division of his Estates leaving these to his Son Philip the second who by the Tyranny of the Duke of Aâ—…va and the Establishing the Inquisition and a bloody Council like our High Courts of Justice contrary to the Fundamental Laws of those People so alienated the Affection of those Provinces that they the most of them revolted and being Headed and led by William Prince of Aurange Count of Nassâ—…n and a Feudatory Subject of Burgundy shook off the yoke of Spain and declared themselves a Free Estate for that the King of Spain had forfeited his Right Title and Authority over them The Wars thereupon are so famous both for the length vigourousness and policy thereof both in Battels and Seiges it becoming a Trade in which most of the young Gallants of all Nations were bred and also for the renown of those Captains Generals on both sides such as Prince William assissinated by a Bâ—…rgundian Prince Maurice and Prince Frederick Grandfather to this prince of Aurange on the Estates side who were mainly supported by the English and by their blood raised to this Grandeur and partly also by the French and Alexander prince of Parma natural Son to Charles the fifth and the Marquiss of Spinola on the King of Spains who by more moderation and Arms regained some provinces of the Defection but seven of them to wit Holland Zeland and â—…trecht and Overysel part of Brabant and most part of Guelderland and Zutfen could never be reduced but after a War of 80. years he was constrained to acknowledge them a Free State or Commonwealth now Governed in Common by the States General and in particular by the Estates of each individual Province This peace was concluded on at Munster in 1647. to the great content of the Spaniard who was embroiled in a fierce War against the French who therefore mightily obstructed the proceeding thereof but after this calm there arose such a Tempest at Sea that had neer sunk them to their former condition of the distressed Estates by a difference between the up-start Common-wealth of England and them concerning Traffique and Soveraignty of the Sea The usurping Protector after six terrible Naval Fights to secure his invasion of the Government granted them peace in 1653. which hath been better confirmed by our Soveraign Charles the second since his Restitution of which they seemed to be as exceedingly and pompously during his stay in their countrey just before his happy return as concernedly joyous Of the ten other provinces belonging to the Spaniard two of them Artois and Henault are conveyed and transferred to the French in portion for the late Marriage and a part of West-Flanders in which is seated that memorable and well fortified Port of Dunkirke at present acknowledgeth the Dominion of the Crown of England being put into English Hands during the Usurpation in 1658. after the joynt Conquest of it by their and the French Forces the same year Germany is one of the greatest Provinces in Europe and is in the midst thereof bounded on the East with Hungaria and Polonia on the South with Italy and Bolonia on the West with France and on the North with the North-Sea and with the Sea called Mare Balticum In the midst whereof lieth Bohemia wherein stands Prague where the Emperour commonly keeps his Court It is adorned with magnificent Towers well fortified and furnished with such a number
of Castles and Villages such abundance of People and with such Politique Government that she may compare with any The Soil is fruitful both in Corn and Wine it hath many Navigable Rivers stored with plenty of Fishes most excellent Fountains and hot Bathes Mines of Gold Silver Tin Copper Lead and Iron it hath very Learned Men skilful in all Sciences and Mechanick Arts The Religion is here very diverse for there being many free Provinces some are Papists some Protestants and of these again some Calvinists some Lutherans There are six Arch-Bishops and thirty four Bishops The Wars of Germany ushered in by the Comet or Blazing-Star in 1618 have had dire and prodigious effects first the Prince Elector Palatine undertaking the Crown of Bohemia was worsted at Prague and the King of Denmark seconding him was likewise brought very low by Count Tilly the Emperour's General and glad to accept of a Peace upon hard terms when in 1629 enters Gustâ—…vus Adolphus the King of Sweden whose victorious Armes conquered Tilly at the Battel of Leipsick and presently over-run all Germany defeated the Emperours next General Wallestein Duke of Freidland at Lutzen where notwithstanding he was killed his Army had the Day of whom it was said that Before Death in Death and after Death he was victorious At the Battel of Nordlingâ—…in the Fortune of the Swedes failed a great slaughter being made on them by the Imperial Army and so a Peace was afterwards patched and again interrupted till the solemn and general Pacification at Munster since which time the Princes and People have been in quiet The Prince Elector Palatine losing the one half of his Estate as forfeited to the Emperour who hath invested the Duke of Bavaria the Electors neerest kinsman in the upper Palatinate Denmark and Norway are very great Regions bordering southward upon Germany they extend toward the north to seventy one degrees and thirty minutes north Latitude towards the east they border upon Sweden and on the west and north-side they are invironed with the Sea they at this time are under the Government of one King who is Lord of Seland Greenland Hitland and Gothland These Kingdomes afford unto other Lands Oxen Barley Mault Stock-fish Tallow Sand Nuts Hides Goat-skins Masts Deals Oaken-boards Wood to burn Pitch Tarr Brimstone and the like their Religion is the Lutherans The chief Order of Knighthood in it is that of the Elephant their Badge a Collar powdered with Elephants towered supporting the Kings Arms and having at the end the Picture of the Virgin Mary The Arms of the Land are Quarterly Of three Lions passant Vert crowned of the first for the Kingdome of Denmark and two Gules a Lion rampant Or crowned and armed of the first in the Paws a Dansk hatchet Argent for the Kingdome of Norway there are two Arch-Bishops thirteen Bishops This King is allyed to the Crown of England Queen Ann Wife to King Iames being Aunt to this present King Frederick Twice in twenty years not to mention other Wars before hath this Crown been endangered by the Swedes but more neerly in 1657 and 8 when the King of Sweden Carolus Gustavus being drawn out of Poland to prevent the Dane then in Arms against him with strange success almost over-run his Countrey In a most hard Winter he passed his Arms and Canon over the Sea from the Continent unto the Island of Funen where he overthrew the Dane took Cronenburg Castle which Commanded the Sound and at last laid Seige to Copenhaguen the chief City of Denmark where attempting a Storm by night he was repulsed with the loss of three thousand Men and soon after the Hollanders with a Fleet in spight of his Navy and the said Castle entered and relieved the Town with Conceit whereof and a violent Feaver the said King not long after deceased and the Danes in gratitude and Honour of their King Frederick who had so bravely defended and stood by them consented to make that Kingdome hereditary as now it is established all the Estates having done Homage which before was onely Elective the Family of this King afore injoying onely the Crown of Norway by descent and inheritance This Prince suffered much for siding with the Dutch against the English in the late difference seizing there twenty of our Merchant-men on pretence of his Aunts Dower but was forced at last to make recompense for the dammages which the Dutch undertook for him Sweden is a great and mighty Kingdome bordering on the East upon Muscovia on the south upon the Baltick Sea and Denmark on the West upon Norway and on the North upon the Finmark and the Zurick Sea The Merchandises it selleth are Copper Iron Lead costly Furrs Buff and Ox-hides Goat-skins Tallow Pitch Barley Mault Hazel-nuts and such like things their Religion is Lutheran the Arms of the Kingdom Azure three Crowns Or It hath two Arch-Bishops eight Bishops It is a wonder and Men can scarce comprehend how this Nation is come to this greatness to make War in so many parts of Europe being to pass over the Sea or how they get so many Men in Arms the Dominions thereof being large but not populous so that there never came from thence sixty thousand Men. It was reported that many Women in Mens clothes supplyed their places and fought like Amazons The beginning of this upstart greatness was from Charles Duke of Sunderman who being Uncle to Sigismond King of Sweden by Descent and of Poland by Election upon his seating himself in that Kingdom and constituting his Uncle Vice-Roy of his Native Kingdome of Sweden he with the consent of the Senators assumes the Crown and maintaines it against his Nephew whereupon ensued divers Battels the Usurper wafting over his Swedes into Poland and beginning an offensive War when he dying his Son the Great Gustavus prosecuted it afresh till after various Successes a Truce was concluded on before the expiration of which he fell with that strange success into Germany before said After his death his Daughter Christina was Crowned and Reigned seventeen years when another occasion of War hapning they judging her not capable to mannage it procured her to renounce her right to the Crown and resign it to her kinsman Carolus Gustavus who with a powerfull Army invaded Poland prompted thereunto by Cardinal Mazarine and the Usurping Protector of England who by an Ambassador Mr. Whitlock projected that Invasion to keep the Arms of the House of Austria in suspence and attendance of the issue of that War which were raised to the assistance of the Spaniards then in War with both French and English Carolus Gustavus dying as aforesaid the Crown is placed on the head of his Son Charles a Child of five years old by his Wife the Daughter of the Duke of Holsteyn Of their late Conquests within these fourty years there remains to that Crown all Pomerania and the Arch-Bishoprick of Brâ—…men in Germany besides other less Provinces gained from the Dane and several Islands
is necessary to the life of man it is the nature of this tree though never so ponderous a weight wereput upon it never to yield to the burden but still to resist the heaviness of it and to endeavour to lift and raise it self the more upwards a fit emblem of the resurrection The people are not black but tawny or olive-coloured they weep and mourn over the bodies of their dead daubed over with dung they hold it a great impiety to burn or bury them but having embalmed them they lay them in some inner room the men keep at home for the houshold business the Women follow merchandise and affairs abroad the men carry burdens upon their heads and the women upon their shoulders a witty and ingenious people the first Inventers of Geometry Arithmetick Physick Astronomy Necromancy and Sorcery yea they found out the very use of Letters The Christians among them differ from all other Christians first using circumcision with baptism Secondly conferring all orders under priesthood on infants immediately after baptism their parents till they come to sixteen years of age performing what they promised in their behalf to wit chastity fasting on Wednesday and Friday and the four Lents of the year Thirdly reputing baptism not to be of any efficacy except ministred by a Priest in the open Church in what extremity soever Fourthly and yet not baptising any children till the fortieth day though they die in the mean time Fifthly giving the Lords Supper to Infants as soon as Christned Sixthly contracting marriages in the second degree without dispensation Seventhly not observing the Lords day nor any Festivals except in cities Eighthly reading the Gospel writ by Nicodemus They differ from the Papists in these things first administring the Lords Supper in both kinds secondly with leavened bread thirdly admitting neither extreme unction nor the Lords Supper to those that are sick fourthly nor Purgatory nor prayer for the dead fifthly nor using elevation in the act of administring and sixthly accounting the Roman Church for heretical and esteeming the Latines no better then the Jews This Kingdom of Aegypt was a long while possessed by the Mamalukes a kind of Stratocracy or Army-power such as we had lately in England by Red-coats and Protector the Sultan was always elected by the souldiery who chose always one out of themselves the last of that Dignity was Tomombejus who being defeated by Sultan Selymus some 260 years ago was taken in Grand Cayro whither he fled out of the field and had made a brave defence by barricading the streets for three days He continued not long in a condition of Captivity for he was hanged at his Prison Door and exposed to the view of the Egyptians as a spectacle of the Vanity of humane greatness By this Selymus this Kingdom was reduced into a province where one of the principal Bashawes keeps Court in great state His Government being the richest in all the Turkish Dominions from whence yearly many ships lading of wealth is brought to Constantinople which is alwayes way-laid by some Gallies of Malta or Florence but of late years with little success they come so strongly guarded and if they fear any danger have all the Coast of Cyprus Rhodes and the Continent to Friend The Bashawes are sent thither as Spunges for when they have sucked an incredible treasure by pilling fraud and rapine they are sent for home and are squeezed to their skins which sometimes they are forced to part with to boot There hath been no change but of the Governours ever since the Conquest of this Kingdom which is usual with other Bashawes as namely those of Aleppo who do often rebel and threaten the Grand Seigniour so that at present the Egyptians continue in the same obedience and dumb slavery to which they have been so long accustomed changing in this Turkish Tyranny the names not the nature thereof from that they suffered under the Mamalukes Mount Atlas is a ridge of hills of exceeding height and of no small length it is above the clouds and is always covered with snow in the midst of summer full of thick woods and against Africa so fruitful that it affords excellent fruits of its natural growth not planted grafted or inoculated with the hand of man Lybia hath mount Atlas on the north by which it is parted from Barbary and Asrenaca on the east with Lybia Marmarica interposed betwixt it and Egypt and part of Ethiopia superior or the Abassine Empire on the south with Ethiopia inferior and the land of Negroes and on the west with the main Atlantick Ocean the countrey abounds with dates the chief diet of the people which commonly rotteth out their teeth their Goats they feed with the stones wherewith they grow fat and yield store of Milk the Air is so sound that it cureth the French Pox without any Physick the Inhabitants are base and vile People Thieves Murderers Treacherous and ignorant of all things feeding most on Dates Barley and Carrion counting Bread a diet for Holidayes their Garments of the coarsest Cloth so short that they cover not half the body the richer sort wear a Jacket of blew Cotton with great Sleeves they ride upon Camels without Stirrup or Saddle a Leather thrust through an hole made in the nose of the Camel serves them for a Bridle and to save Spurs they use a Goade their Religion is Mahometisme The land of Negro's is bounded on the east with Ethiopia superior on the west with the Atlantick Ocean on the north with Lybia Deserta and the south with the Ethiopick Ocean and part of Ethiopia inferior the Country very hot by reason of the situation under the Torrid Zone yet very well inhabited full of People and in some places alwayes grassy well watered specially where the River Nâ—…ger overfloweth well stored with Corn Cattel and Garden ware well wooded having store of Beasts wilde and tame they want fruit Trees they have both Gold and Silver Mines very pure the Inhabitants are of little wit and destitute of all Arts and Sciences prone to Luxury and for the most part Mahomeans Ethiopia superior is bounded on the east with the Red Sea and the Sinus Barbaricus on the west with Lybia inferiour the Realm of Nubia in the Land of Negroes and part of the Kingdome of Congo in the other Ethiopia and on the north with Egypt and Lybia Marmarica and on the south on the Mountains of the Moon it is in length a thousand five hundred miles in breadth half as much The religion of the people is they use to circumcise their children both males and females Secondly they baptise the males at forty and the Females eighty dayes after Circumcision Thirdly after the Lords Supper they are not to spit till the Sun-set Fourthly they professe but one nature and one will in Christ. Fifthly they accept only the three first generall Councils Sixthly their Priests live by the labour of their own hands for they allow them nothing nor
Spain or Portugal The mortality that happened there at our first Landing proceeding either from the griping Monopoly of some hoarding Officers or through want of timely recruits or through some fatal Conjunction of the superiour Luminaries It is by good Experience found to be a temperate climate for all 't is scandalized with the Fiction of the Torrid Zone the Heat in the day time being alwayes allayed with the Sea-Breezes which rise with the Sun and the Nights are by an interchangeable and never-failing intercourse refreshed with Land-Breezes Nor is the fertility lesse propitious than the temperature producing in as great abundance as any where in the Indies Sugar-Canes Tobacco Cotton Maez or Indian Corn Potatoes Yaums and Coco-Nuts the Earth continuing its Spring and being green and florid all the year long Here are store of Hogs fatned by what drops from the Trees whole Herds of Beeves which before they were frighted by our unskilful method of killing them by shot fed by 1000 in the Savana's or large Champion fields but now sculk in the Woods and Coverts and appear not but by night Here are also a number of wilde Horses well shaped and very serviceable being all bred of Spanish Gennets which may be bought for 3 l. sterling and will yield 6000 l. of Sugar at Barbadoes There are likewise excellent plenty of choice Timber Trees and Wood for the Dyers use as Fustick Brasiletta and Ebony and a kind of Logwood China Roots Gum Guaiacum Lignum Vitae Cassia c. There are also abundance of Cocoa Trees which the Spaniard reckons one of his chiefest Incomes which may be yearly improved There is one Rarity more which is the Alligator or Indian Crocodile some of them 6 or 7 foot long but they cannot hurt a man if he be aware of them their motion being slow and head and body must move together There are no Mines found out yet but they are not to be despaired of in the prosecution of the Plantation The English have built a new Town at Cagway point of about 600. Houses where at present the Governour resides having quitted the City of S. Iago de la Vega the Spaniards chief town which is seated in a pleasant Savana This City was some 30 years ago plundred by General Iackson who came with 500 men from St. Christophers and in spight of 2000 Spaniards in a readinesse to receive him and 7 Barricadoes such was the Mariners exceeding greediness of spoil forced the Town and plundered it and made the Spaniard give him a great sum to boot to spare it from the fire it had formerly 2000 houses and 16 Churches and Chappels and now but 600 Houses the Skeleton of two Churches and an Abbey Point Cagway is very well fortified and has Guns in it as good as any the Tower had there is also another Plantation of the English in one Regiment at Port Morant who have already made it considerable by planting several Commodities After Venables left the Island the Government was devolved to the eldest Collonel and afterwards Cromwel sent Collonel Brain to command them who died there and then it was conferred on Collonel Doyley who hath been happily active in promoting this Colony and is yet Governour till the Arrival of the Lord Windsor sent thither with a Patent from the King and Grant of the whole Island under whose care it is likely to flourish The King of Spain's Dominions in the West-Indies IT will be unnecessary and of no use to insist much upon the Countries subject to the King of Spain in America because we have no traffique in those parts the King of Spain forbidding and keeping all men from thence with as much diligent watchfulness as the Dragon did the Golden or Hesperian Apples With much difficulty he obtained his Mines severall supplies being lost and his Colonies ready to depart besides the frequent Fights betwixt themselves in point of private advantages several Governours supplanting one another by Tragical means the principal whereof was Columbus that successeful Captain Ferdinandus Cortesius Marquiss of the Valley Pizarro Almagrus Vasca and Blasco By Cortesius Atabalipa King of Peru was taken Prisoner in which are his Mines of Potossi c. Who refusing a dangerous peace offered by the Spaniard by the fortune of the War was made a Prisoner and for his ransome sending to his chief City of Cuscon and other places of his Kingdome filled his Prison being a reasonable Hall with Gold and Silver and yet neverthelesse lost his Life being strangled by the deliberate advice of his Enemies who substituted his Brother in his place The Indians upbraiding the Spaniard with their Cruelty and Covetousnesse and calling Money their God bidding them to eat it It is reported when they first entred the Country they shooed their Horses with Gold and Silver To our discourse this Countrey is divided into Mexicana and Peruana That part of America which is called Mexicana is divided into three several parts according to the scituation of the Land in Plains Mountains and lesse Hilly grounds Out of these Countries are brought over into Europe Gold Silver Bezoar and other precious stones Sarsaparilla and Sugar in abundance Brasil-Wood Cotton costly Plumes Jackanapes several sorts of curiously feathered Birds and many more Drugs and Merchandize We will run over only the several Countries and so conclude The first is the Island of Hispaniola famous for our Defeat before the chief City of St. Domingo though formerly sacked without much opposition by Sir Francis Drake It is seated in 18 19 and 20 degrees of Northern Latitude being 150. Leagues long East and West inhabited chiefly by Negroes which with the Spaniards make not in all above 500. the Commodities are Ginger Sugar Cotton Wool c. and Tallow and Hides 100000. yearly gotten of the wild Cattel which are the biggest in the World The next is the I le of Cuba lying West from Hispaniola 200. Leagues long East and West the broadest part not 45 the Commodities the same with Hispaniola the Land neither so pleasant nor wholsome In it is the Town of Havana in 22. degrees the great resort of the Spanish Fleet the Harbour strongly secured by two Castles Next Porto Rico 15 Leagues from Hispaniola 45 Leagues long East and West 23 broad then Sancta Crux in 16 degrees and a half the Virgins Virgin Gorda Blances Anagada Sambrito Angula St. Martins in 17 degrees and a half once possest by the Spaniards now by the Dutch as is Eustas likewise More Southwardly is Trinidado I le 50 Leagues long and 70 broad Margareta Tortuga Gardiner Caracute Calava and Tamasca On the Continent the Spaniard hath Florida which begins in 34 degrees the Gulf hereof is notable having two Entrances the one between Youcatan and Cuba where the stream cometh fiercely in the other is between Cuba and the Cape of Florida where it runneth more violently out New Spain Besides this Province of Florida the King of Spain in this Nothern America
of all the Provinces of the Kingdom of New-Galicia and the most Southerly It hath all sorts of Grain Herbs and Fruits of New-Spain and plenty of Kine Horses and Swine It is a wholesome good air and hath many silver mines the chief City and Head of the Kingdom is Guadalaira in twenty degrees The Province of Mechoacan lyeth between the Province of Mexico and the Kingdom of New-Galisia it hath in breadth by the coast of the South Sea fourscore leagues and threescore within land Here are many good Mines and it is a fruitful land and hath much Wheat Millet Coco all sorts of Spanish fruits Cotton-wool the rich drug of Choconeel store of Cattel and Fish and the Indians are industrious and given to labour the chief City is Mechoachan it stands in eighteen degrees fifteen minutes and forty and seven leagues from Mexico The Province of Mexico falleth between Mechoacan and Talasvalia it hath in length North and south one hundred and thirty leagues and in breadth eighteen Guaxcaca Province cometh to the Coast of the South Sea and it lyeth between Mexico and Gutamalia Province along the coast of the South Sea one hundred leagues Soconusco is the Westerliest Province of the Kingdom of Gutamalia it joyneth to the Province of Guaxcaca from whence it lieth on the Southeast thirty four Leagues and far into the Land It is plentiful of Wheat Coco Millet and Cattel The Province of Gutamalia is the head of the Kingdome of Gutamalia it joyneth to the Province of Soconusco and on the South Sea it stretcheth 70 leagues the Country is of a good temperature and plentiful of Cotton-Wool Wheat Millet and Cattel and other Seeds and fruits the Winds and Rains in October are very furious This Province hath abundance of Gold some Silver store of Balm and liquid Amber Copal Suchicopal excellent liquors and the Gumme animi with the Beasts that breed the Bezoar stone But the Volcans here are very noysome to those that lie near them for they often burst forth casting out fire-stones and ashes And here are more of those Volcans or fire-pits than in all India besides The Province of Chiapa is an inland Province it is Mediterrauean to Soconusco Mexico Tabasco and Verapas and in length forty leagues and something less in breadth It hath store of Wheat Millet and other Grain and Seeds much Cattel but few Sheep Verapas is also an inland Province of Gutamalia and is Mediterranean to Chiapa Youcatan Honduras and Gutamalia of thirty Leagues over it is a moist Country and it hath plenty of Millet and Wheat Cotton-Wool Coco and much of that sort of Fowls whose feathers make the rare coloured Indian pictures and this is a great Merchandise amongst them Panama hath a Council that hath for Jurisdiction no more then the Province of Panama and the election of the Governour of Veragua in regard they are appointed Principals of the Navigation for the dispatch of Peru and ordering the King of Spains Treasure which is yearly transported to Porto Belio over the straight of Darien and from thence to Spain It adjoyneth on Carthagena and Popian to the south-east and south-West The air at Panama is extream unwholsome and the place very sickly but it is mended and made durable by the Trade is brought in by the vast sums yearly brought there to carry to Spain of which the Inhabitants get part The Countrey of Carthegena lyeth on the north sea and is parted from the Province of Panama by the River of Darian from whence to the River Magdalen is fourscore leagues The Land is mountainous and hilly full of high trees this Region is fruitful in some places and in other some as Barren The Seed of England will grow but in few parts of this Countrey but here are many Cattel Horses and Swine The temperature of this Countrey is hot and very rainy neither is their Mines worked either of Gold or Silver but much rozen and liquors which they have from the Trees and Sanguis Draconis Granado THis Kingdome lyeth from the Sea adjoyning on the South part of Cartagena It is a very rich Countrey in Mines of Emralds Gold Steel and Copper store of Pastures with all sorts of Cattel Wheat Millet Fruits and Herbs The Indians are great Traders and able men of body ingenious in the Sciences of the Spaniards The Merchandise cometh up the River Magdalen on which this Land lyeth The Province of Sancta Martha lyeth between Cartagena and the River Hacha on the North sea It is a plentiful Country of Millet Potatoes much Gold Emralds and other rich Stones and Copper The Province of Venesiula lyeth on the north Sea parted from Sancta Martha by the River of Hacha on the east is the Province of Suava or New Andulesia as the Spaniards call it The Coasts of the Sea is near one hundred and thirty leagues of length In this Land are veins of Gold of more than two and twenty Caracts and a half It is plentiful of Wheat and other Seeds for there are two Harvests in a year It hath abundance of all kind of Cattel great and smal Cotton and Salsaparilla Guana This Region comprehendeth all the Land that lyeth between the Province of Venesiula and Brasill which beginneth at two degrees of South latitude this Land is more famous for report than for any certain knowledge of the riches thereof The Provinces of Plate take name from the River on which they lie the passage to them is up the said River but they are almost on the back of Brazil They are large and far wholsomer than Brazil plenty of Sugar Ginger Wine Wheat Millet all sorts of English Fruits store of Cattel Swine and Horses but no mines that are worked They are subjected by the Spaniards and united to the Council of Peru on the South Sea for nearness of lying to that Kingdome there is a common passage from these Provinces thither by land over the Mountains the most of the Land is indifferently inhabited The Coast of Chilia reacheth to twenty eight degrees of South latitude This Region is wholesome above all other in the Indies being of an excellent temperature as neither too hot nor too cold It is abundantly Rich in Gold and Silver Mines and all sorts of Cattel and Grain Fruits and excellent and pleasant Wine The Country men are strong and valiant beyond compare which the Spaniards know to their great cost for they could never totally subdue this Nation The bounds of this Council of Charcas stretcheth from Chilia to Peru It hath abundance of Cattel of all kinds great shag-haired Sheep bigger than Goats that carry great burthens on their backs store of Corn of all sorts Fruits and Wine much Gold and the greatest Mines of Silver in the World There are few Spanish Towns and but one but Port in regard the Spaniards get neat the Hill of Potosi to the City Imperial which lyeth in nineteen degrees of latitude far from the Sea and delivereth that