warres or more honourable and gainefull conquests Towards the waine of the Romans Empire they are named the Scots the occasion or reason hereof we finde not subduing the neighbouring Picts and Caledonians and giuing the name of Scotland to the Northern part of the Brittish Continent Leauing there this new affected name they lastly resume and returne here vnto their first and more wonted name of Irish. Their gouerment anciently was vnder many petty kings or tyrants In the raigne of king Henry the second occasioned through the quarrels hereof they are first made subiect to the English whose princes were stiled Lords of Ireland King Henry the eight by the good likeing of the natiues first assumed the title of King continued euer since in his successours More lately they were distinguished into the Irish and the English Pales or the Wild and Civill Irish whereof these obeyed the English lawes the other were let loose to their barbarous customes and liuing The happy successe of the last warres against Tir-oën and the wisdome and zeale of King Iames of happy memory put an end to this diuision the country being now every where planted with ciuill inhabitants and the whole reduced to an English Province The lawes whereby the people are governed are their Acts of Parliament and the Municipall or Common Lawes of England executed by the Lord Deputy or Vice-roy for the king Presidents Iudges Sheriffs other English names of Magistrates Their Religion which only is allowed is the Reformed or Protestant yet where the pretended Catholique or Roman doth more prevaile amongst the vulgar through their discontent or an inbred and rooted superstition Their Cleargie are Archbishops Bishops and Inferiour rankes whose Primate is Armagh and first Apostle S. Patricius or Patrick in the yeare 432 and the raigne of the Emperour Valentinian the third a Scot or Irishman after my author nephew to S. Martin Bishop of Tours and Disciple to S. German The Religious of this nation Monkes of an ancient institution haue been no lesse deseruing then their neighbours of Great Brittaine chast and holy Seminaries of pietie and religion during the Primitiue times of the English French and Dutch Churches but who passing vnder the generall name of the Scots for both then were thus called are oftentimes mistaken by their readers for the Scots of the Continent The country is divided into 5 greater names or Provinces petty kingdomes sometimes of the Irish Vlster Leinster Meth. Conaght Mounster VLSTER BOunded vpon the East North and West with the Ocean and vpon the South with Leinster Meth and Conaght The country is large the soil good deepe pasturages but otherwise vntill the English last plantation lesse fruitfull through the sloathfulnesse of the wild natiues overgrowne with vast and thicke woods bogs lakes and marishes Chiefe townes are Knocfergus in Antrim within a spacious bay Vinderius of Ptolemie a garrison towne and a commodious Port neere to Cantire and Scotland Vpon the same Easterne shore and in Louth Carlingford Dundalk Tredah at the mouth of the riuer Boine a faire and populous towne the next to Leinster Within Armagh neere to the river Kalin an Archbishops sea the Primate of the kingdome The Province containeth ten shires or counties Louth Cavon Fermanagh encompassing the great Lake Erne Monaghan Armagh Down Antrim Colran Tir-oen and Tir conell or Donegall The ancient inhabitants were the Darnij Voluntij Robognij and Erdini of Ptolemy LEINSTER EXtended along the Irish Ocean from Tredah Vlster and the river Boine vnto the Neure and Mounster vpon the South and bounded towards the West with Meth and the riuer Shaâ—on from Canaght The soile is fruitfull better manured and lesse encombred with woods the inhabitants more civill descended for a great part from the English and conforming to their habit and custome of living Chiefe townes are Dublin Eblana of Ptolemie vpon the Ocean at the fall of the river Liff Libnius of Ptolemy an Archbishops sea and the seat of the Lord Deputy or Viceroy of the kingdome rich strong populous and beautified with faire buildings Without standeth a College consecrated to the Muses and the name of the holy Trinitie a small Vniversitie founded by Queene Elizabeth of happy memory Weisford Menapia of Ptolemie at the mouth of the Slane the river Modona of the same author the first place in Ireland subdued by the English and peopled with their Colonies Within the land Kildare a Bishops sea Kilkenny vpon the river Neure the best towne of all the inland parts The whole containeth 7 divisions or shires Dublin Weisford Kildare Kings-Countie Queenes countie or the Lease Caterlogh and Kilkenny The ancient inhabitants were the Menapij Cauci Blanij and Brigantes of Ptolemy METH SEated in the middle of the Iland betwixt Leinster Conaught and Vlster It containeth East-Meth West-Meth and the countie of Longford Towns here are Trim in East-Meth vpon the river Boyne and Molingar in West-Meth The ancient inhabitants were part of the Blanij of Ptolemy CONAGHT BOunded vpon the West with the Irish Ocean vpon the North with Vlster and vpon the East and South with Meth Leinster and Mounster by the great river Shanon Senus of Ptolemie arising out of the mountaines of Letrim and after a long course hauing made sundry great lakes by the way falling into the Westerne Ocean some 60 miles below Limerick In the North hereof rise Curlew Mountaines fatall to the English by their slaughter and overthrow during the late Irish warres It containeth 6 shires or Counties Letrim Roscoman Slego Maio Galway and Twomund The chiefe towne and the third citty of the kingdome is Galway a Bishops sea a faire rich and well frequented Port neere vnto the fall of the great lake or river Corbes into the Westerne Ocean The ancient inhabitants were the Gangani Auteri and Nagnatae of Ptolemie MOVNSTER BOunded vpon the South-East and West with the Ocean and vpon the North with Leinster and the river Shanon from Conaght divided amongst 6 Counties Limerick Tipperarie Corck Waterford Desmond and Kerry Chiefe townes are Limerick in an Iland encompassed with the riuer Shanon a Bishops sea and a well traded Empory Waterford a rich Port and the second citty of the kingdome vpon the river Suire Corck a Bishops sea Kinsale a walled towne and a commodious Port at the mouth of the river Bany The ancient inhabitants were the Velibori Vodiae Vterni and Coriondi of Ptolemie Other more noted Ilands of Great Brittaine are 1 those of Orkney 2 those of Schetland lying in 63 degrees of Latitude 3 the Westerne Ilands belonging to the Crowne of Scotland 5 Subject to the English Crowne Man 6 Those of Silly 7 Wight and Holy Iland c. THE FIFTH BOOKE COntayning the present bounds situation and quality of Spaine The Inhabitants Their manners languages and religion The institution power and courts of their Inquisition The number and order of their Bishops The Religious del
customes and the priviledges of the countrie The lawes all is gouerned by are the municipall or common lawes of each kingdome and when these are wanting the ciuill or Roman law professed and executed by Civillians brought vp in their Vniuersities and following the proceeding and course of the Civill A no small commendation of the Nation hath beene their strict execution hereof which they administer with due severitie and without partialitie a chiefe cause of their generall more prosperous and flourishing estate The King is haereditary and where women for defect of male issue doe succeed Hee is stiled the most Catholique King a title first giuen to Ricaredus the first Orthodoxe King of the Gothes in a Provinciall councell held at Toledo continued afterwards in Alfonsus the first king of Leon for his devout and religious carriages but not becomming haereditary vntill Ferdinand the fift king of Castille Aragon who honoured herewith by Pope Iuly the second for maintayning his quarrell against the excommunicated king of France Lewes the twelfth transmitted the same to succession vnto this day His dominions may not vnfitly be distinguished according to the 4 great devisions of the inhabited world into those of Europe Africke Asia and America In the first besides Spaine and the Ilands therevnto belonging hee holdeth the kingdomes of Naples and Sicily the dukedome of Millaine in Italy and the Iland of Sardinia besides the many Provinces of the Low-countries not yet revolted now in the possession of Isabella aunt to Philip the fourth now raigning after her decease without heires to returne againe vnto the Crowne of Spaine In Africk he maintayned against the Infidells the townes of Oran and Melilla the great haven Muzalquiuer the Penion or rocke of Veliz the townes of Seuta Tangier and Mazagone in the Continent of Barbarie the fortresses of Arguin and S t George de la Mina in Aethiopia beyond the cape of good hope the forts of Sena and Sofala with the Iland Mozambique together with the Azores or Flemmish Ilands those of Madera Cape Verde Saint Thomas and del Principe lying along the West shore hereof on this side of the Promontorie of Buona Esperanza In Asiá he commaundeth in a manner all the Sea-coâ—sts from the Persian gulfe to the famous Promontory aunciently called Aurea Chersonesus where now Malaca staÌ„deth in which space he possesseth the hauens fortresses of Diu Chavl Goa Canora Cochin Damain Bazain Tavaan Colan the haven and castle of Columbo in the Iland of Zeilan and the towne of Malaca in the aforesaid Chersonese the furthest bounds of his East-Indian Empire Concerning America with the Phillippinae and infinite other Ilands thereunto belonging his Catholickenes challengeth the whole giuen vnto him by a Bull of his Countryman Pope Alexander the Sixt. Moreouer the Knights of S. Iohn of Ierusalem doe hold of him the Iland of Malta giuen vnto them after their retreat from Rhodes by the Emperour Charles the fift Hee also layeth claime to the Iland of Corsica possessed by the Genowayes the kingdomes of Tunis and Hierusalem vsurped by the Turkes the Dukedome of Burgundy with-held by the French with the vnited Prouinces of the Netherlands lately withdrawne from his obedience by the confederate states His revenues from hence are great as well in regard of the riches large extent hereof as of the many taxes impositions which especially his Spanish subjects of Castile as well those of the Cleargy as of the Laity are subject vnto which first brought in vpon occasion of the holy warres against the Infidels vpon the like pretence against the Heretiques as they tearme the reformed haue beene hitherto still kept vp maintained The particulars heereof collected by Linschotten out of the Exchequers of his seuerall kingdomes and as they were farmed out in the yeare 1578 before the vnion of Portugal not otherwise to make any certaine estimate hereof which must needes be vncertaine were as follow His demaine in Castile with the Alcavala and Tertiae of that kingdome which Alcavala is the tenth penny of all Lands merchandise goods sold by any Castilian for further then that kingdome it extendeth not the Tertiae being the third part of all spirituall promotions revenues yeeld yearly about the summe of 1274 Quintos The custome of Merchandise passing out of Biscay and Guipuscoa into Castile paying after the rate of one in ten at the Custome-houses of Victoria Horduna and Valmas Ceda amounteth to 70 Quintos The custome for wares passing through the Country of Leon by Sanabria and Villa-Franca one Quinto The same for Merchandise out of Asturia by Oviedo 375000 Maravedies The rent of the Prevosts office of Bilbao 490000 Maravedies The toull of the Inland passages of Valentia Aragonia and Navarre where is payed the tenth penny of all Merchandise brought thither out of Castile 49 Quintos and 35000 Maravedies The like toull of certaine inland ports of Castile frontiring vpon Portugal for wares passing to and fro betwixt those two kingdomes 34 Quintos and 155000 Maravedies The woolls yearely transported out of Spaine into forreine Countryes paying for euery sack weighing aboue ten Aroben two dukats for a subiect 4 for a stranger 53 Quintos and 586000 Maravedies The farme of the Almoxarischap of Sivilla for the tenth penny of the Merchandise of the Dutchmen English and other people of Europe there discharged 154 Quintos and 309000 Maravedies The farme of the Almoxarischap of Sivilla for the Spanish Indies which is for the 20. penny of all Merchandise laden here and bound thither paying an other 20 penny at their arrivall there 67 Quintos The rent of the mint of Spaine euery dukat which is there coyned for any of the Kings subiects paying a ryall of plate 22 Quintos The Salinas or Salt-workes belonging to the Crowne are taxed at 93 Quintos The Farmes of the Master-ships of S. Iames Calatrava and Alcantara besides their pasturages yeeld 98 Quintos The rent of the pasturages of these Masterships 37 Quintos The rent of the Quick-siluer mine at Almaden 73 Quintos The rent of the siluer mine of Guadalcana in Estremadura was wont to be worth 187 Quintos by the yeare but is now much decayed The rent called de la Moneda Forera which is a certaine rent of euery hertsteed each paying yearely 7 Maravedies yeeldeth 6 Quintos and 656000 Maravedies The farme of Cardes euery paire here sold paying vnto the King halfe a ryall of plate 20 Quintos The rashes or cloathes of Florence whereof euery peece payeth 6 dukats 10 Quintos The Popes pardons of which hee maketh good merchandise in America 200 Quintos The first fruits payed by the Cleargy at their first entrances into their benefices for confirmation of their places giuen vnto him towards the maintainance of the warres against Heretiques Infidels 65 Quintos The Excusado a yearely contribution so called because consented vnto by the Letters Patents of his Holines giuen by the Cleargy vpon the same pretext of
points A maine controuersie betwixt them was the celebration of Easter of whom the Britons from whom the Picts and Scots did not much differ observed the 14 day after the New-moone in March or the first Moneth following the custome of the Church of Asia and pretending the practice of Saint Iohn the Evangelist and the Romans with the English and others the Sunday after the 14 day alleadging an Apostolicall tradition a scruple then much disturbing the peace of Christendome and disputed of in sundry Synods No lesse was the controversie but long afterwards and amongst the English themselues betwixt the married vnmarried Priests in the raignes of Edwy Edgar Edward the Martyr Etheldred Monarches of the English-Saxons as likewise after the conquest of the Normans for vntill this time Priests were married adiudged against the married Priests through the pretended miracles of S. Dunstan a great vpholder of the Monkish faction the sentence of Pope Hildebrand in the yeare 1074 and raigne of William the Conquerour and lastly for yet notwithstanding the Popes interdict the Priests still kept their wiues by Anselmus Arch-bishoppe of Canterbury and a Synod then held at London in the raigne of King Henry the first In the raigne of great Egbert and about the yeare 829 breake in the merciles and Pagan Danes through whom and the many Popish errours which already had crept in religion is againe eclypsed Their Idol was Thur giuing afterwards the name of Thursday to the fourth day of the weeke By holy Alfred Edward the Seniour and Athelstan the second they are at length subdued and for the time either expulsed the Country or brought vnder the English and Christian yoake By this time the long aspiring Papacy had gotten the vpper hand ouer the rest of the Churches of the West and princes people divine and humane Lawes here as in all other places are made subject to the sole will and free arbitration hereof By Pope Alexander the second the Normans are authorized to vsurpe the Crowne of England Edgar and the Saxon line the right heires excluded and the oppressed English disabled for making resistance terrified and kept in by Papall cursings By Innocent the third King Iohn is made vassall to the pretended Apostolique sea surrendring his Crowne and resuming the same againe to be held vnder the fee and tribute of the Popes The Christian world hauing beene long abused Iohn Wiclef a soecular Diuine of the Vniversity of Oxford and Rectour of Lutterworth in Leicester shire in the raignes of Edward the third and Richard the second first to any effect opposeth against the tyranny hereof and those errours and impostures which antiquity superstitious and improvident zeale and their ambition and avarice had obtruded vpon religion fauoured by Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster Henry Lord Percy the Chancelour and body of the Vniuersity sundry Regulars and Priests the Londoners and multitudes of the Common and Lay people besides England spreading his opinions ouer the neighbouring Germany the authour of the reformation of the Hussits amongst the Bohemians withstood by the Praelates and Monkes thundred against by Bulls of the Pope sent to the King the Bishops and Vniversity and condemned by the Councell of Constance the liue bodies of Husse and Hierome of Prage and the bones of Wicleffe in detestation of their pretended heresie being burnt by the order of that Synod The positions hereof are to be read in the history of Walsingham but mingled with many falsities and vntruthes through the malice of that relater a Monke and of those times no friends to his cause What more rightly they were is better seene in the confession of the Hussits or Bohemians arising from hence moulded after his doctrine Now begun the ancient holy and grand-esteeme of the Church to asswage and coole superstition to be vnmasked the Papall power to grow suspected his censures to become more vile the wealth and great reuenues of the Monks and Cleargie to be envyed and their liues and actions to be scanned and looked into by a more narrow censorious eye In the raigne of King Richard the second a petition is exhibited by Parliament for the taking away of all their temporall possessions not assented vnto and reiected by that plaine and well meaning prince The like is attempted by two other Parliaments in the raigne of Henry the fourth and Henry the fift pretending their abuse and better imployment in the reliefe of the poore the maintenance of Esquires Knights and Lords and the seruice of the King lastly diuerted the suppression of Monasteries excepted belonging vnto strangers through the wisedome of Henry Chichlie Arch-bishop of Canterbury proposing the more honourable French warres and declaring the vndoubted right of the Prince to that Crowne By king Henry the eight provoaked by the excommunication and rash censures of Pope Clement the seaventh the Papall authority is abolished through the Realme and the power and title of supreame head of the English Church assumed and entayled vpon his successours some abuses about images and the Scriptures and prayers in an vnknowne tongue in part reformed and Monasteries and religious houses stiffe abetters of the Romish Hierarchie to the great astonishment of the world vtterly razed and demolished and their whole possessions whether Temporalties or tithes offerings the vndoubted rights of the Church escheated to the Crowne and fold or giuen to lay persons through passion avarice or his zeale against the many vices and enormities of the Monkes or to engage the laity without which possibly he could not haue withstood so great a danger in his warre against the Papacy and Cleargie partakers with him of their spoyles Vnder Edward the sixt religion is more fully established and the Church purged from errours and superstition the Masse and the rest of the 6 bloudy articles of his father abrogated images pulled downe the holy Eucharist administred vnder both kinds and the Scripture and deuine seruice read in the vulgar language yet done not without much rapine and iniurie committed vnder pretence of reformation the sacred monuments of the dead in Churches defaced and Bishoppricks Collegiate Churches Hospitalls and Almes-houses being robbed of their reuenewes by sacrilegious greatnes during the licentious raigne of that most hopefull but young pupill king By Queene Mary a great strength to whose title was the dispensatition and authority hereof Religion is againe made vassall to the sea of Rome and the power and iurisdiction of the Pope restored with condition notwithstanding that the lands and goods lately taken from the Cleargy should remaine to their lay possessours without which caution the Nobility and Commons in Parliament whose ioynt interest this was would not giue their consent persecution raging soone after with fresh furie and the whole kingdome flaming with fires and gashly sights of burning Martyrs Queene Elizabeth of famous memory gaue
Durham and VVinchester The others are ranked according to the time of their consecration What were the seats of the bishops before S. Austine and the conversion of the English we cannot certainely determine Geffrey of Monmouth mentioneth three Archbishops of London Yorke and Isca Silurum or Caer Leon and 28 bishops founded in the place of so many Arch-Flamins and Flamins gentilisme abolished in the raigne of King Lucius by Faganus and Duvanus Legates of Pope Eleutherius and the Apostles of the Britons The authority and truth of the author hath alwayes bin suspected More certainly Beda in a conference of the VVelsh with S. Austine the first Arch-bishop of Canterbury maketh mention of 7 bishops of the Britons but without naming them or their seates The first Councell of Arles held in the yeare 326 and the raigne of the Emperour Constantine the Great nameth one Restitutus a Brittish bishop of London amongst the Fathers assisting in that Synod Other names during these more primatiue times wee haue not yet found in the subscriptions of Councels or any ancient and good authority Vnder Honorius the 4 Arch-bishop of Canterbury the English are divided into Parishes encreased through continuall subdivisions and additions of new Churches The number hereof are at this day 9284 in both Prouinces Hereof 3845. are Churches impropriate by Papall authority annexed aunciently vnto Monasteries and places of Religion and at the fall of Monasteries for the greatest part of their revenues escheated to the Crowne and made Lay possessions These againe are of two forts 1 with Vicarages 2 without all whose rights as well tithes as offerings are detained by their Lay purchasers without any allotment to the Priest by the Parliament or the King in their sale and conveyances which hapned to such whose immediate Pastours had beene the Monkes maintained now by miserable yet arbitrary pensions My selfe haue heard foure pound by the yeare offered to a Minister for seruing together two pastorall cures of this nature The number of the Episcopall and Collegiate Churches including VVestminster and VVinsore are 26 besides some others restored of late yeares through the favour and bounty of King Iames of happy memory They containe together almost so many Deanes 60 Arch-Deacons and 544 Dignities or Prebendaries The suppressed Monasteries let it be lawfull to remember those dead ruines sad spectacles of humane mutability amounted to 645 besides 96 Colledges 110 Hospitals and 2374 Chanteries and Free Chappels Such hath been the affaires of the Church and Religion The State is Monarchicall commaunded by a King The Law whereby it is governed is the Municipall or Common a Law proper to the Nation The Prince is Haereditary and independent not euer invested by or acknowledging the Roman Emperours or any superiour earthly power holding immediatly of God absolute and supreame ouer all persons in all causes both Civill and Ecclesiasticall King Iohn distressed by a threefold warre against the Pope the French and his rebellious subjects to appease the first enthralled the kingdome to the tribute and vassalage hereof but which art being forced neither euer approued by the Parliament or people was euer held as voide He is stiled the Defendour of the faith which title was first giuen to king Henry the eight by Pope Leo the tenth zealous in his cause against the pretended haeresie of Luther opposed by the authority of his kingly Pen maintained since vpon better right by his noble successours the chiefe patrons and defendours of the Orthodoxe and truely Catholique Religion The body or Common-wealth subject to this Head may be distinguished into a twofold order 1 Artificers tradesmen daylabourers and poore husbandmen without land who haue no rule and whose part is onely to obey 2. and those who in the right and vnder the authority of the Prince haue their parts in the gouernment judging and determining causes punishing faults electing officers granting subsidies and making Lawes of whom and their delegates assembled together with the King and Bishops representing the Cleargie the Parliament or grand Councell of the Realme consisteth These likewise are of two different rankes 1 The Nobility 2 and those vnder the degree hereof The Nobility are divided into the greater Nobility containing the Barony or estate of Lords and the Lesser Nobility consisting of Knights Esquires and Gentlemen the first whereof are not borne thus but made by the especiall grace of the Prince for their good demerits or hopes whose Deputies and of the Burgesses and Yeomen the rankes vnder the Nobility compose the house of Commons These last the Yeomen or Free-holders the auncient wealth and support of the kingdome the strength and substance of our warres our sometimes victorious infantery the Conquerours of the French are now much decayed since the fal of Monasteries whose tenants they were vpon easie rents but more especially through the present depopulations rackings and injuries of the Gentry pulling downe Townes and farme-houses and converting all to pasturage or their proper demaine to the much impairing of the Princes subsidies and revenues the wonted store of people and riches of the Land the most important grievance of the times The Nation hath alwayes beene much dreaded and powerfull in Armes whilest vnited and in peace at home King Henry the second by marriage and warre enlarged the English dominions ouer Ireland and Aquitaine and Guienne in France Richard the first advanced their glorious ensignes in Syria Palestine and the East and conquered Cyprus exchaunged for the title of Hierusalem By Edward the first all Wales and Scotland for the time are subdued By Edward the third the Scots and French in sundry memorable battailes holding captiue at the same time the persons of both their kings Under the same Prince the hautie Spaniards through the high courage and adventures of his son Prince Edward forced to the obedience of Don Peter their naturall Lord. By Henry the fift all France on this side the Loire left to his successour Henry the sixt crowned French king at Paris Queene Elizabeth of famous memory relieued all her distressed neighbours the Scots France and the Netherlands oppressed by forraine power or through domestique broyles got the dominion of the sea and by continuall victories gaue first check to the greatnes and aspiring ambition of the house of Austria and Spaine But as their happy atchieuements and victories haue beene many so their errours and misfortunes no lesse most commonly loosing that through ciuill broyles and contentions a mischiefe incident to all flourishing estates but most fatall to ours what by true valour and honour they haue gotten King Iohn lost Normandy and other English conquests and possessions in France through the onely malice and treason of his disloyall Barons vnseasonably quarrelling about their liberties forsaking him in his warres and siding with his enemies Edward the second Scotland wonne by his victorious father through a like despight and wilfulnes of his seditious Nobles opposing against his
length totally subdued by Edmund Monarch of the Saxons aided by Lewelin king of Dimetia or Southwales and giuen by Edmund vnto Malcolme king of the Scots to be held vnder the sief of the kings of England with condition to defend the Northerne frontire of the English against the Danes and forraine invaders After this time Cumberland and Westmoreland or the countrey hereof for aboue the space of one hundred yeares were possessed by the Scottish Nation whose Praefects as the Scottish writers tearme them or immediate Princes were the eldest sons or next Heires of Scotland By king William surnamed the Conquerour they were taken from the Scots and with the rest of England subjected to the Normans King Stephen ingaged in a dangerous war against Maâ—de the Empresse restored Cumberland to the Scots to be held with the old conditions recouered againe not long after by king Henry the second his successour disliking this liberalitie of Stephen and so great a diminution of his kingdome and incorporated with the Crown of England in which vnion the country hath euer since continued the name language and accompt of the Britons thorough their English and Scottish subjection being long since here worne out and extinguished THE VVELSH BRITONS THese in their natiue language call themselues Câ—mro Cymero and Cymbri as their Latihe Authours Cambri and their countrey Cambria which they would haue to be deriued from Camber one of the sonnes of Brutus their progenitour vnto whose share this part of the Iland should fall in the devision hereof with his brethren a fable begunne by Geffrey or Monmouth and yet maintained by all their Historians Commentatours men otherwise learned and skilfull in antiquities but over zealous to preferre the glory of this their Troian descent The name as before we haue shewed was common to the Britons of Cumberland and to the rest of the nation the words Britons Britaine not being British originally but imposed by the Greekes and forreiners The Etymologie hereof we cannot conjecture vnlesse from Gomar the sonne of Iapheth first peopling these VVesterne parts of Europe and from whom after Iosephus and Zonaras the Gaules were aunciently called Gomarenses and Gomares of which nation the first Britons were a colonie Their name of Welsh or Walsh was Dutch and of a later imposition signifying strangers with the Saxons in which accompt the English still held the Britons They were a more great strong remainder of the vanquished Britons vnder their King Careticus before mentioned driuen ouer the Severne by the victorious Saxons and sheltering themselues amongst the Silures Ordovices and the Mountaines of the VVest The name notwithstanding of the Welsh we finde not vntill afterwards and the yeare 708 at what time we first read in Henry of Huntington of one Gerent King of the Welshmen ouercome in so attaile by Ina the VVest-Saxon some 19 yeares after the decease of Cadwallader and end of the British kingdome The more auncient bounds hereof were vpon the South the sea of Severne by which they were diuided from the Cornish Britons vpon the West the Irish Ocean and vpon the North East the rivers Dee Severne from the Mercian Saxons By the raigne of Offa King of the Mercians succeeding in the yeare 758 all the plaine Country beyond the Severne where now is Herefordshire with parts of Glocestershire Shropshire and Worcestershire being subdued and taken in by the Saxons of Mercia they were wholy shut vp within their Mountaines for their better distinction enclosed by Offa and severed from his English with a wide and deep ditch continued from Basingwerk vpon the Dee betwixt Chester Ruthland in Flintshire along the hills vnto the mouth of the river Wye neere Bristoll whose tract in many places is yet seene and named Claudh Offa in their language or Offa's ditch afterwards the common bound of both nations Others notwithstanding as a more known limit make the river Wye to be the bounds of both Their government after Cadwallader was vnder diverse Lords whom their Histories call Kings Amogst these their Chronicle maketh mention of Edwall Roderique and Conan Tindaethwy descended from Cadwallader and following in a direct line the progenitours of the succeeding Princes Afterwards Roderique surnamed the Great grandchild by his mother vnto Conan Tindaethwy attained to a Monarchy of the whole Wales which about the yeare 870 he deuided into three parts or provinces which limited and distinguished with their meeres he left vnto his three sons with the authority name of Kings Guinedh or Northwales bounded with the Dee the Ocean the riuer Dovi the part of Anarawd his eldest sonne Deheubarth or South-wales lying beyond the riuer Dovi Powys extended vpon the East toward England the portions of Codelh and Mervin his two yonger sonnes These likewise subdeviding their estates amongst their numerous issue as did continually their successours after them for such was then the bad custome of the Welsh the countrey againe became shared amongst many petty Lords each sonne hauing a part of his fathers inheritance whereof some notwithstanding the eldest sonne most commonly or who otherwise overtopped the rest in power or favour with the people still bore the titles of their generall divisions knowne in their histories by the names of Kings of North and South-Wales and Lords of Powys continuing those stiles vntill towards their subiection to the English Amongst these likewise one was still accompted soveraigne or chiefe Lord to whom the rest were to pay tribute and to doe seruice which honour by the order of Roderique the great and of Howell Dha their lawgiuer was due vnto the succession of Anarawd before mentioned the Kings of Northwales the first borne or chiefe of the house of Cadwallader These their soueraigne lords are named kings in the Welsh historie vnto Owen surnamed Guyneth succeeding about the yeare 1137 who first is called Prince which title is continued vntill the time of Edward the first King of England to Lâ—evelyn their last prince taken vp since by the heires of the house of England By Egbert the great Saxon Monarch the nation is first made subject to the tribute and homage of the English ruled neuerthelesse after their owne lawes and free from forreine yoake vntill the Kings of England of the Norman race By Bernard de Neumarck a Norman gentleman assisted by the Aubryes and other of the French English nobility in the raigne of William Rufus king of England Brechiniauc now Brecknockshire after a long and hard warre is wrested herefrom and annexed to the English Empire By Robert Fitz-hamon in the same raigne Morganwc now Glomorganshire By Arnulph of Mountgomerie and Girald of Winsore his successour in the warre in the raigne of King Henry the first the Country of Dyvet now Pembrokeshire at what time a colonie of the Flemmings whose countrie had beene drowned by the Ocean by the permission hereof were planted in Ros a part of Dyvet continuing
here euer since their succession and English language and occasioning the name of little England beyond Wales By the Earles of Chester Warren and Mortimer with others about the same times the parts of Flint Denbigh together with Caeretica and the land of Gwent now Cardigan Monmouthshire are likewise taken in and subdued The valour or fortune of King Edward the first put an end to this languishing estate of the Welsh after some yeares warre vanquishing and killing Lhewelyn ap Gruffith their last prince and annexing the whole Wales to the English subiecting the people to his English lawes King Henry the eight of later yeares descended from the Welsh by the fathers side incorporated the country with the kingdome of England investing the Welsh with all the rights and priviledges of his English subjects in which ranke and vnion they now remaine The princes hereof from more certaine cleare times follow with that truth which their Histories will afford Roderique surnamed the Great Monarch of the Welsh sonne to Meruyn Vrych a nobleman of Wales Esylht daughter to Conan Tindaethwy son to Roderique Molwynoc son to Edwal son to Cadwallader the last king of the Britons Parting Wales into the divisions before mentioned he allotted Guynedh or Northwales vnto Anarawde his eldest son and vnto Cadelh Mervyn Deheubarth or Southwales Powys with condition that the two younger brethren their successours should be leigemen acknowledge the soveraignety of Anarawd the kings of Northwales confirmed afterwards by the lawes of Howel Dha He deceased in the yeare 876 slaine by the English Anarawd prince of Guynedh or Northwales soveraigne or chiefe King of the VVelsh eldest son to Roderique the Great The order of the kings of Southwales Lords of Powys for thus were they called and of the many inferiour Lords or Princes in each devision for as before euery son after the custome of the present Germans had a share of his fathers possessions I haue omitted in regard of their number Edwal Voel prince of Guynedh chiefe King of VVales sonne to Anarawd succeeding about the yeare 913. In the raigne hereof Athelstan King of England forced a tribute vpon the Welsh of 20 pounds of gold and 300 of silver with 200 head of cattaile remitted afterwards by King Edgar for a tribute of wolues Howel Dha Prince of Deheubarth or Southwales Powys soveraigne King of VVales succeeding in the yeare 940 descended from Cadelh brother to Anarawd the sonnes of Edwal Voel the right heires excluded Hee made lawes for the VVelsh obserued by the nation vntill their subjection to the English Iames and Ievaf sonnes to King Edwal Voel joynt princes of Guynedh and chiefe Kings of VVales succeeding after the decease of Howel Dha Owen with other the sonnes of Howel Lords of Southwales and Powys contending with them for the soueraignety being overthrowne by them in battaile and their elder brother Meyric omitted as vnfit for government Vnto these princes Edgar the King of England forgaue the tribute of money imposed by Athelstan exchanged for a certaine number of wolues constantly brought in by the VVelsh after my Authour vntill they were all destroyed The relation I leaue to the censure of the reader These afterwards falling out Ievaf is taken prisoner and Iames remaineth sole king overcome not long after and chased out by Howel sonne to Ievaf Howel Prince of Guynedh chiefe King of Wales sonne to Ievaf succeeding about the yeare 973 his father freed by him and set at liberty but not restored to the soveraignty He was slaine fighting against the English without any male issue Cadwalhon Prince of Guynedh soveraigne King of Wales son to Ievaf and brother to Howel succeeding about the yeare 984. He was slaine in battaile with Meiryc his brother by Meredith son to Owen king of Southwales Meredith Prince of Guynedh and chiefe king of Wales having slaine Cadwalhon Meyric son to Owen king of Deheubarth or South-wales After the decease of his father he likewise got seized of Southwales He afterwards lost Guynedh or Northwales vnto Edwal son to Meyric the eldest son of Edwal Voel the right heire in his absence set vp by the inhabitants Edwal prince of Guynedh chiefe King of Wales son to Meyric eldest son to Edwal Voel succeeding in the yeare 992. He was slaine in fight by the Danes leaving behind him a young son named Iames. In the yeare 998 died also Meredith aforesaid King of Southwales leaving one onely daughter named Angharat marryed to Llewelin ap Sitsylht By meanes hereof for want of heires or fit to goyerne Conan ap Howel Aedan ap Blegored contended for the gouernment when comming to battail Conan is slaine and Aedan vsurpeth the kingdome Aedan ap Blegored prince of Guynedh and soveraigne king of Wales succeeding in the yeare 1003. He was slaine with his foure sons in the yeare 1015 by Llewelin ap Sitsylht husband to Angharad Llewelin ap Sitsylht descended from king Anarawd and Angharad his wife daughter to Meredith king of Southwales after the decease of Aedan the vsurper soveraigne kings of Wales Hee was slaine in the yeare 1021 by Howel Meredith sons to Edwin son to Eneon brother to king Meredith leauing a son named Gruffith ap Llewelin After the death of Llewelin ap Sitsylht Iames son to King Edwal tooke vpon him the gouernment of Northwales as right heire Iames the second prince of Guynedh chiefe king of Wales son to king Edwal He was ouerthrowne slaine in the yeare 1037 by Gruffith son to Llewelin Angharad Gruffith prince of Guynedh chiefe king of Wales son to Llewelin ap Sitsylht Angharad He also subdued Southwales slaine by treason Blethyn Rywalhon sons to Angharad aforesaid Conwyn ap Gueristan her second husband princes of Guynedh and chiefe kings of Wales after the decease of king Gruffith Rywalhon being slaine in the yeare 1068 in a battaile fought betwixt these Meredith and Idel sonnes to king Gruffith Blethyn by this meanes remaineth sole King of Northwales He was slaine in the yeare 1073 by the treason of Rees ap Owen ap Edwyn Trahern ap Caradoc prince of Guynedh or Northwales and chiefe king of Wales cosen german to king Blethyn Hee was slaine in battaile by Gruffith son to Conan son to king Iames the second Gruffith ap Conan prince of Northwales chiefe king of Wales In the yeare 1079 after my Authour and the raignes of Gruffith ap Conan Rhees ap Theodor king of Southwales William the Conquerour king of England tooke the homages of the Welsh princes Not long after vnder William Rufus by the good leaue hereof Morganwc Brechiniauc and the Countrie where now is Cardiganshire parts of Deheubarth or Southwales with some part of Northwales neighbouring vnto Chester are subdued by Robert Fitzhamon Bernard de Neumarck other valiant Norman adventurers and added to the English government In regard hereof Matthew Paris maketh William Rufus the
Egbert and through their owne intestine broyles and in the yeare 819 by the decree of Egbert at an assembly of the states at VVinchester joyned into one entire state or common name of England continued through many successions of princes vnto our times The order of the kings of the VVest-Saxons followeth vntill the Heptarchy determined and the vnion and name of England Cerdic before mentioned the first king of the West-Saxons about the yeare 502 and 43 yeares after the first arrivall of Hengist After Ella of the South-Saxons he attayned to the chiefe rule or soueraignety amongst the Saxon princes the third Monarch of the English continued in his successours for two descents Kenrik king of the West-Saxons and Monarch or chiefe king of the English son to Cerdic Cheulin king of the West-Saxons chiefe king or Monarch of the English son to Kenrik After sundry conquests and great victories against the Britons and Kentish Saxons he was lastly ouerthrowne and driuen out by a joynt warre of the Welsh and his seditious subjects discontented with his insolent government drawne on through the treason and ambition of his nephew Cealic Cealic king of the West-Saxons son to Cuthwolf brother to Cheulin and son to Kenric He lost the Monarchy or chiefe rule of the English vnto Ethelbert king of the Kentish men Chelwolf king of the VVest-Saxons son to Cuth brother to Cheulin Kingils son to Chel brother to Chelwolfe king of the VVest-Saxons succeeding in the yeare 612. He first of the VVest-Saxon princes embraced the Christian Religion won to the faith by the preaching of Berinus an Italian the first Bishop of Dorchester in Oxfordshire and through the holy zeale and endeavours of Oswald king of Northumberland He tooke for his companion in the government his son Quincheline who deceased before him Kenwald king of the VVest-Saxons son to Kengils he founded the rich abbey of Malmesburie and the great Church of VVinchester He deceasing without issue his wife Segburg a manly woman for a time mannaged the affaires of the kingdome succeeded vnto by Eskwin Eskwin king of the VVest-Saxons descended from Cerdic Kenwin king of the VVest-Saxons brother to Kenwald and son to Kingils He much enlarged the kingdome of the VVest-Saxons vpon the Bordering Britons or VVelsh Ceadwalla king of the VVest-Saxons descended from Kenric He slew in fight Edilwalch the last king of the South-Saxons After much cruelty and outrage committed against the neighbouring South and Kentish-Saxons to expiate his sinnes following the manner of those superstitious times he departed on holy pilgrimage to Rome baptized there by Sergius Bishop of that sea where shortly after he dyed Ina king of the West-Saxons descended from Cheulin He annexed to his dominions the Countrie of the South-Saxons and founded the Colledge of Wels and the great Monastery of Glastenbury Ambitious of the honour of his predecessour hee went to Rome and put on the habit of religion deceasing in a private fortune hauing first subjected his kingdome to the payment of Peter-pence to that sea Ethelard king of the West-Saxons descended from Cheulin Cuthred king of the West-Saxons brother to Ethelard About this time after Beda the dead corps of the deceased begun first to bee enterred within townes and cities formerly after the manner of the Turkes at this day buried in the fields Sigebert of vnknowne parentage king of the West-Saxons driven out by his seditious subjects pretending his tyrannie and many vices Kenwulf king of the West-Saxons descended from Cerdic He was slaine by Kineard brother to Sigebert Brithric descended from Cerdic king of the West-Saxons succeeding in the yeare 784. In the time hereof and yeare 787 the Danes first arriue and discover the Westerne coasts of the Iland followed with greater forces in the raigne of Egbert and the succeeding English Monarches He was poysoned by his Queene Ethelburga daughter to Offa the great king of the Mercians In regard of this treason the wiues of the succeeding West-Saxon Monarches were by law afterwards excluded from all state place and title of princes Egbert king of the VVest-Saxons descended from Cheulin and succeeding in the yeare 800. He subdued the Cornish Britons and the Kentish and East-Saxons with those of Mercia east-East-England and Northumberland Of these Kent and the East-Saxons with the Cornish Britons he immediatly incorporated with his kingdome of the West-Saxons The rest which were Northumberland with the East-Angles and Mercians he commaunded by his substitutes or Vice-royes All notwithstanding he vnited into one entire Monarchie which he named of England from the Angli or English of whom himselfe was descended or in regard of the greater extent of that people contayning after Beda the Mercians Northumbrians and Mercians or some two thirds of the whole Dutch Nation whereof he was Crowned king in the yeare 819 some 370 yeares after the arrivall of Hengist In this sort the Heptarchy extinguished the whole Southerne part of the Iland tooke the name of England Wales the Britons of Cumberland excepted whose fortunes vntill the returne hereof into the vnion of Britaine vnder Lames out late Soveraigne of happy memory remaine in the next place to bee related THE KINGDOME OF ENGLAND THis was begun by Egbert aforesaid The manner and yeare wee haue even now shewed It was bounded more aunciently with the German Ocean vpon the East vpon the South with the English channell from France vpon the West with the Welsh and Britons of Cumberland with part of the Westerne or Irish Ocean from Ireland and vpon the North with the river Tweede from the Picts or Scotland King William surnamed the Conquerour added Cumberland and VVestmoreland parts of the auncient kingdome of the Cumbri wrested from the Scots His son Rufus and the succeeding princes of the Norman bloud added VVales By the raigne of king Edward the first VVales then being totally subdued the accompt and name of England enlarged ouer all the part of the Iland lying vpon the South of the river Tweede and Solway Frith the present extent of the kingdome It hath suffered sundry changes since this its first name and erection being twise conquered by forreine power and made subject to three different successions of Monarches 1 Of the race of the VVest-Saxons 2. Of the Danes 3 and of the Normans THE KINGDOME OF ENGLAND VNDER THE VVEST-SAXONS THe Kings of England follow of the house of the West-Saxons and vntill the Danish subiection Egbert king of the West-Saxons the Heptarchy destroyed crowned king of England at a Parliament of the states held at Winchester in the yeare 819. In the raigne of this prince the Danes begin their fierce invasions of the English continued with variable successe during the whole time of Englands Monarches of the race of the West-Saxons and vntill the yeare 1016 and conquest of the whole by Canutus He deceased in the yeare 836. Ethelwolf and Athelstan sons to Egbert succeeding to their father in the kingdome of England and the Danish warres Of these
first mentioned more distinctly boundeth Normannia or the Countrey of the first or Dutch Normans with the river Eydore including within this accompt Denmarke and other more Northerly Regions and excluding Saxony and the parts of Germany lying vpon the South of that riuer They were otherwise called the Nord-luidi in Helmoldus and the aforesaid Authour The derivation we know not vnlesse from the words Nord or North and Lieu which last with the French signifieth a place or country The names were begun vpon occasion of the pyracies and warres of certaine mixtures of all those Northerne together or of the Swethlanders Norvegians a part following the tracts of the Danes and invading and preying vpon the French and English towards the declining estate of those nations and called by these generall appellations either because their proper names were not yet so well knowne abroad or because then consisting of many We first read of the expresse name of the Normans in the raigne of Charles the Great by Eginhartus in his life of that Emperour infesting then the sea-coasts of France and Germany Their mentioÌ„ after this is frequent more especially in the French Histories with great cruelty fury vnresistable afflicting the kingdome of France in the raigne of Charles the Bauld vnder their Captaine Hastinge and vnder Godfrey an other of their Leaders in the raigne of Charles the Gros. In the yeare 912 they first fixe fast footing in this rich Continent vnder Rollo another of their Captains to whom king Charles surnamed the Simple vpon composition for his peace herewith gaue the country of Neustria together with his daughter Gista in marriage with condition to hold the same vnder the fief and homage of the French kings and to become Christian. After this time that part of France from the firme residence hereof hath ever since beene called Normandy as the inhabitants hereof Normans victoriously held for a long time by the heires of Rollo with the title of Dukes of Normandie succeeded vnto by William surnamed Long-espee or with the Long-sword son to this first Rollo Richard the first son to William surnamed Long-espee Richard the second son to Richard the first Richard the third son to Richard the second Robert brother to Richard the third and William surnamed the Bastard the seaventh Duke naturall son to Robert Vnder this last prince these French Normans France now growing too narrow for their ambition first attempt vpon invade England Their colour for this war was the pretended right of their Duke William to the Crowne hereof bequeathed vnto him by Edward the Confessour in the time of the Danes during his exile in France confirmed afterwards by Edward being king and now since his decease with-held by Harold Their hopes in so great an enterprise was the vnsetled state of England now vnder an vsurper Edgar Etheling the right heire excluded and the favour of the Bishop of Rome Alexander the second then succeeding in the Papacy siding to their cause of whose countenance in authorizing vniust claimes Pepin and the late kings of France had made profitable vse In the yeare 1066 the Armies of the English Normans assisted with many thousands of French adventurers in Sussex neere Hastings fatally encounter Harold not by valour but through the sins and many vices of the Nation is vanquished and slaine with the losse of aboue 67000 of his valiant and faithfull souldiers and the remainder of the miserable English none then further adventuring factious irresolute without head and terrified with Papall cursings without any more resistance become subiect to the Conquerours William the Norman obtayneth the Crowne with great happines maintained hitherto in his Norman posterity The kingdome of the English the growth hereof hauing beene long hindred by the Danish warres before this last Norman conquest exceeded not the auncient limits of the Saxons Heptarchie bounding vpon the West with Wales and the Countries of Westmoreland Cumberland enjoyed by the Scots Welsh princes vnder the homage of the kings of England By king William the first following his victories Cumberland and Westmoreland as before are taken in and incorporated into the accompt name hereof By William Rufus and the succeeding Monarches Wales In forreine parts by Henry the second Ireland is conquered and Aniou Touraine Maine Aquitaine and Guienne with Normandy their auncient inheritance contayning almost one halfe part of France are annexed to the house and right of the Norman-English By Edward the third and the fift sixt Henries the potent kingdomes of France The French hauing long since withdrawn their allegiance divided asunder by spacius seas language and affection the rest remaine subject parts or states appending of the English kingdome In Iames the first of happy memory both kingdomes of England and Scotland or the whole Britaine are vnited vnder one Monarch together with Ireland a Countrie depending vpon England or the dominion of all the British Ilands The Kings of England follow of the Norman blood and vntill this last and blessed vnion William duke of Normandy from this victories surnamed the Conquerour the first king of England of the house of the Normans naturall son to Robert Duke of Normandy by Arlet a Burgers daughter of Falaise in that Countrey Battle-field wonne by conquest and a pretended right from the gift of Edward the Confessour his cosen German by the mothers side succeeding in the yeare 1066. The subdued English stubborne male-contented vnquiet and ill brooking forreine gouernment he oppressed with servitude and hard Lawes dispossessing the nobility of their goods places and revenues which he assigned to his French Normans the root of the present more auncient English gentrie He deceased in the yeare 1087. william the second surnamed Rufus from his more ruddy colour a younger son to the Conquerour king of England by the will of his father his elder brother Robert succeeding in the Dukedome of Normandy He deceased in the yeare 1100 slaine vnawares in New-Forrest in Hamshire as he was following his game vnmarried and without issue Henry the first surnamed Beauclercke or the good Scholler for such he was by meanes of his education borne at Selby in Yorkeshire yongest son to the Conquerour king of England through the advantage of his brother Roberts absence warring then abâ—ad in the Holy Land and by the favour of the people in regard of his English birth and his sugred promises which in part hee performed to remit those heavy lawes taxations wherewith they had beene burthened during the raignes of his father and brother To better his title and the more to insinuate into the English affections he tooke to wife Maude daughter to Malcolme the third king of Scotland and S t Margaret daughter to Edward surnamed the Out-law eldest son to Edmund Iron-side hereby vniting together the Norman and English blood in his issue posterity Warres arising betwixt the two brethren he with his English subdued the Normans vpon the same day after forty yeares
Covo where it now resteth They haue beene seene to serue in the field against the Moores with 300 great horse which is the whole number of men of armes their Commaunderies were bound to set forth to the warres The famous order of S t Iames was begun and occasioned not long after that of Calatrava by the superstitious aemulation of the Monkes of S t Eloy and certaine Gentlemen of Castille who by building hospitalls in diverse passages of Spaine for the entertainment of Christian pilgrims travailing from towards France to S. Iago and performing other charitable offices towards those devoted people deserved so well of Pope Alexander the third that he erected them into an order by this meanes becomming partly Ecclesiasticall and partly Saecular all of them appointed to liue after the rule of S t Augustine and the Saecular permitted to marry so that they would not breake the bonds of wedlocke which they must vow inviolably to keepe Their first residence was at their Covent by the Hospitall of S t Marke lying without the city of Leon. Afterwades falling out with Ferdinand king hereof remouing into the kingdome of Castille they had there giuen them by king Alfonsus the towne and castle of Vcles now the chiefe seate of their order Repossessing notwithstanding after the death of the said Ferdinand the Covent by S t Marke the order by this meanes became deuided into two severall factions or parts the townes and commanderies in the kingdome of Leon acknowledging S. Marke and those other of the kingdomes of Castille and Portugall Vcles all notwithstanding subject to one master resident at Vcles vntill king Dionysius ranked the possessions belonging herevnto in his kingdome of Portugall vnder a master of their owne The lands and possessions hereof besides those of Portugall are two Colledges in the Vniversity of Salamanca a Covent at Sivilla 4 Hermitages in the mountaines 5 hospitalls of speciall reuenue and some 90 commanderie townes and castles The Knights weare a red crosse vpon a white coate fashioned like a sword and are accompted at this day aboue 600 Gentlemen besides about 200 Friers resident in their Vicarages Covents and other benefices and are by much the richest order in Spaine The order of Alcantara was erected in the yeare 1217 by Alfonsus king of Leon who would that that towne with whatsoeuer else the order of Calatrava possessed in his kingdome should be deuided from thence and made a distinct order obseruing notwithstanding the discipline of Cisteaux and acknowledging the cheifage and superiority of the other The Knights for a distinction from them of Calatrava are marked with a greene crosse The order of Avis so called from a towne of that name in Portugall was founded by Sanctius the first king hereof The Knights doe weare the greene crosse of Alcantara The order in riches and revenues is much inferiour to those before named The order of Christ was raised out of the ruines of the exauthorized order of the Templars all whose lands and possessions in Portugall were by king Dionysius assigned herevnto It is the richest order in Portugall to whose right belong the Ilands of the sea Atlantique with the countries in Asia Africa Brasil lately discovered now held by this nation The marke hereof is a red crosse stroked in the middest with a white line The first residence of the Knights was at Castromarin seated at the mouth of the riuer Guadiana now at Tovar betwixt the Guadiana and the Taio The order of Montesa was instituted about the same time with the order of Christ in Portugall by the same occasion vnto which Iames the first king of Aragon gaue all the revenues of the condemned order of the Templars lying within his countrey of Valentia with the towne castle of Montesa from whence it tooke the name the cheif seate of the order The Master and Knights hereof at the time of their first erection were made subject to them of Calatrava and their Monkish discipline of Cisteaux By leaue from Pope Benedict the 13 they afterwards changed the marke hereof for a red crosse to be worne before their breasts now the badge of the order All these in times past had their severall masters who were still of especiall nobilitie vsuall of the bloud royall and many times the younger or base sons of their Kings They also had as yet they retaine their vice-masters or great Commendadors whereof the order of S t Iames had two besides the part of the order in Portugall offices at this day of great note and most commonly borne by the most eminent personages of the kingdome the great Commendador of Castille for the devision of Eucles and the great Commendador of Leon for that of S t Marke These had likewise their Clavigeros besides infinite petty Commendadors The Knights were alwayes Gentlemen by birth Ferdinand the fift king of Castille and Aragon after the warres with the Moores and Granado ended jealous of the numbers of the tumults and disorders which these priviledged gallants wanting forreine imployment might afterwards fall into to the great danger and prejudice of his kingdomes vnited the Master-ships hereof with the Crowne followed afterwards by the Kings of Portugall in their dominions Since this first injurie by a common fate of all religious states they haue for a long time languished and now scarce are in being their lawes priviledges broken and Gentlemen Courtiers and favorites of great men vsurping the titles and reuenues The Masterships of the kingdomes of Castille and Portugall Montesa in Aragon not reckoned yeeld yearely to the king according to Linschottēs accompt aboue 126759 pound sterling besides the rents of S t George in Guinea belonging to the order of Christ worth 100000 duckats by the yeare This hath beene the Ecclesiasticall state Concerning the ciuill the whole is subject to one sole Monarch devided notwithstanding into three distinct kingdomes different in lawes and customes and not vnited but in their Prince the kingdome of Castille Leon wherevnto Navarra Granado are annexed and are parts of Aragon and of Portugall Of these the kingdome of Aragon enjoyeth a more free estate then the rest the royall authority being so pressed downe by the priviledges of the people the power of their Iustitia that scarcely it may be accompted Monarchicall In Castille as in the chiefest and most devoted vnto him the king is alway resident here most commonly at Vallidolid or Madrid The other two he commaundeth by his Vice-royes whereof Aragon contayneth three for as much as consisting of so many different Provinces and gouernments the Vice-roye of Aragonia resident at Saragoca who ought still to be a natiue the Vice-roye of the Countrey of Valentia residing in the city of Valentia and of Catalonia at Barcelona Navarra likewise although it be now incorporate with Castille hath notwithstanding its particular Viceroye administring justice according to the lawes of Castille aud the
surnamed the Stammerer joynt Kings created in the minority of Charles the Simple Lewis the second deceasing Carloman raigned alone who dyed not long after Lewis the third surnamed le Fay-neant sonne to Carloman His raigne was but short deposed for his slought many vices and shorne Monke of Saint Denys Charles surnamed the Fat son to Lewis the Auncient King of Germany and Emperour of the Romans called in by his faction elected King of West-France in the minority of Charles the Simple Hee was deposed not long after and deprived of all his estates dying in great misery and want nere vnto Constance in Germany in the yeare 889. Eudon guardian to Charles the Simple son to Robert Earle of Aniou son to Witichind prince of the Saxons in the raigne of the Emperour Charles the Great in the minority of his pupill after the Emperour Charles the Fat created French King After some two yeares raigne he was likewise deposed by this factious vnconstant nation succeeded vnto by Charles the Simple By meanes notwithstanding of this election there followed afterwards long quarrels and contention for the kingdome betwixt his kindred the house of Aniou and Charles the Simple and his issue during the whole Caroline line a chiefe pretence of Capets vsurpation Charles the Simple the legitimate son of the Emperour Lewis surnamed the Stammerer He had warres with Robert Earle of Aniou brother to King Eudon in regard of the election of Eudon pretending right to the kingdome and slaine by him in a battaill After a short and troublesome raigne caught imprisoned at Peronne by Hebert Earle of Vermandois and forsaken by the nobility hee resigned the kingdome to Rodulph Duke of Burgundy Transiuraine Rodulph Duke of Burgundy Transiuraine son to Conrade Earle of Burgundy Transiuraine brother to Robert the first Earle of Aniou vncle to King Eudon vpon the imprisonment and forced resignation of Charles the Simple elected French King Lewis the fourth son to Charles the Simple and Elgina daughter to Edward surnamed the Elder and sister to Athelstan Kings of England surnamed the Forreiner for that during the captivity of his father and the vsurpation of Rodulph he lived exiled with his vncle Athelstan in England after the death of the vsurper called home and restored to the kingdome Hee had wars with Hugh surnamed the Great Earle of Paris Majour of the Palace son to Robert the second jealous of the popularity greatnes and the ambition of that house Lothaire son to Lewis the fourth In the raigne hereof Hugh Capet heire of the house of Aniou son to Hugh the Great begun againe to renew the auncient quarell of his family touching the kingdome the which not long after he obtayned Lewis the fift son to Lothaire He dyed young without issue the last French King of the house of Charles the Great Hugh Capet son to Hugh the Great Earle of Paris and Majour of the Palace after much quarrell betwixt the houses of Aniou and of Charles the Great thorough a long basenes slougth and pusillanimity of the degenerate princes of that line the present dislike of Charles Duke of Lorraine the next heire the long greatnes and still growing popularity of his house his flattery and crafty insinuations with the nobility and people and religious pretences and of his right and succession to King Eudo and Rodulph in the yeare 965 elected king by this wavering nation Charles Duke of Lorraine excluded caught afterwards by him and imprisoned during life Robert son to Hugh Capet Henry the first younger son to Robert preferred by his father before Robert his elder brother succeeding in the Dukedome of Burgundy Philip the first son to Henry the first Lewis the sixt son to Philip the first Lewis the seaventh son to Lewis the sixt About the raigne of this prince dyed Iohn de Temporibus by the stiffe consent of the French and German writers reported to haue lived from the Emperour Charles the Great vnto this time for aboue the space of 300 yeares Philip the second surnamed Augustus sonne to Lewis the seaventh Lewis the eight son to Philip the second Lewis the ninth surnamed the Saint son to Lewis the eight Philip the third son to Lewis the ninth Philip the fourth surnamed the Faire son to Philip the third Lewis the tenth surnamed Hutin son to Philip the Faire Hee deceased without male issue Philip the fift surnamed the Tall brother to Lewis the tenth Hee also dyed without issue male Charles the fourth brother to Lewis Hutin and Philip the Tall. He also deceased without male issue Philip the sixt surnamed of Valois the next prince of the blood of the line masculine succeeding by the pretence of a Salique Law In the raigne hereof began those long and fierce wars betwixt the French Edward the third King of England descended of Isabel daughter to Philip the fourth pretending in this right for the kingdomes the issue whereof was the great overthrowes of the French at the battails of Crecy and Poictiers the captivity of Iohn French King and the restitution of Normandy and other parts of France taken from the English by King Philip Augustus lost notwithstanding not long after to King Charles the fift with Aquitaine Guienne vntill that time still held by the English nation Iohn French King sonne to Philip the sixt taken prisoner in the English warres by Edward Prince of Wales son to Edward the third at the battaile of Poictiers Charles the fift son to Iohn He recovered againe the countries of Normandy Aquitaine and Guienne and whatsoever else the English held in the continent of France the towne and forts about Calis onely excepted Charles the sixt son to Charles the fift In the raigne hereof fell out that fatall discord betwixt the houses of Orleans and Burgundy by the advantage whereof the weakenes of this phrenetique king and their victory at Agincourt Charles the Dolphin disinherited and Henry the fift King of England having married Catherinne his daughter made Regent of France the English again got seazed of the chiefest parts of the kingdome hereof Henry the sixt King of England being afterwards crowned king of France at Paris Charles the seaventh son to Charles the sixt After long trouble warres Philip the Good and the faction of Burgundy reconciled hee againe cleered France of the English the towne countrey of Calis excepted Lewis the eleaventh son to Charles the seaventh Charles the eight son to Lewis the eleaventh He dyed sans issue Lewis the twelth Duke of Orleans and Valois the next prince of the blood of the line masculine Hee marryed vnto Anne Dutchesse of Bretaigne and deceased without heire male Francis the first Duke of Engoulesme the next prince of the blood of the race masculine He marryed vnto Claude Dutchesse of Bretaigne daughter to Lewis the twelth Anne and incorporated Bretaigne to the crowne of France Henry the second son to Francis the first He wonne the towne countrey of
Then in the raigne of the Emperour Valentinian the first with the Scots and Picts sorraging Bretaigne and with the Frenchmen Gaâ—â—e It was after this in the raigne of the Emperours Valentinian the third and Marcianus that accompanyed with the Angli and Vitae they subdued Bretaigne giuing the name of England vnto the best and largest part of that great and famous Iland Their first dwelling was after Ptolemies description wholy beyond the Elb bounding according to Chytrâ—us vpon that river vpon the South on the Ocean vpon the West vpon the Cimbri on the North and on the East vpon the Tentones and Tentonoari and inhabiting where now is the Dukedome of Holstein In the time of the latter Roman Emperours passing over the Elb they spread Southwards as farre as the French whether beating out the ancient inhabitants or which is more probable communicating vnto them this their more noble and victorious name For otherwise it is altogether impossible that so small a nation as these were in Ptolemies time should of themselues possesse and fill so large and spatious a country The Westerne Empire overthrowne the French withdrawing towards the heart of Gaule they enlarged to the Rhijn vnto against Colen Their more precise bouÌ„ds in the raigne of the Emperour Charles the Great was vpon the North the riuer Eydore dividing them from the Danes vpon the West first the Ocean betwixt the riuer Eydore and the Rhijn then the Rhijn from the mouth or fall thereof vnto about Colen parting them from France vpon the East first a line from Stargard vpon the sea Balticke drawne vnto the Elb about Hamburg then the Elb from about Hamburg vnto the meeting of that riuer with the Saltza then the Saltza together seuering them from the Sclaâ—es Winithi and vpon the South the Thuringians now Duringen and Hessen They contained nowe the Dukedomes of Holstein Wagerland excepted of Brunswijck and Lâ—nenburg the Bishops of Bremen Ferden Hildesheim Halberstat and Meydburg the Earledome of Mansfeldt the old Marches of Brandenburg Westphalia the two Freislandts and Over-Ysel with parts of Gelderlanâ—t and Hollandt They were divided into 4 distinct nations or parts of the Saxons beyond the Elb comprehended betwixt that riuer the Ocean and the rivers Eydore and Trave and containing now Holstein of the Ostphali contained betwixt the Elb the Ocean and the riuers Weser and Saâ—tza and containing now the fiue Bishopricks before mentioned and the Dukedomes of Brunswijck and Lunenburg of the Angriuarij coasting along the South-west shore of the Weser now the part of Westpâ—alia where lie the townes of Wildehusen Minden Hervorden Lâ—â—gow Osenburg Diepholt Soest Waldes Arnsbâ—rg with Surland in the diocese of Colen of the Westphali now the rest of moderne Westphalia extended vnto the Rhâ—â— coÌ„preheÌ„ding now the Dukedome of Bergâ—Ì„ the Earledome of Marck Tremond Wesel Embrick Zutphen Relinghâ—seâ— Benthem Mâ—ster with others After sundry revolts from vnder the French by which nation vnder their princes Clâ—tarius Charles Mâ—â—tel Carlomâ—n Pepin they had divers timeâ— before beene vanquished and made tributarie they were at length after 35. yeares warre vtterly subdued by the Emperour Charles the Great and reâ—â—ced into a French province or Dukedome the title whereof remaineth vnto this day By the Emperour Henry the first and the succeeding princes of the house and nation of the Saxons the Winithi or Sclaves lying beyond the rivers Elb and Saltza where now are Meissen Lâ—usnitz Brandenburg Mecklenburg Lewenburg Pomeren were conquered or otherwise added vnto this name and accompt peopled with their language and colonies Henry surnamed the Lion Duke of Saxony and Bavaria being proscribed by the Emperour Fredericke Barbarossa the whole broke into sundry lesser states and goverments the chiefe whereof and which remaine vnto this day are the Dukedomes of Brunswijck Lunenburg Holstein Westphalen Clâ—ve and Bergen of whose beginnings successions and conâ—â—â—ance together with the Dukedoâ—e Electorship entitl'd of Saxony although now lying without the bounds of the ancient wee will speake inordâ—â— The ELECTORSHIP DVKEDOME of SAXONY This Dukedome was first begun by the Emperour Charles the Great after his conquest of the Saxons ordering the subdued country hereof into a province thus stiled The first Duke was Witichind king of this nation during their warres with Charles the Great appointed by this Emperour After other Bruno was the first Duke brother vnto Witichind From Bruno Fabritius deriveth the succeeding Dukes in manner following Luitulphus the first sonne to Bruno Bruno the second sonne to Luitulphus the first He dyed sans issue Otho the first brother to Bruno the second Henry the first surnamed the Fowler sonne to Otho the first The house of France and of Charles the Great being extinguished in Conrade the first he was elected Emperour of the Romanes and king of Germany continuing for a time in his posterity During the raigne of the Emperours of the house of Saxony this Dukedome or country was divided amongst sundry lesser princes whereof all did beare this title amongst whom was Berâ—ard Duke of Saxony Engern and Westphalen and Lord of Lunenburg created Electour of the Empire by the Emperour Otho the third Bernard Duke of Saxony Engern and Westphalen and Lord of Lunenburg first Electour of the Empire of the Dukes and house of Saxony From this Bernard the Duke Electours of Saxony haue beene continued as followeth Bernard the second Electour and Duke of Saxony sonne to Bernard the first Ordulphus sonne to Bernard the second Magnus sonne to Ordulphus Taking part with Rodulph Duke of Schwaben against the Emperour Henry the 4 he was taken prisoner and deprived of all his dignities the last Duke Elector of Saxonie of the house of Bernard Lotharius the first Earle of Supplinburg and Arnsperg created Electour and Duke of Saxonie by the Emperour Henry the first After the decease of the Emperour Henry the fift hee was made Roman Emperour and king of the Germans Henry the first surnamed the Proud Duke of Bavaria created Duke Electour of Saxonie by the Emperour Lotharius his father in law whose daughter Gertrude he had married proscribed by the Emperour Conrade Henry the second surnamed the Lion sonne to Henry the first He marryed vnto Maude daughter to Henry the second king of England besides the ancient Saxonie which excepting Holstein and what the Bishops possessed he almost wholy enioyed Lord of both Bavariaes and of the parts beyond the Elb where now lye the Dukedomes of Mecklenburg and Lawenburg conquered by him from the Winithi the greatest of all the German Princes before and almost since his time Forsaking the Emperour Frederick Barbarossa excommunicated by the Pope at the seige of Alexandria in the Dukedome of Milan he was proscribed by him and depriued of all his dignities and possessions Brunswijck and Lunenburg excepted restored vpon his reconciliation at the mediation of his father in law the king of England the occasion of those Dukedomes After this proscription the country of Saxonie vntill
this time for the most part continuing entire and vnder one became scattered as hath beene before related into sundry lesser peeces and names Brunswijck and Lunenburg being erected into the Dukedomes before mentioned Westphalia vsurped by Philip Bishop of Colen whose successours still hold the title of Dukes hereof the parts beyond the Weser by Bernard Bishop of Paderborn the Palatinate of Saxonie by Herman Lantgraue of Duringen Lubeck being annexed to the Empire and other parts otherwise carried Bernard the third descended of the familie of Anhalt sonne to Albertus Vrsus Marquesse of Brandenburg created Duke Electour of Saxonie by the Emperour Fredericke Barbarossa after the proscription of Henry the second surnamed the Lion He had the towne and little country of Wittenberg given vnto him by the Emperour Conrade the third his seat and of sundry the succeeding Dukes which part although lying without the riuer Saltza and the bounds of the ancient hath since notwithstanding obtained the account name of Saxonie called now the Higher Saxonie Albert the first sonne to Bernard the third Albert the second sonne to Albert the first Rodulph the first sonne to Albert the second Rodulph the second sonne to Rodulph the first Wenceslaus brother to Rodulph the second Rodulph the third sonne to Wenceslaus He died without issue male Albert the third brother to Rodulph the third He deceased without issue in the yeare 1422 in whom ended the Duke Electours of Saxonie of the house of Anhalt Fredericke the first surnamed the warlike Lantgraue of Duringen Marquesse of Meissen and Count Palatine of Saxonie created Duke Electour of Saxonie by the Emperour Sigismond By this meanes after so many flittings the title and dignitâ—e of the Electours and Dukes of Saxonie hath become quite remoued out of the ancient and true Saxonie confined within Duringen Meissen and the country about Wittenberg the only possessions of the moderne Dukes Fredericke the second sonne to Fredericke the first Ernest the first sonne to Fredericke the second Fredericke the third sonne to Ernest the first Hee deceased vnmarried Iohn brother to Frederick the third and sonne to Ernest the first Iohn-Fredericke sonne to Iohn the first He was taken prisoner in the Protestants warres in the yeare 1547 by the Emperour Charles the fift by whom he was depriued of his Electourship conferred vpon Duke Maurice his Dukedome and patrimony yet continuing in his house Maurice Duke of Saxonie of a younger house sonne to Henry Duke of Saxony sonne to Albert brother to the Electour Ernest the first appointed Electour in the place of Iohn Fredericke by the Emperour Charles the fift He died without male issue Augustus Duke Electour of Saxony brother vnto Maurice Christian the first son to Augustus Christian the second sonne to Christian the first deceasing in the yeare 1611 without heires Iohn George brother to Christian the second Duke Electour of Saxonie in the yeare 1616. The DVKEDOME of BRVNSWIICK This was sometimes a part of the ancient Dukedome of Saxonie The Estate as before was occasioned by meanes of the proscription of Henry surnamed the Lion Duke of Saxonie and Bavaria who being depriued of all his large possessions and honours by the Emperour Fredericke Barbarossa and afterwards by the mediation of his father in law Henry the second king of England being againe reconciled vnto the Emperour had the two citties of Brâ—nswijck and Lunenburg with their countries restored vnto him which left by him vnto his sonnes William and Henry with the title of Earles were afterwards in their persons erected into Dukedomes by the Emperour Fredericke the second In memory of their English descent the Princes hereof and of Lunenburg haue still since borne the armes of the first Kings of England in their escotcheons which theÌ„ were only two Lions rampant The Princes followe Henry Earle of Brunswijck sonne to Henry surnamed the Lion Duke of Saxonie and Bavaria created afterwards Duke of Brunswijck by the Emperour Fredericke the second He deceased without issue male succeeded vnto by Otho son to his brother William Duke of Lunenburg Otho Duke of Lunenburg sonne to William Duke of Lunenburg and grand-child vnto Henry the Lion duke of Saxonie and Bavaria after the decease of his vncle Henry without issue male succeeding likewise in the Dukedome of Brunswijck by the gift of the Emperour Fredericke the second By lands partly bought and partly giuen vnto him by the Emperour Fredericke the second hee much augmented the dukedome hereof in circuit and revenues Albert the First sonne to Otho the first duke of Brunswijck His brother Iohn succeeded in the Dukedome of Lunenburg the two Dukedomes being againe divided Albert the second sonne to Albert the first His brother Henry succeeded in the part of this Dukedome lying beyond the wood Hartz called afterwards from the seat of the prince the Dukedome of Grubenhagen continued in his successours vnto Wolfang and Philip in whom the line was extinguished Magnus the first sonne to Albert the second Duke of Brunswijck Hee became also Duke of Lunenburg the house of Iohn brother to Albert the first being extinguished in Otho and William Magnus the second surnamed with the chaine Duke of Brunswijck and Lunenburg sonne to Magnus the first Henry Duke of Brunswijck and Lunenburg sonne to Magnus the second William Duke of Brunswijck and Lunenburg sonne to Henry Vpon composition made with his vncle Bernard sonne to Magnus the second he yeelded vp vnto him the Dukedome of Lunenburg continued in his posterity William Duke of Brunswijck sonne to William Henry Duke of Brunswijck sonne to William the second Henry Duke of Brunswijck sonne to Henry Iulius Duke of Brunswijck sonne to Henry the younger Henry Iulius sonne to Iulius Duke of Brunswijck Hee married vnto Elizabeth daughter to Frederick the second and sister vnto Christierne the fourth kings of Denmarke Fredericke-Vlric and Christian Administratour of Halberstat sonnes to Henricus Iulius and Elizabeth sister to Christian the fourth king of Denmarke The rest of the princes of this house stiled likewise Dukes of Brunswijck but not continuing the house their lines being extinguished in regard of their number and to avoid confusion wee haue purposely omitted which methode we will obserue in the orders of the rest of the German Princes The DVKEDOME of LVNENBVRG How this state was first begun and occasioned we haue shewed in the Dukedome of Brunswijck The order of the Princes continuing the house follow William first Earle of Lunenburg afterwards Duke sonne to Henry the Lion Duke of Saxony and Bavaria Otho Duke of Lunenburg son to William His vncle Henry deceasing without male he succeeded likewise in the Dukedome of Brunswijcke Iohn Duke of Lunenburg sonne to Otho Duke of Brunswijck and Lunenburg His brother Albert succeeded in Brunswijck the two Dukedomes againe divided Otho Duke of Lunenburg sonne to Iohn Otho and William Dukes of Lunenburg sonnes to Otho the Elder They both deceased without issue male by which meanes after the custome of Germany
frontiring vpon the Earledome of Tirol and divided into 10. resorts which they call iurisdictions 1. of Tafaass 2. Zum Closterlin in Prattigow 3. Ienats 4. Schiers 5. Churwalden 6. Alvenow 7. S. Peter in Schamfick 8. Langwiss 9. Malans and 10. Meienfeild the least of the Cantons It hath no towne of note Chiefer places are Tauaas an open village the chiefe towne of the League and the place of the Court and of the particular Diets of the Canton Alvenow Castels the seate of the gouernour for the princes of Austria Ienats Schiers These three lie in Prettigow which is a narrow village of some 4. Dutch miles in length extended along the course of the riuer Lanquarte named thus from the part of the Alpes vnder which it lyeth called by Mela Rhaetico-Mons now Prettigower-berg Malans Meienfeld both neighbouring to the Rhijn The eight first iurisdictions are subiect to the house of Austria gouerned by their prefects residing in Castels in the vallie of Prettigow enioying notwithstanding their seuerall customes and priuiledges which carefully they maintaine kept safe in the common Archiues hereof at Tavaas The two last obay the ioinct command of the three Cantons of the Grisons In the yeare 1436 all the ten Resorts vnited into one common League conditioning their mutuall defence against their enimies preseruation of peace maintenance of their priviledges and their loyalty and due obedience towardes their naturall Lords Besides these particular leagues all the three Cantons are linked togither in one common confederacie for this cause assembling yearely their generall Diets consisting of 63 Delegates or suffrages whereof 28 are sent from the Higher League 23 from the League of the house of God 14 from the League of the ten iurisdictions by whom are heard the Appeales from their common Prefectures and the publicke businesses of state handled and consulted of concerning warre and peace confederacies embassies new lawes to be enacted and whatsoever else might concerne the Generall Common-wealth From these notwithstanding it is lawfull to appeale vnto the the communalties of every Canton the causes being severally proposed in them and determined according to their maior part Sometimes also in matters of lesser moment thought vnworthy of the publicke Diets meete onely the chiefe magistrates of each League who are the Provinciall iudge of the Higher League the Burger-meister of Chur and the Amman of Tavaas assisted with select persons out of each Canton but who haue no full power to conclude but onely to relate what is done to their several Communalties The place of the publicke Diets is most commonly Chur in the League of the house of God sometime Ilantz in the Vpper League or Tavaas in the Canton of the Ten iurisdictions If any controversie arise betwixt the three Leagues three or fowre are chosen out of each Canton who either friendly compose the matter being freed first from their oaths to their seuerall Cantons or otherwise determine it according to equity as each one shall thinke fit If their voices be equall an vmpeere is chosen by the common suffrages of the three Leagues If the quarrell happen betwixt any two Cantons the third doth end the jarre If betwixt two Cantons and the third six delegates out of either side or if these cannot effect it an vmpeere chosen by the voices of all the three Cantons If Betwixt 2 Communalties of the same Canton the next Communalty If betwixt Communalties of diverse Cantons iudges appointed by the generall Delegates of all the three If lastly betwixt particular persons or Communalties and the Cantons two or three iudges out of each Canton THE ITALIAN PRAEFECTVRE-SHIPS THese lie amongst the Alpes of Italie accompted part of that Province belonging sometimes to the Dukes of Milan and Earles of Masox and since by gift purchase and armes added to the Confederacie hereof They containe the townes and goverments of Locarno Lugano Bellizona Plurs Chiavenna the Vally of Magia Liviner-tal Palenser-tal and Valtolina 1. LOCARNO THe towne is seated in a pleasant and fruitful plaine betwixt high Mountaines and the head of the Lake Maggiore at what place the riuer Magia is received hereinto It containeth 400 housholds or families In the district or country hereof are numbred some 20 Parishes 2. 3. LVGANO AND MENDRISIO THose two townes lie vpon the Lake Lugano almost in the middle way betwixt the Lakes of Como and Maggiore They are severall prefectureships The country of Lugano exceedeth in bignesse that of Locarno whose governour is called captaine is the Lieutenant of the fowre Prefectureships belonging to the 12 Cantons of the Switzers in chances of warre insurrections and dangers which may arise in the province commaunding over all the other prefects and officers 4. THE VALLY OF MAGIA IT is a bottome of the Alpes Lepontiae continued along the course of the riuer Magia whereof it is named from the Mountaines of Wallis-landt towards Locarno and the Lake Maggiore It was sometimes vnited in the same goverment or country with Locarno now made a distinct prefectureship 5. LIVINER-TAL IT is a vally of the same Alpes whereof it yet retaineth the name It is extended along the course of the river Tesino from the mountaine S. Gothard towardes Belinzana and betwixt the vallyes of Magia and Palenser-tal 6. PALENSER-TAL IT is also a bottome of the same Alpes called otherwise Val Breunia by the Italians It lyeth betwixt Liviner-tal and Galancker-tal along the course of an obscure riuer falling into the Tesino short of Belinzana Betwixt the head of this vally and that of Medels of the Grisons ariseth the great mountaine Luckmannier out of which sourceth the neerer spring of the Rhijn named by the Dutch the Vorder Rhijn 7. 8. BELINZANA AND RIVIERA THe former is a towne situated vpon the Tesino a little below the confluence thereof and the riuer Muesa Herevnto belonged sometimes Palenser-tal and Riuiera now distinct prefectureships All three were once part of the Earledome of Masox and of the Misauci of Plinie part of the Lepontij These 8 prefectureships appertaine vnto the Switzers whereof the fowre first are subject to the 12 first Cantons Liviner-tal onely to the Canton of Vren and Palenser-tal Belinzana and Riviera to the three first Cantons of Vren Switz and Vnderwalden commaunded by their several governours and officers 1. PLVRS THis is a great borough seated in a plaine vnder the Alpes vpon the river Maira betwixt the vally Bregalien and Chiavenna the chiefe of sundry villages lying in the same bottome subiect to the prefect hereof 2. CHIAVENNA THe towne and name is ancient called Clavena by Antoninus in his Itinerarium It standeth in a pleasant vally vpon the river Maira some 10 Italian miles aboue the Lake of Como The country or vally hereof extended along the Maira towards the Lake is named from hence by the Dutch Clevener-tal or the vally of Cleuen 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. VALTOLINA IT is a
downe by the river Wijssel vnto Dantzig and Elbing in Prussen and from thence conveyed into forraine parts the vnexhausted treasurie and storehouse of corne for Europe and the West The common people are poore base and miserable the slaues of the gentry The nobility are braue high minded valiant liberall free or rather superfluous in their gifts attendance and expences They are all of the same ranke professing armes and called Equites in the Latine Polish historians which we interpret knights or souldiers differing onely in their greater or lesser revenues and by the magistracies offices which the more eminent sort hold for tearme of life conferred by the king They pay the prince no tallages in lieu whereof they are to serue and attend him in his warres Their language is the Sclavonian but who much affect and elegantly speake the Latin Their religion is that which every man best liketh all sorts of grosse heresies if not publikely allowed yet being here suffered which hath hapned through the over great liberty of the Nobility and people and the weake power of the king and of such a confused state to controule them yet where notwithstanding the Romish superstition by meanes of the princes great zeale that way at this day most prevaileth Their first conversion to Christianity was vnder their prince Miecislaus son to Nemomislus in the yeare 965. Their Bishops are Cracow Posna Vladislaw and Ploczko vnder the Arch-bishop of Gnesna who is primate of the kingdome and by ancient priviledge the Popes Legat for Sarmatia and in the absence or vacancie of the prince the Vicar generall of the kingdome hauing power to summon the councel and diets and to conclude and publish their decrees The state is Monarchicall and electiue yet where the next of the blood royall most commonly succeede Their kings more anciently were free and soveraigne By a common calamitie of all electiue states they are now bereft of all royall right and prerogatiues having onely limited power and governing according to strict lawes and the direction of the councell and diets who solely haue full liberty to consult of and determine the maine affaires of the common-wealth These are of two sorts I the senate or grand councell consisting of all the Bishops Palatines and Castellans togither with the great Marshals of state and Court and the Chancelour Vice-chancelour and Treasurer of each dominion of Poland and Lithuania or of so many of them as can conveniently be drawne togither or be consulted with 2. and the Generall Diets which are for the more high and important businesses of the weale publicke not determinable by the Senate amassed of the orders before set downe of the Delegates of each province and chiefer citty sent in the name of the rest of the nobility These sworne to preserue the publicke honour and liberty speake freely in the councell Diets oftentimes challenging and reproving the prince and controuling his actions if they thinke them prejudiciall The country is divided into the Greater and the lesser Polands THE GREATER POLAND DIstinguished thus either because it is the bigger or because it is the more honourable the seat sometimes of Lechus the founder of the Polish nation It containeth 9 parts or diuisions named thus from the chiefe towne of each iurisdiction the Palatinates thus called from their Palatines or countries of Posna Kalisch Siradia Lancicia Vratislaw Bresty Rava Ploczko and Dobrzin whose more principall townes and states commanding and residing in them follow in order THE PALATINATE OF POSNA THe townes here hauing jurisdiction are Posna a Bishops sea and the chiefe towne of the Greater Poland seated amongst hills vpon the riuer Warta The citty is fairely built of stone hauing large suburbs beyond the riuer much subiect to invndations Koscien a double walled towne in a plaine amongst dirtie marishes Miedzyrzecze a strong towne opposing Schlesi and the Germans wherevnto it bordereth impregnably seated amongst waters and marishes Ostresow neighbouring to Schlesi and standing in a wide plaine environed with woods Vschow a walled towne in a plaine Sremsk Premetz Rogozno The States here are the Bishops Palatine and Castellan of Posna and the Castellans of Sremsk Miedzyrzecze Premetz Rogozno Cromerus addeth the Castellan of Krivin THE PALATINATE OF KALISCH TOwnes here are Calisch a walled towne vpon the riuer Prosna amongst marishes naming the country Gnesna a walled towne and an Archbishops sea in a plaine the most ancient towne of Poland founded by Lechus the seat of the first kings remoued afterwards to Cracow Pizdry a walled towne vpon the riuer Warta in a plaine amongst woods Warta vpon the riuer Warta Land vpon the Warta Konin a walled towne encompassed with the Warta Slupcza a strong towne vpon the Warta Kolo surrounded with the Warta Naklo vpon the riuer Notez Camenecz The States are the Archbishop of Gnesna the Palatine and Castellan of Calisch and the Castellans of Gnesna Naklo Camenecz and Land THE PALATINATE OF SIRADIA SOmetimes a Dukedome belonging to the second sonnes of the kings of Poland The chiefe townes are Siradia a walled towne and castle naming the country seated in a plain vpon the river Warta Wielun a strong towne and castle vpon the riuer Prosna Schadeck Petrocow a walled town in a moorish soile the place sometimes of the generall diets of the kingdome remoued now to Warsow Without the towne vnder the shade of a pleasant forrest standeth Bugey one of the royall seiours of the kings whether in regard of the more fresh and healthie ayre they retired during the time of the Diets Rosprza in a plaine amongst marishes Spicimeria The States are the Palatine and Castellan of Siradia with the Castellans of Rosprza Spicimeria and Wielun THE PALATINATE OF LANCICIA THe townes are Lancicia a walled towne with a castle mounted on a rock vpon the riuer Bsura Orlow amongst marishes Bresinia Konarzew Inowlodz Biechow The States are the Palatine and Castellan of Lancicia with the Castellans of Bresinia Konarzew Inowlodz and Biechow Cromerus placeth this last in the Palatinate of Kalisch CVIAVIA OR THE PALATINATE OF WLADISLAW FOr a great part marishie and without woods The chiefe townes are Wladislaw naming the country a Bishops sea vpon the riuer Wijssel Bidgost a walled towne vpon the Bard a navigable riuer convaying marchandise out of the greater Poland vnto the Wijssel The States are the Bishops Palatine and Castellan of Wladislaw with the Castellan of Bidgost THE PALATINATE OF BRZESTYE THe Townes here are Brzestye a well fenced towne naming the country standing in a plaine amongst marishes Radzieiow a woodden towne Kruswick built all of wood with a castle the most ancient of the kingdome after Gnesna the seat sometimes of the Princes standing vpon a great lake named Gopla In the castle hereof Popielus the second Duke of Poland was after a monstrous and strange manner devoured with Ratts swarming out of the Lake Kowalow in a moorish situation The States are the