Hils on which flocks of sheep doe graze which are esteemed not onely for their flesh which is very sweete and pleasant but also for the finenesse of their wooll and these flocks of sheepe doe prosper and increase through the wholsomnesse of the Ayre and goodnesse of the Soyle as also by reason of the scarcitie of trees on the Hils and the freenesse of the whole Countrie from Wolves This Countrie aboundeth with all kinde of Cattell living Creatures except Asses Mules Camels Elephants and a few other There are no where better or fiercer Mastiffes no where greater store of Crowes or greater plenty of Kites that prey upon young Chickens than here The Romans did command the better part of Brittaine almost five hundred yeares namely from the time of Caius Iulius Caesar to the time of Theodosius the younger when the Legions and Garrisons of Rome being called to defend France they left the Isle of Brittaine whereby it came to passe that the Southerne parts thereof were invaded by the Picts and Scots whose violence when the Brittaines could no longer sustaine they called the Saxones out of Germanie men accustomed to warre for their Ayde These Saxons assisted them in the beginning but afterward being allured with the temperature of the Ayre or perswaded by the friendship and familiarity of the Picts or stirred up by their owne treacherous mindes they made a league with the Picts against the Brittaines and having driven out their Hosts they themselves possessed their places England containeth many Cities and faire Townes among which the chiefe are London Yorke Canterbury Bristoll Glocester Shrewsbury Winchester Bathe Cambridge Oxford Norwich Sandwich with many other which wee will delineate in our particular Descriptions The chiefe Rivers are Thames Humber Trent Ouse and Severne of which in their places The Ocean which washeth this Isle doth abound with plenty of all kindes of Fish among which is the Pike which with the Inhabitants is in great esteem so that some times they take him out of moorish Lakes into fish-ponds where after hee hath scoured himselfe being fed with Eeles and little fishes hee growes wonderfull fat Moreover there are no where more delicate Oysters or greater plenty of them than heere The especiall Havens of England are these first Davernas commonly called Dover which is the farthest part of the Countie of Kent it is fortified with a Castle seated on a Hill and well furnished with all kinde of Armour secondly Muntsbay of a great breadth in Cornewall where there is a safe harbour for ships There is also Volemouth or Falemouth Torbay South-hampton and many others The King of England hath supreame power and acknowledgeth no superiour but God his Subjects are either the Laiety or the Clergie the Laiety are either Nobles or Commons The Nobles are either of the greater ranke as Dukes Marquesses Earles Vicounts Barons and Bannerets who have these Titles by inheritance or else are conferr'd upon them by the King for their vertues The lesser Nobles are Baronets Knights Esquires and those which commonly are called Gentlemen the Gentlemen are those who are honoured by their birth or those whose vertue or fortune doe lift them up and distinguish them from the meaner sort of men The Citizens or Burgesses are those who in their severall Cities doe beare publick Offices and have their places in the Parliaments of England The Yeomen are those whom the Law calleth legall men and doe receive out of the Lands which they hold at the least forty shillings yearely The Tradesmen ENGLAND ANGLIA are those who worke for wages or hire All England is divided into nine and thirty Shires and these Shires are divided into Hundreds and Tithings In each of these Counties is one man placed called the Kings Praefect or Lievtenant whose office is to take care for the security of the Common-wealth in times of danger and every yeare there is one chosen whom they call the Sheriffe that is the Provost of the Shire who may bee rightly called the Questor of the Countie or Province For it is his office to collect publick money to distraine for trespasses and to bring the money into the Exchequer to assist the Judges to execute their commands to empannell the Jurie who are to enquire concerning matters of fact bring in their verdict to the Judges for the Judges in England are Judges of the Right not of the Fact to bring the condemned to execution to decide of thēselves small controversies But in great matters those Judges do administer right whom they call Itinerarie Judges Judges of Assise who twice every year do visite most of these Shires to determine and end matters of difference and also to give judgement upon Prisoners For asmuch as concernes Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction England hath now two Provinces and also two Archbishops the Archb. of Canterbury Primate of all England and the Archb. of Yorke Under these are seven and twenty Bishops two twenty under Canterbury and the other five under Yorke The Tribunals or Courts of Justice in England are of three sorts for some are Spirituall some Temporall and one mixt which they call the Parliament consisting of the three Orders of England and it representeth the body of the whole Kingdome This Parliament the King cals and appoints according to his pleasure Hee hath the chiefe authority in making confirming abrogating and interpreting of Lawes and in all things that belong to the good of the Common-wealth The temporall Courts are two-fold namely of Law and of equity The Courts of Law are the Kings Bench the Starre-Chamber the Common Pleas the Exchequer the Court of Wards and Liveries the Court of the Admiraltie and Assises wee omit others which are obscure The Kings Bench is so called because the King is wont to sit in it and it handleth Pleas of the Crowne The Starre-Chamber or rather the Court of the Kings Counsell is that in which criminall matters are handled as perjuries impostures deceits and the like The Common Pleas is so called because common pleas are tried there betweene the Subjects by the Law of England which they call the Common Law The Exchequer deriveth its name from a foure square Table covered with a Chequer-Cloth at which the Barons sit in it all causes are heard which belong to the Exchequer The Court of Wards hath his name from Wards whose causes it handleth The Admirals Court handleth Sea-matters Those which wee call the Assises are held twice in a yeare in most Shires in which two Judges of Assise appointed for it with the Justices of peace doe enquire and determine of civill and criminall matters The Courts of Equity are the Chancerie the Court of Requests and the Councell in the Marshes of Wales The Chancerie draweth its name from the Chancellour who sitteth there This Court gives judgement according to equitie and the extreame rigour of the Law is thereby tempered The Court of Requests heareth the causes
of a Kingdome in Italie the Normans seating themselves in France the erecting of the Kingdome of Naples and Sicilie and the attempt of Godfride upon Freseland against Charles the Great Canutus the Great his holding five Kingdomes a long time For he was King of Denmarke Swethland Norwey England and Normandy and sonne in law to Henry the third Emperour of whom these verses are yet extant Desine mirari quos garrula laudibus effert Graecia quos jactat Roma superba duces c. Cease thou to wonder at those Captaines bold Of which both Greece and Rome did boast of old For now the Danish Land hath brought forth one That is in vertue second unto none By my atchievements I much fame attain'd Five Kingdomes subject were to my command And me he chose his sonne in Law to be Who was third Emperour of Germanie My Iustice famous was I shew'd the way How powerfull Kings should their owne Lawes obey By which it appeares as also by the following warres which divers Kings of the Familie of the Oldenburgs happily waged that it is a warlike Nation and fortunate in vanquishing their enemies both by Land and Sea The Noble men and Senatours of the Kingdome have a free power to elect the Kings but for the most part they chuse the Kings eldest sonne unlesse there be some sufficient cause for the contrary However they alwayes chuse one of the Royall bloud and they doe not suffer the Kingdome to be divided unlesse they be compelled thereunto by civill warres They send the younger sonnes or brothers into other Countries seeing they cannot participate in the government of the Kingdome and hence it is that so many expeditions are undertaken by them Moreover seeing all the Nobles and Common-people cannot live conveniently in their owne Countrie therefore they seeke out to get themselves a more fit seate For the Northerne people have abundance of children in regard of their abundance of bloud and heate they are quarrellers and fighters they drinke and eate much for the cold Ayre excites their appetite and yet digest it well whence it is that they live long they are faire complexioned of great stature crafty and faithfull And an argument that they are long liv'd is that their Kings have raigned very long many of them thirty yeares some forty and some longer The Politicall government THere are five States or Orders in the Common-wealth of Denmarke The first is of the Kings Familie the second of the Nobles among which there are neither Earles nor Barons yet all of them can shew how their Nobilitie descended to them by a long pedigree of Ancestours They carry Bucklers which they will not change nor alter because they anciently used them There are some Families yet living whose Ancestors were present at the Parley between Charles the Great Hemmingus King of Denmarke upon the River Egidora or Eider as the Familie of Vren and others These hold their goods and lands in Capite and they have free liberty to hawke and hunt in their owne lands as the Counts have in Germany Their goods are not feudatory but hereditary All the Castles lands and goods as well moveable as immoveable left them by their parents are equally divided among the brethren and the sisters by a speciall priviledge have a share also yet so that the brother hath two parts with the Castles and places of strength and the sister but one By this meanes the eldest sonnes have not much lands yet some of them comming of a good Familie and being endued with vertue through the Kings favour doe advance themselves to great possessions by marriage Out of this order the Senatours of the Kingdome are chosen who are seldome more then 28. These Senatours have a certain allowance from the King and Kingdome for they have Castles so long as they bee Senatours for which they pay no rent to the King but are charged to keepe certaine horses both in peace and warre and whensoever the King calls them they are to be ready at the proper charge of the Kingdome If they be sent on any Embassage out of the Kingdome they have allowance out of the Exchequer that they may performe their journey in a Princely manner as becommeth a Kings Embassadours The other Nobles also have sufficient maintenance from the King whether they live at Court or not For the King hath lands which in the Danish speech are called Verleghninge or Benefices and out of these hee giveth maintenance either for terme of life or for yeares to those who have done him or the Kingdome any service And those who hold these Benefices of the King are charged to keepe certaine horses and to pay yearely a certaine summe of money into the Exchequer yet so as they may gaine something in reward of their labour and service There is also a good Law Institution in the Kingdome of Denmarke whereby the King is prohibited and restrained from buying any immoveable goods of the Nobles least any dissention should arise betweene the King and them For otherwise the King might by violence take into his hands those lands which the Nobles would not sell yet the King may change any immoveable goods with the Nobles though on the contrary the Nobles cannot buy any of them of the Kings Farmers many of which have hereditarie and as it were free lands Here followes the names of the speciall Families of the Nobility in the Kingdome of DENMARKE THe Lords of Kaas the L. Guldensteen the Lords of Munc of Rosencrantz of Grubbe of VValkendorp of Brahe of Schram of Pasberg of Hardenberg of Vlstant of Bing of Below of VVepfert of Goce of Schefeldt of Ranzow of Schelen of Frese of Iul of Bilde of Dresselberg of Green of Brockenhusen of Holke of Trolle of Knutzen of Biorn Schested of Iensen of Steuge of Mattiesse of Lunge of Banner of Luc of Rastorp of Krusen of Fassi of Lindeman of Suvon of Stantbeke of Quitrowe of Lange of Gelschut of Glambeke of Krabbe of Marizer of Kragge of Achsel of Beâ— of Ruthede of Negel of VVirfelt of Split of Ofren of Appelgard of Iuenam of Poldessen of Reuter of Podebussen who were all in times past Barons in the Dukedome of Pomerania and some of whose Familie are still remaining there Also the Lords of Vren who lived in the time of Charles the great Also the Lords of Bliâ— of Galle of VVogersen of Bassi of Solle of Daac of Bax of Basclich of VVensterman of Hoken of Lindow of Bille of Reutem of Hundertmarâ— of Heiderstorper of VVolde of Papenhaimb of Spar of Falster of Narbu of VVorm of Bilde of Bocholt of Budde of Swaben of Santbarch of Gram of Lutken of Vhrup of Spegel of Bammelberg of Rosenspart of Duve of Hube of Schaungard of Must of Gris of Falcke of Brune of Laxman of Duram of Baggen of Norman of Goss of Matre of Rosengard of Tollen of Ronnoun of Krimpen Out of this Nobilitie is chosen the Praefect
did refuse to acknowledge obedience to the Kings of Denmarke though of late they have beene compell'd thereunto The chiefest River of note which watereth this Countrey is Egidora or the Eidera there are also some others the most whereof may rather be called Brookes or Rivulets than Rivers but the Bâ—ltick Sea in that part where it washeth the Dukedomes of Holsatia and Sleswick hath safe and pleasant Bayes which are safe harbours for Merchants and weather-beaten ships In some places also it affordeth great store of fish and especially of Salmons It is a plaine Countrey seldome raised with any mountaines yet one it hath betweene Lubeck and Hamburg of a pleasant situation and famous for the ornaments of peace and warre with which Henry Rantzovius did adorne it It hath an ancient Castle seated on it famous for the antiquitie and first builder thereof and at the foote of the hill a Towne adjoyning to it Heere are many woods with which the Countrey of Holsatia is beset replenished but especially Dithmars as the woods of Borcholt Burgholt Alverdorpenholt Resenwalde and many others The Holsatians had heretofore 48 men who were Presidents and Governours of the whole Countrie to these they made their appeale out of the severall Parishes and they did judge all matters But they being subdued and the Countrie now divided into two parts in each of them there are twelve speciall and principall men together with a Prefect who for the most part is a Doctor or Licentiate at Law These have all yearely pensions from the Princes and they have a Clerke joyned to them as also an Overseer or President out of the Holsatian Nobilitie The one of these Prefects which is for the King is called the Prefect of Steinburg and the other being for the Duke the Prefect of Gottorpe Yet the Subjects have leave to appeale or make suite to the Princes and Senators of either Dukedome as well of Sleswick as Holsatia but not further They had heretofore a written Law which now by degrees is changed and reformed according to the Common Law compiled by Henry Rantzovius the Kings Substitute by Sigefrid Rantzovius heretofore Lord of Nienhs the Lord Adam Trazigeriu and the Lord Erasmus Kirslemius according to which Law all causes are decided and punishments pronounced against delinquents offenders Holsatia hath foure Orders or degrees of people The Nobles the Clergie the Citizens and the Countrie-men whereof there are two kindes for some possesse goods of their owne being hereditarie and free others hired goods or lands for which they pay rent and doe certaine services The Nobles have Castles and Lands together with the royalty of hunting fishing and hawking which for the most part are hereditarie unto them The whole Countrie hath not above 24 Families whose names are mentioned in the Holsatian Chorographie but divers Families there are that are descended from the same stock as the Rantzovians doe at this time possesse an hundred and fiftie Castles and divers other possessions The Aleseldians and Powischians have almost as many Holsatia hath one Bishoprick namely Lubeck for the Bishoprick of Hamburg is subject to the Bishoprick of Breme The contentions which happen among the Nobles are judged by a Senate of Dukes the Princes for the most part sitting Presidents in judgement as it is provided by their priviledges and Lawes From the order of Senators any one putting in a sufficient caution may appeale to the Imperiall Chamber The Citizens enjoy priviledges peculiar to themselves and use the Roman Law or else the Lubeck The Subjects may appeale from the judgement of the Senate of their owne Citie to the judgement of foure Cities appointed to judge and determine of all speciall matters From them againe they are permitted to appeale to the Princes and Senators of Holsatia and also further even to the Imperiall Chamber so that fit securitie be put in Countri-mens cases or suites are pleaded by their Lawyers even in the open fields where are present the Noble-men thereabout the Prefects and two Assistants There they come forth doe make their appearance who have any suit one against an other the Defendant and Plaintiffe being both heard the whole company or assemblie of Countrie-men are bidden to goe forth and then their causes being diligently weigh'd on both sides they returne againe and the suiters being called in they give sentence in their case according to Law and right THE FOVRTH TABLE OF DENMARKE CONTAINING FIONIA WITH THE ISLANDS LYING ROUND ABOUT IT SO much according to our Method concerning the Dukedome of Sleswicke and Holsatia Fionia followes with the Isles lying round about it Fionia commonly called Fuynen is the chiefe of all other Isles lying in the Bay of Codonus from Zeland It taketh its name from the beautie thereof both in regard of the forme and situation It is separated from the Continent of Denmarke by so small and narrow a Sea flowing between them called Middlesar that it seemeth almost to cleave unto the Continent This Iland as it looketh on the West toward Iutia so on the East toward Zeland It is 48 miles in length and 16 in breadth The Land that I may omit the Sea which is full of fish is a fruitfull soyle and very profitable to the husbandman For it aboundeth with such plentie of corne that it sends store thereof yearly to other farre Countries especially Wheate and Barley And the ground albeit it be very fruitfull and endowed with the gifts of Ceres yet it is never dunged Whence the Cities and Townes thereof are annoyed with filthy smells of the dung of cattle which is cast out being thereof no use as Munster writeth This Countrie aboundeth with so many Droves of Oxen and breedeth such a number of Cowes and Horses that it sends yearly into Germany great Heards and Droves of them And in regard of the many woods which are in the Island there is great store of game for hunting as Harts Hares and Foxes In the middle of it is the Metropolis or mother Citie called Ottania or Ottonium commonly called Ottensel being a Bishops Seat built as it appeares by many testimonies by Otto the first about the time when he compeld King Herald to receive the Christian faith This Citie is a famous Mart for the whole Island in which about Epiphanie or Twelfetide there is a great meeting of the Islanders and especially the Nobles as there is at Kile in Holsatia Fionia is divided into five and twentie Prefectures sixteene Cities and six royall Castles The other cities are in a manner equally distant from Ottonia which is as it were the Center and are so built of the Sea shoare that in regard of the conveniencie of the Havens they traffique not onely in the Balticke Sea but also exercise their negotiations throughout all Swethland and Norwey Russia the Low-countries and Germany the chiefe amongst them are Niburch Swynburch Foborch Assens Bowens Middlefart or Milvart and Kettemynde
Spanish Leagues 17 do make one degree Houre-Leagues and Itinerarie houres 20 do make one degree Of Swedish and Danish Miles 10 do make one degree A Table of the Cosmographicall Descriptions Mappes and Tables contained in Marcators Atlas The first figures directing to the Descriptions The second to the Mappes 1THe World Fol. 3. and 5. 2 Europe Fol. 8. and 9. 3 Africke Fol. 12. 13. 4 Asia 18 19. 5 America 22.23 6 The North-Pole 28 29. 7 Iseland 33.35 8 The â—â—s of Brittaine 38 39. 9 Ireland 43 45. 10 Ireland 2 Tab. 48 49. 11 Ireland 3 Tab. 53.55 12 Ireland 4 Tab. 58.59 13 Ireland 5 Tab. 63.65 14 Scotland 68.69 15 Scotland 2 Tab. 73.75 16 Scotland 3 Tab. 78.79 17 England 83 85. 18 England 2 Tab. 88.89 19 England 3 Tab. 92.93 20 A Particular Description of Wales 97. 21 England 4 Tab. 99.101 22 England 5 Tab. 105.107 23 England 6 Tab. 110.111 24 England 7 Tab. 116.117 25 Norwey and Swethland 121.123 26 The State Politicke of the Kingdome of Denmarke 126. 27 The Kingdome of Denmarke 132.133 28 Denmarke 137 139. 29 Denmarke 3 Tab. 142.143 30 Denmarke 4 Tab. 147 149. 31 Borussia or Spruceland 152.153 32 Liefland 157 159. 33 Russia or Moscovie 162.163 34 A more Particular Description of some Provinces of Moscovia 165. 35 Lithuania D. 168.169 36 Transyluania or Siebenburgen 173 175. 37 Taurian Chersonesus 178 179. 38 Spaine 183 185. 39 Portugall and Algarbia 197. 199. 40 Gallicia â—â—on Asturia de Oviedo 202 203. 41 Biscay Guipuscoa 207.209 42 Castile Old and New 212.213 43 Andalusia 217 219. 44 Valentia and Murcia 222.223 45 Aragon and Catalonia 227 229 46 Catalonia more particularly described 233.235 47 France 245.247 48 Brittanie Normandie and Belsia 259.261 49â—emovicium â—emovicium 264 265. 50 Xaintogne 269 274. 51 Aquitaine 274.275 52 Provence 269.271 53 Picardie and Campania 284. 285. 54 France 289 291. 55 Picardie 294.295 56 Campania 298 299. 57 Bellâ—vacum 303.305 58 Boulogne 307.309 59 Aniou 311.313 60 Biturâ—cum 316 317. 61 Burbun â— 321 323. 62 Burdigala 326 327 63 Perâ—â— C. 332.333 64 Turene D. 335 337. 65 Pulavia 338 339. 66 Cadurcium 343 345. 67 Bressia 348 349. 68 Lions 351 353. 69 Languedoc 356 357 70 Delphinate of France 359.361 71 Lotharingia D. 362.363 72 Lotharingia D. South part 367 3â—9 73 Burgundie D. 372 373. 74 Burgundie C. 377 379. 75 Savoy D. 382 383. 76 Helvetia 387 389. 77 Lurâ—chgow 392 393. 78 Wistâ—â—spurgergow 397.399 79 Lake Leman 409 411. 80 Argow 414 415. 81 Rhetians 419 421. 82 Low Countries 422 423. 83 Flanders 439 441. 84 Easterne part of Flanders 444 445. 85 Brabant D. 449 451. 86 Helland C 454 455. 87 Zeland C. 459 461. 88 Gelderland 464 465. 89 Zutphania 469 471. 90 Vitrajectum 472.473 91 Machlin 478 479. 92 Groeninga 481 483. 93 Trans-Issalana 484 485 94 Artois 487 489. 95 Hannalt 4â—2 493. 96 Namurâ— 497.499 97 Luâ—â—â—enburg D. 500 â—01 98 Lamburg D. 505 507. 99 Germanie â—09 511. 100 Germanie 518. 101 West Friesland 5â—2 5â—3 102 Embdanum and Oldenburg 536 539. 103 Westphalia 1 Tab. 541 543. 104 Bremes 545. 105 Westphalia 2 Tab. 547 549. 106 Munster B. 552 553. 107 Westphalia 3 Tab. 555 557. 108 Colen 560 561. 109 Westphalia 4 Tab. 563 565. 110 Leiden 566 567. 111 Muers 571 573. 112 Waldeck 576 577. 113 Palatinate of Rhene 580 581. 114 Wirtemberg 585 587. 115 Alsatia the Lower 589 591. 116 Alsatia the Higher 594 595. 117 Saxonie the Lower 599 521. 118 Brunswicke D. 524 525. 119 Hessen 529 531. 120 Nassaw 534 535. 121 Duringen 537 539. 122 Frankenland D. 542 543. 123 Bavaria D. 547 549. 124 Bavaria Palat. 552 553. 125 Saxonie the higher D. 557 559. 126 Brandenburg D. 562.563 127 Pomerania D. 649 651. 128 Rugia 652 653 129 Bohemia 656 657. 130 Meriavâ— 660 661. 131 Austria 664 665. 132 Saltzburg 669 671. 133 Poland K. 674 675. 134 Poland 679.681 135 Hungarie 683 685. 136 Italie 688 689. 137 Lumbardie 704 705. 138 Valesia 707. 139 Lumbardie 2 Tab. 709.711 140 Lumbardie 3 Tab. 714 715. 141 Genoa D. 720 721 142 Lumbardie 〈…〉 â—23 72â— 143 Bresâ—â—â— and Midan D 728. 729. 144 Millan D. 734 735. 145 Verona 737 739. 146â—riulâ— â—riulâ— â—42 743. 147 Istria 741. 148 Carniola 746. 149 Tuscany 747 748. 150 Spoâ—â—to D. 752 753. 151 Campagna di Roma 757 759. 152 Abruzco 762 763. 153 Puglia Piana 767 769. 154 Corsica and Sardinia 772 773. 155 Sardinia 775. 156 Sicilie 777 779. 157 Stirmarck 782 783. 158 Slavonia 786 787. 159 Walachia 790 791. 160 Greece 794 795. 161 Macedon 799 801. 162 Morea 804 805. 163 Candie 809 811. 164 Barbarie 814 815. 165 Aegypt 816 818. 166 Morocco 819 821. 167 Abissines D. 824 825. 168 Guinea 829 831. 169 Turkish Empire 834 835. 170 Holy Land 839 841. 171 Asia the Lesser 844 845. 172 Cyprus 849 851. 173 Persia 855 857. 174 Tartarie 860 861. 175 China 865 867. 176 East Indies 870 871. 177 Islands of the East Indies 875 877. 178 Iapan Isle 880.881 179 Zetlan I. 885 887. 180 Islands of the West Indies 890 891. 181 Cuba Hispaniola c. 893 895. 182 Virginia 898 899. 183 New Virginia 905. 184 Description of New Spaine M. 905. 185 New Spaine 906 907. 186 Firine Land 911 913. 187 Peru 914 915. 188 Summer Islands or Berm 917 919. 189 Southerne America 920 921. 190 Straites of Magellan 925 927. 191 New England after the booke before the Table THE TYPE OF THE GLOBE OF THE EARTH WHereas by the Necessitie of Nature Order doth alwayes require that Universals should bee set before Parriculars and the Whole before the Part for the better understanding of the present Matter I also being bound by this Law ought to set before this first Volume of our Geographie an universall Type of the Globe of the Earth and of the foure Parts thereof Europe Africk Asia and America that so I may more happily follow my intended matter and also that in the severall following Tomes hereafter he that shall desire to have the Delineation of his owne Country may have a perfect Worke before him being not deprived of this so profitable a speculation For the contemplation of Generals is pleasant and very necessary to him who desireth to have the least knowledge of the World and naturall things For if you please to consider the manner of the rising and setting of the Sunne what is the cause of Summer or Winter whence is the inequality of the Dayes and Nights or lastly what hath beene the originals or propagations of things what hath beene the actions the atchievements the mutations and conversions happening in any place even from the first Creation you shall learne all this no where better than out of these five adjoyning Tables without all danger and with honest recreation of minde And even as it is not sufficient for any one though hee have a large dwelling-place to know the
and substitutes under him with the Bishop of Maeth and Deren Ardach or Apde Kilmore Clogher Doune Coner Klancknos Raboo or Ropo and Dromoore For the keeping of the Inhabitants of this Country and Province in order it was fortified with six and fiftie Castles there are also nine Market Townes in it And it is divided into the Hithermost and Furthermost The Hithermost hath three Counties Louth Downe and Antrimme The Farthermost hath seven Monahon Tiroen Armack Colrane Donergall Fermanagh and Cavon Connacia is the second part of Ireland some call it Connachtia the English call it Connagh and the Irish Connaghti it is bounded on the East with part of Lagenia on the North with part of Vltonia on the West it is beaten with the Westerne Ocean and on the South it is environed with part of Momonia or Munster which is inclosed with the River Sineo or Shennin and lyeth over against the Kingdome of Spaine The Figure of it is long and at either end both Northward and Southward it is very narrow but towards the middle it growes longer on either side It is an hundred and sixe and twentie miles long from the River Shennin in the South to Engi Kelling in the North the greatest breadth is about foure-score miles from Tromer the Easterne bound to Barrag-Bay the Westerne limit The whole circuit and compasse of it is about foure hundred miles The Aire in this Region is not so pure and cleare as in the other Provinces of Ireland by reason of some wet places bearing grasse which are called in regard of their softnesse Bogges being dangerous and sending out many thicke vapours The chiefe Citie of this Province being the third Citie of note in Ireland is Galway in Irish Gallive Built in the forme of a Towre having a Bishops See in it and being famous for the frequent resort of merchants thither and also profitable to the Inhabitants by the conveniencie of the Haven which is beneath it and by the easie exportation of Merchandise not far from hence on the Westerne sidely the Islands which are called Arran of which many things are fabled as if they were the Isles of the living in which no man could either die or be subject to death The Province of Connaught at this time is fortified with foureteen Castles it hath nine Market Towns it is divided into sixe Counties or Shires in this manner the Countie of Clare of Galway of Mago of Slego of Letrimme and of Roscomen Media is the third part of Ireland which in their Countrie speech they call Mijh the English Methe Giraldus Midia and Media perhaps because it is in the very middle of the Island For the Castle Killaire in these parts which Ptolemie seemes to call Laberus is in the middle of Ireland as the name Killair doth denote The Countrie reacheth from the Irish Sea even to the River Shennin which river parts it from Connacia It hath a wholsome and delightfull aire It is fruitfull in corne pasturage and flocks abounding with Flesh-meate Butter Cheese Milke and the like and in regard of the multitude of people the strength of faire Castles and Townes and the peace arising from thence it is commonly called the Chamber of Ireland Here is the Towne Pontana which is commonly called Drogheda a faire Town and having a convenient Haven for Ships to ride in But there are some who thinke that the middle part of this Towne on the other side the River is in Vltonia There are also these Townes in Media Molingar Four Delvyn Trimme Kelleâ— Navan Aboy Dulek and Scrin THE THIRD TABLE OF IRELAND IN WHICH ARE MOMONJA AND THE REMAINDER OF LAGENIA AND CONNACH CONNACIA is the second part of Ireland some call it Connachtia the English Connach and the Irish Connachty It lyeth toward the West and is bounded with the River Sen the River Banna and the Ocean This the Auteri and Nagnatae in the time of Ptolomie did inhabite But there is so neare an affinitie betweene these two wordes Nagnatae and Connaghty that they seeme one to bee derived from the other unlesse we suppose that the word Connaghty did arise from the Haven Nagnatae which Ptolomy mentions and from thence the Country got this name For a Haven is called in their native speech Cuon to which if you adde Nagnata it will not bee much different in sound from Connaghty The Country as it is in some places fruitfull and pleasant so in some wet places covered o're with grasse and by reason of their softnesse called Bogs it is very dangerous as other parts of the Island are and full of darke and thicke woods But the Coasts having many Bayes and navigable in-lets doth as it were invite and stirre up the inhabitants to imploy themselves in navigation yet sloath is so sweet unto them that they had rather begge from doore to doore then seeke to keepe themselves from Poverty by honest labour It is reported in the Irish Histories that Turlogus O-mor O-conor was sole Governour of this Country and that hee divided it betweene his two sonnes Cabelus and Brienus But when the English came into Ireland Rodericke did governe it and called himselfe King of Ireland but he being afraid of the English warres not trying the chance or fortune of the field put himselfe under obedience to Henry the Second King of England Who after revolting from his faith given Miles Cogane was the first English-man who did attempt but in vaine to get Connachtia Afterward William the sonne of Adelme whose posterity were called in Irish Bourki Gilbert de Clare Earle of Glocester and William de Bermingham chiefe men in England did subject this Country and brought it to civilitie But Bourke or de Burgo and his Posterity were a long time stiled and called Lords of Connach governing this Province together with Vltonia in great peace and tranquillitie and did receive great revenewes out of it untill the onely daughter of Richard de Burgo being sole inheretrix of Connachtia and Vltonia was married to Lionell Duke of Clarence the sonne of King Edward the third But he living for the most part in England and his successors the Mortimers did neglect their Patrimonie the Bourks being their kinsemen to whom they had committed the overseeing of those Lands making use of the absence of the Lords and the troublesome times in England contemned the authority of the Lawes entring into league with the Irish and making marriages with them and got all Connachtia to themselves and by degrees degenerating having left off the English habit they followed the Irish manners It is at this day divided into sixe Counties Clare Letrimme Galwey Resecomin Maio and Sligo There are in it the Baron of Atterith the Baron of Clare and others Here is also Galloway a Towne much frequented by forrain Merchants It is reported that an Outlandish Merchant who did traffique with the Townesmen did once aske an
pallace which they call King Arthurs Chaire on the West there is a steepe Rock and on the Rock a great Towre which the Scots doe commonly call the maiden Towre which is the same which Ptolemie cals the Winged Castell There are also other Cities and famous Townes in this Kingdome which we will describe particularly in their places In the Valeys there are many Lakes Marshes Fountaines and Rivers full of Fish the greatest part whereof arise out of the Mountaine Grampius of which wee will make mention in our next Description The Scottish Sea is full of Oysters Herrings Corall and shell-fish of divers kindes Scotland hath many Havens Bayes amongst which Letha is a most convenient Haven The Country it selfe is very rugged and mountainous and on the very Mountaines hath plaine levell ground which doth afford pasturage for Cattell Grampius is the greatest Mountaine and doth runne through the middle of Scotland it is commonly called Grasebaim or Grantzbaine that is to say the crooked mountaine for it bending it selfe from the shore of the German Sea to the mouth of the River Dee and passing through the middle of this Countrey toward the Irish Sea endeth at the Lake Lomund it was heretofore the bounds of the Kingdome of the Picts and Scots At Aberdon there are woody mountaines It is thought that here was the Forrest of Caledonia which Lucius Florus cals saltus Caledonius very spacious and by reason of great trees impassable and it is divided by the Mountaine Grampius Moreover not onely ancient writings and manuscripts but also Temples Friaries Monasteries Hospitals and other places devoted to Religion doe testifie that the Scots were not the last among the Europaeans who embraced the Christian Religion and did observe and reverence it above others The royall Pallace of Edenburgh of which I spake before is very stately and magnificent and in the midst of the Citie is their Capitoll or Parliament-house The Dukes Earles Barons and Nobles of the Kingdome have their Pallaces in the Citie when they are summoned to Parliament The Citie it selfe is not built of bricke but of free squared stone so that the severall houses may bee compared to great Pallaces But enough of this let us passe to other things The people of Scotland are divided into three Rankes or Orders the Nobility the Clergie and the Laiety The Ecclesiasticall Order hath two Archbishops one of S. Andrewes Primate of all Scotland the other of Glasco There are eight Bishopricks under the Archbishop of Saint Andrewes of Dunkeld of Aberdon of Murray of Dunblan of Brecchin of Rosse of Cathanes and of Orkney Under the Bishop of Glasgo there are three to wit the Bishop of Candida casa the Bishop of Argadia and the Bishop of the Isles namely Sura Mura Yla c. This is the manner and order of the Nobilitie the Kings and the Kings Sonnes lawfully begotten have the first place of which if there bee many the eldest Sonne is called Prince of Scotland the rest are onely called Princes but when the King is publickly crowned hee promiseth to all the people that he will keepe and observe the Lawes Rites and Customes of his Ancestours and use them in the same manner as they did The Dukes have the second place the Earles the third and those Nobles the fourth place who are not known by that Title in forraine Countries but the Scots doe call them My Lords This name is so much esteem'd amongst them that for honours sake they attribute it to their Bishops Earles and chiefest Magistrates In the fifth place are the Knights and Barons who are usually called Lords They are in the sixth and last place who having attained to no title of honour but yet descended from a noble Familie are therefore commonly called Gentlemen as the Brothers and Sonnes of Earles and Lords the youngest Sonnes of Knights who have no part in the Inheritance because by the Lawes of Scotland that commeth unto the eldest Sonne for the preservation of the Familie but the common people call all those Gentlemen who are either rich or well spoken of for their hospitality The whole weight of warre doth depend on the Nobility of the lowest degree The Plebeians or Citizens are partly chiefe men who beare office in their Cities partly Merchants and partly Tradesmen or Handy-craftes-men all which because they are free from Tribute and other burdens doe easily grow rich And least any thing should be too heavily enacted against any Citie the King permits that in publick assemblies or Parliaments three or foure Citizens being called out of every Citie should freely interpose their opinion concerning matters propounded Heretofore the Clergie was governed by the authoritie of Decrees Councels but now as the rest they are ruled by the Lawes which the Kings have devised or confirmed by their royall assent The Booke which containeth the municipall Lawes written in Latine is entituled Regia Majestas the Kings Majestie because the Booke begins with those words In the other Bookes of the Lawes the Acts of their Councels which are called Parliaments are written in Scotch There are many and divers Magistrates in Scotland as in other Nations Among these the chiefe and next to the King is the Protectour of the Kingdome whom they call the Governour Hee hath the charge of governing the Kingdome if the Common-wealth at any time be deprived of her King or the King by reason of his tender age cannot manage the affaires of the Kingdome There is also a continuall Senate at Edenburrough so framed of the Clergie and Nobilitie that the Clergie doth in number equall the Laiety The Clergie have a President over them who hath the first place in delivering his opinion unlesse the Chancellour of the Kingdome bee present for hee hath the chiefe place in all affaires of the Kingdome Hee that sits on matters of life and death they call The great Justice hee that lookes to Sea-matters the Admirall he that lookes to the Campe the Marshall and he that punishes offences committed in the Court is called the Constable There are also in severall Provinces which they call Viecounties those which are Governours of them whom by an ancient name they call Vicounts Their authority in deciding those matters which belong to civill causes doth depend on a certaine hereditary right by which they claime also unto themselves those Vicountships So that these Vicounts may be said not to be created by the King but borne unto it by right from their Parents The Cities also and Townes have their Governours their Bailiffes and other Magistrates of that kinde who keepe the Citizens in obedience and doe maintaine and defend the Priviledges of the Cities whereby it comes to passe that the Common-wealth of Scotland by the apt disposition and ranking of Degrees by the holy Majestie of Lawes and the authority of Magistrates doth flourish and deserveth great praise These are the names of the Dukedomes Earledomes
North and South every one lengthens the day halfe an houre afterward they encrease by Weekes and Moneths till it comes to the length of halfe a yeare u See Ortelius in his Theatrum orbis terrarum The temperatenesse of the Aire The fertility of the Soyle The governmeÌ„t of the Ancients and their successours w See Ortelius in his booke before cited The Lakes and Rivers The Seas The publique private workes The Lawes Institutions x It is observable that there is no part of Europe whether Continent or Island that hath not long since beene Christened The company of Senators The Vniversities y Who number it no lesse then â—8 The manners of the people The name by whom why given z And a privativum a The Tropicks are two nominate Circles that be Parallel to the Aequator froÌ„ which the Northerne Tropicke called the Tropicke of Cancer is distant 23. degrees â— 2 and the Southerne called the Tropick of Capricorne as much b So called from Cham the sonne of Noah who inhabited this Country See Psal 105.23 c So stiled because when the Sunne is under that Aequinoctiall Circle in the Heaven which answers to this on the Earth the daies and nights be of one length 〈…〉 d 〈◊〉 Habassia 〈◊〉 the higher Aethiopia The 〈◊〉 e O RIâ—e of India who stealeth into the Crocodiles mouth when he gâ—p thâ— and aâ—â—ng his bowels killeth him f Hence came the old proverbe Africa semper aliquid apportat monstâ—i The Division g Barcha now called but that it was anâ—ly called Barca is evident â—on of Virgil when hee saith Lateque 〈…〉 h Abusively so called but rightly Preste Iohan or Gyam which in the Aethiopian tongue signifies Great or Mightie Prince i So called froÌ„ the rednesse of the sands The Lakes Rivers Mountaines k So called froÌ„ Atlas in times past â— K. of the Moores whom the Poets same to have beene Metamorphosed into this Mountaine this hill is now called Anchisa the inhabitants that dwell about it name it Adiris Solinus Duris others call it Astrixis or Astreâ—xis but Dioscorider calleth it Tmolus l This Mountaine is called by Ptolomie Pliny and others Deorum cursus m So named either froÌ„ tâ—â—n fruitfulness or goodnesse of Aâ—e as Stephanus thinketh The name by whom why â—â—â—n n Daughter to â—â—â—anus and Tethâ—â— o 〈…〉 p From the Greeke woâ—d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whaâ—h signifieth the East because it lyeth Eastward of Asia the Great q From â—â—m the â—â—me of Noah The Situation The temperatenesse of the Aire The fertilitie of the Soâ—le The various kindes of liâ—ing Creatures The government of thâ— Ancients r Cap. 10. vers 8.9.10 Å¿ Seâ— Iustâ—n lib. 1. and Diodoâ—us Siculus lib. 2. cap. 7. t Whom Iunius saith the Scripture calles Ahasuerus Either 1.4 u This is meant of Darius the son of Histaspiâ— w Herodotus reckons all his forces by Sea and Land to be 2641610 men besides Conâ—uoines Eunuchs women bakers 〈…〉 an 〈…〉 The Cities Lakes Rivers Mountaines x Eustathius affirmeth that this Mountain was so called by the reason of its magnitude for saith he among the Ancients all great strong things were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and as it is called Taurus many other names by humane Writers so the Scripture calleth it Ararath if we shall beleeve Aâ—â—aâ— Montanus and Becanus y Heylin saith that reckoning its severall bendings in out it is 6250. miles long 375. miles broad p. 519. The publicke workes z See Iustin Hist lib. 1. a Read 1. King chap. 5. and 6. America whence so called b In the yeare 1492. c But improperly for the true India is a part of Asia deriveth its name from the River Indus which this Country canâ—ot * Venient anâ—â— sâ—â—â—la seris quibus occanus vinâ—ula rerum laxet ingens pateat tellus nec sit terris ultima â—hule d Borne at Nervi in the Countrie of Genoa The Situation e Read Heylin pag 770. f Or Cassader g Or Potatoes The Lakes Rivers The Mountaines h So called for its nearnesse to a constellation in the North Hemisphere called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth a Beare i So called because it is opposite to the Articke Pole Greenland whence so called k The London Marchants call this Island K. Iames his new Land The qualitie of the Aire and Soyle Freezland n Heyling saies almost as bigge as Ireland p And therefore now subject to the King of Denmarke Nova Zembla q Pigmies are here supposed to inhabit r Iason and his Companions who sayled to Colcheâ— to fetch the golden fleece of whom reade Valerius Flaâ—cuâ— Lib. 1 The name by whom and why given See Heylin p 8 The Situation Å¿ Which is a great circle rounding the Earth from Pole to Pole and passeth through the Islands called Azores See marg pag. 10. The quality of the Soyle and Ayre The varietie of living Crâ—â—tures The Fountaines The Sea The Mountaines t The Papists thinke that here is thâ—â—â— feined Purgatorie The mannerâ— of the Inhabitants Their foode Thâ—â— Trâ—â—fick o◠〈◊〉 The name by whom why given x If this bee true then did it not receive its denomination from Brutus See Heylin pag. 455. The temper of the Aire The fertilitie of the Soyle The varietie of living Creatures The I le of Albion y Verstegan affirmeth it was so called ab albis rupibus the white rocks towards France The figure z Which the English and French call the channell of S. George a This division was made by Severus the Emperor saith Camden p. 98. b The Romans saith Camden called those Provinces of any Country they conquered which were next unto theÌ„ Primas superiore the more remote secundas â—â—seâ— oâ—es p 99. c What Countries these five parts contained and why they were so denominated See in Camden pag. 98. 99. d They were first united in in the yeare of grace 1603. The Sea The commodities e See Camden pag. 640 and 595. The Orcades f Hâ—yler saith they are 3â— pag 51â— The fertility of the Soyle The names of the Hebrides g Stephanus calleth them the Hebrides others Ebonia â—nsulae h This Iland is 24. miles long and 16. miles broad The new and ancient names by whom and why given i Isacius calleth this Kingdome Britannia Occidentalis or Westerne Brittaine and Isidorus and others call it Scotia because the Scots coming from Spaine dwelt here the Irish Baâ—di call it Baâ—â— whence Festus Avâ—enus calleth it Insula sacra See Camden pag. 643. k pag. 642. The Situation The temper of the Ayre The Government l Camden saith it was in the yeare 1172. p 649. The Cities m This Town was built by Harald Harfager the first King of Norway Lakes The Rivers n or the River Liffie o or Shennin is some interpret it tho ancient River p It runneth saith Heylin a course of 200 miles to the Vergician Sea and
not how to boyle and refine the Sugar Here are many Vines but they use no Wine except it be in the Kings or the great Patriarks Court It hath also great store of Oranges and Lemmons and also great store of Honey For Bees doe breed even in their houses So that they make such store of Waxe as serveth all the Country to make Candles without Tallow or Suet. This Country hath also Hempe and Flaxe but the Inhabitants have not the Art to make Linnen THE DVKEDOME OF THE ABISSINES· ABISSINORUM REGNUÌ„ cloth of it and therefore they make their cloth of Cotton wooll of which there is great store here They have Mettals as Gold Silver and Brasse but they have not the art to refine it Moreover this Country hath all kindes of Beasts and Birds as Elephants Lions Tigers Leopards Rhinocerites Apes and Harts which is against the opinion of the ancients who deny that Affrick hath any Harts also Oxen Sheepe Goates Asses Cammels Horses and they are oftentimes much troubled with Locusts This Country was heretofore governd onely by Queenes So that wee read in the Old Testament that the Queene of Sheba of the South came to King Salomon to heare his admirable wisedome about the yeere of the world 2954. This Queenes name was Maqueda The Aethiopian Kings doe beleeve that they are descended of the Stock of David and the Family of Salomon And therefore they are wont to stile themselves the Sonnes of David and Salomon and of the holy Patriarcks because they are come of their Seed For they doe faine that the aforesaid Queene Maqueda had a Sonne by Salomon whom they called Meilech And afterward he was called David He according to their fiction when he had attained to 20. yeeres of age was sent by his Mother to his Father Salomon that he might instruct him in all profitable and wholesome learning and wisdome Which as soone as Meilech or David had attained unto he chose many Priests and Earles out of every one of the 12. Tribes and so returning back to the Kingdome of Aethiope he tooke upon him the government thereof And hee brought in with him the old Law and Circumcision These were the first beginnings of the Jewes Religion in Aethiopia and they say that untill this day there are none admitted to any Office in Court or Canonicall place unlesse he be descended from the Jewes And by them the knowledge of God was propagated in Aethiopia and tooke roote and so was derived and spred abroad by succeeding ages For the Aethiopians had the Bookes of the Prophets and went to Hierusalem to adore and worship the true God of Israel Which may bee understood by the story of Queene Iudiths Eunuch who is properly called Iudith For hee 10. yeeres after the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ came 240. miles journey to Ierusalem And when he had there worshipped God and was returning home sitting in his Chariot he read the Prophet Esaiah And so Philip one of Christs Disciples by Gods command was sent unto him And when they came both to the Citty Bethzur three Miles from Ierusalem there the Eunuch spyed a Spring or Well at the foote of the Mountaine with the water whereof he was baptized by Philip. But as soone as the Eunuch returned into Aethiopia he baptized the Queene and a great part of her houshold and people From which time the Aethiopians began to be Christians and alwaies afterward profest the Christian Faith There are few Citties in all this Empire so that they dwell in Villages The chiefe Kingdomes belonging to the higher Aethiopia which are for the most part subject to Prester Iohn are these following The Kingdome of Barnagues which is enclosed with the River Abanthus and the red Sea the chiefe Citty is Beroae or Barnae which Ptolemy calls Colone here the Viceroy liveth who payeth yeerely to the King of the Abissines an 150. Horses for a tribâ—te with silke and other commodities and 1000. Ounces of Gold to the Turkes Bashaw Tigremaon which is next unto the River Marabus and the red Sea doth pay yeerely to the King 200. Horses which are brought out of Arabia Unto this Kingdome the Kingdome of Tigrai is subject in which there is the Citty Caxumo or Cassume which was heretofore the Seate as appeareth by their Annalls of the Queene of Sheba and afterward of Queene Candaces The Kingdome of Angote hath no money and therefore they use in stead thereof pieces of Salt and Iron Amara is so called from the Mountaine in which the Emperours Sonnes are kept with a strong Garrison that after the Emperours decease the Heire may be brought out There are two memorable Rivers in this Kingdome which doe glide thorow Aethiopia Abanhi which Ptolemy calls Astapus and Tacassi which Ptolemy calls Astraboras into which many other Rivers doe runne The Fountaine of Abanhi is the great Lake of Barcena lying under the Aequinoctiall in which there are many Ilands This Lake Ptolemy calls Coloe Palus or the Lake Coloe The Inhabitants doe professe the Christian Religion and the chiefe Articles of their Faith are these They beleeve in one God Creator of Heaven and Earth distinguisht into three Persons God the Sonne begotten of the Father from all Aeternity who for our sakes tooke flesh upon him was dead and rose againe and God the Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Sonne This is the summe of their Religion They doe joyne the Old Testament with â—he New so that they follow some Judaicall and some Christian Rites and Ceremonies On the eight day they circumcise all their Infants both Male and Female But they thinke that Circumcision availeth nothing to salvation but onely Faith in Christ Jesus But they baptize their Male children on the 40. day and their Females on the 80. day unlesse the weakenesse of the childe doe require haste They every yeere baptize them anew both those that are come to ripenesse of yeeres and also Infants saying these words Ego te baptizo in nomine Patris Filij Spiritus Sancti That is I baptize thee in the Name of the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost And they doe religiously keepe this custome from their Ancestors not to extenuate or weaken the first baptisme but that they may have absolution from their sinnes every yeere They receive the Lords Supper sub utraque specie or in both kindes both the Lay-people and the Clergie They doe not esteeme or use Confirmation and extreme Unction as a Sacrament They keepe the Sabbath and the Lords day without doing any worke according to the ancient manner of the Christians They hold that the chiefe use of the Law is to shew us our sinnes and they beleeve that wee can bee saved by no other but Jesus Christ who fulfilled and satisfied the Law for us They love and reverence Saints but make no Invocation unto them They doe much honour Mary the Mother of Christ but yet they doe not worship her nor
implore her helpe The Clergie and the Priests are permitted to many as well as the lay-Lay-people And they punish all kinde of Lust and Fornication They have a Patriarke who is President of all their Churches who is a man of approoved honesty grave well learned and ancient in yeeres whose Office it is to keepe the Clergie in concord and union to defend the Ecclesiastick Discipline and to excommunicate rebellious persons The Election and choosing of Bishops and other Ecclesiasticall persons belongeth onely to the King GVINEA VVITH THE ILANDS OF St. THOMAS OF THE Prince and the Good-yeere THE Kingdome of Guinea is in that Country where the Ganginean Aethiopians are whom Orosius and Ethicus doe mention as Ortelius witnesseth The Inhabitants doe call it Ghinui It is the Blackmoores Country The Blackmoores are called the Inhabitants of the Black River which floweth thorow the middle of the Country and like Nilus doth fertilize the Fields round about it This River doth increase as Nilus doth in the moneth of June 40. dayes together all which time you may goe by Boate into Countries neere unto it And the Earth is so dunged with mudde and slime so that it yeeldeth a great increase About the River there are large Plaines but no Mountaines or Hills There are also many woods in the which there are Elephants There are also many Lakes which are caused by the overflowing of the River Niger The Ayre is wholesome in so much that those who are sicke of the Spanish disease if they come unto that Country doe certainely recover their health and grow well These Blackmoores have a divers kinde of speech according to the Soyle and Climate Their religion is also diverse In the Mediterranean parts they are Christians Mahumetans and Heathens But those that dwell by the Sea Coast doe worship Idols There are three Kings of the Blackmoores Tombuti Borni and Gaogae The Gualatians also have a King of their owne They are all Cole-black The Kingdome of Guinea is seated betweene Gualata Tembutum and Melli and it reacheth from the River Niger to the Aethiopian Ocean The Ayre of Guinea is not agreeable to our bodies both in regard of the untemperatenesse of the Climate and by reason of the raine both which doe breed putrifaction and Wormes But it hath abundance of Barley Rice Cotton Gold Ivory also Sheepe and Hens There is also a kinde of Spice which casteth like Pepper which the Portugals call Melegneta And another Spice as strong againe as Calicut Pepper which the aforesaid Portugals doe call Pimiente del Rabo which it is unlawfull to sell lâ—st they should thereby bring downe the price of common Pepper It hath no fruit but Dates and the Inhabitants are faine to fetch them out of Numidia or Gualata They have great store of Elephants and Apes and Birdes especially Peacocks and Ash-colour Popinjays or Parroâ—s And they have certaine small Birds which doe curiously â—â—ild themselves a nest which hangeth in the boughes of the Trees Thâ—â— have neither Castle Towne nor Citty But they have one great Village in which the Princes Priests Doctors and Merchants doe dwell the others live scatteringly here and there About Caput Lupi Conzalui the Inhabitants doe adore the Sunne the Moone and the Earth upon which to spet they account it a hâ—inous offence They doe out and launce their flesh and afterward they paint it with a certaine coloured Oyntment which they thinke to bee very comely but to us it seemeth a fearefull spectacle When they salute their Prince they fall downe upon their knees and clap their hands together but in common salutations they cry Fuiâ— Futâ— Fuiâ— They doe not drinke all Dinner time but when they have din'd they drinke water or wine that commeth out of the Date Tree But yet this Date Tree doth not beare Dates but is a Tree different from it which sendeth forth a kinde of Juyce at all times of the yeere They cut the body of the Tree and receive the bleeding juyce which distilleth from it into a Vessell and drinke it till they are drunke for it is a liquor that is purer than any Wine it is of an ashie colour and they call it Mignolum This Tree will yeeld but two or three measures in one day This Tree beareth Olives the Oyle whereof hath a threefold vertue it smelleth like a Violet tasteth like an Olive and if it bee powr'd or laide upon meate it dyeth it like Saffron The men and women doe both goe bare-headed some have Hats made of barkes of Trees or of the Indian Nut. Some of them doe bore holes thorow their upper Lippe and their Noses and doe weare pieces of Ivory in them and doe thinke it becomes them very well And some doe weare Ivory and Fishes Shells in their Noses and Lippes They make their Aprons of the Barkes and rindes of Trees and with them they hide and cover their secret parts also they weare the skins of Apes and Monkies which are fastned together with a little Bell. They paint one eye red and the other blue The richer sort of women doe weare great Rings of Iron Copper or Tinne upon their Thighes And they delight very much in their foolish ill-favoured barbarousnesse Their Gold coyne hath no Inscription on it and they use Iron money upon ordinary occasions and for petty matters The Iland of S. THOMAS THE Iland of S. Thomas is next to be described which the Portugals discoverd on S. Thomas day and upon this occasion they called it the Iland of S. Thomas It is situate under the Aequator being almost round The Diameter of it is 60. miles When this Iland was discoverd it was full of great Trees whose boughes did grow upward It hath never any plague the Ayre is warme and wholesome but few Christians doe live here to 50. yeeres of age so that it would be a wonder to see one there with a white beard But the native Inhabitants doe live untill they be an hundred yeeres old The dayes and nights are alwaies equall In the Moneths of March and GVINEA GVINEA IS THOMAE September they have many great showres of raine which doe moisten the ground but in the other moneths the fruits are watered and refresht with the dew that falls upon them This Iland hath a stiffe clommy soile of a red duskish colour It doth not beare Corne Vines or any Tree that hath stone fruit but it beareth Mellons Cowcumbers Gourds Figges and great store of Ginger and especially Sugar for which they doe bring in Wine Cheese Corne Hides and other necessaries But this traffick hath ceased since that certaine wormes began to eate the rootes of the Sugar-canes so that now scarce 6. Ships doe goe from thence loaded with Sugar It hath also great store of Millet Rice and Barley and great plenty of Lettice Colworts Cabbages Rape-rootes Beete Parsley or wilde Alexander and other Garden hearbs And besides it hath a roote which groweth in the