because my breath First sprung from Lanerk so my Christian faith Where thence O natall place my soule did coyle Blood sprit and sense flesh birth life love and soyle I 'le leave Clydes fragrant fields resplendant banks Bedeckt with Silvans stately beauteous ranks Of Pandedalian sparks which lend the sight Of variable colours best Natures light And close these silver shades that dazeling bloome Mongst thickest Groves with many braue-fac'd broome Strict in the records of eternall fame For sight for gaine for birth for noble name And now the second soile for pleasure is the platformd Carse of Gowry twelve miles long Wheat Rye Cornes Fruit yards being its onely commodity which I may tearme for its levell'd face to be the Garden of Angus yea the Diamond-plot of Tay or rather the youngest Sister of matchlesse Piemont The Inhabitants being onely defective in affablenesse and communicating courtesses of naturall things whence sprung this proverbe The kearlles of the Carse The third and beautifull soyle is the delectable planure of Murray thirty miles long and sixe in breadth whose comely grounds inriched with Cornes plantings pastorage stately dwellings overfaced with a generous Octavian Gentrye and topped with a Noble Earle its chiefest Patrone it may be furstyled a second Lombardy or pleasant Meaddow of the North. Neither may I abandoning eye-pleasing grounds seclude here that Iudaick bottome reaching thirty miles twixt Perth and Minâ—os involuing the halfe of Angus within a fruitfull populous and nobilitat planure the heart wherof saluting Glames kisseth Cowper So likewise as thrice divided Louthiane is a girnell of grayne for forriane Nations and Fiffe twixt Carraill and Largo the Ceren trenches of a royall Camp the incircling Coast a nest of Corporations and Meandring Forth from tip toed Snadoun the prospicuous mirrour for matchlesse Maiesty euen so is melting Tweed and weeping Tiuiot the Egyptian Strands that irrignâ—t the fertile fields which imbolster both bosomes sending their bordering breath of dayly necessaries to strengthen the life of Barwick Now as for the Nobility and Gentry of the Kingdome certainely as they are generous manly and full of courage so are they courteous discreet learned Schollers well read in best Histories delicate linguists the most part of them being brought vp in France or Italy That for a general compleat worthinesse I neuer found their matches amongst the best people of forrane Nations being also good house keepers affable to strangers and full of Hospitality And in a word the Seas of Scotland and the Iles abound plentifully in all kinde of fishes the Riuers are ingorged with Salmond the high-landish mountaines ouercled with Firre-trees infinite Deere and all sorts of other Bestiall the Valleyes full of pasture and Wild fowle the low layd playnes inriched with beds of grayne Iustice all where administred Lawes obeyed malefactors punished Oppressors curbed the Clergy religious the people sincere professors the Country peaceable to all men The chiefest commodities whereof transported beyond sea are these Wheat Cornes Hides Skins Tallow Yearn Linnen Salt Coale Herrings Salmond Wool Keilling Ling 〈…〉 And last and worst all the Gold of the Kingdome is dailyâ— Transported away with superfluous posting for Court Whence they never returne any thing â—ave Spend all End all then farwell Fortune So that numbers 〈…〉 and Gentry now become with idle projects downe drawers of destruction vpon their owne neckes their children and their estates and posting 〈◊〉 by dissolute courses to inrich Strangers 〈◊〉 themselves deservingly desolate of Lands Meanes and Honesty for ever Doing even with their former Vertue long continuance and memory of their noble Ancestors as M. Knoxe did with our glorious Churches of Abbâ—cies and Monasteries which were the greatest beauty of the kingdome knocking all down to desolation leaving nought to be seene of admirable Edifices but like to the Ruines of Troy Tyrus and Thebes lumpes of Wals and heapes of stones So do our ignoble Gallants though nobly borne swallow vp the honour of their famous Predecessours with posting foolery boy winding Horâ—es cormandizing Gluttony Lust and vaine Apparrell making a Transmigration of perpetuity to their present Belly and Backe O lashiviâ—us eâ—ds which I have condâ—gnely sifted in my last Worke Intitulated Scotlands weâ—come to King Charles with all the abuses and grievances of the whole Kingdome besides But now leaving Prodigalls to their Purgatâ—riall Pâ—stings I come to Trace through Rosse Sutherland and Cathnes So iles so abundant in all things â—it to illustrate greatnesse Resplendout Gentry and succour Commons that their fâ—rtile goodnesse far exceeding my expectation and the affability of the better sort my deservings beeing all of them the best and most bountifull Christmasse keepers the Greekes excepted that euer I saw in the Christian World Whose continuall incorporate Feastings one with another beginning at Saint Andrewes day never end till Shrouetide which Rauished me to behold such great and daily cheare familiar fellow-ship and iouiall chearefulnesse that me thought the whole Winter there seemed to me but the Iubilee of one day And now beeing arrived at Maij to imbarke for Orknay sight time and duty command me to celebrate these following Lines to gratifie the kindnesse of that noble Lord George Earle of Cathnes with his Honourable Cousin and first Accadent of his house the Right worshipful Sir William Sinclair of Catholl Knight Liard of Maij. Sir sighting now thy Selfe and Pallace Faire I finde a novelty and that most rare The time though cold and stormy sharper Sun And far to Summer scarce the Spring begun Yet with good lucke in Februar Saturnes prey Haue I not sought and found out fruitfull May Flank'd with the Marine Coast prospectiue stands Right opposite to the Orcade Iles and Lands Where I for floures ingorg'd strong grapes of Spaine And liquor'd French both Red and white amaine Which Pallace doth contain two foure-squard Courts Graft with braue works where th' Art drawne pensile sports On Hals high Chambers Galleries office Bowres Cells Rooms and Turrets Plat-formes stately Towers Where greene-fac'd gardens set at Floraes feet Make Natures beauty quicke Appelles greet All which surueigh'd at last the mid-most gate Design'd to me the Armes of that great state The Earles of Cathnes to whose praise inbag'd My Muse must mount and here 's my pen incadg'd First then their Armes a Crosse did me produce Limbdlike a Scallet trac'd with fleur du Luce The Lyon red and rag'd two times divided From coyne to coyne as Heraulds have decyded The third joynd stavnce denotes to me a Galley That on their sea-rapt â—oes dare make assailley The fourth a gallant Ship puâ—t with taunt saile Gainst them their Ocean dare or Coast assaile On whose bent Creist a Pelican doth sit An Embleme for like loue drawne wondrous fit Who as shee feeds her young with her heart blood Denotes these Lords to theirs like kind like good Whose best Supporters guard both Sea and Land Two sterne drawne Griffons in their strength to stand Their Dictum beares this
verdict for Heauens Ode Ascribd this clause commit thy worke to God O sacred Motto Bishop Sinclairs straine Who turned â—iffes Lord on Scotlands foes agayne Loe here 's the Armes of Cathnes here 's the Stock On which branch'dâ—boughes relye as on a Rocke But further in I foundlike Armes more patent To kinde Sir William and his line as latent The Primier Accade of that noble race Who for his vertue may reclayme the place Whose Armes with tongue and buckle now they make Fast crosse signe ty'd for a faire Leslyes sake The Lyon hunts o're Land the Ship the Sea The ragged Crosse can scale high wals wee see The wing-layd Gally with her factious oares Both Havens and Floods command and circling shoares The featherd Griffon flees O grim limbd beast That winging Sea and Land vpholdâ— this Creist But for the Pelicans life sprung kind Story Makes honour sing Virtute et Amore. Nay not by blood us she her selfe can do But by her paterne feeding younglings too For which this Patrones Crescent stands so stay That neither Spight nor Tempest can shake Maij Whose Cutchions cleave so fast to 〈…〉 Portends to mee his Armes shall ever bide So Murckles Armes are so except the Rose Spred on the Crosse which Bothwels Armes disclose Whose Vtetine blood he is and present Brother To Cathnes Lord all three sprung from one Mother Bothwels prime Heretrix plight to Hepburnes Race From whom Religious Murckles Rose I trace This Countries instant Shrieve whose Vertue rais'd His honourâ—d worth his godly life more prais'd But now to rouze their Rootes and how they Sprung See how Antiquity Times triumph Sung This Scaller worth them blâ—nch'd for endeavour And Service done to Englands Conquerour With whom from France they first to Britaine came Sprung from a Towne St. Claire now turn'd their name Whose Predecessours by their Val'rous hand Wonne endlesse Fame twice in the Holyâ—Land Where in that Christian Warre their blood beene lost They loath'd of Gaule and sought our Aâ—bion Coast. Themselves to Scotland came in Cammoires Raigne With good Queene Mâ—rgret and her English traine The Ship from Oâ—knay sayl'd now rul'd by Charles Whereof they Sinclairs long time had beene Earles Whose Lord then William was by Scotlands King Call'd Robert Second First whence Stewarts Spring Sent with his second Sonne to France cross'd Iames Who eighteene yeares liu'd Captivate at Thames This Prisner last turn'd King call'd Iames the First Who Sinclairs Credit kept in Honours thirst The Galley was the Badge of Cathnes Lords As Malcome Cammoirs raigne at lenght Records Which was to Magnus given for Service done Against Mackbaith vsurper of his Crowne The Lyon came by an Heretrix to passe By Marriage whose Sire was surnam'd Dowglas Where after him the Sinclair now Record Was Shriefe of Dumfreis ' and Nidsdales Lord Whose wife was Neece to good King Iames the Third Who for exchange twixt Wicke and Southerne Nidde Did Lands incambiat whence this Cathnes Soile Stands fast for them the rest their Friends recoile Then Circle-bounded Cathnes Cinclairs ground Which Pentland Firth invirones Orknayes sound Whose top is Dunkanes Bay the Root the Ord Long may it long stand fast for their true Lord And as long too Heavens grant what I require The Race of Maij may in that Stocke aspire Till any Age may last Times glasse be runne For Earths last darke Ecclipse of no more Sunne Forsaking Cathnes I imbraced the trembling Surges at Dungsby of strugling Neptune which ingorgeth Pentland or Pictland Firth with nine contrarious Tides eath Tide over-thwarting another with repugnant courses have such violent streames and combustious waves that if these dangerous Births be not rightly taken in passing over the Passengers shall quickely loose sight of life and land for ever yea and one of these tides so forciâ—le at the backe of Stromaij that it will carry any Vessell back ward in despight of the winds the length of its rapinous current This dreadfull Firth is in breadth betweene the Continent of Cathnes and the I le of South Rannaldshaw in Orknay twelve miles And I devote this credibly in a part of the Northwest end of this Gulfe there is a certaine place of sea where these destracted tydes make their rancountering Randevouze that whirleth ever about cutting in the middle circle a devalling hole with which if either Ship or Boat shall happen to encroach they must quickly either throw over some thing into it as a Barrell a peice of timber and such like or that fatall Euripus shall then suddenly become their swallowing Sepulcher A custome which these bordering Cathenians and Orcadians have ever heretofore observed Arriv'd at South Rannaldshaw an Ile of five miles long and thwarting the I le of Burray I sighted Kirkwall the Metropâ—le of Pomonia the mayne Land of Orknay and the onely Mistresse of all the circumjacent Iles being thirty in number The chiefest whereof besides this tract of ground in length twenty sixe and broad five sixe and seven miles are the Iles of Sanda Westra and Stronza Kirkwall it selfe is adorned with the stately and magnifick Church of St. Magnus built by the Danes whose Signiory with the Iles lately it was but indeed for the time present more beautified with the godly life of a most venerable and religious Bishop Mr. George Grahame whom now I may tearme Soveraignity excepted to be the Father of the Countries government then an Ecclesiasticke Prelat The Inhabitants being left void of a Governour or solid Patron are just become like to a broken battell a scattered people without a head hauing but a Burges-Shreiue to administer Iustice and he also an Aliene to them and a Resider in Edenburgh So that in most differences and questions of importance the Plaintiues are inforced to implore the Bishop for their Iudge and hee the aduerse Party for redresse But the more remote pâ—rts of this auncient little Kingdome as Zetland and the adiacent Iles there haue found such a sting of deâ—ccular gouerment within these few yeares that these once happy Iles Which long agoe my feet traded ouer are Metamorphosed in the Anatomy of succourlesse oppression and the felicity of the Inhabitants reinuolued within the closet of a Cittadinean cluster But now referring the whole particulars and diuidual descriptions of these Septentrion Iles the mayne continent and the Gigantick Hebridian Iles to my aforesayd worke to be published intitulated Lithgows surueigh of Scotland I send this generall verdict to the world Now having seene most part of thy selfe glore Great Kingdomes Ilands stately Courts rich Townes Most gorgeous showes pomp-glory deckt renownes Hearbagious fields the Pelage-beating shoare Propitious Princes Prelats potent Crownes Smoake shadow'd times curst Churles Misers Clownes Impregnate Forts devalling floods and more Earth-gazing heights Vayle curling Plaines in store Court-rasing honours throwne on envies frownes Worme-vestur'd workes Enamild Arts wits lore Masse-marbled Mansions Mineralls coynd Ore State-superficiall showes swift-glyding Moones I â—oath thy sight pale streames staine watry
last abandoning all scrupulosities I came in boldly and on my right hand as I entred within the doore I espyed the portrayed Image of S. Peter erected of pure Brasse and sitting on a brazen Chaire The fashion of the people is this entring the Church they goe straight to this Idoll and saluting with many crosses his sencelesse body kisse his feete and every one of his severall toes insomuch that those his comfortlesse feete are growne fiery red while his body save his breasts remaineth brazen blew and yet for sooth some of their learned Rabincs will not have this superstition but an humble commemoration of their adored Saints or the like for procuring favour of intercession whilst the erected Idoll interum receiveth all their superfluous abhominations of diurnall worship Next they lay their heads under the sole of his right foote and arising rub their Beades on his hard costed belly thus adoring that breathlesse masse of mettall more then though it were a living creature O wonderfull and strange spectacle that these onely titular Christians should become worse of knowledge then Ethnicke Pagans to worship and reverence the workemanship of mens hands Woe and shame bee unto you all blinde Hereticall Papists Why should you make to your selves Idols and Images of gold silver brasse Iron stone earth and tree And notwithstanding would excuse the matter with a superstitious reason alledging you doe it onely in remembrance where otherwise it is a damnable signe of wilfull obdurate ignorance May not the prohibition of the 2. Commandement of Gods Law which absolutely you abrogate dividing the last Commandement in two confound the errour of this Idolatry ingrafted in your hardned hearts What vertue can be in a lumpe of brasse or what comfort in the devices of handy-crafts-men Alas nothing but eternall sorrow condemâ—â—tion This was one of the lamentable errors I saw in the Roman Sea amongst many other thousands When the foolish Listranes or Licaonians would have sacrificed Buls to the honor of Paul and Barnabas they rent their Cloaths and ran in among the people crying and saying O men why doe you these things we are even men subject to the like passions that you be How is it then That the Apostles being alive would have no acknowledging by any homage of man yet when they are dead the Romanists will worship their counterfeit similitude in stone or tree What unworthy fained Traditions and Superstitious Idolatry What strange new devising trickes they use to plant idle monasteriall Loyterers How many manner of wayes these belly-minded slaves Epicure-like leade their lives And what a Sea of abhominable villany they swimme into practising even unnaturall vices I meane of their wrongfully called Religious Bishops Priests Friers Curates and all the hypocriticall crew of these pervers'd Iebusites no heart can expresse nor the most eloquent tongue can sufficiently unfold Whose luxurious lives are vulgarly promulgaâ— in this Hispanicall Proverbe Vnnas tienen de gatto y el habito de beato El cruz en los Pechos y el diabolo en los hechos They have a Cats clawes and a blest Saints weed The crosse on their breasts the Divell 's in their deed But for feare of Excommunication from that Antichristian Curtezan I dare not persevere longer herein although I can yea and so truely bewray their all-corrupted estate that I need no information of any Romane Novice Traveller Of whose sight and experience would God all the Papists in Brittaine had the like eye-witnessing approbation as I have had I am certainly perswaded with tears sighes they would heavily bemoane the terrible fall of that Babylonish whoore which in prophane estimation is their holy mother Church For I sincerely sweare to thee O faithfull Christian as the Italian usually doth in his humours by the golden tripled Crowne of my ghostly Father Paulo Papa quinto whatsoever sacriledge incest or villany a Paplst committeth let him come here and fill the bribing hands of the Limonaicall Minions of the thrice crowned Priest for Roma non captat ovem sine lana And he shall have Indulgences Dispensations adjoyned Penances or absolved Offences for hundreds thousands lesse or more yeares The period of Time after eight and twenty dayes abode wishing my departure I hardly escaped from the hunting of these blood-sucking Inquisitors of which the most part were mine owne Country-men the chiefest of whom was Robert Mophet a Iesuit borne in St. Andrewes David Chambers and of our Colledge there one Gordon and one Cuningham borne in the Cannon-gate of Edenborough And to speake truth if it had not beene for Robert Meggat borne neere to Newbattle then resident in Burgo di Roma with the old Earle of Tyrone who hid mee secretly for three dayes in the top of his Lords Pallace when all the streetes and ports of Rome were laid forme who conveighing me away at the fourth mid-night and leapt the walles of Rome with mee I had doubtlesse dyed as hot a death as a Lady Prioresse of Naples did afterward in my second Travells And for better record Patricke Baxster now dwelling in Dundy and then followed the Earle of Tyron can justifie the same my custody and mine escape being both within his knowledge Yet I may justly affirme it in these parts a man can finde no worser enemie then his Nationall supposed friend Religion being the cause of it and at home none more false nor deceitfull than a bosome friend Mens mindes their praises best loves and kind conceits They hurling come and goe like fish at baits And the Italian saith in his Proverbe God keepe mee from the hurt of my friends for I know well how to keepe me from mine enemies From thence bound East-ward I visited Naples the commendations of which I revolve in this verse Inclyta Parthenope gignit Comitesque Ducesque Most noble Naples breeds but Dukes and Earles And gallant Knights and Ladies load with Pearles Amongst many other things neare to this City which in the conclusion of this Historicall discourse be more particularly expressed were Lacus Avernus Sibillaes Cave Puteoli the Sulphurean mountaine Capua and Cuma where banished Aeneas from Troy and Carthage arrived I saw the Monument of Virgills buriall standing in the fore face of his owne Grotto that is cut through the mountaine of Cataia being passable for Coaches and a halfe mile long and affixed these lines thereupon In Mantua from mothers wombe I first conceived breath Parthenope reserve the Tombe My Sepulcher of Death Italy was called so of Italus a King in Sicily which first taught the people agriculture The more impropriated names were Hesperia because it is scituate under the evening Starre Hesperus Latium because Saturne driven from Creet by his Sonne Iupiter hic latebat abditus and Aeâ—otria in regard of the aboundance of wines it produceth This Country was first said to bee inhabited by Ianus Anno Mundi 1925. From whom sprung the tribes of the Samnites Sabines Laurentani and
both sides invironed with the Sea save onely the North-west part and roote thereof which is devided from France and Germany by the Ligurian Savoyean Grisonean Zingaliâ—n and Tirolian Alpes which bend North-east and South-west inclosing it from the body of Europe from Sea to Sea Italy of all other Regions under the Sunne hath beene most subject to the vicissitude of Fortune yet not a little glorying in these famous Captaines Fabius Maximus the buckler and Camillus the sword of Rome Scipio Pompey and Caesar for Venerable Poets Virgil Ovid and renowned Horace famous also for the Orator Cicero and the Historians Tacitus and Livius The soyle is generally abundant in all things necessary for humane life and the people for the most part are both grave and ingenious but wonderous deceitfull in their actions so unappeaseable in anger that they cowardly murther their enemies rather than seeke an honourable revenge and so inclind to unnaturall vices that for bestiality they surpasse the Infidells the women of the better sort are slavishly infringed from honest lawfull liberty They of the middle ranke somewhat modest in carriage witty in speech and bountifull in affection They of the vulgar kind are both ignorant sluttish and greedy and lastly the worser dregs their impudent Curtezans the most lascivious harlots in the world This much in generall for the briefe description of this Region and so I revert to mine itinerary relation In the meane while having alwayes a regard of my hasty dispatching from Christendome I returned through Terra di Lavoro by the Sea side Campagna di Roma anciently Latium and Ombria now the Dutchy of Spaleto even to Loretta standing in a Marca of Ancona addressing my selfe to Venice for transportation But by your leave let mee lay downe before your eyes some notable illusions of Modonna di Loretta which I found in my way-faring journey to amplifie my former discourse concerning the errours of the Roman Church and as yet was never Englished in our language Before I came neare to Loretta by tenne miles I overtooke a Caroch wherein were two Gentlemen of Rome and their two Concubines who when they espied mee saluted me kindly enquiring of what Nation I was whither I was bound and what pleasure I had to travell alone After I had to these demands given satisfaction they intreated mee to come up in the Caroch but I thankfully refused and would not replying the way was faire the weather seasonable and my body unweariâ—d At last they perceiving my absolute refusall presently dismounted on the ground to recreate themselves in my company and incontinently the two young unmarried Dames came forth also and would by no perswasion of me nor their familiars mount againe saying they were all Pilgrimes and bound to Loretta for devotion sâ—ke in pilgrimage and for the pennance enjoyned â—o them by their Father Confessour Truely so farre as I could judge their pennance was small being carried with Horses and the appearance of their devotion much lesse for lodging at Riginati after supper each youth led capâ—ive his dearest Darling to an unsanctified bed and left me to my accustomed repose When the morning Starre appeared wee imbraced the way marching towards Loretta and these virmillion Nymphs to let mee understand they travelled with a cheerefull stomacke would oft runne races skipping like wanton Lambes on grassie Mountaines and quenching their follies in a Sea of unquenchable fantasies Approaching neare the gate of the Village they pulled off their shooes and stockings walking bare-footed through the streetes to this tenne thousand times polluted Chappell mumbling Pater nosters and Ave mariaes on their beads When they entred the Church wherein the Chappell standeth I stood at the entry beholding many hundreds of bare-footed blinded bodies creeping on their knees and hands thinking themselves not worthy to goe on foote to this idely supposed Nazaretan House like to this saying Lauretum nudis pedibus plebs crebra frequentat Quam mâ—vet interius religionis amor To Lorett people haunt with naked feete Whom religion moves with loves feruent sprit Unto this falsely patronized Chappell they offer yearely many rich gifts amounting to an unspeakable value as Chaines Rings of Gold and Silver Rubies Diamonds silken Tapestries Goblets imbroudries and such like The Jesuiticall and Penitentiall Fathers receive all but who so enjoy all let Camera reverenda Romana grant certification to this Loretan avariciousnesse who fill their coffers twice in the yeare therewith My foure Pilgrimes having performed their ceremoniall Customes came backe laughing and asked why I did not enter But I as unwilling to shew them any further reason demanded what the matter was O said the Italians Iurando peâ—il Cieloe Iddio Sacratissimo This is the House wherein the Virgin Marie dwelt in Galile and to the confirmation of these words shewed me a Booke out of which I extracted these Annotations This Chappell they hold it to be the house in which Mary was annunced by Gabriel and wherein shee conceived Iesus by operation of the holy Ghost in the meane time that devotion waxed scant amongst the Christians of the Primitive Church in the Holy Land strangers Tyrannizing over the territories of Canaan as Heraclius Costroes King of Persia Sarazens and Haranâ—one King of Aegypt it came to passe in the yeare of our Lord 1291. and in the time of Pope Nicholas the fourth that it being shaken off the foundation was transported miraculously by Angels in the night from Nâ—zareth in Gallilee to Torsalto in Slavonia the distance being by sea and land 17. hundred Italian miles O! a long lift for so scurvie a Cell And in the morning Shepheards comming to the place of pastorage found this house wherewith being astonished they returned in hast and told Saint George Alessandro the â—rior of Tâ—rsaliâ— who in that meane while was lying sick He being stricken in admiration with these newes caused â—imselfe to be borne thither and laid before the Altar and â—alling in a marvellous trance the Virgin Mary by a heavenly Vision appeared to him saying after this manner BEhold thou hast often pierced the heavens with invocations for thy reliefe and now I am come not onely to restore thee to thy health but also to certifie thee that thou doubt nohting of this House for it is holy in respect of mee 〈◊〉 chast immaculate Virgin ordained before all eternity to â—e the Mother of the most High It was in this Chamber my Mother Anna conceived me nourished mee and brought mee up in singing Psalmes Hymnes and Praises to the glory of God and also I kept in this roome the blessed Infant Iesus very God and very Man without any grievance or paine brought him up with all diligent observation And when cruell Herod sought the Babes life by the advertisement of the Angell I and my husband Ioseph who never knew my body fled with him downe to Aegypt And after his passion death and ascension to Heaven to
make a reconciliation of humane nature with the Court Coelestiall I stayed in this house with Iohn and the other Discipleâ— Who considering after my death what high mysteries had beene done into it Conseâ—rated and converted the same to a Temple for a commemoration of Christs sufferings the chiefe of Martyrs Also that resplending Image thâ—â— seest was made by Saint Luke my familâ—ar for eternizing the memory of my portraiture as I was alive by the commandement of him who doth all things and shall reserve this sacred Image to the worlds end That Crosse of Cedar which standeth at the â—â—de of the little Westerne window was made by the Apostles These Cinders in the Chimney touch not because they are the fragments of the last fire I made on earth And that Shelfe whereon my Liâ—nen cloaths and prayer Bookes lay Let no person come neere it For all these places are sanctified and holy Wherefore my Sonne I tell thee awake and goe recite the same which I have told thee unto others and to confirme thy beliefe therein the Queene of Heaven giveth thee freely thâ— health Frier Alexander being ravished say they with the Vision went and reported it to Nicholas Frangipano Lord of that Countrey And incontinently he sent this Prior and other foure Friers to Nazareth whereby hee might know the truth thereof but in that journey they dyed The Virgin Mary perceiving their incredulity caused Angels the second time to transport the house over the gulfe of Venice to a great wood neere by the sea side in the territory of Riginati in Italy being 300. miles distant Which when the country-men had found and remarking the splendor of the illuminating Image dispersed these â—ewes abroad And the Citizens of Riginati having seene what great miracles was daily done by the vertue of this Chappell imposed then to it a name Our Lady of myracles A little while after the people resorting to it with rich gifts there haunted in the wooâ— many theeves and cut-throates who rob'd and murthered the Pilgrimes Which innocent spilt-blood pricking their â—itifull Lady to the heart she made the Angels transport it â—he third time and set it on the top of a little Mountaine â—elonging to two brethren in heritage being forty foure â—iles distant from the former place But they upon a day â—uarrelling and discording about the utility of the â—fferings to this House the Angels did remove it the â—urth time and placed it in a highbroad way where it â—â—ndeth unremoved to this day which place is now â—â—led the Village of Loretta and from the last Station 〈◊〉 miles distant This was confirmed by the Papall auâ—â—ority to be of an undoubted truth after one hundred â—nd fifty three yeares deliberation Loe as briefly as I â—ould have I laid open to thy judicious eyes the transâ—ortations Originall and Papisticall Opinions of Loâ—etta protesting I have added nothing to the Authours â—escription but onely collected these speciall Warrants â—â—iâ—â—ing other infinite foolish toyes conceived for their â—â—ind-folded credulity This Chappell or rather dwelling House as they â—ould have it stood alwayes alone till of late that Pope â—lement 8. caused built a glorious Church over it And â—ere by accident I encountred with a very courteous and â—iscreet Gentleman Iames Arthur whose company was â—o me most acceptable Our acquaintance being first â—ade at the beginning of the same voiage upon the mountaines in Ferrara in Paese du Burbon and bound to visite Venice in his returning home for Scotland as well as hee had done Rome and other Cities of Italy Now I remember heere of a prettyjest for hee and I going in to see the inravileâ— Image with sparrets of Iron and musing on the blacknesse of her face and the richnesse of her gowne all set with precious Stones and Diamonds and because she is sightlesse foure Lampes of oyle they keepe alwayes burning before her face that the people may see her because she cannot see them There was I say a young lusty woman hard by my elbow busie at her Beades who with the heate of the throng and for lacke of ayre fell straight in a sound the women about her gave a shoute and cryed that our blessed Lady had appeared to her whereupon she was carried forth and laid upon the steppes that discend from the Chappell to the Church-floore five hundred more came to visite her with salutations of Saint Saint O ever blessed Saint Now it was Friday in the fore-noone and the woman having travelled all night and to save charges of fish had eaten a cold bit of her owne meat privately in the Taverne with halfe a Buckale of red Wine The people more admiring this imaginary heavenly trance than the reliefe of the woman at last said I brother Arthur I will goe open yonder womans breast and I did so and holding up her head before all the people there sprung a flood of vingarbo downe the Alablaster stayres intermingled with lumpes of ill-chew'd flesh Whereat the people being amazed from a Saint swore she was a Divell And if my friend and I had not made hast to carry the sicke woman from the Church to a Taverne doubtlesse they had stoned her to death and here was one of their miracles Another time comming backe from my second Travels in Affricke it was my lucke to stumble in heere againe where I saw an old Capouschin Frier conjuring the Divell out of a possessed woman who had stayed there and two men keeping her above eighteene moneths being twice a day brought before the Chappell The Frier stood up before her the two men holding both her armes and said laying his formost finger on her brow In nomine Patris c. Io vi cargo a dirmi per quale cagione ha vete posseduto l'anima di questae poveretta vatine via â—o ti adjuro alla quei luogi dionde tu sei venuto I charge thee to shew mee for what cause thou hast possessed the soule of this poore wretch and I adjure thee to goe backe unto those places from whence thou camest Meane while the woman stood dumbe and silent for the space of a quarter of an houre not being usuall before the people gave a shoute and cry'd the Divell had left her whereat hee that held her right arme did let it fall downe by her side but by your leave in the twinckling of an eye the Divell in the woman gave the Frier such a rattle in the face that he was stroke downe upon his backe among the people and if it had not bin that shee was borne downe with strength of hands she had torne the silly old Conjurer in peeces crying O false and dissembling knave pretendest thou to have power to cast out evill Spirits when thou thy selfe is in a worfer case than I and all thy profession too Hell hell is your reward This is another of our Lady of Lorettaes Miracles though many moe I could recite as for any more
the World Mine aforesaid Consort and I having spent ten dayes in viewing and reviewing this City and circumâ—acent Isles and my purpose reaching for Greece and Asia as hee was to recrosse the snowy Alpes my muse remembreth our sad departure Now friendly Arthur leâ—t me courts the maine Of pleasant Lombardy by Trent againe Beares through the Alpes in his 〈◊〉 wayes And past Bavaria where Danubâ—o strayes He fell on Rhyne and downe these curlings came Then ship'd for Albion neere to Roâ—terdame And coasting Isâ—s view'd that royall court Where once Appollo did in glory sport Fraught with Ambrosian Necâ—ar crown'd his dayes Oâ— Pindus tops to have Mecenas praise This light obumbrat Arthur courts the North And serv'd a noble Earle of ancient worth Full eighteene yeares till death that darts our woe First smote his Lord and then his Countesse so Now they are fled and he is left alone Till heavens provide his hopes some happy one Which if to his desert such fortune came A Princely service might his merit clayme Where wishing both his fate and worth to be I 'le Venice leave and visite Lombardy In the time of my staying here I went forth to Lombardy and visited the famous Cities of Padua Verona and Ferrarâ— The commendation of which is celebrated in these verses Extollit Paduam juris studiam medicinae Verona humanae dâ—t singula commoda vitae 〈◊〉 loculos ferrarea â—errea 〈◊〉 In Pâ—dua I stayed three moneths learning the Italian tongue and found there a Country Gentlemen of mine Doctor Iohn Wedâ—erburne a learned Mathematician 〈◊〉 now dwelling in Moravia who taught mee well in the Language and in all other respects exceeding friendly to me Padua is the most melancholy City in Europe the cause onely arising of the narrow passage of the open streetes and of the long Galleries and darke-ranges of pillars that goe alwhere on every hand of you through the whole streetes of the Towne The Schollers here in the night commit many 〈◊〉 against their privat adversaries and too often executed upon the stranger and innocent and all with 〈…〉 for beastly Sodomy it is as rife heere as in Rome Naples Florence 〈…〉 The Second Part. NOw step I o're the gulfe to th' Istrian shâ—are Dalmatia Slavonia Ilyria more Valona Albana Epyre in Greece And Morea fat where Iason hurt his fleece The Adriaticke and Ionean Iles And Lesinaes great monster Athens styles With Lacedemon sackt and Sparta rent From ancient worth Arcadia poore and shent Our gulfe Lepanto the Aetolian hight And all these coasts till Candy come in sight AFter my returne from Padâ—a to Venice 24. dayeâ— attendance devasted there for passage â— imbarked in a Carâ—â—esalo being bound to Zara Novo in Dalmatia scarcely had we lost the sight of Venice but we incountred with a deadly storme at Serocâ—e Lenante The Master had no compasse to direct his course neither was he expert in Navigation because they use commonly either on the South or North sides of the Gulfe to hoise up sayles at night and againe breake of day they have full sight of land taking their directions from the topped hillâ— of the maine continent The tempest increasing and the winds contrary we were constrained to seeke up for the Port of Parenzo in Istria Istria was called Giapidia according to Pliny Cato affirmeth it was called Istria of one Isirâ— but by the moderne Writers L'ultima Regione di Italia By 〈◊〉 it is said to bee of length 100. miles and forty large but by mine experience onely 80. long and 20. large Istria hath on the South Friuli and the Sea on the West Stria on the North Carniola on the East the Gulfe Carnarâ— or Quevâ—ro It is thought the Istrians were first a people of Colchis in Natolia who by King Aetâ—s being sent to persue Iason and the Argonaâ—ts who had stolne the golden Fleece and his daughter Medea either because of the long journey or feare of the Kings anger durst not returne and so remained in this Country where they enjoyed a long freedom til by many incursions of piracy still molesting the Venetians they lost many of their Townes Anno 938. afterward the whole Country made tributary by Duke Henry Gondolo about the yeare 1200. That part which bordereth with the Sea belongeth to the Venetians but the rest within land holds of the Emperour and the Arch Duke of Austria The Country it selfe aboundeth in Cornes wines and all kinds of fruites necessary for humane life Neere to this Haven wherein wee lay expecting roome windes I saw the ruines of old Iustinopoli so called of Iustinian the Emperour who builded it upon an Iland of eight miles length and three acres broad and to passe betwixt the City and the firme land there was seven bridges made It was anciently strong but now altogether decayed the principall Cities in Istria at this day are these Parenzo Humagâ— Pola Rouigo The windes favouring us we weighed Anchors and sayled by the Iles Brioni so much esteemed for the fine stones they produce called Istriennes which serve to beautifie the Venetian Palaces About mid-day I saw Mount di Caldaro on the foote of which the ancient City of Pola is situated having a harbour wherein small ships may lye True it is this Port is not much frequenâ—ed in respect of a contagious Lake neere to it which inâ—â—cteth the Ayre with a filthy exhalation I saw hard by this place the ruines of the Castle di Oriando the Arke Iriumphant and the reliques of a great Amphitheatre This Pola was called by Pliny Iulia pietas and it standeth in the South-east part of Istria Continuing our course we â—assed the perillous gulfe of Carnaro This gulfe or bay of Carnaro runneth in North and by 〈◊〉 50. miles within land at the narrow entry whereof it hath a part of Istria on the West and Dalmatia on the East The Venetians use to keepe alwaies certaine Gallies at the mouth of this bay on the Dalmatian side to intercept the cursary of the Scoks In the bottome of this Carnarian gulfe are placed Senna Gradisca and Novagard the chiefe Cities of Croatia the people which inhabit these Townes and the adjoyning Country are called Scoks a kind of Dalmatians being of a robust nature couragious and desperate Their weapons are broad two handed swords long Skenes carrying Targets at their girdles and long Gunnes in their hands they are marvellous swift on foote and daily annoy by land their neighbouring Turkes with inrodes fetching away great spoyles and booties of Cornes Cattell and Horses and by Sea with Frigots and Brigantines did ever and often vexe the Venetian commerce in their owne domesticke waters the great losses which from these incursive people the Venetians had from time to time received and the other dammages they inflicted upon the Turkes in their Trafficking with Venice for whom the Venetians are bound by former Articles of peace to keepe harmelesse within their owne
had murdered his Master and Prince and lastly was ratified by Paleologus whose some Constantine about 14 yeares thereafter had his head stâ—uck off his Wife and Daughters put to cruell death his Empire quite subverted in the losse of twelve Kingdomes and 200 Cities being the just judgements of God upon the some for the fathers sake who assigned such an ambitious charge unto that perverst Papalitie After which predominant Titles and falsified power what long controversies and disputes were between the Pope and the Councels of Carthage Chalcedon Ephesus Alexandria and Nice This Papall prerogative begun with bloud and murder continueth in bloud and massacres and doubtlesse in the end shall perish and be confounded with bloud and abominable destruction And what great debate was of old by the Roman Emperours in abolishing out of their Churches the Images and Idols of Stone Iron and Timber c. that for ma ny hundred years they were not suffered to be seen And at the beginning of the Papality and a long time after the Emperours prohibit them and divers Popes have confirmed and approved the same Yet succeeding Popes and the Empire being divided in East and West introducted again the dregs of their old Heathenish and Roman Idolatry and yet they will not be content with the bare name of Images but they impose a sirname or epithite of sanctitie termimg them holy Images Truly I may say if it were not for these Images and superstitious Idolatries they assigne to them the Turks had long ago beene converted to the Christian Faith I have seen somtimes 2000 Turks travelling to Mecha in Pilgrimage which is in Arabia foelix where many in a superstitious devotion having seen the Tombe of Mahomet are never desirous to see the vanities of the World again For in a frantick piety they cause a Smith to pull forth their eys And these men are called afterward Hoggeis that is Holy-men whom the Turks much honour and regard and are always led about from Towne to Towne by mens hands and fed and regarded like unto Princes or like the Capuchins that scourge themselves on good Friday met and homaged at every passing street with prayers gifts and adorations Some write that Mahomet in his youth was a Souldier under the conduct of Heraclins who implâ—ying certâ—ine Arabians in an expedition to Persla not onely denied them their wages but told them that that was not to be given for Dogs which was provided for the Roman Souldiers Hence some mutinies arising in the Army he with certaine Arabians his Cuntry men by faction seperated themselves and revolted Whereupon Mahomet encouraging them in their defection was chosen their Captain and so for a certaine time they continued rebellious Runnagates Theeves and Robbers of all people The subtlety of this dissembler was admirable who knowing that he was destitute of heavenly gifts to work miracles feign'd that God sent him with the sword He also promised at the end of a thousand yeares to returne and bring them to Paradice but he hath falsified his promise for the time is expired fortie yares agoe And they imagining that he is either diseased or become lame in his journey have ascribed to him another thousand yeares to come But long may their wicked and faithlesse generation gape before he come untill such time that in a generall convocation they be partakers of his endlesse damnation in Hell unlesse it please the Lord in his mercy to convert them before that time Mahomet chiefly prohibiteth in his Alcoran the eating of Swines flesh and drinking of Wine which indeed the best sort do but the baser kind are daily drunkards Their common drinke is Sherpet composed of water Honey and Sugar which is exceeding delectable in the taste And the usuall courtesie they bestow on their friends who visit them is a Cup of Coffa made of a kind of seed called Coava and of a blackish colour which they drinke so hot as possible they can and it is good to expell the crudity of raw meates and hearbes so much by them frequented And that those cannot attain to this liquour must be contented with the cooling streames of water It is incident to Turkes which have not the generosity of mind to temper felicity to be glutted with the superfluous fruites of doubtfull prosperity Neither have they a patient resolution to withstand adversity nor hope to expect the better alteration of time But by an infused malice in their wicked spirits when they are any way calamited will with importunate compulsion cause the poor slavish subiected Christians surrender all they have the halfe or so forth somtimes with strokes menacings and somtimes death it selfe which plainly doth demonstrate their excessive cruelty and the poore Christians inevitable misery And yea being complained upon they are severely punished or else put to death for committing of such unallowed Ryots being expresly against the Imperiall Law of the Turke concerning the quietnesse and liberty of the Christians I have often heard Turkes brawle one with another most vilely but I never saw or heard that they either in private or publicke quarrels durst strike one another neither dare they for feare of severe punishment imposed to such quarrellers But they will injure and strike Christians who dare not say it is a misse or strike again It is a common thing with them to kill their seruants for a very small offence and when they have done throw them like Dogs in a Ditch And oftentimes if not so will lay them downe on their backes hoysing up their heeles bind their feete together and fasten them to a post and with a cudgell give them three or foure hundred blows on the soles of their feete whereupon peraduenture some ever go lame after Their servants are bought and sold like bruit beasts in Markets neither can these miserable drudges ever recover liberty except they buy themselves free either by one means or other Their wives are not far from the like servitude for the men by the Alcoran are admitted to marry as many women as they will or their ability can keep And if it shall happen that any one of these women I mean either Wife or Concubine proftituteth her selfe to an other man besides her Husband then may he by authority binde her hands and feet hang a stone about her neck and cast her into a River which by them is usually done in the night But when these Infidels please to abuse poore Christian women against their Husbands will they little regard the transgression of the Christian Law who as well defloure their Daughters as their Wives yet the devout Mahometans never meddle with them accounting themselves damned to copulate as they think with the off-spring of Dogs The Turks generally when they commit any copulation with Christians or their owne sexe they wash themselves in a South running Fountaine before the Sun rising thinking thereby to wash away their sins If a Turke should happen to kill another
they were the Lord knoweth from thence a Gentleman brought us to a Chappell within a vinyard called the Chappell of miracles the originall whereof was thus Upon a Festivall day being Vintage time there came a Peasant to the Towne and passing by the Vines as there is a number within the walls did eat his belly full of the Grapes and thereafter hearing a Masse was confessed and received the Sacrament And returning the same way hee came and just where hee had eaten the Grapes hee fell a vomiting and casting up with what hee had eaten the Holy Sacrament it straight turned in the likenesse of a new borne Babe being bright and glorious Well the amazed fellow ran back and told his Confessour what was done and his offence who had eaten Grapes before the Reception of the Eucharist The Confessour told the Bishop where hee and other Prelats comming to the place and beholding as it were an Angel grew astonished In the end they wrapped up their little dead god in a cambrick veile there buried it building this Chappell above the place where ever since there is a world of lying miracles done Loe these are the novelties of Cullen Thence ascending the Rhine and coasting Heidleberg I saluted the Princesse Palatine with certaine rare Relicks of the Holy Land And leaving Monsieur Bruce there till my returne I went for Norrenberg to discover the fixe Germans deaths whom I had buried in the Desarts and Grand Caire of Aegypt for the two Barons were subject to the Marquesse of Hanspauch Where having met with some of their Brethren Sisters and Kinsmen and declared to them their deaths I was presently carried to their Prince the Marquesse to whom I related the whole Circumstances Whereupon a brother of the one Baron and a sister of the other were instantly invested in their Land and I likewise by them all greatly regarded and rewarded And after ten dayes feasting reviewing Heidleberg mine associate and I set forward for Helvetia or Switzerland This countrey is divided in thirteene Cantons sixe whereof are Protestants and six Papists the odde Canton being likewise halfe and halfe The most puissant whereof is Biern whose Territory lying along the lake reacheth within a leagve of Geneve The people and their service to most Christian Princes are well knowne being Manly Martiall and trusty faithfull Here in the Canton of Bierne neere to Vrbs wee went and saw a young woman who then had neyther eate nor drunke nor yet excremented for thirteene yeares being truely qualified by her Parents friends Physitians and other Visitors She was alwayes Bed-fast and so extenuated that her Anatomized body carried nought but Sinew skin and bones yet was shee alwayes mindefull of God And the yeare after this time her body returned againe to the naturall vigour in appetite and all things and married a husband bearing two children dyed in the fifth yeare thereafter The day following we entred Geneve where viewing the Towne the chiefe Burgo-masters the seven Ministers and the foure Captaines were all familiarly acquainted with mee The Ministers one night propining mee with a Bible newly Translated in the Italian tongue by one of themselues borne in Milane told me there was a Masse-Priest sixe Leagues off a curate of a Village in Madame du longeviles Country who had gotten in his owne Parish three Widdowes and their three severall Daughters with child and all about one time and for this his Luxurious Cullions was brought to Dijon to be Executed Desiring me to go see the manner the next day leaving Master Bruce with them I went hither and upon the sequell day I saw him hanged upon a new Gallowes as high as a house The three mothers their three Daughters were set before him being Gravidato whose sorrowfull hearts and eye gushing teares for their sinne and shame were lamentable to behold the incestuous Bugerono begging still mercy and pardon for dividing their legges opening their wretched Wombs Lo there is the chastity of the Romish Priests who forsooth may not marry and yet may miscarry themselves in all abomination especially in Sodomy which is their continuall pleasure and practise Returning to Geneve acquainting the Magistrates with his Confession for they are great Intelligencers I wrot this literall Distich Glance Glorious Geneve Gospell-Guiding Gem Great God Governe Good Geneves Ghostly Game The lake of Geneve is sixteene Leaguhs in length and two broad at the South-west end whereof standeth the Towne through whose middle runneth the River of Rhone whose Head and body beginneth from the Lake among the very houses The nature of which River is not unlike to Nylus for when all other Riuers decrease being in Summer this increaseth The reasons proceeding from the excessive Snow that lie upon the Sangalian and Grisonean Alpes which cannot melt till about our longest day that the force and face of the Sunne dissolve it And so ingorging the Lake it giveth Rhone such a body that it is the swiftest River in Europe The Towne on both sides the stood is strongly fortified with rampierd walls and counter-banding Bulwarkes the Ditch without and about being dry is mainly pallasaded with wooden stakes for preventing of suddain Scallets Many assaults have this handfull of people suffered by Land and Water from the Savoyean Duke the recitall whereof would plunge mee in prolixity and therefore committing that Light shining Sion and her Religious Israelites to the tuition of the Almighty I stept over the Alps to Torine Here is the residence of the Dukes of Savoy whose beginning sprung first from the House of Saxon For Berold or Berauld being a neer Cousin to the Emperour Otton the Third and brother to the Saxon Duke the Emperour gratified him with these Lands of Savoy and parts of Piemont where he and his Successors continued four hundred yeers under the Title of Earls untill the Emperour Sigismond at the Counsell of Constance did create Amee the eight Earle of his name Duke And so beginning with him to this present Duke now living named Charles Emanuel there have been only eight Dukes and some of them of short lives And yet of all the Christian Dukes the most Princely Court is kept here for Gallants Gentry and Knights At the same time of my being there this present Duke had wars with his own brother in Law Philp the Third about the Marquesade of Montferrat and Dutchy of Mantua the issue whereof but retorted to the Duke a redoubling disadvantage though now it bee gone from the Gonsagaes to the French Duke of Naviers This Countrey of Piemont is a marvellous fruitfull and plaine Countrey and wonderfull populous like to the River sides of Arno round about Florence Insomuch that a Venetian demanding a Piemont Cavalier what Piemont was Replyed it was a Town of three hundred miles in circuite meaning of the Habitations and populosity of the Soyle The rest of the surnames of the Italian Dukes are these viz. that of Parma is Fernese
passages formerly of my Countrey so exquisitely that I was astonished at their relations so agreeable with the trueth and times past The Parlament of Sicily hath a wonderfull great authority in so much that the Viceroy cannot have the free gift as they call it which is every third yeare nor no extraordinary thing nor the renewing of any matter concerning the common-wealth without the generall consent of the whole Kingdome The generall Counsell whereof is composed of three branches called by them the armes of the Kingdome viz. first the Prelats and inferiour Clergy men named the arme Ecclesiastick secondly of Barons called the arme Military and the third the Commissioners of Cities and Townes intitulated the arme Signioriall The Crowne-rent of this Kingdome amounteth to a million and a halfe of Duccats yearely which being disbursed euer for intertaining of Captaines Garrisons and of Gallies and cursary ships the Badgeloes and servants for the fields the maintaining of Towers and watches about the coasts the reparations of Colledges high-wayes Lords pensions and other defrayings there rests little or nothing at all to the King I remember in my twice being in this Kingdome especially the second time wherein I compassed the whole Island and thrise traversed the middle parts thereof from Sea to Sea I never saw any of that selfe Nation to begge bread or seeke almes so great is the beatitude of their plenty And I dare avow it experience taught mee that the poorest creature in Sicily eateth as good bread as the best Prince in Christendome doth The people are very humane ingenious eloquent and pleasant their language in many words is neerer the Latine then the Italian which they promiscuously pronounce somewhat talkative they are and effeminate but generally wonderfull kind to strangers In the moneths of Iuly and August all the Marine Townes every yeare are strictly and strongly guarded with them of the inland Villages and Bourges both on foote and horse-backe who are compelled to lie there at their owne charges so long as this season lasteth in which they feare the incursions of the Turks but the rest of the yeare these Sea-coast Townes are left to the vigilant custodie of the Indwellers This Countrey was ever sore oppressed with Rebells and Bandits untill such time that the military Duke of Sona came to rule there as Viceroy Anno 1611. where in the first yeare he brought in five hundred some whereof were hanged some pardoned and some committed to the Gallies So that within two yeares of his foure yeares government there was not a Bandit left at random in all Sicilia the like before was never seene in this Region nor one in whom Astreas worth was more honoured infortitude of mind and execution of true Justice that this Duke before whose face the silly ones did shine and the proud stiffe-necked oppressors did tremble And in a word he has no suppressor of the subjects as many now be to satisfie either licentious humours or to inrich light-headed flatterers but serving Justice he made Justice serve him for the equity of Justice of it selfe can affond none neither of any will it be offended unlesse the corrupt tongue and hand of the mercenary Judge suffer sound judgment to perish for temporary respects which this noble Governour could never doe neither suffer any inferiour Magistrate to doe the like under him As it well appeared by his 〈◊〉 proceedings against thy Iesuits of Paleâ—â—o and his authority upon them imposed in spight of their ambition The circumstances whereof were very plausible if time did not slaughter my good wil and yet my patience could performe my paines with pleasure And likewise against a Seminary Gallant a Parochiall Priest of that same City who had killed a Knights servant in a Brothel house the brother of a Shoomaker which fellow the Viceroy caused to Pistoll the Priest in spight of the Cardinall and there upon absolved him for the dead This Cardinall having onely for the Priests fact discharged him to say Masse for a yeare without satisfaction for the mans life so the Duke inhibited the Shoomaker to make shooes for a yeare and neverthelesse allowed him two shillings a day to maintaine him for that time Many singular observations have I of his government the which to recite would prove prolixious though worthy of note to the intellective man hee was afterward Viceroy of Naples and now lately deceased in Spain It is dangerous to travell by the Marine of the Sea-coasts Creekes in the West parts especially in the mornings least hee finde a Moorish Frigoâ— lodged all night under colour of a Fisher boat to give him a slavish break-fast for so they steale labouring people of the fields carrying them away captives to Barbary notwithstanding of the strong Watch towers which are in every one sight of another round about the whole Island There arrivalls are usually in the night and if in day time they are soone discovered the Towers giving notice to the Villages the Sea-coast is quickly clad with numbers of men on foot and horse-backe And oftentimes they advantagiously sease on the Moores lying in obscure clifts and bayes All the Christian Isles in the Mediterranean Sea and the Coast of Italy and Spaine inclining to Barbary are thus chargeably guarded with watch Towers The chiefest remarkeable thing in this Isle from all Antiquity is the burning hill of Aetna called now Maâ—â—e Bello or Gibello signifying a faire Mountaine so it is being of height toward Catagna from the Sea side fifteene Sicilian miles and in Circuite sixty The North side toward Rindatza at the Roote being unpassable steepe yet gathering on all parts so narrow to the top as if it had been industriously squared having a large prospect in the Sea about the lower parts whereof grow exceeding good Wines Cornes and Olives And now in my second Travails and returning from Affricke I not being satisfied with the former sight the kind Bishop of Rindatza courteously sent a Guide with me on his owne charges to view the Mountaine more strictly Ascending on the east and passable part with tedious toile and curious climbing wee approached neare to the second fire being twelve miles high which is the greatest of the three now burning in Aetna whose vast mouth or gulfe is twice twelve-score long and wide lying in a strait valley between a perpendiculur height and the main Mountaine whose terrible flames and cracking smoak is monstous fearefull to behold Having viewed and reviewed this as neare as my Guide durst adventure the ground meane while whereon wee stood warming our feete and is dangerous for holes without a perfect Guide wee ascended three miles higher to the maine top of Cima from which the other two fires had their beginning Where when come wee found it no way answerable to the greatnesse of the middle fire the other two drawing from it the substance wherewith it hath beene anciently furnished yet between them two upper fires I found abundance of
commencement of all our best Merchants wealth or at the least mosâ— part of them And now ceasing to peramble through any more particulars of this familiar Nation to us I was kindly transported from Warsow upon a Waggon to Dansicke being fifty Leagues distant with a generous young Merchant William Bailey my kinde Country-man to whose courtesies I still rest thankfull Here in Dansickâ— I fell deadly sicke for three Weeks space insomuch that my grave and Tombe was prepared by my Country-men there Neverthelesse in end it pleased Almighty God I recovered my health and then imbarked for Alseynure in Denmarke where being better convalessed I recoursed backe in a Flemish Pink to Stockhollem where after five or sixe dayes being there and finding my sicknesse like to returne againe and fearing the worst I made haste for England At last finding the opportunity of an English ship belonging to Ratcliffe we hoysed saile set forward through the Sound or Beltick Sea for Alseynvere againe Whence after three dayes abode bidding farewell to that Town and Castle we coasted the scurrile and rocky face of Norway at two severall parts but not without great stormes and contrary winds yea and once finally indangered with a threatning Shipwracke which with good luck we happily escaped These tempestuous dangers past upon the seventh day the windes favouring us we safely arrived at London from whence I first began this Voyage and there ended my second Peregrination Magnum virtutis principiumest ut dixit paulatim exercitatus animus visibilia tranâ—itoria primum Commutare ut post-modum possit derelinquere Delicatus ille est adhue cui patria dulcis est fortis autem jam cui omne solum patria est perfectus verâ— cui mundus exilium est The end of the Second Booke of my Second Travailes The Tenth Part. Containing the third Booke of my Third Travailes NOw swolne ambition bred from curious toile Invites my feet to tread parch'd Aethiops Soile To sight great Prester Iâ—han and his Empire That mighty King their Prince their Priest their Sire Their Lawes Religion Manners Life and frame And Amais mount-rais'd Library of â—ame Well I am sped bids Englands Court adiew And by the way the Hiberne boâ—nds I view In whose defects the truth like razor sharpe Shall sadly tune my new string'd Irish Harpe Then sound I France and cross'd the Pythenâ—ise At the Columbian heights which tâ—reat the skies And coasting Pampelon I 〈◊〉 all Spaine From Beâ—obia to Jubile Taure againe Then rest'd at Malaga where I was shent And taken for a Spie crush'd rackt and rent Where ah when Treason tride by false position They wrest'd on me their lawlesse Inquiâ—ition Which after Tortures Hunger Veâ—mine 〈◊〉 Condemn'd me quicke stake-bound to burne in ashes Gods providence comes in and I 'me discovered By Merchants meanes by Aston last delivered Where noble Maunsell Generall of that Fleet That I was rack'd for did kind Haulkins greet With strict command to send me home for Court To shew King James my torments pangs and tort Loe I am come to Bath I 'me sent and more Mine hoplesse life made Worlds my sight deplore Which here I le sing in Tragicke tune to all That love the Truth and looke for Babels fall BUt now having finished the two Discriptions of my first and second Adventures it rest nâ—w most necessary to relate the Meritorious designe and miserable effect of my third Voyage After I had I say by the great providence of God escaped infinite dangers by Seas suffering thrice shipwrack by Land in Woods and on Mountaines often invaded by ravenous Beasts crawling and venemous Wormes daily incombred by home-bred Robbers and remote Savages five times strip'd to the skin excessive fastidiousnesse unspeakable adversities parching heats scorching drouth intollerable distresses of hunger imprisonments and cold yet all these almost incredible sufferings past could never abate the flame of mine austiere affection conceived but ambitious curiosity exposing me to a third Voyage I may say as Aeneâ—s did in his penetentiall Mood O socij neque eniâ—i ignari sumus ante malorum O passi graviora dabit Deus his quoque finem O Socials we 're not ignorant of losses O suffrings sad God too will end these â—rosses But to observe a methodicall order I thinke it best to shew the unacquainted Reader a reasonable satisfaction for undertaking the third and almost invincible attempt First the most speciall and urgent cause proceeded from a necessary good the necessity of knowledge in the requisite perfection of Europes full and spacious sight the ancient Tierce and now most Christian world wanting former no part thereof unseene as well under the Turke as Christian except Ireland and the haâ—fe of Spaine The second cause was moved from a more inâ—atiate content that when I had and having compassed all Europe my resolution was to borrow a larger dimmense of ground in Affricke than formerly I had done in twice before even to Aethiopia Prester Iehans Dominions For the same effect and a great impression to my Resolution I set pen to paper drawing from the distaffe of the retractable Muses a Poeticall pamphlet Dedicated to themselves to their profound Apollo his then hopefull Heire and divers Noble Peeres of both Kingdomes And having from a Royall favour obtained his Majesties Letters and Seales of safe Conduct and Regall recommendation to all Kings Princes and Dukes c. I in all obsequious humility bad farewel to this sequestrate and most auspicuous Monarchy and arriving at Dublin in Ireland the two and twentieth of August one thousand sixe hundred and nineteene I saluted the right Honourable Sir Oliver St. Iohns late Lord Grandison and then Lord Deputy there from whom for regard and singular courtesies I was greatly obliged So was I also to many of the English Nobilitie and Knighthood there who through the whole Countrey where ever I came entertained mee kindly sending Guides with mee from place to place yea and sometimes safe-guards also beside in their houses great good cheere and welcome But in speciall a dutifull remembrance I owe to the memory of that sometimes judicious and religious Lord Arthuâ— late Lord Chichester Baron of Belfast c. Who in his time for Vertue Wisdome and Valour wore the Diademe of Love and Garland of true Noblenesse Of whom and for whose losse if I should more praise and longer lament my inke would turn to brinish teares and I to helplesse sorrow But leaving him who lived in goodnesse here and now in glorie for ever I celebrate these Lines to his eternall Fame If ever Bountie shin'd in loyall brest If ever Iudgment flow'd from generous mouth If ever Vice-roy rul'd this Kingdome best If ever Valour honour'd hopefull youth If ever Wisdome Astrea's worth possest If ever Vertue was inclin'd to ruth If ever Iustice enormities redrest If ever Patron paterne was of truth Then noble Chichester the Heavens assigne These gifts thy honour'd parts were truly thine And now after
bruised Latine seldome or never expressed unlesse the force of quaffing spew it out forth from their empty Sculs Such I say interclude their Doctrine betweene the Thatch and the Church-wall tops and yet their smallest stipends shall amount to one two three or foure hundred pounds a yeare Whereupon you may demand mee how spend they or how deserve they this I answer their deserts are nought and the fruit thereof as naughtily spent for Sermons and Prayers they never have any neither never preached any nor can preach And although some could as perhaps they seemeing would they shall have no Auditour as they say but bare Walles the plants of their Parishes being the rootes of meere Irish. As concerning their carriage in spending such sacrilegious Fees the course is thus The Alehouse is their Church the Irish Priests their Consorts their Auditors be Fill and Fetch more their Text Spanish Sacke their Prayers carrousing their singing of Psalmes the whiffing of Tobacco their last blessing Aqua vitae and all their Doctrine sound drunkennesse And whensoever these parties meet their paâ—ting is Dane-like from a Dutch Pot and the Minister still Purse-bearer defrayeth all charges for the Priest Arguments of Religion like Podolian Polonians they â—uccumbe their conference onely pleading mutuall forbearance the Minister affraid of the Priests Wood-Carnes and the Priests as fearefull of the Ministers apprehending or denoting them contracting thereby a Gibeonized covenant yea and for more submissions sake hee will give way to the Priest to mumble Masse in his Church where he in all his life made never Prayer nor Sermon Loe there are some of the abuses of our late weak and stragling Ecclesiasticks there and the soule-sunk sorrow of godlesse Epicures and Hypocrites To all which and much more have I beene an occular Testator and sometimes a constrayned consociate to their companionry yet not so much inforced as desirous to know the behaviour and conversation of such mercenary Iebusites Great God amend it for it is great pitty to behold it and if it continue so still as when I saw them last O farre better it were that these ill bestowed Tythes and Church-wall Rents were distributed to the poore and needy than to suffocate the swine-fed bellies of such idle and prophane Parasites And here another generall abuse I observed that whensoever any Irish dye the friends of the defunct besides other fees paying twenty shillings to the English Curat shall get the corpes of the deceased to bee buried within the Church yea often even under the Pulpit foote And for lucre interre in Gods Sanctuary when dead who when alive would never approach one enter the gates of Sion to worship the Lord nor conforme themselves to true Religion Truely such and the like abuses and evill examples of lewd lives having beene the greatest hinderance of that lands conversion for such like wolues have beene from time to time but stumbling blocks before them regarding more their owne sensuall and licentious ends than the glory of God in converting of one foule unto his Church Now as concerning the conscionable carriage of the Hybernian Cleargie aske mee and there my reply As many of them for the most part as are Protestant Ministers have their Wives Children and Servants invested Papists and many of these Church-men at the houre of their death like Dogs returne backe to their former vomit Witnesse the late Vicar of Calin belonging to the late and last Richard Earle of Desmond who being on death-bed and having two hundred pounds a yeare finding himselfe to forsake both life and stipend send straight for a Romish Priest and received the Papall Sacrament Confessing freely in my audience that hee had beene a Roman Catholicke all his life dissembling onely with his Religion for the better maintaining of his wife and children And being brought to his burial place he was interted in the Church with the which he had played the Ruffian all his life being openly carried at mid-day with Jesuites Priests and Friers of his owne Nation and after a contemptible manner in derision of our profession and Laws of the Kingdome Infinite more examples of this kinde could I recite and the like resemblances of some being alive â—ut I respectively suspend wishing a Reformation of such Deformation and so concludeth this Cleargicall corruption there Yet I would not have the Reader to thinke that I condemne all our Cleargie there no God forbid for I know there are many sound and Religious Preachers of both Kingdomes among them who make conscience of their calling and live as Lanthornes to uncapable Ignorants and to those stragling Stoicks I complain of condemnatory Judges for it is a grievous thing to see incapable men to juggle with the high mysteries of mans salvation And now after the fastidious ending of a tempestuous Raine sacking toyle I imbarked at Yoghall in Munster February 27 1620 in a little French Pinke bound for Saint Mallo in Bretagne Where when transported I set face to Paris where I found the Works of two scelerate and perverse Authours the one of which had disdainfully wrote against the life and Reigne of Queene Elizabeth of sempiternall Renowne the other ignominiously upon the death of our late Queene Anne of ever blessed memory The circumstances whereof I will not avouch since Malaga detaineth the notes of their abjured names and perfidiate pains A just reward may I say refounded upon these fond conceits you have of the fantasticke French Especially these superstitious straglers here who when they have sucked the Milke of their self-ends and your lavish Liberalities without desert returne a kicke with their heeles like to the Colt of an Asse in your teeth againe And there your meritorious thankes and their shamefull slanders in acquittance of your vaine Expence Tell mee if you be tied like Apes to imitate their ever-changing humours And can you draw from them in any Art or carriage a greater draught then they draw from the Italian for first they be Imitators next Mutators thirdly Temptators and lastly your Plantators in all the varieties of vanity Have you a desire to learne modestly to Dance skilfully to Fence dexteriously to manage Great Horses view Forraine Sights learn Languages Humane policies and the like conducements Then rather reach the Fountain whence they flow Whence Science Arts and Practice lively grow Than suck the streams of separate distasts He well derives his labour never wasts Fond Fools affect what foolery Fools effect The sequell sight than sense doth more infect Besides these two infamous Authors what hath Edee the Idea of a Knave and Gentleman of the French privy-chamber done who like a Wood-weather-cock and giddy headed Foole full of deficient Vapours hath shamefully stained with his shamelesse pen the light of this Kingdome which now I omit to avouch till a fitter time Thus they fondly Write thus they prattle thus they sing thus they dance thus they brangle thus they dally in capritziate humours and
refused to come ashoare there for that was the first impression of their false conceived jealousie Next hee asked mee if I knew his name and the other Captains and what their names were and what their intention was or if I had knowne of their comming abroad or preparation for it before my departure from England The Scrivan writing downe mean-while every word hee spoke and what I answered well to all the former particulars giving condigne satisfaction and to the last denying that I knew of the forth comming of the Fleet they all foure gave a shout in the contrary Whereupon the Governour swearing cursed and said Thou lyest like a Villain thou art a Spie and a Traytor and camest directly from England of purpose to Spaine and hath beene lying nine moneths in Sivilia getting sure intelligence when the Spanish Navy was looked for from the Indies and that thou expresly here came to meete with the English Armado knowing of their drift to give them credible knowledge thereof And that by thy information they might the more readily compasse their ends and thus thy treachery and subtilty hath been imployed Whereat I being astonished and seriously answering for the intention of the English Fleet and my owne innocencie concerning them Hee threatning said I was seene familiar a Board and a shoare with the whole Captaines and knowne to be of their speciall acquaintance besides three hundred other Gentlemen and Mariners with whom and they with thee were so inward that it far exceeded the kindnesse of accidentall meeting All this wee saw and hourely remarked said hee and thou art newly come from the Generall when thou wast taken where consulting with their Connsell of Warre this morning concerning what they assigned thee to accomplish thou hast delivered thy opinion and the expectation of Sivilia touching the return of his Majesties Armado di Plato and therefore thou art a Spiono a Traytour and a scelerate Velacco for wee are not ignorant said he of the burning of Saint Thome in the West Indies for there and then wee had a certaine evidence of the English infidelitie and treacherous exploits in time of Peace Wherefore these Lutherans and sonnes of the Devill ought not from us good Catholicks to receive no credit Whereupon I besought him to send for some sufficient English Factors there sojourning who would testifie the contrary in my behalfe their Countrey and their Fleete but that hee would not for my being discovered At last seeing his damnable opinion and to cleare my selfe of such false imputations I requested him to send a Sergeant to my Possado or lodging for my Cloakbag where he should see a more evident Testimony of my carriage and honest purpose and thereupon the approbation of my Prince This demaund liked him well thinking thereby to finde out all the secrets and practise of my Negotiation with the English Fleete Whereupon forthwith and with close Circumspection he had it brought unto him my hostage House not knowing where I was The Cloakbag I opened my selfe and showing him his Majesties Letters in parchment and under his Hand and Seale dated at Theobals 1619. Iuly 17 and compiled and wrot by Mr. Thomas Read then secretary for the Latin Tongue done in my behalfe and my intended Resolution for Aethiopia the Kings safe Conduct hee mis-regarded giving it neither respect nor trust After which I show'd him divers patents Seales and the great seale of Ierusalem Pasports and my Booke of armes called Liber amicorum wherein I had the hand writs and armes of sundry Kings Dukes Princes Vice Royes Marquesses Earles Lords and Governors c. done in Prose and Verse in Greeke Latine or their maternall tongues being as propitious pledges of their favour in commendation of mee and of my Travailes But all these would not satisfie him nay rather confirming a greater jealousie of his former suspition whereupon misconstruing all they seased absolutely upon my Cloak-bag viewing and detaining all I had at their pleasure including me the third time This done and within night being Represented againe the Governour commanding me to subscribe my Confession which I voluntarily obeyed though they still urged me further and further to confesse Meane while these foure Complices consulting about my Imprisonment the Aleade or chief Justice would have had me along with him to the Towne Jayle but the Corrigidor refused saying Para non star visto con sus Pesanos that hee may not bee seene by his Country-men it behoveth me to have a care of his concealment and I warrant you said hee I â—hall lodge him well enough Upon the knowledge of this that I was secretly to be incarcerate in the governours Palace entered the Mr. Sergeant and begged my money and Licence to search for it and liberty granted he found in my pockets eleveâ— Philippoes or ducatons and then uncloathing me befâ—re their eyes even to my shirt and searching my breeches he found in my Doublet necke fast shut between two Canvesses one hundred thirty seven double peeces of gold Whereat the Corrigidor arose and couuting my gold being five hundred forty eight Ducats he said to the Sergant cloath him againe and inclosed him there in the Cabinet till after supper meanewhile the Sergeant got the eleven duccatons of Silver and my gold which was to carrie me for Aethiopia the Governour seased upon giving afterwards two hundred Crowns of it to supply the new laid foundation of a Capuschine monastery there reserving the rest being 348 duccats for his own avaritious ends Whereupon beholding my inevitable misery and such monster-made irons my sighing soule replyed thus Alas Sergant and you two Slaves remarke in mee the iust Iudgments of god and loe how the Heavens have reducted mee to this meritorious reward and truely deserved for I have dearely and truely bought it that I whose leggs and feete the whole universe could scarcely containe now these bolts and irons keepe then fast in a body length of a stonepaved Floore O foolish pride O suppressing ambition and vaporous curiosity woe worth the fury of your aspiring vanities you have taken mee over the face of the earth and now left mee in a Dungeon hole My soule O my soule is leager unto this prouerbe Man proposeth and God disposeth O happâ—had I beene thrice happy in a Shepehards life Thus and more lamenting the destiny of nature they left mee with solacious words and straight returned againe with victuals being a pound of boild Mutton a wheat bread and a small pint of Wine which was the first the best and the last of this kinde that ever I got in that woefull Mansion The Sergeant leaving me never seeing him more till a more unwelcome sight hee directed the Slaues that after I had contented my discontented appetite they should lock the doore and carry the keyes to Areta a Spaniard and keeper of the silver plate A little while after hee was gone the other drudge left me also who was newly turned Christian where
on Edenbrugh and prosecuting the Tennor of a Regall Commission which partly beeing some-where obeyed and other-where suspended it gave mee a large sight of the whole Kingdome both Continent and Iles. The particular Description whereof in all parts and of all places besides Ports and Rivers I must referre to the owne Volume already perfected Inâ—iâ—ulaâ—ed Litâ—gâ—wes Surueigh of Scotland which this Worke may not Containe nor time suffer to publish till a fiâ—ter â—ccasion Only Commenting a little upon some generalls I hasten to be at Finis Traversing the Westerne Iles whose inhabitants like to as many Bulwarkes are abler and apter to preserve and defend their libertie and precincts from incursive invasions then any neede of Forts or Fortified places they have or can be required there Such is the desperate courage of these awfull Hebridians I arrived I say at the I le of Arrane Anno 1628. where for certayne dayes in the Castle of Braidwicke I was kindly intertayned by the illustrious Lord Iames Marquesse of Hammilton Earle of Arrane and Cambridge c. Whom GGD may strengthen with the liveliest Heart And fearelesse Minde of all ere fac'd that Art For Bohems Queene Heauens prosper His intent With Glorious Successe and a Braue euent That by a King beene Sped for a Kings Sake To helpe a King all Three from Him may take Auspicuous Seruice frienship faithfull Loue Gainst whom and his no time can breach improue Let then great God blest Sparkes of fauour fall On his Designes and Theirs our Friends and All And Angels Guard Him let Thy Mighty hand Partition-like twixt Him and dangers stand That Martiall ends and Victory may Crowne His happie Hopes his Life with Loue Renowne This I le of Arrane is thirty miles long eight in breadâ—h and distant from the Maine twenty foure Miles being sur-clouded with Goatfield Hill which with wide-eyes ouer-looketh our Westerne Continent and the Northerne Countrey of Ireland bringing also to â—ighâ— in a cleare Summers day the I le of Manne and tâ—e higher Coast of Cumberland A larger prospect no Mountaine in the World can show poynting out three Kingdomes at one sight Neither any like Isle or brauer Gentry for good Archers and hill-houering Hunters Hauing againe re-shoared the Maine I coasted Galloway euen to the Mould that butteth into the Sea with a large Promontore being the south-most part of the Kingdome And thence footing all that large Countrey to Dumfreis and so to Carlile I found heere in Galloway in diuerse Rode-way Innes as good Cheare Hospitality and Seruiceable attendance as though I had beene ingrafted in Lombardy or Naples The Wool of which Countrey is nothing inferiour to that in Biscai of Spaine prouiding they had skill to fine Spin Weaue and labour it as they should Nay the Calabrian silke had neuer a better luster and softer gripe then I haue seene and touched this growing wool there â—n sheepes backes the Mutton whereof excelleth in sweetnesse So this Country aboundeth in Bestiall especially in little Horses which for mettall and Riding may rather be tearmed bastard Barbes then Gallowediau Nagges Likewise their Nobility and Gentry are as courteous and euery way generously disposed as either discretion would wish and honour Command that Cunningham being excepted which may be called the Accademy of Religion for a sanctified Clergy and a godly people certainly Galloway is become more ciuill of late then any Maritine Country bordering with the Westerne Sea But now to obserue my former Summary condition the length of the Kingdome lyeth South and North that is betweene Dungsby head in Cathnes and the fore-said Mould of Galloway being distantâ— per rectam liâ—eam which my weary feet â—road ouer from poynt to poynt the way of â—ochreall Carrick Kyle Aire Glasgow Stirueling St. Iohns Towne Stormount the Blair of Athâ—ll the Brâ— of Mar Badeynoh Innernes Rosse Sutherland and so to the North Promontore of Cathnes extending to three hundred twenty miles which I reckâ—n to be foure hundred and fifty English miles Confounding hereby the ignorant presumption of blind Cosmographers whom their Mappes make England longer than Scotland when contrariwise Scotland out-strippeth the other in length a hundred and twenty miles The breadth whereof I grant is narrower than England yet extending betweene the extremities of both Coasts in diuers parts to threescore fourescore and a hundred of our miles But because of the Sea ingulfing the Land and cutting it in so many Angles making great Lakes Bayes and dangerous Firths on both sides of the Kingdome the true breadth thereof cannot iustly be coniectured nor soundly set downe Our chiefest fresh water Lakes are these Lochlomond contayning twenty â—oure Iles and in length as many miles divers whereof are inriched with Woods Deere and other Bestiall The large and long Lake of Loch Tay in Atholl the Mother and Godmother of Head-strong Tay the grâ—atest Riuer in the Kingdome And Lochnes in the higher parts of Murray the Riuer whereof that graceth the pleasant and commodious situation of Innerneâ— no â—rost can freize The propriety of which water wil quickly melt and dissolue any hard congealed lumps of frozen â—ce be it on Man or Beast stone or timâ—er The chiefest Rivers are Clyde Tay Tweed Forth Dee Spay Nith Nesse and Dingwells flood ingorging Lake that confirmeth Porta salutis being all of them where they returne their tributs to their father Ocean portable and as it were resting places for turmoyled seas and ships And the principall Townes are Edenbrough Perth Glasgow Dundie Abirdene St Andrewes Aire Stirveling Lithgow Dumfreis Innernes Elgin Minros Iedburgh Hadington Leith c. and for antiquity old Lanerk c. So the most delicious soiles of the Kingdome are these following first the bounds of Clyde or Cliddisdale betweene Lanerk and Dunbertan distanced twenty sixe miles and thence downeward to Rossay that kisseth the divulgements of the River the beginning whereof is at Arickâ— stone sixeteene miles above Lanerk whose course contendeth for threescore miles All which being the best mixed Country for Cornes Meeds Pastorage Woods Parks Orchards Castles Pallaces divers kinds of Coale and earth-fewell that our included Albion produceth And may justly be surnamed the Paradise of Scotland Besides it is adorned on both borders along with the greatest peeres and Nobility in the Kingdome The Duke of Lennox the Marques of Hammilton the Earle of Angus the Earle of Argile and the Earles of Glencarne Wigton and Abircorn And for Lord Barons Semple Rosse Blantyre and Dalliell The chiefest Gentry whereof are the Knights and Lairds of Luce Skell murelie Blâ—khall Greenock Newwark Houston Pook-maxwell Sir George Elpingston of Blythswood Minto Cambusnethen Calderwood the two Knights of Lieye and Castel-hill Sir Iames Lokharts elder yonger Lamington Westraw his Majesties Gentleman Sewer Blakwood Cobinton Stanebyres and Corhous c. All which in each degree as they illuminat the soile with grandure so the soyle reflecteth on them againe with beauty bounty and riches But least I partiall prove