Much given to Piracy and all Idolaters till of late Governed by many Kings or petit Princes the cause of much contention and many quarrels three of which are said to have been converted to Christianity and for that cause much hated by their heathenish Subjects who thereupon rebelled against them It is situate West of the Moluccos and hath therein a Town called Sion honoured with the abode of one of their Christian Kings but possibly not so called untill their conversion the proper name thereof being Cian 2. Nibon in the South and 3. Terolli in the North parts of it 2. GILOLO called also â—atachina is one of those Islands which our late Navigators include under the name of Del Mor. Of large extent conceived to be half as bigge as Italy By that accompt the truth whereof I do very much doubt greater than Zeâ—lan is in compass though of less reputation that being governed by its own Princes this subject for the most part to the king of Ternate Situate East of the Moluccos exceeding plentiful of Rice well stored with wild hens and on the shores provided of a kind of Shell-fish which in tast much resembleth mutton A tree they have which they call by the name of Sagâ—â— of the pith whereof they make their bread and of the sap or juice of it they compose a pleasing drink which serveth them instead of wine The air intemperately hot the people well proportioned but rude and savage some of them Gentiles some Malomeâ—ans of which last Religion is their king The chief Town of it is Batchame or Batachina whence the new name unto the Iland in which the Hollanders have a Fort to defend their Factory 3. AMBOINA South of the Aequator and the third of the Sinda hath many Ilands of less note which depend upon it and do communicate in the name In compass about five hundred miles said by Maginus to be extremely rough and barren which must be understood with reference to some kinds of grain For otherwise it is very fertile abundantly productive of Rice Citrons Limons Orenges Coquo-nuts Sugar-Canes and other fruits and very plentiful of Cloves Which last as it makes some to reckon it amongst the Moluccos so may it be the reason why the Iland is defective in such fruits as require much moisture the Clove being of so hot a temper as before was noted that it draweth to it all the moisture of the Earth which is neer unto it The people much given to Piracy wherewith they do infest all the neighboring Ilands Defamed for Cannibals or man-caters it being here a constant custome that when their parents are grown old or sick of any incurable disease they give them unto one another to be eaten by them They have one Town of more note than other which they call Amboyna by the name of the Iland First taken by the Portugals and by them secured with a strong fortress during whose power here the Jesuites who had in it their several Residences converted many to Christianity But in the year 1605. the Iland and the Fort both were conquered by Stephen of Hagan for the States of the united Provinces who having cleered the Countrey of the Portugal Forces possessed themselves of it Received by the natives at their first comming with joy and triumphs but they got little by the change as they found soon after their new Masters being more burden some and unsufferable than the old had been For claiming in the right of conquest they think they may oppress the Natives by the law of Arms and ingross all trade unto themselves as the true Proprietaries Infamous even amongst the rude and savage Indians for their barbarous inhumanity executed upon some of the English the greatest Patrons under God which they have in the world whom in the year 1618 they most cruelly tortured and most wickedly murdered under colour of some plot to betray their Fortress but in plain truth for no other reason but because they were more beloved by the Inhabitants and began to gain upon their trade 4. West of Amboina and South-west of Celebes lieth the 4th of these Ilands called MACASSAR said to contain from East to West 600 miles plentiful of Rice Flesh Fish Salt and Cotton-wool not destitute of Gold and Pearls and well stored with Sanders Sandalum it is called in Lâ—tin a medicinal wood growing like a Nut-tree of several colours white red yellow but the red the best the fruit in making like a Cherry but of no esteem In some parts overgrown with woods in which certain fierie Flies make nightly such shining light as if every twig or bough were a burning Candle In the midle covered with high Mountains out of which flow many navigable Rivers The people for the most part Gentiles intermixt on the Sea-coasts with some Mahometans Chief Towns hereof 1. Senderem the Kings Seat situate neer a large Lake very commodiously for trafick 2. Macassar an English Factorie so called according to the name of the Iland Neer to these Islands and somewhat North to Battachina are some other Isles plentiful of all things necessary for the life of man but inhabited by a theevish and Piratical people the principal of which 1. Terrao 2. Sanguin 3. Solor 4. Moratay in which last they eat Battata Roots instead of bread besides some others of less note Most of the People Gentiles except those of Sangum the King whereof being gained to the Christian Faith by some of the Jesuites hath brought many of his subjects to the same Religion 6. BORNEO WEst of these Celebes lieth BORNEO of more note and greatness than any hitherto described in these Indian Seas In compass after their accompt who speak most sparingly 2200 miles but as some say no less than three moneths sayl about Situate under the Aequator which parteth the dominions of the King of Borneo and the King of Laus opposite on the North to Camboia on the South to Java on the East to Celebes on the West unto the Isle of Sumatra The Countrey said to be provided naturally of all things necessary yet said withall to be unfurnished of Asses Oxen herds of Cattell except only horses and those but of small stature neither the greatest riches of it being Camphire Agâ—trick and some mines of Adamants Erroneously conceived by Mercator to be the Insula bonae Fortunae spoken of by Ptolomy that being seated opposite to the out-lets of Ganges in the Latitude of a hundred fourty five Degrees and fifteen minutes this Eastward some Degrees of the Golden Chersonese and consequently twenty degrees Distant at the least from that Iland in Ptolomy The people generally more white than the rest of the Indians of good wits and approved integrity though all Mahometans or Gentiles Divided betwixt two Kings and two Religions the King of Borneo and his Subjects being all Mahometans those of Laus still remaining in their antient Gentilisim These think the Sun and Moon to be man and wife
having almost as many Soveraign Kings as Provinces Most of them Homagers perhaps to the Kings of the house of Tamerlane and those who afterwards succeeded in the Title of Kings of Persia of the Turcoman or Armenian Dynasty not yet reduced unto this Grown notwithstanding the great and prosperous successes of the Sophtan Family But for the Kings of the race of Tamerlane who only in their times had the honour to be called Kings of Persia and well enough content with that such as they were we find them in this order following 1405. 10. Mirza Charok the fourth sonne of Tamerlane succeeded by his appointment in the Realm of Persia 1447. 11. Oleghbeg sonne of Mirza Charok vanquished and slain by his own sonne 1450. 12. Abdalatise slain not long after by his own Souldiers 1451. 13. Abdula the sonne of Oleghbeg and brother of Abdalatife vanquished by 1453. 14. Abusaid II. descended from Moroncha the third sonne of Tamerlane succeeded on the death of Abdula 1461. 15. Zeuzes whom some call Jooncha others Malaonchres discomfited and slain in battel by Ussan-Cassanes Anno 1472. which was about 70 years from the death of Tamerlane The seventh Dynasty of the Turcoman or the Armenian race of the Kings of Persia 1472. 1. Vssan-Cassanes by some called Asymbeius by others more truely Ozem-Azembec was the sonne of Tracheton one of those poor Armenian or Turcoman Princes dispossessed by Baiazet the first and restored by Tamerlane Encroaching on his neighbours he was warned to desist by Zeuzes the Persian King with whom encountring in a pitched field he overcame him and got that Kingdome by the victory 1478. 2. Jacub the second sonne of Ussan-Cassanes having put by his elder Brother attained the Throne and repulsed the Mamalucks out of Mesopotamia and Assyria which they had invaded He was after poisoned by his wife 1490. 3. Julaver a Kins-man of Jacubs succeeded him in the estate which he held only three years and then left it to 1493. 4. Barsinger a Prince of the same blood who living in adultery with the wife of Jacub had conspired his death 2. 1495. 5. Rustan assaulted by Atder or Secaider of the Sophian faction who then began to be of power 1498. 6. Alamat or Hagaret the last King of this Turcoman or Armenian race first vanquished Secaider at the battel of Derbent and cut off his head but was after overthrown and slain by Hysmacl the sonne of Aider upon the quarrell and occasion which here followeth Mahomet the Impostor and first Emperour of the Saracens by his last Will and Testament bequeathed the succession into that Estate to Hali his neer Kins-man and the Husband of Fatime his Eldest Daughter But Abubezar Haumar and Osmen three powerfull men and the Chief Commanders of the Army in the time of Mahomet successively followed one another in the Supreme Dignity After their death Hali enjoyed that honour for a little while supplanted first and afterwards vanquished and slain by Muhavias a great man of warre who succeeded in it and to secure himself therein slew Hasem or Ossan the sonne of Hali and eleven of the sonnes of that Ossan the twelt called Musa Ceredine escaping with life From him descended lineally one Guine the Lord of Ardoville in Media who considering that their had been no Caliph in long time before began to plot the establishing of that high honour in his own family as the right Heirs to it A man of so great reputation amongst the people that Tamerlane having made a conquest of Persia thought it no dishonour to his greatness to bestow a friendly visit on him Dying he left his hopes and projects to his sonne called Atder who afterwards for the purity of Religion pretended by him had the adjunct of Tzophy the word so signifying in that language who also proved of such esteem and power with all sorts of men that Ussan-Cassanes the first King of the Armenian or Turcoman race thought fit to make him Husband unto one of his Daughters But on the contrary Jacub the sonne of Vssan and some of his Successours seeing him grow unto such power and estimation with the common people and fearing what he could do and not what he would do endeavoured to depress him by all means that might be Which he not able to remedy as the Case then stood practised to adde unto his party under the popular pretence of reforming things that were amiss in their Religion and grew so powerfull in the end that he gave battel unto Restan and Alamat the two last Kings of the former race But Alamat having got the victory caused him to be slain and delivered Hysmael and Solyman his two sonnes into the hands of Amazar a chief Commander of his own by him to be kept in perpetual prison But Amazar a man of a more ingenuous disposition afforded them not only liberty but also good education insomuch that Hysmael Sophi a towardly young Gentleman undertook revenge for the death of his Father which work he fulfilled having overcome and slain King Alamat and his sonne Elvan After this victory he being crowned King or Shaugh of Persia altered the form of Religion making Hali and himfelf the true Successors of Mahomet but condemning Abubezer Haumar and Osmen with the Turks as rebells and Schismaticks Hence proceeded the divers warres which to the Persians loss have hapned between them and the Turks the Persians burning whatsoever book or Monument they find concerning those three and the Turks holding it more meritorious to kill one Persian than seventy Christians Surius in his Commentaries writing purposely of the Acts of Hysmaâ—â— saith that the Jews on some fond conceit were perswaded that he was the Messiah they had so long looked for But it proved quite contrary there never being Prince that more vexed and grieved them The eighth Dynasty or Sophian race of the Kings of Persia 1505. 1. Hysmael Sophi the founder of this Family overthrown by Selimus the first in the Calderan fields 20. 1525. 2. Tamas the Sonne of Hysmael vanquished by Solyman the Magnificent who took from him the Countries of Chaldea Assyria and Mesopotamia with some part of Media 53. 1578. 3. Aider the second sonne of Tamas obtained the Kingdome imprisoning his elder brother but his cruelty being much feared he was made away by the practice of Periancona his own Sister having reigned only 15 daies 4. Hysmael II. eldest sonne of Tamas restored unto his Fathers Throne but murdered with the privity of his Sister also who found him of too rough a nature for her to govern having reigned neer two years 1579. 5. Mahomet Codabanda advanced unto the throne by his Sisters faction as being of a milder and more tractable nature at his first entrance caused her to be beheaded for the former murders During his time not fully setled in the State Amurath the 2d by his Lieutenants won from him almost all Armenia Media and great part of Georgia 7. 1585. 6. Abas the second sonne of
not only restore peace and quiet to Narsinga it self but recovered Canara out of the hands of the Idalcan who had before endangered his estate therein Of the great Army which he led against this Idalcan we have spoke already adding here onely that before he went upon this enterprise called the journey of Rachiol he sacrificed in nine daies 2036 Beasts to the Countrey Idols the flesh whereof he caused to be distributed amongst the poor Routed at first and being perswaded by some about him to go out of the field he is said to have made this Noble Answer that he had rather the Idalcan should boast that he had slain him than vanquished him And thereupon leaping into the thickest of his enemies and well followed by the valiantest of his Friends he obtained the victory But this vast Army of 606000 foot 30000 Horse 537 Elephants with necessaries answerable to such infinite multitudes speaks only what he can do on extreme necessiry or when he hath some long time of preparation as he had in that Action The power of Kings is better measured by their standing forces than by premeditated Levies And herein this Prince comes not much short of his greatest neighbours his standing bands consisting of 40000 Nairos or Gentlemen of his own Kingdom which serve on foot 20000 Horse who are either Persians or Arabians and 200 Elephants well paid and kept in continual readiness his foot defraied out of his Revenues his Horse maintained like the Turks Timariots out of cerrain lands distributed amongst his Captains some of which are said to have a million of Crowns per Annum to furnish him with these stable bands of Horses and Elephants As for his Revenue it is reckoned at 12 millions yearly out of which he is thought to lay up three defraying with the rest the expence of his houshold and the entertainment of his Foot This sum amassed together out of the lands mines and forrests of the Countrey which are wholly his and the waters of of some Rivers sold by him to his subjects which he monopolizeth the common people having nothing but their Armes and Labour Of which the mines forrests and one third of the lands he retaineth to himself the other two being divided amongst his Captains So that it is no marvel if so rich a Countrey yield him such an income considering it is all his own I do rather wounder of the two it should yield no more 9. ORISTAN ORISTAN or ORIXA is bounded on the South with Narsinga on the West with Delly and Mandao on the North with the Kingdomes of Botanter on the East with the Golf of Bengala and part of Patanaw or Patanâ— so called from Orissa the chief City of it The Countrey hath plenty of Rice cloth of Cotton and a fine stuff like silk made of grass and there called Yerva with which together with Long Pepper Ginger Mirabolins and other commodities here growing they use to load 25 or 30 Ships from the Haven of Orissa only The people so well governed or so hating theft that in the time of their own kings before they came under the Moguls a man might have travelled with Gold in his hand without any danger In other points of the same temper and religion with the rest of the Indians subject to that Prince It is generally well watered and interlaced with many Rivers which do much moisten and refresh it but none so beneficial to the Kings hereof as the River Guangen of old called Chaberis the waters whereof esteemed sacred by the Kings of Calicure and Narsinga and much used by them in their sacrifices and superstitious purgations are wholly ingrossed by this King who selleth them to those Princes at excessive rates Besides which Rivers it is watered with a fair Sea-coast of 350 miles in length that is to say from Cape Guadarino in the South which divides it from the Realm of Narsinga to Cape Leogorae in the East which parts it from Bengala But for all that not very much traded because not so well provided of commodious Havens as many other Indian Provinces of a far less Territory Towns of most note herein 1. Orissa on the Sea-side or not far from it the best traded Port of all this Kingdome to which the name thereof is to be ascribed as the Head-City of the Countrey 2. Cateâ—ha six daies journey within the land the ordinary residence of their Kings before it was subdued by the Great Monguls 3. Angeli a well-frequented Port at the bottom of the Golf of Bergala from whence many ships are yearly laden with Indian wares 4. Bacolli or Bacola more within the land and once the head City of a Kingdome but a very poor one 5. Simergan where they held it an impiety to eat flesh or kill any beast 6. Senerpate of which little memorable Nor do I find any thing which deserves much memory in the affairs of this Kingdom but that the Kings hereof were Gentiles subdued not many yeers since by the K. of Patanaw and both grown weaker by that war by Echebar the Great Mongul 10. BOTANTER BOTANTER under which name I comprehend all those petit Kingdomes which are crowded together in the North and North-East of this part of 〈◊〉 hath on the South Oristan and 〈◊〉 on the West the River Guenga or Chaberis by which parted from the Realms of Saâ—gâ— on the North the Zagathaian Tartars divided from it by some branches of Mount Taurus on the East the famous River Ganges So called from Bottia the principall City of Botanter which is the chief of these small Kingdomes The Countrey great of three moneths journey in extent full of high Mountains one of which may be seen five dayes journey off in which are said to dwell a people with ears of a span long or more whom otherwise those of the Valleys count as Apes In those parts which are next Sanga they are white and 〈◊〉 i in others more enclined to the Olive Colour Their garments they wear close to their bodâ—es so streight that one cannot see a pleit or wrinckle and those they never put off by night nor day whilest they are able to hang on nor do they wash at any time for fear of defiling so pure a Creature as the water Content with one wife deservedly to be held a miracle in these Eastern parts and yet cohabit not with her after two or three Children When any of them dy the Sooth-sayer is to tell them what to do with his body according to whose direction first consulting his Books they burn bury or eat it Few Towâ—s of note there are amongst them The principall 1. Bottia the Metropolis of it 2. Calamur and 3. Nâ—garâ—â—t their Staples for the sale of their cloth most of the people being Weavers bought of them by the Chinors and 〈◊〉 Merchants who resort frequently to those markets This a distinct Kingdome of it self the Kings whereof are called Dermair but 〈◊〉 to the great Mongul And so 〈◊〉 2.
of Goats Stags Deer Hares and Conies Elephants of that bigness that their teeth weigh 200 pounds and Serpents of so vast a bulk that they will eat a whole Deer at once not to say any thing of their fowl both wilde and tame which they have here in great abundance The People of mean stature black of complexion thick lips and having the apple of the eye of divers colours which makes them ghastly to behold strong and long-lived with very little hair on their heads but that all naturally curled In Religion for the most part Heathens some worshipping the Sun and Moon others the Earth as the Mother and Nurse of all things and some again wilde Beasts and Serpents So populous that without any sensible diminution of their infinite numbers it is supposed that they fell 28000 Slaves to the Portugals yeerly by whom they are sent into Brasil there to work in the Mines and Sugar houses The Christian faith admitted in some few of their Provinces but specially in that of Congo where first preached in the reign of John the 2. king of Portugal An. 1490. by Gonzalvo ae Susa who having converted and baptized the Kings Uncle and one of his Sons prevailed so far upon the King that in the end he and his Queen and many of his principal Subjects did imbrace the Gospel Received there by the people with such infinite joy that when their first Bishop came to live amongst them they caused the wayes from the Sea-side to the City of Banza being 150 miles to be covered with Mats and offered to him all the way as he went Lambs Chicken Kids Partriges Fish Venison and other necessaries to testifie their rejoycings in that happy change And though many of the Subjects in the other Provinces were baptized accordingly and for a time imbraced the Faith yet after some small trial of it they relapsed to their former Heathenism either unable or not willing to conform to so strict a Rule Principal Rivers of this Country 1 Bengo 2 Coanza 3 Dande 4 Barbela 5 Ambrizi 6 Loza 7 Zaire This last the greatest of them all if not of all Africk also of which though we have spoke already we shall adde this here That it falleth into the Aethiopick Sea with so great a violence that for ten miles commonly for fifteen sometimes the waters of it do retain their natural sweetness not intermingled nor corrupted with the salt Sea-waters Nor can the people fail above five miles against the stream by reason of the Cataracts or huge fals which it hath from the Mountains more terrible and turbulent then those of Nile And for the Mountains of most note they are 1 Sierra Complida or the Long mountain 2 Mons Christalli or the Christalline mountain so called from the abundance of Christal which is found therein 3 Sierra de Sol the Mountain of the Sun of excessiue height 4 Montes Sal nitri so called from their abounding in that kind of Mineral and 5 the Mountains of Cabambe rich in Mines of Silver It conteineth in it many large and ample Provinces of which we have this general muster in the stile Imperial wherein their King calleth himself King of Congo Bamba Sango Sandi Bangu Batti Pemba Abundi Matana Quisoma Angola and Cacango Lord of the Congemes Amolaze Langelungi Anzuichi Cucchi and Zoanghi Many of these not so well discovered as to afford us any matter fit for our discourse the principal of those that be are 1. ANGOLA bounded on the South with Cafraria on the North with the Provinces of Bamba and Pemba on the East with some part of Zanzibar on the West with the main Ocean The Country rich in Mines of Silver and most excellent Copper some store of Kine and Horses brought out of Europe which they kill rather for their tails the wearing whereof is held for a special ornament then keep for any other use their chiefest diet being Dogs which they fat for the Shambles and to that dainty so affected that at the first coming of the Portugals thither they would give twenty slaves and upwards for a good large Dog By this we may conjecture somewhat at the nature of the people who besides this are said to be much given to sorcerie and divinations by the flight of Birds skilful in medicinal herbs and poisons and by familiarity with the Devil able to tell things to come Permitted as most Pagans are to have as many wives as they will who with the rest of the women whether maids or widows use at the first sight of every New Moon to turn up their bare bums in defiance of her as the cause of their troublesom purgations In this Country are the Mountains called Cantaberes rich in Mines of Silver but those Mines not suffered to be digged for fear of drawing some unnecessary war upon them so that they use Glass-beads for money and therewith also do adorn the persons of greatest eminence Their principal City called Cabazza is about 150 miles from the Sea and the Royal residence of their Kings but not else observable This Country was first discovered by the Portugals under the conduct of Diego Can An. 1486. the King hereof at that time Vassal unto him of Congo and so continued till that King did imbrace the Gospel whereupon they revolted from him and have since subsisted of themselves without such dependance At first they held good correspondencie with the Portugals and allowed them free traffick in their dominions But after their revolt from the King of Congo with whom the Portugals were in league they put to death as many of them as they found in Cabazza An. 1578. under colour of some pretended treason To be revenged of this soul murder Paul Diaz Governour of these parts for the King of Portugal arming such people as he had with two Gallies and some other Vessels passed up the River of Coanza wasting the Country on both sides Against whom the King of Angola raised an Army of a Million of men but amongst those multitudes of men there were so few Souldiers that an handful of the Portugals aided with some of the forces of the King of Congo gave him a notable defeat A. 158â— Since that the trade with Portugal is revived again and the King hereof hath expressed some good affections unto Christianity sending unto the King of Congo for some Priests to instruct him in it but obtained them not the state of Religion in that kingdom being then declining To this king belong also the two Provinces of Matana and Quisoma though both used in the titles of the King of Congo of which the first lying towards the Sea is said to be of a wholsom air and a fertile soil outwardly furnished with fruits and inwardly with Mines of Christal and other metals but not very rich for want of some convenient Haven to bring on commerce The other lying towards a great Lake called Aque Lunda was once governed after the manner of a Commonwealth but
〈◊〉 how litle he is able to do by Sea may be best seen out of the aid which he sent to the Venetians at the famous Battell of Lepanto wherein he furnished them with no more than twelve Gallies and those too hired of the Duke of Florence The Venetians in the Adriatick and the Florentines in the Tuscan Seas having all the Trade and consequently all the power in the seas of Italie 'T is true the Pope was bound by the capitulation to bear the fift part of the charge of the war and with the help of the rest of the Princes of Italie who were to march under his colours to set forth 50000 Foot and 4500 Horse which is as great an Argument of his riches and power by land as the other is of his weakness at sea Having a purpose in the prosecution of this Work to mention such particular Orders of Knighthood as most Countries have given beginning to I will here set down the Orders of such Popish Spirituall Knights or Friers which his holy benediction hath erected and â—at allowance doth maintain And for our better proceeding we will begin with the originall of a Monasticall life and then we will make speciall mention of some of the Romish Votaries of both sexes Know then that under the seventh Persecution raised against the Church by Decius one Paulus born at Thebes in Egypt retired to a private cave under the foot of a Rock An o 260. Here he is sayd to have lived one hundred years and to have been seen of no man but one Anthony who was at his death This Anthony was the first that followed the example of Paulus a man of a noble house and one that sold all his estate that he might the more privately injoy himself He lived an hundred and fifty years and is called the Father of the Monks To these beginnings doth Polydore Virgil refer the originall of the Monks and religious orders the name Monk comming from the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because of their lonely and solitary lives Those of the religious orders are called Fratres and in English Friers from the French word Frere which signifieth a Brother and that either because of their brotherly cohabitation or else because they are Fratres in malo brethren in mischief and design The foundation of Monasticall life thus layd by Paulus and Anthony the world increased so fast in Monks and Eremites that it seemed necessary to prescribe them orders Hereupon Saint Basil gathered them together living formerly dispersed and is said to be the first that built them Monasteries He is also said to have ordained the three Vows of Poverty Chastity and Obedience to have instructed them in good Arts true Religion and in the service of God with Hymns Prayers and Watching Of this order there are not many in the Latin Church but good plenty of them in the Greek They are bound to abstain from all kind of flesh and are called Monks of S. Basil by the name of that Father amongst the Writings of which Father the Rules for these Monastickâ— are set down at large 2 The next who prescribed Orders was S. Augustine born in the year 350 who being thirty years of age is said to have obtained a Garden without the walls of Hippo for private contemplations Twelve only he assumed into his society living with them in all integrity and wearing a leathern Girdle to distinguish them from Monks Hence came the present Austin Friers or the Eremites of S. Austin as others call them Of such esteem formerly in the Universitie of Oxford that all who took the degree of a Master of Arts were to submit themselves to their Oppositions in the publick Schools and receive approbation from them from whence the form in Augustinensibus responderit vel opposuerit still retained among them There house in London stood in Broadstreat of which a part of the Church still standeth converted to a Church for the use of the Dutch the rest demolished and in the place thereof a stately Mansion erected by Sir William Pawlet the first Marquess of Winchester and Lord Treasurer of England These make the first order of the Friers Mendicants The first Monastery of them was erected at Paris by William Duke of Guien An o 1155 and An o 1200 they began to flourish in Italie by the favour of John Lord of Mantua The other branches of this Tree are 1 the Monks of S. Hierom 2 the Carmelites 3 the Crouched Friers and 4 the Dominicans 1 The Monks of Saint Hierom challenge their originall from the worthy Father of the Church so called They flourish especially in Spain where there are thirty two Monasteries of them their chief House being Saint Bartholomews of Lupiena and have taken unto themselves the Rule of Saint Austin Their Robe is a white Cassock under a tawney Cloak 2 The Carmelites so called from Mount Carmel in Syria pretend their original from Elias and John the Baptist They onely allowed at first the rule of S. Basil and were confirmed in Europe by Honorius the third They are by some called Jacobines from a Church dedicated to Saint Iames where they had their first Convent and by us the White Friers from the colour of their habit Their house in London stood in Fleetstreet converted since into a dwelling of the Earls of Kent besides other Tenements Their Rule was afterwards corrected according to the Rule of Saint Austin by Donna Eresba or Teresa a Spanish woman who made them also certain Constitutions confirmed by Pius the fourth An o 1565. 3 The Friers of S. Crosse Crossed or Crouched Friers were first ordained by â—â—riacus Bishop of Hierusalem who shewed to Helena the place where the Cross was hidden hence this Order which being almost decayed was restored first by Urban the second and afterwards by Innocent the third under the rule of Saint Austin Their Robe is Watchat and in their hands they carry the figure of the Cross Their house in London near the Tower still retains its name 4 The Dominioans or Friers Preachers were instituted by Saint Dominik a Spaniard He puts himself in this Order with sixteen of his Disciples under the Rule of Saint Austin An o 1206 and had his device confirmed by Honorius the third Their duty is to preach the Gospell in all places unto the farthest parts of the world which both they did and their successors since have done not at home only but in India and America with great zeal and diligence They are call'd by us Black Friers from the colour of their habits and are the 3. Order of Friers Mendicans Their house in London stood neer Ludgate and took up the whole Precinct which is still called Black-Friers though nothing be remaining of it but the very name 3 The third that prescribed Orders was S. Benedict born at Nursia in the Dutchy of Spoleto An o 472. He gathered the Monks of Italie together gave them a Rule in writing caused them to
in the North-west towards Xantoigne the seat of the Eugolismenses in the time of the Romans now a Bishops See seated upon the River of Charente with which it is almost encompassed the other side being defended by a steep and rocky mountain A Town of great importance when possessed by the English being one of their best out-works for defence of Bourdeaux one of the Gates hereof being to this day called Chande seems to have been the work of Sir Iohn Chandoâ—s Banneret one of the first Founders of the most noble Order of the Garter then Governour hereof for King Edward the third Being recovered from the English by Charles the fifth it was bestowed on Iohn the third Sonne of Lewis Duke of Orleans Grandfather of King Francis the first with the title of an Earldom onely Anno 1408. Afterwards made a Dukedom in the person of the said King Francis before his comming to the Crown And for the greater honour of it as much of the adjoyning Countrie was laid unto it as maketh up a Territorie of about 24 French Leagues in length and 15 in bredth Within which circuit are the Towns of Chasteau-netâ—f and Coignac on the River of Charente 3 Roche Faulcon 4 Chabannes 5 Meriville 6 Villebois c. Since that united to the Crown it hath of late times given the title of Duke to Charles Earl of Auvergne Anno 1618. The Base Sonne of Charles the ninth consequently extracted from the house of Angolesme 3 QUERCU is encompassed about with Limosin Perigort Languedoc and Auvergne A populous Countrie for the bigness being one of the least in all France and very fruitfull withall though somewhat mountainous The principall places in it 1 Cahors the chief Citie of the Cadurcâ— in the times of the Romans still a great strong and well traded Town and the See of a Bishop who is also the Temâ—orall Lord of it seated upon the River Loch From hence descended and took name the noble Family of Chaworth De Cadurcis in Latine out of which by a Daughter of Patrick de Cadurcis Lord of Ogmore and Kidwelly in the Marches of Wales maried to Henry the third Earl of Lancaster come the Kings of England and most of the Royall houses in Europe 2 Montalban a Bishops See also built on the top of an high mountain and so well fortified by all advantages of Art that it is thought to be the most defensible of any in France of which it gave sufficient proof in that notable resistance which it made to King Lewis the thirteenth in his Wars against those of the Religion Anno 1622. 3 Soulac upon the River Dordonne 4 Nigrepellisse another of the Towns possessed by the Protestant party reduced to the obedience of King Lewis the thirteenth Anno 1621. but in Novemb. following they murdered the Kings Garrison and the next yeer denied admission to the King Taken at last Anno 1622. by the King in person the punishment did exceed the Crime For the men were not only killed and hanged as they had deserved but many of the women also some of them having their secret parts rammed with Gun-powder and so torn in peeces by the unpattern'd Barbarism of the merciless and revengefull Souldiers 5 Chasteau-Sarasin a strong Town on the Garond 6 Nazaret 7 Burette c. The antient Inhabitants of these 3 Provinces were the Lemovices the Petrocorii and the Cadurci before-mentioned of which the Lemovices and Cadurci were cast into the Province of Aquitania Prima the Petrocorii and Engolismenses into Aquitania Secunda In the declining of that Empire seized on by the Gothes but from them speedily extorted by the conquering French Afterwards when King Henry the third of England released his right in the Provinces of Normandy Poictou Anjou Tourein and Maine Lewis the ninth to whom this release was made gave him in satisfaction of all former interesses 300000 l. of Anjovin money the Dukedom of Guienne the Countie of Xaintoigne as far as to the River of Charent with the Province of Limosin And on the Capitulations made betwixt Edward the third of England and John of France then Prisoner to him Perigort and Quenou amongst other conditions were consigned over to the English discharged of all Resort and Homage to the Crown of France After which times respectively they remained all three in the possession of the English untill their finall expulsion by King Charles the seventh never since that dismembred from the Crown thereof 14 AQUITAIN THe Dukedom of AQUITAIN the greatest and goodliest of all France contained the Provinces of Xaintogne 2 Guienne 3 Gascoigne with the Isles of Oleron and Rees and other Islands in the Aquitainick or Western Ocean 1 XAINTOIGNE is bounded on the East with Limosin and Perigort on the West with the Aquitaâ—ick Ocean on the North with Poictou and on the South with Guienne So called from Sainctes one of the Principall Cities of it as that from the Santones a Nation here inhabiting in the time of the Romans whose chief Citie it was The River of Charente running thorow the middle of it and so on the North border of it emptieth it self into the Ocean just opposite to the Isle of Oleron having first taken in the Seugne and the Boutonne two lesser Rivers The chief Towns of it are 1 Sainctes by Ptolomie called Mediolanum by Antonine Civitas Santonum seated upon the Charente a Bishops See and the Seneschalsie for the Countrie 2 S. John d' Angelie situate on the Boutonne a Town impregnably fortified whereof it hath given sufficient testimonie in the Civill Wars of France about Religion 3 Marans a little port but in a marishy and inconvenient situation 4 Bourg sur la mer upon the Dordonne which for the wideness of it is here called a Sea 5 Retraicte seated near the confluence of the two great Rivers the Garond and the Dordonne 6 Blaye the most Southern Town of all this Countrie defended with a strong Castle and a good Garrison for securing the passage unto Bourdeaux this Town being seated on the very mouth of the River which goeth up to it 7 Rochell Rupella in the present Latine but antiently called Santonum Portus as the chief Haven of the Santones a well noted Port in the most northern part of Xaintoigne from whence the Countrie hereabouts is called ROâ—HELOIS The Town seated in the inner part of a fair and capacious Bay the entrance of which is well assured by two very strong Forts betwixt which there is no more space than for the passage of a good ship every night closed up with a massie Chain and the whole Town either environed with deep marishes or fortified with such Bulwarks trenches and other works of modern Fortification that it was held to be as indeed it was the safest retreat for those of the Reformed Religion in the time of their troubles as may be seen by the storie of it which in brief is thus At the end of the second Civill Wars Anno 1568. Many
Countrie the worst peece of France onely remarkable for the Lords or owners of it formerly of the house of Foix one of which was that Iohn de Foix created Earl of Kendall and Knight of the Garter by King Henry the sixth but better known in English stories by the name of Capitall or Capdau de Buche the Lords hereof having no higher title than that of Captain III. GASCOIGNE the third and largest part of the Dukedom of Aquitain hath on the East Languedoc from which parted by the River Garond on the West the Pyrenean mountains which divide it from Spain on the North Perigort Quercu and some part of Guienne and on the South a main tract of the Pyrenees running on to Languedoc The Countrie generally fruitfull but of Wines especially brought hence to Bourdeaux as the Staple for that commodity and thence transported into England in great abundance The antient Inhabitants hereof were the Auscii Lastoraces Convenares Conserani c. making up a great part of the Province of Novempopulonia united in this name of Gascoigne on the conquest of it by the Vâ—scones a Spaniâ— Nation who fell in here during the reign of Dagobert the 11th King of the French And though subdued by Clovis the second Sonne of Dagobert yet they left their name unto the Countrie divided afterwards according to the chief Signeuries and Estates thereof into 1 the Principalitie of Bearn 2 the Earldoms of Foix 3 Comminges 4 Bigorre 5 Armaignac 6 Albret and 7 the Countrie of Agenois 1 The Principalitie of BEARN is situate at the foot of the Pyrenees where they joyn to Langnedoc so called from Benearnum a principall Citie of this tract mentioned by Antoninus and others of the antient Writers The Countrie of good pasturage though amongst the mountains affording plenty of Cattell butter and cheese and in some places wines also little inferiour in taste and colour to the best of France and many medicinall springs issuing from the hills adjoyning The Religion here as generally in all Gascoigne is that of the Reformed Churches introduced about the year 1560 or rather then confirmed by publick autority of the King and Queen of Navarre at what time the Mass Tithes Church-lands and the Prelates Votes in Parliament according to the Genevian way of Reformation were condemned together And so it stood untill the yeer 1620 when by the power and autority of Lewis the 13th King of France and Navarre the Prelates were restored to their Votes and Lands the Clergie to their Tithes and Mass caused also to be said in some of their Churches yet so that those of the Reformed were left unto the free exercise of their own Religion as in former times The principall Towns hereof are 1 Orthes the same which antiently was called Benearnum 2 Lescar a Bishops See the antient seat and habitation of the Princes of Bearn 3 Oleron a Bishops See also mounted upon a high hill in the more mountainous parts of the Countrie 4 Saineterrae well garrisoned since the reduction of this Countrie to the Kings obedience 5 Pau the principall of all the Province honoured with a Parliament or Court of Iudicature for all the Countrie and a fair Palace of the Prince built by Henry of Albret King of Navarre and Lord of Bearn and the Seat of him and his Successors till the comming of King Henry the 4th to the Crown of France 6 Grenade upon the Frontire towards Begorre This Countrie for a long time followed the fortune of Aquitain and in the generall dismembring of the French Empire had its own Proprietaries who were the absolute Lords of it acknowledging no Superiour for ought I can find Increased with the Earldom of Begorre by the mariage of Gaston Prince of Bearn with the Heir of that House united to the Earldom of Foix by the mariage of Roger Bernard Earl of Foix with Margaret Daughter of that Gaston and Heir of Bearn Anno 1263 afterwards added to the Crown of Navarre by the mariage of Gaston Earl of Foix and Sovereign of Bearn with Eleanor the Heir of that Kingdom Anno 1481. descending with that Crown upon Henry of Bonrbon King of Navarre and afterwards of France by the name of Henry the fourth but governed by him alwayes as a State distinct without relation or resort to the Crown of France But Lewis the 13 his Sonne finding some inconvenience in that distinction incorporated it for ever to the rest of his Dominions An. 1620 though not without some opposition from the Subjects of Bearn which he was fain to over-bear by his personall presence and the advantage of such Forces as he carried with him Since reckoned as a part of that Kingdom awed as the rest of France by Forts and Garrisons and governed in Civil matters by the Parliament established at Pau the Judges and Counsellors thereof at the Kings appointing 2 The Earldom of FOIX is situate on the West of Languedoc Commingeois interposing betwixt it and Bearn Chief Towns hereof are 1 Maseros on the Garond a Bishops See 2 Pamieres a Bishops See also seated on the River Lagiere 3 Foix on the same River called in Latine Fuxium and the Earls hereof Comites Fuxiensos the chief seat of the Flussates in the times of the Râ—mans now giving name to all the Countrie 4 Mirande in the Countie of Esterac and the chief thereof but otherwise of no great Accompt 5 Savardun and 6 Monthault two strong peeces 7 Mirepoix aâ—piduus Mirapensâ— a Bishops See also but of no note otherwise The olf Inhabitants of this tract besides the Flussates abovementioned were called Vaccaei perhaps of the abundance of Kine bred in the pastures hereof upon which ground the Earls of Foix have for their Arms. 3 Cowes passant Gules horned and hoofed Azure in a Feild Or. The first of these Earls was Bernard of Carcassone advanced to this honour by Raimond Earl of Thâ—louse who had then the Soveraigntie hereof Anno 1062. Roger Bernard the ninth Earl united Bearn to his Estate as before is said whose Grand-child Isabeâ— the male issue failing conveyed the whole Estate to Archembald Lord or Captain of Buche in the Province of Guienne Gaston the Nephew of this Archembald by his Eldest Sonne Iohn was for his many good services to Charles the 7th made a Peer of France and by his mariage with Eleanor or Leanora Daughter and Heir of John King of 〈◊〉 united that Kingdom to his house though he enjoyed it not in his own person By means or which Alâ—iances and other improvements of Estate this Familie grew to so great power an reputation that there were four Queens at one time descended from it viz. Catharine Queen of 〈…〉 Queen of Castilâ— Anne Queen of France and Anne Queen of Hungarie and 〈◊〉 Before which time I mean the addition of Navarre to their other Estates the Earles of 〈◊〉 were in so high esteem in the Court of France that in all publick Ceremonies they took place of the
both being extract from the Welch blood they seldom or never contained themselves within the bounds of true Allegeance For whereas before they were reputed as Aliens this Henry made them by Act of Parliament one Nation with the English subject to the same Laws capable of the same preferments and privileged with the same immunities He added 6 Shires to the former number out of those Countries which were before reputed as the Borders and Marches of Wales and enabled them to send Knights and Burgesses unto the English Parliaments so that the name and language only excepted there is now no difference between the English and Welch an happy Vnion The same King Henry established for the ease of his Welch Subjects a Court at Ludlow like unto the ordinary Parliaments in France wherein the Laws are ministred according to the fashion of the Kings Courts of Westmâ—nster The Court consisteth of one President who is for the most part of the Nobility and is generally called the Lord President of Wales of as many Counsellors as it shall please the King to appoint one Attourney one Sollicitor one Secretary and the Iustices of the Counties of Wâ—les The Town it self for this must not be omitted adorned with a very fair Castle which hath been the Palace of such Princes of Wales of the English blood as have come into this Countrie to solace themselves among their people Here was young â—dward the 5th at the death of his Father and here dyed Prince Arthur Eldest Sonne to Henry the 7th both being sent hither by their Fathers to the same end viz by their presence to satisfie and keep in Order the unquiet Welchmen And certainly as the presence of the Prince was then a terror to the rebellious so would it now be as great a comfort to this peaceable people What the Revenues of this Principalâ—ty are I cannot say yet we may boldly affirm that they are not very small by these reasons following viz. 1 By the Composition which LLewellen the last Prince of Wales made with Edward the first who being Prince of North-Wales onely and dispossessed of most of that was fain to redeem the rest of the said King Edward at the price of 50000 Marks which comes to 100000 pounds of our present mony to be paid down in ready Coin and for the residue to pay 1000 l. per Annum And 2dly by those two circumstances in the mariage of the Lady Katharine of Spain to the above named Prince Arthur For first her Father Ferdinando being one of the wariest Princes that ever were in Europe giving with her in Dowry 200000 Ducats required for her loynture the third part only of this Principality and of the Earldom of Chester And secondly After the death of Prince Arthur the Nobles of the Realm perswaded Prince Henry to take her to Wise that so great a Treasure as the yeerly Revenne of her lonyture might not be carried out of the Kingdom The Arms of the Princes of Wales differ from those of England only by the addition of a Labell of three points But the proper and peculiar device and which we commonly though corruptly call the Princes Arms is a Coronet beautified with thee Ostrich Feathers and inseimbed round with ICH DIEN that is I serve alluding to that of the Apostle The Heir while he is a Child differeth not from a Servant This Coronet was won by that valiant Prince Edward the black Prince at the battell of Cressie from Iohn King of Bohemia who there wore it and whom he there slew Since which time it hath been the Cognizance of all our Princes I will now shut up my discourse of Wales with that testimony of the people which Henry the 2d used in a Letter to Emanuel Emperour of Constantinople The Welch Nation is so adventurous that they dare encounter naked with armea men ready to spend their blood for their Countrey and pawn their life for praise and adding onely this that since their incorporating with the English they have shewed themselves most loyall hearty and affectionate Subjects of the State cordially devoted to their King and zealous in defence of their Laws Liberties and Religion as well as any of the best of their fellow-fellow-subjects whereof they have given good proof in these later times There are in Wales Arch-Bishops 0. Bishops 4. THE BORDERS BEfore we come into Scotland we must of necessity passe thorough that Battable ground lying betwixt both Kingdoms called THE BORDERS the Inhabitants whereof are a kind of military men subtile nimble and by reason of their often skirmishes well experienced and adventurous Once the English Border extended as far as unto the Fryth or Strait of Edenburgh on the East and that of Dunbritton on the West the first Fryth by the Latines called Bodotria and the later Glotta betwixt which where now standeth the Town of Sterling was an atient Bridge built over the River which falleth into the Fryth of Edenburgh on a Cross standing whereupon was writ this Pasport I am Free march as passengers may kenne To Scots to Britans and to Englsh-men But when England groaned under the burden of the Danish oppression the Scots well husbanded that advantage and not onely enlarged their Borders to the Tweed but also took into their hands Cumberland Northumberland and Westmorland The Norman Kings again recovered these Provinces making the Borders of both Kingdomes to be Tweed East the Solway West and the Cheviot hills in the midst Of any great wars made on these Borders or any particular Officers appointed for the defence of them I find no mention till the time of Edward the first who taking advantage of the Scots disagreements about the successor of Alexander the 3d hoped to bring the Countrie under the obedience of England This Quarrell betwixt the two Nations he began but could not end the Wars surviving the Author so that what Vellcius saith of the Romans and Carthaginians I may as well say of the Scots and English for almost 300 yeers together aut bellum inter eos populos aut bâ—lli praeparatio aut infidâ— pax fuit In most of these conflicts the Scots had the worst So that Daniel in his History seemeth to marvail how this Corner of the Isle could breed so many had it bred nothing but men as were slain in these wars Yet in the Reign of Edward the 2d the Scots having twice defeated that unhappy Prince became so terrible to the English Borderers that an hundred of them would fly from three Scots It is a custom among the Turks not to beleeve a Christian or a Iew complayning against a Turk except their accusation be confirmed by the Testimony of some Turk also which seldom hapning is not the least cause why so little Iustice is there done the Christians In like manner it is the Law of these Borderers never to beleeve any Scots complaining against an English-man unless some other English-man will witness for him and so on the
give him so long a life as to see it in his own dayes remedied wherein he got a greater victory over that stubborn people than ever did any forein Prince or any of his Predecessors could doe before him an act indeed truly royall and worthy himself Another custom they had of that nature that the like was hardly ever heard of amongst the Heathen and much less in Christendom which took beginning as the Scoâ—ish Historians affirm in the reign of Ewen the 3d who is the fifteenth King in the Catalogue after the first Fergus This Ewen being a Prince much addicted or wholly rather given over unto lasciviousness made a Law that himself and his successors should have the maidâ—nhead or first nights loâ—ging with every woman whose husband held land immediately from the Crown and the Lords and Gentlemen of all those whose husbands were their tenants or homagers This was it seems the Knights service which men held their states by and continued till the dayes of Mâ—lcâ—lm Comnor who at the request of his wife Margaret she was the sister of Edgar Aâ—heling abolished this Law and ordained that the tenants by way of commutation should pay unto their Lords a mark in money which tribute the Historians say is still in force It was called Marchetâ— mulieris but whether from Mark a horse in the old Galliqne implying the obscene signification of â—quitare as Mr. Selden thinks or from Marca the summe of money by which it was afterward redeemed I cannot determine Certain I am that this last custom was of such a barbarous and brutish nature that the custom of the Indians in giving to the Bramines the first nights lodging with their Brides and that of many Savage unconverted Nations in prostituting their Wives and Daughters to the Lusts and pleasure of their Guests have not more unchristianity in them than this of those Scotish Christians if I may so call them These Customs shew the antient Scots to be rude and barbarous partaking little of the civilitie of the Neighbouring Nations nor are they so broken of the former but that they are observed by a modern Writer to be still greedy of revenge where they find means to take it as also to be a subtile and politick people inclined to Factions and Seditions amongst themselves which he that reads their Stories cannot choose but see A people as King Iames observeth in his Bafilâ—con Doron ever weary of the present state and desirous of novelties accustomed to judge and speak rashly of their Kings and Princes towards whom they have alwayes caried themselves with such untractableness that more Kings have been betrayed murdered and deposed by the Scots than by all the Nations in the World But take them in themselves without these relations and they are said to be an industrious people capable of all Sciences which they give their minds to and generally well versed in Grammâ—ticall Learning of which most of their Gentry have a smattering And of most note in point of Learning have been 1 Marianus surnamed Scotus and 2 Hector Boctius the Historians 3 Iohn Major a well known School-man for the times before the Reformation And for the times that followed 4 George Buchanan an ingenious Poet but an unsound States-man whose Historie and Dialogue de jure Regni have wrought more mischief in the World than all Marchiavels Works Not to have been remembred here but because he was Praedagogue to 5 Xing Iames of most famous memory whose printed Works declare his large abilities in all kinds of Learning 6 Napier the Laird of Marchiston 7 8 Barclay the Father and the Sonne 9 Iohn 〈◊〉 the best Antiquary of this Nation 10 Doctor Iohn Maxwel the late learned Bishop of Ross and my very good Friend besides some others of less note The Christian Religion was here planted by divers men according to the severall Nations who did here inhabit amongst the Low-Landers or Saxon-Scots by Aâ—â—an the first Bishop of Lindiâ—farn or Holy Iland amongst the Picts inhabiting the South-Eastern parts by Ninâ—as Bishop of Candida Casa or Whit-herne in Galloway amongst the Northern-Picts Anno 555. and finally amongst the Scots by Pallâ—dius a Deacon of Rome sent to them hither for that purpose by Pope Celestine Anno 435 or thereabouts And for the Reformation of Religion over grown with the rust and rubbish of the Romish Church degenerated from it self in the later dayes it was here made by a strong hand according to judgement of Knox and others not taâ—ing counsell with the Prelates nor staying the leisure of the Prince as they did in England but turning Prince and Prelates out of all autority made by that means more naturally subject unto alterations than it had been otherwise or only to be made good by the same violence which first introduced it T is true that for a while being in danger of the French and of necessity to support themselves by the power and favour of the English they bound themselves by a solemn Subscription to adhere only to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England and to observe that form of Worship which was there established Religionis cultuâ— Ritibus cum Anglis communibus subscripserunt as is affirmed by Buchanan their own State-Historian But no sooner was that danger over but they â—ound opportunity and leisure to effect their end and have endeavoured ever since by practices and correspondencies with that party here and finally by Force of Arms to thrust their Constitution and Form of Worship on the Church of England As for the Government of the Church it was originally by Bishops as in all parts else but so as they exercised their Functions and Iurisdictions in all places equally wheresoever they came The Kingdom not being divided into Dioceses till the time of Malcolm the 3d Anno 1070 or thereabouts Nor had they any Arch-Bishops till the yeer 1478. The Arch-Bishop of York being accounted and obeyed before that time as the Metropolitan of Scotland But being once setled in an orderly constant Hierarchie they held the same untill the Reformation began by Knoxe when he and his Associats approving the Genevian plat-form took the advantage of the Minoritie of K. James the sixth to introduce Presbyterian Discipline and suppress the Bishops forbidding them by their own sole autority to intermedle any more in matters which concerned the Church cantoning the Kingdom into Presbyteries of their own assigning and that the King might not be able to oppose their doings they kept him under by strong hand imprisoned him at Sterlin made him fly from Edenburgh removed from him all his faithfull servants and seized upon his principall Fortresses and in a word so bafled and affronted him upon all occasions that he was minded many times to have left the kingdom and retire to Venice Which doubtless he had done as I have heard affirmed by some of great place and power had not the hopes of coming at the last to the Crown of
or more for each severall Province according to the condition and capacitie of those which are chosen to reside at the Hague there to consult of the affairs which concern the publick but so that be they more or lesse out of every Province they make amongst them but one suffrage when any thing is to be put unto the Vote And these they call the States Generall first because a collected body out of all the Provinces and secondly because they are not properly to deal in any matters of particular concernment which are determinable absolutely by the States Provinciall but only in such things as concern the generall good of the whole Estate as treating with Ambassadours making war and peace c. For their assistance in the which there is a Councel of State made up of the Governours and some eminent men of every Province in which the Ambassadour of England as long as we held Flushing and the other Cautionarie Towns had his voice or suffrage by whose advice they dispose of all things which concern the publick But so that if any difficultie do appear in the businesse they conclude nothing till they have the approbation and consent of the particular Cities and Provinces for which they are chosen to whom they are accomptable for their administration and by whom revocable whensoever they please The Revenue of this Estate doubtlesse is exceeding great the Armie which they keep in continuall entertainment consisting of no lesse then 30000 men which they can draw into the field leaving the Forts and Towns very well provided yet so well paid that we never read of any mutinie amongst them for want thereof The whole charge with the entertainment of Captains and superiour Officers is said to amount to 500000 l. per annum raised on the people by Excise laid upon all commodities and many taxes of like nature so insupportable in themselves and amongst men which would be thought to live in a free State that should the Spaniard or any Prince in Christendome lay but half so much upon their Subjects it would occasion a Revolt So that whereas one of the first causes of their falling off from the King of Spain was to free themselves from taxes and impositions illegally as they said inforced upon them they have drawn upon themselves more arbitrarie and illegall payments then any Nation in the World So little have they got by the change of government Touching their power at Sea we have spoke alreadie All I shall now adde to it is by way of instance which is that in the year 1587. the King of Denmark on pretence of some displeasure arrested 608 ships of theirs of all sorts at one time in the Sound and that the next year after they set out upon very short warning an hundred good men of war to join with England against the invincible Armada which then threatned both To conclude there is nothing wanting to these Countries wherewith the God of all blessings doth enrich a Nation but a gracious Prince unitie of Religion and a quiet Government which if it pleased the Almighty to confer upon them they would surpasse all neighbouring States in treasure potencie content and all worldly happinesse There are in these Countries Archbishops 3. Bishops 15. Universities 7. Viz. Lovain Doway Leige Leyden Harderwick Franeker Groyning And thus much of Belgium OF GERMANIE GERMANIE is bounded on the East with Prussia Poland and Hungarie on the West with France Switzerland and Belgium on the North with the Baltick Seas and some part of Denmark on the South with the Alps which part it from Italy By which accompt the modern Germanie much differeth from that described by Tacitus and others of the Roman writers that comprehending the three Kingdoms of Denmark Norway and Sweden with so much of the Kingdom of Poland as lieth on this side of the River Vistula but bounded on the East with the Rhene and on the South with the Danow the modern Germanie containing on the further banks of those Rivers 5 whole Roman Provinces that is to say Noricum Ripense and Mediterraneum Rhoetia secunda Belgica and Germania prima with some parts of Rhoetia prima and Germania secunda but terminated with the Danes and the Baltick Sea It was first called thus by the Romans as some conceive who seeing the people both in customs speech and course of life so like those of Gallia called them the Germanes to the Gaules the word Germanus in the Latine signifying a Brother of the whole bloud as our Lawyers phrase it that is to say a brother both by father and mother those which have the same mother but divers fathers being called Fratres uterini And of this minde is Strabo who speaking of the great resemblance which was betwixt these Nations in manners speech customs and way of life concludes it thus that the Romans did with very good reason call them Germans cum fratres eos Gallorum hoc nomine vellent ostendere intending to signifie by that name that they were the brethren of the Gaules But this is to be understood of those people only which dwelt next to Gaule and not of all the Nations which inhabited in this vaste Continent according to the ancient extent thereof it being very well observed by Tacitus that Germanie was at first Nationis non Gentis nomen the name of some of the Nations only not of all the Country the name in processe of time spreading over all that large tract of ground and those scattered Nations which were either conquered by them or incorporate with them Others will have the name to be meerly Dutch deriving it from Ger which signifieth all and the word man signifying in that language as in ours whence also they derive the name of Almans by which they would imply that the Almans or Germans are a very warlike Nation a people that have in them nihil nisi virile nothing not worthie of a man Bocartus somewhat near to this telling us that Ger in the antient Gallick did signifie as much as Guerre in the modern French would have them at their first coming over the Rhene to be called Germans by the Gaules that is to say men of war or Gens d' Armes in the present French by reason of the great and many victories obtained by them The like diversity I find for the name of Almans For though some gave them the name of Almans from the same originall from whence they fetch the name of Germans as was said before yet others as probably conjecture that they had that name because they consisted of so many severall Nations coming out of the North and North-east hither that they seemed to be an Hotch-poth of all sorts of men kneaded into one name and Nation which is the conceit of Asinius Quadratus But for my part I doe conceive supposing the name of Almans to be Dutch originally that the whole Country was not called Almain till such time as the Princes of the
Elector having married a sister of Frederick the fift Elector Palatine the most potent Prince of the Calvinians declared himself to be of that party and opinion the better to assure himself of the aids of Holland anno 1614. But when on the perswasions of his wife he set out an edict for suppressing the Lutheran formes and authorising the Calvinian onely throughout his dominions which was the yeer 1615 the people of this Marquisate rose in Armes against him the difference being thus composed that the Lutheran formes onely should be used in the Churches of Brandenburg for the contentation of the people and the Marquesse have the exercise of his new Religion for himself his Lady and those of their opinion in his private Chappell 's The Territories of this Family are the greatest as before is said of any in Germany but a great part of it is very barren and his subjects in those parts as poor as the Country much of his new accessions yeilding little but the titles onely So that neither in Revenue or Power he is able to keep rank with the Duke of Saxony his ordinary Revenue hardly amounting at the utmost to 200000l per annum which is but half of the receipts of the Duke of Saxony The Armes hereof are Argent an Eagle Gules membred and beaked Or. 15 POMERANIA POMERANIA is bounded on the East with Prussia from which parted by the River Wesel or Vistula on the west with Mecklenburg divided from it by the River Bartze on the North with the Baltick Sea extended on the Coast hereof for the space of 200 English miles and on the South with the Marquisate of Brandenbourg so named from the Pomortzi or Pomerani a nation of the Sclaves to whose share it fell or from the situation of it on the Sea shore as the word in the Sclavonian doth seeme to import The Country is for the most part plain abundantly fruitfull in Corn carried hence to Dantzig and transported thence to all parts of Christendome in their times of scarcity yeilding also good store of pasturage and great heards of Cattell with plenty of butter cheese honey and some reasonable quantities of flax Populous and those people of strong constitution as living under a sharp and piercing air The whole divided into the Continent and the Ilands the Continent into the Vpper Pomeren bordering upon Mecklenburg extended from the Bartze to the River Odera the Lower reaching from the Odera to the borders of Prussia Chief places in the UPPER are 1 Barth at the mouth of the River Bartze taking name from thence a well traded town and many times the seat of the Dukes of this hithermost Pomeren 2 Wolgast upon the Baltick sea over against the Isle of Vsedom the chief of this part of Pomeren from whence the Dukes hereof are called the Dukes of Pomeren-Wolgast the first town taken in by Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden in his famous war for relief of Germany anno 1630. 3 Straelsund a town of great trading and much resort seated upon the same sea also opposite to the Isle of Rugen a town of great name in the course of the German Warres 4 Grispswald on the same sea betwixt Wolgast and Straelsund made an University anno 1456. 5 Anclaw upon the River Pone 6 Tribsca situate on a lake out of which the said River hath its course Then in the LOWER Pomeren there is Camin an Episcopall See situate on the Baltick shore over against the Isle of Wollin 8 Colberg a strong town on the same shore also at the fall of the Persant into the Sea 9 Costin the last Sea-town of this tract lying towards Prussia 10 Stargard on the Ina more within the land as is also 11 Griffenberg upon the Rega and 12 Stetin on the Odera once a poor fisher-town now the Metropolis of this part of the Country rising to this greatnesse after the embracing of Christianity by the fall of Wineta formerly the chief Mart-town of all these parts The ordinary seat of the Dukes of the Lower Pomerania the Dukes of Pomeren of Stetin as for distinction sake they are used to call them The Ilands hereunto pertaining are those of Rugen Wallin Vsidom touched upon before but now more punctually to be handled That of most note is RVGEN over against Straelsund from which divided onely by a narrow street In length seven Dutch miles and as much in breadth so that the compasse of it if it were exactly round would amount to 20 German or an hundred Italian miles and yet once bigger then it is but in the year 1309 by the force of an outrageous tempest a great part of it lying towards the South-east as far as to the I le of Buden then conjunct hereto was torne away and sunk so deep into the bottome of the Sea that now the greatest ships that be sail over it The Iland plentifull of Corn the Granary of Straelsund as they call it commonly and reasonably well stored with Cattell full of Bayes Creeks and winding shores with many and vast Promentories thrusting into the Sea which gives them great increase of fishing Antiently it belonged to the Crown of Denmark till given by Waldemar the third to Bugislaus and Barnimus Dukes of Pomeren continuing ever since part of that estate The chief town of it is called Berga situate in the midst of the Iland but not containing above 400 Families others of lesse note and estimation being 2 Sugart 3 Vick 4 Bingst c. small towns compared with Villages upon the Continent but the best they have And yet so populous is the Iland that they are able to arme 7000 good fighting men if there be occasion The second of the three in repute and bignesse is that of Wollin situate over against Camin so called from Wollin the chief town Julinum it is called in Latine made an Episcopall See by Wartislaus the first Christian Prince of this nation upon the sackage of this City he removed to Camin A town which once so flourished in Traffick that it gave place to none but Constantinople the Russians Danes Saxons Vandals c. having here their particular streets But being miserably sacked by Waldemar King of Danemark anno 1170. most of the trade hereof was removed to Lubeck since which time it never could come neer its former glories The last in reputation is that of VSEDOM seated betwixt both not far from Wolgaft so called from Vsedom the chief town in it of which little observable All three the habitation of the antient Rugii who under Odoacer King of the Heruli subverted the Western Empire conquered Italy and made themselves masters of it till subdued by the Gothes Those which remained in these Ilands became after subject to the Sclaves and had once Kings of their own the first whose name occurs in story being Crito the son of Ratze a puissant Prince extending his Dominions into Holst Ditmarsh and the City of Lubeck which he built about the year
morrow after this overthrow he was condemned to lose his Head but pardoned at last on condition that he should ransomlesse set free Marquesse Albert of Brandenbourg renounce his dignity of the Electorship resigne up all his inheritance with the like harsh Articles It was also urged that he should alter his Religion but that he so constantly denyed that it was omitted For his after maintenance there were rendred back unto him the towns of Weymar and Goth from the former of which his Posterity are now called Dukes of Saxon-Weymar After this Victory the Emperour fraudulently intrapped the Lantgrave then marched he against the Cities in all which he prevailed restored the Masse and drave them to hard composition for their liberties It was thought that in this war the Emperour got 1600000 Crowns and 500 peeces of Ordinance The Imprisonment of the Lantgrave contrary to the Emperours promise was the chief thing which overthrew his good fortune For Duke Maurice having pawned his word and given unto the Lantgraves children his Bond for the safe return of their Father found himself much wronged and grieved therefore consulting with Baron Hedeck he entred league with the French King associated himself with Marquesse Albert of Brandenbourg suddenly surprised Auspurg and by the terrour which his haste brought with it forced the Emperour to flie from Inspruch and the Fathers to break up the Councell of Trent The Emperour now brought low easily hearkned to an honourable Composition which not long after was concluded the Cities recovering their Priviledges free passage being given to the Reformation and all things else reduced to the same state they were in before the wars the restoring of John-Frederick to his Dukedom and Electorship excepted only So did this Duke Maurice both overthrow the liberty of his Country and restore it so was the work of Reformation by his means depressed by the same again revived and established stronger then ever Thus we see that of the Poet verified Vel nemo vel qui mihi vulnera fecit Solus Achillaeo tollere more potest None but the man which did his Country wound Achilles-like could heal and make it sound It is observed by some that the deprivation of John Frederick and the advancement of Maurice fell out very happily for the confirming of the Reformation then contended for First in regard of John Frederick whose Christian patience and Magnanimity during the whole time of his imprisonment added great reputation to the cause for which he he suffered 2 In respect of Duke Maurice who was a man of far greater parts to advance the work and every way as zealous in pursuance of it as the other was And 3 In relation to the children of the deprived Duke men not to be relied on in a matter of such weight and moment insomuch as it was said of him after his decease Quod filios reliquerit sui dissimillimos But to return unto my story The doctrine of Luther thus setled in Germany and being so agreeable to the Word of God was quickly propagated over all Christendome the reasons of which next unto the Almighty power of the most High may be principally six 1 The diligence and assiduity of preaching in City and Village 2 The publishing of books of Piety and Christian Religian 3 The translations of the Scriptures into the vulgar languages whereby the simple might discern good from bad the muddy doctrine of Rome from the clear water of life 4 The education of youth especially in Catechismes which contained the whole body of Christian religion which once well planted in their mindes was irradicable 5 The continuall offers of disputations with the adverse party in a publick audience which being denyed gave assurance of the truth and soundnesse of the one side as of the falshood and weaknesse of the other 6 Their compiling of Martyrologies and Histories of the Church which cannot but work an admirable confirmation of Faith and constancy in the hearers and readers There is one only policy wanting namely the calling of a generall Synod to compose the differences of the reformed Church about the Sacrament and Predestination which would certainly strengthen their own cause and weaken the enemies whose chief hopes are that the present disagreements will arme party against party to their own destruction But God grant that their hopes may be frustrated and we will say with the Poet Haemanus Trojam erigent Parvas habet spes Troja si tales habet Shall these small jarres restore the ruin'd Pope Small hope he hath if this be all his hope But it is time we should proceed to the story of Saxony the ancient inhabitants of which tract were the Longobardi or Lombards of Magdeburg and part of the Cherusci about Mansteld and Wirtenberg Overcome by the prevailing Saxons they became part of their name and Country which in the full extent thereof was once far greater then now it is containing all the Countries betwixt the Rhene and the River Eydore in the Cimbrick Chersonesse and from the River Saltza to the German and Baltick Oceans These said by some to be a People of Asia and there called the Sacae who finding that small territory now a part of Persia too narrow for them forsook their Country and at last fixed themselves in the Cimbrick Chersonesse where they first took the names of Pasaeasons or Sac-sons that is to say the â—ons of the Sacae The improbality of this we have there disputed Omitting therefore that and the like Originations of them I conceive them for my part to be naturall Germans some tribe of that most populous and potent people of the Suevi but for the reason of the name let every man enjoy the pleasure of his own opinion Certain I am that in Ptolemies time they were possessed of those parts beyond the Elb thence extended to the Eydore part of which tract is now known by the name of Holstein and were accounted in that time to be no new-comers Afterwards as they grew in number they inlarged their quarters and passing over the Elb in the time of the latter Roman Emperours possessed themselves of the void places which were left by the French then busied in the conquest of more fruitfull Countries communicating their name to all the Nations which they overcame as the French had formerly done before them So that in fine they took up the now Dukedomes of Holstein Lunenbourg and Brunswick the Bishopricks of Bremen Verda Hildersheim Halberstad and Magdeburg the old Marches of Brandenbourg the Earldome of Mansfield Wesiphalen both Friselands Overyssell with as much of Guelderland and Holland as lay on that side of the Rhene By which account the present Electorall Family hath not one foot of the old Saxony in their possession the seat and Patrimony of the Electors being removed into other Countries upon the alterations and changes which have hapned in that estate the name and title of Saxony being given to the Country about Wittenberg for no
by the Tartars At what time Erdizvill then their Prince but an Homager and Tributary to the Ruâ—sians with drew himselfe from their command as did also many others of the conquered Provinces Afterwards Miâ—doch one of the Dukes or Princes of it being made a Christian was by Pope Innocent the third honoured with the title of a King but returning againe unto his vomit he lost that title In the end anno 1386. Jâ—gello Duke of Lituania marying with Heduigis Queen of Poland was upon three conditions chosen King of that Realm 1 That he should immediately receive the Christian faith 2 That he should draw all his subjects to the same beliefe and 3 that hee should unite this Dukedome to the Crown of Poland Of these the two first were performed without any delay though the second not without some difficulty the people being obstinate in their old Idolatry especially in the religious conceit they had of high trees which to cut down was held both unsafe and impious Not to be weaned from this conceit till by the authority of the King their lostiest trees were felled and their Woods grubbed up which when they saw done without any danger to the Prince or any of those whom he employed in that service Regis mandato autoritati cedere caperunt they then began to hearken unto his commands and generally received the Gospell and were Baptized In the last point there was a longer time of deliberation For the Princes of the house of Jagâ—llo loth to deprive themselves of their Patrimoniall estate which was hereditary unto their posterity and to subject it to the election of the Polanders in which it was possible the Princes of their family might be pretermitted deferred the accomplishment hereof from one day to another under colour that the Lituanians would revolt if they went about it But Sigismund Augustus in whose person the male issue of Jagello failed foreseeing what divisions might ensue after his decease and fearing that the Moscovites would renew their old pretentions united it unto the Crown ordaining that the Bishops Palatines and a certain number of the Chastellans by him established should have their place and suffrage in the great Councell of Poland power in the choosing of the King and all other priviledges which the naturall Polonians have Since that accounted a chief Member of that Body Politicke subject to those corruptions changes and innovations in matters of Religion which have been predominant in the other excepting those parts onely which relate to the Church of Greece or Mosco adhering pertenaciously to the rites thereof 4 VOLHINIA VOLHINIA by some accounted one of the Palatinates of Lituania as once it was but by others a distinct Province of it selfe is bounded on the North and East with Lituania on the South with Podolia and on the West with Russia Nigra and Podlassia So called as Maginus is of opinion from the Volgari who dwelling on the banks of the River Volga came afterwards into this countrey calling it Volgaria whence by degrees it came unto Volhonia and at last to Volhinia But this conjecture is improbable and of no good grounds The countrey yeelds good plenty both of grain and fruits Pooles which abound with very good fish Forrests which doe afford them store of game and honey and much good pasturage for their cattell The people of the same nature with the Lituanians but more strong and warlike and better weaned from their old superstitions and heathenish customes then the others are Of the same language and Religion with those of Russia to which together with the rest of Lituania it did once belong It is divided commonly into three parts or Provinces all taking name from the three principall Cities of it that is to say 1 Luzke in Latine called Luceozia a towne of above 1000 families where 127 onely in the time of my Authour were of the Romish Religion the residue being Russians Grecians and some Armenians the seat residence of two Bishops of which one being of the Communion of the Church of Rome is of the Province of the Archbishop of Lemburg in Russia Nigra but they which are of the Communion of the Church of Greece have also a Bishop of their owne who acknowledgeth the Patriarch of Mosco for his Metropolitan 2 Valodomir a Bishop See also of the same condition 3 Keromenze which as the rest hath under it many fair Towns and Castles besides large Villages The whole once part of Lituania as before was said but of late dismembred from it and united to the Crown of Poland as a State distinct But so that the greatest part of it is immediately subject to the Duke of Ostrogoye who is said to have 4000 Feudataries in this Countrey the greatest Prince of those who hold Communion with the Church of Greece in the whole Realm of Poland 5 PODOLIA PODOLIA hath on the North Volhinia part of Lituania and the great Empire of Russia on the South Moldavia from which parted by the River Tyras now called Niester on the West Russia Nigra extending Eastward through vast uninhabited countries as far as to the Euxine Sea The reason of the name I finde no where guessed at the people for the most part of the same nature with the Russians to whose Empire it formerly belonged The Country generally so fertile that the husbandman is accustomed to reap an hundred for one in regard it bears at one ploughing for three years together the countreyman being put to no further trouble then at the end of the first and second yeares to shake the corn a little as he reaps or loads it that which so falls serving as seed for the next yeare following The meadow grounds so strangely rich and luxuriant and the grass so high that a man can hardly see the heads or horns of his Cattell of so swift a growth that in three days it will cover a rod which is throwne into it and in few more so hide a plough that it is not an easie work to finde it If these things seeme beyond beliefe let Maginus who reporteth them bear the blame thereof though better take it on his word then goe so far to disprove him And yet which addes much unto the miracle the ground in most places so hard and stony that there need six yoke of Oxen to break it up to the great toyle both of the Cattell and the men It is also said that in this countrey there are great flocks of sheep many heads of Oxen abundance of wild beasts and great store of honey And yet for all this plenty and abundance of all things necessarie the Country for the most part especially towards the East is but meanly inhabited by reason of the frequent incursions of the Tartars bordering next unto it Who have so wasted it in times past and thereby so discouraged the people from building planting and all other works of peace and husbandrie that in so large and rich a Countrie
my way I return again both to the place and to the Authoe In whose evidence besides what doth concern the imposition of the name of Christian upon the body of the faithful we have a testimony for Saint Peters being Bishop of An lock the first Bishop thereof of the Church of the Jews therein as lest as is said positively by Eusebius in his Chronologie Saint Hierome in his Catalogue of Ecclesiasticall writers Saint Chrysostonze in his Homilie de Translatione Ignatii Theodoret Dialog 1. Saint Gregory Epistol lib. 6. cap. 37. and before any of them by Origen in his sixt Homily on Saint Luke With reference whereunto and in respect that Antioch was accompted alwaies the principal City of the East parts of the Roman Empire the Prefect of the East for the most part residing in it the Bishop hereof in the first Ages of Christianity had jurisdiction over all the Churches in the East as far as the bounds of that Empire did extend that way To which by Constantine the Great the Provinces of Cilicia and Isauria with those of Mesopotamus and Osroent were after added Containing fifteen Roman Provinces or the whole Diocese of the Orient And though by the substracting of the Churches of Palestine and the decay of Christianity in these parts by the conquests of the Turks and Saracens the jurisdiction of this Patriarch hath bin very much lessened yet William of Tyre who flourished in the year 1130. reciteth the names of 13 Archiepiscopal 21 Metropolitical and 127. Episcopal Sees yielding obedience in his time to the See of Antoch Since which that number is much diminished Mahometanism more and more increasing and Christianity divided into Sects and factions insomuch as of three forts of Christians living in these Countreys viz. the Maronites Jacobites and Melchites onely the Melchites are subordinate to the Church of Antioch the others having Patriarels of their own Religion And first for the Melchites who are indeed the true and proper Members of the Church of Antioch and the greatest body of Christians in all the East they are so named in way of scorn by the Jacobite and Maronite Schismatick separating without just cause from their communion The name derived from Malchi signifying in the Syriack language a King or Emperour because adhering to their Primate they followed the Canons and decisions of preceding Councils ratisied by authority of the Emperour Leo by whom subscription was required to the Acts thereof and were in that respect as we use to say of the Kings Religion Conform in points of doctrine to the Church of Greece but that they celebrate divine service as solemnly on the Saturday as upon the Sunday subject to their true and original Patriarch who since the destruction of Antioch doth reside in Damaseus and on no terms acknowledging the authority of the Popes of Rome Next for the Maronites they derive that name either from Marona one of the principall Villages where they first inhabited or from the Monasterie of S. Maron mentioned in the first Act of the Council of Consumople holden under Mennas the Monks of which called Maronites were the head of their Sect. Some points they hold in which they differ from all Orthodox Christians others in which they differ onely from the Church of Rome Of the first sort 1. That the Holy Ghost proceedeth from the Father onely without relation to the Sonne 2. That the Souls of men were created all together at the first beginning 3. That male Children are not be Baptized together but at severall times by one and one 4. That Herenques returning to the Church are to be re-baptized 5. That the Child is made unclean by the touch of his Mother till her purification and therefore not Baptizing Children till that time be past which after the birth of a Male Child must be forty daies of a Female eighty 6. That the Euchirist is to be given to Children presently after Baptism 7. That the fourth Mariage is utterly unlawfull 8. That the Father may dissolve the mariage of his Sonne or Daughter 9. That young men are not to be Ordeived Priests or Deacons except they be maried 10. That nothing Strangled or of blood may be eaten by Christians 11. That Women in their monethly courses are not to be admitted to the Eucharist of to comeinto the Church 12. And finally which was indeed their first discrimination from the Orthodox Christians that there was but one will and action in Christ the Fautors of which opinion had the name of Monothelies Of the last kind 1. That the Sacrament of the Lords Supper was to be administred in both kinds 2. and in Leavened bread 3. that bread to be broken to the Communicants and not each man to have his waser to himself according to the first Institution 4. Not reserving that Sacrament 5. not carrying any part of the confecrated Elements to sick persons in danger of death 6. That Aleriage is nothing inferiour to the single life 7. That no man entreth the Kingdome of Heaven till the General Judgement 8. That the Saturday or old Sabbath is not to be fasted 9. nor the Sacrament upon dates of fasting to be administred till the Evening They withdrew themselves from the See of Antioch and set up a Patriark of their own many ages since but the certain time thereof I find not conferring on him for the greater credit of their Schism the honourable title of the Patriarch of Antioch His name perpetually to be Peter as the undoubted Successour of that Apostle in the See thereof Dispersed about the spurres and branches of Mount Libanus where they have many Townships and seattered Villages of which four are reported to retain in their common speech the true antient Syriack that is to say 1. Eden a small village but a Bishops See by the Turks called Aechera 2. Hatchteth 3. Sherrie 4. Bolesa or Blousa little superiour to the rest in bigness or beauty but made the seat of their Patriarch when he comes amongst them At such time as the Western Christians were possessed of these parts they submitted to the Church of Rome but upon their expulsion by the Turks and Saracens they returned again to the obedience of their own Patriarch on whom they have ever since depended His residence for the most part at Tripolis a chief Town of Syria but when he came to visit his Churches and take an accompt of his Suffragan Bishops who are nine in number then at Blousa as is said before Won to the Papacy again by John Baptist a Jesuite in the time of Pope Gregory the thirteenth who sent them a Catechism from Rome printed in the Arabian language which is generally spoken by them for their instruction in the Rudiments of that Religion yet so that their Patriarch still retains his former power and the Priests still officiate by the old liturgies of those Churches in the Syriack tongue So that this reconciliation upon the matter is but a matter of complement on
discomfited by the Philistims slew himself for grief or else for fear of falling into the hands of those merciless Enemies against whom he had so often returned victorious 5. Naim on the banks of the River Chison where CHRIST raised to life the Widowes Sonne 6. Hapharaim or Aphraim on the banks of the same River also 7. Endor of chief note for the Witch with whom Saul consulted and the discomfiture of the Midianites by Gedeâ—m who perished at Endor and became as the Dung of the Earth saith the Royall Psalmist 8. Dabarath one of the Cities of refuge 9. Arbela not far from the Cave of the two theeves which so greatly infested Galilee in the time of Herod And 10. of a later date the Castle of Pilgrims Castrum Peregrinorum in Latine Writers built by Raymond Earl of Tholouse and after fortified by the Templers for the security of such as traveled to the Holy Land and for long time the Magazine or Store-house of the Western Christians now called Tortora Situate on the shores of the Mediterranean neer a spacious bay on the North-side whereof Mount Carmel described already As for those Galileans which succeeded in the place of these Tribes they were for the most part originally such as were sent hither by Salmanassar to inhabit there when the Israelites were led away into endless thraldome but intermixed with some Remainders of the ten Tribes as was said before And yet as if they had been wholly of the same extraction with the rest of the Samaritan Nations they were as much despised by the Jews as witnesseth that scornful by-word Can there any good come out of Galilee as the others were though these as Orthedox in Religion as the Jews themselves In which so zealously affected that neither threats nor force could make them offer sacrifice for the health of the Roman Emperours whom they looked on as the Enemies of their Law and liberty Brought under the command of the Kings of Iewry by the Maccabaeans and with the rest of that Kingdome bestowed on Herod by the Romans Left by him at his death to Herod surnamed Antipas the second of his Sonnes then living with the title of Tetrarch which he enjoyed till the death of our Saviour and on his deprivation being banished to Lyons in France by the Emperour Caligula bestowed upon Agrippa his brothers Sonne the first King of the Iews so named Under him and his Sonne Agrippa the second it continued till the generall revolt of the Jewish Nation Subjected by the sword of Titus to the power of the Romans it hath since followed the same fortune with the rest of Palestine 4. SAMARIA SAMARIA is bounded on the East with the River Jordan on the West with the Mediterranean Sea on the North with Galilee and on the South with Iudaea So called from Samaria the chief City of it of which more hereafter The Countrey interchangeably composed of fields and mountains excellent good for tillage and full of trees yielding variety of fruits watered both with the dew of heaven and many fresh springs which the Earth affordeth it occasioning thereby abundance of grass and consequently of Milch-beasts exceeding plenty Heretofore very wealthy and no less populous but now famed for neither The people for the most part were originally the descendants of those Assyrians whom Salmanassar sent hither to possess the dwellings of the captive Israelites Gentiles at first till better instructed by the Lions whom God sent amongst them and after by the Priests sent hither by the Kings of Assyria they entertained the five Books of Moses and out of them learned the manner of the God of the Land 2 Kin. 17 Further then this they would not go rejecting all the rest of the sacred Canon and no strict observers of this neither And though at first they so embraced the worship of God as that they still adhered to the gods of the Nations where before they dwelt as Nergal Ashimah Nibbar Tartak and the rest of that rabble mentioned 2 Kings 17. yet they were soon taken off from those impieties and became zealous in the worship of one onely God erronious cheifly in the place which was destined to it The wicked policy of Ieroboam the Sonne of Nebat was as naturall to them as if they could not have possessed his estates without it and therefore would not suffer their people to go up to Hâ—rusalem to worship as the Law required More pious yet in this than their Predâ—cessours that they erected no Golden Calves in Dan and Bethel or any other parts of their Dominions though to divert the people from the Temple of God they would have a Temple of their own Mount Garizim and the Temple there of which more anon as sacred unto them as that of Solomon to the Iews Schismaticat enough in this but not idolatrous and Schismaticall as the others were yet so conceited of themselves and their own perfections that they imagined themselves defiled by any company but their own If therefore they had visited any of their neighbour nations at their return they used to sprinkle themselves with urine but if by negligence or the necessitie of business they had touched any not of their own Sect they drenched themselves cloathes and all in the next fountain But in this the Iews cryed quittance with them not so much as eating or drinking with them nor having with them any kind of commerce or dealing as appeareth Iohn 4. 9. but loading them on the other side with all the bitternesse of reproach and hatred There are two manner of people saith the Sonne of Sirach which mine heart abhorreth 〈◊〉 the third is no people they that sit on the Mountains of Samaria the Philistims and the foolish people that dwell as Sichem Ecâ—ius 50. And this continued to the times of our blessed Saviour whom when the Jewâ— endeavoured to reproch with their heaviest calumnies they could find out none so great as to say he was a Samaritan which they thought came all to one a man that had converse with Devils and familiar spirits Of these there were some Sects also as amongst the Jews 1. the Dositheans so called from Dâ—suâ—eus or Dosthâ—â— supposed to be the first Priest who was sent thither by the Kings of Assyria agreeing with the Jews in Circumcision and the Sabbath and the doctrine of the Resurrection in which last they differed from the common Samaritan who was a Saducee in that point but differing from them in some points of as signal consequence For they rejected the writings of all the Prophets as not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inspired by the Holy Ghost they eat of nothing that had life like the Pythagoreans abstained from mariage like the Essenes and in the point of Sabbath-keeping out went the Pharisees it being resolved upon amongst them that in what posture soever a man was found on the Sabbath-day-morning in the same he was to continue without alteration the whole day after 2. The Sebvians so called from
hath it in his Onomasticon I am not able to determine But measuring it by the last estimate which I more approve of it will amount to two millions and two hundred ninety and five thousand pounds a vast summe for a King to leave in ready money which was alwaies exercised in war And though I doe not find expresly what the Revenues of Judah might amount unto after the division yet by one circumstance I find them to be very great For it is written 2 Kings 18. 14. that the yearly tribute imposed upon Hezekiah by the King of Assyria was three hundred Talents of Silver and thirty Talents of Gold amounting according to the ordinary Hebrew Talent which questionless is there intended to two hundred forty seven thousand and five hundred pounds of English money and therefore probably his ordinary Revenue must be thrice as much above tha ttribue Else the Assyrian had not left him a subsistance for a King to live on Nor can I think that the Revenues of this Crown were less to Herod than formerly to Solomon or David considering his vast expences the many and magnificent Structures which he brought to perfection and the large Legacies he gave at the time of his death not paralleld by any King before or since though of a larger and more ample territory than he stood possessed of What forces the Kings of the Hebrews were able to bring into the field may best be estimated by the muster which David made when he numbred the People the inrolment of such as were able to bear arms and fit for service coming in all to five hundred thousand fighting men in Judab onely and eight hundred thousand men in the Tribes of Israel T is true that David never brought into the field so vast a multitude but when the Kingdomes wete divided and warre denounced betwixt Jeroboam and Abijah we find almost the whole number brought into the field that is to say eight hundred thousand on the side of Jerobsam the King of Israel and four hundred thousand by Abijah the King of Iudah After this out of that small Kingdome Asa the Son of Abijah being invaded by Zerah the Arabian or Ethiopian advanced an Army of five hundred and eighty thousand men which was more than the inrolment made in the time of David An infinite proportion for so small a Kingdome and were it not a vouched in the holy Scriptures far above belief had not that God who said to Abraham that his seed should be as the stars of Heaven for multitude been able to have made it good As for the story and affairs of this Countrey since the time of Adrian the Iews being all expelled their native Soyl and Christianity in fine prevailing over all those parts it was inhahited as the rest of the Empire was by men of that Religion onely in this Countrey so advanced and countenanced that Helena the Mother of Constantine is reported to have built in it no less than two hundred Temples and Monasteries in places of most note for the miracles of Christ our Savio ur or the dwelling of some of his Disciples In the year 615. the Persians under the conduct of Chosroes their King became Masters of it and possessed themselves of Hierusalem also expelled thence by the valour and good fortune of the Emperour Heraclius who recovering the Cross on which Christ suffered out of the hands of the Pagans carried it with as great a triumph into Constantinople as David once did the Ark into Hierusalem But this glory and rejoycing did not long continue For within twenty years after the recovery of this City from the power of the Persians it was again conquered and subdued by Homar or Aumar Caliph of the Saracens Anno 637. Under this yoak the captivated Christians had long suffered when they changed the Tyrant but not the tyranny the Turks about the year 1079. overcoming the Saracens and domineering in their steed Twenty years did the Christians langnish under this oppression when one Peter an Hermite travelling for devotion to the holy Lnd and being an eye-witness of the miseries under which they groaned at his return made his addresses to Pope Vrban the second acquainting him with the sad condition of the poor Christians in those Countries A Councill thereupon is called at Clermont in France where the Pope willing to imploy the Christian Princes farther off that he might the better play his game at home did so effectually advance and indeer the business that no fewer than three hundred thousand fighting men under severall Leaders undertook the service And it prospered so well with them in the first beginning that having beaten the Turks out of Asia Minor taken the great City of Antioch and most of the strong Towns of Syria they incamped before Hierusalem and in short time took it Anno 1099. after it had been four hundred years and upwards in the power of the Infidels The City being thus gained was offered with the title of King to Robert Duke of Normandy Sonne of William the Conquerour but he upon the hopes of the Kingdome of England refused that honour never prospering as it was observed after that refusall Godfrey of Bouillon Duke of Lorreine had the next offer of it which with a religious joy he accepted of though on the day of his Inanguration he refused the Crown affirming that it was not fit for a Christian Prince to wear in that City a Crown of Gold where the Redeemer of the World ware a Crown of Thornes The Kings of Hierusalem 1099. 1. Godfrey of Bouillon Duke of Lorreine 1100. 2. Baldwin of Lorreine brother of Godsrey wonne Ptolemais and many other Cities of Syria 1118. 3. Baldwin II. surnamed of Bruges Cousin of Godfrey and Baldwin the Former Kings overcame the Sultan of Damascus and inlarged his Kingdome by the addition of Tyre 1131. 4. Fulk Earl of Anjon having maryed Milliscent the daughter of Baldwin the 2d succeeded after his decease unfortunately killed with a fall from his horse 1142. 5. Baldwin III. Sonne of Fulk and Milliscent fortified Gaza against the Caliph of Aegypt and recoverd Paneade from the King of Damascus 1164. 6. Almericus the Brother of Baldwin the 3d. so distressed the great Caliph of Aegypt that he was forced to call in the Turks to aid him by whom slain and his Kingdome transferred on Sarracon the Turkish Generall 1173. 7. Baldwin IV. Sonne of Almericus overthrew Saladine the victorious King of the Turkes in a fight neer Ascalon and valiantly defended his Dominions 1185. 8. Baldwin V. Sonne of Sibyll the Sister of Baldwin the 4th by William Marquess of Montferrat unnaturally poisoned by his own mother having reigned only five moneths to make way for her second husband called 1185. 9. Guy of Lusignan the last King of Hierusalem that had the possession of the City during whose time Saladine the Sultan of Aegypt won that Kingdome Anno 1187. which his Successours defended against all invasions till the year
shade they shall spend their time with amourous Virgins whose mansion shall not be far distant The men shall never exceed the age of thirty nor the women of fifteen and both shall have their virginities renewed as fast as lost Fryday he ordained to be the Sabbath-day partly to distinguish his followers from the Jewes and Christians who sole unize the daies ensuing but principally because he was on that day proclamed King or Emperor and solemnly so created Wine and Swines-flesh are the principall things forbidden by the Alcoran the last whereof they unanimously refrain but on the first they are so sotted that when they come at it they seldome go home again unled insomuch that all the wines in Constantinople have been thown about the streets and death made the penalty for any that will presume to bring any more into the City Manomet taught them that every one should be saved by his own Religion him onely excepted that revolted from the Alcoran unto another law but so that under the notion of Religion he means onely such as worship the one and onely God excluding by that means the old Idolaters of the Gentiles from the hopes of salvation And he taught too that at the end of the world all men that professed any such Religion should go into Paradise the Jews under the banner of Moses the Christians under the banner of Christ and the Saracens under the banner of Mahomet They compel no man therefore to abjure the faith in which he was born but commend and approve secretly such as they find zealous and constant in their own Religion yet holding it an especial honour to have daily new proselytes they incite them by hope of freedome and preferment which with many are motives too much prevailing Hence I have heard many say that it is better for a man that would enjoy liberty of conscience to live in the Countries professing Mahometanism than Papistry for in the one he shall never be free from the bloody inquistion in the other he is never molested if he meddle not with the Law their women or their slaves The opinions which they hold concerning the end of the World are very ridiculous as that at the winding of a horn not all flesh onely but the Angels themselves shall die that the Earth with an Earthquake shall be kneaded together like a lump of dough that a second blast of the same horn shall after fourty dayes restore all again that Cain shall be the Captain or ring-leader of the damned who shall have the countenance of dogs and swine that they shall pass over the bridge of Justice laden with their sinnes in satchels that the great sinners shall fall into hell the letter into purgatory onely with a thousand of the like fopperies which it is needless to add here considering that the Alcoran it self is now extant in the English and every one that lists may read it A thing so full of tautologies inchohaerencies and such gross absurdities of so impure and camal mixture that he must lay aside the use of his natural reason who is taken by it if force ambition or the want of Christian education do not lead him on For if we seriously look into the causes of the deplorable increase and long continuance of this Religion we shall find them to be chiefly these 1. The Greatness of the Victories gotten by the Saracens who easily compelled the conquered Nations to receive their Law 2. The great zeal and diligence of the Arabians themselves who being a numerous People and much given to Merchandise have possessed themselves of all the Sea-coasts of Africk from the streights of Babel-Mandel almost as farre as to the Cape of good hope of all the Ilands in those Seas and many Factories and good Towns on the coasts of India in all which they have setled their Religion also as a thing inseparable from their Nation 3. A peremptory restraint of all disputation in any point of Religion whatsoever it be 4. The suppressing of Philosophy and the study of Humane Sciences the light whereof might easily detect the grosseness of their Superstitions 5. The sensual liberty allowed of having variety of wives and as many Concubines as they are able to keep 6. The promise of the like sensual pleasures in the other world with which a sense not illuminated with the Spirit of God doth for the most part use to be more affected than with the speculative hope of spirituall happiness 7. The forbiding of Printing and printed Books by which the People might come to see the verity and purity of the Christian faith the falshood and impurity of the Law of Mahomet These last not useful or at least not able to induce belief if the first had not opened and prepared the way For indeed force of Armes was the strongest Argument by which Mahomet himself confirmed and his Successors in their times have since propagated and dispersed his doctrines Strengthened by the resort of that rascal Rabble which repaired to him he assaults Medina pretending a quarrel to the Jews who had there a Synagogue Repulsed at first with loss of men and a wound in his face by which some of his fore-teeth were beaten out there likely to have made an end of his new Religion if not recovered by his Souldiers for a further mischief At the next onset he prevailed the battel being fought neer a place called Bedez situate betwixt Mecca and Medina frequently mentioned in the Alcoran After which fight he took the City converting the Synagogue to a Temple for his own impieties the news whereof so starded the Phylarchy or nobility of Mecca that they armed all their powers against him and sped so well in the beginning of the warre that they drove him forcibly from their territories which not long after he subdued and set his chief seat at Mecca From that his flight the Saracens began their computation of years as we from CHRISTS Nativity which they call the Hegira which beginneth about the year of our Redemption 617. concerning which time I cannot but observe that Mahomet compiled his devilish doctrine beginning his Empire and Boniface the third assumed his Antichristian title beginning his unlimited Supremacy nigh about the same year It was called the Hegira from the Arabick Hegirathi which by the learned in that tongue is rendred by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i.e. the persecution raised ab ut Religion Joseph Scaliger in the first edition of his most laborious work de emendatione temporum casteth off this Etymology with purum putum mendacium He will not have it called Aera fugae or persecutioris but Aera Hagarene because for sooth the Arabians were by some called Hagarons I believe it would have puzled Joseph with all his reading to shew unto us any Epoche or Aera which is taken from the name of a Nation And therefore other reason he giveth us none but this Nos autem scimus vocem illam primogenia significations ab
and in the end possessed himself of the City of Nice not long before the Imperiall Seat of the Grecian Emperors Emboldned with such great successes and heating of the death of Aladins the second whom he acknowledged for his Lord he took unto himself the Title of Sultan Anno 1300. from which before he had abstained To this time and these small beginnings we must reduce the first foundation of the Ottoman Empire increased unto its present greatness by the courage and good fortune of these Princes following The Kings of the Turks of the Oguzian or Ottoman Family 1300. 1. Ottoman the sonne of Ethrogul the first Turkish Sultan of this line added to his small territory the greatest part of Bithynia and some part of Pontus 28. 1328. 2. Orchanes took the City Prusa and made it his residence and was the first that put footing in Europe where he got Gallipolis and other peeces 1350. 3. Amurath wonne the Thracian Chersonese the strong City of Adrianople with the Countries of Servia and Bulgaria where he was slain by a common Souldier in the fields of Cossova 23. 1373. 4. Bajazet made himself master of a great part of Thrace Macedon and Achaia He was taken prisoner by Tamerlane and brained himself in an iron cage in which the insolent Conqueror used to carry him 26. 1399. 5. Mahomet united the dismembred Empire of his Father and inlarged it with the more absolute conquest of Dacia part of Sclavonia and the rest of Macedon 17. 1416. 6. Amurath II. subdued from the Constantinopolitan Empire all Achaia Thessaly Epirus he shaked the State of Hungary and dyed before the Walls of Croy. 34. The Ottoman Emperors 1450. 7. Mahomet II. sumamed the Great and first Emperor of the Turks ruined the two Empires of Constantinople and Trabezond twelve Kingdomes and two hundred Cities 31. 1481. 8. Bajazet II. subdued the Caramanian Kingdome and part of Armenia and drove the Venetians from Morea and their part of Dalmatia 31. 1512. 9. Sclimus having poisoned his Father subverted the Mamalucks of Egypt bringing it together with Palestine Syria and Arabia under the yoke of the Turks 7. 1519. 10. Solyman the Magnificent surprised Rhodes Belgrad Buda with a great part of Hungary Babylon Assyria Mesopotamia 48. 1567. 11. Selimus II. an idle and effeminate Emperour by his Deputies took from the Venetians the Isle of Cyprius and from the Moores the Kingdome of Tunis and Algiers 8. 1575. 12. Amurath III. took from the disagreeing Persians Armenia Media and the City Tauris and the fort Guierino from the Hungarians 20. 1595. 13. Mahomet III. took Agria in Hungarie which Kingdome had likely bin lost if he had pursued his victory at the battell of Keresture 8. 1603. 14. Achmat who the better to enjoy his pleasures made peace with the German Emperor and added nothing to his Empire 15. 1618. 15. Mustapha brother to Achmat succeeded a novelty never before heard of in this Kingdome it being the Grand Signeurs common policy to strangle all the younger brothers howsoever this Mustapha was preserved either because Achmat being once a younger brother took pitty on him or because he had no issue of his own body and so was not permitted to kill him 1618. 16. Osmen succeeded his Unkle Mustapha and being unsuccesseful in his war against Poland was by the Janizaries slainin an uproar and Mustapha again restored yet long enjoyed be not his throne for the same hand that raised him plucked him down and seated young Amurath in the place 1623. 17. Morat or Amurath the IV. Brother of Osmen of the age of 13. years succeeded on the second deposition of his Unkle Mustapha who proved a stout and masculine Prince and bent himself to the reviving of the antient discipline To the great good of Christendome he spent his stomach on the Persians 18. Ibrahim the brother of Morat preserved by the Sultaness his mother in his brother life and by her power deposed again for interdicting her the Court He spent a great part of his reign in the warre of Crete against the Venetians but without any great successe 1648. 19. Mahomet IV. sonne of Ibrahim now reigning Lord of all this vast Empire containing all Dacia and Greece the greatest part of Sclavonia and Hungary the Isles of the Aegean Sea and a great part of the Taurican Chersonese in Europe of all the Isles and Provinces which we have hitherto described in Asia and in Africk of all Aegypt the Kingdomes of Tunis and Algiers with the Ports of Suachem and Erocco Nor is their stile inferiour to so vastan Empire Solyman thus stiling himself in his Leter to Villerius great Master of the Rhades at such time as he intended to invade that Iland i.e. Solyman King of Kings Lord of Lords most high Emperour of Constantinople and Trabezond he most mighty King of Persia Syria Arabia and the Holy Land Lord of Europe Asia and Africa Prince of Meccha and Aleppo Ruler of Hierusalem and Soveraign Lord of all the Seas and Isles thereof As for the persons of the Turks they are generally well-complexioned of good stature proportionably compacted no idle talkers nor doers of things superfluous hot and venereous servile to their Prince and zealous in their Religion They nourish no hair upon their heads except it be a Tust on the top of their Crowns by which they think that Mahomet will snatch them up into Paradise at the day of judgement For which reason they keep on of all sides though never so poor accounting it an approbrious thing to see any men uncover their heads saying when they dislike of any thing which they see or hear I had as liefe thou hadst shewn me thy bare skull In their familiar salutation they lay their hands on their bosomes and a little incline their bodies but when they accost a person of rank they bow almost to the ground and kiss the hem of his garment Walking up and down they never use and much wonder at the often walking of Christians Biddulph relateth that being at his ambulatory exercise with his companion a Turk demanded them whether they were out of their way or their wits If your way quoth the Turk lay toward the upper end of the Cloister why come you downwards If to the neither end why go you back again Shooting is their chief recreation which they also follow with much laziness sitting on carpets in the shadow and sending some of their slaves to fetch their arrowes They prefer as they pass the streets the left hand before the right as being thereby made master of his sword with whom they walk As they shave their heads so they wear their berds long as a sign of freedome but their slaves keep theirs shaven and close cut The women are of small stature for the most part ruddy clear and smooth as the polished Ivory as neither afflicted with the weather and often frequenting the baths of a very good complexion seldome going abroad and then masked
lascivious within doors pleasing in matters of incontinency and they are accounted most beautiful which have the greatest eyes and are of the blackest hue Every Turk is permitted to have four wives and as many slaves as he is able to keep yet are they to meddle with none but their own the offending women being drowned and the man dismembred These women live in great awe and respect of their husband never sitting with him at the table but waiting till he hath done and then withdrawing into some room If their husband hath been abroad at his comming in they all rise from their stools whereon they fate kiss his hand and make an obeisance and stand as long as he is in presence The children which they have they carry not in their arms as we do but astride on their shoulders they live immured from the sight of the world and permit not any male children no not their own sonnes to come among them after they are twelve years old From their husbands they cannot be divorced but on special occasion but their husbands may put away their wives ot give them to their slaves when and as often as they list Far better is it with the sisters or the daughter of the Sultan to whom when her Father or brother bestoweth her on one of the Bassas giveth her a dagger saying I give thee this man to be thy slave or bedfellow if he be not loving obedient and dutiful unto thee I give thee here this Canzharre or dagger to cut off his head When they are maâ— ryed their husbands come not to bed unto them till they are sent for and then also they creep in at the beds feet That ever any of their Ladies made use of their daggers I could never read onely I find that Lutzis Bassa the chief man of the Empire next the Sultan himself and of him very much beloved having given his wise which was sister to Solyman the Magnificent a box on the ear was upon complaint by her made thrust from all his honours banished into Macedon and had doubtless been slain if the Emperours love and his own merits had not pleaded for him And this is all the Prerogative of the Sultans daughter her sonnes being accounted as meer and ordinary Turks onely and never being preferred above the rank of a common Captain The better sort of the Turks use the Schivonian Tonque the vulgar speak the Turkish language which being originally the Tartarian borrowed from the Persians their words of State from the Arabick their words of Religion from the Grecians their words or terms of war and from the Italians their terms of navigation They were formerly idolatrous Pagans and were first initiated in Mahometanism when they got the Soveraignty of the Persian Scepter The degrees in their Religion are 1. The Saffi or Novices 2. The Calsi or readers 3. The Hegi or writers of books for printing they use not 4. The Napi or young Doctors 5. The Caddi whereof there is at least one in every City to judge of offences 6. The Mudressi who use to oversee the Caddis 7. The Medlis or principal Church Governour under the Musti 8. The Caldelescats whereof there are onely three one of Greece the other for Anatolia the third for Egypt and Syria These sit with the Bassas in the Divano to determine of temporall suits 9. The Musti whose sentence in law and religion is uncontroulable He abaseth not himself to sit in the Divano nor affordeth more reverence to the Emperor than he doth to him His forces are either for the Sea or the land His Sea forces are great in regard of his spacious sea-coasts vast woods and number of Subjects he never suffered but one memorable defeat which was that at Lepanto yet the next year he shewed his Navy whole and entire Gallies are his onely vessels which being unable to cope with ships of any bigness were not onely the occasion of that overthrow but also have heartned the Florentine onely with six great ships of war to swager in the Seas so that for more safety the tribute of Egypt is of late sent to Constantinople by land The Captain Bassa or Admirall notwithstanding with a Navy of 60 fail makes a yearly progress about the Seas and Sea Towns to annoy the enemy suppress Pyrates collect the tributes and to redress the abuses committed in the maritime Towns belonging to the Admirallity which annuall circuit is begun in May and ended in October Their land forces are either horse or foot they which served on horseback are the Spali and Asapi these latter serving to weary the enemies and dull there swords with there multitudes of whole bodies the Janizaries use to make mounts whereon to assault the wall of a besieged Town and are by them so contemned that a Janizary once sold a of them for a sheeps head As for the Spali they till they are inrold into pay are of the same originall and education with the Janizaries and called by the same name Azamaglans Their pay is ten aspers a day The Turk is able and doth maintain 150000 Horses at little or no cost which no other Prince can do with 14. millions of Gold for wheresoever any Parcell of Land is conquered it is divided into divers parts and committed to the manuring of divers men whom they call Timariots These are to pay unto the Emperour certain rents and at their own charges to send to his wars so many horse excellently appointed for the field and which is the chief point of their service to keep the subjects and all parts of his Empire in awe For being as they are dispersed in all quarters of his Dominions the people can no sooner stir but these will be assembled and fall upon them These Timariots are in all accounted 719000 fighting men whereof 257000 have their abode in Europe and 402000 in Asia and Aprica Were it not for these Timartors as the Turks saying is no Grass would grow where the Grand Signeurs horse hath once set his hoof for if the care of manuring the ground were commited to Paisants and not to military men the greatest part of this Empire would grow wast and desolate These Timariots were instituted by Ottomon the first Turkish King of this Family and a curse by him laid on them that should annihilate the institution The name is derived from the Turkish word Timaz signifying a stipend But the nerves and Sinews of this warlike body are the Janizaries who by originall being Christians are chosen by the Turkish Officers every five years out of his European dominions and so distributed abroad to learn the language customes and religion of the Turks afterward according to there strength will or disposition placed in divers chambers They of the first chamber are preferred some to be Chiausies such as go on Embassies and execute judgements others to Sanziacks or Governours of Cities some to be Bassas or commanders of horsemen and others to be Beglerbegs
hominum mitissimi the most meek or patient of the world especially compared with those of the same Religion the Turks and Tartars Not haters of learning as the Turks But studious many of them in Physick and Astrology most of the better sort much delighted in Poetry which they give their minds to For the most part addicted to hospitality magnificent in expence Lordly in their complements fantastical in their Apparell maintainers of Nobility and desirous of peace Such as apply themselves to Trades and Mechanick arts prove excellent in the making of Silkes and Cloth of Gold those which betake themselves to warre proving very good Souldiers as the Turks have found unto their cost who by their long warres against them have got nothing but blows The women said to be neat and cleanly truly loving gorgeous in Attire and delightfull in the sequestrations of pleasure Their Religion at the first was Paganism wherein directed principally by their Priests or Magi men of a strict austere life forbidding outward ornaments and the use of gold making the ground their bed and the Herbs their food their whole time spent in offering to the Gods the prayers and sacrifices of the people as if they onely might be heard or else in divinations and foretelling of things to come from whence the names of Magick and Magician are derived unto us Studious in the knowledge of God and nature and therefore called by Suidas not onely Philosoâ—â—hi Lovers of wisdome but Philothei the Lovers of God Of such esteem that as Cicero telleth us the Persian Kings were not admitted to the Throne till they were trained up in the discipline of the Magi and of such power and intimacy in the Royall Court that one of those Magi on the death of Cambyses possessed himself of the Persian Monarchy In a word such as the Druides were to the Galls and Britans the Gymnosophists or Brachmans to the antient Indians and the Chaldaeans in the Empire of Babylon the same if not of greater sway in affairs of moment were the Persian Magi. And Persians they must be if Magi none but the Natives of that Countrey being to be admitted of that Society though by a Metaphor applied to the Professors of the same Arts though of other Countries as those which came from the East to worship Christ are by Saint Matthew called Magi Mat. 2. 1. though they came from Arabia The people then were Gentiles as to their Religion and besides other Gods which the Gentiles worshipped they were great Idolaters of the Fire which they offered sacrifice unto in time of peace and carried it with them as their Tutelar Deitie in the time of warre At what time especially if the King were there in person it was born in the very front of their Army attended on by their Priests and followed by a train of boyes all clothed in Scarlet to the number of 365. according to the number of the daies of the year In this equipage with a great deal of pomp besides did Darius set forwards to fight with Alexander at the battell of Issus in Cilicia A superstition derived from them to the Medes and Assyriaâ—s their next-neighbouring Nations and not extinguished to this day in some parts of this Countrey in which many of these Fire-worshippers are still remaining But from a God it grew in time to be a Gentlemanvshar and to attend on Kings and persons of greatest eminence used to be born before the Emperors of Rome as a point of State Insomuch that Commodus though fallen out with his Sister Lncilla permitted her notwithstanding to enjoy her Seat in the publique Theatre 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and fire to be born before her as in former times as we are told by Hexodian The Christian faith was first planted in the Provinces of the Persian Kingdome by Saint Thomas the Apostle and held in all points answerable to those of the Catholick Church till Sapores to despight the Emperour Heraclius a right Orthodox Prince commanded that all the Christians in his Dominions should conform themselves to the opinions and tendries of the Nestorian Sect by that means universally spread over all these Provinces With whom here live now intermingled some Armenian Christians who with their Patriarch removed hither when their own Countrey was made the seat of a long and miserable war betwixt the Persian and the Turk but found not here so safe a dwelling as they did expect 1200 of them being slain by Abas the late Persian Sultan on a suspicion that they went about to reconcile themselves to the Pope of Rome whom he held to be more inclinable to the Turk than to him in the year 1609. Which notwithstanding so miserable a condition do these Christians live in he suffered two Convents of Augustine and Carmelite Friers to be setled at the same time even in Spaw-hawn it self and many Jesuites to live peaceably up and down the Countrey which serve for little else than to give intelligence Here are also many Jews dispersed over all the Provinces of this Empire allowed their Synagogues and publick places of assembly But the Religion publickly authorized and countenanced is that of Mahomet imposed on this Countrey by the Saracens when by them subdued differing in some points from the Turks especially about the true Successour of that fals Seducer of which more anon the cause of the long wars betwixt those nations As for the Persian language it is very antient supposed to be as old as the Confusion at Babell some words whereof by Daniel and Ezra which lived in the Persian Court have been made use of in some parts of the holy Scripture A tongue which still hath left some remainders of it in the language of the modern Persian as those of judgement in this tongue have delivered to us notwithstanding so long tract of time and the conquest of this Countrey by the Greeks Arabians Turks and Tartars Not spoken onely in this Countrey nor limitted within the Provinces of the Persian Empire but used also in the Court and Camp of the Great Mongul and some parts of Zagathay and where not vulgar unto all studied and understood by persons of more eminent sort as the Latine by the Gentry of these western parts Insomuch as he that hath this Language may travell over all the East without an Interpreter Rivers here are but few as before was said and those few not navigable by consequence of little note or estimation The principall of those that be are 1. Eulaeus the chief River of Susiaua emptying it self into Sinus Persicus a River of so pure a stream that the great Persian Kings would drink of no other water 2. Ochus in Bactria a River of the greater note amongst the Antients because it was navigable opening with a fair Channel into the Caspian Sea to which it hastneth from Mount Taurus and so doth also 3. Oxus in Margiana a fatall bound to these great neighbours A River which the Persians have seldome passed
Chaurana the chief City of the Chauranaei 3. Saeta 4. Issedon Scythica so called to difference it from the other of that name in Serica These with the rest and all the Countrey as far as it was known in the daies of Ptolomy inhabited by the Abâ—i Happophagi or horse-eaters a diet still used by the Tartars or modern Scythians 2. The Issedones who are said by Pomponius Mela to make Carousing Cups of their Fathers heads first trimed and gilded 3. The Chauranaei and 4. the Chatae who being as it seemeth the most potent Nation caused all the rest to be called by the name of Cathay communicating that name also to the conquered Seres Besides the possessions of which Tribes there were also the Regions of Acbassa Casia and Auzacitis these last so called from the Mountains upon which they bordered More than this we have not to say of this Countrey by the name of Scythia there being nothing memorable of it in the course of story or worth the observation in the way of Chorography Let us therefore look upon it as presented to us by the name of ALTAY though therein I shall trouble my self no further than by giving a brief touch on the severall parts of it Of which the most that can be said will be but little for the information of the judicious Readers who are not to be bettered by the names of places if there be not something in them of further use Now for these Provinces the principall of them are 1. Cascar 2. Chesmur 3. Lop 4. Camul 5. Tainfu 6. Caindu 7. Carazan 8. Cardandan 9. Erginul 10. Tanguth 1. CASCAR bordering upon China a Mahometan Countrey but admitting of some Christians also In some parts both sexes do indulge themselves this mutual privilege that if the husband or the wife be absent above twenty daies the other party is at liberty to mary again 2. CHESMUR the inhabitants whereof are generally both Idolaters and Inchanters causing the dumb Idols to speak the winds to rise aud the sun to be darkned For studying which black Arts if they come to them by study they have many Monasteries in which their Hermits or Monasticks live a strict kind of life and are very abstemious 3. LOP memorable for a great Desart of thirty daies journey so true a Desart that whosoever doth not mean to be starved must carry all his victuals with him Dangerous to travellers if not before-hand made acquainted with their danger the evill spirits using to call men by their names and make them go astray from their company where they perish with famine or are devoured with wild beasts The chief Town hereof called Lop giving name to both 4. CAMVL an Idolatrous Countrey the people whereof accompt it a great honour to them to have their wives and sisters at the pleasure of such as they entertain From which brutish custome when restrained by Mango Cham they petitioned him at three years end to be restored again to their former liberty protesting they could never thrive since they left that custome Which desire of theirs was at last granted and is still in use 5. TAINFV more civil than the rest the people being very industrious and good Artificers making the most part of the Arms which are used by the Cham and some also which they fell to Merchants 6. CAINDU with a Town in it of the same name of great resort by Merchants such as we commonly call petit Chapmen for the Womens veils here made with very great Art of the barks of Trees And it is well that they have veils to hide their shamelessness the women of this Tract being prostituted unto every Traveller 7. CARAZAN inhabited by a barbarous and savage people who in the day-time live in dens for fear of Serpents with which and some of them ten paces long and ten spans in thickness they are much infested and in the night go forth to prey upon Wolves and Lyons They have an use that when any stranger cometh into their houses of an handsome shape to kill him in the night not out of desire of spoil or to eat his body but that the soul of such a comely bodie might remain amongst them 8. CARDANDAN neer Carazan and as savage as that The people whereof draw black lines on their bodies which they count for the greatest Ornament In case of sickness they send not to the Physician but the next Inchanters who taking Counsail of the Devil apply some remedy or if they think the man past cure they tell him that his offences are grown too great to admit of help and so put him off 9. ERGINVL possessed by an Idolatrous people but mixed with some Mahometans and Nestorian Christians In which Countrey they have certain Bulls as big as Elephants with mains of fine white haire like silk some of which they tame and betwixt them and their Kine engender a race of strong and laborious Beasts not inferiour in that kind to Oxen. Here is alsofound a beast of an exquisite shape but not bigger than a Goat which at every full Moon hath a swelling under the belly which being cut off by the Hunters and dryed in the Sunne proveth to be the best Musk in the World 10. TANGVT the greatest and most potent of all the rest inhabited by an industrious and laborious people amongst whom the Art of printing is said to have been extant a thousand years Blessed heretofore with a great increase of Christianity but now the Gentiles or Idolaters make the greatest part with some Mahometans amongst them And for the serving of those Idols they have not onely many large and beautifull Temples built in the manner of Christian Churches and capable of 4 or 5000 persons but also many fair Monasteries for the use of their Votaries and Recluses They are possessed of many Towns most of them well fortified and planted with good store of Artillery The chief of which 1. Sachian bordering on the Desart of Lop inhabited by some of all three Religions in which it is affirmed that they first used the Art of printing 2. Campion the Metropolis or Mother City of this Countrey where the Christians in the time of Paulus Venetus had three fair Churches now over-numbred by the Gentiles who have here many Monasteries for the use of their Iaols and many Religious persons dedicated to their service only Who though they live more honestly than the rest of their Order and hold it an impiety to tempt a woman to the act of lust yet if the woman make the offer they hold it no small siâ—â—e to refuse her curtesie 3. Suâ—cuir situate amongst Mountains clothed with Rhubarb from whence conveyed by Merchants over all the world but so neglected by the natives that did not the forein Merchant bring it into request they would scorn to gather it This once a Kingdome of it self but subject now with Taâ—guth to the Cham of Cathay or the Great Cham of Tartary 5. TARTARIA ANTIQVA TARTARIA ANTIQVA hath
surnamed Jangheere the sonne of Echebar who added nothing that I hear of to his fathers conquests 1627. 8. Blockie the grandchild of Selim by his eldest sonne wickedly murdered by the practice of Curroon at Agra proclamed King on the death of his Grand-father but shortly after made away by Asaph Chawn so to make room for 1627. 9. Curroon the third sonne of Selim or Jangheere and sonne-in-law unto Assaph Chawn having by his own Ministers and the hands of his Father-in-law murdered the proclamed King his Nephew and all the other Princes of the Royall blood succeeded into the Estates and was crowned at Agra A wicked and bloody Prince still living for ought I hear to the contrary To look a little on these Princes their estate and power in matters of Religion they have generally been Mahometans that Religion being long since embraced by the Tartars from whom they originally descended But not so scrupulous or precise in that profession as to endeavour the suppressing of any other opinions both Echebar and his sonne Jangheere being so inclined unto Christianity that they permitted the Jesuites to build Colleges and Churches in Agra it self the Imperiall City and many other chief Cities in his dominions Of Echebar it is reported that being doubtfull what Religian to adhere unto he caused 30 Infants to be so brought up that neither their Nurses nor any body else should speak unto them resolving to addict himself to the Religion of that Country whose language should be spoken by them as most agreeable to nature and he did accordingly For as those Children spoke no language so was he positive and resolved in no Religion Able to see the vaâ—ues of Mahomet and the horrible impieties of the Gentiles but not willing to conform unto the strictâ—â—â—â—â—t Christianity And though Selim who succeeded to content his Mahometan Subjects declared himself for that Religion yet his affairs being once settled and his Throne confirmed he became as Neutral as his Father Sultan Currâ—on now Reigning of the same Neutrality and 't is well he is so there being no Religion so impure and bloody which he would not dishonor by his known ungraciousness The Language spoken by these Princes and their natural Subjects the Mogores or Mongul-Tartars is said by some to be the Turkuh But I think rather that it is some Language near it than the very same And that the Language which they speak is the ancient Scythian or Tartarian from which the Turks a Scythian people differ but in Dialect a sprinkling of the Persian intermixt amongst it A mixture not to be denied in regard of their long dwelling in that Countrey the entercouse which their Subjects of those parts have with these of India and that the greatest part of their Souldiers Officers and Commanders are supplied from thence Their Government is absolute if not Tyrannical the Great Mongul being Lord of all and heir to every mans estate which is worth the having the persons and purses of his Subjects at his sole disposing so that he may amass what treasures and raise what forces for the Wars his need requireth or the Avarice or Ambition of his Ministers shall suggest unto him First for his Treasures it is conceived that his Revenue doth amount yearly to Fifty Millions of Crowns and there are reasons to perswade that it may be more The Countrey very rich and notably well traded from all parts of the world the Impost upon which is of infinite value besides the vast sums of money brought into his Dominions from all Countreys whatsoever which hold traffick here their commodities not being to be parted with but for ready coyn The whole Land being also his he estates it out for no term certain retaining a third part of the profits to himself and leaving two thirds to the Occupants to be held by them during pleasure Who if they thrive upon their bargains they thrive not for themselves but him it being in his power if he want patience to expect the Incumbents death to enter on the whole estate of the Teâ—ant by the way of Escheat but if he tarry till the death of the Occupant it falls to him of course the wife and children of the deceased being fairly dealt with if he content himself with the personal estate and leave the Land to them to begin anew For instance of those huge sums which in so rich a Countrey may be had this way it is said that when the Vice Roy of Lahor dyed he left to Echebar three millons of Gold besides Silver Jewels Horses Elephants Furniture and Goods almost invaluable And of one Raga Gagnar another of his great Officers that at his death the Great Mongul seized of his into his hands 3300 pound weight of Gold besides Plate and Jewels Besides these means of heaping treasure all the Mines of the Countrey are wholly his and the Presents given by all sorts of Suters hardly to be numbered none being admitted to his presence which comes empty handed Finally if Badurius which was King of Cambaia onely could bring into the field at once 500 Tun of gold and silver to pay his Army and after the loss of all that treasuee advanced upon the sudden the sum of 600000 Crowns which he sent to Solyman the Magnificent to come to succor him both which it is well known he did What infinite Treasures must we think this Prince to be master of who hath more than four times the estate of the King of Cambaia and far more trading now than in former times By the like Parallel we may conjecture somewhat at his Forces also Badurius the Cambaian brought into the field against Merhamed and the King of Mand ae as was partly touched upon before 150000 Horse 500000 Foot 2000 Elephants armed 2000 pieces of brass Ordnance of which were four Basilisks each of them drawn with 100 yoke of Oxen and 500 Carts loaded with powder and shot What then may we conceive of this Prince who is Lord of so much a greater estate than he but that his Levies may be raised proportionably to so great Dominions But because possibly Badurius did extend himself to the utmost of his power and having lost two Battels was never able to recruit again which no wise Prince would do but in great extremities It is conceived that the Mongul without running any such hazards on the loss of a Battel can in an instant raise 50000 Elephants 300000 Horse and Foot proportionable and yeâ— have stock enough for an After-game if that he should chance to lose the first But it is seldom that he hath advanced to so high a Muster For in his action upon the Kingdoms of Decan he had but an Hundred thousand men and a thousand Elephants for fight though possibly of all sorts of people there might be more than double that number For in his ordinary removes in time of Progress it is said that his followers of all sorts amount unto two hundred thousand and that his Tents
captived in the fight Weakned wherewith they became an easie prey to the Vice-Roy of Tangu when he first made himself sole Master of this part of India Who giving to his brother the kingdome of Ava and leaving to his eldest sonne the kingdome of Pegu with the Soveraignty over all the rest conferred this Countrey with the title of king of Jangoma on a younger Sonne But he begotten on a daughter of the king of Pegu and born after his Father had attained this whole Indian Empire was easily perswaded by the â—alapoies so they call their Priests that his Title was better than that of his Elder Brother who was born before it Prevented in his claim by the kings of Arrachan and Tangu by whom that king was slain and his kingdome wasted How he sped afterwards I find not But probable it is that he submitted with the rest to the king of Barma 5. SIAM SIAM is bounded on the North with Jangoma and part of Pegu on all other parts with the wide Ocean save that it toucheth on the East with a part of Camboia and on the West with a poinâ— of Pegu. So called from Siam the chief of all those kingdomes which pass under this name as that from Siam the chief City of it The Countrey of greater length than breadth stretcheth it self South-wards into the Sea many hundred miles in form of a Peninsula or Denty-Iland called antiently Aurea Chersonesus or the Golden Chersonese one of the five famous Chersoneses or Peninsulaes of the elder writers the other four being Peloponnesus in Greece the Thracian Chersonese neer Propontis the Taurican Chersonese in the Euxine and the Cimbrian Chersonese in the North of Germany now part of Denmark It had the name of Aurea or the Golden super-added to it from its plenty of Gold for which much celebrated by the Antients both Greeks and Romans and therefore not improbably thought by some to be Solomons Ophir stil famous with the rest of the Countries of the kingdome of Siam for abundance of Gold Silver Tinn and other metals great quantity of Pepper sent yearly thence with store of Elephants and horses the whole Countrey very fat and fertile well stored with Rice Corn Grass and all other necessaries The people generally much addicted to pleasures if not to Luxury delighted much with Musick and rich apparel and such as stand much upon their honour For their instruction in good letters they have publick Schools where their own Lawes and the mysteries of their own religion are taught them in their natural Language all other Sciences in strange tongues understood by none but by the learned To tillage they can frame themselves and are painful in it but by no means will follow any Mechanicall Arts which they put over to their Slaves In Religion for the most part Gentiles worshiping the four Elements amongst other Gods to each of which as they are severally affected so are their bodies to be disposed of either burnt buried hanged or drowned after their decease as in their lives they were most devoted to the fire Earth Air or Water Some Christians here also in and about the parts possessed by the Portugals but more Mahometans who possessing two hundred Leagues of the Sea-Coasts of this Countrey have planted that religion in most part of the Countrey now by them possessed It containeth in it many kingdomes some of little note those of most observation 1. Malaca 2. Patane 3. Jor 4. Muanâ—ay and 5. Siam properly and specially so called Of which Malaca is now in the hands of the Portugals Jor and Patane are possessed by the Arabians or Saracens the other two have followed the fortunes of the kings of Siam 1. The kingdome of MALACA taketh up the South part of the Golden Chersonese extended towards the North from the Cape or Promontory which Ptolomy calleth Malancoâ—in in the extreme South-point hereof neer unto Sabana then a noted Emporie for the space of 270 miles So called from Malaca the chief City of it of old times called Musicana or built very neer it from whence this Tract is called by Strabo Musicani terra The City seated on the banks of the River Gaza which is here said to be 15 miles in breadth by the frequent overflowings whereof and the neerness of it to the Line being but two degrees to the North the Air hereof and all the territory belonging to it is very unwholsome and for that cause the Countrey but meanly populous In compass it is said to be 20 miles of great wealth because of almost infinite trading for Spices Vnguents Gold Silver Pearls and previous Stones the most noted Emporie of the East Insomuch that is said by Ludovico Barthema who was there before the Portugals knew it that it was traded by more ships than any one City in the world more by far since the comming of the Portugals to it than it was before The People as in all this tract of an Ash-colour with long hair hanging over their faces bloody and murderous specially when they meet one another in the Night Few other Towns of any note in a place so unhealthy except 2. Sincapura situate East of Malaca neer the Promontory of old called Magnum supposed by some to be the Zaba of Ptolomy and that more probably than that it should be his Palura as Maginus would have it Palura being a City of the Hither India and different at the least 20 degrees of Langitude from any part of this Chersonese But whatsoever it was called in the former times it was in these latter ages the mother of Malaca the greatest part of the Trade and people being removed from thence to this newer foundation before which time it was the best frequented Emporie in these parts of the East 3. Palo Zambilan 120 miles on the West of Malaca from whence to Sincapura coasting about the Southern Cape now called Cape Liampo we have a Sea-shore of 270 miles as before was said No other habitation of any reckoning but a few sheds upon the shore for the use of Fisher-men and some scattered Villages in the land the People dwelling most on Trees for fear of Tigers This Tract in former times possessed by the Kings of Siam about the year 1258 bâ— came a kingdome of it self founded by Paramisera and some other of the Javan Nobility who flying the tyranny of their own king came into this Country where they were lovingly received by Sangesinga then reigning under the Sâ—amite in Sincapura Him they perfidiously slew and invested Paramisera in his Dominion Outed of which by the King of Siam he was forced to seek a new dwelling and after two or three Removes fell upon the place where Malaca now standeth which City pleased with the commodiousness of the situation he is said to have built The trade of Sincapura in short time removed hither also which so increased the wealth and power of the Kings hereof that joyning with the Moores who began to plant themselves on
in pursuance of it Zichumi never going back to his own Country and Freezland not long after conquered by the Kings of Norway So that the knowledge of it was quite lost again till these later days Said in the Letters of the Zeni to be well stored with Fowl and the Eggs of Birds which they found there for their refreshing the Haven where they Landed to be called Cape Trin the People to be of small Stature fearfull and to hide themselves in Caves at the sight of the Freezlanders that there was a Mountain always burning or casting smoak together with a certain Spring whence issued a water as black as Pitch but no such Cities Forts and Temples as the Fisherman spake of The Country West from Freezland 1000 miles To give you the face of it as it stand as the present it is said to be well cultivated fruitfull of all necessaries for the life of man and rich in mettals but extream cold watered with four Rivers which rising out of an high Mountain in the midst of the Country disperse themselves over all parts of it The People said to be more ingenious of better judgements and more skilled in most Mechanick Arts then the rest of the Americans were at the first Discovery which argueth some more civil People to have been formerly amongst them Their Garments of the skins of Beasts or Sea-Calves with which also they covered the outside of their Boats to Keep out the water and make them able to endure the Sea VVhat Towns they have and whether the name of Cape Trin be still remaining I am not able to discover this Country lying still for the most part hidden in a Northern Mist All we can say is that some English names have been imposed of late on some Capes and Promontories lying on the Northern shores hereof towards Hudsons Straits by Hudson and such others of the English Nation who pursued that enterprise Of which sort are Prince Henry's Foreland towards the East almost at the entries of those Straits and then proceeding towards the West Cape Charls Kings Foreland and last of all Cape Wolstenham at the end thereof where these Straits open into a large and capacious Bay called Hudsons Bay But of these more particularly in another place where we endeavour the Discovery of such parts of the World as are yet unknown and so within the compass of a Terra incognita 2. TERRA CORTERIALIS hath on the North Estotiland on the South New-France So called from Gaspar Corterialis who in the year 1500 left his name unto it It is called also Terra di-Laborodoro both from the pains required of the Husbandman and the great recompence which it gives him in the same sence as Campania in the Realm of Naples is named Terra di Lavoro By the French who succeeded in the possession hereof after the Spaniard had forsook it it was called New-Bretagne with reference to Bretagne in France their own natural Country The People at the first coming of Corterialis were found to be barbarous enough well coloured swift of foot and very good Archers their clothing of Beasts skins their habitations Caves or some sorry Cottages their Religion Paganism or none their directions Sooth-saying Not so forgetful of the Law which Nature had planted in them as not to know the necessary use of marriage but extremely jealous Better conditioned at the present then in former times by their neer neighbourhood to the French and commerce with Forreiners affirmed to be very well disposed to feed most generally on Fish and to adorn themselves with Bracelets of brasse or silver Their chief Towns 1 Brest 2 Sancta Maria 3 Cabo Marzo of which little memorable The Country first discovered by Sebastian Cabot the son of John Cabot before mentioned who in the year 1499. at the charges and encouragement of King Henry 7. setting sail from Bristol first made the discovery of these parts as far as to the Latitude of 67 and an half which brings Estâ—tiland within the compass also of his Discoveries The Land which 〈◊〉 first saw he called Prima Vesta and an Iland lying before it he called S. Johns because discovered on the day of S. John Baptist They found upon the Country plenty of White Bears Stags greater then ours Scut-fishes of a yard long and such store of Cod fish which the Inhabitants called Baccalaos that their multitudes sometimes staied his ships hence the occasion of their name Recurning home he found great preparations for a war in Scotland so that nothing else was done in this Discovery by the English Nation But three years after Gaspar Corterialis a Portugueze setting sail from Lisbon fell upon those parts of Cabots Discoveries which since bear his name from whence he brought the peece of a gilded Sword of Italian workmanship left there most probably by one of the Cabots Returning again the next year he was no more heard of drowned in the sea or slain by the Salvages on the land as was his brother Michael in the year next following Neglected after this till the French having planted in Nova Francia cast an eye upon it who gave the name of Brest to a town hereof according to the name of a noted Port in little Bretagne but whether they setled any Colonie in it or only did resort unto it in the way of trading I am not able to determine 3. NEWâ—FOVND-LAND Terra Nova as the Latines call it is a great Iland lying on the South of Corterialis from which parted by a Frith or Streit called Golfe des Chasteaux So called from the late discovery of it when discovered first though it be some forces of years ago as Wickhams College in Oxford hath the name of New College though founded divers Ages past because it was the Newest when that name was given The dimensions of the Country I have nowhere met with But for the quantity hereof it is said to be better inhabited in the North parts then in the South though the South the fitter of the two for habitation Furnished upon the sea coasts with aboundance of Codfish as also with Herrings Salmons Thornbacks Smelts Oysters and Muscles with Pearls in them Within the Land a goodly Country naturally beautified with Roses sown with Pease planted with stately Trees and otherwise diversified both for pleasure and profit the Air hereof never very extreme more temperate in the depth of winter then with us in England the Brocks being never so frozen over that the ice is able to bear a dog those little Frosts but seldom holding 3 nights together The people of reasonable stature full eyed broad faced but beardless their faces coloured with Oker their houses Poles set round meeting together in the top and covered over with skins an hearth or fire-place in the midst their Boats of Bark 20 foot long and 4 in breadth not weighing above 100 pound weight every of which will carry four men and is by them carried to all places of their
and the Philippine Ilands in the Longitude of 185. and the 4. Degree of Northern Latitude So called by Magellanus who first discovered them because of the thievishness of the Inhabitants Insulae Latronum is their name in Latine who had stollen his Cock boat which he was forced by main force to recover from them And they continue still both their name and nature Found such by Cavendish and Noert in their several Voyages to whom they came under colour of buying Iron a commodity which they highly prize but either closely or openly stealing whatsoever they met with The people tall of stature brown of complexion and inclining to corpulencie extremely active and good Divers continuing a long time under the water as if alike fitted to both Elements insomuch as the Hollanders then with Noort to make trial of it cast five peeces of Iron into the Sea all fetched out by one of them The women as good at it as the men Both Sexes given to filthy and promiscuous lusts for which branded many of them with the marks of their incontinencie the Pox having eaten off both their Lips and Noses Their Religion is worshipping the Devil whose Images they have in wood on the head of their Boats the Chappel and the Saint fit for such devotions But for the nature of these Ilands and what subjection the Inhabitants of it yield to the King of Spain I am yet to seek But like enough they yield as little as some others do which yet are reckoned by our Authors to be parts of America 2. The Ilands of John Fernandes are two in number so called from John Fernandes the first Discoverer An. 1574. each of them five or six miles in compass and about 300 miles distant from the shores of Chile Situate in the 33. Degree of Southern Latitude rockie and barren but well wooded and those woods replenished with Goats but their flesh not so favourie as in other places Some store of Sanders there is in them and of Palms no scarcitie Plenty of Fish upon the shores for which cause visited sometimes by the Spaniards living in Peru and fitted with commodious Harbours and Roads for shipping which makes them not neglected by other Nations as they pass this way None else of note in all this Sea but such as lie upon the Shores of their several Provinces which we have looked upon already And therefore passing thorow the Straits and coming up unto the Ilands of Paria where before we left we will now look on those of Mare del Noort or that part of the Atlantick which washeth the shores of this New world the reason of which names we have seen before subordinate to the Counsell or Government of S. Domingo viz. 1 the Caribes 2 Porto Rico 3 Hispaniola 4 Cuba and 5 Jamaica The rest already spoken of in their proper places 1. THE CARIBES THE CARIBES or Cannibal Ilands are in number many 27 of them known by their proper names the rest of less note though some of these of little enough not yet so distinguished Called thus in general because inhabited by Cannibals and Man-eating People at their first Discovery as the word Caribes doth import They lie extended like a Bow from the Coast of Paria unto the Isle of Porto Rico of different temper as must needs be in such variety and therefore not within the compass of a general Character Some of the principal we shall consider more distinctly and for the rest it will be trouble enough to name them or else pass them by 1. GRANADA the neerest of this crew to the Main-land of Cumana is situate in the Latitude of 12 Degrees and 15 Minutes in form like a Crescent or half Moon the two horns not a mile asunder the whole length but six Shaded all over with thick Woods but notwithstanding of a rich and fruitfull soil A Haven in it of good use but no Town of note The People of the same ill condition with the other Savages but more wit to hide it most mischievously intended when they seem most kinde and then the more to be avoided 2. S. VINCENT 18 miles on the North of Granada is of so blessed a soil that it brings forth abundance of Sugar-Canes without charge to the Husbandman Watered with many pleasant Rivers and full of safe and convenient Bayes for the use of Marriners In figue Circular the Diameter being six miles over the Circle by consequence eighteen The People but of mean stature slothfull and studious only for their Belly their love to which makes them to adventure in their small Boats hewn out of the body of a Tree to pass into the Continent and return again without help of the Compass though distant from it at the neerest above 30 miles 3. BARBADOS on the North-east of S. Vincent in the Latitude of 13 Degrees and 20 Minutes Of an Oval form 17 or 18 miles in compass The soil in shew like that of England but far more fruitfull on the East side thrusting out it self with Points and Angles which yield some Bayes but full of Quick Sands and unsafe for shipping on the South furnished with a large and commodious Harbour Not very well provided of for Fruits or Cattel till made a Colony of the English who have brought thither from their own Country Swine and Kine Oranges and the like from others The chief Commodity made hitherto of this Plantation comes by the planting of Tobacco and by a kinde of course Sugar called Barbados Sugar which must be quickly spent or will melt to nothing Were they in stock and not forced to make a quick return of their Commodities they might make here as good Sugars as in other places Yet this Plantation said to be worth all the rest which are made by the English who as I take it are the sole Colony in it The Iland but at the courtesie of the Spaniard without whose leave and liking not of force to hold it 4. MATININO on the North-west of the Barbados by the Salvages called Madaninam with little difference Everywhere swelled with Hills of which three most eminent for height one of them which way soever a man looks upon it carrying the resemblance of an Hat Inhabited in the time of Peter Martyr the Historian with none but Women afterwards with a more fierce and barbarous People then the rest of these Ilands but neither Men or Women to be seen of late whether destroyed or removed further from the shores for fear of their destruction is a thing uncertain 5. DOMINICA seated on the North of Matinino twelve Leagues in length exceeding fruitfull of Tobacco which they sell unto the Europaeans for Hatchets Knives and other Instruments of Iron Famed for two Fountains of Hot-water and a commodious Haven at the West side of it into which falleth a River 20 paces broad The People as barbarous as ever Cannibals or Man eaters to this very day At deadly enmity with the Spaniards and to no man trusty but where
named lib. 3. 10. the Summe and substance of his Story ibid. Masick the several sorts and effects thereof l. â— 17. used by the primitive Christians in Gods publick service ibid. Mysiorum postremus a Proverb and the meaning of it l. 3. 18. Myrtoum Mare where it was and from whence so named l. 3. 38. Mastick what it is where growing and how gathered lib. 3. 35. Melchites what they are and from whence denominated l. 3. 50. Maronites whence so called their Tenets and place of dwelling l. 3. 50. Their reconciliation with the Pope but a matter of complement ibid. Mahomet his birth and breeding l. 3. 1â—0 his design to coin a new Religion ib. the causes of the great groweth and increase thereof 123. his success and victories 123 124. Mongul a Tribe of Tartars l. 3. 203. the Title of the great Emperers of the hither India 236. the Catalogue and succession of them ibid. Magi what they were in Persia l. 3. 161. Their esteem and power ibid. Miramomooline what the word doth signifie lib. 4. 42. the Miramomlines of Morocco ibid. Mariners compass by whom first invented and by whom perfected l. 1. 57. l. 4. 99. erroneously ascribed to Solomon ib. Magnes why used to signifie the Load-stone by the Latine Writers l. 4. 99. Morses or Sea-horses the description and use made of them l. 4. 105. Money not the onely instrument of exchange in the elder times lib. 4. 65. by what names called and why ibid. Made sometimes of Leather and pasâ—bord 149. 150. Mesech the sonne of Aram planted about Mons Masius l. 1. 10. l. 3. 136. Mesech or Mosoch the sonne of Japhet settled amongst the Montes Moschici in Armenia Major l. 1. 15 16. l. 3. 144. Mogog the sonne of Jaâ—het in Coâ—e-Syria and the borders of Ibâ—ria l. 1. 15. l. 3. 64. Mizraim the son of Cham the Father of the Nation of Egypt l. 1. 14. l. 4. 3. 18. Messene Scrvilior a Proverb the occasion of it l. 2. 21. Mastiff Dogs why called Molosse by the Latines l. 2. 238. Mercea an order of Religious persons their institution and employment l. 1. 237. N NAtional Animosities to what cause ascribed l. 1. 19. Noâ—mans what they were originally l. 1. 164. lib. 2. 135. Their actions and Achievements ibid. when first fixt in France lib. 1. 164. Nunnes why so called and by whom first instituted lib. 1. 93. Their particular Orders ibidem of ill report for their unchastity ibid. Nemaean Games by whom first instituted and on what occasion l. 2. 225. Names fatal to some Kingdomes l. 3. 109. Nethinims what they were and in what employed l. 3. 92. Noahs seven Precepts or the Precepts of the sonnes of Noah lib. 3. 71. Naphtha the nature of it and where most used lib. 3. 158. 163. Nomades where they dwelt and from whence denominated lib. 3. 193. l. 4. 32. Navigation the Original and story of it l. 4. 97. what nations most-famous for it in the former times 98. and who at present ib. l. 1. 165. North-East passage by whom atâ—tempted and pursued l 4. 194. Of the North-West passage ib. The litle probability of doing any good in either ib. Nimrod the Founder of the Babylonian and Assyrian Kingdoms l. 1. 13. l. 3. 136. Nestorians whence so called l. 2. 131. their Tenets in Religion ibid. much hated by the Pope and why 133. Naphtuchim the sonne of Mizraim where first planted l. 1. 14 l. 4. 17. the name of Neptune by some said to be thence derived ibid. Nutmegs how they grow aâ—d where most plentiful l. 3. 250. O OCean the Collection of waters l. 1. 26. the causes of its ebbing and flowing ibid. the Etymologie of the name and vast greatness of it 256. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a kind of Divination lib. 1. 49. an experiment of it ibid. Ostraâ—â—sâ—n what it was whence called and with whom in use l. 2. 229. Ovation how it differeth from a Triumph lib. 1. 41. from whence so called ib. in what cases granted ibid. Oracles which most famous lib. 2. 224. Their ambiguity and decay 234 235. Oâ—mpick Games by whom first instituted and restored l. 2. 220. where held and who were Judges in them ib. All the Victors at one time of one City in Itaâ—y l. 1. 60. Ostrich Feathers why and how long the Cognizance of the Prices of Wales l. 1. 295. Ovid why banished into Pontus l. 2. 210. Oleum Mediacum v. Naphta Ophir not the Pâ—ovince of Sofala in Ethiopâ—a l. 4. 75. where it rather was l. 1. 12. Ordâ—rs of Knighthood of Avis 244. Alâ—antara l. 1. 237. of the Annunâ—iada 128. of Saint Andrew 306. of Saint Antony l. 4. 72. of the Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ 87. Of the Bath 285. of narouets 287. of the Cresâ—ent 170. of Calatrava 237. of Dutch Knights l. 2. 180. of the Dragon l. 2. 190. of the Elephant l. 2. 138. of the Golden Fleece l. 2. 31. of the Gennet 204. of the Garter l. 2. 87. of the Holy Ghost l. â— 105. of Saint Jagol 1. 237. of Saint John l. 3. 109. and l. 4. 47. of Jesus Christ 244. of Saint Mâ—â—hael 204. of Saint Mark 107. of Merced l. 237. of Monâ—esal 1. 251. of Novâ— Scoâ—ia 1. 106. l 4. 107. of the Pairrie or twelve Peers 204. of the Round Table l. 1. 287. of the Star l. 1. 204. of Saint Stephen l. 1. 113. of the Sepulchre l. 3. 109 of the Templâ—rs l 3. 109. of Saint Saviour l. 1. 151. of the Glorious Virgin l. 1. 107. Oratorians an order of Religious persons by whom first instituted l. 1. 93. used for a counterpoise to the fesuâ—es ib. P PEriseâ— and 〈◊〉 what they are in Geâ—graphy lib. 1. 25. Praeâ—oâ—â—an Guards by whom instituted and by whom cassiered l. 1. 46. Their power the great authority of their Captains Auguâ—tâ— n. 20. Peter-pâ—â—e by whom first granted to the Popes l. 1. 91. b. â—woprdâ— a new Order devised by constantine and what it was l. 1. 46. Pathru â—â— first planted in the land of Pathorâ— l. 1. 14. l. 4. 13. Phalâ—g wheâ—e probably first planted l. 1. 16. l. 3. Phut the sonne of 〈◊〉 Fâ—ther of the Mâ—ores or 〈◊〉 l. 1. 14. 15. l. 4. 26 27. Pope of Pâ—â—a what it signifieth l. 1. 87. Common at first to other Bishops ib. the opportunities those of Rome had to advance their greatness ib. a The meanâ—s and steps by which they did attain to their temporal power 89. and still keep the same 90. how casie to be made hereditary 90 91. Their Forces and Revenues 91. c. Presbyterian Discipline by whom first framed l. 1. 139. and how after propagated 140. the introduction of it into the Signeurie of Genevi 139. and the Realm of Scotland 298. why so importunately desiâ—ed by some in England 266. Petalism what it was and where most in use l. 1. 70. Pâ—ctâ— what they were and the story of them l. â— 300.
them that for a Shirt a Razor and a little Bell they sold fifteen Kine and then fell out among themselves who should have the Bell. The Town conveniently seated on a large and â—pacious Haven and fortified with a very strong Castle in the hands of the Portugals who in their going to the Indies and returning back use to call in here and fit themselves with all things necessary to pursue their voyage A Town of so great wealth and trading that the Captain of the Castle in the time of his Government which continueth only for three years is said to lay up 300000 Ducats for his Lawfull gains of the Gold that cometh from Sofala A gain so great that at the end of his three years he is to serve for three years more at some place or other of the East Indies at his own charge without any allowance from the King or State of Portugal and then permitted to return to his native Country Such of that Nation as are suffred to inhabit here are enjoyed to be married to the end the Iland should be well-peopled and as well maintained which otherwise perhaps might have few else in it but the Garrison Souldiers and the Factors of particular Merchants 5. SOFALA lieth on the South of Mosambique from which parted by the River Cuama the greatest River of those parts and thence extended to the mountains which they call Manica by which separated from Monomotapa So called from Sofala the chief City of it situate in a little Iland as the former are but with great influence on the Land adjoyning Both Town and Iland subject unto the power of the Portugals who have a Fort the better to secure the Factory by them here erected one of the richest in the world the People bringing hither great quantity of Gold of which they have most plentifull Mines which they exchange with them for their cloth and other commodities It is supposed that the Gold brought into this Town amounteth to two Millions yeerly The supposition so agreeable to all other circumstances that little question need be made of the truth thereof Insomuch as this Country for its abundance of Gold and Ivory is by some thought to be that land of Ophir to which Solomon sent and of this opinion Ortelius in his Thesaurus was the first Author but in my minde upon no probable conjectures and against very strong presumption For first Ophir the son of Joctan of whom mention is made in the 10. of Gen. vers 29. and from whom the land of Ophir in all likelyhood took its name is in the next verse said to have planted in the East whereas this Sofala is situate South-west from Chaldea in which the confusion of Tongues and dispersing of the People began And secondly it is impossible for the Navie of Solomon which lay at Ezion Geber in the Bay of Arabia to have spent three years in coming hither and returning which we finde to have been the usual times of finishing the voyage to Ophir 1 Kings ch 10. Ophir then is some part of India but whether it were the Iland of Sumatra or that of Zeilan or one of the Molucco's or the land of Malaza called by the Ancient Aurea Chersonesus I dare not determine confidering what worthy men maintain these several opinions 6. MOENHEMAGE or MONOEMVG the only inland Province of any note hath on the East Mombaza and Quiloa on the West the famous River Nilus on the North some part of the Dominions of the Abassine Emperours on the South Mosambique The Conntry very plentifull of Mines of Gold yet the People use it not for money but barter it in exchange with the Portugal Merchants for Silks Taffatas with which they use to cloath themselves from the Girdle downwards In stead of money they make use of Red Counters much resembling Glass Governed by a King of their own who holds confederacie with the Kings of Mombaza and Quiloa for the better ordering of their Trade To whom are also subject a wild and cruel people called Agag inhabiting on Lake Zembre and the banks of the Nilus dispersed about the fields in their homely cottages black Cannibals and of an horrible aspect more horrible then otherwise they would be by drawing lines upon their cheeks with an iron-instrument and forcing their eye lids to turn backwards By the assistance of this people the King of Moenhemage hath hitherto preserved his Estate against the King of Monomotapa and they themselves by some of their own Leaders did so distress the King of Congo that they forced him to retire to a small Iland where he hardly scaped a violent and untimely death most of his people being starved Of which more hereafter Touching the rest of these Provinces we can say but little and that little of no great note or certainty but that they differ for the most part from one another both in speech and behaviour each Village under a several King and each in continual quarrel with its next neighbours whom if they overcome they eat At leasure times they live by hunting and the flesh of Elephants And amongst these but more upon the Borders of the Abassine Empire I place the Gallae a Nationless nation as it were without house or dwelling without Law or Government as barbarous and horrid as the Agags whom some call Jagge or Giacqui are affirmed to be who watching their advantages and joyned together in some Arts of doing mischief have made of late such desolations in the Countries of the Prestor-John 2. MONOMOTAPA MONOMOTAPA BENOMOTANA or BENOMOTAXA for by all these names it is called is bounded on the North with the River Cuama by which and the Mountain of Magnice it is parted from Zanzibar on the West and South by the River of the Holy-Ghost by which separated from Cafraria and on the East by the main Ocean So that it is almost an Iland said to contain in compass 750 Spanish leagues or 3250 Italian miles The Air hereof is said to be very temperate and the Country very good and pleasant yet full of Forrests Well watered besides the two great Rivers before mentioned with the Streams of 1 Panami 2 Luanga 3 Arruga 4 Mangeano and certain others which carry gold with them in their sands By means whereof it 〈◊〉 not only abundance of Corn but great store of Pasturage on which they breed infinite Herds of Cattel and other Beasts very large and great such store of Elephants that they kill 5000 yearly form other reason but to make merchandise of their Teeth their Gold-Mines great and small reckoned to 3000 some in the hils of Magnice others in the Provinces of Matuca and Boro the places where the Mines are known without further Art in the discovery of them by the dryness and barrenness of the loil as if Nature could not hoord up gold in her spacious bosom but she must needs be barren of all good works The People are of mean stature and black complexions but
strong and active couragious and of such footmanship that they out run horses Their Apparel Cotton-Cloth which they make or buy from some other place their Diet Flesh Fish Rice Mill and an Oil called Susiman Their Religion Paganism for the most part yet they worship not Idols but believe in one God onely which they call Mozimo and seem not much averle from the Christian faith to which one of their Kings was once converted They punish nothing more severely then Witch-craft Adultery and Theft and in the punishment of Delinquents they use no Prisons but execute them as soon as apprehended which is the reason that the Vulgar have no doors to their houses that being a privilege for the Nobles They may have as many Wives as they will but the first the principal and her Children only to be heirs the women here very much respected as a second England the Emperor himself if he meeteth any of them in the streets giving them the way Not to be married till their Menstrua or Natural purgations testifie their ability for conception and therefore they solemnize the first Flux thereof with a liberal Feast Provinces of most note in it and adjoining to it but reckoned as Members of this Empire are 1. Matuca rich in Mines of Gold the Inhabitants whereof are called Botonghi who though they dwell between the Line and the Tropick have in the winter such deep snows on the tops of their Mountains that if they come not speedily down they are frozen to death 2. TORRA or BVTVA extended from the mouth of the River of the Holy Ghost or di Spirito Santo to Cabo Corrientes Caput Currentium in the Latines wealthy in fat pastures and great herds of Cattel more in her unexhaustible Mines of Gold Most memorable for a large and in those times an impregnable fortress built formerly by some forrein Prince to secure the Mines built of square stones and every stone of marvellous greatness without any sign of cement or other mortar the walls hereof 25 spans thick but the height not answerable over the Gate certain characters written which the most learned of the Moors could never read Perhaps the work of some of the Aethiopian or Abassinâ— Emperours when their power and Empire was at the highest By the Inhabitants who conceive it to be a work beyond humane power it is thought to have been built by Devils but by those who take Sofala for the Land of Ophir ascribed to Solomon though situate 510 miles more Westward then Sofala by their own accompt The Air here very cold by reason of the sharp blasts coming from the Pole-Antartick so much the colder in that they have no wood or other fewel but what they make themselves of the dung of their Cattel 3. BORO and 4 QVITICVI both furnished with Gold also in their Mines and Rivers but not so pure as that of Torra and Matuca yet such as serve their turn so well as to spoil all industry the people here being very careless in providing necessaries which they presume the Moors I mean the Arabian Moors will bring them in exchange hereof 5. INHAMBAN governed by a King of its own but Vassal and Tributary to the Emperour of Monomotapa the King whereof in the year 1560. was Christened by Gonsalvo Silveria a Spanish Jesuite by the name of Constantine his Queen baptized by the name of Mary but I find nothing of the further progress of Christianity Touching 6 Matana 7 Melemba 8 Quinbebe 9 Berteca and 10 Bavagul five other Provinces of this Empire I can meet with little but their names Cities of note here are not many hardly Towns or Villages the houses being here so thin that from the border of Sofala to the Fort of Torra being 510 miles as before is said there is no sign of any building either old or new The principal of those that be 1. Tongum in the Province of Inhamban and the Seat royal of those Kings memorable for the baptism of the King and Queen which was there performed 2. Simbus supposed to be so called from the Agisymba of Ptolomic the chief town of the Province of Torre or Batne distant from Sofala one and twenty dayes journey and neighboured by the remains or ruines of the old Fortress before described 3. Benomotaxa where the King or Emperour make his usual residence giving this name to the whole Kingdom but taking it from the King himself whom they call Benomotaxa or Monomotapa the word in their language signifying a King or Emperour The King hereof accounted one of the greatest of Africk hath under his command besides the Provinces described some part of Cafraria Of great riches in regard of his Mines of Gold which so abundantly supply all the Royal occasions that he exacteth no kind of tribute from his Subjects but some certain dayes service in his Works and from his Nobles gifts and presents without which none of them are to come before him His forces great the multitudes of men considered but weak for want of skill to train them and Arms wherewith to fit them for modern service the Arms they most use being only Darts and Targets For which cause and in regard the people of the subject Kingdoms are so prone to Rebellions that he is fain to keep the Heirs of the Tributary Kings as Hostages of their Fathers loyaltie he wageth mercenarie Souldiers of other Nations whom he distributeth abroad in his several Provinces and amongst these it is affirmed that he hath a strong Battaillon of Amazons a warlike race of women who inhabit about the Lake of Zambre and the out-skirts of Zanzibar compared by some for their fidelity and prowess to the Turkish Janizaries And yet not trusting wholly to the saith of these Mercenaries it is said that he keeps 200 Mastives for the Guard of his person Much reverenced by his Subjects by whom he is served upon the knee and when he cougheth or drinketh all those that are about him make such a shout that the town rings of it In one particular they differ from most Nations else which is that such as are admitted into his presence are bound to sit down in token of reverence to stand before him being a sign of the greatest dignity which can be afforded unto any Once in a fair way to have advanced Christianity in his Dominions when in the year 1560. the King hereof was baptized by Gonsalvo the Jesuite by the name of Sebastian that being the name of the King of Portugal then reigning But afterwards on the suggestions of some Arabians then in great place about him having caused the Jesuite to be slain he was warred upon by the King of Portugal with an Army of 1600 men under the conduct of Francisco Barretio to whom he offered very honorable amends for the injury done but Barretio having in hope swallowed all the Gold in the Country would not admit of any peaceable agreement but referred the business to a battel in which being