A BRIEFE DESCRIPTION OF THE whole worlde WHEREIN ARE PARticularly described all the Monarchies Empires and kingdomes of the same with their seuerall titles and situations thereunto adioyning AT LONDON Printed by T. Iudson for Iohn Browne and are to be sould at the signe of the Bible in Fleete-streete 1599. A BRIEFE DESCRIPTION OF THE WHOLE WORLD THe globe of the earth doth eyther shewe the sea or land The sea generall is called by the name of the OCEAN which coasteth all the world and taketh his name in speciall eyther of the place neere which it commeth as Oceanus Britannicus Mare Germanicus Sinus Persicus Mare Atlanticum of the hill Atlas in the West-part of Africke or of the finder out as Fretum Magelanicum or of some other accident as the Red sea because the sand is red Mare Mediterraneum because it runneth betweene the landes of Europe and Afrike Mare Icarium because Icarus was drowned there or the like There be some few seas which haue no entercourse with the OCEAN as Mare mortuum neare Palestina Mare Caspium siue Hircanum not farre from Armenia and such a one is said to be in the North part of America The Straites or narrow seas are noted in the Latine by the name of Fretum as Fretum Britanicum the English narrowe seas Fretum Herculeum the straightes betweene Barbarie and Spaine Fretum Magellanicum c. The earth is either Ilands which are those that are wholy compassed by the sea as Britannia Sicilia Corsica or the continent which is called in the English the firme lande in the Latine Continent The olde knowne firme land was conteined onely in Asia Europe and Africa Europe is deuided from Africa by the Mediterran sea and from Asia by the riuer Tanais whereby appeareth that the North-partes of Asia and of Europe in olde time were but little knowne and discouered Africa is deuided from Europe by the Mediterran sea from Asia by the riuer Nilus and so Asia by Tanais and Nilus is seuered from Europe and Afrike De Hispania TO say nothing of England and Ireland the most westerne countrie of Europe is Spaine which is boūded on the South wth the Mediterran sea on the West with the Atlantike on the North with the Oceanus Cantabricus or the Spanish seas on the East with France from which it is seuered with certaine mountaines called Montes Pyrenei or the Pyrenei hills In this countrie heretofore there were many kingdoms as the kingdome of Portingale toward the West the kingdome of Granada toward the South the kingdome of Nauarre and Aragon towarde the East and the kingdome of Castile in the middle of the land but the whole dominion is now vnder the king of Spaine De Gallia THe next countrie is France which is bounded on the West with the Pyrenei hills on the North with the English seas on the East with Germanie on the South-east with the Alpe-hilles on the South-west with the Mediterran sea This was in auncient time deuided into three partes Aquitania which is toward the West Celtica toward the North and West and Belgica which is toward the North. Belgica is some times called Gallia inferior and sometime Germania inferior but we call it commonly by the name of the Lowe countries the gouernement where of at this day is not at all vnder France but Gallia Celtica and Aquitania are vnder the French king France hath many petie gouernements that doe border vpon it as the Duke of Sauoie the State of the Switzers the Dukedome of Loraine the Burgundians or Wallons against all which the King is forted to keepe his frontier townes There is nothing more famous in this kingdome then the Salike lawe whereby it is prouided that no woman nor the heire of her as in her right shall enioy the crowne of France a but it goeth alwayes to the heire male The Switzers are a people called in olde time Heluetij who haue no Noblemen or Gentlemen among them but onely the citizens of their townes the yearely officers whereof and their councill doe gouerne their State De Germania THe next countrie vnto France on the East-side is Germanie which is bounded on the West with France and the Lowe countries on the North with Denmarke and the Danish seas on the East with Prussia Polonia and Hungarie on the South-east with Istris and Illyricum on the South with the Alpe-hilles with Italy The gouernour generall of this countrie is balled the Emperour of Germanie who is chosen by three spirituall princes the Archbishop of Colen called Coloniensis the Archbishop of Ments called Moguntinus and the Archbishop of Triers called Treuereusis and three temporal princes the Duke of Saxonie the Marques of Brandeburg and the Countie Palantine of Rhine which if they cannot agree as to make a Maior parte in their election then the king of Boheme hath also a voyce whereof it commeth to to be saide that there bee seuen Princes electors of the Empire There is not that free libertie of choosing the Emperour out of any countrie as was heretofore But the election is tyed within one hundred yeares vnto the house of Austria and at this day of of them the king of Bohemia is Emperour who is called Rodulphus 2. Bohemia is a kingdome in the middle of Germanie which is compassed rounde with a mightie wood called Silua Hirciniae The chiefe citie thereof is called Prage In Germanie all are at a kinde of commaundement of the Emperour but most of the Princes otherwise take on them as absolute gouernours in their dominion So that they haue libertie of religion they make lawes they raise souldiers they stampe money with their owne coyne as absolute princes So doth the Duke of Saxonie the Archbishop and the rest There are also free States and cities which haue the same authoritie as Argentine Frankford and other De Italia ON the South-side of the Alpes and Germanie lyeth Italie stretching it selfe out in length towarde the South and East It hath on the South-side the Iland Sicilia on the East that part of the Med. which is called Mare Adriaticum or Mare superum which seuereth Italie from Graecia on the West side that part of the Med. which is called Mare Tyrrhenum or Mare inferum and by some Mare Ligusticum This countrie for the figure thereof is by some likened vnto a long leafe of a tree it hath in the middle of it which goeth all in length a mightie mountaine named Mons Aperminus which is likened to the Spina or ridge-bone of the backe out of this hill spring diuers Riuers which runne on both sides of it into the Adriatike and Tyrrhene or Tuscane seas The North parte of this Italie is that which in auncient time was called Gallia Comata or Gallia Cisalpina Gallia inhabited then by the French-men It is now called Longobardia or Lombardie wherein stand many rich gouernements as the Dukedome of Millaine of Mantua of Florence and others It is for the pleasantnesse thereof in respect of the soile
Scrikfinia and Biarmia and so passing to the East by Noua Zimbla halfe the way almost to Cathaio haue entred the riuer called Duina by which they disperse themselues for marchandize both by water land into the most parts of the dominioÌ„ of the Emperour This Empire is at this day one of the greatest dominions in the world both for compasse of grounde and for multitude of men sauing that it lyeth far North and so yeeldeth not pleasure or good trafique with many other of the best nations De Prusia Polonia IN Europe on the East and North corner of Germany lyeth a countrie called Prussia in Latine most times Borussia in English Pruthen or Sprusa of whome little is famous sauing that they be gouerned by one in a kinde of order of religion whome they call the Grand-master and that they are a meanes to keepe the Moscouite the Turke from some other partes of Christendome On the East-side of Germanie betweene Russia Germanie lyeth Polonia or Poland which is a kingdome differing from other of Europe because the king there is chosen by election by some of the Princes neare adioyning as was lately Henry the third King of France These elections oftentimes doe make great factions there so that intaking partes they grow often there into ciuill warre The king of Polonia is almost continually in warre either with the Moscouite who lyeth in the East and North-east of him or with the Turke who lyeth on the South and South-east and sometimes also with the Princes of Germanie whereupon the Poles doe commonly desire to chuse warriors to their King In this countrie are none but Christians but so that libertie of all religions is permitted insomuch that there be Papists Colleges of Iesuites both of Lutherans and Caluinistes opinions Anabaptists Artians and diuers others This is that countrie which in times past was called Sarmatia the chiefe citie whereof is named Cracouia De Hungaria Austria ON the South-side of Germanie lyeth Hungarie called in the Latine Pannonia which haue bene heretofore deuided into Pannonia superior and Pannonia inferiore it is an absolute kingdome and hath heretofore bene ritch and populous The Christians that doe liue there haue among them diuers sortes of religions as in Poland The kingdome hath bene a great obstacle against the Tuckes comming into Christendome but especially in the time of Iohannes Huniades who did mightily with many great victories repulse the Turke Here standeth Buda which was heretofore a great fortresse of Christendome But the glory of this kingdome is almost vtterly decayed by reason that the Turke who partly by policle and partly by force doth now possesse the greatest parte of it So that the people are fled from thence and the Christians which remaine there are in miserable seruitude Notwithstanding some part of Pannonia superior doth yet belong to Christendome That corner of Germanie which lieth neerest to Hungarie is called Austria which is an Archdukedome FroÌ„ which house are come many of the Princes of Germany and of other parts of Europe so that the Crowne imperiall of Germanie is now tied to some one of this house In this countrie standeth Vienna that noble citie which is now the principall bulwarke of all Christendome against the Turke from whence Soliman was repelled by Ferdinandus King of Hungarie in the time of the Emperour Charles the fift It was in this country that Richard the first king of England in his returne from the holy land was taken prisoner by the Archduke of Austria and so put to a grieuous raunsome The Archduke that now is by the King of Spaine is appointed in the place of the Duke of Parma as gouernour of the low countries Through both Austria and Hungarie doth runne the mightie riuer Danubius as through Germanie doth runne the Rhene whereon groweth Vinum Rhenâ—â—um commonly called Rhenish wine De Graecia ON the South-side of Hungarie and South-east lyeth a countrie of Europe called in old time Dacia which is large and wide comprehending in it Transyluania Valachia Moldauia and Seruia Of which little is famous saue that the men are warlike and can hardly be brought to obedience They haue lately bin vnder the King of Hungarie The riuer Danubius doth diuide this Dacia from Mysia commonly called Bulgaria which lieth on the South from Danubius and is seuered from Graecia by the mountaine Hamus From Hamus towards the South lieth Graecia bounded on the West by the Adriatike sea on the East by the Thracian sâ—â— and Mare Aegeum on the South by the maine Mediteran sea This contained in old time foure speciall parts Peloponnesus Achaia Macedonia and Epirus Peloponnesus which is now called Morea is the South part of Graecia being Paeninsula or almost an Iland for that it is ioyned by a litle straight called Isthmos vnto the rest of Gracia Herein stood Sparta and the auncient state of Lacedaemon On the Isthmos or straight stood the famous citie of Corinth which was in old time called the key of Greece On the West side of Graecia next to Peloponnesus stood the kingdom of Macedonia so famous vnder Philip for conquering al Graecia and vnder Alexander for vanquishing almost al the Easterne world and for taking of the Monarchy from the Persians and remouing it to the Macedonians On the North-side of Macedonia being the North-west from Graecia stood the little kingdome of Epirus where raigned Scanderbeg which was in his time so great a scourge to the Turke The rest of Graecia was called Achaia hauing on the North and East part thereof Thracia on the North Haemus the hill on the West Macedonia and Epirus on the South Peloponnesus on the East those seas which diuide Asia the lesse from Graecia In this part stood Thessalonica to the which S. Paule wrote his Epistle and Athens and Thebes and all the Cities of Boetia and the Cities of the Achai Argos Elis and many other Macedonia is by the best Writers and by auncient description rather sound to stand on the North-side of Achaia neere to the hill Hamus and to Thracia though some in ignorance haue taught the contrarie In this countrie of Graecia were in auncient time manie Kingdoms and States as at this day there are in Italie as the Macedonians the kingdome of Epyrus the State of Athens the gouernment of Sparta the citie of Thebes and very many other places in so much that almost euery towne had a peculiar gouernmeÌ„t But now it is all vnder one Monarchy From Graecia in olde time did almost all famous things come These were they that made the warre against Troy that resisted Xerxes the mightie king of Persia that had the famous Law-makers as Solon in Athens and Licurgus in Lacedaemon that tooke away the Monarchie from the Persians that brought forth the famous Captaines as Themistocles Miltiades Alexander and many other that were the authours of ciuilitie vnto the Westerne nations and to some in the East as Asia the lesse that gaue to
incredible greatnesse Such a citie as were wont to bee in anntient time in the East as Babylon Nilus and other This countrie was first discouered by the late nauigation of the Portugals into the East Indies The people of China are learned almost in all Artes very skilfull workemen in curious fine workes of all sortes so that no countrie yeeldeth more precious marchandize then the workemanship of them They are great souldiers very politique and craftie and in respecte thereof contemning the wits of other vsing a Prouerbe that all Nations doe see but with one eye but that themselues haue two Petrus Mathaeus historiographer to the King of Spaine for the Easterne Indies doth reporte of them that they haue had from very auntient time among them these two things which we holde to be the miracles of Christendome and but lately inuented The one is the vse of guns for their warres the other is printing which they vse not as we do writing from the left hand vnto the right or as the Hebrewes and Sirians from the right hand vnto the left but downeward directly so their lines at the top to begin againe De India orientali ON the South-side of China toward the Molucco Ilands and the Indian sea lyeth the great countrie of India extending it selfe from the South-east part of the continent by the space of many thousand miles west-ward vnto the riuer Indus which is the greatest riuer in all that countrie except Ganges one of the greatest riuers in the world which lyeth in the East-part of the same Indies This is that countrie so famous in ancient time for the great riches therof for the multitude of people for the conquest of Bacchus ouer it for the passage thither of Alexander the great through all the length of Asia for his aduenturing to goe into the South Ocean with so mightie a Nauie which fewe or none had euer attempted before him This countrie had in auncient time many absolute kingdomes and princes as in the time of Alexander Porus Taxiles and diuers others In it were many Phylosophers and men of great learning whome they called Gymnesophistae of whome was Calanus who burnt himselfe afore Alexander The men of the South-parte of India are blacke and therefore are called men of Inde The cattle of all sortes that are bred there are of incredible bignes in respect of other countries as their Elephants Apes Munkies and such like The riches hereof hath bene very great with aboundance of golde insomuch that the Promontorie which is now called Malachâ— was in times past named Aurea Chersonesus The commoditie of spice is exceeding great that commeth from thence The Portingales were the first which by their long nauigations beyond the Equinoctial and the farthermost parte of Africa haue of late yeares discouered these countries of India As heretofore of the King of Portingale so now of the King of Spaine who is reputed owner of them The Portingales did finde diuers small kingdomes at their first arriuall in those partes as the king of Calicut froÌ„ whence commeth our Calicut linnen the king of Cambaia the king of Cananor the king of Cochin and vâ—ry many other with whome they first entring league for trafique and hauing leaue giuen to build Castles for their defence they haue since by policie encroched into their handes a great parte of the countrie which lyeth neare vnto the sea-coast and are mightie now for the space of many thousand miles together The king of Spaine hath there a vice-roy whose residence is commonly in the Imperiall citie called Goa They doe euery yeare send home great store of riche commodities into Spaine The people of the countrie when the Portingales came first thither were for the most part Gentiles beleeuing no one God But the Saracens who reuerence the Prophet Mahomet from the baies or gulfes of Persia and Arabia did trafique much thither so that Mahomet was known among them But in one towne called Crangarior they founde diuers Christians diffenting in many things from the Church of Rome and rather agreeing with the Protestants which Christians had reteined by successe their religion from the time of Thomas the Apostle by whom it is recorded by the auncient Ecclesiastical historie part of India was conuerted De Persia THere be diuers countries betweene India and Persia but they are not famous Persia is a large countrie which lieth farre West from India it hath on the North Assyria and Media on the West Syria and the Holyland but next vnto it Mesopotamie on the South the maine Ocean which entereth in notwithstanding by a bay called Sinus Persicus This is that countrie which in auncient time was so renowmed for the great riches and Empire thereof These were they who took from the Assyrians the Monarchies and did set vp in their countrie the second great Empire which beganne vnder Cyrus and continued vnto Darius who was ouerthrowne by Alexander the great In this Countrie raigned the great Kings Cyrus Canibises Darius the sonne of Histaspes the great Xerxes Artaxerxes and many other which in prophane writinges are famous for their warres against the Scythians Aegyptians and Graecians and in the Scripture for the deliuerie of the Iewes from Babylon by Cyrus for building of the second Temple at Ierusalem and for manie things which are mencioned of them in the Prophecie of Daniel The people of this nation although they were in former times very riotous by reason of their great wealth yet after that they lost their Monarchy by the Macedonians they haue growne great souldiers and therefore as they euer did strongly defend themselues against the Romanes so in the time of Constantine and the other Emperours they were fearfull neighbours to the Romane gouernment And of late time they haue strongly opposed then selues agaynst the Turkes euer making their partie good with them They fight commonlie on horse-back are gouerned as in times past by a King so nowe by an absolute ruler and mightie Prince whom they tearme the Shawe or Sophie of Persia He hath many countries and small Kings in Assyria and Media and the countries adioyning tributaries The Persians are all at this day Sarazens in religion beleeuing on Mahomet but as Papists and protestants do diffor in opinion concerning the same Christ so do the Turkes and Persians about their Mahomet the one pursuing the other as heretikes with most deadly hatred In so much that there be in this respect almost continuall warres betweene the Turkes and the Persians De Parthia Media ON the North-east side of Persia lieth that countrie which in old time was called Paerthia but now named Arach of whose great warres with the Medians or Armenians or Romanes in Tacitus and ancient histories are true The countrie boundeth on Media by the West which was in auncient time very full of people whose fight as it is very much on hors-backe so the maner of them continually was for to giue an onset and then to runne their wayes
aire waters and great varietie of wines and fruites likened now by some to Paradise or the garden of God In this Italy which was heretofore one intire gouernement in the florishing estate of the Romanes are now many absolute States and princedomes by the great policie of the Bishop of Rome who thought it the best way to make himselfe great to weaken the Empire So he hath not onely driuen the Emperour out of all Italie into Germanie but hath diminished his Maiestie in both by making so many petie gouernments which hold themselues soueraigne rulers without relation to any other As there are many States in Italie so one of the chiefest are the Venicians called Resp Venetorum or the State of Venice because they are not gouerned by any one but by their Senate gentlemen although they haue a duke with whose stampe their money is coyned and in whose name all their executions of iustice are done But this duke is euery way limited by the State This Citie of Venice standeth in an Aestuarium or shallow of earth in the North-part of the Adriatike sea so safely that it is held inuincible There is in it but one streete of firme land into the other the sea doth flow at euerie tide They haue beene a great and rich State not onely possessing much in Italie as Padua their Vniuersitie and other things which nowe they doe but a great part of Illyricum and many rich Ilands in the Med. as Candie called commonly Creta Cyprus Zacynthus and other The impouerishing of their state hath partly beene by the encroching of the Turke but especially By the decaying of that trafique which they had to Alexandria in Aegypt for their spices and other riches of Persia Arabia and the East Indies Since the course of the Portugals to those Easterne countries hath beene by sea by the backeside of Africa Here standeth the Citle of Florence a renowmed Citie of Lombardie which is gouerned by a Duke an absolute Prince This Dukedome is in the familie of the Medices from whom came Katherine de Medices the wife of Henrie the 2. King of France lately so well knowne by the name of Queene mother In this Lombardie standeth also the Dukedome of Millaine a most rich and pleasant thing which sometime had beene gouerned by a Duke of their owne but of late hath beene possessed by the Spaniard and sometime by the French and is now in the gouernment and possession of the king of Spaine A good part of Italie is vnder the Bishop of Rome which commoÌ„ly is called the land of the Church where the Pope is a Prince absolute not onely spirituall as else-where hee claimeth but also temporall making lawes requiring tribute raising souldiers and executing iustice as a Monarche In the South part of Italie lieth the kingdome of Naples which is a countrie very rich and full of all kind of pleasure aboundant in Nobilitie whereof commeth to bee said that prouerbe Naples for Nobilitie Rome for religion Millaine for beautie Florence for policie and Venice for riches This was heretofore ruled by a king 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—r owne till the time of Ioane Queene of Naples who â—y deede of gift did first graunt that kingdome to the Kings of Aragon in Spaine and afterward by will with a reuocation of the former grauÌ„t did bequeath it to the house of Anioy in France Since which time the kingdome of Naples hath sometimes beene in the hand of the Spaniard sometimes possessed by the French and is now vnder the King of Spaine vnto this is annexed also the Dukedome of Calabria There be moreouer in Italie many other Prince-domes and States as the Dukedome of Ferrara the Dukedome of Mantua the Dukedome of Vrbine the Dukedome of Parma Placentia the State of Luca the State of Genua commonly called the Genowaies which are gouerned by their Senate but haue a Duke as they haue at Venice There bee also some other by which meanes the glory and strength of Italy is decayed De Dania Suecia Noruegia AS Italie lieth on the Southside of Germanie so Denmarke lieth on the North into the middle of which land the sea breaketh in by a place called the Sound The Imposte of which passage bringeth great riches as an ordinarie tribute to the King of Denmarke this is a kingdome and ruled by an absolute gouernour On the North and East side of Denmarke lieth Suecia commonly called Sweden or Swethen which is also a kingdome of it selfe Where the King professeth himselfe to bee Rex Suecorum Gothorum Vandalorum Wherby we may know that the Gothes and Vandales which in times past did waste Italie and other Nations of Christendome did come out of this country On the Northside and West of Sweden lieth Noruegia or Norway which is at this day vnder the gouernement of the King of Denmarke although heretofore it hath beene a free kingdome of it selfe Within the Sounde on the East part of the sea lieth Dantzicke where are three townes of Hanse-men confederates and allies vnto the King of Denmarke There is no great thing to be noted in these countries but that from Denmarke commeth much come to the supply of other parts of Christendome and that from all these countries is brought great furniture for warre or for shipping As masts cables steele fadles armour gunpowder the like And that in the seas adioyning to these parts there are fishes of much more monstrous shape then else-where are to be found The people of these countries are by their profession Lutherans for religion De Russia siue Moscouia ON the East side of Sweden beginneth the dominion of the Emperour of Russia although Russia or Moscouia it self doth lie some what more into the East which is a great and mightie Monarchie extending it selfe euen from Lapland and Finmarke many a thousand mile in length vnto the Caspian sea so that it containeth in it a great part of Europe and much of Asia also The gouernour there calleth himselfe Emperour of Russia great Duke of Mosconia with many other titles of Princedomes and Cities whose dominion was very much enlarged by the Emperour not long since dead whome in Russie they call Iâ—an VasilIwich in the Latine Iohannes Basilides who raigning long and being fortunate in warre did very much enlarge this mightie dominion The people of this countrie are rude and vnlearned very superstitious a kinde of Christians but rather following the Greeke Church Their buildings is most of wood euen in their chiefe Citie of Mosco insomuch that the Tartars wholy in the North-east of them breaking oft into their countries euen vnto the very Citie of Mosco doe set fire on their Cities which by reason of their woodden buildings are quickly destroyed The passage by sea into this countrie which was wont to be through the Sound and so afterward by land was first discouered by the English who with great danger of the frozen seas did first aduenture to saile so far North as to compasse Lapland Finmarke
of the foure principall seas and remaineth so at this time This countrie was gouerned by a King as long agone as almost any in the worlde Here raigned Amasis who made those good lawes spoken of by Herodotus and Diodorus Siculus in whose writings the antient customes of the Aegiptians are worthie to be read After Alexanders time Ptolomeus one of his captaines had this kingdome of whome all his successors were called Ptolomeis as before time all their Kings were called Pharao They continued long friendes and in league with the people of Rome till the time of Iulius Caesar but afterward they were as subiects to the Romaines till the Empire did decaye When they had withdrawne themselues from the Romaine gouernement they set vp a Prince of their owne whome they tearmed the Sultan or Souldan of Aegipt of whome about 400. yeares sinee Saladine was one But when the race of these was out the Mamalukes who were the garde of the Sultan as the Ianisaries to the Turke appointed a Prince at their pleasure till that nowe aboute an 100. yeares agone or lesse the Turke possessed himselfe with sole gouernement of the countrie so that at this day Aegipt is wholy vnder the Turke There be Christians that now liue in Aegipt for their tribute vnto the Turke as they doe now in Graecia De Cyrene Africa minori ON the West-side of Aegipt lying along the Mediterran is a countrie which is called in olde time Cyrene wherein did stand that Oracle which was so famous in the time of Alexander the great called by the name of the Temple or Oracle of Iupiter Hammon whither when Alexander did repaire as to aske counsell of himselfe and his successe the Priests being before taught what they should say did flatteringly professe him to be the sonne of a God and that he was to be adored so that as the Oracle of Delphos and some other were plaine delusions of Satan who did raigne in that darke time of ignorance so this of Iupiter Hammon may be well supposed to bee nothing else but a cousinage of the Priestes In this countrie and all neare aboute where the Oracle stoode are very great wildernesses where did appeare to Alexander for foure dayes iourney neither Grasse Tree Water Man Bird nor Beast but onely a deep kinde of sand so that he was inforced to carry water with him for himselfe and his company and all other prouision on Camels backs At this day this countrie hath lost his olde name and is reckoned as a parte of Aegipt and lyeth vnder the Turke Westward from hence along the Mediterran lyeth the countrie which in auntient time was called Afried minor for as in Asia one part aboue another was by an excellencie called Asia or Asia the lesse so this parte of Afrike was termed by the Romaines sometimes Africa simply sometimes Afica the lesse In this countrie did stand that place so famous mentioned by Salust vnder the neme of Phileni Arae which was the bound in that time betweene Africa and Cyrene On the Notth and East parte hereof in the sea neare vnto the shore was that quicke-sand which in times past did destroy so many shippes and was called Syrtis Magna as also on the North and West parte was the other sand called Syrtis parua Some part of this countrie was heretofore vnder the Sultane of Egypt whose dominion did extend it selfe so far to the West there it was deuided frō the kingdome of Tunis but it is now wholy vnder the Turke and is commonly reputed as a parte of Barbarie For now by the generall name from the confines of Cyrene vnto the West as farre as Hercules his pillars all the whole space is called Barbarie though it conteine in it diuers kingdomes as Tunis Fessa and Marocco De Mauritania Caesariensi AParte of that countrie which by a generall name is called at this day Barbary hath in olde time bin called Mauritania which was deuided into two partes the East part whereof next to Africa minor was called by the Romaines Mauritania Caesariensis as the other was called Mauritania Tingitana In Mauritania Caesariensis was the countrie of Numidia the people whereof were vsed in the warres of the Carthaginians as light-horse men and for nimble seruices very actiue In the East-parte of this countrie standing in the Sea was that amous Citie of Carthage supposed to be built by Dido who came from Tyrus This Citie was it which for the space of some hundreth yeares contended with Rome for the Empire of the worlde In the Romaine histories are recorded three great warres which the people of Rome had with the Citie of Carthage In the first of the three their contention was for the Iles of Cicilia Corsica and Sardinia when the victorie fell to the Romaines and the Carthaginians were glad to redeeme their peace with the leauing of those Ilands The second warre was begunne by Hannibal who brake the league and after he had taken some parte of Spaine from the Romaines and sacked Saguntum a citie of their friendes came first ouer the Pyrenie hills to France then ouer the Alpes to Italie where he ouerthrew the Romaines in three great battailes and much endaungered their state he continued in Italie with his armie sixteene yeares till Scipio attempting on Carthage forced Hannibal to returne to rescue his owne countrie There was Hannibal ouerthrowne and his Citie put to a great pension by Scipio who for his victorie there was named Africanus In the third warre because the people of Cartharge still brake their leage their Citie was razed to the very grounde by the earnest and continuall sure of Cato the elder fearing euermore so dangerous a neighbour though Scipio Nasica counselled to the contrarie fearing least if the dread of that enemie were taken away the Romanes would grow eyther to idlenes or to ciuill dissension which after they did It is reported of Cato that he neuer spake his iudgement of any thing in the Senate but his conclusion was thus Thus I thinke for this matter and withall that Carthage is to be razed downe And Scipio Nasica would reply in his conclusion Thus I thinke of this matter and withall that Carthage is not to be razed downe In this countrie towards the West not far from Carthage stood Vtica whereof the younger Cato was termed Cato Vticensis because hee killed himselfe there in the ciuill warres betweene Pompey and Caesar because he would not come within the handes of his enemie Caesar Not farre from thence Westwarde standeth Hippon which was the Citie where S. Austen was Bishop This whole countrie at this day is called the kingdome of Tunis the king whereof is a kinde of Stipendarie vnto the great Turke The people that inhabit there are generally Sarazens and do professe Mahomets religion De Mauritania Tingitana THe other part of Barbarie that lieth along the Mediterran farthest into the west was called in olde time Manritania Tingitana The people of which countrie were those
past were called Insulae Baleares for that the people oft then did vse both for their delight and armour Slings which they continually almost carried aboute them And whereunto as Plinie writeth they did traine vp their children from their yoâ—â—â—â—st yeares Not giuing them any meate till they had from some Post or Beame cast it downe with a sling Of these were those Funditories or Sling-casters which the Carthaginians and Spaniards did vse in their warres against the Romanes The lesser of these which lieth most West was called in olde time Minorica and at this day Minorica The bigger which lieth more East was called Maiorica and now Maiorica They are both vnder the dominion of the King of Spaine More Eastward in the sea called Mare Inferum or Tyrrhenum lieth the Iland of Corsica ouer against Genua and direct Southward from thence lyeth the great Iland Sardinia Forthe quiet possessing of which two the warres were oftentimes reuiued betweene the olde Carthaginians and the Romanes For these two Ilands lie in the middle very fitly For both these are also at this day vnder the King of Spaine And were the same which latelie the Cardinall of Lourain would perswade the old king of Nauarre in France that if hee woulde leaue his religion and become a Papist the Spanish king should yeeld him either Sardinia or at the loast Corsica in recompence of Pampilona and the rest of the kingdome of Nauarre which the Spaniards by force did detaine from him Farther yet to the East at the verie poynt of the South-part of Italy lieth the great Iland of Sicilia which some haue supposed to haue beene heretofore a part of the continent but by an earth-quake and inundation of water to haue bin rent off and so made an Ileland The figure of this Country is Triquetra or triangle three-square There was also great contention for the Countrie betweene the Carthaginians and the Romanes but the Romanes obtayned it and had from thence exceeding store of corne yearelie whereupon Cicilie was called Horreum P. Romani Here stoode the goodly citie called Siracusa which was destroyed and sacked by Marcellus the Romane This was in times past a kingdom where the two tyrants the elder and the yonger Dionisius did reigne where Hiero also that great friend to the Romanes did remaine It was afterward made a prouince and gouerned by a Praetor or Deputie of the Romanes whereof Verres was one so inueighed against by Tullie It grew afterwards to be a kingdome againe insomuch that Tancredus was King of Cicilia who went to the taking of Ierusalem with Richard the second king of England Here was likewise Phalaris the tyrant so famous king of Agrigentum This Countrey is now also vnder the King of Spaine who among other titles calleth himselfe king of both the Cicilies reckoning this Iland for one and that part of Italie for another which is nowe called Calabria and was in the Romane hystories named Maegna Graecia There is nothing more renowmed in all Cicilia either with the newe or olde writers then the mountaine Aetna which beeing on the out-side ofteÌ„ couered with snow yet by a sulphurie or brimstonie water doth continuallie burne within yea so that whereas it was supposed in the ages last before vs that the matter beeing consumed the fire had ceased twise in our age it hath broke foorth againe to the intollerable losse of all the Countrie adioyning the ashes thereof destroying townes and fruites which were within the compasse of manie myles about This is that place whither Empedocles threwe himselfe that hee might bee reputed a God This is it whereof Virgill doth make his tract called Aenea which the Poets did report to be the shop of Vulcan where the Cyclops did frame the thunderbolts for Iupiter and to conclude this is it which some of our grosse Papists haue not feared to imagine to be the place of Purgatorie Not farre South from Cicilie lieth the little Iland called in old time Melite whence those dogs come which were so much desired vnder the name of Canes Melitenses This is the countrie where S. Paul was cast vp after his shipwracke in his iourney to Rome where the Viper hanged on his hand and did not hurt him This Countrie is now called Malta and is one of the places most renowmed in the worlde for the repelling of the Turkes when Soliman the Emperour of them did send agaynst it a most mightie armie It was then defended by those who are called the knights of Malta which by sea doe great spoile to the gallies of the Turke that passe that way Neare vnto Graecia and Peloponnesus on the West-side toward Italie is the I le Corcyra nowe tearmed Corfue and not far South from that is Cephalonia and from thence South is Zant called by Virgill Nemorisa Zazinthus all which Ilands haue beene heretofore vnder the Venetians but are now vnder the Turke In Zazinthus our English marchants haue an house of abode for their trafique Southeast from Morea lieth the great Iland Creta where Minos sometime did raigne so famous for his seueritie This countrie was then called Hecatompolis as hauing in it an hundred townes and cities The Turkes haue wonne this also long since from the Venetians it is now called Candie from whence commeth our ordinarie sugar of Candie Betweene Creta and Peloponnesus lieth Cythera where was the fine Temple of Venus who thereof by the Poets is called Cytherea The Ilandes are many which doe lie in the sea called Mare Aegeum from the bottome of Greece vnto the top of the Hellispont as all the Cyclades Euboea the great Iland Samos and Chios so Scyro where Achilles was borne and was king of that countrie There was also Lesbos Lemnos Metilene and Ithaca where Vlisses was king and Andros whether Themistocles was sent by the AtheniaÌ„s for tribute of which places something may be read in the olde historie of the Greekes Diuers of these did striue that Homer was borne in them but of certaintie many of those kinges which Homer saith came with Agamemnon to the siege of Troye were kings but of these small Ilands Eastward from thence not farre from some parte of Natolia or Asia the lesse is the Iland Rhodus the friendship of the inhabitants whereof was in auntient time very much desired by the Princes that had to doe that way So that Alexander first and the Romaines afterwardes did embrace their league Here was that huge and mightie image of the Sunne which was Cholossus Rhodius This countrie was long defended by those who were called the Knightes of the Rhodes against the power of the Turke and it was a great bulwarke to defend Christendome till that in the yeare one thousand fiue hundred twentie and two Solimon the great Turke did winne it from the Christians by force From thence Southward is the I le of Carpathus but in the farther end of the East parte of the Mediterraneum is Cyprus which about 300. yeares since was a kingdome did
plant in they sent thither two seuerall times two seuerall companies as Colonies to inhabit that part which in remembrance of the virginity of their Queene they named Virginia But this voyage beeing interprised on the charge of priuate men and not thorowlie being followed by the State the possession of this Virginia is nowe discontinued and the countrie at this present left to the old inhabitants Northward from thence on the sea-coast lieth Norombega which is the South-parte of that which the Frenchmen did without disturbance of any Christian for a time possesse For the French-men did discouer a large part of America on toward the circle Arctick and did build there some townes and named it of their owne countrie Noua Francia The Enlish-men about the yeare 1570. did aduenture farre for to open the North partes of America and sayled as farre as the very circle Arcticke hoping for to haue found a passage by the North to the Moluccos and to China which hitherto neither by the North of Asia nor by the North of America could bee effected by them by reason of the verie great colde and yse in that clymate The rest of the inland beeing an huge space of earth hath not hitherto by any Christian to any purpose beene discouered but by those neare the sea-coasts it may bee gathered that they all which doe there inhabite are men rude and vnciuill without knowledge of God Yet on the North-west part of America some of our English-men going through the straightes of Magellan and passing toward the North by Hispania noua haue touched on a Countrie where they found good entertainement the King thereof yeelding himselfe to the subiection of the Queene of England whervpon they tearmed it Noua Albion De Peru Brasilia WHen the Portingales had first begun their nauigation by Africa vnto the East Indies some of them intending to haue helde their course Eastwarde vnto Caput bone spei were driuen so farre West-ward by tempest that they landed in a large and great countrey which by a generall name is called Brasilia where they began to enter trafique and with Townes and Castles to plant themselues before that the Spaniardes had discouered Peru which is the South parte of America So that at this day whatsoeuer the King of Spaine hath in Brasilia it is in right of the crowne of Portingale The countrie is large hauing in it many people and seuerall kingdomes which are not all possessed by the Portingals but so that other Christians as namely the Frenchmen being driuen out of their countrie for religion haue set footing there though afterwardes againe they haue abandoned it The inhabitants hereof are men also vtterly vnlearned but men more ingenious then the common sorte of the Americans goodly of bodie and straight of proportion going alwayes naked reasonable good warriours after their countrie fashion vsing to fat such enemies as they take in the warres that afterwardes they may deuoure them which they doe with great pleasure For diuers of the people of these quarters as the Caribles and the Canibals are all eaters of mans flesh In this countrie groweth aboundance of that wood which since is brought into Europe for to dye red colours and is of the place whence it commeth called Brazil-wood the trees whereof are exceeding great After that the Spaniardes had for a time possessed Hispania noua for the desire of gold and pearle some of them trauelled towardes the South And as by water they found that sea Westward from Peru which is alwayes very calme and is by them called the South-sea as the other wherein Cuba standeth is termed the North-sea so by land they founde that huge mightie countrie which is named Peru wherein the people are for the most parte very barbarous and without God men of great stature yea some of them farre higher then the ordinarie sorte of men in France vsing to shoote strongly with bowes made of fishe bones and most cruell people to their enemies Among these the Spaniards partly by force but especially by perfidious treason did get infinite summes of golde and pearle wherein being allured and hoping for more by reason that a great parte hereof lyeth vnder the Zona Torrida They haue heare and there scatteringly vpon the sea-coastes set vp some Townes and Castles but are not able to possesse almost any thing of the land neither haue they as yet discouered the inwarde partes thereof Some of these Spaniardes desirous for to see how farre this land of Peru did goe towardes the South trauelled downe till at length they founde the landes end and a little straight or narrowe sea which did runne from the maine Ocean towardes Africa into the South sea One magelanus was he that found this straight and although it be dangerous passed thorowe it so that of his name it is called Fretum Magelanicum or Magelanes straightes And this is the way whereby as the Spaniards doe passe to the backside of Peru and Hispania noza so whosoeuer will compasse the whole worlde as some of our English haue done He must of necessitie for any thing that is yet knowne passe thorowe this narrowe straight Magellanus did finde on the other side towards the Pole the maine continent which also the Portingales in their voyages to the East Indies haue sometimes bene driuen vnto whereof nothing is discouered but that in one place they did see aboundance of Parats and greater then ordinarie whereof they did call it Psittacorum regio This is thought to be a mightie huge countrie conteyning in compasse all the degrees of longitude in the continent thereof and is supposed to goe vnto the South pole By reason that no sea is yet founde to breake in or breake through the same There be also described by some of our late writers certaine great Landes towardes the North-pole And our English-men in their Nauigations haue touched Gronland but the nature of them and whether they be such and so many as is reported is not certainely knowne FINIS