88 France 98 Belgia 109 Spain 120 Italy 131 Hungary 142 Denmark 151 Poland 161 Persia 175 Turkish Empire 180 Kingdom of China 189 Tartaria 198 LONDON Printed by W. G. 1675. A NEW AND ACCVRAT MAP OF THE WORLD Drawne according to y e truest Descriptions latest Discoveries Pe. Kaerius Caelavit 1646. The General Description of the WORLD HEaven was too long a reach for Man to recover at one step And therefore God first placed him upon the earth that he might for a time contemplate upon his inferiour works magnifie in them his Creator and receive here a hope of a fuller bliss which by degrees he should at last enjoy in his place of rest For this end was the lower World created in the beginning out of a rude Mass which before had no Form And that it might be made habitable the Lord separated the dry Land from the Waters upon the third day Yet so as still they make but one Globe whose center is the same with the middle World and is the Point and Rest as it were of all heavy Bodies which naturally apply themselves to it and there are supported by their own weight and equal poise 2 It hath seemed incredible to such as measure the Wonders of God by Mans Wisdom that this mâ—ssie part of the World should subsist by it self not boâ—n up by any outward Prop encompast only with 〈◊〉 and fleetingAir such as can neither help to sustain nor râ—sist the fall couâ—d the earth be moved from her duce place But the wonder will ceâ—â—e if we remember that the Lord sitteth upon the circle of the earth Isa. 40. He set it upon her foundations so that it shall never move He covered it with the Deep as much a Garment The Waters would stand above the Mountains but at his rebuke they fled Yet he set them a bound which they should not pass 3 Thus ordered by Divine Providence the Earth and Sea composed themselves into a Spherical Figure as is here described And is caused by the proper inclination of each part which being heavy falls from everâ— point of the Circumference and claps about the center there settles as near as it may towards his place of rest We may illustrate both the figure and situation by a familiar similitude to an ingenious apprehension Suppose we a knot to be knit in the midst of a cord that hath many ends and those to be delivered to sundry men of equal strength to be drawn several ways round from every part above and below and on each side questionless whilest every man draws in the boes of the knot it must needs become round and whilest they continue to pluck with equal strength it must rest immoveable in the middle betwixt them since every strength that would destory hath a strength equal to resist it So it is in the bosom of the earth where every part meets upon equal priviledge of naâ—ure nor can any press farther than the center to destroy this compacted figure for it must meet there with a body that will oppose it Or if not yet could it not pass since every motion from the middle were to ascend which Nature will not permit in a body of weight as the earth is 4 Now though in a Sphere every cross line which way soever drawn if it run through the middle must needs be of equal quantity and therefore admits no difference of length or bredth yet the Geographers for their purpose have conceived and but conceived a Longitude and Latitude upon the earth The Longitude they reckon from the first Meridian in the Azores and so Eastward round number the degrees upon the Aequator The Latitude from the Aequator to each Pole and number the degrees upon the outward Meridional circle This inkling may suffice to instruct the ignorant in the search of any place that shall be hereafter mentioned in my Discourse 5 The compass of the whole is cast by our latest and most learned to be 21600 English miles which though none ever yet so paced as to measure them by the foot yet let not the ignorant reject this account since the rule by which they are led cannot fail For we see by continual experience that the Sun for every degree in the Heavens gains 60 miles upon the earth towards his circuit round and after 360 degrees returneth to the same point in respect of us as before it was Repeat the number of sixty so oft and you will find the account just And so by proportion of the circumference to the Diameter which is triplâ— sâ—squi septimâ— the same which 22 hath to 7 we may judge likewise of the earths thickness to the Center The whole Diameter must by rule be somewhat lesser than a third part of the circuit that in proportion to 21600 will be 6872 half the number will reachâ— the middle of the world and that is 3436. In this report both of the quantity and form of the earth we must not require such exactness as cannot vary a hairs bredth for we see the mountains of the earth and oftentimes the waves of the Sea make the superficies unequal It will be sufficient if there be no difference sensible to be reckoned in so great a bulk for let us rudely hew a ball out of rough stone still it is a ball though not so smooth as one of Crystal Or suffer a mote to fall upon a Sphere of glass it changeth not its figure far less are the mountains which we see in respect of the whole lump For other rules or terms Geographical I refer them to a peculiar tract that will afford me more room and time 6 When the Earth and Sea were thus prepared with a due figure a just quantity and convenient â—eat both in respect of the Heavens and themselves Nature began at command of the most High to use her Art and to make it a fit dwelling place for the Image of God for so was man created and so indeed was the Earth no other than the picture of Heaven The ground brought forth her plants and fruits the Skies were filled with the Fowl of the Air the waters yielded their fish and the fields their Cattel No sooner his house was thus finish't but man enters upon his possession the sixth day And that shall be our tract to find out the worlds first Inhabitants where it was peopled in the beginning and how it was over-spread with Countries and Nations as now it is 7 In the first Age there was little need of skill to measure the whole Earth A garden plot might suffice and so for a time it did It was planted in Edâ—n But where that was I may not peremptorily determine nor indeed dare I be so curious in the search The hidden things belong to thâ— Lord the revealed to us Deut. 29. God himself in the beginning set a Cherubion and the blade of a sword shaken to keep the re-entry from our first parents and we may affirm hath
supposed to have been buried might beget much wondeâ— and admiration but that Lazius confirmeth that in ancient times they had custom to preserve light in Sepulâ—hres by an artificial resolving of Gold into a liquid and fatty substance which should continue burning a long time and for many ages together 12 This York-shire Picture I will draw to no more length lest I be condemned with the Sophister for insisting in the praise of Hercules when no man opposed himself in his discommendation This Country of it self is so beautiful in her own natural colours that without much help she presents delightful varieties both to the sight and other senses The Bishipprick oF DURHAM The BISHOPRICK of DURHAM CHAPTER XXXIX THe Bishoprick of Durham containeth those parts and Town-ships that lie betwixt the River Tees and Derwent and all along the German Seas It is neighboured on the North with Northumberland and their Iurisdictions parted by the River Derwent her West is touched by Cumberland Westmorland and from Stain-More divided by the River Tees and by the same water on her South from York-shire even unto the Sea and the East is altogether coasted by the German-Seas 2 The form thereof is triangular and sides not much differing for from her South-East unto the West-point are about thirty miles from thence to her North-east and Tyne-mouth are likewise as many and her base along the Sea shore are twenty-three miles the whole in circumference about one hundred and three miles 3 The Air is sharp and very piercing and would be more were it not that the vapours from the German-Seas did help much to dissolve her Ice and Snow and the store of Coals therein growing and gotten do warm the body and keep back the cold which fewel besides their own use doth yield great commodities unto this Province by trade thereof into other parts 4 For Soil it consisteth much alike of Pastures Arable and barren grounds the East is the richest and most champion the South more moorish but well inhabited her West all rocky without either Grass or Grain notwithstanding recompenceth her possessâ—rs with as great gain both in rearing up Cattel and bringing forth Coal whereof all this County is plentifully stored and groweth so near to the upper face of the earth that in the trod-ways the Cart-wheels do turn up the same Some hold their substance to be a clammy kind of clay hardned with heat abounding in the earth and so becoming concocted is nothing else but Bitumen for proof whereof these Coals have both the like smell and operation of Bitumen for being sprinkled with water they burn more vehemently buâ— with oyl are quite extinguished and put out 5 The ancient Inhabitants known unto Ptolomy were the Brigantes of whom we have spoken in the General of York-shire they being subdued by the Romans after whom the Saxons made it a part of their Northumberland Kingdom at first a Province belonging to the Deirians and enjoyed by Ella their first King afterwards invaded by the Danes and lastly possessed by the Normans whose site being so near unto Scotland hath many times felt their fury and hath been as a Buckler betwixt them and the English for which cause the Inhabitants have certain freedoms and are not charged with service as other Counties are so that this with Westmorland Cumberland and Northumberland are not divided into hundreds in those Parliament Rolls whence I had the rest which want I must leave for others to supply 6 Over this County the Bishops thereof have had the Royalties of Princes and the Inhabitants have pleaded priviledge not to pass in service of War over the River of Tees or Tyne whose charge as they have alledged was to keep and defend the Corps of S. Cuthbert their great adored Saint and therefore they termed themselves The holy work folks And the repute of this Cuthbert and his supposed defence against the Scots was such that our English Kings in great devotion have gone in Pilgrimage to visite his Tomb and have given many large possessions to his Church such were King Egfred Aelfred and Guthrun the Dane Edward and Athelstane Monarch of England and zealous Canuâ—e the greatest of all who came thither bare-footed and at Cuthberts Tomb both augmented and confirmed their Liberties This Saint then of nothing made Durham become great and William the Conquerour of a Bishoprick made it a County Palatine at that time William Cereceph Bishop of the Diocess pulled down the old Church which Aldwin had built and with sumptuous cost laid the foundation of a new wherein S. Cuthberts Shrine in the vacancy of the Bishops was the Keepâ—er of the Castle-Keys In the West of this Church and place called Gallile the Marble-Tomb of venerable Beda remaineth who was born at Iarrâ— in this County and became a Monk at Weremouth whose painful industrie and light of learning in those times of darkness are wonderful as the Volums which he wrote do well declare And had the idle Monks of England imployed their time after his example their Founders expectations had not been frustrate nor those Foundations so easily overturned But the revenge of sin ever following the actions of sins dissolved first the largeness of this Counties liberties under the Raign of King Edward the First and since hath shaken to pieces those places herein erected under the Raign of King Henry â—he Eight such were Durham Sherborne Stayndrop Iarro Weremouth and Egleton all which felt the reward of their idleness and wrath of him that is jealous of his own honour 7 Things of rare note observed in this Shire are three pits of a wonderful depth commonly called the Hell-Kettles which are adjoyning neer unto Darlington whose waters are somewhat warm These are thought to come of an Earth-quake which happened in the year of Grace 1179 whereof the 〈◊〉 of Tiâ—-mouth maketh mention whose record is this On Christmass-day at Oxenhall in the Territory of Darlington within the Bishoprick of Durham the ground heaved up aloft like unto an high Tower and so continued all that day as it were unmoveable until the evening and then fell with so horrible a noise that it made all the neighbour dwellers sore afraid and the earth swallowed it up and made in the same place a deep pit which is there to be seen for a testimony unto this day 8 Of no less admiration are certain Stones lying within the River Were at Butterbee 〈◊〉 Durham from whose sides at the Ebb and low Water in the Summer issueth a certain salt 〈◊〉 water which with the Sun waxeth white and growing into a thick substance becometh a necessary Salt to the use of the by-dwellers 9 And places of elder times had in account by the Romans were Benovium now Biâ—chester and Condercum Chester in the street where their monies have been digged up and at Condercum so much that Egelrick Bishop of Durham was therewith made exceeding rich This County hath been strengthened with seven strong Castles is yet traded
of Britain the next and this of Ireland the third and for that cause doth Ptolomy call it the Little-Britain But howsoever Strabo hath extended the breadth as broad as the length and others have formed it in shape like an Egg yet later dimensions have found it far otherwise twice longer than broad and may be compared to the fore-leg of a Bear if the Siâ—ile breed no offence Whose East-side hath on it that tempesâ—uous Sea that cutteth her Channel betwixt England and this Ireland the West is washed with the Western-Ocean the North with the Dâ—ucaledonian and the South with the Virginian-Sea 5 The Air of this Island is delectable and wholsom though neither so clear nor subtil as is ours of England which as Mela saith is nothing favourable for the ripening of Corn but so grateful to the ground that it causeth grass to grow abundantly not only fresh and long but withal very sweet for all Cattel and in Winter is more subject to Wind than Snow and that I may use the words of Giraldus It is of all Countriâ—s most temperate neither forcing the Iâ—habitants to seek shade from the frying heat of Cancer nor the chilling cold of Capricorn to drive tâ—em to the fire but at all seasons most mild betwixt a sufferable cold and gentle warm heat 6 The Soil saith Cambrensis is uneven woody wild waterish and boggy so full of Loughs and Mears that great Ponds of Water are found upon the high Mountains These indeed make the places somewhat dangerous unto all new Commers by breeding of Rheums Dysenteries and Fluxes whose usual remedy is Vskebah a wholsome Aqua vitae that drieth more and enflameth less than many other hot Confections 7 The Commodities of this Kingdom chiefly consist in Cattel whose seed is so sweet and so rank that they will soon graze to a surfeit if they may be suffered to feed as they will Their Sheep are many but bear not the best Wooll which twice are shorn within one year Of these they make Mantles Caddowes and Coverlets vented from thence into forrain Countries Their Hobbies likewise are of great esteem and are answerable to the Ienners of Spain Bees are there in such abundance that honey is found in holes of Trees and in rests of the Rocks No annoyance of hurtful Snake or venomous Creatures and to speak all in a word nothing wanting for profit or pleasure for so much doth Giraldus affirm in saying that Nature had cast into this Western Kingdom of Zephyrus a mâ—re gracious eye â—han was ordinary 3 Touching the original peopling of this fair Island if we will believe their Records they make antiquity it self but young unto themselves affirming the Daâ—sel Caesarea and Niâ—ce unto Noah to have found it out before the Flood and that three hundred years after when Iaphets posterity took into these Wests-parts of the World one Bartholarus of his Progeny a Scythian by birth encouraged by the late success of Nimrod who now had intruded upon the Monarchy of Syria wandred so far West that Fortune at last cast him and his people upon the coast of Ireland There he setled with his three sons Languinna Salanus and Ruthurgus who searching through every creek and corner of the Land left their own names by three notable places Languini Stragrus and Mount Salanga which the revolution of times hath since called by other names as S. Dominickhill Ruthurgi and Stagnum Under the government of these three sons and their off-spring this Land was kept about three hundred years at which time there arrived also in Ireland a Giant-like kind of People of Nimrods race who in bodily shape exceeded the proportion of usual men using their strengths to win soveraignties and to oppress with rapine and violence These growing to numbers accounted it necessary to prevent dominion lest the curse of slavery prophecied by Noah should light upon them to prevent the which they set up a King of their own then quarrels bred daily either parties purposing to hold their interest by their Swords against whom lastly a Battel was fought and an infinite company of Giants slain when also died most of those of the posterity of Iapheth leaving them of Cham Lords of the Island 9 Whereupon Nemethus a Scythian with his four Sons arrived in Ireland and by strong hand seated themselves among these Giants where for two hundred and sixty years they kept but then no longer able to hold out against them they left their â—tandings and departed the Land 10 Soon after the five Sons of Dela descended from the said Nemetheus came into these coasts and with manly prowess drove these miscreants out of Ireland whereby the Seed of Cham was utterly expelled and these of Iapheth divided the Land into five parts whereof they became themselves Kings but falling at variance gave advantage unto others among whom the BRITAINS set in a foot 11 But to make this Island more famous certain Historians have fetched their Kings from most uncertain Records as namely from Gaothel the Grecian and Scotia the daughter of King Pharaoh and nourisher of Moses his Wife who at that time when Israel were in Egypt with a Colony came into Spain and after into Ireland where he was made King and in honour of his Queen the Land named Scotia from whom also the Inhabitants took name his posterity increasing in the parts of Spain where first they had seated in process of time sought further adventures under the four Sons of Milesius King of Spain whose names were Hibernus Hermion Euer and Erimon 12 These by the direction sufferance and assistance of Gurguntius King of the Britains after that Ireland had been very much dispeopled by a contagious pestilence seated themselves and from the eldest Hibernus called the Island Hibernia as some are of opinion these divided the whole into five Provinces famously known by the names of Mounster Leinster Connaught Vlster and Meath in their midst and from these the present Irish repute themselves to come Yet surely as I make no question but that this Island became inhabited even of old time when mankind again over-spread the face of the earth so doubt I not but that our Britains passed thereinto themselves such infinite number of words in the Irish language yet in use such ancient names of Waters Isles Mountains and Places meerly British words yet remaining and the testimony of Tacitus who saith that their manners were fashioned to the Britains inforceth so much and Ptolomy before him calleth that Island by the name of Little-Britain all which shew a former interest for Ireland than that which by conquest under Henry the second was made 13 That it ever was subject to the Romans is doubtful though Agricola did wish it and Tacitus held most necessary yea and in the division of their Empire Ireland with Britain and Thule fell unto Constantine the Son of Constantine the Great yet their Manners unreclaimed and barbarism retained long after those days do witness no
from the first West-Point 15 13 minutes as Mercatâ—r hath measured them 9 Memorable matters both for antiquity and strangeness of sight are these At Boskenna upon the South west of her Promontory is a trophy erected which are eighteen Stones placed round in compass and pitched twelve foot each from others with another far bigger in the very center These do shew some victory there attained either by the Roman or else King Athelstan At the foot of the Rock near unto S. Michaels Mâ—â—nt in the memory of our Fathers were digged up Spear-heads Axes and Swords of Brass wrapped in linen the weapons that the Cimbrians and ancient Britains anciently used At Camelford likewise pieces of Armours both for horse and man are many times found in digging of the ground imputed to the signs of that fight wherein Mordred was slain and wherein great Arthur received his deaths wound And at Castle Dennys are the Trenches wherein the Danes lodged when they first minded to subdue the Land In the Parish S. Clare two stones are pitched one of them inscribed with a strange Character and the other called The other half stone The Hurlers also fabuled to be men metamorphosed into stones but in truth shew a note of some victory or else are so set for Land-marks Bounders There also the Wring-Cheese doth shew it self which aâ—e huge Rocks heaped one upon another and the lowest of them the least fashioned like a Cheese lâ—ing pressed under the rest of those Hills which seemâ—th very dangerous to be passed under But near to Pensans and unto Mounts bay a far more strange Rock standeth namely Main-Amber which lyeth mounted upon others of meaner size with so equal a counterpoize that a man may move it with the push of his finger but no strength remove it out of its place 10 Religious Houses built and suppressed within the limits of Cornwall the fairest and greatest for account were Launston S. Neotes S Buriens S. Michaels Mount and S. Germains a Bishops See so was Pedman also from whence King Edward the Confessor removed it unto the City of Excester 11 The division of this Shire is into nine hundreds wherein are seated twenty two Market-Towns and 161 Parish-Churches SOMERSET SHIRE Petrus Kaerius caelavit SOMMERSET-SHIRE CHAPTER XI SOMMERSET-SHIRE is both a rich and spacious Countrey having the Severâ— Sea beating upon it on the North side the South part bordering upon Devon and Dorset-shires the West confined with Devon shire and the East and North-East upon Wilt shire and Gloucester shire It took the name of Sommerron sometime the chief Town of this Shire whence in the Ancient Historian Asserius this County is called Sommertunensis that is Sommertun-shire 2 The form thereof is large bearing it self still wider as it slretcheth into the middle part thereof and contains in length from Brackley near unto Frome Selwood Eastward to Oure in the West Miles 55. In breadth from Parshut Point in the North to Chard Southward is somewhat above forty miles The whole ciacumference is about 204 miles 3 The Air is milde and pleasing and for the most part subject to such temperate dispositions as the Sommer-season affordeth whence some have erroniously conceited that the Region borrowed her name from the nature of her Clime yet how delightful soever it is in the time of Summer with change of the season it may well change her pleasing name and borrow some Winterly denomination so full of wet so miry and moorish it is in so much as the Inhabitants can hardly travel to and fro without their encumbrance 4 Howbeit they pass over this with all patience knowing their ensuing seasonable profits far to exceed any present detriments and displeasures for as it is fowl so it is fruitful which makes them comfort themselves with this Proverb that What is worst for the Rider is best for the â—bider the Soyl and Glebe thereof being very fertile and every side garnished with Pastures and delightful Meadows and beautified with Mannor houses both many and fair and in a word hath every thing in it to content the purse the heart the eye at home and sufficient ports to give entertainment to commodities from abroad 5 The ancient Inhabitants that possessed this Province were the Belgae who spread themselves far and wide as well here as in Wilt-shire and the inner parts of Hant-shire who being branched from the Germans conferred the names of those places from whence they came upon these their seats where they resided 6 The general profits of this province are Corn and Cattle wherewith it is so plentifully stored as it may challenge any neighbouring County for the quantity to make shew of Cattle so fat or Grain so rich Some places are peculiarly enriched by Lead-mines as Mindiphils perchance so called of the deep Mines by Leiland aptly termed Minerarii Mineral-hills which yield plenty of Lead the most Merchantable Commodity that is in England and vented into all parts of the world Some are beautified with Diamonds as S Vincent Rock whereof there is great plenty and so bright of colour as they might equalize Indian Diamonds if they had their hardness yet being so many and so common they are less sought after or commended 7 This Countrey is famoused by three Cities Bath Wells and Bristow The first takes name of the hot Bathes which Antonine called Aquae Solis The waters of the Sun Stephanus Badiza we at this day Bathe and the Latinists Bathonta a place of continual concourse for persons of all degrees and almost of all diseases weence it was sometimes called Akemancester who by divine providence do very often find relief there the Springs thereof by reason of their Mineral and sulphurous passage being of such exceeding power and medicinable heat as that they cure and conquer the rebellious stubbornness of corrupt humours in repect of which admirable vertues some have fabled that they were first conveyed by Magick Art To testifie the antiquity of this place many images and Roman Inscriptions are found in the walls which can now be hardly read they are so worn and eaten into by age Wells as Leiland reporteth was sometimes called Theoderodunum but from whence it had that denomination he makes no mention the name it now beareth is taken as some think from the River there which King Kinewulph in his Charter Anno 766 calleth Welâ—e or as others from the Wells or Springs which there break forth and whereupon that See under whose Iurisdiction is also the City of Bath hath been anciently called Fontanensis Eccleâ—â— the Fountain Church where the Cathedral built by King Inas to the memory of S Andrew is very beautiful and richly endowed The City is likewise well replenished both with Inhabitants and seemly buildings Whose government is managed by a Mayor yearly elected a Recorder and seven Masters having the Assistancs of sixteen Burgesses a Town-Clerk and Two Sergeants at Mace Whose Latitude is 51 20 minutes and Longitude 17 31 minutes Bristow is
lessoning of the next but grown unto more ripeness they assigned their limits by a great and long ditch crossing thorow the midst of these Plaines which for the wonder thereof is supposed by the vulgar to be the work of the Devil and is called of all Wansdike undoubtedly of Wooden the Saxons Ancester and great reputed God where a little Village yet standeth and retaineth to name Woodens-burg At this place in Anno 590 Ceaâ—lin the West-Saxon received such a foyl of the Britains and his Countrey-men that he was forced to sorfake his Kingdom and to end his days in exile becoming a pitiful spectacle even unto his own enemies And in this place Ina the West-Saxon joyned Battle with Ceolred the Mercian whence both of them departed with equal loss The like was at Bradford by Kenilwalch and Cuthred at Wilton betwixt Egbert and Beornwolfe at Edindon where King Elfred was vanquisher of the Danes and at wilton where the Danes won the day against him With as bloudy success though not happening by sword was the issue of that Synod assembled at Calne a small town in this County in the year of Christ Iesus 977 where being hotly debating for the single life and against the marriages of the Clergy what wanted by the word to prove their divorce was supplyed by a Stratagem and that very bloody for suddenly the main timber brake and down fell the floor with the Nobles and Prelates the Gentlemen and Commons whereby a great number were hurt and many more slain onely Dunstan the Prefident and mouth for the Monks escaped untouched the Ioist whereon his Chair stood remaining most firm which confirmed the sentence of their separations whom God had conjoyned and became the fall and snare of much incontinency in both sexes 7 The chiefest City of this Shire is Salesbury removed from a higher but a far more convenient place whose want of Water was not so great in the mother as is supplied and replenished in the daughter every street almost having a River running thorow her middest and for sumptuous and delicate buildings is inferiour to none The Cathedral a most rich magnificent Church was begun by Richard Poors Bishop and with fourty years continuance was raised to her perfect beauty wherein are as many windows as there are days in the year as many cast Pillars of Marble as there are hours in the year and as many gates for entrance as there are Months in the year Neither doth this City retain true honour to her self but imparteth hers and receiveth honour from others who are intituled Earls of Salesbury whereof eight Noble Families have been dignified â—ince the Normans Conquest This Cities situation is in degree of Latitude 51 10 minutes and from the first West point observed by Mercator 18 Degrees and 31 Minutes of Longitude 8 Over this old Salesby sheweth it self where Kenrick over came the Britains and where Câ—nutus the Dana did great damage by fire This formerly had been the seat of the Romans as likewise was Lecham as by their Coins digged up is apparent so were Brokenbridge and Cosham the Courts of the Saxon Kings But Fortune long since hath turned her face from all these as lately she did from many ancient and religious foundations planted in this Province whereof Malmesbury was the most famous I will not with Monmouth avouch the foundation thereof unto Malmutius but by true Records from Maidulph a Scot a man of great learning that therein built a Coll and led an Hermits life whereof Beda calleth it the City of Maidulph and we by contraction Malmesbury Adelme his Disciple and Successor built here a fair Monastery which Athelstane the Monarch richly endowed and left his body after death there to rest Neither hath any graced this more than William her Monk in recording to postâ—rities the Chronicles of our Land concerning both the Church and Common-weal wherein himself lived and worte those Histories 9 Ambresbury for repute did second this built by Alfritha King Edgar his wife to expiate the sin of murder which she committed upon young Edward her son in law that hers might be King In this place Queen Elâ—anor widow to King Henry the Third renounced all Royal pomp and devoted her self unto God in the habit of a Nun. Other places erected for piety were at Salesbury Lacock Stanley Wilton Ivichurch Parnleg Bradstoks Briopune and Bromhore These graffs grown to full greatness were cut down by the Pruiner least the cankers thereof should infect the whole body as by them was alledged and their Revenues bestowed upon far better uses both for the bringing up of youth and the Maintenance of estate 10 With eight strong Castles this County hath been guarded in nineteen Market-Towns her commodities are traded into twenty nine Hundreds for business is divided and in them are seated three hundred and four Parish-Churches BARKSHIRE BARK-SHIRE CHAPTER XIII BARK-SHIRE whether of the Box woods there sited according to the censure of Asseriuâ— Menevensis or from a naked and bear less Oak-tree whereunto the people usually resorted in troublesome times to confer for the State I determine not only the County a long time hath been so called and bounded with other in manner as followeth The North part is parted by Thamisis from Buckingham and Oxford Shires the South near Kenneâ— doth tract upon Hamp-shire the East is confined with the County of Surrey and the West with VVilt-shire and Glocester-shire is held in 2 The form of this Shire doth somewhat resemble a Sandall for a mans foot lying long wise from East to West in which part she is broadest the middle most narrow and then spreading wider like to the heel though for her rich endowments and stately magnificence it may be well accounted the heart of the whole 3 The length thereof from Inglesham in the West to old VVindsor in the East extendeth unto forty miles from Ink-pen to VVightham the broadest part from South to North are twenty four the whole in Circumference about one hundred and twenty miles 4 The Air is temperate sweet and delightful and prospect for pleasure inferiour to none the Soyl is plenteous of Corn especially in the Vale of VVhite-horse that yieldeth yearly an admirable encrease In a word for Corn and Cattle Waters and Woods of profit and pleasure it gives place unto none 5 Her ancient inhabitants by Ptolomy and Caesar were the Attrebatii and them of those that descended from Gallia among whom Comiuâ— conquered by the Dictator was of good respect and could do much with the 〈◊〉 who as Frontinus reporteth used this stratagem though it proved nothing at last he flyed before Caesar to recover aid of these Attrebatians light bedded upon a shelf in the Sea whereupon hoysting his â—ailes as before a fore-wind gave shew to his pursuer that they were in swift flight so that hopeless to hail them he gave over the chase yet no sooner had Caesar made over among them but that some of these people by the
name Bibrotes yielded him subjection which proved the ruine of all former liberty But when the Romans had rent their own Empire and retired their Legion into a narrower circuit the Saxons set foot where their forces had been and made this County a parcel of their Western Kingdom The Danes then setting their desire upon spoils from their roaving Pinnaces pierced into these parts and at Redding fortified themselves betwixt the Rivers Kennet aâ—d Thamisis whether after their great overthrow received at Inglefield by the hand of King Ethelwolfe they retired for their further safety 6 This Town King Henry the first most stately beautified with a rich Monastery and strong Castle where in the Collegiate Chuch of the Abbey himself and Queen who lay both vailed and crowned with the daughter Maud the Empress called the Lady of England were interred as the private History of the place avoucheth though others bestow the bodies of these two Queens elsewhere The Castle King Henry the second razed to the ground because it was the refuge for the followers of King Stephen From whence the North pole is raised in Latitude 51 degrees and 40 minutes and in Longitude from the first West-point observed by Mercator 19 degrees and 35 minutes 7 A Castle and Town of greater strength and antiquity was Wallingford by Autonie and Ptolomy called Gellena the chiefest City of the Attrebatians whose large circuit and strong fortifications shew plainly that it was a place of the Romans abode and since in a conceived safety hath made many very bold especially when the sparks of Englands civil dissentions were forced to flame in case of the Crown betwixt Maud the Empress and King Stephen whether her self and associates resorted as their surest defence 8 But of far greater magnificence and state is the Castle of Windsor a most Princely Palace and Mansion of His Majesty I will not with Ieffery affirm it to be built by King Arthur but with better authority say it was so thirsted after-by the Conquerour that by a composition with the Abbot of Westminster whose then it was he made it to be the Kings possesson as a place besides the pleasures very commodious to entertain the King In this Castle that victorious Prince King Edward the third was born and herein after he had subdued the French and Scots held he at one and the same time as his Prisoners Iohn King of France and David King of Scotland Neither was it ever graced with greater Majesty than by the institution of the most honourable Order of the Garter a signal Ornament of Martial Prowesse the invention thereof some ascribe to be from a Garter falling from his Queen or rather from Ioan Countess of Salisbury a Lady of an incomperable beauty as she danced before him whereat the by-standers smiling he gave the impress to check all evil conceits and in golden Letters imbellished the Garter with this French Posie HONI SOâ—â— QUâ— MALY PENSE And yet that worthy Clarenceaux alledging the Book of the first institution finds the invention to be more ancient as when King Richard the first warred against the Turks Saracens Cypres and Acon he girt the legs of certain choise Knights with a tack of leather which promised a future glory to the wearers The most Princely Chappel thereof is graced with the bodies of those two great Kings Henry the sixth and Edward the fourth whom the whole Kingdom was too little to contain the one of Lancaster the other of York where the rest now united in one mould with a branch of both those Houses even King Henry the eighth who there lieth also interred and rests in the Lord. 9 Other places of note in this Shire are Sinodum in the North and Watham in the East both of them places of the Romans residence as by their moneys there oftentimes found appeareth Neither was Sunning the least in this Tract that had been the seat of eight Bishops before the See was translated thence unto Shirburne or that to Salisbury Wantage also is not wanting of honour in bringing to life that learned and most valiant King Ealfred the scourge of the Danes and great Monarch of the English And Finchhamstead for wonder inferiour to none where as our Writers do witness that in the year a thousand and hundred a Well boyled up with streams of bloud and fiftoen days together continued that Spring whose waters made red all others where they came to the great amazement of the beholders 10 The riches and sweet Seats that this County affordeth made many devout persons to shew their devotions unto true piety in erecting places for Gods divine Service and their exemptions from all worldly business such were Abington Redding Bysham Bromehall Hendley Hamme and Wallingford whose Votaries abusing the intents of their Founders overthrew both their own Orders and places of professions all which were dissolved by Act of Parliament and given the King to dispose at his will This Shires division is into twenty Hundreds and hath been strengthened with six strong Castles is yet graced with three of His Majesties most Princely Houses and traded with twelve Market-Towns and is replenished with one hundred and forty Parishes MIDLE-SEX MIDDLESEX CHAPTER XIV MIDDLESEX so called in regard of the situation as â—eated betwixt the West-Saxons and East-Angles was sometimes together with Essex and Hartford-Shire that part and portion which the East-Saxons enjoyed for their Kingdom it lyeth bordered upon the North with Hartford-Shire upon the West by Colâ—â— is severed from Buckingham the South by Thamesis from Surrey and Kent and on the East from Essex by the River Lea. 2 The length thereof extended from Stratford in the East to Morehall upon Colne in the West is by measure nineteen English miles and from South-mines in the North to his Majesties Mannour of Hampton Court in the South are little above sixteen miles the whole Circumference extending to ninety miles 3 In Form it is almost square for Air passing temperate for Soyl abundantly fertile and for Pasturage and Grain of all kinds yielding the best so that the Wheat of this County hath served a long time for the Manchet to our Princes Table 4 It lyeth seated in a vale most wholesome and rich having some hills also and them of good ascent from whose tops the prospect of the whole is seen like unto Zâ—ar in Egypt or rather like a Paradise and Garden of God 5 The ancient Inhabitants known to Caesar were the Trinobants whom he nameth to be the most puisiant in the Land whose chief City and â—eat yieldeth him subjection made the whole with less loss to the Romans to bear the yoke of their own bondage and to come in under terms of truce But when their Forces in these parts were spent and the Empire shaken by intestine wars the Saxons setting their eyes upon so fair a soyl made their footing as sure herein which lastly with Hartford and Essex was the portion of the East-Saxons Kingdom 6 Five
Kent and the East-side thereof is altogether washed with the German Seas 4 The Air is temperate and pleasant only towards the waters somewhat aguish the soyl is rich and fruitful though in some places sandy and barren yet so that it never frustrates the Husbandmans hopes or fills not the hands of her Harvest-labourers but in some part so fertile that after three years glebe of Saffron the Land for eighteen more will yield plenty of Barley without either dung or other faâ—ning earth 5 Her ancient inhabitants known to the Romans were by Caesar called the Trinobants of whom in the former Chapter we have spoken and in our History shall speak more at large But this name perished with the age of the Empire the Saxons presently framed a new and with Hertford and Middlesex made it their East-Saxons Kingdom until that Egbâ—rt bought this and the whole into an entire and absolute Monarchy the Danes after them laid so â—ore for this Province that at â—â—â—mfleet and Havenet now Sâ—â—bery they fortified most strongly and at Barklow besides the hills mounted for their burials the Danewort with her red berries so plentifully grow that it is held and accounted to spring from the blood of the Danes which in that place was spilt and the herb as yet is called from them the Danes-bloud neither yet were they quelled to surcease that quarrel but at Ashdowne abode the Iron side in â—ight wherein so much blood of the English was spilt that Canutus their King in remorse of conscience built a Church in the place to pacifie God for the sins of his people but when the Normans had got the garland of the whole many of the Nobles there seated themselves whose posterities since both there and else-where are spread further abroad in the Realm 6 The Commodities that this shire yieldeth are many and great as of Woods Corn Cattle Fish Forrests and Saffron which last groweth with such gain and increase upon her North parts that from a split Clove much like unto Garlike a white blewish Flower shortly springeth from whence fillets of Saffron are gathered before the Sun and dried are sold as spice with great gain From the Islands Canvey Mersey Horsey Northly Osey Wallot and Foulness great store of Fish and Fowl are daily gotten and so from their Cattle have they continual increase which men and boys milk as well the Ewe as the Kinâ— whereof they make great and thick Cheese sold abroad in the Land much thereof transported unto other Countries Their Oysters which we call Walfleet the best in esteem and are thought from Pliny to have been served in the Romans Kitchins But least we should exceed measure in commending or the people repose their trust in the soyl behold what God can do to frustrate both in a moment and that by his meanest creatures for in our age and remembrance the year of Christ 158. an Army of Mice so over ran the Marshes in Dengey Hundred near unto South minster in this County that they shore the grass to the very roots and so tainted the same with their venemous teeth that a great Murtain fell upon the Cattle which grazed thereon to the great losse of their owners 7 The chiefest City for account at this day in this Shire is Colchester bâ—ilt by Collus the Brittish Prince one hundred twenty four years after the birth of our Saviour Christ if he of Monmouth say true wherein his son Luâ—ius Helena and Constantine the first Christian King Empresse and Emperour in the World were born which made Nechâ—m for Constantinâ— to sing as he did From Colchester there rosâ— a Star The Rayes whereof gave glorious light Throughout the world in Climates far Great Constantine Romes Emperour bright And the Romans to the great honour of Helena inscribed her Piissima Venerabilis Augustâ— But of these we shall be occasioned to speak more hereafter This City is situated upon the South of the River Coln from whence it hath the name and is walled about raised upon a high Trench of earth though now much decayed having six gates of entrance and three Posterns in the West wall besideâ— nine Watch-Towers for defence and containeth in compasse 1980 paces wherein stand eight fair Churches and two other without the walls for Gods divine service S. Tenants and the Black Fryers decayed in the Suburbs Mary Magdalens the Nunnery S. Iohns and the Crouched Fryers all suppressed within towards the East is mounted an old Castle and elder ruines upon a Trench containing two Acres of ground whereas yet may be seen the provident care they had against all ensuing assaults The trade of this Town standeth chiefly in making of Cloth and Bayes with Saies and other like Stuffs daily invented aâ—d is governed by two Bayliffs twelve Aldermen all wearing Scarlet a Recorder a Town Clerk and four Sergeants at Mace Whose position for Latitude is in the degree 52 14 minutes and for Longitude in the degree 21 and 50 minutes 8 Places of Antiquity and memorable note in this County I observe the most Famous to be Camolodunum by us Maldon which was the Royal Seat of Cunobelin King of the Trinobants as by his money therein minted appeareth about the time of our Saviours birth which City afterwards Claudius won from the Britains and therein placed a Colony of Souldiers which were called Victriâ—â—nsis This City Queen Boduâ— in revenge of her wrongs razed to the ground what time she stirred their people against Nero with the slaughter of seventy thousand of the Romans Of some later and lesser account was Ithaâ—chester now S. Peters upon the wall where the Fortenses with their Captain kept towards the declination of the Roman Empirâ— In the East promontory in this County in the Reign of Richard the second the teeth of a Giant were found if they were not of an Elephant of a marvellous size saith Ralph Coggeshall and not far thence in the reign of Elizabeth more bones to the like wonder were digged up 9 I purposely omit the message of a Pilgrim from S. Iohn Baptist by whom he sent a Ring to King Edward Confessor for which cause his house took the name Havering seeing the Monks of those times made no great dainty daily to forge matter for their own advantage who in this Shire so swarmed that they had houses erected at Waltham Pritelewel Tiltey Dunmow Lecyâ— Hatfield-Peverel Chelmesford Coggâ—shall Maldon Earls coln Colchester S. Osiths Saffron-Walden Hatfield-Bradockâ— and more with great revenues thereto belonging all which felt the Axes and Hammers of destruction when the rest of such foundations fell under the flail of King Henry the Eighth who with Hezekiah brake down all these Brazen Serpents 10 This Shire is divided into 23 Hundreds wherein are seated 21 Market-Towns 5 Castles 5 Havens 2 of His Majesties Mannours and 415 Parish-Churches SVFFOLCK SUFFOLK CHAPTER XVI SUFFOLK in regard of them which were seated in Northfolk is a County most plenteous and pleasant for habitation It is
This â—enny Countrey is passing rich and plenteous yea and beautiful also to behold wherein is so great store of fish that strangers do wonder and water fowl so cheap that five men may therewith be satisfied with less than an half penny 7 Places of ancient note in this Shire are these the Erminstreet-way which upon the lower West parts of this County thorow Roiston runneth forth right unto Huntington And from Reach a Market-Town standing near to the River Come a great Duch and Trench is cast all along New-Market-Heath which for the wonder received thereat is of the vulgar called The Devils Ditch being in truth made for a defence against the Mercians by the East-Angles whose Kingdom it inverged The Gâ—gmagog Hills near Cambridge retain the memembrance of the Danish Station where as yet on their tops is seen a Rampier strengthned with a three-sold Trench whereof Gervase of Tilbury tells many a pretty Tale. 8 This Shire is divided into seventeen Hundreds wherein are seated eight Market-Towns and hath been strengthened with seven Castles and God divinely honoâ—red in one Hundred sixty three Parish-Churches Hartforde Shire HERTFORD-SHIRE CHAPTER XIX HERTFORD-SHIRE is bordered upon the North with Bedford and Cambridge-shires upon the East is altogether bounded by Essex upon the South is confined with Middlesex and her west butteth upon Buckingham and Bedford-shires 2 The form thereof is somewhat circular with many indents to fetch in those Towns that are dispersedly stragled into her next Shire whereof Roiston and Totteridge are the two extreams from North to South betwixt whom in a straight drawn line are twenty seven English miles and from Putnam Westward to Cheston Nunnery in the East are twenty eight the whole circumference about an hundred and thirty miles 3 The Air is temperate sweet and healthful as seated in a Climate neither too hot nor too cold the soil is rich plenteous and delightful yielding abundance of Corn Cattle Wood and Grass destitute of nothing that ministereth profit or pleasures for life which are more augmented by â—he many Rivers that arise and run thorow this Shire watering her own and others till they empty themselves into the Sea 4 Her ancient Inhabitants in the time of the Romans were the Caâ—ieucâ—lanians or Cassians and the Trinobants as their Writers declare and in the Heptarchy was possessed by the East-Saxons excepting some small portion thereof that the Mercian Kings enjoyed The Daâ—es also in their over-runnings sought to stay themselves in this Shire and at Ware then Weare pitched down their rest and hope for passing the Lea in their light Pinnaces and Shallops raised therein a Fort which mangre the English they kept until that by the wise policy of King Elfred that River was parted into more running streams whereby their Ships perished and they intercepted both of provision and further supply 5 The Romans before them made Verolaniumâ— in this Shire their greatest for account which in Nero's time was a Municipal as Ninius in his Catalogue of Cities doth call it or as Tacitus a Freo Town sacked by Boduo that ever eternized Queen of the Icenians when seventy thousand of the Romans and Confederates by her revenging sword perished the site and circuit whereof in this Card we have set according to our view and measure there taken whose magnificence for Port and stately Architâ—cture were found by her large and arched Vaults in the days of King Edgar which were digged into and cast down by Elred and Edmer Abbots of S. Albans for that they were the receptacles and â—urking holes of Whoores and Theeves the ruins of which have raised the beauty of her surviving and fair S. Albans where Offa the great Mercian in great devotion built a most stately Monastery whose Church yet standing retaineth the ashes of many Nobles there slain in the quarrel of York and Lancaster and a Font of solid Brass brought out of Scotland by Sir Richard Lea from the siege of Leeth 6 Many other Towns both for Commerce stately Buildings and of ancient Record this Shâ—â—e affordeth whereof Hertford though the Shire Town is not the richest the passage thorow Ware hath left her ways so untrodden to prevent which in former times that River at Ware was chained up and the Bayliff of Heriford had the custody of the Key which howsoever they have lost yet hath the Town gotten her Governour to be preferred from the name of a Bayliff unto a Mayor assisted with nine Burgesses a Reâ—order and two Sergeants their Attendants Herein a Castle for situation pleasant for Trench Walls and River sufficiently fenced was lately seen but marked to deâ—â—iny as the Town to decay hath found the hand of Fortune to overmatch her strength and to ruinate the Priory S. Nicholas and S. Maries Churchos besides a Cell of S. Albans Monks that therein were seated The like fate falls unto Hensled and her fair Castle wherein Richard King of the Romans left his life Yet Langley is graced both in the birth of Prince Edmund the fifth son to King Edward the third and the burial of Richard the second that unfortunate King who in the Cell of Friers Preachers was there first buried but afterwards removed and enshrined at Westminster And in another Langley near the East from thence was born that Pontifical Break-speare Bishop of Rome known by the name of Hadrian the fourth and famous for his stirrup-holding by Frederick the Emperour whose breath was last stopped by a Flie that flew into his mouth 7 The civil Battles that in this Shire have been fought in the Map it self are inserted and therefore here omitted but the more ancient remembred unto us by Oister-hill near S. Albans whom the judicious Cambden supposeth to have been the Camp of Ostorius the second Lieutenant and Subduer of great Caractacus as also seven small round Hills betwixt Stevennedge and Knebworth in which are supposed some Roman Souldiers to lie buried 8 Religious Houses built and suppressed the chiefest for account in this Shire were S. Albans Roystone Ware Sopwell Langley besides them at Hertford whom Bâ—da calls Herudford which Cities graduation is distant and removed from the Equator 52 degrees 5 minutes of Latitude and set from the first point of the West according to Mercator in the 20 degree 29 minutes of Longitude The Earldoms whereof were enjoyed only by those two honourable Families whose atchievements we have also therein expressed 9 This Counties division is into eight hundreds wherein are seated eighteen Market-Towns and one hundred and twenty Parish Churches BEDFORD SHIRE BEDFORD-SHIRE CHAPTER XX. BEDFORD-SHIRE seated in the South-East of this Island is a plain and champion Country and lyeth bounded upon the North with Huntington-Shire upon the East with Cambridge and Hartford-shires upon the South with Hertford and Buckingham-shires and upon the West with Buckingham and Northampton-shires 2 The Form thereof is somewhat oval and not very large for from Tilbroke in the North unto Studham in the South are but twenty four
obtained either by or against Rollo the Dane who in the year 876 entred England and in this Shire fought two battles one neer unto Hoâ—k-Norton and a second at the ScienStane 6 Rodâ—ot likewise remaineth as a monument of Oxfords highâ— styled Earl but unfortunate Prince Robert de Vere who besides the â—arldom was created by King Richard the second Mâ—â—quess of Dublin and Duke of Ireland but at that Bridge discomfited in fight by the Nobles and forced to swim the River where began the downfal of his high mounted fortunes for being driven forth of his Country lastly died in exile and distressed estate But more happy is this County in producing far more glorious Princes as King Edward the Confessor who in Islip was born Edward the victorious black Prince in Woodstock and in Oxford that warlike Coeur de Lion King Richard the first the son of King Henry the second first took breath 7 Which City is and long hath been the glorious seat of the Muses the British Athens and learnings well spring from whose living Fountain the wholsome waters of all good literature streaming plenteously have made fruitful all other parts of this Realm and gained glory amongst all Nations abroad Antiquity avoucheth that this place was consecrated unto the sacred Sciences in the time of the Old Britains and that from Greek-lod a Town in Wilt shire the Academy was translated unto Oxford as unto a Plant-plot both more pleasing and fâ—uitful whereto accordeth the ancient Burlaeus and Necham this latter also alledging Merlin But when the beauty of the Land lay under the Saxons prophane feet it sustained a part of these common calamities having little reserved to uphold its former glory save onely the famous monument of S. Frideswids Virgin Conquest no other School then left standing besides her Monastery yet those great blasts together with other Danish storms being well blown over King Elfred that learned and religious Monarch recalled the exiled Muses to their sacred place and built there three goodly Colledges for the studies of Divinity Philosophy and other Arts of humanity sending thither his own son Ethelward and drew thither the young Nobles from all parts of his Kingdom The first Reader thereof was his supposed brother Neote a man of great learning by whose direction King Elfred was altogether guided in this his goodly foundation At which time also Assereus Menevensis a writer of those times affairs read the Grammar and Rhetorick and affirmeth that long before them Gildas Melkin Ninius Kentigern S. German and others spent there their lives in learned studies From which time that it continued a Seedploâ— of learning till the Norman Conquest Ingulphus â—ecordeth who himself then lived No marvel then if Matthew Paris calleth Oxford the second School of Christendom and the very chief Pillar of the Catholick Church And in the Council holden at Vienna it was ordâ—ined that in Paris Oxford â—ononiâ— and Salamanca the onely Vniversities then in Europe should be erected Schools for the Hebrew Greek Arabick and Caldean tongues and that Oxford should be the general universiâ—y for all England Ireland Scotland and Wales which point was likewise of such weight with the Council of Constance that from this pâ—â—cedent of Oxford University it was concluded that the English Nation was not only to have pâ—ecedence oâ— Spain in all General Councils but was also to be held equal with France it self By which high peâ—ogatives this of ours hath always so flourished that in the days of King Henry the third thirty tâ—ousand Students were therein resident as Archbishop Armachanus who then lived hath writ and Riâ—haâ—ger then also living sheweth that for all the civil wars which hindred such placâ—s of quiet study yet 15000 Students were there remaining whose names saith he were entered in Matricula in the matriculation book About which time Iohn Baliol the father of â—aliol King of Scots built a Colledge yet bearing his name Anno 1269 and Walter Merton Bishop of Rochester that which is now called Merton Colledge both of them beautified with buiâ—dings and enriched wâ—th landâ— and were the first endowed Colledges for learning in all Christendom And at this present there are sixteen Colledges besides another newly builded with eight Halls and many most fair Collegiate Churches all aâ—orned with most stately buildings and enriched with great endowments noble Libraries and most learned Graduates of all professions that unless it be her sister Cambridge the other â—ursing breast of this land the like is not found again in the World This City is also honoured with an Episcopal See As for the site thereof it is removed from the Equatâ—r in the degree 52 and one minute and from the West by Mercators measure 19 degrees and 20 minutes â— As this County is happy in the possâ—ssion of so famous an Academy so it is graced with most Princely Palaces apperâ—aining to the English Crown whereof Woodsâ—ock is the most ancient and magnificent built to that glory by King Henry the first and enlarged with a Labyrinth of many windings by King Henry the second to hide from his jealous Iuno his intirely beloved Concubine Rosamond Clifford a Damosel of surpassing beauty where notwithstanding followed by a clew of silk that fell from her lap she was surprised and poâ—soned by Queen Eleanor his wife and was first buried at Godsâ—ow Nunnery in the midst of the quiâ—e under a Hearse of silk set about with lights whom Hugh Bishop of Lincoln thinking it an unfâ—t object for Virgins devotion caused to be removed into the Church â—ard but those chast sisters liked so well the memory of that kind Lady as that her bones they translated again into their Chappel Bensington is another of his Majesties Mannors built by William de la Pole Duke of Suffolk but now in neglect through the annoyance arising from the waters or marishes adjoyning Houses built for devotion and for abuse suppressed and again put down the chief in account were Enishamâ— Osney Bruern Godsâ—ow Burchester and Tame besides S. Frideswides and very many other stately Houses of Religion in this City The Division of this Shire is into fourteen Hundreds wherein are seated ten Market-Towns and two â—undred and fourscore Parish Câ—uâ—ches Glocester Shire GLOCESTER-SHIRE CHAPTER XXIII GLOCESTER-SHIRE lieth bordered upon the North with Worcester and Warwick-shires upon the East with Oxford and Wilt-shires upon the South altogether with Somerset-Shire and upon the West with the River Wye and Hertford shire 2 The length thereof extended from Bristow upon the River Avon in her South unto Clifford upon another Avon in her North are about forty eight miles and her broadest part from East to West is from Lechland unto Preston containing twenty eight the whole circumference about one hundred thirty eight miles 3 The Form whereof is somewhat long and narrow the Air thereof is pleasant sweet and delectable and for fruitfulness of Soyl hear Malmesbury and not me The ground of this Shire throughout saith
by Succession and Right of Inheritance the Earldâ—m of Chester annexed to his most happy Stiles Upon whose Person I pray that the Angels of Iacobs God may ever attend to his great glory and Great Britains happiness 9 If I should urge credit unto the report of certain Trees floating in Bagmere only against the deaths of the Heirs of the Breretons thereby seated and after to sink until the next like occasion or inforce for truth the Prophesie which Leyland in a Poetical fury forespake of Beeston-Castle highly mounted upon a steep Hill I should forget my self and wonted opinion that can hardly believe any such vain Predictions though they be told from the mouths of Credit as Bagmere-Trees are or learned Leyland for Beesson who thus writeth The day will come when it again shall mount his head aloft If I a Prophet may be heard from Seers that say so oft With eight other Castles this Shire hath been strengthened which were Ould-Castle Shocloch Shoâ—witch Chester Pouldford Dunham Frodesham and Haulten and by the Prayers as then was taught of eight Religious Houses therein seated preserved which by King Henry the Eight were suppressed â—â—amely Stanlow Ilbree Maxfeld Norton Bunbery Combermere Rud-neath and Vale-Royal besides the VVhite and black Friâ—rs and the Nunnery in Chester This Counties division is into seven Hundreds wherein are seated thirteen Market-Towns eighty five Parish-Churches and thirty-eight Chappels of Ease Lancaster LANCA-SHIRE CHAPTER XXXVII THE County Palatine of Lancaster famous for the four Henries the fourth fifth sixth and seventh Kings of England derived from Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster is upon the South confined and parted by the River Mersey from the County Palatine of Chester the fair County of Darby-shire bordering upon the East the large County of York-shire together with Westmerland and Cumberland being her kind neighbours upon the North and the Sea called Mare Hibernicum embracing her upon the West 2 The form thereof is long for it is so inclosed between York-shire on the East side and the Irish-Sea on the West that where it boundeth upon Cheshire on the South-side it is broader and by little and little more Northward it goeth confining upon Westmerland the more narrow it groweth It containeth in length from Brathey Northward to Halwood Southward fifty seven miles from Denton in the East to Formby by Altmouth in the West thirty one and the whole circumference in compass one hundred threescore and ten miles 3 The Air is subtile and piercing not troubled with gross vapours or foggy mists by reason whereof the People of that Country live long and healthfully and are not subject to strange and unknown diseases 4 The Soil for the generality is not very fruitful yet it produceth such numbers of Cattel of such large proportion and such goodly heads and horns as the whole Kingdom of Spain doth scarce the like It is a Country replenished with all necessaries for the use of Man yielding without any great labour the commodity of Corn Flax Grass Coals and such like The Sea also addeth her blessing to the Land that the People of that Province want nothing that serveth either for the sustenance of Nature or the satiety of appetite They are plentifully furnished with all sorts of Fish Flesh and Fowls Their principal Fuell is Coal and Turff which they have in great abundance the Gentlemen reserving their Woods very carefully as a beauty and principal ornament to their Mannors and Houses And though it be far from â—ondon the Capital City of this Kingdom yet doth it every year furnish her and many other parts of the Land besides with many thousands of Cattel bred in this Country giving thereby and other ways a firm testimony to the World of the blessed abundance that it hath pleased God to enrich this noble Dukedom withall 5 This Counties ancient Inhabitants were the Brigantes of whom there is more mention in the description of York-shire who by Claudius the Emperour were brought under the Roman subjection that so held aud made it their Seat secured by their Garrisons as hath been gathered as well by many Inscriptions found in Walls and ancient Monuments fixed in Stones as by certain Altars erected in favour of their Emperours After the Romans the Saxons brought it under their protection and held it for a part of their Northumbrian Kingdom till it was first made subjugate to the Invasion of the Danes and then conquered by the victorious Normans whose Posterities from thence are branched further into England 6 Places of antiquity or memorable note are these the Town of Manchester so famous as well for the Market-Place Church and Colledge as for the resort unto it for Clothing was called Manâ—unium by Antonine the Emperour and was made a Fort and Station of the Romans Riblechester which taketh the name from Râ—ibell a little River near Clithâ—râ— though it be a small Town yet by Tradition hath been called the richest Town in Christendom and reported to have been the Seat of the Romans which the many Monuments of their Antiquities Statues Pieces of Coin and other several Inscriptions digg'd up from time to time by the Inhabitants may give us sufficient perswasion to believe But the Shire Town is Lancaster more pleasant in situation than rich of Inhabitants built on the South of the River Lon and is the same Longovicum where as we find in the Notiâ—e Provinces a company of the Longovicarians under the Lieutenant General of Britain lay The beauty of this Town is in the Church Castle and Bridge her Streets many and stretched fair in length Unto this Town King Edward the Third granted a Mayor and two Bailiffs which to this day are elected out of twelve Brethren assisted by twenty four Burgesses by whom it is yearly governed with the supply of two Chamberlains a Recorder Town-Clerk and two Sergeants at Mace The elevation of whose Pole is in the degree of Latitude 54 and 58 scruples and her Longitude removed from the West point unto the degree 17 and 40 scruples 7 This Country in divers places suffereth the force of many flowing Tides of the Sea by which after a sort it doth violently rent asunder one part of the Shire from the other as in Fourness where the Ocean being displeased that the shore should from thence shoot a main way into the West hath not obstinately ceased from time to time to slash and mangle it and with his Fell irruptions and boysterous Tides to devour it Another thing there is not unworthy to be recommended to memory that in this Shire not far from Foâ—rness-Felles the greatest standing water in all England called Winander Mere lieth stretched out for the space of ten miles of wonderful depth and all paved with stone in the bottom and along the Sea-side in many places may be seen heaps of sand upon which the People pour water until it recover a saltish humour which they afterwards boil with Turffs till it become white Salt 8 This
the Authority of Ptolomy and Antonine and by many ancient Inscriptions that have been found there In this City the Emperor Severus had his Palace and here gave up his last breath which ministers occasion to shew the ancient custom of the Romans in the military manner of their burials His body was carried forth here by the Souldiers to the funeral fire and committed to the flames honoured with the â—usts and Turnaments both of the Souldiers and of his own Sons His ashes bestowed in a little golden pot or vessel of the Porphyrat stone were carried to Rome and shrined there in the Monument of the Antonines In this City as Spartianus maketh mention was the Temple of the Goddess Bâ—llona to which Severuâ— being come thither purposing to offer Sacrifice was erroniously led by a rustical Augur Here Fl. Valerius Coâ—stantius surnamed Choruâ— an Emperour of excellent vertue and Christian Piety ended his life and was Deified as appears by ancient Coins and his Son Constantine being present at his Fathers death forthwith proclaimed Emperour from whence it may be gathered of what great estimation York was in those days when the Romans Emperours Court was held in it This City flourished a long time under the English-Saxons Dominion till the Daâ—es like a mighty Storm thundering from out of the North-East destroyed it and distrained it with the blood of many slaughtered persons and wan it from Olbright and Ella Kings of Noâ—thumberland who were both stain in their pursuit of the Danes which Alcuine in his Epistle to Egelred King of Northumberland seemed to presage before when he said What signifieth that raining down of blood in St. Peters Church of York even in a fair day and descending in so violent and threatning a manner from the top of the roof may it not be thought that blood is coming upon the Land from the North parts Howbeit Athelstane recovered it from the Dantsh subjection and quite overthrew the Castle with the which they had fortified it yet was it not for all this so freed from Wars but that it was subject to the Times fatally next following Nevertheless in the Conquerors time when after many woful overthrows and troublesom storms it had a pleasant calm of ensuing Peace it rose again of it self and flourished afresh having still the helping hand of Nobility and Gentry to recover the former dignity and bring it to the perfection it hath The Citizens senced it round with new Walls and many Towers and Bulwarks and ordaining good and wholsome Laws for the government of the same Which at this day are executed at the command of a Lord Mayor who hath the assistance of twelve Aldermen many Chamberlains a Recorder a Town-Clerk six Sergeants at Mace and two Esquires which are a Sword-bearer and the Common Sergeant who with a great Mace goeth on the left hand of the Sword The Longitude of this City according to Mercators account is â—9 degrees and 35 scruples the Latitude 54 degrees and forty scruples 10 Many occurents present themselves with sufficient matter of enlargement to this discourse yet none of more worthy consequence than were those several Battels fought within the compass of this County wherein Fortune had her pleasure as well in the proof of her love as in the pursuit of her tyranny sometime sending the fruits of sweet peace unto her and other whiles suffering her to taste the sowreness of War At Conisborough in the Britain Tongue Caâ—r-Conan was a great Battel fought by Hengist Captain of the English-Saxons after he had retired himself thither for his safety his men being fled and scattered and himself discomfited by Aurelius Ambrosius yet within few days after he brought forth his men to Battel against the Britains that pursued him where the field was bloody both to him and his for many of his men were cut in pieces and he himself had his head chopt off as the British History saith which the Chronicles of the English-Saxons deny reporting that he died in peace being surcharged and over-worn with the troublesom toils and travels of War Neer unto Kirkstall Oswie King of Northumberland put Pâ—nda the Mercian to flight the place wherein the Battel was joyned the Writers call Winwid-Field giving it the name by the Victory And the little Region about it in times past called by an old name Elmet was conquered by Eadwin King of Northumberland the son of Aela after he had expelled Cereticus a British King in the year of Christ 620. At Casterford called by Antonine Legiotium and Legetium the Citizens of York slew many of King Ethelreds Army and had a great hand against him in so much as he that before sat in his Throne of Majesty was on a sudden daunted and ready to offer submission But the most worthy of memory was that Field fought on Palm Sunday 1461. in the quarrel of Lancaster and York where England never saw more puissant Forces both of Gentry and Nobility for there were in the Field at one time partakers on both sides to the number of one hundred thousand fighting men When the fight bad continued doubtful a great part of the day the Lancastrians not able longer to abide the violence of their enemies turned back and fled amain and such as took part with York followed them so hotly in chase and killed such a number of Nobles and Gentlemen that thirty thousand Englishmen were that day left dead in the Field 11 Let us now loose the point of this Compass and sail into some other parts of this Province to find out matter of other memorable moment Under Knausbrough there is a Well called Dropping Well in which the waters spring not out of the veins of the earth but distill and trickle down from the Rocks that hang over it It is of this vertue and efficacy that it turns Wood into Stone for what Wood soever is put into it it will be shortly covered over with a stony bark and be turned into Stone as hath been often observed At Giggleswick also about a mile from Settle a Market-Town there are certain small Springs not distant a quaits cast from one another the middlemost of which doth at every quarter of an hour ebb and flow about the height of a quarter of a yard when it is highest and at the ebb falleth so low that it is not an inch deep with water Of no less worthiness to be remembred is St. Wilfrids Needle a place very famous in times past for the narrow hole in the close vaulted room under the ground by which womens honesties were wont to be tried for such as were chaste pass thorow with much facility but as many as had plaid false were miraculously held falsâ— and could not creep thorow Believe if you list The credible report of a Lamp found burning even in our Fathers remembrance when Abbeys were pulled and suppressed in the Sepulchre of Constantius within a certain Vault or little Chappel under the ground wherein he was
apparitions or rather some religious horror which as some ridiculously dream was digg'd by Vlysses when he went down to parely with those in hell This is the Cave which the Inhabitants in these dayes call Ellan 〈◊〉 â—rugadory that is The Isle of Purgatory and S. Patricks Purgatory for some persons less devout than credulous affirm that S. Patrick or rather Patricius Secundus an holy Abbot of that name labouring the conversion of the people of this Province and much inforcing the life to come they replyed contemptuously unto him that unless they saw proofs of those joyes and pains he preached they would not lose the possession of their present pleasures in hope or fear of things to come they 〈◊〉 not when Whereupon as they say he obtained at Gods hands by earnest prayer â—hat the punishments and torments which the godles are to suffer after this life might be there presented to the eye that so he might more easily root out the sins and Heathenish Errours that stuck so fast in the hearts of the Irish. But touching the credit hereof although common fame and some records do utter it I neither will urge the beliefe nor regard seeing it is no Article of our Creed 8 Matters memorable within this Province are these first that the Bishops of Ireland were wont to be consecrated by the Archbishop of Canterbury in regard of the Primacy which they had in this Country until such time as Iohn Papirio a Cardinal was sent thither from Pope Eugenius the fourth to reform Ecclesiastical Discipline in this Island which was then grown so loose that there were Translations and Pluralities of Bishops according to the will and pleasure of the Metropolitan Also that the Irish men were accustomed to leave and forsake their wedded Wives at their own free-wills whereof Lanfranck Archbishop of Canterbury complained unto Therdeluac a King of Ireland And had not this Nation been corrupted with this vice even unto these our days both the right of lineal succession had been more certain among them and the Gentry and Commonalty had not in such cruelties imbrued themselves with such effusion of their own kindreds blood about their Inheritances and legitimation 9 The principal Town in this Tract is Armagh near unto the River Kalin which albeit it maketh a poor shew is the Archiepiscopal See and Metropolitane of the whole Island Before Saint Patrick had built there a fair City for site form quantity and compass modelled out as he saith by the appointment and direction of Angels this place was named Drumsalrich the Irish tell much that it received the name of Queen Armacha but the better opinions are that it is the same which Beda calleth Dearmach and out of the Scottish and Irish Language interpreteth it The Field of Oaks Here as S. Bernard writeth S. Patrick the Apostle of Ireland ruled in his life time and rested after death in honour of whom it was of such venerable estimation in old time that not only Bishops and Priests but Kings also and Princes were in general subject to the Metropolitan thereof in all obedience and to his government alone Among the Archbishops of this Province S. Malachy is famoused who first prohibited Priests marriage in Ireland and as S. Bernard saith who wrote his life at large borrowed no more of the native barbarousnes of that County than Sea-fishes do saltness of the Seas Also Richard Fitz-Ralph commonly called Armachanus is of famous memory who turned the edge of his style about the year 1355 began to oppose his opinion against the order of Mendicant â—ryers as detesting in Christians such voluntary begging The chief Fort in this Tract is Eâ—is Kâ—lling defended by the Rebels in the year 1593 and won by Dowdal a most valiant Captain near unto which is a great downfall of water termed The Salmon Leap of which there is a common Speech currant among the Inhabitants that it was once firm ground very populous and well husbanded with tillage till it was suddenly over-flown with water and turned into a Lake for some filthy abominable acts of the people against Nature committed with Beasts 10 The places of Religion sequestred from other worldly services and consecrated to holy purposes erected in this province were The Abbey which sheweth it self at Donegal The Monastery of Deryo where the Irish Rebel Shan O Neal received such an overthrow by Edward Randolph renowned for his service in the behalf of his Coâ—ntry that he could never after recover the loss he sustained at that time The Monastery near unto the River Liffer The famous Monastery at the Bay of Knockfergus of the same institution name and order as was that ancient Abbey in England near unto Chester called Banchor also Mellifont Abbey founded by Donald a King of Vriel and much commended by S. Bernard And lastly the most renowned Monastery built at Armagh in the year of our Salvation 610 out of which very many Monasteries were afterwards propagated both in Britain and Ireland These places were far and near frequented and sought unto by great confluences of Pilgrims till Time proved their devotions to be erronious and the pure light of the word revealed opening the eyes of their understanding hath taught them to shake off the shame of such Superstitions 11 That the people of this County might be kept within the bounds of their duty this Province hath been secured with fifty six Castles and Forts and for trade of commerce nine Narket-Towns appointed being divided into these Counties ensuing Counties Dunghall or Tyr connel Vpper Tyrone Nether Tyrone Fermanagh Cavan Monaghan Colrane Antrim Downe Armagh Lough FINIS The Table to find the Maps as appeareth by Folio ENgland Scotland and Ireland 1 England 2 Kent 3 Sussex 4 Surrey 5 Southampton 6 The Isle of Wight 7 Dorcetshire 8 Devonshire 9 Cornwall 10 Sommersetshire 11 Wiltshire 12 Barkshire 13 Middlesex 14 Essex County 15 Suffolke 16 Norfolke 17 Cambridgeshire 18 Hartfordshire 19 Bedfordshire 20 Buckinghamshire 21 Oxfordshire 22 Gloucestershire 23 Herefordshire 24 Woâ—cestershire 25 Warwickshire 26 Northamptonshire 27 Huntingtonshire 28 Rutlandshire 29 Leicestershire 30 Lincolnshire 31 Nottinghamshire 32 Darbyshire 33 Staffordshire 34 Shroâ—shire 35 Chester 36 Lancashiâ—e 37 Yorkshire 38 The Bishoprick of Durham 39 Westmorland and Cumberland 40 Northumberland 41 The Isle of Man 42 Holy Island c. 43 Wales 44 Pembrokeshire 45 Radnor Breknock Cardigan and Caermarden described 46 Glamorganshire 47 Monmouthshire 48 Montgomery c. 49 Denbigh and Flint described 50 Anglesey and Carnarvan 51 The Kingdom of Scotland 52 The South part of Scotland 53 The Southern part of Scotland 54 The Eastern part of Scotland 55 Part of Scotland Stranavern 56 The Isles of Hebrides 57 Cathanes and Orknay 58 Ireland described 59 Mounster 60 Leinster 61 Connaught 62 Vlster 63 MIDIA 64 A PROSPECT OF THE MOST FAMOUS PARTS of the VVORLD VIZ. ASIA 13 AFRICA 24 EUROPE 35 AMERICA 46 With these Kingdoms therein contained Graecia 57 Roman Empire 67 Germany 78 Bohemia
concealed it ever since Yet to satisfie in some measure such as are more inquisitive I will touch at the several conjectures which hath passed upon the place of this earthly Paradise Rog. Higdâ—n Monk of Chester and with him Iohn Trevisa set it in the field of Damascus and many others probably enough have thought it was in the Land of Canaan for that in divers places it is noted with attributes proper to the garden of Eden She was seated in the midst of Nations Ezek. 5. It was a Land of Wheat Barley and Vines Fig-trees and Pomgranates a Land of Olives and Honey a Land whose stones were Iron and out of whose hills might be digged brass Deut. 8. She was pleasant above all Lands Ezek. 20. Yet Franciscus Iunius D. Willet Sir Walter Raleigh and others make it a part of Mesopotamia North-west from Babylon about the degrees of 78 in Longitude and of Latitude 35 where still the Rivers meet mentioned in Genesis and where Ptolemy hath his Audanites a corrupt name as is supposed from Edâ—n Certainly it was about the middle of the Earth and abounded by a peculiar blessing of God with all kinds serviceable for the use of man 8 But Adam soon lost this possession by his disobedience and was cast out on the East-side of the garden where he placed himself Moses makes no more particular relation Cain is specified to have gone out of the presence of the Lord into the Land of Nod and there built him a City and named it after his sons name Henoch this was the first City and was seated some thing about Mount Libanus As the place so the time when it was found is uncertain but the common conjecture gives it to be about 2 or 3 hundred years after the Creation when the world was replenished as well it might be within that compass if we compare it to our known stories Abraham in 215 years had 600 thousand of his own stock in the blessed line besides women and children And in this number we omit his other seed of whom came twelve Princes Questionless after this proportion the people multiplied in the beginning and so for 1656 years forward and that must needs 〈◊〉 a large portion of the earth most likely those parts of Asia that lay nearest to their first seat For they wandred no farther than necessity of room compelled them 9 But now as man so the sin of man was grown to a height For this the wrath of God fell upon them in a flood that destroyed the whole earth saving eight persons Noah and his family who were commanded into an Ark built by Gods own direction and is held to have been the pattern for all Ships to all posterity 10 When the anger of the Lord was ceased and the waters abated after 150 days float the Ark rested upon the Mountains of Arrarat in Armenia They are supposed by most to be the same which Ptolomy calleth Montes Cordios about the degree in 75 Longitude and in Latitude 39. Master Cartwright a Traveller of our own Nation reports himself an eye-witness of many ancient and ruinous foundations there which the inhabitants have believed through all ages to be the work of those first people that for a long time durst not adventure into the lower Countries for fear of another flood 11 But God blessed the remnant which he had preserved and when he had given them the Rainbow for a sign of his mercy that he would no more break up the fountains of the great deep nor open the windows of heaven upon them to root out all flesh by degrees they descended from the hills Eastward and seated themselves upon a plain in the Land of Shinar This was the lower part of Mesopotamia which compassed Chaldea and Babylonia lying under the Mount Singara a hill neer the degrees of 77 in Longitude and of Latitude 36 and stands in the direct way from Arrarat or the Moutes Cordios towards Babyâ—on 12 There when their number increased and they forced still to seek new Colonies they were ambitious to leave a name behind them for posterity and therefore adventured upon a building whose top should reach Heaven and so indeed in did for it fetcht from thence Gods second vengeance He confounded their speech that they no longer understood one the other Thus they were broke off from their impious attempt and scattered upon all the earth about an hundred years after the Floud into seventy two several Nations as some have punctually numbred â—hem 13 Whether Noah himself were present or to what place he removed is uncertain He had yet two hundred and fifty years to live and is thought to have had his habitation in Phenicia North-ward from Palestine about the degree of 66 and 33. 14 His Sons Sem Ham and Iapheth possest their several Provinces of the World From Iapheth came the Isles of the Gentiles of which we are a part to him Europe is by most allotted Sem not guilty questionless of that proud enterprise rested himself in the land of Canaaâ— which he knew as it was revealed to Abraham should be given to his posterity Yet part of his issue the Sons of Iocktan were divided and lived remote toward the East To him was Asia But Cham by his fathers curse for discovering his nakedness roved to the utmost parts of the earth and peopled with his Progeny especially those Countries which are most toucht in Histories for Barbarism and Idolatry As indeed how could it otherwise be since himself had lost his father that should instruct him and therefore could deliver no precepts to his children but left every one to his own inventions And those that at the confusion spread where ever they came this diversity of Customs and Religions that possess the world at this day To him was Africa 15 America too doubtless had her portion in the division though not so soon or so immediate but seemed rather of later times to have received her people from the bordering parts of Asia and those are thought by most to have been first inhabited by Iocktan and his thirteen Sons the issue of Sem. It is â—aid in the Text they possest the East-part from Mesha to Sephar Iosophus takes the first for a Countrey and the second for a Mountain in India insomuch as that he strictly bounds out their possession from the River Cephew to Ieria which is now called the East or Portugal Indies Indeed many of those Eastern Regions are noted to bear the name as yet of Iocktans sons The Shabeans found as if they had Sheba to their Father And from Havilah is a Country in Ieria From Shaphira Iosephus derives Ophir both of especial fame for their plenty of Gold But it is Doctor Willets opinion that Ophir was rather the same Region in the West Indies which is now called Peru. To say truth we have little certainity of the first Inhabitants which were seated in America or the Parts of Asia near about her whether
them they suddenly perish Thus we see how God gives a property to each place that may make up her defects lest it should be left as well by beasts as men Their Land is full of sandy deserts wâ—ich â—e open to the winds and storms and ofttimes are thrown up into Billows like waves of the Sea and indeed are no less dangerous Straho writes that Cambyses his Army was thus hazarded in Aeâ—hiopia And Herodotus that the Psilli an ancient but foolish Nation it seemâ— in Africa as they marched toward the South to revenge themselves upon the winds for drying up their Rivers were over-whelmed with sand and so died in their graves Besides these annoyances it is so full of a venomous kind of Serpent that in some places they dare not dress their Land unless they first sence their legs with Boots against the sting Other wild creatures there are which range about and possess to themselves a great portion of this Country and make a Wilderness of Lions Leopards Elephants and in some places Crocodiles Hyenaes Basilisks and indeed Monsters without either number or name Afrâ—ca now every year produceth some strange creature before not heard of peradventure not extant For so Plâ—ny thiâ—ks that for want of water creatures of all kinds at some times of the year gather to those few Rivers that are to quench their thirst And then the Males promiscuously enforcing the Females of every Species which comes next him produceth this variety of forms and would be a grace to Afâ—ica were it not so full of danger to the Inhabitants which as Salusâ—t reports die more by Beasts than by diseases And those Tracts about Barbary are every tenth year 15 or 25 visited with a great plague and continually infected with the French disease in such violence that few recover unless by change of Air into Numidia or the Land of Negroâ—s whose very temper is said to be a proper Antidâ—te against those diseases 8 But among all these inconveniences commodities are found of good worth and the very evils yield at last their benefit both to their own Country and other Parts of the world The Elephant a docible creature and exceeding useful for Battel The Camel which affords much riches to the Arabian The Barâ—ary Horse which we our selves commend the Ram that besides his flesh gives twenty pound of wool from his very tail The Bull painful and able to do best service in their tillage And so most of their worst alive or dead yield us their medicinal parts which the World could not well want 9 In her division we will follow our later Masters in this Art whom time at least and experience if no other worth have made more authentick and those divide it into seven parts 1 Barbary or Mauritania 2 Numidia 3 Lybia or Africa pâ—opria 4 Nigritarum Terra 5 Aethiopia superior 6 Aethiopia inferior 7 Aegypt and to these we add the 8 Islands belonging to Africa 10 Barbary is the first The bounds of it are Northward the Mediterraneum Westward the Atlantick On the South the Mountain Atlas and on the East Aegypt It is esteeâ—ed the most noble part of all Africa and hath its name from an Arabick word Barbara that signifies a kind of rude sound for such the Arabians took their language to be and thence the Grecians call them Barbarians that speak a haâ—sher language than themselves Aftâ—r the Latines and now we esteem the people of our own Nation barbarous if they ever so little differ from the rudeness either of our Tongue or Mannâ—rs The Inhabitants are noted to be faithful in their course but yet crafty in promising and per forming too for they are covetous ambitious jealous of their Wives beyond measure Their Country yields Oranges Dates Olives â—igs and a certain kind of Goat whose hair makes a Stuff as firâ— as Sâ—â—k It contains in it the Kingdoms of â—unnis Algeires â—esse and Morocho 1 Tunnis is famous for several places mentioned of old Here was Dona where Augustine was Bâ—shop and Hippo his birth-place And Tunnis a City five miles in compass and old Carthage built by Virgils Dido Romes amâ—la for wealth valour and ambition of the universal Empire It was twenty two miles in câ—rcuit And Vtica memorable for Cato's death 2 Algeires contains in it a strange harbour for the Turkish Pirats and is of note for the resistance it made Charls the Fifth who received before the chief Towns in this Region an innumerable loss of Ships Horses Oâ—dnance and Men. 3 Eesse hath a City in it with seven hundred Churches and one of them a mâ—le and half in coniâ—ass Stafford And in this Country was our English Stukely slain 4 Morocho where the chief Town of the same name hath a Church larger than that of â—essâ— and hath a Tower so high that you may discern from the top of the hills of Azasi at an hundred and thiry miles distance Here is likewise a Castle of great same for their Globes of pure gold that stand upon the top of it and weighing 130000 Barbary Duckets 11 Numidia was the second part in our division of Africa and hath on the West the Atlantick on the East Egypt on the North Atlas and the Deserts of Lybia on the South It is called likewise Regio Dactylifera from the abundance of Dates for they feed upon them only and people Idolaters Ideots Thieves Murderers except some few Arabians that are mingled among them of ingenious disposition and addicted much to Poetry They seldome stay longer in one place than the eating down of the grass and this wandering course makes but few Cities and those in some places three hundred miles distant 12 Lybia the third is limited on the East with Nilus Westward with the Atlantick on the Noâ—th with Numidia and the South with Terra Nigritarum It was called Sarra as much as Desert For so it is and a dry one too such as can afford no water to a Traveller sometimes in seven days Iourney The Inhabitants are much like to the Numidians live without any Law almost of Nature Yet in this place were two of the Sibyls which prophesied of Christ and Arrius the Heretick About Lybia were the Garamantes and the Psilli mentioned before for their simple attempts against the South-wind 13 Terra Nigritarum the Land of Negroes is the fourth and hath on the West the Atlantick on the East Aethiopia superior on the North Lybia on the South Kingdom of Manilongâ— in the inferiâ—r Aethiopia It hath the Name either from the colour of the people which are black or from the River Niger famous as Nilus almost for her over-flowing insomuch that they pass at some times in Boats through the whole Country It is full of Gold and Silver and other Commodities but the Inhabitants most barbarous They draw their Original form Châ—s and have erâ—ertained all Religions that came in their way First their own then the Iews the Mahometans and some of them the Christian.
Austria on the East with the River Tibiâ—cus on the North with Poland and Russia and on the South with the River Savus 8 The Land thus limited it is hard to believe what most Geographers report of her fertility That she yields Corn thrice in one year almost without any tillage or care of the husbandman Fruit of all kinds in great abundance and Grapes which make an excellent wholsome and rich Wine It breeds Cattel in such plenty that this one Countrey besides store for her own Inhabitants sends Sheep and Oxen into for eign Nations which lye about her and might say they suffice to feed all Europe with flesh Venison is not here any Dainty Does Hares Goats Boars are every mans meat and the game common as well to the Boors as Gentry And so for Phesant Partridge Black-birds Pigeons most Fowl wild and tame 9 The earth is enricht with variety of Mines which yields her plenty of Iron Steel Copper Silver and Gold Lead she hath not and scarce at all any Tin Her Rivers are equally commodious as well for their own wealth as fit conveyance of foreign Merchandise by shipping into their quarters The chief and only one indeed which belongs properly to this Region is Tibiâ—cus or Teissa and this imparts not her streams to any other Countrey but fully and freely pays her tribute to the Hungarian more Fish than can be spent yearly within their own limits It passeth proverbially upon this River that two parts of it are water and a third Fish The rest which are common to this with other Countries are Danubius here Ister and Savus and Darvus all of them well stored with water provision and in some places cast up a sand mixt with very good Gold Here are besides many waters of excellent vertues whereof some turn wood into Iron others Iron into Brass some very medicinal for sundry diseases others again so pestiferous that they kill the creature which doth but taste them The like is reported of an Hiatus in the ground unaccessible by any but the â—owls of the air and those fall suddenly dead with the stench which ascends from it 10 The people for the most part are strong fierce revengeful harsh to strangers briefly ill-mannered and worse learned For they affect not either liberal Arts or mechanick Trades Yet it affords one of the most reverend Fathers of our Church good Saint Hierome Their greatest pride is their name of a warlike Nation and the basest infamy to put up the tearm of Coward Yet the person charged may not acquit himself upon his upbraider but must make good his honour in single combate with a Turk when he hath overcome him and not till then he may by order of the Country wear a Feather as a note of his true Gentry The sons only are inheriters If it chance that the males fail the estate descends not to the Daughters but is forfeit to the common treasury They have no portions with their wives but a wedding garment and till they are married neither one nor th' other are accustomed to lye in beds Their language is the Scythian and their Religion divers some Papists more Protestants They received Christianity above six hundred years since 11 Hungary hath been heretofore divided in citeriorem ulteriorem The former circa and the other ultra Danubium And both again had their division into fifty Counties as Maginus calls them Her most illustrioâ— Cities are 1 Buda the Metropolis and seat of their Kings before it was taken by the Turk For pleasant situation wholsome air fertile fields about her stately buildings and whatsoever else may commend her Quadus sets her equal with any other in Europe Vadianus mentions here a stature of Hercules which himself saw made of brass so artificially that the very veins were lively expressed besides the ruines of other rich work a goodly Library furnisht by Matthias Corvinus King of Hungaria But at his being there it was not in the glory that it had been and not long after was for the most part utterly wasted by the inhumane Turks it is commonly called Osâ—en and is thought by some to be the same with Câ—rta in Ptolomies descriptions 12 2 Southward from Buda stands Albanum an ancient Town which of late they have called Alba now Alba Regalis for it was the place where their Kings were both Crowned and buried 3 Strigonium Grau an Arch-bishops seat and Metropolitan of Hungary It hath had the several chance of war was won by the Tark in the year one thousand five hundred forty three and recovered one thousand five hundred ninety five In which last action our noble Sir Thomas Arundel took with his own hand the Turkish Banner and was honoured by the Emperour Rodulphus with the title of a Count there and here by his own Sovereign Lord Arundel of Wardour 4 Quinque Ecclesiae a Bishops See taken by the Turk one thousand five hundred forty three 5 Comara in a small Island which takes her name from the Town And herâ— it is reported that the grass exceeds in length the height of a man 6 â—avarium not far from Comaâ—â— and is called Rab. 7 Neuhensel where â—â—ucquoy was slain in the year one thousand six hundred twenty one having adventured too far upon the Hungarians Ambush with iâ—tent onâ—y to have received the order of their Forces and fittest place for access to bid them battel And thus of the Kingdom of Hungary as it is strictly bounded with its own proper limits 13 Dacia is on the East of Hâ—ngary and is divided on the North from Sarmatia by the Carpathian Mountains on the South from Greece with Haemus and on the East reâ—â—heth the Pontus Euxinus The first Inhabitants were the Maesti of Asia Afterward the Daci or as Strabo calls them the Dari a Nation of so slavish a disposition that the Athenians brought them into a Proverb and in their Comedies presented their Sycophants under no other name than Dâ—â—ri The Country is fruitful and enricht with Mines their Horses are very comely aâ—d their manes so long that they touch the ground Their last King before it was made a Province to the Romans was Decebalus who as Dion delivers it affrighted the Emperour from an assault which he intended with an incredible number of stakes stuck up in battel array and attired in his Souldiers old habits A wooden shift it was but served him for the present yet after he was vanquished by Trajan and being sunk by the fortune of war below the hope of recovering his Kingdom fell upon his own sword It is now divided into 1 Transylvania 2 Moldavia 3 Walachia 4 Servia 5 Rascia 6 Bulgaria 7 Bosnia 14 Transylvania is the Province of Dacia and was it self called Dacia Mediterranea and Ripensis Dacia Since Transylvania because it was compassed with Woods and septem Castra from her seven Castles of defence upon the Frontiers built by the Saxons who questionless gave her the German name
first Indostand this other Tame Tangis Mangi or Macys and lasâ—ly Sinarum regio China 2 This Kingdom then is the utmost bounds East ward of the whole Continent and therefore lies farthest remote from Christendome the Mistress of Arts and example of civility to all the other parts of the world yet do the Chinoisâ— much exceed us for ample Cities ingenious artificers and multitude of Inhabitants which methinks pleads fairly for her antiquity though I give not â—ull credit to those which settle here the sons of Iocktan much less to their own records which reckon two hundred threescore and two Kings in almost a continued succâ—sâ—â—on to this day and number from their first above four thousand years For to make this good they must either vary from us in their measure of times as we from the Germans in length of miles else we must commit a foul errour to look beyond the Floud for their original since that time it is not yet above three thousand nâ—ne hundred and twenty and surely I think they were not exempted from the general deluge no more than from the sins of the whole earth 3 But if this conjecture of different account be not approved the solecisme must rest for me upon their own ignorant vain-glory which in their stories transport them beyond probability upon hope perhaps that no other Nation could controul them for in those first ages they had liâ—â—le converse unless with men more barbarous than themselves such as could not deliver their acts to posterity and therefore being left wholly to their own relations good reason they thought they had to do themselves what honour they might though ignorance of the main truth makes them oft times to trespass upon Chronology and forge stories so unlikely that the whole may be justly suspected 4 Their first King they name Vitei and report him to have reigned an hundred years his successors went on without breach or conquest to their two hundred forty second Prince but were then for a while cut off by the Tartarians This change was fore-told to Fairfar the last China King of the first race and the Prophecy laid it upon one which should have an hundred eyes and so had Chisanbaan the Invader if you will allow his name to make up the miracle For the very word in their language signifies no other than an hundred eyes A poor cousenage of the Devil but served the turn first to dazle them with a strange Prophecy and then to keep up the credit in the performance with the simple Idolaters After nine Tartarian Princes it was again recovered to the state in which it now stands by the prowess of one Gombne their 250 King 5 This brief account of their beginning and progress is more than I can warrant for undoubted truth The most part was past e're they were a people known to the Europaeans for Ptolomy himself scarce reached so far toward the East or if it be the same with his Sinarum Regio which yet some doubt yet it seems he knew little more of it than the bare name we must be content to pass over many ages untoucht and break abruptly into our own times and stories which do afford us more certainty by the relation of later travellers some of our own Nation 6 It is now a vast Empire which contains in latitude almost forty degrees from the Tropick of Cancer to the fifty three towards the Pole Artick and thirty in longitude from the degree one hundred thirty to one hundred sixty the bounds on the West is Industan India intra Gangem on the East Mare Cin on the North the Empire of the great Chane severed from the Chinoyâ—e by high mountains continued with a wall of a thousand miles in length built by Tzanitzan their 117 King on the South the Kingdom of Chauchinchinae part of the other India intra Gangem 17 The Air here is temperate and the ground fruitful the mountains and wild fields breed incredible numbers of Cattel and the Woods wild Boars Foxes Hares Conies and other useful beasts which gives us flesh for our food and skins for our cloathing The tilled ground returns again plenty of Corn Wheat and Barley their higher Poulse and their lower Rice in great abundâ—nce their Gardens pleasant set with all sorts of Flowers whâ—ch may delight either the eye or scent no clod almost of earth there but hath its wealth for what yields not fruit is inrichâ— with Mines of Gold and Silver The chief River is Polysango both it and the rest give fish in great abundance and water fowl enough almost to feed a whole Nation Maginus reports it that ten or twelve thousand wâ—ld Ducks have been commonly spent in one day in the City Canton besides their own profit they advantage them much in their course of traffique to convey their Merchandise into several parts of the Empire to meet with their Chapmen from all quarters Their principal commodities are Silks and Sugars yet besides these they send forth Wooll Cotton Olives Metals Rhubarb Honey Pursâ—â—â—n dâ—shes Camphire Ginger Pepper c. Musk Salt great store whose Custome in only one Town of Canton amounts to the yearly value of 18000 Crowns To this happiness of soyl may be added the thrift and great industry of the Inhabitants who hold it a soul disgrace to be accounted idle and therefore make the most of what they have so that without doubt as they are infinitely populous so they are proportionably rich beyond any other Nation of the world 18 The Chinoyse is described with a broad face of a dusky colour crooked nose small and black eyes and very thin beard but long hair on the head if any be deformed for so they take it with a better feature they are as like to break a jest upon his handsome comely visage as a scoffer would upon their ill-fashioned countenance The better sort are clothed in long silk garments the ordinary people in linnen for they have not yet the Art well to weave woollen their women deck their heads with gold and precious Iewels seldome shew themselves abroad without great attendance of servants 9 The men in their several employments are infinitely laborious and ingenious it is very rare to see any of them in a strange Country nor will they easily admit a Stranger far into theirs unless he be first well tried for his honesty and good meaning toward their State they are addicted much to manual arts for they have excellent practick wits and indeed for that go beyond any other Nations Much quarrel hath been about the invention of Guns and Printing which several people have been ambitious to take to themselves as the master-piece of mans wit but without doubt they were both used here long before any of Europe pretended to the knowledge of either In their writings they make not their lines from the right hand to the leâ—t as the Hebrews nor from the left to the right as we do but from
America The Sugar-canes are planted all the year loâ—g and yield better Sugar when refin'd though not altogether so white than that of Brasile Nor is there wanting here store of Tobacco in which also a considerable Trade is driven The chief Fruits besides what are familiar here with us are Pomegranats Citrons Dates Oranges Limes Macows Iâ—niper-apples Papayers Custard-apples Momins Acaâ—ous Monbains Indian-figs Prickled-apples Prickled-pears Icacos Cocos Plantinâ— Bonanos Guavers and Pine-apples accounted the most delicious of Indian-fruits The other most peculiar trees are the Locust-tree the Mastick-tree Redwood the Prickled yellow-wood the Iron-wood-tree the Cassia Fistula Coloquintida Tamarinds Cassaâ—y the Poison-tree the Phystick-nut the Calibash a sort of Gourd the Mangrass-tree of a large compass the Roucon of whose bark ropes are made the Lignum vitae before-mentioned and the Palmâ—to The other Plants are but the same with what are common here so likewise the Beasts except Asinegos and Birds Some sorts of Fish there are peculiarly belonging to this and the rest of the Caâ—ibbess as Snappers Terbums Cavallos Parrat-fish Coney-fish and Green Turtles esteemed by many a very great delicacy Likewise some kinds of Insects as Musketoes Cockroches Merrywings which sting much in the night but the most remarkable is a very little Fly term'd Cayonyoâ— whose wings cast such a sparkling light that the Indians catching them have been observed to make use of them in stead of candels by tying them to their hands or feet As small as this Island is it is said to have been divided in former times into several petty Nations who with their puny Kings used to go to War each against the other selling the Prisoners they took to the Europeans that came thither to traffick Their habitation is thought to have been chiefly in Caves of which there are several in this Island both very deep and large enough to hold each of them 500 men they are now become the refuges and sculking-places of the Negro-slaves that run away The most usual drinks of the Countrey are Mobby which is an infusion of Potatoes in water as Plantiâ— of Plantins in water Perino of Casaru-root Beveridhe a drink made of Spring-water juice of Oranges and Sugar also Crippo Kill-devil and Punch but above all Wine of Pines a most delicious drink doubtless as made of so delicious a fruit The whole Island is so taken up in Plantations that there are no more vacancies of building than what the ground imployed requires is divided into eleven Precincts or Parishes containing in all 14 Churches and Chappels four of these Parishes are very well built and have the name and repute of noted Towns as 1 St. Michael heretofore called Bridge-Town or Indian-Bridge having several fair Streets of handsome well-built Houses though seated in a place somewhat low and moorish and by consequence unhealthful namely in the bottom of Caerlisle-Bay in the Southern part of the Island a very large Bay and capable of giving harbour to no less than 500 Ship at a time secured with two strong Forts opposite to each other with a Platform in the midst well mounted with great Guns and commanding the Road. The chief of these â—orts called Charles-Fort is seated on Nedhams Point this Town being the principal Emporium of this Isle is grac'd with the Courts of Iudicature the residence of the Governor or his Deputy the Store-houâ—es of Merchants and Factors whence the Inhabitants are furnished with forreign Commodities for those which are the product of the Isle which they bring in exchange 2 Sprights-Bay now Little Bristol about four leagues from St. Michaels Southward it is a place of good Trade and concourse well guarded by two strong Forts 3 St. Iames's not far from Bristol it is a place of good Trade fortified with a large Platform and Brestworks and affording a safe Harbour â—ot Ships here are kept the monthly Courts for this Precinct 4 Charles Town seated on Oyster-Bay two leagues from St. Michâ—el Northward and guarded by two strong Foâ—ts the one on the North-side the other on the South-side of the Town with a Platform in the midst In this Town are kept weekly Markets and the monthly Courts for the Precinct also along the Sea-coast are these places of note viz. Maxwels-Bay Austins-Bay Fowl-Bay the Hole Spikes-Bay Black-Rock Balises-Bay Long-Bay Clarkes-Bay and Constance-Bay The water which supplies this place is chiefly in Pools and Ponds besides Wells and Cisterns belonging to most houses for the receâ—t of rain-water but of Rivers there are only reckoned two if the first be not rather to be accounted a Lake since it runs but a very little way into the Land the other they call the River Tuigh on the surface of whose waters there swims an Oil which being gathered thence is usually burnt in Lamps The Estate of a Master Planter here consists chiefly in servants and Negro-slaves and of these three Classes or Orders the whole Islands consists the Masters live not only in all manner of plenty and delight for besides Beef Mutton Pork Kid Pease Beans and excellent Roots they have all variety of Fish and Fowl and plenty of Wine Strong-waters and English Beer and Ale but also in full stretching ease having their Overseers to manage their business for them who calls the Servants and Slaves to their work by ringing of a Bell at six a clock in the morning and one after dinner and dismisses them at eleven at noon and six at night orders them their several tasks and corrects them for all misorders and neglect of their duties The Servants have this advantage of the Slaves that their servitude lasts but for five years which time being expir'd they either acquire Plantations of their own or have good allowances for working under the chief Planters The Negroes on the other side who are bought like beasts in a Fair are kept in perpetual bondage they and their children and therefore though the Christian Servants are also bought yet double the price is given for the Negroes viz. twenty pound a piece for the men fifteen for the women The diet clothing and lodging is very hard both for servants and slaves but the servants have a double allowance of clothes and their accommodation of lodging much better Sunday which is allowed as a day of respit from the Masters labour the most ingenious spend in some kind of manufacture for their own benefit others in wrestling dancing and such like recreations For the better administration of Government and putting in execution the Laws of this Countrey which if not the same have a very near correspondence with ours in England excepting some that are peculiar to the place The Island is divided into four circuits in each of which there is a Court of Iudicature for civil Causes from whence appeals may be made to the Supreme Court which Supreme Court is in the nature of our Parliament both as having a Legislative Power and consisting of three Estates namely the Governor or his Deputy ten
by Pearl-fishing Chamdagrir sometimes honoured with the Residence of the Narsingan Kings Prepeti where an annual Feast is celebrated to their Saint Pereimar once sole King of Malabar Golconda peculiar to Musulipatan a little Province subject to the Crown of Narsinga Madura Gingi and Tanajor the Seat of the Naigi or Tributary Roytelets to the King of Narsinga Mâ—liapur called by the Christians St. Thomas from a supposition that this Apostle martyred by the Idolaters was here interred it is said to have had once 330 Temples Cheromandel whence all that Sea-coast which lies on the West-side of the Gulf of Bengala is denominated Negapatan said to be chiefly inhabited by Thomasians Tarnassart once the Royal Seat of a Kingdom so nam'd Casta remarkable for the kind custom of women there who accompanying their dead Husbands into the Grave are buried with them alive Bisnagar ruined by the joynt Forces of four Decan Kings whereupon the Court was removed first to Ponegardo thence after a short time to the City of Narsinga where yet for the most part it remains 12 Oristan whose eminent Towns or Cities are besides that which gives name and credit to the Countrey Catech â— once the Seat of the Kings of this Countrey till vanquished by the Mogul Bacolli peculiar to a little Kingdom so called Angeli Simergan and Senerpase 13 Bofanter containing divers petty Kingdoms as Botia Kacares Conche Gouren Rame Recon Tippura all denominated from their predominating Cities 14 Patanau of which Patane is the mother City the rest are Banaras seated upon the River Ganges frequented by those whose supeâ—stition leads them to bath in that reputed holy stream Siripur and Ciandecan the Seat of two old Princes not yet subdued by the Mogul Sagtagam reckoned of late too 15 Bengala taking name together with a famous Gulf from a City of great Trade seated on the Ganges whose holy waters enrich it also with a concourse of Pilgrims The rest are Gonro anciently the Seat of the Bengalan Kings Caligan a place once of Traffick as seated on the Gulf Taxda till the diversion of the Channel Porto Grande and Porto Pequeno two Towns built by the Portugheses adjoyning to the North of Bengala and therefore accounted part of it the City and Kingdom of Arachan India extra Gangem contains several Territories which are either large Kingdoms of themselves or are divided into divers lesser Kingdoms the first are six namely 1 Brama or Bâ—rma 2 Cauchin-China 3 Camboia 4 Iangoma 5. Siam 6 Pegu. 1 Brama is subdivided into these following lesser Kingdoms viz. Cavilan or Calum Prom Melinta Miranda Bacan Tangu â—va and Brama peculiarly so called all taking â—his appellation from their grand Cities and inhabited by the Brames or Bramines 2 Cauchin-China with its principal City of the same name it is divided into three Provinces each governed by his particular petty King but all under one Head and he tributary to the King of China 3 Camboia with its Capital City of the same name divided also into two inferior Provinces Champa and Camboia properly so called 4 Iangoma or the Countrey of the Laos divided into three Provinces Lavea Curroy and Iangoma strictly so called 5 Siam a Peninsula the same which of old was termed Aurea Câ—ersonesus or the Golden Cherâ—onese and supposed by some to be Solomon's Land of Ophir as the other tract of this part of India was called the Silver Region This Peninsula comprehends within it the Kingdoms of Malaca Patane Ior Muontay and Siam peculiarly so called Malaca denominated from its Emporium or City of greatest Trade belongs to the Portugheses who have also Sincapura and PaloZambilan Patane or as some say Pathane to distinguish it from that Patane already mentioned taking name also from its chief City where by the Queens leave for it hath of late been governed by Queens the English and Hollanders have their several Factories Muantay whose chief City Odia may be well reputed the Metropolis of the whole Kingdom of Siam being the Seat-Royal of the Siamese Kings it is situate like Venice upon several little Islands tack'd together with Bridges in the River Capumo Siam specially so called whose Cities of chiefest note are Socotai remarkable for a Temple 80 spans high all intirely made of metal Quedoa a Town of great Trade for Pepper of which the best sort is there to be had Tavy lying on the Sea-coast and bordering on the Kingdom of Pegu. Lugor near the Isthmus of the Chersonese Calantan peculiar to a petty Kingdom subordinate to the Crown of Siam Pegu divided into several lesser Kingdoms Verma Marin Martavan Orachan and Pegu peculiarly so called all denominated from their prevalent Cities besides which we find not in the three first any of remark but in Orachan there are also mentioned Dianga destroyed by the Portugheses who took it Ann. 1608. In Pegu Cosmi built of Canes of a vast circumference in the midst of a wilderness Coilan a quadrangular City whose four sides are said to consist of four miles a piece Dala chiefly memorable for the Stables of the Kings Elephants Lanagen delightfully seated among Palm-trees Tocabel and Dian both seated upon a River full of habitable Vessels as big as Gallies Meccao a place of retreat for the King by reason of its strong Castle in time of imminent danger but above all the Cities Pegu it self exceeds in strength pleasantness of situation and sumptuousness of building RUSSIA The Description of Russia RUSSIA sirnamed Alba to distinguish it from Russia Nigra a Province of Poland otherwise called also Moscovia from its chief Province is the greatest or rather only Empire of all Europe and one of the greatest of all the World extending from the 43 d to the 66th degree of Northern latitude the longest day in the most Southern parts 16 hours and an half and in the most Northern 22 hours and an half the length in terrestrial measure is reckoned from the Promontory Litamin vulgarly Cape Oby to the Town Czercassy 380 German miles the bredth from Corelenburgh a Town in the Confines of Finland to the River Ob near Lopin 300 German miles each German mile being equivalent to four of ours all under the Dominion of one Prince the Czar or Emperor of Russia otherwise stil'd the Great Duke of Moscovy It is bounded on the North with the frozen Sea on the East with Tartary on the South with part of Livonia a Province now belonging to the Kingdom of Poland and those Cremensian Tartars inhabiting the Southern Shores of Mar del Zabache and the Euxin or Black Sea on the West with certain Mountains and the River Polne which separates it from Livonia and Finland This large Countrey is judged to have been the principal habitation of the ancient Sarmatae or Sauromatae who yet besides what belongs at present to the Great Czar are concluded also to have possest all Borussia Livonia and Lithuania and that part of Moldovia between the Rivers Ister Tyra and Hierasus As to