was heretofore called Thule yet Saxo the Grammarian Crantzius Milius Ionius and Peucerus are of a contrary opinion unto them But of this enough I returne againe to Iseland It is situated not under the first Meridian as one hath noted but in the eigth Degree from thence The length of it is an hundred German miles as the common Writers have it and Ionas addeth to these foure and fortie The Latitude or breadth is sixe and fiftie German miles It hath an ungentle ayre and for the most part it is unhabited especially towards the North by reason of the vehement Westerne windes which will not suffer the shrubs as Olaus writeth to rise up The Land is unfit for tillage neither doth it beare any graine but all that have written of this Isle doe report that it hath such abundance of grasse that unlesse the Cattell were somtime driven from the pasture they would be in danger to die and be choak't with their owne fatnesse Ionas himselfe confesseth that they have no labouring beasts but Horses and Oxen and here all the Oxen and Kine have no hornes nor their Sheepe likewise They have little white Dogs which they very much esteeme They have abundance of white Faulcones and white Crowes which prey upon the young Lambes and Hogges Also there are white Beares and Hares Also as Islandus witnesseth there are Eagles with white traines which Pliny as he saith called Pygargos Velleius reporteth that this Island beareth no tree but the Birch and Iuniper trees so that there is great scarcitie of wood through the whole Island unlesse by chance which somtimes happens some great trees being rooted up by the violence of the winde are brought out of the Northerne parts and like wracks cast upon these moores which the Inhabitants use in building houses and ships It hath beene subject to the King of Norwey as Ionas reporteth from the yeare 1260. in which they first did homage to him In regard whereof the King of Denmarke and Norwey doth yearely send thither a Governour who keepes his residence in the Castle called Bestede whom they now obey as heretofore they did their Bishops by whom they were converted to the Christian Faith under the reigne of Edelbert In the time of Harald the Faire-haired the first Monarch of Norwey some thinke it began to be inhabited for when hee had expell'd a great company of Noble men out of Norwey they forsaking their owne Countrie came with their whole Families and dwelt here It is likely that these things happened a thousand yeares after Christ but as Islandus Ionas writeth about the yeare 874 who declareth the succession and names of these Bishops Crantzius nameth Islephus to be the first Bishop But it seemeth as we may collect out of the Eâ—logues of Nicolas Zenius that it was under the command of the Norwegians two hundred yeares before where we reade that Zichmus King of Frisland did attempt to get this Island by force of Armes but was repuls'd by the King of Norwey's Garrison Souldiers placed in this Island The whole Island is divided into foure parts The Easterne part they call Ausilendingasiordung the Westerne Westlendingasiordung the Northerne Nortendingasiordung the Southerne Suydlendingasiordung They have no Cities but Mountaines in stead thereof Here is a Fountaine the exhalations whereof will change any thing into stone and yet the shape thereof shall still remaine And there is a Fountaine of pestilent water which will poyson any one that tastes of it There is water that tastes like beere The Northerne Ocean in which this Island is situate doth afford such great plenty of fish and is so commodious to the Common-wealth of Iseland that all the Inhabitants doe live and maintaine their Families by it I should want time to reckon up the severall kindes of Fish that are in the Sea yet it will not be amisse to remember some of the rarest Among which there is a kind of Fish called Nahual whereof if any one eate he dieth presently and he hath a tooth in the innermost part of his head which standeth forth 7 cubits in length which some have sold for an Vnicornes horne and it is beleev'd to have a great vertue against poyson This Monster is fortie yards long The Royder is an hundred and thirty Elles long and hath no teeth his flesh is most sweet and pleasant in eating and his fat doth heale many diseases There is the Brittish Whale which is thirty Elles long having no teeth but a tongue seven Elles in length And there is a kinde of a great Whale which is seldome seene being rather like an Island it selfe than a Fish In regard of the hugenesse of his body hee cannot follow the lesser fishes yet hee takes them by cunning and craftinesse There is also an other Fish called Stantus Valur all grisly and something like a Thornback but much greater when he appeareth he seemes like an Island and overturneth Ships with his Fins There are also Sea-Oxen called Seenaut of a grisly colour and divers other fishes I come now to the Mountaines In Iseland saith Georgius Agricola there are three very high Mountaines whose tops are alwayes white with continuall Snow the bottomes doe burne with continuall Fire The first is called Hecla or Hecklfort the second the Mountaine of the Crosse and the third Helga that is the holy Mountaine Not farre from Hecla there are Mynes of Brimstone which is the onely commodity of traffique that belongs to the Inhabitants of Iseland For Merchants doe fraight and loade their ships with it The Mountaine when it rageth doth send forth a ISELAND ISLAND noise like thunder casteth forth great stones vomiteth out Brimstone and sils all the ground with ashes round about it so that the Countrie cannot be inhabited for two entire miles round about it They which draw neere to this Mountaine to consider and view more curiously the causes why it burnes are somtime swallowed up alive by some hidden breach in the Mountaine for there are many and those covered so with ashes that no man can beware of them therefore they call this place Carcer sordidarum animarum the prison-house of uncleane soules Besides it happeneth that the yee being loosed doth in great peeces for 8 moneths together beat against the shore and maketh such an horrible sound that the Inhabitants say it is the crying and howling of those soules There is an other Mountaine of the same nature called Helga this Mountaine in the yeare 1581 as Ionas witnesseth did cast forth fire and stones with such a thundering noise that foure score miles from thence they thought some great pieces of Ordnance had beene shot off In one part hereof strange Spirits are seene in the liknesse of men so that those who doe not know them to bee dead before would thinke they were alive nor doe they finde their errour before the ghosts doe vanish away But these things Ionas thinkes are fabulous or else the
The figure of it is Triangular or three cornerd and it runneth forth into three severall Angles The first Promontorie towards the West the Englishmen doe call the Cape of Cornewall The second in Kent which looketh towards the East the English call it North-forland The third is Orcas or Tarvisium which lyeth farre North the Scots call it Dâ—ngisbehead Livius and Fabius Rusticus have likened it to a Cheesell On the West side whereon Ireland lyeth the Vergivian Sea breaketh in on the North it is beaten with the wide and great Northerne Ocean on the East where it lyeth against Germany with the Germane Sea on the South where it butteth upon France it is beaten with the Brittish Sea Diodorus in his sixt booke writeth that the compasse of it is two and forty thousand furlongs Martian saith that Brittaine is eight hundred miles long and three hundred broad and in compasse 6000. miles The learned and accurate Writer Camden doth thus account it from the Promontorie Tarvisium to Belerium following the winding of the shoare is eight hundred and twelve miles from thence to Kent 320. miles Lastly from Kent to Tarvisium seaven hundred and foure miles the whole summe is 1836. miles This Iland formerly was divided into two parts as Ptolomie witnesseth in his second Booke where he parts the whole Iland into Great Brittaine and Little Brittaine The Great he calls the Hither part towards the South the Lesser the Farther toward the North. But the Romans neglecting the farther part because as Appian saith it could not be commodious to them the hither part being reduced into a Province they at first divided into the Lower and Higher as it is gathered out of Dion For the hither part of England with Wales he calleth the Higher the farther and Northerne he calleth the Lower Afterward they divided it into three parts as appeares by Sextus Rufus into Maxima Caesariensis Brittania Prima and Brittania Secunda Afterward when the forme of the Common-wealth was daily changed they divided Brittaine in five parts the First Second Maxima Caesariensis Valentia and Flavia Caesariensis And these were divisions of Brittaine when it was under the Romans Some have written that the whole Iland was heretofore divided into three parts Leogria Cambria and Albania but Camden beleeveth that this was a later division which seemeth to arise from those three People the Englishmen Welch and Scots who last of all divided this Iland among themselves Afterward the Iland was divided into two Kingdomes namely England and Scotland but at last under the happy raigne of Iames the sixt King of Scotland these two Kingdomes were united and the whole Iland called Great Brittaine Brittaine as we said before is every where environed with the great and wide Ocean which S. Basil saith is a great Sea and very terrible for those that sayle on it Now it floweth farre into the Land and then it returneth backe againe and leaveth the Sands naked it feeleth the efficacy of the encreasing Moone very powerfully and doth flow in with so great a force that it doth not only drive backe Rivers but it sometimes sweepes off cattle from the Land casts forth the fishes on the shoare and at the ebbe leaveth them there In a word so great a matter it was held to sayle upon this Sea that Iulius Firmicus in his Booke concerning the errours of prophane Religions cryeth out thus to Constantine the Emperour In Winter which was never heretofore done nor shall bee done you have passed over the swelling raging waters of the Brittish Ocean the waves of a Sea almost unknowne to us have trembled under our Oares and the Brittaines have beene afraid at the unlookt-for presence of the Emperour What would you more The Elements themselves were conquered by your valour It doth not belong unto us to speake here of the commodities which this Sea yeeldeth of the time when it cherishes the Earth of the vapours with which it nourishes the Aire and bedewes the fields of the divers kindes of Fish as Salmons Playces Crabfishes Codfishes Herrings c. of which it bringeth forth infinite numbers Yet the Pearles are not to bee passed over in silence which in a round shape doe swimme in great shoales as it were following one Leader like Bees so that Iubas calleth it the Sea of Bees and also Marcellus makes mention of it Suetonius doth report that Caesar did first attempt Brittaine in hope of getting these Pearles and so much concerning Albion or England now let us passe over to the rost Among all of them Ireland doth farre excell of which wee will speake nothing here intending to speake of it in particular Tables The Orcades doe follow now called the Iles of Orkney which are about thirty in number and doe lie a little way distant one from another which a certaine ancient record doth so call as if it were Argath which is there expounded as much as supra Getas above the Getes Camden would rather have it above Cath for it lyeth over against Cath a Country of Scotland which in regard of the Promontorie they now call Cathnesse whose Inhabitants Ptolomy though wrongfully doth call Carini instead of Cathini In the time of Solinus they were not inhabited being overgrowne with Reedes and Bullrushes but now they are tilled and bring forth Barley enough though they want both wheat and trees there is no Serpent or poysonous Creature in them They have great numbers of living Creatures in them as Hares Cunnies Cranes and many Swans There is good fishing in them of which the inhabitants make great profit Iulius Agricola first sayling in a Shippe round about Brittaine did finde out and conquer the Orcades at that time unknowne and therefore it is unlikely that Claudius did first overcome them as Hierom affirmeth in his Chronicle Afterward when the Romans were Commanders over Brittaine they were the seats of the Picts and after that they came under the power of the Norwegians and Danes whence the Inhabitants doe speake the Gothicke tongue Last of all Christiernus King of Denmarke in consideration of a summe of money in the yeare 1474. did passe over all his right unto the King of Scotland The chiefe of these is Pomonia famous in regard it is the seate of a Bishop which was called by Solinus for the continuall length of the day Pomona diutina now it is called by the Inhabitants Mainland as if it were a Continent It hath abundance of Tinne and Lead and is adorned with a Bishops See in the Towne Kirkwale and with two Castles Among these Ptolomie also reckoneth Ocetis which Camden supposes should now be called Hethy And saith the same Camden I am not yet resolved whether I should call Hey which is among these Plinies Dumna If it bee not so I had rather thinke Faire I le which hath onely one Towne called Dume to bee that Dumna than with Becanus to thinke that it is Wardhuys in Lappland
which the most renowned for the studie of good Arts is Fanum Andraeae or Andrews Chappell which the ancient Scots did call Fanum Reguli and the Picts Rigmud In the middle of the Countrie is Cuprum or Cuper whither those of Fife do come to have their causes tryed on that side where it toucheth Iernia there stands Abreneth the ancient Pallace of the Picts Here Ierna runneth into Taus But Taus runneth foure and twentie miles having broken out of the Lake Taus which is in Braid Albin and is the greatest River in Scotland This River bending toward the mountaine Grampius doth touch Atholia a fertile Region placed in the wooddie Countrie of Grampius Beneath Atholia Caledon is seated on the right-hand bank of the River Taus an old Towne which onely retaineth a name common-called Duncaldene that is Hasell-trees For the Hasell trees spreading themselves all over and covering the fields thereabout with their shadie boughs gave occasion of that name both to the Towne and people These Caledones or people of Caledon being once reckoned among the chief Brittaines did make up one part of the Kingdome of the Picts For Ammianus Marcellinus divideth them into the Caledones and Vecturiones but of their names there is scarce any memorie left at this day Twelve miles beneath Caledon lyes the Countrie of Perth on the same right-hand banke On the left-hand banke beneath Atholia is Gour looking toward the East renowned for corne-fields and beneath this againe is Angusia stretched out betweene Taus and Eske this the ancient Scots did call Aeneia Some suppose it to be called Horestia or according to the English speech Forrest In it is the Citie Cuprum which Boethius to gratifie his Country ambitiously calleth Dei Donum the gift of God but I suppose the ancient name was Taodunum from Dunus that is an Hill situate by Taus at the foot whereof there is a Towne Beyond Taus the next foureteene miles off on the same banke is Abreneth otherwise called Obrinca After this Countrie is the Red Promontorie very conspicuous The River Eske called the Southerne cutting through the midst thereof the other Northerne Eske divideth it from Mernia It is for the most part a THE THIRD TABLE OF SCOTLAND SCOTIAE tabula III. plaine field countrie untill Grampius meeting with it beneath Fordune and Dunotrum the Earle Marshalls castle it somewhat remitteth its height and soe bendeth downe into the Sea Beyond it towards the North is the mouth of the River Deva commonly called Dea or Dee and about a mile distant from it the River Don by the one is Aberdon famous for the Salmon-fishing by the other another Aberdon which hath a Bishops Seat and Publike Schooles flourishing by the studies of all Liberall Arts. I finde in ancient monuments that the Hithermost was called Aberdea but now these Townes are called the old and new Aberdon From this strait Foreland betweene these two Rivers beginneth Marria which by little and little enlarging it selfe runneth 60. miles in length even to Badenacke or Badgenoth This Countrie extends it selfe in one continued â—â—dge and doth send forth divers great Rivers into either Sea â—â—â—bria doth border on Badenacke being somewhat enclined toward the Deucalidon Sea and is as plentifull as any Countrie in Scotland with all Sea and Land-commoditie For it hath good corne and pasturage and is pleasant as well in regard of the shadie woods as coole streames and fountaines It hath so great plentie of fish that it is not inferiour to any part of the whole Kingdome For beside the plentie of river fish the Sea storeth it for breaking in upon the plaine ground and there being kept in with high bankes it spreads it selfe abroad in manner of a great Lake whence it is called in their countrie speech Abria that is a standing water They give also the same name to the neighbour Countrie Northward next to Marria is Buchania or Buguhan divided from it by the river Don. This of all the Countries of Scotland doth stretch it selfe farthest into the Germane Sea It is happie in pasturage and the increase of sheepe and is sufficiently furnished with all things necessarie for mans life The rivers thereof do abound with Salmons Yet that kinde of fish is not found in the river Raira There is on the bankes of this river a Cave the nature whereof is not to be omitted which is that water distilling drop by drop out of the hollow arch thereof these drops are straightway turned into little Pyramides of stone and if it should not be clensed by the industrie of men it would quickly fill up the cave even to the top Beyond Buchania towards the North are two small Countries Boina and Ainia which lye by the river Spaea or Spey that separateth them from Moravia Spaea riseth on the back-side of Badenach aforesaid and a good way distant from its fountaine is that Lake whence Iutea breaketh forth and â—owleth it selfe into the Westerne Sea They report that at the mouth thereof there was a famous Towne named from the river Emmorluteum the truth is whether you consider the nature of the Countrie round about it or the conveniencie of Navigation and transportation it is a place very fit to be a Towne of traffique And the ancient Kings induced thereunto by the opportunitie of the seat for many ages dwelt in the Castle Evon which now many are falsly persuaded was Stephanodunum For the ruines of that Castle are yet seene in Lorna Moravia followes from beyond Spaea even to Nessus heretofore it is thought it was called Varar Betweene those two rivers the German Ocean as it were driving backe the Land into the West floweth in by a great Bay and straightneth the largenesse of it The whole Countrie round about doth abound with Corne and Hay and is one of the chiefe of the whole Kingdome both for pleasantnesse and encrease of fruits It hath two memorable Townes Fâ—gina neare the River Lâ—x which yet retaineth its ancient name and Nessus neare the River Neâ—â—us This River floweth foure and twentie miles in length from the Lake Nessus The water is almost alwaies warme it is never so cold that it â—â—eeâ—eth And in the extremitie of winter pieces of ice carried into it are quickly dissolved by the warmth of the water Beyond the Lake Nessus toward the West the Continent is stretched forth but eight miles in length â—o that the Seas are readie to meete and to make an Island of the remainder of Scotland That part of Scotland which lyeth beyond Nessus and this strait of Land North and West is wont to be divided into foure Provinces First beyond the mouth of Nessus where it drowneth it selfe in the German Ocean is the Countrie Rossia running out with high Promontories into the Sea which the name it selfe sheweth For Roâ— signifies in the Scottish speech a Promontorie It is longer then broad For it is extended from the German Sea to the Peâ—â—alidon where it
or Northerne Countrey It hath on the South Denmarke on the West the Sea on the East Sweth-land and it is bounded on the North with Lapland from which it is parted with high and rugged Mountaines covered over with continuall snow All the Countrie toward the West is unpassable by reason of rocks and sharpe cliffes and it is also stony toward the South especially in that part which lyeth against the Cimbrick Chersonesus from whence it is 250 miles distant But all the Countrie both toward the West and South hath a gentle Ayre for the Sea is not frozen neither doe the Snowes lye long And though the Countrie it selfe bee not so fertile that it is able to furnish the Inhabitants with foode yet it aboundeth with cattell and wilde beasts as white Beares of an unusuall bignesse Beavers and innumerable other Norwey was somtime a very flourishing Kingdome under the jurisdiction whereof were Denmarke and the Isles of the Sea untill it came to be govern'd by hereditarie succession Afterward in the Interregnum it was agreed upon by the consent of the Nobles that the Kings should bee chosen by election From Suthdager the second to Christierne the last there were 45 Kings Now it is under the command of Denmarke There are at this time in it five royall Castles and so many speciall Provinces whereof the first and farthest toward the South is Bahusia or Bay The Townes subject unto it are Marstand seated on a rocky Peninsula and famous for herring-fishing and the Townes of lesser note are Koengeef or Congel neere Bahus and Oddewold otherwise called Odwad The second Castle is Aggerhusia out of the Province whereof high Masts of ships oaken and maple plankes and wood fit for building houses is yearely carried into Spaine and other Countries The Townes subject unto it are Astoia the Seat of a Bishop to which strangers doe chiefly resort because there is held the Court whither causes are brought for triall out of all parts of Norwey Also Tonsberg or Konningsberg Fridrichstad Saltzburgh and Schin or Schon where there are Mynes of Coppresse and Iron also Hammaria the Greater and the Lesser heretofore being Bishopricks but now committed to the care of the Asloian Bishop and divided by the Bay of Mosian gliding betweene them The third is the Castle Bergerhusia under which are the Cities of Bergen or Berga and Staffanger But Berga is the most famous Citie of all Norwey for traffique and as it were the Barne thereof heere resideth the Kings Lievtenant and a Bishop and heere that delicate fish is sold which being taken neere the shore of Norwey is called the fish of Bergen being transported from hence by Merchants into divers Countries Heere lye the Factors of the Vandals the Sea Townes who continuing heere all the yeare for traffique sake doe take up one part of the Citie which the Inhabitants call the Bridge Heere is also an excellent and safe Haven The Citie Staffanger although it have the same Governour with Bergen yet it hath a Bishop peculiar to it selfe and living therein The fourth Castle is Nidrosia called so from the River Nideros Rosa which is the name of a Temple commonly called Trundtheim and heretofore Trondon it is the Metropolis of all Norwey and now reduced into the forme of a Towne It was the chiefe seat heretofore of the Archbishop and of the whole Kingdome It hath a large Jurisdiction in which much fish and pretious skins are gotten and afterward carried to Bergen to be sold And heere is at this day a Cathedrall Church and such a one as there is scarce an other like it in the Christian world both for the largenesse of the stones and for the carved worke The Border and ground-worke about the Altar in this Church was burnt with fire in the yeare 1530 and the losse redounding thereby was valued at seven thousand Crownes The fifth and last Towre toward the North of Norwey is Wardbuise standing on the little Island Ward it is now very small and almost decayed having neither castle nor munition yet hath it a little Towne adjoyning unto it which consists all of fisher-mens houses In this Towre or rather Cottage the Kings Praefect liveth in Summer and governeth this cold Northerne part of Norwey even to the borders of Russia Moreover the Westerne shore of Norwey because it is of an unsearchable depth in the Spring time is much troubled with Whales to prevent whose violence the ship-men use a kinde of Oyle made of Beavers stone which is a present remedie for assoone as it is cast into the Sea and mingled with the water straight-way that great Sea-monster maketh away and hideth himselfe in the deepe Heere is good fishing in the neighbouring seas especially of Stock-fish which being dried and hardened in the cold and hung up upon poles they send into other Kingdomes of Europe The best taking of them is in the Moneth of Ianuary for as then in regard of the cold they are more easily dried so the sea doth yeeld more plenty of them and fatter The commodities of this countrie in generall are pretious Skins Tallow Butter Hides the fat of Whales Tarre Oake timber Masts and Planks and Boards of all sort to the great commoditie of those who sell them The Inhabitants are honest loving and hospitable to strangers neither NORWEY AND SWETHLAND SVECIA ET Norwegia etc have they robbers theeves or Pirates among them The Kingdome of Swethland is an ancient Kingdome as Pliny witnesseth It hath on the West Norwey on the North Lapland and Botnia on the East â—â—â—land seperated from it by the Botnian Bay or Finnish Sea Lâ—â—onia 〈◊〉 Lâ—sland disjoyned from it by the Baltick Sea called by Taâ—â—â—us Marâ— pâ—grum by the Sucâ—ians Mare Suâ—vicum and on the South Gothia It is a comâ—â—â— the most fruitfull of all the North parts it hath a plentifull soyle and seas lakes and rivers abounding with fish of divers â—â—ndes it hath also Mettals as Lead Iron Brasse and Silver which is digged up in very pâ—â—e oaâ—e neere Slâ—burg and likewise woods full of wilde beasts and honey It is thought that it doth doubly exceede Norwey both in largenesse fruitfulnesse and goodnesse of soyle yet in some places it is â—ugged and moorish This Countrie being for some ages valiantly and happily defended enlarged by the native Kings thereof afterward came to the Kings of Denmarke and having beene subject to them more than an hundred yeares at last did shake them off under colour that the Lawes wh\ich they were sworne unto at their Coronation were not observ'd and hence it stood a while in a very uncertaine condition But now it is returned againe to the natives out of which it chooseth it selfe a King There are divers Provinces of this â—ingdome some belonging to the Gothes as Ostgothia whereof Lincop is the Metropolis Westgothia seperated with an ancient Lake from Ostgothia whereof Scara
Dominions neare the Sea This Chersonesus hath hard and rugged mountaines that running through the middle of it do divide it into the Northerne and Southerne part as the Apennine Mountaine doth divide Italie Mahomet in the yeare 1475 did possesse the Southerne part and made it tributarie to himselfe But in the Northerne part the Tartars wandering in the broad fields betweene Borysthenes and Tanais and continually changing their places of feeding their cattell possessed the Towne called Crim as a royall Seat and from thence they were called Crim Tartars Afterward having cut through the Isthmus of the Taurick Chersonesus when neare unto the Ditch which they call Praecop they built a Citie a royall Seat of the same name they were from thence called Praecopenses The King of these Tartars when being joyned in league and societie with the Turkes hee had at their request banisht his owne brother who made warre against him and had besieged Capha at last both himselfe and his two yong sonnes were cut in pieces by his Counsellers whom hee had with large gifts corrupted for the aforesaid purpose and so gave an unhappie example of the Ottoman friendship For hee being slaine the Tartarians who were hitherto free untamed and companions and brethren to Ottoman were now made servants and after the manner of the other Turkish Provinces were compelled to receive and acknowledge not a King but a Beglerbeg that is a Vice-Roy to governe TAVRICA CHERSONESVS Taurica Chersonesus them But the Turkish Empire may be easily known by the Descriptions of Wallachia Greece and the Turkish Empire and therefore for brevities sake wee referre the Reader thither Besides Cazan and Astrachan which are Kingdomes belonging to the Tartarians who do till fields dwell in houses and at this day are subject to the Moscovite and besides the aforesaid Praecopenses there are other Field Tartars who live in the fields in great companies obseruing no limits and of these we will speake in their proper place to wit in the Tables of Asia In the Southerne part of this Chersonesus is the Metropolis Capha heretofore called Theodosia a famous Mart-towne being the ancient Colonie of the Genois It is situate neare the Sea And hath a faire Haven It seemes that in the time of the Genois it was very populous But when the Turkes almost two hundred yeares since in the time of Mahomet the Great tooke it from them the Italians were reduced to such a strait that there are few tokens remaining of their being there for the Citie hath for the most part lost her former beautie The Italian Churches are throwne downe the houses decayed and the walls and Towers on which the Genois colours and ensignes were placed with Latine Inscriptions are fallen to ruine It is now inhabited by Turkes Armenians Iewes Italians and a few Grecian Christians It is famous for traffique as being the chiefe Haven of the Chersonesus and hath an infinite companie of Vine-yards Orchards and Gardens Besides this towne there is Perecopia called by the ancient Greekes Eupatoria Pompeiopolis Sacer Lucus Dromon Achillis Graecida Heraclium or Heraclia Also Cosâ—ovia a famous Mart-towne and Iâ—germenum having a stone Castle beneath which is a Church and many Caves that with great labour and paines are cut and hewed out of a rocke for this towne is seated on a great high Mountaine and taketh its name from those Turkish Caves It was heretofore a faire Towne and full of wealth and riches Here is Chersonesus Corsunum or Cherso which is the ancientest citie of Taurica This the Turkes called Saci Germenum as it were the Yellow Castle for this Countrie hath a kinde of yellow soyle The admirable and wondrous mines of this place do testifie that it was heretofore a proud rich delicate and famous Colonie of the Grecians and the most ancient citie of the whole Peninsula being much frequented magnificent and having a faire Haven Here is the Castle and Towne of Iamboli or Balachium Mancopia or Mangutum as the Turkes call it and the Towne of Cercum with a Castle Here is the citie and castle of Cremum which the Tartars call Crim having an ancient wall very strong high and in regard of its largenesse it is farre unlike the other cities of the Taurick Chersonesus And in the utmost part of this Countrie is the citie Tanas neare the mouth of the River Tanais the Russians call it Azac It is a famous Mart-towne unto which Merchants do come out of divers parts of the world for that every one hath here free accesse and free power to buy or sell There are many great Rivers in this Countrie running downe out of the Mountaines The chiefest whereof is Borysthenes commonly called Nieper a deepe and swift River which runneth from the North into the river Carcinites or Hypaciris now called Desna and so into the Euxine Sea neare the Towne Oczacow Also Don or Tanais Ariel Samar that runneth into Don with many others The Cimmerian Bosphorus to which this Chersonesus as we said before is extended It is a narrow Sea two miles broad which divideth Europe from Asia and by which the Maeoticke Lake doth â—low into the Euxine Sea It is called from the Cimmerians who dwell upon the coldest part thereof or froÌ„ the towne Cimmerium as Volaterranus would have it The Maeotick Lake is neare the mouth of Phasis commonly called Fasso and by the Scythians Phazzeth receiving Tanais into it The Scythians call it Temerenda that is the mother of the Sea as Dionysius witnesseth because much water floweth from thence through the Cimmerian Bosphorus into it as also much from other places which doth so replenish and fill the Lake that the bankes thereof can hardly containe it This Lake in regard it receiveth many rivers aboundeth with fish There is also the Euxine Sea the upper part of whose water is sweete and the nether part salt This being heretofore called the Axine and according to Sophocles the Apoxine Sea because no Ships could arrive here or in regard of the barbarous Scythian borderers who killed strangers they afterward called the Euxine by the figure which they call Euphemismus But they called it Pontus as if it were another Ocean for they supposed that those who sailed on it did performe some great and memorable act And therefore saith Strabo they called it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pontus as they called Homer the Poet. There are many rugged and steepe mountaines in this Chersonesus especially those which runne through the middle thereof The greatest and highest of them hath a great Lake on the toppe of it But so much hitherto concerning these things Now let us proceed to other matters Justice is administred among the Tartarians by the Law of Mahomet in the Cities and Townes of the Chan and the other Sultanes They have their Priests their Judges in their Townes and their Begi or Praefects who do heare and decide private injuries But the Chan himselfe with his
keeping their owne names and so they fall in two divided streames into the River Lovesteâ—num where they doe encircle the Bomelian Island and so joyne together againe and losing their ancient name they are called by the name of Merova and so gliding by Worcomium and Gorcomium they come at last unto Dort and there making the Island of Iselmond it is called Mosa and so retayning still the same name having glided by Roterdame and Vlaerdinga it entereth into the Sea about the Brill with such a violent current that for a long way together it preserveth his water fresh and sweete And Sturgions delighting in this sweete fresh water are allured to come up the River and so are easily taken which doth not happen to other Rivers because they entring the Sea with a quiet gentle streame their water presently becomes salt as Seyne Iberus Thames and many other great Rivers On the contrary Eridanus Tiber Rhodanus Garumna and other Rivers which runne into the Sea with greater violence doe in like manner as Mosa allure and entice the Sturgeons to come up into them but not in so great Plentie Besides the Sturgions which are taken in the Rivers Mosa and Rhene are greater and more pleasant in taste than those in the Mediterranean Sea They are of a silver shining colour of a great bignesse There are some taken which do waigh above 400 pound Guicciardine doth report that he saw in the Market at Antwerp a Sturgeon of 420 pound waight that it was above 12 feete of Antwerp long and on another day in the morning he saw 70. Sturgeons together the least of which was above five foote long This fish is first seene in Holland Zeland and Friesland in the Moneth of Aprill and it is found three moneths together or longer during which time great store of them are taken And from hence transported into other Countries especially into England being salted up and so kept from putrifying also at other times all the yeere through they take lesser sturgeon which are delicate in taste Out of this being enticed by the freshwater they come up into the mouth of the River Mosa in which there are very fatte Salmones Trouts which are taken here all the yeere long also Lampreys Mulletts Congers and other kinds of excellent fish which here for brevitie sake I omit But this is wonderfull that those fish are bad if they be taken in the Sea but very good and fat when they enter into fresh water Besides this River doth naturally breed besides other fish Trouts Lampries some greater some les but more delicate in taste Schaldis which Ptolemie calls Thahuda the Low countriemen Schelt the French Escault doth rise in Veromanduum neere Saint Martines Abby as they call it where it gently slideth betweene Castellet and Beau-revior two French Fortifications so runneth to Cameracum thence going toward the Country of Hannonia it watreth the noble Citty of Valence and afterward growing navigable having received the River Hania it glideth by the Condatum and afterward being enlarged by the receipt of the River Scarpa it vieweth S. Amandum and so bending Northward toward Tornacum it glideth by Aldenarda and the famous Cittie Gandauum where it receiveth the Rivers Lâ—sa and Lâ—via and other streames From thence with many windings and Maeander-like turnings it runneth forward to Teneremunda and there having received the River Tenera flowing on the right hand it goeth toward Rupelmunda and there it receiveth Rupela and a little after Dâ—la and being now growne bigger it by and by washeth the walls of Antwerp and maketh a faire Haven or Harbour for shippes before the Towne afterward having runne a little further it parteth it selfe into two channells and so divideth Brabant and Flanders from Zeland for on the left hand it windeth and bendeth Southward and so runneth by the shores and borders of Flanders and is called by another name de Hont from the barking noyse thereof from whence it passeth by Zuytbeveland and Walachria into the Westerne Ocean on the right hand leaving Brabant it keepeth one continuall course in his old channell by the Island of Scaldia and so with a violent current runnes into the Sea Moreover the tyde followeth up into this River even to Gandauum which is thirty miles from the mouth of it if you count them by the winding course of the bankes There doe come up into this River Sturgeons Salmones Troutes great Lampreys Turbotts Congers Cuckow fishes Mullets Crabs Lobsters Sardins and many most delicate fish which come up out of the Sea into Scaldis and doe there feede and cast their spawne so that for two or three monethes betweene the Spring and the Summer besides the greater fish there is taken so great a number of small Frie that many men doe live by them Also many Sea Dogfishes and Porpoises doe come up this River which two land of fishes doe not cast forth any spawne but doe bring forth their young ones perfectly formed The Dogfishes doe bring forth their young on the Land and doe suckle them with their dugges untill they are growne to a good bignesse Moreover this River without the helpe of the Sea doth yeeld divers kindes of fish all the yeere long of which these are the chiefe Pikes Barbells Tenches Carpes and Breames of an unusuall bignesse so that they doe sometimes weigh 20 pound also Gudgeons and many other kindes of fish both great and small Also divers kindes of Eeles and Crabbes and in the mouth of the River there are some Oysters which come thither out of the Sea And therefore this River for multitude of fish and variety is not inferiour not onely to any River of France but also of all Europe Aa riseth neere Teroana and so bending towards Caesia it slideth by the Church of Saint Audomare and so comming to Griveling neere which in the yeere 1558 that famous battell was fought betweene the Burgundians and the French it doth discharge it selfe into the Brittish Sea Lisa commonly called de Leye riseth in Artesia in the Towne Lisburg which taketh his name from this River neere Teroana and having viewed Aria Armenteria Wervicum and Meenen and from thence cutting through the middle of Cortracum and Gandauum it mingleth it selfe with Scaldis it hath abundance of very good fish Sambra commonly called Sambre which Caesar calleth Sabris doth rise in Hannonia neere the Towne Novion and so having view'd the Townes which are commonly called Landrecy Sassene Barlaymont Mabeuge Merne and Cassele at last it glideth by Namarcum and so discharges it selfe into Mosa and is full of delicate fish Dela riseth in Brabant neere the Village Towne Tila and so bending Northward it runneth to Waveta and afterward it floweth by Louanium which is three miles distant from thence and so keeping on his course for three miles and afterward bending Westward it embraceth Mechlinia with many spreading armes and afterward foure miles from Rupâ—limunda being now growne very bigge it falleth into Scaldis The
appeareth by some Epitaphs written in Caldean letters It is thought that it was built in Abrahams time being seated in a pleasant fruitfull soyle It looketh Northward and is washed with the Tyrrhene Sea having high walls which were built by King Frederick Neere the Sea there is a Castle which hath beene much enlarged which they call Castrumad Mare or the Castle by the Sea There are also three Gates of the ancient Citty yet standing and the old Walls with many Towres built of foure square stone There is a Church at Panormus consecrate to S. Peter which was built by Rogerius King of Sicilie which excelleth both for beauty and costly building all the ancient and new Churches in THE KINGDOME OF SICILIE· SICILIA Italy so that learned men and travellers that come to see it doe much admire it The greater Church of this Citty is of a kind of a networke building carved with divers figures and Images and built by Gualther the second Archbishop of that name which was founded in the yeare 1185. where the bodies of the Kings and Queenes and Dukes are buried and interr'd There is also a publike Schoole and an Hospitall for strangers It would be tedious to rehearse the other faire buildings and aedifices which are in this Citty The other Citties are Siracusa which was heretofore a great Cittie which the Orator thus describeth in his 4. Oration against Verres You have often heard that Siracusa is the greatest and fairest of all the Graecian Citties And so it is O Iudges as you have heard For it is strongly situate and hath a faire comming to it both by Sea and Land and it hath Havens which are inclosed on every side with bvildings which having divers entrances doe at last meete and flow together Where a part of the Towne which is called the Ile being disjoyned by their meeting together with a straite Sea is joyned together againe with a Bridge It is so great a Citty that they say it doth consist of 4. great Citties one of which is the Iland aforesaid which is encompassed with two Havens at the Mouth of one of which there is King Hierons Pallace in which the Praetors now dwell There are many Churches in it but especially two which doe farre exceede the rest one consecrate to Diana and the other to Minerva which was a faire Church before Verres came thither In the farthest part of the Iland there is a Fountaine of sweet water which is called Arethusa which is very great and full of fish which would be coverd with the waves of the Sea but that it is walled about with stones But there is another Citty of Syracusa which is called Acardina in which there is a great Market-place a faire Gallery and Counsell-house a great Court and a Temple of Iupiter Olympus and many private Aedifices There is a third Citty which is called â—yche in which there is a great Schoole and many Churches and it is well inhabited and frequented The fourth Citty is that which because it was last built is called Neapolis or the new Citty in which there is a great Theater two great Churches one consecrate to Ceres and another to Bacchus and a faire Statue of Apollo which is called Tennites But not all the beauty of this Citty is decayd and onely some ruinous parts of the Towne are remaining Messana is a Citty by the Sea side the Inhabitants whereof were first called Messanians and afterward Mamertinians which Herodotus and Thucydides doe mention There is also Catina which is called Catana where Charonda the Lawmaker was borne and it hath now a famous Schoole Taurominium is a Citty built by the Zanclaeans it is now called Taormina There is also Leontium where Gorgias Sophista was borne Agrigentum is an ancient Citty which heretofore the Carthaginians raced and Megalus and Feriscus re-edified it againe There are also Augusta which was heretofore called Megara also Castrogianum heretofore Ennea Drepanum Monreale Heraclea and many other Citties It is watered with many Rivers in which as in the Lakes there are good store of Mullets Eeles Tenches and Trowts And in the Sea there is good fishing for Tunyes not onely at Pachynum but also at Panormum and Drepanum and all that Coast which lyeth by the Tyrrhene Sea There are also Sword-fishes taken in the Massonian Sea Lastly there is excellent good fishing in the Sicilian Sea for there are great store of Mullets which the Grecians call Trichias and Sophronius and Cicero doe call them Barbels and also great store of Lampreys But the Cicilian straites are narrow dangerous and rough and are called by the name of Scylla and Charybdis The chiefe Mountaines Aetna Eryx Aetna by Pindarus is called the Pillar of Heaven Silius Italicus calleth it Tiphoeum It is now called Monte Gibella or Mongibello Eryx is much memoriz'd for Venus Chappell which was built by Aeneas In Sicily are the Archbishops Panormitanus under whom are the Bishops Agrigentinus Masarensis Milevitanus or Maltensis The Archbishop of Montis Regalis under whom are Siracusanus and Cothanensis The Archbishop of Messanensis under whom are Cephaludensis Pacensis Lipariensis Marcus and Militensis now Milaza STIRIA COMMONLY CALLED STIRMARCK which was made a Dukedome by FREDERI OR BARBAROSSA In it there are many Countries among the which is WARASDEN by the River DRAVUS and LEBNAW by the River MURA. STIRIA commonly called Stirmarck was without doubt so called from a Bull or Steere to which opinion Aegidius Tschudus subscribeth where he reporteth out of Pliny that Caro doth affirme that the Lepontians and Salassians were of the Taurick Nation but these Tauriscians were Frenchmen who in the ancient French warres seated themselves beyond the Alpes of which Polybius Lib. 2. of the French warre writeth thus Those that are called the Transalpine French doe dwell by the Alpes on either side of Mountaines on that side which looketh Northward and towards the River Rhodanus but on that side which lyeth towards the plaine ground there are the Tauriscians the Agonians and many other barbarous people from whom the Transalpines are onely distinguisht by their different habitation and therefore called Transalpines because they live beyond the Mountaines But after these Tauriscians departed hence they sought themselves other habitations and possessed the Country which is now called the County of Goerts and so comming into Stiria they left their name unto that Country For a Bull in the Germane language is called a Stier And so they spred and dispersed themselves into Austria and Hungary Some affirme that Stiria was heretofore called Valeria in honour of Valeria the Daughter of Dioclesian as Marcellinus doth report Volateranus thinketh that it was called Iapidia for so he writeth in the 8. Booke of his Geogr. The next unto this Iapidia which they now call Styria though Pope Pius thinketh it should bee called Valeria by according to Rufus his description doe thinke that Valeria should be rather called Croatia betweene Danubius and Dravus
and Barley and great plenty of Lettice Colworts Cabbages Rape-rootes Beete Parsley or wilde Alexander and other Garden hearbs And besides it hath a roote which groweth in the West-Indies in the Iland Hispaniola which is there called Bata The Negroes of this Iland doe call it Ignama and doe plant it as a very choise and speciall hearbe The outermost barke is black the innermost white and it is long like a Rape-roote and hath many branches spreading from the roote It tasteth like Chesnuts but more pleasant and sweete They commonly rost them in the ashes and sometimes they eate them raw The Spaniards have brought hither Olive-trees Peach-trees Almond-trees and other kindes of Trees which being planted were faire and pleasant to behold but they never beare any fruit There is in this Iland a strange kinde of Crab which liveth in the Earth like a Mole of a Sea-water colour which casteth up the Earth and doth gnaw and consume all things neere it There are also in this Iland great store of Birds as Partridges Starlings Blackbirds greene singing Sparrowes and Parrots The Portugals built a Citty in it which they called Pavosa by the River in which it is thought that there 700. Families besides the Bishop and other Clergie men It hath a good Haven and a wholesome River and the Sea affoordeth good fishing And which is wonderfull there are great store of Whales which are sometimes found on this shore and on other shores of Affrick In the middle of the Iland there is a wooddy Mountaine which is alwaies coverd with such thick Clouds in so much that water doth runne out of the woods and water the Sugar-canes and the higher the Sunne is the Skie round about that Mountaine is the more cloudy The Inhabitants are partly white and partly black And it is very strange that the black people are very much troubled with Gnats Lice and Fleas but the white people have neither Lice nor Gnats nor Fleas in their Beds The Princes Iland NOt farre from hence 3. degrees beyond the Aequinoctiall is the Princes Iland Which is so named because the Prince of Portugal hath the revenues of this Iland It is well inhabited and yeeldeth great store of Sugar And there growes in it a kinde of Date-tree which wee mentioned before out of which there commeth a juyce which they drinke The Iland of the Good-yeere THE Iland of the Good-yeere or de Annobon was so called because it was discoverd at the beginning of the New-yeere It is situate 3. degrees Southward beyond the Aequinoctiall and it is inhabited there is good fishing by the shore side and flying fishes are sometimes seene here Here are also great store of Crocodiles and venemous Creatures And let so much suffice to have beene spoken concerning Guinea and these Ilands together with Affrick And now to conclude I thinke it meete to set downe that which Aeneas Gazaeus a Greeke Writer doth report in his Theophrastus or Booke of the immortality of the Soule or Resurrection of the dead who affirmeth that to his great amazement hee beheld the Martyrs and Priests of great Libya when their tongues were puld and cut out by the Tyrants command yet they spoke aloud and with a cheerefull couragious heart declared the wonderfull workes of God Hee that desireth to know more let him have recourse to Salust in his Jugurthine Warre and the Voyage of Hanno an Affrican which he shall finde in Arrianus and Iambolus his Voyage in Diadorus Siculus Also Herodotus his Melpomene Of the Moderne Writers let him consult with Aloysius Cadamustus Vascus de Gama Francis Alvares who viewed Aethiopia Iohn Leo who describeth it the most acurately of them all and Ludovick Marmolius also Livy Sanutus and others Concerning the River Nilus the greatest in all the world you may read the Letters of Iohn Biptista Rhamusus and Ierome Fracastorius We come now to Asia the third part of the World THE TVRKISH EMPIRE IN Asia unto which we now are come the Turkish Empire hath the first place Mela in his first Booke maketh mention of the Turkes and so doth Pliny Lib. 6. Cap. 7. And it is not to bee doubted but that Nation which is now growne so great by our sloth and dissention was both named and originally descended from them Postellus thinketh that the Hebrewes did call them Togarma They doe call themselves Musulmanni that is the Circumcised or as some doe interpret it the Right Beleevers But they will not be called Turkes for they account that name very reprochfull which in the Hebrew language signifies Banisht men or as some doe interpret it Spoilers or Wasters The Empire of the Ottoman Family which is very large and potent doth containe many Provinces and Countries of Europe Affrick and Asia In Europe it extendeth and stretcheth it selfe neere the Sea shore of the Hadriatick Bay from the borders of Epidaurus now called Ragusus and so encompassing all the Aegean Sea and also Propontis and a great part of the Euxine Sea it is bounderd with the Citty Theodosia situate in the Taurican Chersonesus which they now call Caffa which space of ground containeth 8000. miles In the Mediterranean parts it reacheth from Iavarinus a Towne of Hungary which the Inhabitants call Rab even to Constantinople which is seated in the borders of Europe In Affrick Turky doth containe all the Sea Coast from the Towne Bellis de Gomera even to the Arabian Bay or the red Sea except some few places which are subject to the King of Spaine It doth also extend it selfe very farre into Asia The Country for the most part is fruitfull and yeeldeth great store of Wheate Barley Oates Rye Beanes Millet and other kindes of Pulse It hath abundance of Rice Hempe and Cotton It hath also Vineyards It yeeldeth also great store of Pompions Mellons Cowcumbers Nuts Apples Peares Pomegranats Oranges Chestnuts Figges Cherries and other fruits but not in every Kingdome For there are some places as in Cappadocia and Armenia the lesse where none of these fruits doe grow by reason of the intensive and excessive cold It hath also veines of Gold Silver Iron Brasse and Allom. It doth breed divers kindes of living creatures and great store of Cammels Mules and other Cattell The Turkish Horses and Mastiffes are much esteem'd The Turkish Empire began thus Ottoman their first Emperour was a Tartarian and a Souldier to the great Cham a stout man and strong of body He leaving the Tartarians under the colour of some injury began to lye in THE TVRKISH EMPIRE· TURCICUM IMPERIUM waight about the Mountaines of Cappadocia At first he had but 40. Horsemen with him but afterward many guilty persons allorâ—d with the hope of booty and the consciousnesse of their wicked deeds flocked unto him by whose ayde and assistance he began to attempt openly what he formerly intended and so possessed himselfe of Cappidâ—â—ia Pâ—ontus Bithyma Pamphilia and Cilecia all rich Countries This was done about the
namely India on this side Ganges and India beyond Ganges It is thought that the latter is called in the sacred Scriptures Hevila or as some write Havilah or Evilath and the former Seria But wee reade in Marius that the Inhabitants doe call it Macyn or Magin others that follow Mercator doe call it Mangi and China Iohn Barrius affirmeth that the Inhabitants doe call the former â—ndostan It is the largest Country of all the world Pomponius writeth that a ship may sayle 60. dayes and nights along the coast of it But it is bounderd according to Pliny and Strabo on the West with the River Indus which divideth Persia from India on the North is the Mountaine Taurus on the East it is encompassed with the Easterne Ocean on the South with the Indian Ocean The Country hath a wholsome gentle ayre yet it is so great that it hath a different climate in many places for in some places it is hott namely toward the Aequator and in other places temperate enough and rather cold towards the North. But the Countrey it selfe in generall both for the Situation the ayre and the fertility of the Soyle doth farre exceede other parts of the world Here new Starres doe rise and set and here are two Harvests in a yeare and two Summers and the Winter is in the middle betweene them and the Estesian or East windes doe coole and qualifie the heate Although this Countrey for the most part hath no Wheate yet it yeeldeth plenty of Pulse and other graines and especially of Barley and Rice It doth also bring forth divers other fruits as Pepper Franckincense Myrrhe Ginger and in the most Southerne parts Cinnamon Spicknard and other Aromaticks and sweet spices as Arabia and AEthiopia There are also Honey or Sugar Canes Besides it hath many Druggs and rootes of trees some of which are wholsome and some hurtfull What should I speake of their Mettalls stones and Mineralls For there is great store of gold and silver in the Countrey as also of Brasse Iron and Copper as Diadorus witnesseth But Plinny saith that it hath neither Brasse nor Leade but instead thereof Precious stones and Pearles which the Sea casteth up upon the shoare For it hath abundance of Berills Adamants Carbuncles and Pearles Here is silke enough to furnish all the world Here are greater beasts than in others parts of the world as Oxen Cammels Lions Dogs and Elephants There are great store of Elephants And great Dragons in the Wildernesse that are as bigge as Elephants and doe fight continually with them And Dogs as fierce as Lions And great store of Serpents which the Inhabitants doe roast and eate and a kind of THE EAST INDIES· INDIA Orientalis Ants which they eate with Pepper as we doe Crabfishes Here are white Apes and Cameleons which were heretofore thought to live by aire Moreover there are divers sorts of Birds not knowne to other Nations besides great store of Hens Pheasants and Partridges and also Parrets of divers colours Plinny writeth thus of the Indies The Indians alone of all nations were never droven out of their Countrey they had from Bacchus to Alexander the great 153. Kings in 6402. yeares and 3. monethes And Strabo writeth that never any but Bacchus Hercules and Alexander got the victory against them although Cirus and Sâ—miramiâ— assailed them often But leaving these matters let us passe to the Citties The companions of Alexander the great doe write that there were 5000. Townes in that part of India which they conquer'd and every one as bigge as Co whence you may easily collect the vast largenesse of this Countrey The chiefe Citty is Calechut which is the famous Mart of all the East There are also other Citttes as Cambaja Decâ—n Batticalla Canonor and many others There are also many great Lakes In the history of Alexander there is a mention made of a Lake which hath great old wood in it here Alexanders army was like to perish for thirst But the greatest Lake of all is Chiamy which is 400. Miles in compasse and is 600 Miles distant from the Sea Hence many chiefe Rivers doe issue the next unto this Lake is â—incuthay and others Here are many great Rivers It is reported that Alexander the great did sayle every day 600. Furlongs in the River Indus yet he could but sayle over it in 5. moneths and odde dayes and yet it is lesser than Ganges It riseth out of the Mountaine Caâ—sasus which is called Paropamissus and now Naugocrot and so having runne 900. miles it dischargeth it selfe into the Southerne or Indian Ocean In which compasse of ground it receiveth 20. Rivers but the famousest are Hydaspes which bringeth 4. others with it and Cantabra which bringeth three with it Some say that the Rivers Ganges doe issue from unknowne Springs as Nilus and that it watereth the Country round about as Nilus doth some say that it riseth out of the Scythian Mountaines and that 19. Rivers doe runne into it Some say that the Springs thereof doe breake forth with great violence and so rowling down thorow the Rocks it runneth first thorow the Plaines and from thence glideth gently forward and that it is 8. miles broad in the narrowest part of it and in other places 100. Furlongs broad and is no where lesse then 20. yards deepe This River in the Scriptures is called Phison But now Geographers doe seeke for it For some suppose it is that River which floweth into the Bay of Bengala perhaps in regard of the affinity betweene their names for the Inhabitants doe call it Guengua But our Mercator sheweth by good probable reasons that Ganges is that River which is called Rio de Cantaon Next to these Rivers there are the Rivers Mandona Chaberis Ava Campumo Menam Menon and many others Megasthenes reporteth that there are 60. Rivers in the Indies many of which doe overflow their bankes in the Summer like Nilus which is the chiefe cause of the fruitfulnesse and fertility of this Country It is said that Ganges hath Crocodiles as well as Nilus also Dolphins and Eeles 30. foote long as Pliny witnesseth Moreover the chiefest part of the East-Indies lieth over against the Southerne or Indian Ocean by the Shore or Sea Coast which although for the most part it hath Havens yet in many places it is so environd with Ilands Rocks and Sands that it is dangerous sayling that way Solinus saith that the Indian Seas have Whales as bigge as 4. Acres of ground There is also a kinde of Fish called a Whirle-poole which are very great and will lift themselves above the Hatches of a Ship and will so spout sea-Sea-water out of their spouts that the waight of it falling downe againe is ready to overset Ships Here are many Mountaines so that it would bee troublesome to reckon them many of which have no greene things on them Imaus Emodus Parâ—pamissus doe joyne together being parts of Caucasus The Woods in the Indies as Solinus
and let in the sea-Sea-water by Subterranean passages because many Sea Fishes are found there and the water tasteth salt Moreover there are other lesser salt Lakes in this Iland And besides the aforesaid Lakes there is a great salt River which runneth into the Sea although it receiveth many Rivers and Fountaines of fresh water IAMAICA· IAMAICA which they call now the Iland of St. Iames lyeth 15. leagues Eastward from Hispaniola and 16. degrees from the Aequinoctiall Line On the North it is neere to Cuba On the South it looketh to St. Bernards Ilands and Carthagena on the West it hath Fordura The compasse of it is 600. miles This Country hath a pleasant temperate ayre also it hath Gold and great store of Sugar and Cotton and also divers kindes of living Creatures It had heretofore great store of Inhabitants but now the Natives are either killed or dead so that there are two Citties onely inhabited the chiefe whereof is Sevill or Hispalis in which there is a Church and an Abbey of which Peter Martyr Anglerius of Mediolanum was Primate a man very diligent in handling the affaires of India The other is called Oristan here are many Rivers and Fishfull Lakes The people doe differ in nothing neither in Lawes Rites nor Customes from those of Hispaniola and Cuba but onely it is reported that they were more cruell St. IOHNS Iland SAint Iohns Iland commonly so called from the rich Haven and heretofore called Borichena or Borica hath on the East the Iland of the holy Crosse and many small Ilands On the West and the North the Iland of S. Dominico on the South the Promontory of the maine Land from whence it is distant 136. miles The Iland lyeth length-wayes and is 12. or 17. mile broad and the greatest breadth of it is 48. Germane Miles It hath abundance of Fruit Cattell and Gold Moreover this Iland is devided into two parts namely the Northerne and Southerne part The Northerne hath great store of Gold the Southerne hath plenty of fruit and Fowle The chiefe Citty in it is St. Iohns Citty which hath a very good Haven Here are some Rivers among which Cairabonus is the greatest which runneth Northward and though they have all golden Sands yet the Northerne side thereof as we said before hath the best Mines The Southerne part hath better Havens and more fruit it produceth Maiz and other things necessary to life MARGARITA THe Iland Margarita or the Iland of Pearles is called by another name Cubagua it is 10. miles in compasse and it lyeth 10. degrees and from the Aequinoctiall Line being every where plaine and barren having neither trees nor water So that they want water so much especially when the winde standeth contrary so that nothing can be brought from Cumana that sometimes a Hogshead of Wine is exchanged for a Hogshead of Water It hath great store of Connies Salt and Fish But especially it hath great store of Pearles The Inhabitants are of a Swart colour thinne hayred and without Beards fierce and cruell They feed on Oysters out of which Pearles are gotten VIRGINIA AND FLORIDA VIRGINIA and Florida doe follow in our method Virginia as some suppose was so called from the Earle Viguinus but hee that sett forth a Journall or Commentary of Sir Francis Drakes Voyage in the West-Indies in the yeere 1584. saith that it was so called from Elizabeth Queene of England The Inhabitants doe call it Wingandocoa It is very fruitfull and beareth plentifully whatsoever is necessary for the sustation and delectation of mans life as Wine Oyle Beanes which the Inhabitants call Okindgere and Pease which they call Wickanzenr also Pompions and Melons which they call Macocquer also divers Hearbes besides Chesnuts Walnuts Straberies and other excellent Fruits also Allome Pitch and Tarre Turpentine Iron Copper Silke Flaxe Cotton Pearles and many other things But especially it hath great store of Virginy Wheate which the Inhabitants doe call Pagatowr and the West-Indians Maiz which is to bee wondred at because they use a meane kinde of Husbandry For they know neither Plough nor Harrow neither doe they make Furrow or plough the ground nor breake the clods after they have sowne the seed as we doe but they turne up the earth with a woodden Shovell or Spade and so in the little Furrowes they set the Graine with a setting sticke as we doe Beanes which being coverd with earth will sprout forth wonderfully In some parts it hath divers kindes of Beasts as Beares Lions Wolves Conies and those which the Inhabitants call Saquenuckot Maquowoc and Squirrels It hath moreover divers Birds as Indian Cocks and Hens Doves Partridges Cranes Swans Geese Parrots Falkons and Hawkes The Townes here are very small containing onely 10. or 12. Houses they build them round with Stakes and Poles set in the Earth with a narrow comming in Princes and Noblemens Houses have a Court-yard and some few Houses round about them The Citties by the Shore side are these Pyshokonnock or the Womens Citty also Chipanum Weopomiock Muscamunge and Mattaquen and Oanoke which the English call'd the blind Citty also Pemeoke Phycoake a great Citty Chowanaoke Sequotam and others The Rivers which water it are Occam Cipo Nomopano Neus and others In foure Moneths of the yeere February March Aprill and May here is good fishing for Sturgeons and Herrings Here are also good Trouts Scate Mullets and Plaise and many other kindes of Fish It hath also Woods which are full of Connies Hares and Fowle But the Woods are not such as be in Bohemia Moscovy or Hyrcania VIRGINIA VIRGINIA et FLORIDA which are barren and doe yeeld nothing but they are full of high tall Cedars Pines Cypresse Trees Mastick Trees and many other odoriferous Trees The Inhabitants are of a middle stature just in their dealing they beleeve the Immortality of the Soule but they delight in dancing and immoderate drinking as the other Americans doe but yet they abstaine from mans flesh They doe hunt wilde beasts every day And their Armes are Bowes and Arrowes They beleeve that there are many Gods whom they call Mantâ—aâ— but of divers kindes and degrees and that there is onely one chiefe God that was before all ages who they say when he purposed to create the whole world did first create the other speciall Gods that he might use them as assistants and helpers both in creating and governing the whole World And then hee made the Sunne the Moone and the Statres as the lesser Gods to be assisting to the chiefe Cods They say the waters were first created out of which the Gods did create all kindes of creatures visible and invisible Concerning mankinde they affirme that the woman was first created which by the helpe of one of the Gods did conceive and bring forth children and this they say was the first originall of all mankinde But concerning the manners and nature of the Inhabitants and the other commodities and wonders of
severall parts of his house as the Porch the Wine-cellar and Butterie the Kitchin the Parlour the Supping-roome the Bed chamber the Closet the Studie c. whereby hee may use them conveniently but also it is fit and necessary that hee should know in what part and street of the Citie his house standeth and thence hee may straightway discerne if any fire or tumult happen in the Citie how neare or how farre he is from danger So it is no lesse necessary to know in what part of the world thou dwellest what people are neare thee and which are farther off that when warre approacheth thou mayst know when to feare and when to be quiet in minde Lastly though Cosmographie be the light of all Ecclesiasticall and Politicall Historie and that the beholder may learne more from thence than the Traveller by his long tedious and chargeable labour who often changeth his Climate onely but not his condition yet you shall receive little benefit thereby if you doe not joyne the Generall Tables to the Particular Now these Generall Tables are gathered out of the great description of the Globe of the Earth whose beginning of Longitude or position of the first Meridian wee have followed in every one of them and out of my great Europa which I published at Duysburg In the meane time Reader farewell and enjoy this worke and diligently consider with the Poet Buchanan the glory of this thy habitation granted unto thee only for a time who doth so compare it with the heavens that he may thereby lift up those mindes which are drowned in these earthly and transitory things and shew them the way to more high and Eternall matters How small a part that is thou mayst perceive Which we into proud Kingdomes here doe cleave With stately wordes we part it with our sword And buy it with our bloud that forth is powr'd We make great Triumphs when that we have got Some part of this same little earthen clot For this same heape it selfe being view'd alone Is large and of a great extention But it will seeme a Point if that it be Compar'd with Heavens starrie Canopie Or like unto a seed upon which ground Ancient Gargetius many worlds did found This is mans seate and this a house affordes Vnto wilde Beastes and to all sortes of Birdes And how much from this prison house of clay Doth the Seas flowing water take away And that which breakes through the Herculean boundes And parteth Europe from the Lybian groundes With Seas which limits to Arabia yeelds And those which straighten the Hyrcanian fields Then adde to these the Lakes that are beside With Moores and Marshes being large and wide And Rivers which the Mountaines downe doe throw From their high tops or those which stand below In Lakes unmov'd and while with hastie course These take part of the earth away by force And these with deepe gulfes drowne the world again The greatest part of land that doth remaine In cover'd o're with water and doth seeme Like a small Island in the Sea to swimme In this againe what barren sands there be And great vaste Mountaines without fruite or tree How much of it is scorch't with too much flame Or how much is benum'd with cold againe Or how much lies unfit for to be till'd Or how much is with mortall poysons fill'd O shame O madnesse of a fond desire How little cause hath glory to aspire Anger doth rage feare troubles griefe doth fret And want even by the sword doth riches get By treacherie fire nor poyson doth it spare Thus humane matters full of troubles are OF THE WORLD THis Universe which rather presents it selfe to the contemplation of the minde of man then to the sight of the Eyes for the perfect elegancie and absolute puritie thereof is called in Latine Mundus This Pliny in the 11. Lib. Cap. 1. of his Naturall Historie calleth That which covereth all things with his Circumference And Apuleius painting forth an admirable picture of it calleth it That which consists in the societie of heaven and earth and of those things which belong unto their natures The same Apuleius more elaborately describes the world thus or to this purpose The world saith hee is a garnished ordinance of things the just charge and custodie of the Gods whose pole for so I call the Center beeing strong and immoveable passeth through the earth the Mother and nourisher of all living creatures All the higher parts as may be seene being enclosed and hidden with the moistnesse of the aire in manner of a covering Beyond is the house of the Gods called Heaven which wee see is full of divine bodies as the faire and shining lights of the Sunne Moone and the other Starres with which it is carried about by the diurnall and nocturnall motion in such a perpetuall course as shall never have an end Now that the forme thereof is gathered round together like a Globe the name thereof doth declare and the consent of men calling and painting it in manner of a Globe besides diverse arguments that prove the same As because such a figure is most capable most simple and doth bend in all parts towards it selfe sustaines it selfe includes and containes it selfe wanting no joyning together nor having any end or beginning in any of its parts as also because wheresoever you behold it it hath a circular forme in all its parts which cannot happen in another figure Therefore it was a ridiculous imagination of them who supposed that it had not a Sphericall round figure but either an angular or ovall or some other forme There be two parts of the World the Aetheriall or heavenly and the Elementary or sublunary The Aetheriall is that cleare part which containeth all the celestiall Spheeres and is free from alteration The Elementary is that which is placed beneath those Orbes and it admitteth generation and corruption and containeth not onely simple Bodies as Fire Aire Water Earth but also those which are compounded of them whereof wise men have delivered five kindes For some are imperfectly mixt which we call Meteors as Hayle Raine Snow Thunder Lightning Winde others perfectly mixt but without life as Stones Mettalls c. There are others which have a vegetable soule as Plants and those which have a sensible soule as Brute Creatures Lastly there are some in the highest and last degree of compound things which beside all these have a reasonable soule as Men. We leaving those things which belong to Astronomers and Philosophers will chiefly consider the Globe of the Earth The whole Earth being diversly divided by Seas Rivers and Marshes doth make altogether an absolute Globe Homer for no other cause calleth it Orbicular And Numa Pompilius for the same consideration did consecrate a round Temple to Vesta the mother of Saturne whom Poets take for the earth And that the figure thereof can be no other both Aristotle hath demonstrated by the reason of heavy things making towards
the other smoothe with a plaine webbe There are other Birdes which they call Marinetae lesse than a Blackbird being short like a Starling yet differing from him by the whitenesse of the belly and the blacknesse of the back It is a wonderfull thing which was reported concerning these Birdes for if when they are dead they be kept in a dry place they will not putrifie or corrupt and being placed among garments and other things it will preserve them from moathes That which is more worthy of admiration is that if being dead they be hanged up in some drie place they will every yeare renew and change their feathers as if they were alive Ireland contayneth all kindes of wilde beasts It hath Harts that are so fat that they can hardly runne and by how much they are lesser in body by so much the larger are their hornes There are great store of Bores many Hares c. but the bodies of all the wilde beasts and birds are lesser here than in other places It hath many Badgers and Weesils It hath few or no Goates fallow Deere Hedghogs Moles but infinite store of Mice It hath also Wolves and Foxes But enough of these things I returne to other matters Heretofore Ireland was ruled by many Earles now it is subject to England and is governed by the Kings Substitute who is called the Lord Deputie It came to be under the dominion IRELAND IRLANDIA of the Kings of England about the yeare 1175 at which time Roderick King of Connaught stiled himselfe King of all Ireland and striving to subject the whole Kingdome to himselfe waged continuall warre with the other Earles by whose sedition it came to passe that the other Earles of their owne accord and without any effusion of blood did put themselves under the obedience of Henry the second King of England from whom all the Kings of England were called Lords of Ireland untill the time of Henry the eigth who by the Nobles of Ireland was declared King of Ireland because the name of Lord grew hatefull to some seditious people There are foure speciall Cities in this Island First Dublin the Metropolis or Mother-Citie of Ireland being the royall Archiepiscopall Seat giving name to a County The next in dignity is Waterford the third Limbrick the fourth Corke There are many other very great Townes of which wee will speake more largely in the particular Descriptions of Ireland This Country hath many Lakes and standing waters among which there is a Lake in Vlster twenty miles distant from the Lake Erne of which wee will speake more largely hereafter There is a little Lake beyond the Citie Armack in which if you stick a Speare up some moneths that part which stuck in the mudde will bee iron that which is in the water stony and that which is out of the water will remaine wood There is also the Lake Erne which is thirty miles long and fifteene miles broad being compassed about with thick woods and so full of Fish that the Fisher-men often breake their nets by taking too many at one time This Island is divided and watered with many faire Rivers whose names are these Avenliffe running through Dublin Boandus through Methe Banna through Vltonia Linuâ— through Connack and Moadus through Kenel cunillia Slicheia and Samaira Besides Modarnus and Furnus through Keneleonia and many other But of all the Rivers of Ireland the River Synnenus is the chiefe both for the breadth and length of its course and for the plenty of Fish which is in it But in generall the Rivers and Lakes are full of fish bred in them This Countrie is unequall and mountainous soft and waterish you shall finde Lakes and standing waters on the top of the Mountaines The Mountaines abound with Cattell the woods with wilde beasts Solinus writeth thus concerning the Sea which floweth between Ireland and England The Sea betweene Ireland and England is rough and unquiet all the yeare and is scarce navigable but in some part of the Summer But hee erres for it is quiet enough unlesse it bee stirred up with windes And not onely in Summer but also in Winter passengers doe sayle to and fro All the Sea shores doe abound sufficiently with Fish Ireland hath in all three and thirty Counties and foure Archbishops The Bishop of Armach Primate of all Ireland the Bishop of Dublin the Bishops of Cassil and Toam and these foure have nine and twenty Suffragans or Vicegorents Ireland from the manners of the Inhabitants is divided into two parts For those who refuse to obey the Lawes and live more uncivilly are called Irishrie and commonly Wild Irish But those who are willing to obey the Lawes and appeare before the Judges are called the English-Irish and their Country the English Pale they speake English naturally and uncorruptly yet they understand Irish in regard of their daily commerce with the Irish-men The Irish-men have some certaine Lords under whose command the most of them are but they live under the jurisdiction of the English but counterfeitly and as long as the English Souldiers doe waste their Territories yet they appoint Sessions to be kept at certaine times and places to restraine and punish robberies and theft committed by night There those that are accused if they be convicted have certaine Arbitratours to judge of the cause whom they call Brehoni these are all of one familie and although they have no knowledge in the Law yet for their wisdome honestie of life they are accounted divine Their warre is partly on horsback and partly on foote The Gentrie have horses well managed so that without any advantage they will mount them in their armour and taking a Javelin or dart of great weight by the middle they will throw or brandish it against their enemie with much ease Among the footmen some are Souldiers in Cassocks very strong whom they call Galeglacii having Cuttle-axes as sharpe as razors and they are the chiefe strength of the Irish warres The next are Footmen wearing a light armour with swords in their hands and these are called Karnes and they thinke a man is not dead untill they have cut off his head In the third place are footmen whom they call Daltines who going unarmed attend upon the horsmen The footmen as well as horsmen as oft as they come to fight with their enemies doe crie with a great voyce Pharro Pharro and they use a Bagpipe in stead of a Trumpet The Irish doe fare sumptuously and magnificently for though they have no delicate dishes nor great service in their banquets yet their Tables according to the season of the yeare are well furnished with Beefe and Porke and other meate In their Feasts they lye upon Beds the first place at the Table belongs to the Mother of the Family who weares a long Gowne or Mantell reaching to her ancles often dyed and also sleeved THE SECOND TABLE OF IRELAND IN WHICH
ARE VLTONIA CONNACIA MEDIA AND PART OF LAGENIA VLTONIA IRELAND being described in generall I thinke it worth my labour before I come to a particular description of the severall parts first to make a division thereof Ireland is divided into five Parts or Provinces Into Lagenia which being Eastward is next to England Connacia or Connachtia which lyeth toward the West Vltonia on the North side Momonia which is situate in the Southerne part The fift part is called Media which being placed in the midst is enclosed with the rest In these five Provinces there are many notable Territories As Lagenia doth include Fingal Offal Leis Ossir and Ormund Media containeth Slani Four and Delvin In Connacia is contained Clar in Vltonia is contained Vril Antrimen Lecal and Treconch In Momonia are included Trippitate Kerie Cosmay Desmond Tomond and some others There is another division of Ireland which wee have touched in our generall Table which is diligently to be considered if any one desire to know the state of this Countrie wherefore hee must observe that Ireland is divided into two parts the English part and the Irish part The latter the native Irish do inhabit the former the Englishmen and that part in common speech is called the English Province because it is as it were empaled and environed with the Territories of the English For after that the English having supprest the Irish Rebells had restored Dermicius to his Countrie and Kingdome they seated themselves and built themselves seats in the chiefest places of Ireland Afterward seeing that as it were certaine Islands did part them from the subdued Irish they called that part in which they placed a Colonie the English Province In this is contained the greater part of Lagenia and Media and that part of Vltonia which is called Vril but the chiefest part of Lagenia which is called Fingal neere to Dublin on the North hath the chiefe place and Media is next to that But Mercator useth the same division which wee made of it in the former Tables describing it in foure Tables beginning with Vltonia Connacia Media and part of Lagenia I will make a briefe description of all these parts in the same order as our Author placeth them Vltonia offers it selfe in the first place This part of Ireland was first called by the Welch Vltun by the Irish Cui-Guilli by the Latines Vltonia and by the English Vlster toward the North it is parted with the Narrow Sea toward the South it stretcheth it selfe to Connaught and Lagenia the THE SECOND TABLE OF IRELAND UDRONE East part is bounded with the Irish Sea and the West part is beaten with the great Westerne Ocean This Countrie beeing neere to Scotland is reckoned one of the Scotch Islands which are called the Hebrides and lye scatterd in the Sea betweene both Kingdomes which Islands the Irish-Scots the successours of the Ancient Scythians do inhabit It is round in forme and in length from the Haven Coldagh in the North to Kilmore in the South it is about an hundred miles and it is in breadth from Black-Abbey in the East to Calebegh a Westerne Promontorie an hundred and thirtie miles and more The whole circumference or compasse of it is about foure hundred and twentie miles This Country hath seldome any intemperate weather for the suddaine and fresh gales of winde do refrigerate and coole the heat of Summer and soft and gentle raines do mitigate the cold of Winter Briefly it is neither in the Cold nor Torrid Zone The clouds are faire and cleare and when they are most impure yet the winde continually driving them about doth make the aire wholsome and at length quite dispelleth them The equall temper of the Clime is the cause that the soyle doth plentifully bring forth divers kindes of trees some bearing fruit and others for building The Countrie is full of grasse and fit for pasturing very rich in horse and sheepe and Oxen. The Rivers are as I may say doubly commodious being navigable to bring up Vessels and Barques and also being full of fish and very convenient for the inhabitants in other uses Among these the first is Vinderius which is now called the Bay of Knocfergus from the Town seated on it from the safety of the Haven which the English call Knocfergus the Irish Caregfergus that is Fergus his rock which name it received from Fergusius who was drownd there There is also Banna which as Giraldus saith is a very faire River as the name witnesseth it runneth out of the Lake Eaugh and dischargeth it selfe into the Ocean with a double Channell it is fuller of Salmons than any River in Europe because as some thinke the water is so cleare in which Salmons do chiefly delight And there is the River Logia which Ptolemie mentioneth and now is called Lough Foile which falleth into the Sea with a great streame There are many great Lakes in it in which is the Lake Eaugh which spreadeth it selfe abroad from Armaugh and on the East side are the woods Kilulto Kilwarney and Dyffrim into which the Lake doth so insinuate and winde in it selfe that it maketh two Peninsula's Lecale toward the South Ard toward the North Lecale runneth out farthest toward the East of any part of Ireland the farthest Promontorie therof Marriners do now call Saint Iohns Foreland Ptolomie calls it Isanius perhaps from the Brittish word Isa which signifies Lowermost In the Isthmus therof stands Dunam which Ptolemie mentions now called Down being an ancient Towne and the Seat of a Bishop Ard lyeth over against it being divided frō it by a little slip of land There are also Lakes of which we have made mention in our generall Table The Countrie is shadowed with great woods To speake in a word although it be barren in some places by reason of Lakes Bogs thicke Woods yet it is every where full of Cattell Grasse at all times it abundantly requiteth the labour of the husbandman Nature is so little beholding here to Art or Industrie that the flourishing bankes of Rivers embrodered with flowers the shadie Woods greene Medowes bending Hills and Fields fit to beare corne if they were tilled do seeme to be angrie with the Inhabitants because by their carelesnesse and negligence they suffer them to be rude and wilde The Voluntii Darni Robogdii and Erdini in Ptolemies time held all this Countrie who also dispersed themselves into other parts of Ireland The speciall place in this Countrie is Armach neere the River Kalis which although it be not very faire yet it is the seat of an Archbishop the Metropolis of the whole Island The Irish-men do fabulously report that it was called so from Queene Armacha but Camden thinkes it to be the same which Beda calleth Dearmach which signifies in the Scotch and Irish language the field of Redmen There is one Archbishop in Vltonia who
Country I leave it to those who admire fabulous antiquities for I would not willingly doate too much on fables Beyond the Cauci liv'd the Eblani where is now the Countrie of Dublin and Meth being one of the five parts of Ireland The County of Dublin towards the Sea is of a fertile soyle having pleasant Meddowes but so bare of Wood that for the most part they use Turfe and Coale digged in England It is full of Townes and People where the River Liffe hideth it selfe in the Sea Houth is almost environed therewith from whence the Family of the Laurences are called Barons of Houth On the North side of Dublin lyes Fingall a faire Country well tilled and is as it were the store-house or Barne of the Kingdome in regard it yeeldeth yearely so great a quantitie of corne that in a manner the earth doth strive with the labour of the husbandmen which lying in other parts of the Island neglected and untill'd doth seeme to complaine of their ignorant sloath These things being unfolded let us now passe to the Cities and Townes Here Kilkenny meetes us in the first place being neare to the River Neorus Kilkenny signifies the Cell or Chappell of Canicus who formerly in this Country was famous for his Religious solitary life It is a neate fine Towne abounding with all things and the chiefe of the innermost Townes of this Island The Towne is divided into the English and Irish part the Irish part is as it were the Suburbs wherein is the Temple of Canicus who gave the name to it and it is the Seat of a Bishop The English Towne is newer being built by Ralph the third Earle of Chester it was fortified as some doe suppose with walls on the West side by Robert Talbot a Noble man and strengthned with a Castle by the Butlers Below this upon the same River of Neorus a walled Towne is seated called in English Thomas Towne in Irish Bala mac-Andan that is the Towne of Antonius his sonne both names were given unto it by the builder Thomas Fitz Antonius an Englishman whose heires are still acknowledged the Lords thereof There stood in this Country that ancient City Rheba mentioned by Ptolemy which was also called Rheban but instead of a Citie it is even 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Citie and no Citie as he himselfe saith being a few Cottages with a Forte It honoureth the Saint-michaells with the title of Baronet There is Lechlinia in Irish Leiglyn a royall Towne fortified with a Castle by that Noble Deputie Bellingham The great Citie of Rosse hath likewise here flourished in times past as having beene full of Inhabitants and Merchandise and fortified with a wall of great circuit by Isabell the daugher of Richard Strongbow Earle which walls doe now onely remaine For discord arising among the Citizens concerning Religion the Towne is ruinated and fallen to nothing but enough of these things I passe to the Mountaines and Rivers Beneath Ormund the hills Bliew Blemi which Giraldus calleth the Mountaines of Bladina doe lift up their heads with their convex tops out of whose bowels as it were the Rivers Suirus Neorus and Birgus doe arise and running in severall channels before they come to the Ocean they joyne all in one stream whence the Ancients did call them Tres Sorores the three Sisters Neorus hemmeth in many Castles and Townes Birgus now called Barrow flowing out of the Mountaine Bladina and running along by it selfe with many windings at last passeth Rheba and other Townes Afterward Neorus and Birgus do mingle their Waters and having for some miles runne in one channell they resigne their name and waters to their elder sister Suirus which by a rocky mouth dischargeth her selfe into the Ocean where on the left hand there runneth forth a little Promontorie with a straight necke which beares a little Tower as a defence or marke for Shippes built by the Rosses when they flourished that they might safely enter into the Haven In this part Ptolemie placed the River Modanus aforesaid and Ovoca neare the Sea on the back whereof the Castle Arcklo is seated which River as Giraldus saith both in the flowing and ebbing of the Sea water doth still retaine its native sweetnesse and doth preserve its waters unstained or unmingled with saltnesse a great way in the Sea Here is the River Liffie which slideth by Dublin it is not carried with any violence except after a great storme of raine but floweth very gently This River without doubt is mentioned by Ptolemie but by the carelesnesse of Bookemen it is banished out of its place For the River Liffie is placed in Ptolemies Tables in the same Latitude toward the other part of the Island where there is no such River But let us call it backe again to Eblana its proper place and give these verses of Necham concerning it Visere Castle-cnock non dedignatur Aven-liff Istum Dublini suscipit unda Maris Aven-liff to see Castle-cnock doth not disdaine Which the Sea neare Dublin doth receive againe I will also adde that which Giraldus hath concerning Wiclo a Porte or Haven neare to Ovoca which he calleth Winchiligello There is a Haven at Winchiligello on that side of Ireland which looketh toward Wales whose waters doe flow in when the Sea doth ebbe and when the Sea floweth it ebbeth There is also another very notable one which when the Sea ebbeth yet still continues salt and brackish in every part and creeke thereof There is one Archbishop in Lagenia which hath his seate at Dublin and Clandelachy hee is called Glandeloylong and Primate of Ireland having these following Suffragan Bishops under him the Bishop of Elphine or Bishop Helphen of Kildare of Fernes Ossorie and of Leighlyn called by some Laghlyn THE FIFT TABLE OF IRELAND CONTAINING THE BARONIE OF Vdrone part of the Queenes Countrie and the Lord Fortonesy in the middle of Vdrone lyeth the Citie Laglyn otherwise Leighlin adorned with a Bishops Seat MOMONIA MOMONIA followes in our propounded method in Irish called Mown in English Munster the fift and last part of Ireland it lyeth on the South upon the Vergivian Sea being divided in some places from Connacia by the River Shennin and from Lagenia by the River Neorus it was formerly divided into two parts the Westerne and the Southerne The Westerne part the Gangani Luceni Velabri and Vterim did anciently inhabit the Vdiae or Vodiae the Southerne part Now it is divided into seven Counties namely Kerry Limrick Corck Tripperary the Countie of the Holy Crosse the Countie of Waterford and Desmond Wee purpose to runne briefly over these Counties with Cambden according to the severall people which the Cosmographer attributeth to them The Gangani whom we formerly mentioned in the first place do seeme by the affinitie of their name to be the same with the Concani of Spaine whose originall was from the Scythians and Silius witnesseth that they dranke horses blood which heretofore the Wild
it is almost entrenched with water on the West with the River over which there is a draw Bridge on other sides with the Ocean except it be on the North side toward the Land and there it is encompassed with strong wals which with the River doe lye in a long square-sided-figure There are also these Townes Ashelwel-thorp Dis or Disce Shelton Skulton or Burdos Attleburgh Wauburne Lynne Swaff ham North Elmeham Dereham Windham Icborow and others For this Countrie hath 27 Market Townes and 525 Villages and about 660 Parish Churches The rivers that doe water it are Ouse Thet anciently called Sit Wauency Gerne or Yere and Wents anciently Wentfare There is not in the world any towne which getteth so much by taking and catching of Herrings as the towne of Yarmouth in this Shire For it is incredible to thinke what great Faires and Markets they have here at Michael-tide and what a number of Herrings and other fish are carried from hence into other parts Besides from hence as Varro adviseth thou maist collect the goodnesse of the shire the Inhabitants being well coloured craftie witted and sharpely insighted into the Lawes of England But of these Counties wee have entreated largely enough I passe now to the sixth Table THE SIXT TABLE OF ENGLAND IN WHICH ARE THESE Shires Warwick-shire Northampton-shire Huntingdon Cambridge Suffolke Oxford-shire Buckingam Bedford Hartford Essex Bark-shire Middlesex Hampshire Surrey Kent and Sussex IN the Sixt Table of England is first Warwick shire being bounded on the East with Leicesterâ—shire and Watling-street way on the South with Oxford shire and Glocester-shire on the West with Wiltshire and on the North with Stafford-shire This Country is divided into two parts Feldon and Woodland heretofore called Arden that is into the Field and Wood-Country The chiefe Towne hereof is Warwicke called by the Brittaines â—aer-Leon besides the Townes of Leamington called so from the River Leame by which it standeth Vâ—hindon now called Long Ichingdon Harbury Mancester called anciently Manduessedum Coventry called heretofore Conventria Stratford upon Avon and others and there are in this County 158 Parish Churches The Rivers are Avon Leam Arrow and Allen commonly called Alnâ— The next that followes is Northampton-shire which from the East where it is broadest lesseneth by degrees and is extended Eastward The County is bounded on the East with Redford-shire and Huntingdon-shire on the South with Buckingâ—am shire and Oxford shire on the West with Warwick-shire and on the North with Leicester-shire Rutland-shire and Laâ—colne-shire which are parted from it by the River Welland It is a field Country of a very rich soyle both in upland grounds and meddowes The shire Towne hereof is Northampton the other Townes are Frakley Torcester anciently called Tripontium Grafton Daventrâ— Wâ—dâ—n Higham Oundale rightly Avondale Peterborow called anciently Peâ—â—â—â—urgâ—â— Welledone c. Aâ— to this Shire there appertaines 326 Parishes the Rivers are Ouse Avon and Welland In the third place is Huntingdon-shire being so situated that on the South it looketh toward Bedford shire on the West toward Northampton-shire on the North where it is parted with the River Avon and on the East toward Cambridge-shire It is a Country fit for tillage and feeding of cattle and toward the East where it is low ground it is very fruitfull having every where pleasant hills and shadie woods The chiefe Towne of this Country is Huntingdon called heretofore Huntesdune to which it gives the name of Huntingdon-shire Here are THE SIXTH TABLE OF ENGLAND Warwicum Northampton Huntingdon Cantabr etc. also the Townes of S. Ives which the Saxons anciently called Slepe Saint Needes or Saint Neotifanum and Cunnington here are 78. Parishes The two Rivers Ouse and Avon doe water the Country In the fourth place is Cambridge-shire which lying toward the East doth butte upon North-folke and Suffolke on the South on Essex and Harford-shire on the West on Huntingdon-shire and on the North on Lincolne-shire and the River Ouse which running through it from East to West doth divide it into two parts The Lower and Southerne part is more tilled and planted then the rest and therefore more pleasant it lyeth in the manner of a bending plaine being a Champion Country and yeelding excellent Barley except where it beareth Saffron the farther and Northerne part flourishes more with greene Meddowes The chiefe Towne in this Shire is Cambridge anciently called Camboritum and by the Saxons Grantcester this is one of the Universities of England yea the Sunne and Eye thereof and a famous Nurserie of good learning and pietie it is seated upon the River Cam. Besides here are these Townes Roiston Rech Burwell Ely and here are 163 Parishes in this Countie and the Rivers are Cam and Stour Suffolke followes in the next place having on the West Cambridge-shire and on the South the River Stour which divides it from Essex on the East the Germane Ocean and on the North the two little Rivulets Ouse the lesse and Waveney which arising as it were from one spring head and running a diverse course doe part it from North-folke The Country is large and of a fat soyle except it be toward the East for it is compounded of clay and marle so that the fields doe flourish every where here is fruitfull pasturage for fatting of cattle and great store of cheese made The Townes in this County are Sudbury that is the South-Towne Ixning Saint Edmunds-bury called anciently Villa Faustini Bretenham Hadley Ipswich called anciently Gippwic Debenham Oreford and many others The Rivers are Stour Breton Gipping Deben Ore Ouse Waveney and Gerne or Yere Oxford-shire which commeth next to be spoken of on the West is joyned to Glocester-shire and on the South it is parted from Barke-shire by the River Isis or Ouse on the East it is bounded with Buckingham-shire and on the North with Northampton-shire and Warwick-shire It is a fertile and rich Country the plaines thereof being adorned with faire fields and meddowes and the hills crowned with many woods filled with fruits and all sorts of cattle which graze thereon In this Shire the Citie of Oxford anciently called Ousford from the River Ouse lifteth up her head being the other Universitie of England the other Sunne Eye and Soule thereof and a most famous Nurserie of Learning and Wisedome from whence Religion Humanitie and Learning are plentifully diffused and dispersed into other parts of the Kingdome Here are also the Townes of Bablac Burford which the Saxons called Beorford Minster Lovell Whitney Woodstocke Banbury Burcester or Burencester Tame Dorchester called by Bede Civitas Dorcinia and by Lelandus Hydropolis Watlington and 280. Parishes in it the rivers here are Isis Cherwell Windrush and Evenlode Buckingham-shire so called because it is full of Beech-trees commeth to be viewed in the seaventh place which being but narrow doth runne length-wayes from
Pyrenaean Mountaines And lastly those whom Ptolemy cals 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 neere to the Citie Dortosa Livie Ilercaonenses and Caesar Ilurgavonenses Catalonia is famous both for strong and wise men for wonderfull atchievements and for many victories gotten by divers Nations For in Catalonia the Carthaginians heretofore contended against the Inhabitants the Romans against the Carthaginians the Gothes against the Romans the Saracens against the Gothes and the French against the Saracens besides the contentions which afterward happened betweene the surviving remainder of the Gothes and the Earles of Barcinon Who can relate the warres which the Sons of the Earles of Barcinon being Kings of Aragon did wage with other Nations and the great victories which were gotten to the admiration of all men The Baleares commonly called Majorica and Minorica Ebusa Murcia Valentia Sardinia Sicilie Naples Athens and Neopatria can onely declare them Concerning the Metropolis or chiefe Citie of Catalonia and the other Cities Towns looke into the former description On the very top of the high Mountaine Canus in the Countie of Roscellion there is a certaine great Lake which hath abundance of those great fishes in it which we call Turturs into which if any one cast a stone the water is presently troubled and sendeth forth vapours which being condensed and converted into CATALONIA More particularly described CATALONIA cloudes doe cause a tempest immediately to follow with thunder lightning and haile The Countrie of Balneole or Aquae Voconis hath a Fountaine of a golden colour so that you may see any thing that is cast into it And there is a wholesome Fountaine in Catalonia the water whereof being drunke often and in great abundance doth not onely not oppresse the stomack but also miraculously cures men of many diseases they fabulously report that S. Maginus after some prayers to God to give it that vertue did digge and open it with his staffe being in a drie mountanous and stonie place Over against the Towne Aulotum there are about 12 Fountaines arising or springing from brasse mynes which both day and night all Winter and Summer doe as it were breathe out a thinne vapour warme in Winter but so cold in Summer that no man can endure it for any while and the water if the Inhabitants doe set any bottles into it as they often doe maketh them as cold as Ice so that the water which is in these bottles affordeth a delicate drinke to coole the heate of the stomack There are also many Fountaines alwayes hot which shewes that there is some fire there which lyes hidden in the bowels of the Earth There are more than foure such hot Fountaines in Catalonia and all of them very excellent to helpe divers kindes of diseases wherefore many that have griefes and infirmities doe resort unto them from all parts Catalonia doth abound with Rivers for it hath almost fiftie which runne through it and all of them very full of Fish some are small but yet very pleasant streames some are of a midle size and lastly there are some very faire ones as namely Tettus which is also called Ruscison Techum which is also called Tetrum Fluvianus otherwise called Clovianus and Plumialbus Tardera otherwise called Tarnum Besotium which is also called Bisocto and Betulo Rubricatus Cinga Sicoris and Iberus All of them doe flow and runne into the Sea except Cinga and Cicorus the former whereof runneth into Sicoris the later into Iberus which being much enriched with the watry tribute of these and other Rivers becommeth one of the greatest Rivers in all Spaine The best Corall groweth in the Catalonian Sea on the East thereof There are Mountaines and very high hils every where in Catalonia and those so cloathed with the constant liverie of greene bushes shrubs and many kindes of trees that the most of them are full of woods and thickets There are many Beech-trees on them many Pine-trees abundance of Oakes many Holme-trees innumerable Maple abundance of Hasel Nut and Chesse-nut-trees and infinite store of Corke-trees whose barke is very thick and being bark't and taken off groweth againe Chrystall is found in the Mountains of Nuria on the Cardonensian rocks And that which any one will wonder at as being worthy of admiration there is found at the Towne of Cardona a Mountaine having very wholesome salt growing in it and shining against the Sunne with a great deale of variety and delight to the eye out of which as Pliny reports of the Mountaine Oromenus in India salt is daily cut and digged and yet groweth againe yea the Mountaine still groweth so much the higher by how much the more salt is cut out of the pits that are in it There is also an other thing very wonderfull and that is whereas places where salt is found are barren and produce or beare nothing yet this Mountaine hath many Pine-trees and Vines upon it In the Bishoprick of Gerunda on the South side thereof there is a Hill of white small sand which as in Lybia the winde carries heere and there and makes great driftes of it which are very perillous and dangerous for those that travell that way Heere I cannot but mention the Mountaine called Mount Serrato being distant toward the East seven leagues from Barcinona it is very rockie and cliffie in manner of a rugged Saw and so high that from thence the Pyrenaean Mountaines and the farthest Mountaines of the Island Majorica may bee seene This Mountaine is full of great shining Stones like Iaspers There are some Fountaines which spring and flow out of it it produceth many hearbs which have speciall and soveraigne vertues and it is watered toward the North with the River Lubricatus and at length like Soractus in Italie and Tabor in Galile it here raiseth up it selfe wherefore it is very delightfull to behold Now let us come to the publick and private Workes There are every where many Churches in this Countrey and many famous Monasteries especially that memorable Church of S. Michael à Fago built betweene a Cave and an ancient Friarie of the Benedictines over the top whereof there runneth a litle Rivulet which the Inhabitants call Tanez from thence it presently rusheth downe so that the sound arising from the fall of the water doth much delight those which stand by it There are besides so many faire-built-houses disjoyned from the Citie Towns and so scatter'd through all the plaines fields valleyes hils mountains woods groves that are in the Countrie that all Catalonia may seeme to be one Citie It hath every where strong Castles and Towres which are fortified not onely by Nature and the situation of the place but by Art Catalonia is a Principalitie and containeth in it the Archbishoprick of Tarraconia eight Bishopricks to wit the Bishoprick of Barcinona Gerunda Vrgell Vicke Ilerda Dertosa Herlua and Celsona two Dukedomes the one of Mont Albo and the other of Cardona five Marquesates namely of Ilerda Dertosa Pellearia
of Geneva professor of Divinitie and the Hebrew tongue Isaac Casaabon the Kings Professor for the Greeke tongue and Gasparus Laurentius professor of the same Language Moreover the publike Librarie at Geneva is adorned with many excellent manuscripts And that at Lausanna is furnished with many excellent workes of the Fathers and other Divines Concerning the common people they are full of Civilitie and they receive and entertaine strangers very lovingly and honourably and it transporteth and sends into other Countries great Troutes fat Capons good Cheese gold wire and fishing lines besides other commodities ARGOW. ARgonia commonly called Argow was a part of the Kingdome of Transtura which comprehended all the Countries lying from the Mountaine Iura even to the Alpes of which heretofore the Heluetians the Ranracians and part of the Allobrogians and now the Dukedome of Saâ—audâ—a Vâ—landia 〈◊〉 Suntgovia Cremerlandia and the Praefectureship of 〈◊〉 or the Cantons of Heluetia doe now hold But in this Table the Townes Lucerna Vren Switz Vnderâ—ald and Glarona are contained Lucerna is a Citty of Helvetia which Mâ—yâ—rus calleth Lacocerna it is situated upon the River Rusa where it breaketh out of a great Lake by which there is a passage by 〈◊〉 to three Townes unto the foote of the high Mountaine which they commonly call Fractum Pilati Montera that is the broken Mountaine or Pilats Mountaine The Lake is very convenient for the Citty because there is a way by it into Italy by the Lepeâ—â—â—â— Alâ—eâ— which they call now the Mountaine of Saint Gothâ—rd from hence commodities are carried to the Alpes and from thence by Packe-horses into Italy and againe Italian commodities are brought downe the Lake and the River â—asa to the Rhâ—nâ— and so unto the Ocean Besides the Lucernatians doe make more profit by the Lake than of the adjacent soyle lying about it although they have excellent Meddowes for the pasturing and feeding of Cattell It is a very pleasant Citty and rich being the common Mart Towne of the Suâ—tâ—nsians the Vrantans and the Transiluanians The originall of this City is uncertaine it is reported that there were Castles on both sides of the River which were built by the Almaines but there are Cittizens houses in their places It was so called from a Lampe or light which was hung out there as a Sea marke for the direction of Marriners and it is credible and likely that the auncient Tower served for this purpose which at the higher bridge is now named from the waters The like is at Tigurâ—â—n which is called from the Sea waves Weâ—â—nberga the auncients did call these kind of Towers Watch-towers Their owne Annalls doe report that the Lucernatians did go to warre with Charles the Great against the Narazins and that hee gave them some priviledges and taught them the use of Hornes with which in these times they doe sound a retreate in the warres The Colledge of the Cannonists had heretofore the greatest power which afterward came to bee under the authority of the Abbot of Murbacum by the donation and graunt of King Pipin Afterward Aâ—bertus Emperour of Austria bought Lucerna of the Abbot of Mâ—â—bacum But not long after the Lucernatians oppressed by the heavie burdens layd upon them by the Ausâ—rian governours being desirous of peace and liberty made a league with them Anno 1323. There were two Praefectureships of Lucerna which Mercator reckoneth in ARGOW. ARGOU which the Praefects dwell in one place which are as I suppose Wiken Sempach But the latter Praefect hath no power over the towne but is onely overseeer of the Lake and the fishing therein the Senators in the City doe governe the other Townes which are Willisow Entlibuchia Vallis Rotenburg or Rott or some place neere unto it also Habspurg Berona with the neighbour Country called Chelamt that is the Praefectureship of Michael also Merischwanden Waggis Ebicona Krientz also the two Citties Surseium and Sempachium which are under the Lucernatians protection yet they have a Counsell of their own which doth judge both civill and criminall causes but the chiefe man of the Surscian Counsell is called Sculthes who giveth an oath to the Lucernatians but the chiefe of the Sempachian Counsell is chosen out of the Senate of Lucerna but yet out of the number of the Citizens of Semphachium The next is the Towne of the Vrians or Vrania In Iulius Caesars time the Romanes did call the inhabitants thereof Taurisci and the name of Vrians by which they are now called is thought to be derived from the Vranians whom the ancients did call Tauriscians as also they now call the Siebentalensians Taurians after the Germaine manner Moreover the armes of this Country is a black Bulls heads in a yellow field The Vrians Canton is divided into ten parts which they call Gnossaminem that is to shares or participations because those Senators onely which are elected out of them are capable of publicke offices are called to the annuall meetings The next is the Canton of the Suitians Suitia or Suicia is a Towne which communicateth his name to all Helvetia for they first built it who fled hither out of the Kingdome of Suecia to seeke themselves new habitations There is one of the three Cantons who joyned themselves in confederacie against the insolencie of the nobility and it brought forth many stout and able men for service who were often a terrour to their enemies All the Country doth live upon the fruites which the earth bringeth forth From this Towne or Canton strangers and forrainers doe call the Helvetians Suitzers because they fought first for liberty in their Country or because they contended long with the Eremitans and were the first of the 3 Towns of the Austrians that was inforced to breake into the Country and was the chiefest in power of al the three Cantons the other Cantons were comprehended under their name as being of most noate and from the name was afterward communicated to all the confederates or lastly because the Vrians Silvanians and Suitensians began the confederacy in their Towne The Country of the Suitzers is divided into five parts which they call Quartas retaining still the name of the new division in this new and sixtfold division There is also the Canton of lower Silvania which is commonly called Vnderwaldia This is a free Canton being mutually joyned in confederacy with Suitia and Vrania in the yeere of our Lord 1315. It is environd round about with the Alpes it hath pleasant pastures for breeding and feeding of Cattle by which the inhabitants of Syluania doe reape much profit But the Vrians the Suitensians the Silvanians or Vnderwaldians although by some covenants they were subject to the Abbies of certaine Monasteries yet they had liberties of their owne and received Praefects from the Empire which they call Voâ—tos by a Greek word as heretofore the Praefects of the Romanes For their office was the same with the Burgraues in these Countries For
River La Seine as it seemeth was so named from the Senones a people of Brittaine when they came into these Countries to vexe and disturb the French It riseth neere the Towne Soigni in Hannonia and so runneth to Halla and having glided by Bruxells it floweth by Viluorda and afterward bending toward Caecia it leaveth Mechlin on the right hand and having gone a little further it powreth it selfe into the River Dela Diza riseth neere the little Towne called Per and so turning Northward it watereth Eindovia and so keeping his former course it commeth to Silva Ducis beneath which it powreth it selfe into Mosa Demera doth slow forth neere the Tungrians in the Dioecese of the Leodiensians and so running West-ward it watereth Bilsenum ' Hasselt and Diest and from thence gliding by Sichenum and Arschotum it powreth it selfe into Dela Netha riseth neere the Towne Rhetum and floweth by the Towne Herentalls and from thence keeping a direct course it runneth to the Signiorie of Grobendoncke and having received the little River Aade it passeth by Lira and so watreth Dusten and Walem and a little further it mingleth it selfe with Dela Rueur or Rhoer which Tacitus calleth Adrana as Ritheimerus writeth doth rise neere the Towne Bullinge and cutting through Caesia it glideth by Dura and Iuliacum and at length neere Ruremunda which it nameth it falleth into Mosa There are also other lesser Rivers which for brevitie sake I forbeare to describe And I passe over also the Torrents and greater Rivers least I should be tedious to the Reader which doe not onely yeeld great store of fish but are also an ornament and fortification to the Country and are very convenient for the passing of commodities to and fro And the Country people by the helpe of these Rivers making Sluces and Dams to stay the water doe afterward digge channells for some miles together and after letting the water into them doe make them navigable so that there is no Cittie which hath not great Barkes which come up unto it But this Countrie hath but few fountaines or Springs of water except in the Mountainous places And thus having shewed the Rivers that are in the Low Countries it remaineth that wee should speake somewhat concerning the Ocean seeing in regard it is so neere unto it it may be counted not only a member of this Province but the chiefe head thereof I say therefore that the Ocean is wide and large and in rough weather it is fearefull and terribly furious for some times when tempests happen the waves goe so high that it doth overflow and drowne whole Countries and especially it breaketh oftentimes in about the coast of Zeland but the inhabitants doe cast up trenches and bankes which do prevent the danger which might ensue thereby unlesse when a westerne winde doth contend and blow against the spring tide The windes which doe most trouble the sea and thereby doe endanger the Countrie are the Northwest the West and the South windes Also it is much troubled at the New Moone or Full-moone and the two Aequinoctialls at which time as Cornelius Tacitus witnesseth the Sea doth swell very much For every new Moone and full Moone wee see that there are still the greatest tides and greatest tempests These tides doe produce some good and some evill effects As for the former it purgeth the water as common experience doth teach us and will not suffer it to corrupt and also it maketh ships sayle more speedily For as Vegesius saith Lib. 4. concerning Military matters Cap. 42. Haec reciprocantis meatus ambiguitas cursum Navium secunda adjuvat retardat adversa that is Those tides if they be with a ship doe hasten her course but being against her doe foreslow and stay her course The other evill effects are the inundations and violent irruptions of the Sea For the Ocean doth sometimes come up into the land with such violence that it driveth backe great Rivers and doth overflow spacious fields as we sayd before Pomponius Mela doth write as much and the miserable experience of many ages doth confirme it But so much concerning these things And now having spoken of the Detriment and losse which some Countries of this Province doe receive by the Ocean when it is rough and troubled we must speake somewhat of the commodities which the whole Province doth reape by it when it is quiet and peaceable which commodities are so many and so great that if they should want them the Country could not sustaine the halfe part of the inhabitants And hence it comes to passe that this Province is as it were the Haven and Mart of all Europe so that there is an infinite multitude of Merchants and Factors and as it were a confused Chaos of inhabitants and forreiners Besides the Ocean bringeth many commodities to this Country as Herring fishing and other fishings which serve not onely to satisfie the voluptuous desires of the rich but also to sustaine the poore and the inhabitants doe not onely get their foode but all their wealth by it For the over-plus of that which they take doth furnish a great part of France Spaine Germany England and other Countries yea great store of barreld salt-fish is sent even into Italy especially Salmones and Herrings Now there are three kinds of fish which they salt namely Herrings Codfish and Salmones But first we will speake of their Herring fishing of which they make a great commodity Herrings are found in no River nor in the Mediterranean Sea nor the Spanish nor any other Sea but onely in this Northerne Ocean their bignesse forme and goodnesse is sufficiently knowne And when they goe out of the Northerne Sea which is alwayes in the Spring time as if they fleeted from their owne native quarters and went to seeke shady places they come in such great shoales that no Nets can hold them but that they breake through them and do even darken the face of the Sea And many broade bottom'd vessells which they call Busses are set out from Holland Friesland France Brittaine and Scotland and doe all to avoyd contention fish in severall parts and quarters either about England or the Coasts of Scotland and the Orcades These fishes are unbowelled alive if it may be for assoone as they are out of the Sea waters they are dead by one who hath good wages for doing it and then another salts them and so they are presently barrelled up and afterward sold afterward the Herring men and Coupers doe salt them anew and take out the Pilchers which have no Milts nor Rowes they are barrell'd up againe with new pickle afterward they are surveyed by men sworne for that purpose and so sealed up in like manner as Diana's Priest did seale up red Vermilion as Galen witnesseth And these are the first kind of Herrings which with Plautus we may call salt or pickled Herrings the other sort are those which are lightly salted and so dryed in the smoake being as yellow as gold whence
how well ordered it is and how cleane it is kept in which without doubt it doth excell all the Nations of the World But the Low Countriemen are too much given to the Vice of drinking in which they take great delight so that oftentimes they never give over drinking day nor night and thereby besides other inconveniences they do much wrong their bodyes and witts and without doubt it is oftentimes the cause of their untimely death according to that of Propertius Vino forma perit vino corrumpitur aetas Wine maketh beautie fade And strength by Wine is decay'd And they themselves doe know it and confesse it and condemne themselves for it but in vaine for the evill custome doth prevaile over them Albeit they may be partly excused For seeing the ayre is alwayes moyst and melancholy they have no other meanes whereby to cure their hatefull and unwholsome Melancholy which Horace seemeth to intimate saying Vino pellite curas that is With wine drive cares away Which haunt us every day But it were to be wished that they would observe that noble saying of Terence Ne quid nimis Doe nothing too much which now the civiller sort doe begin to observe The inhabitants doe goe in good apparrell and are well complexioned Lastly they use much trading and traffique in which they are very skilfull And all the Low Countries for the most part doth subsist by Merchandising and Maechanicke Arts. THE COVNTIE OF FLANDERS FLanders although it be not of any great antiquitie yet no reason can be given for the name of it Some derive it from a Cittie of that name situated there where Ardenburg is now Others derive it from Flandbertus the sonne of Blesinda who was sister to Clodion King of France Flandbertus lived in the yeare of Christ 445. Some suppose that this Countrey was so named from Flandrina the wife of Lydericke the first Earle thereof Some derive it a flatu and fluctibus that is from the winde and waves which in regard of the neere Vicinitie of the Ocean doe beate upon this Countrie So that even to the yeare 1340. it was a caution used in selling or conveying of land that if the Sea broake into it within ten yeares afterward the contract and bargaine should be then voyde and of none effect The bounds of it now are on the South Artesia with Hannonia part of Picardie on the East Hannonia Brabant on the North the Ocean with Honta or the mouth of Scaldis which parteth Flanders from Zeland on the West the Brittish Ocean or Germaine Sea It is three dayes journey in length namely from Scaldis on the other side of Antwerp even to the new ditch which is 30 miles The breadth of it is twenty miles The ayre of the Country is temperate the soyle fertile especially that part which is neere the Ocean and France There are faire Meddowes which may appeare from hence in regard that Horse-riders doe yearely bring Colts out of other neghbour Countries into Franders which through the goodnesse of the pasture and sweetnesse of the ayre being leane before doe quickely grow fat and plumpe It breedeth also diverse sorts of tame Cattell very pleasant and delicate in taste and also an incredible sort of wilde beasts There are also divers kindes of fowles as Pheasants Partridges Peacockes Hernes and Storkes The inhabitants of this Country were heretofore so addicted to warre that they never scarsely lived quietly or peaceably so that their armies have invaded Syria and the holy Land and Hierusalem There are 30 walled Citties in Flanders Gandauum Bruges Ypra Insula Duacum Tornacum Cortracum Aldenarda Alostum Hulsta Teneramunda Birsletum Newporte Sluse Dunkerck Graveling Burburg Dammum Dixmuda Furna Ardenburgum Ninova Berga Gerardmontium Castâ—llum Donza Orchianum Lanoyum Axella and Ostend Besides these there are also free Townes which are not inferiour unto Citties neither for nobilitie or Priviledges nor magnificent structures or populousnesse as Bella Poperinga Hondtscota Eccloa Gistella Middleburrough and twenty others There are in all 1556 villages so that it is a usuall Proverbe that Flanders doth exceed all the Countries in the world and when the Spaniards came into this province with King Phillip they thought that all Flanders was but one Cittie It is now divided into three parts the Dutch the French and the Imperiall part The chiefe is Gandavum which was built by C. Iulius Caesar when he stayed in Morinium it is called in Dutch Gendt the Italians call it Guanto the French Gand. It is situate foure miles from the Sea and is watered with foure pleasant Rivers For Scaldis commeth to it out of Hannonia Lisa out of Artesia Livia out of the Haven or Sluce and Moero from the Ambactae It is ten miles distant from Antwerpe and as many from Bruxells Mechlin and Middleburrough The compasse of it within the walls is 45640 Romaine feete that is seaven Italian miles It hath 26. Islands and two hundred and eight Bridges and foure water mills And an infinite number of hand-mills And an hundred wind mills It hath five and fifty Churches and five Abbies The Citizens of this Citty are famous for Nobility wealth and courage Here the Emperour Charles the fifth was borne It also brought forth these learned men Iudocus Badius Iohannes Cornarius Laevinus Brechtus and the other Lavinus Torrentius Baldvinus Ronsaeus Vtenhovious and many others There are two and fiftie kindes of trades in this Cittie And seaven and twenty sorts of Weavers which were first instituted by the Earle Baldwin the sonne of Arnold the Great in the yeere 865. Brugae or Brugges taketh its name either from the many bridges belonging to it or from the bridge Brug-stocke neere Oldenburg and Ardenburg out of the ruines of which Cittie eight hundred yeeres before the Castell of Brugges was first built it is situated three miles from the Sea in a plaine place The compasse of it within the wall 26600 Romane feete that is foure Italian Miles and an halfe It is the pleasantest Cittie not onely in all Flanders but also in all the Low Countries it hath threescore Churches the chiefe and fairest whereof is Saint Domatians Church which was heretofore consecrated to the blessed Virgin it was built by Lidericke the first Earle of Flanders in the yeere 621. There are threescore and eight kindes of trades in it Ypra is so called from the little River Ypra that floweth by it commonly called Yperen it was built in the yeere 1060. The foundation of this Citty is sayd to be of Lead and that in regard of the many leaden pipes which doe convey water through the whole Cittie And these are the chiefe Citties The Havens follow Sluce is named from the Catarracts or falling of waters which the Flandrians doe call Sluys it is a Sea Towne it hath a great Haven wherein fifty ships may conveniently ride Over against it is the Isle Cadsant where George Cassander was borne Ostend is situated neere the
some places better than in others Heere is also great variety of living creatures and great stoare of Cattell and wilde beasts which I will not spend time to reckon up C. Iulius Caesar writeth that many kindes of wilde beasts are bred in the Wood Hercynia which are not seene in any other place of which saith hee those that differ most from the rest and are most worthy of remembrance are these there is a kinde of Oxe which is like a Hart which hath in the middle of his forehead one high horne and more straite than usuall from the toppe whereof large Antletts or Tines doe spread forth the male and femall are of one shape and have one as bigge hornes as the other There is also a beast called Alcis which is like unto a â—â—ate but it is somewhat bigger and having no hornes at all and their legges are without joynts so that they cannot by any meanes lye downe to their rest or if they fall downe by chance they cannot rise up againe therefore they leane against trees and so they take their rest and when the hunters have found by their footing where they usually haunt they either stub up all the trees or else they cut them halfe downe and so leave them standing So that when the beasts rest against them according to their usuall manner they overthrow the trees with their weight and so fall downe with them The third kind of beasts are those which are called Vri which are almost as bigge as Elephants and like Bulls in shape and colour they are very strong and swift and will prey on men and beasts these they usually take in trappes and so kill them But now I come to the auncient government The sacred Romaine Empire which being divided into the West and Easterne part was much weakned by the excursions of divers Nations and rent by civill dissentions was ready to be ruined by its owne weight having forsooke Italie did seeke defence and strength in no other Countrie but Germanie and chose Charles the Great King of France to be Emperour who as they report was borne at Ingelheimij which is a village Towne two miles from Moguntiacum and built there a famous Pallace whose ruines may be yet seene The Empire remained in Charles his line an hundred yeares and above which afterward failing it was translated to Conrade Duke of Franconia after whom followed Henry Fowler after him the three Ottoes the last whereof when he understood that the Romaines Crescentius being consull did affect and desire the title of the Empire he raysed an army and tooke Rome and obtayned of Pope Gregorie that the Germaines should have right and power to elect the Romaine Emperours But they obtayned it on this condition that he which was elected should be called Caesar and King of the Romaines and afterward having received a Crowne from the Pope he hath the title of Emperour Augustus There are 7 Electors ordained of which three are Archbishops and foure are saecular Princes as they call them where after the decease of Otto the first that was chosen Emperour was Henry surnamed the holy Afterward in processe of time there were divers officers constituted and ordained in Germany for the honour of the Empire concerning which see Mercator Tacitus who was governour of the Belgianâ— under Vespasian doth commend the Germaines in this short Elogiâ— thus Nemo bellum Germanis inquit intulit impuné None made warre upon the Germaines but they came by the losse Which three of Augustus Legions found being overcome and beaten by them Also Carbo Cassius Scaurus Aurelius Servilius Coepio Manlius all great Commanders who were slaine and put to flight And there are these auncient verses Welcher im Krieg wil ungluck han Der fang es mit den Deutschen an Iosephus calleth them valiant Dionysius Martiall Arrianus warlike The Germane is couragious fierce at an onset and desirous of warres as Seneca witnesseth in his booke de Ira. Moreover the Country of Germany is now so pleasant and so adorned with faire Citties Castells and Villages that it is not inferior to Italie France and Spaine There are 84 free Citties in it as Colonia Agrippina Wirtemberg Lubek Luneburg Franckfort Breme Lipsick Spires Argentine Friburg Augusta Vindelicorum Tubinga Heidelburg Ratisbone Vienna Prague Buda c. of which hereafter Germany also is watered with so many great Rivers beside Lakes and Marishes of which it hath great stoare that in this respect also it may compare with the chiefest Countries Seneca in his third booke of naturall questions sheweth the cause why it hath so many Rivers At contra ait constat Germaniam Galliamque proximè ab his Italiam abundare Râ—vis fluminibus quia coelo humido utuntur ne aestate quidem imbribus carent That is But on the contrary saith he it is manifest that Germany and France and Italy which is next unto them have great stoare of Rivers because they have a moyst aye and have often raine in Summer But these Rivers of Germiny are more famous as Danubius Rhene Amasis Moenus Necarus Albis Suevus Visurgis and Vistula That which Ptolomie and others doe call Danubius Plinny and Strabo doe call Ister the one saith that it changeth his name neere the Cataracts thereof the other where it washeth Illyrium Ptolemie saith that it changeth his name neere the Cittie Axipolis Appian neere the confluence and meeting of the River Savus so that the higher part is called Danubius and the lower part Ister Stephanus heretofore called it Matoas also Danubis and Danusis Festus calleth it Addubanus Ancient coynes doe name it Daunvius it is now called Done and Donaw from the noyse and sound of the waters as Althamerus saith Salust writeth that this is the greatest River next to Nile which floweth into the Mediterranian Sea and Arrianus lib. 1. of the acts of Alexander calleth it the greatest River It riseth in the wood Hercynia in the village Don Eschingen where it springeth out of the bowells of the Earth The auncients doe call the Mountaine out of which it riseth Abnoba although as Munster an eye-witnesse writeth there is no mountaine nere it but it falleth with a continual running streame from a little hill which is scarse 15 or 16 foote high He addeth that Tiberius had a desire to see the spring head thereof Herodotus beleeved that it rose out of the Pyrenaean Mountaines whose opinion Aristotle also followed 2. Meteorologicor Maginus placeth those Pyrenaean hills in Germany thereby to excuse the errour of grave writers As soone as it glideth from the fountaine it runneth abroad through Moarish places and afterward it gathers it selfe into a Channell and so being encreased by receiving other Rivers it runneth through many countries as Sucuia Pannonia Dacia Bulgaria untill at last having received 6 navigable Rivers it rowleth into the Sea with five streames or mouthes as Dionysius Strabo and Herodotus doe mention Plinny saith with sixe and Amianus and Solinus with seaven and
Elve and Elbe doe signifie in the Germaine language eleven The seaventh River is Suevus which some doe call Vtadrum and corruptly it is called Odera the spring head whereof is in the Mountaine Oderberg and so being encreased by the addition of many Rivers it glideth by Frankford a famous Vniversity and from thence it runneth by Stetinum the seate of the Sidinonians which is a Sea towne of Traffiques and from thence it windeth to the Episcopall Citties of Carminum and there making a great Lake it emptieth it selfe into the Germaine Ocean For they are in an error who suppose that Sprea or de Spree is the River Suevus although the aforesaid Sprea is accounted a famous River which flowing by Brandenburg doth runne into Albis neere to Haneloburg of which opinion is Bilibaldus who writeth that the River Sprea runneth into the Ocean neere to the Cittie Sunda The River Visurgis followeth commonly called de Weser Dionysius Lib. 55. calls it Ousiourgos Ovid calls it Iturgum in that verse Decolor infesta testis Iturgus aqua Ptolemie calls it Visurigis and Strabo Bisurgis and Adamus in his Ecclesiasticall history Visuris and Sidonius Vesatis It ariseth out of Hassia and having watered the Citties Werdensis Mindensis Gotingensis and Bremensis it rowleth it selfe into the Ocean and is there called Vesera The last river is Vâ—stula or Istula which Bilibaldus calleth Vandalum This River bounders Germany because Ptolemie doth place the European Sarmatia beyond it Iornandes calls it Scythia which running by the Sarmatian rockes doth water Cracovia which is the Metropolis of the Kingdome of Poland and being growne greater by the receipt of Rivers it doth discharge it selfe into the Sea with three inletts or mouthes from hence it floweth by Dantzick and afterward by Elbinga an Vniversity of the Borussians and thirdly by the Towne Loctetum and so doth poure it selfe into the Venedician Bay There are also many other famous Rivers which doe either runne into the Sea or into some greater River which I passe over least I should be tedious Now I come to the Germaine Sea For seeing we purpose to describe al Germanie we must add somthing concerning the Sea which washeth the shore thereof But in regard we have entreated otherwhere more largely concerning the Sea and especially in the generall description of Belgia we will speake first concerning the tide of the Sea and afterward we will reckon up the properties of the Germaine Sea It is manifest that the Moone is the cause of the tides of the Ocean But as the Moone hath divers changes in her motion so the tides doe also change For they following the Moone doe flow twice betweene the rising thereof and doe ebbe twice in foure and twentie houres so that the Seas doe flow twice and ebbe twice every day they flow when the Moone ascendeth above the Easterne Horizon and do ebb when it declineth from the Meridian westward and it floweth againe when the Moone goeth downe under the earth and commeth to the contrary part of the Meridian and so likewise it ebbeth untill it rise againe But as the Moone does not alwayes rise at one time and in one place but every day riseth in another place than it did before so the tides doe not flow at certaine houres but at that time when the Moone passeth through the Poles of the heavens Moreover it is to bee noted that the full Moone doth move the Sea in another manner than the halfe Moone For this Luminarie hath greater force when it is at the full than when it is weake and in the waine We use to call those tides which are at the full of the Moone Sprinckuloedt that is a Spring-tide Which Agel Lib. 14. concerning the Ocean doth elegantly call the Moones companion seeing it followeth the age and increase thereof and also he noteth some aspects and configurations As for example sake if the Moone have a fit aspect unto Venus and doe run through moist houses it doth wonderfully increase the tides of the sea but if it be aspected with Mars or dry Planets it doth lessen the tides Here also the ascention of the signes is to be noted But if the Moon be in signes of a right ascension it maketh the tides longer than if it were in signes of oblique ascension for it is observed that the tides are never equall to the ebbes in continuance of time but when the Moone is in the Equinoctiall signes and hath no Latitude Besides some parts of the water doe finde a greater influence proceeding from the beames of the bodie of the Moone either in regard of the rectitude and straightnesse of the beames or some other hidden qualitie But the Moone hath a different influence when it is Northward and another when it is Southward for when it is heere it encreases the tides on the Southerne shoares and when it is there on the Northerne shoares Moreover the Tides of the Sea are greater in some places and in other places very small or none at all For as concerning this our Germaine Sea it is certaine that there are scarce any tides which can be perceived but as the Sea is carried with the windes it floweth now here and now there for when it is an East wind the Sea goeth very high and driveth backe Rivers neither doth it flow onely to the Sea side but it overflowes the Land And whereas the Spanish and Atlanticke Ocean is of an unsearchable deapth so that a line of three hundred or foure hundred fathom cannot found the bottome of it yet the Germaine Sea in the most parts is but 60. Cubits deepe and never above an hundred Cubits except on some shoares of Norway which are thought to be of an insearchable depth Moreover it is worthy to be mentioned that whereas all other Seas are bitter and salt our Sea hath sweete waters and not unpleasant to drinke and that in regard that many great fresh Rivers doe runne into it out of the Sarmatian Mountaines and because the Sunne is too weake in those places to exhale and draw up the lighter and thinner parts of the water which some make to bee the chiefe cause of the saltnesse of the Sea Which reason if it were good and probable then the Amalchian Sea also and the Chronian Sea should not be salt which is otherwise Wherefore it is rather to be held that the melted snow and the aforesayd Rivers flowing downe out of the Sarmatian Mountaines doe make this Sea cleere and sweete Whereby it comes to passe that other Seas doe more easily carry vessells of great burden than this And the reason is because the water of the salt Sea is of a thicker substance while the thinner waters doe yeeld to the least waight It is easier also to swim in this Sea than in others Yet it maketh Sea men more sicke in regard the waves goe very high so that sometimes they seeme to touch the Clouds and then fall againe and breake into deepe valleyes This Sea in
names some prophane and some sacred The prophane heathen names are Ianus Albula Rumen and Tiberis the Divine is Serra Athenaeus reporteth that it was anciently called Ianus from the God Ianus It appeares in Varro and others that it was called Albula which Paulus Diaconus Servius doe derive ab albo colore from the white colour of it who sheweth also that it was called Rumon But the chiefest name of this River was and is Tiber of which there are divers Etymologies Some doe derive it from Tibris a King of the Aborigines Festius and Servius say that hee was King of the Tussians Livy Ovid Festus Pompeius and Eusebius doe derive it from Tiberinus Silvius Prince of the Albanians Varro delivers that this River was called Dehiberim from Dehebris an Earle of the Vejentians Servius saith that it was called in the Scripture by a sacred name Serra a secando from cutting So much concerning the names in which it is to bee noted that there was a difference observed in the pronunciation of these words Tiberis Tibris and Tiberini For in common speech it was called Tiberis in Poesy Tibris and in holy writers Tiberinus as Servius noteth which is not alwayes true It was called commonly Tevere The head of Tiber is in the Apennine Mountaines in the middle of it neere the confines of the Aretineans in that parte where the Fountaine of Arnus is above Aretium It is a small streame at first like a little Rivilet but when it hath runne forward it increaseth but a little in regard it receaveth no great streames but such as proceede from small Fountaines but afterward by the receipt of some Rivers it groweth larger and is Navigable for boates and little vessels even to Rome and so running not farre from Tiphernum Perusia Otriculus it divideth Eturia from the Vmbrian and Sabinians and afterward 13. Miles from Rome it divideth the Vesentians from the Crustiminians and Fidenations also it seperateth Latium from Vaticanum and is so great and broade a River at Rome so that they cannot passe over it but by Bridges or Boates as Halicarnassaeus writeth and from thence it runneth forward and rowleth into the Tyrrhene Sea Pliny in his 3. Booke Cap. 4. and Servius Lib. 7. of his Aeneads doe describe the course of this River See also Florus Lib. 1 Histor Rom. Cap. 4. and Varao Lib. 4. de L. L. Paulus Iovius writ a Booke concerning the fish in Tiber Pliny Lib. 3. Cap. 4. affirmeth that 42. Rivers doe runne into Tiber. The River Arnus followeth which Livy Pliny and others have mentioned Strabo and Ptolemy doe call it Arnus and in Italian it is called Arvo It riseth as Strabo reporteth on the right side of the Apennine Mountaine It is a small streame at the beginning and runneth westward through the steepe rocks and valleys and afterward being encreased by the receipt of many Torrents and Rivers it entreth into the Florentine fields and having divided Florentine and Pisa it runneth to the Sea Virgill Strabo Pliny and others doe call that Mincius which the Italians doe now call Mencio of Menzio This River having entred into the cleare Lake Bennacum and having encompassed Mantua 13. Miles from thence it runneth into Padus Livy Plinie Silius Polybius Strab. Plut. Ptol. Steph. doe call it Ticinus The Itenarie Tables call it qâ—icenus it is now called Tisino It riseth out of the Mountaine Sumano which is now called the Mountaine of S. Gothard from whence Rhene Rhodanus Athesis and other Rivers doe runne divers wayes Out of this Mountaine it runneth by the Lepontians Southward among the steepe Rocks to Belinzona a strong Towne and afterward growing greater by the aversion of many Rivers and Torrents it rowleth it selfe into the Lake Verbanum through which it runneth as Pliny affirmeth and so returning through the Plaine it runneth with a cleare streame into Padus The water of this River is so cleare that you may see any thing in the bottome of it It hath also some vaines of gold and silver which may be seene in the sands The River Ollius which in Italian is called Oglio hath great stoare of good fish especially of that sort which they call in Italian Thymallo In this River neere the Pallace a great many wicker wares are set and at certaine seasons of the yeare the water brings downe infinite stoare of Eeles into them which are taken out and salted To search out the rising of this River would be troublesome The common received opinion is that two small Rivers doe runne out of the Lake Frigidulph which is betweene the Alpes the one on the right hand is called Fridigulph and at length is joyned with Ollius the other on the left hand doth runne with another River and from thence the River Ollius beginneth Others make other conjectures It runneth into the Lake Iseum neere the Towne Pisonium it watereth the fields of Brixianum and Cremona and make their barren soyle very fruitefull and it seperateth the Brixian Country from Cremonia and Bergoma It receaveth above 37. other Rivers Pliny and Tacitus doe call that River Abdua or Addua which Polib and Strab. doe call Adovas it is commonly cal'd Adda It divideth the Cenomanians from the Insubrians It riseth in the Mountaine Baulius and Strab. noteth that it taketh his force from the Mountaine Adula And so returning from the Lake Larius through which it runneth it windeth through the Plaine toward Padus and bringeth with it many other Rivers as Pilclavo Meyra Lira Tarlene Lacieumortum Brembrum and Serimortum and also Serius which rising in the Mountaines above Bergomum and flowing by Seriana in the winter time it hides himselfe in his channell and runns under ground and afterward rising up againe neere Crema it runneth into Addua but in Summer by reason that the heate of the Sun melteth the snow upon the Mountaines it doth so increase and swell that it doth not onely fill those subterranean channels and windings under the earth but also it continually overfloweth the upper face of the earth I passe over the other Rivers which are many for brevitie sake The Seas Baies and Havens doe follow The higher Sea the lower Sea and the Ionian Sea doe encompasse three sides of Italie Whence Pliny thus concerning Italie Tot Maria portus gremiumque Terrarum comercio patens undique tanqam ad invandos mortales ipsa â—vide in mare procurrens that is there are so many Seas and Havens as if the Country did spread and lay open her bosome for traffique and Commerce and for the good of men shee shooteth herselfe farre into the Sea It hath many Bayes as Rappalinus Froycis Amuclanum Mare the Bayan Baye the Paestanian Bay Hypponiates Scyllericus the Tarentine Bay Vrtas the Tergestine the Largian and Flanitian After the Bayes I will name the Havens Strabo Lib. 6. write that Italie for the most part hath no Havens and those which it hath are very great and strong both to prevent the invasion of enemies and for
or of any rare and unusuall Creature or of the continuall burning of the Mountaine Aetna also of divers Islands lying here and there in the great Ocean and also of Salvage Nations some whereof goe naked without cloathes others feede on mans flesh and the like matters or doe reade the wonderfull histories of the East and West Indies in which there are many things which doe rather seeme fabulous than true doe apprehend them with such great admiration and give such earnest attention thereunto out of the desire which they have to heare such novelties how much more may the curious Readers delight in this worke which as we said before doth containe and represent the whole Globe of the Earth with all the Countries Kingdomes Dominions Woods Mountaines Valleys Rivers Lakes People Citties and innumerable Townes thereof with the Seas flowing about it all which any one may here view on dry land without endangering his body or goods and in this travell his friends shall not be sollicitous or take care for him in his absence or earnestly desire his returne Besides in this peregrination or travell he shall want no delight that may drive away the tediousnesse of the journey for while he fixeth his eyes on severall Countries and places he shall straight way behold the speciall gifts and peculiar excellencie of every Country and observe a wonderfull variety therein which are very delightfull to the mind for as the Proverbe saith A good merry companion is as a Coach upon the way But they shall chiefely discerne the great and manifold benefits of this Art of Geography who in their eye-travell and viewing of severall Countryes shall consider the scituation and disposition of Countries the Customes observations lawes and manners of the Inhabitants and shall afterwards traffique and send commodities to severall places or resolve to study the liberall Arts seeing no Poet nor Historian can be well read with profit nor be conveniently expounded or declared by any Interpreter or Commentator without the helpe and knowledge of this most Noble Science I omit here to mention how absurd and unfit it is that he who hath no skill nor knowledge in these matters should give his opinion and judgement in the publicke assembly or councell of the Common-wealth when consultation is held about the discovery of some unknowne Country or in time of warre concerning the bounds and confines of any Province But Princes and Noble men ought chiefely to bestow great paines in studdying this most excellent Art in regard it may be very usefull unto them in undertaking journies and voyages when occasion requireth as also at home for fortifying the Frontiers of their owne Territories or the directing and conducting of any warlike expedition For that irrecoverable dangers have ensued when an army hath beene led through places unknowne both to the souldiers and Captaine both Livy and many other Historiographers have abundantly testified by cleere and manifest examples And moreover as it is very necessary profitable and pleasant to know all Countries Kingdomes Dominions and Provinces with their scituation disposition and qualities so in like manner the severall Seas Rivers Lakes and memorable waters thereof ought to be considered exactly in these times when voyages are so frequently made unto knowne and unknowne Countries so that not any one will continually reside at home and abstaine from making discoveries both by Sea and Land So that Polidore Virgils complaint is now vaine who in the fifteenth chapter of the third Booke concerning the Invention of Matters doth condemne mankind of too much rashnesse and madnesse in regard he cannot bridle his affections and desires with reason and though God hath given him the Earth being a firme and immovable element abundantly producing all things necessary and convenient for mans life yet he being not content therewith hath made a Scrutiny and search into the starres the heavens and the vaste Seas To the same purpose Horace sung formerly in his first Booke and third Ode He had a heart of Oake or Brasse Who did lanch forth a brittle ship to passe At first through the rough Seas And did not feare when he set forth The Affrick wind striving with the North wind c. And a little after in the same place No sort of death he sure did feare That saw the Monsters swimming there And could behold them with drye eyes With the swelling Sea and rockes which in it lyes And afterward he addeth In vaine did God divide the land from the unsociable Seas If impious ships can sayle unto forbidden Ports when they doe please But mankind bold still to adventure doth on forbidden mischiefe enter c. And hereunto Propertius in his third Booke doth allude in that Elegie wherein he be wayleth Petus his Shipwracke where he singeth thus Goe crooked shippes of death the fatall cause Which on himselfe man with his owne hand drawes Vnto the earth wee added have the Seas That the miseries of misfortunes may increase And a little after Nature to ensnare the covetous man Doth let him sayle upon the Ocean But these reasons are not able to discourage any one but rather to quicken their industry greedily to take any occasion to know view and discover divers Countries both neerehand and remote partly by undertaking long voyages and those that cannot conveniently travell may gather the knowledge of all Countries out of Bookes and exact descriptions And truely that studdy is irreproveable so that it ought rather to be accounted laudible profitable pleasant and necessary For Strabo in the first Book of his Geography saith rightly that man ought to live on the Sea as well as on the land and that God made him equally an Inhabitant and Lord thereof Therefore they deserve great praise who have laboured in this Art as Abraham Orâ—elius Daniel Cellarius Anthony Maginus Paul Merula Peter Bertius and others but especially that most learned Mathematician Gerard Mercator although he were prevented by death so that he could not finish his Geographicall worke intituled Atlas But Iodocus Hondy did supply this defect adding not onely those Tables which were wanting to make the worke perfect but also accurate descriptions thereof by the labour and studdy of Peter Montane This worke we doe publish againe in this new Edition being accurately reuised and purged from many grosse errours and the studious Reader shall finde that the enlargement of this Booke is not to be contemn'd being set forth with divers additions and some new Tables added as he may see in the descriptions of England Ireland Spaine Friesland Groonland Vltrajectum and other Countries that shall compare this Edition with the former Therefore Curteous Reader enjoy these our new labours favour them and Farewell TO The vertuous and learned Gentlemen of Innes of Court Mercator dedicateth his Atlas or Cosmographicall Meditations TO you that are the Ornament of the Temples And by your actions give such faire Examples Vnto the Vulgar that their Iudgements can Discerne that Vertue makes a Gentleman
one certaine point and also Mathematicians prove by the Eclipses and shadowes of Dyalls Besides it is found out by the long and certaine observations of Travellers that the longitudes and latitudes of places doe varie according to their severall distances so that it is most certaine without any farther demonstration that there are Perioeci that is to say those that dwell under the same Parallel and Antoeci that is those that dwell alike distance from the Aequator but the one Northward and the other Southward and Antipodes that is people dwelling on the other side of the earth with their feet directly against ours Antiquitie sheweth that the compasse of this Globe where it is largest is 360 degrees and this latter age doth affirme the same wherefore if to every degree you allow 15 Germane miles or 60 Italian miles it will be easie to finde out the circuit of the whole earth All the parts whereof as Plinie saith in his 2 d booke of Naturall Historie Cap. 68. and as others also have delivered are but a point in respect of the World for the whole Earth is no better This is the matter and seate of our glory here we beare honours here we exercise government here wee covet riches here men doe make tumults and wage civill warres thereby to make themselves roome upon the earth by slaughtering one another And that I may passe over the publicke furie of nations this is it in which we drive forth our bordering neighbours and by stealth encroach upon their Country so that hee that hath most enlarged his territories and driven the adjoyning inhabitants from their bounds in how small a part of earth doth he rejoyce or when hee hath enlarg'd it to the measure of his owne covetousnesse what portion doth hee obtaine for all his labour Thus farre Plinie And let this suffice concerning the earth as it does make one Globe with the Sea Now as it is distinguisht from the waters and called in the Scriptures drie land it is the proper habitation of men And for the great desert thereof we give it the name of Mother This receiveth us at our birth nourishes us being borne and being once brought to light it doth alwayes sustaine us Lastly when we are cast off and forsaken by nature then chiefly like a mother shee hides us in her bosome This also is to be added that a Promontorie is called a part of land lying out farther than the rest and OF THE WORLD TYPUS ORBIS TERRARUM יהוה Domini est terra plenitudo eius orbis terrarum universi qui habitant in eo Psalmo 24. is contrary to a Bay Such are the Lacinian and Sephyrian in the farthest part of Italie the Lilybaean in Sicilie and the Sigaean in Asia That is called an Iland which is washed on every side with the Sea such are Crete Cyprus Sicilie c. A Paeninsula is that which is joyned to the Continent by a narrow ridge of Land which the Greekes call Isthmos and the Paeninsula it selfe Chersonesus such are the golden Chersonesus the Cimbricke the Dacike the Tauricke and others In this place something also is to be added concerning the Sea one Sea is called the Mediterranean the other the Ocean The Ocean which the holy Scripture doth call the gathering together of the waters doth exceed all the other Seas in bignesse and largenesse and is spread abroad through the whole earth and wandring with a winding course by diverse coasts of the world and by the Shoares Iles and Promontories of severall Nations it changeth its name with those places As in one place it is called the Westerne Ocean in other places the Easterne Aethiopian Spanish Atlanticke Scythian French Brittish Germane Northerne and Frozen and elsewhere by moderne observation it is called Mare del Sur or the peaceable Sea the Archipelagus of Lazarus the Indian Sea Lantchidol There are many Bayes belonging to it as the Arabian the Persian the Gangeticke the Great the Sarmaticke the Mexican and the Vermilian There are two famous Streights of the Ocean the one of Gibraltar the other of Magellan to which may be added Ania which lyeth between the farthest Westerne parts of America and the Easterne parts of Tartaria The Mediterranean Sea divideth Africke from Europe and hath diverse names according to the situation of diverse Countries As the Iberian the Balearick the French the Tuscane the Sicilian the Adriatick the Ionian Cretian Aegyptian Pamphilian Syrian Aegean Myrtian Icarian and the Sea of Propontis Concerning the motion of the Sea which they call the Tide seeing it is a matter most worthy of admiration we are to speake something of it in this place The Tide is said to be a motion of the Sea wherby it floweth upward having finished his course ebbeth backe againe As there is one cause thereof so there are many events and effects concerning it For in some places there is little or no Tide at all On the Northerne Coast of the Pacificke Sea there is none In the Tuscan Tyrrhene and Narbonian Sea in the Celtiberian Sea at Barchino and in the Mexican at Cuba with the neighbouring Islands there is none at all But elsewhere it is great as at Bengala in the Indies neere to Ganges in the Gothicke Germane Brittish and Portugall Ocean and so great in the Erythrean that the despisers of holy Scriptures have fained that Moses used to passe over on dry-land by the opportunitie of the Ebbe which could not be because even to Sues which lyeth backward the Sea covereth that Shoare neither going backward doth it leave it so naked as that by its ebbing it should discover the lower parts over which the Hebrewes passed The Tides in the Ocean are alwaies greates then those in Bayes yet are they more discerned about the shoares then in the deep But concerning them we will speake more in another place The Sea is not altogether barren but bringeth forth Fish Plants and pretious stones and it is to be noted how Nature with Dedalus cunning hath represented in the Sea all the chiefest things which are seene either on the Earth or in the Aire I let passe the Sea-Elephants the Sea-Hogges the Torteises Dog-fishes Sea-calves Sea-horses I omit the Falcons and Sea-swallowes seeing Nature hath exprest even man himselfe in the Mairman in the Siren and Nereides and also in the Monke-fish as for the Corrall the Pearles the Amber Gumme Sponges and infinite other things Whom do they not worthily draw into the admiration and adoration of Gods power But of this wee have spoken sufficiently Let us come now to the distribution of the Globe of the Earth The Ancients have divided the Globe of the Earth sometimes into two parts sometimes into three the division into three parts Europe Asia Africke or Libya is most famous among the Ancients to whom the new World was not yet knowne But America being found our age hath added
mans life Yet it hath not vines everywhere but where wine is wanting it supplies the defect thereof with drinke made of fruits This for here I cannot refraine from praising it is the mother of the Conquerours of the World Here Macedon did heretofore bring forth Alexander Italie the Romanes who in a certaine succession God in his Eternall Providence so decreeing did conquer the whole World so farre as it was knowne and Germany doth at this day bring forth Princes of great Prowes Have not here beene borne many noble Heroes which have added to their Empire America unknowne as the most do suppose to the Ancients and the better and stronger parts of Asia and Africke Is it not the onely mother of many Kings and Princes fighting in Christs cause This our Europe besides the Romane Empire hath above eight and twentie Kingdomes instructed in Christian Religion if we adde the foureteene which Damianus à Goes reckons to be in Spaine whence wee may estimate the dignitie of this Countrie what shall I speake of the populousnesse and renowne of the cities thereof Heretofore Africa hath beene proud of her Carthage Asia hath beene puffed up with her three Cities Babilon Ninivie and Hierusalem America doth glory at this day in Cusco and new Spaine in Mexico but who seeth not in these times the like and greater almost in every Countrie of Europe Let any one in his minde onely walke over Italy for this doth afford an example of all the rest the sumptuous magnificence of Rome the Royall wealth of Venice the honourable Nobilitie of Naples the continuall commerce and traffique of Genoa the happie and fertile pleasantnesse of Millaine and the famous wonders and commodities of other places So that the other parts of the World may be silent for none are equall to Europe The Countries in it as they are now called are Spaine France Germanie Italie Hungarie Transilvania Dalmatia Greece Poland Lithuania Moscovie Russia Denmarke Swethland Norway besides the Isles in the Northerne Ocean which are England Scotland Ireland Island Frisland and others in other places and those in the Mediterranean Sea as the Baleares which are two Isles in the Spanish Sea called Majorica and Minorica also Corsica Sardinia Sicilia with the Isles of Malta Corfu Creete and many others And as for the Lakes standing Pooles Rivers and Waters having diverse vertues in them which beside their fish whereof they yeeld an incredible company are as it were a wall unto Countries who can number them What should I mention the Seas it would be tedious in this place to reckon up their commodities profits and delights these things shall therfore be unfolded in their proper places Europe doth not want Mountaines among which the Pirenean hills and the Alpes are alwaies white with continuall snow and it hath many woods and forrests which afford pasturage for cattell and have few harmefull beasts in them What should I speake of the private or publique workes both sacred and profane that are in this part of the World Here are innumerable magnificent Temples innumerable Abbies many famous Pallaces of Kings innumerable faire and magnificent houses belonging to Noble-men and Princes and many rare buildings both publique and private We have here Justice and Lawes we have the dignitie of Christian Religion we have all the delights of mankinde we have the strength of Armes innumerable Senators Men venerable both for Wisedome and Learning and if you please to compare famous men together there was never so great a company of Heroes and Noble men in other parts of the World as in any one part of Europe Besides this part of the World is so studious of Arts and Sciences that for the invention and preservation of many things it may worthily be called the Mother and Nurse of Wisedome In this are many excellent and flourishing Universities but in other Countries there is nothing but meere Barbarisme It would be too much to reckon up the vertues of the Inhabitants but as for the vices as who is without some they are noted in some short sayings which I will here adde The people of Franconia are foolish rude and vehement The Bavarians are prodigall gluttons and railers The Grisons are light talkative and braggers The Turingi are distrustfull and contentious The Saxons dissemblers craftie selfe-willed The Low-country-men are horsemen delicate and tender The Italians proud desirous of revenge and wittie The Spaniards haughtie wise covetous The French eloquent intemperate and rash The People of Denmarke and Holsteine are great of stature seditious and dreadfull The Sarmatians great eaters proud and stealers The Bohemians inhumane new-fangled and robbers The Illyrians unconstant envious seditious The Pannonians cruell and superstitious The Greekes miserable And there is another saying no lesse pleasant A Bridge in Poland a Monke of Bohemia a Knight of the South a Nunne of Suevia the Devotion of Italie the Religion of Prutenicks the Fasts of Germans and the Constancie of Frenchmen are nothing worth AFRICKE AFRICKE followes which was so called if we beleeve Nisias from Afer a companion of Hercules who accompanied him even as faire as Calis But if we trust Iosephus and Isidorus from one of the posteritie of Abraham whose name was Afer or as Festus doth suppose from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies cold for it is free from cold because the most part of it is situated betweene the Tropicks The Arabians doe call it Fricchia from the word Farruca which with them signifies to divide for Africke is almost divided from the other parts of the Earth Or else it was so called from Ifricus a King of Arabia Foelix who they report did first inhabite this Country The Greekes call it Libya either from Libya the daughter of Epathus or from the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies stonie or because Libs or the Southwest-wind bloweth from thence In the Scriptures it is called Chamesia the Arabians and Aethiopians doe call it Alkebula and the Indians Besechath The Aequinoctiall Circle doth almost cut the middle part of Africke The AFRICKE AFRICAE DESCRIPTIO Tropicks passe not beyond it either Northward or Southward but it is stretched out beyond either of them ten degrees and more It is bounded towards the North with the Mediterranean Sea and the Streights of Hercules towards the East with the Arabian Bay or the Erythraean Sea and with the Isthmus which is betweene the Mediterranean Sea and the Arabian Bay to the South it is washed with the Aethiopian Ocean and on the West with the Atlanticke It hath the forme of a Peninsula which is joyned to Asia by the Isthmus above mentioned And though the length thereof which lyeth from West to East is shorter then the length of Europe yet the length thereof from the North toward the South is such as Europe can hardly be compared with it for it taketh
delusions of the Devill Crantzius and Olaus doe write that the Islanders for the most part doe dwell in Caves which they digge in the sides of the Mountaines especially in the Winter time But Ionas on the contrary saith that there are many Temples and houses built of wood very faire and costly The Island hath two Cathedrall Bishopricks as Holar or Hallen under which are the Monasteries Pingora Remested Modur Munkeniere and Scalholt under which are those Monasteries Videy Pyrnebar Kirckebar and Shieda Yet wee understand by the writings of Velletus the Authour of this Table that there are nine Monasteries in it and three hundred and nine and twenty Churches The Bishops are sent thither out of the Universitie of Hassnia the only University in Denmarke one of them governeth the Northerne part of the Island the other the Southerne And each of them hath a free Schoole joyned to his house in which hee is bound to be at the cost of the bringing up and teaching of foure and twentie Children The Inhabitants live eate and lodge in the same houses with their Cattell They live in a holy simplicity seeking nothing more than what Nature grants them for the Mountaines are their Townes and the Fountaines their delight A happie Nation not envied by reason of their poverty and so much the happier because it hath received the Christian Religion Yet the English and Danish Merchants doe trouble their quiet not suffering them to be content with their owne for they frequenting this Island to bring away fish from thence have brought among them their vices together with their wares The memorable acts of their Ancestours they doe celebrate in Verse and doe keepe them from oblivion by engraving them on Rocks They live for the most part by Fish which being dryed and beaten and so made into a kinde of meate they use at their Table instead of bread But the wealthier doe eate bread twice baked Heretofore they dranke water and the richer milke but now they have learned to mingle corne with it which is brought hither from other places and they scorne to drinke water since strangers have begun to traffick with them For those of Lubeck Hamburrough and Rostoch comming every yeare with their ships to this Island doe bring thither corne bread beere wine honey English cloathes linnen cloth iron steele gold silver womens coyfs and wood for building houses and ships and they doe expect for these Iselandish cloth commonly called Watman great store of Brimstone dried fish butter tallow hides skins of wilde beasts foxes white faulcons horses and the like Here is so great plenty of fish that they lay them in great heapes out of doores and so sell them the heapes being higher than the tops of their houses There is also so great store of salt butter that they put it up in sweet chests of fortie foot long and five foote deepe besides that which they barrell up And here we will adde Erasmus Michael's Verses concerning Iseland as hee hath them in his third Booke Of Sea matters Vltima Parrhasias Islandia spectat in Arctos c. The farthest part of Iseland looketh North And Westward some Degrees it is streight forth Which hath not onely a rich pleasant soyle While as it doth the yellow Brimstone boyle Within its cavernes blinde which at the last All mingled with sand it forth doth cast Or when the Meddowes bring forth fodder store And all the vales with grasse are clothed o're But when upon the shore it fish doth heape Whose number can't be told it is so great Or he distinguisht every severall sort Which it by shipping doth abroad transport For though here plenty of all things is found Yet most of all in fish it doth abound 'T is rich the Inhabitants are stout of minde And where it lyes against the Southerne winde Hecla still burneth with continuall flame Which it at open holes sends forth againe It casts forth ashes with a fearfull sound While pitchie flames doe to the Starres rebound THE ILES OF BRITTAINE ENGLAND SCOTLAND AND IRELAND WITH THE ILANDS LYING ROVND ABOVT THEM BRITTAINE containeth all those Ilands which lying betweene Spaine and Germany are stretched forth in a great quantitie of Land toward France Lhuyddus saith that not long agoe it was called Prydanium S r Thomas Eliott would have it called Prytania being incited thereunto through the love of contention rather then truth against the authority of Aristotle Lucretius Iulius Caesar and other ancient Writers But because heretofore all the Brittaines did paint themselves with woade which gave them a blewish colour that so their faces might be more terrible against their enemies in war and in regard that in their ancient Language they did call any thing that was painted and coloured Brit some doe rightly suppose that the Graecians understanding that the inhabitants were called Brith and Briton did adde to Brith Tania which signifies a Country and therefore Brittaine was called the Country of Brittaines that is the Country of painted and coloured men like as Mauritania is called so of the Moores Lusitania from Lusus and Aquitania the Region of Waters Brittaine is endowed by Nature with all guifts both of Aire and Soyle in which neither the cold of winter is too violent as the Oratour hath it speaking to Constantine nor the heate of Summer and it is so fruitfull in bearing corne that it is sufficiently stored with Bread and Drink Here the woods are without wilde beasts and the earth without harmefull Serpents On the contrary innumerable flockes and heards of tame cattell full of milke and loaden with their fleece yea whatsoever is necessary to life is here the dayes are very long so that the nights are not without some light and the Sunne which seemeth in other Countries to goe downe and set doth seeme here only to passe by Among all the Iles of Brittaine two do exceed the rest in greatnesse Albion under which are contained England and Scotland and Ireland The greatest of these is Albion now alone called Brittaine which was a name formerly common to them all and this name is rather deduced out of Books than used in common speech only the Scots doe yet call themselves Albinich and their Country Albin Concerning the name of Albion the Grecians first gave it to this I le for distinction sake seeing all the neighbour Ilands were called the Iles of Brittaine so that it did first arise from the vaine and fabulous lightnesse of the Grecians in faigning names For seeing they called Italy from Hesperus the sonne of Atlas Hesperia France from the sonne of Poliphemus Gallatia c. It is not unlikely that they fabulously named this Iland Albion from Albion the sonne of Neptune which Perottus and Lilius Giraldus THE ISLES OF BRITTAINE ANGLIA SCOTIA et HIBERNIA doe confirme Others would derive it from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which as Festus witnesseth in Greeke signifies white whence also the Alpes are so called
melted never hardneth againe but alwayes runneth abroad like oyle Coila followeth which Galloway doth bound on the South on the East it toucheth Clidesdale on the West it is divided from Cunningam by the River Vrwyn the River Aire THE SECOND TABLE OF SCOTLAND Scotiae tabula II. runnes through the middle hereof on which is seated Ayr a faire Market Towne For the generall this Country hath greater plenty of valiant men then of fruit or cattle for it is altogether of a light sandie soyle which doth sharpen the industrie of the Inhabitants and their sparing life doth confirme the strength of their mindes and bodies In this Country about ten miles from the Towne Ayr there is a stone almost twelve foot high and thirty Cubits thicke which is called the deafe stone for if you hollow or shoot off a Musket on the one side hee that standeth on the other side next to the stone cannot heare it he that stands farther off shall heare it better and he that stands farthest off shall heare it best After this Cunningam runneth to the North and straightneth Glotta untill it become a small River It is manifest that the name of this Country came from the Danes and in their language signifies a Kings house which is a signe that the Danes sometimes possessed it Next on the East side is situated Renfroan so called from a Towne in which the Inhabitants kept their publike meetings it is commonly called Baronia Two Rivers doe cut through the middle of it which are both called Carth. After this Country is Clidesdale aforenamed stretched forth to either banke of Glotta and poureth forth many Noble Rivers on the left hand Aven and Duglasse which doe runne into Glotta on the right hand another Aven which seperates Sterling on the South from Lothiana and on the East from the Fyrth untill at last growing lesser it hath a Bridge over it neare Sterling There is one River that cutteth through this Country which is worthy of memory called Carron neare to which are some ancient Monuments On the left side of Carron there are two little hills built by the industrie of men which are commonly called Duni pacis On the right side of Carron there is a plaine field that at last riseth into a little hill being in the middle betweene Duni pacis and a little Chappell On the side of this hill there appeareth yet the ruines or remainder of a small Citie But the foundation of the Walls and the description of the streetes partly by tillage and partly by digging forth squared stones for the building of rich mens houses cannot be distinctly knowne This place Beda doth call Guidi and doth place it in a corner of the trench made by Severus the Emperour Many famous Roman Writers have made mention of this Trench and Bulwarke Here many tokens doe remaine and many stones are digged up with inscriptions which are either testimonies of ayde formerly received by the Tribunes and Centurions or of their Sepulchers in those places Beyond Sterling is Levinis or Lennox divided from Renfroan by Glotta from Glasco by the River Keluin It is parted from Sterling or Striveling with the Mountaines from Taichia by the Forth at length it endeth at the Mountaine Grampius at the foot thereof the Lake Lomund through a hollow Vale extendeth it selfe 24. miles in length and 8. in breadth which containeth above 24. Islands Besides a multitude of other fishes it hath some particular unto it selfe which are pleasant in taste called Pollacks There are three things reported of this Lake very memorable First the Fish have no Finnes but otherwise are of an excellent taste Secondly the water when there is no winde is sometime so rough that it would affright the boldest Marriner from weighing Anker Lastly there is a certaine Island fit to feed flocks of cattle which moveth up and downe and is driven to and fro with every tempest But I returne to the Lake which at last breaking forth toward the South doth send forth the River Levin which giveth its owne name to the Country This River neare to the Castle Brittanodun or Dun brittan and a Towne of the same name entreth into Glotta The farthest Hills of the Mountaine Grampius doe somewhat raise the farthest part of Levinia being cut through with a little Bay of the Sea which for the shortnesse of it they call Gerloch Beyond this is a farre larger Bay which they call Longus from the River Long that falleth into it This is the bound betweene Levinia and Covalia Covalia it selfe Argathel or rather Ergathel and Cnapdale are divided into many parts by many straight Bayes made by the estuarie of Glotta or Dun-Brittan Fryth There is one famous Lake amongst the rest they call it Finis from the River Fin which it receiveth it is 60 miles long There is in Knapdale the Lake Avus in which there is a small Island with a fortified Castle From hence the River Avus runneth forth which alone in these Countries emptieth it selfe into the Deucalidon Sea Beyond Knapdale towards the West Cantiera or Cantyre runneth out that is the head of the Country over against Ireland from which it is parted by a small narrow Sea being longer than broad and joyned so straightly and in such a narrow manner to Cnapdale that it is scarce a mile over and even that is nothing else but sand On Cantyre Lauria toucheth lying neare to Argathel and reaching neare to Abry it is a plaine Country and not unfruitfull In that place where the Mountaine Grampius is somewhat lower and more passable the Country is called Braid Albin that is to say the highest part of Scotland and where it is highest it is called Drum Albin that is the backe of Scotland and not without reason For out of the backe Rivers doe runne into either Sea some into the North some into the South out of the Lake Iernus it sendeth forth the River Ierna into the East which having runne three miles falls into Taus beneath Perth From this River Strathierna or Stathierna extended to either banke thereof tooke its name For the Scots are wont to call a Countrie which lyeth on a River Stat. THE THIRD TABLE OF SCOTLAND THe Mountains of Ocellum do border upon Tachia which for the most part together with the Country at the foot thereof are thought to bee in the Country of Iernia but the rest of the Countrie even to the Forth ambition hath divided into many parts as Clacman Colrosse and Kinrosse From these and the Mountaines of Ocellum all the Countrie which is bounded by the Forth and Tay groweth straight in the forme of a wedge Eastward toward the Sea And by one name is called Fife having sufficiencie of all things necessarie to life it is broadest where the Lake Levinus cutteth it and thence gathereth it selfe into a narrow forme even to the Towne Caralia It sendeth forth one notable River to wit Levinus whose bankes are beautified with many Townes of
tempered The Court of Requests heareth the causes of the poore and of the Kings Servants The chiefe spirituall Courts are the Corporatition of the Clergie the Courts which belong to the Archbishop himselfe and the Chancellours Courts kept in every Diocesse There are two famous Universities in this Kingdome Oxford and Cambridge England doth produce happy and good wits and hath many learned men skilfull in all Faculties and Sciences The people are of a large stature faire complexion'd and for the most part gray-eyed and as their Language soundeth like the Italians so they differ not from them in the habite and disposition of their body Their foode consisteth for the most part of Flesh They make Drinke of Barley being a very savorie and pleasant drinke It is transported often into forraine countries They use a habite not much different from the French And thus much shall suffice concerning England in generall wee will declare the rest in the particular Tables following THE SECOND TABLE OF ENGLAND CONTAINING The Counties of Northumberland Cumberland and the Bishoprick of Durham WEE have finished that which wee intended to speake concerning England in generall Our Method doth require that wee should goe through the parts thereof in particular The Romans diversly divided the hither part of Brittaine being reduced into a Province But the Saxons instead of the Pentarchie of the Romans made an Heptarchie of it in which are Kent Sussex Eastanglia Westsex Northumberland Essex and Mercia At this day it is divided into Counties which the English by a proper word call Shires And first in the yeare of Christ 1016 in the Reigne of Ethelred there were onely two and thirty Afterward under William the Conquerour there were 36. And lastly these being augmented by three more came to be 39 Counties To which are added 13 Shires in Wales six whereof were in the time of Edward the first the other Henry the eigth ordained by Parliamentarie Authoritie These Counties or parts of England with some Islands our Mercator doth lively expresse in six Tables Of all which Tables wee will make a briefe Description or Delineation in that order as our Author propoundeth them In the first place Northumberland offereth it self commonly called Northumberlant lying in a manner in the forme of a triangle but not equilaterall The Southerne side thereof Derwent flowing into Tine and Tine it selfe doe enclose where it looketh toward the Bishoprick of Durham The East side is beaten with the German Sea But the Westerne side is drawn out in length from the North to the South first by a continued ridge of Mountaines and afterward by the River Tweede and being opposite to Scotland it is the bound of that Countrie The Soyle it selfe for the most part is barren and unfit for tillage Toward the Sea and the Tine if tillage be used the Husband-man receiveth sufficient increase but in other places it is more unfruitfull and rugged In many places great store of Sea-cole as the English call them are digg'd forth There is in Northumberland the Citie of New Castle famous for the Haven which the River Tine maketh having so deepe a chanell that it receiveth ships of great burthen and desends them both from tempests and sands The last Towne in England and the strongest in all Brittaine is Berwick which some doe derive from a certaine Captaine called Berengarius Leland from Aber which in the Brittish Language signifies the mouth of a River as if it were Aberwick a Towne at the mouth of a River But whence soever it hath its name it stands farre in the Sea so that it is THE SECOND TABLE OF ENGLAND Northumbr Cumberlādia Dunelm Episcop compassed round about therewith and the River Tweede The Rivers here are the Southerne and Northerne Tines which are so called because they are bound in with straight and narrow bankes for so much Tine doth signifie in the Brittish speech as some doe affirme the Southerne riseth out of Cumberland neere Alstenmore where there is an ancient Myne of Brasse having runne a good while toward the North it turneth toward the East and runneth straight forward with the Picts Wall The Northerne Tine arising out of the bordering Mountaines doth joyne it selfe with the River Reade which being powred out at the Mountaine Redsquier watereth Readsdale that is the Vale of Reade which nourisheth the best Fowle Both the Tines doe flow beneath Collerford and growing bigger and bigger doe hasten their journey to the Ocean in one channell Tweede for a great way parteth England from Scotland and is called the Easterne bound This River breaking forth of the Mountaines of Scotland runneth a great while in a winding course but where it comes neere unto the Towne Carram growing strong in waters it beginneth to distinguish the Limits of the two Kingdomes and at last having received the River Till it disburthens it selfe into the German Sea There are also other Rivers as Coquet Alaunus or Alne Blithe Wanspethel which I omit and so passe to the second part and that is Cumbria commonly called Cumberland this lieth before Westmoreland on the West side It is the farthest Shire in this part of England insomuch that it toucheth Scotland it selfe on the North side being beaten on the South and North with the Irish Ocean but on the East side above Westmoreland it joyneth to Northumberland It takes its name from the Inhabitants who were the true and native Brittains calling themselves in their Language Kumbri Kambri Although the Countrey seemeth in regard of the Northerne situation to bee cold and verie mountainous yet it delights the beholder with much variety For behinde the Cliffes and cluster of Mountaines betweene which the Lakes doe lye there are grassie Hils full of Flocks under which againe there lye plaine and fruitfull Valleys There is in this Countrie an ancient wel-seated Citie called Carlile being defended on the North with the deepe Channell of Ituna or Eeden on the East with Peterill on the West with Cauda and besides these fortifications of Nature it is strengthened with strong Wals of square stone with a Castle and a Cittadell There are other Townes as Keswick Wirkinton Bulnesse called anciently Blatum-Bulgium Penrith or Perith that I may passe over Villages and Castles This Shire hath 58 Parish-Churches It hath also Lakes abounding with all kinde of flying Fowles and many Rivers among which is the little River Irton in which while the gaping shell-fish receive the dew they become presently as it were great with childe and bring forth pearles which the Inhabitants when the water setleth doe seeke for There are also the Derwent Cokar Olen or Elen Eden and others all abounding with Fish Besides this Ocean which beateth on the shore doth bring forth great shoales of excellent fish and doth seeme to reproach the Inhabitants with negligence because they use fishing so lazily Heere are many Mountaines close together being full of mettall among
a great ridge toward the West and the farthest part of it being hightned with another Hill as it were set upon it The next is Penigent so called perhaps from the white and snowie head which is raised to a great height Lastly Pendle Hill which is raised with a high toppe in manner of a race marke famous for the dammage which it doth to the neighbour grounds under it by sending downe great streames of water and by the certaine foreshewing of raine as often as the toppe of it is hidden with clouds Cestria followes commonly called Cheshire and the Countie Palatine of Chester because the Earles of it have the rights and priviledges of a Palatine It is bounded on the South with Shropshire on the East with Staffordshire Derbyshire on the North with Lancashire and on the West with Denbighshire and Flint-shire neare Chester it runneth farre out into the Sea with a Chersonesus which being included betweene two Bayes doth admit the Ocean to breake in on either side and into these Bayes all the Rivers of this Country doe runne The Country is barren of Corne and especially Wheate but abounding with cattle and fish Here is a faire Citie which Ptolemie calleth Deunana Antoninus calleth it Deva from the River Dee on which it standeth the English call it Chester and Westchester This Citie standeth foure square having walls two miles in compasse toward the Northwest is seated a Castle built neare the River by the Earles of Cheshire where the Courts for the Palatinate are held twice every yeare The houses are very faire and there are as it were cloysters to goe in on both sides of the chiefe streetes There are also the Townes of Finborrow and Condate now the Congleton and this Shire hath about 68. Parishes The Rivers which water this Citie are Deuca in English Dee having great store of Salmons and riseth out of two Fountaines in Wales Whence it is denominated in the Brittish tongue Dyffyr Dwy i. the Water of Dwy which word Dwy signifies two Besides there are the Rivers Wever Mersey and Dane Caernarvanshire called before Wales was divided into Shires Snodon Forrest in Latine Histories Snaudonia and Arvonia hath the Sea on the North and West side Merioneth-shire boundeth the South side and Denbigh-shire the East side the River Conovius gliding betweene Toward the Sea the Soyle is fertile enough and full of little Townes among which is the Towne of Bangor the Seat of a Bishop which hath 90. Parishes under it and is situated neare the jawes of the narrow Sea There is also the River Conovius commonly called Conway which bounds this Country on the East and bringeth forth shell-fishes which filling themselves with the dew of Heaven doe bring forth Pearles The Inland Parts of this Country are Mountainous rugged and cliffie Camden saith that you may worthily call these Mountaines the Brittish Alpes Denbigh-shire is more inward from the Sea and runneth out toward the East even to the River Deva On the North side the Sea for a while doth encompasse it and afterward Flint-shire on the West Merioneth and Montgomery-shire on the East Cheshire and Shropshire are the bounds of it The Westerne part is barren the middle part where it lyeth in a Vale is the most fruitfull a little beyond the Vale Eastward Nature is more sparing in her benefits but neare Deva much more liberall In this Country is the Vale of Cluide very happie in pleasantnesse fertilitie of Soyle and wholesomnesse of Aire of which Ruthun or Ruthin is the greatest Market Towne After this is the Territorie called in Welch Mailor Gimraig in English Bromfield very fruitfull and full of Lead The chiefe Towne in this Country is Denbigia commonly called Denbigh and anciently by the Brittaines Clad Frynyn Beyond Denbigh-shire more Northward is Flint-shire It is beaten with the Irish Sea and the Bay of Deva on the North on the East it is bounded with Cheshire and in other parts with Denbigh-shire This shire is not Mountanous but somewhat rising with swelling Hills which are gently level'd into pleasant fields especially those toward the Sea which every first yeare in some places doe beare Barley in other places Wheate which being reaped doth yeeld a twenty fold encrease and afterward they beare Oates foure or five yeares together There is a Towne here which the English call S. Asaph and the Brittaines Llanelwy because it stands upon the River Elwy where there is a Bishops Seat under which are many Parishes and Ruthlan a Towne beautified with an excellent Castle Here is also the River Alen neare which in a hill at a place called Kilken is a Fountaine which in emulation of the Sea at set times doth ebbe and slow Merioneth-shire in Latine called Mervinia and in the Brittish language Sir Verioneth doth reach from the Towne Montgomery even to the Irish Ocean with which it is so beaten on the West that some part thereof is supposed to have beene washt away with the violence of the waves Toward the South it is bounded with the River Dee toward the North it joyneth to Caernarvan and Denbigh-shire By reason of the frequencie of the Mountaines it is the ruggedst and hardest Country of all the Shires in Wales Townes of any note here are very scarce yet here is the Towne of Harlech well fortified with a Castle being the chiefe in the whole Country And here are two famous Bayes Traith-Maur and Traith-Bochum that is the greater and the lesser Bay It hath very high Mountaines narrow and sharpe pointed like Towers and so many of them joyned together by equalitie of distance that as Giraldus reporteth sheepheards either conferring or brawling one with another on the toppes thereof if they both intended to fight yet could they hardly meet together though they should endeavour so to doe by going from morning till evening Great flocks of sheepe doe wander on these Mountaines which feed not in danger of Wolves Montgomery-shire is circumscribed on the South with Cardigan-shire and Radnor-shire on the East with Shropshire on the North with Denbigh-shire and on the West with Merioneth-shire and although it be raised with many Mountaines yet it is happie in the fruitfulnesse of the Valleyes Fields and Pastures and in times past famous for breeding of an excellent sort of Horses which as Giraldus saith were as it were Pictures of Natures workemanship and were commended both for their excellent shape and incomparable speed The chiefe Towne in this Country is Mongomery situate upon an easie ascent of a Hill and built by one Baldwine President of the Marshes of Wales in the time of William the Conquerour whence the Brittaines call it Trefaldwin at this day secondly Lanuethlin a market Towne Salopia commonly called Shropshire as it is a Countie no lesse pleasant fruitfull then the rest so it is much bigger It is enclosed on the East with Stafford-shire on
Their memory is preserved by the Towne Contayna or as some pronounce it Contentaina at the head of that River at the mouth whereof the Town Oliva is seated over against the Pityusian Ilands Fiftly the Lusones whom Appianus placeth by the River Iberus in Iberia neere to the Numantines but Strabo at the Fountaines of Tagus Sixthly the Lobitani whose Metropolis Ptolemie cals Lobetum and which Beuterus writeth was first called Turia afterward Avarazin and last of all as at this day Albarazin Seventhly The Torboletae in Iberia neere to the Saguntines from whom Ptolemie calleth the Citie Turbula now perhaps called Torres Lastly the Celtiberi so called by Plinie lib. 3. cap. 3. Pomponius Mela lib. 3. cap. 13. and other Latines but by Ptolemie Celtiberes for though some doe place them in Old Castile yet the most in Valentia Among the Cities of this Kingdome Valentia commonly called Valencia is the Metropolis and a Bishops Seate It was built by King Romus as Vasaeus and others write and from him called Rome And the Romans having afterward amplified and enlarged it did call it Valentia a name signifying the same which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greeke doth But this seemes a fable to Resendius who reporteth that it was built and so named by the Portugals and other Souldiers It is seated in the innermost part of the Bay of Sucronia on the right-hand Banke of the River Turia It is famous for its manners institutions and profession of all Arts both Liberall and Mechanick It is happie in great wits and desirous to preserve peace and concord within it selfe It hath many Gentle-men in it and is very rich in Merchandize Wee will not passe by that which L. Marinaeus Siculus noteth concerning the Valentians They have saith hee a custome every yeare on the Feast of Saint Matthew that having made many supplications and prayers they repaire to the place of execution and there they take up the bodies of those who have suffered death whether they be hanged up or lye on the ground gathering also together their scattered bones if any be and by and by having laid all things on a Beere they carrie them to the common burying-place of the Citie and there with sacrifices and prayers doe bury them Petrus Medinensis relates that there are in this Citie ten thousand springs of water Heretofore on the left-hand banke of Turia not farre from Valentia stood Saguntum which Ptolemie affirmeth to be a Citie of the Heditani Strabo and Plinie doe place it a mile off from the Sea Strabo calleth it Saguntus Stephanus Zacynthus and Antoninus corruptly Secundum and Secunthum The most doe thinke it now to be the same with Morvedere being so called as some suppose from the ancient wals thereof Appianus maketh it the Colonie of the Zacynthi some doe suppose that Saguntis the Sonne of Hercules was the builder of it and some would have it named from the Iberian Sagi Silius the Italian Poet describeth the situation of it in his first Booke Livie in his 30 Book saith that the wals of Saguntum were cemented with Lime and dirt mingled together which was an ancient kinde of building It seemeth by Plinie that the Saguntini did heretofore reverence Diana being brought thither by the Zacynthians their Progenitors two hundred yeares before the destruction of Troy Pomponius Mela saith that the Saguntians are faithfull in the midst of troubles and adversitie Concerning the overthrow and devastation of this noble Citie which through their admirable constancie and great fidelitie towards the Romans happened in the yeare from the building of the Citie 535 M. Lucius Salinator and L. Aemilius Paulus being Consuls you may reade and have recourse to Livie lib. 21. Polybius lib. 3. Orosius lib. 4. cap. 14. Eutropius lib. 3. Florus lib. 2. cap. 6. Silius the Italian lib. 1. Valerius Maximus lib. 6. cap. 6. Augustine lib. 3. de Civit. Dei cap. 20. Aemilius Probus in Hannibal Cicero in his Philippicks and many others There are also at this day these famous places in Valentia First Segorbia which Ptolemie and Strabo as also Vasaeus Clusius Tarapha Emanuel Henricus and Augustus his coyne doe call Segobriga Plinie also calleth the Inhabitants Segobricenses placing them in the chiefe part of Celtiberia But Moralis thinketh that Segobriga should be called Injesta or Cabeca el Griego and Ioannes Mariana is of the same opinion Hieronimus Surita professeth that hee knew not where this Segorbia was Secondly there is Denia called by Cicero and Plinie as Florianus Morialis and Clusius will have it Dianium and Dianium Stipendarium Thirdly Incibilis so called by Livie and by Frontinus Indibilis where Scipio put Hanno Captaine of the Carthaginians to flight It is thought by Florianus to bee Chelva Fourthly that Towne which Plinie cals Illici Ptolemie Ilicias Pomponius Illice and in the Inscription of coyne Ilce Colonia Ptolemie also cals it Illicitani whence commeth the appellation of the Illicitane Bay and now some call it Alicanta and others Elche which commeth somewhat neerer to truth Fifthly Belgida a Citie of Celtiberia which still keepeth its old name Sixthly Leria which Ptolemie cals Hedeta whence the Heditani have their name Clusius and Moralis Oliete and later Writers Liria Seventhly the Towne which Florianus cals Orcelis and Gomecius and Clusius Horivela and Oriola but Nebrissensis Zamora Eightly the Towne which Livie and Ptolemie call Bigerra Beuterus and Vasaus Bejar and Clusius Villena Ninthly the Towne which Strabo cals Setabis Ancient Stones Satabis as Clusius witnesseth and is now called according to Florianus his opinion Xativa This Countrie hath many Rivers and especially Turia which Pomponius calleth Duria and Ptolemie Dorium The Inhabitants doe keepe the Arabick word calling it Guetalabiar which signifies pure Water This River bringeth great commodities to those places by which it floweth There is also the River Xucar called of old Sucron and Surus which riseth out of the Mountaines of Orespeda Valentia hath two Mountaines which are called Mariola and Pennagolosa which being full of divers sorts of rare hearbs and plants doe cause a great number of Physicians and Herbalists to resort unto them out of divers parts of Spaine in regard of the rarities which are found there The Citie of Valentia being venerable for antiquity hath many ancient Marbles which remaine to posteritie engraven with Roman inscriptions some of which may be seene in Beuterus Ambrosius Moralis Hottomannus and others In the Citie of Saguntum now called Morvedre there was a Theater a Scene and many other Reliques of antiquitie as the Sepulchres of the Sergii of L. Galba and Sergius Galba and other Romans with the stones whereof a Monasterie was built for the Friars of the Order of the Trinitie Valentia hath a famous Universitie in the Citie so called and also an other Universitie at Gandia which was not long since erected and founded by the Duke of Gandia that the Fathers of the Society of Iesus of which Society hee became one
with such violence so that it runneth with fresh water 40 miles into the sea And as Amian saith Et constat ab ultimis nostri finibus maris agminaum pariendi gratia petere Pisces ut aquarum suavitate salubrius faetum educant nec intercipiantur That is it is manifest that the fish from the farthest part of our seas doe come hither in shoales that they may spawne here in safety Tajanus Nerva built a curious bridge over this River in Moesia which afterward Adrian did demolish as Dio Cassius relateth Concerning Danubius George Fabritius in a certaine Itinerarie of his writeth thus Ister Qui centum populos magnas alluit urbes Euxinum irrumpit bis terno flumine Pontum Ister that doth through an hundred Countries glide And watereth them with Citties too beside Both faire and great with sixe streames last of all Into the Euxine Sea at length doth fall For at length all the most famous Rivers in the world doe runne into the Sea as Ovid also Lib. 8. Metamorph. does mention in this verse In quo desinimus sacri in quo currimus amnes We sacred Rivers to the Sea doe come And into it we all of us doe runne The next is the Rhene which Caesar and other doe commend it is now called Rhijn Caesar would have it rise out of Leopontium and Strabo and Ptolomie affirme that it ariseth out of the Mountaine Aâ—â—la which is commonly called Etzel which is an arme of the Alpes and Claudian faith that it riseth out of Rhetia But Strabo and Ptolomy doe thinke that Rhene beginneth on the Eastside of the Alpes where they are joyned to the Mountaine Adula and where the Lepontians doe inhabit and so springeth out of two fountaines which are at least a dayes journey distant one from another The one being more to the Northwest which is commonly called the foremost Rhene the other lying more Southeast which the inhabitants cal the latter Rhene These two at length meete together and so doe make the River Rhene which neere unto the head doe make two Lakes the Acronian and Constantian from the Cittie Constantia which is situated by it concerning which we will entreate in the description of Helvetia the other is called Venetum and now the Cellensian Lake from the little Towne Cella which Lake hath abundance of all sorts of fish From hence turning Westward it watereth Rhinfelden follows the same tract even to Basilea And there it runneth Northward untill it come to Argentoratum and so watereth many Countries and having viewed many Citties and having received many great and small Rivers it groweth very deepe and commeth swelling even to Spires Wormes and Moguntiam Hence turning Westward it watereth Bingium And from thence winding toward Caecia having left behind it Bonna and Colonia at last neere the edge of Batavia which is now under the jurisdiction of Cleveland and is graced with the auncient Castell Lobecum it doth divide it selfe and with a double streame runneth divers wayes Which division Mamertinus elegantly calleth the Divorce and Frontinus the turning of the River Neere therefore to Lobecum it doth divide his course so that the one part thereof called Rhene doth run straite forward to Arenacum a chiefe Cittie of Gelderland And from thence with many winding Maeanders it glideth towards Vada and so bendeth from thence to Rhena which Tacitus calleth Rinnes from thence it runneth to Bavodurum Afterward the Rhene changeth his name and begins to be called Lecca being heretofore a little Rivulet but now it is become a River Having glided by Culenburg and Viana and having viewed Schoonhovia it powreth it selfe into the River Merova before it is called Mosa The other part of Rhene doth bend toward the left hand and floweth by the auncient Cittie Neomagum and runneth by the walls of the Cittie it is now called Vahalis not long afterward it goeth toward Tiela and from thence with a winding course it leaveth Bomelius on the left hand afterward not farre from Woricomium it receiveth the River Mosa and by and by neere Goricomium being encreased with the slow smooth running River Linga and it is called Merova from the Castell of the Merovaeans by which having passed it glideth by Dordretch a Noble Island out of the Cittie afterward having received the Rivers Lecca and Isela which are armes of the Rhene and gliding by Iselmonda it beginneth to be called Mosa neere to Rotterdam where it leaveth on the right side Sciedamum and Vlaerdinga and from thence it glideth by the Towne Gerviletum and the Brill on the left hand and there it mingleth it selfe with the Ocean That which Ptolemie calls Amasius Strabo Amasias Tacitus Amisia Plinny and Pomponius Amisius and now Ems. The head of this River is a little beneath Paderbona a Cittie of Westphalia and so bending towards Caecia it glideth by Varendorp Greva Rhena and Lingha and from thence it goeth forward unto Meppenum and Nebuisum and from thence discharging it selfe into the Northerne Ocean neere to Embda Market Towne whence it borroweth his name and is called Eems The fourth River is that which Plinny calls Moenus and Pomponius Maenis and Ammianus Menus now it is called Meyn Regino the historian and the writers of that time doe call it Mogonum Velleius Patercules calleth it the River Iulia. Vnlesse in steed of Iulia it should be Lupia as some learned men doe suppose It ariseth out of a Mountaine which is called der Fichtelberg so gliding by Franckford which from thence is called upon Maene and Wethermia Herbipolis and Papeberg it mingleth it selfe with the Rhene neere to Moguntiacum and doth part the Low Countries from Germany The letters thereof doe make by the Greeke computation 365 equall to the number of dayes which are in a yeare The fifth River is Necarus whence come the best Necarian wines it was anciently called Nicer as Rhenumus witnesseth the spring head there-thereof is two houres journey distant from Danubius and so having glided through the fields of Wirtemberg it runneth into the Rhene a little above Heidelburg Albis followes which is a faire River of Germanie and divideth the Swevians from the Cherusians Velleius witnesseth that it doth flow by the confines of the Semnonians and Hermundurians Tacitus writeth that the famous River Albis doth arise among the Hermundurians but Conradus Celtes saith that it doth arise out of Hercinia in Bohemia And so having glided by mary faire Citties at length it empties it selfe into the Ocean betweene the Chaucians and the Cimbrians The auncient Latine writers doe call it Albia and the Germaines Elbe And the Bohemians from whence it taketh his originall doe call it Labe. Fabritius in his booke of the Misnian affaires saith that it received that name from 11 Fountaines or as the Saxons say from so many flowing River For it arises as he deliuers in the Hercynian wood which from the Giants is commonly called Risenberg from 11 Fountaines whose streames meeting together doe make the River Albis for
which these are called to Councell first the Clergie as the Bishops of Bamberg of Hâ—rbipolis of Wirtzburg Duke of Franconia of Eichstett der Teutsch Ordens Master the Provost of Camberg the Abbot of Saint Gilgen Secondly the secular Princes as the Marquesse of Brandenburg Burgervom Nurenberg the Countes of Hennonberg of Castel of Wertheim of Rhemecke of Hohenloe the Lords of Reichelsperg and Limpurg and the Countes of Horpach and Schwartzenburg Thirdly the free Citties as Norunberg Rottenburg Winshaim and Schweinfurt Many Rivers which be full of fish doe water this Country the chiefe whereof are Moenus and Sala accompanied with eight lesser Rivers also Sinna Rhadiantia Aâ—stus Tubera and some other It hath these woods Speshart Ottoes wood and other parts of Hercinia which doe enclose it as it were round about with a growing wall It is a warlike Nation Noble witty and laborious Men and women doe both plant Vines so that none are suffered to be idle THE DVKEDOME OF BAVARIA The second Circle of the Empire WE come now to Bavaria which were so called by the addition of one letter from the Avarians the remainder of the Hunnes who having droven out the Noricians seated themselves in that Countrie and also Bojaria from the Bojans a people of Gallia Cisâ—lpina who sometime dwelt heere it is commonly called Beyeren It hath on the East Aâ—stria on the West Sucvia on the South 〈◊〉 Rhetian Aâ—pes and on the North Franconia The length is 29 Germane miles The breadth five and twentie The ayre is very wholesome and the Countrie very pleasant and generally very fruitefull but yet it hath no great store of Wine nor Corne but in some places it hath a â—â—â—â—e of sharâ—e hedge Win. The richer Wines are brought thither out of Alsaia Francâ—â—to and Austria There is great store of Corâ—e about Raâ—ispon and Landshat Moreover it hath abundance of Sâ—lâ— fruite Iron Cattle Fowle wil â—e beasts and all things necessarie to life It doth breede great store of Swâ—â—e which feede on â—cornes and crabbes so that as Hungarie furâ—isheth other Countries with Oxen so this Countrie furnisheth most parts of Europe with Swine And besides Beares Boares and other kindes of wilde beasts it hath great heards of Deere which they cannot hunt without the Princes leave In the yeare 1562 on the 22 day of August there was a Hart taken in Bavaria of so large a body that it weighed 625 pound The Nariscians Vindelicians and Noritians were formerly seated here The Nariscians whom Aventinus calleth Nortgew and Melanchton Narcaw are divided from the rest by the River â—anubius The Vindelicians according to the auncients Description are situated betweene the Rhaetians and Noricians Rhaetia is twofold the one is larger containing the Vindelicians the Noricians and the Rhaetians the other is lesser The River Lycus doth separate the Vindâ—lâ—cian from the Rhaetians if we beleeve Ptolomie but if we follow Strabo they are separated by the Rhene and the Brigantine Lake which we have shewed in our description of Helvetia Danubius doth part them from Germâ—nie and the Alpes fâ—om Italie Marcus Velserus hath rightly observed out of Ricardus the name of the Vindelicians Respicit lase fluvios Vindamque Lycumque Miscentes undas nomina littoris unde Antiquam gentem populumque urbemque vocarunt Vindelicanâ— It sees the Rivers Vinda and Lycus flow Mingling their names and waters as they goe Whence the Countrie and the people it containd And Cittie too were Vindelicians nam'd It may be gathered out of Plinnie and Ptolomie that there were certaine Countries and Citties belonging to the Vindelicians Augustus sent to conquer them Tiberius Claudius Nero and Nero Claudius Drusus who were both the Emperours sonnes in Law who having quickly dispersed and dissipated the Barbarians forces did easily overcome them and reduc'd them to subjection See Paterculus Lib. 2. Dion Lib. 53. and Horace Lib. 5. Odar The Noricians do begin from the River Oenus and so bend South East even to Hungarie and Italie They were alwayes great souldiers and being accustomed to warre they did often invade the bordering Romanes As appeareth by the Norician sword which Horace celebrateth And also by an inscription which is found on this side Danubius to this effect and in these words DIS MANIBVS ET MEMORIAE LEGIONVM ET MEMORIAE MISERRIMORVM VINDELICIS PRAEFECTIS MOCENIANIS ET VICTORI ET AVRELIO FILIIS VINDELICIS SVRINVS INFELIX PATER F. C. THE DVKEDOME OF BAVARIA BAVARIA THE PALATINATE of the Lower BAVARIA Jn which is the Landgraviate of Lutchtenberg 33.27.49.35 It is in the second Circle of the Empire We doe not yet know the other Nobilitie The Meridians are distant according to the proportion of the Parallels 49 and 51 to the greatest Circle THE PALATINATE of the Lower BAVARIA Palatinat Bavariae In the yeare 1575 the Noribergians did institute an Academie of Vniversitie at Altorsium and drew thither with great stipends and pensions Professors of the tongues also of the Arts Philosophie and other faculties As appeares by an inscription at Altorsium Inventuti Religionis Christianae Doctrina Linguis Latina Graeca Optimis denique artibus ac disciplinis informandae Georgio Volkanfro Philippo Geudero Hieronymo Baumgartnero Oppido Praefecto Senatus Nortbergensis Scholam hanc nobilem Patriciam aperiri solemniter introduci voluit 3. Cal. Iul. Qui dies Petro Paulo Apostolis Saâ—ra est Anno à nato Christo Salvatore 1575. That is George Vollâ—anfrus Phillip Geuderus Hierom Baumgartner being learned Praefects and Balthazâ—r Baumgartner being Praefect of the Towne the Senate of Norinberg hath solemnely instituted and ordained this Noble free Schoole for the instructing of youth in the doctrine of Christian religion as also in the Latine and Greeke tongues and lastly in all good Arts and Sciences on the third of the Kall Iul. which day is sacred to the Apostles Peter and Paul and in the yeare from the birth of our Saviour Christ 1575. This tract of Land hath many other Townes besides this Metropolis as also divers monasteries and Villages one of the chiefest Townes is Amberg which was walled about in the yeare of Christ 1030 also Auwerback Sultback and the Monasterie of Castel where the Princes of Nortgow did formerly keepe their Court also the Townes Eger Beierut Eâ—stet Napurg Newenstadt Ruwenkelm Kemnat Krusen Grewenwerdt and the Castell Gainum which is so called from wayling or Lamenting For heere Danubius passeth by dangerous fearefull places which make the Marriners cry out when they passe by it in the Germane Language it is called Die Strudel from the noyse and violence of the waters there are also the Townes Eschenback Weiden Parnaw Pleistein Herspruck Rurbaock Neumarkt Tursentur Elbagen Cham Schonsee Kunsperg Stauff and some others which for the most part belong to the Prince Palatines This Country also of Nortgow doth include one of the foure Landgraviates which were heretofore instituted by the Emperours namely Lutchtenberg in the second Circle
neere unto it Lago de Perugia that which Antoninus calleth Lacus Aprilis is now called Fangosa Palude the Sea-lake or the Salt-lake or Lago d'Orbitello is called in their language Lacus Vadimonis there are also the Ciminian Lake the Volsiniensian the Sabatian the Bientinian and the Cianian It hath many Rivers which are full of excellent Fish as namely Laventia Frigidus Anser Arnus Cecinna Cornia Alma Brunus Vmbro Osa Albengia Floris Martha Minio Eris Vacina Sanguinaria Aron and some others It hath also wholesome Bathes and other waters endued with wonderfull vertue Here are divers Mountaines as also the Mountaine Ciminus well knowne to Livie Vibius and Virgil. That which Pliny calls Soractis is now called Monte de S. Silvestro Orosius also placeth the Fessulanian Mountaines in Etruria The Cortonensians also are there on the North side of the Lake Transumenus The Woods are the Volsinian wood the Ciminian wood and Maesia It hath also divers Libraries as at Pisa by the Dominicans at Luca by the Franciscans sixe in the Citty of Florence and one at Saena and Perusia Moreover Livy and Diodorus doe report that the Etrurians are the strongest richest and best governed Nation of Italy It appeareth by ancient Writers that they were alwayes much adicted to ceremonies insomuch that they were the first that invented Sacrifices Divinations Southsayings and Auguries and so delivered them to the Romanes as Tully in his Booke of divination and others doe note Mercator doth reckon these Bishops in Tuscany Nepesinus Castellanensis Montis Falconis Viterbiensis Suavensis Castellanus Vulteranus the Archbishop Senensis Fesulanus Zarzanensis Sutri Ortanensis Cornetanensis Tuscanensis Clusinus Aretinas Pientinensis Pistoriensis Binensis Corthonensis Civitatensis Balneorigensis Vrbevetanus Castrensis Perusinus Grossetanus Lucanus Florentinus Arch Lunensis the Archbishop of Pisa under whom are Messanensis Civitanensis and other Bishops in Corsica THE MARQVISHIP OF ANCONITANA AND the Dukedome of SPOLETO THE Marquiship of Ancomitana was so called by the Langbards from Ancone a famous Mart Towne where the Marquesses of this Country had their seate of residence Livy and others doe call it Picenum There confineth on the Marquiship of Ancomitana on the South the Sabinians Vilumbrians and Vmbrians with the Apennine Mountaine on the West Gallia Cisalpina with the River Isaurus on the North the Adriatick Sea Concerning the Easterne bounds there are divers opinions Pliny maketh them to be the Rivers Ateâ—nus and Ancon and Ptolomy the River Matrinus with Ancon The moderne writers the chiefe whereof is Leander doth make the River Trueâ—tum to bee the bounds and limmits betweene them and the Preturiarians The Country of Picenum according to Livy is very fertill but yet it hath greater store of fruite than corne The best wine is made at the Towne called Sirolum which Plinny calleth Anconâ—tanian Wine This Country is for the most part under the Popes Iurisdiction there are these Townes in it Ancona Recanatum Fanum D. Mariae Laureti Camerinum Fanum Fortunae Tolentinuâ—â— â—â—mum Macerata and some others Townes also Eugebium Coligum â—orum â—eâ—â—rronij S. Leo Senogalâ—ia Vâ—binum and some others The chiefe Citty is Anâ—ona which Ptolomy calls Ancon It still retaineth that name which was first given to this Citty because the Country bendeth here like an Elbowe It is opposite to the Promontorie Cumeras and it is enclosed on the North with the Sea and the Haven moreover it is well fortified with Gates Bulwarks and Walls It hath a Port or Haven which is strong both by Art and nature and hath a convenient entrance into it and is able to receive many shipps which was built by the Emperour Traian The Citty hath twelve Fortes which are all well furnished with ordinance It is famous in regard that Graecians Illyriaus Pannonians and all Europe doe trade and traffique here it is very populous and the streets are long and straite The soile round about is fruitfull yeelding Wine and other commodities There are also Firmium now called Firmo an ancient Citty Ricenetum Reccanolo or Recunati which the Italians doe now call Ricanati is a famous Mart-towne in so much that Merchants out of all Europe and Asia doe come thither twice a yeere to Faires Some ruinous pieces of Helvia Ricina may be seene as you travell along among the rest there is a great brick Amphitheater on the banke of the River Potentia and other carkasses of great Buildings Auxinum is an ancient Episcopall Citty commonly called Osmo Livy calls it Oximum Many Epitaphs and Elogies which have beene found here of late do shew the antiquity thereof Fabrianum in Latine call'd Faberiana is a Towne THE MARQVISHIP OF ANCONITANA AND the Dukedome of SPOLETO MARCHA ANCONITANA cum SPOLETANO DUCATU very full of Shops which are so distributed that every street hath severall shops so that one street hath all Smiths and another all Shopmakers and another Papermen Sevogallia is an Episcopal Citty which as it appeareth by Polibius and others was first called Sena afterward Senogallia it is now called Sinigaglia or Sinegalia it hath a thick ayre Parvum is watered on the West with the River Misa being fortified with a thicke brick wall with a Ditch and Bulwarkes But yet in regard it is so neere unto the Sea it wanteth fresh water so that they are faine to use that which is brought thither Fanum is an Episcopall Towne not very great situated on a Mountaine commonly called Fano Tacitus and Ptolemy doe commonly call it Fanum Fortunae for there are still many ruines remaining of that sumptuous Church which was dedicated to Fortune Here is a Marble Arch of costly and curious workmanship which is thirty Cubits high and thirty broad On the top whereof which is fallen downe there was an Elegie engraven in praise of the Emperour Constantine The River Argilla runneth by it Forum Sempronium now called Fossumbrunum or Fossumbruno is an Episcopall Towne in which there are many tokens of antiquity for besides Aquaeducts paved wayes pillars and other things there are many marbles throwne downe with ancient inscriptions which have beene gathered by others Pisaurum is an Episcopall Citty now called Pesaro A famous Mart-towne of Italy rich in Merchandise beautifull and adorned with faire houses Vrbinum is situate on a high unlevell Mountaine betweene the same Rivers it is a neate Citty fairely built and hath a fruitfull soyle round about it and it is adorned with a faire Library which is furnished with many excellent Bookes In Picenum by the side of the Mountaine Victor there is a famous Laâ—e which they call Nursinum The common people doe affirme that evill spirits doe swim in it because the water doe continually leape up and fall downe againe to the great admiration of those who are ignorant of the cause thereof These Rivers doe water it Truentus commonly called Tronto Castellanus Asonus Letus mortuus Tenna Chientus Flastra Letus Vivus Asinus Potentia Muson Esinus Misa Sontinus Cesanus Metaurus Cantianus Boasus Argila There are these
that there are two Rivers in this Iland Cerus and Neleus which are of divers natures For if beasts drinke out of one of them their haire groweth white but if they drinke of the water of the other River their hide and haire groweth black There is an arme of the Sea which Livie calleth the Euborian Bay which is a violent Sea and floweth and ebbâ—th 7. times by day and 7. times by night with such a violent course that no Ship can sayle against it There is also the Mountaine â—aphaâ—â—us famous for the Shipwrack of the Graecians as they returned from Trâ—y and for the death of Paâ—amedes at Troy the Sonne of Eâ—ripides Nâ—â—plius King of the Eubaean Iland CERIGO PTOLEMIE calls it Cythera Pliny heretofore called it Porpyris and â—uâ—â—a hius calleth it Pâ—rphyrusa from the great store of Porphirie Marbles which iâ— in the Mountaines It is now called Cerigâ—â—â— is thâ— first Iland of the Aegaean Sea on the West over-against the Laâ—onick 〈◊〉 It 〈◊〉 it from the shoare of Peloponnesus 5. miles and it is 60. miles in compaâ—se It hath a Towne of the same name and many Havens which are not safe and secure for there are many Rocks which lye scatteringly round about this Iland RHODES· THERE remaineth in this Table the Iland of Rhodes This as Pliny witnesseth was heretofore called Ophtusa Asteria Aethraea Trinâ—â—hia Corimbia Aâ—abiria and Macarta It is distant from the continent of Asia 20. miles The compasse of it is 140. miles It hath a temperate and gentle Ayre and it was consecrate to the Sunne because there is no day wherein the Sunne doth not shine upon it The soyle is fruitfull and the Meddowes fertile and it hath great store of fruit Trees of which many are alwayes greene It hath now but one strong Citty of the same name which is situate in the Easterne part of the Iland partly on a steepe Hill and partly on the Sea Coast It hath a faire and safe Haven and it is well fortified with a double Wall thirteene high Towers five Castles and other Forts and Bulwarkes And it hath an University which heretofore was as famous as that at Massils Athens Alexandria and â—arsus and it had a brazen Colossus of the Sunne which was seventy Cubits high which after it had stood 56. yeeres it was throwne downe by an Earthquake and when it lay on the ground it was a wonderfull sight to behold For a man of a good stature could not fathome or embrace his Thumb And the Fingers were greater than most Statues and when it was broke his Belly did gape like a great Cave This Colossus was making twelve yeeres and three hundred Talents of Brasse went to the making of it and within there were great stones layd that might make the worke stand firme The Sultan laded 700. Camels with the Brasse of this Statue THE KINGDOME OF PERSIA OR THE EMPIRE OF THE SOPHI THE Persian or Sophian Empire as it was renowned heretofore so now also it is very famous The Inhabitants are Persians They are called also Ayami or Azamij from the Kingdome of Azamia which some thinke was heretofore called Assyria they were called Persians from Persides and Cheselbas from the red Cap or Hatt which they used to weare They were called Sophians from Prince Sophos The Kingdome of Persia is situate betweene the Turkish Empire the Tartarians the Zagatheans the Kingdome of Cambaia and betweene the Hircanian or Caspian Sea and the Persian Bay It hath thereof on the East the Indies and the Kingdome of Cambaja from which it is separated and parted by the Mountaines and Desarts on the North are the Tartars neere the River Albianus or Oxus the rest is enclosed with the Caspian Sea on the West are the Turkes neere the River Tigris and the Lake Giocho on the South it is washed with the Persian Bay and the Indian Sea which is a large space of ground for it containeth 38. degrees of longitude from the East to the West And from the South to the North 20. degrees Concerning the temper of the ayre of Persia Q. Curtius Lib. 5. writeth thus There is no whole-sommer Country in all Asia for the ayre is temperate here a continued shady Mountaine doth qualifie the heate thereof and there it is joyned to the Sea which doth cherish it with a temperate warmth But this Country is not all of one quality nor of one soyle That part which lyeth toward the Persian Bay in regard it is watered with Rivers and also that part toward the Caspian Sea having pleasant Rivers a milde gentle Ayre are both happy and fruitfull and doe yeeld all kindes of fruits and doe breed all kindes of living creatures It hath abundance of Wheate Barley Millet and the like Graine and also Mettals and Pretious Stones and Paulus Venetus witnesseth that it hath great plenty of Wine The other parts are desolate by reason of the heate and drynesse Moreover the Persians were at first an obscure Nation but they grew famous afterward by their King Cyrus who having gotten the Empire Media and Lydia joyned it to Persia and so having conquerd Asia and subdued all the East he left it a faire and flourishing Kingdome Cambyses succeeded his Father who added Aegypt to the Empire after whom Persia continued in one Estate untill Daâ—ius raigned who being conquerd by Alexaâ—der of Macedâ—n lost his life together with his Kingdome It was governed by Kings 230. yeeres as Q. Curtius affirmeth Lib. 4. and the Prophet Ieremiah doth assent unto him at the 9. Chapter of Daniel But now the Persian Empire which is subject to the great â—ophy is accounted one of the most potent Empires of all the East which though it were sometimes oppressed by the Sarazens and sometimes by the Tartars yet it grew up againe in the raigne of King Ismael The Countries which are subject to the Persian Empire are these Media Assyria Susiana Mesopotamia Persis Parthia Hyrcania Margâ—aâ—a Bactriana Parâ—pamissus Aria Drangiana Gedrosia and Carmania Media is now called Servan which is situate betweene Persia and the Hyrcanian Sea it hath on the East Hyrcania and Parthia on the West the greater Armenia and Assyria It is devided into the greater or the Southerne and the Northerne Atropatia The latter is colder and therefore lesse inhabited The chiefe Citty is Smâ—chia there are moreover these Citties Derbâ—nt Ere 's Sechi and Giavot The greater is more inhabited it hath also the Citty Tauris which is placed at the foote of Oâ—ontis being 8. dayes journey distant from the Caspian Sea The compasse of it is almost 16. miles in which it is supposed that there are 200000. Citizens The Ancients did call it Eâ—batana where the Kings of Persia doe dwell in Summer In the same Country there are Turcomian â—aru Susâ—an Nassiva Ardavil and Marant Assyria which is now called Arzerum hath on the East Media on the West Mesopotamia on the North Armenia on the South â—usiana It had
Ilands are these Anegada Anguilla Antigua Barbadoes St. Bartholmews St. Christophers d'Esienda S. Dominico S. Estasia Granada Guadalupe S. Lutia the White Ilands Maregalante St. Martine Mantinina Montferrat Redonda Saba S. Crucis Sombrera All-Saints S. Vincent the Virgins Iland and also the Ilands called the Bermudas from their first Discoverer which lye in 33. degrees of Northerne Latitude and are 3300. English miles in length they have abundance of Cedar and the English of late have begun to plant Tobacco in them THE ILANDS CVBA HISPANIOLA JAMAICA S. Johns Iland and Margarita THE Ilands Cuba Hispaniola Iamâ—ica S. Iohns and Saint Margarites are next to be unfolded and described according to the order of our method The Iland Cuba was so called by the Inhabitants and the Spaniards doe call it Fernandina and Ioanna also Alpha and Omega if we beleeve Peter Martyr On the West it is parted with the Sea from Iucatana on the East with the Sea from Hispaniola on the South is Iamaica The length of it from the East to the West is 300. miles or rather Spanish leagues and it is 15. and in some places 20. in breadth The Tropick of Cancer cutteth thorow the midst of it Those that have seene Cuba doe liken it and resemble it to a Willow leafe because it is longer than broad The Country is very temperate but in some places coulder and it hath a kinde of course Gold and it is very rich in Brasse It bringeth forth great store of Madder for Dyers Also great store of Sugar Wheate Corne and other fruits and Hearbes Moreover it beareth Cassia Ginger Mastick Aloes and Cinamon Serpents of which there are a great number are counted great dainties And the woods doe breed and feed great store of Hogs and Oxen. It hath 6. Citties the chiefe whereof are S Iames Towne and Havana the former was built by Iames Valasius and is a Bishops seate It is the Mart Towne and Haven for the whole Iland here the Kings Ships doe usually ride untill the time of the yeere and the winde standing faire doe promise them a good voyage for Spaine There are now some Galleyes in it which defend all the Coast from Enemies This Iland hath many Gold-bearing Rivers the water whereof is sweet and pleasant to drinke It hath also many sweet and salt Lakes so that there is plenty of Salt here The Country is rugged high and Mountainous And the Mountaines have veines of Gold in them There is also in the same Iland a Mountaine not farre from the Sea out of which there runneth good Pitch for Ships Gonzalus Ovetanus doth describe another strange thing in this Iland That there is a Valley between the Mountaines that is two or three Spanish miles long the ancients did call it the Stone field as that in Gallia Narbonensis which hath such a number of round stones that many Ships might be loaden with them being naturally made in such a Sphaericall round forme that nothing can be made rounder with a paire of Compasses The people of this Country are content with the bounty of nature neither doe they know what belongs to mine or thine or money but have all things in common even as nature bestoweth the light of the Sunne and water on all men equally therefore their Gardens are open and unfenced and nature teacheth them that which is right without lawes They went commonly naked And in their marriages they observed a strange kinde of custome for the Bridegroome did not lye with his Bride the first night but if he were a Gentleman a Gentleman did supply his place but if the Bridegoome were a Merchant or Country-man than a Mercbant or Country-man did supply their places The men did repudiate and put away their Wives for any light cause But the Women could not put away their Husbands for any cause the men were very lustfull and obscene The Spaniards found it well inhabited with people but now it is inhabited onely by Spaniards because the native Inhabitants are all dead partly by famine and labour and the veneriall disease and besides after that Cortes had subdued and planted himselfe in this Iland they carried the most part of the Inhabitants into new Spaine so that there is scarcely one Indian now upon the whole Iland HISPANIOLA THe Inhabitants did heretofore call this Iland Haity and Quisqueja and afterward also it was called Cipangi The Spaniards called it after their owne name Spaniola or Hispaniola and from Dominick St. Domingo or St. Dominicks Ile and built a Citty in honour of him which is the chiefest Citty of the Iland The compasse of this Iland is 1300. miles or 350. leagues The length is 500. miles the breadth of it in respect of the many Bayes and Promontories is various and different Peter Martyr calleth it the Mother of all other Ilands The middle of the Iland is distant from the Aequinoctiall Line almost 19. degrees It is long Northward and the breadth of it is from East to West It hath a temperate ayre so that the trees are continually greene and it is more pleasant and fruitfull than the rest They say that here are Sugar Canes that are higher and thicker than any where else Besides this is an Argument of the fertility thereof for wheate being sowed yeeldeth an hundred fold increase At Valentia in Spaine one Cane will scarcely fill 7. Pots but in Hispaniola one Cane will fill 20. or 30. Moreover this Country doth yeeld Cassia Ginger Mastick Aloes and Cinamon It hath also great store of Salt There are rich Mines of Gold and Silver and other Mineralls especially of a blue kinde of colour Before the Spaniards comming there were onely three kindes of beasts but now it is so stored with beasts that have beene brought thither so that great store of Hides and Skins are yeerely transported from thence into Spaine There are many Citties in this Iland the chiefe is St. Dominico at the mouth of the River Ozama where the Bishop and the Vice-Roy are resident There are other lesse Citties as St. Iohns Meguma Portus Platae the Kings Porte Canana Xaragua and others For there are in this Iland many Rivers Lakes and Springs very full of Fish But there are 7. great Rivers which affoord most pleasure and commodity to the Inhabitants CVBA HISPANIOLA c. HAVANA PORTUS IAMAICA I. S. IOANNIS I. MARGARETA CUBA INSUL HISPANIOLA which running out of the high Rocks which are in the middle of the Iland doe spread abroad divers wayes Iuna runneth to the East Attibunicus to the West Iacchus to the North Natabus to the South and that the Iland is devided into foure parts Moreover there is in Bainoa a great Lake the Indians doe call it Hagveigabon and we the Caspian Sea which is enlarged every where with infinite Rivers yet it never emptieth it selfe but is devoured in its hollow Channell it is conjectured that the spongie Rocks doe receive
over-against the Easterne Promontory of the greatest Iland Neere which there are many other Ilands to which the English have given severall names And that they might not want fresh water they have digged Wells not farre from the Sea shoare for the Sea doth not flow above a foote high The ayre in these Ilands is cleere and temperate and not too hot so that fruits brought from other places doe grow and thrive here very well but yet for want of heate they doe seldome come to maturity or ripenes they reape two Harvests in a yeere and their Wheate is bigger than ours Two graines of Maiz will grow to a pound waight Neither are they much troubled with cold or raine by reason of the divers windes which come from the Sea which doe also mittigate the heate they have thunder often but it doth no harme There are no venamous creatures in these Ilands neither doth the earth bring forth any venemous thing except one Plant. So that the English doe live here peaceably and commodiously and have abundance of all things necessary A DESCRIPTION OF THE SVMMER ILANDS Mappa AESTIVARVM Insularum alias Bermudas dictarum ad Ostia Mexicane SOVTHERNE AMERICA· SOutherne America or Pervana followeth betweene which and new Spaine there is a Neck of Land or Isthmus which is 18. miles broad Which keepeth the Country Pervana from being an Iland and it is called the Province Dariena from the great River Dariene Moreover all Southerne America hath the forme of a Pyramis being broad beneath and sharp toward the top the Base whereof is neere the Isthmus Northward the top thereof doth lesson by degrees like a Wedge even to the Straits of Magellan toward the Southerne Pole and so endeth in a sharp point The parts of it are many but these 5. are the chiefe Castella aurea Popajana Peruvia Chile and Brasilia Castell aurea or Castiglia del oro was so called from the great store of Gold which it hath It is situated by the Isthmus which joyneth the Southerne part of America to the Northerne The breadth of the Isthmus is 73. miles But this part of Land is but little inhabited in regard of the intemperatenesse of the ayre and Marshes or standing waters And it hath no Corne but they gather their Maiz twice or thrice a yeere It hath two Citties Nombre de dios by Mare dael Nort or the North Sea and Panama by Mare del Sur or the South Sea It hath Gold-bearing Rivers and Mines of Gold whence great store of Gold is gotten The Country Popayana beginneth from the North side at the Citty Antioch and endeth on the South side at the Citty Quinto Therefore it is bounderd on the North with Castella aurea from which it is separate by the Citty Antioch On the South it bordereth on the Country Pervana and is parted from thence by the Citty Quinto on the East it is bounderd with the Kingdome of New Granada and the Country Pervana which beginneuh from thence Eastward On the West it hath the Southerne Sea This Country is full of high rugged Mountaines SOVTHERNE AMERICA AMERICA MERIDIONALIS The Kingdome of Chili is situate beyond the Tropick of Capricorne betweene Peruvia and the Country of the Patagons the latter on the North side the former on the South side on the West it hath Mare Pacificum or the peaceable Sea It was so called from the cold in these parts which is so vehement that it will freeze Horses and their Riders untill they be hard as Ice It hath raine and thunder and severall seasons according to the time of the yeere as in Europe but that it is Summer with them when it is Winter with us All the Country is partly Maritine and partly Mountainous the Maritine part which lyeth neere unto the Sea is the hotter The soyle is naturally fruitfull and hath abundance of all things necessary as Honey and Woad for Diers c. It hath also long Pepper and the Vines which were brought thither out of Spaine and planted there doe yeeld good Wine It hath also geeat store of pure Gold And the fruits which are brought out of Spaine and planted here doe easily grow here are great store of Cattell and Ostriches The Metropolis is S. Iames his Citty which is a Colony of Spaniards That part which lyeth neere the Sea is watered with many Rivers which together with the Snow which melteth with the dayes heate doe fall downe from the tops of the Mountaines and so runne into the Pacifique or Magellanick Sea but for the most part the vehemency of the cold doth freeze them by night but in the day time they runne when the Ice is thawed The Mountaines in these Countries doe exceed all the other Mountaines in the Indies The more Easterne Country Brasill remaineth which was so called from the great store of red wood growing there which is called Brasill wood It is situate betweene the two Rivers Maragnon and Della Plata Maffejus describeth it thus Brasil runneth forth from 2. degrees from the Aequator to 45. degrees Southward it lyeth in a triangular or three cornerd figure the Basis whereof is turned against the North and so runneth straite forward from the East unto the West The farthest corner or point doth reach to unknowne Countries Southward The East side hath the Ocean betweene it and Aethiopia A high ridge of Mountaines doth part the other side of it from the Province of Peruana which are so high that Birdes are tyred with flying to the top of them All the Country is pleasant and hath a delightfull wholesome ayre by reason that the gentle Breezes of winde which come from the Sea doe dispell the morning vapours and clouds and doe purifie the ayre This Country openeth partly into Plaines and riseth gently into Hills having a fat Glebe and a fruitfull soyle alwaies greene and for the seed which is sowne it returneth a great interest of increase and especially it hath great store of Sugar It hath many wilde Beasts which are partly knowne and partly unknowne and Birds of an excellent colour Here are many Colonies of Portugals who having built many Houses to boyle Sugar in namely Pernambicum Caput St. Augustini Portus Omnium Sanctorum where the Bishop and the President of the Province are resident This part of the Country is full of Fountaines Woods and Rivers as the Silver River which runneth into the Sea 40. leagues with such violence that the Marriners can take in fresh water from thence before they discover Land The Brasilians doe worship no Gods at all yet they adore the rising Sunne and they beleeve the immortality of the Soule THE STRAITES OF MAGELLANA· ANd so much concerning Southerne America Fretum Magellanicum or the Straites of Magellan are now briefely to be unfolded and described It was so called from Magellan who discoverd this narrow Sea Of whose skill and experience which hee shewed in finding out the Molucco Ilands by a
Voyage made Westward wee have spoken other wheres He on the 24. of August when the winde stood faire weighed Anchor out of S. Iulians Bay where he had laine a long time being not vexed so much with windes and high Seas as the civell dissentions of the Castellanians and Portugals After hee sayled some dayes Southward hee came to the Promontory of the holy Crosse Here one of his Ships runne a shore but the Men Ordnance and fraight was saved Afterward when he observed that the shore did bend a little from the South Eastward hee began to bee in hope of reaching the Straites And on the 26. of November this narrow passage was discover'd into which Magellan with foure other Ships entred Here they thought good to stay in a certaine Bay and to send 3. Ships before to â—ound the passage and to make discovery One of the Ships in which was Alvarus Meschita having past thorow stood out to Sea againe and so directing their course Northward it was brought first to Aethiopia and afterward to Spaine and 8. moneths after they had left their company Alvarus was brought before Charles King of Castile as a Captive The third Ship made report that it was a straite narrow Sea by observing the flowing and ebbing of the Sea It was the Moneth of November and the night was five houres long the shore on the right hand and the left or the Starbord and Larbord shore was very solitary and no creature to be seene but that on the left side they saw a great fire And this was the cause why they called that Country Terra del Fuego and they supposed that the Inhabitants had discoverd them Magellan having left 2. Ships in this manner he furnished the other according as was fitt for the present occasion and discovering all as he went two and twenty dayes after he entred the Bay or Straite he was brought into another Sea which for the quiet peaceablenesse thereof he called Mar del Zur or Mare Pâ—cificum that is the peaceable Sea But this Straite being environd on every side with high Rocks is 120. miles long or according to others 76. miles the breadth of it is not equall and very different for sometimes it is 2. or 3. miles broad and sometimes 10. or 5. and where it is narrowest it is a mile broad The Northerne Sea on the East side is carried betweene the Straites of either land 70. miles and more where it mingleth with the Southerne Sea on the West side winding thorow those Promontories it meeteth with the Northerne Sea where their Waves meete very violently and with a great noise so that all the Sea is coverd with froth The Southerne Sea doth flow and ebbe more gently for the Westerne part of the Bay being very deepe and broaderâ— affordeth a quieter passage to the Sea when it floweth But the Easterne part of the Straites is full of Flats and Sands and many Ilands which causeth the raging and troublesomenesse of the Seas on either Shore there are high trees Moreover when Magellan had layne halfe a yeere in these Southerne parts hee viewed and discoverd nothing but the shoares but the innermost parts of the Country remained unknowne but yet it is manifest that that part which lyeth Southward is most of it a Mountainous Woodly Country and hath Snow continuall upon it Some say blue Snow hath beene found here which I leave to others judgement Magellan called this Southerne Land del Fugo from the fire or fires for when he discoverd these Straites he saw no mortall creature but he often beheld in the night time many great fires as we said before on the left hand But the Southerne Land on the West side doth looke toward both the Iavas Summatra and the Molucco's on the East it hath Affrick and the Aethiopian Ocean on the North it hath the Straites of the Magellan Bay and the Land of the Patagons The Country on either shore is barren and unfruitful but yet it hath great strange unknowne Trees Here are at all times great store of Pinguines Cormorants and Sea-calfes For the Pinguines come hither in the moneth of September and doe hatch their young ones in October In the Moneth of Aprill they flie to the Sea and after they are gone there commeth great store of Cormorants They are called Pinguines apirguedine from their fatnesse the old one doe weigh 13.14 or 16. pounds the younger 8. or 12. pound They are black on the backe and white on the belly and they have a Milke white circle round about their neck Their backs are like the Sea Calves and as thicke as a Hogge which you cannot pierce with a Speare Their Bill is bigger than a Crowes bill but not crooked Their necke is thicke and short Their bodies are as bigge as a fat Goose but not so broad They have no wings in stead whereof they have two pinnions coverd with feathers which hang downe like wings which doe make them swim wonderfull fast They live by Fish for they are Water-Fowle They goe straite upright with those pinnions hanging downe They have black feete like Geese but not so broad If any pursue them they will cry with a voyce like a man Mergus or the Cormorant is so called by Varro Lib. 4. concerning the Latine tongue because mergendo se in aquam captat escam he getteth his food by diving into the water unto whom Ovid in his Metamor Lib. 11. concerning Aesacus the sonne of Priam doth assent where he singeth thus THE STRAITES OF MAGELLAN· FRETUM Magellani Aequor amaâ— nomenque manet quia mergitur illi Hee loves the Sea and keepes that name Because he dives into the same And though divers kindes of Water-fowle doe the same yet the ancient Latines did call this kinde of Bird onely Mergus or a Cormorant which the Greekes doe call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Italians Corvo Marino the Germanes Tuâ—her and the English doe call a Cormorant Turner an Englishman saith that this Bird is as bigge as a Goose of a browne colour having a long Bill and crooked in the end flat footed heavie bodyed the shape of her body when she standeth upright is like a Bird sitting Pliny writeth that she buildeth her Nest in Trees but Aristotle saith upon the Sea Rocks Ovid calleth that Bird which hath long legges and a great throat a Cormorant for he saith Longa internodia crurum Longa manet cervix caput est a corpore longe His Thighs and Neck both long are His Head is from his body farre The Cormorants contrary to all other Birds have their feete under their tayle so that when they stand on the ground they beare their breasts strait upright as men doe as the Author of the Booke of naturall matters writeth Pliny calleth Phoca Phooke and the Sea-calfe Albertus also calleth it the Sea Wolfe and otherwhiles the Sea Dog the Germanes call Ein meer Kalb and the English call it a Seale It doth Bay