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A07439 Historia mundi: or Mercator's atlas Containing his cosmographicall description of the fabricke and figure of the world. Lately rectified in divers places, as also beautified and enlarged with new mappes and tables; by the studious industry of Iudocus Hondy. Englished by W. S. generosus, & Coll. Regin. Oxoniæ.; Atlas. English Mercator, Gerhard, 1512-1594.; Hondius, Jodocus, 1563-1612.; Saltonstall, Wye, fl. 1630-1640.; Glover, George, b. ca. 1618, engraver. 1635 (1635) STC 17824; ESTC S114540 671,956 890

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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 Mant●a● 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
West Algarbia on the North it cleaveth to that part of Portugall which is called Magistratus S. Iacobi And the other part toward the South is enclosed with Gades and the Mediterranean Sea It is in a temperate and flourishing Climate and is miraculously fertile in bringing forth Corne Wine Oyle and all kindes of fruits with which it replenishes forraine Countries Spaine in these parts that are encompassed with the Sea as Pliny saith may be compared with Italy which commendations wee suppose may be chiefly understood of that part which looketh toward Hispalis as being exposed to the Sea and the gentle Westerne gales of winde And indeed this Countrie so aboundeth with all kind of things therein so farre excells all the Provinces of the World that Pliny had worthily preferred it before Italie but that he being an Italian would not disgrace his owne Countrie Here is great store of all kindes of Cattell and especially of Cunnies Wee said before that Andaluzia tooke that name from the Vandalls because they being driven out by the Gothes seated themselves in this place though afterward being thrust out from hence they went into Africke Thus it was Rodericke the 25 King of the Gothes in whom the line of the Kings of the Gothes was extinguisht did send one Iulianus an Earle to Mauritania Tingitana as Governour thereof and in his absence did violate his daughters chastitie making a whore of her which when her father heard he called the Saracens out of Africke thinking thereby to ease his just sorrow by revenging it on the King who was the cause thereof These Saracens comming in by the Straits of Hercules in the yeare of Christ 714. under the conduct of their Captaine Muzamissus in two yeares space got possession of all Spaine except Asturia which was fortified by the naturall situation of the place In this little time there were slaine on both sides 700000 men The Saracens having gotten the Empire and having rooted out the Christian Religion as much as they could they divided the Kingdomes among themselves The first Kingdome that they instituted was at Corduba which they called Abenalibeticum The other was at Hispalis and the third at New Carthage But at last being driven out of these parts by Ferdinand the third they went unto Granada in the yeare 1216. and afterward by Ferdinand the sixt were quite thrust out of Spaine in the yeare 1494. The Metropolis of this Countrie is that which Pliny calls Hispalis Ptolemie Ispalis Silius Hispal Gratianus Spalis and which now is called Sevill Arius Montanus thinketh that Hispalis is a Carthaginian name derived from Spila or Spala which signifies a plain or greene country Some among whom is F. Tarapha do referre the name thereof to Hispalis the son of Lybian Hercules but Isidorus as in many other things is ridiculous in this matter for when he had noted that this Citie was built by Iulius Caesar and so called from his name and the Citie of Rome Iulia Romula he saith that it was so named Hispalis from Piles or Stakes upon which hee supposed either all or part of the Citie to be built as being situate in a moorish place It is a Citie neare Baetis pleasantly seated great in compasse round in forme beautifull and adorned with Temples and many houses So many things may be declared concerning it that there is an ancient Proverbe of it Quien no ha Visto Sevilla no ha visto Maravilla It hath beene the mother and fosterer of many happie wits among which was Benedictus Arias Montanus a great Divine and very skilfull in divers languages as his workes set forth by him do witnesse Having spoken something of the Metropolis I will describe some of the other Cities not keeping any certaine order yet so as that which is nearest to the Metropolis shall be placed first Five leagves from Hispalis is Palatium or Palantia which is commonly called Palacios from an ancient Castle that standeth on one side of it It is seated in the way which leadeth to S. Lucar and the Gaditane Straits Next unto this is Cabaca a little Town seated in the entrance of the mountaines which do extend themselves Southward toward Malaga and Cabecis three leagves off toward the North-East commonly called Lebrixa by Ptolemie Nebrissa and by Pliny Veneria The builder thereof is supposed to be Liber Pater It is a pleasant and a prettie little Towne with an ancient Castle encompassed round about with pleasant fields and is famous by reason of Aelius Antonius once a citizen thereof and an ornament and honour to all Spaine Moreover the Towne which is commonly called Carmona by Strabo Carmon by Antoninus Carme and by Ptolemie Chermenia and Marchena heretofore as saith Onuphrius called Martia this Towne is seated on a little hill which hath a plaine on every side for its prospect There are also these townes Loja on the right hand banke of Baetis Axalita built of old stone as Clusius witnesseth and called Flavium Axalitanum as appeareth by an ancient inscription Moron heretofore called by Clusius Arucci Ossuna called by Appianus Orsona by Strabo Orson by Pliny Vrso and Genua or Gemina Vrbanorum by ancient Inscriptions Vrsaon and by Hirtius V●sao The towne Eceja by the river Singulis Xenil or Chenil called by Ptolemie Astygis and by Pliny Augusta Firma is a little Towne 13 leagues from Hispalis Penastor in the mid way betweene Hispalis and Corduba on the right hand banke of Baetis which Ptolemie thinketh to be Illipula magna but Pliny Ilpa Italica in the Iurisdiction of Hispalis and not ANDALVZIA ANDALUZIA many miles hence on the banke of the same River Corduba commonly called Cordova Pliny saith it was named Colonia Patricia and Moralis doth also prove the same by inscription on an ancient marble Iohannes Gerundensis saith that it was called Corduba quasi Cor Batis that is the heart of Baetis It hath bred famous Souldiers and great Schollers And it is happie in her fruitfull fields pleasant gardens and beside many other gifts in her wholesome waters Silius the Italian Poët lib. 3. calleth the soile of Corduba a golden soile when he saith Nec decus auriferae cessavit Corduba terrae Corduba's soile is of so rich a mould It will not yeeld to that which beareth gold Five leagues from Corduba Southward is Mons Major commonly called Monte Major Ptolemie thinketh it to be Vlia a Citie in Hispania Baetica and so doth Antoninus Some few leagues from Corduba is Montoro Antoninus supposeth it to be Epora Ptolemie erroneously calleth it Ebura instead of Epora when notwithstanding the former is not a Towne of Baetica but of Lusitania but worst of all Pliny who nameth it Ripepora Foederatorum Not farre from Lucar is the Towne which the Spaniards call Xeres de la Frontera as though it were the beginning and bound of Spaine on that side where it standeth This towne Navagierus thinketh to be the same with that which Livie 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 V●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
great Cittie And from thence it was there called Susatum because in regard of the convenient situation houses were built by the Castell so that from the dayly increase thereof it was called Sutatum as it were ein Zusatz It hath also many neighbouring Villages which are subject to it which they commonly call Die Burden This Cittie is now under the Duke of Clevelands protection but before it was subject to the Bishop of Colen Wesel is a faire rich Cittie famous for traffique and Merchandising It is called the lower Wesell to difference and distinguish it from the higher which is situate also on the left side of the Rhene The River L●● bringeth up many Commodities unto it which running by the left side thereof doth straightway associate and joyne it selfe with the Rhene There is at Wesell a memorable Altar of mercy which the auncestors of the most illustrious Lord Henry Oliserius surnamed Baers Lord Chancellor of Cleueland c. did place heere and consecrate being an hospitall for aged people where they have all things necessary provided for them and the sonne following his fathers example hath enlarged the yeerely revennewes of it Osnaburg or Ossenburg is a famous Cittie built by the Earles of Engerne as Hermannus testifieth Others doe suppose that this Cittie was begun by Iulius Caesar as the Saxons Annalls doe mention They report that it was so named from the Oxe-hides with which this Cittie was encompassed It is situated in a pleasant Valley and it is watered with the River Hasa they brew good fat drinke in it which they call Buse Charles the Great when after 30 yeares warres hee had conquered the Saxons and had tooke the Castell of Widekind which was neere unto this Cittie and had put a strong garrison in it hee instituted twelve Bishoprickes in Saxonie and made the Bishopricke of Osnaburg the chiefest For hee esteemed this Cittie above all the rest and granted them the priviledge of a free Schoole for the teaching of the Greeke and Latine tongues as Munster Hamelmann and the Chronicles of Argentine doe also mention Minda commonly called Minden is a pleasant strong Cittie and the River Visurgis yeeldeth it great store of fish and bringeth up many commodities unto it it breweth good drinke which is much esteemed and venteth great store of commodities by way of traffique Concerning the beginning hereof Munster writeth thus When Wildekindus the first Duke of Saxonie was converted to the Christian faith hee gave the Emperour Charles his Castell neere the River Wesera on condition that the Bishoppe should have part of it for it was able to receive them both so that the Bishop might say This Castle shall bee mine and thine for both of us have right unto it and from hence it was so called in the Saxon Language Myndyn But in the processe of time the letty ● was changed into an e and now that same Cittie is called Mynden THE SECOND TABLE OF VVESTPHALIA Westphaliae tabula II. THE BISHOPRICK OF MVNSTER THe Bishopricke of Munster is situated in a fertile soyle abounding with all kindes of fruites on the North it hath the Countie Benthemium on the East the Bishopricke of Padelbrum on the South the Counties of Zutphan and Marcan Charles the Great Emperour of Rome and King of France which conquered lower Saxonie which is now called Westphalia did institute this Bishopricke and called it Mimingerodensis or Mimingardevorensis Afterward hee called it Munster from a Monastery which he built there in the honour of the blessed Virgin Mary Hermannus was the first Bishop thereof The Cittie is strongly fortified both by nature and Art especially since the faction of the Anabaptists ceased it is situated on a plaine having five faire Canonicall Colledges and a schoole famous for learning and Arts. The inhabitants are laborious and industrious and doe transport their commodities into forraine Countries But after that the Spaniards had warres with the Low Countries they were prohibited and forbidden to trade and traffique with the united Provinces And after the reigne of Ferdinand the first all that were not of the Romaine religion were enforced to leave the Cittie to their great losse and dammage It was governed formerly and now also by Bishops their Catalogue followeth The first Bishop was Ludgerus Frisius brother to Hildegrine Bishop of Halberstadt who dyed in the yeere of Christ 809. after whom there followed Godfry Alfrid Lubbertus and Bertoldus in the reigne of the Emperour Arnulph and in the yeare 895 and afterward William Richard Reinolds Hildebald Dodo Suederus Theodore Sigefride and Hermann the first who built a Monastery beyond the water whence the Towne was called Munster in the yeare 1025 whose successors were called the Bishops of Munster namely Robert Fredericke the brother of the Marquesse of Misnia Erpo Theodoricke of Wintzenburg Henry Egbert Wernerus Henry Ludovicke Godescal a Saxon who dyed in the yeare 1200. Hermann the second Count of Catznelbogen Otto Count of B●nth●m Theodoricke Ludolphus Count of Holte Otto the second Count of Lippe William the second Baron of Holte Gerard Count of Marca Everhard Count of Deest Otto the third Count of Retberge Conradus Ludovicke Count of Hassia Adolphus Count of Marca in the yeere 13●5 Iohn Count of Virnenburch translated to Vltrajectum Florentius Count of Vevelichoven Paro Bohemus THE BISHOPRICKE OF MVNSTER MONASTERIENSIS Episcopatus Henry Wulf Otto the fourth Count of Hoya Henry Count of Mursium Walramus brother to Henry Iohn Bavarus Henry Bishop of Bremes Conrade Count of Retberg Eric elected Duke of Saxonie in the yeare 1508. Fredericke Count of Weda Eric Count of Grubenhager Franciscus Count of Waldeck in whose reigne the Anabaptists did make a great tumult or faction having one Iohn of Leiden for their Captaine who would needes bee called King of Israel After Waldeck there were William Ketler Bernard Raesvelt and Iohn Comes of Hoya who dyed in the yeare 1574. Iohn William Duke of Cleveland who resigned to Ernest Duke of Bavaria and Bishop of Colen after whose decease his Nephew Ferdinand succeeded THE THIRD TABLE OF WESTPHALIA THe third Table of Westphalia as the Title sheweth doth lively delineare describe three parts The Dukdome of Bergen the Countie of March and the Dioecese of Colen Which we will runne over in the same order as they are propounded The first is the Dukedome Bergen which is so called from the Towne Bergen it beginneth at low Wesel and so runneth up a great way toward Rhene But concerning the originall of this Dukedome Munster writeth thus In the time of Henry Auceps King of the Romaines namely in the yeare 724 there were two brothers unto whom for their former service King Henry gave a certaine part of Westphalia in which the elder namely Adolphus built a Castell neere the Countie of Arnsperg and called it Volvesheg and afterward he brought all the Countrie to Civilitie and adorned it with many Townes and Villages The other brother called Eberhard did also build a
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 q●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 ●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
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
up almost 70 degrees but Europe scarce 35. Beside Europe is full of windings but Africke is uniforme and continued Europe as I said before in the description thereof is every where inhabited but this is full of Deserrs and inhabitable places That was formerly knowne but not this where it is inhabited Africke doth excell in fruitfulnesse But for the most part it is not inhabited but full of barren Sands and Desarts and troubled with many kindes of living Creatures It is reported that the fruitfulnesse of the fields is very wonderfull and doth give the tillers such a harvest as doth requite the labour with a hundred-fold increase for that which is sowne That is wonderfull which is spoken of the fertilitie of Mauritania viz. that there are Vines which two men cannot fadome about and bunches of Grapes a cubit long There are very high trees neare to the Mountaine Atlas plaine and smooth without knots and leaved like the Cypresse tree Africke doth bring forth Elephants and Dragons which lie in waite for beasts and kill them with winding about them besides it hath a great number of Lyons Buffs or wilde Oxen Libbards wilde Goates and Apes Herodotus reporteth that Asses with hornes bred here besides Dragons Hyenaes rough Wolves begotten of the Wolfe and Hiena Panthers and Ostriches roughtd besides many kinds of Serpents as Aspes Crocondiles to which nature hath made the Ichneumon an enemie c. But as the same Author witnesseth there is neither Stagge nor Boare in it Africke bringeth forth the Basiliske and although many things are thought to be fabulous which are reported of him Yet it is certaine that Leo being Pope there was a Basiliske which infected Rome with a great plague by his noysome breath There are also divers kindes of Monsters whose diversitie and multitude they ascribe to the want of water whereby the wild beasts are enforced to come together at a few Rivers and Springs The Romanes divided Africke into sixe Provinces The Proconsularie Province wherein was Carthage Numidia under the jurisdictin of a Consull Bizacchius Tripolitana Mauritania Caesariensis and Mauritania Sitiphensis Ptolomie in the beginning of his fourth Booke doth reckon twelve Provinces or Countries Mauritania Tingitana Mauritania Caesariensis Numidia Africa properly so called Cyrenaica or Pentapolis for so Ptolomie calls it Marmarica Lybia properly so called the Higher and Lower Egypt the Innermost Lybia Aethiopia under Egypt the Innermost Aethiopia Leo Africanus doth divide all Africke into foure parts Barbarie Numidia Lybia and the Countrie of Black-Mores But in this Leo is deceived because hee hath not made the Red Sea the bound of Africke but Nilus whereby it comes to passe that hee joynes Egypt and the Easterne part to Asia Let us therefore besides those foure parts reckoned up of Leo place in Africke Egypt the Higher Aethiopia the Lower and outermost Aethiopia and the Islands Egypt is stretched forth in a long tract of Land from the South unto the North. The bounds thereof on the West side are the Desarts of Barca Lybia and Numidia beyond Nilus together with the Kingdome of Nubia On the South it is bounded with the Country of Bugia and Nilus where it runneth a little from the West Eastward On the Eastside there are the Desarts of Arabia which lye betweene Egypt and the Red Sea and on the North side it is enclosed with the Mediterranean Sea Other things concerning Egypt wee will unfold in the particular Description thereof At this day they call all that part of Africke which reacheth from Egypt to the Straits of Gibraltar and is included with the Mediterranean Sea and the Mountaine Atlas Barbaria and it containes the Kingdomes of Morocco Fesse Tremisen Tunis and Barca of which wee will speake more largely in the Description of Barbarie At this time it shall be sufficient to shew the Reader the division and bounds thereof The Kingdome therefore of Morocco is divided into these Provinces Hea Susa Guzala the Land of Morocco Ducala Hoscora and Tedletes it is bounded with the Atlantick Ocean with the Mountaine Atlas it selfe and the Kingdome of Fesse The Kingdome of Fesse hath on the West the Atlanticke Sea on the North the Straits of Hercules on the East the River Mulvia on the South the Kingdome of Morocco The Countries therein are Temesna the Territory of Fesse Asgara Elhabata Errifa Garetum and Elchausum The Kingdome of Tremisen is bounded on the South with the Desart of Numidia on the East with the great River on the North with the Mediterranean Sea The Kingdome of Tunis doth containe the whole tract of Land from the great River to the River of the Countrie of Mestata The Countries thereof are five Bugia Constantina the Territorie of Tunis Tripolis and Ezzaba Barca or Barcha is stretched forth from the borders of Mestata to the confines of Egypt Numidia is called at this day Biledulgerid the bounds thereof are the Atlanticke Sea on the West side the Mountaine Atlas on the North the confines of Egypt on the East the Desarts of Libya on the South The Regions thereof are Tesset Tegelmessa Seb Biledulgerid Dara and Fezzen Lybia was called by the Ancients Sarra because it is a Desart It beginneth from the Kingdome of Gagoa neere Nilus and is extended toward the West even to the Kingdome of Gualata which lyeth neere to the Atlantick Sea on the North the Kingdome of Numidia doth border on it on the South the Kingdome of the Nigritans or Blackmoores The Nigritans are so called either from the blacke colour of the inhabitants or frō the black river which glideth through their Country They have on the East the Confines or the Borders of Nilus on the West the Westerne Ocean on the South partly the Aethiopian Sea and partly the Kingdome of Manicongus but on the North the desarts of Libya The Kingdomes therof are five and twentie namely Galata Gumea Melli Tombutum Gago Guber Agadez Cano Caseva Zegzeg Zanfara Gunangara Boruum Goago Nubia Biro Temiamo Dauma Medra Gora the Territorie of Anterot the Territorie of Giolosa the Coast of Guinea the Territorie of Meligens and the Kingdome of Benin The Abyssines do inhabit the higher or innermost Aethiopia whose Prince is called Prester Iohn His Country is large doth almost touch either Tropicke and it is extended betweene the Aethiopian and the Red Sea on the North it hath the people of Nubia and Bugia that borders on Egypt on the East the Red Sea on the South the Mountaines of the Moone on the VVest the Kingdome of Manicongus the River Niger the Kingdome of Nubia the River Nilus These Kingdomes are subject to him Barnagnes Tigremaum Tigraim in which is the Cittie Caxumo Angote Amara Xoa Goyami Bagamedrum Gueguere Fatiagar Damar Dancali and Dobas The lower or outermost Aethiopia is the Southerne part of Africke unknowne unto Ptolomie The beginning thereof on the East side is above the River Zaire not farre from 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 D●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
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 Linu● 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
Irish did often use to doe Kerri as it is now called at the mouth of the River Shennin was Anciently their Seat A countrie full of inaccessible and wooddy mountains betweene which there are many hollow vallies having thicke woods in them The Earles of Desmond were heretofore honoured with the dignitie of Counts Palatine hereof but by the wickednesse of men which would have libertie and yet knew not how to use it it was long since converted into a sinke of impietie and a refuge for seditious persons A ridiculous opinion hath invaded and persuaded the mindes of the Wild Irish that hee that doth not answer the great shouting or warlike crie which the rest make when they joyne battell should be suddenly taken up from the earth and as it were flying be carried into these desart vallies from any part of Ireland and there feed on grasse drinke water and yet know not what he is having reason but not speech and at last should be taken by hunters and brought home againe The middle of this Countrie is cut into two parts by a River which hath now no name but floweth by a small Towne called Trailes now almost ruinated where the Earles of Desmond had their mansion houses This River by the situation of it in Ptolemies tables doth seeme to be Dur and saith Camden I would avouch no lesse if Duris which at this day is reckoned among the Hauens of this Westerne Coast be at the mouth of it as I have understood by some Not farre from hence is the Haven Smerwick the word being contracted in stead of S. Mary Wick of which not many yeares agoe when Girald Earle of Desmond a man profound in trecherie towards his Prince and Countrie did daily by severall inrodes waste the Countrie of Momonia a mixt band or companie of Italians and Spaniards arrived being sent unto his aide from Pope Gregory and the Spaniards who having engarrison'd themselves in a place called Fort del Ore seemed not to feare Heaven it selfe But when that famous and warlike Deputie the Lord Arthur Gray came with his forces hee did soone decide the matter For forthwith they yeelded themselves and most part of them were put to death because it seemed most safe and fit so to doe the affaires of the Kingdome requiring it and the rebells being on every hand The Earle of Desmond himselfe fled to the woods and having hid himselfe in a Cottage was wounded by a Souldier or two who rushed in upon him and afterward being knowne he was beheaded for his trecherie and wasting of his Countrie All Desmonia toward the South is subject to the Gangans which the Irish call Dassown the English Desmond heretofore three sorts of people dwelt in it namely the Luceni the Velabri the Iherni which are conceived in some Maps to be the Vterini The Luceni seeme to have drawne both their name and originall from the Lucensii of Spaine which held the opposite Coast The Velabri were so called from Aber which is as much to say as Aestuarii because they were seated neare the armes of the Sea hence also the Artabri and Cantabri were so called Orosius places these at the Promontorie Notium which Mariners at this day doe call Biar-head under this Promontorie the River Iernus is received into the Ocean neare to which stands Dunck-eran a Bishops Seat this Dunck-eran which in the Scottish-Irish is as much as to say the Towne Eran doth not onely expresly shew it selfe to be that Citie Ivernis which Ptolemie mentions but the river to be that Iernus whereof hee speaketh which hath its appellation together with the whole Island from Hier an Irish word signifying the West For it is the farthest River of this Country toward the West as Ireland is the farthest Island Westward of all Europe The Iberni who are also called Vterni that is according to Camdens interpretation the High Irish did inhabit by this River on one side of the Promontorie where are the Havens Berebavim and Baltimore well knowne for the plentie of Herring taken therein neare to which dwelt Mac-Carti More an Irish Nobleman who in the yeare 1566. did deliver render his Lands and possessions into the hands of Elizabeth Queene of England and received thē againe from Her to hold thē by fealtie after the manner of England And at the same time he was created Earle at Glencar and baron of Valentia A man in this Countrie of great name and power and an enemy heretofore to the Giralds who deprived his Ancesters being heretofore as he contended the lawfull Kings of Desmond of their ancient right For these Giralds or Fitz-Giralds being descended from the house of Kildare and having conquered the Irish did here get themselves large possessions and of these Giralds Maurice Fitz-Thomas was created by Edward the third THE FIFT TABLE OF IRELAND Hiberniae v. Tabula the first Earle of Desmond in the yeare of Grace 1355 left so firme so established an inheritance that the aforesaid honour in a continued successiō did descend to this wretched rebel of which I have spoken before who was the tenth Earle after him Next to the Iberni dwelt the Vdiae who are also called Vodiae of which names there remaineth some tokens in the Country of Kilkenni for the greatest part is called Idou Idouth These did inhabit the Counties of Corke Triperarie Linrick Kilkenni and Waterford In the Countie of Triperarie there is nothing worthy of memorie but that there is a Palatinate in it and the little Towne called Holy Crosse that hath great immunities and freedomes granted as the Monkes have persuaded them in honour of a piece of our Saviours Crosse which was kept there The famous River Suirus which the inhabitants call Showr is carried out of this Countrie of Triperarie into Kilkenni This River running out of the Mountain Blada through Ossiria the Lower of which the Butlers are stiled Earles and afterward Thurles of which they are stiled Vicounts first passeth by the Citie Cassilia or Cassel adorned by Pope Eugenius with an Archbishop under whom are nine Suffragan Bishops And from thence growing bigger by the receipt of two other Rivers into it neere Waterford it dischargeth it selfe into the Ocean Hitherto I have runne over this part of Ireland with Camden now it remaines to unfold some things concerning the Cities and Townes in the same Among them the first that offers it selfe is Waterford which is the second Citie in Ireland and alwaies faithfull and obedient to the English governement For after Richard Earle of Pembroke conquered and tooke it it alwaies continued in peacable quietnesse and obedience to the English endeavouring to bring Ireland into subjection whence the Kings of England did grant them many and divers immunities and freedomes which Henry the seventh did encrease and confirme because the Cittizens did behave themselves valiantly and wisely against Perkin VVarbeck who with the wings of impudence thought to aspire to the royall Throne
praise These are the names of the Dukedomes Earledomes and Vicountships of Scotland the Dukedome of Rotsay and Albania and the Dukedome of Lennox the Countie of Carnes Sutherlant Rosse Murray Buchquhan Garmach Garmoran Mar Mernis Angus Gowry Frisse Marche Athole Stratherne Menteith Wagion Douglasse Carrike Crawford Annandale Ourmonth and Huntley The Vicountships are Berwich alias North-Berwyk Roxburgh Selkirk Twedale Dunfrise Niddisdale Wigton Are Lanarke Dunbretton Sterueling Louthean Lauden Clacmanan Kiuros Fisse Perth Angus Mernis Aberdone Bamph Fores and Inuernes There are the Universities of Saint Andrew and Aberdone the later was adorned with many priviledges by King Alexander and his Sister Isabel about the yeare 1240. The former was begun to be established under King Iames in the yeare 1411. To which is added the University of Glasgo founded by Bishop Turnbul anno 1554 and Edenburgh The disposition of the Scots is lively stirring fierie hot and very capable of wisdome THE SECOND TABLE OF SCOTLAND I Have ended that which I purposed to speake of Scotland in generall our method requireth that we should run through the parts of it in speciall Scotland is divided by the Mountaine Grampius cutting it in the midst into the Southerne or Higher part and into the Northerne or Lower part It is divided from England by the River Tweede by the high Mountaine Cheviota and where the Mountaine faileth by a trench made not long agoe and lastly by the Rivers Eske and Solway Beyond these bounds the Countries even from the Scottish Sea to the Irish doe lie in this manner The first is Marcia Merchia or March so called because it is the limits and lies on the Marches of Scotland this reacheth to the left side of Tweede on the East it is bounded with the Forth Aestuarium and on the South with England In March is the Towne of Berwyke Borwick or Borcovicum which the English hold Here is also the Castle of Hume the ancient possession of the Lords of Hume who being descended from the Earles of March became at last a great and renowned Familie Neare to this Castle lyeth Kelso famous by a certaine Monasterie and the ancient habitation of the Hepburni who a long time by Hereditary right were Earles of Bothwell and Admiralls of Scotland which honours by the Sister of Iames Earle of Bothwell married to Iohn the lawfull Sonne of King Iames the fift did descend to Francis his Son From thence we may see Coldingham or Childingham which Beda calls the Citie Coldana and Vrbs Coludi and Ptolemie perchance calls Colania On the West side of March on either side of Tweede is Tifedale being so called from the River Tyfie It is divided from England by the Mountaine Cheviota After this are three small Countries Lidesdale Eusedale and Eskedale so named from three Rivers of like name Lide Eue and Eske The last is Annandale which is so called from the River of Annan dividing it in the midst which runnes along by Solway into the Irish Sea Now that wee may returne againe to the Forth or Scottish Fyrth it doth bound Lothiana or Lauden on the East side the Cochurmian Woods and the Lamirian Mountaines doe seperate it from Marcia And then a little toward the West it toucheth upon Lauderia Twedia the one so called frō the Town Laudera the other frō the River Tweede cutting through the middle of that Country On the South and West Lidesdale Nithesdale and Clidesdall doe touch upon Tweede the name of Nithesdale was given unto it from the River Nyth called by Ptolemie Nobios which glideth through it into the Irish Sea Lothiaria was so called from Lothius King of the Scots On the East side it is bounded with the Forth or Scottish Sea and on the West it looketh toward the Vale of Clide This Country both for curtesie and plenty of all things necessary for mans life doth farre excell the rest It is watered with five Rivers Ti●● both the Eskes who before they fall into the Sea doe joyne together in one channell Letha and Almone These rising partly out of the Lamirian Mountaines partly out of the Pictland Mountaines doe runne into the Forth It hath these Townes Dunbarr Hadinia commonly called Hadington Dalneth Edenburrough Leth and Lemnuch Somewhat more towards the West lyeth Clydesdale on either side of the River Clide or Glotta which in regard of the length is divided into two Provinces In the former Province is a hill not very high from whence three Rivers doe discharge themselves into three divers Seas Tweede into the Scotch Sea Annand into the Irish and Clide into the Deucalidon Sea The chiefest Cities in it are Lanarick and Glasco The latter the River Coila or Coyil runneth by on the West beyond Coila is Gallovidia or Galloway It is seperated from Nithesdale with the River Claudanus almost enclining toward the South whose bankes doe hemme in the other side of Scotland The whole Country is more fruitfull in Cattle then in Corne. It hath many Rivers which runne into the Irish Sea as Vrus Dee Kennus Cray and Lowys It is no where raised into Mountaines but yet it swells with little Hills Among which the water setling doth make innumerable Lakes which by the first raine which falls before the Autumnall Aequinox doe make the Rivers rise whence there commeth downe an incredible multitude of Eeles which the Inhabitants having tooke up with wickar-weeles doe salt up and make a great commoditie of In this Country is the Lake of Myrton part of whose Waters doe congeale in Winter the other is never frozen The farthest part on this side is the Promontorie Novantum under which in the mouth of the River Lowys is the Bay which Ptolemy calls Regrionius On the other side there flowes into it the Bay of Glotta commonly called the Lake Rian which Ptolemy calls Vidogara That Land which runneth betweene these two Bayes the Inhabitants call Rine that is the Eye of Galloway they call it also the Mule of Galloway or the Mules nocke The whole Country is called Galloway or Gallovid which in the language of the Ancient Scots signifies a French-man Beneath Vidogara on the backside of Galloway Caricta gently bendeth toward the estuarie of Glotta Two Rivers doe cut through it one called Stinsianus and the other Grevanus on both of which many pleasant Townes are seated Between the Rivers in those places where it swells into little hills it is fruitfull in pasturage and hath some Corne. The whole Country hath not onely a sufficiency of all things for the maintenance of men both by Sea and Land but also doth furnish the neighbour Countries with many commodities The River Dun doth seperate it from Coila arising out of a Lake of the same name which hath an Island in it with a small Castle There are in the Countrie of Caricta very exceeding great Oxen whose flesh is tender and sweet in taste and whose fat being once
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 ●●dge and doth send forth divers great Rivers into either Sea ●●●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 ●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 F●gina neare the River L●x which yet retaineth its ancient name and Nessus neare the River Ne●●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 ●●ee●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 ●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 Ro● signifies in the Scottish speech a Promontorie It is longer then broad For it is extended from the German Sea to the Pe●●alidon where it
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
Foborch Assens Bowens Middlefart or Milvart and Kettemynde or Cortemund The chiefe royall castles are Newburg Hagenschow Hinsgagel Eschburg and the Court of Rugard Here are many Villages and not a few Noble-mens houses For this Island in regard of the pleasantnesse of the Climate and fertilitie of the soyle is much esteemed by the Nobles The sea doth yeeld great plentie of fish and every Bay is so full thereof that ships or boats being over set with them can hardly saile or row against them which yet they do not take with any fishing engines but with their hands Those who dwell by the Sea side besides tillage and husbandrie doe use fishing both which do furnish thē with all things necessarie for house-keeping There are some places in this Island famous for warlike atchievements done not many yeares past For there is a certaine mountaine called Ochenberg not farre from the Castle Hagenschow in which Iohn Rantzovius Knight and Generall of the field for King Christian the third in a great battle did overthrow Christopher Count of Oldenburg in the yeare of Christ 1530 on the eleventh day of June in which conflict were slaine two Counts the one being the Count of Hage the other of Tecklenburg whose bodies being afterward taken up out of the field were brought to Ottonia and buried in Canutus his Church about the same time also on the Mountaine Fauchburg which is 4 mile distant from the Towne Ascens some thousands of the Rebels were slaine and put to slight This Countrie is adorned with many woods in which are great store of wild beasts In the citie of Ottonium there are two famous Temples or Churches one consecrated to Canutus the other to Saint Francis In this latter Iohn King of Denmarke and his sonne Christierne when they had spent 37 yeares in banishment and captivitie were buried in the yeare 1559 about the other is a large and spacious court-yard in which the King of Denmarke did renew his ancient league of friendship with the Dukes of Holsatia and Sleswicke An. 1580 they report also that the mother of King Christian the second did place up a certaine Altar here belonging to the Minorite Friars a wonderfull curious piece of worke carved in wood the like whereof is not to be found in Europe Out of this Island from the Towne Ascen● it is eight miles into Iuitland or Iutia and from Nyburge into Zeland is a passage of sixteene miles long through the Baltieke Sea which is very dangerous especially if the Sea be rough for when the East Sea being increased by the receit of many rivers is thrust forward with a violent course it often happens that contrarie windes do raise such mightie waves make the sea so unquiet that Mariners are many times to great danger drawne in with these gulphlike windings of the waters sometimes swallowed up by them And so much concerning Fionia now let us passe to the other Islands Under Fionia are contained ninety Islands situated toward the South and the most of them habitable the chiefe whereof are these Langeland Lawland Falstre Aria or Arr Alsen Tosing and Aroe Langeland is 28 miles in length In it there is a Towne called Rudkeping and Traneker a royall Castle beside many villages Parishes and Noble-mens houses Lawland is separated by the strait of Gronesand from Zeland and by a small arme of the Sea from Falstre It is so fruitfull in corne and filberd Nuts that ship-loads are brought from thence into other Countries It hath five townes which are these Nistadt Nasco Togrop Roth and Marib besides royall Castles Noble-mens houses many Parishes and Villages Falstre is 16 miles long and hath these two Cities THE FOVRTH TABLE OF DENMARKE FIONIA Stubecopen and Nicopen which in regard of the pleasantlesse and beautie thereof is called the Naples of Denmarke Out of this Island neare a royall Pallace there is a frequent passage into Germany namely to Warnemund which is 28 miles long It furnishes neighbour countries every yeare with much corn Arta being distant 6 miles frō Elysia is cloathed with woods and therefore assordeth much recreation for hunters it hath three Parishes and some Noble-mens houses with the Towne Castle of Coping It belongs together with Elysia to the Dukedome of Sleswi●ke and is under the government of the Duke thereof Elisia or Alsa commonly called Alsen is an Island of a reasonable bignesse for it is 16 miles in length and 8 in breadth being not farre distant from the Dukedome of Sleswicke and looking toward the Bay die Flensburger Wick it is parted by it from the first seat of the English The Rantzovian Musaeum tells us that the Romans did call these Islanders Elisians As also those who inhabit the next Island Arians which appellation or name they still retaine to this day Ptolomie relateth that the English were the ancient inhabitants of the Northerne Countries by the Sea side to which Tacitus addeth the Elisit Arit and the Mommy whose names also are still used in the Islands Alsen Arr and Moen There is a Towne in Alsen or Elisia called Sunderburg and a Castle of the same name with other Townes as Norborch Osternholm Die Holle and Gammelgard It hath thirteene populous Parishes whence it can set forth many thousands of Souldiers It is very wooddy by reason whereof it affordeth Harts and many kindes of wild beasts for hunting It hath great store of Sea-fish and fresh-fish and much wheat and it is every where fit for feeding and pasturing of cattle Tussing or Tosinga being the chiefe Isle among all the other Islands lyeth neare unto a towne of Fionia called Swineburg and is foure miles in length In this Island besides Parishes there is the Pallace of Kettrop belonging to the Rosenkransians and Rantzovians Aroe is situated neare the Dukedome of Sleswicke where they passe to the Towne Alcens in Fionia by the Arsensian Bay and hath foure Villages There are also these Islands Ramso Endelo Ebilo Fenno Boko Brando Toroe Aggerins Hellenis Iordo Birkholm c. Let so much suffice to have beene spoken concerning Fionia and the Islands lying round about it And now to conclude I will here rather then no where adde unto the rest a Description of Huena or Ween seated in the Sound in which is the Castle of Vraniburg filled with many accurate and elaborate Astronomicall instruments The middle of this Island where this Castle standeth hath the Pole elevated about 56 Degrees and 55 and is situate from the West 55 Degrees It is in compasse 8160 paces every pace being 5 foote so that the whole circuit of it is equall unto two common German 18 English miles This Island being placed in the most famous strait of the whole Kingdome through which many ships saile out of the Easterne into the Westerne Sea and on the contrarie with a gooly prospect hath in view many chiefe Townes of this Kingdome which stands as it were round about it
third Palatinate is the Minscensian wherein is the Citie Minsko and the Castle ●●●lanaw also Radoscowice Borissow Lawisko or Liwsko Swislo●z Bobreisko and Odruck The fourth Palatinate is the Novogrodian in which is Novogrodeck a large Citie and built of wood also Slonim Wolkowi●z and many other Townes The fift Palatinate is the Briestian so called from the Citie Briesti being large and built of wood and here is the Citie of Pinsko The sixt is the Palatinate of Volhinia in which is Luezko the Seate of a Bishop also Voladamire and Kerzemenesia The seventh Palatinate is Kiovia in which there was heretofore a large and ancient Citie of the same name seated by the River Boristhenes as the ruines which lie sixe miles in length doe easily demonstrate There are also the Townes Circasia or Kerkew Kamova and Moser The eighth is the Palatinate of Miceslow neare to the Rivers Sosa and Borysthenes in the borders of Moscovie wherein are the Townes of Miceslaw Dubrowna 〈◊〉 and Sklow beside Mohilow By●how ●●czycza and Strissin with their Castles The ninth Palatinate is the Witebscian in which is the Citie Witebsk situated by the River Duna and Orsa neare Borysthenes The tenth Palatinate is the Polocensian which is so called from Poloteska a Citie lying neare to the confluence of the River Polota and Duna betweene Witsbek and Livonia There are also the Townes Disna Drissa and Dr●●●a with their Castles These things being explained let us speake something of the Rivers of Lithuania On the East side Lithuania is bounded with the Rivers Oscol Ingra and the lesser Tanais all which with many others doe runne into great Tanais There is also in Lithuania the River Borysthenes which arising out of a plaine marish ground and running through Russia doth vent it selfe at last into the Euxine Sea and the Rivers Wilia and Niemen the latter whereof runneth a great way with a very crooked winding streame and at last disburthens it selfe into the Prutenick or Finnish Sea also Duina and other Rivers beside Lakes and standing waters of which the Country is full and all these do afford great plenty of fish which are very delectable pleasant in taste Moreover the Country is covered with very great and spacious woods Sigismund that happie and auspicious King of Poland did unite the Palatines and Castellans of the Provinces of Lithuania into one body of a Common-wealth with the Polanders and did designe a certaine place and order in the Senate of the Kingdome to all the Noble men Bishops and Palatines of this Country so that out of the Kingdome of Poland and the Provinces united unto it there are in the Senate fifteene Bishops one and thirty Palatines thirty of the greater Castellans or governours of Castles and fiftie of the lesse beside those who are called the Officials of the Kingdome as the Marshalls the Chancellours the Vicechancellors and the Treasurers of which wee will speake more largely in the description of Poland Marriages amongst the Lithuanians are easily dissolved by mutuall consent and they marry againe and againe The wives have openly men-concubines by their husbands permission whom they call connubij adjutores i. helpers in marriage but on the contrary for men to follow whores is counted a reproach When any one is condemned to die he is commanded to punish himselfe and to hang himselfe with his owne hands which if he refuse to doe hee is threatned and beaten with stripes untill he kill himselfe Their flockes doe afford them great store of milke for their food The common bread which they use is very blacke being made of Rye or Barley together with the branne but the rich mens bread is very white being baked and made of pure Wheat They seldome use any wine for the common people drinke water and such as are of abilitie drinke Ale which they brew of divers sorts of corne as Wheat Rye Barley Oates and Millet but such as is unsavory They have abundance of thicke and thinne Mede boyled in divers manners and with it they make themselves merrie and oftentimes drunke Lithuania seemeth almost to be inaccessible as being almost all overflowne with waters but in Winter there is more convenient trafficking with the Inhabitants and the wayes are made passable for Merchants the Lakes and standing waters being frozen over with yee and spread over with snow Their chiefe wealth is the skins of beasts as of Weesills Foxes and those which are more precious as Martens and Scythian Weesills Of these they make a great profit as also of their Waxe Honey Ashes and Pitch The best Wainscot is cut here and brought into Germany through the Balthick and Germane Sea and out of this Country all woodden Architecture both publique and private through all Germany and the Low countries is made as also for the most part such woodden housholdstuffe as belongeth to houses but enough of Luthuania we will now adde something concerning the rest There followes in our Title Samogitia which in their language signifies the Lower land the Russians call it Samotzekasemla it is a Northerne Country and very large being next to Lithuania and environed with Woods and Rivers On the North it hath Livonia on the West it is washed with the Balthick or Germane Sea which is properly called the Balthick Bay and towards the Northwest Borussia joyneth unto it It aboundeth with the best whitest and purest Honey which is found in every hollow tree It hath no Towne nor Castle the Nobles live in Lodges the Country people in Cottages The people of this Country are of a great and large stature rude in behaviour living sparingly drinking water and seldome any drinke or Mede they knew not untill of late the use of Gold Brasse Iron or Wine It was lawfull with them for one man to have many wives and their father being dead to marrie their step-mother or the brother being dead to marrie his wife The Nation is much enclined to Fortune telling and Southsaying The God which they chiefly adored in Samogitia was the fire which they thought to be holy and everlasting and therefore on the top of some high mountaine the Priest did continually cherish and keepe it in by putting wood unto it In the third place is Russia by which name in this place wee understand the Southerne or Blacke-Russia whose chiefe Country is Leopolis or Lemburg built by Leo a Moscovite it is famous by reason of the Mart kept there and the Bishops Seat Beside the Country of Leopolis there are three other in this Russia to wit the Country of Halycz Belz and Praemislia In the fourth place is Volhinia which is situate betweene Lithuania Podolia and Russia it aboundeth with fruits in regard of the fertility of the soile The Inhabitants are strong and warlike and doe use the Ruthenian language This Country did pertaine once to the great Duke of Lithuania but now it is joyned to the Kingdome
no man is seene idle neither are there any beggars unlesse it be those who are impotent through age or sicknesse seeing none doe want meanes how to get a living or how to employ themselves That Citie which is now called Aranda neare the River Durius Ptolemie would have to be Rhanda of the Vaccaeans in Tarraconia Antoninus calleth it Rhanda by the correction of Hyeronimus Surita for heretofore it was called Randachunia That Towne which an uncertaine Writer calleth Exoma Pliny calls Vxoma who often addeth that this name is often used in other places it is read Vxsama with an S. in an ancient Marble and now it is called Osma But let so much suffice concerning the Cities and Townes wee passe to New Castile New Castile on the North cleaveth to the Old Castile on the other sides it is enclosed with Portugall Extremadura Andaluzia Granada and Valentia It aboundeth with corne and other graine being situated on either side of the River Tagus The Metropolis of this Country is Toletum as the Latines call it Ptolemy calls it Toleton now it is called Toledo and Villanovanus in Ptolemy saith that it was once called Serezola it is the Center and Navell as it were of Spaine it hath a very cliffie rugged and unlevell situation and the ascents are so steepe that it is very difficult travelling through it The River Tagus doth wash the greater part of it and doth fence it against enemies it is fortified with 150 watch-Towers There are a great number of Noblemen in this Citie The Citizens are very industrious It is beautified with many faire Edifices and buildings as also with a rich and stately Church There have beene 18 nationall Councells held here when as so many have not been held in any other place Madritum commonly called Madrid doth reverence Toletum as her mother and Queene it hath an wholesome aire and situation It aboundeth with all things and the Kings of Spaine have an house of residence in it Not farre from hence is Villamanta which as Montanus and Villonovanus and Tarapha would have it is that Town which Ptolemy calls Mantua in Tarraconia That Town which by an Arabicke word the Spaniards do now call Alcala de Henares Ptolemy beleeveth so certainly to be Complutum that it is called so in Latine in all publique acts It is seated on a plaine neare the River which they call Henares and aboundeth so with all things necessary for mans use that it needes no supply from other places Antoninus placeth Segontia betweene Complutum and Caesar-augusta it is at this day called Siguensa Now I returne to Hispalis and from thence passing by the Pallace the bridge of Alcantarilla and the Townes Cabeca and Nebrissa I come now to the Towne Fanum Luciferi for so the Latines doe name it and Strabo in his fourth Booke where he addeth that it was heretofore called Lux Dubia now they call it Saint Lucar de Barrameda Not farre from hence almost foure leagues toward the Northeast there is a Towne which hath a famous ancient Bridge now called Talavera and as Beuterus and Moralis do suppose named by Livy Aebura Here are also the Townes Cuenca which Pliny calls Cacenses Lebazuza which Antoninus calls Libisosa and Castola veja which the same Antoninus calleth Castulo The River Tagus doth water New Castile together with other Rivers and Rivulets which run into it and the Spring-head of the River Anas or Guadiana is in this Countrie But enough of these things I come now to the publique workes Five leagues from Madrid toward the West you may behold the magnificent and sumptuous Monasterie of Saint Laurence who was of the order of Saint Ierome It was the worke of Philip the second King of Spaine and may compare with the Egyptian Pyramides the Graecian and Roman Temples Theaters Amphitheaters or other famous places for the structure for there is scarce any thing equall or second to it The Frontispice of it looking toward the West hath three stately gates the middlemost and chief wherof leadeth you into a Church a Friery and a Colledge that on your right hand bringeth you into the Offices belonging to the Monasterie that on the left hand bringeth you into the Schooles The foure corners are adorned with foure curious Towers which are exceeded by two other Towers placed one by another at the foot of the Church Above the gates of the Church doe stand the Statues of the sixe Kings of Israel cut out in Marble and being 17 foot high on the North side there is a Pallace adjoyned to the Church which is able to receive the King and all his traine On the South side there are divers sumptuous Galleries and on the East side a garden set with all kinde of hearbes and flowers and enriched with many other ornaments Also an Hospitall for the Sicke a Roome for an Apothecarie and other places Lastly every thing doth so amaze the beholder that it is better for me to be silent with modestie than to make a meane description of those things which remaine There is also in this Countrie the famous Pallace of Toledo reedified by Charles the fifth adorned with new buildings and Royall furniture in which besides many other singular things there is a water-worke made by the wonderfull invention of an Italian which by the helpe of a great wheele draweth up water out of the River Tagus and so imposing an artificiall violence upon nature doth force it to ascend through Pipes into the highest part of the Castle where it being received into one large Cisterne is dispersed againe by Pipes and serveth for the use of the Castle and the whole Citie for it doth water gardens and serveth for Noble mens houses Stewes Fullers of cloath and other necessary uses of the Citie Here are two Universities Complutum a famous Academie for all Arts which was instituted by Francis Ximenius Cardinall and Archbishop of Toledo The other is the Academie or Universitie of Toledo being a famous nurserie of Learning and Wisedome All disciplines and Mechanicke Arts are greatly esteemed in the Citie Toledo and ten thousand men doe live thereby dressing Wooll and Silke ANDALVZIA Jn which are the Countries of HISPALIS and GRANADA ANDALUZIA is a part of Hispania Baetica it is supposed that it was heretofore called Vandalia from the Vandals a people of Germany who formerly came into these parts Therefore some having searched more nearely into the name do thinke it was called Andaluzia quasi Wendenhuys that is the house of the Vandals yet Marius Aretius doth thinke it was called Andaluzia quasi ante Lusitania the letters being somewhat changed On the East it hath Granada on the North New Castile on the West it is bounded with the Diocesses of Badaios and Silvis the River Anas and on the South it looketh toward the Atlantick Sea The chiefe part of it is the jurisdiction of Hispalis This hath on the East Corduba on the
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
Evesche de Langres Those which Caesar calleth R●mi Ptolemy calleth Rhem●i Pliny Faederati and the Country in which is their City of Rhemes is called Duché Pairie and Archenesché de R●ims as wee have before mentioned The Learned doe thinke that the Cathelaum mentioned in Amianus Marcellinus should bee written Catalauni And so they are nominated CAMPANIA CHAMPAGNE comitatus CAMPANIA in Eutropius his Bookes Their City is now called la Evesché de Challon In the Catalannian Fields Atilla King of the Hunnes in the yeere from the building of the City of Rome 1203. and after the birth of Christ 450. was overcome by the Romanes Gothes and Frenchmen under the conduct of their Captaines Actius Patricius Theodoricus and Merovaeus there being slaine on both sides 162000. except 90000. Gepidaans and Frenchmen who were slaine before Iornandes cap. 36. doth delmeate and set forth these Fields and the place of the Battell The Meldae Pliny calleth Liberi Strabo Meldoi Ptolemie Meldai and an Inscription engraven on an ancient Stone Meldi Strabo precisely maketh them and the Leuxovians to bee the Parokeanitae which are in the middle of the Country where there is now the Towne Meaulx neere the River Matrona The Senones which are celebrated by Caesar Pliny and others Ptolemy calleth by the same name and placeth them in Gallia Lugdunensis Strabo thinketh that there are other Senones neere to the Nerviais towards the West The former of them did make those horrible incursions into Italy so much spoke of and they did moreover wage a most fierce warre against the Romanes in the yeere from the building of the City 364. which they called The Senonick French warre Their Captaine was Brannus an Nobleman of France After the Fight or Battell they entred the City of Allia and there having slaine all they met and wasted all with fire they besieged for many moneths the Capitall into which the Romane youth had fled for their safegard but at last having made a peace with them for a certaine summe of money contrary to faith and promise they were partly slaine and partly put to flight by M. Furius Camillus the Dictator who entred the City with an Army All these things Livie Lib. 5. Florus Lib. 1. cap 13. and many other Writers doe delineate in their proper colours Campania is honoured with the title of a County and was once the Inheritance of Eudo Nephew to Gerlo the Norman by his Sonne Theobaldus This Gerlo was he that accompanied into France Rudulphus or Rollo the Norman to whom Charles the Simple granted Neustria which was afterward called Normandie After Eudo there succeeded in a right Line Stephen Theobaldus the 2. whose sonne Theobaldus the third dying without issue there succeeded him his Cosin germane Henry surnamed the large the sonne of Stephen King of England who was Brother to Theobaldus the second Henry had a sonne who was Earle of Campania and the other Territories but he dying without issue his Brother Theobaldus invaded the County and writ himselfe Count Palatine of Campania This Theobaldus being afterward made King of Navarre upon the death of Grandfather by the Mothers side brought the County to belong to the Crowne and left Henry his Successor both in Campania and in that Kingdome Lastly Ioane Daughter and Heir to this Henry being married to Philip the Faire King of France Campania and the other Provinces were united to the Crowne of France from which they were never after separated Campania as I have already spoken is usually now describ'd both by it selfe and with the Principalities adjacent and lying round about it As it is considered properly and by it selfe it is twofold the Lower and the Higher In the Lower is Tricassium and the Territories which are commonly called Ivigny ●assg●y and Vallage Moderne Writers doe call that Tricassium which is now called 〈◊〉 Th●se who were heretofore Earles of Campania from this City were called Earl●s of Tricassium It is one of the greatest and fairest Cities in this Kingdome The Latitude thereof is 47. degrees and some few minutes towards the North. It is a Bishops Seate and Belles●●rr●tius reckons 83. Bishops thereof Among these was that famous Lu●●● whom Sidonius Apollinaris praiseth for his vertues Lib. 6. Ep. 1.4 〈◊〉 9. as also Paulus Diaconus in Marciano Bede Lib. 1. Histor cap. 17. and others This City hath a large Jurisdiction and it is the seate of a President of Counsellors of Judges and others of the Kings Officers The Townes have reference to it namely Bar Sur Seine Mussil ●●●tique La ferté Sur Auge N●gent Pent Sur Seine Fruille Chastel and S. Florentin being all Townes of Campania The Territory of Ivigny separateth ●ampania from Burgundie The chiefe Towne thereof is Ivigny which is under the Jurisdiction of the Bayliwick of Tricassium Bassigny is so named because it is the better part of Lower Campania as we have before declared The Metropolis thereof is named from the bald Mountaine which Ivonus mentioneth Ep. 105 commonly call'd Chaum●nt on Bass●gny It hath an ancient Castle seated on a Rock and well fortified the Tower on the West side whereof is called in French Donyon and La haulte fueille This Castle the Earles of Campania did heretofore make their Palace No River runneth by it nor affordeth water unto it but that which Cesternes doe yeeld and a Fountaine at the foote of the Tower There are also in Bassigny the Townes of Montigny Go●ssy N●gent le Roy Monteclar Andelot Bisnay Ch●iseul Visnorry and Clismont being all strong Townes and the most of them well fortified with Castles besides Andomatunum Lingonum commonly called Langres of which we shall speake in an other place The Territory of Vallage is supposed to be so called from the Valleys in it which are both faire and fruitfull The Townes of chiefest note in Vallage are first Vasscium or Vassy neere Blois in the Country of Guise Francis Duke of Guise comming hither in the yeere 1562. was the Author of that Vasseian Massacre mentioned by the French Historiagraphers wherein many that professed the reformed Religion were slaine on the Kalends of March Not farre from thence there is a kind of earth found of which B●le Armenack is made The second Towne of not is S. D●●●re or Dedu●● which was taken by the Emperour Charles the fifth and afterward a peace being concluded was restored againe to the French It hath a strong Castle The third is the Towne of Ian●●●ille or as some write is ●o●●t ville which some doe fabulously report was so called from Ianus It belongeth to the Families of the Guises Prye so called from a Towne commonly named Brye or Bray Counte Robert is reckoned by some with Campania The Country of Brye although it were heretofore and also now is very wooddy yet in fertility and fruitfulnesse it is not inferior to any part of Campania For it hath a cleare skie and a sweete and temperate ayre It is watered with great wholesome
brother to Arthauld as is mentioned before From this marriage there proceeded Guido who was heyre to the County of Forrest and Lugovick who was Lord of Bello-Iolesius After whome there is no certainety delivered Henry the third King of France before hee came to the Monarchie of France possessed the Dukedomes of Burbon and Avernia the County of Forrest together with the Dukedome of Andigavia It containeth fortie walled Townes and about as many faire Villages The chiefe Towne of the Forrensians Roana or Roanne neere the River Ligeris which hath a Bridge over it which standeth in the way to Lions and also a Castle The second Towne of note is Forum Segusian rum for so it was heretofore called which is now commonly calld Feurs Ptolomy calls it Phoros of the Segusians and the Itinerary Tables corruptly call it Forum Segustivarum And from this Forum the Country corruptly is commonly called Le Layis de Forest when it should bee rather called de Fores. This is now a Towne of commerce and traffique for the whole Province The other Townes are Mombrisonium or Montbrison being a Bayliwicke and subject to the Lugdunians also the Fane of S. Stephan and S. Estierne de Furan where armor and Iron barres are made which are transported from thence into all parts of France The artificers Arte is much furthered by nature of the water which doth give an excellent temper to Iron and also the coales which are digged there there is also the Fane of S. Galmarus or S. Galmier or Guermier in the Suburbs whereof there is an Alome Fountaine which is commonly called Font-Foule also the Fane of S. Germane or S. Germain Laval which hath abundance of wine growing about it also the Fane of D. Bovet or S. Bovet le Castell in which the best tongs are made also the Fane of D. Rembertus or S. Rembert having the first Bridge that is over Ligeris The Country of Burbon is watered with two great Rivers namely Ligeris and Elavera being a River of Arvernia Ligeris commonly called Loire riseth up in Avernia in a place which in French is called La Fort de Loire Elaver commonly called Allie● riseth foure Miles above the Towne Clarumont beneath Brionda neere Gergovia and floweth not farre from a place which in French is called Vsco where there is a famous mine of gold and of the stone Lazulus It is as bigge as the River Liguris and by so much more full of fish Concerning the Manners of the Burbons those which border on Avernia are of the same disposition with them namely wittie and craftie very laborious carefull to get and for the most part they are litigious and violent men and ill to be dealt withall Those that dwell farther off are courteous and affable subtile and well experienced frugall and carefull housekeepers greedy of gaine and yet very bountifull and kind toward strangers The Forensians also are subtile acute and witty wisely provident and carefull in their owne affaires loving gaine and to that end they travell into remote and farre distant Countries to Merchandise and traffique with them But they are mercifull and kinde to their owne Countrymen if they come to necessity and want in forraine Countries Much warinesse and wisedome is to be vs'd in despatching any businesse with a Forensian Forrest doth send her workes in Iron and Brasse thorow the whole world especially the Fane of S. Stephen where there are very many Artificers and as good as any in France And there are many Merchants of this Country very rich having great estates in other parts out of France THE DESCRIPTION OF THE ARCHBISHOPRICK AND COVNTY OF BVRDEGALIA BURDIGALIA having an Archbishoprick and County belonging to it and the head and Metropolis of Gutenna is an ancient and famous City which Strabo and Pliny have mentioned and Strabo Lib. 4. Geogr. writeth thus Garumna being enlarged with the receit of three Rivers doth flow by the Biturigians whom they call the Viviscians and Santones being both Countries of France It hath Burdigalia a Towne of Traffique seated by a certaine great Lake which is made by the eruptions and breaking out of the River Concerning the name there are divers opinions For some say it was called Aquita from the abundance of waters whence also others doe derive the name of the Province of Aquitane from Bourda and Iala two Rivulets the one whereof is neere to Burdigala the other 4000. miles off others bring other dertvations But I beleeve that the name was derived from Burgo and Isidorus Originum lib. 15. cap. 1. seemeth to be of the same opinion when he saith That Burdigala was so called because it contained a Colony of the French Burgians others read it the French Biturigians And Syncerus is of the same minde in his Burdigala And these people as it is aforesaid were called Viviscians to distinguish them from the Cubian Biturigians neere the River Ligeris which Ausonius a Poet of Burdeaux testifies in his Verses wherein he sings thus Haec ego Vivisca ducens ab origine gentem These things I who by my Country am Descended from the old Viviscian And this ancient Inscription doth confirme it AVGUSTO SACRUM ET GENIO CIVITATIS BIT. VIV THE ARCHBISHOPRICK AND COVNTY OF BVRDIGALA BOVRDELOIS PAIS DE MEDOC ET LA PREVOSTE DE BORN The Walls are square having Towres thereon so high That the tops thereof doe reach unto the skie After those times it suffered many calamities being first washed by the Gothe and then burnt by the Sarazens and Normans But afterward it was re-edified and enlarged so that now it containeth 450. Acres of ground so that it is as bigge as a third part of Paris For the Romane Empire declining the Gothes obtained it in the 400. yeere from the building of the City who being expelled and Alari●us being slaine in Picaady and those which remained cut off in the Arrian Fields which were so named from that slaughter neere to Burdig●●●a it returned againe to the Frenchmen But when the Frenchmen grew slothfull and carelesse the Aquitanians about the yeere 727. shaking off their subjection to the French did create Eud● Duke thereof The Sonne of this Eudo was Carfrus who being forsaken by his owne men was slaine in the yeere 767. and was buried without the City in a Moorish place neere the Castle Farus where now the Capuchines have built themselves a Religious house Afterward Hunold whom the Aquitanians had made Duke being vanquished and droven out by Charles the Great this Province was restored to the French and to keepe it the better in obedience there were Earles placed in divers parts of Aquitaine and especially at Bourdeaus there was left Sigumus the Father of Huon of Bourdeaus and after these other Earles and Dukes did governe the people under the King of France D. Martiall● was the first that converted those of Bourdeaus to the Christian faith who as it is reported built a Temple there and dedicated it to S. Andrew the Apostle
a Towne strongly walled and well fortified with Townes and deepe Ditches Among the chiefe Townes of the Dukedome of Nevers are Dezisa which Antoninus calls Decisa and Decetia also Clamecyum Dousyum Milinium Angilbertsum Corbignium St. Leonards Church Luyzium Premecyum and others Anserre followes which Antoninus calls Antissiodorum and placeth here the 22. Legion Ammianus calls it Antosiodorum or l'Evesche d'Auxerre The Territory of this City commonly called le Pays d'Auxerrois is famous for wine called after the name thereof The City which is now called Mascon Caesar calleth Matiscona and the Itinerarie Tables Matisco and the Register Bookes of the Province of France and Antoninus doe call it Matisconense Castrum who placeth there the 10. Legion and in an ancient Roll it is called Mastico as Philip Bug●onius noteth who writ a History of this City Paul Diaconus calleth it Machaon Villa Gregory Turonensis and others doe call it Matissana being like to Caballinum both for situation manners and Arts. It lyeth by the River Araris which hath a faire Bridge over it lying strait forward and Eastward and the other side are like unto a Bow In Burgundy and the Counties thereof are these Counties Dijon Austun Tonnerre Chalon sur Saone Masco● S. Martin Nevers Langres Ausserre S. Iangou Charolois Cha●gut or Chagni Monliet or Montit Auxone Rogeniont Mussy Brestemont Sees M●m●●s Seregnon Gilly Valenion Tirecourt Chevigni Aine-ville Espirey or 〈◊〉 Tarvant Brasey or Brasse Rochefort A●ncourt or Agincourt Vitean To which also are added Arley Rigny Chiligny Mommartiu Laugey Beauchamp C●u●hes There are the Bishopricks of Augustodunum or Heduensis of Austum of Mascon of Chalon and of Langres which are subject to the Archbishop of Lions This Dukedome hath these Rivers Suzi●n Oscarus Araris Icauna Ligeris Elaveres and others THE COVNTIE OF BVRGVNDIE THE Countie of Burgundie followes or Burgundie the higher in French it is called Franché Gonté that is the free County for the Province is governed by the Earle thereof and is free as they say from all tributes and exactions It belongeth to the Emperour and is under the protection of the Burnensian Heluetians On the North Lotaringia and high Germanie doe confine upon it on the West the Dukedome of Burgundi on the East the Helvetians on the South the Allobrogians and Segusians The length is 90. Miles the breadth 60. It is a very fruitfull Countrie replenished with all things necessarie for mans life and the soile is fit for tillage for planting of Trees and Vineyards and for feeding of Cattell There is every where great store of Wheate Rye Barley Oates Beanes and other Pulse And no lesse abundance of Trees The Contrie especially the middle part hath hills which doe bring forth and yeeld most excellent Wines The Arbosians the Vadamians have Winevessells so great that they seeme to be as bigge as a house Neere the Palace of the ancient Kings of Burgundie which the Inhabitants call now Chambrette au Roy they digge out of the earth a kind of plaister like Lime There is also in the Countrie of Dolania Marble digged forth which the Greekes did call Alablaster of which they made Tombes and Monuments for great men and another black kind of Marble enameld with purple spots There are also divers kindes of living creatures and great store of Oxen and Cattell All doe approve of the travelling Horses of G●a●nell and the fierce Dogs that are in this Country Many things are delivered concerning the ancient Earles of Burgundie Eudo was the first Earle and Palatine of Burgundie after whom succeeded his Nephew Philip who dying without issue Iohn King of France gave the Dukedome of Burgundie to his sonne Philip who was surnamed the bold but Margaret his Nephew succeeding after Philip got the Dukedome of Burgundie after whom succeeded Ludovick Malanus her Son and after him Margaret Malwa her Daughter whom Philip Duke of Burgundie surnamed the bold married After him there succeeded in order Iohn his sonne surnamed the stout Philip Bonus or the good Charles the Warriour and Mary marryed to Maximilian of Austria Philip of Austria the Emperour Charles the 5. c. Philip King of Spaine This Countie is divided into 3. Diaeceses or Praefectureships which are commonly call'd Bayliwicks the higher and the lower and Dal●n● The first is ●●●ulium the second Polichum the third Dola But D●●a hath a strong Cas●ell and is the Metropolis or chiefe Citie of the whole Countie and the fairest of all the other Cities it is situated by the River Dubis which devideth it selfe here into two armes Some suppose it to bee that which Ptolemie calls Ded●●tion Lib. 11. Cap. 9. a Citie of the Sequanes very faire and beautifull Here is a neate spatious Market place almost foure square but that it is a little longer than broad On the West side is the Court and the Prison The chiefe Church which is very faire and admirably carved is consecrated to the Virgin Mary There are also many other Cities as Vesontio commonly called Besancon an Imperiall Citie called heretofore Chrysopolis it is seated in a commodious and fertile Territorie The River Alduasdabis doth runne through most part of it and doth encircle most of it but the River doth not wash the other part neere the Gate in the way to Dola There is also Nozerethum or Noseroy which was formerly called Nuccillum from the Nut trees growing there but Ludovick Cabillonensis returning from the warres of Ierusalem did wall it about and call'd it Nazarethum This Earle hath a Castle which is called the leaden Castle because it is cover'd with leade There is also Sali●a a faire Citie and famous through the whole world denominated and so called from the salt Fountaines and the salt which is usually made there which being very white is transported into other Countries and the Countie hath a great revenneue out of it We omit for brevitie sake the description of other Countries Burgundy hath great and wonderfull Lakes One of the chiefest whereof is that which is called the Wherlepoole which is a wonderfull worke of nature For there is mud above the water which is so hardened that it seemeth firme land yet Horses and Cartes cannot passe over it but onely footemen In raynie cloudy weather it doth not rise except it be against faire Weather and then it swelleth up presently and watereth the Columban Plaine Moreover between Nozer●thum and Ripar●a there is another Lake in Bonualli which is full of Pikes Pearches and other fish which every 7. yeare for some weekes hideth it selfe and after riseth up againe which is very miraculous and most incredible The Southerne part of this Countie hath many Lakes There is the Lake called in French Malete●● both the greater and the lesser also Narlay of an incredible depth also V●rn●● the two Chamblici Frogeay Ro●chault and others Many Rivers doe divide it as Dubis Longnonius Danus Lpuus all Dub●● doth appertaine to this Countie Ptolomie calls
they had power to give judgement of life and death I conjecture that the other forme of governement remained from the auncient Monarchie of the Romans in which the Paefects did not live as they listed neither did create magistrates out of their owne number but they received them from the Senate or the Emperour But the Canton of Vnderwaldia is divided by the wood Kernwald into two parts namely the higher and the lower yet all the Country neverthelesse is comprehended under the name of Vnderwaldia There remaines Glarona commonly called Glaris a Country of the Helvetian confederacy neere the River Limagus not very large being three Germane miles long and taketh its name from the speciall Towne in this Countrie being three parts of it encompassed with the high Alpes on the South and North it joyneth to the Rhetians on the West to the Vrians and Suitians on the North to a Country called Castra Rhetica or the Rhetian Tents where the River Limagus entereth into the Vale. The jurisdiction of this Countrey and the revennewes thereof was given in the time of S. Fridoline by a certaine Earle to the Monasterie of Seekingense namely in the time of Clodovius the first Christian King of France in the yeare of our Lord 500 who was the first King of France that raigned and governed Rhetia Almania and Helvetia This Land afterward obtained her liberty and her owne jurisdiction and did joyne it selfe in confederacy with the Helvetians in the yeare of our Lord 1252. The Inhabitants doe now live upon milke Cheese butter and flesh Among the straites of the Mountaines there is little ground sowed and few Vines are planted They have Orchards full of fruit and flourishing Meddowes Wine and corne are brought in from other parts The Lakes afford fish and the wooddy Mountaines doe furnish them with fowle and flesh of wild beasts Henry Glareanus and Aegidius Yscudus two learned men were borne in this Countrie To these is joyned the Countie of Hamburg and the Baronie of Humbert and Ringenbereg But Glarona is distributed into 15. parts which they call Tagwan Werdenbergen doth command the Country which they bought Anno 1517. They and the Su●tians doe by turnes send praefects to Vzenacum or V●sn●● and into the Rhetian Tents at Wesome But so much hitherto let us now adde something in generall concerning this part of Helvetia and here the Lakes are first to be considered among which is the miraculous Lake called Pilates Lake which is situated on the broken Mountaine as they call it not farre from Lucerna almost on the top of the Mountaine it standeth solitarily being encompassed on every side with Woods so that none can stirre or provoke it For they report that if any thing be purposely cast into it it will stirre up a great tempest and make it over-flow as many have found by experience but those things that fall in by accident doe occasion no danger at all It is a place fearefull to behold and the water standeth still in the channell of it neither hath it any vent neither doth it receive any River into it neither is it encreased by snow or raine water It is scarsely mooved with the winde but the waters thereof are alwayes blacke and strangers are not permitted to come unto it least they should rashly cast any thing thereinto whereby the neighbouring Country may be endangered Among the other Rivers which doe water this Country there is one called Lamagus which riseth in Glarina and in the middle of the Country it receiveth Sermphius another River which runneth out of another Valley Afterward beneath Vrna which is the name of two Townes above the Laterician bridge for so they call it having borrowed some water out of the Lake Vesenius it parteth and divideth Marcha which was heretofore the boundes betweene the Helvetians and the Rhetians for so the Helvetians call a bound and the Tents of the Rhetians Afterward entring into the Lake Tigurinum at the mouth thereof it divides Tigurum a large Cittie of the Helvetians and from thence it slideth to those waters which the Graecians call Bathes which are so famous for their hot waters And not farre from thence it mingleth it selfe with the two Rivers Vrsa and Arola The River Vrsa which by transposition of the two former letters they commonly call Rusa ariseth on the top of the Alpes which are now called Saint Gotharas Alpes and so runneth straite North-ward when on the other side T●einus arising out of the same Mountaine runneth by the Lepontians Southward first through Vrsula or Vrsella a Rhetian Valley and afterward it commeth to Vria of the Tauriscians the remainder of the French Nation where it mingleth it selfe with the Lake where it watereth the Vrians the Suizians the Silvanians and Lucerinians foure Citties of the Wood for so they call them now Afterward having received the Rivers of Tuginum it glideth by Bremgarte and M●ll●ge which are Townes of Helvetia and so beneath Bruges mingleth it selfe with Arola And at their consluence or meeting together three Rivers of Helvetia Limagus Vrsa and Arola doe discharge themselves into the Rhene But let so much suffice concerning Helvetia and the parts thereof we passe to the Low Countries or lower Germany THE RHETIANS novv called the GRISONES THe Rhetians are accounted an auncient people by the consent of all men For some ages before Christs birth the Tuscians being beaten by the French out of their owne habitations under the conduct of their Captaine Rhetus seated themselves in an Alpine Country which was called from their Captaine Rhetia and they themselves Rhetians But whereas this Countrie was heretofore very large and that the name of the Rhetians for warlike matters grew famous amongst their neighbours so that they were a terrour unto many which Ovid declareth in this verse Rhaetica nunc praebent Thracia ij arma metum The Thracian armes now every where And the Rhaetian doe put us in feare At length being conquered by the Romanes they made two Provinces of it namely the first and the second Rhetia which did not onely containe the Alpine Countries but a great part of Suevia and Bavaria Now by this name we understand those people whom they call Grisones for their grisely habit which was made of their owne Countrie cloth but the Germains at this day doe call them Grauwbuntner who doe inhabite the ancient Alpine Rhaetia neere to the Spring-heads of the River Rhene and Oenus who are perpetually joyned together by a threesold tye of amitie and confaederacie The first confaederacie which is called the higher hath eighteene assemblies in it among which the chiefe heretofore were Disentinus the Abbot the Barons of Rhetia and the Earles of Mis●uicium but those families are long since worne out and extinguished Although they that now possesse the Castle of Rhaetia doe challenge that title from the Plantinian familie The severall conventions or assemblies have one chiefe annual Magistrate whom they cal Ammanus he
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
In the third place is Bouchouten which is two miles distant from Axela The fourth is Assenede which is two miles distant from the aforesayd Axela And these foure Citties have many townes under them as Watervliet and Bouchoute in which two armies were sometime Billited the states armie under the conduct of Grave Morrice in the former in the other the King of Spaines Generall M. Ambrosius Spinola Moreover there are in this tract many Castells and Fortresses which may be seene in this table among which are those which are commonly called Philippinen Patientie Ysendijcke S. Philip S. Cateline Coxie and others the chiefest whereof and the best fortified is Ysendijcke This with the three other following Castells Duke Mauritius in the yeare 1604 enforced to surrender themselves In the Countrie of Ysendijcka is Birsletum or Bieruliet situate in an Island of the same name There lived in this Cittie William Beuckelens who they report did first pickle and barrell up salt Herrings and did transport them to forraine parts which was a happy invention whereby the Low Countriemen got much wealth in regard that forraigne Nations did greatly esteeme of salt Herrings both for use and delicacy It was hereto a Towne of Note having a convenient Haven But as all mortall things are fraile and transitorie and THE EASTERNE PART OF FLANDERS FLANDRIA SEPTENTRIONALIS subject to corruption so we see that flourishing Townes doe decay so that nothing remaines as it were but their bare Carkasses and now it is onely a Fortresse There followeth Sluce with the Island of Gadsanto Sluce is a neate Towne in Dutch Flanders which was heretofore called Lammerzuliet as it appeareth by publicke letters which was heretofore very rich it is five miles from Middleburrough and three from Bruges where by an artificiall Aquaeduct or great channell all the water in the Countrie is collected and gathered into one place and so brought to the Citty by navigable channells and so gathering it together againe into one pond as it were at the Towne called Damme they bring it from thence to the cataracts or fall thereof which they call the Sluyse at the mouth or issue whereof there is a famous Haven which sometime did enrich Sluce when the Hanse-merchants dwelled there as well as at Bruges It is able to receive an hundred shippes as also the Annalls of Flanders doe testifie that in the yeare 1468. a little before Christmas there arrived in this Harbour at one time an hundred and fiftie shippes of great burthen which was a ioyfull sight to the Townsmen On the side of the Town there is an ancient Castell In which the Duke of Bouillon and the Admirall of the Seas the first being taken at Hisdinum the latter at Saint ●uintins Cittie were both kept prisoners This Castle although it be now disjoyned from the Towne yet it was formerly joyned thereunto by many edifices which the Brugians did purposely pull downe For the Towne of Sluce wearied with their owne dissentions and their wars against the Brugians and lastly the Prince having sold it unto them they came to bee under their jurisdiction Sluce is now a strong fortified Cittie being entrenched with walls and a double ditch Grave Maurice in the yeare 1604. did beseige it the Moneth of May and 3 moneths after his coming thither hee compelled them to yeeld for want of food Nere the Haven of Sluce on the six and twentieth of May in the yeare 1603 there was a Sea fight of 8 Galleys of Frederick Spinolacs with three ships and eleaven Gallies belonging to the States of the confaederate Provinces which lay at the mouth of the Haven of Sluce In which fight the Admirall Spinola was slaine and a thousand and 400 men were kill'd and drown'd The Zelanders lost Iames the master of a ship the sonne of Michael and his Mate There were in the Haven of Sluce 2 Block-houses the one in the very mouth of the Haven commonly called de Hase schantse the other is seated not farre from the Towne commonly call'd Beck-of the former whereof was yeelded to Grave Maurice and the latter taken by force Over against this Cittie is a small Island which the inhabitants call Cadsant in which there is a Towne of the same name It was heretofore much larger having a Cittie in ●t and many pleasant and rich townes Neere unto which at severall times there have beene many sea fights when either the Brittaines the Batavians or any other enemies to Flanders did arrive heere But this Island is more than half worn away by the tempestuous Seas by the tides and ebs thereof In this Island there are two Fortresses the one whereof Grave Maurice tooke being unprovided the other commonly called ter Hofstede yeelded unto him A mile hence from Sluce is Ardenburg which was heretofore called Rodenburg and was heretofore the Metropolis of Flanders containing Tourout and Ostburg and Bruges which were not then walled and all the Sea coast even to Bononia But now it is all wasted It hath a Church consecrated to the Virgin Mary which is the fairest and most sumptuous in all Flanders There is also Middleburrough being two miles and an halfe distant from Bruges being now walled and ditched about Mauritius in the same yeare tooke these Townes There is also Damme two miles from Sluce which is a very rich Towne being very populous and full of Merchants and a great Haven for wines being a key of the Sea in regard that it did shut and open the Ocean both to those of Bruges and to all Merchants But now by the incursions of the French and the civill dissentions of the Gandavians and Brugians and having lost the recourse of Merchants it is now but like a Towne or Village and the Haven is a digged Channell being onely navigable at a full tyde three Flanders miles even to Sluce Bruges followeth which we described before with the Territorie of the Francones or Free-men because they did shake off the Brugeans Yoke and freed themselves from it and contayneth all that ground which lyeth eight miles round about Bruges and is commonly called 't Landt Vanden Vryen it hath jurisdiction over many free Townes And these doe make the fourth member of Flanders Lastly this Table containeth Ostend which was formerly a poore fisher Towne wanting munition but in the yeere 1572 it was walled about It hath a convenient Haven There came hither eight great Whales in the yeare 1404 every one of them being 4 foote long Also in the yeare 1426 there was a great Sea Hogge taken being like unto a Land-Hogge but that it was greater But in the yeare 1099. and in the yeare 1200 in the Archduke Alberts time the Flandrians to restraine the incursions of the enimie did ditch it round about and yet they could not hinder their inroades although it were entrenched with 17 Baracadoes and Bulwarkes as the Bulwark or Fort of S. Catherine of Isabell of Albert of Clara wherfore the
faire milch Kine It is certaine that in some parts of Holland the Kine in Summer time doe yeeld unto the Paile foure and forty quartes of milke Also Iohn Beningus a counseller of the Court of Holland as Guicciardine reporteth doth finde by certaine observation and computation that Assendelph only and foure neighbouring Townes have as much milke from their Kine as there is Rhenish wine sent out of high Germany to Dordretch Out of this great plenty of milke they make butter which is an excellent daintie dish not onely for barbarous Nations as Pliny would have it but also for Kings and Princes They make Cheeses also which are not inferiour unto those of Parma and Placentia The chiefe are the Tessalican and Gravesandican Cheeses the next to them are the Edammensian which are best when they are old It breedeth THE COVNTIE OF HOLLAND HOLLANDIA also excellent horses On the sandie hills there are an infinite number of Conies Also great store of Harts Does Hares and in the Hagiensian wood there are heards of Goates and great store of fowle especially Duckes Also Geese and in harvest time Woodcockes which we call Snipes There are excellent turfes which being digged out of the earth and drawne out of the water and so dryed in the wind and sunne doe make very good fuell There were heretofore Kings of Holland of which Suetonius maketh mention in Caligula cap. 44 But in the yeare of Christ 868 Charles the bald King of France reduced it into a Countie and Theodore being descended of the royall stocke was governour thereof After Theodore the father there succeeded Theodore the sonne and after him Arnold and after Arnold Theodoricke and others after him of whom you may have a Catalogue in Munster and others They were heretofore very famous for matters of warre so that the Batavians were joyned in fraternitie and amitie with the Romaine Empire And heereby they got the goodwill of other Princes Now wee are to describe the Citties which are Dordretch Harlem Delpth Leyden Amsterdam Gouda ●a●rd●●um Muda W●sopum Edamam Monachodamum Purmerenda ●lm●●●a Eu●huysa Horna c. Dordretch is the chiefe Cittie of Holland The figure of it is long like a Gallie it is very rich and plentiful● and a Granarie or Storehouse for corne and all other provision It hath outlandish commodities brought up the River unto it and there layd in warehouses untill they be solde and are carryed from thence againe in Hoyes This Priviledge of storing of goods they call a staple Harlem is a noble Towne both for the largenesse of the Cittie the fairenesse of the houses and the pleasantnesse of the situation It hath the fairest Church in all Holland being built on strong Pillars by the marketh place The River Sparnus glideth by the Cittie It is thought it was built by the Prisians about the yeare 506. In this Cittie the Art of Printing was invented Another honour of this Cittie was the taking of Pelusium by a new device which they call Damiata and in remembrance thereof they have two ●acring bells of brasse which they call aerae Damiatae Next followes Delpth which is famous not for Apollo●s Tripos or Trevet but for plenty of wine and corne For the best beere is brew'd in this Cittie except it be English beere It is so called from a Ditch which the Batavians call Delph which is brought from Mosa even to the Cittie In the yeere a thousand five hundred 36 on the Nones of May the beauty of it was much blemished by fire and the better part of the Cittie was burnt down but afterward it was built up againe more faire than before Leyden which Ptolomie calls Lugdunum Batavorum is a Cittie situate at the middle of the mouth of the River Rhene It sustain'd and held out in the yere 1574 a grievous seige but at last it was freed and the enemies were enforced by the overflowing of the waters to raise their seige Amsterdam is the noblest Mart Towne in all the world it is so named from the River Amstela as the learned Poet Nicolas Cannius hath noted being a Cittizen of Amsterdam in these verses Haec illa est Batavae non ultima gloria gentis Amnis cui nomen cui cataracta dedit Dicta prius Damum rarisque habitata colonis Cum contenta casis rustica vita fuit Hinc Amsterdamum jam facta celebrior atque Fortunae crevit tempore nomen item Vrbs benè not a propè atque procul distantibus oris Dotibus innumeris suspicienda bonis Dives agri dives pretiosae vestis auri Vt pleno cornu copia larga beet Quod Tagus atque Hermus vehit Pactolus in unum Verè huc congestum dixeris esse locum This Cittie Hollands glory whose name From the River and the falling waters came It was called Damum first and inhabited With Rurall Cottages which here were spred But growing famous t' was call'd Amsterdam And so increas'd in fortune and in name It is a Cittie knowne both farre and neere And is admir'd for many gifts are here T is rich in soyle in garments and in gold Plenty doth blesse her with guifts manifold What Pagus Hermus Pactolus doth beare You may truely say that it is stoard up heere It consisted at the first of a few fishermens houses and was under the jurisdiction of the Lords of Amstelium After Gilbert Amstelius about two hundred fourescore yeares since fortified this Cittie with Bulwarkes gates and Towers which being burnt by the envious neighbours it was walled about in the yeare 2482. And afterward it was still enlarged and belonged unto Holland But now it is a place of refuge not onely for Holland but all the neighbour countries even to the Sarmatians and Gothes and Cimbrians For there are in this Cittie not onely Italians Spaniards Portugalls Brittaines Scots French Sarmatians Cimbrians Suevians Norwegians Livonians and Germains but also East-Indians Americans Moores and others out of all parts of the world Gouda is so named from the Cimbricke word ●●w which signifies a Ditch and a Trench against it it is situate neere Isela being a plentifull Cittie and abounding with all things There are also some free Townes the chiefe whereof is the Hage in which the Councell of the States and Princes doe sit and there is Court for deciding of suites and controversies Concerning the Politicke state of this Countrie it doth consist of three orders the first are the Knights called Ridderheren the chiefe whereof are the Earles Egmond and Ligne under whom are these Dominions Wassenar Valkenborch and the Viccountship of the Cittie of Leyden I finde also these Counties in Holland Maeslant Texel Goylandt Kennemerlant Steenberge The Lords and Barons are Brederode under whom is the Lordship of Vianen and the Barony of Lijfelt I finde also in the Chronicle of Holland that these Lordships are reckoned among the Baronies Le●ke Sevenbergen Voorn Isselstein Stryen Teylingen Puttem Harlem Leerdam Asperen Arckel Altena Botterslo●● The
the Island It is a faire Cittie having many private and publicke edifices being excellently adorned with Bridges Towers and Fortresses both for use and beautie and it is the chiefe Cittie in all Zeland being also a famous Towne of traffique Heere Paul of Middleburrough THE COVNTIE OF ZELAND ZEELANDIA was borne who was the chiefe Mathematician of his time And also Nicolas Everhard who was first Paesident of the Court of Holland and afterward of Mechlin in which office he dyed in the yeere 1532. He had sonnes that were singular learned men Peter Everhard Doctor of Divinitie Nicolas Everhard Praesident of the Court of Friesland and afterward of Mechlin Adrian Marius and Iohn a Poet. Veria or Campoveria is so called from the passage over which the Zelanders call Veer It was first walled about in the yeere 1357. Afterward it began to be a Mart towne for Scotch merchandize Flushing hath his name and armes from a Flaggon which the Countrimen call een Flessche It is a new Cittie but powerfull and commandeth the Sea and it is full of excellent shipmasters and Pilots Arnemuda is a free Towne belonging to Middleburrough and a safe roade for shippes The second Isle to Wallachria is Zuidbevelandia which some suppose was so called from the trembling and shaking of it we suppose that it was so called from the Bavarians whose arms may be yet seene in the Scutchions of the Island It extendeth it self in a large and pleasant tract towards the coast of Flanders Brabant albeit some few yers ago a great part of it being lost it is now lesser by halfe than it was There is a pretty Citty that stands off the Land called Romerswalia that hath no tilled fields round about it no● no garden places but the sea doth wash it on every side so it subsisteth onely by trading in salt In this Cittie the Earles of Zeland take a solemne oath which when Philip King of Spaine was to doe according to the usuall custome in the yeare 1549. Nicolas de Conflilte in whose house the Prince was entertayned caused these verses to be written over his gate Vidimus adsueto privatum lumine Solem Pallida turbato vidimus astra die Vidimus undantis horrendos aequoris aestus Nos miseros Belgas quum obruit Oceanus Vidimus ast post quam te Gloria nostra Philippe Caesarea proles Semideûmque decus Cuncta refutamus transacti tristia saecli Quod praesens nostrum testificatur opus Sit licet exiguum sit pro ratione voluntas Nil facit ad nostrum parva carina fretum We have seene when as the suns cleere light did faile And in the day time seene the starres looke pale We have seene the fearefull sea tides rising so Till the Oceans did us Belgians overflow But Philip when thee our glory we espy'd Of Caesars stocke and halfe a god beside We made up all our former rents againe And this present worke doth testifie the same Though it be small yet to accept it please For no small ship can sayle upon our Seas Moreover in the Westerne part of this Island the Cittie Goesa is situated at one of the mouths of Scaldis which they call Schenge It is a Cittie not very large but pleasant and rich being the onely Cittie in the Island It hath very civill and curteous Cittizens and a prudent Senate The third Island of Zeland on this side Scaldis toward the West is Northevelandia in which is the Cittie Cortgreene and very many Townes but this Citty was all drowned with water in the yeare 1532 but now it is a little reedified The fourth Island is Wolferdijc as if you should say Wolfords ditch it is very small having onely two Townes in it There are tenne Citties in Zeland and more townes they being about an hundred and more The inhabitants are wittie craftie and provident and of a middle stature But the Annalls doe report that Withelme Bonus Earle of Holland at the solemnity of the marriage of Charles the faire King of France did bring a woman of an unusuall great stature borne in Zeland in comparison of whom the greatest men did seeme but boyes for she was so strong that she would carry two hoggsheads full of wine in both hands and drinke of them which hogsheads did weigh foure hundred Italian pounds and she would carry a beame or piece of timber up and downe which eight men could not lift They are very skifull in the Art of Navigation They boyle blacke course salt which is brought out of the Westerne Countries in great large cauldrons untill they have made it as white as snow They powre salt water on the rude Spanish and Armorican salt and so boyle it and doe make of a hundred weight of Spanish salt an hundred and five and forty weight of pure salt And they sell this salt in France England Denmarke and other parts of Eurpe Besides they reape much profit by their corne and choyse wheate also by their Madder Salt-fish and great plenty of cattell and especially sheepe They keepe their houses very neate and well furnished they are provident and very painfull in merchandising and also bountifull and liberall to the poore The politicke state of Zeland was wont to consist of three members the one whereof was the Prelate who stood for the whole Clergie which was the Abbot of S. Nicolas in Middleburrough and one noble man who was the Marquesse Veria and also of the generalitie of the Citties the chiefe whereof were those above mentioned namely Middleburrough Zirizaea Veria Flushing Tola Martinsdijk Romerswalia and Goesa But let so much suffice concerning Zeland THE DVKEDOME OF GELDERLAND Containing the Countie of ZVTPHANIA and the Lordship of TRANSISILANIA GElderland was so called from the Castell of Gelre which Wichard of Ponthe together with his brother are reported to have built though many doe suppose that it was so called from the Towne Gelduba which Tacitus mentioneth Others doe bring other reasons for this name It hath on the North Friesland and a Bay of the Germaine Sea commonly called Zuyderze● on the East the Dukedome of Cleveland on the South Iuliacum and on the West Brabant and Holland The ayre of this Countrie is pure and wholesome the soyle fruitefull and fit for tillage and especially it hath abundance of Corne it hath fruitefull meddowe● which doe breed up all sorts of Cattell and great droves of Cattell are brought out of the farthest part of Denmarke to be fatted here for there are many faire and flourishing meddowes especially about the bankes of Rhen● Vahalis and Mosa At the first Gelderland was ruled and governed by Praefects and afterward by Princes For Leopold Nephew to Martin governour of Austria or Guidus as some report was governour of these parts After the time of Charles the Great the Lords of Ponthe governed it Afterward Otto Nassovius was Prince thereof in the yeare 1079. if we may credit Labius After whom followed Gerard Henry Otto Reinald
plaine and it is every where adorned with Woods and Forrests some of which are full of Chesnuts Almonds and Nutts The Country people lives very miserably for they spend their provision every yeare and doe keepe nothing for the future time so that in times of warre or when unseasonable weather does kill the fruites of the earth they live very penuriously Yet the poore are releeved out of publicke granaries This Countrie hath not many natiue inhabitants for the greatest part consists of strangers as Swethlanders Bavarians Burgundians Sabaudians and Lotharingians who having once entred into a Country doe not soone remove from thence The Swethlanders doe chiefely reside in it Moreover the fifth circle of the Empire is that of the Rhene It consists of three orders first the Clergie secondly the Princes and thirdly the free Citties In the first there are the Bishop of Wormes of Spier Straesburg Basel and Besancon in the Countie of Burgundie in the Province of Wallis whose Metropolis is Selton there are the Bishops of Geneve Losanna Metz Toul and Verdun The Abbots of Hiersfe●d Morbach S. Gregoris Munster In the second order are Princes Earles and secular Lords as the Dukes of Lotharingia and Saveye the Count of Spanhein the Marquesse of Baden the Duke of Sweibrucke the Count of Veldentz the Landgrave of Hessen the Prince of Calim the Count of Nassaw in Sarbrucke the Earles of Rhene the Lords of Rapoitzkirchen neere Rapoltstain the Earles of Bitsch Salm Hanaw Lichtenberg Lemingen and Falkenstain the Lords of Morspurg and Befo rt of Rapolslain of Hoen Rechpurg Blakenberg and Blammont in Lotharingia the Earles of We●baden and I●stain and Cuningstaine the Lord Van Eppenstam the Earles of Isenburg in higher Alsatia of Solms of Nassaw in Weilburg of Sienvigen of Havare the Lord of Muntzinburg the Earles of Westenburg of Witgenstam of Waldeck of Flesse The third order is of the free Citties which are Mulhusen in Sundtgow of higher Alfatia also Basel Colmar Kaisersperg Turckbam Saint Gregoris Munster Ober Ebenhaim Straesburg Rosenhaim Schletstat Hagenaw Weissenburg Landow Spier Wermes Francfort Fridberg in Wederaw Wetzlar Metz Toul Vedtn Kausmans Sarbruck the Castle Besano Fridberg and the Castle Gleichhausen THE LANTGRAVIATE of the higher ALSATIA vvith SVNTGOVIA and GRISGOIA THE HIGHER ALSATIA ALSATIA SUPERIOR Brisgo●a remaines which is to bee unfolded and described in this Table Brisgovja or Brisgoja is commonly called Brisgow which signifies in the Germaine Language a faire Towne And truly this Country doth deserve that title in regard of the fertility and fruitfulnesse thereof in which it is not inferiour to Alsatia which we have even now described But if we have recourse to auncient writers we shall finde that this Country was so named from the Metropolis Brisacum of which we shall speake by and by Brisgoja is ten miles long and eleven broade for it beginneth at Nortnaw and runneth out almost to Basil It is a fruitefull Country both for tillage and Vines And here is great store and plenty of Corne and Wine and of all things necessary for the sustenance of mans life The Archdukes of Austria and the Marquesses of Baden doe joyntly governe this Country The Metropolis of Brisgoja was heretofore Brisacum whence the Country is denominated and Antonius mentioneth it in his Itinerarie of the Mountaine Brisacum when as he maketh mention of no other Citties beyond the Rhene but those Provinciall Citties which are seated by the Rhene Luitprandus Ticinensis who lived in the time of Otto the first doth make the Mountaine Brisacum to be in Alsatia and sheweth that it was an Island of Rhene This Cittie is situated on a round Mountaine like a Castle and it hath the Rhene on the West It is a neate Towne well fortified and populous but in processe of time it exceeded Friburg it selfe for magnificence and riches This Cittie increased presently and grew famous in regard of the Minerall Mines which are neere unto it In Brisacum there is an auncient Castle which hath long beene ruinate yet now at length it hath beene reedified It hath a strong well fortified Tower which Bertholdus Ziringensis the third built as appeareth by these following verses graven on the stone walls Hanc Dux Bertholdus portam struxisse notatur A quo pro fraude Burgundia gens posulatur The Duke Bertholdus builded up this gate Which the Burgundians did ruinate This Cittie hath but one fountaine over which there is a Conduit built in which there is a wheele in which they goe and draw up water a great depth and the Cittizens do yerely pay for the drawing up of the water For it hath on every side a great steepe descent to the Rhene and the plaine from whence it is very hard to draw up water into the Mountaine Halfe a mile beneath Friburg there is a ruinate Castle situated on a high Mountaine which is called Zaringhen from which the Dukes of Zaringa had their title Friburg is a famous Towne in Brisgoja and now the Metropolis thereof it was built by Duke Ferthold the fourth the sonne of C●nradus the first in the reigne of the Emperour Henry the fifth being formerly but a Village It is a Cittie pleasantly seated among the Mountaines being adorned with many magnificent houses Churches and Monasteries There was an Vniversity erected there in the yeere 1459 wherein Vdalrick Zasius a famour Lawyer did teach and reade publickly It had heretofore a rich Veine of silver a mile distant from the Cittie There also is in Brisgoja Zering heeretofore a Dukedome the County of Friburg the Marquiship of He●●berg and the Lordships of Badenwille Staussen and Burcken THE LOWER SAXONIE SAxonie was so called from the Saxons Their originall as also of other Nations not only the Monkes ignorant in Antiquities but moderne judicious writers have wrapped up in fabulous inventions some suppose that they were so called from Saxo the sonne of Negno and the brother of Vandalus others à Saxca natura from their stony nature others from the remainder of the Macedonian Army some from their skeines or short swords as appeareth by these verses in Engelhusins Quippe brevis gladius apud illos Saxa vocatur Vnde sibi Saxo nomen traxisse putatur A cuttell or a short-sword they Saxon call Whence the name of Saxon takes originall THE LOWER SAXONIE SAXONIA INFERIO et Mekleburg The Dukedome of Meckelburg was heretofore a part of a Province belonging to the King of Vandalia lying neere unto the Baltick Sea but now it is one of the chiefe Dukedomes of Germanie and a member of the Empire it hath on the East Pomerania on the West the River commonly called de Elve on the South it hath the auncient Marca on the North the Balticke Sea It is a very fruitfull Country abounding with Wheate Apples Wood and Fish There are also divers sorts of living creatures and great store of Oxen and Cattell and wilde beasts Moreover Aritbert being descended of the royall stocke and having lived some
Wood called De Stubhenitza that is a heape of Stubs of Trees doe yeeld firewood enough for the whole Iland The Clergie here have both Meddowes and Fields of their owne and have also tythe Cattell and tythe Corne. There are great store of Nobility in this Country who are discended from ancient Families of which some are more hospitalious and bountifull and some more sparing some doe addict themselves to the warres and some to study and most of them doe travell to forraine Princes and Kings Courts and doe goe to Universities and to the Warres And so are chosen to be Governours both in forraine Countries and Provinces and also in their owne Country in times of parre and weace not onely in Politick but also in Ecclesiastick affaires The Country people also doe live well in this Principality who doe onely pay the Magistrates a certaine summe of money and doe certaine services and some of them doe none at all And let so much suffice concerning the Iland and Principality of Rugia THE KINGDOME AND ELECTORSHIP OF BOHEMIA BOHEMIA Boemia or Bojemia as some would have it was so called from the Wood Hercynia For in the Germane language Baum and in Dutch Boom signifies a tree the Graecians call it Baemia and Ptolomy calls the Inhabitants Baemi and Strabo Lib. 7. calleth them Kolduli Some would have it so named from the Bojans who fled and transmigrated thither which seeme to bee so called from Bois that is from Wood. Ptol. lib. 2. cap. 11. in his description of Germany doth place the Baemians under the Wood Harcynia being a great Nation spreading even to Danubius Strabo calleth it Bubiemium for so Rhenanus Aventine and others doe read it but yet in the Graecian printed Copies it is called Boviasmon but Rhenanus thinketh this to be a corrupt reading of it and Causabon noteth that in ancient Bookes it is called Bovia●mon Tacitus calleth it Bojemum On the East it hath the Marcomannians and Quadians on the West the Noricians on the South the higher Pamonia now called Austria and on the North it is bounded with Saxonie and Misnia The Wood Hercynia doth encompasse it round about and encloseth it in manner of a Romane Amphitheater So that the length and breadth is all one being above two hundred mile broad and as many long The ayre in regard the Country standeth Northward is cold and sharpe but yet wholesome But the soyle yeeldeth such great store of Barly and Wheate so that it furnishes and supplies other Countries But it hath but little Wine and that which growes there is very tart and sharpe It hath excellent Saffron both for colour and sent This Country also yeeldeth very rich Drugs yet it hath no Oyle nor any other parts of Germany It hath many rich mines the chiefe whereof are in the Countries of Cromelaw Budeveisz and Kuttenberg Also neere the Towne Beraun there are Iron Mines And in other parts it hath Tinne Leade and Brasse And moreover it hath Carbuncles and Amethists which are taken out of the Oare Moreover there are great store of wilde Beasts for hunting as Foxes Beares Harts and wilde Oxen which they call in their language Lomi And they report that this wilde Beast Lomi when hee is hunted filleth a Bladder which hee hath beneath his necke with hot water and therewithall hee sprinckles the Dogs that follow him which burneth whatsoever it toucheth like scalding water so that it will make the hayre and skin come of This Country was governed at first by a Duke The first Duke was Zechus who comming out of Crotia did first establish this Country of Bohemia After him succeeded Crocus and his Daughter Labussa with her Husband Primislaus after him Nimislaus and his Nephew Mnato and Vrislaus the Sonne of Mnato also Necla Noctericus and Borsinous In whose time Bohemia received the Christian faith in the yeere 900. in the time of THE KINGDOME AND ELECTORSHIP OF BOHEMIA BOHEMIA the Emperour Arnulph but in the yeere of our Lord 1086. Bohemia was made a Kingdome and in the Counsell at Moguntine Vratisslaus the first was created King by the Emperour Henry the fourth and Gilbert Bishop of Trevers was sent to Prague to annoynt the King in the presence of the people and to invest him with the Royall ornaments his wife also Swatana was crowned Queene But afterward it fell to bee a Dukedome againe when it came to Vratislaus the fourth who for his service in the Mediolanian expedition was created by the Emperour Frederick King of Bohemia and an associate in the Empire and had given him for his armes a red Lyon with a forked tayle in a white Field from whom some Emperours discended after that Bis●tislaus had carried away Iutha the Daughter of the Emperour Otho the II. whence they began to bee a kinne to the Emperours The King of Bohemia is one of the seven Electors Bohemia hath some Citties which are subject to the King and some to the Lords and Nobles The chiefe Citty is Prague which was walled about by Primistaus the third Duke of Bohemia and his wife Libusla It hath the Castle V●segradum or Herschin which is seated on a Mountaine The whole Citty is divided into three Citties the Higher the New and the Lesse The River Muldavia doth seperate old Prague from the new in which there is a Castle and the Cathedrall Church of Saint Vitus and these two parts of the Citty are joyned together with a stone Bridge of 24. Arches which was built by King Vladislaus The Emperour ●harles the IV. and the King of Bohemia did much adorne and enlarge this Citty The Castle standeth on a very steepe Hill In the Church of the Castle there is an Alablaster Monument wrought with curious workmanship in which divers Princes and Emperours have beene buryed Ptolomy would have it call'd Casurges Aventinus Ma●●budum and Strabo Bubienum In the yeere 1370. King Charles erected here an Academy or Vniversity which continued untill the yeere 1308. And afterward by reason of a faction which arose it was translated to Lapsia The Citty Egra is situated in the first entrance into Bohemia which was so named from the River Egra by which it was seated It was heretofore subject to the Romane Empire but now to the Kingdome of Bohemia It is faire and beautifull within it hath faire houses and civill courteous and magnificent Citizens And without it hath pleasant Orchards and fruitfull Fields and a River full of Fish This Citty is famous for a kinde of drinke called Mede which is made of Honey The chiefe Townes of Bohemia towards Moravia are Mutha Chrudima Hradecium Pardubitium Litomossium and from thence toward Noricia there are Glatovia Dornazlicium Misa and Tacovia On the South side the chiefe Townes are Budvicium Crum●●via Trebonia Hadrecium Hencici and on that side which is toward Misma it hath these Townes Pons Cadana Chomutavia and Austio And these Townes are neere the confines of Sl●●ia Hiaromirium Gla●●um
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 Ate●nus and Ancon and Ptolomy the River Matrinus with Ancon The moderne writers the chiefe whereof is Leander doth make the River True●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 Ancon●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 Tolentinu●● ●●mum Macerata and some others Townes also Eugebium Coligum ●orum ●e●●rronij S. Leo Senogal●ia V●binum and some others The chiefe Citty is An●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 La●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
Towres on the walls and heretofore 750. There are the 14. Quarters and Regions of the Citty but their names are changed It is watered with the River Tiber and Almo There are also in many places the ruines of Fountaines and Aqua ducts or Conduites There are divers Market-places and seven Hills within the walls Whence some doe call Roma Septicollis because it is seated seven Hills Varro calls it Septimontium and Statius Sc●●mgemina Moreover there are in this Citty above 300. Churches There are foure Vaults under earth where when the Emperours did persecute the Christians they hid themselves There were and are 28. Churchyards or burying places There are five publike Hospitals for Strangers of all Nations and 20. severall Hospitals for severall Nations besides an University And there are Seminaries and Colledges of all Nations instituted by Pope Gregory the third There are many publike Libraries three in the Vatican one of choise Bookes which is shut and another which is not kept so close and a third which on Holy-dayes is open two houres for all commers There are also other Libraries in S. Maries Church and the Church of the Altar of Heaven S. Martins S. Augustines and other wheres There are also divers Gardens and Palaces in this Citty which belong to the Pope and the Cardinals There are both publicke and private Conduites Bathes Triumphant Arches Amphitheaters Theaters Cirques Galleries Pillars Spires Colosses or great Images Pyramisses Horses Statues and many other such like antiquites which our intended brevitie will not permit us to number or describe He that beholdeth these things and compareth them with ancient Rome may worthily say Qui miseranda videt veteris vestigia Rom● Ille potest merito dicere Roma fuit Hee that the ruines doth of Rome behold May justly say that this was Rome of old And so much concerning Rome from whence as you goe Southward the Towne which the Latines and Greekes call Ostia doth offer it selfe which hath an unwholesome pestilent ayre but the soyle beareth great store of Melons So leaving Ostia I will take a view of the other chiefe Townes of Latium which are seated by the Sea Neptunium is situate on a more fruitfull soyle where the Citizens have leisure to Hawke and Fish There is also As●ura which is a memorable place both by the vnworthy death of M. Tullius Cicero who was slaine there as he fled from Antony and also by the fatall death of Corradinus the sonne of the Emperour Frederick the second whom Charles Eculismensis put to death There is also Taracina or Tarracina which Strabo calls Taracina Ptolemy Tarraecina Stephanus Tarracine and Antoninus Tarracina In the Volscian language it was called Auxur It is a small Towne but neat and populous The walls are made of square stone without Mortar or Cemont the soyle round about is fruitfull and pleasant abounding with Oranges Citternes Lemmons and such like fruit Cajeta which Strabo calls Cajatta and now Gajetta is a well fortified Citty having an impregnable Castle on the top of a Mountaine which in former time the Frenchmen being expulsed Ferdinand King of Arragon and Naples did wall it about Spartianus reports that there was a famous Haven here which was much renewed and re-edified by Anton. Pius But now there is none The next is Velitra which Strabo calleth Belitra and Stephanus Belitre or as some doe write Belletri it is an ancient Towne of the Volscians faire and populous and it is a Bishoprick it hath a delightfull Situation and a pleasant Prospect and it is walled about That which the Latines and Graecians doe call Alba the ancient Writers doe surname it longa Alba or long Alba in regard of the Situation It is now called Savello if we may credit Leander others doe call it Gandolffi or S. Gandolffo It was built by Ascanius the Sonne of Aeneas 30. yeeres after Lavinium CAMPAGNA DI ROMA OR LATIVM· LATIUM nim Campagna di Roma was built but now it is desolate Now let us describe the more Northerne parts of Latium by the way Valeria Tiburtina Here the first is that which Ptolemy calls Tiber Strabo Tibura and now Tivola It is a Citty by the River Aniene being 150. Furlongs distant from Rome having a temperate ayre and a wholesome situation in regard it hath great store of Waters and Springs and it is a Bishoprick Maruvium by the Lake Fucinum was heretofore the chiefe Citty of the Marsians now there are some ruines onely remaining which are commonly called Marvo The Latines and Strabo doe call it Alba. And Strabo reporteth that the Romanes were wont to assigne Alba because it was situate in the innermost parts of the Country and was well fortified as a Prison for those which were to be kept in custody but now it is fallen downe and ruinate Praeneste which Strabo calls Praenestus Ptolemy Praenestum and now Pilastrina had heretofore a very pleasant and delightfull situation on a bending Mountaine by the River Venest●is in so much that when the Romane Empire flourished the Emperours did often make it their place of retirement and recreation There is a Castle on the top of the Mountaine and it is now a Bishoprick Tusculum was famous heretofore which they suppose by the ruines yet remaining was not farre from Frasca●a There are more Townes in this noble part of Italy which for brevity sake wee omit There are also Lakes in Latium as the Lake Hostia which is commonly called Stagro Betweene Marinus and long Alba there is the Alban Lake which Livy mentions Lib. 5. it is now called Lago di Castel Gangolfo there is also the Nemorensian Lake which is now called Lago di Nemo the Lake Iuturna or Regillus now called Lago de S. Prassode the Lake Fucinus now called Lago di Marsos Pliny also describeth the Pontine or Pomptine Lake in Latium which is now called the Lake Aufente There is also the Fundane Lake the Tiburrine the Coecubian and the Simbruine Lakes The Rivers are Tiber which I have delineated in the generall description and divers other Rivers which having lost their names doe runne into the Sea with it The other Rivers of Latium as they were anciently call'd are Numicius Loracina Stura Nymphaeus and Vfens Moreover besides the 7. Hills aforesaid whereon Rome is seated Albanus is most famous in all Greeke and Latine Writers The Mountaine Caecubus which reacheth to the Cajetan Bay is noted for bearing excellent rich Wines There are also the Mountaines Vestinus Algidus Aventinus Lepinus Catillus Halicarnassaeus doth mention the Ceraunian Mountaines of Latium The Woods are Feronia Iupiters Wood Diana's Wood the Wood Naevia the Muses Wood the cold Wood the Wood Albuna the Wood Angitia and the Wood Furina The people of this Country even untill these times except it be in the Cities are rude rustick stout and strong of body Mercator doth thus describe the Ecclesiastick government Rome is the Mother Church in which the Pope resideth and hath under him within the Citty 5.
8. Gates and spacious Market-places There are great store of common Condiutes out of which the water is conveied thorow an hundred Pipes The figure of it is long and it bendeth like an halfe Moone The compasse of it heretofore was 3. miles but now the Territories thereof being enlarged it is 5. miles about It hath a gentle pleasant ayre and scarce any Winter This Citty hath many faire Churches and private Buildings and a strong impregnable Castle with an University which was instituted by the Emperour Frederick the second unto which Students do come out of all parts of the Kingdome There are also some Libraries the chiefe whereof is S. Dominicks Library The Country round about it and the neighbouring Hills are pleasant and delightfull and doe yeeld good store of Corne Wine divers Fruits Hearbes Flowers and all delicacies both for necessity and pleasure I omit many things concerning this Citty for brevity sake There are also other Citties as the old and new Capua the ancient is knowne to all Latine Writers and the beauty fairenesse and magnificence thereof is praised by all men Great ruines thereof may be yet seene a mile from new Capua neere S. Maries Church New Capua was built out of the ruines of the old which standeth now on the left banke of Vulturnus 22. miles from the Sea on a plaine well inhabited but not much frequented it hath straite streets paved with stone and high buildings on the East and North the River Vulturnus doth water it and from thence it runneth Westward There is a faire stone bridge over the River There is also Teanum surnamed Sidicinum it is called in Italian Theano and it is a Bishoprick There is also the Towne Calvus which is a Bishoprick Virgil calleth it Cales Strabo and Ptolemy and other Grecians Cuma But now it is fallen downe and buried in ruines yet the foundations of some faire buildings may be discerned There are also Aversa Casert a Nola Summa Puteoli and other lesser Townes The chiefe Lakes of Campania are the Lucrenian and Avernian There are also in Campania the Lakes Linterna Popeja and Statina The Rivers are Lirus which receiveth on the right hand Fibernum Cosa Alabrum Trerus and others On the left hand Casinus Melfa and Omnes The next to Lirus is Vulturnus which receiveth many Rivers and Torrents among the rest on the right hand it receiveth Cusanum and Correctam on the left hand Freddus Pratellus Sabbatus Isclerus and others Also Glanis Sebetus Linternus Sarnus Furor Ebolis Silarus The Mountaines that belong to this Country are Gaurus Massicus Falernus and others as Vesuvius Pausilypus Misenus Culma Christs Mountaine Taburnus Tifata Planus Astrunus and Trifolinus Moreover in the Kingdome of Naples there are these Principalities and Dominions Namely 10. Principalities as Ascolt Besignano Evoli Melfi Mefetta Monchercole Squilaci Sligliano Sulmona Verosa And 23. Dukedomes namely Andri Amalphi Ariano Asu Boyano Castrovillari Gravina Martina Montalto Monteliano Nardo Nocera Popoli Rocca di Mondragone S. Petro in Galatina Seminara Sessa Somma Sora ●agliacozzo Termoli Terra Nova Trajetto There are 30. Marquiships 54. Counsellors of State 11. Lords 403. Titular Barons The Archbishops and their Suffragans in this Table are taken out of the Romane Province In Aprucina and Marcicana there are these Bishops Aquilensis Forcanensis Marsicanus Valvensis or Sulmonensis Theatinus Adriensis Pennensis Aprutinus or Teranus The Archbishop of Beneventum under whom are these Suffragans Telesinensis Agatha Alphiensis or Alepharensis Mons Marani Avellinensis Vicanensis Arianensis Bojanensis or Rojanensis Asculanensis Nucerinus Tertibulensis Traconensis Vulturanensis Alarinensis Ferentinensis or Florentinensis Civitacensis Termelensis Lesinensis Frequentinensis Triventinensis Biminensis Vadiensis or Gadiensis Musanensis S· Mariae The Archbishop of Naples under whom are Nolanus Puteolanus Cumacensis Acerranus Iscalanus The Archbishop of Capua under whom are Theanensis Calvensis Calmensis Suessanus Venefranus Aquitanensis or Aquinatensis Iserniensis Casertanensis The Archbishop Amalfitanus under whom are Capri●ane●sis Scalensis or Camensis Minorensis Siteranensis The Archbishop of Salerne under whom are Aquensis Palicastrensis Nusautanensis or Nuscanensis Sarnensis Acervensis or Acernensis Maricensis The Archbishop of Su●rentine under whom are Lobrensis Serpensis Aquensis or Equensis or Vtanus Castellimaris or Stabiensis And let so much suffice concerning this part of the Kingdome of Naples I passe to the other part PVGLIA PIANA TERRA DI BARRI TERRA DI Otranto Calabria and Basilicata The other part of the Kingdome of NAPLES NOw we must view the other part of the Kingdome of Naples in which the first Country is that which the Italians doe call Puglia Piana from the large spacious fields there of It was heretofore called Apulia Daunia It is bounded on the East with Apulia Peucetia and the River Aufidus on the South with the Apennine together with the Hirpenians and Samnites on the West with the Frentanians Caracenians now called Apru●ians and Phiternians on the North with the Hadriatick and Jonium Sea The soyle is very fruitfull yeelding abundance of Wheate and Corne. Here are both Citties and Townes as Manfredonia a faire and populous Citty being situated on the banke of the Bay which lyeth in the hollow winding of the Mountaine Garganus and it hath an invincible Castle by the Shore side Leuceria is an Episcopall Citty which Ptolemy and Suetonius call Neuceria the ruines yet remaining doe shew the spaciousnesse of it Troy is a rich Citty having a fruitfull Soyle about it Asculum is a Citty which is adorned with the Title of a Dukedome Appianus Alexandrinus calleth it Asculum it is commonly called Asculo and surnamed Sattriano There are also Salpe or Arpi which Pliny mentioneth which was sometime called Argos Hippium and afterward Agrippa and two Citties which became a Proverb Apina and Trica c. The Rivers are Aufidus now called l'Ofanto Also Candilaris and Cervaria So much concerning Apulia Daunia the next Country which is to be described is Peucetia now it is called in Italian Terra Ba●iana or Terra di Barri from the chiefe Citty Bario This Country for fertility of soyle and plenty of choise fruit may compare with other parts of Italy But yet there are some places which are full of Boggs and Waters The chiefe Citty is Barium which Pliny calleth Barion it is commonly called Barri It is an ancient Citty and so faire and populous that it is the chiefe Citty of the whole Country which is called from thence Terra ●ariana There are also Monopolis which is a new Citty adorned with the title of a Marquiship which is not very great but faire and beautifull and full of magnificent Buildings The soyle round about it yeeldeth great store of Oyle Polonianum or Polignano is an Episcopall Citty which although it bee seated on a high stony Rock yet it is faire and populous Mola hath many houses but inhabited with rustick people The Marquesse Polinianus built a Castle there for the defence of the Coast Iuvenatum or
and Ivory being 60. foote high which worke was reprehended by other Artificers because the Image was not proportionable to the Temple For whereas this Iupiter sate in an Ivory Throne and yet touched the top of the Church with his head it must needs come to passe that if this Ivory god being weary of sitting would rise up at any time that hee must throw downe the top of the Church There is also Pisa Achaja which Ptolemy calleth Propria reacheth from the Promontory Araxus even to the Sicyonian from whom it is devided by the River Sus on the South it hath the Mountaine Stymphalus on the North the Corinthian Bay There are also the Citties Dyme which they now call Charenza whence they call the Araxean Promontory Capo di Chiarenza there is also the famous Citty Patrae which is now called Patras The Citty Aegium in former time was called Vostiza or Bostizan and it was raced by the Turkes Aegira was heretofore a chiefe Citty being seated on a rugged steepe Hill which is now ruinate and called Xilocastro And in the Crissaean Bay there are Helice Bura and Pellene Si●●nia is situate betweene Achaja and Asopus the chiefe Citty thereof is Sicion the ancientest of all the Greeke Citties and built in Abrahams time being full of Churches Altars Statues and Images There was also Phlius which happily is that which they now call Vasilicon There remaineth Arcadia which is a Mediterranian Country in Peloponnesus being every where encompas'd with the Sea In this Country there is the Citty Megalopolis where Polibius a grave and wise Writer was borne It is now called Leontari There is also Stimphalus whence the Stymphalian Lake and the Stymphalian Birds There are also Lilaea Mantinea and Psophis But the chiefe Citties of all Peloponnesus Ovid Lib. 6. Metamorph. hath thus briefly described and Epitomized Finitimi Proceres coeunt urbesque propinquae Oravere suos ire ad solatia reges Argosque Sparte Pelopejadesque Mycenae Et nondum torvae Calidon invisa Dianae Orchomenosque ferax nobilis aere Corinthus Messeneque ferox Patraeque humilesque Cleovae Et Melea Pilos nec adhuc Pitheia Tr●ezen Quaeque urbes aliae bimari clauduntur ab Isthmo The neighbouring Princes met the Citties neere Intreate their Kings the desolate to cheere Renown'd Mycenae Sparta the Argive State And Calydon not yet in Dian's hate Fertile Orchomenos Corinthus fam'd For high-priz'd Brasse Messene never tam'd Cleovae Patrae Pylos Nelius crowne And Throezen not as then Pitheus Towne With all that two-sea'd Isthmus Straites include And all without by two-sea'd Isthmus view'd The most famous Rivers are Asopus which Theverus calleth now Arbon also Penejus which Thevetus and Niger call Igliaco there is also Alpheus which the Inhabitants call Rophea and as Niger saith Orphoa the Italian Marriners call it Carbon and 140. streames and Rivulets doe runne into this River There is also Panisus which Niger calleth Stromio but Castaldus and Mercators tables call it Pirnaza which is the greatest River of all Peloponesus The water whereof doth heale as it is reported all diseases belonging to Children and Infants Eurotas is now called by Stephanus and others Basilopotamo but Niger calleth it Iris whose bankes are full of Bay-trees and Inachus which S●phianus and others doe now call Planizza but Niger calleth it Iris whose bankes have also great store of Bay-trees I omit the other Rivers The Mountaines are Stimphalus the highest Mountaine of Arcadia which Dominicus Niger calleth Poglici Xitias Niger calleth it Pholos Mela Cillenius Strabo Cyllene it is the highest Mountaine in all Arcadia There is also the Mountaine which Mela calls Menalius Ptolemy Cronium Also Grevenos which Niger calleth Zarex and Gemistus Zaraca That which Ptolemy and Strabo call Minthe Niger calleth Olonus Pausanias calleth it Evan from Evoe a noise which Bacchus his Priests did use because it is reported that Bacchus and those women that followed him did use this acclamation or cry That which Pliny Pausanias Vibius and Stephanus do call Taigotus is a Mountaine of Peloponesus in Laconia neere unto the River Eurota From the top whereof there is so faire a prospect that you may behold all the Peninsula and every famous Citty in it This Mountaine doth breed many wilde beasts being consecrate to Bacchus Apollo Diana and Ceres In Morea there are these Bishopricks the Archbishop of Corinth under whom is Argivensis The Archbishop Patracensis under whom are the Bishops Coloniensis Mothonensis Coronensis Amiclensis and Androvillensis CANDIA VVHICH POPE BONIFACE of MONTIS-FERRAT sold unto the VENETIANS WEE are come at length to the last Table of Europe in which Mercator doth delineate and paint foorth Candia with some small Ilands neere Greece Ptolemy calls it Crete which is an Iland in the Mediterranean Sea It is now commonly called Candy On the North the Aegean Sea doth beare upon it on the South the Lybian and Aegyptian Seas on the West the Hadriatick Sea on the East the Carpathian Sea The forme of it is long on the East the Promontory Samonium shooteth forth on the West there is the Promontory Criu Metopum on the North there is a third Promontory which Stra. lib. 10. calleth ●imarus now it is called Capo Chesis The length is 270. miles the breadth 5● The compasse of it 588. The Country is every where rugged and Mountainous but it yeeldeth good store of Corne and Grasse The soyle is very fruitfull and there are abundance of trees Pliny also witnesseth that whatsoever groweth in Creete is better than any of the same kinde that groweth otherwheres It beareth Vines Olives Oranges Figges Lemmons Cittrons Malmesie is made onely in this Country and so is transported from thence to Venice and other parts of the world This Wine as Bellonius witnesseth the ancients did call Pramium But Volaterranus thinketh that those wines which they called Arvisia are now called Malvisia or Malmesie by the addition of one letter and he addeth that those kindes of Vines were brought out of Arvisium a Promontory of the Iland Chios into Creete whence they were heretofore called Arvisian Wines It beareth also and produceth Honey Waxe Cheese Saffron store of Gum and Bitony peculiar onely to Creete In the whole Iland there is neither Wolfe Foxe Serpent or any harmefull creature except Spiders In regard whereof the Flockes and Heards of Cattell doe feede securely and safely in the Meddowes especially Sheepe which they call Striphoceri But it produceth divers living creatures And Authors doe report of Creete That it hath no Owles and that they dye if they bee brought into this Iland Iupiter did first governe this Iland then Radamarth afterward Minos and the Graecians The Romanes power over it began from Metellus who was therefore calld Creticus Afterward the Constantinopolitans did possesse it Baldwin Earle of Flanders and Emperour of Constanti●ople gave it to the Marquesse of Montis-ferrat who sold it to the Venetians in the yeere 1194. for a great summe of gold and so it
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 allor●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 Cappid●●ia P●ontus Bithyma Pamphilia and Cilecia all rich Countries This was done about the
Constantinople There is also Nicaea and He●a●lea in Pontus Asi● properly so called is now called Sabrum or Sacrum it is bounderd on the East with Galatia on the North with Pontus and Bithynia the other parts are washed with the Sea It containeth also within it selfe Phrygia Lydia both the Mysia●s Caria Aeolides Ionia and Dorides Phrygia is twofold the greater and the lesser the greater lyeth Eastward in which there are few Citties but more Villages There is also the Citty M●da●um neere Sangarius which was so called from Midas his Palace There is also Apamaea the greatest Citty in Phrygia not farre from the River Maeander Also the Towne Docymeum and the Citty Synnada There is also Pessinus In the lesser Phrygia or Troad●s there were Iliam or Troy which is so often mentioned in Homer and Virgil. Also Pergamus which King Attalus from a Castle did enlarge and change into a Citty here Apollodorus the Rhetorician and Galen were borne Bellonius reporteth that among the ruines of Troy there are fragments and pieces of Marble Sepulchers foundations of Walls old Towers and Colossusses yet remaining There are also in this same Country the Promontory and Towne Sigaum in which there is Achilles Tombe Lydia or Meonia hath the Citty Sardeis where Craesus his Palace was Mysia neere the Hellespont bordereth on Troas In this Country there is Lampsacus a Colony of the Patians and Abydus of the Melesians Caria is situate betweene Ionia and Lydia the Metropolis hereof was heretofore Miletus which now they falsely thinke is called Malaxo for the ancients did call it Mylassa which Pliny calleth the free Citty Lib. 5. Cap. 21. There is also Magnesa neere the River Maeander On the shore was Ionia neere the Iland Chius in which heretofore was that famous Citty Ephesus Aeolis is betweene this and L●sbu● whose Citties by the Coast side are Myrina Cuma now Castri and Phocaea now called Foglia Vecchia Dorus is by the Carpathian Sea in the Chersonesus the chiefe Citty whereof is Halicarnassus here the Historians Herodotus and Dionysius were borne and Mausolus had his Palace here Galatia which is also called Gollogreece is so called from the Frenchmen who mingling themselves with the Graecians did heretofore possesse those parts which lye by the Euxine Sea betweene Pontus and Cappadocia The Citties in it are Ancyra now called Anguri famous for waterd Chamlot which is made there of Goates-haire Sinope was Mithridates his Country Amisus now called Simiso In this Country is Paphlagonia which is now called Roni Cappadocia which is now call'd Amasia and it reacheth from Galatia to Antitaurus on the South is Ciliciae on the North the Euxine Sea The length of it is more than 300000. miles Here was sometimes the flourishing Kingdom of the Amazons whom Titianus as Isid●●●s witnesseth doth elegantly call One-breasted Amazons The Citties and Townes herein are Trapezus Themis●yra Amas●a where Strabo was borne Iconium and Maza Lycia is next to Caria It hath these chiefe Citties Pa●ara and Telmessum Pamphilia followes which is parted by the River Cataractes from Lycia In it there were these Citties Sida Attalia and Aspendum It is now together with Cilicia called Caramania The Metropolis of Cilicia is now called Hama the ancients called it Tarsus here S. Paul was borne being an ancient University by the River Cydnus Strabo doth much commend it There is also the Towne Adena and Heraclea by the Mountaine Taurus Armenia the lesser reacheth even to Eu●hrates but on the West it is bounderd with Cappadocia The Rivers are Iris which is now called Casalma●h also Halis Ottom●ngiu●h Parthenius Dolap Sangaris Sangri which doe all runne into the Euxine Sea Into the Propontick Sea these Rivers doe runne namely Ascanius Rhindacus Aesopus and Granicus and into the Hellespont these Rivers Simois and Scamander which is also called Xanthus Into the Agaean Sea these Rivers doe runne Ca●●us Hermus Caistrus Maeander which as Pruseus reporteth maketh a hundred windings and turnings Lastly there doe runne into the Mediterranean Sea these Rivers Calbis Xanthus Limyrus Cataractes and others The Seas are the Euxine Sea the Aegaean Sea and Pamphylian the Propontis the Hellespont the Icarian the Myrtoan and Rhodiensian Seas And these Seas are very convenient both for importing and bringing in all kinde of Merchandise and also for fishing by which they reape much profit The chiefe Mountaines are Horminium in Pontus and Mysium which is also called Olympus The Synnadican Mountaines are famous for Stone-Quarries there is also Ida in Phrygia which is memorable for the ancient contention of the Goddesses for the Golden Ball and Paris his judgement which hee gave there also Gold-bearing Tmolus in Lydia Argaeum in Caeppadocia Amanum now called Monte Negro in Cilicia on which there doe grow high Cedars and and Juniper also the Mountaine Sabina which hath great store of Plants There are also Dindyma and the Mountaine Chimaera which flameth like Aetna and the flame thereof as Pliny witnesseth is encreased by casting on water and extinguished or quenched with dunge There is also the Mountaine Taurus which beginneth here on the top whereof there are Lions in the middle of it which hath pleasant pastures there are Goates and at the bottome Serpents Whence the Poets doe faine that it is a Monster which vomiteth and spitteth fire having a head and breast like a Lion a belly like a Goate and the tayle of a Dragon and that Bellerophon was sent to kill this Chimera There are also other Mountaines as Antitaurus and Scordiscus which for brevity sakes we omit I come to the publike workes There was heretofore in Ionia in the Citty of Ephesus the Temple of Diana the most famous and most magnificent Temple in the World and accounted one of the 7. wonders of the World Here were also many Hospitals for Strangers and for the sicke which they called Carbachara Moreover there are no Innes or places of Receit for Travellers in all those Provinces of which are subject to the Turke except it be those publike Houses which were built by divers meanes but this was the most usuall The Turkish Nobles when they were growne rich being willing to doe some pious worke in their life time did out of their Zeale build such Houses for they had no kinne to bestow it on and therefore thinking that should doe a good worke for the publike good by raising such Structures and Buildings they did therefore build either some bridge or an Hospitall called Carbachara unto which there was a Temple adjoyning and next to it a Bath THE ILAND OF CYPRVS VVITH THE ILANDS STALIMENE CHIVS MITYLENE NEGROPONTE CERIGO AND RHODES CYPRUS is one of the greater Ilands of the Mediterranean Sea which was so called either from Cyprus the Daughter of Cynica or from the Cyprus tree which is proper to this Iland It lyeth in the middle of the Issican Bay betweene Silicia and Syria on the East it hath the Syrian Sea and the Issican Bay which is commonly called Golfo de Lajazzo
on the West the Pamphilian Sea on the South the Aegyptian Sea on the North it looketh toward Cylicia which is now called Turcomannia according to others Caramania The compasse of it is 427. miles the length of it 200. as Bordonius witnesseth It hath for the most part an unpleasant and unwholesome ayre in regard of the exhalations and uprores which arise from the Lakes Yet the whole Iland is very fruitfull For it produceth all things necessary both for necessity and delicacies as Wheate Barley and other kindes of Graine also excellent Wine that may compare with Crete Wine also Oyle Sugar Honey Salt Oranges Citrions Lemmons Dates and other excellent fruit Also Gold Cotton Wooll Saffron Coriander seed Silke and what not also Emralds Chrystall Iron and Allome and especially such great store of Brasse which it is thought was first found there so that it was called Brazen Cyprus There is also a kinde of stuffe made of Goates haire which is called Chamlot Diodorus Siculus Lib. 16. writeth that 9. Kings did governe this Iland which were all subject to the King of Persia It had also Greeke Tyrants We read that heretofore it had 15. famous Citties which are now for the most part decayd and ruinated The chiefest of them were Paphos now called Bapho also Palae Paphos where the Inhabitants doe affirme that Venus came first out of the Sea there is also Sali●i●● which is seated in a pleasant Bay of the East shore from whence there is a convenient passage to Syria It was afterward called Const●n●●● and Epiphanius was Bishop thereof There were also the Citties Amathus and Ceraun●a But now the chiefest are Nicotia and Famag●●● But out of the Mountaine Olympus there doe runne two great Rive●s Ly●us and L●pethus the former runneth Southward the latter Northward The other streames may be rather called Torrents than Rivers because they are sometimes dry and then the Inhabitants doe want water extremely There are divers Mountaines in this Iland but the highest of them all is Olympus which they call Trohodon which is beautified with all kinde of trees and hath many Monasteries on it in which the Calojerians dwell The compasse of it is 54. miles STALIMENE LEMNOS is an Iland of the Aegaean Sea which the Turkes and Italians do now call Stalimene it is over against Thrace between the Chersonesus of Thrace and Ath●n a Mountaine of Macedon the compasse of it is 100. miles On the East side it is dry and barre● but betweene the South and the West the Fields are very fruitfull and doe bring forth Wheate Pulse Pease Beanes Wine Flaxe and Hempe The Lemnian Earth is digged foorth now as heretofore with many superstitious Ceremonies and that every yeere on the 6. day of August but not at other times For it is forbidden upon paine of death that none come to digge of it either secretly or openly The place out of which it is digged is called Vulcanes Mountaine This Iland hath abundance of Bay-horses which goe softly and doe neither pace nor trot It hath also Serpents Here were heretofore the Citties Myriva and Ephestias But now the latter is ruinate and desolate and called Cochino The other is a small Towne seated on a Peninsula which is joyned to the Iland by a small Isthmus or tongue of Land it is now called Lemnos CHIOS· THe Iland Chios was so named either from the Snow or from the Nymph Chion Heretofore it was called Aetolia as Ephorus reporteth It is situate betweene Samos and Lesbus over against Erythra The compasse of it is above a hundred miles Chios hath excellent good Wine so that as Strabo reporteth there are Clusters of Grapes which doe weigh 6. pound It hath also good Figges and a kinde of Marble which was much esteemed at Rome And it alone of all the rest beareth Mastick And heretofore it was so fertile and fruitfull that it was called the Store-house or Barne of Rome It hath also great store of tame Partridges which runne up and downe the Fields and the Streets Here are 36. Townes The chiefe Citty is ●hia which hath a convenient Haven for Ships to ride in It is all Mountainous It hath these Promontaries Posidium Phanaeum Arvisium from whence come Arvisian Wines which are now called Malmesies In this Country THE ILAND OF CYPRVS CYPRUS Stalimini Chios Mitilene Negroponte Cerigo Rhodus ton the Tragedian Theopompus the Historian and Theocritus the Sophister was borne And some suppose that Homer was borne here Cicero in his Oration for Archias saith The Colophonians doe say that Homer was their Citizen the Chians doe challenge him to bee theirs the Salaminians doe account him theirs and the Smyrnians reckon him their Citizen And therefore they dedicated a Chappell to him in their Towne And many others doe contend and strive for him MITYLENE LESBUS or Mitylena which is now called Metelin from the chiefe Citty lyeth over against Phrygia and is distant from the Continent 7. miles and an halfe Some report that the compasse of it is 168. miles And others say 130. miles It hath a wholesome ayre fruitfull fields and good fruits Here it the best Corne. It yeeldeth the best Wine which is more esteemed at Constantinople than other wines and for the most part it is of a pale colour betweene red and white Here is also Marble which is bluer than a Touchstone here is also the Pretious stone call'd Achates which being worne cheareth the heart and driveth away care and sorrow It doth breed strong lusty Horses but of low stature Heretofore there were 5. Towns in it Ant●ssa Pyrrha Eress●s C●ravi Muyl●n● now Metelino being the Prince-Towne of the whole Iland which hath a Castle and a pleasant fruitfull soyle but now it is for the most part ruinated and fallen downe This Iland hath two convenient Havens NEGROPONTE EUBOEA now called Nigropontus or Nigroporte on the South thrusteth forth the Promontory Geresto and Capha●eum on the North Caeneum it is no where broad and yet the narrowest place is two miles over but it is long and lyeth over against ●ae●tia and is separated from the shore by a narrow strait Heretofore it was joyned to Bae●tia The compasse of it is 365. miles This Iland hath abundance of Corne Pulse Wine Oyle and Trees fitt for Building of Shops The Metropolis was heretofore ●hal●is now it is called Nigr●p●n●e after the name of the Iland It is famous for the death of A●ist●th who dyed here for griefe when hee could not finde out the cause of the flowing and ebbing of the Sea 7. times by day and seven times b● night Although Suia●s reporteth that he dyed not for grief● but that he was poyson'd and L●ert●us saith that he dy'd by sicknesse There are also the Citty Eretria where Simonides the Lvrick Poet wa● borne there is also Cha●istu● which Stephanus calleth Chironia and Aegea now it is called Garisto which was famous heretofore for Marble there are also Heliaea ●irrha Nesos O●●halia Strabo writeth
in the Citty Ciandu And there is another in the same Citty and another in the Citty Cambalu built very curiously and it is about 4. miles in compasse every Quadrangle containing a mile It hath a very thick wall which is 10. paces high The outward superficies of it is white and red In the foure corners of the wall there is a faire great Palace which is in stead of a Castle And so likewise in the middle of the fore walls there is a faire Palace built so that there are 8. Palaces in all In these they keepe their Armour their warlike Furniture their Ordnance their Bowes Arrowes Quivers Spurres Bridles Launces Bowstrings and other things necessary in warre and every severall kinde of Armour is laid up and kept in severall Palaces But in the middle of them or the innermost Court is the Kings Palace in which the King dwelleth This Palace hath no Chambers but the lower Pavement thereof is raised 10. hand breadths from the ground The roofe is very high and adorned with Pictures the walls of the Court yards and dining-roomes doe glister with Gold and Silver At the first entrance there are faire Pictures to entertaine the eye and warlike Histories drawne foorth with gold and lively colours The great Cham hath twelve Barons in his Court who are Governours of his 34. Provinces and it is their Office to appoint two Rectors or Governours in every Province and they are to provide things necessary for the Kings Army wheresoever it be and they acquaint the King with their purposes who by his authority confirmeth their determinations Malefactors are punisht in Tartary after this manner If any one hath stolne some small matter which doth not deserve death he is beaten 7. times with a Staffe or Cudgell and hath 17. blowes or strokes given him at a time or 27. blowes or 47. according to the quality of his offence untill at last they come to an hundred and 10. stripes or strokes And some doe die upon this beating But if any one have stolne a Horse or any other thing that deserveth death hee hath a Sword thrust thorow him But hee that will buy out his life hee must restore nine times as much as that which he stole was worth If any man or woman be taken in adultery they are put to death by the Law The Tartarians are devided into Hordes which words signifies amongst them a Tribe or Company And as they live in severall Provinces farre distant one from another so they are as farre distant and different one from another in their manners and kinde of life The men are of a strong square set stature having broad fat faces darke hollow eyes having great rough Beards but the rest of their haire is shaven they are strong of body and bold in courage and can endure want and labour when they are on Horseback if they chance to bee hungry or thirsty they cut their Horses veines and so drinke his blood It is a prophane ard barbarous Nation who make warre their right and strength and power their law Many of them have no houses but doe live in Carts And because they wander from place to place they doe usually direct their course by the Starres and especially by the North Pole They doe not tarry long in one place for they thinke it a great unhappinesse to continue long in the same place They have on use of money and therefore they exchange one thing for another They say that they are Ismaelites and received the law of Mahomet in the yeere 1246. The Tartars doe feed on grosse meat and especially on flesh and that raw or halfe sod and on Milke and Cheese but they abstaine from Hogs-flesh They drinke Mares Milke which they doe so temper that it is like white wine and is a savory well-tasted drinke They feed very sluttishly for they neither use Table-clothes or Napkins neither doe they wash their hands bodies or Garments They drinke also Water and Milke and a kinde of Beere made of Millet THE KINGDOME OF CHINA· CHINA is a large and potent Kingdome The Inhabitants doe call it Tame and themselves Tangis Ptolomy calleth them Sinas which Ortelius liketh of whom the most doe follow or their neighbours the Cathajans which Mercator doth more approve of All this Country is situate by the Easterne Ocean and it is thought to bee the farthest Country Eastward The bounds thereof on the East are the Easterne Sea on the South the Province of Cauchinchina on the West Brachmana on the North the Tartarians a warlike Nation from whom they are devided by the Mountaines and a long Wall which doe reach 500. miles The Historians of China doe report that this Wall was built long since by a King whose name was Tzinzous after that by his wisedome he had freed the Inhabitants of this Country from the Tyranny of the Tartars which they had endured 93. yeeres This Country by reason of the goodnesse of the ayre and soyle and the industry of the people is very fruitfull For the men are not slothfull but laborious so that they scorne to live idlely Whence it comes to passe that every corner of this Country doth produce and bring forth something They sow the dry ground with Wheate and Barley The plaine wet moorish places with Rice which they sow foure times every yeere The Hills and Mountaines have abundance of Pine-trees betweene which they sow Millet and Pulse So that every place and field beareth some fruit and there are every where Gardens full of Roses and divers kindes of flowers and fruits They have great store of Hempe and Flaxe and Woods of Mulberry Trees for keeping of Silke-wormes Moreover there is great store of Gold Silver Brasse Iron and other Mettals also Pretious Stones Pearles Muske Sugar and Rheubarb and that is thought to bee the best which is brought from thence thorow Persia by Land for some think that the Sea doth take away much vertue from it This Kingdome also doth produce and yeeld a medicinable kinde of wood which the people of China doe call Lampala and we Radix Chinae or the China Roote and it is commonly us'd thorow all the Indies against Impostumes the Palsie and the French disease The Roote of it is hard and heavy and of a white colour There are infinite store of Cattell on the Mountaines and in the Medowes The Woods are full of Boares Foxes Hares Cunnies Sables Martines and other beasts of the same kinde whose skins are much used for lining of Garments So that it is both pleasant and profitable hunting of them There are also great plenty of Birds especially water Fowle and such great store of Ducks that in Canton which is one of the least Citties of this Kingdome 10. or 12. thousand Duckes are spent in one day And though this Country have great store of Fowle yet they make them increase by this meanes In the Spring time they lay two or three thousand Egges in the Sand by
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 ●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 S●mirami● 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 Dec●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 ●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 Ca●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 Par●pamissus doe joyne together being parts of Caucasus The Woods in the Indies as Solinus
barbarous use They esteeme not of Gold but goe naked for the most part they are much addicted to Hunting and doe make their Bread of Maiz. The toppes of the Mountaines for the most part of the yeere are white with Snow but yet they are full of Gold Brasse and Lead This Country also hath Cattell and divers wilde beasts as Tigers Lions and the like it hath abundance also of Citterus and Mellons The Province Popajana is annexed and joyned to this which from the North to the South is 220. leagues in length but the most part of it is barren and unhabited and therefore it bringeth forth little Corne but yet it is rich in Gold It hath no peculiar Governour but the Vice-roy of the Kingdome because the most of the Courts of this Citty are subject to the Quito The chiefe Citty is called after the name of the Province being situate two degrees from the Line it hath a temperate constant climate the day and nights are all the yeere equall it hath seldome any raine but it is often troubled with Lightning and Thunder The soyle affordeth two Harvests of Corne every yeere and this Country breedeth great store of Cattell The Inhabitants are courteous the Citty is adorned with a Cathedrall Church and a Monastery of Friers It hath a great Jurisdiction and many Townes round about are subject unto it The Gold which is gotten here is accounted purer than other Gold Not farre from hence the most famous Rivers in this Country doe rise which are called la Magdalena and la Martha which doe water all the Country THE DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRME LAND TERRA FIRMA et NOVUM REGNUM GRANATENSE et POPAIAN THE DESCRIPTION OF PERVVIA PERUVIA is the noblest Country of all the New World it is now devided into three parts namely the Plaine the Mountaines and the Andes The Plaine of Peruvia reacheth 500. leagues by the Sea-coast and is 10. or 15. leagues broad but this part is sandy and full of desarts and for the most part barren for it hath no Springs nor Lakes neither is it watered with any showers but as it is moistned with a kinde of humour or dew which the Inhabitants call Garva But yet there are greene fruitfull meddowes which lye by the bankes of the Rivers which in the Winter time doe overflow them which maketh them yeeld both store of Cotton and all kinde of Corne. The Inhabitants of this Country are poore living under Trees and among Reedes and doe feed on Fish and raw flesh The mountainous is extended in a long space of ground some hundred leagues from the North to the South These Mountaines are very cold neither doe they beare any Trees so that the Inhabitants are faine to burne a kinde of pitchie Turfe Here are Lions Wolves black Beares Goates and a kinde of beast like a Cammell of the Wooll whereof they make Cotton Garments in the Valleys of these Mountaines there liveth a populous Nation who are more witty and civill than the former The Andes also are Mountaines which runne along with a continued ridge without any Valleys and they are chiefly two commonly call'd Cordeleras which are almost 1000. leagues long and equally distant one from another in which there are great store of Goates wilde Sheepe Apes and Parrots the soyle also is very fruitfull and doth yeeld all kinde of Pulse and divers Sallet hearbs And especially there is the hearbe Coca of which there are many fabulous reports whose leaves are like a Shrub which the Graecians call Rhus the Latines call it Tanners hearb which as it is found by experience if it be carryed in ones mouth it takes away the appetite from meate and drinke but it encreaseth valour and strength There is a Vice-roy that governeth all this Province under whose jurisdiction are the Chilenses also Salomons Ilands and toward the West the Country of the Silver River It hath three Seats of Judgement Quito Limam and Las Charcas The first whereof Quito doth containe more Countries as Pogaya Quixos Cavelas Iuan de Salinas Pocomoros and it is 24. leagues in length neere the Aequinoctiall Line even to the Seate of Justice at Lima. Many poisonous hearbes THE DESCRIPTION OF PERVVIA· PERV doe grow in this Country and they doe get Gold out of the Cordillerian Mountaines but afterward it was prohibited they doe also digge Salt-peter from thence The second Seate of Judgement is at Lima which reacheth from the North Southward from the 6. degree of Altitude to the 16. or 17. and so runneth forward 120. leagues The chiefe Citty hereof is Lima built in a Plaine 2. leagues from the Southerne Sea by a River which is a small streame in Summer but in Winter it hath store of water The third Provinciall Seate of Judgement is at a place call'd Charcas it is situate in 17. degrees of latitude by the River Lambopulla and it containeth many Regions and Countries which are amply describ'd in Authors A DESCRIPTION OF THE SVMMER ILANDS VVHICH THEY CALL BERMVDAS WEE have mentioned these Ilands in our former descriptions but now seeing they have gotten a peculiar table of their owne it will not be impertinent to adde this narration thereunto Authors doe report that the chiefest of these Ilands is small and lowe but that it groweth somewhat bigger in the middle There are great store of Birds in it but it is subject to stormes and tempests and it hath great store of Cedar Trees and Hogges Some Englishmen suffring shipwrack neere unto it planted a Colony there in a Semicircular forme and called it after their Captaines name Summers Colony But afterward when the English had got the Kings Letters Patents to erect a Company for the governing these Ilands they sent in the yeere 1612. to the aforesaid Ilands 60. men with Captaine Richard Mone and so the Colony or Plantation began to encrease The Captaine lived in these parts three yeeres and raised every where many Forts and Defences and furnisht them with Ordnance that the Colony might the better defend it selfe from any invasion of the enemy After Captaine Mone there succeeded Captaine Tuckher who caused many Trees which were brought out of the West-Indies to be planted there and the Country to be devided among the Colony that every one might have a greater care of his owne part After whom Captaine Butler with 4. Ships and 5. hundred men sayled thither and so all the Country was replenisht with Inhabitants On the East side Warwicks Forte was built on the North-West Sands Fort on the Prormontory toward Affrick Danes-fort Also two Fortresses were raised in a small Iland the one called Cavendish Fort the other Pagets Fort. There is also an Iland which lyeth to the South which is called Coupers I le At the Promontory call'd Gurnets head there is Pembrooks Fort. A little farther Westward there is Nonsuch a little Iland and Moores Iland with a Fort. The next is Charles his Fort and more to the North is Kings Castle
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
of Polonia It hath three divisions the Lucensian Wolodomiriensian and Cremenecensian and there are three Provinciall Cities Lucko Wolodomiria and Kerzemenec which have many Townes and places of Defence under them Here are many Lakes and standing waters full of fish and woods full of wilde beasts There is also in this Table Podolia situated by the River Tyras It is a most fertile Country being sowed once and reaped thrice the meddowes are so proud and ranke that the Oxens hornes as they graze can scarce bee seene above the grasse The chiefe Cities are Camienies Bar Medziboz Brezania and Braslaw But let these things which have beene spoken hitherto suffice concerning this table we passe now to Transylvania TRANSYLVANIA OR SIEBENBVRGEN TRANSYLVANIA is the mediterranean part of ancient Dacia which the Romans called Dacia Ripensis and it taketh its name from the woods and mountaines wherewith it is encompassed as the Hercynian woods and the Carpathian hils It is called commonly Septem castra by a name borrowed from the German word Siebenburgen and the Hungarians call it Herdel On the West it is bounded with Pannonia on the North with Polonia on the South with Walachia and on the East with Moldavia Transylvania is very fruitfull hath great plenty of corne through the whole Countrie which besides daily experience that coyne of Trajans doth witnesse in which Ceres stood holding in her right hand the horne of the goate Amalthaea which signifieth plenty and in her left hand a Table with this inscription or motto Abundantia Daciae i. the abundance of Dacia It bringeth forth excellent wine about Alba Iulia Deva Egmedine Birthilbine and Fenuscine It hath also great store of fruite among which to omit the rest it hath most excellent Damaske Prunes Quinces sweet Cherries which may be compar'd with those that grow in Italie and Mellons Heere are also excellent choyse hearbs which grow in every place as Rhubarbe the greater Centory Gentiana with a yellow and purple flowre Sea-wormewood the herbe called Libanotis saffron and many others There are many famous Mynes of Mettall in this Country as Mynes of Gold at Sculattin which the Hungarians call Zalakna and at Rimili Dominurdz which signifies the River or Rivulet of Lords In these places great wedges or pieces of gold are cut forth which as soone as they are digged out they can presently make use of without any accurate refining The Roman pieces of golden coyne which are oft digged up in these places doe witnesse this plentie for they have on the one side the image of a man with a broade hat and with this inscription on it C. Cato and on the other side Dacia in the forme of a Goddesse holding a Booke in her right hand with this inscription AVR PVR. Moreover there are silver Mynes at Offera and Radna Copper is digged out of the same Mountaines out of which the gold and silver commeth Steele is digged and found at Cyk Iron at Thorosco and Vaidahuntada and lastly Sulphure and Antimonie are found in the Copper Mynes There is such great store of salt-pits in Transylvania that it sendeth abundance of salt to other Countries And there is such a great company of Oxen in it that the largest and fairest ones are often sold for a Floren. What shall I speake of the excellent metall'd horses which it breedeth which amble and pace naturally What should I mention the divers kindes of Birdes as Eagles Faulcones Pheasants Partridges Peacocks Woodcocks Snipes And what should I reckon the water-fowle as Swans Bustards and Bitternes c. I passe from these to the wilde beasts for this Countrie hath great Forrests and spacious woods in which are Beares Buffes or wilde Oxen Elkes Harts of a large stature Leopards Martins Does and white Hares Divers Nations heretofore inhabited this Countrie of whom there is yet a remnant in Hungaria as the ●azyges called by Pliny Metanastae beside the Getes Bastarnians Sarmatians Grecians Romans Scythians Saxons and Hungarians The Romans did conquer it when the Emperour Trajan overcame Decebalus King of Dacia and reduced it into the forme of a Province calling the Citie Zarmizegethusa after his owne name Vlpia Trajana but Galienus lost it two hundred yeares after and from that time the Inhabitants having laid aside the Roman humanitie speech and eloquence began to resume their former wildenesse and barbarisme calling themselves Walachians After the Romans the Scythians under the conduct of their Captaine Artilas seated themselves in this place and built seven free Townes The Saxons succeeded the Scythians in the time of Charles the great who forsaking their Countrie seated themselves likewise in these parts built themselves seven free Cities following the example of the Scythians The Hungarians came last who partly allured with the vicinity and neernesse of the place mingled themselves with the Dacians and afterward being provoked by injuries they conquered the whole countrey in the reigne of Stephen King of Pannonia whom they stiled the holy By them some Townes were also built The mountainous part of Transylvania was lately subdued by Matthias Huniades whose surname was Corvinus and afterward by Stephen King of Hungary This Matthias tooke alive one Dracula a Vaivode or Prince of the mountainous Transylvania a man of unheard of cruelty and after ten yeares imprisonment restored him to his former place Transylvania is now divided into three Nations differing both in manners and lawes and inhabiting severall parts of the Countrie namely into the Saxons the Ciculi and Hungarians The Saxon Transylvanians as all other German Nations have a peculiar dialect or language unto themselves they inhabite the strongest cities and castles and doe excell the other Nations They have seven Seates namely Zarwaria Zabesia Millenbach Rensmarke Segesburg or S●hesburg Ollezna Schenkerstall and Reps all which have some villages under them The Ciculi neere to Moldavia being descended from the Scythians doe live after their owne lawes and customes and doe distribute their offices by lot They are divided into seven Regions which they call Seates the names whereof are Sepsi Orbai Kysdi Czyk Gyrgio Marcus Zeek and Aranyas Zeek The Hungarians and Transylvanian Nobles being mingled with the Saxons and the Ciculi doe for the most part agree with them both in speech habite and armour All Transylvania is able to set forth ninety thousand armed men and more There are seven chief Cities in Transylvania having a reasonable distance one from an other among which Cibinium is the Metropolis or Mother-citie is now called Hermanstat It is seated on a plaine not shut up with mountaines but spread into a great breadth It is not much lesse than Vienna in Austria but it is farre stronger both by Art and Nature for in regard of the many Fish-ponds and Lakes round about it no Armie TRANSYLVANIA OR SIEBENBVRGEN TRANS SYLVANIA can come unto it 2 Brasso or Corona which the Germans call Cronstat and
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 Iam●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