of the Morea beginning at the mouth of the said Gulf quite on to the Promontory of Castel Tornese On the West over against it at a distance from each other with a Strait of seven miles Sea between them are seen the Isles of Cephalonia and Santa Maura this of fifteen the other of forty miles length The end of the Isle of Cephalonia comes within twelve miles by Sea of the Isle of Zant and this is separated from the utmost Cape of the Morea by a space of twenty five miles The Gulf called that of Chiarenza from the name of an Ancient Maritime Town has its length from the Cape of Chiarenza to Castel Tornese The Gulf of Arcadia which Ptolemy calls Chelonates or Chelonites Sinus and others Locardian reaches from the Cape of Tornese to Cape Jardan The Gulf of Zonchio otherwise Cyparisius Sinus extends it self from Cape Jardan to the Cape of Sapienza The Gulfs of the Sea of Sapienza THe Gulf of Coron which washes the City of that name is likewise named that of Calamata from a place not far distant from its Shores. Ptolemy and Pliny call it Meseniacus Sinus because it was contiguous to the Ancient Province of Messenia Strabo Messenius and others Coroneus and Asineus Sinus It is between Cape Gallo and Cape Matapan The Gulf of Colochine or of Castel Rampani or of Fleos which Strabo and Ptolemy entitle Laconicus Sinus beats upon Luconia with its Waves and reaches from Cape Matapan to Cape Malio Though this Gulf be usually compreâ—ended in the Sea of Sapienza yet â—audrand places it to the Sea of Canâ—ia The Gulfs of the Aegean Sea on the side of the Morea THe Gulf of Napoli di Romania named from the Town so called extends it self a great way along the Morea between the Capes of St. Angelo and Schilli It once bore the name of Argolicus Sinus washing the Ancient Argia The Gulf of Engia is divided from that of Lepanto by the Isthmus It comprehends a great number of Isles and Rocks 'T is named Saronicus Sinus from the River Saron that discharges it self into it Ptolemy and Pliny call it Salaminiacus from the Isle of Salamis By Strabo 't is named Eleusinus and if we credit Pintianus 't was also called Hermonicus Sinus at last 't was named Egena from an Isle of that name that lies about the midst of the Gulf and is extended North and South between Attica and Saccania of twenty four miles circumference according to M. Spon This is bounded by the Capes of Colonne and Schilli Of the Isles and Rocks that are round the Morea and in the Ionian Sea. The Isle of Corfu AMongst the Isles of the Ionian Sea that are under the Venetians the Island of Corfu is not the least considerable It lies at the extreamity of the Gulf of Venice in the Ionian Sea. ISLE DE CORFV This Isle is divided into four Parts which those of the Place call Balie The first towards the East is named Lefchimo by Marmora Leuchino by Porcacchi and Leucimne by Thucidides The second towards the West is named Laghiro or Agiru The third Mezzo The fourth Loros or Oros Each of these Parts has its Territories There is spread over all a very pure clear Air and exceeding wholesome as may be gathered from the Forests of Oranges and Cedars that there flourish And with some reason the Poets sung so much of the Gardens of Alcinous who dwelt in this Isle The Country is also very fruitful in all kinds of Grain and Honey and Wax with Wine and Oyl of an extraordinary goodness nor does it want pleasant Flats in its Northern Parts In the first Territory of Lefchimo where yet remains some Tracts of the Ancient and Episcopal City of Gardichi at two miles distance from the Sea of Garbino there is a Fountain which made it famous which after making a small River runs down to the Sea on which Stream are several Mills This Territory contains about ten thousand Inhabitants in twenty five Burroughs the biggest whereof is named Potamos from a Canal that divides it in two It is inhabited by very civil and gentile People From thence is a Canal for Vessels down to the Sea. The Territory of Laghiro or Agiru on the East of the Isle abounds in all sorts of necessaries It has eight thousand Inhabitants in twenty Villages It had had more if the Africans had not come and demolished a City built in a Peninsule where at present stands a Monastery with a good number of Religious whose Church is dedicated to the Holy Virgin and is called Palio Castriza The Castle called Angelo Castron built by the Emperour Michael Comnenes upon the Promontory Palachrum is at this time named St. Angelo The third Territory called Mezzo in which stands the City of Corfu had once a larger City In an extent of sixty miles Possession there are thirty Castles or Lordships and Villages which together with the Capital contain twenâ—y five thousand Persons The fourth Territory called Loros â—r Oros in forty five miles Country and â—wenty five Towns has about eight â—housand Inhabitants Cassiopa now â—assiopo a very famous City was ancientâ—y its Capital The whole Isle has properly no Rivers for though on the â—ide of Garbinio there seems to be one which they name Mesongi that takes â—ts source near the Fortress Cardicchi yet it ought rather as well as all the rest to be reckoned a Brook than a River Historians agree not as to the Original of the Inhabitants of this Isle as may be seen in the History of Corfu writ by Marmora yet all or most of the People at this day are Greeks and observe the Rites of the Greek Church One Historian observes that this Isle was once of a considerable force Eustachio Sopra Dionigi by Sea and that in the time of the War between the Greeks and Persians it put thirty armed Galleys to Sea. The Greek are not the only Historians that make honourable mention of this Isle for besides what Thucidides sayâ— of it speaking of the Wars of the Moreae in which the Corcyreans had often their part we find that Titus Livius makes them to receive Orders in the Army of Q. Fulvius Flavus to guard the Coast of Calabria and that they went in pursuit of the Ambassadors of Carthage who at the sollicitation of Hannibal were sent to make a League with Philip King of Macedon and that these Ambassadors having been brought before the Captain General he seâ—â— them to Rome The People of this Isle after having been long subject to the Kings of Naples weary at last of being still subject to the frequent Commotions of that Kingdom offered to put themselves under the Obedience of the Venetian Republick This their Design they communicated to Giov. Penelasco then residing at Corfu in quality of Consul for the Venetians who gave advice thereof to the Senate and because the Prince of Tarentum made some pretences they sent to him the Secretary Pietro Compitelli
Office lasts for two years The City is a Bishops Seat and the Church belongs to Zant in the twelfth Age it was raised to a Bishoprick by Marquis Rizzardo de Tochis Prince of Achaia and of these Isles who gave the Bishop the Tithes of several Possessions as well of Cephalonia as of Zant and to the Canons he gave the Tithes of several Lands in Cephalonia Strabo says that in his time Caius Antonius the Uncle of Mark Antony being banish'd from Rome after his Consulship which he officiated together with his Colleague Cicero went to Cephalonia and being there as Soveraign he laid the Foundations of a City where he made his Residence but he had not time to bring these Designs to Perfection for he was recalled from his Exile and imployed in more important matters Titus Livius reports that the Consul Marcus Fulvius having overcome the Etolians turned his victorious Arms against the Isle of Cephalonia and being arrived near to it he sent to the Islanders to know if they would deliver it up freely into his Hands or try the chance of War in its Defence they were all presently for delivering except the People of Samo who valiantly sustained four months Siege at the End of which the Romans became Victorious and left dreadful Marks of their Rage against the Samians for having pillaged the City they sold all the Inhabitants for Slaves In the Year 1224 the Isle was given to the †Verdizzotti fatti Ven. l. 8. p. 163. And Morosini in a little Treatise of Cephal says it was given 1214. Republick of Venice by a generous and free Act of Gaius who was Lord and Governour thereof Anno 1479 there came from Gallipoli into the Ionian Sea a great Ottoman Army which invaded Cephalonia then in the Possession of a pety * Toccho Napo Prince and took it out of his hands FORTERESSE D'ASSO He also sent a great Vessel to Junoo to transport some of those People that in great numbers were retired thither to re people and cultivate this Isle There came besides several other People voluntarily to dwell there and so the hard and tyrannick Government of the Island was changed into a more mild and just whence ensued a meliorating of the Place and manuring of the Grounds The Fortress of Asso THE important Fortress of Asso or Nasso in the Isle of Cephalonia was built by the Venetians an 1595 for the Defence of the Inhabitants who in time of War could not all secure themselves in the City of Cephalonia It is seated upon a Rock whose Point is very high and steep environed with the Sea so that 't is hardly accessable by some narrow Paths its Fortifications were made to answer the Situation of the Place which is altogether uneven so that 't is very irregularly built There is a Tongue of Land about 20 Paces long whereby 't is joyned to the Isle and which makes the way to the Fortress It was once proposed to cut through it in the narrowest place and so to make a good Ditch there It is composed of 60 publick Houses and 200 particular Habitations At the Foot of it is a little Port which may shelter three Galleys but it grows daily worse and worse by reason that when ever any tempestuous and great Rains happen the violent Torrents bring down with them from the Mountain a great deal of Sand and Stones which choak it up for which there is no Remedy The Republick sends thither a Patrician for Governour with the Title of Proveditor whose Office lasts thirty two Months the first of them was sent thither on the 23 d. of June an 1596. Argostoli WE must not pass by the Port of Argostoli in Silence since it is of some Importance to the Republick it took its name from the Ship Argo and the Argonauts who came to land there It has a Circuit of thirty Miles and may contain the most numerous Army The Venetian Galleys and the Proveditor Generals usually make a Descent there when they are upon any Expedition in these Quarters There is no Fortress upon it so that it is free for all Vessels to Land there It has been proposed to build a Fort there which may command the Port and the Entrance into the Isle and if ever the Design be put in Execution there is a very advantageous Situation for it upon a steep Rock There is yet to be seen in the farthest part the Remains of the ancient City built by the Corinthians once called Cranea Near to it towards the Sea is the Place now called il Cutego where are to be seen the Foundations of great Caverns in the Earth thought to have been once the Arsenal for the Port of Argostoli The Isle of Teacchi THIS Isle has almost as many Names as it has had Authors who have described it Strabo and Pliny call it Itaca Porcacchi and Denis the African Nerieia Niger Val di compagno and Sophianus Val di compare the Greeks at present name it Thiachi the Turks Phiachi and usually we call it Cefalonia Picciola the Little Cephalonia It looks towards Cephalonia from which 't is separated by the Arm of Viscardo which is a very deep Channel 20 Miles long and five broad and in the narrowest place three The Shape of this Isle is irregular and longer than broad it is 40 miles round with several Gaps and Creeks it has several little Ports very necessary for taking in Fire-wood But of all the rest that of Vathi has the best Anchorage the firmest Bottom and very deep which will receive a great number of Vessels There are two others little inferiour to this called Gidachi and Sarachinicco I will not stay to give the Particulars of the others being they are of so little Use and so bad Anchorage that it is not worth the while to treat of them This Isle is thought to have been the Dwelling place of the chast Penelope and the Country of Vlysses upon this Tradition the Cephalonians have a Veneration for certain Remains that are thought to be in the place where that illustrious Couple dwelt It had once a City called by Plutarch Alalcomene but there are now but some Villages the chief of which are Vathi Annoi Oxoi The Inhabitants are about 15000 a good part whereof are banish'd People from the Isles of Zant Corfu and Cephalonia The Citizens of Cephalonia elect every year one whom they call the Captain of Teacchi but he cannot enter upon his Charge without the consent of the Rectors who are obliged once in the Year to go to that Island which they do in the month of March to which time they remain in Office the Authority of this Officer extends but to hear and decide Causes Andrew Morosini the Son of Peter who was Proveditor of Cephalonia anno 1622 tells us that this Isle was taken by the Confederates of Michael the Son of the Emperor Paleologus out of the Hands of that Emperor after he had taken it himself
Rome Several very noted persons have flourisht there by reason of the great Revenues of the Bishoprick which has amounted as is seen in the Archives to more than six thousand Crowns Possibly the Bishops had then the force of the Laws and secular Arm more than the Authority of their See and zeal of their preaching to assist them Two Bishops of this Church successively went to the Council of Trent where they were much distinguisht by their merit The first was John Francis Comendon who died during the time of the Council who was succeeded by Petro Delfino a Noble Venetian The Parish Churches of the Greeks comprehending those of the City the Cittadel and others that have been founded out of devotion are about forty four There are likewise a great number in Cephalonia that place being well Peopled There are fifteen in the City in each of which is a plain Altar with the Altar-piece towards the East adorned with paintings after the Greek fashion who permit no Images in Relievo in their Temples The Altar is of stone inclosed with a Rail whose entrance is forbidden to Laicks and Women Nay the Women presently after Child-bed and the Men that are found in any ill action are forbid the Churches but this custom is now neglected When the Arch-bishop happens to die all the Greek Curates of which there is a good number assemble themselves and according to a very ancient custom authorized by the Holy See they give their suffrages in secret to proceed to the election of another The Bishop has no fixt Revenue and maintains himself upon Casualties which the Greeks yearly present to him as in a Quantity of Wheat and other Grain He likewise has a considerable gain by Ordinations and by one way or other his Revenue is very large As a Qualification of a Bishop of this City a man must have been a Monk of the Order of St. Basil upon which account there are so many Monasteries of that Saint's in these Isles The most considerable of which is built on the Rocks commonly called the Strophades of which in their place This Monastery has several Revenues in Zant and Cephalonia and the Greeks have these Monks in Great Veneration because they live very retired from secular affairs These Monks of St. Basil fast the whole year except in case of infirmity or sickness when they may have a dispensation for three days in the week Monday Wednesday and Friday they eat nothing but milk fish and oyl They keep four Lents in the year the first is that of Easter called i Megali Tessara-costi which lasts seven weeks for which time they are not permitted to eat either fish or oyl except two days in the week viz. Saturday and Sunday nor that on Holy Saturday Their nourishment then is only fish that have no blood as oysters dryed fish Caveer which is the Rows of fish salted Botargo which is made of the Row of a Sturgeon dryed and salted c. There are two other days on which they may eat that is the 25 of March being Annunciation-day which they call Euangelismos provided it happen before the Holy week the other is Palm-Sunday which they name Tou Vaghiou The Second Lent is of the Agioi Apostoloi in honour of the Holy Apostles which lasts from the Munday sevennight after Whitsuntide till the Vigil of St. Peter and Paul so that some years it lasts three weeks others more The Third is called T is agias Parthenou dedicated to the Virgin Mary which lasts from the first to the fifteenth of August in which time they eat no fish except on the sixth being the feast of the Transfiguration of Christ which they observe with Solemnity and call it Metamorphosis tou Sotiros The Fourth is called ton Christogenon which begins forty days before Christmass to wit on the fifteenth of November and continues till the twenty fifth of December for which time they may eat fish except on Wednesdays and Fridays The Caloieros besides these four observe three other Fasts the first before St. Demetrius which lasts twenty days the second begins on the first of September fourteen days before the Exaltation of the Holy Cross the third eight days before the feast of St. Michael Beside these all the Greeks in general fast on Wednesdays and Fridays and several of the most zealous on Mondays also Moreover on the day of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and the Decollation of St. John the Baptist they keep a more severe Fast Except these times they eat flesh all the week after Easter-Sunday and that whole week after Whit-sunday and for twelve days together after Christmass and a week before the great Lent. They keep likewise three other Vigils in the year That of the Epiphany which they name Paramoni on which day the Greeks baptize the Sea with a great Ceremony the second is the Vigil of St. John the Baptist and the third that of the Cross whereon they are forbid to eat fish Thus those Greeks that are not Monks fast about a hundred and thirty days in the year All the Monasteries of the Religious observe the Rites of the Greek Church and if there should be one amongst them of the Latin Church yet they must observe the Greek Rites It is permitted to these Religious on divers occasions to visit their sick Relations and to go about the Cities living without any Cloyster which doubtless is contrary to the Institution of a Monastick Life There is not in these Isles any kind of Hospital for the Poor Except only in Zant there are two little poor Alms-houses one for the Men and another for the Women under the direction of the Citizens of the Place They used to receive into these houses Foundlings and Bastards but that custom is now left off There are also in these Isles many Protestants most of them English There are four Convents one of Preaching Friars two of Friars Minors Conventuals one in Zant the other in Cephalonia and one of Minors Observants in Zant without reckoning the Parish Church of Argostoli which is a jus patronale of the most Serene Republick which it has bestowed on the Minor Observants These People live willingly under the obedience of the Republick which watches continually for their defence against the powerful irruptions of the Turks And besides for that they permit them to live conformable to their own Rites of which they are so zealous being perswaded of their ancient and pure Institution There grows in this Isle very extraordinary Fruit and that in as great abundance as any Isle thereabouts Caroldi reports that the Isle of Zant was sold with the other Isles by Robert Prince of Tarentum Anno 1350. Tarante In the Year 1571. Vluzzali Passa sackt the City wasted the Country and laid the whole Isle extreme desolate The Isles Strivales THe Strivales are two Isles by the Mariners called Stamfane and which Authors have known by several names for Strabo Pliny and Apollonius name
Negropont Megara MEGARE During the Reign of Codrus those â—f Peloponnesus having declared War â—gainst the Athenians without gaining â—ny Fruit of their Attempts in their Return surprized Megara and so it â—ecame subject to the Corinthians for â—hose that took it gave it to the Corinâ—hians and others of their Confederates â—hat would go to dwell there from which time the Megareans changed their Customs and Dialect into the Dorique Authors speak diversly of the Original of the Name and there is an Opinion that it was called Megara in the Reign of Carus the Son of Phoroneus who were the two first that consecrated Temples to the Honour of the Goddess Ceres The Boeotians repoâ— that Megarus the Son of Neptune whâ— dwelt in Onchesto hasting with an Aâ—my to the Succour of Nisus beat â—â— Minos was killed in the Combat anâ— being buried in this place gave the namâ— of Megara to the City before calleâ— Nisa The Chronicles of the Megâ—rians otherwise relate the Story oâ— Megarus for they affirm that he succeeded Nisus in the Government having espoused his Daughter called Finoes So that 't is not strange theâ— should be named Megarians from their King they being once called Lelegianâ— from Lelegus another of their Kings who coming from Egoto was crowned King of this Place On the North of the Town in the Plain stand nine or ten Churches about which stood once a Village called Paloeochorio the old Village which is now forsaken and suffered to fall to ruin If time had not worn away all that anciently was great and beautiful we should yet see standing a great number of stately Edifices once the Glory and Ornament of Megara and whose broken Remains now surprise those that look on them Amongst others there was a Fountain where the Work-man had bestowed all the Delicacies and Beauties of Art. Not far from this Fountain was a Temple in which stood the Images of the twelve Gods the Work of Praxiteles together with the Effigies of the Emperors the stateliest Show in the World. Megara also boasted in the brass Statue of Diana by the name of Salvatrix by them erected to her in acknowledgment of the aid they believed they had from her when their City was dangerously attacked by the Army of Mardonius For it fell out that this General marching in the Night lost his way and in his errour taking a Mountain for his Enemies which he sought after he sent all his Arms and Warlike Machins that way So the Megareans falling upon him without Arms had the advantage that might be expected from such a mischance Near this was also the Magnificent Temple of Olympick Jupiter in which was the admirable Figure of that false God made of Gold Ivory and Clay though that Statue was not brought to its perfection the Megarâ—ans so unwillingly bearing the Athenâ—an Yoke that they could not thinâ— upon any Work of Glory and indeeâ— they were unable being so charged witâ— Subsidies and Impositions which thâ— Athenians laid on them to provide aâ— new for the Peloponnesian War. Thâ— rich Works that were to be the Ornaments of this Statue remained imperfect and were laid in the back part oâ— the Temple where hung as a Trophâ— the Rostrum of a Galley which thosâ— of Megara had won from the Athenians when they retook the Isle of Salamina which had been forced from them At Megara also one might have thâ— Curiosity to go into the Rock called Caria of Carus the Son of Phoroneus where one might discover the Temple of Bacchus Nitelius and at the same time that of Venus Epistrophia called the Oracle of the Night Port Lion. POrt-Lion or Porto-Lione is so named from a marble Lion ten foot high that stands on the Shore of the Port. The Modern Greeks call it Porto Draco and Cicero and Strabo Piraeus Portus It has likewise had the name of Athenarus Portus and is the Northern Part of the Gulf of Engia The entrance into this Port is narrow so that scarce two Galleys can get in at a time but when one is in there is every where a good bottom except in one of its Creeks which is almost filled up 'T is capable of a great Pl. l. 7. c. 37. Portolane is a Book in Folio of the description of the Ports number of Vessels Pliny says a thousand and Sirabo four hundred and the Portalane of the Mediterranean five hundred allowing it ten braces depth but Monsieur Spon an exact Author and of good reputation has remarked that as our Vessels are much larger than those of the Ancients so now scarce above forty or fifty can be ranged there The greatest Trade of this Port is of the Velanede that is gathered from the green Oaks of Eleusis and of Goatâ— hair Before Themistocles was Prince of the Athenians they kept not their Vessels in this Port but in that of Phalerus because it was not far from their City And from this Port they say Menesteus set sail with a Fleet for Troy and before him Theseus when he went to revenge himself on Minos for the death of Androgeus But Themistocles being chosen Prince and judging that the Pireus was the most commodious for that it had three distinct Ports for Vessels he fell to work to make it teneble and made a wall three miles long which reached quite to the City these walls were called Macra Teichi which were thrown down by Sylla and of which yet the Foundations are to be seen On the great Port of Pireus once stood the Tomb of Themistocles the Place dedicated to Pallas and Jupiter being a very long Lodgment for those that dwelt along the Sea side and several other Antiquities as may be seen in Pausanias VILLE D'ATHENE ATEHNS AThens is one of the most Ancient Cities of Greece the Seat of an Archbishop and the Capital of Attica It s Situation is not far from the Gulf of Engia which makes part of the Ionian Sea. King Cecrops first laid the Foundations and called it from his own name Cecropia but its perfection was owing to Theseus who enlarged it obliging those in the Country to come and dwell there The Cittadel still kept the name of Cecropia till at last 't was named Acropolis 'T is built upon a living Rock precipitious on all sides except on the West where the entrance is The East and South walls make two sides of a Square the rest is not so regular but answers to the Points and Windings of the Rock 'T is a thousand two hundred ordinary paces round but at the bottom of the Hill plainly appear the Foundations of another wall which encompassed it almost round and rendred it the more difficult to scale The Souldiers of the Garrison are in pay during their whole Lives and dwell there with their Families They still are upon the watch against all surprise by reason of the frequent inroads of the Pirats The Cittadel is almost at an equal distance between two high Hills one of an equal height with
are more houses and people in the Suburbs where the Christians dwell than in the City inhabited by Turks and Jews The Turks have there two Mosques and two others without where the Christians also have their Churches The Jews have an house where they instruct the Youth All the Inhabitants make about 15000. The City is divided from the Suburbs by a great Ditch with a flat bottom in a smooth and even ground There is a Captain Basha that commands the whole Isle and part of Boeotia who has in his absence his Kiaja or Lieutenant and his Subkiaja There is also a Bey or Lord who has some Revenues and is obliged to maintain a Galley At the place where the strait of the Euripus is narrowest to pass over into the Isle they go over a stone bridge of five little Arches not above thirty paces long and so under a Tower in the middle of the Channel built by the Venetians where St. Mark is yet seen over the Gate From the Tower to the City is but one Draw-bridge about twenty paces long built on sharp bottomed boats which is raised half to the Tower and the other half to the City to give passage to the Galleys and other Vessels which cannot easily be done without taking in their Oars There is also to be seen the Episcopal City at present called Carisso once Chironia which Strabo names Caristus and Caristos Sophianus Castel Rosso and the French Chateauroux it acknowledges Calcis for its Metropolis being sixty miles distant It stands near Cape Caefareo There was besides another Episcopal City Eretria which Moletius calls Rocho which in his time was not less famous than Calcis which once was an Athenian Colony built on the banks of the Euripus before the first destruction of Troy both these Cities have perisht by the falsness of their own Inhabitants So that now their names only remain They were once pillaged and burnt by Darius The soil of the Isle is stony and sandy but this is only upon the top for digging deeper they find it very good There are several Forests where good ship timber may be cut Near Caristus is a Mountain of the same name of very beautiful marble And near to it is found the Asbestos stone which may be spun and made into cloth which by putting in the fire grows white There were formerly in the Territory of Calcis Iron and copper Mines which are now lost The Isle produces cotton enough to make Sails for a great Navy There are several hot baths It is watered with two Rivers Fimileus and Cereus of which the Poets said that one made the Sheep have black wool the other white In sine the Isle abounds in all things and Pope Pius the fifth advised several great Captains to go and begin the War with the Turk in this Kingdom because it is capable of maintaining a whole Army besides it has good Ports on the side of the Continent It is true indeed that when one is once there he can by no means get out to save himself There are several places on the South part the most considerable whereof is called Spiritus When Pietro Zani was Doge the Republick inlarged their Dominions by this beautiful Kingdom which was yielded to them by the Emperor of Constantinople as a reward for the good services they had done him The first Governour that was sent was Pictro Barbo named il Zanco Anno 1469. the Turks attempting the Conquest of it came with three hundred Sail. At first they made a Bridge upon the Euripus that so they might land their Troops upon the Campaign of the Isle but those of the Country so vigorously opposed them that they were forced to return to their Galleys Within a a Month Mahomet came himself with an Army of twelve thousand Men He made a new Bridge over the Channel from the Church of St. Mark a mile off of the City and by this means made himself a way to attach Negropent This City was in some sort fortified at that time and had in it in Garrison twenty four thousand Men under Ludovico Calbo and Paolo Erizzo Commanders The last had been Governour of the City and tho his time was expired yet he would not leave the place when he might contribute by his Arms and Counsel to its defence and signalize his zeal for the Service of his Country The Turks raised several Batteries in divers places and continually plaid upon the Walls And four times march'd to the assault where four thousand Turks were killed The Place was besieged by Sea and Land and extremely pressed on all hands yet the besieged still defended themselves with advantage and had already sustained a months Siege when a treasonable practice was discovered For a little Girl found a letter wherein was mentioned the means and way of delivering up the place to the Ottomans This letter was directed to Thomaso Schiava Luigi Delfino transported with indignation against the Traitor attacked him openly and by meer force made him discover all the base Intrigues he had with the Turks The besieged still animated more and more in their defence gave daily notable proofs of their courage and constancy but at last they were almost wearied out with continual labour and fatigue In these extremeties they who had the Guard of Porte Bureliana ran away from their Post and left the place the twelfth of July 1649. The Enemy soon perceiving the place deserted and the entrance of the Gate free for them entered the Town and gave in all places dreadful marks of their Barbarity Calbo was killed in the Place and Bondulmiero in his house Paolo Erizzo beeing retrenched in an advantageous Post valiantly defended himself and the Sultan promised him life if he would deliver himself up which having done the cruel Turk broke his word and caused him to be sawed in two One of his Daughters a very beautiful Virgin chose rather to be stabb'd than receive the Sultans caresses All were murdered above twenty years old This done Mahomet left the City with a Garrison for the Guard of the whole Isle and Kingdom Of the Ebb and Flow of the Euripus THe Euripus is a strait of the Egaean Sea so narrow that scarce one Galley can pass it under a Bridge that is made over it between the Cittadel and the Tower or Dungeon of Negropont It has been called Euripus Eubolcus from the old name of the Isle or Ghalcidicus from the ancient City Chalcis the Latins named it Euripus those of the place Egripos the Italians Stretto di Negreponte and the French l' Euripe de Chalcidoine or le detroit de l' Euripe It is about sixty miles long with little Gulfs in divers places It s Ebb and Flow is doubtless one of the greatest wonders in the World and it is fabled that Aristotle drowned himself in it out of grief that he could not find out the cause thereof Antiphilus a Native of Bizantium says in a Greek Epigram that the
AN HISTORICAL AND Geographical Account OF THE MOREA NEGROPONT AND THE Maritime Places AS FAR AS THESSALONICA Illustrated with 42 Maps of the Countries Plains and Draughts of the Cities Towns and Fortifications Written in Italian by P. M. Coronelli Geographer to the Republick of Venice Englished by R. W. Gent. London Printed for Matth. Gillyflower at the Spread-Eagle in Westminster-Hall and W. Canning at his Shop in Vine-Court in the Middle Temple 1687. THE PUBLISHER TO THE READER Reader THis Book having been Published in Italian in the Year 1685. by the Ingenious Coronelli and the last Year in French with Additions 't was thought a Present not unacceptable to give our Nation the Translation of it in English which how performed here we leave to thy candid Judgment The Draughts of the Cities Towns and Fortifications having already received sufficient Approbation As to the Book it self we dare promise the Reader Diversion and Pleasure mixt with Profit let his Genius be what it will. The Sons of Mars will with Warmth and Action read of the glorious Victories and even envy the glittering Fame of those Noble Hero's that sleep in the Bed of Honour The Poetick Fancy will be diverted with the old Fictions like sweet Flowers strewed over the whole and the grave Mythologist with their Morals The Antiquary and Historian will find Entertainment in the Melancholypleasing Remains of past State and Glory that were once the Scenes of the greatest Performances the Mind of man joyned to active Bodies is capable of and reflect on the Fate of human Affairs subject all to Time and Chance The Naturalist will meet with the Descriptions of the Labours and Sports of Nature and find some Account of the hitherto puzling Tides of the Euripus Nor will the solid Mathematician lose his Time but with satisfaction behold the Views of Cities Plains of Fortifications and Charts of Shores Rocks and Seas But we refer to the Book it self Farewel An INDEX of the Draughts Maps and Plains inserted in this Work in the order that they ought to be placed THE General Map of the Morea Page 1. Patras p. 47. Castel Tornese p. 52. Navarin ibid. Modon p. 55. Plain of Coron p. 61. Plain of Coron with the Incampments p. 74. Two Prospects of Coron ibid. Standard taken before Coron ibid. Horse-tails taken with the Standard ibid. Calamata and the Battle before it p. 84. Plain of Zarnata p. 87. Profil of Zarnata ibid. Height of Zarnata ibid. Plain of Chielefa p. 88. Plain of Passara p. 92. Mysitra or Sparta p. 93. Plain of the Ruins of Maina p. 102 Cape of Matapan ibid. View of Malvasia p. 111. Two Views of Napoli di Romania p. 117. Isle of Corfu p. 132. Plain of Santa Maura p. 147. Santa Maura with the little Isles round it p. 149. View of Cephalonia and the Chart of the Isle p. 151. Fortress of Asso p. 157. Isle of Zant and Fortress of Zant p. 162. Port of Cerigo and Plain of Cerigo p. 179. Megara p. 190. Port Lion p. 195. City of Athens p. 197. City of Negropont p. 204. The Ebb and Flow of the Euripus p. 212. Plain of Volo p. 220. The Dardanelles of Lepanto p. 225. Lepanto p. 228. OF THE MOREA PART I. VVherein is shown That the Morea is a Peninsula the different Names by which it has been called its Extent and Figure the Divisions that the Ancients and Moderns have made of the Provinces contained in it with a Discourse of its Consines and Frontiers and at the End several Curious Relations are added upon the same Subject IF a Land surrounded by the Sea except a small Isthmus that joyns it to the Continent may be called a Chersonesus or Peninsula the Morea may justly be so reckoned since being on all sides environed by the Sea 't is at the North only joyned to Achaia by the Isthmus of Corinth This pleasant part of Greece has not always had the Name of Morea as 't is now commonly called but formerly Argos Apia and Peloponnesus It s Figure well enough resembling the Leaf of a Mulberry or Plane-tree gave sufficient ground to the later Emperors of Constantinople to entitle it Morea tho' some will not assent to this but pretend to derive the Name from Romea which by a transposition of the Letters was changed into Morea grounding themselves upon this That the Greeks while subject to the Empire of Constantinople and that City was stiled New Rome * Which Name it kept till Constantine the Great were themselves also called Romei as much as to say Romans Doglioni thinks that it took this Name when invaded by the Moors Strabo insinuates that it was anciently called Argo or Argos from a famous City of that Name within its Confines and Aegialea from Aegialus a renowned King of the Sicyonians According to * Compend Hist Vniv di Nic. Vdogl p. 11. Apollodorus and Pliny it had the Name of Apia from Apis the Third King of the Argives who reigned from about the year of the World's Creation 2307. to the year 2342. that is 1647. years before the Nativity of Christ This Apis was the Son of Egialus Four hundred and twenty years after it had the Name of Peloponnesus from Pelops Son of Tantalus King of Phrygia and Taygeta a Man sufficiently famous for his Ivory shoulder and Incests with his own Daughters Its bounds which as we said are of the shape of a Plane-tree Leaf are sixt between the end of the 35. degree and beginning of the 38. degree of North Latitude and at the Extremities of the degrees 37 and 51. of Longitude taking the most West part of the Isle of Ferro for the first Meridian As to its Circumserence Authors disagree some making it bigger others less Isidore allows its Circuit to be 363. Miles Bourdon extends it to 563. Porchacchi adds Ten more assuring us that it is 573. Miles round Blean Sagredo and Vianoli assign it 600. Baudrand a Geographer of our time makes it but 550. Miles Strabo makes its length 1400. Stadia and Sagredo agrees with him making 170. Miles from the Isthmus to Modon Baudrand makes it five Miles longer from the Cape of Schilli to the Castle Tornese and takes its breadth which according to him exceeds not 150. Miles between Corinth and the Cape of Matapan The most skillful Geographers describing this delicious Peninsule have employed the greatest accuracy in distinguishing those parts from the rest whereon Nature has been at the greatest expence for Embellishments that they might the more advance its Glory and Reputation As Pausanias reports it was once divided into five parts the first containing Arcadia the second Achaia the third Doria c. Ptolemy and others divided it into Eight Provinces viz. Achaia properly so call'd Arcadia Argos Corinthia Elis Laconia Messenia and Sicyonia or Sicyonis Achaia was bounded on the North with the Gulf of Lepanto on the West with the Ionian Sea on the South with Elis and Arcadia and on
the East with Sicyonia Patras was then its capital City Arcadia being up in the Countrey and by consequence distant from the Sea had for its Eastern boundaries Argos and Laconia with the Mountain Oronio Elis and Mount Flora for the Western on the North Achaia proper and Mount Skinfali and on the South Messenia and the Mountain Taygeta It s principal City was Megalopolis that is the great Arta situated at the foot of Mount Coronio called at this â—ime El Cesal Londari Argos heâ—â—â— the East the Gulf of Napoli di â—â—mania and the Aegean â—ea on the West Arcadia on the â—outh Laconia and on the North the Gulf of Engia or Sinus Sardonicus Arâ—os was its chief City Corinthia which was the most Norâ—hern part of Peloponnesus was extended â—etween Sicyonia Westward and Argos â—outh and Eastward and was separaâ—ed from Achaia by the Isthmus and Gulf of Lepanto It took its Name â—om Corinthus the Son of Jupiter or â—â— Ephipeus who also gave a Name to â—e Capital City Elis bordered on the North upon Achaia properly so called on the East upon Arcadia on the South upon Messenia and on the West upon the Ionian Sea. Polybius and Strabo name this likewise Elea and Cauconia It s principal City was also called Elis. Laconia had for its Southern Limits partly the Gulf of Colochina and partly that of Coron for its Eastern the Gulf of Napoli di Romania for its Northern Arcadia and for the Western Messenia Sparta was its chief City The South of Messenia was between Laconia towards the East â—nd Elis towards the West it had Arcadia on the North and contained all that space between the Gulfs of Coron and Zonchio Messene was the principal City Sicyonia or Sicyonis which was the least of the Provinces took the Name from its capital City called likewise Sicyon It bordered Eastwards on Corinthia Westward on Achaia the Gulf oâ— Corinth was on its North and Arcadâ—â— on the South Pomponius Mela divides the wholâ— Lib. 2. cap. 3. Morea into six Provinces viz. Argoâ— Laconia Messenia Achaia Elis and Arcadia At this time Morri and Baudrand make but four Provinces of it and this Division is likewise approved of by the Learned Cautelli in his Geography received with general Applause The first of thâ—se four Provinces comprehends the whole Extent of Achaia proper Sicyonia and Corinth and is called the Duche of Chiarenza It s Northern bound is the Gulf of Lepanto and on the South the Province of Belvedere This Province has several Cities and Towns. Patras is its chief City after which Chiarenza Caminitza Castel-Torneso claim their places but we shall reserve their description to the Second Part where we will give particular Informations of the whole Countrey It s most noted Promontories are the Cape de Rio of which we will speak when we come to treat of the Gulf of Patras Another is the Cape by Bourdon called the Cape de Chiarenza and by Ptoâ—emy and Strabo Araxis Promontorium which extends it self into the Ionian Sea not far from the Mouth of the River Larissus between the Gulfs of Patras and Chiarenza The last lying Southward is Cape Torneso which Strabo called Chelonates Promontorium Thevet Cape Thorice and Sophianus Cape Chlumutzi This likewise stretches it self into the Ionian Sea between the Gulf of Chiarenza and that of Arcadia The second Province termed Belvedere reaches where Elis and Messenia were formerly It confines Northward on the River Carbon which also divides it from the Province of Chiarenza and on the South it is bounded by the Gulf of Coron on the East it has Braccio di Maina and on the West the Gulf of Arcadia and Zonchio It contains several Countries and Cities amongst which Modon is the principal then Coron Calamata and Navarin follow in dignity The most celebrated Promontories are Cape Jardau which is the Ichtus Promontorium of Ptolemy and is the most Northern of all Cap de Zonchio which Pausanias calls Coryphasium Promontorium Cap de Sapienza or Cap Gallo by Ptolemy named Acritas Promontorium The third Province is called Saccania or the lesser Romania and contains all the Ancient Argos It has its North Confines on the Gulf of Lepanto the Gulf d' Engia and the Isthmus its South on Braccio di Maina and the Gulf of Napoli di Romania its West in part on the Duche of Chiarenza and part on Traconia Napoli di Romania is the capital the other chief Towns are Argos and Corinth The Palus or Morass of Lerna where Hercules killed the Seven-headed-Hydra is a place very remarkable in this Province Though this Monster was but a Fiction yet it is true that there were Seven Brethren that lived in this place and pillaged all Passengers making the Countrey desolate against these Hercules undertook the Combate and having killed the first that encountered him he dispatch'd the rest two by two as they came under his hands Whence the Poets took occasion to feign an Hydra with Seven Heads and its Death from that of the Seven Brethren sacrificed by Hercules his Rage to the just Revenge of the Countrey This Province has but one Promontory but that very famous and known by several Names It is called Cape Shilli in Pliny Scylaeum and in Pausanias Plethon Promontorium by Ptolomy Scillium by Favolius Sigillo by Sophianus Scylli by Villanova Damala This Promontory with its opposite called Colonne in Attica makes the entrance of the Gulf of Engia The fourth Province which has changed its Name Laconia for Zaconia is the Braccio di Maina and is at this day indifferently called by those two Names It much surpasses the bigness of either of the three former as it is also more extended on the South along the Sea-side It was at first called Lelegia from Lelex who first ruled there as King. Virgil and other Poets call it Oebalia from Oebalus Lord thereof and according to Strabo 't was likewise termed Argos 'T is wash't on the South by the Gulf of Calamata and in part by that of Colochina on the East by the Gulf of Napoli di Romania its West bounds on the Province of Belvedere and some part of it on the Duché of Chiarenza This Province has many high and dreadful Rocks and Precipices whence 't is subject to frequent Earthquakes The most of its deep Caverns are found about Mount Tageta at this time called on the side of Misitra Voutri tis Misitras and on the side of the Main Voutri tis Portais It breeds Dogs of good esteem Zaiman Basha or the Grand Signior's chief Huntsman chooses a great number of them yearly for the Sultan's use and diversions and there is scarce a Turk that lives at any Rate but has one of them The principal places of this Province are Malvasia Misitra Sarnata Chielefa Vitulo Paslava and others of which in their places Its Promontories are the Cape of Matapà n of which we will give a particular description when we come to speak of
Accident and was himself so frightned at the approach of the Beglerbey with an Army of Fourscore thousand Men that he not only left the Camp before Corinth but neglected also the defence of the Eximile after that Wall had been raised with so great a charge to the Republique Corinth THe City of Corinth which Strabo and Polybius call Corinthus Laurembergh Ephyro the People Coranto and the Turks Gerame had its begining and foundation from Aletes who lived in the time of Cecrops King of the Athenians Anno 3066. 'T is situated as it were in the midst of the Isthmus in the place where the Ionian and Aegean Seas commix their Waves It is the See of an Archbishop distant from Patras 80 Miles 50 from Athens 85 from Mysitra 25 from Argos It is Commanded by the Fortress of Acrocorinthus which is near to it it is so advantagiously seated that some have thence taken occasion to term it the Eye of Greece others the Band thereof and the Bulwark of Peloponnesus Plutarch judged it the most excellent and Cicero the most beautiful City the splendor of all Greece nay it arrived to that height of Glory that Syracusa and Corfu thought it an Honour to be its Colonies The Romans under a pretence of revenging themselves on this City for some violences committed upon some Roman Citizens sent the Consul L. Mamius Anno Mundi 38 18. to abate as they said their Pride with express Order to raze the City to its Foundations and that giving the Spoil and Pillage to his Souldiers the Women and Children should he made Slaves By the Bounty and Care of Augustus it was rebuilt and re-peopled and again flourisht in Riches and Beauty but through the hard fate of the Times and continual devouring Wars it can now only shew the miserable Remains of its past Glories whose Ruines are now the Asylum to a few poor Inhabitants forced by Necessity rather than Choice to live here It has been twice the Theatre whereon the Barbarity of Amurat the Second and his Son Mahomet has been Acted where the Turkish fury has been so Merciless that at this day not above a score of Houses or rather Huts remain the sad Image of its ancient Splendor we may add that we yet see entire with their former Beauty 12 Columns of 5 Foot Diameter with a simple Cordon or List for its Capital about 15 Paces from each other standing on a little Hill in the Figure of an Amphitheater at about a Miles distance from the Sea from this Hill there goes an easie descent to Port Leché where as yet stands a Tower formerly a Lanthorn or Sea-mark The Corinthians imbraced the Catholick Religion by the preaching of St. Peter and Paul and were therein confirmed in the year 169 by the careful diligence of St. Denis the Second Bishop of this place which they persevered in till the time that the Greek Emperours refused longer Obedience to the See of Rome Roger of Normandy King of Naples took Possession of this City and might have raised his Glory to a great height if he could have added this Flower to his Crown and gained the Hearts of the Corinthians to a willing Obedience and have made them pay him the same Homages that they did the Emperour Emanuel but when he was in the greatest hopes of obtaining this desire the Army of the Venetians with the Troops of the vanquisht Greeks so opposed his Conquests that after a defeat of the greatest part of his Forces he was constrain'd to consult his own safety by a hasty flight The Rout of this Princes Army and the Disadvantages he thereby received were of great consequence to his Enemies as the rich Spoil of his Camp was very considerable which was divided amongst the Auxiliary Troops there being but little need to put them to more necessary uses after the regaining of Corinth Scarce two Ages were past before this City submitted it self to the Despotes of Greece they would willingly have yielded it to the Venetians in consideration that they could not otherwise possess it than by usurpation the just right thereof belonging only to the Venetian Republique who had employed its own Forces and the Blood of its Subjects to deliver it from the hands of Strangers Mahomet the Second could not make so just Reflections whose mind was uncapable of any thing but a boundless Ambition he re-took Corinth after several great endeavours made by the Venetians to regain this Conquest they were not able to overcome the fury of the Barbarians whose long resistance made them at last sensible of the necessity of desisting from their Design A Table of the Kings of Corinth Year of the World.  2862. A Tletes the first King. Compend Vnivers di Nic. Dogl p. ult 2897. Trion 2934. Agilas 2971. Primina 3006. Baci 3041. Agelas 3071. Eudemus 3096. Aristomedes 3131. Egennomes 3147. Alexander 3172. Felesteus 3184. Ansomenes was the last who ended his Reign in the Year of the World 3185. Acrocorinthus THe famous Fortress of the Acrocorinthus must not be passed by with out a particular remembrance that iâ— has remained a long time Victorious over the Forces of the Enemy that attacqued it though at the last it waâ— forced to yield to its assailants tireâ— out with the length of the Wars its Situation was very advantagious for it overlookt and commanded the City being built upon the point of a high Rock where it had a sufficienâ— space of Ground strengthened with a very stout Wall having within it several Wells of excellent clear Water taking its fource from the Pyreneâ—â— Fountain of which the Greek Poet Homer in Odyss makes honourable mention Nature and Art conspired to render this Castle strong and impregnable 't was accessible only on the side of the Port of Cenchrea yet being but ill Garrisoned it has been several times taken and in particular by the Sicilians under the command of Nicephorus Calufo in PATRAS â—â—e time of the Emperour Emanuel â—â—mnenes Patras NEar the Cape of Rio appears an high Mountain and on the â—op thereof a Fortress North of â—hich is seated Patras a very Anâ—â—ent City and an Archbishops See. â—he Turks call it Badra and Bâ—labuâ—a it has formerly had other Names â—â—r in the first Age of its Foundation â—â— was termed Roas and afterwards â—paired by Pater the Son of Preugeâ—s it for a long time bore the Name â—â— its Benefactor Afterwards about â—â—e beginning of the Roman Empire â—â—s Beauty increased with the number â—f its Inhabitants besides it was blesâ—ed with a most advantagious Situatiâ—n both for the goodness of its Terâ—itories and its commodiousness for Traffick and Navigation The Roâ—ans knew it by the name of Augusta Aroe Patrensis at other times it was â—alled Neupatria It lyes about 700 Paces from the Gulf of the same Name or from the Port Panorme The Emperour Augustus made choice of thiâ— place as most proper for the retreat oâ— his Navy and as a mark of his
Lovâ— to the People of Patras he permitteâ— them to live as a free People enjoying all the Priviledges and exemptâ—ons as the true Citizens of Rome The Goddess Diana was Adored iâ— this City under the Title of Diaâ—â— Latria and a Grove and Temple waâ— there dedicated to Diana Triclaria â—â— whom every year a young Man anâ— Maid the most beautiful that coulâ— be chosen out of all the People werâ— Sacrificed in expiation of the Crimâ— committed by Melampue and Cimetâ—â— who also were first Sacrificed themselves for being married to one another in the time of Diana against the Will of their Parents This cruel Sacrifice had an end when Euripilâ— came to Patras and was there converted to the Christian Religioâ— by the preaching of St. Andreâ— the Apostle Patras at that time was very well peopled as at this day 't is not thin there are especially a great number of Jews who much proâ—ote its Trade and it is almost the â—nly Maritime Town on this side â—here the Greeks of the neighbouring â—slands the English and the French â—ome to Traffick The Air is not very â—holesome by reason of its nearness â—o Mountains that are covered with â—now and the great quantities of Waâ—â—r wherewith it is environed The â—erritories once comprehended under â—s Rule in the time of the Greek Emâ—erors bore the Title of a Duché â—hich it kept till the Prince that enâ—yed it in the year 1408. not having â—fficient Forces for its guard and deâ—â—nce delivered it for a great Sum to â—e Venetian Republick from whom â—e Turks took it In the Year 1533. the General Doâ—a attempted to make himself Maâ—er thereof which he easily gained â—rough the bad Condition of its Forâ—ications with an absolute Victory â—hen at the same time the Castle surâ—â—ndered which Commanded the â—ity though it once for a whole year â—â—sisted the Forces of Constantine Paâ—logus The Victor used great moderatioâ— towards the Garrison convoyinâ— them to Lepanto whither they desireâ— to go with their Wives not one oâ— them recieving the least ill Treatmenâ— from the Victorious Troops noâ— without their repining against the General for taking out of their hands â— Prey justly due to their Valour and Fortune Chiarenza ON the right side of the River Inachus by Ptolomey called Penaeâ— and on an Hill towards the Gulf oâ— Patras is seen the City Chiarenza thought to be the Ancient Cyllene thâ— Country of Mercury whom the Poâ—â— thence called Cyllenius Heros Thiâ— was the Capital City of the Duché oâ— that name and under the Government of its Princes it was as Illustrious as its name Chiarenza speaks it The Venetians justly possessed it and although at that time it was in a flourishing Estate yet it has now undergon so great a change that its Moats â—nd some slight Traces of it are all â—at is visible The Port belonging to â— called likewise Chiarenza which â—as near to it a very commodious â—aven capable of receiving many â—eat Vessels is now quite choaked up â—ith Sand. Caminitza â—N the middle of the way between â— the Cape of Chiarenza and Patras â—â— the right hand of the River by â—e Ancients called Pirus we see â—â—minitza which Strabo and Ptolomey â—me Olenus and Pliny Olenum 't is â—ree Miles from the Gulf of Patras â—enus the Son of Vulcan founded it â—t though 't was once a great City â—th a Bishop who was Suffragan to â—e Archbishop of Patras yet it is â—w reduced to a little Borough Castle of Torneze CAstel Torneze is a Fortress built â— on the outmost Promontory â— the Duché of Chiarenza on that side tâ— looks towards the Province of Belâ—â—dere between the Gulfs of Chiareâ—â— and Arcadia 't was called as Baudrâ—â— says Chelonates the same name whiâ—â— Strábo gives to the Promontory wheâ— on it stands The Turks call it Oâ—mourzi 't is on a very high place â—bout three miles from the Sea as â—â— be plainly seen by the Draught â— have here given of it taken upon â— place by the Illustrious Neovin a Geâ—tleman near the Person of his Higâ—ness Prince Maximilian William Dâ—â— of Erunswick Zunchio or Navarin ZUnchio which Ptolomey calls Pylâ— Steven of Byzantium Coryphasâ—â— and Navarin Ten miles distant froâ— Coron is built upon a rising Grounâ— NAVARIN CASL. TORNESE at the foot whereof is its The 21. of June 1245. Selistar Bassa was taken the Port of Navarin with a great number of Ships which he commanded for the Siege of Candia Port wherein two thousand Vessels may ride at Anchor on the right hand of the same stands the new Navarin The Ancient is a Fortress which lying so much in the Eyes of the Enemies has been no small Temptation to them upon which account it has more than once changed its Master In the Year 1498. while subject to Baudrand calls Navarin Albaxinus Nelea Albarinos Javarin 't is thought to have been the Country of Nestor the Venetians it underweâ—â—â— furious assault of the Turks who sound there such resistance that far from triumphing as they had flattered themselves they were forced to put off their Enterprize to another Opportunity when they might succeed better by surprise as indeed they did some time after for being made Masters of Modon the Inhabitants of Zunchio rendered themselves as soon as they had Encamped before it But the Venetians soon regained it from the Turks by the means of one Demetrius of Modon who with one of his Friends an Albanian undertook to put the Garrison to the Sword by opening the Gates of the Fortress yet the Turks stood obstinately to the defence of a place they had so lately gained came with a re-inforcement on the side toward the Land with a great Detachment of Cavalry and with fourteen Gallies and five Fustes under the Command of a Turkish Officer called Gamali The Republique had before ordered three Gallies for the guard of the Port. But those who ought to have been watchful never thinking the Enemy would have taken the first opportunity of repossessing the place and being in a great uncertainty what to do when they saw themselves just ready to be attacqued left the Entrance free to the Turk who with a great deal of frankness declared himself the Patron and Defender of any that would submit themselves to his discretion But those who seemed to be of his Party in great consternation at the change of their Fate exposed themselves to the hazard of their Lives embarquing themselves in little Boats and they were happy that got aboard five great MODON Gallies that returned from Baruty laden with Merchandizes and had cast Anchor within sight of the Port. The news of so strange an Adventure gave them the alarm to provide for their safety by an hasty flight The Inhabitants of Zunchio were Spectators of all this Catastrophe and finding themselves attacked by Land found no other expedient but to deliver themselves up to the Enemy Modon IN the Frontiers of the Province of the so fertile and
of Nature that it has several sources of sweet clear Springs which by watering the little Ground that is about it makes it so Fertile as to maintain the Garrison of the place consisting of 50 or 60 Men it is inaccessible on all sides but one place where it is defended with a very thick triple Wall at which place is joyned to it a Suburb or Lower Town of a considerable number of Houses strengthened with a strong Rampart at that place where the Inhabitants issue forth to go to the main Land which is separated from the ground whereon this Town stands and is united thereto by a Wooden Bridge of a good length it has likewise a very spacious Port which is better defended than the Fortress It s Territory bears a great quantity of Raisins and incomparable Wines are there made not a whit yielding to any of the Wines of Candie In times past the Graecians came from all Parts to this little Isle to adore the God Aeculapius whose Worship made the place famous through the World. The People of Epidaurus when they were once deputed by their Commonalty to this place as they sailed from Argos which was their Country then had several Dreams which made them hope for an happy and prosperous Success in their Enterprize and so being arrived at the Port they determined there to settle a Colony and build a City which they called Epidaurus the Buildings are now wholly ruined by tim that has been no more kind to that place than others and the name is all that now remains It is true that time and chance rules all things an example whereof is seen in the Fate of Malvasia or Epidaurus for though its situation ought to render it invincible yet it has for all that often by ill Fortune undergon several changes of Government In the time when it was subject to the Emperors of Constantinople it was taken from them when the French and Venetians having made themselves Masters of that Empire and Baldwin Count of Flanders was Emperor this place was given in Ann. 1204. Fee to a French Baron called Guillaume as a recompence for his great Services performed in that War but at last Michael Paleologus having dispossessed the French and being re-installed in the Empire he made the said Guillaume Prisoner who at that time made a renunciation of all Right and Title to Epidaurus the Baron being so escaped out of the Emperors hands came to Venice and there made a donation of the same Rights and Pretensions to the Republick affirming what he had done to Paleologus was extorted from him and upon that account invalid that Act being not voluntary but forced So the Venetians relying on this donation set a great Army to Sea and made themselves Masters of Malvasia which they kept till the year 1537. when Solyman began to pass the bounds of Thrace to invade the Graecian Empire and endeavour the ruine of Christendom The Venetians most resented these Usurpations and the Barbarous Conqueror not contented to have put several parts of their Dominions Ann. 1536. Paruta p. 2. l. 9. to pay him Tribute gave order to Cassin Sangiac of the Morea to lay Siege to and to reduce this People who getting together a numerous Army began to execute his Orders When Solyman reflecting upon the design that to Attempt this place were to hazard the Reputation of his Forces and lose time changed his mind and turned his Arms another way yet sometime after he Ann. 1537. returned thither and reduced the place not by pure force but by assurances of Peace During the Wars of Candia and Dalmatia when the Venetians as much as in them lay opposed the irruptions and violent inundations of the Enemy General Foscolo being near Epidaurus with a Squadron of Twenty two Gallies Eight tall Ships and six Galeasses went to Attack the Fort which the Ottomans had built without the Suburbs This Attack was very brisk and the Venetians became Masters of the Fort in one day but it happened as they put the Enemy to flight with loud shouts and crys that a Mine took Fire under the Victorious and left an Hundred and fifty of them dead with as many hurt and wounded The Venetians revenged the Death of their Companions entring the place with their Swords in their hands and having demolisht the Fort they left it taking away with them Twenty two Cannons wherewith the Enemies covered and defended the Saicks that came there to Anchorage in the Port waiting till a fit time to set sail for Candia offered MALUASIA The Explication of the Letters in the Draught of Malvasia A. THe old Tower. B. The Castle C. The Gate of the Fortress D. The steep Rocks invironing the place E. The Suburb or lower Town F. The Gate of the Suburb G. The Wooden Bridge which was broken by the Venetians H. The Fort built by the Venetians to hinder all Succours Napoli di Romania AMongst the celebrated Cities once the glory of Argia at this day called Saccania or Romania Minor a very rich Part of the Morea Napoli preserves to this time the remains of its former Beauty it is named by Sophianus Napli by the Greeks * M. Spon Voyage de Grace l. 2. Anaplia and by Ptolomey * Herod Xenoph. Strab. Nauplia this strong and trading Town was built by Nauplius the Son of Neptune and Amimone in the innermost part of the Gulf commonly called di Napoli and by Ptolomey Argolicus Sinus on the point of a little Promontory which extends it self on two sides that which is towards the Sea makes a large Port and very safe and the other is a great hindrance to the Commerce of those that pass that way because they cannot climb up it but by one very steep narrow Path which lies between mount Palamedes and the Sea. The City is situated near to this place and with very considerable advantages which it has on three sides puts as it were a Bridle on the Waves of the Sea whose Shores are so high and steep that in all hazardous Attempts they absolutely hinder the Enemy not only from landing but likewise from battering the Walls of the City from their Gallies the Bay is very spacious within but it is stopt up at its entrance and no Gallies can get in till they have passed through a Chanel where they are exposed to the great Artillery The City is defended by a Citadel well provided and which being built upon a Shelf or Rock about 300 Foot out in the Sea cannot be Attacked on that side toward the Land and the Rocks that surround it prevent all surprize In fine on which side soever one looks upon the Town one shall find that Nature and Art have conspired as much as possible to render it strong Nor Baudrand Hofman Lauremberg has it wanted its honourable Titles for it was once a Bishops Seat whose Metropolis was Corinth and at this day it is an Archbishops it self and one
of the Chief It is distant Fifty five Miles from Athens sixty from Mysitra Thirty six from Corinth It is the Residence of the Governour of the Province in which are reckoned to be Sixty thousand Greeks besides a great number of other Inhabitants which according to Pausanias were anciently Aegyptians who inhabited there with Danaus as in a Colony of their own Napoli has tasted of the same Fate with other places to pass under the Rule of several Princes and forms of Government As Paulus Ranusius reports it was Paulo Ranusio querra di Const 1. 5. p. 160. taken Anno 1205. by the Venetians joyned with the French but some time after King Giovanissa turning his Arms against this City though he found it well furnisht with Ammunition and Men yet he gave so Vigorous an Assault to it that he carryed it where at his entrance he gave terrible Marks of his Rage for he put the Commander and the whole Garrison to the Sword and Sacked the Town which was at that time rich powerful and seated in the best part of the whole Romania Verdizzoti is of Opinion that in the 13. Century this City being in the Possession of Marie of Erigane the Widow of Peter the Son of Frederic Cornarus Piscopia this Lady not finding her self able to oppose so many powerful Enemies that had a mind to the place especially Bajazet above the rest made a grant of it to the Republick under this new Rule Napoli quietly let some Ages pass over yet not without often tasting those Misfortunes whereto all places are subject that are the aim of the Ottoman desire for being several times Attacked by those Barbarians it often proved the Misery of want and Famine together with the eating and tearing Misfortune of seditious Persons caused by these frequent allarms Mahomet the Second greatly thirsted to ravish it out of the Arms of its lawful Prince and thinking there was no other way to obtain his end but by Arms he gave Orders to Macmut Bassa to go and Besiege it with a powerful Army but this Siege was not Successful for having found the Defendants very Valiant and able to resist him armed with a constant resolution to withstand all his violences he was obliged after several Attempts and great Losses sustained to quit his Enterprize VEUE DE NAPOLI Dâ— Romanâ—e du cotâ— du Port NAPOLI DE ROMANIE The Explication of the Letters in the Draught of Napoli di Romania A. THe Fortress on that side towards the Sea. B. The Chain which shuts up the Port. C. A Cavalier raised upon the Fortress of the Sea. D. The Port capable of a Great Fleet. E. Another Chain to hinder the Entrance into the Port. F. A Battery of great Artillery G. The Mosques H. The City I. Another Battery of great â—â—tillery K. The Chanel three 〈◊〉 broad L. Part of the Gulf of Romanâ— M. Mount Palamedes N. The Fort upon the main Land to which the Chain that shuts up the Port is fastened Argos AS Baudrand the famous Geographer of our times reports there have been three Cities called by the same name of Argos one which Pliny calls Argos Amphilochium which is in Epirus The * Strabo Second Argos Pelasgicum in Macedonia and the Third Argos Peloponnesiacum Of the two first we will make mention each in their place at present we will speak of the third which was once called Phoronia of Phoroneus Hippobote from the great numbers of Horses bred â—â—ere Jasia from the name of a Vaâ—nt Captain besides these it was â—lled Diposia and Jappia it is the â—apital City of the famous Argia and â—ckoned amongst the noblest Cities â— Peloponnesus It is seated on the â—iver Planissa which the Latines name â—achus at Thirty six miles distance â—om Corinth Sixty from Sparta and â—ive from Napoli di Romania it is the â—at of a Bishop Suffragan to the â—rchbishop of Corinth it has on the West the Mountain Cronia on the North Cleone and on the South the Ruins of the Antient Mycenia raised â—n the Ruines of some other Neighbouring Cities it vaunted that the World could not shew its like for Magnificence and there is a Tradition that from her all the Greeks took the name of Argives as if to testifie that she alone was enough to maintain the Glory and honour of the whole Nation at the greatest height desirable It s Rule began with Inachus its first Founder in the year of the World 2197. and continued for 546. years till Acrisius who was slain by his Nephew Perseus An. 2742. several Authors a Patena Clemens Alexandrinus c. â—â—firm that this Inachus was contemporary with Moses but Eusebius shâ—â— the contrary and proves that he liâ—e 346 years before the Children of Israâ—â— went out of Aegypt A Chronological Table of the Kingâ— of Argos Anno Mundi 2197. I Nachus Reigned 50.  2247. Phoroneus Reign 60.  2307. Apis Reigned 35.  2342. Argos Reigned 70.  2412. Ciraso Reigned 54.  2466. Phorbas Reigned 35.  2501. Triopas Reigned 46. Years 2547. Crotopas Reigned 21.  2568. Sthenelas Reigned 11.  2579. Danaa Reigned 50.  2629. Linceus Reigned 41.  2670. Abbas Reigned 23.  2693. Proeto Reigned 17.  2710. Acrisius Reigned 31.  2741. Perseus was the last King.   There are Authors who besides these â—ake mention of Megaphentas Anaxâ—goras Melampus and Bias which they â—dd to the Kings of Argos After having been for a long time â—he principal City of the Morea it beâ—ame a Commonwealth and in that quality had a part in all the Grecian Wars as is seen in Pausanias Moreri â—nd Lauremberg At this day 't is but a miserable hole giving shelter to a very few Inhabitants and retains only the name of its past Glory Now that this City belongs to the Venetians several Historians affirm and the Decrees ratifie and if they agree not as to the manner yet they all unanimously conclude it has been justly enjoyed by them Baudrand pretends that the Duke of Sparta offering it to sale to them that would give most for it 't was purchased by the Republick for a great Sum of Money It appears by a Decretal of the Senate in the sixteenth of March Anno 1383. which we have here rehearsed That Peter the Son of Frederick Cornaro at the same time possessed Argos and Napoli di Romania Verdizzoti assures the same adding that Marie d' Anguien â—â— Enguien by corruption called d' Erigâ—no being left without Children tâ—â— Widow of Peter became Governess of Argos as pretending a right to it but not being in a condition to defend it against so many powerful Enemies especially the ambitious Bajazet who was the most to be feared she offered to deliver it to the Senate and this Act of Marie d' Erigano happ'ned in the Month of December Anno 1388. as we shall prove by a Copy of the Original that is in the Library of that Noble and Honourable Seigneur
the West at Garbin is the Valley of St. Andrew a commodious Haven for Galleys The other Valley at Siroc is called Vromo Lincione On the side of Siroc is the â—sle called Antipaxu a Fertile but unâ—nhabited place between these two â—ittle Isles is a very deep Sea. In the Channel between these Isles and the firm Land lies a dreadful Rock almost even with the Waves two Miles from Paxo It has been thought by some that Paxo was once joyned to Corfu and was thence separated by the beating of the Waves The Isles called Curzolares THE Curzolares which Strabo and Pliny name Echinades and Sâ—â—phanus Echinoe are five Isles of the Ionian Sea in the Gulf of Patras the largest of which are Samos and Dulichium These being not above a Mile from the Continent look towards Lepanto on the East at 35. Miles distance on the West 45. Miles off is seen the Isle of Santa Maura and in a strait Line the Canal Guiscardo 60. Miles from it On the North they respect the firm Land and on the South they lie just over against the Channel of Zant at a space of twenty four Miles The smallness of them would doubtless have let them remain unregardâ—â— if the glorious Expedition of the Army in the year 1571. had not made them famous S. MAURA In the time of the Trojan Empire as we find in Homer these Isles were possessed by Megetes with the rest of the Isles thereabouts The Isle of Lefcade or Santa Maura THE Isle which we at this day call Lefcade or Santa Maura Ptolemey named Leucus Strabo Pliny and Mela Leucadia It lies in the Ionian Sea nine Miles distant from Cephalonia and twenty five from the Curzolares It was once United to Achaia but was divided thence by the People that inhabited it tho it remained not long so separated for the Impetuosity of the Winds filled up the space between with Sand which made a kind of Isthmus by which it was reunited so it became a Peninsula This Isthmus having beeâ— worn away 't was supplied by a wooden Bridge over several little Islets that are separated from each other by little Channels This Isle is 70. Miles round it brings forth abundance of Grain Wine Oyl Tabaco and all kinds of Fruits Besides Santa Maura to which it is joyned it contains 30. Villages the Principal of which are Trini Apolpena Sfarchiotes Caria Azzani Vurnica Scuiro San Pietro Englovi Dragano Englimento and still as they have been left by the Fugitive Turks they have been and daily are re-peopled by Greeks from the main Land. It has many Ports which are Demata Santa Maura Scivoto Englimento Vallone of Vasilichi the two first of these are the most considerable Beside these this Isle has a Haven which serves for a Retreat to the Galleys and Galeasses of the Venetians in their present Wars with the Turks There shoots forth likewise from its Continent three Promontories FORTERESSE DE S. MAURA one called Angusci the two â—thers Cape Englimento and Cape Duâ—ato Round about it are the Rocks â—f St. Nicolas of Sparta of the Scorpion of Figlia of Magnisci and of Sessola whereon is found great numbers of Rats wherefore 't is also called Scoglio de Sorci or the Rock of Rats The City and Fortress of Santa Maura THe City and Fortress of Santa Maura is encompassed with the Waves of the Sea and is seated between the Isle Lefcade and the main Land to which it is joyned by several little Islands by Bridges from one to another and by its own Bridge and a sumptuous Aqueduct of Stone about a mile long sustained by three hundred and sixty Arches On the East there is a little Tongue of Land which extending it self along makes the Port of Damata its Walls make an irregular Heptagon flanked with five great Towers * Sancta Maura's distant from Provisa 19. mil from Poâ—t Damata 6. It has indured divers Sieges in its own Defence and although it has vigorously withstood its Enemies yet has it often been forced to indure the Turkish Tyranny and been as often subject to the Venetians Anno 1479. it was attacked by the Turkish Forces and then taken from certain Greek Princes that possessed it CEFALONIA The Isle of Cephalonia THat Isle in the Ionian Sea called Cephalonia was not long since by the Greeks named Cassa or Chieffali to shew that it was the head of the Isles in that Sea and because it once had four Cities 't was called likewise Tetrapolis Besides these different names Authors have given it several others as Pliny calls it Melena Porcacchi and others Samo some again Dulichium and Tilebi 'T is seated between the thirty seventh and thirty eight Degrees of North Latitude and the forty sixth of Longitude the West part of Ferro being the first According to Porcacchi 't is a hundred and sixty miles round but it is indeed 170. It is of a triangular Figure its most advanced Angle being Northwards at Cape Guiscardo otherwise called Capo Capra On the East it regards Chiarenza in the Morea and on the North Corfu on one side with the Point Schinori of the Isle of Zant being at 18 miles distance it forms the Channel of Zant subject to frequent and dangerous Tempests and on the other from Cape Viscardo to Samo it makes with the Isle of Teacchi the Channel called that of Viscardo which is three miles broad in the narrowest place and very deep There are several Creeks where Galleys may safely ride tho' there be a good number of them man'd with a great Army for the Bay of Alessandria Port Argostoli which is very considerable and whereof we will treat apart the Port of Viscardo and that of Asso will each receive two or three and have as likewise the whole Channel a sound Bottom The whole Isle is divided into seven principal parts which are Argostoli Liscuri Finea Erisso Pillaro Samo Luceto In these are several large Burroughs which take their Names from the chief Families that dwell in them The least of these contains about 50 Houses They are a very valiant and ingenious People Under the Isle of Cephalonia lies that of Teacchi it affords great Quantities of Raisins whereof the English yearly take their Cargo yielding a considerable Revenue to the Republick and from thence come extraordinary large Citrons The Corn that they sow in the Spring is reaped again in June the Vines grow very low near the Ground they gather their Fruits in April and in November but the latter are smaller than those of April It produces also beautiful Narcissus's and Hyacinths and it is common there to see Roses and Pinks all the Winter When the South Wind blows there in the Summer it causes excessive Heat which is tempered by the North. The Republick keeps a Noble Venetian there as Governor with the Title of Proveditor and two other Noble Men as Counsellors who keep the publick Assizes alternately each their Month under the Proveditor their
from Charles Tocco a Neapolitan this Person had so great a kindness for the Republick that he remitted to them as to the supreme Judges the Hearing of all Causes as well criminal as civil The Isle of Zant. ISLE DE ZANTE FORTERESSE DE ZANTE This Isle has the Morea on the East at 80 miles Distance on the West it borders on the Isle of Cephalonia from whence t is 12 miles on the South is the Coast of Barbary 150 miles off and on the North it has another Part of the Morea about Castel Tornese at 16 miles Distance and a little lower it looks towards the Country del Dichiamo where are Natolico the Curzolares and Drago Mestre Places at above 50 miles distance The whole Isle is divided into three Parts called Montagna Pedimonte and Pianura Montagna begins on the East side where lies Port Chieri and makes the Circuit of the whole South and West side of the Isle even quite to the North having in its middle a very beautiful plain called Neruli in the midâ— whereof was a great Lake of waterâ— from the Hills till the Noble Angelo Barbarigo took the pains and care to dreiâ— it At this time 't is a fair and fruitful plain 10 miles long and five broad and borders on two sides upon the Sea shore Here stands the City Chieri giving name to the Port from the waters of which comes the black Pitch and there is an opinion among the Inhabitants that the Lake was anciently all of this Pitch There are besides seen here the Towns called Littachio Pigadachita Sculicado with fourteen more whose names for brevity I omit On that part called Montagna are Ambelo Chilomeno Agelo San Leo Santa Maria and other Towns to the number of nine The farthest of them is called Volimes lying towards the West It contains above one thousand houses There are besides in this part three Monasteries of Greek Caloieros called San Giovanni in Lancada La Madonna Spiliotissa or Anafontria and San Georgio di Grebani which is the most considerable and commodious for situation In that Part called Pianura which is on the North of the Isle are the Towns â—f Gaetani Curculidi San Quirico Farao â—nd San Dimetrio Besides the great â—oted Mountain making a principal â—art of the Isle there are two others which encompass the Isle one on the East the other on the North On the first stand two Towns called Xerocastello and Lambetti on the other are four Geracario Bellusi Calenzi and Tragacchi In the whole Isle there is but one River named the Camura whose waters are brackish being mixt with the waters of the Sea but there is below the Castle not far from the Sea a source of fresh water with all the qualifications of an excellent spring It is at all times so plentiful that all the Ships that pass for Constantinople and Alexandria as well going as coming take fresh water there On the North the Isle is all precepitious and steep and on the South covered with all sorts of fruit-trees On the Greek shore is built a Castle on an Eminence which commands the whole Isle where reside the Rector and the Governour At the foot whereof lies the Town which stretches it self for two miles along the shore and one mile in breadth towards the Mountain Theâ— are in this Town a great many houses which belong to the Citizens Merchants Artizans or Mariners They cure great Quantities of Raisins there and make very strong wines and excellent oyl which one year with another yields them the sum of fifty thousand Ducats There is also abundance of as delicious fruits and rare Plants as in any other place It s Port is likewise called Chieri of good anchorage for all sorts of Vessels Ships or Galleys On the North side is Cape Schinan and the Rock called San Nicolo where neither great nor small Vessel can enter except on the East side the shallowness of the water and the want of a good bottom hindering that on the West On the East is the Valley of the salt-Pits where Ships come to take in their Lading of Salt. A little nearer to the City is the Rock called fra Filippo at present Trenta Nova and a little farther is the point Laugun very near to the Town It is believed that Saint Veronica came to plant the Christian Faith in this Isle and that she converted the Inhabitants by showing them the Holy Handkerchief and thence preaching to them the Death and Passion of our Saviour The Republick sends thither a Noble Man with the Quality of Proveditor and two others for his Councellors who all keep their charge two years But the Inhabitants hold their Councils apart where they regulate Provisions health and other matters that concern the Policy of the City They have power also in civil causes to give Judgment under a certain Sum and there lies an appeal from them to the Proveditor The most part of the Inhabitants are Greeks and live according to their rites and there are but few Latins comprehending amongst them even the Souldiery There are about a thousand Jews who have three Synagogues Their business is trade and they grow very rich all of them The People of this place are more inclined to Arms than Learning but of the few that apply themselves to the Sciences the brightness of that Eloquence shines forth which is so natural to the Greeks and by a little study â—â— the Laws and Rights they soon becomâ— great Orators and skilful Lawyerâ— The People are in continual broils anâ— Suits with one another those of thâ— Country hate the Citizens the most oâ— which live upon Traffick the meaneâ— of the people are Sea-faring men anâ— are always in their frigates going to thâ— Morea and other places that depenâ— on the Turk to get their living The Isle is subject to Earthquakâ—â— which destroies what ever is good and beautiful Some years since they felt in one night sixty shakes which were preceeded by a terrible noise This noise usually lasts half a quarter of an hour and is communicated to the Rocks that are standing out of the Earth and sometimes there happens an infectious stink When the Earthquake is very great it raises an exceeding boisterous wind upon which score their buildings are but low and of few Stories There is a Bishop that makes his Residence in the Isle with the Title of Bishop of Zant conferred on him by the Holy See yet by the patents from the Senate of Venice he is entitled the Bishop of Cephalonia At first this Church â—cknowledged the Pope of Rome till â—uch time as the Church of Constantinoâ—le had a Patriarch of her own and â—hen the Patriarch strengthened by the favour of the Emperour caused several of the Greek Churches and some of the â—talian to submit to his See. At the time when several of the Western Princes associated themselves to war upon those that possessed the Holy Land the Church of Zant returned to the obedience of the See of
then so necessary that in the eighth year of the Peleponnesian War the Athenians having won it Sparta was without defence and its Country lay open to the Enemy till they hasted to fortifie and put Garrisons in the neighbouring places The little Isle or rather Rock called de Cervi lies between Port Rapini and Cape St. Angelo where with the firm Land it makes a Channel unnavigable by Reason of the Banks of Sand that are in it The nearest Rocks to Cerigo are the Dragonier which have a good Anchorage and may be sailed from with any Wind the others that are seen between this Isle and Candia are Ovo otherwise called Eple Oso Doi Poro Poressa Cicerigo or Cerigotto which the Ancients called Egila or Egiale it is the nearest to Cape Spada and the largest of all But there is none of all these that deserves a particular Description and serve only as Marks to the Sailer being of no other use The Isles of the Gulf of Engia THE Isles in the Gulf of Engia and which are a great Ornament to it are first beginning at Cape Colonne Patrocleia which the People call Gaïdronisi and Macronisi It has likewise the Name Ebanonisi from the Ebany that grows there in great Plenty On a high Place there is a Marble Stone set up which may be seen a great way and serves for a Signal to the Mariner On the side blowed on by the Greek Wind near to the Isle lie several dangerous Shelves of Sand. Sailing towards the Attick Shore we find the Isle of Elisso thought to be the Eloussa of Strabo Then is the Rock of Phlega with five others contiguous to it called Cumbonisa Between the Isle Culuri and Attica is the Isle Lipso Coutalia or Psyttalce near to Port Lion where there is a prodigious Number of Hares and Foxes Between Culuri and Egena is seen the Isle called Laufa near to which are three little Rocks Between the Isle of Egena and the City of Corinth are these Isles Argios Thomas Diaporia Ebroeo Agiolani Platonisi and another little Rock that has no Name Between Egena and the Continent of Saccania lie Angistri Metopi Dorousi and Moni Between Cape Colonne and Cape Skilli are seen the two Isles called Kelevinais but of all these Isles we have named Egena Culuri and Poros are only inhabited â— Culuri so called by Sophianus is by the Seamen named Santa Bursia and is the same which was once called del Dragone from a Dragon in this place that was killed by Ceroneus the Son of Neptune and Salamona the Daughter of Asopus who gave to the Isle the Name of Salamis by which Pliny and Strabo knew it There is in it a Village of its own Name Culuri of 200 Houses situated on its South side at its Port which as Monsieur Spon says is one of the bigest in the World being two miles broad and seven long at its Entrance lie two Rocks called Canuli and Prasuli Baudrand who gives the Isle three Names Cychria Scinar Pityussar says 't is 10 miles off from Egena and two from Attica It produces abundance of Wheat Pitch Rosin Coals Sponges and Ashes all which they carry to Athens to sell The Islanders are much inclined to Fishing and the rather for that their Shores are usually full of Fish The old City of Salamene once a Bishops Seat Suffragan to the Arch-Bishop of Athens is situated four or five Miles off a little Village of about 20 Houses called Ambellachi which has a small Port over against Athens near which is seen a Building like a Monastery which has the Title of a Metropolis joyned to another House The Circuit of the Isle is 35 miles containing about a thousand Inhabitants Megalo-kira and Micro-kira that is the great and little Kira are two Rocks between Culuri and the Terra firma of Attica Over against Cape Sâ—â—nio otherwise Cape Colonne is the Rock called Macronisi which Homer mentions in his Iliads under the Name of Cranae Its first Name was Helene being the place where that Beauty of Greece was embraced by her enamour'd Ravisher Paris The Isle of Egena EGena is an Isle distant from the Attick Coast 18 miles 25 from Port Lion 12 from the Morea and 21 from Culuri Strabo calls it Egina from Egine the Mother of Eacus the Daughter of Asopus Baudrand Aeâ—oâ—e Brietius Myrmidonia and the Mariners Engi though this Isle has 36 miles Circuit yet has it never a Port to receive any Vessels and they are obliged to cast Anchor between Augistri and Dorusa or between it and Moni as the Venetian Navy did during the Wars with Candia Partridges there increase so that the Islanders are forced to search over the Island in the Spring to destroy their Eggs lest so great a Production of this Game devour up their Corn. There are yet to be seen two fair Monuments of Antiquity which are two Temples the one situated in the North Part of the Isle by Pausanias thought to be that once dedicated to the goddess Venus the other slands in a grove upon a little Hill of an admirable Aspect 't was built in the Honour of Jupiter by Eacus the first King of this Isle there is still to be seen 20 Columns of the Dorique Order canellated or fluted with their Architraves placed in a good Proportion The City of the same Name with thâ— Isle Egena was once honoured with a Bishops Seat suffragan to the Arch-Bishop of Athens and famous by the Birth of Paul de Medicis but is now reduced to a small Burrough joyned to the Fontress considerable only for its situation upon a very high steep Rock whence are discovered many of the Isles of the Archipelago even to Amimilo This Isle was once subject to Duke Galeotto Malatesta by his Marriage with the Daughter of Anthony King of Boeotia whence it came afterwards to be under the Venetians But Frederic Barbarossa having entred the Isles of the Archipeldgo advanced as far as Egena intending its Conquest thinking doubtless that all the rest would bring but little glory in Comparison of this which was then full of People and well desended under the Government of Francesco Sorian who there ruled for the Republick Anno 1674 Franoesco Morosini Captain General of the Army of the Republick setting Sail in the Archipeldgo for the Exaction of the Contributions being to refresh the Slaves of his Galley â—as informed that Egena was full of a â—ort of barbarous People who waited â—ut for an opportune Season to transâ—ort themselves in small Barks to Caâ—â—a This back'd with the refusal they â—ade of paying the Imposition made â—im take up a Resolution to reduce â—hem by Force wherefore having landed his Forces and begun the Attack â—e soon repressed the boldness of the Defenders and having brought them to yeild at Discretion he pillaged the Place and then demolish'd it condemning 300 of the Greeks and 40 Turks to the Galleys Of the maritime Places between the Morea and thâ—
it on the South-West about a Falconet shot off is called Museum the other is Mount Anchesmus which is so rugged that 't were hard to plant a Battery of great Guns thereon against the City and Cittadel besides there is no Plain upon it only sharp Points of the Rock upon one of which is the Chapel of Agis Georgios where once stood the Statue of Anchesmian Jupiter The lower part of the Town is on the North of the Cittadel and when one comes from the Seawards it is so covered by it that the Houses of the Cittadel only can be seen whence several not having the curiosity to land have thought that of all the Grandure of Athens the Castle only now remained This Situation is very advantageons for it as to the health of its Inhabitants for the Climate being hot 't is much better to lie open to the refreshing North Winds than to the Southern Burnings After all its Revolutions there is yet to be seen very fine Antiquities the chief whereof are the Temple of Victory of the Ionick Order which the Turks make now their Magazin of Powder The Arsenal of Licurgus of the Dorick Order in which they lay up their Arms and Artillery The Temple of Minerva of the Dorick Order changed now into a Mahometan Mosque The Lantern of Demosthenes now serving as a Receptacle to the P. P. Capuchins The Tower of the Winds of an Octogonal Figure whereof Andronicus Cyrrhestes gave the Model and Vitruvius has described The Temple of Theseus The Foundations of Areopagus c. There is in Athens eight or nine thousand Inhabitants three quarters whereof are Greeks and the rest Turks who have four Mosques in the City and a fifth in the Castle No Jews are permitted there for the Athenians are as cunning as they whence the Proverb God defend us from the Jews of Salonica the Greeks of Athens and the Turks of Negropont The Habit of the Greeks of Athens is very different from that of the Turks for they wear only strait Garments of black or some dark Colours The City at present is divided into eight Parts called Platomata which are Placa Sotiras tu Cotaki Mono Calusi Roumbi Boreas Platoma Psiri Platoma Gerlada Agioi Colymboi or Olympoi As to its Terretory it once contained an hundred seventy four Burroughs or Villages whereof some were as big as Cities at this time the most of them are in the Plain of Mesoia or Mesogia wherein are the following Villages Metropis Keratia Misochori near to Rafti Chovarades near to Rafti Elada Marco-Poulo there is another Marco-Poulo Coursala Phyglia Carela Alopeki Cocla Balambafi Boura Arvato Agoupi And these that are almost ruined and are now called only Zeugalatia or Farmes Pikerni Bafi Lecambafi Lambriano Lambrica in the way to Athens at Cape Colonne Palaeo Lambrica the Ruins of the Ancient Lampra Elimbo Egnapyrghi Spitia Vraona In the other Territories of Athens are Caramamet at the foot of Mount Thymettus Marousi near Penteli deserted Calandri in the way to Penteli Gifissia in the way to Marathon formerly Cephyssia Basi Coumaria behind Penteli Stamati in the way to Marathon now ruined Belousa deserted Chiourka Grammatico Calingi as you go from Marathon to Negropont Varnada on the Euripus Limico on the Euripus Calamo on the Euripus Marcopoulo on the Euripus Near to Athens amongst the Olive Grounds Sepollia or Sopollia Mainidi Cacovaones Patischa Ambelokipous in the way to Penteli Callirhoe a few Houses near the Fountain This City was once an Academy of Arts and Sciences and a School of Vertue and all the Princes that have possessed it have been ambitious to leave their Names upon some Monuments thereby to gain an immortality in the Memory of man. Thus we find out upon a Portal a Greek Verse signifying that this is the City of Adrian and not of Theseus In the course of Time it has been subject to several Princes by divers Misfortunes to which it has yielded Sylla after a long Siege took it and Anno 687. from the Foundation of Rome made it subject to the Common-wealth of Rome Bajazet triumphed over it when it was under the command of Aristonicus the Epicurean Philosopher After that Renier Acciaioli having the Dominion of it yielded it to the Venetian Republick but it returned again under the Government of the same Acciaioli who at once possessed Attica and Boeotia In the Year 1455. it was besieged by Mahomet the Second and reduced for want of Succours since which it has still remained under the Ottomam Empire The Isle and Kingdom of Negropont THE Isle of Negropont is the most considerable of all the Isles in the Archipelago It has had divers Names and that of Negropont has by corruption been changed into Egripont the Turks call it Egribos the Latins Euboea either from the Retreat of the Daughter of Asopus or of Inachus thither whom the Poets feign to be turned into a Cow which from its lowing is named Euboea It has also been called Macris from the Channel called so in Greek Abantias from the People Abantides Calcis and Chalcondantis Pliny likewise gives it the name of Asopis and Strabo says 't was called Oche and that once 't was called Ellopia from Ellopus the Son of Jupiter NEGROPONT Some have thought that this Isle was once joyned to Boeotia and thence separated by Earth-quakes or as others say by the swift and impetuous course of the waves which make the Canal called Euripus The Isle is three hundred sixty five miles round in length from South to North ninety miles and forty broad and twenty in the narrowest part At which place it is joyned by a Bridge to the main Land. It is as it were encompassed with two Promontories Cape Lithar and Cape dell ' Oro. The first facing the Gulf of Volo is by Ptolemy and Strabo called Cenaeum Promontorium by Pliny Caeneum and by Niger Canaia Near this Promontory was the coast of Artemisia so called from a Temple of that name there erected At which place the Greeks shelter'd their naval forces during their wars with the King of Persia The second looking toward the East part of the Archipelago Ptolemy calls Caphareum Promontorium Sophianus Chymium Niger Capo figera Stephanus Cathereus Lycophron Zarax Isacius Xylophagos Upon the Top of this Promontory Nauplius King of Negropont made fires that the Grecian Army returning from Troy might by the light thereof arrive safely at the Haven There was formerly three cities in the Isle which made it famous Ellopia Histiaea and Oraeus Cities that were joyned together by reason of their vicinity The Capital City of the Kingdom of Negropont was at first called in the Athenian Tongue Calcis and then it took the name of the Kingdom it self It was once the seat of a Bishop Suffragan to the Arch-Bishop of Athens afterwards 't was raised to an Arch-Bishoprick 'T is situated on the banks of the Euripus The compass of its walls is about two miles but there
situated in that Part of Thessaly which is most joyned to Magnesia a small Country of Maoedonia nine miles from Dimetrias or as Livy and Pliny Demetrias and at the edge of the Gulf commonly called del Volo Pliny names it Pagasiâ—cus sinus Pelasgicus sinus Ptolemy Pagasiâ—licus Strabo Pagasaeus Mela Jolciacus Oâ—vid Demetriacus Lucio Macedonicus Oroâ—sius Golfe d' Armiro The Fortress is built after the old fashion and takes up a great space a few paces from the Sea where it has a largâ— Port and of good Anchorage Iâ— is according to * Bleau vol. 2. l. 7. pag. 9. Bleau at 31 deg 31 min Lat. and according to Cast aldoâ— at forty deg fifty min. lat and forty eight deg forty min. Longitude VEUE DE VOLO FORTERESSE DE VOLO The Gulf and City of Salonichi or Thessalonica THE Gulf of Salonichi has an Extent of 140 Miles length it is bounded by a very beautiful Plain whence it is necessarily exposed to the Winds and therefore very dangerous to the Sea-man In that Place where it most wears away the Land is a very advantageous and spacious Port. There is situated partly on an Hill and partly on a Declivity as the Ground goes the famous City of Macedonia called usually Salonichi or otherwise Thessalonique near it on the West side glides down the River Vardar which Ptolemy and Strabo call Axius Fluvius others Bardarus and Bardarius Fluvius very full of Fish and its Banks covered and adorned with goodly Trees The Walls of the City are flanked with several Towers and as to its circuit some make it ten others twelve miles It has three Forts to defend it the first being the least comes first in view at the Entrance or Landing-Place at some distance from the old City 't is Mouted with 20 great Guns The two others are situated within View of the Sea at the highest Part of the Wall furnished with 30 or 40 Cannon on the Land side is a Fortress like that of the seven Towers at Constantinople this commands the whole Town being built on a little Hill at the Foot whereof is a very great Number of Houses making a Suburbs encompassed with a Wall apart but which joyns to the City There are in this place a numerous People and the great Number of Habitations that are built in the Plain are but low and base and not sufficient to contain the great Numbers of Jews that dwell in them Besides they are not a little incommoded by the horrid stink that is in the Streets they are so narrow There is a considerable Trade as well from the commodiousness of its Situation as for the great Quantity of Silk Wool Skins of all sorts Wax Gun-powder Corn Cotton and Iron The Jews most busy themselves in Traffick and have to themselves the Manufacture of Stuffs to cloath the Janizaries and by this means they find a Way to employ the Tribute they are obliged to pay the Grand Seignior There are in it 48 Mosques in which is comprehended the Church of St. Demetrius of three Iles born up with very fair Pillars where St. Paul Preached once and that of St. Sophia built by the Emperour Justinian thirty Greek Churches thirty six great Synagogues and many other small ones The Governour has the Title of Mulà and his Place makes him very considerable at the Port. LES DARDANELLES DE LEPANTHE In the Year 118 when Andronicus would have got the Empire Thessalonica was taken by William King of Sicily but at the end being returned under the Dominion of its lawful Soveraign the Emperour of Constantinople Andronicus Paleologus he to unite himself the more nearly to the Venetian Republick gave them all the Right he had to this City But scarce two years past e're the Turk seized on it without much Difficulty by reason of its Distance and the ill State of Affairs in Italy and the small Defence the Inhabitants were able to make The Gulf and the Dardanelles of LEPANTO THIS Gulf reaching on the North to the Shores of Achaia and on the South to those of the Morea divides from each other these two great Parts of Greece It has had several Names which Authors have given it according to the different Times and particular Occasions they had to speak of it The Ancients called it Criâ—sus Strabo the Sea of Alcion Sophianus Golfe de Pedras some Corintiacus Sinus from the City Corinth the Mariners as Niger reports the Shores of the Bostria and now commonly Lepanto It contains four Rocks in it and receives its Water from the Ionian Sea by an Entrance between two Promontories standing far out from the Continent whereof one joyning to the Morea is by Strabo called Anthirium Promontorium and usually Cape Antirio upon the top of which is a Fortress called of Morea or of Patras the other joyning to Achaia which Strabo calls Rhium Promontorium and the Vulgar Cap de Rhio or Rio this also is provided with a Fort called Romelie These two Castles are otherwise called the Dardanelles of Lepanto They are both built of a square Figure encompassed with good Walls and a strong Battery level with the Water there is no Fault to be found with them but that the Ground being Sandy they admit of an easy Approach from the Enemy There is no landing any Forces on the side of Romelie within two Italian Miles of the Fortress but it may be approached in small Barks within 100 Paces The Plain to the little Hill is very large but it grows less and less as you come nearer to the Castle At the Foot of the Mountain is a great Valley where those that design to attack the Fort may march forward undiscovered All Merchandises brought out of the Gulf as Skins Oyls Tabaco Rice and Barly pay three per cent to the Emin who is likewise obliged to disburse six thousand Crowns a year into the Coffers of the Grand Seignior Once all Merchandises that came from the West as likewise those from the East after having passed the Gulf of Engia were brought into this Port but at this time the Entrance is forbid to all stranger Ships which upon that Account are obliged to stay at Patras and the most of those that put in here are Corsairs and indeed one calls Lepanto the little Algiers The greatest part of the Inhabitants of this Place are Moors that have black Children like those of Barbary The City of Lepanto THE City of Lepanto is by the Latins called Naupactus by the Vulgar Epactos and by the Turks Einebachti 't is situated in the Country of Livadia on the Edge not far from the Mouth of the Gulf of the same Name invironed with an high conical Mountain on the Top of which is built a Fortress with four strong thick Walls round it separated from each other by little Distances where the Inhabitants have their Dwellings the Port is not above 60 Foot big and which may be shut up with a Chain being but narrow at its Entrance upon which Account but a few Vessels can lie there and at sometimes also they cannot get out of it for want of Water And if the famous Pirate Durach Bey used to shelter himself there with his Galleys he must have taken a special Care to keep it clear LEPANTHE Under the Empire of the Turks 't is governed by a Vaivode There are seven Mosques two Greek Churches which are held in great Disdain by the Turks and three Jewish Synagogues If the Inhabitants want pleasant Places within the Town they have without on the East side near the Sea a plentiful Stream of Water which after having served the Powder-Mills and the Tanners of Leather in which consists the Riches of the Place waters about a dozen very great Plains and makes the Place very delightful There is likewise round about very pleasant Gardens and Fields covered with Limons and Orange Trees The Soil produces a Wine that surpasses all the Greek Wines in Goodness The taking of this Place was very Difficult before the Use of great Guns In the Year 1408 it was subject to the Emperour of Constantinople but the Emperour Emanuel finding it too hard a Task for him to keep it delivered it into the Hands of the Republick of Venice Under this new Dominion it received a new Form and was fortified so as to be able to resist a powerful Army and indeed being besieged anno 1475 it destroied thirty thousand Turks and their Army was forced shamefully to raise the Siege after having sate down before it above four Months The Inhabitants could not be better pleased with their Rulers nor ever made more ardent Vows to be kept there and preserved from the barbarous Tyranny of the Turks when Bajazet 2. came to attack them by Sea and Land with an Army of an hundred and fifty thousand men and brought them to the most deplorable State that can be imagined There is yet to be seen St. Mark of Venice to shew us that the Rights of the Republick are as well founded there as its Arms ineffaceable and to give us Hopes that triumphant Republick will add to the Conquests it has made these last Years that of this Place which will be crowned with Glory and immortal Fame FINIS ADVERTISEMENT ANgliae Notitia or the present State of England compleat with Reflections on the ancient State thereof by Edward Chamberlain Doctor of Laws the sixteenth Edition with Additions and Alterations down to this time Printed for Matt. Gillyflower at the Spread-Eagle in Westminster-Hall and James Partridge at the Post-house between Charing-Cross and White-Hall
that of Maina The Cape Onugnato or Asses Jaw distant from Cape Rampani about 200. Stadia there stood once the Temple of Minerva built by Agamemnon The Cape of Malea brusht by the South Wind from the Sea of Candia It is famous not only for its exquisite Wines but also for its Shelves and Shoaly ground dreadful to the Mariners Ptolomy calls it Malea Pliny Maleum Hesychius Promaleum Sophianus Capo Malio The Seamen as Bredebachius says name it Ale di San Michael Saint Michael's Wings Brichus calls it Capo Malio di Sant Angelo according to Baudrand 't is Ten Miles distant from Cerigo 90 from Napoli 70. from Sparta and 60. from Candia Mention Aeneid lib. 5. Amor. l. 2. Baudr let M. Laur. p. 164. is made of this place by Virgil Ovid in the Universal Geography of Baudrand and in the Greek of Laurembergius Of the Mountains of the Morea AMongst the Mountains of this Peninsula is reckoned that of Foloe near which was once situated the City of Olympia so much famed by the Poets for the Country of the Centaurs The rise of this name was thus Hercules having slain the Nemaean Lyon and being Victorious over the Lernaean Hydra and the Boar of Erymanthus happened to go to this Mountain where he retired into the Cave of the Centaur Foloeus who treated him with a great deal of Civility and entertained him with excellent Wine which he kept there hid from the rest of the Centaurs it chanced while they were thus Carousing some other Centaurs passing by were drawn by the smell of the Wine and running to the Den endeavoured to enter by Violence Foloeus's chief endeavour was for an hiding place so that Hercules was left alone to engage with all the Centaurs he then playd his best and gave them such terrible Effects of his Rage that having killed some the rest betook themselves to flight to carry away a wretched Life The Combat ended Foloeus crept out of his hole and sufficiently admired the Valour of his Guest but by misfortune handling the Arrow wherewith Hercules killed the Hydra he let one of them fall on his Foot the wound was so deep that he fell down and dyed on the spot Hercules much grieved at this accident and in acknowledgement of his kind Entertainment buried him in his own Cave and named the Mountain from his name Foloeus The other most noted Mountains are Cyllene Lyceus Parthenius Menalus and Sepia of all these Cyllenius is the highest 't is near that of Calidoria at the Top whereof are yet to be seen the remains of the Temple of Mercury from thence called Cyllenius yet some will have that name to be derived from Cyllenus Son of Aleates The Mountain Lyceus taking its beginning in Zaconia is memorable for the place where the Tyrant Aristarchus was made an offering to the publick Rage of the Lacedemonians who there stoned him It joyns to Mount Menalus which is cover'd with green and shady Groves and pleasant Pasturage for Cattel a place for the coolness of its Shades and refreshing briezes of serene Air dedicated to the God Pan as Mount Cyllene whose name signifies Maiden was Sacred to the same Deity Mount Sepia is that where as Pausanias reports Epites the Son of Eleates was stung to death by a Serpent The Duché of Chiarenza has on the North the Mountain now called Poglizi from Diana's Temple which once adorned it it was at first named Geronte then Skinfale from the name of a Nymph the Daughter of Arcas or from certain large Birds of Prey called Stymphalides that live in these quarters in great flocks These devoured Men wherefore they were either chased away or the Species quite destroyed by the slaughter Hercules made of them On the East side between Saccania and Tzaconia lyes Mount Cronie commonly called Grevenos on whose farthest Northern part stood the Temple of Lucina and Fesipoli so named from the Idol to which the Eleans offered Sacrifices Where is found the Stone called a Cylinder which may be taken from the Rock when the thunder rumbling in the Clouds causes an agitation of the Air. In the Province of Belvedere Mount Mintia or Mente now Olonos comes in view its South has a Prospect of the Gulf of Coron on the North rises the River Alpheus it took its name from Pluto's Mistress when Proserpina Jealous of her Husband sought after her and found her in this place and changed her into the Herb Mint a great quantity of which grows wild on this Mountain and in Memory of this Act of the Infernal Goddess the proud Fanes of Pluto and Proserpina once stood there The little Mount Neris lifts it self up in Saccania and Nonacris in Tzaconia at the foot whereof roul the fatal Waves of Styx fatal to those that taste the otherwise clear and tempting Stream The Poets make this one of the infernal Rivers Inachus also has its source in this Province There is likewise Mount Artemisius thought to be Mount Parthenius 't was named Artemisius from the abundance of the Herb Artemis wherewith it is covered The most considerable and famous of all the Grecian Mountains and that which Polybius compares with the Alpes is Taygeta bearing another name now of Orta it extends it self in the Province of Tzaconia not far from the River Taenarus very near the Eurotas that runs by Misitra 't is stockt with Deer Bears Boars and other wild Beasts It took its name from Taygeta the Daughter of Lacedaemon who being ravisht by Jupiter out of shame and grief for her lost Virginity killed her self there At different times this Mountain has been Sacred to Bacebus Ceres Apolle and Diana and in its Entrails are found excellent Whetstones Of the Streams and Rivers of the Morea HAving discoursed of the most remarkable Mountains of the Morea it seems natural to descend from them with the Streams and Rivers that water the lower Grounds of this Kingdom Amongst these is reckon'd that in the Duché of Chiarenza commonly called Carbon and by Sophianus Orsea Strabo names it Alpheus Ptolemy Alpehius others Strimphalus and the River Nyctimus into this stream One hundred and forty Torrrents whose Virtues are so extolled for taking away Tetters or other deformities in the Skin The Poets have sung a thousand strange things of this River they would perswade us that its Waves have a peculiar subterraneous Chanel under the Sea and that passing the Arcadian Gulf without mixing with it beyond the Strophades they haste to unite with their beloved Fountain Arethusa which is in the Territory of Syracuse a City of Sicilia This River receives several lesser into it as Celadon Erimantus and Amarinthus It 's name was derived from Alpheus Tebba after the Death of his Brother Cercafus flying from the sury of the Arcadians and despairing of escape his Enemies being at his Heels drownded himself in this River It formerly had the name of Strimphelus from one of the Sons of the God Mars one may well term it the Antaeus
them Strophades Pausanias Strivali Suidas Stromphides and Camerarius Calydnes They are low almost level with the water their Port is distant from Zant above fifty miles they are but of small extent the bigest not above three or four miles in circuit And tho they are so small they produce a Prodigious quantity of Grapes and the wine of them is extraordinary good There are also many fresh Springs all along which are found a great deal of Planc-Tree leaves tho the nearest place where any of those Trees grow is in the Morea at thirty miles distance wherefore doubtless they must be brought thither by subterranean passages The Inhabitants are all Greek Caloieros who for their defence against the Turk have built their Convent in form of a Fortress well provided with Cannon with a Port-cullis at the Gate The Poets feigned that Aello Ocypite and Celaeno born of Thaumas and Teletra inhabited the infernal Pit in the shape of Harpies whence they went to torment wicked men at the command of the Gods And they paint us these Harpies with lean tho beautiful faces like Women the rest of their bodies being like horrible Vultures with large wings and pointed talons The Fable adds that Phineus King of Arcadia like an inhumane Father having pluckt out his own Childrens Eyes the Gods returned the same punishment upon him by tearing out his and leaving him to the terrible pursuit of the Harpies which defiled his food with their ordure and stink Jason touched with compassion for the miserable King and willing to relieve him caused Zetes and Calais to drive these Monsters from tormenting him and force them to retire into the Strophades The Isle of Prodano PRodano is a little Isle or Rock which Pliny and Ptolemy call Prote and other Proude near the Morea with which it makes a Channel of seventeen or eighteen foot water where Vessels may commodiously ride safely under the Wind. The Isles in the Sea of Sapienza THere are three Isles in the Sea of Sapienza the first which Bordon calls Sphagia or Sphateria and Porcacchi Sfragia and which is commonly named that of Sapienza This gives name to the Sea which flows by its side and washes the South part of the Morea It lies directly over against Medon and exceeds the two others in extent The Second named Cabrera or Fuschella or Teganusa and Cauriera is but at a small distance from the First and is much less than it The Third called Venetico fronts Cape Gallo It is so enclosed on all sides that it may rather be accounted a Rock than an Isle There lie about it several other Rocks where the Pirates of Barbary lie in wait for the Ships that come from the Gulf of Venice and Sicily PORT DE CERIGO FORTERESSE DE CERIGO The Isle of Cerigo ON the West of the Archipelago lies the Isle at this day commonly called Cerigo Ptolemy named it Cythera from Cytheron the Son of Phenicus Aristotle calls it Porphyrusa from the great store of Porphyry dug out of its Mountains and others again Scothera 'T is just against the Laconian Gulf but five miles off the Morea forty from Candia and has sixty in circumference It has several Rocks roundabout it and good Ports on its sides On the South is the Port of the Fortress which is but little frequented because 't is but a narrow Bay and lies much exposed to the winds The other which is on the other side the Dragoniers twelve miles from the Fortress has a good bottom is deep and will contain a great Fleet Above all things the natural shape of the Bay is wonderful which may be shut up and where forty Galleys may lie in safety There is a Church dedicated to St. Nicholas though no body dwells there On the West at 25 miles distance from this Port there is another little one called San Nicolo de modari proper for Galliots and small Barks where is also a Church dedicated to St. Nicholas There is in this Isle great quantities of wild fowl but little corn wine or oyl and food is there very dear There are several Villages but of small or no account And some Monasteries of Hieromonachi and Caloierros of which one stands upon a Rock on the right side near to the Fortress which they call San Giovanni della Grotta It has been hewn out of the Rock by pure labour with the mattock Tho 't is very difficult to get up to it yet the Greeks refuse not that pains when-ever the Religious are to perform their Vows which they have made to God. The steep points of the Rock affright all that look on them for they hang over so that they threaten to fall and overwhelm those that approach them But for all this the Inhabitants have a great Veneration for the place upon a belief that St. John began his Apocalypse there The City of the same name with the Isle has the Title of a Bishoprick It stands upon a steep Rock in a very advantageous situation having towards the Sea an Esplanade well mounted with Canon where they keep Guard. The Republick of Venice has had the Some say ever since the Despots of Greece Command of it ever since the division of the Empire of Constantinople and sends thither every two years one of her Noble Men in Quality of Chastelain and Proveditor Selim attempted with a powerful Army commanded by Hali and Portau to conquer it but he soon gave it over finding his endeavours but vain Some fabulous Writers say that the Goddess Venus had her Birth in this place others that she passed her first days there And was there acknowledged for a Goddess and there was a beautiful Temple dedicated to her under the name of Cytherea in the most Eastern part thereof In which Temple was her Statue like a beautiful Woman holding in her right hand a Sea shell and as if ready to leap into the Sea. She was all dressed with blushing Roses and snowy Pidgeons flying around her which seemed to follow and attend her motion Three young Virgins representing the three Graces hand in hand went round her to serve her two whereof were in action as if they were adorning her head the third waited on her behind Her Son Cupid was before her armed with his bow who tho blind yet wounded the God of Light Apollo with an Arrow from his bow 'T was in this Temple that Paris the amourous Son of Priam met the fair Grecian Helen and here they tempted each other to the fatal Rape which armed the jealous Menelaus and revenging Greece for the utter destruction of Troy. The Isle is of no great extent being not above sixty miles yet 't was of great consequence to the Spartans when they were Masters of it for it was to them as it were a Rampart and a shelter to their ships which they sent to Aegypt They sent thither every year a President to regulate civil and military affairs and the keeping of this Isle was