King of Navarre who gave it to his Son Raymir begotten in unlawful Embraces to the prejudice of his Lawful Son Garcia who indeed justly merited this Disherision because he had by an unnatural Accusation endevoured to blast the Reputation of his Mother Queen Elvira Wife to his Father by besmearing her with the Calumnious Aspersion of Adultery from which black tincture she was assoil'd by the Noble and generous Assistance of Raymir above mentioned who offered to assert her Innocence by the solemn Decision of a mutual Combate with this Garcia which obliged his Father King Sancho to reflect with so benigne an eye on so great a Virtue that he thought the Earldome of Aragon a proportionate Guerdon to his Merit and Courage and translated the Coronet of this Province into a Diadem that the Reward designed him might swell into a more considerable Dimension and with more Lustre adorn his Temples and from this Raymir did there Issue out a Series of Kings that was never interrupted disturb'd or ravel'd in the Clew of Descent but in an even order went along untill the Line of Succession brought the Crown of Aragon to empale the Temples of Ferdinand sirnamed the Catholick who by Matching with Isabella the Heir of Castile linked and incorporated these two Kingdoms into one Body whose divided Interest being thus combined hath ever since continued fastned and tied up in so strict a Union that the Propriety of both these Kingdomes does now support and inforce the Grandeur of that Diadem which invests the Head of Philip the Fourth the instant Monarch of Spain SPAIN SPAIN in Times of an elder Complexion was the Stage where the Scene of much Contention and Bloudshed was established the Romans attempting with much eagernesse and Animosity to ravish away the Spanish Liberty and impose that yoke of Servitude on their Necks they had burdened and loaded the shoulders of other captived Nations with and the Spanish Inhabitants again endevouring with a generous vigour to assert their Native Franchises against their Eruptions and so to secure their Liberties that they might not be offered up an Oblation to the rapatious Tallons of the Roman Eagles but after many Conflicts commenced and the bloody Umpirage of several Battels the Spanish Body having exhaled its most active and vigorous Spirits at those breaches and wounds the successeful Swords of the Romans had torn and discompos'd the Bulk of their Empire withall fell a cheap Sacrifice to their Successe and Ambition and by a tame Submission put on those Fetters the Hands of these new Victors had designed to load them with and the Romans the better to manage and fortifie their new Acquists with a cautious improvement scattered several Colonies and Forts on those several Provinces which were circumscribed within the Continent of Spain a subsequent List of which I shall now represent to the Reader as likewise an exact Register of those Cities and Towns which in times of a more modern Inscription have like so many Phaenix's ascended into shape and order out of their antiquated Ruines A ALCE a City of the Celtiberians was raz'd by Gracchus Abdera now called Almeria and according to the Conjectures of some the place where now the City of Veraâ—s â—s situated Abula now denominated Avila Acci likely to be Guadix in Granada Agra it is under Controversie whether it were placed in Spain or in Africk Arcobrica now styled Calataiub or else separated by no great distance from it Assindon the place where now Medina Sidonia or Xeres in Andalusia is fixed Astapa a Colony of the Carthaginians was destroyed by Martius a Roman Commander under Scipio Astigia reputed to be Eccia in Andalusia Asturica or Astorga retains its primitive Appellation and continues a Bishoprick until this day Ategua how this City is denominated now is represented by Ferrarius who asserts that it is now called Tebalaveia or Teiveila in Granada Augusta a Name Common to many Towns in Spain yet when it is simply rehearsed or Registred without being yoked with any additional Denomination it is taken to signifie Bracar or Braga Auriensis or Aquae Calidae now taken for the Bishoprick of Orenza or Orense in Gallicia Auringa was an eminent City in Andalusia diâ—â—antled and overturn'd by Scipio Aâ—sâ—â—â—a or Auxima at this present styled Vic d'Ossone an obscure Towne circumscribed within Catalonia Auca an ancient City out of whose ruins Burgos is now started Axenium where that was situated or what City was extracted from its Ashes is uncertain B Barcina or Rubicata now call'd Barcelona the Capital City of Catalonia Bastitania now known by the Name of Baza in the Province of Murcia Bregetium in old Records denominated likewise Lucus Astuâ—um is now the City of Oviâ—do in Leon. Biaria now called Barra is in the Kingdome of Toledo Bigastrensis Civitas or Urbs Bistargensis was a Bishoprick situated in the Province of Carthagena Bigerra now styled Beijar is contiguous in its position to Valentia Britolensis Urbs was a Town near Tuy in Gallicia C Cauca was a City in the Territory of the Vacceni and scituated in Portugall ruined by Lucullus the Roman General Carmona was a Town near Cordova demolished by the Goths Cauria at this day denominated Coria and is placed near Merida Caesarea Augusta or Salduba now Sarragossa the Metrapolis of Arragon Calaguris now represented under the Name of Calahorra in Navarre Colimbrica or Conimbrica now Coimbra an eminent University in Portugall Carthago Nova or Carthagena which still retains its pristine Name and though now fallen under some Umbrage and obscurity was in elder Times one of the most eminent Cities of Spain Castulo at this day styled Castona and is scituated near Sevill Centobrica in Celtiberia was reduced to the Roman obedience by Metellus since crumbled into Rubbish Complutum out of wâ—ose Rubbish the noted and Illustrious Unive sity of Alcala de Henarez in Câ—stile is now risen forth Conistorgis was a Colony in Portugall long since mouldred into a neglected heap Colenda was a City of the Celtiberians Corduba gave Naâ—e to the whole Province wherein it was placed and preserves the ancient Appellation and continues a Bishoprick untill this day D Dertosa now called Tortosa and is scituated upon the River of Ebro which separates Catalonia and Valentia Diâ—niâ—m now styled Denia is placed in the Kingdome of Toledo E CIvitas Egarensis was the Residence of a People call'd Egurâ—â— out of whose Ashes sprang a town in Toledo styled Medina del Rio Secco Egedita now a little â—ourg in Portugall called Edania Egosa or Egiba is a Town which still continues its ancient Appellation and is situated near Girona in Catalonia Ebora now is known by the Name of Euora and is placed in Portugall and is at this instant ascended to that Eminence that it is become the Residence of the Kings of Portugal Elibâ—â—is was in Ages of an higher step a populous and spatious City though in Times of a lower Descent it shrunk into the narrow Bulk
of a Castle but it is conjectur'd that Granado not far distant owes part of its Dimension and Grandeur to its superannuated Ruins Eliocrota was scituated betwixt Carthagena and Casâ—ona but was by the Fury and frequent Onsets of the Vandalls rendred so inconsiderable an heap that it is now entombed in its own Rubbish Elna was placed in Gallia-Narbonensis and is now shrunk into Decay and Oblivion Emirita at this instant called Merida is placed in Castile and hath nothing singular to ennoble it but onely some venerable Ruines Eminium or Euminium is placed in Portugal betwixt Coimbra and Porto but it is now crumbl'd away into such a narrow heap that it hath at present found a forgotten Sepulcher Ergavica now a Town in Aragon called Alcanez Escadia was a City scituated in Lusitania reduced to Ruines by the Roman Conquests F FLaviobriga a City in Biscay which mouldering away by the injurious Impressions of Time and the Assaults of Enemies fell into decay and Rubbish Bilbao the Capital City of that Province was extracted from its Sepulcher Flavium Brigantium now passes under the Notion of Corvina in Gallicia Flavinavia was scituated in Asturia and hath now atchieved the name of St. Andero G GAdes an ancient Town of Spain in more modern Orthographie written Cadez Gerunda in Catalonia is now marshal'd under the Name of Girona Gerabrica or Jeraabrica is placed in Portugall betwixt Lisbon and St. Irene but is now by the rude hand of Time crushed into so disordered a Masse that it is removed but a small preferment from the notion of a Village Gemella was a Fortresse in Portugal what Name it hath since been habituated to is uncertain Girniza a City of the Vacceans demolished by Titus Didius H HIspalis in Andalusia is now listed under the Name of Sevil and is the Metrapolis of that Track I IAcca was the principal City of the Jaccetani in Aragon and still preserves its name Ilerda was scituated in Catalonia and is now styled Lerida Ilice in the Kingdom of Valentia respecting the Islands Pitieuses and adopted that eminent Bay call'd Sinus Ilicitanus into its own Sirname but where this Town or the Rags and Skeleton of it have found their Enterment no Beam extracted from publique Record can direct to a Discovery Ilipa was a City scituated in the Straight of Boetica It is supposed to be Niebla in Portugall Illiturgis was scituated in Andalusia and was put into Flame and Ashes by Scipio Julio Briga an antiquated Colony is now Logrogno in Aragon Illiberis was a City in Roussillon divided by no great distance from the Pyrenean Hills out of whose Rubbish Coliure or Colibre a City now extant had its original Institution Civitas Imotinensis is by some Conjectures now asserted to be Montanches not far distant from Merida Imopyreneus or Rhoda is at this day called Roses and is a City of Eminence in Catalonia it was built by the Rhodians Empuria Urbs Impuritana or Emporitana though languish'd into Decay hath from its Skeleton afforded a Town call'd Empuria now plac'd in Catalonia Julia Libica is now that City we stile Sardona or Cardona a City existent in Catalonia or as some conjecture Linca Jugastria or Juncaria was Scituated in Catalonia and is in more modern Appellation stil'd Junquera Intercatia was plac'd amongst the Astures but what Denomination it hath acquir'd now no Record does exhibit Iria Flavia is at this instant stil'd Padron and hath its Scituation near Terrae Finis in Gallicia Italica an ancient City in Andaluzia is now entomb'd in its own Ruines and wild Dispersion L LAmbria was no far Distance divided from the Margent of the River of Limia in Portugall but what name it hath obtained now is incertain Lacobrica there were two Towns which bore this Denomination the one at Cape St. Vincent the second near Palenza it is now conjectur'd to be Lagos Lameca now passes under the Denomination of Lamega and is a noted City in Portugall Luci Tarum is now stil'd St. Lucar di Barameda in Andalusia Lancia was in elder times the Metrapolis of Asturia though now wholly devested both of Bulk and Beauty Laurona was an ancient City made an heap of Flame and Ruines by Sertorius even in the presence of Pompey Legio is at this instant stil'd Leon and is the Capital City of that province Lucia or Urbs Lucensis was an ancient Colony now known by the Name of Lugo in Gallicia M MAlaca at present called Malaga one of the most eminent Cities of the Kingdome of Granada Mentesa now Monteio or else Jaen in Andalusia Munda was a City of the Vacceans Eminent for the Battle between the two Pompeys and Caesar it is now obscure in its own Ruines unlesse Ronda be started from it N NOviâ—m in Gallicia is now faln under the Name of Noya Numantia after a tough Seige buryed in its own Ruines by Scipio O OBoliola was a City upon the Verge of Portugal which was demolished and destroyed by Quintus Fabius Maximus Servilianus in his War commenc'd against Viriatus Occi or Acci is now involved in Guadix Scituated in Valentia Ocilis or Ocelona was a City near Merida now so wrap'd up in its own disordred and confused dispersions that it its difficult to trace out its rubbish even amidst its ruines Olisipo now known by the Name of Lisbon the Metrapolis of Portugal Orcelis whose Bishop was at the Councell of Arles it was fixed in Valentia It is now Denominated Origuâ—la Orâ—tana now stil'd Calatrava the Seminary of Knights of that Order was in the Kingdome of Toledo Osca that is Huesea in Aragon a Bishoprick and a University Ossobona was in Algarbe not far divided from Faro which by the Moors was named Exuba Oxovia in the Kingdome of Toledo stil'd by Plyny Uxania at this instant it is known by the Appellation of Osona and is honoured by being the See of Bishop Oxthraca a City of eminent note in the ancient Lusitania destroyed by Atilius or Acilius Balbus one of the Roman Commanders P PAx Augusta an Eminent Roman Colony in Extremadura now still'd Badaisos and by the Moors in elder times named Baxangâ— Palentia or Palantia in the Kingdom of Toledo continues listed under that Name and remains a Bishoprick at this Day Pampelona continues still espoused to its ancient Name and is at this instant the Capitall City of Navarre Placentia is Situated in Castile and preserves its ancient Denomination at this instant Porto or Portogallo is placed in Lusitania and is that City which at present is nam'd Portoport S SAguntum was destroyed by Hannibal out of whose Ashes Morviedro in Valentia is now descended Sanuessa is now Sanguessa in Navarre Salmantica or Elmantica is circumscribed within the Limits of Castile and hath now assumed the Denomination of Salamanca being both a Bishoprick and an eminent University Segobia or Secobia is Scituated likewise in Castile and with a small variation from the ancient name is now stil'd Segovia Segobrica is the Town called
Segorbia in Aragon Seguntia or Saguntia now named Siguenza is placed between Castile and Aragon and is made eminent by being the See of a Bishop Senga in Aragon hath now contracted the name of Balbastro Segissama hath now atcheived the name of Tordedeâ—illas Sediga was a noted City of the Arevaces and was extinguish'd and dismantel'd in the Conflicts and Contentions between Spain and the Romans Setabis is the Town Xatâ—va now a Limb of the Kingdom of Aragon Septimantia now stil'd Simanca is a Town which is Scituated in Castile Scalabis was an eminent Roman Colony in Portugall how it is stil'd now is incertain Sarabris or Sentilla was Scituated in Castile and is now Marshall'd under the name of Zamora or Toro Sitia was erected in the Province of Corduba but what Name it hath assumed at this instant no Record does discover Sitale oâ— Sitiale was established in the Track of Andalusia what Denomination it hath now put on we cannot at present trace out T TArracona was Scituated in Catalonia and at present is stil'd Tarragona being an Arch-Bishops Seat and the Second City for Eminence and Populacy in that Province Talabriga hath now obtained the appellation of Talavera and is circumscribed in Portugall Tartessus now stil'd Carteia is Scituated in Andaluzia and gave the Name to the whole Track Trebia and Tribola were two eminent Cities in Castile and the Old Lusitania both cast into a heap of Rubbish in the Wars of the Romans waged with the people of that Province Thermissa was in times of an elder Complexion a City of the Vacceans or Arevaces and was demolished by the Consull Titus Didius Thermantia was an ancient City of Spain not far distant from Numantia now by the Injuries of time shrunk into Decay and Oblivion only it is supposed Nuestra Sennora de Tiermas in Aragon is now extracted from its Tomb. Toletum is that eminent City we now stile Toledo being an Archbishoprick and the Metropolis of Castile Turiasso now the Town Tarrasso which had its position near the Limits of Navarr Tucca was Scituated in Betica near Castulo what name is fix'd upon it now I cannot discover Tuda or Tyda is now adopted into the name of Tuy in Gallicia and is adorn'd with the Title of a Bishop Tullica was placed in Cantabria or Biscay but what denomination it hath borrowed since no Beam of Antiquity does exhibit to us Turris Julia is now compacted into the more modern Name of Trugillo in Portugall V VAlentia or Valence is at this instant an eminent Arch-Bishoprick and affords a Name to the whole Province where it is scituated preserving both its Name and Antiquity Valeria had its first erection in the Province of Arragon and hath at this instant got the Appellation of Coâ—cia or Cuenca Vasco Baso was an eminent City of the Vascones now languished into an obscure Town in Navarre call'd Basconton Veila was an ancient City in Cantabria now languished into neglected Ruines Vesci is now stiled Viseo and is a noted Town in Portugall Urci was an ancient Roman Colony not far removed from Almeria in Castile now shrunk by Decay into an inconsiderable Obscurity Urgela called likewise Bergidum is now Urgel a City and a Bishops See in Catalonia Urbicua a Town of the Celtiberians put into Ruines by Q. Fulvius Flaccus a Roman Commander Ucubis a Town in farther Spain now entombed not only in its own Rubbish but in oblivion likewise onely it is conjectured Ucubi in Granada is a child of its production Uxama an ancient Colony of the Romans is fallen into so obscure a Decay that it hath lost both its Name and the place of its abode so that it is now extant only in Record and Annals Vellica was in Navarre whose dispersed Rubbish was in the Year 1181. by Sancho the fourth King of Navarre Collected into a City whose Denomination in Memory of some Successe upon its first Institution was Victoria Viminacium was placed in Castile but what Town is now descended from its Ruins the testimony of History does not exhibit to us Virovesca in Old Castile hath now put on the Name of Briviesca or Birviesca Voluce or Veluca hath from its Ashes given us Cannatanazor now in Valentia Urso hath fâ—om its Ruins been productive of Ossuna now plac'd in Andalusia There are other Ancient Towns in Spain and its Circumabient Provinces which are Registered in Mela Strabo Ptolomie Pliny and Antoninus which because they have put on other Names I shall represent the first as they are Recorded in those Venerable Authours and exhibit the last as they lie enroll'd in the Spanish Histories as namely A ASta in Pliny is now Xeres in the Kingdome of Granada Augusta Forma mentioned by the former Authour is now Eccia in Andalusia Aquae Calidae enrolled in the Pages of Ptolomie is now Oreus or Orenza in Gallicia Aspavia by Corduba mentioned by Ptolomy is stil'd Espeio Alba in Antonnius is now Viana in Navarre which formerly afforded a Title to the King of Navarr's eldest Son who was stil'd Prince of Viana Avia or Livia Register'd likewise by Antoninus is now Villalon in Castile Alaba in Celtiberia or Biscay call'd so by Ptolomy hath now in more modern Appellation assum'd the Name of Alava B BAlaria in Antoninus hath now assumed the name of Bara or Vera and is fixed in Castile Baetulo or Betullo styled so by Mela is now named Badelona C CErtima in Ptolemy is now Carthama in Castile Caetobrix or Cetobrica recorded by Pliny and Antoninus is now either scituated in Portugall or else Almadas on the Mouth of the Tagus Calpe or Heraclia in Antoninus is now Gibraltar in Andalusia Carmela in Antoninus is now Carmon in Portugall Cex mentioned in Ptolomy and Sexicanum registred in Antoninus is now Velez Malaga in the Province of Granada Condabora in Ptolomy is now Siguenza in Castile Cecillia Gemellina in Antoninus is now St. Mary of Guadalupe Clunia remembred by Pliny and Livy was a Colony of the Arevaces and is now styled Corunna del Conde or Cividad del Castro both scituated in Castile Cauca registred by Ptolomy is now that Coca which is scituated in Old Castile Contestania mentioned by Ptolomy and Clusius is now shrunk into Concentayna in Valentia E ELna in Roussillon mentioned by Antoninus was erected by the Celtae and still deserves its ancient Denomination G GRacuâ—is was a Colony in Hispania Baetica instituted by Gracchus whose Memory is preserved in the Pages of Ptolomy and Antoninus and is now called Agreda being seated in Castile I I Lorci recorded by Plâ—ny is now that Town we call Lorca in Murcia Illusias or Illusia so it is written in Ptolomy is now dâ—nominated â—ucena and is placed in Valentia Illarco scituated in New Castile and styled so by Pliny hath now obtained the name of Alarco Illuro or Diluron styled so in the Registers of Ptolomy is now called Alora being a Village in Catalonia Ilarcuris named so by Ptolomy is placed on the Margin
of New-Castile and is now called Caros de los Infantes Ildum hath obtained that Name in the Itinerary of Antoninus and was seated in Valentia where it is now known by the name of Salsadella L LAcuris or Larcuris whose remembrance is treasured up in Ptolomy and Surita is circumscribed within Castile and is now styled Loquera or Alarcos Lebrisia in Ptolomy hath now from its Ruines given us Nebrissa in Andaluzia M MAntua whose Appellation survives amongst the Leaves of Ptolomy is now supposed to be Madrid in Castile the eminent Residence of the King of Spain Marcia offered up to our Remembrance by Pliny and Strabo is now Marchena in Andaluzia Margis preserved from Oblivion by the Industry of Ptolomy is now conjectured to be Maxacra in Granada Menralia whose name is enrolled in the Volume of the abovesaid Author is now the eminent City of Murcia N NOrba Caesarea though â—â—bverted and demolished by Petreius and Afranius two of Pompey's Commanders yet it lives still in the Volumes of Ptolomy and Antoninus hath contributed a Being to Alcantara in Portugal Nemetobriga or Nemetobrica a â—own placâ—d by Ptolomy in Old Castiâ—e is now called Valâ—de Nebro Nebrissa so styled by Ptolomy but called Veneria in the Records of Pliny hath now contracted the Appellation oâ— â—ebrixa Naebis is placed by â—â—raâ—o neer Viana in Portugal and is now called Neiva Nagara is by Ptolomy represented to be a Town of Hispania Tarraconensis and hath acquired the name of Naira P PInta registred by Ptolomy hath now transplanted its name into Valladolid Porta Augusta is by Ptolomy likewise asserted to be a Town of Hispania or Old Caestile and hath now purchased the modern name of Torquemada Portus Calensis was seated in Portugal and is named now Porto Port. R RUseino or Ruscino mentioned by Pliny is conjectured by some to be the Castle of Roussillon and by others to be Perpignan in that County Rusticiana was placed by the Itinerary of Antoninus in Old Castile and is now as some contend named Castileo though others assert Cividad Roderigo was extracted originally out of its Ruines S SAcili or Sacilis affirmed by the Registers of Pliny and Ptolomy to have been a Town of Hispania Baetica is now known by the Name of Alcorrucen in Granada Salaria in Ptolomy's Time hath from its Remains afforded Siruela in New Castile or as some from very ancient Records do assert another Town styl'd Cazorlo Salsulae in Roussillon nominated so by Straâ—o is now faln under the Denomination of Salses Selsona or Celsona for so they are promiscuously written in Ptolomy other venerable Monuments of Antiquity hath from its Ashes contributed a new Production to Salsona in Catalonia Segisama mentioned by Ptolomy and Orosius is now involved in Veyzama seated in Biscay Segortia Lacta or Lata which owes for its Remembrance to Ptolomy is now wrapped up in Sepulveda scituated in Castile Segobriga whose name occurs in Strabo and Pliny hath now assumed another Appellation and is styled Cabezza del Griego being scituated in Valentia T TUcci denominated likewise Augusta Gemella and Gemella Tuccitana as the Pages of Pliny and Ptolomy do abundantly testifie is now shrunk into a little Town in Andaluzia called Martos V VIrgao whose Memory is improved by the Pen of Pliny is now called Vera in Granada Z ZAcantha was an ancient City in Spain entombed in its own Ruines by the successeful fury of Hanniball There were other ancient Towns wrapped up within the limits of the Continent of Spain and Portugal as namely Alâ—hea Aronda Athanasia Arsa Anitorgis Cusibis Cunes Contrebia Evandria Hippo Ituca and Serezola which often occur in the Annalls of Spain which were so dismantled and defaced in the Wars commenced by the Romans with the Carthaginians and the Native Inhabitants of Spain and there memory now entombed in such inhospitable Ruines that it is a work of more perplexed Difficulty to trace out their Fragments and Remains which now lye treasured up in untractable Rubbish then it was for the Roman Generals first to subdue them HAving taken a prospect of the Continent of Spain let us now lanch out into the Ocean and make a reflection on that Interest or concernment the Spanish Scepter is entituled to either in Africa Asia or America and the first of these new Acquists whâ—ch does obviate our discovery are the Canaries which are in number seven and have contracted this Denomination from Canaria the principall Island In ancient Records they are adorned with the Epithete of the Fortunate Islands and in the Arithmetick of Pliny and Ptolomy are computed but six but though they consent in their Number they disagree in their names By Pliny they are said to be 1 Ombrio 2 Junonia Major 3 Junonia Minor 4 Capraria 5 Nivaria and 6 Canaria But upon Ptolomies catalogue and account they are thus reckoned 1 Aprositus 2 Hera or Junonia 3 Pluitania 4 Casperia 5 Canaria and Pincuria But more modern discoveries hâ—ving rectifyed former Surveys have improved the account to Seven now better known by the new Names of 1 Canaria 2 Palma 3 Teneriffa 4 Gomero 5 Ferrò 6 Lanserotte and 7 Fuerte Ventura The ancient Inhabitants of these Islands were the Guanches who were as ancient Relations discover to us both rude and barbarously ignorant for their food was raw flesh for want either of the use or knowledge of Fire their earth they turned up with the Horns of Oxen being destitute of Ploughs or Instruments of Iron their Beards they shaved with a sharp Flint and transmitted the care of their Children to the Nursery of Goats The Slaughter of Beasts was in their estimate the most â—ordid and deâ—picable employment and therefore was impos'd on Prisoners and persons devoted and conden ned to the Ignominy of a common execution who being the common Slaughtermen were to live separated from publique intercourse and Society yet notwithstanding this Barbarity the light of nature though it shined in them with a faint and sickly Beam yet was it not so extinguished but that it still did send forth those rayes which did guide them to resign themselves up to a Kingly Government for each Island was rul'd by a single person whose power and authority held some Proportion and Analogy to the Rule and Dominion of a King but yet was their Government not so purely regall but that it was retrenched with the Dictates and Prescriptions of a commâ—n Councell collected out of all the Islands and consisting of an 130. who did not onely guide in Civill matters but direct and steer in Sacred also the People being by them conducted both in their Interest of State and that of conscience and obeyed their Prescripts which had an aspect on their faith and worship as well as an Influence on their Civill obedience The knowledge of these Islands being lost with the Roman Empire they lay conceâ—led untill about the year 1330. when an English or as some affirm a French Ship did in the disorder of a
Title for the actual Possession of the Crown which should give support and vital Energie to it was long since torne away by Ferdinand the Catholick King of Aragon and Castile the occasion which ministered materials to that Foundation on which that Detention was established was this About the Year 1510. Lewis the twelfth having by a signal Victory over the Venetian at Aignadel humbled that People much retrenched their Power and infus'd a Terrour into all the Princes of Italy fell into contention with Pope Julius the second and their mutual Animosities were enhans'd with that Acrimonie and Spleen that the Quarrel was prosecuted almost to a Scihsme for Julius blasted all the Partisans of Lewis with an Excomunication and put their Estates under Interdict in the Register of whom was John d'Albret King of Navarre who was disseised of his Crown and Scepter by Ferdinand above mentioned for this Ferdinand varnishing his Designe of ravishing this Kingdom away from the House of D'Albret with a pretence and shew of passing into Guinne to combine and unite his Forces with the Confederate Invading English by Vertue and Authority of the Papal Interdict to seise and subdue the Crown of France suddenly retriv'd his Army and like a Tempest drop'd on the Kingdome of Navarre and by Conquest about the Year 1512. supplanted â—nd expell'd John d'Albret above mentioned upon this pretence that he was entwined and linked in Confederacy with Lewis the twelfth who was a Rebell against the Church and an avowed Enemy to the English with whom he was wrap'd up in mutual Alliance and more to fortifie this pretence he asserted that there was an ancient Compact or stipulation between the Kings of Spain by which they did Covenant and Indent with each other not to suffer or permit that any of the Spanish Crowns should fall into Forreign Hands or under the Power and Seignory of Houses not Soveraign as those of Foix and Albret were and who likewise by a kind of Servile Coherence and Connexion had their Dependance on the Crown of France And though in Ages subsequent to this the French have protested against this Invasion and Forciblâ—â—ntry and have likewise endevoured to vindicate their Interest by the more powerful Argument of the Sword yet hath it ever since been so firmly linked to the Spanish Patrimony that it still obeys the Scepter and confesses the Dominion of Philip the Fourth King of Spain CASTILE CASTILE is bounded on the East with Navarre Aragon and part of Valentia on the West with Portugal on the North with Biscay and Guipuscoa and Asturia on the South with Estremadura Andalusia and Granada It is divided into the Old and New Castile the first of which assumed that Appellation because it was the ancient Patrimony of the first Earls thereof The other hath borrow'd the Distinction of the New because it was incorporated into the Old Demeasne when the successful Conquests of the Castilians had rent it from the Moors The ancient Inhabitants of these two Provinces were the Vaccai Ventones Arevacae Oretani Dittani and the Carpentani whose Chief City was named Castulo now shrunk into an obscure Village havâ—â—g its ancient Glory entomb'd in neglected Rubbish from whence some Conjectures have asserted that the Name of Castile was imposed on this Province But all these Inhabitants having been much harrassed by the frequent Incursions of the Romans not able to stand the shock of so powerful an Opposition fell under their Conquests and became a part of the Roman Empire from which again they were rent off by the Alani who again were disseised of their violently extorted purchase by the Intrusion of the Goths who being overwhelm'd by the Moors who like an â—nnundation not cloistered up within the shore and channel of any Restraint bore down all before them for some distance of Time gave way to the Torrent but not long after their spirits which before seemed to have been sunk buoy'd up again and by the Assistance of the Kings of Leon so resolutely vindicated their own Interest that they disengaged themselves wholly of that yoke of Moorish servitude that with an uneasie Load had so crushed their shoulders and the better for the â—uture to secure themselves from the Eruptions of the Moors resign'd themselves up to the dominion and protection of the Kings of Leon who managed this Province at first by Provincial Earls but they having made ill use of that power they had entrusted them with by making too frequent Inroads upon the peoples Liberties were by the instigation and influence of one Ordogno who much fomented this Defection barbarously assassinated by the impetuous Multitude having thus thrown off all Obedience to the Scepter of Leon they were afterwards Governed by Judges and secondly by Earls as an absolute and Independent Estate chained by no subserviency to any Forreign Diadem but still this did not so supersede the Claim of the Kings of Leon but that they often endevoured by the power of the Sword to assert their Title until Sancho King of Leon being engaged in a Debt to Ferdinand Gonzales â—e to absolve himself From this Obligation quitted and released all pretence and Claim to the Earldom of Castile so that Ferdinand Gonzales from this signal Investiture is look'd upon in the Spanish Annalls as the first Proprietary Earl of Castile and from him it came down to his Great Grandchild Garcias the second who being treasonably assassinated and concluding without Issue Sancho the Great King of Navarre in Right of his Wife Elvira Sister and sole Heir to this Garcias entred upon it and linked it to his Revenue and upon his Decease setled by particular Donation on his Son Ferdinand and more to enhaunse the glory of this Grant annexed the Title of King to this Concession and from him did the Crowns of Castile and Leon by the Devolution of many Descents come to empale the Temples of Sancho the third second Son of Alfonso the fifth King of Castile and Leon who by the Revolution of humane Affairs having the Fate to survive his elder Brother Ferdinand de la Cerdâ— contriv'd so many Stratagems in his Fathers Life Time which Artifices of his were so closely combined and knit together in the Contrivance and Contexture of them that by Aide of these and the concurrent support of a prevalent Faction beside he extorted the Scepter of Castile and Leon from the Heits of his Elder Brother though many Attempts were made to retrive the Diadem thus placed on the Head of Sancho which being by the prudence of Sancho broken and disappointed Alfonso Son of Ferdinand retreated for shelter into France where he Match'd and had Issue Lewis Earl of Clermont which Lewis by Leonora de Guzman extracted from the House of Medina Sidonia had Issue Lewis and John both which were extinguished without Issue and Isabella de la Cerda who by matching with Bernard a Natural Son of the House of Foix and so all the Right of that Family which was
was cimented with so much blood must be crazy brittle and unsafe so that the â—â—own devolving to Mahomet Boad delin who did not expect his Fathers death but hastned it with all these imperfections debauching its lustre it is no wonder if it was snatch'd from his head by Ferdinand and Isabella who having by a noble and a Christian Conquest knit it to the Demeasn of Castile and Arragon it is now by successive right brought down to confesse Philip the Fourth now King of Spain for its Lord and Soveraign TOLEDO THe Kingdome of Toledo extracts its Appellation from Toledo the principal City which in elder times did circumscribe the chiefest part of that Countrey which now falls under the Name of New Castile The ancient Inhabitants were the Carpentani and Gyresâ—â—ni dislodged by the Romans who again were dispossessed by the Alani and they again finally disseised by the Goths who after they had many Descents possest it and made Toledo their capital Residence which City was surrounded and fortified with a Wall by the Care and Expence of Bamba King of the Goths were outed and devested by the discomfiture given by Musa Chieftain of the Moors to Roderick the last Gothish King whose incogitant â—â—â—st gave him and Spain up a prey to the Sword of Barbarous Sarazens But afterwards when the great Kingdome of Corduba began to be split asunder by its own Disorder and Confusion it was upon the entrance of Abderamen into Spain ravished away from Galafrâ—y who held it as Vassall under the Caliphs of Daâ—ascus but with the Title of King and this Abderamen left it to his eldest Son Zuleima who was disseised not only of this Province but of Corduba likewise by his younger Brother Hizen after which devestiture it remained constant to the Interest of Corduba untill the Expiration of the Reign of Abderamen the second King of Corduba from whom it was torn away by Aben Lope who again was supplanted by Mahomet Son of Abderamen about the year 848. and here it continued fixed and constant until Addalla a Man of very great estimate amongst the Moors taking advantage of the Feud started between Zuleima and Hizen the second in relation to the Realm seised on Toledo and entituled himself to the Diadem of it but he dying without Issue as divers old Records intimate the Crown of Toledo devolved by his Testament and Donation to Mahomet Almohadi issued from the Royal Family of Humeia King of Corduba to which Diadem though he had an indisputable Title yet he was illegally and forcibly discarded from the possession of it by the Violence of Zuleima and his more prevalent Faction and from this Mahomet did the Scepter of Toledo come to adorn the hand of his Son Obeydalla who had but newly ascended his Throne when he fell in an unsuccesseful Encounter a Sacrifice to the Ambition and Fury of Hizen King of Corduba about the year 990. After whose disastrous Tragedy the Diadem of Toledo empailed the Temples of his Kinsman Hairam from whom the Devolution of successive Right carried it down to his great Grandchild to Hiaya sirnamed Alcaduchir or Alcadarbile who having by his Tyranny and Exactions disobliged his Subjects and exasperated their Spirits against him opened a Gap so wide that Alfonso the first King of Castile and Leon rushed in at that breach and by an absolute Conquest annexed this Province to Castile to the Dominion of whose succeeding Princes it hath ever since continued so constant that it still obeys the Scepter of Philip the fourth now King of Spain MURCIA MURCIA is bounded on the West with Granada on the East with Valentia on the North with Valentia and part of Granada on the South with the Levant or Mediteranean Sea This Province being an appendant Limb to Hispania Carthaginensis was upon the Eruption of the Alani ravished from the Romans who were by Conquest first entituled to it but the Alani had not been long resident in their new Atcheivements here but they were expulsed by the more powerful Sword of Vallia or Wallia King of the Goths After this it was so subservient to the Fate of Spain that it was made part of the Conquests of the Moors of Africk when the rest of the Kingdome bowed it self to their yoke and Scepter But their Empire in Spain being by their own Divisions and Animosities so disorder'd and discompos'd that it was distracted and broken into several parcells this upon so general Shipwrack was seised upon by Aben-Hut extracted from the Kings of Saragossa who raised it into a distinct Kingdome about the year 1228. and afterwards stretched out his power to that latitude that he not only commanded over this Countrey but reduced Granada and part of Andalusia under his Dominion But long he had not been in the possession of his new Conquests when amidst the Caresses of a drunken Feast he was traiterously assassinated by Aben Arramin a perâ—idious Servant of his own upon whose Tragedy one Aben Hudiel with a successeful hand seised on the Scepter but long he had not grasped it when one Alboaquis wrung it from him but he being not able to assert his new atchieved Regality against the power of his Competitor resigned the Kingdome into the hands of Ferdinand the second King of Castile but with this Provisoe that he should enjoy the Title of King of Murcia during his Life upon whose Expiration it was annexed to the Diadem of Ferdinand abovementioned and hath been so constantly linked ever since to the Scepter of Castile that it now acknowledges no other Monarch but Philip the fourth now King of Spain VALENTIA VALENTIA is circumscribed on the East with the Mediterranean on the West with Castile and Aragon on the North with Catalonia It was originally part of that Division of Spain called Tarraconensis but afterwards that Province being subdivided by Constantine it was made a Limb of Hispania Carthaginensis The ancient Inhabitants were the Bastitani the Edotani the Contestani and some part of the Celtiberi In the waning of the Roman Empire when the Imperial Diadem was torn to pieces by its fatal Distemper within as well as by the violent and forcible Eruptions of the Barbarous Nations from without this Province stoop'd to receive that yoke which was imposed upon it by the victorious Alani but this was not long after taken off by the Goths who having subdued these new Intruders cimented this Province by Conquest with the Residue of Spain but was again rent off from their Monarchy by the successeful Sword of the Moors and knit by this Acquist to their Kingdome erected in Spain and in their Do ninion untill Mahomet Enasir received that destructive Blow at the Battel of Sierra Morena which so diminished the strength of the Moors that their Retreat into Africk was an effect of this Defeat Valentia was erected into a distinct Kingdome by Zeit Aben Zeit the Brother of Mahomet Enasir before mentioned about the year 1214. but not long after that is about
their curious designs in Painting upon Cotton whatsoever was represented to the Eye But these Virtues and perfections were stained and debauched with so Barbarous a Cruelty that they thought no victime so fit could be offered up to appease the Fury of their gods as an Oblation of humane Sacrifices so that it is no wonder if God permitted the Spanish Sword to â—ake such bloody Ravage upon this People as â— reward proportioned to recompense their inhumane Butcheries it being still very equal that the Artificers of Death should be caught in their own impious and injurious Artifices But Ignorance and Barbarity are still complicated and entwined and so it was manifested here for upon the first Eruption of the Spaniards their misguided Apprehensions esteemed Them and their Horses to be one peice and when they neighed they demanded what they spake ignorantly placing no Distinction between neighing and speaking Guaxaca is a fourth Province which falls under our Cognisance It hath assumed this Name from Guaxaca the principal Town of these parts now styled Antequera The Air hereof is sound and salubrious which hovers over a Soile as fruitful productive not onely of those Commodities which it enjoyes in common with other Provinces of this Continent but likewise blest with such plenty of Mulberry-trees that from thence is extracted such a quantity of Silk that if the Natives paid their Tithes as they do not the Income which issued from thence would afford a Revenue competent enough to support five Bishopricks Rivers are here very numerous whose Shores for the most part are enamelled with Golden Sand nor is there here any deficiency of Cochineele Cassia Silver and other Metals so that if the Industry of the People were but correspondent to the Fertility of the Soil and Wealth of the Country it might become as opulent as any Province in America But the natural sloth of the Inhabitants makes them impatient of Labour and consequently intercepts all opportunities which may suggest an occasion of amaâ—â—ing together any considerable Estate yet notwithstanding this they are of a tractable and docile Capacity in relation to the Impressions of the Catholique Faith which hath encouraged the Spaniard to establish here an Hundred and twenty Covents of Dominican Friers and many other Schools and Seminaries of Learning that by their Influence and concurrent assistance they might better improve the growth of Christianity in this Province Jucutan is a fifth Province which calls for our remembrance It hath borrowed this Name from Jucutan which in the Idiome or Dialect of the Country imports as much as What say you For when the Spaniards at their first arrival demanded the Name of the place the Natives answered Jucutan The Air which hovers over this Country is hot whose fervors are inforced from the Destitution or want of Rivers in this Track whose defect is supplied by the conservatories of artificial Pits and Channels The Soil is generally condemned to Barrenneâ—s not producing wheat or any European Fruits nor many of those which are of the natural Extraction of America in other places Nor are its bowels more pregnant in Mines of Gold and Silver or any other Metalls so that the general subsistence of this People is principally supported by Trades and Mechanick Operations But that which makes this Country most remarkable is that the Spaniards upon their first approach discovered here some symptomes or glimpses of Christianity the people generally observing a constant Form of Baptisme which in the Native Dialect is styled a second Birth expressing by that word a Regeneration nor is any one permitted to Marry untill he hath the Symboll of this Initiation which probably was some Vestigium or Relique of the Christian Religion left here behind by Madâ—câ—ap Owen or some other Christians by the Disaster of some Shipwrack cast upon this infortunate shore Tlascalla is that eminent Province which being one of the Seven Tribes which having supplanted the Ancient Natives the Chichimechas could never be reduced to the Tyranny and Usurpation of the Kings of Mexico but still preserved themselves notwithstanding their frequent Eruptions in the Liberty of a Democracie or Free State and erected here the City of Tlascalla which as it gave Name to so it became the Metrapolis of this Province and in this Capacity they remained until the Invasion of Cortez made upon Mexico to whose assistance out of Animosity to the Mexicans they and the Inhabitants of Zempoallan another City of this Province contributed such large supplies both of Men and other Necessaries that by their concurrence Mexico was reduced and the Scepter of that Kingdom broken to peices and though they were forced afterwards to bow to the successful Sword of the Spaniard yet do they preserve still some shadow of ancient Liberty being exempt from all kind of Tribute as a Recompense of their former Services except it be an handfull of Wheat for every person and permitted to live under the protection of the former Government This Province is abundantly stored with Corn and Cattell every where strewed with rich Pastures and abundantly productive of Maiâ— It is levell and beaten out into an even Champaigne unlesse where it confines on the Sea where it is made Gibbous and rugged with a Chain of craggy Mountains but indeed the Fertility of the Earth is very much inforced and multiplyed by those many Rivers which stream almost through every vein of it If we please to trace out those Eminent persons to whose Industry and Navigation these Provinces which lie clasped up within the Verge of Nova Hispania do attribute their first Discovery we shall find that Panuco and Mechoacan were first attempted by Francisco Garaio but their Conquest was perfected by Ferdinand Cortez in the Year 1522. Jucutan was first Discovered by Ferdinand Cordova in the Year 1517. which Discovery was in the Year 1518. reinforced by John de Grijalua and persued likewise by the Industrious Designs of Cortez who about Tabasco obtained over the Natives a signal Victory but the final reduction of this Province to the Obedience and Soveraignty of the Crown of Spain is entitled to the Successful Sword of Francisco Monteio who in the Year 1527. atchieved a full and absolute Conquest over it Mexico and Guaxata followed the Fate of Panuco and Mechoacan and by their Conquest and Subjection augmented the Triumphs of the Victorious Cortez about the Years 1521 and 1522. Tlascalan was first Discovered by John Grijalua but received under the Protection of the Spanish Scepter by Cortez in the Year 1521. Nova Gallicia is circumscribed on the East and South with Nova Hispania on the West with the River of Buena Guia and the Gulfe of Califormia the Countries which abutt on the Northern parts of it are not yet exposed to a Discovery It hath assumed this Name from some resemblance or proportion it holds with the Province of Old Gallicia in Spain The Air generally is of a temperate Constitution yet more inclinable to heat than cold