from all countreys of Europe Here is great plentie of all maner of prouision necessary for the maintenance of mans life The riuers of Austrich are Donaw sometime the vtmost border of the region but now it runneth thorow the midst of the same Onasus Drawn Erlaph which at Cella or Zelltal famous for the Church of the Virgine Marie ariseth out of a most pleasant lake Draisn Ypsie Melck Marck These doe seuer Morauia from Austrich Camb a notable riuer for sundry sorts of fish Leytte and Swegad in which are Crefishes or Crabs of a most pleasant taste Thus farre Rithaymer Of the originall and reason of the etymologie of the name of this countrey this report Lazius in his Commentaries of VVien doth giue The name of Austria saith he was inuented of late about foure hundred yeeres since of the blast of the South winde called of the Latines Auster which winde in this country bloweth oft or of the similitude of the German name which I thinke to be more likely for the Kings of the Franks called the East border of their Kingdomes Ostenrich like as the West part they termed Westenrich This region long since was first gouerned by Marquesses then by Dukes and lastly by Archdukes to whom it is now subiect as is more at large to be seene in the said Commentaries of Lazius The ancient armes of this countrey were fiue Larkes Ore in a field Azure but Lupold the Marquesse the fift of that name of an accident or euent that befell him was licenced by the Emperour to alter his coat and to beare a field Gules with a fesse argent for that in the siege and assault of Accon he was all ouer embrued with bloud onely his girdle excepted More thou maiest reade of this in Munster and Cuspinian The description of Austrich is to be seene in Bonfinius in the end of his fourth booke fourth Decade of his historie of Hungarie Pius the second in his description of Europe citeth an historie of his written of this countrey which notwithstanding as yet it was neuer our chance to see The same authour hath in his Epistles passing well described Vienna or VVien the chiefe citie of this Prouince AVSTRIAE DESCRIP per WOLFGANGVM LAZIVM The Bishopricke of SALCZBVRG FRANCIS IRENICVS saith that of the fiue Bishopricks of Bayern this is the principall and the Bishops sea termed of Aeneas Syluius the Metropolitan citie whose description we haue here set downe is by Munster thus described Iulius Caesar entending to make warre vpon the Germans caused a very strong castle to be built in the streights of the mountaines whither his souldiers in danger might retire themselues and from whence they might haue succour when need required and therefore it was called Castrum Iuuauiense in the German tongue Helfenberg The riuer vpon which it standeth called Iuuauius is thought by some to haue giuen the name to this castle of which also the citie afterwards built was named Iuuauia This citie hath Fennes Plaines Hilles and Mountaines round about belonging to it The Fennes yeeld pastures the Mountaines hawking and hunting But this citie hauing long since flourished for a few yeres in the time of Attila the King of the Hunnes susteined many inrodes and incursions and was miserably wasted with fire and sword Afterward about the yeere of Christ 520 whenas S. Rupert descended of the bloud royall of the Franks was inuested Bishop of the sea of VVormes and after the death of Childebert was driuen from that his Bishopricke Thedo Duke of Bayern entertained him at Ratispone with great ioy and solemnitie and was baptized of him with his Nobles and Commons Rupert the Bishop going on visitation and trauelling about by Noricum euen vnto Pannony preaching the Gospell conuerted many to the faith of CHRIST and comming vnto the riuer Iuuaue where sometime the citie Iuuawe had stood but now ruined decaied ouergrowen with bushes and without inhabitant and obseruing the place fitting and conuenient for a Bishops sea he obtained the possession thereof from the Duke stocked vp the trees and bushes and finding the foundation of the buildings he erected there a Church which he dedicated vnto the honour of S. Peter Also by the bountifull magnificence of the same Duke he erected a Monasterie of the order of S. Bennet and gouerned the Bishops sea foure and fortie yeeres c. The same authour in that place reckoneth vp also the rest of the Bishops and Archbishops of this sea See Auentinus who thinketh this citie to haue beene of Ptolemey called Poedicum This citie is seated amongst the Alpes Some doe thinke it to haue beene named Saltzburg of Salt which in the countrey neere adioyning not farre from Reichenhall is digged out of the earth in great plenty Yet who doth not see it not to be called of them Saltzburg or Salisburg but Salezburg of Salcz or Salczach the riuer vpon which it is built and situate like as Insperg Instadt of the riuer In Iltzstadt vpon Iltz Regensperg vpon Regen not farre from this place and a thousand such euery where to be obserued The territorie and liberties of this citie is rich of all sorts of mettels as of Golde Siluer Brasse and yron Here is also found Vitrioll Brimstone Alume and Antimonie It hath also some quarries of Marble VViguley Hund hath set forth a catalogue of the Bishops of this citie The Iournall of Antoninus maketh mention of Iuuaue But Gaspar Bruschius thinketh the more ancient name of Iuuaue to haue beene Helfenberg and of that the name Iuuaue to haue beene formed which in signification is the same Pighius writeth that he hath read these verses in the chiefe church of this city Tunc Hadriana vetus quae pòst Iuuauia dicta Praesidialis erat Noricis Episcopo digna Rudiberti sedes qui fidem contulit illis CHRISTI quam retinet Saltzburgum serò vocata Thus verbatim in English Where Hadriana old did stand which since they Iuuaue call'd A garrison towne to Roman State there Robert was enstall'd First Bishop of the sea who them did bring to cheerefull light Of Gospell cleere which yet they hold it now is Salczburg hight SALISBVRGENSIS IVRISDICTIONIS locorumque vicinorum vera descriptio Auctore Marco Secznagel Salisburgense Qui patriae adfert ingenio suae Illustre nomen Laudibus excolens Dignus fauore est praemióque Quem sequens veneretur aetas Cum Marcus ergo fecerit hoc opus Grato tuum te quaeso foue sinu Salczburga ciuem ges tiensque Posteritatis honore cinge BAVARIA BAyern or Bauiere called of the Latines Boiaria or as others like better Bauaria was inhabited in former times by the Narisci Vindelici and Norici The Nariskes which now are called Nardge the riuer Donaw parteth from the other two The Noricks did enter at the riuer In and doe decline toward the East and West euen vnto Hungarie and Italie The Vindelicks were conteined betweene the riuers Lyke Donaw Isara Inne and the Alps which Ptolemey calleth Penninae All this
his deare Mother which brought him vp by them to be spoiled Therefore Florence partly taking by force and partly by other meanes drawing to their part the Fesulanes about the yeare of Christ 1024. was much enlarged in wealth and authoritie at which time also Henry the first Emperour of Rome built the goodly Church of S. Miniate neere the walles of Florence This city was twise within a little while in the yeare 1176. miserably defaced by casualty of fire From which time it first began to be gouerned as now it is by the Priori the masters of the twelue companies and a Standard-bearer Gonfalonerio they call him One of the first Gonfalonerios was Stroza a nobleman borne of a great house The goodly Minster which in our time by the ingenious direction of Philippo Brunalitio a Florentine was most stately arched and dedicated to our Lady was begun in the yeare of our Lord 1294. Foure yeares after that was that gorgeous Palace where now the Priori or Aldermen do keepe first founded And fiue yeares after that was the Pomoerium the prospect or wast ground round about the city leuelled and the walles of the city enlarged Pistorio was the first city that the Florentines subdued vnder their command as Leander in his description of Italie affirmeth vpon the testimony of Aretino where also he hath these words of the diuers forms and different maner of gouernment of the same After that it was repaired saith he by Charles the Great they yearely chose two Consuls or Sheriffes who with the assistance of 100. Senatours or Aldermen should gouerne the city This forme of commonwealth being altered they created the Decemuiri the tenne called of them Antiani about the yeare of Grace 1220. as Volaterran affirmeth or as Blondus saith in the yeare 1254. After that in the yeare 1287. hauing redeemed their freedome of the Emperour Rudolfe for 60000. crownes as Platina writeth the Decemuiri the tenne were reduced to Octouiri eight and were called the Priori the maisters of the companies ouer whom was set the Standerd-bearer called by them Gonfalonerio di Giustitia the Lord chiefe Iustice which office they were to hold but two monethes and then others were to be elected This forme of policy for as much as I can gather out of historiographers was since that time thrise altered First in the yeare 1343. when the Florentines bought Luca of Mastino Scaligero for 5000. crownes their forces being ouerthrowne by the enemie they were constrained to demand aid of Robert King of Naples and obtained Gualterio Gallo a captaine of Athens for their generall who by great subtilty and cunning getting the rule of the city went to the Court and there deposed the Priori and other Magistrates from their office Yet he enioied not his vsurped authority long for the people at the persuasion of Angelo Accieuolo Bishop of the sea a Frier predicant rose vp in armes and deposing the Tyrant restored the Priori and Confalonerio to their places againe The second alteration of this Common-wealth happened in the time of Alexander the sixth Bishop of Rome when as his sonne Caesar Borgia Duke of Valence neuer labouring to bring home againe Peter Iohn and Iulian the sonnes of Laurence Medices who but lately had beene banished at length brought the matter so about that the office of the Gonfalonerio should be giuen to Peter Soderine for a perpetuall and standing office who together with the Priori chosen euery two moneths after the ancient custome most wisely behaued himselfe and orderly gouerned that Common-wealth vntill at length being expelled by Raimundo Cordona Embassadour of Ferdinand the King of Arragon and Naples who was to restore Iohn Cardinall Medices and his brother Iulian in the yeare of Grace 1412. and erecting the ancient maner of gouernment which continued vntill the yeare 1530. In the meane time although the city were commanded at the discretion and direction of the Popes Leo the tenth which was Iohn Medices and Clement the seuenth which was Iulius Medices the bastard sonne of Iulian the first Cardinall Cortonesse hauing the wardship and being Gardian to Hippolytus the sonne of Iulian the second of Alexander the bastard sonne of Laurenznio the nephew of Peter the second Yet notwithstanding the ancient Magistrates were chosen after the custome formerly vsed In that same yeare therefore when as three yeares before the Emperours souldiers besieging Clement the seuenth in Hadrians castle the city shaking off the yoke of bondage obteined freedome and endeuoured by all meanes to retaine the same Philip the Prince of Aurange leading the armie of the Emperour Charles the fifth Clement entreating that Alexander his nephew whom before he had intituled Duke of Penna to be brought againe into the city forced it being much distressed for want of victuall to yeeld to the obedience of the Emperour Charles the Emperour at the request of Clement the Pope presently created Alexander perpetuall Priour and thus the offices of the Priori and Gonfalonerio were vtterly taken away Then when the Emperour Charles had created Alexander Duke of Florence and giuen vnto him in mariage Margaret his bastard daughter in the yeare of our Sauiour 1535. and two yeares after that before the seuenth day of Ianuarie Laurence Medices the sonne of Peter Francis that he might set his natiue country at liberty as he pretended had miserably slaine him Cosmus Medices the sonne of Iohn Medices was created Duke in his roome Thus farre Leander vnto which I may adioine these words of my kind friend M. Iohn Pinadello When it was known saith he to Pius the fifth Pope of Rome that Cosmus Medices Duke of Florence had at that time taken great paines for the maintainance of the Church and Religion and spared no cost in the warres against the hereticks in the yeare 1570. in the moneth of Februarie comming to the city crowned him in Aula Regia the Kings hall a place in Vaticana so named and gaue him and his successours the title of The great Duke In whose Crowne the Pope caused these words to be engrauen PIVS QVINTVS Pont. Max. ob eximiam dilectionem Catholicae religionis zelum praecipuumque iustitiae studium donauit that is Pius the fifth Bishop of Rome in token of great loue earnest zeale of Catholique religion and constant maintainance of true Iustice gaue this Thus farre in few words of the Offices Policy and Iurisdiction of this city I thinke it not amisse here to adioine another short discourse because it is rare and not altogether from the purpose It is thus as Syffridus Presbyter reporteth in George Fabricius his historie of Misnia Otho the third Emperour of Rome lying at Mutina with his wife the Empresse fell in loue with a certaine Earle but when as he by no meanes would consent vnto her she so diffamed him vnto her husband the Emperour that he commanded him to be beheaded before euer he had examined the matter Who before he was beheaded entreated his wife
salt made which is carried hence in carts to the neighbour countries and yeelds great reuenue to this region SCODINGA situate in a long streight valley extending in length betweene a double ridge of high mountaines which beare vines in such places as are most open to the Sunne it is exceeding strong being fortified with two castles and diuers loftie turrets ARBOIS seated in a most pleasant soile and abounding with all necessaries especially with excellent and durable wine It hath large suburbs on all sides It is enuironed with ditches but such as they make gardens vpon Round about it are mountaines of most beautifull prospect watered with cleare springs and clad with fruitfull vines and sightly woods It is called Arbois ab Arboribus because it is so planted with trees POLIGNY a faire towne fortified with stately walles and towers the castle called Grimonia lying within it and on the one side it hath mountaines of woods and on the other side hilles set with vines the wine whereof is principall good PONTARLIER situate in a low valley betweene two mountaines on the bancke of Dubis Not farre hence stands the strong castle of Iura or Ioux on the top of an exceeding high hill so that for situation it is impregnable NOZEROY founded vpon an open hill in the very nauell or midst of this region All the houses in a maner are built of stone the Prince of the countrey hath here a castle called The Leaden castle because it is couered with lead Here is a Faire kept foure times in the yere In times past this towne before it was walled was named Nucillum of the abundance of hazel-nuts that grew round about it CHASTEL CHALON built and named by the Emperour Charlemaine both pleasantly and strongly situate MONTMOROT vpon a steepe mountaine planted with vines ORGELET abounding with merchandise The inhabitants are industrious and painfull and exercise themselues in clothing Their fields are barren for they are full of hilles and craggie rocks whereupon is grounded a common prouerbe which saith That Orgelet hath fields without grasse riuers without fish and mountaines without woods and groues The cities of Dole are first DOLE it selfe the head citie of the prouince a nurse of all learning and especially of the ciuill law most pleasantly situate vpon the riuer Dubis adorn'd with bridges walles and inuincible forts The houses churches and schooles both for greatnesse and curious building are most delightfull to the beholders QVINGEY a most ancient towne situate vpon the bancke of Louë ORNANS standing also among high mountaines by the riuer Louë LA LOY a most ample village ROCHFORT a pretie litle towne VERCELLES with ruinous and deformed walles In this countie stands BESANÇON a citie Imperiall and Metropolitan of both Burgundies the description whereof because I cannot condignly expresse in this page being exactly performed by Gilbert Cognatus Paradine and George Bruno in his volume of cities I cease here to speake any farther For sith their books are so easie to be had I referre all students to them To these also you may adde Robert Caenalis It were to be wished that Cognatus had not frustrated the hope of students for he promised in a booke to restore and bring to light ancient Burgundie together with a particular Map and the olde and new names of places But we haue hitherto expected him in vaine Howbeit not long since Lewis Gollusius published concerning this Countie in French a great and peculiar volume BVRGVNDIAE COMITATVS Hugo Cusinus sive Cognatus patriam suam sic describebat 1589. Cum Privilegijs Imp. Regis et Brabantiae ad decennium The Dukedome of BVRGVNDIE THat part of France which the Aedui whilome enioyed is now called The Dukedome of Burgundie It is limited North by Champaigne and Gastinois West by Niuernois and Burbonnois South it borders vpon Lionnois and East the riuer Rhosne diuides it from Sauoy and the county of Burgundy The head citie in times past was Augustodunum but now Diuio or Diuionum as Gregory Turonensis in his third booke calles it or as the inhabitants Digion hath gotten the superiority for here the supreme court of Parliament for the whole Dukedome is holden It is seated on the bancke of Oscarus commonly Ousch a riuer abounding with fish in a fertile and plentifull soile the mountaines adiacent yeelding strong and excellent wines as the said Turonensis reporteth who most learnedly describes it Some thinke it was built by the Emperour Aurelian but others affirme it to be much ancienter It is a citie both by arte and nature most strongly fortified against all hostile attempts certaine new forts being lately added Belna commonly Beaulne is the second citie of the Dukedome famous for the wines of Beaulne which all men commend This Citie is fairely built being impregnable in regard of a Castle which Lewis the twelfth erected here It hath an hospitall comparable for building to any Kings Palace Here also is the seat of the high court of Chancery In the territorie adiacent was built by Duke Otho about the yeere of our Lord 1098. the abbey of Cistertium in a woody and clammy soile which some thinke was so called in regard of certaine Cisternes there digged Vnder the iurisdiction of this Monasterie Belleforest reporteth that there are 1800. other Monasteries of Friers and as many of Nunnes Next followes Augustodunum which some though vpon no sufficient grounds of antiquitie suppose to haue beene called Bibracte now Auttun That this citie of ancient times was most large and populous it is euident out of sundry authours and especially out of Caesar Here are yet extant mightie ruines of a Theater of Statues Pillars Water-chanels Pyramides and many other monuments of antiquitie Likewise here are dayly digged vp coines little vessels and other such ancient fragments This citie hath endured two memorable ouerthrowes one by Caesar in his French warres and the other about the time of Galienus the Emperour But it was afterward reedified by Constantine the sonne of Claudius as the Panegyrick of Eumenius calling it Flauiam Heduorum doth testifie And at this very day it is adorned with stately temples and other buildings for publicke vses Then haue you Matiscona Caesaris or Matisconense castrum Antonini where he placeth in garrison the tenth Roman legion It is now called Mascon Of olde it was graced with the title of an Earledome It ioyneth the bancks of Araris by a bridge Here the Lords day of the Christians began first to be hallowed as Paradine reporteth out of the Edict of Guntram The relation of the citie of Mascon Philip Bugnonius hath elegantly and briefly set downe Cabilonum now Chalon vpon the bancke of Araris also anciently called Orbandale as reporteth Peter Sanjulian By Antoninus the foureteenth Roman legion was here put in garrison It was of olde the royall seat of Guntram which notwithstanding afterward Lotharius sonne to Ludouicus Pius so destroyed and abolished with fire as he left no mention at all of a citie yet now it is very
Henricus Olim enim sub ducibus Saxoniae erat BVCHAVIA or BVCHONIA IN this prouince standeth the Abbey of Fuld concerning the originall and situation whereof thus writeth Munster FVLDA is the head city of that part of Germanie which in times past some called Buchonia others the forest or desert of Buchauia namely of Beech-trees wherefore at this present we call it Fagoniam and Fagunetum And that this name is deriued of Fagus a beech the name of a towne therein called Fag or Fach not farre from the high hill Taurus doth plainly import This region is situate betweene Turingen Frankenlandt Hesse and Wederaugia bordering on the confines of all the said regions and lying as it were in the center of them For townes castles villages riuers pooles woods fields hortyards sweet fountaines and fruitfull soile so farre forth as the asperitie of these regions may affourd it is none of the meanest parts of Germanie notwithstanding it beareth no vines at all The riuers are Fuld whereof the city that it runnes by is called Fuld Hun Guerra and Vlster The whole countrey is full of woods abounding with oaks and beeches The little villages neere the city they call Celles in token of the order of the Benedictins there dwelling in times past But the chiefe grace and ornament of this region is the ancient and magnificent Church of S. Sauiour which the memory of S. Boniface makes most renowmed by whose meanes the city of Fulda was first built and inlarged being before but a waste wildernesse For this being the Church of that most ancient monastery was before the towne anno 655. erected in the time of the Emperour Pipin father to Charlemaigne More you may reade in Sebastian Munster Sundry particulars also concerning the originall of this Abbey and the deeds of the Abbats you shall find in the Chronography of Valentine Muntzer published in Dutch where he saith that the ground-plot of this city of Fulda before the building thereof was called Eulenloch that is The den of Owles And where the Abbey of S. Peter now standeth it was of old named Eulenbergh or The hill of Owles THE COVNTIE OF WALDECK THis Countie containeth a part of Hesse it is a fruitfull region and watered with many riuers the principall whereof abounding with fish is called Eder and is sayd to yeeld graines of gold Then haue you also the riuers Dimel Twist Ahra Vrba and Ither The soile affourds both corne and wine Also it hath mines of siluer quick-siluer copper lead salt and alume The principall places are the city and castle of Waldeck which giueth name to the whole region Astinchusen Dudinchusen Landawe a city and castle with the towne and castle of Mengerhusen where the Earle at this present holds his court the towne and castle of Roden in the territory whereof is much hunting Wetterburg a castle most pleasantly situate betweene Twist and Ahra the old and new towne of Wildung distinct both in name and place neere vnto which are certaine mines that yeeld both golde copper and siluer Here are likewise fountaines of sower water And here they brew the best beere in all the countrey The castle of Eisenburg in the fields whereof as at Wildung is digged vp gold and yron mine Here also they dig a kinde of stones which they burne in stead of coales The castle of Eilhusen most gallantly seated and diuided by a riuer from Vrba Corbach a strong city the castle and towne of Newburg the castle Ither and the monastery of Werben c. BVCHAVIAE siue FVLDENSIS DITIONIS TYPVS Wolfgango Regrwill auctore 1574. WALDECCENSIS COMITATVS DESCRIPTIO ACCVRATISSIMA Cum Priuilegio Caes. et Reg. M t s decennali Iustus Moers describ Anno. 1575. The Dukedomes of BRVNSWIICK and LVNENBVRG THese two regions are at this present subiect to one Prince They are both named of the principall cities Brunswijck and Lunenburg The city of Brunswijck was about the yeere 860. built by Bruno the sonne of Ludolphus who as Crantzius saith first erected a street or borough calling it Brunonis vicus whereupon the whole citie hath euer since beene called Brunswijck A place of great renowme situate in the midst of Saxonie vpon the riuer Onadri which falles into the Weser The beginnings of this towne were small Howbeit in processe of time and by degrees it is now growen to such state riches and strength as the Princes thereof are worthily called Dukes of Brunswijck But it was very long first For of ancient times they bare only the title of Lords but vnder Frederick the Emperour in the yeere 1235 renewing their stile they were ordained Dukes This is one of the seuentie Hanse-townes From which societie by a generall Councell of all the said townes held at Lubeck anno 1381 they were excluded in regard of a most cruell and bloudy sedition wherein the greatest part of their Aldermen they slue and the rest they banished And so they were depriued of the benefit of the said societie for eight yeeres vntill they had done publike penance and satisfaction From which time they were admitted anew into the said incorporation of the Hanse that is to say to be partakers of all priuileges granted by Princes and gouernours of former times to all that were free of the said societie in those foure famous marts to wit London in England Bruges in Flanders Bergen in Norway and Nouogrod in Russia Their tutelary saint or protectour they holde to be S. Anthor the Confessor whilome Bishop of Triers For the honour of whose body because it could not be brought within their city walles they erected a monastery vnder the title of S. Giles then neere vnto the walles but now the city being inlarged within the same Thus much out of Crantzius his story of Saxonie and Wandalia The praise of this citie you may finde in Aeneas Siluius his 23. chap. of Europe The citie of LVNEBVRG built about the yeere of Christ 1190. vpon an hill named Calcarium was so called not as the ignorant imagine from Idolum lunae the idol of the moone which Iulius Caesar or I wot not who did there consecrate for this is but an old wiues tale but from a place not farre off by the riuer Elmenou called Luna where there hath for many yeeres continued a cloister of Nunnes It is a citie of great strength enuironed with ditches and walles The citizens greatest traffique is for salt for here are most plentifull and rich salt-pits out of which they raise exceeding gaines For salt is here boiled in great quantitie and vented from hence both by sea and land to Hamborough Lubeck and other places These salt-mines were first found in the yeere of Christ 1269. This city of Luneburg with the territory adiacent is in a peculiar Treatise described by Lucas Lossius Of Hildesheim fiue miles distant from Brunswijck M. Antonie Mockerus a citizen thereof hath written also a peculiar discourse In this Table vpon the riuer Weser or Visurgis stands the citie of
mother a Bohemian neece to Duke Wenceslaus by the brothers side A sonne of his called Mieslaus in the yeere 1001. was married to Rixa daughter of Erenfrid County Palantine neece to the Emperour Otho the third by his sister Melchitis and this man was the first that receiued the kingly diademe from Otho the third But after his decease the Polonians hauing by sedition expelled out of their kingdome the Emperours niece and his sonne Casimire Conradus the Emperour reseruing to himselfe a certaine tribute annexed Silesia to the crowne of Bohemia This Emperour was an Vratislauian borne and perhaps gaue the name of Vratislauia to his natiue citie which is now commonly called Breslaw But hereof I cannot certainly affirme ought This one thing is not to be doubted that the Silesians had no affection towards the Polonians whenas by the practise and industry of Iohn the first king of Bohemia father to the Emperour Charles the fourth they vnited themselues to the Bohemians Some there are by what authority or opinion I know not which affirme that in the same place where Breslaw now stands was built in times past by a Prince called Liguis the city of Budurgis mentioned in Ptolemey For it is apparent out of histories that Mieslaus Duke of Poland who was first created King by the Emperour Otho the third and in the yeere 965. embraced Christianitie did anno 1048. erect a woodden church or chapel to the honour of S. Iohn Baptist Whereby you may gather that in those dayes there was no great matter of building at Breslaw Moreouer Gotefridus the first Prelate of that church being an Italian preferred the village of Smogra before the citie of Breslaw hauing there his Schole and College Likewise about this time it is thought that the foundations of other the principall cities of Silesia namely of Lignitz Glogaw Luben c. were layd for out of monuments and Annales no certainty can be gathered whenas the ancientest writings in all Silesia are the letters of the Emperour Frederick the second which were written in the yeere 1200. all the residue being consumed and lost either by fires or inuasions which haue beene very terrible in these parts But by the good indeuour of Frederick Barbarossa Silesia was both pacified and so distributed among the sonnes of Vladislaus king of Poland that it seemed not altogether to be dismembred from that crowne But when the Polonians perceiued that Silesia grew full of Germans and that the Princes began to fauour them reiecting the lawfull heires they aduanced to the kingdome of Silesia one Vladislaus Locticus a cruell enemy to the Germans This was the occasion that they betooke themselues to the protection of Iohn king of Bohemia who being sonne to the Emperour Henry the seuenth married the daughter of Wenceslaus king of Bohemia and was inuested into the kingdome 1302. Wherefore after the decease of this Iohn of Lucelberg Silesia was subiect to twelue Bohemian kings one after another six whereof were Emperours one a Bohemian another an Hungarian fiue of the house of Austria two Polacks but descended from Austria by the mothers side Of the Polonian race remained as yet in Silesia the Princes of Lignitz and Teschnitz for those of Munsterberg deriue their pedegree from George king of Bohemia Vratislauia the head-city of Silesia being burnt to ashes in the yere 1341 began then so stately to be built of stone as at this present both for order and beauty of houses and largenesse of streets it is little inferiour to any of the cities in Germanie Concerning other more true ornaments of a Common-wealth I shall not need to speake seeing it is manifest to all Germanie that scarse in any other region there are to be found so many Schooles such numbers of learned Professours and of excellent wits It beseemes me not to speake too gloriously of my countreymen yet thus much I may boldly say that there is almost no Princes court nor any famous common-wealth where the vertue and learning of the Silesians findes not entertainment The gentlemen likewise albeit addicted to tillage and good husbandry yet are they so warlike withall that no indifferent Iudges can deny but that by their valour the remainder of Hungarie is defended It is a region very fruitfull of corne especially in one place aboue the rest which is most carefully manured by our people It aboundeth with fish-pooles The famous riuer Odera confineth it East and North and South it is diuided from Bohemia by Sudetes But the situation best appeareth in the Map Of Silesia you haue somewhat written by Aeneas Syluius and by others which are ignorant of the countrey But Laurentius Coruinus could haue brought more certainties to light had not the age wherein he liued been fatally ouerwhelmed in ignorance Thus much Iohn Crato concerning his natiue countrey Silesia It containeth twelue Dukedomes one Bishoprick the Bishop whereof hath his residence at Neisse and sometimes at Breslaw for there is a Cathedrall church and a College of Canons Heere are foure Baronies also In this region about Striga and Lignitz is found a kinde of medicinable earth commonly called Terra sigillata like that of Lemnus and of equall force some quantitie whereof Iacobus Manouius Citizen and Senatour of Breslaw hath often bestowed vpon me The Chronicles of Silesia were of late written by Ioachimus Curius wherein he hath so curiously described the situation and the antiquity of their townes and cities the gouernment of their state and their memorable acts that the studious may here finde an absolute history I am informed by Iacobus Monauius that Francis Faber hath described it in verse also SILESIAE TYPVS A Martino Helwigio Nissense descriptus et Nobili doctoque viro Domino Nicolao Rhedingero ded MORAVIA MORAVIA is thus described by Ioannes Dubrauius in his Bohemian story Morauia was called of olde Marcomania because it confined vpon Germany at that place where Dariubius entreth Hungary For Mark in high Dutch signifies a limit or confine and thereupon Marcomanni are such as inhabit the borders of a countrey Concerning these people Arrianus in his relation of Germany the farthest of these nations saith he are the Quadi and Marcomanni then the Iazyges a people of Sarmatia after the Getes and lastly a great part of the Sarmatians Howbeit at this present because it is bounded by the riuer Mora from the same riuer the inhabitants are called Moraui and the countrey Morauia On three sides as it now stands it is diuided by mountaines woods forests or riuers on the East from Hungary West from Bohemia and North from Silesia for on the South part towards Austria it is plaine being some where separated therefrom by the riuer Thaysa and in other places by another obscure riuer The principall riuer in Morauia is Mora which enuironeth the chiefe city called Olmuntz and from thence running into Hungary dischargeth himselfe with his tributary streames into the chanell of Danubius For Mora receiuing into his bosome the riuer
are Aquileya adorned with the title of a Patriarchy This citie Mela nameth The rich In times past it was the seat of the Emperours and therefore it was called Another Rome and was in compasse twelue miles In it there haue beene accounted long since an hundred and twentie thousand citizens The great prosperitie and flourishing estate of this citie especially grew by the great thronging hither of Merchants for that from all quarters almost of the world by reason of the great commodiousnesse of the place easie and safe entrance vnto it aswell by land as by sea merchandise were conueyed to this citie as to a common ware-house That great trade of merchandise ended together with the fortune of the citie the Venetians growing mightie and drawing vnto themselues all meanes of trade and traffique so that now of a most flourishing and populous city it is almost wast and desert Vtina which also is called Vtinum the Italians vulgarly call it Vdene the Dutch Weyden situate in a plaine hath a strong castle built vpon the toppe of an hill raised by the labour and industrie of man conteining at this day fortie furlongs in compasse Tergeste Trieste vpon the sea shore a colonie of the Romans Goritia sometime if I be not deceiued called Noreia Here are many monuments of great antiquitie to this day remaining The citie Austria many thinke it in olde time to haue beene called Forum Iulij situate in the straights of the mountaines is a place strong and fortified by nature Thorow the middest of it doth runne the riuer Natiso vpon the which is a faire stone bridge S. Daniels towne seated vpon a very high and steepe hill Porto Gruaro vpon the South banke of Limine Then Spilimbergo Marano Montfalcone and others of which thou mayest reade in Leander out of whom we haue drawen this briefe description Iohannes Candidus hath written an historie of Aquileia whose copartener in his labour and trauell Leander writeth to haue beene Gregorius Amasaeus Of the monuments and antiquities of Aquileia Sabellicus hath written six bookes which are euery where to be gotten FORI IVLII ACCVRATA DESCRIPTIO Cum Priuilegio Ex Bibliotheca Nobilis et doctissimi Ioannis Sambuci Imperatoriae Mats. Historici 1573. IVLIAE ALPES IAPIDES ET CARNI The liberties of the citie of VERONA THe citie of the Cenomanes situate in Gallia Cisalpina or as now they call it Lombardie is within the iurisdiction of the Venetians a citie most stately built vpon ech banke of the riuer Adese but conioyned by foure faire bridges The same riuer as it doth diuide it into two parts so it doth almost on euery side enclose it round so that it is not only a commodity vnto the citie but also a defence and ornament vnto the same The soile of this tract is excellent good yeelding many things necessary and profitable vnto it Great store of oile and corne yeelding yeerely great gaines vnto the country people by selling and transporting it to forren nations Woll for finenesse excelling the other sorts of Italie The citie is most excellently and pleasantly seated beautified with faire and goodly buildings aswell priuate as publike It hath many famous monuments of antiquitie worth the regarding amongst the which is the Amphitheater which the common sort call Arena The sand of all those which remaine in Italie or in other places of Europe the whollest and least defaced either by iniurie of times or rage of barbarous nations Moreouer a triumphall arche in whose inscription this citie is termed COLONIA AVGVSTA VERONA NOVA GALLIENIANA There are also other monuments which here for breuitie sake we must omit The liberties or ground belonging to this citie is in length from the little towne Baruchello vnto Riua which is on the farther side of Lago de Garda sixtie fiue miles in bredth which beginneth at La torre delle confine vnto Riuoltella fortie miles and conteineth in all 1443378. fields so the common people of Italie call the measure whereby they measure their lands Seardeonius interpreteth it Akers whereof 1223112. are fertile 220266 are barren which notwithstanding dayly by the industry and diligence of the husbandmen are made more fruitfull There is in this tract a very high mountaine the Mappe placeth it betweene Lago de Gardo and the riuer Adese which they call Baldo This hill is very well knowen to Herborists and Apothecaries which flocke hither from all quarters and do gather many kindes of herbs and roots necessary in Physicke and good and holesome for the vse of man There is also here in a certaine vale called Policella a place named Negarina where there is a very hard stone to be seene hauing vpon it teats carued to the iust fashion and proportion of a womans breasts out of the which pappes water doth continually distill and droppe wherewith if a nurse or a woman giuing sucke doe wash her breasts dried vp by sicknesse or any other mischance it presently draweth downe the milke againe There are also other waters of this countrey giuen by the benefit of nature both pleasant and profitable But the studious Reader desirous to know more of this territory let him reade Blondus and Leander he shall be I dare boldly affirme satisfied at the full Torellus Sarayna hath written a whole booke of the antiquities originall gouernment and policy and famous men of the citie of Verona Georgius Iodocus Bergamus hath described Lago de Garda or Benacke lake in verse in fiue books Iulius Caesar Scaliger hath sounded forth the praise of the citie Verona and the lake Benacke in his funerall oration VERONAE VRBIS TERRITORIVM Ã Bernardo Brognolo descriptum 1579. Cum Priuilegio decannali The Duchie of MILLANE LEander in the description of Italie after a long discourse of the gouernment of this Duchie maketh this relation of Millane his chiefe citie The citie Millane saith he is so conueniently seated that besides the great store of fruite which the ground of his territories do yeeld out of Gallia Cisalpina or Lombardie all things aswell for pleasure and delight as for profit and necessarie vse in mans life may be easily transported thither It is so great that it may well compare with the greatest cities of all Europe It hath very longe and large suburbes by which it is greatly augmented some of them so huge that they may contend for bignesse with other great cities of Italie Notwithstanding of late yeares they suffered great wrecke by reason of the mortall warres and continuall troubles betweene Charles the fift and the French and Venetians By which they were by fire and sword almost vtterly ouerthrowne and destroied although now by great diligence and industrie of the citizens they are reedified againe Wide and deepe diches full of water do compasse both the citie and suburbes by which on euery side by boate and barge such great store of prouision is brought vnto it that there is not any thing heere which is not to be bought at a reasonable rate It is very
found dead Plinie in his second booke chap. 107. testifieth that once this whole Lake did burne PERVSINI agri exactissima nouissimaue descriptio auctore Egnatio Dante Cum priuilegio Imperatoris Regis cancellariae Brabantiae ad decennium 1584. The territories of the city of SIENA CAesar Orlandius a famous Ciuillian of Siena sent from Rome this Mappe together with a briefe history of the city taken out of a larger worke of his as he confesseth in his priuate letters to me written of the originall of the same to be inserted into this our Theater of the World The city of Siena saith he is so ancient that of his first beginning there is nothing to be found in any approued old writers For that some do report it to haue beene built by the Galli Senones which vnder the conduct of Breanus their generall about 363. yeares after the building of Rome in the space of seuen moneths as Polybius and Plutarch haue recorded wan the city it cannot be proued out of any good authour For Iohn of Salisbury which first broached this opinion who for that he intituled his history by the name of Polycraticon is therefore called Polycrates or of others Polycarpus in the seuenteenth chapter of his sixth booke bringeth no authority for this his assertion And himselfe confesseth in the twenty and fourth chapter of his eighth booke that he was not familiarly known to Pope Adrian the fourth Now it is apparant to all the world that Adrian the fourth sate in the Papall seat but from the yeare of Christ 1154. vnto the yeare 1159. and therefore the testimony of Iohn of Salesbury concerning the building of Siena so many yeares before he was borne is of no validity at all Cornelius Tacitus in his twentieth booke of his Annales calleth this city Colonia Senensis Which words of his can by no meanes be vnderstood of the other Sena which at this day also is in the country Piceno and is vulgarly called Senegallia as some haue fondly imagined For in the time of Tacitus and Plinie that city of Piceno was not euer called Sena but Senogallia or Senogallica or Senogallia as is most manifest out of the words of Plinie and Ptolemey For Plinie reckoneth Coloniam Senensem amongst the mid land Colonies of Hetruria and not many lines after he placeth Senagallia in the sixth region of Italie Ptolemey not only in the Latine copies printed but also in most ancient manuscript Greeke copies placeth Sena amongst the mid-land cities of Hetruria but Sena Gallica for so he termeth it amongst the cities of the Senones neere Ancona and the Temple of Fortune When this city first was made a Bishops sea although as yet it be not certainly knowne yet this is certaine that amongst the 46. Bishops or there about all of them neighbours to the city of Rome which in the first Romane Synod in the time of S. Hilary Pope of Rome and first of the name assembled together in the yeare of Christ 465. Eusebius Episcopus Senensis was one of them Againe in the second Councill of Lateran vnder Pope Martin the first in the yeare of Grace 652. amongst the subscriptions of 125. Bishops these are named Maurus Caesenatis Ecclesiae episcopus Maurus episcopus S. Senatis ecclesiae in the same maner and forme that Clusinus Roxellanus and Fauentinus Bishops do call their Churches Clusinatem Roxellanatem and Fauentinatem In like maner amongst the like number of about 125. Bishops who subscribed vnto the Epistle of Agatho Bishop of Rome which the Legate sent vnto the six generall Councill at Constantinople held in the yeare 573. caried with them this subscription is found Vitalianus episcopus S. ecclesiae Senensis Whereupon it is manifest that no man may cauill and say that Episcopus Senensis is the same that Episcopus Senogalliensis or that for Episcopetus Senatis it should be written and read Episcopus Caesenatis As also for that out of Plinie and Ptolemey before mentioned it is plaine that euen in their daies that Sena of Picenum was not called Sena but Senogallia Moreouer also because in the forenamed Councill of Lateran not only Episcopus Senatis but also Caesenatis and Senogalliensis named by one and the same name subscribed seuerally Lastly Venantius Episcopus Senogalliensis subscribed also to the second and fourth Synods of Rome summoned by Pope Caelius Symmachus about the yeare of Christ 498. Furthermore Pope Pius the 2. borne in Siena in the yeare 1459. which was the yeare of his creation aduanced the Church of Siena from a Bishops sea vnto the dignity of an Archbishopricke and assigned the Bishops of Suano Clusino Crassetano and Massano Suffraganes to the Archbishops of Siena and their Churches subiect to that sea This hath Caesar Orlandius written of the originall and antiquity of Siena his natiue country to be published for no other cause as he protesteth then that the fond opinion of Blondus and others which haue written otherwise of it then the plaine truth is might wholly be rased out if it were possible of the minds of all men Claudius Ptolemeus Senensis in his sixth booke of epistles to Gabriel Caesano hath most elegantly described Monte Argentario MARCA ANCONA IN former times this region was called Picenum now they call it Marca Ancona of the head city of the same Sometime it was called Marca Firmiana of a town in this prouince as Blondus hath giuen out It lieth between the riuers Isaurus now called Foglia and Trento and betweene the Hadriaticke sea and Mount Apennine It is manifest by ancient records that the Piceni Vmbri Senones were long since seated in this tract The country is a fertile soile yeelding in great plenty all maner commodities but especially for fruit trees corne it doth farre excell other places Silius Italicus doth highly commend it especially for oliues The head city as we haue said is Ancona so called of his situation for that being seated vpon the promontory Comerano it lieth out into the gulfe of Venice like an arme or elbow Whereupon the ancient comes of this city which heere oft times are found within the earth are obserued to be stamped with an arme holding a penne in the hand The Hauen of this most ancient city was made by Traian the Emperour as an inscription in Marble doth giue to vnderstand Heere is also Aelia Ricina otherwise since that called Ricinetum and at this day now Recanati is a towne situate vpon the toppe of an hill where we saw the Mart or Faire which there is kept at certaine times of the yeare vnto which they come almost from all quarters of the World Not farre from hence is the Church of S. Maria Lauretana with the hamlet Loreto enclosed with a very strong wall The gorgeousnesse of this church and holinesse of the place is such that so soone as one shall set foot within the dores it will strike him into a great admiration This Church is well furnished with all maner of weapons
that the Cabbadges heere cauli capucei they call them do often weigh as Mazella reporteth sometime thirty sometime fortie pound and therefore Martiall said not amisse Nos amiternus ager felicibus educathortis In Amiternoes fertile fields we liue and spend our daies The fields before this citie do yeeld such great plenty of Saffron that thereof yearely they make 40000. ducates Heere is once a yeare kept a great Faire It hath 110. Churches Neere this city as Blondus saith is a stone from vnder the which runneth a streame of oile which they call Oile of peter or Petroleum and is desired and sought for of many but of the Almaines and Hungarians it is more esteemed then of the Italians The same authour recordeth that the country people shewed him a Peare-tree growing vpon an hill not farre from the head of the riuer Pescara or Aterno shooting vp in such a sort that the water falling vpon it diuideth it selfe into three parts which become three great riuers Velino Tronto and Pescara running three diuers waies Amiterno in former times a goodly city famous in histories and the natiue country of Salust the noble historian can hardly be discerned where it stood yet Blondus saith that they do yet shew some pieces of the Theater Temples and Turrets Mazella affirmeth that there yet do remaine the Temple of Saturne the tombe of Drusus daughter and a triumph of the Samnites engrauen in marble a memoriall of their happie victory obtained against the Roman army ad furcas Caudinas Teramo long since called Interamnia for that it is situate between three riuers Fiumicello Trontino and Vitiole is the head city of this prouince whose Bishop is graced with many titles and dignities and the lord of the soile is called by the name of the Duke of Teramo Adria the ancient colonie of the Romanes is now called Atri Some do thinke that the Emperour Hadrian was borne heere and of it tooke his name as also the Hadriaticke sea now called Mare superum the higher sea the Gulfe or Bay of Venice Furconium sometime hath been a famous Bishopricke whose Bishops are often mentioned in the Councels and Synods held 800. yeares since at Rome or other places of Italie At this day only some small mention is to be seen of it for it was destroied by the Lombardes and the Bishops sea was by Pope Alexander the fourth from thence translated vnto Aquila The arms of this country as Scipio Mazella writeth is an Eagle argent crowned standing vpon three mounts ore in a field Azure He that desireth to vnderstand more of this country let him repaire to the forenamed Authours who I doubt not will satisfie him to the full APRVTII VLTERIORIS DESCRIPTIO 1590. NATALIS BONIFACIVS SEBENIICENSIS DESCRIBEB The kingdome of NAPLES THis kingdome generally comprehended between the Adriaticke and Mid-land seas from the riuer Fronto and Fundi a city situate vpon the lake Fundano vnto the Frith Messina the Latines call it Fretum Mamertinum or Messanae the Italians el faro di Messina conteineth nine most rich and goodly countries of Italie namely these A part of Latium Campania felix Lucani Calabria Magna Graecia Salentini Apuli Peucetij Apuli Dauni and Aprutium The gallant city Naples which gaue the name to the whole kingdome seated between the sea shore and the foote of most pleasant mountaines hath a temperate and wholesome aire with most sweet fields about it and therefore in this our age Princes and Noblemen do resort hither asmuch as euer heeretofore for almost all the Nobility of this whole kingdome do spend most of the yeare in this city and all for the most part haue heere most beautifull and stately houses so that the frequent throng of Princes Dukes Marquesses Earles Knights Doctors Barons and Noble-men is heere so great that there are very few cities of the world which in my iudgement in that respect may compare with Naples The city in compasse is very large and wide gorgeously built and seated as I said between the sea and the goodly pleasant hils strongly walled and fortified especially that part which was done of late daies at the commandement of Charles the fifth The buildings either of Churches or priuate citizens houses are most beautifull and stately with diuers Castles and Towers almost inuincible But amongst the rest the house of the Duke of Grauina and the Prince of Salerno do farre excell The streets of the city are very faire and straight There are foure Courts which they call Seats Capuana Nida Montana and S. Georgio where the Princes Dukes Marquesses and other of the Nobility do meet to consult of waighty matters and publike businesses The strong Castels are these Castello nouo which Alphonsus the first raised and entrenched with very great charges and expences so that now it may be accounted one of the most defencible fortification of all Europe Next to this is Castello Capuano which now is emploied for place of meeting for the state in consultation for matters of the kingdome and city Then is Castellum oui a little distance without the city standing vpon a rocke the ancients called it Meagrum compassed round with the sea Beside these is Castellum Santemerense vpon a cliffe looking ouer the walls of the city lately fortified very strongly by Charles the fifth Without the wals vpon the South side of the city there is a Block-house in the sea a worke of wonderfull art and cunning workemanship built for the defence and safegard of the Hauen continually full with shippes almost from all quarters of the world Heere also is an Vniuersitie where all maner of Arts and Liberall Sciences are taught and professed vnto which there is great concourse of students from all places of the kingdome Thus farre Vbertus Folietta in a Treatise of his which he wrote and intituled Brumanum Without the wals of this most stately city there are most pleasant sweet fields yeelding all maner of things necessarie not onely for the maintainance of man and beast but also such as serue for pleasure and delight Especiallie with all maner of Corne and Graine and of rich and strong Wine such plenty that he that hath not seene the great store both of Corne and Wine that one Aker of ground doth yeeld may hardlie be made to beleeue it The Hilles and Mountaines in this place are very fertile and full of most excellent fruits and some of them enclosing the lowly plaines in manner of a Theater do affoord plentie of Deere and game for the Nobilitie Moreouer about Naples are most pleasant and fine Orchards planted with Medicinall plants and such like goodlie fruite trees euerie where resounding with a most sweet noise of brookes and streames running to and fro euery where most fragrant and odoriferous smelles do offer themselues vnto your senses such is the abundance of Myrtill Laurell Gelsemine Rosemarie Rose-trees c. in euerie corner To be short the beauty delightsomnesse and elegancie of all places round about
wine which they heere call Maluasia and is from hence transported almost into all countries hath made this iland famous all the world ouer This kind of wine old writers called Pramnium as Bellonius recordeth Volaterran is of opinion that it is called Maluisia for Aruisia by the addition of one letter And he furthermore addeth that that kind of vine was first brought into Creta from the cape Aruisium in the ile Chios now Scio and therefore the wines were called vina aruisia Heere is great store of Cypresse trees whereof they make their ships which are of such great height as Dom. Niger reporteth that it is a most goodly fight to behold In this iland was the Maze or Labyrinth built by Daedalus after the patterne as Plinie saith of that in Aegypt A mention of which as George Alexander the Lieutenant of this iland for the Venetians affirmeth in Volaterran do remaine vnto this day There is a mountaine saith he cut through hollow euery way with many windings and turnings and hath one onely narrow and straite entrance The guide a man that well knoweth the place goeth before with a burning torch directing the way in and out and shewing the strange cranks in the darke corners But Peter Bellone a curious searcher of ancient monuments and antiquities and one that in our age diligently viewed this iland saith that this in old time was a quarry of stone not a Labyrinth Notwithstanding that the people of the country do so call it which indeed is more probable seeing that Pliny affirmeth that in his time there remained no signe of it But of this place take this description of P. Bellone There is a place between Gnosium and Cortina which hauing been obserued to be verie conuenient for the cutting and digging out of stone the country people made there a Stone-mine lapidicinam out of which when as many stones were digged there were many windings and turnings left so that he which by himselfe will venture to go vp and downe in this stone-pit he shall light vpon many crooks and by-waies and may easily loose himselfe Neere to the riuer Leth is this falsly-supposed-labyrinth the which if any be desirous to see he must needs vse the help of some one or other of the country people of the next village to go in before him with candle to guide and direct him But in it such a number of Battes do lodge that except a man do take great heed they will by their flying vp and downe put out the candle with their wings In the bottome of the pitte are found great heaps of Battes dong and their little yong ones yet hanging vpon the sides and wals The dammes when they can no longer flie do not cleaue and sticke to the wall nor stand vpon their feet but there they hang vpon the beams and rafters as our Battes do in the clifts of timber and holes of walles Thus farre Bellonius The like story vnto this altogether as Bellonius reporteth it in my mind I haue seen when as for recreation I trauelled from Rome to Hostia and in my iourney at the hauen of Traiane I went vnder the ground first hiring mine host to go before me with a light that I might view the ruines of the same It was anciently dedicated to Iupiter because that heere old folks did thinke he was bred and brought vp and at length buried Bordonius affirmeth that vpon the North side of this iland there is a great caue vnderneath the earth made by the labour and industrie of man forty cubites in length and foure in breadth which at this day they call Iupiters tombe and that vpon the head of it yet to this day his Epitaph remaineth written in great Capitall letters Strabo writeth that the people haue been long since accounted for the best Mariners as being wholly inuironed with the sea and from thence arose that by-word Cretensis mare nescit A Cretian hath no skill in sailing They haue of old been very infamous for their leuity deceit lying and other such like vices Heere hence sprong these prouerbs Cretiza cum Cretensi Cretensis Cretensem Cretensis cum Aeginate E Creta raptus c. of which thou maist read in Erasmus his Chiliades Wherefore they are also ill reported of by S. Paul for the same faults But I feare me least that which hath commonly been spoken of the Cretian may indeed be truly verified of many other Nations nay I would to God that all Nations wheresoeuer all the world ouer were not in this of kinne to the Cretians L. Caecilius Metellus Creticus first brought this iland vnder the command of the Romans about the yeare 685. after the building of Rome Afterward it was subiect to the Emperours of Constantinople Then it was giuen to Bonifacius of Monteferrato by whom it was sold to the Venetians in the yeare of Christ 1194. to whom at this day it doth belong Amongst the ancient Geographers Strabo hath curiously described this iland Amongst the latter writers Domi. Niger Volaterran Vadian Zieglerus and Bened. Bordonius haue done the like But most excellently of all others and exactly Iodocus Ghistelius in his iourney to Hierusalem and Bellonius in his obseruations Iodocus à Meggen also hath something of this Iland in his Peregrination to Ierusalem worth the obseruation and reading We are beholding to that braue nobleman The Honourable Sign Francisco Superantia a Gentleman of Venice not only a louer of the Mathematicks and earnest student of Geographie but a worthy esteemer of all maner of learning Certaine Ilands in the sea ARCHIPELAGO THe Aegaean sea now called Archipelago conteineth many ilands as the Cyclades Sporades and diuers others of which some of the chiefe we haue described in this plotte NEGROPONTE sometime called Eubooea his chiefe city then was called Chalcis now they call it Negroponte whereof the whole iland tooke the name It was not long since wholly subiect vnto the Venetians from whom it was taken by the Turks about the yeare of Christ 1471. It yeeldeth great plenty of oile corne and wine and is of all things that the earth bringeth forth very fertile especially it affoordeth very good wood for the making of shippes and gallies as Anonymus reporteth who wrote of the sacking and taking of it The inhabitants which is almost generally true in all the iles of this sea are partly Greeks and partly Turks but each vseth his owne language and religion NICSIA in old time Naxos is accounted one of the most fertile ilands of this sea It yeeldeth good store of Wine Some do thinke that heere is a veine of Gold but such is the slouth and negligence of the people that yet it is not knowne where about it is Heere is a kind of Waspe whose sting they report to be deadly Heere are very many Battes It was sometime belonging to Iohanni Quirino a nobleman of Venice afterward it came into the possession of a certaine captaine named Iacobo Crispo whom Solimus the
it hath the Tartars a warlike and stout people from whom it is defended and seuered partly by an artificiall wall made by the hand and labour of man partly by a naturall mountaine which runneth for many hundred miles together between the countries It is a country very fertile of all maner of things necessary for the maintenance of mans life caused not only by the goodnesse of the soile and temperature of the aire but especially by the husbandry and industry of the people For the men heere are not giuen to idlenesse but are very laborious and painefull To be idle heere it is counted a shamefull thing It hath wonderfull store of Gold Siluer and Rheubarbe The sea which beateth vpon this coast and the riuers which runne through the middest of this country do abound with all sorts of fish Vpon the mountaines vales and meddowes infinite flocks of cattell do feed and are maintained The woods forrests and groues are possessed with Bores Foxes Hares Conies Zebellines Martens and diuers other such kind of beasts whose skins are much set by for facings for gownes Of all kinds of birds it yeeldeth maruallous plenty especially of water-foule as is manifest by this that in Canton which is one of the least cities of this prouince there are spent euery day vpon their Tables tenne or twelue thousand Ducks and Geese They sow the drier ground with wheat and barly the wet plaine or moorish grounds withe rise which they cut or reap foure times in a yeare this is their chiefest diet and liuing The higher and steep places and sides of hilles are beset with Pine-trees amongst the which they sow panicke and pulse or horsecorne There is no place therefore no field no plot of ground vnfruitfull Euery where are Orchards Gardens Fruits Roses Floures of all sorts yeelding a most fragrant and pleasant smell and goodly shew to the beholders They plant flax in great abundance euery where whereof they make diuers sorts of linnen whereof they make their apparell but especially Sugar canes which heere groweth in maruellous great abundance and the Mulbery trees for the feeding of their silke wormes which are maintained with the leaues of this tree Tor Silke is the chifest merchandise and commodity whereof they raise yearely an infinite gaine and profit There are in this kingdome 240. goodly cities the names of which do all generally end in the syllable fu which in their language signifieth a city as Cantonfu Panquinfu The townes whereof there is infinite number they likewise end in Cheu Villages which are not to be numbred by reason of the continuall husbandry and tillage are very populous and wonderfully inhabited All their cities for the most part are situate vpon the banke of some great and nauigable streame fortified with broad and deep ditches and very high strong walles These wals from the foundation vpward are made of stone toward the toppe and battlement with bricke laid in steed of lime and mortar with lome or potters clay the same stuffe I meane whereof the China dishes so much esteemed of amongst vs are made The height of them and thicknesse is so great that fiue or six men may walke a breast vpon the toppe of them Vpon the wall are placed heere and there certaine high towers and bulwarkes out of which they may see all the fields ouer farre and neere round about On ech side of the wals so much vacant ground pomoerium the Latines call it is least that horsemen may passe them six and six in a rancke in battell aray These wals are so close and soundly wrought without any rifts or chinks that one would thinke them to haue been but newly made when as their histories do testifie them to haue been built two thousand yeares since The entrance into the cities is by great gates most wonderfully and stately built Their streets are as smooth and precisely plaine as if they were altogether made by line and leuell and are so large and broad that tenne yea fifteene horsemen may ride a breast through them which in many and sundry places are parted and seuered with stately triumphall arches gracing the cities beyond all measure Certaine Portugals do report that they saw in the city Fucho a turrette standing vpon forty marble pillars whose height were forty hand breadth and the thickenesse twelue after the measure which the Architects vse This they affirme in their iudgement for greatnesse for exquisite workemanship beauty and costlinesse doth farre exceed all the stately buildings of all Europe The greatnesse of their cities we do gather by this that they say the city Canton which we said was one of the least of their cities is twelue English miles in compasse beside 355. suburbes which do belong to it very great and populous The people are broad and round faced thinne haired flatte nosed and small eied although there be some amongst them reasonable well fauoured and handsome men The colour of their faces is somewhat like that of those which inhabite Europe yet those which dwell about Canton are of a browne complexion They seldome or neuer trauell further than their owne country neither will they easily suffer a stranger to dwell amongst them especially in the vpland places except they be publikely sworne to be true vnto the King and Country The wealthy and better sort of men haue all their apparell made of silke of diuers and sundry colours The base and meaner sort do weare a kind of stuffe made of white or blacke cotton and sometime linnen coloured or stained with party colours for as yet in these parts they know not how to make wollen cloth The men there as women do heere do weare their haire long which they winde vp in a knot to the crowne of their head where they bind and fasten it with a siluer bodkin The women comb their haire very trimly and do behang and set it out with gold spangles and diuers kind of pearles and pretious stones They paint and besmeare their faces with complexion such as the Spanish women do commonly vse They neuer once looke out of dores except they be carried in their littars vpon mens shoulders and attended by all the family CHINAE olim Sinarum regionis noua descriptio auctore Ludouico Georgio Cum priuilegio Imperatoris Regis Brabantiae ad decennium 1584. Concerning the faith and religion of this nation it is thus They do beleeue all earthly creatures and all things in the World and the gouernment and disposition of them to depend of Heauen and Heauenly powers For they do thinke that Heauen is the greatest of all Gods and therefore the character of it possesseth the first place of their alphabet They worship the Sunne the Moone and the Stars yea the very Diuell himselfe which they paint in the same forme as wee do heere in Europe that hee may do them no hurt as they say They haue stately and sumptuous Churches aswell in the country as in their cities They haue
immediately after Baiazeth he placeth Mahomet And that I may giue euery man his right the singular learned man my good friend Georgius Bruno Agrippinensis hath taught me that the very Turkes themselues do not account him for an Emperour After him MAHOMETES tooke vnto him the crown of the Empire who made fierce warres vpon the Walachians subdued a great part of Slauonia first passed with an armie ouer the Donaw conquered Macedonia and pearced through the country euen as low as the Ionian sea He translated his Court from Prusias in Bithynia vnto Adernopoli in Greece where he died in the fourteenth yeare of his raigne After him AMVRATH the second succeeded in the kingdome This man conquered Epirus Aetolia Achaia Boeotia Attica and Thessalonica now Salonichi a city belonging to the state of Venice After him MAHOMET the second tooke vpon him the Diademe he ouerthrew Athens the most renowmed Vniuersity of the World He wonne by battery the great city of Constantinople vpon the nine and twentith day of May in the yeare after the birth of Christ 1452. He subdued the kingdome of Trapezonda vnder his command He tooke Corinth He forced the ilands Lemnos Stalamine they now call it Euboea Nigroponte and Mitylene to yeeld to his obedience He got Capha a city belonging to the Signiory of Genua and at Geiuisen a city of Bithynia died in the 32. yeare of his raigne BAIAZETH the second after his death possessed the crowne He made warre vpon the Venetians and wanne from them Naupactus Lepanto or as the Turkes call it Einebachti Methona Modon or Mutune a city in Peloponesus Dyrrachium Durazzo and spoiled all Dalmatia He was poisoned by a Iew his Physition After whom SELYMVS his sonne succeeded in the Emperiall throne He wanne Alcairo the strongest city of Aegypt and killing the Souldan subdued Alexandria and all Aegypt vnder his obedience He tooke also Damascus in Syria SOLYMANNVS the only sonne of Zelimus possessing his fathers roome wanne Belgrad tooke Buda the Princes seat and spoiled Strigonium and almost all Hungary He gatte the Rhodes by composition and vtterly rased Quinqueecclesias in Hungary the Turkes call it Petscheu the Dutch Funfkirchen Hauing surprized the city he besieged Zygeth where he ended his life ZELIMVS the second his sonne continued the battery wanne it and sacked it in the yeare of Christ 1566. And thus vnder 11. Emperours in 260. yeares a great part of Africa a greater of Europe and the most of Asia was by Turkish tyranny brought vnder their yoke But he that desireth a more absolute knowledge of the histories of the Turks let him read Paulus Iouius Christofer Richer Cuspinian Baptista Egnatius Gilbertus Nozorenus Andreas Lacuna Pius the second in the fourth chapter of his Europa and others that haue written of the Turkish affaires but no man hath set out these histories either with greater diligence or more amply than M. Richard Knolles our learned countryman my singular good friend Laonicus Chalcondylas hath curiously described the pedigree of the Ottomans together with the originall of the Turks Iohn Leonclaw hath very lately imprinted the Annalles of the Souldan Otthomans written by the Turks in their owne language and interpreted by him into the Latine tongue Of their ancient maner of life behauiour and customes thou maist read in the eighteen chapter of Leo the Emperour of Warlike preparation as also in Bartholomew Georgieuiz who hath written a seuerall treatise of that argument but especially the Annalles of the Turkish Souldans and the history of the Musulmans both written by the singular learned Iohn Leonclaw shall satisfie thee to the full TVRCICI IMPERII DESCRIPTIO Concordia parue res crescunt Discordia maximae dilabuntur Cum priuilegio The HOLY LAND THat which the ancients called Palestina and Phoenicia all the Europeans generally now call The HOLY LAND vnder which name they comprehend that whole country which God gaue vnto the Israelites by the name of the Land of Promise to them and their seed to possesse and inhabite for euer and which after the death of Solomon we read was diuided into two kingdomes IVDAH conteining two tribes Iudah and Beniamin whose cheife or Metropolitan city was Ierusalem and SAMARIA or ISRAEL which comprehended the other tenne tribes together with the city Sebaste or Samaria A latter description of the modern situation of this country very curious exact done by F. Brocard in a seuerall treatise vnto whom we send the Reader for further satisfaction we offer in this Mappe for the former tables did present vnto thy eie the ancient face and more beautifull countenance of this land To him they may adioine that please the treatise of William Tyrius entituled The Holy warres and other authours that haue written their Peregrinations to Hierusalem of which sort there is a great number written and imprinted in diuers languages For many Christians not only out of sundrie parts of Europe but from all quarters of the world haue in former times and now do daily trauell vnto Hierusalem for deuotion to visite the holy sepulchre of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ and are there sometimes by the Franciscane Friars dubbed Knights who thereof are named Knights of the Sepulchre the order ceremonies of making these Knights we haue thought not altogether impertinent from our purpose to describe in this place as it is set out by Iod. a Meggē an ei-witnes of that in the 12 chap. of his treatise intituled Peregrinatio Hierusolymetana And thus he hath down the maner of it First of all therefore the Knight that is to be made prepareth himselfe vnto his deuotions that he may receiue the fauour of the degree of the holy order and making his confession hauing heard Masse receiued the Sacrament he is admitted into the roome where the holy sepulchre is and then they begin on this manner First all being gathered together within the holy sepulchre they sing this Psalme Come holy spirit c. Then this Send forth thy spirit c. The Answear And renew c. Lord heare c. Let vs pray Thou Lord which know'st the harts of the faithful c. Then the Gardian demandeth of him what wouldest thou haue He answeareth vpon his knees I do desire to be made a knight of the order of the Holy sepulchre of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Question Of what state and condition of life art thou of Answear A noble man borne of honourable parents Question Hast thou sufficient liuing whereby thou maist liue and maintaine the estate and dignity of knighthood without the help of merchandise or vse of any mechanicall or handie-craft occupation Answear I haue thankes be to God sufficient liuing and maintenance by lands and reuenews Question Art thou prepared to sweare with hart and mouth to keep and obserue to the vttermost of thy power those militarie sacraments and orders which shal be heereafter inioined thee namely these which follow First a knight of the holy order of the sepulchre
the Paradise of Italy The hils that are which are but very few are exceeding bleake cold and barren so that they will beare nothing but barly Maroccho which we said was the chiefe city of this kingdome is accounted one of the greatest cities of the whole world for it is of such a wonderfull bignesse that in the raigne of Haly the sonne of Ioseph their king it had more than an hundred thousand families It hath about it 24. gates The wall of a maruelous thicknesse is made of a kind of white stone and chalke vnburned There are heere such abundance of Churches Colledges stoues or hothouses and innes as iustly more may not be desired Amongst the Churches there is none more artificially and gorgeously built than that which standeth in the middest of the city built by the foresaid Haly. There is another beside this first raised by Abdu'-lmumen his successour and enlarged by Mansor his nephew and lastly more richly set out with many goodly columnes which he caused to be brought out of Spaine He made a fountaine or cestern vnderneath the Church as large and wide as the whole Church it selfe The roofe of the Church he couered all ouer with lead At euery corner he made spoutes by which the raine water falling vpon the roofe might runne into the cestern vnderneath The steeple made of a very hard kind of stone like that of the Amphitheater of Vespasian at Rome is higher than that towre of Bononia in Italy The greeses or staiers by which they go vp to the toppe of it are euery one nine handfull thicke but in the outside of the wall are tenne This tower hath seuen roomes or lofts one aboue another Vpon the toppe of it is set another turret or spire like a pyramis sharpe toward the top This hath three lofts one aboue another into which they go vp from one to another by staires or ladders made of wood On the toppe of this spire vpon a shaft of iron in steed of a weather-cocke doth stand a most goodly Moone of pure gold with three golden globes so put vpon the iron shaft that the greatest is lowest the least highest of all If any man from the toppe of the steeple shall looke downe toward the ground the tallest man that is seemeth no bigger than a child of a yeare old From the toppe also of this the cape or fore-land which they call Azaphy being an hundred and thirty miles off may easily be descried And although one should skarcely find a greater Church if one should trauell all the world ouer yet the place is almost wholly desert for none do euer vse to come hither but vpon Fridaies Vnder the cloisters of this Church they report that there were wont to be an hundred Stationers and as many ouer against them on the other side of the Churchyard which daily heere kept shoppe where as now I do not thinke that all this whole city can affoord at this time one booke-seller Hardly the one third part of the towne is inhabited Heere hence it is that within the wals there are many vineyeards large gardens of palme-trees and other fruites with goodly corne fields most fertile and well manured for without the wals they cannot till the ground by reason of the frequent inrodes of the theeuish Arabians This one thing is most certaine that this city is suddenly growne old before the time for it is not aboue fiue hundred and six yeares since it was first built There is also in this city a very strong castle which in respect of the large bignesse the great thickenesse and compasse of the wals the high and many towers or lastly the goodly and stately gates built of the richest Tiburtine marble may iustly be accounted for a faire towne Within this castle is a most beautifull Church with a very high steeple vpon whose toppe is a golden moone with three golden globes of different bignesses all of them weighing 130. crownes There haue been some kings of this country who moued with the loue and valew of the gold haue attempted to take these globes downe and to put them into their purses but alwaies some strange euent or misfortune or other did hinder their purpose and crosse their desires So that it is now commonly amongst the people held for a very ominous thing for any man but once to offer to touch these globes with his hand Let this be sufficient to haue spoken of this city in this place he that desireth a larger discourse both of the city and castle let him haue recourse vnto Leo Africanus who in his 2. booke will satisfie him to the full In this kingdome also is the city TARADANT the Moores call it Taurent a very great and goodly city built by the ancient Africanes It conteineth about 3000. houses or families The people are more ciuill and curtuous than in other places heere about Heere are many artificers of diuers and sundry occupations The townesmen do yearely raise a great profit by keeping of a gard to defend merchants that from hence do trauell vp higher into the country from the assault of theeues and robbers and to conduct and lead them the neereest and best way for it is a place of great resort of strangers aswell of Christians as others There are also other cities as the mappe doth shew amongst the which is MESSA hauing a Church not farre from the sea which they do most religiously reuerence For there are some heere that most fondly do beleeue and affirme that the Prophet Ionas when he was sent of God to preach vnto the Niniuites was at this place cast vp of the fish which before had swallowed him The sparres of this Church and the beames are made of whale bones for it is a common thing for the sea to cast vp heere dead whales of maruailous bignesse Vpon the coast also of this country is found that kind of Amber which we call Amber-greese Not farre from this city is TEINT a towne where all those rich skinnes are dressed which are commonly called Maroccho pelts More of this kingdome thou maist read of in Leo Africanus Marmolius and in the Saracen history of Caelius Augustinus Curio where he hath a seuerall treatise of this prouince Thus farre of Maroccho it remaineth now that we should speake likewise of Fesse FESSE like as Maroccho is a kingdome so called of the chiefe city and metropolitane of the same This city is situate in the hart and middest of the kingdome It was built as they affirme about the yeare of our Lord 786. Neither is it only the head city of this kingdome but it is esteemed The Metropolitane of all Barbary and is vulgarly called as Marmolius testifieth The Court of all the West part of the World Some there are which do thinke it to haue been named Fesse of a masse of gold that heere was found when first they began to lay the foundations of the same for fes in Arabicke signifieth an heap or masse
Genes 13. signifieth an heap It stood ouer against Bethel Saint Hierome labouring to expresse the Hebrew letter Ain writeth it Hagai and saith that in his time 〈◊〉 parua 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a small heap of rubbish HEBRON Whâ—n Abraham returned out of Aegypt after his long Peregrination seeking a new resting place leaueth Bethel and trauelleth vnto Hebron Hebron oft mentioned in diuers places of Holy Scripture had many more ancient names Of which one was Cariath-arbe that is Tetrapolis Foure cities For antiquity diuided the principall and Metropolitane cities into foure parts wardes we would call them The first was the court of the Prince where also the Counsell the Nobility and Princes did keep The second was for the souldiers and military men The third was reserued for the husbandmen In the Fourth the artificers and tradesmen dwelt There also was the vale of Mamre so called of an Ammonite who possessed it Gen. 14. and made a league with Abraham Heere three guests who went to destroy Sodom and Gomorrhe were interteined of Abraham There Abraham buried Sara his wife Gen. 23. And therefore some thinke it was called Ciriath-arbe that is tetrapolis the city of 4 great men for that heere were buried 4. Patriarkes Adam Abraham Isaac and Iacob Gen. 25.35.49 IABOC the riuer Iaboc that is of emptinesse or scattering or wrestling The things done heere and the histories recorded are agreeable to the etymologie and reason of the name for heere Iacob wrestled with the Angell and therefore he was after that named Israel that is a Prince of God or preuailing with God But the place where he wrestled Iacob called Penuel that is seeing God or the face of God IERICHO Some do expound it his moone others his mon'ths or his smell We do approue the later exposition of smelling rather than either of the two former and that for the pleasant and fragrant smell which partly issued from the gardens and orchyeards of the rare and soueraigne Balsam a plant only growing in this place and partly from the Palmetrees which heere do grow in greater abundance than any where else in the world beside And therefore in the 34. of Deut. it is called the City of Palme trees IERVSALEM that is The vision of peace It enclosed two mountaines vpon the which it stood the name of the one was Sion vpon the which stood the castle or palace of Dauid Now Sion signifieth a watch tower a beacon The name of the other was Moria vpon which the temple of Salomon was built For the very name also doth shew that the fathers in old time did sacrifice in that place And Abraham lead his sonne Isaac to sacrifice him to the Lord to this mountaine As concerning the etymologie of mor-iah we are contented with that deriuation of Abraham who nameth it God shall see Therefore let this be receiued that mor-iah signifieth the beholding or the demonstration of God Yet other etymologies and deriuations are not altogether from the purpose and to be reiected as these the illumination of God or the feare of God IORDANIS A famous riuer running through the middest of the country arising out of the foot of the mount Libanus It hath two fountaines or heads like vnto our riuer of Thames one called by the name of Ior which name in the Hebrew tongue signifieth a brooke the other by the name of Dan. These meeting and running together in one channell they are called by one name Iordan compound of the names of the seuerall heads MACHANAIM that is two camps Gen. 23. These are the campes of God as Iacob himselfe nameth this place For as he returned out of Mesopotamia by Gilead the Angels of God met him Whereupon he called this place Mahanaim the tents or camp of God that is the presence and gard or garrison of the Lord. NAIM a city so called of the pleasant situation of it as seemeth by the etymologie of the word for Nahim signifieth pleasant delightsome Our Sauiour Christ going from Capernaum entreth into Naim and in the very gate and entrance of the city he raiseth the only sonne of a widdow from death to life and so turneth the heauinesse and mourning of the mother into ioy and gladnesse SALEM was the dwelling place of Melchisedecke Iosephus saith that it was that towne which afterward was named Ierusalem Neither will I oppose my selfe against this opinion receiued by so many great and learned men But there was another Salem which afterward was called Sichem as is left recorded in the 33. chapter of Gen. as we haue touched before Thou seest therefore how Abraham Loth Melchisedecke who was the same with Sem the sonne of Noe dwelt not farre one from another SAMARIA the keeper of God Obserue heere that our Authour mistooke the name of a man for the name of a place For Samariah 1. Chronic. 12.5 was one of Dauids friends that went with him when he fled from the presence of Saul or else one of the sonnes of Harim of the number of those that had maried strange wiues as is manifest out of 1. Esdr 10.32 when as the city was named in the Hebrew tongue not Samaria but Shomrom This city was the seat of the Kings of Israel the Metropolitane of the tenne tribes where their princes vsually kept their court It was battered and laid leuell with the ground by Hyrcanus the high Priest of the Iewes This afterward being reedified againe by Herod the sonne of Antipater was called for the honour of Augustus Caesar by a Greeke name Sebaste that is AVGVSTA Heere Philip whose consorts and fellow helpers were Peter and Iohn first preached the Gospell Actor 8.5 Samaria is spoken of 3. king 18.19 and 4. king 6.7.10.17 SAREPTA a melting house a refining or clensing house For the Sidonians which first inuented the maner of making of glasse heere first erected and built their furnaces or glasse houses In the time of that great famine which raged and was spread all ouer Iudaea Elias by the prouidence and commandement of God was sent vnto a widdow of Sarepta whom he together with her sonne preserued from famine and death 3. King 18. Moreouer in the 15. chapter of S. Matth. there is mention made of the Chanaanite woman that besought Christ to heale her daughter SICHEM or Sechem Gen. 12. Thither Abraham went presently after he came from Charram in Mesopotamia Sichem stood in that part of the country which afterward was allotted to the tribe of Ephraim neere the famous mount Garizim and not farre from whence not many yeares after the city Samaria was built The word Shecem signifieth a shoulder and the city peraduenture was so named of the situation neere the mount Garizim But the name also of the sonne of Hemor was Shecem of whom some thinke this place was so called This towne is oft spoken of in the holy Scriptures In the last chapter of Iosua it is expresly written that the bones of Ioseph were buried in this place
inhabitants who built it and enclosed it with an huge wall and ditch were Easterlings Cadmonim or such as came thither from Kedem the East Againe in respect of the greatnesse power goodly beauty and lusture of it it might iustly and indeed so it did as we shall shew in that which followeth deserue the name of Cadmia that is the chiefe and principall metropolitane city and it may be that for the same reason it was also of them called Cacabe Stellaris the glistring starre of _____ Caucabi a starre answerable to Asteria or Asteris an iland in the Midlandsea Asterius the name of a place in the ile Tenedos Astron or Astrum a riuer of Troas issuing out of the mount Ida as Pliny testifieth Item a great and goodly city of Argia in Peloponnesus with diuers other places in Greekland of the like denomination all deriued from Aster and Astrum which in the Greeke tongue signifie A starre There are many learned men which do thinke that in the Holy Scripture this city is called and described by the name of THARSIS And thus much of the ancient names and appellations of this city for in succedent ages it hath beene called also by diuers others beside these as we shall shew hereafter Yea and ancient writers haue graced it with diuers honorable titles and epithites calling it Celsam and Almam The Stately and Honourable city Carthage Apuleius nameth it Romani imperij aemulam terrarum orbis auidam Prouinciae magistram venerabilem Africae Musam coelestem Camaenam togatorum The great enuier of the Romane state and yet it selfe desiring all the souereignty of the world The honourable mistresse of the Prouince The heauenly Muse of Africa The delight and paradise of the gentry of the land Of Solinus it is intituled Alterum post vrbem Romam terrarum decus Next after the goodly city of Rome the only glory of the world Of Ptolemey Manilius Pliny it is called Magna The great city Of Victor Vticensis Suidas Maxima orbis terrarum The greatest city of the whole world And that not without iust cause for Orosius testifieth that it was twenty miles about within the walles almost round enclosed with the sea The abridgement of Liuy sayth that it was foure and twenty miles about Strabo maketh it in compasse three hundred and threescore fâ—rlongs stadia which do make fiue and forty Italian miles How true this is I leaue to the discretion of the learned Reader to determine This city was situate in a peninsula or demy-ile ioyned to the continent of Africa by a neckland Isthmos the Greeks call it of three miles bredth or as Appian the diligâ—nt Chorographer of this place reporteth 25 furlongs ouer Siluis Italicus thus writeth of it Haec caput est non vlla opibus certauerit auri Non portu celsouè situ non dotibus auri Vberis aut agili fabricanda ad tela vigore The more famous places in it are Megara a part of the city so called Byrsa the castle which conteined in circuit as Scruius hath noted two and twenty furlongs in this stood the temples of Iuno Aesculapius and Belus The Theater Thermae Gargilianae and Thermae Maximianae certeine hot bathes The Delphicum or temple of Apollo the chapal dedicated to the goddesse Memoria the Horse-race Hippodromus Basilica Celerinae the church of Theoprepia Lypsana a certeine place so called 〈◊〉 Via coelestis Heauen walke except the copy in this place be faulty and corrupt In the middest of the city there was a groue and in it the temple of Iuno as the famous Poet Virgil hath left recorded Item the temple of Elisa as Siluis Italicus testifieth What places afterward AFRICAE PROPRIAE TABVLA In qua Punica regna uides Tyrios et Agenoris vrbem Illustri ac Amplissimo viro Domino Christophoro ab Assonleville Equiti aurato Altevillae domino Regis Catholici Consiliario primario Abrahamus Ortelius dedicabat lubens merito EX CONATIBVS GEOGRAPHICIS ABRAHAMI ORTELII Cum priuilegio Imperiali Regio et Belgico ad decennium 1590. Sinus Carthaginensis ipsaeue vrbis atque locorum aliquot vicinorum plenior descriptio LOCA INCOGNITAE POSITIONIS ex varijs antiquae notae auctorib Abba Achris Adis Agar Alele Bada Baste Canthele Caputbada Cemma Cilla Cillaba Decimum Ethine Graesa Hermio Ismuc Lectum Locha Males Mamma Marthama Massilia Menephessa Meschela Miltina Nargara Ophe Oroscopa Parthos Phara Phellina Pithecussae Salera Sarsura Sintae Solis campus Syllectum Tegea Tergasa Thabena Tholuns Thon Tinges Tisiaus Tisidium Tocas Tricamarum Tuman Vazua Zama Zella Zincha Zona Ex Augustino Cypriano et concilio Carthaginensi Abarina Abbir Accura Acyrega Agra Amaccura Anthypatiana Asuaga Avasafa Audurus Ausciaga Auspha Autumnum Ballita Barus Becena Begetselita Bobba Buslacena Calama Capra picta Carpeta Cartemita Casae Medianae Casae Nigrae Centuriones Chullabi Cibaliana Colusita Diaba Dionysiana Eugitana Fetulae Foratianum Formae Furnae Galbae castrum Gazana Gazanfala Getabinustum Girpa Gor Gradus Iacena Iosiniana Lemella Limata Liniacum Luperciana Mactarum Marcellianum Mileuis Midila Mirita Migirpa Muzula Nice Obba Opte Pambestum Piste Rucuna Rusugoniotum Subulae Sullestiana Synica Tabeae Tambada Tarassa Telepte Thagabe Thibarum Thucabarum Thygate Tibina Timida Tisigita Tubunae Tyzica Vcrensia Victoria Vinianum Vlula Vnzibilis Vzalis Zataria Ziquensis Zurinia Ex Plinio opidum Aboriense Abuticense Acharitanum Auinense Melzitanum Salaphitanum Theudense Tigense Tiphicense Tiricense Tuburbis Tuburnicense Tunidrumense Vigense Ex Libro Notitiar limes Balensis Balaritanus Bazensis Bubensis Columnatensis Madensis Mamucensis Sarcitani Tintiberitani Varensis His recentiora veteris geographiae tabulis non inferimus Iustinian the Emperour of Rome builded here and repaired Procopius in his sixth booke of the buildings of this Emperour relateth at large Of him also if we may giue credit to Balsamon it was called IVSTINIANA The builders of this city which layd the first foundations of it were the Phoenicians Xorus and Carchedon or as some other report Elissa or Dido King Agenors daughter fifty yeeres before the ouerthrow of Troy or three score and twelue yeeres before the building of the city of Rome as Appianus affirmeth Siluis Italicus sayth that Teucer was the first that began the foundation of this city It was built as Iosephus in his disputation against Appion writeth in the hundred and fiue and fifty yeere after the death of Solomon the glorious king of Israel The valour and great strength of this city as it was alwayes eminent and famous in forren warres abroad so hath beene often shaken and ouermastered many sundry times at home At length hauing stood in flourishing estate as most authours affirme seuen hundred and seuen and thirty yeeres it was by the Romans as an enuious enemy of their state and empire assaulted battered taken sacked vtterly spoiled and at last consumed to dust and ashes And thus it continued for the space of one hundred and one yeeres when by the commandement and prescript of the Senate it was againe
mount Eryx monte S. Iuliano Yet Pausanias in his Arcadia maketh another maner of relation of Anchises and of his buriall Heere putting to sea againe he commeth to the SIRENVM SCOPVLI certaine dangerous rockes vpon the coast of Italy in the bay of Cumae and first casting anchor at PALINVRVS Paliuro or Cabo Palemudo at LEVCASIA Licoso as Halicarnasseus sayth or INARIME Ischia and PROCHYTA Profida as Ouid affirmeth and then againe at CVMAE where putting to land he goeth to Sibylla's caue ANTRVM SIBYLLAE and to AVERNVS lake Lago di Tripergola thence to the airie mount MISENVS Miseno to CAIETA King Lamus citie at this day called Gaietta and lastly to the riuer TIBRIS where with seuen of his twentie ships remaining he entreth landeth his men and goods and so endeth his seuen yeeres long and dangerous voyage which we haue thus described as you see partly out of Virgill Ouid and Lycophron famous poets and partly out of Liuy Halicarnasseus Pausanias and Xenophon as worthy renowmed historians But heere I cannot omit that which I haue read in Pausanias his Phocica namely that certaine of Aeneas his consorts seuered and driuen from his company and the rest of the nauy by storme and tempest did seat themselues in the ile SARDINIA Item it is worth the obseruation that Halicarnasseus and Liuy do iointly testifie That Aeneas did not stay at Tibris but at LAVRENTVM S. Laurentij and landed not with aboue sixe hundred men as Solinus reporteth which indeed seemeth somewhat more probable and like to be true for that both by ancient histories and moderne experience we finde that Tibris the riuer which runneth by Rome is not capable of a fleet or nauy of any bignesse Therefore it is to be thought that the Poet fained this of his owne head or els spake it in loue and commendations of this riuer Neither was it a voyage of seuen yeeres but of two at the most as Halicarnasseus doth plainly affirme Solinus out of Cassius Hemina auoucheth the same There are some as Strabo in the thirteenth booke of his Geography witnesseth which do thinke all this voyage to be a fained tale and fiction of the Poets and that Aeneas stayed still in Troy and succeeded in the kingdome after his father as likewise his childrens children did after him for many generations Of this opinion Homer doth seeme to be Xenophon in his booke of hunting telleth this tale another way where he writeth That Aeneas manfully defending his father and carefully preseruing the gods of his father and mother gat himselfe a great reputation and credit amongst all sorts of men for that his piety and religion insomuch that euen the very enemies themselues granted to him only aboue all other which they had taken captiue in the surprizing of Troy that in the sacking of the same no man should spoile or lay hand of ought that was his Moreouer that that his voyage vnto Carthage is not mentioned by any approoued historian but fained by the poet Macrobius doth plainly teach Item Appian a writer of good credit doth much discredit that story of his meeting and communication with Queene Dido who writeth that CARTHAGE was built by the same Dido fiue hundred yeeres before the destruction of Troy Againe the graue historiographer Trogus in his eighteenth booke doth make a relation of the life and death of this Dido or Eliza farre different from this But the poet as it seemeth had a purpose to disgrace this citie and to strike a deepe impression of the fatall hatred which it alwayes bare towards the Romans like as long before Homer vnder the person of Helen had shewed how much the Greeks in heart did malice the Troians Whereupon not vnfitly I thinke this Epigram of Ausonius which he wrote vpon the counterfet or picture of Queene Dido may heere to those former be adioined Illa ego sum Dido vultu quam conspicis hospes Assimulata modis pulchraque mirificis Talis eram fed non Maro quam mihi finxit erat mens Vita nec incestis laeta cupidinibus Namque nec Aeneas vidit me Troius vnquam Nec Libyam aduenit classibus Iliacis Sed furias fugiens atque arma procacis Iarbae Seruaui fateor morte pudicitiam Pectore transfixo castos quod pertulit enses Non furor aut laeso crudus amore dolor Sic cecidisse iuuat vixi sine vulnere famae Vlta virum positis moenibus oppetij Inuida cur in me stimulasti Musa Maronem Fingeret vt nostrae damna pudicitiae Vos magis historicis lectores credite deme Quà m qui furta Deum concubitusque canunt Falsidici vates temerant qui carmine verum Humanisque Deos assimilant vitijs Which Priscian or whosoeuer els he were that was the authour of that ancient translation of Dionysius Afer doth to the same sense but in farre fewer words vtter in those two verses Atque pudicitiam non perdit carmine falso Quae regnans felix Dido per secula viuit This fained tale first forg'd in faithlesse poets braine It neuer may I trow the honest fame distaine Wherein thou Dido long didst liue amongst thine owne And still of wiser sort thorowout the world is knowne AENEAE TROIANI NAVIGATIO Ad Virgilij sex priores Aeneidos Ex conatibus Geographicis Abrahami Ortelij Antverp DOCTRINA ET HVMANITATE CELEBRI DNO BALTHASARO ROBIANO R. P.ANT THESAVRARIO VIRO ANIMI CORPORISQ DOTIBVS ORNATISS Ab. Ortelius veteris amicitiae memor dedicabat Sum pius Aeneas raptos qui ex hoste Penates Classe veho mecum fama super aethera notus Bis denis Phrygium conscendi nauibus aequor Vix septem conuulsae undis Euróque supersunt Europa atque Asia pulsus Aeneid i. The PEREGRINATION of VLYSSES THe manifold wandring voiages of Vlysses Errores Ausonius in diuers places calleth them were from all antiquity so famous and renowmed amongst all men that The Peregrination of Vlysses grew into a by-word and to be spoken prouerbially of any hard and difficult trauell that any man did vndergoe as Apuleius in the second booke of his Golden Asse doth testifie Therefore for the benefite of the Readers and Students of that history and at the earnest request of sundrie learned men my friends I haue thought good out of ancient Historians to describe the twenty voyages of this famous Captaine who as Tzetzes writeth with twelue shippes set forward from TROY or as the Greekes call it Ilium a city of Troia or Troas a prouince of Asia Minor continually wandring vp and downe vntill at last he came to ITHACA an iland in the Ionian sea where hee was borne now called as Sophianus and others do testifie Valle di Compare or Teachi as Porcacchius affirmeth but of the Turkes Phiachi as Leunclaw witnesseth Therefore after the tenne yeares siege taking and sacking of Troy by the Greekes Vlysses or Odysseus as they call him hauing a purpose to returne home to his owne country shipped himselfe and his company put foorth to sea and
go Eastward looke by how much the aire is more subtile pure and thinne so much is it more fierce sharpe and piercing On the contrary the farther you go toward the South and West parts of the world by how much the aire is more thicke cloudy and foggy by so much it is more temperate kinde and healthfull For this countrey lying in the midst indifferently seated betweene frozen Island and parched Spaine and by that meanes getting a meane temperature betweene hot and cold aswell in respect of that temperature and holesomnesse of the aire is a most goodly fertile iland The champion fields do yeeld great store of corne the mountaines do feed many heards of cattell the woods affoord many Deere and other kind of wild beasts the lakes and riuers great variety and plenty of good fish Yet the soile of this iland is better for Pastorage than Arable-ground for Grasse than Corne. Multam fruges in Hibernia saith he plurimam in culmis minorem in granis spem promittunt Abundè satis campi vestiuntur horrea farciuntur sola verò granaria destituuntur Here their corne as long as it is in the grasse for Hibernia I read herba is maruellous good but much better it seemeth to be when it is shot vp and spindled only it faileth when it commeth to the threshing then it is seldome found to be casty In the field it maketh a goodly shew yea ordinarily it is as thicke as may stand vpon the ground their barnes are crammed full and mowed vp to the top only their garners are empty Thus farre Giraldus and because we haue handled the generall description of this iland in another place of this our worke we will conclude this discourse with a briefe description of some few of their cities and principall townes as we haue learned of that worthy gentleman Richard Stanihurst this countreyman bredde and borne DVBLIN situate vpon the riuer Liffe in the countie of Dublin the Metropolitan and chiefe citie not only of Leynster but also of all Ireland for goodly faire buildings multitude of people ciuility for sweet aire and situation doth as farre excell all the other cities of this I le as the lofty cypresse doth the lowest shrubs The Cathedrall church of S. Patricks was first founded by Iohn Cinim Archbishop of Dublin in the yere of our Lord God 1197. That great and goodly strong Castle was built by Henry Loundres Archbishop also of Dublin about the yere of our Lord 1220. This city is very ancient and was in Ptolemeys time as learned men thinke called Ciuitas Eblana The city Eblan The next city in order and dignity is WATERFORD a well gouerned towne and one that hath been alwaies faithfull to England It is very populous and ciuill and for that the hauen here is far better and more safe than that of Dublin much resorted vnto for trade and trafficke by merchants of forren countreys The streets of it are very narrow and darke Here no cutthroat-Iewish vsurer is permitted to vse his diuellish occupation that is as Cato sayd to kill men or to liue by the sweat of other mens browes The third is LIMMERICK which in regard of the goodly riuer Shenyn whereupon it is seated and standeth as also for the commodious situation of the same might iustly challenge the first place For this riuer is the greatest and goodliest of all Ireland whose depth and channell is such that notwithstanding the city standeth at the least threescore miles from the maine sea yet ships of great burden doe come vp euen to the towne walles besides that it is woonderfully stored with great variety of fresh fish King Iohn did like the situation of this city so well that he caused there a goodly castle and faire bridge to be built The last and least is CORCK situate vpon the riuer Leigh This hauen is one of the best in all Ireland and therefore the citizens are very wealthy and great merchants These three latter are all within the prouince of Mounster But if thou desirest a larger discourse of these particulars I wish thee to repaire to the foresayd authour Richard Stanihurst he shall satisfie thee to the full IRLANDIAE ACCVRATA DESCRIPTIO Auctore Baptista Boazio SERENISSIMO INVICTISSIMOQVE IACOBO MAGNAE BRITANNIAE FRANCIAE ET HIBERNIAE REGI IOANNES BAPTISTA VRINTS ANTVERPIANVS D. DEDICAT Ioannes Baptista Vrints Geographicarum tabularum calcographus excud Antuerpiae EXPOSITIO VERBORVM HIBERNICORVM Glyn Nemus Can Promontorium Caric Rupes Knoc Collis Slew Mons. B. vel Bale Vicus Kill Pagus Lough Lacus Enis Insula Mo. Monasterum Mc. Territorium filij Satrapae O Caput familiae ENGLAND OR The I le of GREAT BRITAIN as it stood about the time of the entrance of the Normans described by a Nubiensis the Arabian The second section of the seuenth Climate IN this second part of the seuenth Climate we comprehend a part of the b Ocean sea where c ENGLAND which is a very great iland in forme and fashion not much vnlike to a d Storkes head standeth apart from the rest of the world In this Iland there are many e populous Cities well inhabited steepe Hilles running Waters and goodly Champion grounds f Heere it is alwaies Winter The neerest of maine land vnto it is g Wady-shant in the prouince of Flanders Betweene this Iland and the Continent the passage is about h twelue miles ouer Amongst the cities of this I le which are in the outmost borders of it Westward and in the entrance of the narrowest place thereof is the citie i SIHSETER which is distant from the k sea twelue miles From this citie vnto the citie l GORHAM by the sea shore are threescore miles Item from the citie Sihseter vnto the outmost border of the iland Westward are m three hundred and fourescore miles From it also vnto the hauen n DARTERMOVTH are fourescore miles Then from thence vnto the o LANDS END called Cornwallia are an hundred miles From the citie Sihseter vnto the citie p SALEBVRES within the land Northward are threescore miles Item from the citie Gorham vnto the liberties of the citie q HANTONA which standeth vpon a Creeke that falleth into the sea are fiue and twentie miles off into this creeke there runneth from the East part thereof the riuer of r Wynseter From s WYNSETER vnto Salebures Westward are fortie miles From Hantona vnto the citie t SHORHAM are threescore miles This citie is neere the sea From it along by the sea coast vnto the city u HASTINGES are fifty miles From it following the shore Eastward vnto the citie w DVBRIS are seuenty miles This city is at the head of the x passage whereby they passe from England vnto the maine Continent on the other side ouer against it From the citie Dubris vnto the citie y LVNDRES vpland are forty miles This city standeth vpon a great riuer which falleth into the sea betweene the city Dubris and the city z GIARNMOVTH From which city Giarnmouth vnto the
thee to M. Camdens Britannia where this argument is handled at large and most learnedly Only in defence of Gaulfridus lest any man should thinke that I haue all this while spoken against his person I conclude with this sayng of a learned man of our time Cardanus ait sayth he illius aetatis scriptores tantopere mendacio fabulis fuisse delectatos vt in contentionem venerint quis plura confingeret Cardane sayth That the Historians and Writers of those times betweene foure hundred and fiue hundred yeeres since were so much delighted with fables and lies that they stroue who should lie fastest and win the whetstone It was you see the fault of the time and age wherein he liued not of the man The learned Oratour Tully in the second booke of his Offices as I remember thus describeth the vertues of a true Historiographer Ne quid falsi scribere audeat Ne quid veri non audeat Ne quam in scribendo suspitionem gratiae Ne quam simultatis ostendat A good Historian may not dare to write any thing that is false He may not be afrayd to write any thing that is true He must not shew any partiality or fauour in writing He ought to be void of all affection and malice Learned Antiquaries follow this good counsell of the graue Philosopher Sell vs no more drosse for pure mettall Refine what you reade and write Euery tale is not true that is tolde Some authours want iudgement others honesty Let no man be beleeued for his antiquity For you know what Menander sayd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Grayhaires are not alwayes a signe of wisdome and deepe vnderstanding olde men do sometime dote and will lie as well as others One sayth Nesc to quo casu illud euenit vt falsa potius quà m vera animum nostrum captant I cannot tell sayth he how it commeth to passe but surely true it is that we are more easily caried away with lies and fables than with truth And how hard a matter it is to remoue one from a setled opinion though neuer so false and absurd any man meanly experienced doth very well know f Yet Caesar saith that Britanniae Loca sunt temperatiora qùam in Gallia remissioribus frigoribus The temperature of the aire in England is better then in France the cold is nothing so bitter That is as the authour of the Panegyricke oration made to Constantius the Emperour doth interpret it In ea nec rigor est nimius hyemis nec ardor aestatis In it neither the cold of winter nor the heat of summer is very excessiue And Minutius Felix hee writeth that Britannia sole deficitur sed circumfluentis maris tepore recreatur In England the Sunne shineth not very hotte but that defect is repaied by a certaine steame or hot vapour which ascendeth vp out of the sea that inuironeth this iland on all sides round g What place this should be I dare not for truth constantly affirme Perhaps he meaneth Vitsam or as we call it Whitsan a little towne in the country of Bolloine some fiue or six miles from Calais situate vpon the sea coast built at the mouth of a small riuer which peraduenture he calleth Shant For in the Arabicke tongue Wadi-shant importeth so much h This is false and by himselfe contradicted for in another place if I be not deceiued he maketh it twenty fiue miles ouer wherefore I doubt not but for a mile the authour did put a parasange which conteineth three English miles And this is somewhat neere the mark i I take it that he meaneth Cercester in Glocestershire which vulgarly they now call Ciceter It is an ancient city called of Ptolemey Corinium of Antonine Durocornouium of the Saxons Cyrenceaster taking the denomination from the riuer Corinus or Churne vpon which it is situate The tract of the decaied wals of it which are two miles about doe testifie that it was sometime a very great citie Many antiquities and auncient monuments doe plainly shew that in the time of the Romans it was a place of good rekoning Now it is nothing so populous and well inhabited k From the Seuerne I vnderstand it which at euery floude enterteineth the salt water a great way vp into the countrey l Warham is a sea towne in Dorsetshire strongly fortified by nature vpon the South and North with two riuers Ware and Trent this now they call Piddle and with the maine sea vpon the East only vpon the Wew it lieth open to the assailaunt Yet it was in times past defended with a faire wall and a strong Castle It was very populous well inhabited and graced with the Kings mint for the refining and coining of his mony vntill the time of Henry the Second since whose daies by reason of ciuill warres casualty by fire and stopping of the hauen it is much decaied and hath lost much of that former beauty m This distance is much too great whether he meaneth the lands end in Cornwall or the farther part of Wales Westward which I rather incline to But obserue this once for all that there is no great heed to be taken to those his accounts of miles and distances n Dartmouth an hauen towne in Deuonshire situate vpon a little hill running out into the sea at the mouth of the riuer Dart or Dert as some write it The hauen is defended with two strong Castels or Block-houses It is very populous well frequented with Merchants and hath many goodly tall shippes belonging to it King Iohn granted them certaine priuiledges and euery yeere to chuse a Maior for their supreme magistrrate and gouernour in ciuill causes vnder the King o Thus our seamen cal it at this day The Arabian termeth it _____ Tarfi'lgarbi mina'lgiezira The Westerne bound of the iland Master Camden in his Scotland that I may note this by the way affirmeth that Taurus in Welch doth signifie the end or limbe of any thing Heere in Arabicke thou seest it signifieth the same And in English wee call if I be not deceiued the brimmes of an hatte The tarfe p SALISBVRY or rather SARISBVRY a sweet and pleasant city within the County of Wilt situate in a plaine at the meeting of the riuers Auone and Nadder It is not that ancient city Sorbiodunum mentioned by Antoninus in his Iournall but built of the ruines of it as seemeth very probable For this old towne being often distressed for want of water and at length spoiled and rased to the ground by Swein the Dane in the yeare of our Lord 1003. although it reuiued againe a little after about the time of William the First was forsaken and abandoned by the citizens who laid the foundation of this new citie about 400. yeares since at what time Richard the First was King of England That most stately Cathedrall Church which they report hath as many doores as there be months in the yeare as many windowes as the yeare hath daies and as many pillars as there are
Crowes than heere a kind of fowle very harmefull for it doth not onely spoile the ripe and standing corne but assoone as it is shotte they will stocke and digge it vp with their billes so that the husbandmen are faine at that time of the yeare to set Boies in the fields with bow and arrowes for they are not afraid of mens voices to skarre them away The Ocean or maine sea which beateth vpon the coast of this Iland aboundeth with all maner of Fish of which the Lucius or Pike as they commonly call it they esteeme as a deinty dish and therefore they oft take it out of fenny pooles and riuers and put it into their fishponds and weares where being purged and cleared from that muddy sauour feed with eeles and other little fishes he groweth exceeding fatte and of a holesome and pleasing tast This fish which is a very strange thing being brought aliue into the fishmarket to be sold they open his belly with a knife to shew how fatte he is if he be not sold yet of that wound he dieth not but the slitte being sewed vp and presently put into the pond amongst the slimie tenches it is by and by healed againe There are no where in all the world either more daintie Oisters or greater store It yeeldeth also Gold Siluer Copper and Iron although no great quantitie of either sort but of Lead and Tinne the Latines call that Plumbum nigrum this Plumbum album in their kind the best is heere found in great abundaunce and from thence is transported to forrein nations The people are tall of stature well fauoured and faire countenanced for the most part gray eied and as in maner of pronunciation they much resemble the Italian so in proportion and feature of body and maners they little or nothing differ from them They shape their apparell much-what after the French fashion The women most faire and beautifull do go very decently and comlily attired They feed most-what on flesh The drinke which they vse and do make of malt is indeed very good holesome and pleasant much sought after in the Low countries and therefore conueied thither in great abundance At their meales both dinners and suppers they fare well daintilie liberallie and are very merrie and pleasant In warre they are courageous and hardie good archers and cannot abide delaies and lingring and therefore when they ioine battell and come to blowes one part shall soone be vtterly ouerthrowne for the conqueror seiseth all into his hands They build no Castles yea those which their auncestours haue built in former ages and now are decaied ruinous and readie to fall they care not for the reedifying and vpholding of them Cities they haue and many faire townes goodly hamlets streets and villages The chiefe City mart-towne and imperiall seat of their Kinges is LONDON situate vpon the riuer of Thames ioined with a faire stone bridge of twenty piles very goodly arched Vpon this bridge are houses so built on ech side that it seemeth almost to be a continuall street not a bridge This of the nature of the soile temperature of the aire manners and behauiour of the people we haue for the most part gathered out of Polydore Virgill his historie of England for he hath very curiously there described this Iland In England these things are famous and worth the obseruation as this verse sheweth Mons fons pons ecclesia femina lana Of riuers and mountaines stone bridges and wooll Faire women and Churches England is full IRELAND is subiect to the crowne of England so are diuers other lesser iles as Wight Man Anglesey the ancient seat of the Druydes the Welshmen call it Tirmôn mam Gumry Man the mother of Wales the Latines this MONA that other MENAVIA and those which now we call the Sorlinges the Greeks called them CASSITERIDES Gernsey and Gersey with other small ilands about them although they be hard vpon the coast of France yet they do belong vnto England Humfrey Lhoyd hath so curiously described England together with the Antiquities thereof that others before him may iustlie seeme to be accused of great negligence Him did Alexander Neuill follow in his historie of the Rebellion in Norffolke which he intituleth Norwicus Daniel Rogers my kinsman hath written a booke of the maners lawes and customes of the ancient Brittans The same author is also about to write of the command and iurisdiction that the Romanes had in Brittaine ANGLIAE ET HIBERNIAE ACCVRATA DESCRIPTIO VETERIBVS ET RECENTIORIBVS NOMINIBVS ILLVS TRATA ET AD D. GVLIEL CAMDENI BRITANIAM ACCŌMODATA Nominibus Antiquis ★ vel praeponitur vel postponitur Ioannes Baptista Vrints Geographicarum tabularum calcographus excud Antuerpiae PROGENIES REGVM ANGLIAE AB GVILIELMI CONQVEST TEMPORIBVS VSQVE AD HVNC DIEM Anno Dn̄i 1605. SERMO. INVICTISSIMOQVE IACOBO MAGNAE BRITANNIAE FRANCIAE ET HIBERNIAE REGI IOANNES BAPTISTA VRINTS ANTVERPIANVS D. DEDICAT WALES THe discourse of this prouince we haue composed out of a certaine fragment of our singular good friend Humfrey Lhoyd which not long since wee caused Birkman to imprint for the benefit of those that are students of Geography CAMBRIA saith he the third part of Britaine is diuided from Lhoëgria or England if you please so to call it by the riuers Seuern and Dee otherwise it is on all parts confined with the Irish sea the Geographers commonly call it Oceanus Vergiuius it was so named as they dreame of Camber the third sonne of Brute The Welshmen call it Cymri the English Wales and the Latin WALLIA This part only of this whole Brittish iland doth stil enioy the most ancient inhabitants being indeed the true naturall Brittans and do yet retaine the Brittish tongue and cannot speake one word of English which is a language made especially of the misture of the Dutch and French tongues Wales they do at this time diuide into three prouinces Venedoth Powis-land and Dehenbarth Vnder Venedoth the ile Anglesey famous long since and accounted for the ancient seat of the Druides is conteined The inhabitants in course of life and fashion of apparell do follow the English and are an idle people not willing to labour or take pains bragging much of their gentilitie and do giue themselues rather to the seruice of Noblemen and to follow the court than to trades and occupations Heere hence it is that you shall find few Noblemen through out all England which hath not the greatest part of his followers seruants in which thing Englishmen do surpasse any other nation whatsoeuer Welshmen borne for being men that are fed with whitmeats or butter cheese they haue nimble able bodies fit for any maner of seruice Moreouer being men of haughty minds and in extreme penury and beggery challenging vnto themselues to be nobly descended they delight rather to go brauein apparell like vnto the Spaniard then to get goods or pamper their bellies and do soone learne courtlike behauiour and
to name places after the same Saints vpon whose daies they finde them I haue nothing to adde saue that Theuet is mistaken in that he falsly and carelesly ascribes the same mountaine vnto S. Michaels Isle which we haue truly and fully described in Pico Of these Isles somewhat you may read in the Historie of Ierome Conestagio touching the Vnion of the Kingdome of Portugale to the crowne of Castile And also in the 97. Chapter of Iohn Huighen van Linschoten his East-Indian iournall AÇORES INSVLAE Priuilegio Imp. et Reg. Maiest necnon Ordinum Belgicor ad decennium Longitudo huius descriptionis sumta est à meridiano I Ptolemaei Occidentem versus Has insulas perlustrauit summà que diligentia accuratissimè descripsit et delineauit Ludouicus Teisera Lusitanus Regiae Maiestatis cosmographus SPAINE SPAINE is resembled by Strabo vnto an Ox-hide spred vpon the ground It is around inuironed by the sea saue only where it is diuided from France by the Pyreney-mountaines On the East it hath the said Pyreney-mountaines which from the Temple of Venus or the Promontory stretched foorth neere Illiberis now Colibre runneth along to the British Ocean and this is the very narrowest part of Spaine insomuch saith Vaseus that when I trauelled thorow Biscay I remember that from the hill of S. Adrian if my sight deceiued me not I saw both seas namely the Ocean neere at hand and as farre off as I could discerne the foame-white waues of the Mediterran sea North it is bounded by the Biscain sea West by the Western sea and South by the Streight of Gibraltar and part of the Mediterran sea Spaine is diuided into three Prouinces Baetica Lusitania and Tarraconensis Baetica on the North is inclosed with the riuer Anas now called Guadiana West with that part of the Atlantick Ocean which is betweene the mouth of Guadiana and the Streight of Gibraltar South with part of the Mediterran sea called of olde Mare Balearicum extending from the Streight last mentioned to the Promontory of Charidómus now called Cabo de Gata and Eastward it is bounded by an imaginary line drawen from the said Promontory by the towne of Castulo to the riuer Guadiana It is called Baetica of the famous riuer Baetis which cuts the whole Prouince in twaine This riuer springing out of the wood or forest anciently called Saltus Tygensis runneth into the Atlantick-ocean and is at this day called by an Arabian name Guadalquibir that is to say The great riuer This prouince of later times of the Vandal inhabitants was called Vandalicia at this present by the same word corrupted Andaluzia Lusitania conteines Algaruc and the greater part of Portugale Lusitania confineth North vpon the riuer Duero from the very mouth thereof to the bridge ouer against Simancas West it bordereth vpon that part of the Atlantick-ocean which ebs and flowes betweene the outlets of Duero and Guadiana South vpon Andaluzia and East it fronteth Hispania Tarraconensis now called Castilia c. euen from the ancient Oretania to the foresaid bridge ouer against Simancas Lusitania was thus named from Lusus the sonne of Bacchus and Lysa one of Bacchus his companions whereupon it is somtimes called of Lusus Lusitania and somtimes againe of Lysa Lysitania The residue of Spaine pertaineth to the prouince called Tarraconensis of the city Tarracona which is the head of all that prouince a city saith Strabo most notably fit for princes in their trauels to retire themselues and here the Emperors kept their chiefe iurisdiction This prouince containeth the kingdome of Murcia likewise Valencia and Arragon with Catalonia also Castilia Vieja the kingdome of Nauarre part of Portugale between the riuers Duero and Minho the kingdome of Gallicia Asturia and all Biscay Hitherto Vaseus in his chronicle of Spaine who intreateth of this argument more at large Read also Marinaeus Siculus Marius Aretius Damianus a Goës Francis Taraffa the bishop of Gerundo Annius Viterbiensis and in Spanish Florian del campo and after him Ambrosio Morales with all those other Writers of Spaine that Vaseus in the fourth chapter of his Chronicle doth recite Stephan Garibayo in his Chronicle of Spain diuided into twenty books describes the kingdome of Nauarre Iohn Mariana likewise not long since published a volume concerning Spanish matters Among the ancient Writers you must peruse Caesar Strabo and the rest which Damianus a Goës in his booke called Hispania doth nominate also the Panegyrick speech of Latinus Pacatus and Claudianus de laude Serenae Vnto these you may adde the first booke of Laonicus There is extant also a little Trauellers Breuiate written in Spanish by Alonço de Meneses containing almost all the ordinarie voyages in Spaine wherein also are noted the distances of places Three memorable things as writeth Nauagierus are prouerbially spoken of Spaine the first A bridge ouer which the water runneth whereas it runnes vnder all other bridges namely the water-conduct at Segouia the second a city compassed with fire that is to say Madrid because the town-walles are of flint and the third a bridge whereon are daily fed ten thousand head of cattel whereby is signified the riuer Guadiana which hiding it selfe vnder ground for the space of seuen miles doth then breake forth againe Albeit this last is a thing sprung rather out of the peoples vulgar opinion than out of truth as Don George of Austria Gouernour of Harlebeck an eye-witnesse most worthy of credit hath informed me being a man conuersant in all kinde of history and a a wonderfull searcher and admirer of naturall Philosophie The islands belonging vnto Spaine wherof ancient writers haue made mention at the Celtick promontory or Cape Finister are the Cassiterides which at this present are not to be found in the ocean Also Insulae Deorum otherwise called Cicae and of late times Islas de Bayona Londobris named also Erythia and now the Burlings Gades in olde time dedicated to Hercules now commonly called Cales All these are in the Ocean In the Mediterran sea you haue Ophiusa now called Formentera As likewise the two Gymnesiae or Baleares at this present called by distinct names the one Maiorca and the other Minorca The coast of Minorca is beset round about with huge mountaines but at the entrance of the hauen the roots of these mountaines are leuelled into a plaine till they meet at so narrow a distance on the other side of the shore that no ships can enter the harbor but with a gentle gale of wind The hauen is named Mahon being a most beautifull and commodious place for it stretcheth almost foure miles in length with many inlets all which serue for the harboring of ships From hence ariseth a perpetuall ridge of mountaines on which the inhabitants cut downe great plenty of wood At the vtmost part therof on the mountain-tops is built a city Contrariwise the greater Island hath a plaine shore and most high and barren mountaines in the middest A city there is of one and
olim non ob opes solum virtutem bellicam quibus semper pres titit verum etiam ob continentia disciplinam que summum apud illos locum habuit celebris fuit Nam artium illustrium et Graecae etiam lingue peritia excelluit matre vt arbitror Massilia Graeca vrbe in maritima ora Prouinciae sita ad quā quondā disciplinaru gratia ud ex ipsa vrbe Roma missi sūt qui docerētur BRETAIGNE and NORMANDY THis Table representeth that part of Gallia Lugdunensis which stretcheth toward the Westerne Ocean The ancients named it Armorica Heere standeth Neustria corruptly so called of late yeeres for Vestria or rather Westria according to some Westrasia as much to say as a Westerne region The occasion of this errour both in pronunciation and writing was for that the French wanting a double V doe alwayes in stead thereof write a single V and because u in this small forme differs not much from n hereupon it is likely that Westria was prodigiously changed into Neustria In which Neustria at this present are situate the regions of Bretaigne and Normandie which in this Table we present vnto your view NORMANDIA so called of the Northerne people that ouer-ranne it for Nord in Dutch signifieth North and mannen men which Northerne people were Danes and Noruegians who hauing by force subdued this region planted themselues here in the time of Lotharius the Emperour Concerning the situation and nature of this place these are the words of Gaguinus in his seuenth booke Normandie is adorned and fortified with one Metropolitan six cities and ninetie foure strong townes and castles most of their villages also being built citie-like thorow which Prouince a speedie traueller shall hardlie passe in six dayes it aboundeth with fish cattell and plentie of corne being in all places so fraught with peares and apples that the people make all their drinke of the same and yet send great quantitie to other countreys They exercise clothing and are notable quaffers of cyder They are naturally a wilie people subiect to no forren lawes liuing after their owne fashions and customes which they most obstinately maintaine cunning they are in sleights and sutes of law whereupon strangers are loth to haue any dealings with them being otherwise well addicted to learning and religion Moreouer they are very apt and valiant in the warres many of whose worthy acts against strangers are recorded Thus farre Gaguinus Of the qualitie of this region you may more largely informe your selfe out of Henry Altissiodorensis his fifth booke of the life of S. German It aboundeth as Caenalis makes report with all things necessary for mans life wine only excepted which the soile doth not yeeld The chiefe city is Rouen in English commonly called Roan which hath a most learned Senate or Court of Parliament that execute iustice and decide the controuersies of the whole Prouince Heere are also great Merchants by meanes of whose trafficke the citie is knowen farre and neere In this citie there is a church dedicated to the Virgin Mary beautified with a most lofty steeple wherin hangs the greatest bell in all France weighing forty thousand pounds as these French verses grauen thereupon do testifie Ie suis nominée George d' Amboise Qui plus que trente six mil poise Et si qui bien me poysera Quarante mil y trouuera In English George de Amboise my name rightly sounds I weigh more than thirtie six thousand pounds Whoso poiseth me well Fortie thousand may tell This George after whose name the bell is called was Archbishop of Roan about the yeere 1500. who considering that in his Diocesse such was the scarsitie of oile as it would hardly be sufficient for the time of Lent granted to his Diocessans in stead thereof the vse of butter conditionally that they should pay six halfepence Tournois a piece with which summe of money he caused the said steeple to be built which thereupon is yet called Latour de beur that is The steeple of butter The antiquities and other memorable matters of this city F. Noel Taillipied hath described in French in a peculiar Treatise Thus much of Normandie BRETAIGNE bordering vpon the coast of Normandie is the vtmost prouince of France toward the Ocean Some thinke that this was of old called Aremorica Sure I am that Caesar describeth cities which he calleth Aremericas vpon this coast But Plinie and Sidonius do name the inhabitants Britannos placing them vpon the riuer of Loire The Middle-age writers call them Brittones which name they yet retaine Plinie most aptly calles this region The godliest Peninsula of Gallia Lugdunensis In a fragment of the Frankes history I reade that it was once called The horne of France from the shape thereof as I suppose Robert Caenalis is of opinion that the Brittons being named Hermiones tooke occasion by way of allusion vnto this name to make choise of those armes which they now beare commonly called Ermines with weasels tailes and the natiue colour of blacke in a field argent c. This region he saith is somewhat drie and not very fruitfull more apt to beare millet than wheat Their fields saith he they call lands It seemeth more properly to be named Eremorica than Aremorica For they make larger leagues betweene towne and towne namely of three miles which is no slight argument of a barren soile Hereof the coniecture seemes not improbable that it was called Brutannia of nourishing or feeding brute beasts So many of their townes as antiquity reports are denominated from flocks and droues as for example Pullinaicum à pullis equinis from horse-coltes Filicieriae now called Fulgeriae alias Foulgeres of braky grounds also Rhedones à Rhedis that is to say of carts which cary commodities long and tedious iourneys which I rather beleeue than that it first borrowed the name from Brutus Thus farre Caenalis let the trueth thereof stand or fall vpon his credit More concerning these countries you may reade in the same authour and in Belleforest but especially in Bertrard Argentré who hath published a large volume of the same in French Reade also Elias Vinetus vpon Ausonius his poem of Cupid crucified LA MANS the inhabitants whereof were in old time called CENOMANI PLinie in his third booke and ninth chapter putteth the Cenomani amongst the Volsci neere Massilia Ptolemey and Strabo doe place them about Brixia in Italia Transalpina which is on this side Padus Other Cenomani be found in Gallia Lugdunensi by Ptolemey and Plinie lib. 4. cap. 15. or by Caesar in his seuenth booke De bello Gall. Howbeit the latter two call them also by a surname Aulercos And these are they whose region we propound in this Table The inhabitants now call it La Mans. The situation of this countrey and of the seuerall townes you may reade in Theuet Belleforest and Caenalis out of whom I thought good to borow this one speciall note concerning a certeine riuer and a
also we haue borrowed this Table LIMAIGNE THe length of all this region which some ab alimonijs or victuals call Alimonia others of the fat slimie soile Limaigne being part of Auuergne which for shortnesse of time and in regard of the high hilles and low valleys and the crooked windings and turnings we could not exactly measure The length hereof I say from the bridge of olde Briuata as farre as Ganao abounding with Corne Wine Honie Cattell Horses Saffron Nuts Pot-hearbs Pastures Woods Fountaines Riuers Bathes Marle Lakes Siluer-mines Honourable families Strong fortresses and Rich merchandize stretcheth about twenty leagues and the bredth almost eight leagues But we describing only the more fruitfull and inhabited part do in the Table following comprehend about eight leagues in length and almost seuen in bredth placing the townes and villages according to the scale vnder-annexed Thus farre the Authour in a Treatise intituled A godlie and speculatiue Dialogue by him written in Italian where you may see the very Table which I haue here put downe In the lower part of this Table stands a mountaine with a small towne named Gergoie This is Gergouia in Aruernis neere the riuer Elauer whereof Caesar in his seuenth booke of the French warres maketh mention REGIONIS BITVRIGVM EXACTISS DESCRIPTIO PER D. IOANNEM CALAMAEVM LIMANIAE TOPOGRAPHIA GABRIELE SYMEONEO AVCT The Dukedome of ANIOV THe people and countrey of the Andegauenses are by Ptolemey placed in Gallia Lugdunensi The countrey at this present is called Aniou and the people Angeuins In times past it went vnder the name of an Earledome but since the yeare 1350. it hath beene adorn'd with the title of a Dukedome East it confineth vpon Tourain and Vendosme West it bordereth vpon Bretaigne Poictou bounds it Southward and the Counties of Maine and La Val on the North. It is a country not very large but for fruitfulnesse inferior to none other in France the wine of Anjou excelleth all other French wines Neither is it destitute of other commodities requisite either for the necessity or the pleasure of mans life being euery where beautified with Riuers Mountaines Woods and Medowes It aboundeth with cattell great and small and with fish All this their Riuers and Medowes affoord them Out of their Mountaines they digge Marble and a kinde of blew Slates wherewith they couer Churches and houses The common people call them Ardoises This Region is watered with so many Riuers Freshets Fountaines Fish-pooles Lakes and Pondes that some are of opinion it was heeretofore called Aeguada or Aguada of the abundance of waters for in the Aquitaigne tongue they call Water Aigues The principall Riuers besides others are Ligeris which the inhabitants do name Loire calling it likewise The Father of French riuers Into this Riuer within the compasse of Anjou do fall the riuers Vienne Diue Thouets Layon Leure Guiuatte Maine Seure Loir a riuer diuers from Ligeris for it falles thereinto and is called by late Writers Ledus Aution Oudon Maienne Brionneau Losse and Erdret c. So that there runne about fortie Riuers thorow this Prouince It hath diuers faire cities the principall whereof is called Angiers perhaps the same which in Ptolemey is named Juliomagus This being the head citie of all the Region is built on either side the riuer Meduan and ioyned together by a stone bridge The antiquitie hereof is euident out of certaine ancient ruines of a Theater which hang ouer the Citie and are called by the common people Brohan Heere sometimes are olde coines found Lewis the second in the yeere 1389. established an Vniuersitie in this place There be also other townes of note as Saumur Beufort Bauga c. Most of the premisses for the illustration of this Table we haue translated out of Belleforest his French Munster To whom he that will may adde Theuet Anjou ANDEGAVENSIVM DITIONIS VERA ET INTEGRA DESCRIPTIO Licino Guyeto Andegauense auctore Cum Priuilegio 1579. The territorie of PARIS commonly called THE ISLE OF France IN a certaine Iournall of France I reade this description of the territorie of Paris The Isle of France stretcheth from the towne of Saint Denis as far as Rossy and Montmorency and so it comprehends all the land within the winding nookes of Seine towards Normandie one way and towards Picardie another way The occasions of this name were as Andrew Theuet reporteth in that the Frankes comming out of Germanie planted themselues first in this place and here their Captaines tooke vpon them the title of Kings and also for that the Riuers Marne Seine Oyse do in a maner compasse it around Yet all the Region being comprized within these three Riuers pertaineth not to the said isle but only that part which is neere vnto Paris My opinion is that this diuision might be made when the sonnes of Clouis sharing the whole Kingdome limited and included within these bounds the dominions of him who bare rule at Paris and was only called the King of France Howbeit now this diuision is not obserued seeing that certaine Cities of Picardie Briè and other Prouinces are comprehended within the same But let vs heare the opinion of Belleforest also After the death of the great King Clouis France was diuided after a new maner for out of one King sprang many and he only was called The King of France who gouerned at Paris wherefore the Isle of France is the true and ancient iurisdiction of our Kings albeit Pipins posteritie beganne to neglect it and afterwards the Parisian territorie fell to them by inheritance who enioyed the Crowne of all France L'Isle de France PARISIENSIS AGRI DESCRIP The Dukedome of TOVRAIN THis region is not very large being on euery side so restrained with bordering Prouinces West thereof lieth Anjou and part of Poictou from the first it is seuered by the confines of Saumure and from the second by the riuer Creuse whereupon stands the city of Chinon subiect to this Dukedome of Tourain South also lies part of Poictou along the riuer Creuse to La port de Pilles which diuides Guienne from Tourain and Berry in like sort from whence it is separated by Chastillon situate vpon the riuer Indre East not far from Loire the riuer of Cher diuides it from the prouince of Blois and from part of Berry and North it is seuered from the territories of Maine and Vendosmois by the riuer Loire vpon which riuer is built the citie of Tours and it imbraceth the same on the part of S. Lazarus suburbs This riuer also bends his course to the towne of S. Anne and to the suburbe called Rich for East West and South it toucheth the riuer Indre and North all the region towards Anjou and Maine To the Dukedome and gouernment of Tourain are subiect these cities Chinon Lodun Touars Langestz Amboise Loches Chastillon vpon Indre Montrichard besides other places and fortresses of Barons But the cities which I haue named are of best note and as it were the
principall members of the whole Dukedome Concerning euery of which I will speake more largely hauing said somwhat of the Metropolitan whereunto belong the third part of Bishop-townes which in times past were vnder the ancient iurisdiction of Lugdune For vnder the third receiued diuision of Diocesses apperteining to the Primacie of Lugdune or Lions are comprehended Tours La Mans Angiers Rhenes Nants Cornevaile Vannes S. Poll de Leon Tregoir Dol S. Malo S. Brieu The Turones therefore of such antiquitie and their city the head of so many Nations Iulius Caesar reckoneth in the first rancke of the people of France and so likewise do other ancient Writers Ptolemey placeth them vpon the riuer Ligeris and Ammianus Marcellinus in Secundâ Lugdunensi But in Caesar they are oftener mentioned and that very plainly especially at the end of his eleuenth booke De bello Gallico This done saith he and all France being at quiet so great an opinion of this war surprized the Barbarians that euen those nations which inhabited beyond Rhene sent ambassadours vnto Caesar promising to giue him pledges and to obey his commandements He therefore hauing ended his warres and put his legions in garison among the Carnutes Andes and Turones which were cities neere vnto these places departed for Italie Hence you may gather that they were not enemies to the Romans but rather Caesars followers Gregory Turonensis often calles them Senatores Romanos for they enioyed the libertie of Free-denizens which was granted to none but such as were the Romans deere friends and linked vnto them in most firme league The Touranois are held to be one of the richest people in all France both for the fruitfulnesse of their fields which they deseruedly call The Kings garden and also for their excellent maner of gouernment and the industry of their Citizens who are especially addicted to traffique for which purpose their nauigable riuer stands them in great stead They haue also attempted of late to make silke than which Italie affoords no better At the East part of Tourain vpon the riuer Loire stands Amboise built in a most excellent and choise seat and a delicate pure aire so that this place especially the French Kings haue chosen to retire and solace themselues in The city of Montrichard situate on a plaine is on the one side fortified with Rocks and Woods and hem'd in on the other side with Medowes and delightsome Fields Without the city are houses vnder ground with Gardens and Vineyards on the tops of them Loches vpon the riuer of Indre hath a castle both for pleasantnesse largenesse munition and situation almost incomparable for situation I say both by Arte and Nature impregnable Pautruy Chastillon Cormery Beaulieu and other cities of this Dukedome are described by Belleforest vnto whom I referre the Reader Touraine TVRONENSIS DVCATVS et CONFINIVM GALLIAE CELTICAE DESCRIPTIO Perlustrata descripta haec regio est ab Ysaaco Franco Regio Aedili nec non in ea provincia Viarum magistro Anno Domini M.D.XCII Complectitur hic ducatus latitudo ab aequinoctiali versus Arcticum ad 47. gradum 49 minutos porrigitur Longitudo vero ab Occidente in Orientem ad 21. gradum 27. minutos extenditur Les Isles de Loire 1. Chaumont 2. Des Chams 3. S. Iehan 4. Le Chasselier 5. Tribon et du Ianover 6. Mahondeau 7. Roche corbon 8. Torcay 9. Vaugon est 10. Maille 11. Buysson Bretenay 12. Drovineau 13. Bec decher 14. Voletz 15. S. Martin 16. Cappel blanche 17. Petit S. Marin 18. Sauget 19. Les Isles de chose 20. Monsoreau BLAISOIS or the territory of BLOIS THis territorie of Blois confineth East vpon Orleans and part of Gastinois West vpon Tourain South vpon Salloigne and part of Berry and North vpon Vendosmois and Le Beaulse That portion of the citie of Blois which looketh towards Le Beaulse stands partly vpon hilles and rocks and partly vpon plaine ground which vneuen situation maketh the wayes and passages somewhat vneasie Howbeit this inconuenience is no disgrace to the Citie nor discourageth Trauellers to frequent it for the fruitfulnesse and faire beautie of the whole Prouince makes it amiable and the excellent temper of the aire populous It being for plentie of Wheat Wine and other necessaries for mans life to no Prouince inferiour for it is all shadie and full of Woods Vineyards Riuers Brooks Pooles and Fountaines so that Nature hath infused a wonderfull fatnesse into this soile with such a temper of heat vpon the hilles neere about the citie as causeth their Vineyards exceedingly to prosper Wherefore this Prouince participating with Le Beaulse and Salloigne excelleth them both in their owne commodities For abounding with Wheat no lesse than Le Beaulse it farre surpasseth thesame in Wines in other kinds of graine and in plenty of water For pleasantnesse it matcheth Salloigne from whence though it be seuered but the bredth of the riuer Loire yet is not the fruitfulnesse thereof empair'd by the others sandie barrennesse Wherefore that part of Le Beaulse wherein Blois is situate hath more abundance of wood and water than the residue and the frontiers of Salloigne next adioyning may ascribe their fruitfulnesse to the good neighbourhood of this territory Neither can the olde said saw That it is best dwelling in Salloigne and best inheriting in Le Baulse be seuerally but iointly applied to Blois That the aire is most holsome and temperate I appeale to multitudes of great and honourable personages who being oppressed with most grieuous diseases do repaire especially to this Prouince for the recouery of their health Yea the Kings children are nursed trained vp in the city of Blois for which cause it is called The Kings city Amongst the rarities of this prouince one there is that can hardly be found in the whole Kingdome besides namely a veine of that earth which is commonly called Terra Lemnia or Sigillata being of the same force and efficacie with the true earth of Lemnos All this description we haue taken out of Belleforest LEMOSIN THe Prouince of Lemosin consisteth of two Regions the Higher and the Lower both being subiect to one gouernment They are diuided insunder by the castles of Massere the riuers Bresdasque and Bezerre and those of the region called La Marche de Lemosin The higher part extendeth from Puy the first village in the way to Paris as farre as the riuer Bredasque for the space of nineteene leagues or fortie French leagues The very same distance it hath from Vareille which stands a mile from Souterane to the foresaid riuer It is plentifully watered by the riuer Vienne which the inhabitants call Vignana and Bezerre abounding with riuers crabs and by other small Freshets so that all the whole country is very moist and fertile and excellent pasture ground for great and small cattell which do here mightily increase The principall citie of the higher prouince called Limoges is accounted one of the most famous and ancient cities of
all France situate partly in a valley towards the riuer of Vienne and the towne and church of S. Stephen and partly on an hill towards the suburbe of S. Martiall The length farre surpasseth the bredth extending North and South It is strongly fortified with walles and ditches and abounds with water deriued from a notable Fountaine in the highest part of the citie which serues likewise both to water their horses and to clense their streets But the ruines of the ancient walles yet standing in the next Vineyards do plainly shew that the Citie in times past was much larger than at this present For first the Romans surprized it and afterwards the Gothes as witnesseth Sidonius Apollinaris when he hath reckoned vp all the cities of Aquitaigne sacked and destroyed by them The Francks also miserably afflicted it After them Charles Martell laid it waste And lastly the English made spoile thereof Notwithstanding at this time for the bignesse it is accounted one of the richest cities in the whole Kingdome being very well ordered and gouerned in regard of the Court of Parliament there as likewise the authoritie of the Vicount the Kings Eschequer and the assembly of the Consuls in Merchants affaires which they commonly call The Burse Thus much and more concerning this region writeth Belleforest Blaisois BLESIENSIS TERRITORII hanc tabulam describebat Ioannes Temporius Blesis anno Messiae nati 1592. epoche Christianae 1590. Mundi 5610. Le Blaisois contient en longitude d'Occident en Orient depuis S. Ouin iusques à Brinon 25 lieuez en latitude de l'Equateur vers le Nord depuis Chasteauroux iusques à Rabestan 40. lieues La cincture de la terre est divisee en 360. degrez a chascun degre donnons 25. lieues Toute la terre contient 9000. lieues LEMOVICVM TOTIVS ET CONFINIVM PROVINCIARVM QVANTVM AD DIOECESIM LEMOVICENSEM SPECTANT NOVISSIMA ET FIDISSIMA DESCRIPTIO Io. Fayanus M. L. describebat Homere Demosthene et Archimede ensemble Lymoges á nourry óu la Vertu sassemble Muret Dorat Fayen trois excellens Esprits Muret son Demosthene et Dorat son Homere Fayen son Archimede ayant sa ville Mere Sa Prouince et son Plan heureusement compris IOACHIN BLANCHON CALAIS and BOVLONGNE THis Cart conteineth the description of that North-western part of France which the English were masters of from the yere 1347. vntil the yere 1557. At what time the Duke of Guise Lieutenant for the French King tooke it by force of armes The townes of Calais Guisnes and Ardres the English from time to time haue furnished with able garisons And Calais hath heretofore beene the Staple for Woolles and other English commodities Concerning the tract of Boulongne thus saith Robert Caenalis in his 2. book and 3. Perioche De re Gallica Of Gessoriacum a port of the Morini I may well say with Meierus that it is now truely called Boulongne vpon the sea shore from whence there is a very short cut to Douer on the English coast But the Docke or place for building ships called Nauale Gessoriacum which Bilibaldus falsely affirmes to be Gaunt I thinke rather to be Castellum now named Cassell Some by another name call it Petressa and Scalas commonly Scales Moreouer by the situation of Boulongne one may easily coniecture whether it were Portus Iccius or no. Wherein that no man may doubt let vs learne this one thing out of Strabo That the sea between Portus Iccius and England was iust 320. stadia or furlongs ouer which make in all 40. miles But the later Maps containe betweene Boulongne and Douer 17. English which are longer than Italian miles and from Calais 18. Whereby it is manifest that from Boulongne to Douer it is but a very short cut wherefore Portus Gessoriacus the hauen and Nauale Gessoriacum the docke are not all one which docke whoso thinketh stood where Calais now stands I will not greatly contradict him Thus farre Caenalis This very place of Boulongne is described by Arnoldus Ferronius who continued the French history of Paulus Aemilius till his owne time in maner following There is saith he Base Boulongne and High Boulongne The base towne was vnwalled before the comming of the English There stands the church of S. Nicholas and a cloister of Franciscans the English sea beateth vpon this towne Neere vnto this Frierie which is not farre from the sea there is a very commodious place to passe for England It is distant from the higher Boulongne about 100. pases or somewhat more But Boulongne the higher is inuironed with most strong walles and with high ditches compassing the walles All this region is full of that sand which those that dwell on the coast call hot sand Whereupon they will haue the name of Boulongne to be deriued of the French word that signifies such kinde of sand notwithstanding we know it out of Ammianus Marcellinus to be an ancient name Thus much out of Ferronius Concerning these matters reade Diuaeus also VERMANDOIS THis Region which of olde the Veromandui inhabited still retaining the ancient name is at this present called Vermandois From hence the riuers of Some and Schelde fetch their originall Here in times past as Robert Caenalis witnesseth stood the city called Augusta Veromanduorum now raced all saue a Monasterie which remaineth This citie was the sea of a Bishop but vnder Medardus the Bishop thereof it was translated to Noion as Carolus Bouillus reporteth Howbeit the place yet holdeth the ancient name and is called Vermand-abbey Wherefore they seeme to be in an errour that thinke the towne of S. Quintins to haue beene Augusta Veromanduorum Concerning the people of this region reade Peter Diuaeus in his booke of the antiquities of Gallia Belgica CALETENSIVM ET BONONIENSIVM DITIONIS ACCVRATA DELINEATIO VEROMANDVORVM EORVMQVE CONFINIVM EXACTISSIMA DESCRIPT Iohanne Surhonio Auctore PICARDIE THe name of Picardie as all that write of France do affirme not to be ancient so the originall or deriuation thereof none of them can render Caenalis dares not say that it was so called of the Begardes Belleforest flatly denies it supposing the Picardes to be somewhat ancienter than the Begardes Some thinke that they were so named of the warlike weapon called the Pike which as they imagine was here first inuented Certaine it is that the prouince of Picardy was larger in times past for we reade that Artois with a part of Flanders as farre as the riuer Lis and the countie of Boulogne were all comprehended vnder the name of Picardy The region which is now properly called Picardy extends not so farre as the Map it selfe This Region is part of Gallia Belgica whilom inhabited by the Ambiani Bellouaci and Veromandui or as Ptolemey calles them Romandui The riuer Somme which some thinke to be Ptolemey his Phrudis refresheth the wole countrey and makes it most fertile of all kinde of graine and the townes and cities to abound with all necessaries for it yeeldeth such plentie of wheat as it is
called by an vsuall prouerbe The Barne or Granarie of Paris It hath no vineyards which defect some thinke is rather to be imputed to the sloth of the inhabitants than to the intemperature either of the soile or of the climate The cities here of principall note are Amiens in Latine Ambianum famous both for antiquitie and the Episcopall sea It is enuironed around with the riuer Somme Wherefore some fondly thinke it to be named Ambianum ab ambitu aquarum because it is compassed with waters It is one of the strongest townes in all France The vulgar suppose it to haue beene built by the souldiers of Alexander the great Vnder the diocesse of Amiens is Abbeuile the name whereof is new as appeareth by the deriuation which in Latine is Abbatis villa that is The Abbats towne for out of an Abbey it increased at length to the greatnesse and forme of a citie It is now the head citie of the county Ponthieu which region is so called à multitudine pontium of the multitude of bridges because it is in diuers places pestered with Marshes and Fennes Picquenie stands in this prouince also built as the common sort imagine by one Pignon a principall souldier of Alexander the great Likewise in Vermandois you haue the towne of S. Quintins which many suppose to haue beene Augusta Veromanduorum being the ancient seat of the Earles of Vermandois and the head of that region Peronne so often spoiled in warres who can be ignorant of Guise also seemes to be a Fort against Lutzenburgh Hence the Guisian familie deriue their name Other cities there be of lesse moment as Corbie Roye Nelle Hen Cattelette Mondidier c. In a little French pamphlet intitled Chemins de France or the wayes of France Picardy is diuided into three parts The Lower The Higher and Picardy properly so called wherein are contained the Regions of Vermandois Retelois Tartenois and Tirasse Picardy properly so called is described in this our Table PICARDIAE Belgicae regionis descriptio Joanne Surhonio auctore Cum Imp. et Reg. priualegio decenn 1579 PROVENCE THat portion of France which ancient Writers called Narbonensem and Bracchatam Caesar and Plinie doe comprehend vnder the name of Prouincia part whereof is conteined within the riuers Rosne and Durance the Alpes the riuer Varo and the Mediterran sea the inhabitants as yet call by the name of PROVENCE Petrarch writes it was sometimes called Regnum Arelatense The middle-age writers call it Prouinciam Viennensem tertiam It bordereth West vpon Languedoc North vpon Daulphine East it is confined by Piemont and South by the Mediterran sea and the Isles Stoechades This euer was and now is accounted the most fertile region of France for Strabo saith it yeelds all sorts of fruits that Italie affoordeth If we may credit Belleforest it beareth sugar about the towne of Yeres Manna is here gathered as the same authour affirmeth The principall cities of this prouince are Massilia commonly Marseille which was the ancient Ionica Colonia of the Phocaean Greeks being as Caesar 5. Ciuil reports compassed by the sea on three sides and on the fourth side hauing a passage to the land Strabo writes that the hauen is in forme of a Theater and that within compasse thereof they haue docks for the building and a storehouse for the furnishing of ships Here was a temple of the Ephesian Diana and another of Apollo Delphicus The citizens were treble-tongued speaking Greeke Latine and French as S. Ierome reporteth out of Varro Of this citie reade more largely in the 43. booke of Trogus Pompeius and in a Panegyricke speech vttered before Constantine the great by Anonymus or one vnnamed The citie Arelatum commonly Arles vpon the riuer of Rhosne which by Ausonius is named Arelas or Gallula Roma as likewise double Arelas because as learned Vinetus obserueth it was heretofore by the said riuer diuided in twaine Now it may well be called single Arelas looking of a farre other shape and all situate vpon that side of the riuer which is towards Italie This Ammianus makes the renowme of many cities And Suetonius saith that heere was a Romane colonie planted by Tiberius the Emperor his father Procopius affirmes that it was heretofore the head citie of the Burgundians Next followes Aquae Sextiae so called saith Strabo because that very Sextius which subdued Salyes built this citie after his owne name and after the name of certaine hot bathes in the same place Now it is corruptly called Aix These bathes Strabo in his time supposeth to haue turned colde and so Robert Caenalis at this present affirmeth that they haue lost their ancient vertue The Parliament of the whole prouince is here resident Of this citie Gabriel Simeonius writeth that he neuer saw either a more pleasant place or a more courteous people Then haue you the citie Cabellio now called Cauaillon Tarascon retaining still the ancient name Carpentoracte commonly Carpentras Vasio now Voiton the same with Forum Vocontiorum as some thinke Taurentum and Telo Martius which some now interpret to be Toulon Forum Iulij now Frejus Olbia which perhaps is Yeres Antipolis Antibe Segusteron Cisteron Vintium Venze Glanatica Glandeues Dinia Digne Tecolata thought to be S. Maximines Grinicensis Grasse All famous for antiquitie Moreouer here is the towne of S. Baume situate vpon a craggie hill in which is a caue where the inhabitants hold opinion that Mary Magdalen did penance and ended her dayes Likewise at the mouth of Rhosne the reader may see on the one side the field called La Craux and on the other side La Camargo This last named they say is miraculously fertile of wheat And Belleforest thinks it to be called Camargo à castris Marij of the campe of Marius here pitched Whereas the other named La Craux is out of measure barren yeelding nought but stones for which cause it is by ancient Writers most aptly called Campus Lapideus or The stonie field The isles adiacent to this prouince are the Stoechades dispersed as Pomponius writeth from the shore of Liguria or Genoa as farre as Marseille Plinie makes them three in number naming ech And Strabo saith there are three of importance and two small ones not worthy to be mentioned About these isles growes most excellent Corrall as Plinie witnesseth which Belleforest reporteth still to continue In commendation of this prouince Petrus Quinqueranus Bishop of Sens hath written a peculiar volume On this side the riuer Durance this Region bordereth vpon that part of the Popes iurisdiction which is commonly called Conte de Venacin in Latine Comitatus Venuxinus and Veneticus wherein stands the Citie and Vniuersitie of Auignon which in times past was the Papall sea namely from Pope Clement the fift in the yeere 1300. till Gregorie the second for the space of 60. yeeres Petrarch then called it The French and Westerne Babylon Besides other notable things in this citie seuen there are seuen times told right worthy the admiration namely seuen Palaces
seuen Hospitals seuen Parishes seuen Nunries seuen Colleges seuen Frieries and seuen gates Not farre from hence is the valley of Chisa at the head of the riuer Sorgues a place so highly magnified by Petrarch as he often calles it his Helicon and Pernassus This he made choise of as an hermitage to weane himselfe from worldly cogitations A man in my conceit not of the ordinary cast of Writers and whom I may boldly and deseruedly call The Christian Seneca PROVINCIAE Regionis Galliae vera exactissimaque descriptio Petro Ioanne Bompario auctore Cum Privilaegio decennali Imp. Reg. et Brab 1594 The coast of NARBONNE THE principall places along this coast William Paradine describes in these words Arles was a colonie of the Sextaine as some Writers doe affirme Standing vpon Rhosne it is enuironed with Marshes wherein at this present are a breed of fierce and vntamed Kine Whilome it was a famous Mart-towne as Strabo writes in maner following Narbo saith he the most frequented Mart of this Region standeth at the outlet of the riuer Araxis by the lake Narbonensis but vpon Rhodanus the towne of Arles a Mart of no small importance is situate Neere vnto Arles are those hot bathes where Sextius saith Strabo built a towne after his owne name calling it Aquae Sextiae The cause why he built it was to place a Roman garrison there Here were the Cimbrislaine by Marius as writeth S. Ierome Aurasio now called Orange famous in times past for the gouernment of the Gabali or Cabilonenses wherin I saw the ruines of an huge Theater and a mightie wall excellently built of square stone the like whereof I doubt whether all France can affoord There stands also at the gate towards Lions a triumphall arche with a tilt or turniment of horsmen ingrauen thereupon which we long beheld with great delight To this citie belongeth Nemausum now called Arenas a place renowmed for the ancient Theater there extant Heere is a most woonderfull passage vnder ground passing thwart vnder the very chanell of Rhodanus to the citie which standeth afarre off Heere likewise you may see the Palace of Plotina built by Adrian the Emperour as Spartianus reporteth c. Thus much out of Paradine But of all others most exactly Iohn Poldo d' Albena hath described this citie and set forth the antiquities in picture with the situations and ancient names of the places adiacent Of this argument reade Strabo in his fourth booke and Gunterus a Poet of Genoa The originall of this Table my friend Mr. Carolus Clusius of Arras gaue me drawen with his owne hand SAVOIE SAVOIE standeth on this side the Alpes the Prince whereof called the Duke of Sauoie is Lord of the Region of Piemont The head citie is Chamberi of olde as saith Caenalis called Ciuaro wherein the Senate or Parliament resideth This region some thinke was named Sabaudia from certaine people called Sebusiani and as others suppose of the Sabbatian fourds But Bouillus renders another reason of this name For this region saith he in regard of the narrow passages as being situate among the Alpes and of the scarsitie of inhabitants was all ouer-pestered with theeues which either robbed or murdered such trauellers as passed that way Hereupon a certaine Nobleman hauing obtained it of the Emperour vnder the title of a Dukedome expelled by force of armes all the said theeues and robbers and made the way most secure for trauellers This done he caused it afterward to be named Salua via commonly Sauluoy that is The safe way which before was called Mala via alias Mauluoy The euill or dangerous way hence the Latines call it Sabaudia Hitherto Carolus Bouillus Whether it be a fable or an historie I appeale to the authours credit This one thing I am sure of that the word SAPAVDIA is often vsed in the booke called Notitiae prouinciarum for a name of one of the prouinces of Gallia Narbonensis But here also I thinke it not amisse to annex the description of this prouince out of the history which Paradine wrote of it His words be these That region which in Latine is now called Sabaudia commonly Sauoy ancient Writers named Allobroges And it containeth all that tract which in times past the Sabbatij Ingauni Intimelij Hiconij Tricorij Vicontij Lepontij Latobrigi Medualli Centrones Catoriges Veragri Nantuarij Salassi Tharantasij and Seduni inhabited The regions therein comprised at this present are thus named Sauoy the countie of Geneua the Marquisat of Susa the countie of Morienne the Baronisse of Tharentaise Brengeois Foucigni Chablais Val de Oste Pais de Vaul Pais de Geis and some others The Duchie of Sauoy hath vnder it the region of Piemont adorned with the title of a Princedome Also the region of Bresse wherein are the counties of Varaz Mountrueil Pont de Vaulx Bagey c. Out of ancient monuments it is apparent that this region in times past bare the name of a Kingdome especially in the dayes of Hannibal who being ordained vmpire betweene Bronchus and his brother about the gouernment of this countrey compounded their quarrell and restored the kingdome to the eldest whom his yonger brother had expelled as Liuie reports in his 21. booke Florus also affirmeth that Betultus or as some reade it Betuitus the King of this place was taken captiue by Fabius Maximus And sundrie authours doe make mention of King Cottius in the time of the Emperour Augustus of whom the neighbour-alpes were called Cottiae More concerning this region you may reade in Philibert Pingonicus The Countie of VENACIN THe Countie of Venacin named in Latine Comitatus VENVXINVS and by Caenalis VENETICVS and the Popes territory also because it is vnder his iurisdiction is part of that region in France now called Prouence and of olde Narbonensis secunda The principall citie is Auignon situate vpon the Rhosne It is the Popes towne and held for a while the Papall sea In this countie are three Bishopricks where law-matters also are decided namely Carpentras Cauaglion or L'isle and Vaurias In this Table is comprehended also the Princedome of Orange so called of Orange the chiefe citie being famous in Sidonius and Ptolemey vnder the name of Arausio Plinie and Pomponius call it Arausia Secundanorum COL ARAVSIO SECVNDANOR COH 33. VOLVNT is found grauen vpon an ancient stone More concerning this region you may reade in Belleforest and Theuet GALLIA NARBONENS SABAVDIAE DVCAT Auctore Aegidio Bulionio Belga Scala milliarium VENVXINI COMITATVS NOVA DESCR Auctore Stephano Ghebellino LORRAIN THE bounds of Lorrain in times past extended much farther for it comprehended in a maner all the whole region lying betweene the riuer Rhene and Scheld and the mountaine Vogasus All which was diuided into the higher and the lower The lower Lorrain contained Brabant Haspengow Guelders and Cleue In the higher were the Bishopricke of Liege with the counties of Lutzenburg and Limburg as likewise the duchy of Maesland the countie Palantine vpon Sur and
the territorie of Hundsruge together with this present Dukedome of Lorrain retaining as yet the ancient name Lotharingia imposed by Lotharius sonne to Ludouicus Pius vnto whose share it befell lying in the midst between Westrasia or as some vnskilfully call it Noastria which fell to Charles and Austrasia to Lewis Lotharius Brethren This therefore I thinke not amisse more largely to describe not in mine owne wordes but in the wordes of Symphorianus Campeggius sometimes a famous Physition of Lorrain LORRAIN saith he ioineth East vpon Alsatia commonly Elsas South vpon Burgundy West vpon Champaigne North it is bounded vpon the Forest Arduenna This region albeit compassed with loftie Alpes is notwithstanding so fat and fertile as it need no supply from the neighbour-prouinces it abounds with cattell great and small with meadowes corne wine fishpooles high woods healthfull bathes saltpits yron copper lead tinne siluer precious stones looking glasses Calcidons and is watered by sundrie riuers foure whereof are famous aboue the rest Mosa the first of these foure springing out of mount Vogesus of which mountaine a great and a good part of Lorraine is named Le bois and Le forest de Voige and running along by Neufchasteau a towne very commodious both for pleasant situation and wholesome ayer diuideth the duchie of Barre from Lorraine and casteth it selfe into one of the chanels of Rhene before it falleth into the sea Mosella the second beginneth Southeast not far from the towne of Rimeremont wherein is a monastery of Nunnes all gentlewomen endowed with large reuenues About six miles from hence are certaine hot-bathes whereunto resort great multitudes of people to cure themselues of sundrie diseases Then runnes it along with swift streames to the townes of Espinall Charmes Toul which in olde time was called Leuca and Mediomatrices now called Metz not farre from whence it falls into the Rhene at a city of Germany called of olde Confluentia and now Cobolentz Betweene these two riuers neere the towne of Vitell is a double fountaine seuered like a mans nosethrills from whence the small riuer Vena issueth which sometimes is sandy and sometimes miry and for the most part very vnseemely and forlorne the waters whereof are commonly dried vp in Iune except the pooles which the swelling and violent streames haue made so deepe Murtha the third riuer falling from certaine rockes of siluer-mines holdeth on his course through the valley of S. Didier wherein is S. Godeberts fountaine which is generally reported to be medicinable for many diseases The said riuer runnes along by the towne of S. Didier and then by the townes of Raon and Luneuill all which both for naturall situation and for rampiers and walles are places of singular defence Then followes the towne of S. Nicholas generally famous both for abundance of marchandise and multitudes of miracles Lower downe the riuer stands Nancey the principall towne of Lorraine a place for munition and fortification of great importance First it is compassed with two ditches of exceeding depth and a double wall also it hath foure most admirable bulwarks with plenty of warlike engins and artillery Murtha falles into Mosell And Sartha the fourth riuer running along the confines of Westereich a prouince subiect to Lorraine towards the East holdeth on his course by the townes of Sarburg Saralben Sarprucke with others and then falles into Mosell Now whereas Lorraine aboundeth all ouer with speciall commodities many of them we will omit and speake only of the most principall First therefore the mountaines of this prouince doe in all kind of mineralls excell euen the Pyreney mountaines wherein not to speake of the rest there are diuers siluer-mines so abounding with that kinde of mettall as it is incredible what commoditie it yeelds to the whole countrey There are also salt-mines out of which is digged most pure sauorie and snow-white salt which yeeldeth yerely to the Duke all charges deducted 100000. francks Heere is found likewise a kind of matter whereof they make looking glasses and drinking glasses the best by all mens confession in Europe nor is there in any place the like to be had Also Calcidons of so extraordinarie bignesse that I my selfe saw at the Bishops of Toul a great cuppe made of one whole piece Item the Lazul or Azure stone representing most excellent colours A minerall out of which the miners raise exceeding gaine In the valley of Voige are fountaines a matter memorable and not to be omitted so abounding with a kinde of pearles and precious stones as the greater part of Germanie doth vse them which all Lapidaries and Iewellers of other countries do not only approue but also preferre before the stones and pearles of the Indies There is a lake of foureteene miles in compasse stored with carps of huge bignesse for they are generally of three foot long and a foot broad which for pleasantnesse of taste are in mine opinion to be preferred before all other standing-water-carps in Europe The lake is fished with nets euery third yeere the fishing whereof as euery man knowes yeeldeth the Duke of Lorrain 16000. francks Moreouer Lorrain aboundeth with wheat wine cattell of all sorts woods excellent horses which surpasse the Turkish horses in courage the Spanish in swiftnesse and the English in stature In briefe for tall men and beautifull women and all things necessary for mans life it is inferiour to no other countrie Thus farre Symphorianus Francis Roseus very lately wrote a large volume of the pedegree and famous acts of the Dukes of Lorraine And I my selfe in mine Itinerarium or Iournall haue published some things of this Region not vnwoorthie the remembrance Lorraine LOTHARINGIAE NOVA DESCRIPTIO Scala milliariorum Lotharingicorum 1587. Cum Priuilegio decennali The County of BVRGVNDIE THere are two Burgundies the lower called Regia intitled with the name of a Dukedome whilome the countrey of the Aedui and the higher named Imperatoria adorned with the title of a Countie or Earledome commonly called LA FRANCHE COMTE that is to say The free Countie This of old the Sequani inhabited It is represented in this Table The confines hereof to the North are Lorraine and vpper Germany to the South Sauoy and Bresse to the West the lower Burgundie and to the East part of Switzerland It is at this present diuided into three partitions or gouernments The Vpper the Lower and that of Dole The cities of the vpper are GRAY one of the principall of the whole gouernment situate vpon the riuer Araris or Saone rich in sundry kindes of merchandise and brauely built On the one side it is endowed with most large and fruitfull fields VESOVL It hath strong walles beautifull houses and faire vineyards MOMBOSON IVSSEY and PALMA standing vpon the riuer Dubis or Doux PORT-SVR-SAONE vpon the riuer Araris or Saone with CROMARAY MONTGVSTIN and FAVLCOGNEY The cities of the lower Burgundie are SALINS a large citie so named in regard of certaine salt and high fountaines for here is excellent white
rich and a place of great trafficke Also toward the North you haue Semur a faire towne built vpon an high ground As like Castillon Flauigni Soloigne Noiers with others the description whereof because this page cannot well containe I referre the Reader to Belleforest a diligent Surueyer of these parts Only one thing I will adde out of the foresaid Sanjulian He against the opinion of all other Writers deriueth this word Burgundie not à burgis that is from the boroughs or incorporate townes built in this region but from one particular place called Burg Ogne In the territorie of Langren about the riuer Tille betweene Luz and Tille-castle he saith there is a plaine which the inhabitants call by no other name but Val d'Ogne where in times past stood a famous borough or city Hence without all question he affirmes that the Burgundians or as they are commonly called Burgognons do borow their name and holds those Writers much deceiued that report them as vagabond people to haue come out of Sarmatia Scandia or the fennes of Maeotis to inhabit this region indeuouring to persuade all men that they were the first and most ancient inhabiters of this countrey The limits of Burgundie were larger in times past as appeareth out of sundrie authours For some there are that bound it South by the Mediterran sea East by the Alpes and the riuer Rhene North by mount Vogesus and West by the riuer of Loire and Seine Then classicke Writers record that it was gouerned by Kings whose royall seat was Arles It was diuided into the Duchie and Countie of Burgundie about the yeere 1034. as the Chronicle of Aemilius testifieth Of the Burgundians Paradine and Nicolas Vignier haue professedly written in Latine and Peter Sanjulian in French Of the ancient Aedui reade Nazarius his Panegyricke pronounced before Constantine the Emperour BVRGVNDIAE INFERIORIS QVAE DVCATVS NOMINE CENSETVR DES 1584. CVM PRIVILEGIO IMPERIALI ET BELGICO AD DECENNIVM GERMANIE GERMANIE the greatest and largest countrey of Europe is distinguished by many names the limits whereof by authours according to euery ones seuerall time are so diuersly described as they seeme applying themselues to the peculiar ages wherein they liued to giue notice of a threefold Germanie namely the ancient that of middle ages and Germanie as it is now taken The ancient is that of Berosus which he circumscribeth by the Rhene the Ocean the riuer Tanais the Euxine sea and the riuer Danubius That of middle ages is the same which Tacitus Ptolemey and Plinie all of one time acknowledged whereof because it is sufficiently knowen out of the authours themselues I hold it needlesse in this place to make any description But Germanie as it is now taken we do confine by the German or Dutch tongue which learned Goropius Becanus in his volume of the antiquities of nations most wittily and learnedly sheweth to be the ancientest language in the world Wherfore all those countries which at this day vse the same language we comprehend vnder the name of Germany And so the greatest length thereof stretcheth from Calais on the West to the riuer Vistula or VVixel Eastward and the largest bredth from the German and Baltick seas to the Alpes The names of the seuerall regions are these Flanders the most Westerly Brabant Zeland Holland Frisland Denmarke Meckleburgh Pomerland Prussia which extendeth beyond the riuer Vistula towards the Baltick sea as likewise the ancient and new Marquesates Saxonie VVestphalia Gelders Cleueland Iuliers the Bishopricke of Colen Hessen Turingen Misnia Lusatia Silesia Morauia Bohemia Franconia the Bishopricke of Mentz Lutzenburg the Bishopricke of Triers the Countie Palatine Elsas VVertenberg Sueuia Bauaria Austria Stiria Carinthia Tirolis and Switzerland next vnto France There be also more names of pettie regions but such as are either of no great moment or comprehended vnder the former And albeit Bohemia speaketh not the German but the Sclauonian tongue yet because it is situate in the midst of Germanie and the King thereof is one of the Prince-electours it is also numbred amongst the German prouinces This countrey of Germanie which for the present is adorned with the title of the Roman Empire is so replenished with beautifull and strong cities castles villages and inhabitants as it is no whit inferiour to Italie France or Spaine for corne wine and riuers abounding with fish it may compare with the most fruitfull regions Here are fountaines of water hot bathes and salt-mines in abundance and for plentie of mettals namely gold siluer lead tinne brasse and iron no countrey shall euer go beyond it Moreouer you shall no where finde more courteous and ciuill behauiour more honest and comly attire more skill and furniture for the warres nor greater store of nobilitie This is the place that whilome as Cornelius Tacitus affirmeth was either darkened with woods or drowned with fennes Such changes can succeeding times affourd as saith the Poet. Of late Writers it hath beene diligently described by Beatus Rhenanus Munster in his Cosmography Franciscus Irenicus Iohannes Auentinus in his Chronicle of Lyonnois Briefly by Bilibaldus Pirkeimerus Iohannes Bohemus Aubames Gerardus Nouiomagus Conradus Peutingerus Conradus Celtes a Poet Iacobus VVimfelingius of Sletstade Aimon in the beginning of his French storie and Henry Pantalion at the entrance of his first booke of Prosopographia Sebastian Brand hath set downe many iourneys distances of places and courses of riuers in this countrey The riuer Rhene is described by Bernard Mollerus in verse and by Magnus Gruberus in prose Iohn Herold hath written two short Treatises of this region one of the Romans most ancient stations in olde Germanie and another of certeine colonies of theirs on the shore of Rhaetia Gaspar Bruschius published a volume of the monasteries of Germanie Of ancient writers Cornelius Tacitus most exactly described it in a peculiar Treatise whereon Andraeas Althamerus Iodocus VVillichius and lately Iustus Lipsius haue written most learned Commentaries Diuers other Writers of Germanie which we haue not as yet seene are reckened vp by Francis Irenicus in the first booke and second chapter of his Exposition of Germanie But here I thinke it not amisse to alledge the testimonie of Laonicus Chalcocondylas a stranger namely of Athens concerning this countrey and the inhabitants Thus therefore he writeth in his second booke This nation is gouerned with better lawes than any other of those regions or peoples that inhabit towards the North or West It hath many noble and flourishing cities which vse their owne lawes most agreeable to equitie It is diuided into sundry principalities and is subiect to Priests and Bishops adhering to the Bishop of Rome The most famous and wel-gouerned cities in the vpper and lower Germanie are Norinberg a rich city Strasburg Hamburg c. The nation is very populous and mighty ruleth farre and wide all the world ouer and in greatnesse is second to the Scythians or Tartars Wherefore if they were at concord and vnder one Prince then might they
High Dutch Luyck in Latine Leodium Coelen so called by the inhabitants in French Coloigne and in Latine Colonia Agrippina Dordrecht by contraction we call Dort in Latine Dordracum Macheien in Latine Mechlinia and in French Malines Tournay in High Dutch Dornicke and in Latine Tornacum Arras in French Atrecht in Flemish and in Latine Atrebates Mabeuge in Latine they call Malbodium Tienen in French Tilemont Namur the Brabanters call Namen in Latine Namurcum Maestricht and by contraction Tricht is by ancient Latine writers named Traiectum ad Mosam Viset in High Dutch Weset S. Truyen in French Centron Thionuille in French Ditenhosen in High Dutch and in Latine Theodonis villa Terrewanen and Terrenborch in Flemish Terouenne in French Tarnanna in ancient Latine writers It was wont to be the seat of a Bishop but now it hath the name only Gulick in French Iuliers in Latine Iuliacum Mons the Flemings call Bergen Geersberge which I heare is also called S. Adrians and in French Grammont Ioudoigne those Brabanters that speake High Dutch call Geldenaken Gemblours an abbey with a small citie in Latine Gemblacum Soigni in French in Flemish Senneke Halle in French Nostre Dame de Hault Cortrijck Courtray in French Cortracum in Latine Coomene in French Comines The riuer Maese in French is called Mense and in Latine Mosa The riuer Scheldt in French Escault is by Iulius Caesar and Plinie called Scaldis The riuer Liege in French is in Flemi h named Leye DESCRIPTIO GERMANIAE INFERIORIS The Dukedome of LVTZENBVRG THis region as we see many others is so named of Lutzenburg the principall citie but why it should be thus called we cannot easilie coniecture At first it went vnder the title of an Earledome and afterward was aduanced to the dignitie of a Dukedome and so till this present continueth Some say it was thus aduanced by Wenceslaus King of the Romans others by Charles the fourth howbeit Conradus Vercerius ascribes it to Henry the seuenth the first Romane Emperour of that family I finde in ancient manuscripts that the first Earle of Lutzenburg was one Sigisfridus and that he was the sonne of Tacuinus Duke of Maesland In former times Lutzenburg was part of Triers It stretcheth from the wood Arduenna to Mosella a riuer by Ausonius much celebrated The countries bordering vpon this Prouince are part of France Loraigne Metz Triers Mamure and Liege It is in most places mountainous and woodie but here and there also well manured and of late we see their woods euery where turned vp and conuerted into most fruitfull fields The people are for the greatest part Dutch and yet their countrie ioyneth hard vpon France and they are accustomed to the language and fashions of the French This Dukedome conteineth in compasse as saith Guicciardin seuentie of our Flemish miles Within it are seuen Earledomes many Baronies and great store of gentlemen Cities there are with stone walles to the number of twentie three besides those that the furie of warre hath layd desolate with 1168. villages and sundrie castles of importance The principall citie is called Lutzenburg or Lucemburg for I find it both wayes written but without any choice because both the true maner of writing and the deriuation is vncertaine Some thinke of the riuer Elza running by this citie which perhaps was Antoninus his Alizontia that it might be called Elzenburg and corruptly Lelzenburg Others referre it to the fabulous historie of the Inchantresse Melusina But my purpose is neither to proue nor disproue such opinions Here resideth the chiefe Counsell and the highest Court of iustice The citie is of sufficient force but vnequally situate for standing partly on a hill and partly in a lowe and steepe valley it appeares of a very vneuen shape Then haue you Arlune standing on the top of a hill a towne very beautifull where at this present are found sundry monuments of antiquitie which Count Peter Ernestus hath caused to be transported to his stately Palace in the citie of Lutzenburg Some are of opinion that the Moone in time past was here after a Gentilish maner adored and that it was called Arlune quasi Ara lunae that is the altar of the moone Others imagine that these cities following borowed their names also from the residue of the planets as Iuosium commonly Iuoix from Ioue or Iupiter Sathenacum now Soleure from Saturne Virtonium alias Verton from Venus Maruilla or Maruille from Mars Malmedium Malmedi from Mercurie Some interpret Malmedi Montem maledictum The accursed mountaine saying that it was so called because here the Emperour Valentinian lost his armie Next followes Rademacherne Also Thion-uille on the banke of Mosella it is the fortresse of the whole region and a towne most defensible against all hostile attempts Grauenmachern and Coningsmachern two small townes situate vpon the same riuer Dechrij stands vpon the riuer Saur Echternach containing a famous Abbey Vinden likewise Also the towne of Bastoigne the principall mart of the whole region standing neere the wood Arduenna Here you haue in like sort Naufchastelle Danuiller la Roche and Durbis townes not altogether vnworthie to be mentioned as likewise Sant Vit Marche Chiney and Ferta All which are more amply described by Guicciardin Regino in his second booke makes mention of mount Adromare about Thion-uille where Charlemaigne was wont to ride a hunting More concerning this region you may reade in our Itinerarium or Iournall LVTZENBVRGEN SIS DVCATVS VERISS DESCRIPT Iacobo Surhonio Montano auctore Cum Priuilegio Imp. Regiae Maiestatuum GVELDERLAND GVELDERLAND the seat of the ancient Sicambri as most Writers are of opinion hath to the North thereof Frisland together with an inlet of the German sea commonly called Suiderzee East it confineth vpon the Duchy of Cleue South vpon Gulick and West it affronteth Brabant and Holland It is a champian countrey destitute of mountaines but all ouer replenished with woods and groues It aboundeth with all necessaries especially with corne and their greene ranke medowes yeeld such plentie of feed for cattell as euen out of the farthest part of Denmarke they bring hither their starued droues for succour It is watered with three famous riuers namely Rhijne Maese and VVaele It conteineth the countie of Zutphen and the region called De Veluvve The Veluwe is almost an isle which being situate betweene a branch of Rhijn that runnes by Arnhem and the riuer Yssel stretcheth to the Suyder sea it is meanly fruitfull and not altogether void of woods mountaines and hilles Some thinke that the inhabitants of this place were woont to be called Caninfates The Dukedome of Guelders hath two and twentie cities compassed with walles and ditches and aboue three hundred villages Nieumegen vpon the VVaele is the Metropolitan a citie very populous and gallantly built famous in regard of the mint that is there The greatest part of the citizens vsing trade of merchandize are exceeding rich The territory of this citie is adorned with the title of a Kingdome Next
though it be somewhat loathsome to those that are not accustomed with it yet salt being cast thereupon it smelleth either but a little or not at all But concerning these coales you may reade more at large in the Tables of Namur and Henault This region they say was conuerted to the faith by S. Materne the first Bishop of Tungeren about the yeere of our Lord 101. For the Bishopricke which is now at Liege was then at Tungeren and there continued till the yeere 498 what time it was by S. Seruatius translated to Maestright where it remained till the time of S. Hubert the Bishop who in the yeere 713. remoued it to Liege where it continueth till this present Touching this Prouince reade more largely in Guicciardin Hubert of Liege and Placentius To whom you may adde Francis Roserius his description of Loraigne LEODIENSIS DIOECESIS TYPVS BRABANT THe Dukedome of Brabant is in such sort circumscribed by the riuers Maese Scheld Sambre and Dender as it no where ouerpasseth them nor doth it in all places stretch so farre for on this side the Maese lies a great part of the Prouince of Liege But that we may describe the bounds hereof more perfectly it hath to the North Holland and Guelders East the Bishoprick of Liege South the counties of Namure and Henault and West it is diuided From Flanders by the riuer Scheld It is a goodly and pleasant country exceeding fertill and abounding with come and fruits of all sorts especially to the South of the riuer of Demer For the North part thereof namely Kempenland is somewhat more barren and sandy Howbeit this part is not altogether fruitlesse for Iacobus Spielegius writing to Guntherus of Genoa affirmeth that the husbandmen of Brabant are so industrious as they make the driest sandes to beare wheat Also to head-cattell and sheepe the greatest part whereof as we reade in Homer of those Libyan sheepe are horned it yeelds most pleasant and plentifull pasture And now by the industry vncessant labour of the husbandmen it is dayly so manured that where in times past there was nothing but vnprofitable sand-heaps you may at this present beholde to the great benefit of the inhabitants most fruitfull corne-fields On the East part of this Prouince there is a kinde of bogge or quagmite called Peele the ground whereof as Plinie reporteth of the fields Gabiensis and Reatinus trembleth vnder a mans foot neither can it be passed by horses or wagons but only in Winter when the vpper crust thereof is hardened with frost This region containes the Marquesat of the sacred Empire the chiefe citie whereof is Antwerpe as likewise the Marquesat of Bergis the Dukedome of Arschot the Earledomes of Hochstraten Megen and that of Cantecroy lately erected by Charles the fifth c. It hath also woods and forests abounding with wilde beasts of sundry kindes the principall whereof are Grootenhout Grootenheyst Meerdael Zauenterloo and Soenien the greatest of all conteining in it for the space of seuen miles compasse sundry villages monasteries Hunting and hawking except in these fiue woods which are reserued for the Princes owne game are free for all men The people are so iocund as they seeme scarse to feele the inconueniences of olde age which frolike disposition of theirs hath giuen occasion to their neighbours round about to vse this iest The longer the Brabanter liues the more foole he The aire is exceeding holsome for when the plague hath beene most vehement in all the regions adiacent Brabant hath often most wonderfully remained free This Dukedome of Brabant hath six and twentie cities enuironed with walles and ditches And they are these following ANTVVERPE situate vpon Scheld the most famous mart not only of Germanie but of all Europe and one of the strongest cities in the world being much beautified with the steeple of S. Maries built an incredible height of white marble The palace lately built is scarse to be matched in all Europe BRVSSEL abounding with sweet fountaines Here for the most part resideth the Prince and therefore is this towne so much frequented by Nobles and Courtiers LOVAIN a large city conteining Gardens Vineyards and Pastures within the walles well may you call it The habitation of the Muses for which purpose in the yeere 1426. Iohn the fourth Duke of Brabant established here an Vniuersitie which flourisheth with all kind of learning The territorie of this citie makes Brabant to glory of her vintage Then followes MACHELEN famous for the court of Parliament there instituted by Duke Charles of Burgundie in the yeere 1473. HERTOGENBOSCH a towne of no small importance conteining an excellent Grammar schoole and inhabited in times past with a most warlike people TIENEN vpon the riuer Ghette from whence are brought great store of cheeses Here stands the church of S. Germans whereunto belongs a college of Canons LEVWE where the noble ale is brewed NIVELLE In this citie there is a chanterie of Nunnes whereinto none but ladies of great nobilitie can be admitted The Gouernesse of this chantry the Nunnes themselues chuse by voices yet with the consent of the Prince and the Bishops approbation and she is called the ladie of Niuella Also the temporall and ecclesiasticall iurisdiction of the towne and adioyning territory soly belongeth vnto her ARSCHOT situate on the riuer Demer bearing at first the title of a Marquesat but since by Charles the fift aduanced to a Dukedome BERGEN ap Zoom so named of a small riuer that runnes thorow it a towne heeretofore of good traffique but now by the neighbourhood of Antwerpe not so frequented of forren merchants MEGHEN situate vpon the Maese BREDA a towne most fairely built Here stands the Palace of the Earles of Nassau so gallantly begun by a most skilfull architect that being once finished it may I thinke be preferred before all the Princes houses in this region MAESTRIGHT a large populous and rich citie which though it seemeth to lie without the bounds of Brabant acknowledgeth the Duke of Brabant as her souereigne Lord. STEENBERGEN vpon the sea-shore In times past it was a flourishing mart towne but now it is almost brought to nothing LIERE so beautifull and pleasant a towne as many noble men make choise thereof as a place of recreat and solace VILVORDEN Here is a strong fortresse and the castle of the Duke GEMBLOVRS The Abbat of this towne beareth the greatest sway in causes both ecclesiasticall and temporall IOVDOIGNE for the holesomnesse of the aire in times past the nurserie of the yong Princes of this region HANVT heretofore reported to haue beene an Earledome situate in a most fertile place LANDEN esteemed of some the most ancient towne in all Brabant HALEN almost vtterly ruinated by warres DIEST built on either side the riuer Demer a spacious citie the inhabitants whereof gaine much by clothing SICHENEN a towne vpon the same riuer HERENTALS that maintaines it selfe also by clothing EINDHOVEN in the middest of Kempenland vpon the riuer Dommel HHLMONT
two hundred or three hundred faile of Merchants shippes hulks they call them to ride heereat anchor Therefore this city for traffique is commonly held to yeeld to none but Antwerp ENCKHVISEN vpon that sea which they vulgarly call in their language Suyderzee Famous euen in forren countries for the building of great shippes HOORN situate also vpon the same bay Heere in May is kept a faire where there is sold such infinite store of butter and cheese as is wonderfull ALKMAER this place for plenty of butter and cheese doth excell all other cities of this prouince PVRMERENDE famous for the castle or palace of the Count Egmond EDAM for building of shippes and good cheese deserueth also to be remembred amongst the rest Moreouer MVNNEKENDAM WEESP NAERDEN and WEERT may not be forgotten OVDEVVATER heere groweth great store of hemp so that heere they make almost all the nets ropes and cables which the Hollanders and Zelanders do vse in fishing SCOONHOVEN as who would say At the faire Orchards Here is continuall fishing for Salmons where also is held a Staple of this commodity as we said there was of wine at Dordrecht Next after these do follow ISELSTEIN VIANEN Item LEERDAM ASPEREN and HVEKELEN three little cities round in a circle vpon the riuer Lingen not about 500. pases one from another GORICVM and WORICHVM situate vpon the banke of the riuer Wael one ouer against another Gorichum hath a very goodly and beautifull castle A man may iustly call this town a city of store of all maner prouision such a market is heere daily kept of such things as are necessary for the sustenance of mans life which are from thence transported by shippe vnto other countries but especially to Antwerp Lastly there are HVESDEN ROTERODAM SCHIEDAM and both the MOVNTS the one known by the name of S. Gertrude the other of the number of Seuen Seuenbergen I meane and Geertruydenberge for so they call them Other towns there are which sometime were walled which although at this day we do now see them to want either by the rage of violent warre or by reason of other misfortunes yet they still enioy their old liberties and fredoms Of this sort Medenblick Beuerwijck Muiden Neuport Vlaerdingen and Grauesande Moreouer in this prouince there are aboue foure hundred villages amongst the which the Haghe which they call Earls Haghe doth farre excell the rest This town Guicciardine thinketh for bignesse wealth beauty and pleasant situation to surpasse all other in Europe whatsoeuer for it conteineth two thowsand houses of which the Princes pallace built like a castell fortified with a wall and dich where the Priuy courts of Iustice are held is one Neere vnto is a darke or thicke grone which by reason of the singing of birds and sight of Deere is both to the eares and eies most pleasant and delightfull I might more iustly call it Comopolis a citie like town and may boldly compare it with Ctesiphon a borough in Assyria situate vpon the riuer Tigris much magnified of all ancient writers of which Strabo writeth that that town is equall to a city for command and bignesse and was the place where the Parthian kings did vse to winter when they were desirous to spare the city of Seleucia Vnder the Iurisdiction also of Holland are certaine Ilands as Voorn with the towns Geervliet and Briele Goereden or Goere with a town of the same name Somersdijcke Tenel diuers others The diocesse of Vtrecht gouerned not long since by a Bishop in which were 5. cities yeelded it selfe to be subiect to the iurisdiction of Holland in the time of Charles the fifth Emperour of Rome This country is so enclosed with the sea seuered by riuers lakes creeks and ditches whereby it is diuided as it were into certaine plots and quarters that there is no city nor village heere to which one may not go aswell by water as by waggon Neither is there any place in the whole prouince from whence one may not easily in three houres space go to the sea Chrysostomus Neapolitanus hath described this Olland for so he writeth it in an eloquent letter of his directed to Counte Nugarolo Of this read the history of Holland compiled by Gerardus Geldenhaurius and Cornelius Aurelius as also Peter Diuey but especially Hadrianus Iunius his Batauia Of the wonderfull store and abundance of this country read Lud. Guicciardine Of the ruines of the Roman armory or storehouse of munition which the country people call The Brittish castle which is vpon the shore of the Germane ocean at a village called Catwijcke opzee not far from the city Leijden and of the inscriptions in marble there found we haue not long since set forth a peculiar treatise dedicated only to that argument Of the prouince of Vtrecht which now is vnder the command of Holland and is likewise described in this Mappe see the history of Lambertus Hortensius Monfortius HOLLANDIAE ANTIQVORVM CATTHORVM SEDIS NOVA DESCRIPTIO AVCTORE IACOBO A DAVENTRIA FRIESLAND THat the Frisij a most ancient nation did long since inhabit along the sea coast neere the mouth of the riuer of Rhein where also at this day they dwell it is very apparant out of the records of ancient writers For Ptolemey placeth them aboue the Busactores or Busacteri the people of that prouince which now is called Westfalia as some thinke between the riuers Vidrus they call it Regge and Amasius now called Eems Tacitus who reporteth that they were of good account amongst the Germanes and along by the sea coast to dwell on ech side the Rhein diuideth them according to their power and greatnes of command into Maiores and Minores the Greater and the Lesser hee moreouer affirmeth that they dwell round about certaine huge Lakes such as were capable of the Roman fleet The same authour nameth certaine Frisios Transrhenanos Frieslandmen dwelling beyond the Rhein which he saith did rather mislike the auarice of the Romanes then their command Iulius Capitolinus in the life of Clodius Albinus the Emperour saith that these Transrhenane Frieslanders were by the same Clodius Albinus discomfited and ouerthrowne Pliny mentioneth certaine Ilands of the Frieslanders insulas Frisiorum in the riuer of Rhein and the Erisciabones a kind of people between Helium and Fleuum two mouthes of the Rhein where it emptieth it selfe into the maine sea It is manifest therefore that the Frisij anciently did not passe the riuer Eems but at this day they are further spred Eastward almost as farre as the riuer Weser the old Geographers called it Visurgis Who also otherwise of them sometime were designed by the name of the Chauci or Cauchi for diuers authours write it diuersly it is out of all doubt And beside these vp higher euen in Denmarke in the confines of the little prouince Dietmarsh there dwell a people vulgarly knowne by the name of Strandt Vriesen that is Frieslandmen inhabiting vpon the sea coast These it may be were those which Ptolemey calleth Sigulones
but two walled cities namely Eemden and Awricke Of which EEMDEN situate at the mouth of the riuer Eems is the common Mart-towne of the whole prouince for concourse of Merchants especially famous which indeed is caused by the commodiousnesse and opportunity of the hauen which doth thrust it selfe so farre vp into the heart of the city at such a great height and depth that it doth easily receiue and entertaine great shippes full laden with sailes stricken into the very middest of the same This city is much beautified with the sumptuous palace of the Prince a gorgeous Church the Yeeld hall and the goodly houses of the priuate citizens AVRICK by reason of the woods and groues which on all sides almost do inclose it is inhabitd for the most part of Gentlemen and Noblemen where they recreate and delight themselues with Hawking and Hunting In the territorie of this city there is as Kempius reporteth a place called Iyl enclosed round with a wall beset with bushes a commodious dwelling for Hares and Deere in which as in a Parke or warrein they maintaine a great number of these kind of beasts which none dare take vnder a great penalty but they are reserued for the Earles disport and pastime when he is disposed to recreate himselfe with hunting In the confines also of this city Awricke is a little hill rising somewhat high commonly they call it Obstalsboom or Vpstalsbom where the seat of Iustice or Court leet for the whole shire is ordinarily held Heere they were wont euery yeare out of all the Zelands to meet in the open and wild fields and there by the most skilfull and approued lawiers such as best knew their customs and lawes to end and determine all controuersies arising between man and man In this precinct also are diuen castles villages and farms Of hamlets and end-waies such is the number that oft times one doth touch another The greatest part of which both for beauty of their houses and streets as also for multitude of inhabitants and strangers do so excell that they may foe honour and greatnesse contend with diuers cities of Germany The people do giue themselues either to traffique as Merchants or to get their liuings by occupations and handy-crafts or by playing the husbandmen and tilling the ground With their neighbours and forreners they speake in the Dutch tongue amongst themselues they vse a peculiar language proper to that nation and not vnderstood of strangers They are comely apparelled yea euen the very country people so that a man would take them to be citizens The women weare a kind of attire and apparell much differing from that of other nations They bind vp all the haire of their had into one locke and that set out with diuers siluer and gilt spangles and buttons they let to hang behind their backe Their head they bind vp in Summer with a caull of red coloured silke behung with siluer spangles but in the Winter they weare an hood of green cloth wherewith they do so couer their whole head that skarsely one may see their eies this kind of attire they call an Hatte Their vpper garment huick of loose gowne which they weare abroad from the head to the foot is pleited with many small pleits and is so stiffe with siluer and gilt wire or plate wouen into it that when it is put off it will stand vpright This sometime is made of red sometime of green cloth In this country of East-Friesland there are also two other counties the one called Esens the other Ieueren bearing the names of their chiefe towns Of the situation of this prouince nature and maners of the people read Vbbo Emmius FRISIA ORIENTALIS RIDERIAE PORTIONIS facies ante inundationem qui postea sinus maris factus est DENMARKE SAxo Grammaticus hath thus described Denmarke DENMARKE saith he parted in the middest by the boisterous sea conteineth a few small parts of the maine continent seuered and disioined one from another by the breaking in of the ocean winding and turning it selfe diuers waies Of these IVTIA Iuitland is in respect of the greatnesse and beginning in the enterance of the kingdome of Denmarke Which as it is in situation first so running out further it is placed in the vtmost borders of Germany From whose company it being parted by the intercourse of the riuer Eydor it runneth with a larger breadth toward the North euen to the banke of the frith of Norwey he calleth it Fretum Noricum In this is the bay of Lemwicke Sinus Lymicus abounding with such store of fish that it alone yeeldeth as much prouision of victuall to the inhabitants as all the whole country beside To this is adioined FRESIA Strand Friesen a prouince much lesser which lying more low then Iuitland in plaine and champion fields receiueth from the sea ouerflowing it great strength and heart and is very settile for come Whose inundation or violent tide whether it do bring to the country people more profit or dammage it is hard to say For in tempestuous weather the Sea breaking in through the creeks wherein the water was wont to be contained such a world of waters oft times doth follow and come into the country that diuers times it runneth ouer not only the fallow fields but drowneth also whole families with their goods and cattell After Iuitland the ile FIONIA Fuinex doth follow vpon the East which a narrow arme of the ocean sea doth seuer from the maine land This iland as vpon the West it looketh toward Iuitland so vpon the East it hath the ile SEELAND Sialandia he calleth it an iland much commended for the great abundance of all maner of necessary things that it yeeldeth which for pleasant situation is thought to excell all the prouinces of this kingdome and is supposed to be in the middest of Denmarke indifferently situate between the one end of the same and the other Vpon the East side of this an arme of the ocean runneth between it and SCONE Scania Scandinauia Basilia and Baltia called by diuers authours a part of Norwey or Swedland This sea yearely affoordeth great gaine to the Fishermen For this whole bay or gulfe of the sea is so full of all sorts of fish that the fishermen oft times do catch such store and therewith they so fraight their boats that they haue no roome to stirre their oares neither do they heere vse any nets or other meanes to take the fish but many times they are taken only with the hand Moreouer HALLAND and BLIEKER Blekingia he nameth it two prouinces issuing forth from the maine land of Scone like two armes from one and the same body of a tree are by many spaces and by-corners adioined and knitte to Gotland and Norwey Thus farre Saxo Grammaticus See also Albert Crantzius Sebastian Munster and the Ecclesiasticall history of M. Adams The kingdome of NORVVAY is subiect to the crowne of Denmarke as also the ile GOTLAND Item if you will giue credit to Marke
their game most laboriously others do take as great paines in ordering and ruling the commonwealth ending of controuersies and seeing that the lawes be duly kept and executed others do busie themselues in building and fortifiing of towns and câ—ties making them not only defensible against the assault and battery of the enemy in time of war but also gorgeous and beautifull to the great delight and astonâ—shment of the beholders in time of peace What should I speake of the goodly wholesome springs the pleasant greene meadowes pastures and vallies which for fruitfulnesse may iustly contend with those of Aemonia that fertile country of Greece so much commended by Poets and Historians Of the sundry and manifold pleasures and delighâ—some places brookes and cleare running waters of this country c. HENNEBERGENSIS DITIONIS vera delineatio Cum Privilegio decennali 1594. HASSIAE DESCRIPTIO IOANNE DRYANDRO AVCTORE Cum Gratia Privilegio decen 1579 THVRINGIA OR DVRINGEN THis Prouince was sometime a Kingdome at this day it is onley graced with the title of a LANDTGRAVY It is seated betweene the two riuers Sala and Werra Vpon the North it is bounded with that great wood which the Historians call Sylua Hercinia and of them is called Hartz On the South it hath the vast forest of Thuringia Duringer Waldt they call it The length of this country which is equall to the breadth is about twelue Germane miles In this narrow compasse as I remember not long since Hugh Brinkhorst an Englishman a citizen of Erford my good friend did tell me there are 12. COVNTIES or Earledomes and as many ABBEIS which they call Gefurstete Abtyen 144. CITIES with so many MARKET TOVVNS Mercktflecken 2000. PARISHES and 150. CASTLES It is a passing fertile country and of wheat and such like corne it yeeldeth greater plenty than any other country of Germany whatsoeuer Whereupon George Agricola doubted not to call it Sumen Germaniae The Sweet-bread of Germany Heere yearely groweth great plenty of woad Isatis the Latines call it which from hence is transported into other countries to the great gaine and commodity of the inhabitants It is an herbe or weed much vsed of Diers to set the more perfect and durable colour in wooll or wollen cloth Heere some are of opinion that sometime the SORABI did inhabite Reinerus Reyneckius in his booke which he wrote of the Originall of the Myssen Mysni doth thinke these Tyringetae to be nothing else but as one would say Tyringotae that is The Gothes of Thuringia and thereupon their city Gothen or Gotha he maketh no question tooke the name Zacharias Riuander in the Dutch tongue hath set out a peculiar treatise containing a description of this countrie The Metropolitane or chiefe city of this prouince is Erford which is held to be the greatest city of all Germany The crystall and nimble streamed Gera runneth almost through euery street of this city as we there beheld to our great delight and exceeding commodity of the people inhabiting the same In it there is a mount vpon the which doth stand a goodly Monastery of Frier Benedictines dedicated vnto S. Peter Here also is a stately church built by Boniface bishop of Mentz and dedicated to our Lady Mary the blessed Virgin This church hath a bell famous all Germany ouer for the huge bignesse of it and massie weight MISNIA THis country is by Iohn Garzo of Bononia an Italian thus described This prouince saith he is seated vpon the riuer Elbe on the Eastside the Vindali the Bohemi on the South the Saxons on the North and Libonotria or the Eudoses on the West are neere neighbours to this country it is contained within the riuers Sala and Muldaw beyond the riuer Sala the Thuringers dwell In it are many rich and wealthy cities and diuers strong castles Here sometime as Ptolemey testifieth the Calucones and the Danduti did inhabite But Libonotria was possessed of the Herthanae Eudosi Varini and Suardones all which afterward were generally called Serabi The country is very fertile of all maner of graine so that it is able in regard of the great abundance thereof to serue almost all the neighbour countries neere adioining Neither doth it yeeld such great store of wheat only but also of wine hony and cattell Thus farre out of the same Garzo The head city of this prouince is Meissen Misna of which the whole country tooke the name The riuer Elbe Albis runneth hard by the wals of this city Heere is a very goodly and strong castle Dresden where the Prince doth ordinarily keepe his court is a city also situate vpon ech side of this riuer Elbe crosse ouer the which a goodly bridge doth passe from one part of the city to the other Torgaw also standeth vpon the same riuer where there is brewed an excellent kind of beere and is thereupon called by the name of this towne Torgaw beere Item Leipzig situate vpon the riuer Pleisse is the greatest and wealthiest market towne in all these parts hither the Merchants do flocke from all quarters farre and neere to the Mart that here is held thrise euery yeere Heere also is a pretty Vniuersity translated hither as Munster saith from Prage in Bohemia about the yeere of our Lord 1408. This towne is verie goodlily built and hath many faire houses but especially the Guild-hall where the Aldermen vsually meet not long since repaired with great cost and expences is of all others most gorgeous The people are very neat cleanly courteous and humane Beside these there are diuers other pretty townes as Zeitz Schreckenberg Naumburg and Freiberg a rich towne by reason of the Gold-mine neere adioining Heere in old time dwelt the Hermanduri as Munster with other good authours doth teach vs. The Originall Famous acts Remooues or colonies and great Commands of this nation are set out not long since by Georgius Chemnicensis in the Latin tongue by Reynerus Reyneckius and at large by Petrus Albinus Niuemontius in the Germane tongue Of LVSATIA a prouince also contained in this mappe we haue spoken before at the Mappe of Saxony TVRINGIAE NOVISS DESCRIPT per Iohannem Mellinger Halens Cum Priuilegio MISNIAE ET LVSATIAE TABVLA Descripta à M. Bartholemaeo Sculteto Gorlit THE MARQVESATE OF BRANDENBVRG THe Marquesate of Brandenburg runneth out in length threescore German miles Vpon the West it bordereth vpon Saxony Misnia and Meckelburg Vpon the North it is bounded by Pomeran Stetin and the Cassubij His East part resteth vpon Polonia and Silesia On the South it hath Bohemia Lusatia and Morauia It is diuided into Old-march Middle-march and New-march This Marquesate also conteineth within his iurisdiction the Lordship of Cothuss or Cotwitz of Peilzen Bescaw and Storkaw all in Neather Lusatia the Dukedome of Crossen in Silesia the Earledomes of Rapin Stolp and Vierad To it also doth belong the little Prouince Prignitz It hath three Bishopricks Brandenburg Hauelberg and Lubusz situate in Middle-march Moreouer beyond the riuer Oder it hath the citie
and shire Sternberg OLD-MARCH beginneth at the Desert of Luneburg and so extendeth it selfe vnto the riuer Elbe It is confined with the Diocesses of Magdeburg Halberstadt and Meckelburg The inhabitants long since were the Senones Sueui and in some places also the Angriuarij with the Teutones In this coast are seuen cities of no small account Tangermundt vpon the riuer Elbe in that place where the riuer Angra or Tonagra now Tanger vnlodeth it selfe into Elbe sometime the imperiall seat of the Emperour Charles the fourth Stendal the principall citie of this shire where there is a church of S. Nicolas they call it Thumstift of regular Canons of the order of S. Barnard commonly called Ordo Cistertiensium first founded at Gistertium now called Citeauz a place in Gallia Narbonensi Soltwedel diuided into two cities the Old the New Gardeleben with a castle called Eischnippe As also Osterburg Werben and Senohuse now Sehausen so named perhaps of the Senones a people that sometime dwelt here about Arnburg with his castle situate vpon the riuer Elbe Bismarch Beuster Bueck standing not farre from the Elbe Kalbe and Neflingen which they otherwise also call Letzlingen Besides these townes it hath seuen monasteries richly endowed with temporalties and secular iurisdiction and diuers Nunries as Arntsehe Damke Diestorff Crewessen and Niendorff The breadth of this countrey being equall to the length is not aboue eight Dutch miles and yet in it are at the least 465. villages of good note MIDDLE-MARCH beginneth on the other side of the Elbe and stretcheth it selfe vnto the riuers Oder and Spre sometimes called Sueuus It is watered with the riuer Hauel and other small brooks of lesse account In former ages it was inhabited by the Sueui or Switzers The soile is very fertile especially for corne It hath many Woods Fish-ponds Pastures and Medowes as also certeine Vineyards first planted heere by Albert the Marquesse surnamed The beare Brandenburg his chiefe citie is by the riuer Hauel diuided into two parts this is called The New citie that The Olde and was so named of Brandon sometime a captaine of the Franks Here is held the generall court of iustice for the whole countrey Many priuileges and great liberties haue by emperors kings and princes been granted to this prouince a token or monument whereof is the statue or image erected in the new city holding in his hand a drawen sword whom the citizens call Rowland Not farre from this citie is the territory of Hauelan so called of the riuer Hauel that enuirons it Also the monastery of Lenin of the order of S. Bernard After Brandeburg followes Rathenaw vpon the Hauel Spandaw with a castle vpon the riuer Spree likewise Coln and Berlin seuered by the same riuer In Berlin is the Princes court at this present Berlin was so named either of Albert the Marques surnamed Bear or as others hold opinion of wild beares that haunted this place when the foundations were first laid Colne was so called of Colliers that in great numbers inhabited the same in times past or rather of the Latine word Colonia Frankford vpon Oder was anciently reckoned in the number of the Hanse-townes in which regard at this present it payes no tribute to Lubeck nor to any other cities of that association It hath three marts euery yeere Here is a College or Vniuersitie founded by Ioachim the first marques of that name in the yeere 1506. Not farre from the Abbey of Carthusians in this citie runnes a small freshet springing out of a vine-bearing hill whereinto whatsoeuer is cast hardeneth into the nature of a stone Other townes there be also as Brietzen surnamed The loyall also Belitzen and Bernaw where excellent beere is brewed Bellin seated by a foord of the little riuer Rhien Mittenwald Monnixberg Bisental Blumbergen of the diocesse of Brandeburg Botzaw with a castle Falkenhaghe with a castle sometimes belonging to the Templers Frienwald and Oderberg Here marques Albert the second of that name built a castle in the midst of the riuer to constraine passengers to pay tolle Then haue you Fridland a cloister of Nunnes with a little borough Frisach of the diocesse of Brandeburg Gereswald Grimnitz Grunheid Grunwalde and Koppenick foure parks of the Prince with castles annexed Hochelberg a village Landsberg an obscure place with a castle of great antiquitie Lichen a small towne Liebenwald with a parke Nawen Putstam a little towne with a castle Newstadt Eberswald and not farre from thence Chorin a monastery of Bernardines Mulrosa a small borough and a village Sarmunde Sconbeck with a parke Strausberg Trebin Bernewijck a little borough Zendenick a cloister of Nunnes Zossa a small borough with a castle Stendel Swet Wrusen not farre from Odera Lietzen Selow a small borough with many villages and hamlets This middle marquesat containes eight and twentie Dutch miles in bredth and so many in length NEVN-MARCH is diuided from the middle by the riuer Odera about that place where the riuer Warta falles thereinto nere the towne of Kustren The said riuer of Warta beginnes in Poland and watereth this region at the citie of Lansberg and the townes of Zandock and Sonneberg The head citie of this marquesat is Kustren reedified by the marques Iohn sonne to Ioachim the first who to his exceeding charge fortified the same and there established his court Other townes there be as Landsberg vpon Warta Koningsberg Bernwald and Bernsteine a small borough with a castle Bernwijchen and Berlinichen or the towne of New Berlin Then haue you the citie of Arnswald the borough of Thame Soldin whilome the principall citie Furnstenfield a small borough Dramburg Driesen Falkenberg the towne and castle situate on the confines of Pomerlandt also Himelstedt a cloister of Nunnes Kalis a village Kartaw and Lepen two little boroughs Morgenwald an Abbey Morni a small towne Nieuberg a village Nurnberg Reitz with an abbey of the knights of the Rhodes Quartzen containing the palaces of noblemen Schiffelben a towne that beares the name for good beere and excellent Armorers Moreouer you haue Osmund Sconflis Woldenberg a small borough Sciltberg a village Zeden a little towne with a monasterie and Zandock a petie borough vpon the riuer Warta The circuit of this new marquezat is about foure and twenty Dutch miles Now the whole marquezat of Brandeburg with the regions aboue mentioned thereunto subiect containeth fiue and fifty cities of importance threescore and foure townes sixteene boroughs commonly called Marcktflecken eight and thirtie castles or noble mens houses ten parks seuenteene monasteries of men and women This region also yeeldeth Corall the Eagle-stone or the Aetites and the saffron-coloured stone called Schistus with other gemmes of no lesse account Thus much out of the Dutch discourse of Wolfangus Iobstius You may reade also Munster and Irenicus and Dauid Chytraeus his storie of Saxonie BRANDEBVRGENSIS MARCHAE DESCRIPTIO Marchionatus hic primum erectus fuit ab Henrico I. Imperatore ao. 923. fuitue eius primus marchio nomine
dispute of the Common-wealth and that the like tumults haue bereft many cities of their libertie and brought great calamities vpon them Now if any quarrell or dissention arise among the common sort it is not referred to the Masters or Wardens of their crafts and mysteries but to the Senatours themselues who presently appoint two arbitratours to search into the cause and to do their best to compound it If they can not bring it to agreement then it comes before the Senate who hauing awarded the matter do vnder a grieuous penaltie impose silence to both parties With great seueritie they punish fightings brawles iniuries and priuate quarrels for the maintenance of publike peace insomuch as a man would thinke that Minos and Rhadamanthus gaue dayly sentence vpon their iudgement seats Thus farre Pighius concerning the originall the magistrates and the common wealth of this citie More you may reade in the same authour The territories adiacent being naturally barren and sandie are by the industrie of the people made fruitfull In the same territorie stands Altorff where not many yeeres since the States of Nurenburg instituted an Vniuersitie Nurenburg is watered by the riuer Pegnitz which it crosseth with many stone-bridges In compasse it containeth eight miles It is compassed with a double wall whereon are 183. turrets besides castles and fortresses Concerning the originall situation maners and customes of this citie you haue a notable discourse written by Conradus Celtis a Poet laureat BRAVNSVICENSIS ET LVNEBVRGENSIS DVCATVVM VERA DELINEAT NORIMBERG AGRI FIDISSIMA DESCRIP Habet urbs Nurenberga plateas et vicos 52. puteos aquarum 16. fontes ex arborum truncis emanantes 12. pontes lapideos 11. publica balnea 13. Cum priuilegio decennali Imp. Reg. Cancel Brabantiae 1590. FRANKENLANDT FRANKENLANDT is partly plaine and partly mountainous the mountaines are not very steepe nor the plaines very fruitfull being for the most part sandy In many places the hilles be set with vines do yeeld pleasant and delicate wine especially about Wirtzburg There are great store of woods and much hunting The country is subiect to many gouernours notwithstanding they call the Bishop of Wirtzburg Duke of Frankenlandt The Bishops of Mentz and of Bamberg haue many places here And the Count Palatine enioyeth a great part Here the Marqueses Orantes are seated And here are many imperiall cities also As touching Norimberg it is doubtfull whether it belongs to Frankenland or Bauaria by the name Bauaria should seeme to chalenge it For Norimberg is as much to say as Mons Noricus The Norick hill whereby it appeareth that it was the city of the Norici And after the Norici succeeded the Boiari or Bauarians and now that portion of countrey that lies betweene Danubius and Norimberg is called Noricum Howbeit the city is in the diocesse of Bamberg which belongeth to Frankenlandt The inhabitants of Norimberg will be accounted neither Bauarians nor Frankes but a nation differing from both It is a stately city with churches castles and houses most sumptuously built It stands vpon the riuer Pegnitz in a barren and sandy place which increaseth the peoples industry for they are all either artizans or merchants so that they are exceeding rich and beare a great name in Germany It is a place most fit for the Emperours court a free city and seated almost in the midst of Germany Betweene Bamberg and Norimberg lies Forchaim a towne famous for snow-white bread The inhabitants suppose that Pilate was here borne Thus farre Aeneas Siluius in his description of Europe Reade also Iohannes Aubanus Hermannus Comes Nuenarius Tritthemius the Abbat and Iohn Auentinus who thinks that the principall city thereof Wirtzburg was of old called Poeonia THE BISHOPRICK OF MVNSTER OF this Bishopricke thus writeth Sebastian Munster in his Cosmography Charlemaine erected a third Bishopricke in the midst of Saxonie now Westphalia in Myningrode a place which afterward in regard of a famous Monastery there founded was called Munster and there he ordained as Bishop one Ludgerus borne in Frisland Whose successour Hermannus consecrated the Monastery and Church on the other side the water to the honour of the blessed Virgin Mary Which Monastery in short time so mightily increased and became so famous that it gaue name both to the City and Bishopricke so that the old name of Myningrode being abolished by little and little it began to be called the City and Bishoprick of Munster which name remaines euen till this present day Hitherto Munster out of Crantzius Concerning this Bishoprick and that of Ozenburg reade the Saxonie of Albertus Crantzius and Hamelman his commentaries of Westphalia This City anno 1533. receiued great dammage by the Anabaptists who expelling the citizens vsurped the same and chusing a King out of their rabble they held it almost a yeere against the Archbishop of Colen and the Duke of Cleue who besieged it with a strong army But the Bishop at length growing Master punished both them and their King as they deserued FRANCIAE ORIENTALIS VVLGO FRANCKENLANT DESCRIPTIO AVCTORE SEBAST A ROTENHAN MONASTERIENSIS ET OSNABVRGENSIS EPISCOPATVS DESCRIPTIO Auctore Godefrido Mascop Embricense Cum priuilegio BOHEMIA IOannes Dubrauius in his Bohemian story describeth this region in maner following Bohemia is situate in Germanie East it extendeth to Morauia and Silesia and west to Bauaria Austria bordereth to the South as Saxonie and Misnia do Northward It is in forme of a Theater enuironed around by the forest or woods of Hercynia Wherefore there is no great difference between the length and the bredth containing not much aboue 200. miles a piece Charles king of Bohemia who afterward was Emperour diuided it into 12. regions of which one only he named after the riuer Vultaw that runneth through Prage the other eleuen he called by the names of their principall townes some of them being so harsh of pronunciation that a man shall hardly speake them vnlesse he be a Bohemian borne or very skilfull in the language The chiefe Bohemian townes lying towards Morauia are Mutha Chrudima Konignigretz Pardubitz Litomitz Towards Bauaria you haue Glatow Domazlitz Misa and Tachow On the side towards Austria the principall towne is Buduitz with Cromlawe Trebon Hradeck as likewise on the Misnian side stand Pons Cadana Chomutawe Austia and on the Silesian quarter Iaromir Glacitz Curia and some others In the heart of the countrey the principall townes of note are Cuttenberg Kolim Pelsin Veron Zateckz Launa Slana Lytomerick and Tabor But the head citie of all is Prage being so great as it containeth three faire cities within it namely the new the old and the little towne which is disioyned from the two former by the riuer Vultaw Their Buildings both Publique and priuat are stately and magnificall This city hath two castles one called Vissegard whilom the Kings palace but now waste and almost desolate by meanes of ciuile warres Again that other castle that ouer looketh the little towne as it is named so it
well deserueth the title of the Royal or princely castle For it resembleth rather a city then a Castle filling vp so great a roome with the wals and buildings Of publique edifices the Church built by King Charles before mentioned and the Castle erected by K. Vladislaus late deceased are the most memorable And as Prage of all their Cities hath the preeminence so hath Elbe called by Tacitus renowmed and famous of all their riuers Howbeit concerning the fountaine of this riuer Tacitus writeth skarce soundly namely that it springeth in the region of the Hermonduri For it ariseth not among the Hermonduri but rather out of certaine Bohemian mountaines lying open to the North vpon the frontiers of Morauia which the ancient Bohemians call Cerconessi From which mountaines this riuer refresheth and watereth the greater and better part of Bohemia and then hauing augmented his streames by the influence of Vultawa Egra Satzawa Gitzera and Misa his neighbour-riuers continueth his course and name through Misnia and Saxonie to the maine Ocean being all that way enriched with abundance of Salmons But the smaller riuers and freshets of Bohemia yeeld in some places graines of gold and in others shell-fishes containing pearle Heere also you haue certaine hot bathes both pleasant and medicinable And all the whole countrie so aboundeth with graine as it affoordeth plenty to the neighbour-regions Wines there are no great store and those of the countrey so weake as they last but a very small time Howbeit they haue saffron of the best excelling both in colour smell and moisture three principall properties to chuse that commoditie by There are siluer-mines so exceeding rich that were it not for some small quantitie of flint that insinuates it selfe into the veine you should haue nothing but perfect siluer whereas in other countries those mines are esteemed of high price that hold a quarter or a fift part or at the vtmost one halfe of good siluer They find also plenty of gold-ore in certaine mines which take their name of a place called Giloua It is reported that the Kings of Bohemia haue had graines of pure gold brought from thence weighing tenne pound a piece Neither are they destitute of baser metall namely tinne lead copper and yron And sometimes they finde in those mineral rockes the carbuncle the Saphyre and the Amethist Next vnto their mines there is nothing of greater account to the Bohemians then their waters replenished with carps which I haue declared more at large in a peculiar booke treating of fish-pondes Now let vs decypher the disposition of the inhabitants In briefe therefore both in maners habit and stature of body the Bohemians resemble the Lion king of beasts vnder whose constillation they are subiect that is to say if you consider either the largenesse of their limbs their broad and mightie breastes their yellow shag-haire hanging ouer their shoulders the harshnesse of their voice their sparkling eies or their exceeding strength and courage The Lion carries a kind of contempt and disdainefull pride ouer other beastes and hardly shall you vanquish him if you assaile him by force Neither doth the Bohemian in this respect degenerate but soone shewes his contempt towards other nations both in word and deed and discouers his arrogancie both in his gate gesture and pompe Being set light by he growes impatient in any enterprize he is as bold as a Lion and most firme and constant till he hath brought it to execution but not without a touch of ambition and vaine glory Moreouer like a lion he is greedie of his meat and very curious in the dressing and seasoning thereof And their neighbours the Saxons haue taught them to carouse both day and night And by reason of their neighbourhood the Bohemians differ not much from the Germans in other qualities Hitherto Dubrauius by whom also the originall and ancient dwelling place of this nation is described They brew excellent ale in this countrey calling it Whiteale They speake the Sclauon tongue calling themselues Czecks and the Germans Niemecks Vnder the stile of this kingdome are also comprized the regions of Morauia Silesia and Lusatia Likewise in the yeare 1315. the city Egra became the warehouse or principall mart towne of the Bohemians Concerning the region it selfe you may read more largely in Aeneas Siluius and of the people in the first booke of Martinus Cromerus his Polonian story Vnto these you may adde Munster Rithaimer Crantzius in his description of Wandalia and Sabellicus En. 10. lib. 2. Panthaleon Candidus wrote of late seuen books entitled Bohemaidos Prage the head citie of this Kindome is peculiarly described by Georgius Handschius The Map it selfe we borowed out of the Table of Ioannes Crigingerus published at Prage 1568. The diuers appellations of certaine cities in this Kingdome we thought good here to put downe out of Munster For the names of all their cities are by the Bohemian pronounced after one maner and by the German after another Bohemian names German names These cities are immediatly subiect to the King Praha Prag Plzen Pilsen Budiciowize Budwis Kolim Coeln Cheb Eger Strzibre Misz Hora Kuttenberg Tabor Taber Zatetz Satz Litemierzitze Leitmiritz Launij Laun. Rockowinck Rakowinck Klattowy Glataw Beraim Bern. Most Bruck Hradetz Gretz Auscij Aust Myto Maut Dwuor Hoff. Laromiertz Iaromir Bohemian names German names These cities are subiect to the peers of the kingdome Dub Ath. Piela Wiswasser Gilowy Gilaw Krupka Graupen Loket Elbogen Hanzburg Hasenburg The riuer Albis is called by the Germans Elbe and by the Bohemians Labe. The Bohemians call the riuer Molta by the name of Vltawa REGNI BOHEMIAE DESCRIPTIO Bohemiae longitudo latitudoque peuè par nam retundam faciem ex circumiacientibus montibus accipit cuius diametrū trium dierum itinere expedito absoluitur quorū montium quae ad Septentrionalem plagā vergunt Sudetae appellantur ardui sane ac praecipites vbi Gabrita silua ingens extenditur qui montes cum alijs Danubio proximis vnde Albis fi se proripit in coronam cocunt quos vndique profundissima nemora latissimè occupant Hercinia enim silua vniuersā Bohemian compraehēit SILESIA JOhn Crato one of the Emperours counsellers and his principall Physician hath for the benefit of the studious in Geography out of his relations of Silesia imparted thus much vnto vs. That we may not be scrupulous about the name of the Silesians nor as some haue done deriue it from the Elysian fields we are out of ancient writers to vnderstand that the same region which they now possesse was formerly inhabited by the Quadi For Quad in the Saxon or old German tongue hath the same signification that Siletz hath in the Polonian or Sclauon For they were a people that resorted hither out of sundry places more addicted to warre than peace destroyers rather than builders and impatient of all superioritie The first King that bare rule ouer them was Boleslaus a Polacke He was borne in the yeere of our Lord 967. his
Nigra and that of Switta whereon standeth the city Brin next in dignity to Olmuntz also Thaysa which glideth along by the city Znaim famous for the death of Sigismund the Emperour and lastly Igla passing by the city Igla rendreth vp his owne and his neighbours substance to the great and renowmed Danubius But the riuer Odera springing not far from Olmuntz retaineth his name to the Ocean sea Some thinke it is called by Ptolemey Viadrus Odera is so named of a word borrowed from fowlers which call their watch-towers for the spying and taking of birds Odri and such towers you haue now in Morauia at the fountaine of Odera Neither must we heere omit the riuer Hana which albeit sometimes scant of water yet doth it so moisten the neighbour-fields being thereby the fertilest in all the region as the husbandmen in regard of their plentifull increase call them the fat of Morauia Here also more than in other places are found the siluer and gold coines of M. Antoninus of Commodus and other Emperours Which is a manifest argument of ancient warres betweene the forces of the Empire and the Marcomans in these parts This one thing is most worthy the admiration that in Morauia there is a kind of Frankincense Myrrhe not distilling out of trees as in other countries but digged from vnder the ground in one place only called Gradisco where till this present is found not only Frankincense called Male frankincense in regard of the resemblance it hath with the priuie parts of man but also in the shape of other members both of man and woman And of late VVenceslaus of the noble family surnamed à Quercu as he was making a foundation for the banke of a fish-poole in his field of Sterenberg he found the intire body of a man consisting all of Myrrhe the which distributing vnto his friends and remembring me among the rest bestowed on me more than halfe an arme which I vsed often for a perfume The inner part of the region is arable an exceeding fertile and fat soile and most apt for corne as the hilles for vines being more fauourable to Bacchus than the hilles of Bohemia wherefore it excelleth for abundance of good wine And it is so generally manured and hath such plentie of husbandmen that vnlesse it be in forests and desert places heere is no pasture at all for the feeding of cattell For the rest both in speech fashions and customes they are like the Bohemians Hitherto Dubrauius In the yeere 895. the people of this region were instructed in the Christian faith by S. Methodius at the procurement of Arnulphus the Emperour Vnder the Emperour Henry the fourth in the yeere 1086. this countrey together with Lusatia and Silesia was annexed to the kingdome of Bohemia Their language is mixt for the greatest part speake Bohemian and the high Dutch is vsed only in cities among persons of best account This Prouince as Dubrauius writeth yeelds plentie of wine but not of the strongest such saith Rithaimerus and I my selfe haue so found it by experience as exempteth not the drinker quite from care Duglossus in his Polonian storie saith that the name of the riuer Odera signifies in the Henetian tongue inundation or robbery Olmuntz the head citie of this region and the seat of a Bishop is described by Stephanus Taurinus in his Stauromachia Concerning Morauia besides Dubrauius reade Aeneas Siluius in his Bohemian story This Map of Morauia first drawen by Fabricius but afterward corrected by diuers gentlemen of the countrey was sent me by Iohn Crato Counseller and principall Physician to the Emperour Maximilian the second a bountifull fauourer of these my studies He gaue me also this catalogue of townes called both by German and Bohemian names The Dutch names The Bohemian names Behemsche Triebaw Trzebowa Czeska Landskron Landskraun Schirmberg Semanin Sciltperg Ssilperck Hanstadt Zabrzch Zwittaw Swittawa Merherische Tribaw Trzebowa Morawska Neustadt Nowy Miesto Deutstbrodt Niemeckybrod Iglau Cziblawa Budwers Budegowice Weissenkirch Hranitza Plos Pzin Drosendorff Drosdowice Freyen Vranow Schtignitz Trztenice Holsterlitz Hosteradice Mislicz Moristaw Ioslwitz Iaroslaiwice Dayex Diakowice Grustpach Hrussowamy Maydpurgk Dewczihrady Auspitz Hustopecz Nuslau Nosyslaw Tischain Itza Schwartz Wasser Strumen Selowitz Zidlochowice Brin Brno Olmutz Holomane Prostnitz Proslegew Wischa Wyskow Austerlitz Slawkow Kremfier Kromerziz Vngerischbrod Vherskybrod Goeding Hodomin Lumpenburg Brzetislaw Altmarck Podiwin Ostra Ostracia MORAVIAE QVAE OLIM MARCOMANNORVM SEDES COROGRAPHIA A. D. PAVLO FABRITIO MEDICO ET MATHEMATICO DESCRIPTA ET A GENEROSIS MORAVIAE BARONIBVS QVIBVSDAM CORRECTA AVSTRIA or AVSTRICH GEORGE RITHAYMER in his Abridgement of the situation of the world describeth Austrich vnder the name of Pannony the higher in these words Pannony the higher saith he toward the East abbutteth vpon the riuer Leyth Ptolemey maketh the riuer Rab his Eastern bound Vpon the West it is bounded with the riuer Onasus and Noricum which is a part of Bayern Some do on that coast limit it with the mountaine Caetius on the North with the riuer Tey and the countrey Morauia for so farre at this day it doth extend it selfe on that side Vpon the South coast it resteth vpon the mountaines of Steyri The soile is good and fertile of all maner of corne and is such as is manured and tilled with small charge In that part which is beyond Donaw and is called Marchfield where long since the Chetuari and and Parmecampi were seated the husbandman falloweth his land with one poore seely jade only Marle without which their land in Bayern is leane and barren what it meaneth the husbandmen of Austrich know not It beareth so good Saffron as no other in the world may compare with it It affoordeth Wine passing holesome and agreeable to the nature of man Althamerus vpon Cornelius Tacitus his Germania writeth that it yeeldeth plentie of Ginger in a mountaine neere the towne Hamburg in the middest of Austrich or Pannony It hath many ancient and famous cities notwithstanding those of greatest note are Styre Vadenhoff Melck Castell anciently called Claudionum Crembs Cetro castle now called Zeisselmaur Saint Hippolytus the two Newberies one surnamed of the Abbey the other of Corne. Petronell a village now but in old time a great citie as his foundation ruines and heaps of stones and rubbish do testifie The new city Pruck vpon the banke of the riuer Leyth and Hamburg out of all the most famous is VVien sometime called Flauiana and Iuliobona renowmed for the Vniuersitie and Schoole than which there is none that hath brought forth more excellent and greater Mathematicians This citie is round beset with Vineyards The houses of the citizens are stately and beautifull so that they may seeme to giue entertainment to Princes and are built with large and open windowes to let the aire in and out and therefore they are neuer pestered and offended with close and bad aire for that euery priuate house hath either his seuerall court-yard or back-side Hither is great concourse of forren nations
Tribocci did inhabit as Rhenan Munster and others do thinke It is apparent out of old records that it hath beene sometime vnder the iurisdiction of the citie Trier Afterward it was gouerned by Earles although not in that sence in which commonly the word is vsed now-a-dayes yet they notwithstanding were subiect vnto the Duke of Mentz as the foresaid booke of Records doth shew At this day it is dignified with the title of a Landtgrauie Besides many things in this citie worthy of commendation there is a most stately steeple vpon the chiefe church whose height is such that it doth not only exceed all the rest of all Germany but as I thinke of all Europe It is as Munster hath left recorded fiue hundred seuentie foure foot high Those of VVien in Austrich doe thinke their steeple vpon the Church of S. Steuen in height to exceed all others yet that is as Cuspinian reporteth but foure hundred and foure score foot high The steeple of S. Paul of London in England was in height fiue hundred thirty foure foot as the learned M. Camden affirmeth Ours of the Church of our Lady at Antwerp is but foure hundred sixtie six foot high But whether the Geometricall foot vsed by the Architects of these seuerall cities in measuring be equall or not let them seeke which are more curious in these matters That ours of Antwerp for workmanship and beautie doth excell all those others I which heretofore haue seene all the forenamed dare affirme Of this territory of Strasburg reade Beatus Rhenanus his first booke of his German histories PALATINATVS BAVARIAE DESCRIPTIO ERHARDO REYCH TIROLENSE AVCTORE ARGENTORATENSIS AGRI DESCRIPTIO Ex tabula Danielis Spekel The Dukedome of WIRTEMBERG IOhannes Pedius Tethingerus in his history of the famous acts of this countrey describeth this Prouince thus The countrey of VVirtemberg saith he in the very entrance almost of high Germany most pleasantly abbutteth vpon the coast of Switzerland situate especially vpon the bancke of the riuer Nicher some doe thinke it in former times to haue beene the ancient seat of the Charitini whose iurisdiction is very large On the East it bordereth vpon the Sueui Vindelici and Norici On the West vpon the Countie Palatine of Rhein the Prince Electour and Marquesse of Baden lastly it comprehendeth the mountaines of Swartzwald the Blacke-wood On the South the mountaines of Arbon and the Alpes of Switzerland so the inhabitants do call the higher mountaines of that countrey do ioyntly ouerlooke it On the North they haue the Franckes their neighbours and not farre off also is Othos wood And therefore the iurisdiction of VVirtemberg can not more fitly take his begginning than where Nicher ariseth which springeth from a small fountaine out of the high hilles of Arbona in the Dukedome of VVirtemberg neere vnto the villages Schwenningen in the confines of the towne Villing not much more than fiue hundred pases from the fountaine of Donaw Not farre from his fountaine it passeth by Rotwell and leauing vpon the left hand the head of Blacke-wood vpon the right Switzerland Alpes runneth by the Duchie of VVirtemberg with a wandering and crooked course so saluting here and there certaine noble mens castles and townes of the Roman Emperours from his first rise the space of fiue dayes iourney more or lesse being with diuers little streames from sundry places encreased and laden and so made nauigable at Heydelberg falleth very swiftly into the Rhein The whole countrey by reason of the nature of the soile whether for tillage or otherwise in respect of the fertility is not euery where alike For that part where Nicher ariseth and which bordereth vpon the Blacke-wood as also that which is abbuttant vpon the Alpes of Switzerland situate betweene Donaw and Nicher is somewhat rough vnapt for vines but yeelding indifferent good pasture for cattell The soile within the Alps is stony yet very good for corne in like maner by the sides of Blacke-wood the land is sandy of a red colour which notwithstanding is reasonable good corne ground Euery where the nation is much giuen to breed and bring vp cattell Nere vnto the forest of Blacke-wood there are recorded to be these Lordships subiect vnto the Duchy of VVirtemberg Hornberg Schultach Dornstad Nagold VVildberg Kalbe VVilde bath Newenstade By the Alps or neere vnto them these Lordships Baling VVrach Blawbeyren Heidenheim Tuthing vpon the banke of Donaw by the which as by a certaine trench they are seuered and diuided But euery where the confines of the iurisdiction of VVirtemberg do gather themselues into a ring as it were enclosed with a large band to the places neere to Nicher But whereas Nicher doth spread it selfe into the champian fields there it is not only more kinde for temperature of the aire but also the soile is more fit for tillage Euery where are riuers well stored with fish holesome springs pleasant lakes goodly valleys Euery where hilles beset with Vines well-grasing pastures and medowes fertile fields forests of woods and groues in the which are great store of Beeches many Okes innumerable companies of Deeres large pastures abundance of cattell in all places plenty of Wine Corne and Apples Vpon the brinke of crooked Nicher here and there are many goodly cities some of them of reasonable greatnesse others not so bigge but for building and beautie very glorious In the higher countrey vpon Nicher doe stand Hernberg Tubing Nurting Kurch then Stutgard which being built as it were in the center of the prouince is the chiefe citie and the palace of the princes of VVirtemberg and excelleth all the other cities in buildings multitude of people and greatnesse About the lower coast of Nicher at this day doe flourish VVabling Schrondorff VVinida Bachanauge Brackenauge Binnicke Bessicke Bieticke VVinsberg Megimill Lauff Greining VVahing Next vnto Statgard are Bebeling Lenberg Cannostade all which cities haue their seuerall Lordships many strong villages men and munition Moreouer generally the people of this countrey is for their manhood humanitie constancie and religion very renowmed The townes as I said before are not so great but are sumptuously built whereof some are sufficiently fortified by nature and benefit of the place other some by the industrie and labour of man The villages are so well inhabited that they are not much inferiour to prety townes their houses are of timber but very artificially built The castles are fortified by nature and situation as also by the ingenious arte of fortification and so are not easie to be surprised so that a man would thinke that another Laconia were yet extant amongst the Switzers such is the excellencie of the men both at home and abroad This Dukedome hath his name of VVirtemberg an ancient beacon which now is situate in the midst of his territory not very farre from Stutgard yet vpon somewhat a rising ground hilly place is neither for his strength nor building any terrour to the enemy But according to the custome of their ancestours who
trusted rather to their swords of steele than walles of stone it was notable for the pleasantnesse of the place only commendable now for his antiquitie hauing a most goodly prospect round about aboue are the woods of Beech beneath are the fertile hilles of Vines c. The late Dukes of Wirtemberg for many ages past held their Court in this tower taking from thence their name their stocke and their armes as is to euery man very apparent There are which thinke that the Dukes of Wirtemberg haue had their ofspring from the Tuscans or Rhaetians others from the French Whether of these opinions are more probable I much regard not for in a thing altogether vncertaine I affirme nothing constantly It is certaine that they were strangers whether they came first forth of Italie or from France that as yet is not certainly knowen c. Thus farre Iohn Pede WIRTENBERG DVCATVS Accurata descriptio In qua omnia eius Opida Monasteria pagi nemora flumina et riuuli alicuius nominis diligentissimè exprimuntur Auctore Georgio Gadnero Cum Priuilegio Imp. Regiae M. 1579. The Precinct of SWITZERLAND THey which diuided the Empire of Germany into certeine Bands or Circles Kreis they commonly call them they made Switzerland the fourth in order now in all they record tenne it is certaine as approued histories do mention that at first Switzerland was a Kingdome but afterward reduced vnto a Dukedome Notwithstanding at this day there is none of the Princes of Germanie which is graced with the title of Duke of Switzerland for it is now diuided amongst many Princes One part hath accrued by lot of inheritance vnto the house of Austrich the duke of Wirtemberg enioyeth the greatest part in it there are many free cities and such as do belong vnto the crowne of the Empire many are subiect vnto the Duke of Bauiere There is none of the old writers which doth not make report of this Nation as of the most noble and ancientest of all Germany It is cleere out of Ptolemey Strabo and other authours that heretofore they were seated vpon the riuer Sweue and Albis But now at this day it is the vtmost prouince of all Germany for it abbutteth vpon the Alpes It is bounded by Bayern Frankenland and Alsatia or Elsas on euery side round about In olde time this countrey was called Alemanie of the lake Lemanus vulgarly now called Lac de Losanne or Lac de Geneue the Germans call it Ienfferlee as some thinke The countrey as Iohn Auban in that worthy worke of his De moribus gentium describeth it is partly champian partly hilly The soile is fruitfull of which there is no part which lieth vntilled excepting that which Lakes Mountaines or Woods do possesse In it are many woods and therefore the nation is giuen much to hunting and hawking they haue abundance of corne and great store of cattell The whole prouince by reason of the holsomnesse of the aire is euery where replenished with goodly cities villages castles and bulwarks strongly fortified aswell by nature as arte About the mountaines it yeeldeth iron siluer and other mettals The nation is populous stout audacious and warlike and therefore Plutarch calleth it The most excellent nation of all the Germans Whose renowme is recorded to be such and so to be enlarged that for valour and feats of armes it seemeth to haue deserued the Empire of the whole world which indeed it hath most gloriously for the space of somewhat more than an hundred yeeres enioyed Thus farre out of Iohn Auban where thou mayest at large see the customes and maner of life of this nation Augusta Vindelicorum Augspurg vpon the riuer Lech and Vlm vpon Donaw are the most famous cities of this prouince at this day There are also Campodun Memmingen Werd Nordling and others of which thou mayest reade in Munster Donaw the greatest riuer of all Europe here taketh his beginning and passeth thorow the middest of the countrey This riuer laden with threescore streames which Cuspinian according to the report of Collimitius describeth by name and order emptieth it selfe into Pontus Euxinus the Greeks now call it Maurothalassa the Italians Marmaiore the Turkes as Busbequius affirmeth Cara-denis that is The blacke-sea by six huge mouthes Euery one of which mouthes are so great and the streame so violent as Pliny saith that you shall obserue the sea to be ouer-mastered and driuen backe the space of fortie miles and so farre the water to be perceiued to be sweet Of this countrey and his people and first inhabitants see the ancient Geographers and of the latter writers Iohn Auban of Bohemia Munster and Irenicus who affirmeth that Naucler hath penned certaine books only of this argument and that Berno a certaine Abbat hath written many volumes of this nation In the vpper part of this Map you see a little prouince cōmonly called Kreichgey Dauid Chytraeus hath described it in a seuerall treatise The territorie of BASELL THis Map conteineth that coast in which long since the Rauraci and the Cis Iurani did inhabit as also the Waste of Heluetia The Rauraci in time past according to the opinion of most men were contained betweene the riuers of Rhein Byrsa and Ar and those mountaines which from Iurassus doe reach hither At this day it is for the most part vnder the iurisdiction of Basell In it as yet is there a village vpon the Rein distant a Dutch mile from Basell called Augst sometime the chiefe citie of this nation and was called Augusta Rauracorum but now it is become a base village notwithstanding many apparent signes of decayed buildings which as yet do testifie his antiquitie we haue seene to remaine and be yet extant there The country is rough full of many cragged rocks and euery where shadowed with thicke woods yet is very well inhabited and manured so that euen in the mountaines besides the goodly pastures for cattell of which it is greatly stored it beareth plentifully very good wine and corne Sequani CisIurani did long since reach from the mountaine Iura euen vnto the banke of the riuer Rhein Now this part is called Sungow and the Higher Elsas and is subiect for the most part vnto the Dukes of Austrich Brisgow and Blacke-wood commonly called Swartz-wald possesse the other banke of the Rein. Here the waste or wildernesse of Heluetia is placed by Ptolemey Brisgow is very well replenished with cities and villages and is very rich in corne The common people for the most part liue vpon Vintage The iurisdiction and gouernment of this countrey is diuided betweene the Archdukes of Austrich and the Marquesses of Bath Of this shire thou mayest see many things in Munster Christian Vrstise in a peculiar treatise hath most exactly described the citie of Basell In like maner Aeneas Syluius afterward called Pope Pius II. BASILIENSIS TERRITORII DES CRIPTIO NOVA Auctore Sebastiano Munstero Miliaria Germanica duarū horarū itineris Circulus siue Liga SVEVIAVE Vulgo Schwa
CREMA CRema a towne in the confines of Millane is a Castle place of garrison of the Venetians This as Leander affirmeth vnder the gouernment of the same Venetians hath so incresed in multitude of citizens and goodly buildings that it may well be accounted amongst the most famous places of all Italie Wherefore they vse to say in a common prouerb in their vulgar tongue Barleta in Puglia Pratum in Toscana Crema in Lombardia signifying the excellency statelinesse and richesse of these three places The Venetians haue often assaied to adorne the towne with the title of a city but the citizens fearing that whereas now it is accounted amongst the best townes it shall then be reckoned amongst the meanest cities haue hitherto withstood that their purpose It is seated in a pleasāt plaine in compasse large wide fortified with a strong wall famous for wealth very populous and abounding with all things necessary for the soile of the territorie and liberties of this towne is very fertile and yet by the great diligence and industrie of the husbandmen it is dailie bettered and amended Many brookes well stored with diuers sorts of fish do euery where water this prouince Blondus writeth that after that Fredericke Barbarossa had spoiled Cremona hee built Crema in scorne to hinder and disgrace it There are others as Leander witnesseth which do thinke it to haue beene built by the citizens of the city Parasium which was ouerthrowne rased to the ground by the Bishop of Millane for heresie which it maintained and therefore they called it Crema in memoriam Crematae patriae in memoriall of their natiue city burned and spoiled But this I leaue to the iudgement of the discreet Reader AGRI CREMONENSIS TYPVS Antonius Campus pictor Cremonensis descripsit 1579. Cum Priuilegio CREMAE DITIONIS DESCRIPTIO Lectori Ne tabula hoc loco omnino vacua extaret hoc Cremae territorium à quodam patriae studioso descriptum hic studiosis exhibere placuit The liberties of BRESCIA THe liberties of Brescia now possesseth part of that coast where in time passed the Cenomanes dwelt and extendeth it selfe in length 800. furlongs or 100. miles in bredth 400. furlongs or 50. miles as Elias Capriolus affirmeth it is situate betweene the lakes Garda and Iseo the Alpes and the riuer Oglio These fields as Iohn Planer writeth are worthily accounted amongst the most delightsome champions of Lombardie For it hath as Baptist Nazario saith Gold Siluer Brasse Lead Iron Alume Marble both Porphyrie and Serpentine as they call it barly coloured with blacke and greene Plinie calleth it Ophites and other stones of great price as also the Marchasite which aunciently hath beene called Pyrites or The fire stone The citie Brixia whereof this territorie tooke his name as yet reteineth the same his auncient name for the inhabitants do call it Brescia the which for his riches and beautie they terme in that common prouerbe of theirs The Bride of the city of Venice There is not any of the old writers either Historians or Geographers which do not make mention of this city Trogus Pompeius writeth that it was built by the Galli Senones Liuy saith that it is the chiefe city of the Cenomanes Pliny in his Epistles of this writeth thus vnto Iunius Mauricus Brixia is that city which constantly retaineth as yet much of that graue modesty and old frugalitie of our auncient Italians It hath beene graced with the title of a Duchie for so I find written in Diaconus his 5. booke of Lombardie in the 36. Chapter But because that none of the late writers that I may say nought of the more ancient haue described this citie more learnedly and eloquently than Pighius in his Hercules Prodicius thou shalt heare him speake in his owne termes Brescia which is seated at the foot of the mountaines may contend with most of the cities of Italie for antiquitie and statelinesse of buildings Iulius Caesar Scaliger a famous Poet of our age hath thus described it in this Epigramme Thou Brixia great which proudly ouerlook'st the boornes and lowlie plaine by due desert now iustlie mayst the soueraigne Empire claime Thy healthfull seat thy pleasant fertile soile thy people wise and nation stout If ciuill discord had not crosst long since had brought about That where long time thou hast beene thrall and stoop'st to others lore Thou mightest haue lorded ouer those to whom thou serud'st before For this Citie by reason of ciuill discord and dissention being subdued vnder the yoke of the French and their next neighbours the Insubres or the Millaners hath endured much miserie yet now at length vnder the peaceable gouernment of the Venetians it is growen very wealthy a great market well furnished with all things necessary very populous and inhabited of a wise and discreet nation The shire is very fertile of oile wine corne and most excellent fruites of all sorts It hath also some rich veines of Mettalls but especially of Iron and Copper whereof ariseth to this citie great gaine and commodity Liuie and other good authors report That Brescia was built by the Galli Cenomanes about the time of the Romane kings which afterward the Romanes hauing subdued all that part of the countrey of the Gaules which lieth beyond the riuer Po reduced vnder their iurisdiction It is apparant out of Liuie how firme it sometimes stood with the Romans especially in those most dangerous warres between them and Hanniball Some would haue it to haue beene made a Colonie present after the end of the League-warre when as Cneius Pompeius Strabo the father of Pompey the great planted colonies in Verona and other cities beyond the riuer Po. Not long after by the fauour of C. Caesar it together with other cities there about obtained the freedome of the city of Rome and after that it is woonderfull how it flourished vnder the Roman Emperours so long as the greatnesse of that Empire stood vnshaken This diuers monuments of Antiquitie which as yet remaine in this city and in the liberties of the same as namely many goodly inscriptions of marble statues pillars and Epitaphes of famous men do constantly auerre by which the former greatnesse of this city may easily be gathered Thus farre Pighius Baptista Nazario wrote a seuerall Treatise of this city in the which he setteth downe all the inscriptions of the auncient monuments of this country Helias Capriolus hath comprized the whole historie of this citie in 12. bookes Gaudentius Merula in his tract of the originall and antiquitie of the Cisalpines speaketh somewhat of it as also Chrysostomus Zanchus writing of the originall of the Orobij and Cenomanes likewise Leander Albertus and lately Andrete Paccius in his sixth booke of the Wines of Italie There is in this prouince a towne called Quintianum 20. miles south-eastward from Brescia neere to the riuer Ollio of the which Iohn Planer a citizen of the same wrote a small Treatise who in an Epistle of his to Paullus
this is one That once in a moneth they obserue one day in the which all meeting in a Church after a collation made by their filthie and wicked Superintendent at night the Candles being put out without any choice or regard they fall like bruite beastes vnto their beastly Venerie This we haue taken out of Leander where thou maist read if thou pleasest many other such like things Dominicus Niger also hath written of this Country Paradine in his description of Sauoy writeth That the Dukedome of Piemont doth conteine in it beside goodly Cities great and populous which are in number fiue more then fiftie Townes well fortified and beautifull and also two hundred Borrowes walled and fenced with Fortresses and Castles And that it hath Earles Marquesses Barones and other sorts of Nobilitie all subiect to the Duke of Sauoy Thou seest also in this Chart the description of Montferrate which at this day is vnder the dominion of the Dukes of Mantua of the which Blondus thus writeth At the riuer Taner the famous Countie of Montferrate beginneth whose boundes are the riuer Po on this side and the Mount Appennine on that side the riuer Taner from his fountaine vnto his mouth where it falleth into Po and on his vpper side the hilles next to Moncalerio where Piemont beginneth The prouince of Montferrate is almost wholly subiect vnto the Marchions the most noble house of Italie descended from the Constantinopolitane Emperours which haue held that tract these 150. yeares Thus farre Blondus Merula also in his sixt booke of his historie of Vicounts hath written something of this Country PEDEMONTANAE VICINORVMQVE REGIONVM AVCTORE IACOBO CASTALDO DESCRIP Cum priuilegio The Liberties of PADVA THe territories of Padua which is a part of the Marquesate of Treuiso in old time was more large now it is conteined within these bounds On his South side runneth the riuer Athesis now called Ladessa on the North coasteth the little riuer Muson vpon the East lieth the gulfe of Venice vpon the West are Montes Euganei and the prouince of Vincenza Whereupon this verse was engrauen in the ancient seale of the City Muso mons Athesis mare certos dant mihi fines The Mose the Hilles Ladessa and the sea enclose me round It is in compasse 180. miles In it are 347. villages and hamlets Vnto the court-leet of Padua now do belong these seuen goodly townes Montiniano Castro Baldo Atheste Monselesse Pieue di Sacho Campo S. Piero and Citadella As also these six villages Miran Oriaco Titulo and Liuiano Arquado famous for great Petrarchaes tombe Consyluio and Anguillaria There are also in this territorie the mountaines called Euganei famoused by the poets neere vnto which is Abano a village seated vpon the Spring Abano oft mentioned by Claudian and Martiall Also Cassiodorus in his Epistles writeth that Theodoricus K. of the Gothes gaue order for the repairing of them The fertilitie of the soile of this prouince of the liberties of Padua is such that of those things which necessarily are required to the sustenance of mans life it yearely transporteth vnto the neighbour cities and countries round about great abundance without any dearth or want to the inhabitants Their Wines are very rich hunting fowling and fishing heere are very common It is so well watered with brookes and riuers that to the great gaine and profit of the inhabitants there is no country village aboue fiue miles distant from a riuer This great plenty and abundance of all things they bragge of in this their common prouerbe saying Bononia lagrassa Padua la passa that is Padua for fertilitie doth surpasse rich Bononia Thus farre of the shire now something of the city whereof that tooke his name It is seated in a flatte euery way crossed with pleasant riuers The city is very strong enclosed with a broad deepe water ditch with high and thicke walles and is very populous It hath a goodly large common without the citie wherein the enemie that will besiege it shall not find a place to shrowd himselfe A Session-house the Yeeld hall we call it most stately and sumptuous all couered ouer with lead An vniuersitie most famous of all Europe begunne as they report by Charles the Great finished by Fredericke the eleuenth in the yeare of our Lord 1222. and fortie yeares after that confirmed by Vrbane the fourth Bishop of Rome There is in this citie an Orchard which they call the Physicians Garden in forme round and verie large planted with all maner of strange herbs vsuall in Physicke for the instruction of yong students in the knowledge of Herbs and Plants a singular and worthy worke Clothing is the chiefe trade of the Citizens a matter of 600000. pounds returne yearely and more This we haue taken out of Bernardino Scardeonio who hath written a whole volume of the situation liberties antiquities famous men and things worthy of note of this city he that is desirous to see more of this let him read him and if he please to him he may adioine Leander his description of Italie Of the fennie places described vpon the sea-coast thou maist read Cassiodore his twelfth booke Variar Dedicated vnto the Admirall and Masters of the Nauie Of the Liberties of TREVISO BLONDVS in his description of Italie making The Marquesate of Treuiso the tenth prouince of Italie in it placeth these famous cities Feltre Belluno Ceneda Padua Vicenza and Verona the head of which he maketh Treuiso whereof the whole prouince tooke his name The goodly riuer Sile which for clearenesse and swiftnesse of his waters is inferiour vnto none passeth by this citie running Eastward about ten miles from the same is nauigable and falleth into the Adriaticke sea Many little brookes runne through the towne which is compassed with a strong wall and is very populous it is beautified with many stately buildings both Churches and priuate houses The country adioining to Treuiso is most pleasant and rich yeelding all maner of things necessarie to the vse of man and beast For in it is a very large plaine yeelding not onely great store of all sorts of graine and excellent wines but also it hath many goodly pastures feeding abundance of cattell Neither are his mountaines altogether craggie and barren But his lower hilles are set with vines oliues and other fruit-trees and affoord plenty of Deere pastime for the hunter In this country are many faire Townes For on the East and North sides of the same are Opitergium now Oderzo as I thinke Coreglanum or Conegliano both vpon the riuer Mottegan Serraualle Motta Porto Buffole and Sacile these three last are situate vpon the riuer Liuenza To these are to be added the Countie of S. Saluador Colalto S. Paulo Cordignan Roca di val di Marino Cesarea Cesana I take it and Mel. On the West and South are Bassianum Bassan Asolo Castrum fratrum Castelfranco Nouale and Mestre Moreouer in it are diuers End-waies villages and hamlets But hee that desireth to vnderstand more of the
situation antiquities famous men and other matters worthy of record of this prouince let him haue recourse to the most learned Iohn Boniface who hath a while since set forth a most exact and absolute historie of it There is also extant a description of the countrie of Treuiso done in verse by Iohn Pinadello but as yet it is not imprinted Thus farre the Author hath discoursed vpon this his Mappe to which I trust I may with his good liking adde this out of Zacharie Lillie his Breuiary of the world TARVISIVM now Treuiso a goodly city belonging to the Signiorie of Venice of which of all ancient writers Plinie did first make mention brought forth Totilas the fift and most famous king of the Gothes from whom it first began his greatnesse and to arise to that dignitie that now it hath obtained that the whole prouince of Venice should be called The Marquesate of Treuiso For Totilas gathering together a great armie conquered all Italie and entering the city of Rome did sacke and fire it Certaine haue affirmed that the citie Treuiso was built by the Troians vpon the faire riuer Sile which falleth into the Adriaticke-sea The city it selfe for walles castle and water is very strong for bridges priuate houses and Churches very beautifull and for diuers merchandise very famous It hath great store of corne wine oile fish and fruites The country hath very many castles and villages but worthy men commended for Religion and wisedome vertuous life and ciuill conuersation do especially commend this city Thus farre out of Lillie PATAVINI TERRITORII COROGRAPHIA IAC CASTALDO AVCT Milliaria TARVISINI AGRI TYPVS Auctore Io. Pinadello Phil. et I. C. Taruisino The Lake of COMO sometime called LACVS LARIVS LACVS LARIVS which now they call Lago di Como of Como the ancient town adioining vnto it tooke his name of the Fenducke a bird which the Greekes call Larus and the Latines Fulica of which it hath great plenty It runneth out from North to South in length fortie miles it is beset round with Mountaines whose toppes are couered with groues of Chesse-nut-trees the sides with vines and oliues the bottoms with woods which affoord great store of Deere for game Vpon the brinke of the Lake are many Castles seated amongst the which on the South side is Como a faire towne built by the Galli Orobij or as some thinke by the Galli Cenomanes Afterward Iulius Caesar placed a colonie there amongst which were fiue hundred Grecian gentlemen as Strabo testifieth whereupon it was called Nouum Comum It is seated in a most pleasant place that one would iudge it a kind of Paradise or place onely sought out for pleasure and delight for vpon the fore-side it hath the goodly Lake on the backe-side the champion plaines well manured and fertile of all sorts of fruite Vnto which you may adde the wholesome and sweet aire Of the brasen statue long since taken out of this citie see Cassiod 2. Variar cap. 35. and 36. This towne brought forth the two Plinies men worthy of eternall fame in whose honour and memory the citizens caused these Inscriptions to be engrauen in marble vpon the front of S. Maries Church which we wrote out in the yeare of CHRIST 1558. in our returne from Italie Vpon the right hand of the dore THE STATE AND CITIZENS OF COMO HAVE GRACED C. PLINIVS SECVNDVS THE MOST VVORTHY FREEMAN OF THEIR CORPORATION A MAN OF A PREGNANT VVIT HONOVRABLE FOR DIGNITIES FOR LEARNING ADMIRABLE WHO IN HIS LIFE TIME OBTAINED THE LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP OF VESPASIAN THE EMPEROVR BORE MANY GREAT OFFICES EXCELLED ALL VVRITERS OF HIS TIME IN ELOQVENCE AND VARIETIE VVITH THIS TITLE AND STATVE Such honour great and worthy fame me Pliny did adorne But much it grac'th mee more what heere is set Vpon the left hand TO C. PLINIVS CAECILIVS SECVNDVS THEIR VVEL-BELOVED CITIZEN VVHO HAVING BEEN CONSVLL AVGVR AND BORNE ALL OFFICES IN THE VVARRES A FAMOVS ORATOVR POET AND HISTORIOGRAPHER MOST ELOQVENTLY VVRITTEN OF THE VVORTHY COMMENDATION OF TRAIAN THE EMPEROVR BESTOVVED MANY BOONES AND BOVNTEOVS FAVOVRS VPON HIS NATIVE COVNTRY GRACING THE SAME VVITH ETERNALL CREDIT THE STATE OF COMO FOR THESE BENEFITS DID HEERE PLACE THIS MONVMENT THE FIRST OF MAY IN THE YEARE 1498. At home in peace abroad in war ech office haue I borne I liued I di'd and still I liue as yet But why may I not to these adioine the words of the same Plinie in his second booke vnto Caninius writing thus Doest thou studie or doest thou angle or iointly doest thou both For the Lake affoordeth store of Fish the woods plenty of Deere the priuatenesse of the place doth giue great occasion of study The same authour in his 4. Epistle vnto Licinus Sura hath a storie of a certaine strange spring not farre off from this Lake Paulus Iouius hath most excellently described this Lake in a seuerall Treatise out of the which we haue drawen this our Mappe befitting our purpose Moreouer Cassiodorus in his eleuenth booke of Varieties vnto Gaudiosus hath most exactly painted out the same Benedictus Iouius and Thomas Porcacchius haue written the histories of Como Read also Leander in his Italia and Dominicus Niger in his Geographie The territories and liberties of the Citie of ROME OF the city of Rome sometime the Empresse of the world and Liberties of the same because this place cannot beare so large a description as his worth doth deserue and for that it is better to say nothing at all of it then to say little I thinke it best onely to reckon vp those famous authours which haue written of it at large and to referre thee to them for further satisfaction Of which the more ancient are Q. Fabius Pictor Sex Rufus and P. Victor Of the later writers Blondus in his Italia Fabius Caluus of Rauenna Bartho Marlianus Andreas Fuluius Georgius Fabricius Lucius Faunus Andreas Palladius Pyrrhus Ligorius and Lucius Maurus And very lately Io. Iacobus Boissartus Iacobus Mazochius hath gathered and set out all his old Epigrammes Fuluius Vrsinus the Noble houses and Vlysses Aldroandus the statues of the same Hubertus Goltzius with no lesse art then diligence and great expences hath expressed in forme of a booke the table of his Fasti most cunningly cut in brasse LAKII LACUS VULGO COMENSIS DESCRIPTIO AVCT PAVIO OVIO TERRITORII ROMANI DESCRIP FORI IVLII VVLGO FRIVLI TYPVS TVSCIA THe bounds of Tuscia which in time past was called Hetruria are on the East the riuer Tyber on the West Macra on the South the Mediterran sea on the North the Apennine mountaines It is a most goodly beautifull and pleasant country The people are very ingenious and of a subtile witte indifferently fitte either for peace or warre for all maner of humane litterature or for trades and merchandise The nation hath alwaies been superstitious and much giuen to deuotion in religion as is apparant out of ancient writers The sea coast toward the Tyrrhen or Mediterran sea
is for the most part in this our age full of Forrests as also it was in the time of Vopiscus as he witnesseth in the life of Aurelian especially a little beyond the riuer Arno vntill one come beyond Plumbino The inner part of the country is almost as much oppressed with Mountaines In it are these cities more famous than the rest Florence Siena Luca Perugia Pisa Viterbo c. FLORENCE or as they call it Fiorenza is situate vpon ech side of the riuer Arno conioined by foure faire bridges it is a most goodly and beautifull city whereupon commonly they call it Fiorenza la bella Florence the faire as if indeed it might seeme to bee the flower of all Italie For it is adorned with stately buildings aswell Churches and religious houses as of priuate citizens Amongst all other the Church of S. Maria Florida wholly ouerlaid with Marble arched with a roofe of an admirable workemanship neere to which is built a goodly steeple for the bels all of fine marble not farre from which standeth the ancient Temple of Mars of forme round very ingeniously built and of a cunning workemanship now dedicated to S. Iohn Baptist The dores of this Church are of cast brasse a very rare and curious peece of worke especially those which are next to the Church of S. Maria Florida are such that all men of iudgement and experience must absolutely confesse that in all Europe beside the like are no where to be seene But to reckon vp all the worthy buildings of this citie aswell sacred as profane it were too tedious and would require more paper than this our purposed discourse will beare He therefore that desireth to know more of the particulers more at large let him reade Leander SIENA lieth vpon the top of an hill round begirt with high rocks of Tophus-stone gorgeously bedecked with many noble mens houses amongst the which is the great and large Church of our Lady equall to the stateliest and sumptuousest Churches of all Europe whether you respect the worth and price of the Marble whereof it is built or the excellencie of the worke and workemanship of him that made it Besides that there is a most stately house of tree stone built by Pope Pius II. with many other goodly houses Worthy of commendation and record is the large and beautifull market place with Branda the pleasant fountaine alwaies full of most cleare water PERVGIA is seated vpon the mountaine Apennine the greatest part of the countrie arising with goodly pleasant hilles fertile of strong Wines Oiles Figges Apples and other sorts of most excellent fruits Beneath the citie at Asisia as also toward Tuder neere Tiber the pleasant champion fields do spread themselues yeelding plenty of wheat and other kind of graine The city by reason of the nature of the place is very strong adorned with gorgeous buildings both of religious houses and churches as also priuate citizens together with a famous and large fountaine in the middest of the citie It is very populous and the citizens are very ingenious and of couragious stomackes apt indifferently either for any maner litterature or for seruice in the field PISA long since hath beene a famous citie and many waies richly blessed not onely before the flourishing estate of the Roman Empire but euen when it was at the full height as also many yeares after Many famous Marine-conquests which it hath made by which it brought the Ile Sardinia subiect to their command do auouch this to be true Panormo a faire citie of Sicilia they won from the Saracens and of the bootie and spoiles taken in that warre they began to build the great Church which they call DOMNVM as also the beautifull palace of the Bishop It hath an Vniuersitie or Schoole of all maner of Liberall Arts and Sciences whose foundation was laid in the yeare of CHRIST 1309. VITERBO lieth in a pleasant and spacious champion hauing the Cyminian hilles now of this citie called Mont Viterbo vpon his backeside stately for many faire buildings and works of rare Art amongst which is a famous fountaine from whence issueth water in such abundance as is wonderfull LVCA is seated in a plaine not farre from the hilles foot a city of goodly buildings The people are neat wise and ingenious which haue most discreetly retained and kept their libertie of a long time whole in their owne hands although they haue been often assaulted by their neighbours See more at large of this in Leander Myrsilus the Lesbian Marcus Cato in his Origines and their Expositor Ioannes Annius Viterbiensis who also wrote a seuerall treatise of the antiquities of Hetruria William Postell Volaterranus and Laonicus Chalcocondylas a Grecian in his sixth booke and others haue described this prouince Ioannes Campanus hath written most elegantly of the Lake of Perugia THVSCIAE DESCRIPTIO AVCTORE HIERONYMO BELLARMATO Me Ianus tenuit primus formataue ab illo Imposui leges populis nomina Ponto Inferno Supero missos auxiue colonos Imperiumque Italos trans fines foedera natis Dum seruata meis sed me discordia preaeceps Romuleae genti domitam seruire coegit Quae deous antiquae longo post tempore linguae Auxilij male grata mei male grata laborum Abstulit mansit nomen quod Thura dedere Archades aut Lŷdi quod vel mutare Pelasgi Non ausi sacras quibus has concessimus oras Cum priuilegio The Signiory of FLORENCE OF the city of Florence read Blondus who in his view of Italie reporteth thus of it They commonly affirme saith he that this citie was first begonne by Sylla's souldiers vnto whom this part of the countrie was by Sylla assigned and because they first began to seat themselues ad Arna fluenta about the riuer Arno they then intituled it by the name of FLVENTIA And indeed Pliny who of all the old writers first mentioneth this place saith that the Fluentini were seated neere the riuer Arno. These souldiers came hither about the yeare after the building of the city of Rome 667. whereupon it appeareth that Florence was founded about 83. yeares before the birth of Christ This city suffered much wrecke in the time of the warres of the Gothes Yet was it neuer either by Totilas or any other of those ragings Tyrants vtterly rased or spoiled And therefore that which some do write of the repairing of Florence by Charles the Great I can by no meanes allow when as the histories of Charles written by Alcuinus his schoolemaster do only mention his keeping of Easter heere at two seuerall times as he went by this way toward Rome It was preserued from a great hazard of vtter ouerthrow which it was like to haue fallen into by the manhood of one Farinata Vbertino when as they of Pisa Siena and others of Tuscane meeting at a market in a consultation by them held hauing generally determined to rase Florence to the ground said stoutly That while he liued he would neuer suffer
that after his death by the triall of Hoate Iron she would approue to the view of the world how wrongfully he was put to death The day came when as the Emperour sate to heare the causes and complaints of widdowes and Orphanes Together with these came the late Countesse bringing in her hand the Earles head and demandeth what death that Iudge is worthy of that had put a man to death wrongfully The Emperour answered He is worthy to lose his head She saith Thou art the same man who at the false suggestion of thy wife didst vniustly cause my husband to be beheaded The which when as the widdow approued vnto him by the maner of triall by hoat iron the Emperour yeelded himselfe into the hands of the widdow willing to abide his deserued punishment Notwithstanding by the mediation of the Bishop and the Nobility he obtained of the Countesse respite for tenne daies then for eight then for seuen lastly for six After the end of which daies the Emperour hauing examined the matter and being assured of the truth gaue sentence against his wife that she should be burned at a stake and giuing foure castles vnto the widdow redeemed his life These castles are in the Bishopricke of Luna in Hetruria or Tuscane and they are called after the names of the daies of repreeue The tenth The eighth The seuenth and The sixth Thus farre Syffridus which I thought good to set down in this place for to my knowledge no man els hath left any record of these castles neither are they named in this Mappe by our Authour notwithstanding that he hath described the country most curiously FLORENTINI DOMINII FIDELISSIMA ET NOVA DESCRIPTIO Auctore D. Stephano Monacho Montisoliueti The liberties of PERVGIA IOhannes Campanus writing of this country affirmeth that although he had trauailed and viewed many countries yet he neuer saw in all his life a more pleasant country and better manured then the country of Perugia All things seeme wast and wild to those that are farre off but if you shall come more neere nothing may be found more glorious either in respect of the husbandry of the land or wholesomnesse of the aire or fertility of the soile The riuer of Tiber runneth through the middest of this country and kindly watereth the same Not farre from which is the city Perugia situate vpon the Mount Apennine built long since as Trogus Pompeius affirmeth by the Achaians and of the twelue cities of Hetruria it is the chiefe It was called Augusta by the Emperour Augustus as the Capitall letters halfe a yeard square grauen vpon the gate do declare This city in regard of the nature of the place is inuincible richly beautified both with religious and priuate buildings of great state and is very populous This city aboue all the cities of Italie hath been euermore most fortunate and happie hauing retained the same state and gouernment little or nothing altered which it enioied before the building of Rome and that which afterward it had in the time when Rome was ruled by Kings Consuls Emperours and Tyrants at this time it reteineth Yet it hath endured many and diuers greeuous and bitter storms For in the time when Fabius Maximus was Consull as Liuie reporteth 4500. of his citizens were slaine In the daies of the Triumuiri Augustus besiedged it and forced it to great distresse for want of victualls tooke it and rased it to the ground and was wholly defaced with fire except only the Temple of Vulcane as Appian recordeth Afterward it endured the seuen yeares siedge and batterie of the cruell Tyrant Totilas and at length was sacked and spoiled c. Now it is subiect to the Pope of Rome and hath a famous Vniuersitie which was erected about the yeare of CHRIST 1290. as Middendorpius hath written Heere in the time of our grandfathers flourished the most renowmed Ciuilians Bartholus and Baldus In the precincts of this city is Lago di Perugia the lake of Perugia anciently called LACVS TRASVMENVS famous long since for a great ouerthrow heere giuen by Hanniball to the Romanes Appianus calleth it Lacus Plestinus but for what reason I know not It is in compasse as the foresaid Campanus writeth about thirtie miles The water of it is very cleare and pure there are no riuers which runne into it neither hath it any issue forth yet is his water so exceeding sweet that any man would thinke it were fedde from some running fountaine It hath in it three Isles whereof two which are toward the North are close together the one called the Greater the other the Lesser Maiores and Minores This is wast and not in habited only it hath a Church situate vpon the toppe of an hill The other which is neere to the liberties of Cortona conteineth about 200. families The third which is toward the South and is bigger then the other two is very populous and well inhabited The inhabitants almost giue themselues wholly to Fishing they sow little Corne yet they do not neglect to plant vines For wood fuell and fodder they go out into the fields and woods neere adioining Amongst the records of Lewis first Emperour of Rome there is mention of these three Ilands where he nameth them MAIOR MINOR and PVLVENSIS now Polueso where I perceiue that they yet retaine their ancient names No boggs fennes or spuing meeres do impech the shore this is full of Oliue gardens which vpon the hills on euery side do adorne the Lake and are for their wonderfull fertility very beautifull In the plaine which is between the Lake and the Hilles there is such abundance of Hempe and Flax so that in all Hetruria or Tuscane there is not more No country yeldeth better Wines or sweeter Apples The kinds of Fishes in the lake are not many but the abundance is wonderfull in which it farre excelleth all other Lakes of Italie heere also the fishing continueth all the yeare long yea euen in the dead of winter which no other Lake in all Italie affoordeth These fish in the winter are caried into Tuscane Vmbria and Picenta to Rome also they driue much cattell daily to be sold The same Campanus affirmeth that heere they take a pickerell partly coloured spotted with diuers green specks of the which he reporteth strange wonders namely that it doth engender with serpents and from thence it getteth those strange colours The common people saith Iacobus Greumus in the twentieth chapter of his first booke verily beleeueth that lampreies do engender with serpents which Plinie holdeth for a fable notwithstanding that hee often seemeth to be much delighted in writing of fables Athenaeus also writeth out of the report of one Andreas that these Lampreies which are bred of the viper if they bite the wound is deadly which opinion he afterward reclaimeth as false Againe he telleth of a Pike that lying vpon the drie land which when a fox assaied to catch one of his feetstooke fast in his teeth and both were
and engins both for offence and defence against the assault of Pirates The village is inhabited almost of none els but Cooks Ostlers Shoemakers and such like fellowes which attend heere ready to do any businesse for such as resort hither almost all the yeare long in great numbers for deuotion and to prouide and serue them with such things as they want Heere is also the town and castle called Fabriano whose inhabitants do almost altogether liue by making of Paper which thereof is called Charta Fabriana There are also many other goodly towns in this prouince which are excellently described in Leander Franciscus Pamphilus hath also written in verse a description of this Shire The Mount Apennine in this place hangeth ouer this country with craggy topps exceeding high in which is that huge caue that they call Sibyllas caue in their language Grotta de la Sibylla and which the poets faine to be the Elysian fields For the common people do dreame of one Sibylla to be in this caue which heere possesseth a large kingdome full of gorgeous buildings and Princely palaces beset with pleasant gardens abounding with many fine wanton wenches and all maner of pleasures and delights all which she will bestow vpon them which through this caue which is alwaies open will go vnto her and after they haue been there the space of one whole yeare they haue free liberty giuen them by Sibylla if they please to depart and from that time being returned vnto vs they affirme that they liue for the rest of their time a most blessed and happy life This caue is knowne also to our countrie-men by the name of Vrow Venus bergh that is The Lady Venus mount Whereupon they vulgarly sing certaine Dutch rimes of one little Daniel for so the ballad calleth him who after that he had liued a whole yeare in this caue at last it repented him of this kind of life therefore heere he leauing his Loue departeth goeth to Rome commeth to the Pope confesseth his sinne and desireth to be absolued The Pope not deeming the sinne to be veniall the staffe which by chance he had in his hand withered and drie sticking it into the ground said that his sinnes should then be pardoned when this staffe shall beare Roses Daniel by this answeare despairing of his saluation went away very heauy and discontent and presently taking two of his nephewes his sisters sonnes with him returneth againe vnto his Paramour Within three daies after the staffe was obserued to put forth blossomes Daniel was sought for vp and down but could no where be found For they do beleeue that he spent the rest of his life in this caue But the story of this ballade is a worthy matter for a poeticall head and to be deemed as true as the rest of their fictions CORSICA CORSICA an Iland of the Mid-land sea was anciently inhabited of diuers nations At this day it is diuided into two parts The East part they call Banda di dentro The inner side the West part opposite to this Banda di fuori The outter side That end which is next to Italie Di qua da i Monti On this side the mountaines That next to Sardinia Di la da i Monti beyond the Mountaines Yet the people of what part soeuer in respect of the situation of the mountaines do call one another Tramontanesse but himselfe Cismontanum The iland is very hard to be entered or come vnto as being on all sides enclosed with steepe and high hilles The inner part is almost wholly mountainous and therefore is no very good corne ground yet is it highly commended for rich wine being transported to Rome of the place is called Vinum Corsicum It breedeth Horses of great stomacke and Hounds of extraordinary bignesse Heere iâ— as Plinie affirmeth the beast Musino a kind of ramme which in the steed of wooll beareth an hairie shagge like the goate now they call it Mofoli Strabo speaketh of this beast in Sardinia as if it were proper to that iland The Italians do account the inhabitants of this I le for valiant and stout souldiers Ancient writers haue affirmed that heere is found a kind of bitter Hony The Tyrrheni first possessed this Iland and afterward the Carthaginians from these the Romanes tooke it who held it vntill such time as the Saracens draue them out these the Genowaies at length expelled Then being taken by the citizens of Pisa it became subiect to the Bishops Lastly it was brought againe vnder the obedience of the Genowaies to whom at this day it doth belong Leander Alhertus hath so exactly described this Iland out of the Commentaries of Augustine Iustinian that a man may not easily find what moreouer may be added or desired SENENSIS DITIONIS ACCVRATA DESCRIP Cum Priuilegio CORSICA MARCHA ANCONAE OLIM PICENVM 1572. APRVTIVM now called ABRVZZO IN the kingdome of Naples there is a prouince which they call Abruzzo the Latines anciently named it Aprutium why it was so called as it is vncertaine so that it tooke not his name of the Brutij as some haue been of opinion I make no question Some there are which thinke it so named ab Apris of Bores for that the country being foresty and full of woods it swarmeth with wild hogges other some do deriue it ab asperitate montis Apenini from the cragginesse of the mount Apeninus which heere in this tract is very hideous steep and high The greater and better sort of writers do beleeue that in it some part of the ancient name of Praetutiana doth as yet remaine For Volaterranus Blondus Domi. Niger Leander and Scipio Mazella do perswade themselues that the Samnites and amongst them the Praetutiani the Peligni Marucini Ferentini Vestini Marsi Caraceni and Albenses haue formerly inhabited these places It is bounded at this day on the North side by the Hadriaticke sea on the West by the riuer Tronto anciently called Truentum on the East by Fortoro in old time named Frento vpon the South it hath the mount Apenine although in some places it stretcheth it selfe beyond the same This prouince Alphonsus the stout king of Arragon diuided into two parts Abruzzo the neather and Abruzzo the higher Abruzzo the higher which we haue described apart by it selfe is seuered from the Neather by the riuer Pescara which old writers called Aternus Scipio Mazella in his curious description of the kingdome of Naples affirmeth that this country is by situation and nature of the place very strong and inhabited by a stout and sturdy nation and the soile is very fertile of wines and cattell The chiefe cities of it are Aquila Interamna or Teramo Amatrice Atri Pinne and long since heere haue stoode Amiterno and Furconio both now defaced yet of their ruines and ashes is raised Aquila some fiue miles off built vpon the toppe of an hill as Volateran and others haue written This city is seated in a place most fertile of all maner of things necessary so
Turke draue from hence Therefore it is now inhabited by Turks and Iewes SANTORINI of the ancients called by the name of Therasia This Iland riseth by little and little euen from the shore vnto the middest vntill it become an high mountaine vpon whose toppe is placed the castle Scaro The people for the most part liue by fishing This also as the other is vnder the command of the great Turke SCIO the old writers called it Chios is all full of trees and mountaines it is watered with many small brooks Vinum aruisium they now call it Maluasia was from hence first transported into Candia This iland only breedeth the Mastiche-tree whose gumme from hence is conueied all Christendome ouer Andronicus Palaeologus the Emperour of Constantinople gaue it to the Genowaies who possessed it vntill the yeare 1465. when as Soliman by a wile gatte it from them The women of this I le are commended aboue all other for fauour and beauty Of this you may read in Laonicus his tenth booke RHODVS still retaineth the ancient name It hath a city of the same name very strong and defensible with a very large and capacious hauen It is the more famous for the Colossus of the sunne a statue or image seuentie cubites high which being broken off at the knees by an earth-quake was ouerthrown fell to the ground Certaine Egyptians as Domi. Niger reporteth in the time of Constance the Emperour passing the sea from Alexandria to Rhodus amongst other things ouerthrew this Colossus brake it in pieces and with the brasse did lade away 900. camels It was giuen by Emanuel Emp. of Constantinople vnto the knights of Ierusalem which for a long time and often did valiantly defend it against the furious assaults of the Turks vntill in the yeare 1522. when as Solyman besieging it round by sea and land they were forced to yeeld it vp and to flie into the ile Melita Of these see more in Theodoricus Adamaeus STALAMINE this the Gretians in old time called Lemnos Of it read that which we shall write in the description of Cyprus MILO former ages long since called it Melos In it is a mine of Siluer where also is found the Sardoine a pretious stone METELLINO old writers called it Lesbot It hath a city of the same name shaken and ruined by an earth-quake They are vnder the gouernment of the Turke as the other yet they retaine their old language and religion CERIGO in old time they called it Cythera SCARPANTO the ancients named it Carpathus or as Homer writeth it Crapathus whereupon the sea about this place was called Mare Carpathium It is situate almost in the mid-way between Candia and Rhodus It is in compasse forty or as others affirme fifty miles Eustathius in his commentaries vpon Homer saith that it is craggy and euery where mountainous and full of hils and was called Porphyris in old time of the great abundance of Purples a kind of fish whereof commeth the purple colour found in this sea and Tetrapolis of the foure cities in this iland From this iland sprong that prouerbe Carpathius leporem as the same Eustathius deliuereth out of Iulius Pollux It is spoken of those which do so do a thing that afterward being done they do repent them of it Because these Ilanders first brought in hares into this country and within a little while after when they perceiued how they eat and spoiled their corne they destroied them againe It hath many Hauens but those very narrow shallow and dangerous The inhabitants do speake the Greeke tongue and professe the Religion of the Greeke Church but are subiect to the iurisdiction and gouernment of the Signiory of Venice You may read more of these ilands in Bordonius and Porcacchius which in the Italian tongue haue written peculiar treatises of Ilands CANDIA INSULA ARCHIPELAGI INSVLARVM ALIQVOT DESCRIP METELLINO CERIGO SCARPANTO NICSIA SANTORINI MILO STALIMENE NEGROPONTE RODVS SCIO CYPRVS CYprus doth iustly challenge his place amongst the greater Ilands of the Mediterran sea The forme of the Iland is much longer than it is broad The Metropolitan or chiefe city is Nicosia Famagosta also is a most goodly city the Mart-towne of the whole I le and very rich in regard of the commodious hauen and great customes and toles there paid It is inferiour to no Iland that I know for it yeeldeth plenty of wine and oile it hath also sufficient corne to find it selfe Moreouer it hath had some veines of Brasse or Copper in which veines there was also found Vitrioll and Rubigo aeris the rust of brasse simples of soueraigne vertue in the practise of Physicke In it doth grow in great plenty the sweet cane canna mellis out of which they do boile Sugar It affoordeth an excellent kind of strong wine as good as that of Candy which they call Malmesey There is a kind of stuffe made there of goates haire which now we call Chamelett the Italians Zambelloto This Iland sendeth ouer diuers commodities into other countries whereof they yearely raise great profit and gaines it doth not much stand in need of any forrein commodities or merchandise The aire is not very wholesome nor healthfull The people generally do giue themselues to pleasures sports and voluptuousnesse the women are very wanton and of light behauiour The fruitfulnesse of it is so great that in old time they called it Macaria that is The Blessed Iland and the lasciuiousnesse of the nation such that vulgarly it was supposed to haue beene dedicated to Venus the Goddesse of loue It is 427. miles about and 200. long as Bordonius hath recorded The Venetians do hold it by right of inheritance and is vnder them gouerned by a Lieutenant or Praetor Diodorus Siculus in his 16. booke saith that in this iland were nine goodly cities which had their seuerall petie Kings by whom they were gouerned all notwithstanding subiect to the King of Persia Inferiour townes also were commanded by their proper Kings But that the fertility of this I le may better appeare I thinke it good to set downe that commendation of Ammianus Marcellinus which he hath left behind him of it Cyprus saith he is so fertile and aboundeth with such variety of all things that without the help of any forrein commodities only of themselues it is able to build a ship from the keel to the toppe saile and send it to the sea ridged and furnished with all things necessary whatsoeuer Sextus Rufus also hath these words of it Cyprus famous for wealth and great riches tempted the poore and needy Romanes to inuade it so that we held the possession of that iland iniustly and rather for gaine then for any right we had vnto it But this ô Rufus is not as they say mercenary commendation of the Roman valour Amongst the ancient writers Strabo Mela and other Geographers haue described this Iland Of the latter Benedictus Bordonius in his treatise of Ilands Vadianus Pius the second Pope of Rome Domin Niger
beast which the Latines call Alces the Dutch Elandt The people speake the Slauonian tongue like as also the Polanders do Their chiefe city is Vilna a Bishop sea and is as bigge as Cracow but the houses in it do not stand close together or touch one another but like as in the country gardens and orchyeards are between house and house All that Oke-timber which we call Wagenschott of which almost all the buildings carpenters worke and ioiners worke as well publicke as priuate is made in the Low-countries as also the greatest part of their furniture and houshold-stuffe is feld in these parts and from thence is through the East sea the Latines call it Mare balticum the Dutch Oostsee the Russians Wareczkouie morie and Germane ocean transported into these countries In SAMOGITIA which in their language signifieth Low-land the people are tall and of a goodly stature but rude and barbarous in their maners and behauiour vsing a sparing and homely diet The Russians call this prouince Samotzkasemla Heere is no maner of faire buildings but their houses are like houels or poore cottages made of wood and couered with straw or reed From the bottome vpward by a little and little their buildings are made lesse and lesse like the keele of a ship or great helmet In the toppe it hath one window letting in the light from aboue vnderneath which is the hearth or chimney where they dresse their meat In that house they hide themselues their wiues children seruants maides sheep cattell corne and houshold-stuffe altogether Sichardus in his history of Germany writeth that the people of Samogitia are descended from the Saxons and therefore although they be subiect to the kingdome of Polonia yet the Saxons challenging it to be a part of their iurisdiction they do affirme it to pertaine to the precinct of Saxony MASOVIA is a shire held of the king of Poland in homage The chiefe or Metropolitane city of this prouince is Warsouia where they make the excellent mead a kind of drinke made of hony c. VOLHINIA a country abounding with all maner of things a very fertile soile full of townes and castles PODOLIA is of such a fruitfull soile that the grasse in three daies will couer a sticke being cast into it It is so ranke and groweth so fast that a plough being left in it vpon the head-lands or grassie places of the field in a very few daies wil be so couered ouer that you shall hardly find it againe Heere also is great store of hony The head city is Camyenetz RVSSIA yeeldeth great plenty of Horses Oxen and Sheep of very fine wooll Their drinke is mead which they make of hony Wine also is brought hither from Pannonia Moldauia and Walachria The chiefe city of this prouince is Leunpurg the Latines call it Leopolis Lion-city MOLDAVIA is a part of Walachia whose metropolitane city is Sossouia commonly called Sotschen The inhabitants of this country are a fierce and cruell people but very good souldiours and therefore they are at continuall enmity with the Transsiluanians As the custome of the Thracians was in old time to marke the Noblemens children with a hot iron so they report that the Lords of Moldauia to this day do vse to marke their children assoone as they be borne with some kind of marke least a question might arise whether they were the right and lawfull heires or not and that aliens and strangers might be excluded from inheritance amongst them as Reinerus Reineckius in his discourse of noble families hath written Many other things of thse countries thou maiest read of in Matthias of Michow in his discourse of the Sarmaties Albert Crantz in his description of Wandalia Bonfinius in his history of Hungary and Laonicus Chalcondylas in his first and third bookes But of all Martine Cromer in his Chronicle of Poland hath most excellently described these countries and Sigismund of Herberstain in his commentaries of Moschouia See also Sebastian Munster Pius Secundus Pope of Rome and Dauid Chytraeus in his Chronicle of Saxony Iohannes Duglossus a most copious historian of the Polonians is cited by Ioach mus Cureus but as yet not published as he affirmeth George of Reichersdorff hath most curiously described Moldauia Laonicus Chalcondylas also in his second booke hath diuers things worth the knowing of this country POLONIAE LITVANIAEQ DESCRIPTIO Auctore Wenceslao Godreccio et correctore Andrea Pograbio Pilsnensi Cum Priuilegio Imp. Regiae etc. decennali SPRVSE GRomer in his description of Poland describeth this country on this maner Amongst many other nations of Sarmatia in Europe the Borussi by Ptolemey are placed very farre North in that coast where now as I thinke the Liuonians and Moschouites do dwell beyond the riuer Chernish next neighbours to the Ryphaeans Those with Erasmus stella I iudge to haue passed further South and West and possessed a great part of Sarmatia which is vpon the East adioined to the Russians and Moschouites and is enclosed on the South with woods and the Hercynian forrest and all that coast along by Pautzkerwicke or Frish-haff as some thinke Ptolemey calleth it Sinus Venedicus Pliny Clylipenus the Balticke and East seas euen vnto the riuers Vistula Wixel or Weissel and Ossa and to be called Borussi or Prussi by names not much different In this compasse now do inhabit the Liuonians Lithuans Samagites and the Pruissen yet retaining the ancient appellation nations distinct in respect that they are subiect to diuers states and gouerned by different lawes and policies but vsing altogether the same language vulgarly wholly differing from the Slauonians yet hauing diuers Latine words intermedled and mixt among but for the most part corrupt and formed rather after the Italian and Spanish termination than after the Latine Notwithstanding the Dutch and Germanes of late yeares conquering that part which lieth vpon the sea and is called Spruisse and Liuonia haue planted their colonies there Heere hence it is that the Dutch tongue is more familiar and vsuall to these people than that ancient and vulgar language especially in the cities and townes Which also is vsuall amongst the Lithuans who by reason of their neighbourhood and entercourse with the Russians and colonies from thence enterteined do much what speake the Russian language For in that Duglossus deriueth the name and originall of this nation from Prusias the king of Bithynia it is altogether fabulous and not worth the confuting Some do thinke that the Borussi in the German tongue were so called for that they were neere the Russi but whether truly or fasly I list not heere to dispute When and how the Latine tongue did intermedle it selfe with the vulgar language of the Borussians Lithuanians and Liuonians we dare not constantly affirme Erasmus Stella saith that Borussia Prussia or Spruse was rather assaulted by the Romanes then conquered and alleadgeth Pliny for his authour whereupon that followeth that together with the Empire the Latine tongue could not there be spread
and planted But Duglossus he telleth vs that in those ciuill warres between Caesar and Pompey a certaine band or company of Romanes forsaking Italie their natiue country in those troublesome times seated themselues in these coasts and to haue built a city there and to haue called it ROMOVE after the name of Rome their mother which city for a long time was the Metropolitane of that country If this opinion of Duglossus be true who may iustly suspect alwaies reserued if there be any cause of doubt of the truth of the history that that band of Romanes lead by some captaine named Libo to haue come vnto the sea coast neere Frisch-haff toward the East and doth border vpon the Russians driuen hither either by tempestuous weather to haue landed in this place or being followed by the conquerours to haue withdrawen themselues into these quarters for shelter against the raging tyranny of Caesars souldiers and so the Libones Liuones or Liuonians to haue receiued their name and appellation from the same Libo Lastly entending their bounds further and spreading themselues euery way some to haue been named Lithuanians by a name deriued from the same but much altered and corrupt and others to haue retained still the ancient appellation of the Prussi Notwithstanding also a great part of Pomerland and Culmischland and the skirts of Michelaw after that they came to be subiect to the same iurisdiction with Spruse and were vnder the command of the Knights of the Holy Crosse Teutones Crucigeri began to be called by one name Spruse yet indeed that is properlie and truly called Spruse which is comprehended between the riuers Weissel Vistulo Dribentz Ossa and Nemen and the bay Frisch-haff which we spoke of before and from Lithuania and Massouia is diuided by thicke woods full of Meeres and Bogges Thus farre out of Cromer I thinke it not amisse also to set down heere the ancient diuision of this country of Spruse into particular shires as Casper Henneberger hath written whose words are these VIDIVVTO or as he is called of some VIDINITVS king of Borussia in the yeare of Christ 573. when he was 116. yeares old before he together with his brother BRVTENOCRIBE did cast himselfe for a sacrifice to his Gods into the fire thus diuided his possessions vnto his sonnes Hee had as they report 12. sonnes The I. was LITPHO or as others call him LITALAN to whom he gaue Lituania the Lower made him king soueraigne of the rest but he for the murder of CRIBE a Bishop of theirs so called was reiected of his brethren Amongst the other eleuen he diuided the country of Spruse Of these the first called ZAMO obtained that tract which of him to this day is named Zambia Samland hauing vpon the West North the salt sea vpon the East the lake Curisch-haff Curonensis lacus and the riuer Deme vpon the South the riuer Pregel it is a receiued opinion amongst them that he dwelt in the mount GALTAGARE II. SVDO got for his portion that part of the country where now are Oletzo Stradaun Lick part of the precincts or liberties of Iohanisburg Letzen Angerburg and Insterburg and hath vpon the East Lituania on the South Masouia and Galindia on the North-West Barthonia Barthenerland on the North Schalauonia This country they called after his name Sudauia Which name afterward when this whole tract was spoiled and laid wast by the Crucigeri the knights of the Holy Crosse it vtterly lost and therefore whether this country was called Sudauia or not the latter writers are wholly ignorant and they do thinke it to haue beene in Sambia where now is the canton called Der Sudawische winkel oder der Bruster ort but they are deceiued For for their treachery they were of the Crucigeri translated thither III. NADROO was seated between Sambia Scalauonia and Barthonia where there are many riuers forrests and vast wildernesses and is called Nadraw NADRAVIA In this prouince are Tapiaw Taplaucken Salaw Georgenburg c. strong and defensible castels IIII. SCALAVONI had those places giuen him which are on either side of the riuer Memel the old writers called it Cronon and therefore his portion was named Scalauonia after his own name V. NATANGO got that part which of him was called Natangen and hath vpon his North side the riuer Pregel vpon the East Alla. VI. BARTHO enioyed Barthonia Barthenerland It was diuided into the Greater the Lesser and Plick Barthen but now those diuisions are forgotten and out of vse VII GALINDO that tract from Masouia vnto the riuer Alla and the lake Spirding of him was named Galindia and conteineth many huge deserts a great part of it doth belong to the Bishop of Varmia and is now accounted as part of Ermeland VIII VARMONI for his portion was assigned VARMIA lying between the countries Galindia Natangia and Pogesamia But he not liuing long after his father this prouince soone againe lost that name and of his mother was named by a Germane name Ermeland IX HOGGO his Lordship was seuered from Ermeland by the riuer Passerg from Pomesamia by the riuer Weseck and the lake Drausen but now of the Germanes it is called Hockerland but by the Latines of POGIA his daughter it is named Pogesania X. POMESO possessed Pomesania denominated of him bounded by the riuers Weissel Weeseck Ossa or Mockra XI CHELMO obtained for his portion Culmigeria or Hulmigeria they call it Colmishland a prouince lying between the riuers Weissel Mockra or Osso and Dreuentza well replenished with castels and cities Heere is another shire worth the remembrance which they call Sossaw Item another called LOBOVIA Lobaw belonging to the Bishop of Culm HVNTAVV also a very little prouince but well inhabited There is also an iland about Margeburg or Marienburg enclosed round with a bancke or wall by the Crucigeri the knight of the Holy Crosse against the inundations and breaking-in of the riuers Weissel and Nogot and it is called The Greater I le Gros Werder The Lesser I le Das klein Werder is in Pomerell about Dantzk Lastly MARIANA by Marienwerder an Iland so called which is not inhabited but reserued for pasture and meddow yeelding yearely great profit This authour promiseth a peculiar Treatise of Prussia with a further discourse of this his mappe But of this thou maiest read more in Guaginus Veronensis in his history of Sarmatia Dauid Chytraeus also in his Saxon Chronicle hath excellently well described the same Amber the Latines call it Succinum and Electrum the Germanes Bernstein Agstein Ammeren is found plentifully on the coast of this country and no where els in the world beside to the great gaine and inriching of this Nation Diuers haue written of the nature and properties of this Simple But none better in my iudgement than Andreas Aurifaber Vratislauiensis in a seuerall tract written both in Latine and Dutch PRVSSIAE VERA DESCRIPTIO Per Gaspar Henneberg Erlichens LIVONIA LIuonia as Lewenclay writeth extendeth it selfe along the sea coast
aboue 4000. furlongs and where it is narrowest it is 1300. furlongs broad The Prussians Lithuanians and Russians dwell round about it the rest the Liuonian Gulfe doth bound Liuonia conteineth the CVRONES ESTHENI and LETTI nations different both in maners and language In the cities and townes they vse the Saxon or German tongue The country is full of wood plaine and champion without hils or mountaines for the most part lying lay and vnhusbanded notwithstanding that the soile is good and fertile For if you shall except wine and oile and some few other such things which nature yeeldeth to some countries that are situate in a more temperate climate for these only are brought in hither vnto them other things more necessary for the maintenance of mans life are heere found in such great plenty that they do liberally communicate them to strangers and forreiners They haue great plenty of Fish and Deere Munster affirmeth that the Hares in this country do in euery season of the yeare change their colour for in the winter they are white and in the summer they are gray From hence wax hony ashes stone-pitch pix arida liquid pitch the Dutch call it Ther we Tarre and that kind of corne which the Latines call Secale the Germanes Rogghe and we Rie is yearely brought vnto vs in great abundance It hath certaine cities very large and finely built of them the chiefest is RIGA a colonie of the Germanes of the Bishopricke of Breme commodiously seated vpon the riuer Duin It is a goodly Mart towne and the Metropolitane of the whole prouince RIVALIA they vulgarly call it Reuel the Russians Roliua built by Waldemare king of Denmarke famous for his goodly hauen vpon a bay of the Balticke or East-sea This for traffique is not lesse frequented or populous then Riga DORPATVM Derpt neere neighbour to the Russians which call it Iuriongorod The riuer Becke runneth by the walles of this city very commodious for traffique with the Russians This riuer is caried in one channell into the sea which running violently with a great fall from steep rocks worketh the same effect to the people neere adioining as Lewenclay saith that the cataracts or fals of the riuer Nilus did to the Aegyptians which in continuance of time by little and little grow to be deaffish and thicke of hearing Besides these cities there are certaine lesser townes fortified with goodly strong castles VENDA Wenden the more honourable for that heere the Grand-captaine or Master of the order keepeth his court It is situate in the middest of the country Then VELINVM Welum Parnaw vpon the sea Wolmer Veseburgum I thinke they call it Yseborg Wittestein Narua and others Willichius and Cureus do thinke that the Efflui and Limouij did sometime dwell in these quarters Of the forme of gouernment and ordering of their common-wealth which is at the prescript of the knights of the order of the Holy Crosse read Iohn Aubane Munster Lewenclay Gaguine in his Sarmatia and Herberstein out of whom we haue culled these particulars But Crantzius also in his sixth booke of Wandalia is to be read with Oderbornes second booke of the life of Basilidis and Dauid Chytraus his Chronicle of Saxony who hath written of the same with greater diligence than the rest POMERANIA or POMERLAND PEtrus Artopoeus Pomeranus in Munsters Cosmography thus describeth this country his natiue soile POMOERANIA saith he situate vpon the Balticke sea of the first inhabitants in their natiue language that is in the Wandall tongue is called PAMORZI It is still possessed of the first in-borne inhabitants gouerned by their proper Princes and was neuer subdued or made subiect to any forrein iurisdiction It is in all places very fertile well watered with riuers brookes lakes creekes and in-lets from the sea it hath many good hauens rich pastures and good corne grounds it hath great plenty of apples cattell deere fishes foule corne butter cheese hony wax and such like commodities it hath many rich mountaines populous cities townes castels and villages there is no void place or wast ground in it but those which lakes or mountaines do possesse Before Christianity was entertained here they spake the Wandall language and followed their fashions and maner of life vntill such time as they were subdued vnder the command of the Roman Emperours for then together with Religion they began to vse the Saxon tongue which to this day they retaine Thus farre Artopoeus Pomerye in the Wandalian language which is the same with the Slauonian tongue signifieth nothing els as Herberstein affirmeth but neere the sea or a marine coast The banke or sea-wall of this country is so strongly fortified by nature with such a strong rampart that heere is no feare of the sea breaking in to ouerflow them The more famous cities vpon this coast besides some other situate further within the land are Stetin Newgard Stargard c. STETIN sometime was but a small village inhabited by a few poore fishermen but after that Christianity was planted heere about Wineta vtterly destroied and the mart was remoued hither it begun presently so to flourish that now it is become the Metropolitan of the whole country It is most pleasantly seated vpon the banke of the riuer Oder from the which it ariseth by little and little higher vpon the side of an hill It is enclosed with a strong wall and deep trench GRYPSVVALD is a towne in the Dukedome of Wolgast which others do call the Dukedome of Barth this towne being long together much afflicted with ciuill warres was much hindered and impaired but in the yeare 1456. by erecting and placing of an Vniuersity there it began againe by little and little to lift vp the head IVLINVM a towne sometime not inferiour vnto the goodly cities of Europe whether you respect the wealth of the citizens or stately buildings of the same This was sometime a famous mart towne of the Wandalls Such a multitude of merchants did flocke hither from Russia Saxony Laussnitz Meisen and all parts of Wandal-land in such troopes that in all Europe except Constantinople there was scarce such a mart to be found but it was so shaken by the violent warres of the Danes that at last it was almost wholly brought to nothing such is the mutability of vnconstant fortune alwaies delighted in change Now they call it Wollin STRALSVND vpon the sea shore It hath had sometime his proper prince viz. the Duke of Barth It is a city very populous and greatly frequented by Merchants WINETA this sometime was also a city of good reckoning peraduenture it is now called Archon or Iulinum Wollin For the cities of Wandal-land according to the diuersity of languages of sundry nations had their diuers names That which the Wandalls called Stargard the Saxons named Aldenburg and the Danes Bannesia as Crantzius affirmeth But I thinke it good to set down the description of this country which the singular learned man M. Peter Edling sent me from Colberg in this
maner Pomerland at this day hath forty cities enclosed with walls and ditches besides certaine goodly castles and monasteries Amongst the which these are the chiefe Stralsund Stettin Grypswald Stargard Colberg and Anglame Fiue hundred yeares since before the enterteinment of Christian religion which was in the yeare 1124. and when they left the Slauonian tongue Pomerland was greater and not much inferiour to a kingdome For Bugslaus the first brother of Wartislaus the first sonne to Swantibore who died a Pagane when as his nephews leauing their country for the alteration of the language adioined Pomerell to Spruise POMERELL which the Polanders do at this day call Casub corner Cassubia is no very small prouince It extended it selfe from the borders of Pomerland to the riuer Wixel or Weissel and conteineth these cities Dantzk Putzka Dirsow Stargard Nauburg Smecha Tauchel Nakel Hamerstein Baldeburg Frideland Conitz Schoneg Slochow c. which cities haue for the most part castles belonging to them beside which there are these castles Moseuantz Talkenborch Subitz Lauterberg and these Monasteries Polpelin Sukow Tzernitz Oliua where the Princes of Pomerell were wont to be buried euen to Mestewin the last of that line who died at Dantzk and was buried at Oliua in the yeare 1295. Read more of Pomerland in the Saxon Chronicle of Dauid Chytraeus This mappe we haue taken out of Munsters Cosmography The Dukedome of OZWIECZIN and ZATOR THis Dukedome is a part of the kingdome of Poland where it toucheth Silesia Sometime it did not belong to this kingdome The territorie of OZVVIECZIN the Germanes in their language call it Auschwitz fell vnto the kings of Poland in the time of Cazimir the third in the yeare 1454. ZATOR about 400. yeares after in the raigne of Sigismund the first was reduced vnto the crowne of Poland and was vnited to that body in the yeare of Christ 1548. as Cromer in his Chronicle of Poland testifieth POMERANIAE WANDALICAE REGIONIS TYP LIVONIAE NOVA DESCRIPTIO Joanne Portantio auctore DVCATVS OSWIE CZENSIS ET ZATORIENSIS DESCRIPTIO ROMANIA anciently called THRACIA THat country which now they call ROMANIA the ancients called THRACIA It was a large and wide prouince hauing on the East Propontis Mar di Marmora and Pontus Euxinus the Italians call it Mar Maiore the Gretians Maurothalassa the Turkes as Busbequius saith Caradenis the blacke sea as both nations vnderstand on the South Mare Aegeum the Turkes call this Acdenis the white sea Archipelago on the West Macedony and Pannony on the North the mount Haemus Monte Argentaro and both the Moesiaes The aire is neither very kind nor the soile very fertile and except it be in those places which do butte vpon the sea it is barrein and cold Ptolemey diuideth it into thirteen shires namely these Danthletica Bennica Bessica Caenica Coeletica Corpialica Drosica Maedica Samaica Sapaica Sardica Sellitica Vrbana and Vsdesica The latter writers haue diuided it into these six prouinces Europa Hoemimontum Moesia Secunda which is the same with Moesia Inferior Rhodope Scythia and Thracia properly so called Lastly it was since called by one name Romania which it still retaineth Yet about Constantinople I vnderstand the Turkes do call it Galatia where also at this day there is the city Galata which we call Pera and the old Historiographers named Cornu Bizantium the horne of Constantinople The famous MOVNTAINES of this country are Hoemus Monte Argentaro or Catena mundi the chaine of the world the Italians call it the Turkes Balkan the Slauonians Cumouiza Rhodope Valizu or Czernaniwerti they now call it Orbelus Karopnitze Pangaeus Malaca or Castagna and diuers others of lesser note The RIVERS are Hebrus Marisa Nessus Nesto or Mestro the Turkes call it Charasou Melas now Lameta or Larissa and Strymon as some thinke although others do rather iudge this to be a riuer of Macedony The famous CITIES are Abdera now Asperosa as Niger thinketh or Polystylo as Sophianus or Astrizza as Nardus affirmeth Apollonia Phinopolis Philippolis Nicopolis vpon the riuer Haemus Nicopolis vpon the riuer Nessus Hadrianopolis the Turkes call it Endrem as Busbechius writeth or Edernay as Postellus teacheth Selyhria Debeltus Heraclea Lysimachia Hexamili and Bysantium famous in all ages so named of Bysa who first built it afterward it was enlarged and fortified by the Emp. Constantine and of him was called Constantinopolis but at this time corruptly and more short Stamboli This now as also long since it was is the most famous and honourable city of all this country next after Hadrianople Andernopoli it is commonly called then Sophia and others of lesse estimation This country also hath adioined vnto it a necke-land or demi-ile which they call the Foreland of Thrace Heere is Callipolis Gallippoli and Sesto famous for the loue of Leander Dauid Chytraeus in his Chronicle of Saxony hath diuers things worth the noting of the prouinces of this chart The ilands in the Archipelago mare Aegaeum neere to Romania are SAMOTHRACIA commonly called Samandrachi and THALASSIA of Ptolemey which others call Thassus and to this day it reteineth some similitude of that name for the latter writers do name it Tasso In Propontis or Mar di Marmora is PROECONNESVS or Elaphonnesus which some haue named Neuris Now the Turkes and Greekes do call it Marmora whereof that sea tooke the name In Bosphorus the Latines call it Stretto di Constantinopoli the straites of Constantinople the Greekes Laimon the Turkes Bogazin are the Insulae CYANEAE which Strabo calleth Symplegades now Pauonare or Iarcazes oft mentioned in the writings of ancient Poets who after their maner did feine them first to haue floted vpon the water and to be moueable and then by the sailing of the Argonautes to haue been setled and fixed Beside the old Geographers Ptolemey Strabo Pliny and Pomponius Mela which haue written of this country the latter writers also are not to be neglected especially the singular learned VVolfangus Lazius his commentaries of Greece and Bellonius his Obseruations Petrus Gyllius hath most curiously and diligently described the city Constantinople which city a man may say was by the prouidence of God ordeined to be the head of many kingdomes and to haue beene sometime called New Rome and at this day Romania so that the famous poet Tibullus may seeme to haue spoken not without iust cause and by a kind of diuine inspiration when he said ROMATVVM NOMEN TERRIS FATALE REGENDIS O Rome thy name doth giue thou shouldest the world command And in the iudgement of Romulus the Gods would haue it VT ROMA SIT CAPVT ORBIS TERRARVM That Rome should be the head of all the World as Liuy hath left record in the first booke of his Decades ROMANIAE quae olim Thracia dicta VICINARVMque REGIONVM VTI BVLGARIAE WALACHIAE SYRFIAE ETC. DESCRIPTIO Auctore Iacobo Castaldo Cum priuilegio decennasi M.D.LXXXIIII SCANDIA OR THE NORTHREN Kingdomes THis Mappe conteineth almost all the Northen tract of the knowen world
but especially the Neck-land or Peninsula knowen vnto the old writers by these names Scandia Scandinauia Baltia and Basilia but to them neuer throughly discried which in regard of his greatnesse they haue called Another World and the Shoppe of men and as it were the scabberd from whence so many Nations haue been drawen But of the diuers names of this country read that which we haue written at the mappe of Island as also in our Treasury of Geography in the word BASILIA This Neckeland in this our age conteineth three kingdomes Norwey Swedland and Gotland with a part of the kingdome of Denmarke and many other prouinces as Bothny Finmarke Finland Lappland c. whose seuerall descriptions we will heere set downe out of Iames Ziegler NORVEGIA Norway if you would interpret it is as much to say as the Northren tract or Northren way This was sometime a most flourishing kingdome and comprehended Denmarke and Friesland with the circumiacent Ilands vntill such time as the kingdome was gouerned by an hereditary succession of kings Afterward the line failing in the time of vacancie by the consent of the Nobility it was decreed that the kings should be chosen by election At this day it is vnder the iurisdiction of the kings of Denmarke who do not only take the lawfull reuenews iustly due to the crowne but imposing intolerable exactions and by scraping and raking all commodities into their hands they conuey all the wealth of this country into Denmarke Neither is this aggreeuance alone but with all the disaduantage and condition of the place doth much hurt the subiects for all the hauens roads shipping are at the command of the king of Denmarke so that neither they may without his leaue vse the sea or transport their merchandise into forren countries This kingdome either for the temperature of the aire goodnesse of the soile or benefit of the sea is not of meane estimation and account This doth transport into other parts of Europe a fish which is a kind of codde slitte and spread vpon a post and so dried and hardened with the frost and cold and thereupon the Germanes call it Stockfish The best time of the yeare to catch them is in Ianuary when as the weather is coldest to drie them those which are taken when the weather is more mild they shrinke or rotte away and are not fit to be transported any whither All the sea coast of Norway is very calme and temperate the sea freeseth not the snow continueth not long SVECIA Sweden or Swedland is a kingdome rich of siluer copper lead iron corne and cattell Wonderfull plenty of fish is heere taken both in riuers lakes and creekes aswell as in the maine ocean Heere are many Deere and wild beasts Stockholme is the kings seat and chiefe mart towne a city fortified both by nature by art and industrie of the ingenious Architect It standeth in a fenne like Venice and thereof it took the name for that being situate in the waters it is built vpon piles which they call Stockes GOTHIA Gotland that is the Good land is subiect to the king of Sweden In it is the port and mart towne Calmar a great city Heere is a goodly Castle which for ingenious Architecture or Fortification as also for large compasse and content is not much inferiour to that of Millane in Italie Neere Tinguallen are mines of excellent iron Thus farre Ziegler Of DENMARKE and the BRITISH ILES we will speake nothing in this place seeing that we entreated of them at their proper and seuerall mappes In this chart there is described also ISLAND an Iland as famous as any other for strange miracles and secret works of nature Item GROENLAND another Iland knowen to very few Heere also is FRIESLAND a third iland altogether vnknowen to ancient writers neither is it once named of the latter Geographers or Hydrographers only Nicolao Zeno a Venetian who in the yeare of Christ 1380. tossed with many continuall bitter stormes in this sea at last rent and weather-beaten arriued in this I le This authour affirmeth that this iland is subiect to the king of Norway and to be greater then Ireland and that the chiefe towne is of the same name with the I le it selfe lastly that the country people do for the most part liue by fishing For in the hauen of this towne they catch such abundance of all sorts of fish that from thence they lade whole shippes and transport them into other ilands neere adioining The sea next to this iland vpon the West full of shelues and rocks as he writeth is of the inhabitants called Mare Icarium Icarus sea and an iland in it he saith is named ICARIA Of GROENLAND he writeth that the winter heere is 9. moneths long and all that time it neuer raineth nor the snow which falleth in the beginning of winter euer dissolueth vntill the latter end of the same But that is most wonderfull which he telleth of the Monastery of the order of Frier Predicants dedicated to the honour of S. Thomas in this Iland namely that there is not farre from it a mountaine which like vnto Aetna in Sicilia doth at certaine seasons burne and cast out huge flakes of fire and that there is in the same place a fountaine of hot or skalding waters wherewith not only all the chambers of this monastery are warmed in the maner of Stones and hot-houses but also all kind of meat and bread is sodden and dressed and with no other fire All the monastery is built of a kind of hollow light stone which the flames of that burning mountaine do cast forth For these burning stones being by nature somewhat fat and oily are solid and firme but being quenched with this water they become drie full of holes and light and the water wherewith they were quenched is turned into a clammy kind of stuffe like bitumen wherewith these stones are laied in steed of mortar when they are to vse them in building and thus they make a sure worke against the iniury of all weathers Their orchyeards also and gardens watered with this water are alwaies green and do flourish almost all the yeare long with all maner of flowres kinds of corne and fruits This Priory standeth vpon the sea shore and hath a reasonable capacious and large hauen into which the forenamed fountaine emptying his waters doth make it so warme that it neuer freeseth in the hardest and egerest froast that euer was knowen Whereupon heere is such abundance of fish which do flocke hither from more colde places that not only these Monkes but also the neighbours round about are furnished from hence with prouision of victuall These thinges amongst many others Zenus hath written of these Ilands who being made by Zichimnus king of certaine Ilands heere about high Admirall of his nauy discouered all these Northren coasts The ile FRIESLAND now againe in these our daies was descried by the Englishmen and was by them called by a new name WEST
ac proprio idiomate vtuntur Haec saxa hoīm iumentorúm camelorúm pecorumque caeterarumque rerū formas referentia Horda populi gregis pascentis armētaque fuit Que stupenda quadam metamorphosi repente in saxa riguit priori forma nulla in parte diminúta Euenit hoc prodigium annis circiter 300. retro elapsis Cum priuilegio TARTARIA OR THE EMPIRE OF THE MIGHTIE CHAM HE that will take vpon him to describe TARTARIA he must needes speake of a great number of nations farre asunder and remote one from another For all that huge tract and portion of the Maine land is now called Tartaria that is between the East sea or as he calleth it Mare Mangicum the sea of Mangi or of Sin a country all the World ouer and vulgarly knowen by the name of China and the South countries Sin or China that part of India which is beyond Ganges the country of the Saci the riuer Iaxartes now they call it Chesel the Caspian sea Mar delle Zabacche Maeotis palus it was called of the ancient writers and Westward vp as high almost as the Moscouites For all these countries well neere the Tartars did possesse and in these places they were seated So that it comprehendeth that country which the old Historiographers called Sarmatia of Asia both the Scythiaes and Seria the country where the Seres dwelt which now I take to be named Cataio The name of this Nation was neuer heard of in Europe before the yeare after Christs incarnation 1212. They are diuided in stead of shires into Hordaes that is as the word amongst them doth signifie into companies or couents But as they do inhabite large and wide countries farre distant and remote one from another so in manners and kind of life they are as farre different They are well limmed men broad and fatte faced scowling countenanced and hollow eied shauen all but their beards which they neuer cut low they are strong and of able bodies and do eat horse flesh and other beasts howsoeuer they come to their deaths only hogges excepted from which they wholly abstaine they can more easily endure hunger and thirst than other men a little sleepe doth serue them moreouer when they ride if they be very hungry and thirsty they vse to pricke the veines of their horses vpon which they ride and by drinking of their bloud to slacke their hunger and thirst And because they roue vp and downe and haue no certaine place of abode they guide their course and iourney by the stars especially by the obseruation of the North pole starre which they in their language call as Sigismund Herberstein testifieth Seles nicol that is the iron clubbe naile or sterne They stay not long in one place taking it to be a signe of ill fortune to dwell long vpon one plotte They obserue no maner of iustice or law The people especially the poorer sort are very rauenous and couetous alwaies gaping after other mens goods They haue no maner of vse either of gold or siluer In this country thou seest TANGVT a prouince from whence all the Rheubarbe that is spent and vsed in all the world is brought vnto vs and other places Heere also is the country CATAIA whose chiefe city is Cambalu which as Nicolaus de Comitibus writeth is eighteen Italian miles about or as M. Paulus Venetus thirty two It is of a square forme in ech of whose corners there are castles built foure miles in compasse where continually the Emperours garrisons are kept But Quinzai a city of the prouince Mangi which is from hence Eastward vpon the Eastern sea is thought to be farre bigger than this For this as the same M. Paulus Venetus affirmeth who dwelt there about the yeare after the birth of Christ 1260. is in compasse an hundred miles The same is also auouched by Odericus of Friuli de foro Iulio who nameth it Cansay It is situate in a lake of fresh water There are in it 1260. bridges whereof many are of such great height that shippes full laden may go vnder them and neuer strike saile Heere the Great Cham hath a standing garrison of 12000. trained souldiers continually resident It is a wonderfull stately and pleasant city whereupon it obtained that name for Quinzai they interpret The city of Heauen The Tartars call their Emperour Cham which signifieth the same that Princeps a Prince hereupon Cambalu is interpreted The seate or city of the Prince Sigismundus of Herberstein writeth that the Tartars do call themselues Besermanni The Tartars together with their manner and course of life are most liuely described by Sigismund of Herberstein and Martine Broniouius as also in the Historicall Glasse or Mirour of histories writen by Vincentius Beluacensis in the 30. 31. and 32. bookes of the same See also the commentaries of Hungary written by Antonio Bonfinio M. Paulus Venetus who it is certaine liued long there amongst them and the Iournall or Trauells of Iosapha Barbarus a Venetian Of their originall read Matthias of Michou Haiton the Armenian Caelius secundus Curio his Saracen history and the letters of Iacobo Nauarcho a Iesuite Of the Tartars there be many things worth the reading in the trauells of two Friars which about the yeare 1247. were sent into these quarters by Pope Gregory the fourth in the thirtieth chapter of Nicephorus his eigteenth booke Laonicus also hath many things in diuers places of his workes of the Tartars vnder the name of the Scythians the like hath Gregoras another Greeke writer Lastly Dauid Chytraeus in his Saxon chronicle hath written much of this nation But no man hath more fully and amply set out the maners and life of the Tartars then William Rubricius a Friar of the order of S. Francis a copy of whose trauells into these parts in the yeare of Christ 1253. I haue by me in written hand TARTARIAE SIVE MAGNI CHAMI REGNI tÿpus Continet haec tabula oēm Tartariam cum reliqua Asiae Orientalioris vsque Oceanū Eoum parte Magno Chamo obediente Cuius imperium Obij fl Kataia lacu Volga fl Mari Caspio Chesel flu Vssonte monte Thebet regione Caromoram fluuio Oceano terminatur Cum Priuilegio CHINA BErnardinus Scalantus hath in the Spanish tongue set out a peculiar description of this country in a seuerall tract out of whom we haue gathered these few lines This huge kingdome of China the inhabitants do call TAME and themselues TANGIS but of the bordering nations it is named CHINA and is that Tein or Sin which Auicenna so many hundred times mentioneth and commendeth for rare simples and plants of soueraigne vse in Physicke and is the same no doubt with SINAE or Sinarum regio a country for rich commodities much talked of amongst all ancient Cosmographers This country on the East bordereth vpon the East sea vulgarly called Mare Cin the sea of China on the South vpon the prouince Cauchinchina on the West it is bounded by Bramas on the North
high tower and my deliuerer my protectour in whom I haue put my trust is he that subdueth my people that is vnder me Glory be to the Father and to the Sonne c. Saue thy seruant o Lord God which putteth his trust in thee Be thou o Lord vnto him a tower of strength from the face of his enemie Lord heare our praier The Lord be with you c. Let vs pray O holy Lord father almighty who only dost gouerne and rightly disposest all things who hast by thy gratious prouidence granted to man in this world the vse of the sword to represse the malice and audacious lewdnesse of the wicked and to maintaine right and equity and wouldest that the order of knighthood should be instituted for the safegard and protection of thy people who also causest it to be proclaimed by Saint Iohn Baptist to the soulders which came vnto him into the wildernesse that they should smite no man but be content with their owne wages we do humbly beseech thy gratious goodnesse that as thou gauest to thy seruant Dauid power to ouercome Goliath and madest Iudas Marcabeus to triumph ouer those fierce nations which called not vpon thy name so also to this thy seruant N. who lately hath submitted his necke to the yoke of knighthood grant for thy mercies sake power strength to defend faith and iustice giue vnto him the encrease of faith hope and charity and in him order all things aright that pertaine to thy feare and loue of thy holy name to true humility perseuerance obedience and patience that he may hurt no man wrongfully with this sword or any other that he may with it defend all things that are iust and right and like as he now is promoted from a low and mean degree vnto this new and honourable estate of knighthood so he putting off the old man with all his affections may put on the new man that he may feare and reuerence thee aright as he ought to do may shunne the company of the wicked miscreant Infidels and may extend his charity vnto his neighbour be truely obedient in all things to him to whom he is subiect and do his duty vprightly in all things that he shall be emploied in by Christ our Lord Amen The forme of the oth which they must take before they may be admitted to take this holy order of knighthood vpon them thou maist see in the Orientall iournall written by Leonard Rauwolph in the Dutch tongue TERRA SANCTA A Petro Laicstain perlus trata et ab eius ore et schedis à Christiano Schrot in tabulam redacta NATOLIA sometime called ASIA The Lesser PEtrus Bellonius in those learned obseruations which he made and set forth of his trauels saith that this part of Asia called of the ancients Asia minor Little Asia is at this day named of the Turkes NATOLIA or Anatolia of the Greeke word Anatale which signifieth the East vnder which name they comprehend all that part of Asia that is beyond Propontis Mar di Marmora it is now vulgarly called and Hellespontus or Stretto di Gall poli the streits of Gallipoli as at this day they terme it that is to witte all Phrygia Galatia Bithynia Pontus Lydia Caria Paphlagonia Lycia Magnesia Cappadocia and Comagena The miserable estate and condition of which countries the maner of life and customes which the people there do now at this day vse if any man be desirous to know let him repaire to the said authour who was himselfe an eie-witnesse of the same and he shal be I doubt not satisfied to the full Let him also looke ouer the description of the East countries Orientalem Cosmographiam done by Andrew Theuet the Orientall obseruations of Nicolas Nicolai and Peter Gill his Bosphorus or description of Constantinople and the places neere about that city Laonicus Chalcocondylas writeth that of all the prouinces of Asia Minor Paphlagonia doth yeeld a mine of Copper or Brasse and that the King of this country Ismaël he calleth him doth yearely raise a custome or reuenue of 10000. rose-nobles Stater the Greeks call this kind of gold coine Yet it seemeth that he meaneth not generally all Asia when as he addeth this afterward That this copper is thought to be the best in goodnesse next that of Iberia for Iberia is a prouince of Asia bordering vpon the Caspian sea But peraduenture this may be true of that Asia which is called Asia Minor of which Paphlagonia is a portion Theodoricus Adamaeus of Suallemberg hath described the Rhodes an iland which lieth not farre from the coast of Asia Minor AEGYPT VPon the West this country is enclosed with the deserts of Barca Lybia and Numidia vpon the East with the deserts which lie between Nilus and the Red-sea on the North it hath the midland-sea on the South it is confined with the territories of the city Bugia Thus it is bounded according to the iudgement of Iohannes Leo Africanus who doth diuide it into three prouinces Assahid or Alsahid which lieth between Bugia and Alcairo Errifia from Alcairo to Rossetto and Bechria between Pelusium and Tenessa In Haithon the Armenian we read that it was sometime diuided into fiue shires namely Sa yt Demesor Alexandrina Resnit and Damiata That which Haithon calleth Sa yt and Leo Assahid Tyrius nameth Serch except the copy be corrupt and faulty The same authour maketh mention of another shire of Egypt which the Egyptians do call in their language Phium Haithon doth make the country of Egypt to be fifteen daies iourney in length a manuscript copy which beareth the title of Antonius Curchinus not of Haithonus Armenus hath corruptly and falsly as I thinke fiue and twenty daies iourney for fifteen daies iourney and three daies iourney ouer To this computation Gulielmus Tyrius doth seeme to consent who saith that betweene Phacusa and Alexandria cities of the lower Egypt are somewhat more than an hundred Italian miles The vpper Egypt is scarsely seuen or eight miles broad in some places it is so straitely beset and enclosed with mountaines and hils that it is not aboue foure or fiue miles ouer Leo saith that from the Mediterran sea vnto Bugia it is 450. miles long the breadth of it especially in the vpper part is almost nothing to speake of That Nilus the riuer which runneth through the middest of it and watereth all the country doth empty it selfe into the Midland sea only by foure mouthes against the opinion of all ancient writers Gulielmus Tyrius doth teach vs who is a man worthy to be beleeued in this case for he was both an eie-witnesse and a most diligent searcher out of the truth of the same I haue a Mappe which I thinke was made by the pen in Egypt which mentions so many neither doth it point out more that are worth the speaking of Haithon writeth that in this whole country there is beside Alexandria and Cairo neuer a strong city or any that is fortified with
Vniuersall Mappe PRESBITERI IOHANNIS SIVE ABISSINORVM IMPERII DESCRIPTIO Titulus Insignia Presbiteri Iois DAVID SVPREMVS MEORVM REGNORVM A DEO VNICE DILECTVS COLVMNA FIDEI ORTVS EX STIRPE IVDA FILIVS DAVID FILIVS SALOMONIS FILIVS COLVMNAE SIONIS FILIVS EX SEMINE IACOB FILIVS MANVS MARIAE FILIVS NAHV SECVNDVÌ„ CARNEM FILIVS SANCTORVM PETRI ET PAVLI SECVNDVM GRATIAM IMPERATOR SVPERIORIS ET MAIORIS AETHIOPIAE ET AMPLISSIMORVM REGNORVM IVRISDICTIONVM ET TERRARVM REX GOAE CAFFATES FATIGAR ANGOTAE BARV BALIGVANZAE ADEAE VANGVAE GOIAMAE VBI NILI FONTES AMARAE BAGVAMEDRI AMBEAE VANGVCI TIGREMAHON SABAIM PATRIAE REGINAE SABAE BARNAGASSI ET DOMINVS VSQVE IN NVBIAM QVAE IN AEGYPTVM EXTENDITVR BARBARY and BILEDVLGERID THe later writers which haue diuided Africa into foure parts do name this Barbary for the chiefe and they do thus bound it On the East toward the rising of the sun it hath the deserts of Marmarica at this day they call it Barcha euen as farre as that part of the mount Atlas which now is vulgarly called Meies which part peraduenture was described by Strabo vnder the name Aspis This mountaine which runneth all along by the side of it from the East vnto the West euen to the maine sea which of it is called Mare Atlanticum the Atlanticke sea doth bound it vpon the South On the West it abutteth vpon the said Atlanticke sea On the North coast the Mediterran sea doth beat therefore all that whole tract of Africa which formerly conteined both the Mauritanies Africa properly so called and Cyrene is generally by one name called BARBARIA all which tract as Suidas witnesseth was vnder the command of King Masmissa This now is held for the best and most famous part of all Africa and is diuided into foure kingdomes or if you like that terme better foure prouinces namely Marroccho Fesse Telesine and Tunete The people generally of this whole country are of a brownish or tawny complexion They which dwell in cities are very ingenious in Architecture and such like Mathematicall inuentions which a man may easily gather by their rare and artificiall workmanship shewed in their buildings They are if we may beleeue Iohn Leo Africanus most singular honest men without any deceit or couen not only making a shew of simplicity and true dealing outwardly and in word but also approouing the same by their actions to be so indeed and in hart They are very stout and strong men but especially those which dwell in the hils and mountaines There is no Nation vnder Heauen that is more zealous so that they had rather die than to put vp any wrong or disgrace offered by their wiues They are very couetous of wealth and as ambitiously giuen to seeke after honour and preferment and therefore they trade and traffique almost into all quarters of the World They which dwell in tents that is such as follow grasing and do liue by cattell are very kind men courageous patient curtuous good housekeepers and as great louers of vprightnesse as any men in the whole world elsewhere But seeing the state of the world is such that there is no man altogether blessed none but haue their faults these also are not without their vices for the citizens which before we spake of are exceeding haughty and proud hasty and fumish so that the least iniury or indignity that may be offered they do as the common saying is engraue in marble they will neuer forget it The country or vplandish people are so clownish and of such rude behauiour and that so deepely imprinted in their mindes that they will hardly be wonne to acquaint themselues with any stranger he shall hardly euer winne their fauour They are so plaine and simply minded that they are easily drawne to beleeue things told them although almost incredible Of naturall Philosophy they are so ignorant that they hold all things done by the naturall force and operations of Nature to be wholy supernaturall They are so hasty and cholericke that one shall hardly in the day time walke the streets but he shall see two or three either quarrelling or together by the eares They neuer speake but hastily aloud and as if they would eat one another Thus farre of the quality and behauiour of the people now it remaineth that we should speake somewhat of the nature of the soile and country That part of the country which is toward the Mediterran sea is full of hils and mountaines From these mountaines euen vnto famous Atlas it is plaine and champion yet heere and there rising with knols and hils Heere are very many goodly springes and therefore it is well watered with diuers pleasant brookes and riuers It yeeldeth great store of Dates and Pomegranates it is not very fertile for corne and graine but of figges and oliues with such like fruites it affoordeth yearely great plenty Mount ATLAS verie cold and barren on all sides full of woods and couered ouer with snow breedeth almost all the riuers of Africke Yet the cold heere is neuer so great and sharp that one need to desire to come to the fire to warme him The later end of Autumne all the Winter and a great part of the Spring haue many boisterous and bitter stormes of wind and haile and oftentimes they are in these places much vexed and affrighted with terrible thundrings and lightning in some places they haue great and deep snowes c. But Iohannes Leo Africanus hath described these countries and people very curiously and at large who will satisfie thee at the full to whom it thou pleasest thou maiest adioine what Ludouicus Marmolius and Fazellus in the first chapter of the sixth booke of the latter decade of his history of Sicily haue written of this prouince Caelius Augustinus Curio hath set out the description of the kingdome of Marocho in a seuerall treatise to him he that pleaseth may adioine Diego de Turribus who in the Spanish tongue hath written a booke of the Originall and Succession of the Xariffes BARBARIAE ET BILEDVLGERID NOVA DESCRIPTIO Cum Priuilegio The kingdomes of FESSE and MAROCCHO THat part of Africa which of old was called MAVRITANIA TINGITANA at this day comprehendeth the kingdomes of Fesse and Maroccho which heere we present vnto thy view in this Mappe Of the which MAROCCHO taketh the name of Maroccho they call it Marox the Spaniards Marwechos the chiefe and metropolitane citie of the same The territories round about this city and generally the soile and fields of the whole kingdome as Iohn Leo Africanus writeth are most pleasant and fertile euery where bespread with heards of cattell flockes of sheep and diuers sorts of deere and wild beasts in all places are green and goodly pastures most plentifully yeelding whatsoeuer is necessary for the maintenance of mans life whatsoeuer may recreate the senses by pleasant smels or please the eies with delightsome shewes The whole kingdome is almost nothing else but one large champion not much vnlike Lombardy
of the grace of God where our Sauiour Christ manifested his infinite power by a sufficient testimony raising Lazarus who had lien three daies by the wals from death to life againe This place is spoken of in Matth. 21. Marc. 11.14 Iohn 11.12 BETHABARA the house of Passing ouer or the Ferry-house For there the waters of Iordan were diuided into two channels and therefore there they yeelded a safe passage to Iosua and all the children of Israel through the middest of this riuer Iosu 3.4 Heere Iohn baptized Christ and many others Matth. 3. Moreouer Saint Iohn speaketh of this place in the first and tenne chapters of his Gospell BETHEL Gen. 12. Thither Abraham remoued his houshold after his departure from Sichem For there is no doubt but that they are two diuers places First it was called Luza that is an Almond tree or place where Almond trees did plentifully grow There Iacob saw the Lord standing vpon a ladder as it is related in the 28. chapter of Genesis Therefore vpon that accident the place was called by a new name Bethel that is the house of God In the same Ieroboam erected the Golden calfe that he might seeme in that to imitate the example of the Patriarkes and holy men before him who worshipped God in that place Heereupon the Prophets changed the goodname Bethel and called it Bethauen that is the house of wickednesse or villany BETHSAIDA the house of fruites or the house of corne prouision or hunting Heere Philip Andrew and Peter the Apostles of Christ were borne Iohn 1. The Euangelists also Matthew and Marke haue made mention of this place Matth. 2. Marc. 6. CANA the Greater the country of Syrophoenissa whose daughter Christ cured being possessed with a Diuell Matth. 15. Marc. 8. of this see more beneath in Sarepta CANA the Lesser a towne of Galiley in which Christ with his presence and miracle of turning water into wine honourably graced matrimony Cana signifieth a reed or cane CANANAEA it is the name of a country so called of Chanaan the sonne of Cham. Chanaan signifieth a Merchant and indeed the posterity of Chanaan dwelling vpon the sea coast did trade as Merchants For Sidon the sonne of Canaan built the city Sidon And in the tenth chapter of Genesis the land of Canaan is so described as it is certaine that it contained all that whole tract of ground which afterward the Israelites did possesse from Iordan euen vnto the sea and so along as farre as Aegypt There as yet was no distinction between the Philistiim and Canaan For Canaan also was ancienter than Philistiim which was not borne of Canaan but of Misraim Yet afterward when the power and iurisdiction of the Nation of the Philistines grew to some heigth and greatnesse they caused the country especially all along the sea coast beneath Tyre Southward to be called after their name PALESTINA And in the 13. chapter of the booke of Iosua there are reckoned vp 5. cities of the Philistines Azotus Accaron Ascalon Geth and Gaza When therefore the Canaanites for that they possessed the places neere Iordan were almost vtterly destroied their name by a little and little began to perish and to fade away And although also the Philistines which greatly enlarged their bounds and territories in that countrie which afterward was giuen to the tribes of Iuda Beniamin Simeon Manasses and Isaschar were driuen from thence and were for the most part consumed yet they retained as I said certaine strong cities vpon the sea coast beneath Tyre and so somewhile they greatly flourish and were lords ouer others within a while after they grew weaker and were commanded of others In the time of Abraham the seat and court of Abimelech was at Gerar who in the 26. chapter of Gen. is named King of the Philistines The city Gerara was situate in that country which afterward the tribe of Iuda did possesse not farre from Hebron and was indeed placed between Hebron and Gaza It is therefore to be conceiued that the name of Cananaea Canaan is somewhat more ancient and comprehending more Nations than the name of the Philistines which neuer possessed all that tract and compasse of ground which afterward the Israelites enioyed But notwithstanding because the Philistines had certaine great cities vpon the sea coast the name of Palaestina was by reason of their traffique more famous and better knowen to the Greeke writers than Canaan or Cananaea Herodotus in Polymnia saith that the Phoenicians and Syrians possessing Palaestina sent 300. saile of ships to Xerxes and afterward he addeth that the whole country euen from the skirtes of Aegypt vnto Phoenicia was called Palestina And therefore also afterward the Greekes as Ptolemey vnder the name of Palaestina haue comprehended Iudaea Samaria and Galiley when as notwithstanding the Philistines did not possesse all that large space and compasse of ground But often times names are giuen to countries of some principall prouince of the same that doth in power and command surpasse the rest The Grammaticall interpretation and reason of the Etymology of the word Philistim is thought to be for that this nation inhabiting along the sea coast where earthquakes are very frequent and so whole townes and cities are couered with sand besprinkled and soiled with dust and dirt For the word in the Hebrew tongue signifieth Sprinklers or besprinklings as when any thing is besprinkled and foiled with dust or it signifieth otherwise Batteries and shakings as when a building is violently shaken and mooued by an externall force whereby it is in danger and ready to fall Like as Ascalon and Azotus hauing their names giuen them of Esh fire CAPERNAVM that is a pleasant and delightfull village Heere Christ first began to publish his Gospel Matth. 4. Luc. 4. and 7. For he was a citizen of that corporation betaking himselfe to that place when as he fled for feare of Herod when he put Iohn Baptist to death Therefore of Christ and his Disciples they demanded there a didrachma for poll mony as of the rest of the citizens and dwellers in this city Of this city mention is made Matth. 8.11.17 Marc. 1.2.5.9 Luc. 4.7 Io. 2.6 DALMANVTHA that is the poore mens habitation Christ with his Disciples came also into this country Matth. 16. Marc. 8. DAMASCVS It is distant from Ierusalem 42. Germane miles Breitenbach writeth that Damascus is 6. daies iourney from Ierusalem The map sheweth the situation of it to be in the mount Antilibanas It is a very ancient city which also at this day is very populous and much frequented by merchants Diuers etymologies and reasons of the imposition of this name diuers men do curiously seeke I do hold this for the likeliest The sacke of blood because the old opinion is that in this place Abel was slaine by his brother Cain Surely it is very probable and generally agreed vpon that our first parents Adam and Eue did first dwell not farre from this place DECAPOLIS the name of a prouince
length being released for a long time preacheth the Gospell in Rome and other places of Italy v. 31.32 Some there are that thinke that after his enlargement he went also into Spaine and France and planted the Gospell amongst those Nations Lastly he was againe apprehended by Nero and at Rome put to death by him in the last yeare of his raigne which was the 70. yeare after the birth of Christ The PEREGRINATION of ABRAHAM the Patriarke ABraham the first Patriarke whom Iesus the sonne of Syrach chapter 44. v. 19. calleth a Great man and Admirable for glory and honour the sonne of Thare was borne as Iosephus writeth in the 292. yeare after the vniuersall floud in V R a city of the Chaldees otherwise called Camarine as Eusebius witnesseth it may be it is the same that Ptolemey calleth Vrchoa He goeth forth of his country and natiue soile at the commandement of God when he was as Suidas teacheth but foureteen yeares old into CHARRAN which S. Stephen in that oration which he made to the Iewes Act. 7.2 3.4 as also Achior in the story of Iudith chapter 5. v. 7. in his speech to Holofernes and likewise the 72. interpretours do expound to be Mesopotamia Iosephus taketh it for a city That this place was Carrae famous for the great ouerthrow heere giuen to the Romane forces led by Crassus against the Parthians although there be some which are of that opinion yet I dare not wholly yeeld vnto them only I leaue it to the learned to determine Hauing staid a while in this country of Mesopotamia his father being dead there as the same Suidas reporteth from thence he goeth with Sarai his wife Lot his brothers sonne and all his family and the soules or liuing creatures that he had gotten in Charran toward the land of Chanaan Gen. 12.5 And if you will beleeue Nicolaus Damascenus in Iosephus he dwelt sometime neere Damasco where in his daies he saith there was to be seen a street which they vulgarly called Abrahams house When he came from thence into SICHEM at the plaine of MOREH a place which diuers interpreters diuersly interpret some the Oke Moreh others the Oke-groue of Moreh Zozomene writeth that in his time it was called Terebinthus the Terebinth or Turpentine tree Gen. 12.6 God appeared vnto him and promised to giue to him and to his seed that land for an inheritance for euer therefore in this place he built an altar to the Lord which heere appeared vnto him v. 7. From thence remouing vnto a mountaine Eastward from Bethel he pitched his tent hauing Bethel on the Westside and Haai on the East and there also he built an altar vnto the Lord and calleth vpon the name of the Lord v. 8. thence he remooueth and goeth on toward the South v. 9. But a great famine arising in that land and euerie day growing still more grieuous than other he goeth downe into EGYPT to soiourne there v. 10. And comming thither with his wife a very faire and beautifull woman v. 11. whom he called by the name of his sister v. 13. Pharao the king of Aegypt fell in loue with her and tooke her into his house v. 15. and for her sake intreated Abram extraordinarily well and bestowed great gifts vpon him v. 16. who also was there as Iosephus affirmeth for his eloquence wisedome and great experience in all things had in great estimation amongst the Aegyptians But when the Lord punished Pharao and all his family with many great and greeuous plagues for Sara Abrams wiues sake v. 17. he debated the matter with him and examined him what his reason was to giue out speech that she was his sister and that he had not told him that she was his wife v. 18. and so he restored her to her husband againe v. 19. and gaue commandement that he his wife and all that he had should be conueighed out of the land v. 20. Therefore Abram goeth vp backe againe to Bethel chapter 13.3 into that place where formerly he had built an altar and there he called vpon the name of the Lord v. 4. After this returne Abram and Loth who had alwaies accompanied him grew exceeding wealthy and rich in sheep cattell tents and familie v. 5. that the land could not conteine them both neither might they dwell together v. 6. Besides that their heard-men sheep-heards and seruants could not agree v. 7. Therefore they consent to diuide the land between them v. 9. Loth he chose the plaine of Iordane a champion country well watered euery where with that goodly riuer diuers smaller brookes lakes wels and poolles a tract of ground for pleasantnesse and fertility like vnto Paradise and Aegypt In this place then stood Sodome Gomorrha and those other cities which as yet the Lord had not destroied v. 10. In these cities Loth dwelt euen vp as high as Sodome but Abram he abode still in the land of Chanaan v. 12. Thus they being parted the Lord appeared vnto Abram and shewed him all the country round about Northward and Southward Eastward and Westward as farre as he could see v. 14. all which he promised to giue to him and to his seed for euer v. 15. From thence he remoued and came to dwell in the plaine of Mambre The Septuagint interpretours haue translated it The oke of Mambre quercum Mambre Iosephus hath the Oke Ogyn Euagrius writeth that in his time the place was called Terebinthus the Turpentine tree of the Turpentine tree as I suppose that stood six furlongs off as we read in Iosephus and which Eusebius Pamphilus saith stood still in that place euen in his time This place was not farre from HEBRON or as some write it Chebron v. 18. Heere Abram hearing of the newes of Lots captiuity with his whole familie and goods and substance whatsoeuer taken by the kings of the Nations when they sacked and spoiled Sodom for Lot dwelled at Sodome chapter 14.11.12 he armed 308. slaues or bond-seruants bred and borne in his owne house and with all possible speed maketh out after the enemy v. 14. following them euen as high as DAN and CHOBA Saint Hierome calleth it Hoba and Iosephus Soba v. 15. rescueth his nephew recouereth all his goods and booty that they had taken and bringeth them backe againe with the women and all the people v. 16. Being come home from the slaughter of Chodorlaomer and the rest of the kings which were with him at the VALLEY OF SAVE the Kings dale as Saint Hierome doth call it or the Kings field as Iosephus nameth it the King of Sodome meeteth him v. 17. together with Melchisedech King and Priest of Salem or Ierusalem who bringing forth bread and wine entertained him most kindly v. 18. blessing him and wishing all good fortunes vnto him v. 19. to whom Abram gaue tith of all that he had v. 20. These things being thus performed God appeareth vnto him againe chapter 15.1 and promiseth him an heire of his owne seed v. 4.
this continent and circuite curtuous Reader that thou beest not caried away with a vaine and false perswasion of the knowledge of things done in the whole world or if you please so to call it within the compasse of that part of the world described by the old Cosmographers all ancient HISTORIOGRAPHY both SACRED and PROPHANE is comprehended in these all famous acts of mortall men which from the beginning of the world euen vnto the daies of our fathers haue been registred by learned men haue been done and performed For euery storie before the forenamed Columbus written in Latine Greeke or any other language exceeded not the limits of the Roman Empire or the conquests of Alexander the Great if you shall only except the trauels of Marcus Paulus Venetus by land into China and the nauigation of Katherino Zeni by the ocean sea into the North parts of which we haue spoken in the discourse to the Mappe of Mare del zur which I make no doubt all learned historians and others will easily grant me Whereupon we may see how maimed and vnperfect the history of the world is when as it is very apparant that this part of the earth then knowen is scarse the one quarter of the whole globe of the world that is now discouered to vs. And which is especially to be considered rather than to be commended we may truly say that now which Cicero in his third oration against Verres wrote then most falsly when he said of that age There is now no place within the vast ocean none so far remote and distant from vs none so obscure or hidden whither in these our daies the couetous and bad minds of our men doth not cause them go Certaine recordes and testimonies of ancient writers concerning Geographicall Mappes Anaximander scholler to Thales Milesius did set forth as Strabo witnesseth the FIRST GEOGRAPHICALL CHART Now Anaximander who liued in the time of Seruius Tullus the VI. king of Rome was borne in the first yeare of the 35. olympiade which was the first yeare of the raigne of Ancus Martius the 4. king of the Romanes 639. yeares before the birth of Christ The same Strabo maketh mention of a mappe of the HABITABLE WORLD done by Eratosthenes Socrates when he saw Alcibiades to stand so much vpon his welth and great possessions brought him to a mappe of the VVHOLE VVORLD bid him there to find out the prouince of Athens which when he had found he againe willed him to point to his landes and when he answered that they were not in any place there described he saith Art thou then proud of the possession of that which is no part of the World Aelianus in the 28. chap. of his 3. booke De varia historia Hamo Carthaginensis setteth out a mappe of his nauigation into the ATLANTICKE SEA wherein he made a discouery of the COASTS OF LIBYA which he caused to be hanged vp in the temple of Saturne Aristagoras Milesius had a Table of Brasse in which was cutte the VVHOLE COMPASSE OF EARTHLY GLOBE the VVHOLE SEA with all the RIVERS emptying themselues into the same Herod in his V. booke Augustus and Agrippa set out a mappe of the VVHOLE VVORLD to the publicke view of all men as Pliny in the second chapter of his third booke hath left recorded Amongst the Aegyptians there were continually kept certaine Chartes containing all the TRACTS BOVNDS and COASTS both of sea and land as Apollonius in the fourth booke of his Argonautickes doth witnesse Saint Hierome affirmeth that a MAPPE of PALAESTINA made by Eusebius Caesariensis was lost long before his time That Charles the Great Emperour of Rome had a Siluer Table wherein the VVHOLE VVORLD was portraitured those authours who liued in his time and haue written of his life and histories do constantly affirme Theophrastus Eresius bequeathed and gaue by his last Will and Testament certaine mappes in which were described the SITVATION of the VVORLD on condition that they should be put and reserued in the lower part of the gallery which he built and adioined to his schoole as Diogenes Laertius writeth in his life I haue described a Charte of the VVORLD in 12. sheets of parchment Thus Dominicanus the authour of the Annals of the city Celmar in Germany who wrote about the yeare of Christ 1265. speaketh of himselfe in that his worke There are certaine GEOGRAPHICALL CHARTS mentioned and cited by Stephanus Byzantinus in the word Αινος The Emperour Domitian put Metius Pomposianus to death because he caried about the country certain mappes of the VVORLD portraitured in sheets of Velame as Suetonius recordeth Varro in the second chapter of his first booke of Husbandrie hath these wordes There I light vpon by chance Caius Fundanius wy wiues father and Caius Agrius a Knight of Rome a disciple and follower of Socrates with Publius Agrasius the Customer whom I found looking vpon a Mappe of ITALY drawen and described vpon a wall Heere also Vitruuius what he speaketh in the eighth book of his Architecture that these things are and may be so the HEADS OF RIVERS do sufficiently prooue which we do see are described in the Chartes and Mappes of the World Florus who seemeth to haue liued in the time of Traian the Emperour hath these wordes I will do that that Cosmographers are wont to do who vse to set out the SITVATION of the VVORLD in a small chart or table Iulian the Emperour in an Epistle to Alypius thus writeth I was euen then newly recouered of my sicknesse when thou sentest the GEOGRAPHY and yet the map which thou sentest was neuer the lesse welcome For there are in it not only better and more true descriptions but also certaine excellent Iambicke verses wherewith thou hast much graced it But that the Ancients were wont to describe the VVORLD and globe of the earth in Mappes it is manifest out of Plutarcke in the life of Theseus as also out of the fourth booke of Propertius the Poet where he bringeth in Arethusa thus speaking to Lycorta Cogimurè TABVLA PICTOS ediscere MVNDOS We forced are to vnderstand By charts the state of Sea and Land AEVI VETERIS TYPVS GEOGRAPHICVS Abrah ortelius Regiae M t s Geographus describ cum Privilegijs decennalib Imp. Reg. et Cancellariae Brabantiae Antverpiae Ambivaritorum 1590. EN SPECTATOR PILAE TOTIVS TERRAE ICHNOGRAPHIAM AT VERERIBVS VSQVE AD ANNVM SALVTIS NONAGESIMVM SECVNDVM SVPRA MILLES QVADRINGENT COGNITAE TANTVM GEOGRAPHIAM The ROMANE WORLD OR The ROMANE EMPIRE AMmianus Marcellinus thus writeth in his foureteenth booke At such time as triumphant Rome which shall flourish as long as men do liue vpon the earth began first to grow into credit and honour in the world that it might still rise by degrees and lofty steppes into a firme league of eternall peace vertue and fortune which often times iarre did fully consent and agree For if either of them had opposed themselues it surely had neuer come to that
people Paeones a common errour among the Grecian historians which Dion in his nine and fortieth booke did first discouer For of the Romans and of themselues they are called Pannonij The Paeones are a nation diuers from these lying betweene mount Rhodope and the marine coasts of Macedonia Ptolemey Strabo Dion Aurelius Victor and ancient inscriptions do diuide Pannony into the HIGHER and LOVVER Liber Notitiarum The booke of Remembrances into the FIRST and SECOND Optatus Afer maketh three Pannonies but vntruely seeing that those aboue named approoued authours doe describe but two and the coine of the Emperour Decius this countriman borne doth mention no more Solinus writeth that this country is very plaine and champion and as rich and fertile a soile as any other thereabout Appian saith that it is full of woods and that it hath no cities nor townes only the lands and fields are diuided vnto certaine farmes and families In Hygenus I reade that a price and custome was imposed vpon these lands according to the fertility and goodnesse of euery aker for there were fields of the first and second price woods yeelding yearely great plentie of maste woods of the meanest sort of feed and pastorage c. But Iornandes certaine ages after reporteth otherwise of this his natiue country and affirmeth it to be beautified with many goodly cities The people doe liue and fare as hardly as any people vnder heauen hauing neither good ground nor good aire nor hauing of their owne growing either oile or wine but very little and bad neither doe they regard to plant and set these commodities the greatest part of the yeare being there very colde and bitter nothing else almost but a continuall vnkinde Winter Dion writeth that they haue some Barley and Millet Strabo saith Spelt Zea and Millet of which they make their bread and drinke and withall affirmeth that he writeth not this by heare-say or relation from others but of his owne experience and knowledge as he learned and saw at such time as he was Lieutenant there Yet he saith they are a most stout and hardy people but hauing nothing woorthy the name of honesty and ciuility being generally very hasty and bloudy minded killing and slaying without any respect or feare of God or man and that vpon euery crosse word and light occasion Solinus auoucheth the same to be true saying that this country is very strong and well furnished with couragious and stout men Tibullus in his fourth booke saith that they are a wily and crafty people Statius and Paterculus called them Feroces fierce and cruell But the same author doth againe asmuch commend them not only for their great loue of military discipline but for their skill and knowledge of the Latine tongue and for that diuers of them are learned and studious of the liberall sciences Ausonius nameth them Armiferos a warlike people Eusebius in his tenth booke de Praeparat Euangelica giueth out that these people especially those that dwelt about Noricum Bauaria or Bayern did first finde out the vse of copper or brasse Herodian saith that they are bigge bodied very tall ready to fight and to kill and slay vpon euery occasion but of so dull a conceit and simple that they doe not easily perceiue whether one deale or speake ought craftily and subtilly or meane well and plainly The Panegyricke of Mamertinus nameth this Pannony the Empresse of all nations for valour and like as Italy renowmed for ancient honour Pliny saith that this countrey yeeldeth great plenty of mast or akornes The same authour also in his historie of Nature hath left recorded as if it were a matter of some moment that heere the herbe saliunca a kinde of lauender doth naturally grow of it owne accord Oppian commendeth the Pannonian dogges which Nemesianus in this verse affirmeth to be good hunters Nec tibi Pannonicae stirpis temnatur origo The hounds heere bred are not the woorst that ere I see The Pannonian cappes made of beasts skinnes or furres such as souldiours vse to weare Vegetius in his booke of warre doth highly commend This country afterward Probus the Emperour permitted to haue vines and by the helpe of the souldiers himselfe did plant them in mount Almus Arpatarro neere Sermium Sirmisch the place where he was borne as also vpon mount Aureus Meczek in Moesia superior Seruia as Sextus Aurelius Victor in his life doth testifie In Paeonia a prouince heere abbuttant vpon mount Rhodope toward Macedony in Greece the soile is rich and fertile of golde that many men haue found lumps of golde-ore of more then a pound weight And in the confines of this country Aristotle in his Admiranda doth write that oftentimes the earth or vpper soard being by continuall showers washed away that kinde of golde which they call apyrum quicke-golde if I may so call it such as haue not touched the fire is found without digging or any other labour But heere againe I doe also obserue an error very frequent amongst the Greeke writers mistaking Paeonia for Pannonia For Pannonia or Hungary euen to this day is so rich of golde that it is wonderfull and scarse to be beleeued of such as haue not seene it as Bonfinius Broderith and Ranzan doe iointly affirme who do all write that they haue seene very many golden twigges of vines some as long as ones finger others of halfe a foote long but of the richnesse of Paeonia for mines of golde I haue neuer heard nor read in any authour to my remembrance Diogenes Laertius in the life of Pyrrhus Eliensis hath noted that the Paeones doe vse to cast the bodies of dead men into pondes or deepe pooles Maximus Tyrius in his eight and thirtieth oration writeth that the Paeones did worship the Sunne and that the signe or idoll of the same which they adored was a little dish put vpon the end of along pole and set vpright But whether this be meant of them or of the Pannones for that this authour is a Grecian I know not I leaue it to the consideration of the learned The like is that place of Aelianus in the twelfth chapter of his seuenth booke de Animalibus where he writeth a discourse of the laborious painfulnesse of the women of this countrey well worth the reading and obseruation Tzetzes also in the three hundred and eighteenth chapter of his tenth Chiliade nameth the Paeones for the Pannones where he hath something perteining to this our purpose Antigonus in his booke de Mirabilibus writeth that in Illyria and Pannonia is that kinde of beast which they call Monychos Aelianus termeth it Monops Others Bonasus Diaconus in the eighth chapter of his second booke of the historie of Lombardie writeth that Pannonia breedeth great plenty of Buffes or Bugles Bisontes and that he heard of an honest old man that fifteene men haue beene knowen to lie together vpon one buffe hide noting thereby the huge greatnesse of this beast And thus much of both those
moorish fennes and bogges Those things also which the Poets do tell of the witchcraft of the sorceresse Circe and that fabulous transmutation and changing of men into diuers and sundry formes or shapes with Seruius I doe rather attribute to the force of nature than to magicke or witchcraft namely of the horrour of those which passe by that way whereby men do seeme to be changed into beasts and with Pliny I may say How infinite are those fables that are tolde of Medea of Colchis and others but especially of our Italian Circe who for her excellent skill in the arte magicke was canonized for a goddesse And be it farre from me and from euery Christian man that we should beleeue those things which it were wicked and profane to thinke or imagine For I haue read in the Ancyrane councell that they are woorse than Pagans and infidels who doe beleeue that any creature may by any man be turned and transformed into any other shape or similitude than by the Creatour himselfe who first gaue them that forme and fashion Therefore let all other men say what they will and perswade what they can they shall neuer make me beleeue these fables It seemeth that the fable arose of the nature and quality of the place for those places which lie out into the sea as this promontory doth are woont to be in more danger of storme and windes than any other places whatsoeuer Which blasts accompanied with the waues ebbes and tides of the sourging sea falling vpon the rocks cliffes and hollow places do cause such sundry sounds and noices that such as doe saile by this way not without a great horrour and trembling doe seeme as if they heard at one instant men mourne lions roare wolues howle dogs barke hogs grunt and beares to make a noice Hither do those words of Lucan in his sixt booke belong Omnia subducit Circaeae vela procellae That this promontory is full of trees especially of okes myrtles and bay-trees Theophrastus writeth from the relation of others Strabo sayth that it aboundeth with diuers sorts of roots peraduenture as there he addeth they affirme this of it that they may the better apply it in all respects vnto the fable of Circe And do you not thinke that this saying of Aristotle the Prince of Philosophers in his Admiranda did arise from hence They report sayth he that in the mount Circello there groweth a deadly poison of such great force that so soone as euer it is taken all the haire of the body immediatly falleth off and it so weakeneth all the parts and members of the same that they wex so litly and dwined that outwardly they beare the shew of dead carkeises such as it would grieue any man to beholde Strabo writeth that in this mountaine was an altar dedicated to Minerua and withall there is to this day to be seene a certeine goblet or bowle of Vlysses but this latter he affirmeth to be from the opinion and report of the vulgar sort only But passing ouer these fables let vs returne againe vnto the historicall narration of such things as in trueth are either here found or haue happened in this place Horace hath left recorded that the sea vpon this coast yeeldeth great store of good oisters which thereof are called Ostrea Circaeia Suetonius reporteth that Marcus Lepidus was by Augustus Caesar for euer confined and banished into this place Plutarch writeth that Iulius Caesar had a purpose hard beneath the city by a deepe channell to conuey the riuer Tiber another way and to turne the course thereof toward this Circaeium promontorium and so to haue caused it to fall into the sea at the city Anxur by which meanes those which for trade and trafficke were by ship to trauell vp to Rome he meant to make their passage more easie and safe but being preuented by death performed not what he had purposed Here also was the city CIRCAEIVM or Circaeia or as Strabo termeth it Circes towne That it was made a colony of the Romans by Tarquinius Liuy Halicarnasseus Cicero and Plutarch do ioyntly testifie Strabo sayth that it hath a good and conuenient hauen I would thinke that the mention or plot of this ancient citie Circaeia doth still remaine in this mountaine in that place where in this description thou seest certeine ruines and foundations of the walles as it were of a city rased long since and layd leuell almost with the ground which place at this day is called by the name of Citta vecchia that is as much to say as The old citie Certeine remnants of this name doth yet remaine to be seene engrauen in the top of this same mountaine as Angelus Breuentanus a man of good credit the authour of this description and a most diligent searcher out of the Romane antiquities doth from his owne knowledge plainly testifie yet much defaced as he also affirmeth and worne out with continuance of time to wit in this forme PROMVNTORIVM VENERIS CIRCAEIENSIVM XXI The forenamed Breuentanus thinketh that by this inscription is shewed the distance of this place from the city of Rome And it is to be seene at this day in that place of this mountaine where thou seest this marke of a starre * imprinted MAGNA GRAECIA OR GREAT GREECE THat a great part of the true and ancient Italy if not all of it together with all Sicily was sometime called by the name of GREAT GREECE I thinke there is no man meanly seen in Geographie that maketh any doubt for the Grecians did in former times possesse as Trogus writeth not only a part but welnigh all Italy Listen what Pliny in the fifth chapter of his third booke saith Of it the Grecians a Nation very prodigall in commending themselues haue giuen their verdict in that they haue named a great part of it Great Greece Hither also pertaine those wordes of Festus Italy was called Great Greece because the Siculi sometime passed it or for that many and the greatest cities of it were built by the Grecians Seruius in his Commentaries vpon the first of Virgils Aeneids writeth thus Italy was termed Megale Hellas Great Greece for that all the cities from Taranto Tarentum euen vnto Cumae were first founded by the Grecians And therefore it was not altogether vnfitly of Plautus in his Menechmis called Graecia exotica outlandish Greece Seneca in his Consolation thus speaketh of it All that side of Italy which coasteth along with the Neather sea Mar Tosco was called Great Greece That Campania Terra di lauoro was possessed by the Grecians Pliny doth plainly affirme Maximus Tyrius in his six and twentieth Oration describeth Auernus lacus the lake of Tipergola in Campania to be within the compasse of Great Greece And that these authours speake truth Trogus particularly sheweth in the twentith booke of his history in these wordes The Tusci which dwell along by the coast of the Neather sea came from Lydia Item the Venetians Veneti which now we see
to be seated neere the vpper-sea Golfo di Venetia the Hadriaticke sea Troy when it was taken and sacked sent thither vnder the conduct of Antenor moreouer the city Adria Atri which first gaue name to the Adriaticke sea neere neighbour vnto the Illirian sea is a city built by the Greekes Diomedes after the ouerthrow of Troy built the city Arpi Sarpi or Monte S. Angelo a city in Apulia being himselfe and his company caried thither by violence of storme and tempest And Pisae in Liguria Pisa in Riuiera di Genoa was first begun by the Grecians as also in Tuscane the Tarquinij Tarquene came from the Thessalians and Spinambrians and the Perusini Perugia from the Achaians what shall I say of the city Caere Ceruetere what of the Latini which do seeme to haue had their beginning from Aeneas now the Falisci Nolani Abelani are they not generally held for to be no other but colonies deriued from the Chalcidenses of Asia the Lesse what shall I speake of the whole shire of Campania of the Brutij and Sabini of the Samnites and Tarentini haue we not heard oft that they came from Lacedaemonia and were commonly called Spurij They report that Philoctetes built the city of the Thurini Terra noua where to this day his tombe is to be seene as also the arrowes of Hercules which were the bane of Troy The Metapontini Torre di mare also do still reserue in the temple of Minerua the tooles wherewith Epeus from whom they are descended made the Troiane horse whereby the city was betraied Whereupon all that part of Italy was called GREAT GREECE Thus farre Iustine out of Trogus Pompeius Whereby we gather that the pleasant poet Ouid in the fourth booke of his Fastorum did speake but the truth when he said Itala nam tellus Graecia Maior erat For Grecia Great that land was called which now Italia hight and so foorth as followeth in the same place The same almost that you haue heard out of Trogus Of this same Great Greece I cannot but adde that which I haue obserued contrary to the opinion which some very learned men in our time haue written of it namely that euen as Sicilia as Strabo in his sixth booke testifieth was comprehended vnder the name of Great Greece so contrariwise also this Great Greece was now and then vnderstood by the name of Sicilia for proofe heereof consider these authorities Saint Hierome saith that Rhegium Iulium Brutiorum Reggio in Calabria the Lower is a city of Sicilia Aelianus and Suidas affirme the same of Tarentum in Calabria the sixth Counsell of Constantino ple held in the time of Constantine the Great doth the like of Baiae in Campania Stephanus describeth Sinuessa a towne of Campania Caulonia Castro veto of the Locri Lagaria of the Thurini and Mataurus of the Brutij by the name of places of Sicilia the like doth Eustathius by Crathis Gratti a riuer in Calabria the Scholiast of Theocritus by Neaethus a riuer of the Crotoniatae a people of Vmbria Item Liuy an Italian borne a man of singular iudgement and more ancient than those hath Siculas vrbes in Campania cities of Sicilia in Campania Yea Pliny hath left recorded that Togata Gallia the furthest prouince of Italy toward the VVest before such time as the Gauls came thither was possessed of the Siculi Thucydides writeth that the Siculi being expelled by the Opici a people of Campania seized vpon this iland And if we will not giue credit vnto Seruius yet against Halicarnassaeus a writer of good credit we cannot except who hath written the very selfe same thing namely that the Siculi a people borne and bred in Italy and did first of all nations whatsoeuer inhabite and possesse the Romane soile Lastly that this prouince called Great Greece was inhabited of the Siculi Strabo in the fith booke of his Geography doth testifie out of Antiochus Thus farre of that ancient Great Greece or if you please so to call it of Sicilia all which we haue not described in this Mappe but only the outter part of it in which beside Calabria Apulia the Brutij and Locri there is Great Greece properly so called by Ptolemey Liuy Polybius Athenaeus and Valerius Maximus and that as Strabo in his sixth booke and Cicero in his 2 booke of his Oratour thinke because Pythagoras the Grecian Philosopher dwelt sometime in these quarters or as Synesius in his oration de Dono writeth for that it alwaies maintained and brought foorth schollerlike and militarie men Yet I rather relie vpon the iudgement of Atheneus who writeth that it was so called of the infinite number of Grecians which vsually dwelt in this prouince And that Festus and Trogus are of this opinion I haue partly shewed before These forenamed countries of Halicarnassaeus are comprehended vnder the name of EAST ITALY Pliny calleth them The front of Italy which as Mela saith is diuided into two hornes called in the fragments of Salust two promontories nesses capes or forelands namely Brutium Capo di Sparto vento or Capo de Larme and Salentinum now of some called Capo de S. Maria of others S. Maria de fin terre and Capo de Leuca item Stalat In the second booke of Straboes Epitome they are termed coryphae toppes and are named Leucopetra and Iapygium for these are synonymes with Bruttium and Salentinum But Paulus Diaconus calleth them Hornes this The left horne that The right For Salentinum we read Lacinium in Pliny but whether it be a fault of the writers or an errour of the authour let the learned iudge I determine nothing The same Pliny compareth this tract to the forme of the Amazonian shield that is to the halfe moone as Seruius expoundeth it at that verse of the first booke of Virgils Aeneides Ducit Amazonidum lunatis agmina peltis There is in these quarters the wood Sila La Sila of which Salust Virgil and Vibius haue made mention Strabo writeth that it is seuen hundred furlongs in length full of goodly tall trees and well stored with good water Cassiodorus in the twelfth booke of his Variarum vnto Anastasius doth highly commend the cheese made heere about From hence commeth Calabrian pitch pix Bruttia which Dioscorides in the ninety and eight chapter of his first booke De medica materia speaketh of and which Pliny in the seuenth Itala nam tellus GRAECIA MAIOR erat Ouid. 4. Fast. Hanc Italiae partem exteriorem sic describere conabar Abrahamus Ortelius cum Privilegio decennali 1595. CL. V. DNO D. IOACHIMO CAMERARIO R.P. NVRENBERG MEDICO CELEBERRIMO VERO ET VETERI SVO AMICO ABRAHAMVS ORTELIVS DEDICAB euenth chapter of his fowre and twenty booke of the history of nature affirmeth that it is especially commended for the trimming and stopping of wine vessels I would iudge that this wood in the booke of Remembrances is called Carminianensis sylua and peraduenture Carmeiana in the booke De Limitibus The forenamed Cassiodorus in his eighth booke and
ouer For this I remember I haue read in Ouid Marcell Comit. and others sometime to haue happened Aristotle in his Problemes writeth That it is whiter than other seas yet the Greekes now call it Maurothalassa and likewise the Turkes Caradenis that is as Lucian doth interpret them both Mare nigrum the Blacke sea Contrariwise mare Aegeum the Archipelago or Mediterran sea the Turkes call Acdeniz and the vulgar Greekes Aspra thalassa both signifying as the learned Leunclaw expoundeth them Mare album the white sea Aelianus in his Varia historia writeth That it breedeth no tender or soft shelfish but very seldome and those very few It feedeth no Whales only certaine small seales and pretty little dolphins sometimes are heere taken as Plutarch in his Morals hath left recorded There is no rauenous creature that praieth vpon fish doth liue in it beside seales and dolphines as Pliny writeth Strabo in the seuenth booke of his Geography saith That there are about 40. riuers which comming from diuers quarters do vnload themselues into it Yet we in this our Mappe do point at a great many more beside The cities vpon the coast of this sea more famous are BYZANTIVM Constantinople of which we will say nothing in this place because we haue before in the mappe of Thrace written of it at large in respect of the narrownesse of the place which is assigned for such like purposes Then TOMOS Tomisuar as Calcagninus or Kiouia as Ciofánus thinketh famous by the banishment and exile of the noble poet Ouid. BORYSTHENES otherwise called Olbia and Miletopolis Strapenor a city in Sarmatia Europaea situate at the mouth of the riuer Boristhenes of which Dion Prusaeus hath spoken much that I may omit others in his 16. oration DIOSCVRIAS which was also called Sebastopolis built if you will giue any credit to poeticall fables by the waggoners of Castor and Pollux it is yet to this day knowen by the name of Sauatopoli or Sauastopoli This city was in times past so famous as Pliny telleth out of Timosthenes that there ordinarily resorted vnto it 300. seuerall nations speaking so many different languages so that the Romanes for the dispatch of all matters for their state did maintaine there 130. interpretours There are heere many other cities which were nothing so renowmed as TRAPEZVS now vulgarly called TREBIZONDA of the Turkes Tarabasson but of the barbarous nations neere adioining as Theuet reporteth Waccamah CERASVS Cherasoda or as the barbarous people call it Omidie PHARNACEA Platena AMISVS Amid or Hemid or as Niger thinketh Simiso SINOPE Pordapas yet the Turkes to this day call it Sinabe HERACLEA Aupop and Pendarachia and oueragainst Constantinople where we began is CHALCEDON Chalcidona or as the Turkes terme it Caltitiu a free city and of great command in those daies but now as P. Gyllius saith it is a small street without any mention of wals Vpon the West side of this sea the Thracians did dwell vpon the South the Asians as the Bithynians Galatians and Cappadocians The Colchi did possesse the Eastern coast All along generally vpon the North aswell in Europe as Asia inhabited the Sarmatians and Scythians distinguished into diuers and sundry nations amongst these are the Tauroscythians which tooke their name from thence and their Cherronnesus or demy-ile vulgarly knowen by the name of Taurica Cherronnesus and Scythica Cherronnesus Appianus nameth it Pontica Cherronnesus the demy-ile of Pontus which Pliny writeth was sometime inuironed round with the sea For forme and quality it is compared and thought to be much like Peloponnesus Strabo from the mouth or relation of others hath left written that it was sometime annexed to the maine land by an isthmos or neckeland of 360. furlongs in length The country toward Metopon Frons Arietis the rammes head is rough mountainous and much subiect to Northren stormes cold and violent blasts Neere to Theodosia Caffa or Cofe as the Turkes write it a city situate vpon the sea whose hauen is so capacious and large that it is able to entertaine an hundred tall shippes at once it is a good and fertile soile Athenaeus writeth that bulbi certaine bolled rootes which do grow heere of their owne accord are so sweet and pleasant that they may be eaten raw In it also is the hill Berosus where as Pliny witnesseth are three wels of which whosoeuer drinketh he dieth without any griefe and without any remedy Plutarch in Tanais maketh mention of an oile made in this mountaine Berosus which the country people do presse out of a certaine plant which they call Halinda With this oile they annoint themselues and then being once warme they feele not the cold although it be neuer so bitter The same authour telleth of the hearb Phryxa which groweth about Borea antrum the caue Borea which if the stepchildren shall haue about them they shall suffer no wrong at their stepmothers hand This hearb is colder than Snow yet as soone as euer the stepmothers shall go about to wrong their sonne in lawes it presently casteth out flames of fire and by that meanes they shunne all eminent dangers and causes of feare Thus far of Cherronnesus Taurica They which take any pleasure in fables or fictions of poets belonging to this Pontus or spoken of the same let them haue recourse to Senecan Medra or the Iphigenia of Euripides and others that haue written of the voiages of the Argonautes or the story of Iasons Golden fleece But before I leaue this sea I thinke it not amisse to put thee in mind what Iosephus writeth in the 11. chapter of his 9. booke of the Antiquity of the Iewes Hee there saith that Ionas the Prophet being deuoured and swallowed vp of the whale about Issicus finus Golfo de Atazzo a bay of the mediterran sea neere to Issus a city of Silicia which now they vulgarly call Atazzo was after three daies cast vp againe into this Euxine sea aliue vnhurt or any way perished One part of this his relation I will beleeue if you will beleeue the other Robertus Constantinus in his supplement of the Latine tongue saith that Lamia was a fish Of the fenne MAEOTIS Mar delle Sabacche it is commonly called now a daies the Italians of a towne abuttant vpon it name it Mar della Tana and Mar bianco the white sea of the Scythians it is called Carpaluc of the Arabians Bohari'lazach as Baptista Ramusius witnesseth beside other Geographers read Polyb. in his 4. booke and Arist in the end of his 1. booke and beginning of the 2. of his Meteor The length of it is 6000. as Themistius Euphrada writeth In this sea there are not many ilands yet these are not all inhabited or manured and the people which dwell in them do liue very poorly for they vse the flesh of great fishes dried in the sunne and then beaten and stamped to powder in steed or meale for bread for as Pomponeus saith they yeeld no great store of prouision for victuals ΠΟÎΤΟΣ ΕΥΞΕΙÎΟΣ
this iland sometime had and the mappe will shew that I out of Latine and Greeke writers haue gathered the names of many more The student of Geography if he please may haue a larger description of this iland in the 5 booke of Diodorus Siculus Seneca also in his Consolation to Albinus and likewise againe in his verses describeth the same The ILANDS of the IONIAN SEA THe Ilands of the Ionian sea of better note are these Corcyra Cephalenia Zacynthus Ithaca Leucadia and Echinades of which seuerally take these few lines CORCYRA now called Corfu the natiue soile of Alcinous as Dionysius saith was called CERCYRA as also long since by diuers other names as PHAEACIA SCHERIA DREPANVM CERAVNIA ARGOS MACRIS and as some thinke CASSIOPE as thou maist see more particularly in our Geographicall Treasury This iland grew to such great strength and power as Eustathius writeth that it subdued many other ilands and cities and brought them vnder their command Item that it was so strong in shipping that it alone in the Persian warre did set out and furnish threescore shippes Yet afterward it was brought to that desolation that of it became this prouerbe Cercyra est libera caca vbi volueris Corfu is emptie now you may vntrusse where you list There is another Corcyra different from this in the Hadriaticke sea named otherwise Melaena CEPHALENIA otherwise called MELAENA SAMOS and TAPHOS as also DVLICHIVM as some men haue written by the testimony of Strabo Eustathius and Tzetzes haue written that it was sometime inhabited of foure sundrie nations namely of the Pronij Samij Palenses and the Cranij to these Liuy addeth the Nesiotae In this iland if one may trust Aelianus the Goates drinke not for the space of six moneths together Looke in the discourse of Zacynthus following In Antigonus we read that a certaine riuer runneth through the middest of it vpon the one side of which there are great store of grasse-hoppers and on the other side not one ZACYNTHVS now Zante and as Erythraeus saith somtime Hierusalem HYRIA it was in old time called and CASSIOPA the poet nameth it Nemorosa woody These ilanders Athenaeus saith are no good souldiers the reason he yeeldeth to be for that they be very wealthy and haue such plenty of all things that they giue themselues to nought else but to their ease and pleasure The Phalangium a kind of spider is heere more dangerous and hurtfull to mankind than in any place of the world beside as AElianus saith So long as the Etesiae East windes which rise ordinarily in the dogge daies blow the Goates stand yawning and gaping with their noses vp into the North and are so satisfied therewith that they looke after no water nor euer care for drinke as Antigonus hath left recorded That in this iland there is a caue commonly called Coeranium Plutarch in his booke of the comparisons of beasts doth affirme It hath a fountaine very full of fish out of which great store of pitch is taken if we may giue credit to Ctesias Item heere F. Desiderius Lignamineus Patauinus writeth that he found this Epitaph of Cicero M. TVLLI CICERO HAVE God be with thee good Cicero which he saith was in the yeare 1544. Adamus Tefellenius Louaniensis in his Iournall a manuscript copy of which M. Hadrian Marselar lent me to read ouer writeth that he in this iland in the yeare of Christ 1550. handled the bones of Cicero and read vpon his tombe this epitaph Ille oratorum princeps gloria linguae Romanae iacet hac cum coniuge Tullius vrna Tullius ille inquam de se qui scripserat olim O fortunatam natam me consule Romam The learned Tully who for fined tongue in Rome had neuer peere With louing wife in clay full low lie both enterred heere That Tully great I meane who of himselfe sometime thus proudlie said Now Rome thou blessed art indeed since I thy scepter swaied ITHACA which was also in old time called NERITIA of Neritus a mountaine if I be not deceiued is now vulgarly of the Italians called Valle di Compare and as Porcaccius saith Teachi of the Turkes as the learned Lewnclawe writeth Phiachi Moreouer in the 10. booke of Straboes Geography I find that there is heere a city called Ithaca which Plutarch in his Greeke Questions nameth Alalcome but Stephanus Alcomenae Athenaeus writeth that it hath many hauens but withall is very mountainous rough and craggie so that it will not easily without great and infinite labour and toile yeeld any small or meane profit vnto the husbandmen as Plutarch telleth vs. In Porphyry out of the writings of Artimedorus I read that this iland from Panormus an hauen of Cephalina lieth Eastward and conteineth in compasse 85. furlongs It is very narrow but high In it is as the same authour with Homer doth witnesse a caue of the Nymphs We read in Antigonius that it breedeth no Hares at all Except it had been the natiue soile and country where Vlysses was borne there had no mention at all of it remained in any recordes of ancient writers LEVCAS or LEVCADIA now S. Maura although Pliny maketh it but a peninsula or demy-ile yet Mela calleth it flatly an iland That it was made an iland and was seuered from the maine continent yet afterward by force and violence of windes ioined to the same againe Strabo doth teach vs. In a very high foreland or promontory of this I le AElianus describeth the temple of Apollo Aelius from whence yearely they were wont to tumble some one or other downe into the sea headlong thereby to appease the wrath and fury of their Gods as Strabo hath left recorded ECHINADES Echidnae Seneca in his Troas and Euripides in Iphegenia in Aulide call them but Stephanus Echinae so named of the great multitude of the Echini Vrchines or Hedge-hogges which do greatly infect this iland Apollodorus calleth them STROPHADES now they are knowen by the name of the Cozzulari they are as Ouid in the 8. booke of his Metamorphosis writeth in number 5. these were also part of the continent as Pausanias in his Arcadia testifieth their forme and fashion is often altered and changed by the ebbing and flowing if I may so speake of the mudde of the riuer Achelous Aspri or Pachicolamo at whose mouth they stand as Strabo would faine perswade vs. Neere these are the Taphiae and Acutae otherwise called Thoae Plutarch in his treatise of the ceassing of oracles telleth a story or fable rather worth the reading of the death of Pan which tell out about these ilands AFRICA PROPRIA AFRICA properly so called AS that part of Asia which is inclosed with Mar Maiore Archipelago Midland sea and the riuer Euphrates is of the Geographers properly called Asia so this part of Africa aboue all other prouinces of the same hath alwayes hitherto beene knowen by the name of AFRICA PROPRIA This also is worth the obseruation that in all ancient stories when Asia or
reedified who sending thither certeine people to inhabit and dwell there made it a Romane colony and this was the first colony of the Romans that euer was transported foorth of Italy It was of Cayus Gracchus called IVNONIA as it is recorded by Appian Solinus and Dion who also addeth that it was afterward by Augustus Caesar againe the second time made a Colony because that when Lepidus had wasted a great part of it and left it destitute and without inhabitants he in maner seemed to haue dissolued the right and priuiledge of the Colony Therefore this city began againe to flourish and vnder the Romane Emperours to be renowmed vnder the name of The second Carthage So that that city which lately was renowmed for seats of armes and martiall prowes was now as Martianus writeth as honourable for worldly felicity and all maner of earthly blessings It tasted also of the beneuolence and bounteous magnificence of the Emperour Hadrian and thereupon it was of him called HADRIANOPOLIS that is Hadrians city as Spartianus hath left recorded Item the Romane Emperour Antoninus Pius did much grace it with many sumptuous and stately buildings as you may reade in Pausanias Lampridius writeth that in respect of the fauourable kindnesse of the Emperour Commodus toward this city it was in like maner of him named ALEXANDRIA COMMODIANA TOGATA But as the state of all things vnder the cope of heauen is vnconstant and variable the same city vnder Gordianus the Emperour was as Herodian testifieth by one Capellianus Lieutenant of Mauritania taken the second time and spoiled about six hundred and foure score yeeres after it first had submitted it selfe to the command and iurisdiction of the Romans In the reigne of Honorius the Emperour it was by treachery the third time taken sacked and vtterly defaced by Genserichus king of the Wandals in the foure hundred and thirty yeere after the incarnation of CHRIST our Sauiour The like it suffered of certeine mutinous souldiers vnder one Salomon a lieutenant of the Maurusij or Barbary as Procopius hath recorded From these it was woon by Belisarius in the yeere of CHRIST fiue hundred thirty eight in the time of Iustinian the Romane Emperour who caused it to be repaired and fortified with a strong wall and deepe ditch who moreouer beautified it with many goodly publike buildings of most curious architecture as Cloisters Galleries the Theodorian Bathes the gorgeous Church of our Lady the chiefe Saint and others which are reckoned vp by the same Procopius After this it continued vnder the Romans vntill the time of Heraclius the Emperour when as it was conquered and surprised by the Persians about the yeere of CHRIST six hundred and sixteene It was taken sacked and spoiled by the Egyptians three score and six yeeres after that as Procopius and others do constantly witnesse Neither was this the last misery of this city for it being spoiled rased almost to the ground layed waste and left dispeopled and void of inhabitants by the Mahumetanes so continued vnto the dayes of one Elmahdi a Bishop who as Iohannes Leo Africanus reporteth gaue it vnto certeine people of that countrey which were in number so few that they did not replenish aboue the twentieth part of it The same authour an eye witnesse of that which he wrote affirmeth that of all this greatnesse and glory beside certeine ruines of the walles and a part of the Conduit there remaineth at thus day not any whit or mention at all This now in these our dayes is the fate and forme of this most goodly city This is that city which as Herodian testifieth in time past for wealth multitude of people and greatnesse of circuit did only yeeld it selfe inferiour to Rome and with Alexandria of Egypt long contended for the second place Item this is it which long since was of that power that it commanded all the sea coast of Africa from Arae Philenorum all along as far as to the Straights of Gibraltar ouer which they passing by ship conquered all Spaine euen vp as high as the Pyreny mountaines So that Appian a graue writer doth deeme the Empire and command of this city of equall value to the power of the far-commanding Greeks or wealth riches of the braue Persian which were an easie matter for one to iustify out of Strabo and Pliny two authours of good credit For this man affirmeth that this city commanded in Africa alone three hundred cities and it selfe conteined seuenty thousand men dayly inhabitants within the walles of the same Item Scipio hauing conquered this city transported from thence vnto Rome foure hundred and seuenty thousand pound weight of siluer Of this city which as long as it stood out and was master of it selfe as Trogus witnesseth was esteemed as a goddesse and in Africa as Saluianus writeth was accounted as another Rome there remaineth now no more but the bare name onely Of the nation of the Africans from whence they came into this country and what they were Procopius in the eleuenth booke of his History of the Wandals hath written somewhat worth the obseruation Of Heauen-walke Via coelestis which we in a word touched before I thinke it not amisse here in this place to speake somewhat more at large In Victor Vticensis these words following are read in all copies that euer I saw Nam hodiè si qua supersunt subinde desolantur sicut in Carthagineo Theatro aedem Memoriae viam quam Caelestis vocitabant funditus deleuerunt For viam I make no question but the authour did write etiam that it might be referred to aedem or templum as Iulius Capitolinus in Pertinax doth call it that is a chapell temple or church Furthermore of this Caelestis dea Heauenly goddesse as Capitolinus in Macrinus and Trebellius Pollio in Celsus tyrannus do call her a goddesse peculiar to Africa there are here and there diuers things to be obserued in diuers authours Aelianus writeth that the Egyptians doe call Venus Vrania that is Heauenly Venus caelestis which is all one is expressed in an ancient piece of coine which I haue of Iulia Soëmia's S. Augustine in his booke De ciuitate Dei doth speake of the Heauenly Virgine Virgo caelestis meaning doubtlesse the Heauenly goddesse but by that epithite I suppose he had a purpose to distinguish her from that other I meane that wanton which Iulius Firmicus calleth Venerem virginem Herodian nameth her Vrania and addeth moreouer that of the Phoenicians she is called Astroarche Alilat Herodotus sayth she was named and affirmeth that it is the Moone S. Hierome in his treatise against Symmachus writeth that the Persians call her Mithra idque pro diuersitate nominis non pro numinis varietate all these different names signifying as S. Ambrose sayth one and the same goddesse Apuleius in the sixth booke of his Golden Asse witnesseth that all the nations of the East countreys do generally call her Zigia There is a notable record of this
was a waggon consecrated and sanctified couered ouer with a cloth and adored as a saint But peraduenture we haue beene too tedious in this argument As we haue out of old and ancient histories laid downe two diuers and sundry formes of this god Ammon so out of the same it is very probable that hee had two diuers temples For Diodorus in his seuenteenth booke in the description of this temple doth say that it was built by Danaus the Egyptian And the same authour againe in his first booke saith that Ofiris also erected a temple for Iupiter Ammon in Thebes a city in Egypt which was all of beaten gold cleane contrary to that which we haue described before as appeareth out of these verses of Lucane in his 9. booke Non illic libyeae posuerunt ditia gentes Templa nec Eois splendent donariagemmis In Egypt it was not in Libya as is manifest out of the second booke of Herodotus Where you shall find this description of it Iupiter being not willing that Hercules who came to visit him should see him yet at length by importunity being ouercome vsed this deuice to deceiue him He tooke a ram flead him and cut off his head this fell with the head wool and all he put vpon him and thus sheweth himselfe to Hercules Wherupon the Egyptians haue decreed to make the image of Iupiter and to picture him with a rammes head For him euery yeare vpon a certaine day they kill a ramme in like manner as before is shewed and the skinne they put ouer the image of the said c. And because the temple of this god Ammon was in the city Thebes which thereupon is of good writers called Diospolis that is Ioues towne I was of opinion that the Holy scripture did also in some place or other speake of it And indeed in the thirtieth chapter of Ezechiel the septuagints for the Hebrew No haue Dâ—â—spolu and againe in the third chapter of Naum for No Amon they haue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is very probable therefore that Amon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hamon which in the Hebrew tongue signifieth a multitude was the proper name of this place THE VOYAGE OR Nauigation of AENEAS especially gathered out of the renowmed Poet VIRGILL with some other matters perteining to that historie collected out of others TRoy being surprized sacked and burnt Aeneas betooke himselfe for a refuge to the mount IDA a hill in the prouince of Troas in Asia Minor a place verie well wooded and serued with water from thence forsaking his natiue soile he went to ANTANDRVS a towne in Mysia abutting vpon the Aegean sea taking with him as Xenophon sayth all his kindred both by fathers side and mothers side with a nauy of twenty saile putteth forth to sea and at length landeth in THRACE or as Dionysius Halicarnasseus writeth at PALLENE a promontory and city of the same name in Macedony neere vnto which he built the citie Aenos Oeno or Inos they still call it Lycophron sayth that he came to CISSVS Cis a hill of Almopia a shire of the kingdome of Macedony Liuy writeth that he stayed about OLYMPVS But our authour reporteth that from Thrace he came to DELOS Sdiles an iland in the Aegean sea of the number of those which the ancient Geographers called Cyclades Here he maried Lauinia the daughter of Anius a Priest belonging to the temple of Apollo as you may see in a Treatise written of the originall of the Romane nation but let them beleeue him that list for Halicarnasseus condemneth him for a very lying and fabulous authour And from Delos he setting saile saluted NAXOS Nicsia PAROS Pario DIONYSA OLEARVS Quiniminio and other ilands of the Aegean sea and the third day after arriued at CRETA Candy where he built the cities RHOETEVM and PERGAMEA From hence putting off to sea againe and as Dionysius Halicarnasseus writeth saluting CYTHERA Cerigo an iland in the Midland sea where he built a Temple dedicated to the honour and seruice of the goddesse Venus then CYNETHIVM a foreland or promontory of Peloponnesus and there layed the foundation as Pausanias and Halicarnasseus haue left recorded of the cities APHRODISIADES and OETIA and the fourth day after landed at the STROPHADES Striuali two ilands in the Ionian sea From these he passed to ZACYNTHVS Zante where he dedicated as Halicarnasseus writeth a chapell to Venus then passing by DVLICHIVM SAMOS NERITVS and ITHACA came to LEVCATE Thence to ACTIVM neere the Temple of Apollo and so leauing CORCYRA Corfu coasting along by CHAONIA a prouince of Epyrus in Greece and AMBRACIA as the same authour affirmeth he came at length to BVTHROTVM Golfo de Butronto From hence on foot ouer land he went and visited DODONA a citie of Epyrus and the CERAVNIAN mountaines and vpon the third day came to Anchises Hauen ANCHISAE PORTVS where his ships meeting him he crossed ouer the Hadriaticke sea into ITALY his consorts landed on this side the forland IAPYGIVM Cabo de S. Maria himselfe with some few others as the same Halicarnasseus witnesseth at the forland or promontorie ATHENAEVM Rossia or Cabo de Campanella so named of the Temple of Minerua called of the Greekes Athene which stood in this place From thence he passed by sea to TARENTVM Taranto LACINIVM Cabo delle Colonne CAVLON Castro veto or vetore and SCYLACEVM Squilacci Afterward sailing by SCYLLA Scyllo and CHARYDIS Galofaco by the CYCLOPES giants or a certaine kinde of people neere mount Ethna in Sicilia of an extraordinary stature and strength feined by the Poets to haue but one eie and that in the middest of their fore-heads the mouth of the riuer PANTAGIAS Porcari by the bay of MEGARA a sea towne sometime called Hybla by THAPSVS a neckland or peninsula now knowen by the name of Manghisi by the forland PLEMMYRIVM Cabo Massa Vliuien by ORTYGIA by the riuer ELORVS Abyso or Atellari by the forland or promontory PACHYNVS Cabo Passaro by the citie CAMARINA by the CAMPI GELOI by the riuers GELA Cherza or Salsi by AGRAGAS Draco by the citie SELINVS Salemo or Terra de Pulici then by the promontorie LILYBAEVM Cabo Boëi or Cabo Coco and so at length to the forland DREPANVM Trapani From hence leauing the strait course he fetcheth a compasse about by those dangerous rocks which our authour calleth SAXA or ARAE directing his course toward CARTHAGE in Africa where hauing stayed a while with Queene Dido who enterteined him and his most kindly and in the best maner at length hoiseth saile and returneth backe into SICILIA againe heere landing his men at the riuer CRIMISVS as Halicarnasseus writeth after diuers games iusts or triumphs he ordeined that those dayes yeerely for euer after should be solemnly kept as holy in honour of Anchises his father and moreouer also he built the citie ACESTA or Egesta and ELIMA Alymite or Palymite if we may beleeue Halicarnasseus Item he founded the TEMPLE of Venus Idalia vpon the top of
arriued within a few daies vpon the coast of the CICONES a people of Thracia in Europe whose chiefe city ISMARVS Zimarus Dictys Cretensis falsly calleth it hee sacked and spoiled This city as Suidas Hesychius and Tzetzes do testifie was called MARONEA now Marogna as Sophianus and Niger both do peremptorily affirm or Marolia as Leunclaw writeth In Hyginus fables it is falsly written Marathonia And that it should be amended written Maronea it is very manifest for that the wine wherewithall Vlysses afterward made the great lubber Polyphemus drunk was fetched from hence as hee there writeth and which Euripides in his Cyclops doth iustifie to be true Moreouer Vinum Maroneum the wine of Maronea hath beene in old time much esteemed of and was as famous as any other sort whatsoeuer Therefore after the sacke of this city and as Suidas reporteth Hecuba ending her daies neere the sea being there intombed in stone in a place commonly called by the name of CYNOSSEMA he was assaulted by the Cicones a sturdy and rough kind of people inhabiting amongst the mountaines of Thrace and so by that meanes was forced with great losse and slaughter of his men to horse saile and put off to sea againe And directing his course toward MALEA Cabo Malio or S. Michaels wings a promontory or foreland of Peloponnesus the weather growing very foule he was sore troubled and his ships rent and torne most grieuously as Homer testifieth But first it is very probable that he put into DELOS Sdiles an iland in the Archipelago lying directly in his way and where they write that before the altar of Apollo Vlysses saw a tall and slender Palme-tree grow which Cicero in his booke of Lawes affirmeth was still to be seene in his time and it is likely was the very same which Pliny reporteth in his time had remained from the daies of Apollo Homer also and Pausanias do speake of this palme tree From Malea he came to the I le CYTHERA Cerigo in the Ionian sea not farre from the coast of Peloponnesus and from thence he went to the LOTOPHAGI The Lotophagi a kind of people which liue especially by the fruit of the lote tree are by Historiographers placed in Africa yea and that heere and there in diuerse and sundry places of the same But those Lotophagi vnto whom the consorts of this our Vlysses came I am of opinion with Isaac Tzetzes that they dwelt neere Hyperia a city of Sicilia or were next neighbours to Camarina a city there still knowen by the name of Camarana Neither can I bee perswaded that these Lotophagi are to be sought for in Africa seeing that it is apparant euen out of Homer himselfe that the next day they went from the Lotophagi vnto the CYCLOPES which out of Africa so farre remote from Sicilia they could by no meanes haue done Item I haue Ausonius in his Periocha vpon my side who there testifieth that these Lotophagi did butte vpon the I le of the Cyclopes Now almost all authours which haue written of this argument do iointly affirme that some of his consorts much delighted with the sweetnesse and pleasant taste of the fruit of the Lote tree staied heere still and would by no meanes euer returne backe againe This I thought good gentle Reader to admonish thee of lest thou shouldest in vaine in this our Mappe thinke to find any part of the continent of Africa Moreouer in Pausanias I reade that Vlysses in this his iourney did build the ATHFNEVM that is the chapell of Minerua in Arcadia From Cythera he went to CACRA a porte towne of Sicilia which the forenamed Tzetzes testifieth was of him afterward named Vlyssis portus Vlysses hauen and had beene also sometime called Engyon now knowen by the name of Longina From hence hee went to the I LE of the Cyclopes and so to the CAVE of Polyphemus where he offered sacrifice and performed all due religious ceremonies vnto the gods as Athenaeus testifieth Now this Caue as Vibius Sequester sheweth was vpon the brinke of the riuer Acis now called Freddo Heere making Polyphemus drunke with the forenamed Maronean wine and putting out his eies he went vnto the AEOLIAE or as the Gods call them the Planetae certaine ilands continually casting foorth sparkles and flames of fire Heere of Aeolus king of these ilands he had giuen him a bottle or bagge made of an oxe skin wherein all the winds but Zephyrus the West wind or if we may giue credit to Agatharchides none but the North and South windes onely were conteined and enclosed For the West wind for those that saile with a strait course from Sicilia to Ithaca is the best that can blow With this prosperous gale of wind in nine daies as Ouid reporteth they comming within sight and kenning of the I le Ithaca while Vlysses was asleepe his consorts vpon the tenth day as the foresaid authour writeth opened the bagge which they had alwaies hitherto beene verily perswaded was full of gold and siluer By this meanes contrary winds and stormes arising they are forced backe againe and redoubling their course yet an ancient Lyricall Poet saith it was but the bottle that went backe againe to come the second time to the AEOLIAN ILANDS where being by Aelous as contemners of the Gods and skorners of all religion for bidden to land they came vnto the LAESTRYGONES a sauage people that vsed to eat men like as they now write of the Canibals of America who set vpon them as enemies neere to the city Lamus and the fountaine Artacia From hence with one ship onely the other eleuen as Ouid and Ausonius do testifie being sunke by the Laestrygones he came vnto the ile AE AE AE otherwise called Circeia Hyginus in his fables doth falsly call Aena the place of abode where Circes called after her death as Lactantius writeth Marica the daughter of Sol or the Sunne a woman famous for her Sorcery passing skilfull in all maner of Magicke and witchcraft by whose conduct and direction he went to AVERNVM Cedrenus nameth it Neciopa a lake in Italy now called Lago di Tripergola where amongst the soules that are in Purgatory apud Inferos hee hath conference with his mother Anticlia and of her and by her meanes he vnderstood many things concerning his iourney that now he was to take This done comming backe againe to Circeia he found Elpenor one of his consorts whom he had left with Circes as also Tiresias the wisard or sooth-saier with diuerse other worthies and braue men dead and buried From thence he returned to the SVPERI and entred there the Ocean Lastly he made a funerall and performed all ceremonies as he had promised to do for his friend Elpenor and withall built him a stately tombe And thus much of that matter Of this his nauigation through the vast Ocean although many things by diuers authors are diuerslie reported as of Vlyssea and Vlyssipona certaine cities of Spaine c. built by this our Vlysses Of
sound For Mercury had giuen him the hearb Moly so the Gods do call it a sure antidote and preseruatiue against all maner of inchantments and witchcraft And sailing along by the SIRENVM INSVLAE the Mirmaides ilands he built the temple of Minerua Fanum Mineruae in CAMPANIA in Italy as Strabo writeth In this tract also videlicet in LVCANIA as the same authour recordeth he built the chapell of Draco Sacellum Draconis one of his companions in that his voiage From thence he sailed along by the shore and at length landed at TENESSA a city of the Bruttij Isacius vpon Lycophronfalsly writeth that he landed in England mistaking Britannos for Bruttios or ignorantly confounding 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Pausanias hath left recorded Item Suidas out of Pausanias affirmeth the same but withall he addeth that heere one of the sailers did rauish a virgin and for that vild act was by the townesmen stoned to death Neere to this towne the chapell of Politas Fanum Politae one of Vlysses consorts by Strabo is described to haue stood From hence it is likely out of Pliny that he came to the iles ITHACEIAE or as otherwise they are called Vlysses specula that is Vlysses beacon or lanterne From hence setting forward and warily auoiding the dangerous Scylla and Charybdes although not altogether without the losse of some of his company he came againe into TRINACRIA or the Iland of the Sunne Insula Solis twise as Horace saith or as Ausonius writeth often losing his way and failing of his course where while he himselfe was asleep some of his company killed certaine sheep of Sol the gouernour of that place out of his flocke which as Appianus Alexandrinus in the fifth booke of his Ciuill warres writeth did feed neere Artemisium a towne in Sicilia which Barrius at this day thinketh to be called Agatha for which their villanie and foule act committed by them they were all cast away and sunke Vlysses himselfe alone getting vp vpon the mast of the ship escaped and was carried into the ile OGYGIA where hee dwelt seuen yeares as Homer writeth or six yeare as Ouid testifieth or tenne yeares as Seruius would make vs beleeue with the Nymph Calypso by whom he gate his sonne Auson After all this building a ship with his owne hands he shippeth himselfe and setteth saile all alone for meere naturall loue of his country preferring it before immortality which the goddesse had promised if so be he would stay with her committing himselfe to the sea out alas he feeleth againe the second time the waight of Neptunes wrath for that as we haue shewed before he had put out the eies of his sonne Polyphemus For the eighteenth or as Ouid writeth the eightith day after his first setting out when as he came so neere Ithaca that he might easily descry the smoke of the chimneies mark the crosse lucke tempestuous winds and raging stormes do on euery side arise so that his ship was ouerturned and himselfe throwen into the sea but as God would haue it rising againe instantly he caught hold of the ship The Nymph Leucothea Nausicaa others call her seeing him thus toiled and wandring in the middest of the sea tooke compassion vpon him and presently relieued him she aduiseth him to let go the ship to put off his apparell and to commit himselfe naked to the sea only and withall she giueth him her fillet or haire-lace wherewith her head was bound vp which he tying about his middle swom vntill he came vnto the country of the PHAEACES Cedrenus falsly hath Phoenices where he arriued neere vnto the riuer Callirhoë The foresaid Cedrenus writeth that he was carried from hence into Creta to Idomeneus and by him conuieghed thence into Corcyra vnto Alcinous But let vs proceed With this fillet of Leucothea he being tied vnto the ship and hanging at it except heere Philostratus which is ordinary with him doe tell a tale with his owne strength vsing his hande in steed of oares he swomme through the middest of the sea Yet that the shippe came thus farre and further it seemeth out of Pliny to be not altogether improbable because he writeth that about Phalacrum a promontory or foreland of Phaeacia or Corcyra this ship was turned into a rocke which rocke Martianus saith is in fashion and proportion like a ship although falsly hee in that place calleth this foreland Phalarium for Phalacrum But if any man shall say that he doth requite one tale with another I will not greatly gainsay him From Phaeacia by Alcinous king of that country who had most honourably intertained him he was at length conueighed to Ithaca his natiue country whose smoake he had many times and often desired before this to see Where killing the woers which were in number if one may beleeue Athenaeus an hundred and eight or as Dictys Cretensis saith but thirty onely he embraceth and kindly saluteth his louing wife Penelope And this is the end of all these wandring peregrinations in which as Ouid saith Iactatus dubio per duo lustra mari Tenne yeares he wandred vp and downe in seas vnknowen Signifying that the rest of the yeares were spent in trauels and troubles endured vpon the land Of which the same authour also thus speaketh Ille breui spatio multis errauit in annis Inter Dulichias Iliacasque domos In trauell many yeares he spent his iourney was not farre Betweene the iland Zante and Troy that famous towne of warre Isacius vpon Lycophron testifieth that Vlysses by the counsell of Minerua went to TRAMPYA a city of the Eurytanes a people of Epyrus or Aetolia there to offer sacrifice vnto the Gods and withall this our authour there addeth that these people are the very same that Homer in the eleuenth booke of his Odysses speaketh of in these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is vntill hee came amongst those men that ne'r heard tell of Ocean sea Againe the same authour moreouer affirmeth that in this city Vlysses was worshipped as a god and that hee had an oracle there Not farre from hence amongst these people also Stephanus placeth the city BVNIMA first founded by Vlysses That he was reuerenced as a god I do find by a certaine speech of Seneca that he vseth of him vnto Serenus and therefore it is no maruell that he should giue foorth answers and oracles And that I may omit nothing of his labours Dares Phrygius amongst diuers other of his dangerous attempts writeth that hee put in to harborough at MONVCHA Cassiodorus in the twelfth booke of his Variar writeth that the towne SCYLLACIVM was also built by him That he erected a chappell vpon the toppe of mount BOREVS in Peloponnesus to Neptune and Minerua Sospita I do find in Pausanias his Arcadica Apollodorus as Strabo citeth writeth that Vlysses in this his voiage came to the I le CANNVS but which this should be I know not For of this name there are diuers as thou
the Cup-bearer the Second is the COVNTY PALATINE of Rhein the Sewer the Third is the DVKE OF SAXONY the Sword-bearer the Fourth is the MARQVESSE OF BRANDENBVRG the Lord Great Chamberlaine to the Emperour In the Second ranke doe follow first the Foure Dukes of the Empire to wit the DVKE OF SVVITZERLAND the DVKE OF BRVNSVVICKE the DVKE OF BAYERN and the DVKE OF LOREIN Then vpon the left hand the Foure MARQVESSES videlicet the MARQVISSE OF MEISSEN the MARQVESSE OF MORAVV the MARQVESSE OF BADEN and the MARQVESSE OF BRANDENBVRG In the Third and last ranke do follow the Eight EARLES of the Empire whereof the LANDTGRAVE OF DVRINGEN the LANDGRAVE OF HESSEN the Earles of LVCHTENBVRG and of ALSATIA are Earles Prouinciall the other Foure MEIDENBVRG NVRVBERG RENECK and STOMEBVRG are Earles Marshall or of the field ORDINES SACRI ROMANI IMP AB OTTONE III INSTITVTI Of the FOVNDATION and ORDER of the GERMANE EMPIRE in the West THE SECOND MAPPE OTTO the Fourth or as some haue written OTTO the Third of whom wee haue spoken in the former Mappe vnderstanding that Gregory the Fifth Pope of Rome whom he had not long since promoted to that dignity was driuen out of his Sea and Crescentius a Consul or Alderman of Rome by the Romanes made Emperour passeth the Alpes with a great power furiously assaulteth Italy forceth the Romanes and any other cities that had stood out against him for the aduerse part to set open their gates and to yeeld themselues to his mercy Crescentius when he heard that the enemy was receiued into the city was exceedingly amazed and therefore betaketh himselfe with Pope Iohn the vsurper which he had promoted to that dignity vnto Adrians castle which not long before he had fortified and repaired for their last refuge and succour But being not able to sustaine the batterie and violent assaults which dayly the Emperours souldiers made against him at length yeeldeth the castle and himselfe to Otto who presently commandeth Crescentius the authour of this commotion to haue his eies put out his nose cut off and to be caried on horsebacke round about the towne with his face to the horsetaile This being done his iudgement was to haue his hands and feet to be cut off and at the townes end to be hanged vpon a paire of gallowes where before he was altogether dead the souldiers do pitifully wound and mangle him from top to toe Moreouer Pope Iohn the vsurper being displaced Gregory vpheld and maintained by Otto the Emperours authority climbeth vp againe into the Papall throne from which before he had most iniuriously by Crescentius beene expelled Then Gregory to requite the kindnesse of the Emperour and his Germanes and withall that he might sufficiently reuenge himselfe of the Romanes for the intolerable wrongs that they had done vnto him consulteth with the Emperour about a new law and forme of election of the Emperour to be made by the Princes of Germany that this choice might only and for euer remaine in their power and againe that they should alwaies choose one of their corporation or body as it were vnto that dignity which custome remaineth euen to these our daies duely kept and obserued By vertue of this their choice he is by and by vpon that their election to be called only CAESAR and KING OF THE ROMANES but hauing receiued the Imperiall diademe from the hands of the Pope he was euer after to beare the title of IMPERATOR AVGVSTVS But before these ordinances were published Otto calling together the Princes and States of Germany shewed them how confusedly and disorderly the choice and election of the Emperor had hitherto beene made and how many there haue beene which haue assaied by all meanes possible to preferre their friends and kinsfolke vnto that dignity which thing cannot but in continuance of time breed great dissention and danger to the Christian common-wealth and that it were therefore good that some of the Princes of Germanie were chosen which might haue the whole power and authority of this election and withall admonisheth them that the fewer there were of those Electours so much lesse the contention would be that should arise about the choice Moreouer he endeuoured to perswade them that these Electours might bee appointed and taken out of the Peeres and Officers of the Empire for that they of all other best knew what was good for the body and state of that kingdome and empire All men generally liking of that course and counsell by him proposed the Emperour and the Pope nominated vnto them first Three ecclesiasticall Princes bishops of Germany which they wished might be the Lord Chiefe Chancellours of the Empire to wit The bishop of Mentz for all matters in Germany The bishop of Colen for Italy The bishop of Trier for France To these they adioined Foure Secular Princes which should in all things aid the Emperour attend vpon his person and that should acknowledge him for their Lord and Monarch of the World viz. The Duke of Saxony Sword bearer to his Maiesty signifying that hee is the fountaine of Iustice The Marquesse of Brandenburgh Lord Great Chamberlaine The County Palatine of Rhein Sewer and The K ng of Bohemia Cup-bearer these were to attend vpon the Emperour and to gard his person By these the King of the Romans was chosen the Caesar or he that was next to be Emperour was appointed in their hands the whole right interest and authority of choosing that king resided lest any man heereafter as heeretofore had beene vsuall should challenge this dignity vnto himselfe as due by inheritance from his ancestours Charles the Fourth many yeares after this comprised this instrument or act into a bullion or tablet of gold which to this day is extant wherein hee explaned euery particular more expresly and significantly It is reported that this ordinance was decreed vpon and made in the yeare of Grace 1001 and did much discontent the Frenchmen who tooke it heinously as a great indignity offered vnto them Yet beside these there were then and afterward in succedent ages were made many and sundry other ordinances and decrees in the Romane Empire and diuers other Offices appointed and erected for the state and greater maiesty of the Empire For beside these seuen Electours there were appointed Foure Dukes Foure Marquesses Foure Landtgraues Foure Burggraues Foure Earles Foure Barons Foure Knights of the field Foure Cities Foure Villages and Foure Yeomen or Rusticks all which offices we haue expressed in their true characters in these two mappes appointed for that purpose only Notwithstanding other Emperours following not content with these constitutions and ordinances haue daiely made new Dukes and Earles yea and many that were but Earles before they haue aduanced to the title and honour of Dukes To these forenamed dignities that they might as much as was possible strengthen the state of the Empire they haue adioined certaine other new officers to wit these which follow Foure HIGH MARSHALS as
houres in the yeare was at the same time begunne by Richard Bishop of Sarum in a most goodly plot of ground which vulgarly was called MERIFEILD and in fourty yeares with infinite cost and charges it was by him and others finished and brought to that perfection which it is at now at this day q SOVTH-HANTON we now call it built vpon an arme of the sea betweene two riuers is enclosed with a double ditch and a faire stone wall For the better defence of the Hauen Richard the Second caused a very goodly castle to be built all of free stone It is a passing fine city very populous rich and well frequented of Merchants Clausentum that ancient city mentioned by Antoninus and stood sometimes in that field which at this day is called Saint Maries was often spoiled and sacked by the Danes and at length in the time of Edward the Third was vtterly consumed and burnt downe to the ground by the French-men Of whose ruines this New city was built in a place much more better and commodious r This riuer peraduenture was anciently called WENT and thereof the citie Wentchester happily tooke the name like as the cite Colnchester in Essex was so called of the riuer Colne vpon Which it standeth s WINCHESTER A very auncient citie well knowen to the Romanes and is oft mentioned in old historians Afterward in time so the Saxon Heptarchie the West Saxon Kings ordinarily kept their court heere Straite after the entrance of the Normans and peraduenture somewhat before the Records for the whole land were here bestowed and laied vp It was once or twise much defaced by casualty of fire and oft spoiled and sacked by vnruly souldiers in time of ciuill warres but Edward the Third to salue these damages and hinderances of the citizens and townesmen placed heere THE STAPLE or marte for wooll and cloth At this time it is very populous and well inhabited The wals of this citie are about a mile and an halfe in compasse It hath six faire gates and very large Suburbes adioyning to euery one of them t SHORHAM an ancient Borough and hauen towne in Sussex first called as Master Camden writeth CIMENSHORE of Cimen the brother of Cissa who together with Aella their father landed a greater multitude of their Saxons But in continuance of time a greate part of that towne being eaten vp with the sea and the mouth of the hauen with beech and sand det vp of a goodly towne it is become a small village at this day knowen by the name of OLD SHOREHAM the decay of which gaue occasion of the building and name of another not farre off from it commonly called NEVV SHOREHAM u Heere Athelstane King of the West-Saxons who made a lawe that no man should be so hardy as to dare to coine money out of great townes priuiledged by the King for that purpuse erected a Minte for the coyning of his Siluer and other mettals by which means it became so famous that in the time of the Saxons it deserued the name of a city and was then called by them HASTINGACEASTER In a plaine before this towne that bloody battaill betweene William the bastard Duke of Normandy that cruell tyrant and Harold the vsurper sonne of Earle Goodwin was fought vpon the fourteenth day of October in the yeare of our Lord 1066. It is one of the cinque ports w DOVER before the entrance of the Saxons was called Dubris as Antoninus in his Iournal testifieth who nameth it Portus Dubris The haven Dubris Vpon that side next the sea that was sometime defended with a strong wall whereof some part is to be seene at this daie Victred King of Kent did heere erect a goodly Church which hee dedicated vnto Saint Martines The castle which standeth vpon the toppe of an exceding high cliffe and is thought to be the strongest holde of all England and therefore called by Matthew Paris Clauis repagulum Angliae The key and barre of England was begunne as is probable by the Romans yet not by Iulius Caesar as they would faine make men beleeue Vpon another rocke or cliffe ouer against this on the other side of the towne there was as seemeth a lanterne or watch-tower Pharus they call it opposite and answerable to that which the Romans had built at Bollein beyond the straights in Fraunce which afterward being decaied was repaired by Charles the Great and at this day is called by the French Tour d'order by the English THE OLD MAN OF BVLLEN x This is that famous passage traiectus from the Continent vnto this Iland by which Caesar and the Romans alwaies entred and had accesse hither For vntill the time of Constans and Constantine Emperours of Rome it was thought almost impossible to come hither from Rome with a nauy thorough the maine Ocean And since that long it was in time of Christianity by proclamation forbidden that whatsoeuer hee were borne within the alleageance of England that had a minde to goe beyond the seas for religion or pilgrimage it should not be lawfull for him to take shipping any where else but heere The Frenchmen vulgarly call it Le pas de Calais but the English call it The streights of Douer y London we now call it but of the French and Strangers it is commonly called Londres or Londra Yet Tacitus Ptolemey Antonine and Ammianus Marcellinus doe with one consent write it LONDINVM or LONGIDINVM so named of the Britons as is probable of Llong Ships and Dinas a Citie answerable to those places of Graecia Naupactus Naupactus Naustathino c. denominated of Ships It is doubtlesse a very ancient citie as Ammianus Marcellinus testifieth who twelue hundred yeares since called it Vetustum oppidum An ancient towne Yet Iulius Caesar neuer mentioneth it in all his writings Cornelius Tacitus who liued in the daies of Nero that bloody Emperour was the first if I be not deceiued that euer wrot of it calling it by the name of Oppidum copia negotiatorum commeatu maxime celebre A Towne very famous both for trafficke and great concourse of Marchants as also for victualls and all manner ot prouision whatsoeuer Nay he that made the Panegyricke oration to Constantius the Emperour and Marcellinus who liued after him giue it no better title Yet at this day it is An abridgement or breefe view of the whol iland The Imperiall seate of the Brittish iles Regumque Angliae camera and The chamber of the English Kings and therefore it may now iustly assume that title of AVGVSTA The roiall city which Ammianus so many hundred yeeres since gaue vnto it And being situate vpon the rising of a little hill in a most wholsome and healthfull aire in the middest of the richest countries of the land all a long vpon the North side of the Thames one of the goodliest riuers of Europe it is at this day as famous a Marte for all manner of trade and trafficke as any in the whole world beside The
wals of this citie which are about three miles in compasse are not ancient although some doe write that at the entreatie of Queene Helena Constantine the Great caused them to be built Beside those many and large Suburbes without the wals there is ioined to it vpon the West the citie of WESTMINSTER and vpon the South by a faire stone bridge the BOROVGH OF SOVTHVVARKE equall for bignesse and multitude of people to many great and good cities So that London in this respect may iustly be called Tripolid ' Angliterra This Bridge was begunne first of timber and afterward in the time of King Iohn it was made all of Free-stone The foundation of that goodly Mynster or Cathedrall Church of Saint Paul was first laid by Ethelbert King of Kent z Yarmouth as we now call it a very goodly sea towne in the county of Norffolke situate at the mouth of the riuer Gerne Garienis whereof it tooke the name and was first called Giernemouth and then by corruption in processe of time Garmouth and Yarmoth It is inclosed almost on all sides with water vpon the West with the riuer aforesaid vpon the South and East with the maine sea only vpon the North it lieth open to the firme land vpon which side it is defended from the assault of the enemy by a very strong wall which together with the riuer doe make a kinde of Square figure longer one way then an other On the East side standeth a Block-house well furnished with great ordinance to defend the hauen and towne from pirates and sea robbers It hath but one Church but that is a marueillous faire great one with a very high Spire seene far off both by sea and land a What this towne should be and where it should stand I cannot say for certaine The letters in the Arabicke and the proportion of distance from Yarmouth and Grynsby doe directly point at Drayton in Northhampton-shire But because it is too far off from the sea and was neuer greater then now it is and for that I finde him so often faulty in those accounts I doe not beleeue that he meant that place The name commeth very neere to Torksey which is situate vpon the Trent and as Master Camden sath although now it be but a small towne yet in times past it hath beene much greater and more famous For in time of William the First as appeareth by Doomesday booke it had two hundred citizens and enioyed many great and large priuileges b Grimsby in Lincolnshire sometime a very great Marte towne much resorted vnto from all quarters both by Sea and Land so long as the hauen lay open ready to entertaine Ships of any reasonable burden But as the hauen did in continuance of time decay so the glory of the towne by little and little vanished and resigned vp her trade vnto Kingston vpon Hull her ouerthwarte neighbour which euer since the time of Richard the Second hath greatly flourished in whose daies of a small village and a very few poore Fisher-mens cottages it began to grow to that greatnesse that of a sudden it was not much inferiour to many prety cities c Yorke a very goodly citie situate vpon the riuer Ouse For beauty greatnesse strength riches and pleasure it is inferiour to none in all England but London only Old writers call it EBORACVM the Welchmen Ebrauc or Effroc the Saxons Eferwic And therefore I suspect that this my authour did write it _____ Efferwic not _____ Effradic but I alter nothing It is a very ancient citie oft mentioned in Roman Coines and histories whereby it is manifest that Legio sexta victrix the sixth conquering legion did ordinarily reside in this city The Emperours Seuerus and Constantius father to Constantine the Great so long as they abode in this I le did keepe their court heere and dying in these parts were buried in this city This Constantius being a very godly and religious Christian Prince made it first as our histories report a Bishops sea which Honorius Bishop of Rome afterward aduanced vnto the dignity of a Metropolitane or Archbishopricke which beside the large iurisdiction that it had heere in England had also vnder it all Scotland d Wiske it is called at this day It riseth in Richmond-shire not farre from Wharleton Castle as Christopher Saxto maketh me beleeue e I finde no mention at all of this place either in Master Camden or any other Onely in the same Saxton vpon the foresaid riuer some two or three miles aboue Northaluerton I finde Danby Wiske but whether our authour meant this or not I cannot tell But I would gladly learne of what place the Lord of Vescy tooke his name f Lincolne a large and faire city situate now vpon the North side of the riuer Witham called by Ptolemey and Antonine LINDVM by Beda Lindecollinum by the Normans as Master Camden testifieth Nichol. g This is very false For this riuer hauing hitherto from his fountaine bent his course Northward as if it meant indeed to vnload it selfe at Grimesby doth notwithstanding heere alter that determination and turning it selfe cleane another way at length falleth into the sea at Boston a place almost full South both from Lincolne and Grimesby h Durham situate vpon the top of an hill by the riuer Weare which runneth almost round about it and thereupon was called by the Saxons Dun-holme that is if we shall interpret it into English The hill-ile is no ancient city For the fiirst stone of it as our histories report was laid by the Monkes of Lindesferne in the yeere of our Lord 995. before that we find no mention of it William the First built the Castle vpon the top of the Hill which since that time was the Bishops palace i Ireland the greatest iland in these Seas Brittain only excepted for it runneth out in length from South to North about foure hundred miles and where it is narrowest it is well neere two hundred miles ouer But of this we haue spoken in another place k Denmarke we now cal it is for the most part inuironed and washed with the salt sea and therefore he doth not greatly erre in that he termeth it An Iland l Island if I be not deceiued which Solinus in the thirtie fiue chapter of his Polyhistor saith is two daies saile from Cathnesse the North cape of Scotland His words are these A Caledoniae promontorio Thulen petentibus bidui nauigatio est Those that doe trauell betweene the cape of Caledonia or Cathnesse and Thule doe make it two daies saile Item in the same chapter a little beneath he writeth that Ab Orcadibus Thulem vsque quinque dierum noctium nauigatio est From the Orkney iles to Thule are fiue daies and fiue nights saile Yet Island is not that ancient Thule as Master Camden in his Britania proueth at large The position and distances answer well to Thule but the quantity or bignesse argueth that he meant Island which is much farther off either from
is very ancient and was out of doubt knowen to the Romans at such time they bore the sway in these parts yet there be some which doe thinke it to haue beene built by the Vandals long since the decay of that estate MONDONNEDO is a faire city seated vpon a little riuer toward the Northren sea coast not farre from Riuadeo It was aunciently called Glandomiro ORENSE situate vpon the riuer Min̄o is a very great and large citie The wines that are heere made are counted to be of the best and equall to those of Riuadauia Some thinke that it was in old time called Auria yet the Romans as it is probable called it Aquas Calidas of the hotte bathes which heere are founde and are now of the Spaniards called Burgas TVY or as some write it Tuyd built also vpon the riuer Min̄o not farre from the maine Sea was first founded as they fable by certaine Greeks who came hither from Troy with Diomedes Lucius Marineus Siculus maketh BVRGOS to be a city of Galizia His words are these Burgos saith he is a very famous and ancient city of Galizia in Spaine It was sometime as some authours reporte called Masburgi Liconitiurgis Brauum and Auca or as Pliny writeth it Ceuca It is a very rich and populous citie much resorted vnto by Gentlemen and Marchants of the one sorte for pleasure of the other for profit and therefore it is euery day greatly enlarged with goodly and sumptuous newe buildings If thou desire more of this city I wish thee to repaire to George Braun his Theater of the chiefe cities of the world If more of this kingdome read Peter de Medina his Las Grandezas ycosas notabiles de Espan̄a of the strange and memorable things of Spaine and I make no doubt if not with truthes and good historicall discourses yet with tedious tales and fables thou shalt haue thy belliefull DESCRIPCION DEL REYNO DE GALIZIA AVTH F. FER. OIEA ORD PRED A DON PEDRO FERNANDEZ DE CASTRO Y ANDRADE CONDE DE LEMOS DE VILLALVA Y ANDRADE MARQVES DE SARRIA c. Galizia es vno de los muchos Reynos de Espan̄a que possée nuestro Rey Filipo Era antiguamente mucho mayor que ahora comprendia todas las tierras y prouinçias que ay dentro de los limites siguientes de la mar del Norte y montan̄a de Iunto à Vizcaya husta las fuentes del gran Rio Duero y de ay todo lo que el corre hasta dar consigo en la mar y caminando por las orillas della hasta-botuer al mismo punto de dunde salimos Marij Aretij dialog de descript Hisp apud Berosum et Viterb in inquirid et Florian. de Campo lib. 3. c. 40 et 42. et lib. 4. c. 3. Oy en dia con la mudança del gouierno y de los tiempos ha quedado con este-nombre solo lo que parece en esta tabla de lo qual tiene V. Ex a. vna gran parte y assi por ella como por la mucha afficion que todos los Principes de su casa han tenido siempre a las cosas deste Reyno me parecio se le deuia de Iusticia la ymagen y descripcion del Supplico á V. Ex a. la reciua con la gracia y amor que suele c. Abunda de carnes este Reyno y de todo genero de caça de mucho y muy-buen pescado assi de mar como de rios de que se prouée la mayor parte de Espan̄a Tiene grande abundancia de aguas frias y calientes que llaman ban̄os mucho vino y del mejor que se halla en toda la Europa particularmente el de Orense y Riua dauia del qual se prouen muchas prouincias del Reyno y de fuera del Tiene muchas y muy buenas frutas limas y naranjas de todo genero Seda y mucho lino muchos minerales de Oro y plata hierro c. y algunas canteras de marmol Su temperamento ni frio ni caliente JOANNES BAPTISTA VRINTS AEMVLVS STVDII GEOGRAPHIAE D. ABRAHAMI ORTELII P.M. COSMOG REGII EXCVDIT HOC MYSTERIVM FIRMITER PROFITEMVR FRANCE FRANCE or GALLIA as the Latines called it at this day one of the goodliest and greatest Kingdomes of Europe hath notwithstanding in forepassed ages beene much larger then now it is For in Iulius Caesars time it conteined all that Westerne part of the Maineland inhabited and possessed by the Belgae Aquitani Celtae and Heluetij bounded vpon the North by the Rhein vpon the West by the maine Ocean sea vpon the South with the Pyreney mountaines and vpon the East with the stately Alpes For thus he writeth in the First booke of his Commentaries of the warres of France GALLIA est omnis diuisa in partes tres Quarum vnam incolunt BELGAE aliam AQVITANI tertiam qui ipsorum lingua CELTAE nostra GALLI appellantur Gallos ab Aquitanis Garumna flumen à Belgis Matrona et Sequana diuidit All FRANCE is diuided into three parts whereof the one is possessed of the Belgae the other of the Aquitani the third of those people which they in their language call Celtae wee in ours Galli The Galli or Gaules are diuided from the Aquitanes by the riuer Garonne and from the Belgae by the Marne and Seine Item a little beneath hee saith that GALLIA beginneth at the riuer Rhosne and it is bounded with the Garonne the Ocean sea and Belgium moreouer toward the Sequani and Heluetij it abbutteth vpon the Rhein It bendeth somewhat Northward BELGIVM beginneth at the outmost borders of Gallia and from thence it costeth along by the inner side of the riuer Rhein It lieth North and by East from the rest of Gallia AQVITANIA ariseth at the riuer Garonne and so from thence it falleth downe to the Pyreney mountaines and the Spanish seas It lieth West and by North from the rest of France Nay beside this diuision there was yet another much more large extending the bounds of France beyond the Alpes which did include a good part of Italy and therefore it was of the Romans named GALLIA CISALPINA Fraunce on this side the Alpes or Italia Gallica France in Italy But of these and the like diuisions we haue in the former spoken plentifully and therefore we now surcease to repeat them againe in this place And we are not ignorant how much of this large compasse heere described is at this day seuered from the crowne of France and hath these many yeeres beene gouerned by seuerall Lords and Princes A great part of Gallia Belgica as namely Flaunders Brabant Artois Limburgh and other belongeth vnto the King of Spaine Holland Zeland with the rest of the Low-countries are gouerned by the States Zuittzerland Cleue Lorrain Alsas Sauoy Piemont and some other prouinces are held of the Emperour and are subiect to their proper Princes and no one
foote for ought I know of Italy beyond the Alpes doth belong now to the crowne or kingdome of France The seuerall Shires or Prouinces of this kingdome are very many whereof the most principall are these Boulennois Ponthieu Caux Picardy Normandy Fraunce Beausse Bretaigne Aniow Le Maine Poitow Lymosin Santoine Guien Gascoigne Perigot Quercy Champaine Berrey Gastinois Sologne Auuergne Niuernois Lyomois Charrolois Bourbonois Maine Daulphein Prouince Languedocke Bloys or Blasois Forram Burgundy La Franche Conte Vermandois and some few others mentioned in this Mappe The whole land generally is very fertile and withall passing pleasant and healthfull and thereupon they vse to say that Lombardy is the garden of Italy and France is the garden of Europe Yet some places are more fertile for some one commodity then others are Picardy Normandy and Languedocke are as goodly countries for Corne as any in all Christendome beside Some places doe afforde great store of fruits some as great plenty of Wood In some places Flax and Hempe doe grow in great abundance in other places they make as great a commoditie of their Woad The whole countrey generally in all places affordeth much wine but the best is made in Beausse about Orleans They haue some mines of Iron but many of Salt Whereupon La Noüe saith that the Corne Wine Salt and Woad that is from hence transported into forraine Countries doth bring in yeerely to the subiects and crowne of France twelue hundred thousand pounds of currant mony And Iohn Bodine affirmeth that Such springs of Corne Salt and wine doe heere flow so copiously that it is almost impossible to empty them or drawe them quit dry Another a country man of ours a worthy gentleman and of as good iudgement as the best of them saith that in the prouince of Limosin are the best Beeues about Orleans the best Wines in Auuergne the best Swine and in Berry the choisest Mutton and greatest store of Sheepe In France there are twelue Archbishoprickes and one hundred and foure Suffraganes or Bishops Bodine saith that there are in France twentie seuen thousand and foure hundred Parish Churches counting onely euery city for a Parish The cities and walled townes in this country are very many but of them all PARIS is the chiefe which doth as much excell the rest as the lofty cedar doth the lowest shrubbes And I haue heard say if my memory faile me not that the King of France being demaunded by an Embassadour how many cities there were in all that his whole country and kingdome reckoned vp a great number and amongst them made no mention at all of Paris and being againe asked the reason why he did not account that for one amongst the rest answeared that Paris was another world This towne is seated in the I le of France vpon the riuer Sein in as pleasant and fertile a place as elsewhere may be found in this whole kingdome It is a very ancient city called by Caesar Lutetia by Ptolemey Lucotecia and by Iulianus in his Misopogonus Leucetia Zosimus nameth it Parisium and Marcellinus Castellum Parisiorum The castle of the Parisij For this prouince which now they call properly France or The I le of France was the ancient seat and habitation of the Parisij The riuer Sein Sequana parting it selfe into two streames diuideth this towne into three parts to wit The Burge vpon the North side The Vniuersity vpon the South and The Ville in the middest in the I le aforesaid which seemeth to be the old towne mentioned by Caesar For thus he writeth in the seuenth booke of his Commentaries of the warres of France Id oppidum Lutetia hee meaneth Parisiorum positum in insula fluminis Sequanae Lutetia that towne of the Parisij is situate in an iland in the riuer Sein It is as our learned countryman reporteth tenne English miles about by the wals The Vniuersity was founded by Charles the Great in the yeere of our Lord eight hundred For other particulars I wish thee to looke backe to that which we haue written before generally of France or particularly of diuers and sundry seuerall Prouinces of the same And beside those authours before named thou maiest adioine that our learned countriemam who not long since set out a discourse of this kingdome intituled The view of France GALLIA Geographica Galliae descriptio de integro plurimis in locis emendata ac Regionum limitibus distincta auctore Petro Plantio Quicquid terrarum Rhene Alpibus mari Mediterraneo Pyrenais montibus oceano Aquitanico Britannico et Germanico clauditur communi nomino Latinis Galliae appellatur quibus limitibus potentissimum Francorum regnum Sabaudia Burgundia comitatus Holvetia Alsatia Lotharingia inferior Germania et quaedam aliae regiones hodie continentur Ioannes Baptista Vriuts excudit The Duchie of LIMBORGH in the Low Countries GERMANIA INFERIOR or as we now call it The Low countries is at this day diuided into these seuenteene prouinces to wit foure Duchies Brabant Limbourgh Lukenburgh Guelderland seuen Counties or Earldomes Flanders Artois Heinault Holland Zeland Namur and Zurphen one Marquisate commonly called The Marquisate of the Sacred Empire fiue Grand Signeories Frizeland Mechlin Vtreckt Ouer-issel and Groninghen Of the most of these we haue in the former spoken seuerally and at large onely of Limborgh which although it be one of the least yet in honor and dignity not the least we haue hitherto spoken little or nothing The Dukedome of LIMBOVRGH therefore is a very little prouince situate in the middest betweene the Duchie of Gulich Gelderland the Bishopricke of Leege and Lutzenburge The citie Limburgh or as they vulgarly call it Lympurch the chiefe towne of this prouince and whereof it tooke the name standeth vpon the riuer Wesse or Wesdo as they name it and is distant from Aix three leagues but from Leige it is foure at the least or somewhat more It is a very strong towne both by nature and arte For being built vpon the rising of a stony hill it is enclosed round with a very defensible wall garded heere and there with diuers strong towers beside a goodly large Castle all of free stone vpon the toppe of the hill The situation and prospect of this citie is most pleasant and commendable For at the foote of the hill at the townes side runneth the riuer vnto which adioineth a goodly fertile plaine where daily great store of cattell are kept and mainteined to the great commodity and gaine of the inhabitants round about This city is not ancient nor once mentioned by any old writer as D. Remacle Fusch a learned Physician this countriman borne plainly confesseth and yet he saith that hee had diligently searched and turned ouer all authours who either of set purpose or by the way haue handled that kind of argument The soile is very good and fertile both for corne and pasture especially about Heruey a fine village not farre from Clermont Onely wine it yeeldeth none at all but in
sted of that they make of barley steeped and sodden a kinde of very strong drinke which will assoone make the tosse-pot drunke as the strongest wine in France Lewis Guicciardine writeth that about halfe a Dutch mile off from this towne there is a Mine or quarry of stone that is very like to mettall of Pliny in the 10. Chapter of the foure and thirtieth booke of his Naturall historie it is called Lapis aerosus Cadmia and lapis calaminaris if I be not deceiued The brasse stone or Copper ore D. Fusch testifieth that it hath also diuerse veines of Lead and Iron A kinde of blacke stone cole like vnto that which we heere call Seacoale of a sulphurous nature a good fuell and much vsed of Farriers and Smithes is in diuers places of the country digged out of the ground in great abundance Moreouer heere are found diuers sorts of stone not much vnlike to Marble or Iasper party coloured very beautiful and good for building This countrey at the first was no more but a County or Earldome vntill that Fredericke surnamed Barbarosso in the yeere of our Lord 1172. graced it with the title and dignity of a Duchie The first Duke that enioied this honor was Henry the First lineally descended from Henry the Fourth that valiant and religious Emperour At length Henry the Second Duke of Limburgh dying without heire male Iohn the First Duke of Brabant about the yeere after Christs incarnation 1293 by right of inheritance claimed the same and by dint of sworde driuing out Reynold Earle of Gelderland the Vsurper obteined it since whose daies it hath beene quietly possessed by the house of Brabant Therefore for iustice in ciuill causes not only Limburg but also Faulconburg Dalem and other liberties and free townes beyond the Mose do come to the courts of Brabant which ordinarily are held at Brussels otherwise for ecclesiasticall iurisdiction they doe belong to the diocesses of that Bishop of Leige But beside this dukedome of Limburgh there are diuers other Iursdictions and Signiories described in this Charte of the which these following are the chiefe whereof it shal not be amisse to speake a word or two Faulconburgh Valckembourg it is called of the Dutch but of the French Fauquemont is a very prety towne which hath iurisdiction and command ouer a large circuite of ground conteining many fine villages It is three great Dutch miles from Aix and but two small miles from Mastricht It was conquered and taken by Iohn the third Duke of Brabant who ouercame Ramot the Lord of Faulconburgh a troublesome man that at that time laid seege to Mastricht and had much and oft vexed the country round about him DALEM is a prety fine towne with a Castle but of no great strength It is three long miles from Aix and two from Liege It was honoured with the title of an Earldome and had iurisdiction and command ouer many villages and a great circuit of ground vp as high as the riuer of Mose Henry the Second Duke of Brabant conquered it and adioined it to his dominions ROIDVCK or as Guicciardin calleth it Rhodele-duc is an ancient little towne with an old Castle about one long Dutch mile as the forenamed authour would haue it from Faulconburg yet this our Mappe maketh it about two AIX or AIX LACHAPELLE if we may beleeue Munster was that which the Latines called Aquisgranum so much spoken of and mentioned in the stories of Charles the Great and others of those times Others would haue it to be that which Ptolemey in the 9 chapter of the second booke of his Geography calleth Veterra and where he saith the thirtieth Legion called Vlpia legio did reside Limprand nameth it Palais de Grau Rheginon Palais de eaux that is the Water palace which in my iudgement seemeth most probable because I find that that city in Prouence in France which the Romans called Aquae Sextiae the Frenchmen do at this day call Aix This city is situate betweene Brabant Limburgh the Duchie of Gulicke and the Bishopricke of Liege Some thinke that it was destroied and laid leuell with the ground by Attila king of the Humes others thinke that it was first founded by Charles the Great But to leaue all these as doubtfull this is certeine that it standeth in a most pleasant plaine and as healthfull and sweet an aire as any may be elswhere found in these parts That faire Church of our Sauiour and the blessed Virgin his mother was built by this Emperour and by him was endowed with great lands priuiledges many holy and precious reliques brought thither from sundry places of the world Beatus Rhenanus writeth that Charles the Great made it the head and chiefe city of the kingdome of France and generally of all the whole Empire the ordinary Court and place of residence for the Emperour in these Westerne parts of the same Moreouer he ordained that heere the Emperour should by the Bishop of Collen Metropolitan of this prouince be crowned with a crown of Iron at Millan with a crowne of Siluer and at Rome with a crowne of Gold Ouer one of the doores of the Towne-house are written these six Latine verses Carolus insignem reddens hanc condidit vrbem Quam libertauit post Romam constituendo Quòd sit trans Alpes hic semper regia sedes Vt caput vrbs cuncta colat hanc Gallia tota Gaudet Aquisgranum prae cunctis munere clarum Quae prius imperij leges nunc laureat almi And ouer another doore these two Hîc sedes regni trans Alpes habeatur Caput omnium ciuitatum prouinciarum Galliae This famous Emperour hauing reigned ouer the Frenchmen 47. yeares and worne the imperiall diadem 14. ended his life in the yeere of our Lord 813. and was heere enterred in a tombe of Marble in our Ladies Church with this plaine epitaph Caroli Magni Christianissimi Romanorum Imperatoris Corpus hoc conditum est sepulchro That is the body of Charles the Great Emperour of the Romans lieth heere interred in this tombe Thus farre Guicciardine to whom I wish thee to repaire if thou desire a larger discourse of these particulars LIMBVRGENSIS DVCATVS TABVLA NOVA EXCVSA SVMPTIBVS IOAN BAPTISTAE VRINTS AEMVLI STVDII GEOGRAPHIAE D. AB ORTELLI P. M. COSMOGRAPHI REGII c. ILLVSTRISSIMO DOCTISSIMOQVE DOMINO D. GASTONI SPINOLAE COMITI BRVACENSI c. ORDINIS EQVESTRIS S. IACOBI PRIMO A STABVLIS ATQVE A CVBICVLIS SERENISSIMI DVCIS BRABANTIAE EIVSDEMQVE IN BELLICIS CONSILIIS ASSESSORI ORDINARIO DVCATVS LIMBVRGENSIS TOTIVSQVE REGIONIS VLTRAMOSANAE GVBERNATORI VIGILANTISSIMO OMNISQVE ERVDITIONIS ASYLO VNICO HANC TABVLAM GEOGRAPHICAM NOVISSIMIS DIMENSIONIBVS A SE AD EXACTISSIMAM REDACTAM PERFECTIONEM AEGIDIVS MARTINI ANTVERPIENSIS IN VTROQVE IVRE LICENTLATVS ET MATHEMATICVS FECIT ET DEDICAVIT ANNO M.DCIII AN EPISTLE OF HVMFREY LHOYD VVRITTEN TO ABRAHAM ORTEL COSMOGRAPHER TO PHILIP the Second King of SPAINE wherein at large and learnedly he discourseth of the
iland MONA the ancient seat of the DRVIDES TO satisfie your request concerning the Name and situation of the I le MONA most learned Ortell and to set downe in writing what I haue obserued of that argument in the reading of ancient and moderne authours what I haue found by experience and trauell and what I haue gathered by the knowledge of the British tongue which to this day is spoken vulgarly by the inhabitants of this iland were but so much as I confesse is due to your kinde loue and manifold courtesies whereby you haue many wayes eternally bound me vnto you Notwithstanding in so doing I am sure to be seuerely censured of many condemned of some and generally to be subiect and opposed to the obloquy and scandalous speeches of the baser sort such I mean as haue no maner of learning or sound iudgement For a preiudicate opinion though neuer so false and absurd nay euen the grossest errors if they be once receiued and setled in the heart will hardly euer be remoued especially being patronaged and defended by the authority of Polydore Virgil a graue learned man and one that for those times was accounted very eloquent But by their leaue I may say That this man hath stuffed his Histories with many manifest errours mille mendis mendacijs with a thousand faults and falshoods which he fell into not only for that he wanted the knowledge of the British tongue which now the English after the maner of the Germans call Welsh that is Strange or Barbarous without which euen the very name of the iland can by no meanes be truely vnderstood But also either for that he neuer read the best of our Authours or els for that he bearing a proud splene and malice against the Britons whom the best and most honorable of all the Romane Emperours did loue and greatly esteeme little weighed their authority and haughtilie attributing too much to his owne neglected the better and followed the steps poore blinde man of one William Little little in name and little in estimation and credit as blinde a foole as himselfe But let this brasen faced diminisher of the Britons honour burst himselfe if he will and do what he can to the vttermost of his might and malice so long as Diodorus Siculus Dion Cassius twise Consul of Rome Herodian Plutarch Pausanias Ptolemey and Strabo are extant amongst the Greekes Caesars Commentaries Tacitus his Annals Eutropius Suetonius Orosius Aelius Spartianus Iulius Capitolinus Aelius Lampridius Flauius Vopiscus Aurelius Victor Ammianus Marcellinus Sextus Rufus The Panegyricks of Mamertinus and others Pliny Antonine Mela and Solinus amongst the Latines beside the Annals of the three Gildases Ninnius and diuers other very learned men written many hundred yeres since in the British tongue who before the comming of the English which our countreymen to this day call by their ancient name Saxons haue learnedly penned the histories of this their natiue countrey and beside Asserius Obbern Felix Monumetensis Henricus Huntingtonensis Malmesburiensis Annouillanus Iscanus Neccham Gyraldus Parisiensis Trenetus and infinite others which since those Saxons conquered that part of the iland which they call England but we reteining the old name Lhoëgria haue done the like Let I say this proud Italian burst himselfe and let him snarle at the worthy acts of the Britons while so many and such ancient authours do liue to sound the trumpe of their honour no impudent lying fellow shall euer be able with his calumnies to obscure the bright lusture of the Britons glory to impeach the honourable fame of their renowmed deeds spread abroad by such worthy men or to fasten the least infamy vpon them But now it is time to come to our proposed argument and to speake more particularly of MONA which Polydore Virgil taking vpon him more than he well might hath depriued of the ancient name and leauing it namelesse hath giuen both it and Menauia to the I le of Man as may thus be proued both out of the Greeke Latine and British writers as also out of the language which here to this day is spoken by the inhabitants It is apparent out of Caesar Tacitus and others that MONA was an iland very neere to the coast of Britaine betweene it and Ireland In which Sea there are but two beside the Hebrides that are of any note and bignesse Therefore it must needs follow that one of those two is that MONA which is so often mentioned in ancient histories Wherefore I thinke it not amisse to set downe before your eyes the position of them both and how they do lie from the coast of England other ilands round about them that by that meanes that which followeth may the better be vnderstood The first of these which Polydore calleth ANGLESEY is very neere to that part of Britaine which we call Cumry and the English Wales from which it is seuered by a very narrow frith or bay of the sea the countrey people call it Menai which ouer-against the middest of the iland is hardly a mile ouer Vpon the East side of this I le there is a very strong castle and a prety fine citie called Beaumarish Bellum mariscum both built by Edward the First King of England On the other side of the iland opposite to this city there is a maruellous conuenient place to take shipping for Ireland and therefore it is much for that purpose resorted vnto and frequented by the English They call it Holy-head but of the Welsh men it is called Caërgybi that is Gubchester or The citie of Kybi In this iland is Aberfraw which within these three or foure hundred yeeres was the chiefe seat where ordinarily the King of Northwales Gwynedia or as some barbarously write it Venedocia did reside and keepe his Court This iland for the bignesse of it mainteineth and breedeth much cattell and sheepe It yeerely yeeldeth such plentie of wheat that in respect of that fertility it is commonly called The mother of Wales They haue little wood here growing yet euery day the bodies of huge trees with their roots and sirre trees of a woonderfull length and bignesse are heere by the inhabitants found and digged out of the earth in diuers places in low grounds and champion fields The people speake the Welsh tongue and for the most part they do not vnderstand one word of English notwithstanding they haue for these three hūdred yeeres and more beene subiect as the rest of Wales hath beene to the Kings and Crowne of England But now let vs come to the other iland to which also Polydore Virgil hath not long since without any ground or good authoritie giuen the name of MONA That standeth in the middest of the maine sea distant from the neerest place of England at the least fiue and twentie miles It is almost as bigge as that other but it is farre more barren and waste and those men that are borne and bred there are weake and nothing so fit for
whereby they were sometime called before the entrance of the Saxons But let vs come againe to Mona Our countreymen and the inhabitants of this ile speaking now at this day the ancient British tongue doe know no other name of it than MON for so they all generally call it Polydore Virgil calleth it ANGLESEA that is The English ile I grant that this iland being subdued by the English men was beautified and graced with their name and that the English men do so call it I do not denie But I pray thee did the English men first descrie this iland was it neuer seene before or had it no name at all before their comming Hearest thou Polydore bethinke thy selfe thou mayest aswell say that England is not that land which was sometime called Britannia nor that was not Gallia which now we call France Nay which is a greater matter than this and more strange the inhabitants of this ile notwithstanding they be subiect to the crowne of England do neither know what England or an English man doth meane For an English man they call Sais but in the plurall number speaking of more than one Saisson and this their natiue countrey they name Mon. Moreouer that faire citie built vpon that arme of the sea or frith aboue mentioned on the other side ouer against the West part of this iland is called Caeraruon that is The citie vpon Mon For Caer in our language signifieth a walled towne Kir in Hebrew is a wall and Kartha in those Easterne tongues is a walled citie Ar is as much to say as Vpon and as for the v in the last syllable for m that is the proprietie of the language in some cases for in all words beginning with m in consequence of speech that letter after some certeine consonants is changed into v for which our nation doth alwayes vse f because that v with them is euermore a vowell So we call Wednesday Diem Mercurij Die Mercher but Wednesday night Nos Fercher Mary we call Mair but for our Ladies church we write and pronounce Lhanuair Neither is this citie only thus named but euen that whole tract of the continent of Britaine that runneth along by it is called Aruon that is Opposite or ouer against Mon. But let it be that this iland was not that Mona so oft mentioned by the ancients then ought Polydore for his credits sake haue found another name for it and not to haue left it wholly namelesse Now let vs come vnto the other which our countreymen do call MENAW and which all the inhabitants generall as also the English and Scots reteining the Welsh name but cutting it somewhat shorter MAN Therefore there is no man for ought I know beside this proud Italian and one Hector Boëthius a loud liar that euer called this iland by the name of Mona But leauing these demonstrable arguments which indeed do make this matter more cleere than the noone day let vs come vnto authorities and testimonies of learned men which in some cases are rather beleeued than any other arguments whatsoeuer by these I doubt not but the true and proper name shall be giuen to ech of these ilands and the controuersie decided without any maner of contradiction There is a piece of Gildas Britannus that ancient writer a man euery kinde of way learned at this day remaining in the Librarie of the illustrious Earle of Arundell the only learned Noble man of his time in which he hath these wordes England hath three ilands belonging to it Wight ouer against the Armoricanes or Bretaigne in France The second lieth in the middest of the sea betweene Ireland and England The Latine Historians doe call it Eubonia but vulgarly in our mother tongue we call it MANAW Thou hearest gentle Reader a naturall Welsh man speaking in the Welsh tongue For thus we call Polydore Virgils Mona in our natiue language euen at this day Moreouer the reuerend Beda that worthy Englishman famous thorow all Christendome in his dayes for all maner of literature and good learning in the ninth chapter of the second booke of his Historie writeth thus At which time also the people of Northumberland Nordan Humbri that is all that nation of the Angles which did inhabit vpon the North side of the riuer Humber with Edwin their king by the preaching of Paulinus of whom we haue spoken a little before was conuerted vnto the faith of Christ This king in taking of good successe for his enterteinment of the Gospel did grow so mightie in Christianitie and the kingdome of heauen and also had that command vpon the earth that he ruled which neuer any king of the English did before him from one end of Britaine to the other and was king not only of the English but also of all the shires and prouinces of the Britons Yea and he brought vnder his subiection as I haue shewed before the iles of Man insulae Menaniae Here I do thinke that for Menauiae it ought to be written Menauiae seeing that there is such small difference betweene an n and a u that they may easily be mistaken and one put for another Moreouer Henry Archdeacon of Huntingdon a worthy Historiographer who wrote about the yeere of our Lord 1140 one that followed Beda in many things almost foot for foot doth seeme also to correct this fault and cleere the doubt For he setting forth the great command and conquests of this Edwine King of the Northumbers brusteth out into these words Eduwyn the king of the Northumbers ruled ouer all Britaine not only ouer that part which was inhabited of the English but ouer that also which was possessed of the Britons Kent only excepted Moreouer he brought the I le Menauia which lieth between Ireland and Britaine and is commonly called MAN vnder the obedience of the Kings of England Here obserue that this English man did giue also to this iland which Polydore Virgil falsly calleth Mona the English name for it is commonly sayth he called Man by which name it is knowen called at this day of all the English Besides this also Ranulph of Chester in the foure and fortieth chapter of the first booke of his Polychronicon doth thus speake of those ilands which are neere neighbours vnto Britaine Britaine sayth he hath three ilands lying not farre off from it beside the Orkney iles which doe seeme to answer vnto the three principall parts of the same For WIGHT lieth hard vpon the coast of Loëgria which now is called England Anglia MONA which the English call Anglisea perteineth vnto Cambria that is to Wales But the I le EVBONIA which hath two other names Menauia and Mania lieth oueragainst Scotland These three Wight Man and Anglisea Vecta Mania Mona are almost all of one bignesse and conteining the like quantitie of ground Thus farre Ranulph of Chester The reason why Gildas and others haue called this iland Eubonia I take to be this because it was first inhabited of the same nation
an altar in Caledonia mentioned by Solinus a prouince of Great Britaine hauing an inscription vpon it written in Greeke letters there consecrated and dedicated to some God whose gratious fauour he had largely tasted of in this his iourney Of Asciburgium a city built by him as Tacitus writeth vpon the brinke of the riuer Rheine and of an altar there consecrated to his seruice yet that they are altogether fained and meere fables there be many things that do strongly proue And indeed Aulus Gellius in the sixth chapter of his foureteenth booke sheweth that long since this voiage vpon the Ocean seas was doubted of and called in question videlicet they made a question whether Vlysses wandred through the maine Ocean as Aristarchus would haue it or whether he neuer went out of the inner sea so Strabo and Pliny do call the Mediterran or Midland sea as Cratetes would perswade vs. And truely in Ausonius his Periocha there is not a word of this nauigation through the Ocean Item Vlysses himselfe relating vnto his wife the summe of all his peregrination doth not once name the Ocean Neither doth Dares Phrygius Hyginus in his fables or Isacius vpon Lycophron mention any such thing and yet euery one of these men doe make a large discourse of that his wandring voiage Againe those things which we find in Strabo of this matter as he himselfe plainly confesseth were taken out of Possidonius Artemidorus and Asclepiades euery one of which authours it is certaine liued many a day since Homer and not out of Homer himselfe Item the wise Seneca in the 88. chapter of his seuenth booke calleth it Angustum iter errorem longum A short iourney but long in regard of many turne-againes before it was ended But because it was also before me by the learned Iohn Brodey a man of good iudgement and quicke conceit accounted for a meere fable I will heere out of the third booke of his Miscellanea set downe his opinion in his owne words which in English are thus They saith he who thinke that Vlysses euer sailed vpon the Maine Ocean do labour to prooue that their opinion out of this verse of Homer in the tenth booke of his Odysses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But when thou shalt by ship haue pass'd the Ocean seas Of which opinion although I do find the learned Strabo to bee yet I see no reason why I may not freely propose to the censure of the learned what I doe thinke of the same When I doe consider the fashion and maner of building of ERYTHRAEI SIVE RVBRI MARIS PERIPLVS olim ab Arriano descriptus nunc verò ab Abrah Ortelio ex eodem delineatus VLYSSIS ERRORES ex Conatib Geographicis Ab. Ortelij ANNONIS PERIPLVS Cum Imp. Reg. et Cancellariae Brabantia priuilegio decennali 1597. Vlysses shippes described by Homer to be open without deckes and hatches I doe perceiue them to haue beene much too weake and too low to abide the billowes and stormes of the maine sea which for three moneths of the yeare galleies and tall shippes well and strongly built of the best timber and well seasoned can hardly be able to sustaine That any man should thinke that Astypyrgium or Asciburgium which wee spake of a little before was built by Vlysses as some men haue gathered out of Cornelius Tacitus it were extreame madnesse For if one would passe the Spanish French and English seas and then at length to returne backe againe through the Germane Ocean and in diuers places on Gods name vpon the sea coast to build and erect altars he had need haue a nauy of many tal ships strongly built wel appointed he must not think to do it with one little bark or rotten barge rowed to fro with oares and strength of men But authours of good credit do make mention of Vlyssipo and of other famous monuments of him to be seene in Portugall What then Whether that any thing of Vlysses his doing be there to be seene or euer were I greatly doubt and if there be yet that it was made by this Vlysses whose life famous acts Homer did describe I flatly deny And yet it is not incredible to beleeue that as we do suppose that there were many Herculesses so that there were in like maner more Vlyssesses then one which in mine opinion seemeth very probable and likely to be true Thus farre Brodey To those arguments of his I adde first That Odyssopolis is by Cedrenus and the Historia Miscella described to be neere Pontus in Asia And who is so madde to beleeue that this city was so named of this our Odyssus or as the Latines call him Vlysses And seeing that I do see that Homer himselfe doth not make mention of any one place vnto the which he did put in or landed in all this his trauel vpon the Ocean sea I am easily perswaded that this notable Poet doth not only in this verse but euen in diuers other places also by the Ocean poetically mean the sea For example neere the end of the 10. book of his Odysses ni the beginning of the 11. assoone as euer he is returned from the Inferi presently Homer maketh him to enter the Ocean But you will say he entred the Ocean neere wherabout the Cimmerij did dwell as appeareth plainly by that which he writeth in the beginning of the 12. book of his Odysses True But where I pray you did these Cimmerij dwell No where surely but in Italy within a little of the I le Circeia being returned from thence he burieth according to his promise the body of Elpenor The body I mean after so many moneths or which is more probable so many yeres for those nauigations in old time were not the next way through the middest of the sea but much further about as we haue shewed in our Thesaurus at the word OPHIR along by the shore within sight of land corrupt or which is more likely turned to dust and ashes or quite consumed to nothing If any man shall againe obiect with Ouid in the first booke of his Tristium who saith that illius pars maxima ficta laborum est The most part of Vlysses toile was forged in Poets braine and say that this whole history and not only this nauigation vpon the Maine Ocean was but a feined tale I answer that all the story except this part of his nauigation by the vast Ocean only is somewhat probable and nothing in it impossible but might haue beene done In this voiage by the Ocean sea I haue stated the longer lest the Reader might suspect that either through negligence or ignorance it were left out in this our Mappe Now let vs if you please go on forward with our intended iourney Vlysses departing from the iland Aeaea and taking his leaue of his hostesse Circes by whom hauing kept with her by the space of an whole yeare he begat his sonne Telegonus he went his way safe and