the East with Sicyonia Patras was then its capital City Arcadia being up in the Countrey and by consequence distant from the Sea had for its Eastern boundaries Argos and Laconia with the Mountain Oronio Elis and Mount Flora for the Western on the North Achaia proper and Mount Skinfali and on the South Messenia and the Mountain Taygeta It s principal City was Megalopolis that is the great Arta situated at the foot of Mount Coronio called at this â—ime El Cesal Londari Argos heâ—â—â— the East the Gulf of Napoli di â—â—mania and the Aegean â—ea on the West Arcadia on the â—outh Laconia and on the North the Gulf of Engia or Sinus Sardonicus Arâ—os was its chief City Corinthia which was the most Norâ—hern part of Peloponnesus was extended â—etween Sicyonia Westward and Argos â—outh and Eastward and was separaâ—ed from Achaia by the Isthmus and Gulf of Lepanto It took its Name â—om Corinthus the Son of Jupiter or â—â— Ephipeus who also gave a Name to â—e Capital City Elis bordered on the North upon Achaia properly so called on the East upon Arcadia on the South upon Messenia and on the West upon the Ionian Sea. Polybius and Strabo name this likewise Elea and Cauconia It s principal City was also called Elis. Laconia had for its Southern Limits partly the Gulf of Colochina and partly that of Coron for its Eastern the Gulf of Napoli di Romania for its Northern Arcadia and for the Western Messenia Sparta was its chief City The South of Messenia was between Laconia towards the East â—nd Elis towards the West it had Arcadia on the North and contained all that space between the Gulfs of Coron and Zonchio Messene was the principal City Sicyonia or Sicyonis which was the least of the Provinces took the Name from its capital City called likewise Sicyon It bordered Eastwards on Corinthia Westward on Achaia the Gulf oâ— Corinth was on its North and Arcadâ—â— on the South Pomponius Mela divides the wholâ— Lib. 2. cap. 3. Morea into six Provinces viz. Argoâ— Laconia Messenia Achaia Elis and Arcadia At this time Morri and Baudrand make but four Provinces of it and this Division is likewise approved of by the Learned Cautelli in his Geography received with general Applause The first of thâ—se four Provinces comprehends the whole Extent of Achaia proper Sicyonia and Corinth and is called the Duche of Chiarenza It s Northern bound is the Gulf of Lepanto and on the South the Province of Belvedere This Province has several Cities and Towns. Patras is its chief City after which Chiarenza Caminitza Castel-Torneso claim their places but we shall reserve their description to the Second Part where we will give particular Informations of the whole Countrey It s most noted Promontories are the Cape de Rio of which we will speak when we come to treat of the Gulf of Patras Another is the Cape by Bourdon called the Cape de Chiarenza and by Ptoâ—emy and Strabo Araxis Promontorium which extends it self into the Ionian Sea not far from the Mouth of the River Larissus between the Gulfs of Patras and Chiarenza The last lying Southward is Cape Torneso which Strabo called Chelonates Promontorium Thevet Cape Thorice and Sophianus Cape Chlumutzi This likewise stretches it self into the Ionian Sea between the Gulf of Chiarenza and that of Arcadia The second Province termed Belvedere reaches where Elis and Messenia were formerly It confines Northward on the River Carbon which also divides it from the Province of Chiarenza and on the South it is bounded by the Gulf of Coron on the East it has Braccio di Maina and on the West the Gulf of Arcadia and Zonchio It contains several Countries and Cities amongst which Modon is the principal then Coron Calamata and Navarin follow in dignity The most celebrated Promontories are Cape Jardau which is the Ichtus Promontorium of Ptolemy and is the most Northern of all Cap de Zonchio which Pausanias calls Coryphasium Promontorium Cap de Sapienza or Cap Gallo by Ptolemy named Acritas Promontorium The third Province is called Saccania or the lesser Romania and contains all the Ancient Argos It has its North Confines on the Gulf of Lepanto the Gulf d' Engia and the Isthmus its South on Braccio di Maina and the Gulf of Napoli di Romania its West in part on the Duche of Chiarenza and part on Traconia Napoli di Romania is the capital the other chief Towns are Argos and Corinth The Palus or Morass of Lerna where Hercules killed the Seven-headed-Hydra is a place very remarkable in this Province Though this Monster was but a Fiction yet it is true that there were Seven Brethren that lived in this place and pillaged all Passengers making the Countrey desolate against these Hercules undertook the Combate and having killed the first that encountered him he dispatch'd the rest two by two as they came under his hands Whence the Poets took occasion to feign an Hydra with Seven Heads and its Death from that of the Seven Brethren sacrificed by Hercules his Rage to the just Revenge of the Countrey This Province has but one Promontory but that very famous and known by several Names It is called Cape Shilli in Pliny Scylaeum and in Pausanias Plethon Promontorium by Ptolomy Scillium by Favolius Sigillo by Sophianus Scylli by Villanova Damala This Promontory with its opposite called Colonne in Attica makes the entrance of the Gulf of Engia The fourth Province which has changed its Name Laconia for Zaconia is the Braccio di Maina and is at this day indifferently called by those two Names It much surpasses the bigness of either of the three former as it is also more extended on the South along the Sea-side It was at first called Lelegia from Lelex who first ruled there as King. Virgil and other Poets call it Oebalia from Oebalus Lord thereof and according to Strabo 't was likewise termed Argos 'T is wash't on the South by the Gulf of Calamata and in part by that of Colochina on the East by the Gulf of Napoli di Romania its West bounds on the Province of Belvedere and some part of it on the Duché of Chiarenza This Province has many high and dreadful Rocks and Precipices whence 't is subject to frequent Earthquakes The most of its deep Caverns are found about Mount Tageta at this time called on the side of Misitra Voutri tis Misitras and on the side of the Main Voutri tis Portais It breeds Dogs of good esteem Zaiman Basha or the Grand Signior's chief Huntsman chooses a great number of them yearly for the Sultan's use and diversions and there is scarce a Turk that lives at any Rate but has one of them The principal places of this Province are Malvasia Misitra Sarnata Chielefa Vitulo Paslava and others of which in their places Its Promontories are the Cape of Matapà n of which we will give a particular description when we come to speak of
Lovâ— to the People of Patras he permitteâ— them to live as a free People enjoying all the Priviledges and exemptâ—ons as the true Citizens of Rome The Goddess Diana was Adored iâ— this City under the Title of Diaâ—â— Latria and a Grove and Temple waâ— there dedicated to Diana Triclaria â—â— whom every year a young Man anâ— Maid the most beautiful that coulâ— be chosen out of all the People werâ— Sacrificed in expiation of the Crimâ— committed by Melampue and Cimetâ—â— who also were first Sacrificed themselves for being married to one another in the time of Diana against the Will of their Parents This cruel Sacrifice had an end when Euripilâ— came to Patras and was there converted to the Christian Religioâ— by the preaching of St. Andreâ— the Apostle Patras at that time was very well peopled as at this day 't is not thin there are especially a great number of Jews who much proâ—ote its Trade and it is almost the â—nly Maritime Town on this side â—here the Greeks of the neighbouring â—slands the English and the French â—ome to Traffick The Air is not very â—holesome by reason of its nearness â—o Mountains that are covered with â—now and the great quantities of Waâ—â—r wherewith it is environed The â—erritories once comprehended under â—s Rule in the time of the Greek Emâ—erors bore the Title of a Duché â—hich it kept till the Prince that enâ—yed it in the year 1408. not having â—fficient Forces for its guard and deâ—â—nce delivered it for a great Sum to â—e Venetian Republick from whom â—e Turks took it In the Year 1533. the General Doâ—a attempted to make himself Maâ—er thereof which he easily gained â—rough the bad Condition of its Forâ—ications with an absolute Victory â—hen at the same time the Castle surâ—â—ndered which Commanded the â—ity though it once for a whole year â—â—sisted the Forces of Constantine Paâ—logus The Victor used great moderatioâ— towards the Garrison convoyinâ— them to Lepanto whither they desireâ— to go with their Wives not one oâ— them recieving the least ill Treatmenâ— from the Victorious Troops noâ— without their repining against the General for taking out of their hands â— Prey justly due to their Valour and Fortune Chiarenza ON the right side of the River Inachus by Ptolomey called Penaeâ— and on an Hill towards the Gulf oâ— Patras is seen the City Chiarenza thought to be the Ancient Cyllene thâ— Country of Mercury whom the Poâ—â— thence called Cyllenius Heros Thiâ— was the Capital City of the Duché oâ— that name and under the Government of its Princes it was as Illustrious as its name Chiarenza speaks it The Venetians justly possessed it and although at that time it was in a flourishing Estate yet it has now undergon so great a change that its Moats â—nd some slight Traces of it are all â—at is visible The Port belonging to â— called likewise Chiarenza which â—as near to it a very commodious â—aven capable of receiving many â—eat Vessels is now quite choaked up â—ith Sand. Caminitza â—N the middle of the way between â— the Cape of Chiarenza and Patras â—â— the right hand of the River by â—e Ancients called Pirus we see â—â—minitza which Strabo and Ptolomey â—me Olenus and Pliny Olenum 't is â—ree Miles from the Gulf of Patras â—enus the Son of Vulcan founded it â—t though 't was once a great City â—th a Bishop who was Suffragan to â—e Archbishop of Patras yet it is â—w reduced to a little Borough Castle of Torneze CAstel Torneze is a Fortress built â— on the outmost Promontory â— the Duché of Chiarenza on that side tâ— looks towards the Province of Belâ—â—dere between the Gulfs of Chiareâ—â— and Arcadia 't was called as Baudrâ—â— says Chelonates the same name whiâ—â— Strábo gives to the Promontory wheâ— on it stands The Turks call it Oâ—mourzi 't is on a very high place â—bout three miles from the Sea as â—â— be plainly seen by the Draught â— have here given of it taken upon â— place by the Illustrious Neovin a Geâ—tleman near the Person of his Higâ—ness Prince Maximilian William Dâ—â— of Erunswick Zunchio or Navarin ZUnchio which Ptolomey calls Pylâ— Steven of Byzantium Coryphasâ—â— and Navarin Ten miles distant froâ— Coron is built upon a rising Grounâ— NAVARIN CASL. TORNESE at the foot whereof is its The 21. of June 1245. Selistar Bassa was taken the Port of Navarin with a great number of Ships which he commanded for the Siege of Candia Port wherein two thousand Vessels may ride at Anchor on the right hand of the same stands the new Navarin The Ancient is a Fortress which lying so much in the Eyes of the Enemies has been no small Temptation to them upon which account it has more than once changed its Master In the Year 1498. while subject to Baudrand calls Navarin Albaxinus Nelea Albarinos Javarin 't is thought to have been the Country of Nestor the Venetians it underweâ—â—â— furious assault of the Turks who sound there such resistance that far from triumphing as they had flattered themselves they were forced to put off their Enterprize to another Opportunity when they might succeed better by surprise as indeed they did some time after for being made Masters of Modon the Inhabitants of Zunchio rendered themselves as soon as they had Encamped before it But the Venetians soon regained it from the Turks by the means of one Demetrius of Modon who with one of his Friends an Albanian undertook to put the Garrison to the Sword by opening the Gates of the Fortress yet the Turks stood obstinately to the defence of a place they had so lately gained came with a re-inforcement on the side toward the Land with a great Detachment of Cavalry and with fourteen Gallies and five Fustes under the Command of a Turkish Officer called Gamali The Republique had before ordered three Gallies for the guard of the Port. But those who ought to have been watchful never thinking the Enemy would have taken the first opportunity of repossessing the place and being in a great uncertainty what to do when they saw themselves just ready to be attacqued left the Entrance free to the Turk who with a great deal of frankness declared himself the Patron and Defender of any that would submit themselves to his discretion But those who seemed to be of his Party in great consternation at the change of their Fate exposed themselves to the hazard of their Lives embarquing themselves in little Boats and they were happy that got aboard five great MODON Gallies that returned from Baruty laden with Merchandizes and had cast Anchor within sight of the Port. The news of so strange an Adventure gave them the alarm to provide for their safety by an hasty flight The Inhabitants of Zunchio were Spectators of all this Catastrophe and finding themselves attacked by Land found no other expedient but to deliver themselves up to the Enemy Modon IN the Frontiers of the Province of the so fertile and
pleasant Belvedere lying in that part of the Peloponnesus which was the Ancient Messenia amongst the rest of the Cities in the Archbishoprick of Patras the Episcopal and Staple Town which Sophianus calls Modon is reckoned The Turks name it Mutum and Pliny Methone in Memory of Methena the Daughter of Honer It is ten Miles off of Coron an hundred and twenty from Napoli di Romania and seventy two from the Cape of Matapan Its Situation favoured in several particulars by Nature and Art makes it very strong and is upon a Promontory advanced into the Sea of Sapienza fronting the Coasts of Africk at its Foot is a safe and Commodious Haven where usually resides the Sangiac of the Morea much respected at the Port for his good Government In several Ages this place has been exposed to the Assaults of those who intending to make themselves Masters of the Realm have thought of gaining this City and Province from hence it has happened that the famous Wall built at its entrance and which for its breadth and solidity makes a considerable Opposition has been oftentimes attacked and gained and by that means the whole Province subdued and forced to pay a Tribute to keep themselves in any shew of Command The People of Naples by means of the Spartans made themselves Masters of Modon and to subject it more easily to their Rule they placed there a Colony of their own People Some time after the Illyriaus entertaining an Ambitious design of enlarging their Dominions by conquests chose them a King and having got together a very numerous Army made an irruption into the neighbouring Countrys When they came near to Modon they gave its Inhabitants to understand with feigned shews of Amity that they desired but to buy the necessary Provisions which they wanted Those of Modon believing the matter to be so without any deceit or trick took care to provide for them accordingly some bringing them Bread others Wine and others Provisions When the Illyrians saw a great number of them without the Gates they thought as it really was that they were so fool-hardy as to leave but a few to guard the Fortress so they ran all at once to seize on all the Posts and Avenues and fell on with their whole Army with that fury that they put a great many to the Sword and made the rest their Slaves making the City a sad Example of their Perfidie and Devastation The Emperor Trajan touch'd with the Misfortune of those poor People that escaping from the fury of their Traiterous Enemies were returned thither gave them Proofs of his Generosity granting them several Priviledges and Freedoms After this manner they lived in a kind of Aristocracy till the time of the Emperour Constantine who left Rome for Constantinople yet when subject to the Empire they kept so much of their first immunities that the same form of Government remained and as to the Homages paid the Emperor they were rather protected by him than entirely subjected to him In the year 1124. this City was Attacked and taken by the Doge Dominico Michael when he returned the third time Triumphant from the Holy-land over the Conquests of Tyre and Ascalon in Soria and of Rhodes Scio Samos Lesbos and Andros in the Archipelago and to these memorable Exploits may be added the entire defeat of the Army of the Infidels when he raised the Siege of Zaffo And though the next year this place returned under Dominion of the Emperor of Greece yet in the Division of the Empire Anno 1204. it again came under the Republique out of whose hands it was forced by Leon Vetrane a Genoese by Nation who was a famous Pirat he kept it not long for soon after being made Prisoner on the Hellespont he was transported to Corfu and there received a violent Death from the hands of the Hangman as a just reward for all his Rapines This Death of their Head disheartened the whole Party and by that means the Captains Dandolo and Promarino without much trouble became Masters of this Town CORON It happened for the common good of This was in the French Translation Christendom that whilst these Memoires â—ere printing in French we received the â—greeable news of the taking of Modon â—rom the Turks by the Venetian Army â—nder the wise Conduct of the Valiant General Morosini This will much advance the Conquest of the whole Morea which justly belongs to that Triumphant Republick Coron COron has a strong and advantagious Situation in the Province of Belvedere the most Fertile and Rich in the whole Kingdom and which was part of the Ancient Messenia at about ten Miles distance by Land and twenty by Sea from Modon on the right side of Cape Gallo by Ptolomey called Acritas Promontorium Strabo and Pliny knew it by the same name which was given it upon the account of what happened when its Foundations were laid for in digging they found a Sea Swallow by the Greekâ— called Coronis and as an happy Presage of future Prosperity they named this City from the Bird Coron It was once a Bishops Seat Suffragan Strabo l. 9. Plin. l. 4. c. 7. Giov. Bemb Giust in Ferrari sub L. C. Baudrand Moreri Hofm Verdizz Sagredo to the Bishop of Patras and at another time 't was reckoned a Colony of the Thebans which the Poets called Pedosus Laurenberg Nisi and Pausanias Epea and all the Ancient and Modern Historians make honourable mention thereof It makes the Figure of a Scalenâ— Triangle and in one of its Angles iâ— a great Tower built by the Venetianâ— Anno 1463. for a Magazin the other two sides which are not wasâ—â— by the Gulf of Coron leave a sufficient space fit for the Tower of thâ— Fortress which is encompass'd with an old Wall of an unequal thickness flanked with great Towers and aâ— some Paces from thence on the North â—de there is a Suburbs of 500 Houses Since it has been several times expoâ—ed to the Assaults of the Enemy so it â—as been often forced in different Ages â—o pay Tribute to different Nations Baudrand has thought it was yielded up to the Venetian Republick by the Despotes Princes of the Morea and Verdizotti says that at the time of the Division of the Graecian Empire and in the same year that this glorious Republick having made Alliances with several Princes thought upon the gaining of this Kingdom Coron was assigned for its Portion It was surprised Anno 1204. by Leon Lexic Geogr Baudr sub lit C. Verdizz fatti Ven. l. 7. p. 152. Veteran a Genoese by Nation and Pirate by Profession who enjoyed not long his unjust Triumph for being taken on the Hellespont as we said before he was put to Death by the common Hangman at Corfu whose death being known to his Companions all in amazement and disorder they sought safety by an hasty flight at whose dispersion the Inhabitants of Coron after some slight Attempts submitted themselves to the Venetians Bajazet
of the Morea beginning at the mouth of the said Gulf quite on to the Promontory of Castel Tornese On the West over against it at a distance from each other with a Strait of seven miles Sea between them are seen the Isles of Cephalonia and Santa Maura this of fifteen the other of forty miles length The end of the Isle of Cephalonia comes within twelve miles by Sea of the Isle of Zant and this is separated from the utmost Cape of the Morea by a space of twenty five miles The Gulf called that of Chiarenza from the name of an Ancient Maritime Town has its length from the Cape of Chiarenza to Castel Tornese The Gulf of Arcadia which Ptolemy calls Chelonates or Chelonites Sinus and others Locardian reaches from the Cape of Tornese to Cape Jardan The Gulf of Zonchio otherwise Cyparisius Sinus extends it self from Cape Jardan to the Cape of Sapienza The Gulfs of the Sea of Sapienza THe Gulf of Coron which washes the City of that name is likewise named that of Calamata from a place not far distant from its Shores. Ptolemy and Pliny call it Meseniacus Sinus because it was contiguous to the Ancient Province of Messenia Strabo Messenius and others Coroneus and Asineus Sinus It is between Cape Gallo and Cape Matapan The Gulf of Colochine or of Castel Rampani or of Fleos which Strabo and Ptolemy entitle Laconicus Sinus beats upon Luconia with its Waves and reaches from Cape Matapan to Cape Malio Though this Gulf be usually compreâ—ended in the Sea of Sapienza yet â—audrand places it to the Sea of Canâ—ia The Gulfs of the Aegean Sea on the side of the Morea THe Gulf of Napoli di Romania named from the Town so called extends it self a great way along the Morea between the Capes of St. Angelo and Schilli It once bore the name of Argolicus Sinus washing the Ancient Argia The Gulf of Engia is divided from that of Lepanto by the Isthmus It comprehends a great number of Isles and Rocks 'T is named Saronicus Sinus from the River Saron that discharges it self into it Ptolemy and Pliny call it Salaminiacus from the Isle of Salamis By Strabo 't is named Eleusinus and if we credit Pintianus 't was also called Hermonicus Sinus at last 't was named Egena from an Isle of that name that lies about the midst of the Gulf and is extended North and South between Attica and Saccania of twenty four miles circumference according to M. Spon This is bounded by the Capes of Colonne and Schilli Of the Isles and Rocks that are round the Morea and in the Ionian Sea. The Isle of Corfu AMongst the Isles of the Ionian Sea that are under the Venetians the Island of Corfu is not the least considerable It lies at the extreamity of the Gulf of Venice in the Ionian Sea. ISLE DE CORFV This Isle is divided into four Parts which those of the Place call Balie The first towards the East is named Lefchimo by Marmora Leuchino by Porcacchi and Leucimne by Thucidides The second towards the West is named Laghiro or Agiru The third Mezzo The fourth Loros or Oros Each of these Parts has its Territories There is spread over all a very pure clear Air and exceeding wholesome as may be gathered from the Forests of Oranges and Cedars that there flourish And with some reason the Poets sung so much of the Gardens of Alcinous who dwelt in this Isle The Country is also very fruitful in all kinds of Grain and Honey and Wax with Wine and Oyl of an extraordinary goodness nor does it want pleasant Flats in its Northern Parts In the first Territory of Lefchimo where yet remains some Tracts of the Ancient and Episcopal City of Gardichi at two miles distance from the Sea of Garbino there is a Fountain which made it famous which after making a small River runs down to the Sea on which Stream are several Mills This Territory contains about ten thousand Inhabitants in twenty five Burroughs the biggest whereof is named Potamos from a Canal that divides it in two It is inhabited by very civil and gentile People From thence is a Canal for Vessels down to the Sea. The Territory of Laghiro or Agiru on the East of the Isle abounds in all sorts of necessaries It has eight thousand Inhabitants in twenty Villages It had had more if the Africans had not come and demolished a City built in a Peninsule where at present stands a Monastery with a good number of Religious whose Church is dedicated to the Holy Virgin and is called Palio Castriza The Castle called Angelo Castron built by the Emperour Michael Comnenes upon the Promontory Palachrum is at this time named St. Angelo The third Territory called Mezzo in which stands the City of Corfu had once a larger City In an extent of sixty miles Possession there are thirty Castles or Lordships and Villages which together with the Capital contain twenâ—y five thousand Persons The fourth Territory called Loros â—r Oros in forty five miles Country and â—wenty five Towns has about eight â—housand Inhabitants Cassiopa now â—assiopo a very famous City was ancientâ—y its Capital The whole Isle has properly no Rivers for though on the â—ide of Garbinio there seems to be one which they name Mesongi that takes â—ts source near the Fortress Cardicchi yet it ought rather as well as all the rest to be reckoned a Brook than a River Historians agree not as to the Original of the Inhabitants of this Isle as may be seen in the History of Corfu writ by Marmora yet all or most of the People at this day are Greeks and observe the Rites of the Greek Church One Historian observes that this Isle was once of a considerable force Eustachio Sopra Dionigi by Sea and that in the time of the War between the Greeks and Persians it put thirty armed Galleys to Sea. The Greek are not the only Historians that make honourable mention of this Isle for besides what Thucidides sayâ— of it speaking of the Wars of the Moreae in which the Corcyreans had often their part we find that Titus Livius makes them to receive Orders in the Army of Q. Fulvius Flavus to guard the Coast of Calabria and that they went in pursuit of the Ambassadors of Carthage who at the sollicitation of Hannibal were sent to make a League with Philip King of Macedon and that these Ambassadors having been brought before the Captain General he seâ—â— them to Rome The People of this Isle after having been long subject to the Kings of Naples weary at last of being still subject to the frequent Commotions of that Kingdom offered to put themselves under the Obedience of the Venetian Republick This their Design they communicated to Giov. Penelasco then residing at Corfu in quality of Consul for the Venetians who gave advice thereof to the Senate and because the Prince of Tarentum made some pretences they sent to him the Secretary Pietro Compitelli
or Campitelli to shew him the danger that would ensue if the Isle should fall into the Enemies hands and so with a good sum of money they found means to satisfie that Prince As Porcacchi reports the Isle became subject to the Republick in the Year 1322. though Giov. Miani Captain of the Gulf did not take the Possession thereof from the hands of Riccardo Altavilla and Giov. Alessio Cavalila till the ninth of June 1327. yet Marmora assures that Possession was taken on the twentieth of May 1386. which last Author pretends he had it from the authentick Archives This whole Affair was managed and transacted by a Religious of the Order of St. Francis called Padre Maestro Giulio Vanello a man of good parts and much esteemed He so brought the business about that he assembled the chief men of the place in the Church of the Convent then called St. Angelo and there caused the Keys of the Gates to be delivered into the hands of Captain Miani with a grant of the Authority over the City The Representants of the Republick come every Year on the same day into this Church accompanied with the Body of the Officers before whom the Protopapa renews the memory of this Action I might add that the Prince has assigned to this Church as a Mark of his acknowledgment to the Order two Ducats yearly to be taken out of the Fiscale Chamber of Corfu The Venetians were after this manner possessed of it till the Year 1401. when Ladislaus King of Naples the Son of Charles for thirty thousand Ducats left it quite free to the Republick It has been still maintained under the Venetian Government who have guarded and defended it as a place very necessary for the conservation of their Empire by Sea for it has several very good Ports where the Navy may refresh it self commodiously besides it has a convenient Situation for the Defence of the other Isles and States of the Levant and can hinder a great Army from entring the Gulf who will hardly venture to pass by and leave so powerful an Enemy behind in so advantageous a Post Wherefore 't is well named the Gate of the Gulf and the Rampart of Italy against the barbarous In these last Ages that the Ottoman Forces are much increased the Repubâ—ick has for the common benefit of Christendom been at great expences in Works and Fortifications in this Isle to make the Fortress impregnable Wherein they have hitherto succeeded On the middle of the Circle of the Isle there raises it self up a solid Rock on which is built the old Fortress encompassed on all sides with the Sea except on that part which faces the Land where 't is Flanked with two Bulwarks with their Curtain and a good Ditch cut from one side of the Sea to the other Under this Fortress is situated the City joyning to which stands the new Fortress raised on the Mount of St. Mark with infinite charge to front Mount Abram that lies over against it and which for some time has been much levelled The City glories in the birth of Aeneas and has now the Title of an Arch-bishoprick The Republick sends thither six Nobles who remain in their Government two years The first has the Title of a Bail the second of a Proveditor the third of a Captain who with the fourth are the Councillorâ— One dwells in the Cittadel of the olâ— Fortress the other in the City thâ— fifth is the Grand Captain and has the new Fortress for his Lodgement and the sixth is Lord Castellain of the Caste called Della Campana in the old Towâ— In the year 1537. Barbarossa shewed himself before Della Campana with an Army of five and twenty thousand Turks which he commanded by the order of Solyman They had thirty great Guns with which they planted a Battery against the place but by reason of the great distance they were at their Bullets were not able to make a breach in the Walls But the Artillery of the great Fortress made terrible Distruction in the Army and Fleet of the Turks five of their Galleys went to the bottom and even that of Barbarossa was not out of the Cannons reach During thiâ— Siege the Republick sent an extraordinary Ambassadour to Rome to represent to the Pope and by him to the Emperour of what consequence the loss of Corfu would be to the Kingdom of Naples to Sicilia and all Italy He endeavoured all he could in this Embassage that the Emperour would send Fifty Galleys with Fifty other Ships as he had done once before against the Turks to joyn with 100 Galleys and the Galleasses and three Gallions and a good number of other Vessels that the Republick had then in the Sea. At first the Pope applyed himself to this affair to procure so great a benefit to Christendom but his endeavours were unsuccessful so that the Republick were left alone to withstand the Ottomans and they obliged them shamefully to raise the Siege And thus that important place Corfu was delivered The little Isles or Rocks that lie round about Corfu FAnari or Ottonus is a little Isle on the West of Corfu to which it is subject it lies at 15. Miles distant from Cape Agiru of that Isle and from that of Santa Maria or Otranto 50. 'T is 8. Miles in Circuit and contains 200. Inhabitants in a Fertile Land. La Serra is a Rock in a strait towards Cassiopo between Corfu and Epiâ—â— It raises it self up above the Wavâ— and at its Foot lie several other crâ—â—gy hidden Rocks very dangerous â— those that Sail by them Sant Vido or according to the Ancâ—ents the little Isle Pitia is a Rock faâ—â—ing the City of Corfu from whence â—t is but a Mile and half it is covered â—ll over with Olive Trees Condilonisi is a Rock on the West Or West-North-West of Corfu of solid Stone whereon formerly grew Canes which they used to write withal There is a Church on it dedicated to the Holy Virgin. Sant Demetrio is a small Island in which is a Lazar-house with all conveniences for those of Corfu in case of necessity Near this Isle is seen a white Rock above the Water which at a distance shews like a Ship under Sail which figure gave ground to the Fable that this Rock was formed of Vlysses's Ship which being sunk in this place was by the Gods turned into a Rock Paxo is a little Isle not inferiour to the rest that encompass Corfu either as to Fruitfulness of any necessary for life or as to the number of its Inhabitants Bourdon calls it Pacsu Porcacchi â—achiso Pliny Ericusa and others â—axu Major 't is seated on the South â—f Corfu at 100. Miles distance from Cape St. Isidore in Cephalonia and 12. â—rom Epire. Porcacchi takes it to be â—en Miles about others make it five â—nd twenty On the West-North-West â—de of it is Port St. Nicolas whereinto â— Ship of any burden may enter at its â—ntrance lies a Rock On
AN HISTORICAL AND Geographical Account OF THE MOREA NEGROPONT AND THE Maritime Places AS FAR AS THESSALONICA Illustrated with 42 Maps of the Countries Plains and Draughts of the Cities Towns and Fortifications Written in Italian by P. M. Coronelli Geographer to the Republick of Venice Englished by R. W. Gent. London Printed for Matth. Gillyflower at the Spread-Eagle in Westminster-Hall and W. Canning at his Shop in Vine-Court in the Middle Temple 1687. THE PUBLISHER TO THE READER Reader THis Book having been Published in Italian in the Year 1685. by the Ingenious Coronelli and the last Year in French with Additions 't was thought a Present not unacceptable to give our Nation the Translation of it in English which how performed here we leave to thy candid Judgment The Draughts of the Cities Towns and Fortifications having already received sufficient Approbation As to the Book it self we dare promise the Reader Diversion and Pleasure mixt with Profit let his Genius be what it will. The Sons of Mars will with Warmth and Action read of the glorious Victories and even envy the glittering Fame of those Noble Hero's that sleep in the Bed of Honour The Poetick Fancy will be diverted with the old Fictions like sweet Flowers strewed over the whole and the grave Mythologist with their Morals The Antiquary and Historian will find Entertainment in the Melancholypleasing Remains of past State and Glory that were once the Scenes of the greatest Performances the Mind of man joyned to active Bodies is capable of and reflect on the Fate of human Affairs subject all to Time and Chance The Naturalist will meet with the Descriptions of the Labours and Sports of Nature and find some Account of the hitherto puzling Tides of the Euripus Nor will the solid Mathematician lose his Time but with satisfaction behold the Views of Cities Plains of Fortifications and Charts of Shores Rocks and Seas But we refer to the Book it self Farewel An INDEX of the Draughts Maps and Plains inserted in this Work in the order that they ought to be placed THE General Map of the Morea Page 1. Patras p. 47. Castel Tornese p. 52. Navarin ibid. Modon p. 55. Plain of Coron p. 61. Plain of Coron with the Incampments p. 74. Two Prospects of Coron ibid. Standard taken before Coron ibid. Horse-tails taken with the Standard ibid. Calamata and the Battle before it p. 84. Plain of Zarnata p. 87. Profil of Zarnata ibid. Height of Zarnata ibid. Plain of Chielefa p. 88. Plain of Passara p. 92. Mysitra or Sparta p. 93. Plain of the Ruins of Maina p. 102 Cape of Matapan ibid. View of Malvasia p. 111. Two Views of Napoli di Romania p. 117. Isle of Corfu p. 132. Plain of Santa Maura p. 147. Santa Maura with the little Isles round it p. 149. View of Cephalonia and the Chart of the Isle p. 151. Fortress of Asso p. 157. Isle of Zant and Fortress of Zant p. 162. Port of Cerigo and Plain of Cerigo p. 179. Megara p. 190. Port Lion p. 195. City of Athens p. 197. City of Negropont p. 204. The Ebb and Flow of the Euripus p. 212. Plain of Volo p. 220. The Dardanelles of Lepanto p. 225. Lepanto p. 228. OF THE MOREA PART I. VVherein is shown That the Morea is a Peninsula the different Names by which it has been called its Extent and Figure the Divisions that the Ancients and Moderns have made of the Provinces contained in it with a Discourse of its Consines and Frontiers and at the End several Curious Relations are added upon the same Subject IF a Land surrounded by the Sea except a small Isthmus that joyns it to the Continent may be called a Chersonesus or Peninsula the Morea may justly be so reckoned since being on all sides environed by the Sea 't is at the North only joyned to Achaia by the Isthmus of Corinth This pleasant part of Greece has not always had the Name of Morea as 't is now commonly called but formerly Argos Apia and Peloponnesus It s Figure well enough resembling the Leaf of a Mulberry or Plane-tree gave sufficient ground to the later Emperors of Constantinople to entitle it Morea tho' some will not assent to this but pretend to derive the Name from Romea which by a transposition of the Letters was changed into Morea grounding themselves upon this That the Greeks while subject to the Empire of Constantinople and that City was stiled New Rome * Which Name it kept till Constantine the Great were themselves also called Romei as much as to say Romans Doglioni thinks that it took this Name when invaded by the Moors Strabo insinuates that it was anciently called Argo or Argos from a famous City of that Name within its Confines and Aegialea from Aegialus a renowned King of the Sicyonians According to * Compend Hist Vniv di Nic. Vdogl p. 11. Apollodorus and Pliny it had the Name of Apia from Apis the Third King of the Argives who reigned from about the year of the World's Creation 2307. to the year 2342. that is 1647. years before the Nativity of Christ This Apis was the Son of Egialus Four hundred and twenty years after it had the Name of Peloponnesus from Pelops Son of Tantalus King of Phrygia and Taygeta a Man sufficiently famous for his Ivory shoulder and Incests with his own Daughters Its bounds which as we said are of the shape of a Plane-tree Leaf are sixt between the end of the 35. degree and beginning of the 38. degree of North Latitude and at the Extremities of the degrees 37 and 51. of Longitude taking the most West part of the Isle of Ferro for the first Meridian As to its Circumserence Authors disagree some making it bigger others less Isidore allows its Circuit to be 363. Miles Bourdon extends it to 563. Porchacchi adds Ten more assuring us that it is 573. Miles round Blean Sagredo and Vianoli assign it 600. Baudrand a Geographer of our time makes it but 550. Miles Strabo makes its length 1400. Stadia and Sagredo agrees with him making 170. Miles from the Isthmus to Modon Baudrand makes it five Miles longer from the Cape of Schilli to the Castle Tornese and takes its breadth which according to him exceeds not 150. Miles between Corinth and the Cape of Matapan The most skillful Geographers describing this delicious Peninsule have employed the greatest accuracy in distinguishing those parts from the rest whereon Nature has been at the greatest expence for Embellishments that they might the more advance its Glory and Reputation As Pausanias reports it was once divided into five parts the first containing Arcadia the second Achaia the third Doria c. Ptolemy and others divided it into Eight Provinces viz. Achaia properly so call'd Arcadia Argos Corinthia Elis Laconia Messenia and Sicyonia or Sicyonis Achaia was bounded on the North with the Gulf of Lepanto on the West with the Ionian Sea on the South with Elis and Arcadia and on
certain place prefixt without receiving the least violence or insulation from our Part. The Aga that Commanded them had no mind to go with them for fear of losing his Head but chose rather to submit himself to the Generosity of the Christians and being retired into their Camp he obtained of Angelo Michieli Captain of the Slaves to stay aboard his Galley The General gave the Government of this place to two remarkable Voluntiers in Qality of Representants named Bartolomeo Contarini and Angelo Emo leaving a Garrison of One hundred and fifty Souldiers under the direction of Lieutenant Colonel Prastini Chielefa CHIELAFA It is not far from the place where once Vitulo stood a famous Trading Town from whence the Port that is near it took and retains the name of Vitulo though it is now but little frequented being neither commodious nor safe When General Morosini was upon his expedition by War to increase the Venetian Conquests he presented himself with his Army before this Fortress and began to Attack it with great Vigour but the Garrison thinking it self not in a Condition to oppose so great a Captain endeavoured to procure a favourable Capitulation The fearful Turks made humble request to the General to spare their Lives and permit them to go out without suffering any Violence from the Christians Assar Passa who resided there in quality of Commander of the whole Province went first our carrying the Keys of the Place to the Generals Galley followed by a thousand Persons whereof Three hundred and fifty embarked themselves on the Ships of Pisani sometime director of this Fortress who transported them with what Baggage they had saved to the Isle of Staggs After they had returned Thanks to Heaven and planted the Standard of the Cross and the glorious St. Mark the General establisht for Proveditor ordinary Bernardo Balbi and Lorenzo Venier for extraordinary A Relation of the Victory obtained by the Venetians over the Turks Before the Fortress of Chielefa on the first of April 1686. THe Ottomans have now made Proof of what often happens when by endeavouring to regain what we have lost we draw upon us new and sometimes greater Losses They intended at the beginning of the Campagn to retake the Fortress of Chielefa which the Venetians had justly taken from them the year before confiding in an Army which they had gotten together of Ten thousand Foot and fifteen hundred Horse with a great number of Pioniers they began to Attack the place playing upon it with six great Pieces of Ordnance fully perswaded that they durst not or at most could not maintain the place long nevertheless they were ten days without much advancing their Works or finding the Besieged any thing inclined to Rendition it fell out that the Venetian Army hasting to their aid Encountred the Turks and the Attack was so brisk and furious that the Insidels betook themselves to their Heels as their only refuge The Defeat was so hasty that they left a very Rich Booty to the Conquerors and a great many of their Men dead upon the place Passava PAssava is a Fortification seated in the Province of Maina near the Shore of the Gulf of Colochina upon Cape Matapan opposite to Chielefa and Port Vitulo its Figure is as we have represented it in our Draught thereof it is built upon an Eminence but is altogether irregular and not in a condition to hinder the inroads of the Enemy into the Province Captain General Morosini caused a Twenty fourth of September 1685. great Party of Magnotes to make an halt before this Fortress at the same time that the Turks went out of Chielefa to set up the Standard of St. Mark but perceiving the Garrison ready to march out and stayed but to transport the great Guns of the place he sent a Detachment of five hundred Foot under the Command of Sergeant Major Gregorevick a Forreigner to reinforce the Magnotes and hinder their design The Turks discovering at a distance the Venetian Colours in a great fright and disorder ran and left their Post So we became Masters of the place without a stroak It was not judged worth the leaving a Garrison to maintain it but on the contrary it was resolved to raze it which was the more readily concluded on in that it was an useless place and that there was very near to it a strait passage where a few Men might put a stop to and engage a very numerous Army Mysitra AS this place has had several appellations so some have chose to call it rather by one than another it was at the first called Sparta then Lacedaemon and at last Mysitra it is one of the most famous of all the Graecian Cities and has been of so vast an extent that in Forty eight Stadia make 5440 Geometrick Polybius's time it contained a Circuit of Eight and forty Furlongs It s Figure was almost round and its Situation was partly upon an Eminence and partly upon the declivity of the Hill. The Mountain Taygeta commands it on the West From that vastness it once had it is now shrunk to a little Town scarcely shewing any remains of its former Glory Although it had no Walls for Eight hundred Years yet it maintained it self very well against its Enemies and of those that afterwards incompassed it though they have been often rebuilt there is now only the Castle and the Foundations where they once stood to be seen It has but two great Gates one on the North side towards Napoli di Romania the other on the West towards Exokorion to which answer two High-ways or great Roads one called Aphetais or grand Bazar the other Hellerion The Inhabitants are exposed to excessive heats during the Summer for besides that the City lyes full South being seated at the Foot of the Mountain the Suns Rays by this opposition are reflected and redouble the heat The Learned Monsieur La Guilletiere being some years ago upon the place took the height of the Pole three several days one after another viz. the 19. 20 and 21 of June and regulating himself by the Meridian height of the Sun by the Shadow of a Cylindrical Body divided into a thousand equal Parts the difference of the Shadows at these three Observations was unperceivable and the length of the Shadow was still found to be 211 Parts of the Cylinder whence he concluded the Sun was 12 degrees and 56 Minutes from the Zenith and the Latitude of Mysitra 35 degrees and 26 Minutes The City is divided into four Quarters each of which being separated from the rest makes of it self a disunited Body The Castle is one of them the City another and two Suburbs the other whereof the one is called Melokerion that is to say the middle Suburb and the other is called Exokorion or the outward Suburb by the Turks named likewise Maratche The Exokorion is separated from the other three by the River Vasâ—li Potamos and has no Communication with them
but by a Stone Bâ—â—â—ge The Castle named to Castron is seated on an Eminence is of a conical Figure and has good Walls it had some years since Ten Pieces of Artillery and a Garrison of Eighteen or Twenty Janisaries Commanded by a Disdar that seldom resides there There are always Magazines well stored with Corn for the Armies use for each Turkish Family is obliged to bring his Corn in to renew the Store every year There are also some Cisterns and in the midst of the Castle a Mosque once a Christian Church This Citadel is so advantagiously situated that Histories assure us it was never taken though Mahomet the Second and the Venetians have Attacked it with great Vigour It was a work of the Despotes in the declining of the Greek Empire and that because the old Castle seated on the opposite Hill whereof now the Ruines are only to be seen did not sufficiently Command the Town It is not certain who was the first Founder of Sparta Historians not yet agreeing thereon Some say 't was Spartus the Son of King Amiclas others the Princess King Lacedaemon's Wife who was called Sparta many affirm 't was Cecrops who likewise founded Athens and again others attribute its Foundation to Spartus the Son of Phoroneus King of Argos Contemporary with Jacob the Patriarch 1763 Years before the Birth of Christ since according to the Calculation of Father Petau the Patriarch Jacob was born 1876 Years before the Year of our Redemption so that to this present Year 1687 there are 3422 Years since the building of this City therefore it is older than Rome 983 Years than Carthage 867 than Syracusa 995 than Alexandria 1405 than Lyons 1639 and than Marseilles 1136. There never was any Nation in the whole World that may be compared to the Lacedaemonians for Polity and they never had a King but one of their own People and these People only have seen upon their Royal Throne two Virtuous and deserving Heads circled with the same Diadem and often amongst them have been sound Prodigies for Wisdom and the Art of Governing that they have been thought the only Politicians and upon these Foundations 't is that it could endure and flourish 800 years it declined in its Prosperity and Glory when it lost Colemanes the third King of that name Finally the Eastern Empire having been divided into Temata or general Governments Lacedaemon was made an Appendant to the Emperors eldest Son since when it lost its name of Lacedaemon and was only called Sparta and its Princes who had under their Dominion the whole Morea were called Despotes The Despote Theodorus who Espoused the Daughter of Renier Prince of Athens and was Brother to Andronicus and Emanuel who succeeded each other in the Empire finding himself unable to attempt to resist Bajazet treated with Philibert de Naillac Prior of Aquitain and great Master of Rhodes about the Sale of Sparta and Corinth which Treaty was almost concluded when Tamerlain Triumphing over Bajazet the Spartans were so encouraged thereat that they absolutely refused to consent to Theodore's Alienation of Tzaconia and the People being in a Tumult the two Deputies for the great Master that were to take possession of the Government had notice that it was their best way to retire or otherwise they should be treated as Enemies and so they lost Corinth again when they were already in possession thereof and Theodore was not well pleased to refund the Money he had so lately singered At last he dying left the Despotate to one of his Nephews of his own name Son to the Emperor Emanuel this new Despote married an Italian Lady of the House of Malatesta upon which that Family grounds a right to the Duché of Sparta Theodore the Second took a Resolution to go to Constantinople to succeed his Brother John in the Empire leaving his Despotate to his Brother Constantine it was at this time that Amurath the First made an irruption into Tzaconia Constantine being raised to the Imperial Throne Sparta fell to Demetrius out of whose hands 't was ravisht by Mahomet the Second who barbarously sawed the Governour of the Castle in two In the Year 1473 Benedetto Colleone who had the command of the Venetian Army conquered Sparta and had well nigh reduced the Citadel Sansovino shews us in his History that this City together with the whole Province was under the Republick at the time that Henry Dandolo was Prince of the Senate A List of the Kings of Lacedaemon in their Order with the Years of their Reigns Anno Mundi 2862. EUristes the first King. Compend Hist Vnivers de Nic. Doglioni Part. ult 2904. Agides 2905. Achestrates 2940. Labotes 2977. Dosistes 3006. Agesilaus 3050. Archelaus 3110. Telecus 3150. Alcanenes whose Reign ended in the Year 3187. Maina at Cape Matapan OF all the Promontories of Peloponnesus that which shoots it self farthest into the Sea is the Cape of Matapan which was once called * Pliny Senec Ptolom Promontorium Taenarium in the Bowels whereof is the Cave Taenarus whose dreadful Mouth gave the Poets occasion to call it the entrance of Hell and they added that the invincible Hercules came forth at this passage Triumphant over Cerberus from whence they say amongst other Titles it had that of Taenarus though others again will have its name from Taenarus who sprung from Elaphus the Son of Ieanus who marryed Elemanda the Daughter of Damasicles PLAN DE MAINA CAP DE MATAPAN In the Year 1570. The Captain of the Gulf Quirini setting sail from Candia with twenty four Gallies came to Anchor at Corfu where being informed that this Fort was built upon that motive we have declared immediately designed to Attack it but before he attempted it he went into these two Ports giving the Magnotes advice of his * Magnati Campana Design who indeed on this occasion gave good Proofs of their good Will and Courage After a very sharp and brisk Combate wherein the Turks had the worse the Captain became Master of the Fort and would not stir out of the Gulf till he had taken away this Eye-sore from a People so well inclined to the Republick so having taken out whatever might be serviceable he caused it to be demolisht Malvasia or Malvoisie THe City commonly called Malvasia which Ptolomy named Epidaurus Limera and Baudrand after Thucydides others Monembasia is situated on a Rock from whence is a pleasant Prospect Eastwards over the Ancient Laconia a Region rude and uneven yet as Fertile as any part of Peloponnesus this Province is at this day known by the name of Braccio di Maina because it extends it self on the left side of that Arm where begins the Gulf by Ptolomy called Argolicus Sinus now the Gulf of Napoli di Romania It has the Title of an Archbishoprick being blest with a very advantagious situation for it is built on the Top of a Rock whose Bottom is washt by the Waves of Archipelagus yet it enjoys this benefit
of the Chief It is distant Fifty five Miles from Athens sixty from Mysitra Thirty six from Corinth It is the Residence of the Governour of the Province in which are reckoned to be Sixty thousand Greeks besides a great number of other Inhabitants which according to Pausanias were anciently Aegyptians who inhabited there with Danaus as in a Colony of their own Napoli has tasted of the same Fate with other places to pass under the Rule of several Princes and forms of Government As Paulus Ranusius reports it was Paulo Ranusio querra di Const 1. 5. p. 160. taken Anno 1205. by the Venetians joyned with the French but some time after King Giovanissa turning his Arms against this City though he found it well furnisht with Ammunition and Men yet he gave so Vigorous an Assault to it that he carryed it where at his entrance he gave terrible Marks of his Rage for he put the Commander and the whole Garrison to the Sword and Sacked the Town which was at that time rich powerful and seated in the best part of the whole Romania Verdizzoti is of Opinion that in the 13. Century this City being in the Possession of Marie of Erigane the Widow of Peter the Son of Frederic Cornarus Piscopia this Lady not finding her self able to oppose so many powerful Enemies that had a mind to the place especially Bajazet above the rest made a grant of it to the Republick under this new Rule Napoli quietly let some Ages pass over yet not without often tasting those Misfortunes whereto all places are subject that are the aim of the Ottoman desire for being several times Attacked by those Barbarians it often proved the Misery of want and Famine together with the eating and tearing Misfortune of seditious Persons caused by these frequent allarms Mahomet the Second greatly thirsted to ravish it out of the Arms of its lawful Prince and thinking there was no other way to obtain his end but by Arms he gave Orders to Macmut Bassa to go and Besiege it with a powerful Army but this Siege was not Successful for having found the Defendants very Valiant and able to resist him armed with a constant resolution to withstand all his violences he was obliged after several Attempts and great Losses sustained to quit his Enterprize VEUE DE NAPOLI Dâ— Romanâ—e du cotâ— du Port NAPOLI DE ROMANIE The Explication of the Letters in the Draught of Napoli di Romania A. THe Fortress on that side towards the Sea. B. The Chain which shuts up the Port. C. A Cavalier raised upon the Fortress of the Sea. D. The Port capable of a Great Fleet. E. Another Chain to hinder the Entrance into the Port. F. A Battery of great Artillery G. The Mosques H. The City I. Another Battery of great â—â—tillery K. The Chanel three 〈◊〉 broad L. Part of the Gulf of Romanâ— M. Mount Palamedes N. The Fort upon the main Land to which the Chain that shuts up the Port is fastened Argos AS Baudrand the famous Geographer of our times reports there have been three Cities called by the same name of Argos one which Pliny calls Argos Amphilochium which is in Epirus The * Strabo Second Argos Pelasgicum in Macedonia and the Third Argos Peloponnesiacum Of the two first we will make mention each in their place at present we will speak of the third which was once called Phoronia of Phoroneus Hippobote from the great numbers of Horses bred â—â—ere Jasia from the name of a Vaâ—nt Captain besides these it was â—lled Diposia and Jappia it is the â—apital City of the famous Argia and â—ckoned amongst the noblest Cities â— Peloponnesus It is seated on the â—iver Planissa which the Latines name â—achus at Thirty six miles distance â—om Corinth Sixty from Sparta and â—ive from Napoli di Romania it is the â—at of a Bishop Suffragan to the â—rchbishop of Corinth it has on the West the Mountain Cronia on the North Cleone and on the South the Ruins of the Antient Mycenia raised â—n the Ruines of some other Neighbouring Cities it vaunted that the World could not shew its like for Magnificence and there is a Tradition that from her all the Greeks took the name of Argives as if to testifie that she alone was enough to maintain the Glory and honour of the whole Nation at the greatest height desirable It s Rule began with Inachus its first Founder in the year of the World 2197. and continued for 546. years till Acrisius who was slain by his Nephew Perseus An. 2742. several Authors a Patena Clemens Alexandrinus c. â—â—firm that this Inachus was contemporary with Moses but Eusebius shâ—â— the contrary and proves that he liâ—e 346 years before the Children of Israâ—â— went out of Aegypt A Chronological Table of the Kingâ— of Argos Anno Mundi 2197. I Nachus Reigned 50.  2247. Phoroneus Reign 60.  2307. Apis Reigned 35.  2342. Argos Reigned 70.  2412. Ciraso Reigned 54.  2466. Phorbas Reigned 35.  2501. Triopas Reigned 46. Years 2547. Crotopas Reigned 21.  2568. Sthenelas Reigned 11.  2579. Danaa Reigned 50.  2629. Linceus Reigned 41.  2670. Abbas Reigned 23.  2693. Proeto Reigned 17.  2710. Acrisius Reigned 31.  2741. Perseus was the last King.   There are Authors who besides these â—ake mention of Megaphentas Anaxâ—goras Melampus and Bias which they â—dd to the Kings of Argos After having been for a long time â—he principal City of the Morea it beâ—ame a Commonwealth and in that quality had a part in all the Grecian Wars as is seen in Pausanias Moreri â—nd Lauremberg At this day 't is but a miserable hole giving shelter to a very few Inhabitants and retains only the name of its past Glory Now that this City belongs to the Venetians several Historians affirm and the Decrees ratifie and if they agree not as to the manner yet they all unanimously conclude it has been justly enjoyed by them Baudrand pretends that the Duke of Sparta offering it to sale to them that would give most for it 't was purchased by the Republick for a great Sum of Money It appears by a Decretal of the Senate in the sixteenth of March Anno 1383. which we have here rehearsed That Peter the Son of Frederick Cornaro at the same time possessed Argos and Napoli di Romania Verdizzoti assures the same adding that Marie d' Anguien â—â— Enguien by corruption called d' Erigâ—no being left without Children tâ—â— Widow of Peter became Governess of Argos as pretending a right to it but not being in a condition to defend it against so many powerful Enemies especially the ambitious Bajazet who was the most to be feared she offered to deliver it to the Senate and this Act of Marie d' Erigano happ'ned in the Month of December Anno 1388. as we shall prove by a Copy of the Original that is in the Library of that Noble and Honourable Seigneur
the West at Garbin is the Valley of St. Andrew a commodious Haven for Galleys The other Valley at Siroc is called Vromo Lincione On the side of Siroc is the â—sle called Antipaxu a Fertile but unâ—nhabited place between these two â—ittle Isles is a very deep Sea. In the Channel between these Isles and the firm Land lies a dreadful Rock almost even with the Waves two Miles from Paxo It has been thought by some that Paxo was once joyned to Corfu and was thence separated by the beating of the Waves The Isles called Curzolares THE Curzolares which Strabo and Pliny name Echinades and Sâ—â—phanus Echinoe are five Isles of the Ionian Sea in the Gulf of Patras the largest of which are Samos and Dulichium These being not above a Mile from the Continent look towards Lepanto on the East at 35. Miles distance on the West 45. Miles off is seen the Isle of Santa Maura and in a strait Line the Canal Guiscardo 60. Miles from it On the North they respect the firm Land and on the South they lie just over against the Channel of Zant at a space of twenty four Miles The smallness of them would doubtless have let them remain unregardâ—â— if the glorious Expedition of the Army in the year 1571. had not made them famous S. MAURA In the time of the Trojan Empire as we find in Homer these Isles were possessed by Megetes with the rest of the Isles thereabouts The Isle of Lefcade or Santa Maura THE Isle which we at this day call Lefcade or Santa Maura Ptolemey named Leucus Strabo Pliny and Mela Leucadia It lies in the Ionian Sea nine Miles distant from Cephalonia and twenty five from the Curzolares It was once United to Achaia but was divided thence by the People that inhabited it tho it remained not long so separated for the Impetuosity of the Winds filled up the space between with Sand which made a kind of Isthmus by which it was reunited so it became a Peninsula This Isthmus having beeâ— worn away 't was supplied by a wooden Bridge over several little Islets that are separated from each other by little Channels This Isle is 70. Miles round it brings forth abundance of Grain Wine Oyl Tabaco and all kinds of Fruits Besides Santa Maura to which it is joyned it contains 30. Villages the Principal of which are Trini Apolpena Sfarchiotes Caria Azzani Vurnica Scuiro San Pietro Englovi Dragano Englimento and still as they have been left by the Fugitive Turks they have been and daily are re-peopled by Greeks from the main Land. It has many Ports which are Demata Santa Maura Scivoto Englimento Vallone of Vasilichi the two first of these are the most considerable Beside these this Isle has a Haven which serves for a Retreat to the Galleys and Galeasses of the Venetians in their present Wars with the Turks There shoots forth likewise from its Continent three Promontories FORTERESSE DE S. MAURA one called Angusci the two â—thers Cape Englimento and Cape Duâ—ato Round about it are the Rocks â—f St. Nicolas of Sparta of the Scorpion of Figlia of Magnisci and of Sessola whereon is found great numbers of Rats wherefore 't is also called Scoglio de Sorci or the Rock of Rats The City and Fortress of Santa Maura THe City and Fortress of Santa Maura is encompassed with the Waves of the Sea and is seated between the Isle Lefcade and the main Land to which it is joyned by several little Islands by Bridges from one to another and by its own Bridge and a sumptuous Aqueduct of Stone about a mile long sustained by three hundred and sixty Arches On the East there is a little Tongue of Land which extending it self along makes the Port of Damata its Walls make an irregular Heptagon flanked with five great Towers * Sancta Maura's distant from Provisa 19. mil from Poâ—t Damata 6. It has indured divers Sieges in its own Defence and although it has vigorously withstood its Enemies yet has it often been forced to indure the Turkish Tyranny and been as often subject to the Venetians Anno 1479. it was attacked by the Turkish Forces and then taken from certain Greek Princes that possessed it CEFALONIA The Isle of Cephalonia THat Isle in the Ionian Sea called Cephalonia was not long since by the Greeks named Cassa or Chieffali to shew that it was the head of the Isles in that Sea and because it once had four Cities 't was called likewise Tetrapolis Besides these different names Authors have given it several others as Pliny calls it Melena Porcacchi and others Samo some again Dulichium and Tilebi 'T is seated between the thirty seventh and thirty eight Degrees of North Latitude and the forty sixth of Longitude the West part of Ferro being the first According to Porcacchi 't is a hundred and sixty miles round but it is indeed 170. It is of a triangular Figure its most advanced Angle being Northwards at Cape Guiscardo otherwise called Capo Capra On the East it regards Chiarenza in the Morea and on the North Corfu on one side with the Point Schinori of the Isle of Zant being at 18 miles distance it forms the Channel of Zant subject to frequent and dangerous Tempests and on the other from Cape Viscardo to Samo it makes with the Isle of Teacchi the Channel called that of Viscardo which is three miles broad in the narrowest place and very deep There are several Creeks where Galleys may safely ride tho' there be a good number of them man'd with a great Army for the Bay of Alessandria Port Argostoli which is very considerable and whereof we will treat apart the Port of Viscardo and that of Asso will each receive two or three and have as likewise the whole Channel a sound Bottom The whole Isle is divided into seven principal parts which are Argostoli Liscuri Finea Erisso Pillaro Samo Luceto In these are several large Burroughs which take their Names from the chief Families that dwell in them The least of these contains about 50 Houses They are a very valiant and ingenious People Under the Isle of Cephalonia lies that of Teacchi it affords great Quantities of Raisins whereof the English yearly take their Cargo yielding a considerable Revenue to the Republick and from thence come extraordinary large Citrons The Corn that they sow in the Spring is reaped again in June the Vines grow very low near the Ground they gather their Fruits in April and in November but the latter are smaller than those of April It produces also beautiful Narcissus's and Hyacinths and it is common there to see Roses and Pinks all the Winter When the South Wind blows there in the Summer it causes excessive Heat which is tempered by the North. The Republick keeps a Noble Venetian there as Governor with the Title of Proveditor and two other Noble Men as Counsellors who keep the publick Assizes alternately each their Month under the Proveditor their
then so necessary that in the eighth year of the Peleponnesian War the Athenians having won it Sparta was without defence and its Country lay open to the Enemy till they hasted to fortifie and put Garrisons in the neighbouring places The little Isle or rather Rock called de Cervi lies between Port Rapini and Cape St. Angelo where with the firm Land it makes a Channel unnavigable by Reason of the Banks of Sand that are in it The nearest Rocks to Cerigo are the Dragonier which have a good Anchorage and may be sailed from with any Wind the others that are seen between this Isle and Candia are Ovo otherwise called Eple Oso Doi Poro Poressa Cicerigo or Cerigotto which the Ancients called Egila or Egiale it is the nearest to Cape Spada and the largest of all But there is none of all these that deserves a particular Description and serve only as Marks to the Sailer being of no other use The Isles of the Gulf of Engia THE Isles in the Gulf of Engia and which are a great Ornament to it are first beginning at Cape Colonne Patrocleia which the People call Gaïdronisi and Macronisi It has likewise the Name Ebanonisi from the Ebany that grows there in great Plenty On a high Place there is a Marble Stone set up which may be seen a great way and serves for a Signal to the Mariner On the side blowed on by the Greek Wind near to the Isle lie several dangerous Shelves of Sand. Sailing towards the Attick Shore we find the Isle of Elisso thought to be the Eloussa of Strabo Then is the Rock of Phlega with five others contiguous to it called Cumbonisa Between the Isle Culuri and Attica is the Isle Lipso Coutalia or Psyttalce near to Port Lion where there is a prodigious Number of Hares and Foxes Between Culuri and Egena is seen the Isle called Laufa near to which are three little Rocks Between the Isle of Egena and the City of Corinth are these Isles Argios Thomas Diaporia Ebroeo Agiolani Platonisi and another little Rock that has no Name Between Egena and the Continent of Saccania lie Angistri Metopi Dorousi and Moni Between Cape Colonne and Cape Skilli are seen the two Isles called Kelevinais but of all these Isles we have named Egena Culuri and Poros are only inhabited â— Culuri so called by Sophianus is by the Seamen named Santa Bursia and is the same which was once called del Dragone from a Dragon in this place that was killed by Ceroneus the Son of Neptune and Salamona the Daughter of Asopus who gave to the Isle the Name of Salamis by which Pliny and Strabo knew it There is in it a Village of its own Name Culuri of 200 Houses situated on its South side at its Port which as Monsieur Spon says is one of the bigest in the World being two miles broad and seven long at its Entrance lie two Rocks called Canuli and Prasuli Baudrand who gives the Isle three Names Cychria Scinar Pityussar says 't is 10 miles off from Egena and two from Attica It produces abundance of Wheat Pitch Rosin Coals Sponges and Ashes all which they carry to Athens to sell The Islanders are much inclined to Fishing and the rather for that their Shores are usually full of Fish The old City of Salamene once a Bishops Seat Suffragan to the Arch-Bishop of Athens is situated four or five Miles off a little Village of about 20 Houses called Ambellachi which has a small Port over against Athens near which is seen a Building like a Monastery which has the Title of a Metropolis joyned to another House The Circuit of the Isle is 35 miles containing about a thousand Inhabitants Megalo-kira and Micro-kira that is the great and little Kira are two Rocks between Culuri and the Terra firma of Attica Over against Cape Sâ—â—nio otherwise Cape Colonne is the Rock called Macronisi which Homer mentions in his Iliads under the Name of Cranae Its first Name was Helene being the place where that Beauty of Greece was embraced by her enamour'd Ravisher Paris The Isle of Egena EGena is an Isle distant from the Attick Coast 18 miles 25 from Port Lion 12 from the Morea and 21 from Culuri Strabo calls it Egina from Egine the Mother of Eacus the Daughter of Asopus Baudrand Aeâ—oâ—e Brietius Myrmidonia and the Mariners Engi though this Isle has 36 miles Circuit yet has it never a Port to receive any Vessels and they are obliged to cast Anchor between Augistri and Dorusa or between it and Moni as the Venetian Navy did during the Wars with Candia Partridges there increase so that the Islanders are forced to search over the Island in the Spring to destroy their Eggs lest so great a Production of this Game devour up their Corn. There are yet to be seen two fair Monuments of Antiquity which are two Temples the one situated in the North Part of the Isle by Pausanias thought to be that once dedicated to the goddess Venus the other slands in a grove upon a little Hill of an admirable Aspect 't was built in the Honour of Jupiter by Eacus the first King of this Isle there is still to be seen 20 Columns of the Dorique Order canellated or fluted with their Architraves placed in a good Proportion The City of the same Name with thâ— Isle Egena was once honoured with a Bishops Seat suffragan to the Arch-Bishop of Athens and famous by the Birth of Paul de Medicis but is now reduced to a small Burrough joyned to the Fontress considerable only for its situation upon a very high steep Rock whence are discovered many of the Isles of the Archipelago even to Amimilo This Isle was once subject to Duke Galeotto Malatesta by his Marriage with the Daughter of Anthony King of Boeotia whence it came afterwards to be under the Venetians But Frederic Barbarossa having entred the Isles of the Archipeldgo advanced as far as Egena intending its Conquest thinking doubtless that all the rest would bring but little glory in Comparison of this which was then full of People and well desended under the Government of Francesco Sorian who there ruled for the Republick Anno 1674 Franoesco Morosini Captain General of the Army of the Republick setting Sail in the Archipeldgo for the Exaction of the Contributions being to refresh the Slaves of his Galley â—as informed that Egena was full of a â—ort of barbarous People who waited â—ut for an opportune Season to transâ—ort themselves in small Barks to Caâ—â—a This back'd with the refusal they â—ade of paying the Imposition made â—im take up a Resolution to reduce â—hem by Force wherefore having landed his Forces and begun the Attack â—e soon repressed the boldness of the Defenders and having brought them to yeild at Discretion he pillaged the Place and then demolish'd it condemning 300 of the Greeks and 40 Turks to the Galleys Of the maritime Places between the Morea and thâ—
it on the South-West about a Falconet shot off is called Museum the other is Mount Anchesmus which is so rugged that 't were hard to plant a Battery of great Guns thereon against the City and Cittadel besides there is no Plain upon it only sharp Points of the Rock upon one of which is the Chapel of Agis Georgios where once stood the Statue of Anchesmian Jupiter The lower part of the Town is on the North of the Cittadel and when one comes from the Seawards it is so covered by it that the Houses of the Cittadel only can be seen whence several not having the curiosity to land have thought that of all the Grandure of Athens the Castle only now remained This Situation is very advantageons for it as to the health of its Inhabitants for the Climate being hot 't is much better to lie open to the refreshing North Winds than to the Southern Burnings After all its Revolutions there is yet to be seen very fine Antiquities the chief whereof are the Temple of Victory of the Ionick Order which the Turks make now their Magazin of Powder The Arsenal of Licurgus of the Dorick Order in which they lay up their Arms and Artillery The Temple of Minerva of the Dorick Order changed now into a Mahometan Mosque The Lantern of Demosthenes now serving as a Receptacle to the P. P. Capuchins The Tower of the Winds of an Octogonal Figure whereof Andronicus Cyrrhestes gave the Model and Vitruvius has described The Temple of Theseus The Foundations of Areopagus c. There is in Athens eight or nine thousand Inhabitants three quarters whereof are Greeks and the rest Turks who have four Mosques in the City and a fifth in the Castle No Jews are permitted there for the Athenians are as cunning as they whence the Proverb God defend us from the Jews of Salonica the Greeks of Athens and the Turks of Negropont The Habit of the Greeks of Athens is very different from that of the Turks for they wear only strait Garments of black or some dark Colours The City at present is divided into eight Parts called Platomata which are Placa Sotiras tu Cotaki Mono Calusi Roumbi Boreas Platoma Psiri Platoma Gerlada Agioi Colymboi or Olympoi As to its Terretory it once contained an hundred seventy four Burroughs or Villages whereof some were as big as Cities at this time the most of them are in the Plain of Mesoia or Mesogia wherein are the following Villages Metropis Keratia Misochori near to Rafti Chovarades near to Rafti Elada Marco-Poulo there is another Marco-Poulo Coursala Phyglia Carela Alopeki Cocla Balambafi Boura Arvato Agoupi And these that are almost ruined and are now called only Zeugalatia or Farmes Pikerni Bafi Lecambafi Lambriano Lambrica in the way to Athens at Cape Colonne Palaeo Lambrica the Ruins of the Ancient Lampra Elimbo Egnapyrghi Spitia Vraona In the other Territories of Athens are Caramamet at the foot of Mount Thymettus Marousi near Penteli deserted Calandri in the way to Penteli Gifissia in the way to Marathon formerly Cephyssia Basi Coumaria behind Penteli Stamati in the way to Marathon now ruined Belousa deserted Chiourka Grammatico Calingi as you go from Marathon to Negropont Varnada on the Euripus Limico on the Euripus Calamo on the Euripus Marcopoulo on the Euripus Near to Athens amongst the Olive Grounds Sepollia or Sopollia Mainidi Cacovaones Patischa Ambelokipous in the way to Penteli Callirhoe a few Houses near the Fountain This City was once an Academy of Arts and Sciences and a School of Vertue and all the Princes that have possessed it have been ambitious to leave their Names upon some Monuments thereby to gain an immortality in the Memory of man. Thus we find out upon a Portal a Greek Verse signifying that this is the City of Adrian and not of Theseus In the course of Time it has been subject to several Princes by divers Misfortunes to which it has yielded Sylla after a long Siege took it and Anno 687. from the Foundation of Rome made it subject to the Common-wealth of Rome Bajazet triumphed over it when it was under the command of Aristonicus the Epicurean Philosopher After that Renier Acciaioli having the Dominion of it yielded it to the Venetian Republick but it returned again under the Government of the same Acciaioli who at once possessed Attica and Boeotia In the Year 1455. it was besieged by Mahomet the Second and reduced for want of Succours since which it has still remained under the Ottomam Empire The Isle and Kingdom of Negropont THE Isle of Negropont is the most considerable of all the Isles in the Archipelago It has had divers Names and that of Negropont has by corruption been changed into Egripont the Turks call it Egribos the Latins Euboea either from the Retreat of the Daughter of Asopus or of Inachus thither whom the Poets feign to be turned into a Cow which from its lowing is named Euboea It has also been called Macris from the Channel called so in Greek Abantias from the People Abantides Calcis and Chalcondantis Pliny likewise gives it the name of Asopis and Strabo says 't was called Oche and that once 't was called Ellopia from Ellopus the Son of Jupiter NEGROPONT Some have thought that this Isle was once joyned to Boeotia and thence separated by Earth-quakes or as others say by the swift and impetuous course of the waves which make the Canal called Euripus The Isle is three hundred sixty five miles round in length from South to North ninety miles and forty broad and twenty in the narrowest part At which place it is joyned by a Bridge to the main Land. It is as it were encompassed with two Promontories Cape Lithar and Cape dell ' Oro. The first facing the Gulf of Volo is by Ptolemy and Strabo called Cenaeum Promontorium by Pliny Caeneum and by Niger Canaia Near this Promontory was the coast of Artemisia so called from a Temple of that name there erected At which place the Greeks shelter'd their naval forces during their wars with the King of Persia The second looking toward the East part of the Archipelago Ptolemy calls Caphareum Promontorium Sophianus Chymium Niger Capo figera Stephanus Cathereus Lycophron Zarax Isacius Xylophagos Upon the Top of this Promontory Nauplius King of Negropont made fires that the Grecian Army returning from Troy might by the light thereof arrive safely at the Haven There was formerly three cities in the Isle which made it famous Ellopia Histiaea and Oraeus Cities that were joyned together by reason of their vicinity The Capital City of the Kingdom of Negropont was at first called in the Athenian Tongue Calcis and then it took the name of the Kingdom it self It was once the seat of a Bishop Suffragan to the Arch-Bishop of Athens afterwards 't was raised to an Arch-Bishoprick 'T is situated on the banks of the Euripus The compass of its walls is about two miles but there
are more houses and people in the Suburbs where the Christians dwell than in the City inhabited by Turks and Jews The Turks have there two Mosques and two others without where the Christians also have their Churches The Jews have an house where they instruct the Youth All the Inhabitants make about 15000. The City is divided from the Suburbs by a great Ditch with a flat bottom in a smooth and even ground There is a Captain Basha that commands the whole Isle and part of Boeotia who has in his absence his Kiaja or Lieutenant and his Subkiaja There is also a Bey or Lord who has some Revenues and is obliged to maintain a Galley At the place where the strait of the Euripus is narrowest to pass over into the Isle they go over a stone bridge of five little Arches not above thirty paces long and so under a Tower in the middle of the Channel built by the Venetians where St. Mark is yet seen over the Gate From the Tower to the City is but one Draw-bridge about twenty paces long built on sharp bottomed boats which is raised half to the Tower and the other half to the City to give passage to the Galleys and other Vessels which cannot easily be done without taking in their Oars There is also to be seen the Episcopal City at present called Carisso once Chironia which Strabo names Caristus and Caristos Sophianus Castel Rosso and the French Chateauroux it acknowledges Calcis for its Metropolis being sixty miles distant It stands near Cape Caefareo There was besides another Episcopal City Eretria which Moletius calls Rocho which in his time was not less famous than Calcis which once was an Athenian Colony built on the banks of the Euripus before the first destruction of Troy both these Cities have perisht by the falsness of their own Inhabitants So that now their names only remain They were once pillaged and burnt by Darius The soil of the Isle is stony and sandy but this is only upon the top for digging deeper they find it very good There are several Forests where good ship timber may be cut Near Caristus is a Mountain of the same name of very beautiful marble And near to it is found the Asbestos stone which may be spun and made into cloth which by putting in the fire grows white There were formerly in the Territory of Calcis Iron and copper Mines which are now lost The Isle produces cotton enough to make Sails for a great Navy There are several hot baths It is watered with two Rivers Fimileus and Cereus of which the Poets said that one made the Sheep have black wool the other white In sine the Isle abounds in all things and Pope Pius the fifth advised several great Captains to go and begin the War with the Turk in this Kingdom because it is capable of maintaining a whole Army besides it has good Ports on the side of the Continent It is true indeed that when one is once there he can by no means get out to save himself There are several places on the South part the most considerable whereof is called Spiritus When Pietro Zani was Doge the Republick inlarged their Dominions by this beautiful Kingdom which was yielded to them by the Emperor of Constantinople as a reward for the good services they had done him The first Governour that was sent was Pictro Barbo named il Zanco Anno 1469. the Turks attempting the Conquest of it came with three hundred Sail. At first they made a Bridge upon the Euripus that so they might land their Troops upon the Campaign of the Isle but those of the Country so vigorously opposed them that they were forced to return to their Galleys Within a a Month Mahomet came himself with an Army of twelve thousand Men He made a new Bridge over the Channel from the Church of St. Mark a mile off of the City and by this means made himself a way to attach Negropent This City was in some sort fortified at that time and had in it in Garrison twenty four thousand Men under Ludovico Calbo and Paolo Erizzo Commanders The last had been Governour of the City and tho his time was expired yet he would not leave the place when he might contribute by his Arms and Counsel to its defence and signalize his zeal for the Service of his Country The Turks raised several Batteries in divers places and continually plaid upon the Walls And four times march'd to the assault where four thousand Turks were killed The Place was besieged by Sea and Land and extremely pressed on all hands yet the besieged still defended themselves with advantage and had already sustained a months Siege when a treasonable practice was discovered For a little Girl found a letter wherein was mentioned the means and way of delivering up the place to the Ottomans This letter was directed to Thomaso Schiava Luigi Delfino transported with indignation against the Traitor attacked him openly and by meer force made him discover all the base Intrigues he had with the Turks The besieged still animated more and more in their defence gave daily notable proofs of their courage and constancy but at last they were almost wearied out with continual labour and fatigue In these extremeties they who had the Guard of Porte Bureliana ran away from their Post and left the place the twelfth of July 1649. The Enemy soon perceiving the place deserted and the entrance of the Gate free for them entered the Town and gave in all places dreadful marks of their Barbarity Calbo was killed in the Place and Bondulmiero in his house Paolo Erizzo beeing retrenched in an advantageous Post valiantly defended himself and the Sultan promised him life if he would deliver himself up which having done the cruel Turk broke his word and caused him to be sawed in two One of his Daughters a very beautiful Virgin chose rather to be stabb'd than receive the Sultans caresses All were murdered above twenty years old This done Mahomet left the City with a Garrison for the Guard of the whole Isle and Kingdom Of the Ebb and Flow of the Euripus THe Euripus is a strait of the Egaean Sea so narrow that scarce one Galley can pass it under a Bridge that is made over it between the Cittadel and the Tower or Dungeon of Negropont It has been called Euripus Eubolcus from the old name of the Isle or Ghalcidicus from the ancient City Chalcis the Latins named it Euripus those of the place Egripos the Italians Stretto di Negreponte and the French l' Euripe de Chalcidoine or le detroit de l' Euripe It is about sixty miles long with little Gulfs in divers places It s Ebb and Flow is doubtless one of the greatest wonders in the World and it is fabled that Aristotle drowned himself in it out of grief that he could not find out the cause thereof Antiphilus a Native of Bizantium says in a Greek Epigram that the
situated in that Part of Thessaly which is most joyned to Magnesia a small Country of Maoedonia nine miles from Dimetrias or as Livy and Pliny Demetrias and at the edge of the Gulf commonly called del Volo Pliny names it Pagasiâ—cus sinus Pelasgicus sinus Ptolemy Pagasiâ—licus Strabo Pagasaeus Mela Jolciacus Oâ—vid Demetriacus Lucio Macedonicus Oroâ—sius Golfe d' Armiro The Fortress is built after the old fashion and takes up a great space a few paces from the Sea where it has a largâ— Port and of good Anchorage Iâ— is according to * Bleau vol. 2. l. 7. pag. 9. Bleau at 31 deg 31 min Lat. and according to Cast aldoâ— at forty deg fifty min. lat and forty eight deg forty min. Longitude VEUE DE VOLO FORTERESSE DE VOLO The Gulf and City of Salonichi or Thessalonica THE Gulf of Salonichi has an Extent of 140 Miles length it is bounded by a very beautiful Plain whence it is necessarily exposed to the Winds and therefore very dangerous to the Sea-man In that Place where it most wears away the Land is a very advantageous and spacious Port. There is situated partly on an Hill and partly on a Declivity as the Ground goes the famous City of Macedonia called usually Salonichi or otherwise Thessalonique near it on the West side glides down the River Vardar which Ptolemy and Strabo call Axius Fluvius others Bardarus and Bardarius Fluvius very full of Fish and its Banks covered and adorned with goodly Trees The Walls of the City are flanked with several Towers and as to its circuit some make it ten others twelve miles It has three Forts to defend it the first being the least comes first in view at the Entrance or Landing-Place at some distance from the old City 't is Mouted with 20 great Guns The two others are situated within View of the Sea at the highest Part of the Wall furnished with 30 or 40 Cannon on the Land side is a Fortress like that of the seven Towers at Constantinople this commands the whole Town being built on a little Hill at the Foot whereof is a very great Number of Houses making a Suburbs encompassed with a Wall apart but which joyns to the City There are in this place a numerous People and the great Number of Habitations that are built in the Plain are but low and base and not sufficient to contain the great Numbers of Jews that dwell in them Besides they are not a little incommoded by the horrid stink that is in the Streets they are so narrow There is a considerable Trade as well from the commodiousness of its Situation as for the great Quantity of Silk Wool Skins of all sorts Wax Gun-powder Corn Cotton and Iron The Jews most busy themselves in Traffick and have to themselves the Manufacture of Stuffs to cloath the Janizaries and by this means they find a Way to employ the Tribute they are obliged to pay the Grand Seignior There are in it 48 Mosques in which is comprehended the Church of St. Demetrius of three Iles born up with very fair Pillars where St. Paul Preached once and that of St. Sophia built by the Emperour Justinian thirty Greek Churches thirty six great Synagogues and many other small ones The Governour has the Title of Mulà and his Place makes him very considerable at the Port. LES DARDANELLES DE LEPANTHE In the Year 118 when Andronicus would have got the Empire Thessalonica was taken by William King of Sicily but at the end being returned under the Dominion of its lawful Soveraign the Emperour of Constantinople Andronicus Paleologus he to unite himself the more nearly to the Venetian Republick gave them all the Right he had to this City But scarce two years past e're the Turk seized on it without much Difficulty by reason of its Distance and the ill State of Affairs in Italy and the small Defence the Inhabitants were able to make The Gulf and the Dardanelles of LEPANTO THIS Gulf reaching on the North to the Shores of Achaia and on the South to those of the Morea divides from each other these two great Parts of Greece It has had several Names which Authors have given it according to the different Times and particular Occasions they had to speak of it The Ancients called it Criâ—sus Strabo the Sea of Alcion Sophianus Golfe de Pedras some Corintiacus Sinus from the City Corinth the Mariners as Niger reports the Shores of the Bostria and now commonly Lepanto It contains four Rocks in it and receives its Water from the Ionian Sea by an Entrance between two Promontories standing far out from the Continent whereof one joyning to the Morea is by Strabo called Anthirium Promontorium and usually Cape Antirio upon the top of which is a Fortress called of Morea or of Patras the other joyning to Achaia which Strabo calls Rhium Promontorium and the Vulgar Cap de Rhio or Rio this also is provided with a Fort called Romelie These two Castles are otherwise called the Dardanelles of Lepanto They are both built of a square Figure encompassed with good Walls and a strong Battery level with the Water there is no Fault to be found with them but that the Ground being Sandy they admit of an easy Approach from the Enemy There is no landing any Forces on the side of Romelie within two Italian Miles of the Fortress but it may be approached in small Barks within 100 Paces The Plain to the little Hill is very large but it grows less and less as you come nearer to the Castle At the Foot of the Mountain is a great Valley where those that design to attack the Fort may march forward undiscovered All Merchandises brought out of the Gulf as Skins Oyls Tabaco Rice and Barly pay three per cent to the Emin who is likewise obliged to disburse six thousand Crowns a year into the Coffers of the Grand Seignior Once all Merchandises that came from the West as likewise those from the East after having passed the Gulf of Engia were brought into this Port but at this time the Entrance is forbid to all stranger Ships which upon that Account are obliged to stay at Patras and the most of those that put in here are Corsairs and indeed one calls Lepanto the little Algiers The greatest part of the Inhabitants of this Place are Moors that have black Children like those of Barbary The City of Lepanto THE City of Lepanto is by the Latins called Naupactus by the Vulgar Epactos and by the Turks Einebachti 't is situated in the Country of Livadia on the Edge not far from the Mouth of the Gulf of the same Name invironed with an high conical Mountain on the Top of which is built a Fortress with four strong thick Walls round it separated from each other by little Distances where the Inhabitants have their Dwellings the Port is not above 60 Foot big and which may be shut up with a Chain being but narrow at its Entrance upon which Account but a few Vessels can lie there and at sometimes also they cannot get out of it for want of Water And if the famous Pirate Durach Bey used to shelter himself there with his Galleys he must have taken a special Care to keep it clear LEPANTHE Under the Empire of the Turks 't is governed by a Vaivode There are seven Mosques two Greek Churches which are held in great Disdain by the Turks and three Jewish Synagogues If the Inhabitants want pleasant Places within the Town they have without on the East side near the Sea a plentiful Stream of Water which after having served the Powder-Mills and the Tanners of Leather in which consists the Riches of the Place waters about a dozen very great Plains and makes the Place very delightful There is likewise round about very pleasant Gardens and Fields covered with Limons and Orange Trees The Soil produces a Wine that surpasses all the Greek Wines in Goodness The taking of this Place was very Difficult before the Use of great Guns In the Year 1408 it was subject to the Emperour of Constantinople but the Emperour Emanuel finding it too hard a Task for him to keep it delivered it into the Hands of the Republick of Venice Under this new Dominion it received a new Form and was fortified so as to be able to resist a powerful Army and indeed being besieged anno 1475 it destroied thirty thousand Turks and their Army was forced shamefully to raise the Siege after having sate down before it above four Months The Inhabitants could not be better pleased with their Rulers nor ever made more ardent Vows to be kept there and preserved from the barbarous Tyranny of the Turks when Bajazet 2. came to attack them by Sea and Land with an Army of an hundred and fifty thousand men and brought them to the most deplorable State that can be imagined There is yet to be seen St. Mark of Venice to shew us that the Rights of the Republick are as well founded there as its Arms ineffaceable and to give us Hopes that triumphant Republick will add to the Conquests it has made these last Years that of this Place which will be crowned with Glory and immortal Fame FINIS ADVERTISEMENT ANgliae Notitia or the present State of England compleat with Reflections on the ancient State thereof by Edward Chamberlain Doctor of Laws the sixteenth Edition with Additions and Alterations down to this time Printed for Matt. Gillyflower at the Spread-Eagle in Westminster-Hall and James Partridge at the Post-house between Charing-Cross and White-Hall