was invironed with a wall thirty cubits high adorned with goodly Towers round about Beautified with Houses for an hundred of the Nobility The variety of the Marble wherewith it was built was admirable all sorts being therein used though never so rare to bee found In every room also were many vessels of gold and silver and many Porches round about adorned with most curious Pillars There were in it very many pleasant walks adorned with all sorts of Trees and Gardens beset with Fountains that spouted up water on high and Cisterns beautiâ—yed with many Brazen Statues from which ranne out water continually The Temple Described The Temple was built upon a Rocky Mountain the plain on the top whereof was at first scarce big enough for the Temple and Court the hill being very steep But the people every day bringing earth thither at last made it plain and large enough and inclosed the hill with a treble wall which was a work passing all expectation to the effecting whereof many Ages were spent and all the holy treasure offered to God from all parts of the world The foundations of the Temple were laid three hundred cubits deep and in many places more The stones of it were forty cubits The Porches were double and every one was supported by many stately pillars five and twenty cubits high all of one peece of white Marble the tops of them were of Cedar so exactly wrought as astonished the beholders These Porches were thirty Cubits broad and the compass of all was six Furlongs The Courts were curiously wrought and paved with all sorts of stones Thirdly The way to the inward Temple was all inclosed with stones wrought like Lattice-work which were three Cubits high of curious workmanship to this second there was an ascent by fourteen staires and aloft it was four square and enclosed with a wall by it self whose outside being forty Cubits high was all covered with stairs to ascend up to it and within it was twenty five Cubits high At the top of the fourteen staires within the wall was a level compassed with a wall of three hundred Cubits which had eight Gates in it and between the Gates were Porches opposite each to other reaching from the wall to the Treasury supported with great and stately Pillars All the gates were covered with Plates of gold and silver only one was covered with Corinthian brasse which for beauty far excelled the other dazling the eyes of the beholders In every gate were two doores each of them thirty Cubits high and fifteen broad and on each side they had seats thirty Cubits long and forty Cubits high each one supported with two Pillars twelve Cubits thick Only the gate which was covered with Corinthian brasse was fifty Cubits high the gates were forty Cubits and it was more richly adorned than the rest Fourthly the Holy of Holies was situated in the midst of all and had twelve staires to go up to it The forepart of it was an hundred Cubits high and as many broad Backward it was forty Cubits on each side it had as it were two shoulders rising up in height twenty Cubits The first gate was seventy Cubits high and five and twenty wide and had no doores to shew that Heaven was alwayes open c. All the fore-parts were gilded and all wiâ—â—in was covered with fine gold The inward part was divided into two rooms whereof the first only might bee seen which was in height fourescore and ten Cubits in length forty and in breadth tvventy round about the wall vvas a golden Vine vvhereon hung many grapes in clusters all of gold every cluster being about six foot long It had golden gates fifty five Cubits high and sixteen Cubits broad It had curious hangings of the same length admirably vvrought vvith Purple Violet and Scarlet Silk all the fabrick vvas so exquisitely and richly vvrought that none could possibly imagine any vvorkmanship that it vvanted For it vvas all covered vvith a massie plate of pure gold vvhich dazled the eyes of the beholders The top vvas all set vvith rods of gold sharp like pikes at the ends lest birds should sit thereon and defile it The stones wherewith it was built were forty five Cubits large five in length six broad and as many long Joseph l. 6. c. 7. The City of Ninive described Ninive was first founded by Assur the son of Sem Gen. 11.10 Enlarged by Ninus the third Babylonish King The compasse of it was four hundred and eighty Furlongs or sixty four Italian miles the Walls were one hundred foot high and so broad that three Chariots might passe abreast upon them upon the Walls were fifteen hundred Towers each of them two hundred foot high It 's called a great City Jonah 3.3 It was eight years in building and there were never fewer than ten thousand workmen about it The City of Babylon described Babylon was founded by Nimrod Gen. 10.10 but enlarged by Semiramis who for the carrying on of that work drew together thirty hundred thousand workmen who in one year finished the Walls which contained in circuit four hundred and eighty furlongs or sixty four Italian miles They were two hundred foot high and fifty foot thick so that six Chariots might drive abreast on them The River Euphrates ran through the midst of it over which shee built a strong and stately Bridge of a mile long binding each stone to other with clips of Iron fastened with molten lead These Walls were one of the seven Wonders of the World It was built four square each side sixteen miles long scituated in a large plain Aristotle calls it a Country rather than a City and it must needs bee very great when some part of it was taken three dayes before the other heard of it It had a hundred brazen Gates and two hundred and fifty Towers upon the Walls for beauty and strength Semiramis built in it two Pallaces both for ornament and defence One in the West which was sixty Furlongs in compasse with high brick Walls and within that a lesse and within that a third wherein also was an impregnable Tower These were wrought sumptuously with Images of Beasts It had three stately gates and within the walls were game of Beasts of sundry sorts The other Pallace was in the East on the other side of the River containing thirty Furlongs in circuit Semiramis her Obelisk described Semiramis Queen of Babylon caused an huge Obelisk square and of the fashion of a Pyramid to bee cut out of the Armenian Mountains one hundred and fifty foot long and four and twenty foot thick which with much difficulty was brought to the River Euphrates and from them thence to Babylon where shee erected it to bee matter of admiration to future ages Diod. The Rarities in old Babylon described Within the heart of this huge and stately City of Babylon shee built a Tower reckoned amongst the VVorlds VVonders It had an hundred brazen gates and two hundred and fifty Towers
Semiramis also built in the same City a stately Temple which shee dedicated to Cush or Jupiter Belus four square each side containing two Furlongs or a thousand paces with thick Towering walls entred by four gates of polished brasse In the midst was a solid Tower of the height and thicknesse of a Furlong upon this another and so each higher than another being eight in number reaching far above the middle Region of the Air In the highest Tower was a Chappel and therein a fair bed covered and a Table of gold in the top of this Chappel shee placed three golden Statues One of Jupiter forty foot long weighing a thousand Talents each Talent containing sixty three pounds and almost ten ounces Another of Ops weighing as much sitting in a golden Throne at her feet two Lions and hard by huge Serpents of silver each of thirty Talents The third Image was of Juno standing in weight eight hundred Talents To all which was a common Table of gold forty foot long and twelve broad weighing fifty Talents There were also two standing Cups of thirty Talents and two Vessels for perfume of the like weight besides three other Vessels of gold weighing twelve hundred Talents all which the Persian Kings after their conquest of it took away Herod Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon with its Rarities described Nebuchadnezzar after hee came to it having conquered all the neighbouring Nations enriched this Temple of Belus with their spoils and added a new City to the old without the same which hee compassed about with three walls and made in them stately gates and neer his Fathers Palace hee built another more stately wherein hee raised stone works like unto Mountains which hee planted with all manner of trees Hee made also Pensile Gardens one of the VVorlds VVonders born upon arches four square each square containing four hundred foot filled above vvith earth vvherein grevv all sorts of trees and plants the arches vvere built one upon another in convenient height still increasing as they ascended the highest vvhich bate the vvalls vvere fifty Cubits high Hee made also Aquaeducts for the vvatering of this Garden Hee erected also an Image of gold in the plain of Dura sixty Cubits high and six broad These stately buildings made him so to boast Is not this great Babel that I have built for the house of the Kingdome by the might of my power and for the honour of my Majesty Herod The Tower of Babylon Described About one hundred and thirty years after Noahs comming out of the Ark his posterity being affrighted with the late Flood under Nimrod they intended to raise up such a pile as should secure them from a second deluge and admirable it is to consider what multitudes of men there were in the world in so short a space there being but eight persons that came out of the Ark and now this building was carried on by five hundred thousand men the Basis of it was nine miles in compass and in a few years they raised it above five thousand paces into the sky and had proceeded farther but that God by confounding their Languages despersed them over the whole face of the Earth Herb. Trav. The Country about Babylon hath been the fruitfullest in the VVorld yeilding ordinarily two hundred and in some places three hundred increase the blades of the VVheat and Barley are about four fingers broad They cut their Corn twice in the year and depasture it a third time or else it would bee nothing but blade Pur. Pilgri p. 59. The City of Bagdat Described Bagdat is raised out of the ruines of old Babylon it s in circuit above three miles containing fifteen thousand families it s watered by Tygris somewhat broader than the Thames it hath a bridge over it made upon thirty long boates chained together made to open and shut at pleasure The Mosque stands at the West end large round and pleasantly raised of white freestone The Pallace joyns to the market its large but low The Coha-house is a house of good fellowship where every evening they assemble to drink a certain Stygian Liquor a black thick bitter potion brewed out of Bunum berries of great repute because it provokes lust and purges melancholly The Buzzar is square and comely the gardens are sweet and lovely Syria Described Syria bounds Northward upon Cilicia and part of Cappadocia by Mount Amanus on the South upon Judea and part of Arabia-Petraea On the East upon Arabia Deserta and Euphrates and on the West upon the Syrian Sea This Country is thought to have been the habitation of our first parents before the Flood and of Noah and the better part of his Family after Hierapolis was the chief City where was a Temple built in the midst of the City compassed with a double wall The Porch looking Northward was almost a hundred fathoms high the Temple it self was three hundred fathoms at the top whereof stood Images of Priapus which was their God whom they served with filthy and godlesse vices The Temple within shined with gold and the Roof was wholly of the same mettall It yeilded so fragrant a smell that the garments of those that came into it retained the sent long after within it was a Quire where stood the Images of Jupiter supported with Bulls and of Juno sitting upon a Lyon with a Scepter in one hand and a distaffe in the other adorned with many Jewels and amongst the rest on her head one called the Lamp yeilding light in the night season Not far from the City was a lake two hundred fathoms deep wherein was preserved sacred Fishes and in the middest thereof an Altar of stone crowned always with garlands and burning with Odours Antioch another City in Syria was built by Seleucus and was sometimes the Seat Royall of the Syrian Kings and afterwards it was the third City in the Roman Empire the third seat of the Christian Patriarks and the first place where the Disciples were called Christians but now it s a Sepulchre to it self being left but a small village Damascus another Regal City was fair and great every side containing fifteen miles by it ran the River Pharphar that watered their gardens but Abana entered into the City and by Conduits was carried into their private houses both of them adding both pleasure and Profit to the inhabitants which made Naaman prefer them before all the Waters of Israel In it was a Synagogue of the Ismalites a stately building wherein was a wall of glasse distinguished by three hundred sixty and five holes in each of which was a Dial with twelve Degrees answering to the hours of the day within it were bathes and costly buildings so rich of gold and silver as seemed incredible it had forty great Porches in the circuit of it wherein nine thousand Lamps all of gold and silver hanged from the roof of them It was ca1led the Palace of Benhadad Aleppo is now the chiefest City in Syria wherein this is very remarkable that
Ecbatane was once the Metropolis of it twenty miles distant from the Caspian Straits which are a narrow way made by hand through the Hills scarce wide enough for a Cart to pass eight miles in length the rocks with their obscure frowns hanging over them and in the summer time multitudes of Serpents guarding them The walls of Ecbatane were built of hewen stone seventy cubits high and fifty cubits broad and sixteen miles in compasse Herodotus saith that after the Assyrians had raigned in Asia five hundred and twenty years the Medes rebelled chose Deioces for their King at whose command they builded him this royall City and in it a Palace of Cedar wood joyned with plates of silver and gold being a stately thing the whole compasse of it was seven furlongs Diodorus Siculus reports that at one time multitudes of Sparrows that devoured their seed forced the inhabitants to leave this Countrey and to seek their living in other places as Mice caused them in some part of Italy and Frogs that rained out of the Clouds made the Attariotae and Fleas chased away the Inhabitants of Myus How great is that God who of the smallest of his Creatures can muster Armies to conquer them that swell in the conceit of their own greatnesse as against Pharoah c. And how many Nations in Africa have the Grashoppers exiled from their native habitations amongst the Medes none might bee King except hee was in stature and strength more eminent than others They used to nourish Dogs with great care to whom they cast men ready to dye whilest yet breathing to bee devoured of them In this Country is the Lake of Van three hundred miles long and a hundred and fifty broad of salt water the greatest next to Meotis Gyllicus affirms that eight great Rivers run into it without any apparent issue to the Sea Parthia described Parthia is seated at the roots of the mountains having the Arians on the East the Medes on the West Caramania on the South and Hyrcania on the North surrounded with Desarts they used not gold or silver but only to adorn their armour they had many wives of whom they were so jealous that they forbad them the sight of any other man They performed all businesses both publick and private on horseback this being the distinction of free men from servants they buried their dead in the bellies of birds or dogs they were exceeding superstitious in the service of their Gods they were a stout unquiet and unfaithful people their fight was more dangerous in their flight than in their onset whence Seneca saith Terga conversi metuenda Parthi The Parthians flight doth most affright It s now called Arach Hyrcania described Hyrcania now Strava hath on the West Media on the East Margiana on the South Parthia and on the North the Caspian Sea It s famous for store of woods and Tygers Strava the chief City abounds with trafick for Silk Their Religion agrees with that of the Persians Arabia described Arabia is a very large Country lying between the Persian Gulph on the East and the Arabian Gulph on the West On the South is the Ocean and on the North is Syria and Euphrates It s usually divided into Petraea Deserta and Foelix The name Faelix or Happie is given to the Southern part from the fertility of it Petraea to a second part of Petra the Seat Royal Deserta or the Desert from the nature of it being a very barren soil Arabia the Desert is bounded on the East with Babylonia and part of the Persian Gulph on the North with Mesopotamia neer to Euphrates On the West with Syria and Arabia Petraea and on the South with the Mountains of Arabia Faelix neer unto which and Euphrates it hath some Towns which are frequented by Merchants In other parts it is unpeopled only by some roving Arabians wandering in it seeking pasture for their Cattel Arabia Petraea hath Syria on the West and North Arabia the Desert on the East and Arabia Foelix on the South some call it Nabathaea that part of it which is next to Syria is fruitful the other barren wanting both wood and water and frequented by wandring theevish Arabians In this Country it was that the Israelites wandred forty years up and down in their passage to Canaan Here is Mount Sinai a mile and an half from Horeb and far higher Sinai is ascended by steps cut out of the Rock and from the top of it may bee seen both shores of the Red-Sea Arabia Foelix bounds upon the former and hath the Sea on all other parts against which it doth abut for the space of three thousand five hundred and four miles It s now called Ayaman or Giamen It s probable to bee the Country where Saba stood whose Queen came to visit Salomon though the Abassines challenge her to themselves It hath store of Rivers Lakes Towns Cities Cattel and fruits of many sorts The chief Cities are Medina Mecca Ziden Zebit Aden c. Here is store of gold silver and variety of precious stones As also wild beasts of diverse kinds The Inhabitants use circumcision at thirteen years old after the â—xample of Ismael Frankincense grows only in this Country and not in every part but in one part only guarded and almost unpassable by Rocks the place is one hundred miles long and about fifty in breadth there are three hundred families appointed to attend this Wood who are called Holy and when they cut the trees whence Incense sweats which is in the Spring and Autum they must abstain from Women funerals c. when it s gathered they carry it on Camels by Sabota where they pay the Tithe to a God called Sabis They have in Arabia sheep with great tailes some of which weigh forty pounds some much more they kill all the Mice they can as supposing them enemies to their Gods the women cover their faces being contented rather to see but with one eye than to prostitute their whole faces They have also Balsom trees The Arabick language is now the most common in all the Eastern Countries especially amongst those that imbrace the Mahometan Religion Tartary described The Tartars inhabit a vast space of ground in Asia and are divided into many Tribes different both in name and government one from another The greatest and mightiest of them is the Crim Tartar called by some the great Cham that lyeth South and South East from Russia Their Arms are Bows Arrows and Swords they are all Horse-men and use to shoot as readily backward as forward the common souldiers have no armour more than their ordinary apparel which is a black sheep skin with the wool side outward in the day time and inward in the night with a cap of the same the Nobles imitate the Turks both in apparrel and armour In their wars they chiefly seek to get store of Captives especially of Boyes and Girles whom they sell to the Turks or other neighbour Nations they are most
of it no considerable party opposing them in their peaceable possession as you may read more fully in a book called Bellum Tartaricum The City of Quinsay described Quinsay was formerly the Regal City of China situated abuut the heart of the Country and yet not far from the Sea In it were to bee found so many delights that it seemed an earthly Paradise It was one hundred miles in compasse for the streets and channels thereof were very wide and the Market-places very large It had on the one side a clear lake of fresh water and on the other a great River which entring into many places of the City carryed away all the filth and occasioned a good air There were store both of Carts and Barks to carry necessaries It had in it twelve thousand Bridges great and small those on the chiefest Channels being so high that ships might passe under them On the other side of the City was a great Trench forty miles long large and full of water from the River which served both to receive the overflowings of the River and as a fence to that side of the City the earth that was taken out being laid as a bank or hill on the inside There are ten chief Market-places besides infinite others along the streets all of them square the square being half a mile on each side and from the fore part of them runs a principal street forty paces wide reaching from one end of the City to the other with many Bridges traversing of it and at the end of every four miles is such a Market-place There is also a large channel running over against the street behinde the Market-places on the banks whereof are erected store-houses of stone where Merchants out of all Countries laid up their Commodities being commodious to the Markets In each of the Market-places three dayes in a week was a concourse of forty or fifty thousand persons which brought in whatsoever was requisite for the life of man besides beasts and fowls of game Then followed the Butchers rows of Beef Veal Kid and Lamb Besides there were all sorts of Herbs and fruits and amongst them huge Pears weighing ten pound a peece and very fragrant Peaches yellow and white very delicate Every day from the Ocean which is but five and twenty miles off is brought up abundance of fish besides what the Lake and River yeeld All the Market-places are encompassed with high and fair houses and underneath are shops of Artificers and all sorts of Merchandises Spices Jewels Pearls Rice-wine c. Many streets answer one another in those Market-places wherein are many Bathes both of cold and hot waters and people wash every day before they eat any thing At the end of each Market-place is a Palace where Magistrates determine all controversies which happen amongst Merchants and others There are twelve Principal trades each of which have one thousand shops and yee shall see in every shop ten twenty thirty or forty men at work under one Master The Masters themselves work not but stand richly apparreled and their wives with Jewels inestimable their houses are well ordered and richly adorned with Pictures and other stupendious costs About the Lake are many fair buildings and great Palaces of the Nobles and chief men and Temples of their Idols and Monasteries of many Monks In the middest of the Lake are two Islands upon each of which is a Palace with incredible numbers of rooms whither they resort upon occasions of marriages or other feasts where are provisions of Vessels Nappery and other things kept in common for such purposes In the Lake also are Boats and Barges for pleasure adorned with fair seats and Tables and other provision for banquets covered over head within they are neatly painted and have windows to open and shut at pleasure Nor can any thing in the World seem more pleasant than from the Lake to have such a prospect the City so fully presenting it self to the eye with so many Temples Monasterys Palaces Gardens with high trees Barges People c. For their manner is to work one part of the day and the other part to spend in solace with their friends or with women on the Lake or in riding in Chariots up and down the City All the streets are paved with stone as are all the high wayes in China The principal street of Quinsay is paved ten paces on each side and in the midst it 's well gravelled with passages for the water which keeps it alwayes clean There are also multitudes of Chariots accommodated with cloathes and cushions of Silk for six persons in each of them and in them the inhabitants solace themselves in the streets or go to Gardens provided on purpose for their pleasure This City contains about sixteen hundred thousand housholds and together with the Country adjoyning yeelded to the King sixteen millions and eight hundred thousand Ducats of gold yearly besides six millions and four hundred thousand Ducats for the customes of salt Pur. Pil. v. 3. p. 98. The Great Mogols Empire described The Great Mogols Country is called Indusâ—an which for spaciousness abundance of brave Towns numberlesse inhabitants infinit treasure mines food and all sort of Merchandise exceeds all Kings and Potentates in the Mahomitan World This vast Monarchy extends from East to West two thousand six hundred miles From North to South one thousand four hundred miles It s in circuit five thousand It is bounded with the Bengalan Gulph and Indian Ocean On the South with Decan and Mallaber North and North West with Tartary and Persia It contains thirty seven large Provinces thirty great Cities three thousand walled Towns His revenues are very great He hath in continual pay three hundred thousand Horse and keeps two thousand Elephants at a vast charge his Treasurer yearly issuing out above forty millions of Crowns The names of the Provinces are 1. Candahor The chief City is of the same name It lies Northward and confines upon Persia. 2. Cabul The chief City is of the same name It lyes in the North West part and confines upon Tartary 3. Multan The chief City is of the same name On the West it joyns with Persia. 4. Hajacan It hath no great City It s bounded Eastward with the famous River of Indus and Westward with Persia. 5. Buckor The chief City is Buckor-succor Indus runs through it and much inriches it 6. Tatta The chief City is of the same name The River Indus maketh many fruitful and pleasant Islands in it the chief arm of it falls into the Sea at Synde a place famous for curious handy crafts 7. Sorat The chief City is Janagar It s a little Province but rich bounded with the Ocean on the South 8. Jeselmeere The chief City is of the same name 9. Attack The chief City is of the same name It lyeth on the Eastside of Indus 10. Peniab It 's seated 〈◊〉 five Rivers which all fall into Indus It s a great and very fruitful Province
hot Thus hath the wise disposer of all things tempered bitter things with sweet to teach us that there is no true and perfect content in any Kingdome but that of heaven They have store of good Horses and Camels Dromedaries Mules Asses Rhynocerots which are as long as the fairest Oxe in England their skines lye plaited in wrinkles on their backs They have many Elephants their King having usually fourteen thousand and many of the Nobles a hunded a peece There are some of them fifteen foot high all of them black their skin thick and smooth without hair they take much delight in the water and will swim excellent well they are exceeding docible so that they will do almost any thing the keeper bids them If he would have them affright a man he will make towards him as if hee would tread him in peeces and yet when hee comes to him not touch him If hee bid him abuse a man hee will take dirt or kennel water in his trunk and dash it in his face c. They are most sure of foot never stumbling they are governed with a hook of steel with which their keeper sitting on their Necks pull them back or prick them forward at their pleasure Every Male hath allowed to him four females The Inhabitants of Indostan Described The Inhabitants before they were conquered by Tamerlane were all Gentiles but now they are mixed with Mahometans they are of stature like us very streight seldome or never is there a crooked person amongst them They are of an Olive colour have black hair but not curled they love not any that are white saying that they are like Lepers their chins are bare but have long hair on their upper lips shave their heads only reserve a lock on the Crown for Mahomet to pull them to heaven by The habits of men and women differ little mostly made of white Cotton cloth made close to the middle then hanging loose down below the knee under them they have long breeches reaching to the ancle and close to their bodies their feet are bare in their shooes which they commonly wear like Slippers which they put off when they come into their houses whose floores are covered with excellent Carpets upon which they sit when they talk or eat like Taylors on their shop boards on the mens heads are shashes which is a long thin wreath of cloath white or coloured The Mahometan women cover their heads with vails their hair hangs down behind twisted with silk oft bedecked with jewels about their necks and wrists their ears have pendants their nostrils pierced to put in rings at their pleasure Their ease in child bearing is admirable for it is a common thing there for women great with child one day to ride carrying their Infants in their bodies and the next day to ride carrying them in their arms The great Mogol every year at the entring of the Sun into Aries makes a feast to his Nobles which lasts nine days at which time they present him with gifts and he again repays them with Princely rewards I was astonished saith mine Author who was an eye witnesse of it when I beheld at that time the incredible riches of gold pearls Pretious stones jewels and many other glittering vanities which were amongst them The walls in the Kings house are painted or beautified with pure white Lime the floores are covered with rich and costly Carpets there lodge none with him in his house but his Eunuches and women and some little boys that hee keeps for detestable uses hee always eats in private amongst his women upon great variety of excellent dishes which being prepared and proved by the Taster are served up in vessels of Gold covered and sealed up and so by the Eunuches brought to him In this Empire there are no Inns to entertain strangers onely in great Towns are fair houses built for their receit which they call Sarrays not inhabited where Travellers have room freely but they must bring with them beds food and other necessaries which they usually carry upon Camells or in Carts drawn with Oxen wherein they have tents to pitch when they meet with no Sarray's The inferior sort of people ride upon Oxen Horses Mules Camels or Dromedaries and the women like unto the men or else in slight Coaches drawn with Oxen many whereof are white and large and they are guided with cords which go through the parting of their Nostrils and so betwixt their horns into the Coach-mans hands they are nimble and will go twenty miles a day The better sort ride upon Elephants or are carried on mens shoulders in Sedans which they call Palankeenes In all their great Cities they have Markets twice a day early in the morning and in the evening wherein they sell almost every thing by weight They are generally so superstitious that they will rather dye than eat or drink any thing that their Law forbids The chief Cities in the great Mogols Countries Described Lahore in the great Mogols Country is a vast and famous City not much inferiour to Agra the Metropolis yea for circuit and bravery it much excells it The aire for eight months is pure and restorative the streets are paved and gracefull which are cleansed and watered by the River Ravee which flows most pleasantly into this City from the Casmyrian Mountains and after a stately course of three thousand English miles deep enough for Junks of sixty Tun it falls into Indus at Tutia This City is beautified with stately palaces Mosques Hummums or Sudatories Tanks or Ponds Gardens c. The Castle is large strong uniform pleasant and bravely seated being built of hard white and polished stone armed with twelve Posternes within which is a Palace sweet and comely entred by two Gates and Courts on the walls are pictured sundry stories and pastimes From this City to Agra is five hundred miles the Country in all that distance being even without Mountains and hills and the high way planted on both sides with shady Ash-trees whose spreading green tops lenefies the scorching heat of the Sun At the end of each eight miles is a fair and convenient lodge built for travellers to repose themselves in Herb. Trav. p. 69. Pur. Pil. v. 2. p. 1468. Brampore in the same Countrey is a City seated low and in an unhealthful plain very large and spacious and inhabited most by the Bannians the streets are many and narrow the houses not high and but meanly beautifull In the North-East end it hath a Castle standing by the Rivers side large and defensive In the River is an Artificial Elephant so skilfully shaped that by the Bannians it is adored and by others admired Idem Fettipore if the water were good it had triumphed over all the Cities in India It is walled about and to the North North West hath a lake or fish pond five miles over The North East hath a fair Buzzar or market place five hundred paces long well paved and built on all sides
with pleasant houses At one end is the Mogols house and a Mohol most excellently framed the other side is glorious by a curious Mosque or Church ascended by thirty steps adorned with a brave gate the top is full of Pyramids the Court within is six times bigger than the Royal Exchange in London excellently paved with free stone the Iles are large and well paved the Pillars all of one stone and beautifull and affronting this Gate is a most sumptuous Monument covered with painting and Pearl-shell proud in the many Princes there buried Idem Candahor is seated in a reasonable fruitfull Countrey redundant in all good things yet by reason of so many Caravans passing and repassing from Lahore to Persia all sorts of provision is very dear and the passage much pestered with theeves the City is not very spatious but strong made defensive by many helps of Nature and Art In the South and East it s surrounded with an advantagious wall In the West and North with high and precipitious Mountains the Suburbs are large adding to the City both beauty and Wealth Idem Mandow is a City both antient and famous seated on the side of a lofty and steep hill and beautified with a strong and stately Castle encompassed with a defensive wall of five miles compass the City is very beautiful adorned with Temples in one of which are buried four Kings Palaces Fortresses especially with a Tower ascended by one hundred and seventy steps supported by Massy Pillars and adorned with gates and Windows very observable Idem Surat is at this day a City great famous rich and populous yet neither air nor soil agrees with strangers the one being extream hot the other sandy and sulphurious From June to September the clouds showre down continually unhealthful rains the wind and thunder so commixing that no place in the world seems more unhealthful It s counted the third best Town in the Guiarat Kingdome Amadavar and Cambaya excelling her It s watered with a sweet River called Tappee which arising out of the Decan mountains glides through Brampore and so to Surat It s circled with a mud-wall a strong stone Castle is built at the South-West side the River washing it the VVest opens into the Buzzar through a fair gate of stone The Medan is of no great beauty nor do the shops give any splendor The houses are indifferently beautiful some of carved wood others of Brick the English and Dutch houses at the North end excelling the other for bignesse and furniture adjoyning to one gate is a Tank of water made of good free-stone circling in above one hundred sides or angles in compasse near one thousand paces Agra is the navel of the Mogols territories and Empresse of India It s watered by the River Jeminey which from Delly glides hither and commixing with Ganges flows into the Bengalan Sea It s in shape like an half Moon the streets long and narrow and nasty of seven miles continuance part of it is walled about the rest ditcht Here the Great Mogol hath a Palace wherein are two large towers at least ten foot square which are covered with Plates of the purest gold Asmeer is seated upon an high impregnable mount the greater part of the City being below fairly built walled with good stone and moated about the Country about it is Champaigne and very fruitfull The Kingdome of Bengala Described Bengala is a very large Kingdome lying along the Sea-coast one hundred and twenty leagues and as much into the land It s watered by the River Cabaris called by some Guenga It abounds with Rice VVheat Sugar Ginger long Pepper Cotton and Silk and enjoyeth a very wholesome air Gouro is the Regal City spacious and beautiful and so is Bengala which hath given name to that part of the Sea called the Gulph of Bengala Chatigan is also another of their Cities The inhabitants are a most subtile and wicked people Men and VVomen given much to uncleannesse they never dress or seeth meat twice in one pot but every time have a new one Adultery is punished with the losse of their noses In this Country are many Rhinocroces It is now subject to the Great Mogol Cambaia described Cambaia is called also Gâ—sarat containing in length from the River Bate to Circam which is a Country belonging to Persia five hundred miles upon the Sea-coasts On all other parts it s invironed with the Kingdomes of Dulcinda and Sanga on the North Mandao on the East and with the Gredosians on the VVest the Sea and the confines of Decan being the Southerly bounds It hath in it sixty thousand Cities and villages It s watered with many Rivers whereof Indus is the chief which divides it in the middle arising from Caucasus and after a course of nine hundred miles at two mouths disembogues it self into the Ocean It s a fertile Country not inferiour to any other in India the earth and trees bring forth plenty and variety of fruits It hath store of Elephants precious stones Silk Cotton c. The people are of an Olive colour and go naked except about their privities They eat no flesh but Rice Barley milk and other liveless Creatures their chief Sea-Towns are Daman Bandora Curate Ravellum and Bazuinum and within land Cambaia Madabar Campanel Tanaa c. Cambaia being the chiefest situate three miles from Indus It s called the Indian Cairo having much trafick to it by Indians Portugals Persians Arabians Armenians c. The VVomen dye their teeth black thinking it a great part of their beauty and therefore alwayes go with open lips to shew it VVhen men die they burn their bodies and their wives dressed as for a wedding burn with them Six leagues from Decan is a Hill out of which Diamonds are taken it is walled about and kept with a Garrison Their Religion is partly Moorish partly Heathenish They have Hospitals for sick or lame Birds Beasts c. yea they redeem Beasts and Birds lives and if maimed or hurt carry them to their Hospitals In the high wayes and woods they set pots with water and scatter meat to feed them If they catch a Flea or a Louse they will not kill it but let it go and you can do them no greater injury than to kill either in their presence and if by intreaty they cannot perswade you to forbear they will redeem its life with mony They drink no Wine eat no Vinegar use water only they will eat no Eggs as supposing blood to bee in them they are very careful before they sit down that no living Creature bee under them Pur. Pilgrimage The Philippine Islands described The Philippine Islands were discovered by the Spaniards out of new Spain Anno Christi 1542. who in honour of their King Philip the second gave them that name They are many in number lying far into the Sea before Cauchin-China and Chambaia some of them are great and very rich in Rice Honey Fruits Birds Beasts Fishes Gold c.
most delight And in contempt do paint the Devil white Aethiopia superior or the Kingdome of the Abyssines Is bounded on the North with Egypt on the South with the Mountains of the Moon on the East with the Red-Sea and on the VVest with the Country of the Blacks The King hereof is called Prete Janny or Presbyter John they are mungril Christians The King hath under him seventy petty Kings which have their several laws and customes The Country yeelds Orenges Lemmons Citrons Barley Sugar Honey c. Aethiopia inferior is on every side begirt with the Sea except on the North which is bounded with the Mountains of the Moon It consists of five Kingdomes 1 Aiana which abounds with Gold Ivory Honey Wax Corn large sheep c. 2 Zanguabar in which is Mosambique 3 Monomopata wherein are plenty of Gold Mines The King is served with great pomp and hath a guard of two hundred Mastiffs 4 Cafraria in which is the cape of Good hope alwayes stormy to the Spaniards whence one was very angry with God for suffering the English Hereticks to passe by it so easily and not giving his good Catholicks the like speed 5 Manicongo where in many parts the Inhabitants are men-eaters selling such flesh in their Shambles Egypt hath on the East the Red-Sea on the VVest Barbary on the North the Mediterranean and Aethiopia superior on the South It was called the Granary of the VVorld for though it hath rain but seldome yet Nilus overflowing makes it very fruitful the chief Cities are Grand Cairo and Alexandria see afterward a more full discription of it The Islands belonging to Africa Described The Atlantick Islands are 1. that of Saint Thomas lying directly under the Aequinoctiall line inhabited by the Portugalls and yeilding plenty of Sugar 2. Prince Island lying between the Aequator and Tropick of Capricorn a fertile place 3. The Gorgades being nine in number lying neer to Cape Virde they abound in Goats and the chief of them is called St. James 4. The Canaries for their fruitfulnesse called The fortunate Islands they are seven in number the cheif is called the Grand Canary they yeild excellent wines 5. The Hesperides not far from the Gorgades where the soil is very fruitful the weather continually fair and the air very temperate The Aethiopick Islands are 1. The Island of Saint Laurence or Madagascar which is four thousand miles in compasse and longer than Italy rich in all commodities for mans use The people are very barbarous and most of them black yet there is some white amongst them supposed to bee transplanted out of China 2. Socatrina or Socotera which lyes at the mouth of the Red-sea and is sixty miles in length and twenty five in breadth It s very dry and barren yet hath diverse good drugs in it From thence cometh our Aloes Socotrina The Principal Countries in Africa more largely Described Africa is usually divided into 1 Egypt 2 Barbary 3 Numidia 4 Lybia 5 The land of Negro's 6 Aethiopia interior 7 Aethiopia exterior 8 And the Islands as was aforesaid A more full Description of Egypt This Country of Egypt containeth in length from Siene to the Mediterranean Sea five hundred sixty and two miles and in breadth from Rosetta to Damietta above one hundred and forty miles yet in some places it s not above thirty seven miles broad The Inhabitants are tawny and brown From its fruitfulnesse it was called Horreum Populi Romani The Roman Granary where Lucan saith The Earth content with its own wealth doth crave No forreign Marts nor Jove himself they have There hopes alone in Nilus fruitful wave Dr. Heilen This Nilus is divided towards the Sea into seven Channels It swelleth above its banks by the space of forty days beginning upon the 15th day of June and is forty days more decreasing and returning into its banks During this inundation the Cattle live on hills and in the Towns unto which they are aforehand driven and foddered till the return of the water into its Channel The Towns and Villages stand all upon tops of hills and in the time of the flood appear like so many Islands and the people by boats have free intercourse all the while In the mud left upon the fields are many creatures ingendred by the heat of the Sun Whence Ovid And when the seven mouth'd Nile the fields forsakes And to his ancient Channel him betakes The tillers of the ground live creatures find Of sundry shapes int h ' mud that 's left behind Dr. Heilen This River is almost three thousand miles long and being the only River of Egypt affords the only drink to the Egyptians and indeed it s very good water The Paper made of Sedges called Papiri growing by this River afforded Ptolemy Philadelphus materials for Books in that brave Library of Alexandria but understanding that Attalus King of Pergamus used this Egyptian Paper for to exceed him in another Library hee prohibited the carrying of it out of Egypt whereupon Attalus invented Parchment called from his City Pergamena and before these inventions they wrote either on the inside of the bark of a tree called Liber whence wee call our Books Libri Or on Tables made of wood called Caudex whence came our Codex Or on Tables covered over with wax whence Tabellarius is a letter Carryer and the pin which they wrote with was called Stylus which was afterwards used for that peculiar phrase used by any as Negligens Stylus exercitatus Stylus Sometimes they wrote in leaves as the Sybils did their Prophesies called Sybillae folia whence we call it a leaf of paper Pharos is a little Island over against Alexandria in which Ptolemaeus Philadelphus built a watch-tower for the benefit of Saylors the chief workman was Sostratus of Gnidos It was all of white Marble of a wonderfull height ascended by degrees and in the top were many Lanthorns with lights in the night to direct those that travelled by Sea for the admirable structure it was counted one of the wonders of the world The chief Cities in Egypt described The Grand Cairo described The Grand Cairo in Egypt is accounted one of the greatest Cities in the world It is situated upon a most beautiful plain neer unto a certain Mountain called Mucatun about two miles from the River Nilus It 's invirond with stately walls and fortified with Iron Gates In it are built most stately and admirable Palaces and Colledges and most sumptuous Temples There are also many Bath stoves very artificially built It aboundeth with all sorts of Merchandise out of all parts of the World There is in it a famous Burse Exchange called Canen Halili wherein the Persian Merchants dwell It 's built very stately in the manner of a King's Palace of three stories high Beneath it are many rooms whither Merchants resort for the exchange of their costly wares as all sorts of Spices precious stones Cloth of India c. There is also a stately Hospital the yearly
revenues whereof amount to two hundred thousand peices of gold called Saraffi The Suburbs are very large wherein also are many stately buildings especially a Colledge being of a wonderful height and great strength Besides many other Palaces Colledges and Temples Here they have great store of poultry For in certain Ovens built upon sundry lofts they put abundance of Eggs which Ovens being kept in a moderate heat will in seven days hatch all those eggs into chickens P. Pil. There are in it eighteen thousand streets It is so populous that its reputed in very good health if there dye but a thousand a day or thirty hundred thousand in a year I mean when the Plague which comes once in seven years is amongst them Heil In one of the streets are about threescore Cooks shops then follow othâ—r shops wherein are to bee sold delicate waters and drinks made of all kinds of fruits which are kept charily in fine vessels next to these are shops where diverse confections of honey and Sugar like to ours in Europe are to bee sold Then follow the Fruiterers shops who have out-Landish fruits out of Syria as Quinces Pomgranats c. Next to them are shops wherein they sell Eggs Cheese and Pancakes fryed with Oyle Next is a street wherein all manner of Artificers dwell Then there are diverse ranks of Drapers shops In the first rank they sell excellent fine linnen fine cloth of Cotton and cloth called Mosal of a marvellous breadth and finenesse whereof the greatest persons make shirts and scarfs to wear upon their Tulipants Then are Mercers shops wherein they sell Silks Damask Cloth of Gold and Velvet brought out of Italy The next are woollen Drapers with all sorts of European cloth next of all are store of Chamblets to bee sold. At the gate of Zuaila dwell great store of Artificers Next to the forenamed Burse is a street of shops where are all kind of Perfumes as Civet Musk Ambergreece c. Next follows the street of Paper Merchants with most excellent smooth Paper There are also to bee sold pretious stones and Jewels of great value which the Brokers carry from shop to shop Then come you to the Gold-Smiths street inhabited mostly by Jews who deal in rich commodities Then are there Upholsters and Brokers who sell apparel and rich furniture at the second hand as Cloaks Coats Nappery c. It hath many large Suburbs as that of Bed Zuaila containing about twelve thousand Families being a mile and an half in length The Suburb called Gemâ—li Tailon adorned with a most admirable Palace and sumptuous Temple where also dwell great store of Merchants and Artificers The Suburb called Bell Elloch containing neer three thousand Families inhabited by Merchants and Artizans of diverse sorts there is also a great Palace and a stately Colledge Here are many stage-players and such as teach Camels Asses and Dogs to dance very delightful to behold The Suburb Bulach upon the Bank of Nilus containes four thousand Families here are many Artificers and Merchants especially such as sell Corn Oyle Sugar c. It s also full of stately Temples Colledges and Hospitalls under this Suburb you may sometimes see above a thousand Barks upon the River The Suburb of Caresa contains about two thousand Families Here are many Sepulchers built with high and stately vaults and Arches adorned within with diverse Emblems and colours the pavement spread with sumptuous and rich Carpets The Inhabitants of Cairo in the Winter time wear garments of cloth lined with Cotton In the summer they wear fine shirts over which some have linnen garments curiously wrought with silk others wear Chamblet and great Turbants on their heads covered with cloth of India The women go in costly attire having on their foreheads frontlets and about their necks chains of Pearl on their heads they wear a sharp and slender Bonnet about a span high very pretious and rich their Gowns are of woollen cloth with strait sleeves curiously imbroidered with needle work over which they cast veils of excellent fine cloth of India their faces are covered with a black scarff on their feet they wear fine shooes or Pantoffles c. The City of Alexandria described The great City of Alexandria was founded by Alexander the great not without the advise of most famous and skilful Architects upon a beautiful point of land stretching into the Mediterranean Sea being distant forty miles Westward from Nilus It was most sumptuously and strongly built four square with four Gates for entrance One on the East-side towards Nilus Another on the South towards the Lake of Buchaira the third Westward towards the Desert of Barca and the fourth towards the Haven Neer unto the City walls are two other gates which are divided asunder by a fair walk and a most impregnable Castle which stands upon the Wharf in which Port the best ships out of these parts of the World ride Here the Christians pay a tenth of all their wares whereas the Mahometans pay but a twentieth part At this time that part of the City that lyes towards Cairo is best inhabited and furnished with Merchandize and so is the other part that lies next to the Haven under each house in the City is a great vaulted Cistern built upon mighty Pillars and Arches whereinto at the overflowing of Nilus the water is conveyed under the City walls by a most artificiall Sluce that stands without them The City stands in a sandy Desert so that its destitute of Gardens Vines and Corn but what is brought from places at forty miles distance The City of Rosetto Described Rosetto was built by a Slave to one of the Mahometan Governours upon the Eastern bank of Nilus three miles from the Mediterranean Sea and not far from the place where Nilus emptieth it self into the sea In it is a stately Bath-stove having fountains both of cold and hot water belonging thereunto The City of Thebe Described Thebe at this present contains but about three hundred Families â— but the buildings are very stately and sumptuous It abounds with Corn Rice and Sugar with a certain fruit of a most excellent tast called Muse It hath in it great store of Merchants and Artificers The Countrey about it abounds with Date-trees which grow so thick that a man cannot see the City till hee comes neer the Walls Here grow also store of Grapes Figs and Peaches Over against the City the River of Nilus makes an Isle which standing high brings forth all sorts of fruits but Olives The City of Chanca described The great City of Chanca is about six miles from Cairo at the very entrance into the Desert through which is the way to Mount Sinai It s replenished with most stately houses Temples and Colledges All the fields between Cairo and it are full of Dates From Chanca to Mount Sinai are one hundred and forty miles in all which way there is no habitation Through this City lye the two main roads one leading to Syria
stained with Hierogliphical Characters The Linnen being pulled off the bodies appear solid uncorrupt and perfect in all their dimensions whereof the musculous parts are of a brown colour hard as stone-pitch and hath in Physick the like operation only more soveraign To keep these from putrefactions they drew the brains out at the nostrils with an Iron instrument replenishing the head with preservative spices then cutting up the belly with an Aethiopian stone they took forth the bowels cleansed the inside with Wine and so stuffing it with a composition of Myrrhe Cassia and other odours they closed it up again The like the poorer sort effected with Bitumen fetched from the Lake of Asphaltites in Jury whereby they have been preserved till this day having lyen there for about three thousand years The Lake of Maeris described Maeris one of the Egyptian Kings undertook and finished that most admirable Lake which for greatnesse and colour is like a Sea It s about six hundred furlongs from the City of Memphis the circumference of it contains M.M.M.DC. furlongs the depth of it is fifty fathom or three hundred feet many myriads of men were imployed for many years about it The benefit of it to the Egyptians and the wisdome of the King cannot bee sufficiently commended For seeing the rising of Nilus is not alwayes alike and the Country is more fruitful by the moderatenesse thereof Hee digged this Lake to receive the superfluity of the water that neither by the greatnesse of the inundation it should cause Marshes or by the scarcity of water the earth should not yeeld her strength hee therefore cut a ditch from the River to this Lake fourscore furlongs long and three hundred feet in breadth by which sometimes receiving in and sometimes diverting the River hee gave at his pleasure a sufficient quantity of water to the husbandmen After the Kings name it s called the Lake of Maeris In the midst of this Lake hee built a Sepulchre and two Pyramids each of them of an hundred fathoms high placing upon them two Marble statues sitting on a Throne one representing himself the other his wife seeking hereby to make his memory immortal The revenews which came by the fish of this Lake hee gave to his wife to buy her unguents and ornaments which was so great that it amounted to a Talent a day For it was mightily replenished with fish of twenty sorts so that very many were continually imployed in catching and salting of them Diod. Sion Herod Barbary described Barbary hath on the East Cyrenaica on the West the Atlantick Ocean On the North the Mediterranean Sea and on the South the Mountain Atlas It s now usually divided into the Kingdomes of Tunnis Algiers Fess and Morocco It produceth Figs Olives Dates Sugar and horses excellent for shape and service The men are comely of feature of a duskish colour stately of gate implacable in hatred laborious and treacherous The women are rich in Jewels beautiful in blacknesse and have delicate soft skins The Kingdome of Tunis described Tunis hath on the East Cyrenaica and on the VVest Algier It containeth all that which the Ancients called Numidia antiqua The soil is fertile especially the Western part The Inhabitants are healthful seldome vexed with any sicknesse it s divided commonly into five parts 1 Ezzab in the East having many Towns and Regions in it 2 Tripolis where the chief City is of the same name and where the Great Turk hath a Bassa or Vice-Roy It s at this day a receptacle of Pyrats that rove and rob in those Seas Anno Christi 1551. It was wonne from the Knights of Malta by Sinan Bassa 3 Tunis where the chief City of the same name standeth near to the ruines of Carthage It hath in it about ten thousand housholds and many Temples and especially one of singular beauty and greatnesse Cairoan also hath been a famous City six and thirty miles from the Sea and one hundred from Tunis where is an admirable Temple built upon Pillars of Marble 4 Constantina having the chief City of the same name wherein aâ— eight thousand families and many sumptuous buildings a great Temple and two Colledges 5 Bugia which for one hundred and fifty miles space extends it self by the Sea side to the River Major the Principal City is called Bugia sometimes adorned with Temples Hospitals Monasteries and Colledges of students in the Mahometan Law There is also in Bugia Necotus a very pleasant City and Chollo very rich In this Country also is seated Bona formerly called Hippo where St. Augustine was Bishop The Kingdome of Algier described Algier formerly called Mauritania Caesariensis is bounded on the East with Tunis on the VVest with Fess and Morocco It hath in it five Principal Cities 1 Hubeda 2 Tegdenit 3 Guagido 4 Telesine which sometimes contained sixteen thousand families and is adorned with many beautiful Temples and hath in it five dainty Colledges curiously wrought with Mosaick work And 5 Algier The City of Algier described Algier is seated on the Mediterranean Sea upon the side of an hill whereby one house hinders not the prospect of another It s in fashion like a Bow the old Town is in compasse three thousand four hundred paces the Island wherein it stands is walled about except that part which is open to the Port and City where lately they have erected a five cornered Tower to secure both It s well strengthened with Turrets Fortresses and Bulworks without the Wall is a ditch of sixteen paces broad without the Town there are three Castles the Streets are generally narrow and in the Winter Dirty The Houses toward the street are dark but being inwardly built with square Cloisters it makes them light the roofs being flat serve them for galleries and Prospect In the middest is a well but the water brackish they use no chimnies but make fires in Panns The Kings Palace and great mens houses have spacious Courts with specious Pillars about and many by-rooms spread with Mats and Carpets their Custome being to put off their shooes when they enter Their houshold furniture is generally mean their common lodging is upon a Mat or Carpet upon the ground Pelts are their Nappery water their drink Rice with pulse their meat c. five Cisterns without the City supply them with water fetched in upon the shoulders of their slaves There are seven fair Mosques five Colledges of Janizaries where six hundred of them live together in one house One Hospital four fair Baths whereof two for washing with hot and cold water paved with Marble Two Royall Porches one of thirty six foot square with columes for the Janizaries and the other is before the Palace within the Walls are neer thirteen thousand houses many of them containing thirty Families and some more There are in all above one hundred Mosques besides the Oratories of Hermites Sixty two Baths fourscore and six Schools wherein children learn to read and write and a few others for
twenty fair Churches whereof eighteen are parish Churches there is no dunghill in all the City nor a sink that comes from any house into the street but all is conveyed under ground they carry all upon sleads and bring no Carts into the City The water at the Kay sometimes ebbs and flows forty foot in height Four miles below it the Avon falls into the Severn the Bridge is half as long as London bridge and yet hath but four Arches in it The City of Wells Described Neer unto Mendip hills which are rich in Lead-Mines stands the City of Wells so named from the springs or wells that boil up there which for the multitude of Inhabitants for fair and stately buildings is worthy to bee regarded A goodly Church it hath and a Colledge founded by King Ina. Neer unto the Church there is a spring called St. Andrews well from whence comes such a confluence of water as by and by makes a swift brook The Church is throughout very beautifull but the frontispice thereof in the West end is most excellent for it riseth up from the foot to the top all of Imagery in curious and antike wise wrought of stone carved and embowed very artificially The City of Bath Described This City is seated low in a plain environed round about with hills almost of one height out of which certain rills of fresh water flow continually to the great commodity of the Citizens within the City there bubble and boil up in three several places hot springs of water of a Sea colour sending up from them thin vapours and a kind of a strong sent withall by reason that the water is drilled and strained through veines of Brimstone and a clammy kind of earth called Bitumen These springs are very medicinal and of great vertue to cure bodies overcharged and benummed with corrupt humors by their heat causing much sweat Of all these the Cross-Bath is of the most mild and temperate nature having twelve seats of stone in the sides of it and is inclosed within a wall A second distant from this not fully two hundred foot is much hotter thence called the Hot-Bath adjoyning to which is a Spittle or Lazar-house built by Reginald Bishop of Bath for the relief of poor diseased persons The third and greatest is called the Kings-Bath walled also round about and fitted with thirty two seates of Arched work The City is fortified with walls wherein are set certain Antique Images and Roman inscriptions and hath in it a fair and large Cathedral Church The City of Excester in Devonshire Described The City of Excester stands upon the River Ex whence it receives its name It is pleasantly seated upon the gentle ascent of an hill The Walls of it which were first built by King Athelstone are in a manner round only towards the Ex it rangeth almost in a strait line having six gates for entrance and many watch-Towers interposed betwixt whose compass containeth above one thousand and five hundred paces or a mile and an half having Suburbs running out a great way on each side In it there are fifteen Parish Churches and in the highest part thereof neer the East Gate standeth a Castle called Rugemont commanding the whole City and territory about it and hath a very pleasant prospect into the Sea In the East quarter of the City stands the Cathedral Church having many fair houses round about it By reason of some Wears the River is so stopped up that no vessels can come neerer the City than Topsham which is three miles off The soil about it is but barren yet by reason of the statlinesse of the place the riches of the Inhabitants and the frequent concourse of strangers all kinds of commodities are there so plentiful that a man can ask for no necessary but he may have it The City of Winchester Described In the County of Hamtshire is the City of Winchester situated in a fruitful and pleasant place being a valley under hills having a River on the East and a Castle on the VVest the circuit of her Walls are well neer two English miles containing one thousand eight hundred and eighty paces through which open six gates for entrance In this City are seven Churches besides the Minster which is seated about the middest of it and built very sumptuously The City of Chichester in the County of Sussex Described The City of Chichester is walled about in a circular round form The Lavant a pretty riveret running hard by it on the VVest and South sides Four gates it hath opening to the four quarters of the world from whence the streets lead directly and crosse themselves in the middest where the market is kept and where Bishop Robert Read erected a fair market house of stone supported with pillars round about it Between the West and South Gates stands the Cathedral Church not very great but handsome and neat having a spire steeple of stone rising a very great height The City of Canterbury in Kent Described Canterbury is a very Ancient and famous City in Kent much renowned both for the situation and great fertility of the soil adjoyning as also for the walls enclosing it round about By reason likewise of the Rivers watering it and commodiousnesse of the woods there about besides the vicinity of the Sea yeilding store of Fish to serve it And though it was sore shaken in the Danish warres and consumed in a great part sundry times by fire yet rose it up always again more beautifull than it was before The Cathedral is raised aloft neer the heart of the City with great Majesty and stateliness The City of Rochester Described In the same County is the City of Rochester seated in a bottome fortified on the one side with a Marsh the river Medway and weak walls It is now stretched out with large Suburbs on the East West and South sides The Cathedral Church was built by Bishop Gundulph a Norman Anno Christi 1080. neer unto it stands an old ruinous Castle fortified formerly both by art and situation At the end of the City there is a very goodly Bridge of stone excellently Arched built by Sir Robert Knowls at the end whereof Sir John Cobham erected a Chappel and the bridge is daintily coped with Iron bars under which the River Medway swelling with a violent and swift stream makes a loud roaring noise The City of Glocester Described The City of Glocester is a very fine and beautiful City both for the number of Churches and buildings therein It lyeth stretched out in length over the Severn and on that side where it is not guarded by the River it hath in some places a strong wall for defence The Cathedral Church is a stately building with an exceeding high and fair steeple In an Arch of this Church there is a wall built in the form of a semicircle full of corners with such an Artificial devise that if a man speak with never so low a voice at the one
part thereof and another lay his ear to the other which is a good way off he may easily hear every sillable The City of Oxford Described Where the River Cherwel meets with Isis and pleasant Ilets lye dispersed by the sundry disseverings of waters there this famous City and University of Oxford sheweth it self aloft in a champion plain from whence Religion and learning have been spread into all the parts of England A fair and goodly City it is whether wee respect the seemly beauty of private houses or the stately magnificence of publick buildings together with the wholsome situation and pleasant prospect thereof For the hills beset with woods do so environ the plain that as on the one side they exclude the pestilent Southwind and the tempestuous West-wind on the other so they let in the clearing East-wind only and the North-East-wind with all which frees it from all corruption whence sometimes it was called Bellositum The City of Eli Described The City of Eli is situate in the middest of great and large Fens and was formerly famous for the reputed holinesse of the Nuns there residing and for a stately Monastery so rich that the Abbot thereof not long after VVilliam the Conquerors time laid up every year in his own Coffers a thousand and four hundred pounds King Henry the first made it a Bishops Sea promoting thereto one Hervey who sought by all means to advance the dignity of his Church For which end hee obtained of the King that it might bee Toll-free hee made a way also from Exing to Eli through the Fens of six miles in length and the Monks growing rich the Cathedrall Church being much decayed through age they by little and little built it and brought it to the ample statelinesse which now it hath A Lanthorn it hath at the very top thereof just over the Quire supported by eight Pillars and raised upon them right Artificially built by John Hothum the Bishop and under the Church towards the North stands St. Maries chappel a singular fine peece of work built by Simon Montacutâ— Bishop The City it self is not much to bee accounted of either for beauty or resort of people to it as having an unwholsome air by reason of the Fens round about it The City of Lincoln Described The City of Lincoln is large and well inhabited and frequented It stands upon the side of an hill where the River VVitham bends his course Eastward and being divided with three small channels watereth the Lower part of the City In the highest part of the City the Cathedral is erected a stately structure being built through out not only most sumptuously but with rare and singular workmanship most beautiously especially the forefront at the West end which in a sort ravisheth and allureth the eyes of all that judiciously view it very ancient this City is and hath been farre larger and more populous It hath in it fifty Parish Churches whereof at this day there remain only fifteen besides the Minster The City of Norwich in Northfolk described Norwich is situated upon the River Yare the form of it is somewhat long being from South to North a mile and an half long and in breadth about half so much drawing it self in by little and little in the Southend making in a manner a sharp point compassed it is about with strong walls beautified with many Turrets orderly placed and twelve gates only it is not walled on the East side where the River after it hath with many windings in and out watered the North part of the City having four Bridges for passage over it is a sufficient defence with his deep channel and high steep banks It flourisheth with wealth plenty of inhabitants great resort of strangers fair buildings and hath in it about thirty Parish Churches on the East side of it stands a very fair Cathedral Church near unto the Castle built upon a very high hill which was compassed about with an exceeding deep ditch In the midst of the City near the Market-place is a very fair Town-house which on Market-dayes is plentifully furnished with all things necessary for mans life The Netherlanders being driven away by the Duke d' Alva's cruelty repairing hither in great numbers brought in the making of Sayes Bayes and other stuffe to the great gain of the Citizens Anno Christi 1583. the Citizens conveyed water out of the River in pipes by an artificial instrument into the highest parts of the City The City of Coventry in Warwickshire described Coventry is a City very commodiously seated large sweet and neat fortified with very strong walls which are about three miles in compasse through which are thirteen gates for enterance most of them very stately and strongly built besides eighteen other Towers in several parts of the wall for defence A little River called Shirburn runs through the City which is beautified with many fair and goodly houses amongst which there rise up on high two Churches of rare workmanship St. Michaels and Trinity standing one hard by another with stately spire steeples of a very great height In the midst of the City is the Market-place called the Cross-cheaping and therein a Crosse or Pillar of stone of most exquisite and admirable workmanship there is also a very fair Grammer-school and a neat Library at the end of it with convenient habitations for the Master and Usher near unto it is VVel-street and therein a very large fountain that continually sends forth great plenty of excellent water The City had very large suburbs belonging to it especially in the East and West ends most whereof were broken down in our late Civil wars and a large Trench made on the outside of the walls The City of Worcester described Under the City of Worcester runs the Severn with a slow pace as admiring and wondring at the City as it passeth by and truly worthy it is of admiration whether you respect the antiquity or the beauty thereof It stands in a place rising somewhat with a gentle ascent by the Rivers side that hath a fair Bridge with a Tower over it It is well and strongly walled and the inhabitants are much inriched by the trade of cloathing It is one thousand six hundred and fifty paces about the walls through which seven Gates give entrance with five other VVatch Towers for defence there are in it divers Churches besides the Cathedral which is seated on the South side of the City and is a passing fair and stately building adorned with the Tombs and Monuments of King John Prince Arthur diverse of the Beauchamps c. The City of Lichfield in Staffordshire described Lichfield is a very ancient City known unto Bede by the name of Lichidfield i. e. the field of dead bodies by reason of a number of Christians there martyred in the bloody persecution under the Emperor Dioclesian This City is low seated of a good largenesse and fair withal divided into two parts by a shallow pool of clear water which
and Peel a poor Harbour facing Ireland It abounds with springs of water which make diverse usefull Rivolets the soil is indifferently fruitfull yet much of it is mountainous It yeilds Rie Wheat Barley but especially Oates of which they make their bread It s stored with Beasts Sheep of a course wooll Horses of a small size and Goates there is no want of Fish and plenty of Fowl The Aire is quick and healthful Frosts short and seldome Snow will soon dissolve because of the vicinity of the Sea and its subject to extraordinary high winds The Inhabitants are civil and laborious their drink water their meat Fish their bedding generally hay or straw they are much addicted to the musick of the Violine so that there is scarce a family but more or lesse can play upon it they are ingenious in learning manifactures and bear a great esteem and reverence to the publick service of God Naturally they are unchaste Anno Christi 1649. it was given by the Parliament to Thomas Lord Fairfax as a reward of the great services he had done for them The Azores Islands Described The Islands of Azores are nine in number Tercera St. Michael St. George St. Mary Pico Fayall Graciosa Flores and Corvo They are named Azores from the many Ayeries of Goshawks found there Of these Tercera is the greatest and fruitfullest It abounds with Oil Wine Corn Oade Fruits c. Her best Town is Angra her best Fort Brazeil her Haven bad to Anchor in Pico is the highest being as some say above fifteen miles to the top which is many times seen cleerly but about the middle of it hang the clouds It s about ten miles in circuit It s for the most part composed of Brimstone so that many times from the top issue forth flames of fire as out of Aetna Below are umbragious shades and cold Rivolets into which when the vomited fire is forced those opposite Elements eccho forth their discontents in an hideous noise In the Island of Tercera are some fountains the water whereof is so hot that it will boil an egg There is also another fountain that turns wood into stone and a Tree that grows by it hath that part of the root which grows in the water petrified the other that is out is Wood as of other trees A more particular description of the Kingdomes and Countries contained in the continent of Europe Spain Described Spain was seized upon by the Sweves Goths and Vandals Anno Christi 168. who remained in possession thereof more than four hundred years till their King Rodrigues with almost all his Nobility was defeated by the Saracens who were brought in by a certain Earl in revenge of the dishonour of his daughter whom the King had ravished These Saracens maintained themselves there above seven hundred years as well against the French as the Spaniards themselves who endeavoured to expell them It was formerly divided into twelve Kingdomes which were all reduced to one by Ferdinand and Isabel Anno Christi 1474 except that of Portugal which was subjugated by Philip the second and peaceably possessed by him and his heirs till the year 1640 as above It was in the reign of the aforesaid Ferdinand that the Indies and many other Islands were found out the riches whereof hath much augmented the potency of Spain and made her to aspire to the Monarchy of the world The chief Rivers in Spain are 1. Tagus formerly famous for his golden sands It riseth in the mountain of Seira Molina running by the City of Toledo and then smoothly gliding by the walls of Lisbon in Portugal it pays his tribute to the Western Ocean 2. Ana now Guadiana which rising about the same place afterwards runs under-ground for the space of fifteen miles as our Mole in Surrey doth 3. Baetis now Guadalquiver 4. Duerus that runneth from its head in the hills of Bâ—iscay Westward 5. Iberus which having his head in the same Mountains runs Eastward almost four hundred miles of which two hundred is navigable The chief hills are 1. Aurentius Saltus stretching from the Pyrenean Mountains towards Portugall 2. Siera Morena declining from the middest of Spain towards the straits of Gibraltar 3. Seira Nevada which crosses the Kingdome of Granata from East to West steep hills amongst which the people speak the Arabick tongue perfectly Whilst the Saracen Moors possessed Spain they divided it into twelve Principallities as 1. Leon and Oviedo having on the East Biscay on the South Castile on the North the Ocean on the West Gallicia It yeildeth little yet swift horses called Hobbies The chief Towns are 1. Aviles on the sea side 2. Palenza 3. Oviedo 4. Astorga 5. Leon. 2. Navarre having on the East the Pyrenean mountains on the West Iberus on the North Biscay and on the South Aragon The chief Cities are 1. Victoria 2. Viana 3. Sanguessa 4. Pampelune the Metrotropolis of the Country Anno Christi 1512. in the reign of Queen Katherine who was married to John of Albert the King of Spain raising an Army under pretence of rooting out the Moors suddenly surprized this Kingdome unprovided for resistance and keeps it till this day though the French have often attempted the recovery of it 3 Corduba comprehending Andaluzia Granada and Estremadura Andaluzia is the richest and fruitfullest Country in all Spain the chief Towns are 1. Corduba the Metropolitan whence comes our true Cordovan Leather made of the skins of a Sardinian Beast Neer this City is a wood thirty miles long consisting all of Olive trees 2. Marchena where are the best Jennets in all Spain 3. Medina Sidonia the Duke whereof was General of the Armado in eighty eight 4. Lucar di Barameda an haven Town 5. Xeres a haven Town also whence come our Xeres Sack commonly called Sherry-Sacks 6. Tariffa seated at the end of the Promontory towards Affrick 7. Sevil the fairest City in all Spain in compasse six miles environed with beautiful walls and adorned with many magnificent buildings of Palaces Churches and Monasteries and hath under its jurisdiction twenty thousand small Villages It s also divided into two parts by the River Baetis yet both are joyned together by a beautifull and stately Bridge Hence come our Sevil Oranges and from hence goeth the Indian Fleet. Analuzia in Spain as well for plenty of all blessings of the Earth as for the pleasures and delights of the fields is a meer terrestrial Paradise The horses which shee produceth are so swift in course that they seem according to the Proverb to be engendred by the Wind. Spain feeds an infinite number of Sheep especially in Castile where is made most excellent Cloath and the wooll for the superlative finenesse thereof is transported into other Countries In other parts it is barren through the lazinesse of the people as some think who love much better to put their hands to the Sword than to the plough The people are melancholy and cholerick sober and content with a little spending
fairest houses in Christendome Northward lyeth the Dukedome of Valois whose prime City is Senlis and next it Luzarch 7. Berry and Burbon which are environed with Poictou Limosin Avern Burgondy and Champain The chief City in Berry is Bourges well stored with sheep It s watered with the River Cher and hath in it thirty and three walled towns In Bourges is a famous University 2. Sancerre 3. Argenton 4. Casteau Rous. Burbon is watered with the Rivers of Loyre and Alliere The Cities are 1. Burbon 2. Molins 3. Nevers To Burbon belong Beavois and Avern In Beavois are the Cities of Beavois and ville Franche In Avern the chief Citie is Clermont then St. Floure invincible by its situation 3. Claudes Argues 4. Maregnes and 5. Aubigny 8. Limosin is environed with Berry Poictou Xantoigne and Avergne It s watered with the Rivers Vienne and Vexerew The chief Cities are 1. Tulles 2. Tuviers 3. Maignai 4. Limoges 5. Chalue South-West to Limosin are the â—â—ttle Countries of Perigort and Quercu whereof the chief Towns are 1. Mountalbon situated on the Garond A strong hold of the Protestants 2. Cahors a beautiful rich City In Perigort are the Cities of Perigeux and Sarlat 9. Daulphine is environed with Avergne on the West Provence on the South Savoy on the East and Bresse on the North. The Rhoan runs through this Countrey and meeting with Zone it washeth the walls of Lyons a famous mart Town and University 2. Valence 3. Vienna 4. Grenoble where is a Parliament In the mountains bordering on this Country and lying between it Savoy Provence and Piedmont dwell the Waldenses many times formerly and now of late grievously persecuted by the Popish Party 10. Languedoc is environed with the Pyrenean hills Gascoin the River Rhoan and the Mediterranean Sea the chief Cities are 1. Narbon 2. Montpelier on the sea side which is a famous University for the study of Law and Physick 3. Nismes 4. Agde 5. Lodove 11. Provence is bounded with Languedoc Dauphine Piedmont and the Mediterranean Sea It s divided into three parts one whereof belongs to the Pope the Metropolis whereof is Avignion seated on the River Rosne wherein the Popes made their residence seventy years together in it is an University The second part belongs to the Prince of Orang wherein the chief City is Orang famous for her rare and wonderful Antiquities The third and greatest part belongs to the King of France wherein are 1. Marseleis a famous mart Town 2. Aix where is a Parliament 3. Arles wherein was held a Councill by Constantine Anno Christi 313. 12. Picardy and Champaigne are environed about with Normandy Belgia Lorayn Burgundy Berry Burbon and France It s divided into the higher and lower In the higher is 1. Callis taken by our Edward the third after eleven Months sieg Anno 1347. and suddenly lost by Queen Mary Anno 1557. after it had been English two hundred years 2. Bullen taken by our King Henry the eight 3. Terwin taken by the same King Maximilian the Emperor of Germany serving under his ensigns In the lower Picardy are 1. St. Quintins 2. Abbeville strong frontire Towns 3. Peronne 4. Amience 5. Monstreville 6. Guise Campaigne hath in it 1. Rheimes where the Kings of France are Crowned and anointed In it is an University and one Colledge for the entertainment of English fugitives 2. Troys 3. Brie 4. Montargis 5. Sens 6. Auxerre 7. Chalons 13. The Dutchy of Burgundy is bounded with Champaign Bresse and Burbonoys The chief Cities whereof are 1 Dijon where is a Parliament 2 Autun 3 Beaulne 4 Verdune 5 Sologne 6 Chalons belonging to the Prince of Orange 7 Alice It s watered with ten Rivers All these Provinces are under the King of France and besides Cities have in them thirty and four good Havens Within the limits of France are three other Countries which are not subject to the King of France as 1 Savoy 2 Lorrain 3 the County of Burgundy which last is bounded with Champaigne Lorrain Switzerland and Bresse and the Dutchy of Burgundy The length of it is ninety miles the breadth sixty The Inhabitants are a warlike people called commonly Walloons The soil is exceeding fruitfull it s watered with the Rivers Soan Love Dayne and Doux upon whose banks stands the fair and strong City of Bezanson an University Dole also stands on the same River a strong rich and beautiful City and an University wherein the Jesuits have a Colledge 3. Salines 4. Gray 5. Arbois 6. Boutenant 7. Chastilion and above three and twenty more walled Towns 2 Lorrain which is environed with part of Belgia Alsatia the County of Burgundy and Champaigne It abounds with Corn Wine Mines Salt Fish and an excellent race of horses The people are hardy and politick and are governed by a Duke In it are store of Lakes well replenished with Fish one whereof is fourteen miles in compasse The chief Rivers are 1. The Meure 2. Mosa 3. Mosella The chief Cities are 1. Nancy seated on the Meure 2. St. Nicholas well seated neatly built and very populous but not walled about 3. Vausoleur 4. Pont Moson 5. Neufa Chateau 6. Vaudemant Unto this Countrey belongs the County of Barrois environed with the two streams of the River Marne the chief Towns are Barleduc Lamot Arg and Ligni 3. Savoy which is bounded with Dauphine Bress Switzerland and Piedmont Within the limits of this Countrey stands the famous City of Geneva being but two English miles in circuit and the territories thereof stretch but two leagues and an half of each side At the end of the City is the lake Lemannus and the River Rhoan divides it into two parts This little Common-wealth by the assistance of God resisted a great siedg laid against it by the Duke of Savoy Anno Christi 1589 As also another attempt made by Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy to have taken her by surprise Hee secretly listed one thousand and two hundred men under the command of Mounsieur d' Aubigny who by means of great store of Ladders and other instruments got to the number of two hundred into the Town whilst the Duke was following with some Regiments for recruit But being discovered and the Citizens running to their Arms it pleased God to strike those which were entered with such a Pannick fear that they returned the same way they came without having been able so much as to seize upon one gate to let in the other Forces Thus this great design so long premeditated so secretly carried on so successefully begun and almost compleatly executed was by the watchful eye of Gods Providence over his people prevented and this hot Camisado hath made them of Geneva stand better upon their guard ever since They use to punish Adultery with death and if any malefactor fly thither for refuge they punish him after the custome of the country where the crime was committed The chief Cities of Savoy are 1. Chambery the Dukes seat It
from the sea fifteen miles See old Rome described afterwards The Roman Empire was extended from the Irish Seas in the West to the River Euphrates in the East three thousand miles and from Danubius in the North to Mount Atlas in the South two hundred miles The revenues of the Empire were estimated to amount to one hundred and fifty millions of crowns per annum But Rome as now is but eleven miles in compasse within which also there is much wast ground The inhabitants are about two hundred thousand two parts whereof are Clergie men and Curtesans the latter being seldome under forty thousand which pay to the Pope thirty thousand Duckats per annum The principal buildings are the Church of St. Peter The Castle of St. Angelo an impregnable fortresse The Popes Palace called Belvidere And the Vatican Library 3. The Common-Wealth of Venice hath many territories belonging to it the length whereof is above one thousand miles but the breadth far lesse For the City of Venice it self see the description of it afterwards The chief Provinces belonging to it are 1. Marca Trevigiana having on the South the River Poe on the West the Dutchy of Millaine on the East Frivli and the Gulph of Venice and on the North Tirol The chief City is Treviso 2. Padua where an University was setled Anno Christi 1220. famous for Physicians and their Garden of Simples See the description of it afterwards 3. Vincenza 4. Brescia the second City for bigness and beauty in all Lombardy Her territories are in length one hundred in breadth fifty miles 5. Verona seated on the Athesis It boasteth of an Amphitheater able to contain eighty tâ—ousand people Her territories are threescore and five miles in length and forty in breadth 6. Briscello 7. Bergamo 8. Este. 9. Crema a strong Fort against the Millanois 2. Frivli formerly called Forum Julii It s environed with Istria the Alps Trevigiana and the Adriatique It s in length fifty miles and the breadth no lesse The chief Cities are 1. Aquilegia seated on the Natisco 2. Treist close to the Sea 3. Gorritia 4. Palma excellently fortified 5. Cividad di Austria 3. Istria environed with the Sea Frivli and Carniola It s in compass two hundred miles the air very unwholesome The chief Towns are 1. Cape d' Istria or Justinople 2. Pola 3. Parenza 4. Portula 5. Rubinum 6. Monsona The Polity whereby this Common-wealth hath so long subsisted is an Aristocracie wherein 1. They exempt their Citizens from the wars and hire others in their places so that by their death the Common-wealth sustains the lesse losse 2. They entertain some forreign Prince for their General whom when the wars are ended they presently discard by which means they avoid factions and servitude which were like to happen if they should imploy any of their own people who by his vertue and valour might win the hearts of the souldiers and so make himself their Prince 3. Their Laws suffer not the younger sons of their Nobility and Gentry to marry least the number increasing should diminish the dignity yet they allow them unlawful pleasures and for their sakes permit publick Stewes 4. The Dukedome of Florence containing the greater part of Tuscany It s parted from Genoa on the West by the Magra and the strong Town Sarezana From Romagna and Ancona on the North by the Appennine Hills On the East by the Pisseo and on the South by the Tyrrhene Seas The chief Cities are 1. Florence seated nigh to the confluence of Arnus and Chianus See the description of it afterwards Charles the Arch-Duke was wont to say that it was a City to bee seen on Holy dayes only 2. Pisa a brave and strong City 3. Sienna in whose territories are Orbitello Pienza Soana and six and twenty other walled Towns 4. Pistoya where began the factions of the Guelphs and Gibbilines 5. Massa famous for her Quarries of white Marble 6. Volaterra 7. Arrezzo 8. Cortona seated under the Appennine 9. Carara 10. Borgo San Sepulchro 11. Ligorne a famous Haven seated at the mouth of the River Arnus The whole length of this Dukdome is two hundred and sixty miles the breadth not much lesse The people are great Merchants 5. The Dukedome of Millaine which hath on the East Mantua and Parma on the South Liguria on the North Trevigiana and on the West Piedmont It stands wholly in Lombardy the Garden of Italy The chief Cities are 1. Pavia on the River Ticinus an University 2. Lodi 3. Alexandria a place of great strength 4. Cremona famous for her high Tower 5. Como seated on a Lake so named 6. Millaine honoured with an University See this stately City described afterwards The Dukedome of Mantua bounded on the East with Romagna on the West with Millaine on the North with Trevigiana and on the South with Parma and Placentia To this belongs the Dukedome of Mountferrat situated on the South-East part of Piedmont the chief Cities whereof are 1. Alba. 2. Casala St. Vas. 3. Nicaea or Niza and 4. Isola The chief Cities of Mantua are 1. Mirabella 2. Lucera 3. Capriana 4. Modena 5. Reggio 6. Cuneto 7. Mantua a very strong Town environed on three sides with a water that is three quarters of a mile broad and on the fourth with a wall 7. The Dukedome of Urbin which lies in the midst of the Papal territories having the Adriatique on the North the Appennine on the South Romagna on the West and Marca Anconitana on the East In it are two hundred Castles and seven Cities the chief whereof are 1. Urbin at the foot of the Appennine 2. Belforto 3. Pisauro a good Haven 4. Cabo 5. Fano Sea Towns also 8. The Principality of Parma and Placentia which hath on the North Mantua on the South the Appennine on the West Millain on the East Modena Here are made those excellent Cheeses called Parmesans Parma is seated on the little River Pirina and Placentia on the Po. To this principallity belongs also Mirandula with her Territories where was born that famous Scholler John Picus Mirandula 9. The Common-wealth of Genoa containing Liguria which hath on the East the River Varus on the West the River Magra which parts it from Tuscany on the North the Appennine and on the South the Ligurian Seas It s in compasse fourscore miles but not so much in breadth The people are much given to Usury whence one said merrily that in Christendome there were neither Schollers enough nor Gentlemen enough nor Jews enough and being answered that there were of all these rather too great plenty than any scarcity He replyed That if there were Schollers enough there would not bee so many double and treble beneficed men and if there were Gentlemen enough so many Pesants would not be ranked amongst the Gentry and if there were Jews enough so many Christians would not professe Usury The chief Towns are 1. Ceva 2. Finaly 3. Noli 4. Sarazena 5. Genoa in compasse eight
miles the building for the two first stories are built of Marble curiously wrought but by the Law they are forbidden to use marble any higher It hath a very spacious Haven well fortified where ships may ride in safety 10. The state of Luca which is situated in Tuscany the City is three miles in compass the Territories eighty miles in which they can raise three thousand horse and fifteen thousand foot upon occasion And thus I have done with Italy and come to the description of the chief Cities in it The chief Cities in Italy described A Description of old Rome and the chiefest Rarities thereof Rome when it was first built was but two twenty miles in compasse it was situated upon dainty hills in a most healthfull air had a brave River running by it with the more ease to convey the in-land commodities for her necessity and delight it had the Sea at a convenient distance not too neer whereby shee might be annoyed with Forreign Navies nor so remote but that shee might bee supplyed with outlandish Commodities The River Tiber at Rome is four hundred foot broad and so deep that it will carry ships of the greatest burden It s about sixteen miles distant from the Sea It was almost round in compasse The Suburbs in processe of time grew so great that Aurelian the Emperor built new walls which were almost fifty miles in compasse the walls were adorned with seven hundred and forty Turrets And yet again the Suburds in a little time grew so great that one of them was fifteen miles long and reacht even to the Sea and in Augustus his time there was numbred in Rome above three hundred and twenty thousand poor people that received relief from the publick Besides the number of Bondmen was very great few rich men but they had an hundred and some four hundred a peece Seneca saith in his time that the Inhabitants were so many that the spatious and innumerable houses were scarce able to contain them that a great part of them were Forreigners that came from all parts of the world to live there So that the number of Inhabitants was reckoned to bee at least four millions These people were sustained with provisions brought out of all Nations so that Rome seemed to bee the common Mart of the whole World Heliogabalus to shew the greatnesse of the City caused all the Spiders to be gathered and put together which being weighed amounted to ten thousand pound weight and a great plague breaking out at Rome for many dayes together there dyed ten thousand persons The houses were generally built very high that so they might bee the more capacious insomuch as Augustus was fain to make a Decree that their buildings should not exceed seventy foot in height conceiving that they marred the delicacy of the air by their over-much shadow but this extended only to private mens houses for the great men were not limited But besides the great height of the houses they were beautified by the matter whereof they were built by the Architecture and by the Symmetry of them wherein Art and Elegancy strove for priority And for that end what exquisite workmen soever Greece or Asia brought forth they were either sent for or came of their own accord to beautify this Imperiall City especially in Augustus's time who made his boasts Marmoream se relinquere quam lateritiam accepisset that hee should leave Rome built of Marble which hee found built of Bricks Nero also when hee had burned a great part of it at his own charges built it up again beautifying it with excellently composed streets large wayes and curious porches to all the houses which three things were a great Ornament to the City whereupon Cassiodorus saith Our fore-Fathers tell us of the seven wonders of the world The Temple of Diana at Ephesus The costly Tomb of King Mausolus The brazen Statue of the Sun in the Isle of Rhodes called the Colossus The Image of Jupiter Olympicus made by Phidias The house of Cyrus King of the Medes and Persians built by Memnon The walls of Babylon built by Semiramis And the Pyramides of Egypt But now saith hee the City of Rome is the greatest miracle of them all There were in it four hundred twenty four Temples erected to their Idol-gods There were two Capitols in Rome The old built by Numa the new begun by Tarquinius Priscus and Superbus finished by Horatius Pulvillus Consul upon the Saturnin or Tarpeian or Capitoline hill It was eight acres or eight hundred feet in compasse almost four square It was ascended unto by one hundred steps on the South part which looked towards the market place and Palace it would hold eight thousand men It was covered with Brasse-tiles all guilt with Gold There were three Chappels in it to one of which viz. Jupiters Augustus gave sixteen thousand pound weight of gold and jewels worth almost as much more twelve thousand talents were spent in gilding of it The gates were covered with thick plates of Gold The only foundations of this Capitol cost Tarquinius forty thousand pound weight of silver the pillars of it were cut out of a Quarry of Marble called Pentick-marble and they were as thick as long Plut. Next after the Capitol the Pantheon is worthily noted It was built by Agrippa son in Law to Augustus in the year of the City seven hundred twenty and nine The Architecture of it was admirable the beauty and proportion of all the parts most exquisite the breadth of it was one hundred forty and four feet and the height as much It was wholly covered over with very great tiles of Brass richly guilt In the reign of Trajan it was burnt by lightning and re-built by Hâ—drian The Temple of Peace was built by Vespasian three hundred foot long and two hundred broad It was the most beautifull of all the Temples in the City and enriched with gifts of inestimable value It was adorned with Statues and pictures of most exquisite workmanship yea and all the rarities were collected into this Temple for the sight whereof men formerly used to travell through the whole world And here also hee placed those vessels which formerly belonged to the Temple of Hierusalem and were brought from thence by Titus at the sacking of it It was burnt down in the time of Commodus either with fire from heaven or arising out of the earth after a little Earthquake There were an infinite number of Baths both publike and private in Rome Some of which baths were all paved with plates of silver and set with rows of Pillars for ornament Antoninus's bath had sixteen hundred seats of polished Marble in it The Appian Causey was built by Appius Claudius Censor It reached from Rome to Capua the bounds of the Empire that way at that time which was afterwards lengthened to Brundusium by Julius and Augustus Caesar in all three hundred and fifty miles long and so broad that two coaches might easily pass by one
Towns are Schestlites and Forchiam VVirtzberg a Bishops seat formerly called Herbipolis the other Towns belonging to it are Schwinfurt on the Main and Arnsteme The Emperors part contains the free and imperial Cities seated in the Palatinate and VVittenberg the chief whereof are 1. Norenberg situated in the very center of Germany 2. Frankfurt on the Main where the two great book Marts are held in Midlent and Mid-September 6. Helvetia or Switzerland which is bounded on the East with Tyrol on the West with France on the North with Lorraine and Elsas and on the South with Italy It contains thirteen Cantons as 1. Zurick 2. Bern. 3. Lucern 4. Urania 5. Glaris 6. Zugh 7. Basil 8. Friburg 9. Underwalt 10. Soloure 11. Schaffhausen 12. Apensol 13. Swits The chief Towns are 1. Zurick or Tygure 2. St. Gall. 3. Basil. where is a famous University 4. Constance seated on the Lake Bodenzee it belongs to the house of Austria 5. Bern. 6. Baden where are good Bathes 7. Lucerne situate on the banks of a great Lake bearing the same name The Country is in length two hundred and forty and in breadth one hundred and fourscore miles In it are the heads ofâ—those four famous Rivers Poe Danow Rhene and Rhone that run East West North and South These people were sometimes under the Emperor but being over-burthened by the Tyranny of their Governours they shaked off the yoak and entring into an offensive and defensive league cantoned themselves under a new Government These Helvetians are shut up within Mountains and great Lakes which make their Country unaccessible The tyranny of some Governours as aforesaid caused them to shake off the yoak not only of the house of Austria but of their own Nobility also Their first league was begun by three Country Peasants which in a short time was much augmented by the aversion of the people from the abovesaid Government Let no man trust to his own power and maintain it by rigour for enemies often come from whence they are least expected So soon as this league was made they seized upon the Castles of their Governours and drove them out of their Country Anno Christi 1307. But Arch-Duke Leopold being puffed up by some conquests hee had made and being provoked by the solicitations of the expulsed Nobility led his forces against the Villages but was defeated in the Mountains near Morgarten This victory of the Switzers produced the perpetual alliance of the three Villages to which the rest shortly after adjoyned themselves yea and many imperial Towns near them have so leagued themselves with them that now they have no enemie that they need fear except from among themselves Since which time their alliance hath been sought by Popes Kings and Princes of Europe and especially by France which by keeping in with them through a yearly pension hath drawn no small advantages from them Their Republick is composed of three orders The Villages to the number of thirteen The Associates or Confederates And the Towns which depend upon their direction They have also divers forms of Government for that of the Villages is Democratical and that of the Towns Aristocratical which mixt Common-wealth is only kept in unity by the care which shee hath of her own preservation Their Assemblies are made by a general Convocation to treat of war peace c. at which the Ambassadors from every Town are to meet Their Religion in some of the Cantons is only Romane in others reformed and in some mixed In this Marshal age of ours bloody Mars hath as well skipped over their Mountains as through the Seas Desâ—â—â—s and vast Forrests 7. Suevia which is divided into the upper and lower The upper is bounded on the East with Tyrol on the West with Helvetia on the North with lower Suevia and on the South with Millaine It was formerly called Rhetia now they are called Grisons divided into three confederations 1. Lega Cadi Dio whose chief City is Coyra 2. Lega Grisa 3. Lega Dritture they are Papists and Protestants mixt together Lower Suevia or Schwaben hath on the East Bavaria on the West Danubius on the North Franconia and on the South Tirol and the Grisons The chief Towns are 1. Ulme 2. Lindwe on the Lake Bodenzee 3. Auspurg on the River Leith 4. Norlingen 5. VVherlingen 6. Ravensperg 7. Dinkle spuhel 8. Gmund 8. Bavaria which hath on the East Austria and Stiria on the West the Leike on the North Bohemia and part of Franconia and on the South Tirol and Carinthia The chief Cities are 1. Munchen the Dukes seat on the River Aser 2. Ingolstat on the Danow an University 3. Ratisbone on the Danow also 4. Passaw 5. Sulesbourg on the River Saltzach 6. Frising 7. Eystet c. being in all thirty four and forty six walled Towns besides the soil is fruitful The Northern part of Bavaria is called the Upper Palatinate whereof the chief Towns are 1. Amberg where are Silver Mines 2. Newburg 3. Awerbach 4. Sultzbach 5. Weiden 7. Castel 9. Austria is an Arch-Dukedome that contains the Province of Austria Styria Carinthia Tirol and Carniola It s divided from Hungary on the East by the Leita From Bavaria on the West by the Ems From Moravia on the North by the Tems and from Stiria on the South by the Muer It was once called Pannonia superior the chief Cities in Austria are 1. Vienna an University seated on the Danow the beautifullest City in all Germany adorned with magnificent Churches stately Monasteries and a sumptuous Pallace for the Archduke 2. Emps. 3. St. Leopald 4. Neustat 5. Hainburg 6. Crems Styria is in length one hundred and ten miles and about sixty in breadth It hath the River Rab on the East Carinthia on the West the Dravus on the South and the Meur and Austria on the North the chief Cities are 1. Marchpurg 2. Gratz Carinthia is seventy five miles in length and fifty five in breadth It hath Stiria on the East Tirol on the West Bavaria on the North and the Alps on the South The chief towns are 1. Villach 2. Spittal 3. Gurach 4. Freisach 5. St. Veit Carniola is one hundred and fifty miles long and forty five broad It hath on the East Sclavonia on the West Italy on the North Carinthia and on the South Istria the chief towns are 1· Newmark 2. Esling 3. Marsperg 4. Bagonock 5. Saxenfelt all on the River Savus which runs through the middle of the Country Tirol which is seventy two miles broad and as many long It hath on the East Carinthia on the West the Grisons on the North Schwaben and on the South Marca Trevigeana It s a fruitful Countrey and full of silver Mines the chief towns are 1. Oenipont or Inspurch 2. Landeck 3. Tirol 4. Bolzan 5. Trent on the River Adesis where the Council was held against the Protestants 10. Bohemia which hath annexed to it Silesia Lusatia and Moravia Bohemia is bounded on the East with Silesia and
Moravia on the West with Franconia on the North with Misnia and Lusatia and on the South with Bavaria and is encompassed with the Hercynian Forrest The whole Kingdome is in compasse five hundred and fifty miles in which are contained seven hundred and eighty Cities walled Towns and Castles and thirty two thousand Villages they use the Sclavonian Language The soil is fruitful enriched with Mines of all sorts but Gold Here are many Forrests and in some of them a beast called Loris having under its neck a bladder of scalding water with which when shee is hunted shee so tormenteth the Dogs that shee easily escapeth them The chief Cities are 1. Prague in the middest of the Countrey seated on the River Mulda It consists of four several towns each of them having their several Magistrates Laws and Customes the principal is called the Old Town adorned with many fair buildings a spacious Market place and a stately Senate-house the second is called the New-town separated from the other by a deep and wide ditch the third is called the Little-town divided from the Old by the River Mulda and joined to it by a beautiful Bridge consisting of twenty four Arches In this Town is the hill Rachine on whose sides are many stately houses of the Nobles and on the top a magnificent Palace for the Kings the fourth is that of the Jews who have in it five Synagogues and live after their own Laws The second City is Egra seated on the River Eger on the borders towards Franconia 3. Budwus towards Austria 4. Melmukle on the river Albis 5. Weldaw 6. Pilsen Silesia is bounded with Bohemia on the West Brandenburg on the North Poland on the South and Hungary and Moravia on the East It s in length two hundred and forty miles and fourscore in breadth and is equally divided by the river Oder the chief towns are 1. Preslaw or Uratislavia 2. Jagundorfe 3. Glats 4. Oppolen 5. Glogaw 6. Olderberg all seated on the River Oder Lusatia which hath on the East and North Silesia on the West Brandenburg and on the South Silesia the chief Cities are Gorlits and Trabel on the river Nisse Spemberg and Gotthuse on the River Spe and lastly Bautsen Moravia which hath on the North and East Silesia on the West Brandenburg and on the South Austria and Hungary It abounds with Corn and hath much Myrrh and Frankincense which contrary to the usuall manner grow immediately out of the Earth not from trees the chief towns are 1. Brinne 2. Olmutz an University 3. Terebitz 4. Jasa c. 11. Brandenburg which hath on the East Poland on the West Saxony on the North Pomerania and on the South Lusatia It s in compass five hundred and twenty miles in which are contained fifty Cities and sixty four walled towns the chief are 1. Brandenburg 2. Frankfurt upon Oder an University seated in a fruitful soil abounding with Corn and Wine 3. Berlin where the Prince keeps his Court seated on the River Spre 4. Havelburg to this belongs part of Prussia called Ducal with the Dukedomes of Cleve Juliers and Berg c. So that in largenesse of territories they exceed the Dukes of Saxony but not in revenues 12. Pomerania and Meclemburg The first is bounded on the East wirh the River Vistula on the VVest with Meclemburg on the North with the Baltick sea and on the South with Brandenburg the chief towns are 1. Stetin the Princes seat and an University 2. Wolgast 3. VVallin 4. Gripswald an University 5. Newtrepton a Sea Town Meclenburg or Megalopolis stands on the West of Pomeren the chief towns whereof are 1. Malchaw 2. Sternberg 3. VVismar 4. Rostock an University On the West hereof stands the fair Hans-Town of Lubeck and about ten miles from it Hamborough On the further side of the River is Stoade where the English house is to sell their wares 13. Saxony which hath on the East Lusatia and Brandenburgh On the West Hassia On the North Brunswick and on the South Franconia and Bohemia It contains the Countries of Thuringia Misnia Voitland and Saxony The chief Cities in Thuringia are 1. Erdford a great City 2. Iene an University of Physicians 3. Smalcald 4. Hale 5. VVeimar The whole Country is in length one hundred and twenty miles and about as much in breadth and yet it contains two thousand Villages and twelve Earledoms Misnia environed with Bohemia Voitland Thuringia and Saxony the chief Towns whereof are 1. Dresden on the River Albis the Dukes seat and principal Magazine 2. Lipsique an University 3. Rochlits 4. Mulburg Voitland is a little Country South of Misnia whose chief Towns are 1. Olnits 2. VVerde 3. Cronach 4. Culmbach 5. Hoffe Saxony lies on the North of Thuringia and Misnia The chief Cities are 1. Magdeburg formerly Parthenopolis 2. VVorlits seated on the Albie 3. Helderick 4. VVittenberg the seat of the Duke and an University where Luther lived within the bounds of Saxony are the two small Principalities of Anhalt and Mansfield 14. Brunswick and Luneburg which have on the East Brandenberg On the West Westphalia On the North Denmark And on the South Saxony and Hassia The River Ems runs through this Country and the chief Cities are 1. Brunswick 2. Wolfohaiton where the Duke keeps his Court Halberstade 4. Lunebourg 5. Cella 5. Hassia which hath Saxony on the East Franconia on the South Westphalia on the West and North The chief Towns are 1. Dormestad 2. Marpurg an University 3. Geysen 4. Dries 5. Frankenburg 6. Cassels In this Country is the VVederaw containing the Counties of Nassaw and Hannaw and the free City of Friburg In the County of Nassaw are 1. Dillingbourg 2. Nassaw 3. Catzenelbagen and 4. Herborne an University where Piscator and Alstedius were Professors Denmark described Denmark contains the Cimbrick Chersoness part of Scandia and the Islands of the Baltick Sea The Chersoness is in length one hundred twenty miles and in breadth fourscore wherein are contained eight and twenty Cities and twenty Royal Castles or Palaces The cheif Provinces are 1. Holstein whose chief Cities are Nyemunster and Brumsted 2. Ditmars whose chief Cities are Meldory where they cover their houses with Copper and Mance 3. Sleswick whose chief Cities are Goterpe and Londen a Haven Town 4. Iuitland whereof the chief towns are Rincopen Nicopen Hol and Arhausen The Islands are five and thirty whereof the principal are 1. Senland or Zeland in length threescore and four in breadth two and fifty miles containing seven strong Castles and about thirteen Cities the chief being 1. Coppenhagen an University 2. Elsennour on the Sea side where they that pass the Sound pay their customes This Sound is in breadth three miles and is commanded by the Castles of Elsenbourg on Scandia side and Cronburg in this Island 3. Roschilt The second Island is Fuinen 3. Bornholme 4. Fimera wherein Ticho Brahe built his artificial Tower in which are rare Mathematical Instruments That part of
gowns the Nobility is very studious of warre and desirous of travel and of an humor much like that of the French they express their gallantry in the beauty of their cloaths weapons and horses In the sumptuousness of feasts weddings funeralls Christenings and in numerous traines of servants when they go a wooing The most eminent dignities amongst them are to be Senators whom they call Waiwodes Chattellans and starosts or Captains Of Poland it is said that if a man hath lost his religion let him go seek it in Poland and he shall find it there or else let him make account that its vanished out of the world Europae spec Hungary Described The soil is wonderfull fruitful yeilding Corn thrice a year the Grass in some places exceeds the height of a man which feeds a wonderfull number of Cattel Besides which they have Deer Partridg and Pheasant in such abundance that any man may kill them They have also Mines of Gold Silver and Copper Fish Wine c. The chief Rivers are 1. Danubius called also Ister 2. Savus 3. Dravus 4. Tibiscus which exceedingly abounds with Fish The Turk hath these chief Cities in Hungary 1. Buda on the Danow 2. Gyula on the confines of Transylvania 3. Pest. 4. Alba Regalis 5. Quinque Ecclâ—siae 6. Rab. The Emperor hath in his part 1. Presburg upon the edg of Austria 2. Strigonium or Gran. 3. Agraria 4. Comara 5. Toctax 6. Canista 7. Alkeinburg 8. Neheusel 9. Zigeth on the Dravus Dacia Described This Countrey is sufficiently fruitful and abounds with horses whose manes reach to the ground but to speak of the Provinces more particularly which are 1. Transylvania which hath on its North the Carpathean Mountains on the South Walachia on the West Hungary and on the East Moldovia The chief towns are 1. Alba Julia or Weisenburg 2. Claudiopolis or Clausenburg 3. Bristitia 4. Centum Colles 5. Fogaros 6. Stephanopolis c. Their present Prince is Rogotzi a Protestant 2. Moldovia is on the North end of Transylvania and extending to the Euxine Sea the chief Cities are 1. Zucchania 2. Fucchiana 3. Falezing 3. Walachia divided from Bulgary by the Danow the chief Cities are 1. Sabinium 2. Prailaba 3. Tergovista the Vayvodes seat It abounds with gold Silver Iron Saltpits wine Cattel horses brimstone c. 4. Servia which lyeth between Bosnia and Rascia the chief Cities are 1. Stoinburg the seat of the Despot 2. Samandria 3. Belgrade on the Danow 5. Rascia between Servia and Bulgary the chief City is Boden 6. Bulgary joyning on the East to the â—uxine sea on the West to Rascia the chief Cities are 1. Sophia the seat of the Beglerbeg of Greece 2. Nicopolis 7. Bosnia having Servia on the East Croatia on the VVest Savus on the South and Illiricum on the North the chief Cities are 1. Cazachium 2. Jaziga Sclavonia Described Sclavonia is more fit for Pasturage than for Corn their sheep and other Cattle bring forth young twice in a year and are shorn four times the Provinces are Illiricum or Windismarch which is bounded on the East with the Danow on the West with Carniola on the North with Dravus and on the South with Savus the chief Cities are 1. Zatha on Danubius 2. Zakaocz 3. VVindishgretz on Dravus 4. Sagouna It s now a member of Hungary Dalmatia which hath on the East Drinus on the West Croatia on the North Savus and on the South the Adriatique sea the chief Cities are 1. Ragusi a sea town and of great traffick 2. Sicum on the sea also 3. Jadara another sea Town 4. Spalato a sea town 5. Scodra or Scutary 6. Lyssa where Scanderbeg was buried these two last are under the Turks the other under the Venetians Croatia which hath on the East and South Dalmatia on the North Savus and on the West Istria and Carniola the chief Cities are 1. Gradiska situate on Savus 2. Bruman 3. Novigrade on the Savus neer Germany 4. Sisseg or Sissaken 5. Petrowya These people are usually called Crabbats and serve as mercenaries in the Emperors Armies Greece described Greece is bounded on the East with the Aegean sea the Hellespont Propontis and the Thracian Bosphorus On the West it hath Italy with the Adriatick sea on the North with the Mountain Hemus and on the South with the Jonian sea It s situate in the Northern temperate zone under the fifth and sixth Climates the longest day being about fifteen hours The people once were famous for Armes and Arts which made them account all others Barbarians now they are degenerated from the Prinstine vertue of their ancesters and are become unconstant ignorant riotous and idle At their feasts they drink till they come to the height of intemperancy hence grew our Proverb As merrie as Greeks The women are generally brown yet well-favoured and excessively amorous they use much painting to keep themselves in favour with their husbands who when they are wrinkled and old put them to all drudgery Their Church government was by four Patriarks 1. Of Alexandria 2. Of Hierusalem 3. Of Antioch 4. Of Constantinople Their language was Greek of which they had five Dialects 1. the Attick 2. the Dorick 3. the Aeolick 4. the Jonick 5. the common Dialect but now it is almost devoured by the Sclavonian or Turkish Tongue The soil is fruitfull and would yeild good profit if it were well husbanded but the natives having nothing that they can call their own in regard of their slavery to the Great Turk neglect husbandry The Commodities that they send abroad into other Countries are Wine Oil Copper Vitreal Velvets Damasks Grogreams c. and some Gold and Silver The chief rivers are Cephisus which rising in the frontiers of Epirus emptieth it self into the Aegean sea Erigon Alaicmon Strimon Athicus Stymphalus Ladon Inacus Pineus Populifer c. Greece is ordinarily divided into these seven parts 1. Peloponesus 2. Achaia 3. Epirus 4. Albania 5. Macedonia 6. Migdonia 7 and Thracia Peloponesus Described Peloponesus is a Peninsula almost surrounded with the sea only it is joyned to the firm land by an Istmus five miles broad which was fortified by a strong wall and five Castles called Hexamilium which reached from sea to sea It is in compasse six hundred miles and it is now called Morea and is divided into six Provinces 1 Elis. 2. Messina 3. Arcadia 4. Laconia 5. Argolis and 6. Achaia propria 1. Elis which hath on the East Arcadia on the West the Jonian sea on the North Achaia propria and on the South Messina the chief Cities are Argis nigh unto the river Alpheus It was formerly called Olimpia famous for the statue of Jupiter Olimpicus which was one of the Worlds wonders And Pisa. 2. Messina which hath on the East Arcadia on the North Elis on the West and South the sea the chief Cities are 1. Messina now Golpho di Coron 2. Pilon now Navarino 3. And Methone or Medon 3. Arcadia which hath
on the East Laconia on the VVest Elis and Messina on the North Achaia propria and on the South the sea The chief Cities are 1. Psophis 2. Mantinia 3. Megalopolis And 4. Phialia here was the Lake Stymphalus and the River Styx whose water for the ill tast was called the Water of hell this Countrey was fit for pasturage and grazing 4. Laconia which is bounded on the East and South with the sea on the North with Argolis and on the West with Arcadia the chief Cities are 1. Lacedaemon once a most flourishing Commonwealth 2. Leuctra on the sea side 3. Thalana nigh unto the Lake Lerna and Mount Tenarus and 4. Selassia 5. Argolis which is bounded on the East and North with the sea on the VVest with Achaia propria and on the South with Laconia the chief Cities are 1. Argos 2. Micene 3. Nemaea 4. Epidaurus and 5. Nauplia 6. Achaia propria which hath on the South Elis Arcadia and Argolis on all other parts the sea The chief Cities are 1. Corinth at the foot of the Acro-Corinthian hills neer to the fountain Pyrene this City was formerly strengthened with a Castle which standing on the said Hills was called Acro-Corinthus and was impregnable Here lived Lais that famous strumpet that exacted ten thousand Drachmas for a nights lodging It s now called Crato and is a place of small note 2. Patras 3. Scycion now Vasilico and 4. Dimea The Country of Achaia described Achaia is bounded on the East with the Aegean Sea On the West with Epirus On the North with Thessaly and on the South with Peloponesus and the Sea thereof It s divided into seven Provinces 1. Attica 2. Megaris 3. Boeotia 4. Phocis 5. Aetolia 6. Doris and 7. Locris 1. Attica which hath on the West Megaris and on all other parts the Sea the soil is barren yet by the industry of the Inhabitants was made fruitful their current mony was stamped with an Oxe whence grew that saying of corrupt Lawyers Bos in lingua The chief Cities are 1. Athens once famous all the world over 2. Marathron where Mâ—ltiades overthrew the huge Army of Darius 3. Piraea the Haven Town to Athens and 4. Panormus 2. Maegaris which hath on the East Attica on the West Sinus Corinthiacus on the North Boeotia and on the South the Istmus The chief Cities are 1. Megara now Megra and 2. Eleusis 3. Boeotia which is bounded on the East with Attica on the West with Phocis on the North with the River Cephisus and on the South with Megaris and the Sea The chief Cities are 1. Thebes on the River Cephisus 2. Daulis 3. Platea 4. Leuctra where Epaminondas gave that great overthrow to the Lacedemonians 5. Ascra the birth-place of Hesiod 6. Cheronea the birth-place of Plutarch 7. Orchomenon In this Country are the streights of Thermopylae where Leonidas with three hundred Spartans slew twenty thousand of Xerxes his Army and were themselves all slain 4. Phocis which hath on the East Boeotia on the West Locris and Doris on the North the Rivers Cephisus and on the South Sinus Corinthiacus Here is Mount Helicon consecrated to the Muses Mount Citheron and Pernassus whose two-fold top kissed the clouds The cheif Cities are 1. Cyrra 2. Crissa 3. Anticyra on the Sea side where grew Eloborum that cured the Phrensie 4. Elladia 5. Pytho or Pythia seated in the heart of Greece Here the Amphictyons kept their Court. They were men selected out of the twelve principal Cities in Greece and had power to decide all controversies and to enact Lawes for the common good 6. Delphos where was the Temple of Apollo the most famous Oracle of the Heathens 5. Locris which hath on the East Aetolia on the North Doris and on the other parts the Sea The chief Cities are 1. Naupactum now called Lepanto where was that famous battel between the Turks and Christians 2. Ematia 6. Aetolia which is bounded on the East with Locris on the West with Epirus on the North with Doris and on the South with the Gulph of Lepanto Here is the Forrest of Caledon where Meleager slew the wild Boar and the Rivers Evenus and Achilous The chief Cities are 1. Chalcis 2. Olenus 3. Plurona and 4. Thirmum 7. Doris which hath on the East Boeota on the West Epirus on the South the Sea and on the North the Hill Oeta The chief Cities are 1. Amphissa 2. Libra and 3. Citinum Epirus described Epirus is bounded on the East with Achaia on the North with Macedonia and on the other parts with the Sea Here is the Mount Pindus sacred to Apollo and the Muses and the Acroceraunian Hills Here are also the Rivers Acheron and Cocytus for their colour and taste called the Rivers of Hell The Eastern part of this Country is called Acarnania the Western Chaonia The chief Cities are 1. Antigonia 2. Cassiope 3. Toronia These in the Western part and in the other 1. Nicopolis 2. Ambracia now Larta 3. Leucas 4. Anactorium and 5. Actium nigh to the Sea of Lepanto where Augustus and Anthony fought for the Empire of the world This Country was once called Molossia Here that famous Scanderbeg was King as also of Albania Albania described Albania hath on the East Macedonia on the West the Adriatick Sea On the North Sclavonia and on the South Epirus The chief Cities are 1. Albanopolis 2. Sfetigrade 3. Durazzo formerly called Dyrachium 4. Croya under whose walls Amurath lost his life Macedonia described Macedonia hath on the East Migdonia on the West Albania on the North Misia superior and on the South Epirus and Achaia The chief Cities are 1. Scydra or Scodra 2. Andaristus 3. Aedessa 4. Eribaea 5. Pidna upon the mouth of the River Alaicmon 6. Pella on the same shore and 7. Syderocaspae famous for her gold and silver Mines Thessaly described On the Southern part of Macedonia is Thessalia planted It s a fruitful and pleasant Country Here is the Hill Olympus upon which were the Olympick games as running with Chariots and on foot wrestling fighting with Whirlebats c. The reward of the Conquerors was only a Garland of Palm and yet highly esteemed by them Here also are the Hills Pelion and Ossa and betwixt Olympus and Ossa was that delectable Valley called Tempe five miles long and six broad so beautified with natures riches that it was accounted the Garden of the Muses The chief Cities are 1. Tricca 2. Lamia 3. Demetrias 4. Larissa both upon the Pelasgick Bay 5. Pharsalis nigh unto which was that great battel fought between Caesar and Pompey for the Monarchie of the world And 6. Pherae Migdonia described Migdonia is bounded on the East and South with the Aegean Sea on the West with Macedonia and on the North with Thracia Here is the Hill Athos which is threescore and fifteen miles in compass three dayes journey in height and casts a shadow as far as Lemnos which is forty miles off The chief Cities are 1. Stagira
A Geographicall Description Of all the COUNTRIES In the known VVORLD AS ALSO Of the greatest and famousest Cities and Fabricks which have been or are now remaining Together with The greatest Rivers the strangest Fountains the various Minerals Stones Trees Hearbs Plants Fruits Gums c. which are to bee found in every Country Unto which is added a Description of The rarest Beasts Fowls Birds Fishes and Serpents which are least known amongst us Collected out of the most approved Authors and from such as were eye-witnesses of most of the things contained herein By SA CLARKE Pastor of the Church of Christ in Bennet Finck London PSALM 104.24 25. O Lord how manifold are thy Works In wisdome hast thou made them all The earth is full of thy riches So is the great and wide Sea wherein are things creeping innumerable both small and great Beasts c. LONDON Printed by R. I. for Thomas Newberry at the three Lions in Cornhill over against the Conduit MDCLVII A GEOGRAPHICALL DESCRIPTION OF ALL THE COVNTRIES IN THE KNOWNE WORLD as also of the Chiefest Cittyes Famousest Structures Greatest Rivers Strangest Fountaines c. Together with The rarest Beasts Birds Fishes c which are Least knownâ— amongst vs. BY SA CLARKE R Gaywood fecit A Geographicall Description Of all the COUNTRIES In the known VVORLD The Division of the World THE Earth is commonly divided into four parts Asia Africa Europe and America Asia Described Asia is divided into two parts Asia the lesse next to Europe called also Anatolia or Natolia thus bounded Towards the West and North is Greece Full West is the Archipelagus On the East is the River Euphrates On the North is the Euxine Sea And on the South the Mediterranean This Country was once of admirable fertility affording all sorts of Commodities both for necessity and delight But for the sins of her Inhabitants it s turned into barrennesse having been so often wasted by the great Monarchs of the earth First by the Babylonians then by the Meads and Persians then by the Grecians then by the Romans and lastly by the Turks who have made such wofull havock that in it are to bee seen the ruines of above four thousand Cities and Towns the residue have lost both the names and memory of their Predecessors and the people are faln from the Knowledge Religion and Industry of their fore-fathers and for the most part are Mahumetans In this Asia the Lesse are contained these Provinces Caria Jonia Doriâ— Lydia Aeolis Phrygia minor and major Cilicia Pamphilia Lycia Bythinia Pontus Paphlagonia Galacia Cappadocia Lycaonia Pysidia and Armenia minor In Jonia stood Miletum where Paul Preached to the Elders Acts 20.17 and Ephesus In Lydia were seated Laodicea Thyatira Philadelphia Sardis and Pergamus In Phrygia minor was Adramitium mentioned Act. 27.2 In Phrygia major was Colosse to whom Paul wrote his Epistle In Cilicia was Tarsus where Paul was born In this Country feed those Goats whose hair makes our curious Chamlets and Grogerams falsely called Camels hair In Pamphilia are seated Perga Pisidia and Attalia Sea Towns Act. 13 1â— 14. In Lycia the cheif City was Patara In Lycaonia were Iconium and Listra In Pisidia was the famous City of Antiochia In Asia the Greater are contained these Countries Syria Palestine Armenia major Araâ—â—a the Happy Stony Desert Media Assyria Mesopâ—tamia Persia Chaldâ—n Partâ—ia Hircania Tâ—rtaria â—hiâ—a and India In Syria are Phaenicia Caelâ—syria and Syrophâ—nicia In Phaenicia are Tyre and Sidon Sarepta and Ptolaemais In Caelosyria are Hieropolis Damascus Aleppo Tripolis c. Palestine is in length two hundred miles in breadth but fifty containing Samaria Idumaea Judaea Galile the higher called Galile of the Gentiles Galile the lower wherein were Nazareth and Mount Tabor where Christ was transfigured Armenia major now Turkomania wherein was Colchus whence Jason fetched the golden Fleece Arabia divided into three parts Arabia Deserta where the Children of Israel were fed with Manna forty years Arabia Petrosa where Mount Sinai was and the Law given Arabia Faelix abounding with Spices and Drugges where Medina is the place of Mahomets Sepulchre Media where the fruits of the Country are said to bee always green and flourishing Assyria where Nineveh stood to which Jonah was sent Mesopotamia where was Babylon Persia a great Empire where the Regall City is Persepolis Chaldaea often mentioned in Scripture Parthia the Inhabitants whereof were famous for their Archery and opposition against the Romans Hircania which hath many Cities of note and abounds with Wine and Honey Tartaria formerly called Scythia whose Queen Tomyris overcame Cyrus and cut off his head They have neither Cities nor houses but live in hoards their Prince is the great Cham. China is a very great populous and fruitful Country and the Inhabitants are very ingenuous but it is lately overrun by the Tartars as you shall hear afterwards India through the midst whereof runs the River â—anges dividing it into India intra Gangem which lieth towards the West and India extra Gangem which lyeth towards the East The chief place whereof is Goa where the Vice-roy of Portugal resides The Islands of Asia the less are Rhodes over against Caria and Cyprus formerly consecrated to Venus In the Indian Ocean the Islands are very many principally Ormus Zeilan Sumatra Avirae insulae Bocuro Java major and minor Japan the Molucco's and the Philippine Islands which abound with Spices of all sorts Pearls and Gold whereof I will now give a more particular account Asia minor more largely described Cappadocia described Cappadocia called also Leucosyria and now Amasia stretcheth four hundred and fifty miles along the Euxine Sea bounded on the West with Paphlagonia Galatia and part of Pamphilia on the South with Cilicia on the East with the Hills Antitaurus and Moschius and part of Euphrates Here runneth Halis the end of Craesus Empire both in the site and fate thereof hee being deceived with that ambiguous Oracle Craesus Halin penetrans magnam pervertet opâ—m vim that passing Halis hee should overturn a great State which hee interpreting actively of his attempts against Cyrus verified it passively in himself In Cappadocia was the City of Comana famoused by the Temple of Bellona and a great multitude of such as were there inspired by Devillish illusions Not far thence also was Castabala where was the Temple of Diana Persica Galatia or Gallo-graecia hath on the South Pamphilia and on the North it s washed with the Eâ—xine Sea by the space of two hundred and fifty miles Sinope was the chief City Deiotarâ—s a famous King but Galacia is made more famous by St. Pauls Epistle written to the Church thereof Pontus and Bithinia now called Bursia hath on the West the mouth of Pontus the Thracian Bosphorus and part of Propontis Galacia on the East part of the Euxine Sea on the North and Asia properly so called on the South The most famous Cities in it were Nice wherein was celebrated the first General Council gathered
parts proportionable and all gilt over When Muani the fifth Caliph of Babylon overcame Constance the Emperour in a Sea-fight and had taken the Isle of Rhodes this image being formerly thrown down by an Earthquake was sold by him to a Jew who loaded nine hundred Camels with the brasse of it Theoph. Pez Mel. Hist. The Islands and Countries in the East-Indies Described Malabar Described Malabar is neer to Cape Comeryn It s four hundred miles in length but not above a hundred in breadth yet so populous that one of the Samorines or Kings hath brought into the field two hundred thousand men The Countrey is green and full of all delights Cattel Corn Fruit Cotton silk-worms and other Merchandise it hath store of strong Towns and safe Harbours It s divided into many Toparchies but all obeying the Samorine a naked Negro yet as proud as Lucifer The Nayroes are his Lords a sort of Mammeluks that live by the sweat of other mens brows lust wholly Mastering them they always go armed with sword and Buckler The people generally are big-limmed strong cole-black wear their hair which is like wool long and curled about their heads they have a wreath of a curious sort of linnen wrought with gold and silk about their wast a peece of Calico all the rest naked the vulgar sort pink their skins in many places some are Mahometans others Gentiles the Mahometan women use vails like other Indians such as are Gentiles affect nakedness their greatest pride is in their noses and ears and they judge them most brave which are bigest and widest their ears they make big by weighty bables which they hang in them they wring their snouts with silver brass or Ivory their arms and legs are chained richly Their Braminies or Priests have the maiden heads of all that are married they are couragious and politick The City of Callecut in Malabar Described Callecut a City is not large nor of any beauty the houses are low thick and dark The Samorine or Emperor usually abides here many deformed Pagathoes are here worshipped The chappel where their grand Idol sits is covered and about three yards high the wooden entrance is ingraven with infernal shapes within their beloved Priapus is imperiously enthronized upon a brasen Mount his head hath a resplendent Diadem from whence issue four great Rams horns his eyes squint his mouth is wide from whence branch four Monstrous Tusks his nose is flat his beard like the Sun beams of an affrighting aspect his hands are like the claws of a Vulture his thighs and legs big and hairy his feet and tail resemble a Munkies Other Temples have other Pagods ugly all yet all differ in invention They commonly exchange their wives As men have many wives so one woman may have many husbands The Isle of Zeiloon Described Zeiloon or Ceilon is two hundred and fifty miles in length one hundred and forty in breadth It abounds with sundry sorts of aromatick spices but especially with Cinamon It hath plenty of Orenges Dates Cocoes Ananas Plantans and Mastick It hath Elephants Bufolos Cowes Sheep Hogs c. Smaragds Rubies Ambergreece c. The King hereof to shew his bravery to the Portugals invited them to see him walk upon a Tarras arraied in an imbroidered Coat powdered with Gold Smaragds Diamonds and Pearl altogether darting out rayes wonderfull delightfull and pleasant Hereupon Selveira the Portugese Governor builds a stately and strong Castle amongst them under pretence of defending them from the Mallabars but it was rather to bee his Jewel keeper for in a short time hee ravished the King of all his riches In this Island there is scarce any village or Mount without its Pagod amongst which that Apes tooth god was the principal resorted to by millions of Indians and when Columbo the Vice-Roy of Goa took it away they proâ—ered to redeem it with three hundred thousand Duckets Their Idols are horribly deformed and ugly yea the more ugly the more venerable The Manner of fishing for Pearls in the Isle of Zeilan They begin their fishing every year in March or April and it lasteth fifty dayes and when this time draweth neer they send very good Divers to discover where there is the greatest plenty of Oisters under water and right against that place they pitch their Tents on the shore making as it were a little Village and so when the time is come they go out in their Boats and Anchor in fifteen or eighteen fathom of water and then they cast a rope into the Sea with a great stone fastened at the end of it Then a man that hath his nose and ears well stopped and anointed with Oile with a basket under his left arm goes down by the rope to the bottome of the Sea and as fast as hee can fills the basket with Oisters and then shaking the rope his fellowes in the boat pull him up with his basket and thus they go on till they have filled their Boats with Oisters and so at evening when they come to their Tents each lay their heap of Oisters by themselves and none of them are opened till their fishing bee ended At which time they open every man his own which is easily done because then they are drie and brittle There are but few of these Oisters in comparison that have Pearles in them There are also certain that are expert in Pearles present that set the price upon them according to their carracts beauty and goodness the round ones are best Choromandel described Choromandel stretches from Cape Comoryn to the famous Gulph of Bengala and hath in it these famous Towns of Trade Negapatan Meliapore Polycat Armagun Narsinga Mesulipatan and Bipilipatan Negapatan is hot and unwholesome the wind and raines being for the greatest part of the year high and unseasonable The Town hath good water and fruits well relished cooling and nutritive yet the people are much vexed with feavers fluxes c. they are blackish blockish unapt for study or exercise by reason of the heat A small thin shuddery or lawn is drawn before their secret parts their head hath a small wreath the rest is all naked they have gold and precious stones which they esteem as wee do trifles The Bannians Wives have here more freedome to burn themselves when their Husbands dye than in other places so that in this place the custome is usual If any refuse to burn they must shave and are accounted as Monsters The City of Goa described Goa is the bravest and best defenced City in all the Orient where the Vice-Roy of Portugal keeps his residence and seats of Justice It s built three hours journey within land in an Island thirty miles compass surrounded by a River that flows from the mighty mountain Bellaguate It s compassed with a strong and beautiful wall proud in her aspiring Turrets dreadful in many tormenting Cannons The Market-place or Buzzar is in the Center of the City richly built pleasant and capacious the other streets
after the Indian mode are narrow and nasty the buildings in general are spacious and comely T is watered with a delicious stream the Gardens are filled with sweet and eye-pleasing flowers the whole Isle abounds with Grass Corn Groves Cattel fruits and many other sense-ravishing delights wherein there are above twenty Villages The field peeces here are above three hundred the Palaces are strong of good stone furnished within with rich Arras and painting and the Churches beautiful and comely Herb. Travels The City of Amadavar described Amadavar is the Metropolis of Cambaya or Guzurat watered by a sweet River and circled by a beautiful strong stone wall of six miles compass well and orderly adorned with many pretty Towers and twelve Posterns The streets are many indifferently large and comely most shops abound with Aromatick Gums perfumes and spices as also with Silks Cottons Calicoes and choice of Indian and China rarities owned and sold by the fair spoken but crafty Bannians The Market-place is rich and uniform the Castle strong large and moated about The houses in general are built of Sun-dryed Bricks low large and tarrassed The Island of Socotora described Socotora is an Island in the mouth of the Red-Sea a little Island but pleasant and abounding with good things one part rising into wholesome Hills other parts falling into fruitful dales all places garnished with spreading trees sweet Grass fragrant flowers and rich Corn hath store of Olives Aloes Sempervive Sanguis Draconum Cocoes Dates Pistachoes Orenges Pomegranats Pomecitrons Lemons Melons Suger-Canes c. It abounds with fish foul and flesh Here are Civet-Cats The inhabitans are black they are Christians by profession their Churches are built in the form of a Cross kept sweet and neat without seats and images they have a Patriarch whom they reverence and duly pay their Tithes to the Clergie their feasts and fasts like ours Age is much regarded humility commanded and commended second marriages are not allowed except they had no Children by the first have their Sacraments wrap the dead in clean linnen and so bury them without lamentation Ormus described Ormus is situated in the Persian Gulph a miserable and forlorn City and Isle at this day though not many years since it was the bravest place in all the Orient If all the world were made into a Ring Ormus the Gem and grace thereto should bring The whole Island is a Sulphurious Earth which together with the heat of the Sun from May to September makes it almost intollerable so that their custome is to sleep in beds of water all day naked the City had a fair Buzzar many Churches Monasteries brave Magazeens stately houses and as gallant a Castle as any was in the East The whole Isle exceeds not fifteen miles in compass and is the most barren place in the World neither affording Tree nor spring of good water yet from the advantagious standing the industrious Portugal made it the staple and glory of the world till in the year 1622. the English joyning with the Persians made it a ruinous heap as it continues till this day Narsinga Described Narsinga is famous all over Asia it s confined by Mallabar Gulcunda Bengala and the Ocean the King is very rich and powerfull in men arms and ammunition His Countrey full of all things requisite for use and pleasure Hath many fair Towns strong Forts pleasant fields and choicest Minerals abounding in Rivers hills dales Cattel Corn Fruits c. The Temples have in them many rich and Massy Idols of ugly shape as best pleaseth the Devil for his service and devotion Bisnagar is the second City in Narsinga for grandeure and bravery being circled with a wall of four miles compass and as well fortified well built and wealthy It is much frequented by our European ships and Junks from all parts of India Few strangers come thither but they are invited by the King who delights to shew them his fine cloathes being set thick with stones and Gems of infinite value hee hath for his guard a thousand Pensioners Hee affects Polygamy and therefore stiles himself The Husband of a thousand women who at his death makes his flaming grave their consuming Sepulcher Mesulipatan is seated neer the Bengalan Ocean The Town hath little beauty not many years since a raging mortality and Famine having well nigh depopulated it The fields and gardens are parched by the Sun from March to July the four next months are disturbed with wind and incessant rains only from November to March they have kindly weather The English have here a residence where they trafick for Calicoes Rice c. Malacca described Malacca is a Peninsula whence abundance of gold is carried into Pegu Siam Borneo and Sumatra It s judged to bee part of the Ophir whence Solomon fetched his gold Malacca the Royal City obeyes now the Siam Monarchy being conquered by the King thereof Anno Christi 1508. by the help of the Portugals at which time they gat an incredible Mass of Treasure three thousand peeces of great Ordinance and so much minted coin that the King of Portugals part came to two hundred and fifty thousand Ryals of eight The City is above three miles long but narrow built upon the banks of a pleasant River as broad as our Thames A rivolet of sweeter water runnes through the Town over which is raised a strong stone bridge the buildings are generally low and but meanly furnished though they want no gold to purchase better The streets and fields shew many delightful Arbours and choice fruits with Corn Sugar and Durapen trees preferred before gold and silver Patania Described Patania stands between those two famous Ports of Malacca and Siam the Town is strong and defended by twelve great brass guns whereof one is a Basilisco of twenty six foot long The People are black and go almost naked they delight much in eating Bettle and Opium they usually eat in plates of Gold they are very hospitable to strangers and the better sort of them blush not to proffer their daughters and neeces to be their bed-fellows during their stay there Adultery they punish sharpely Fornication lightly they delight much in wine Rack Rice Fruites c. Siam Described Siam is a powerful and wealthy Kingdom The King hath under him many Countries watered by Ganges he usually goes to war with a thousand Elephants and two hundred thousand men The Inhabitants are black and almost naked As a badge of devotion they gird their middles with a peece of Leather and carry an umbrella in their hands to lenefy the flaming Sun they are great Idolaters worshiping gods in the shape of Prtapus or Pan They have Groves and Altars whereon they offer flesh fruit and flowers their Tallapois or Priests are great Conjurers and much esteemed by the People Here are abundance of Diamonds Chrysolites Onix-stones Magnets Bezars with Lignum aloes Benjamin Cotton and mines of Gold Silver Iron Copper c. Victuals and other Commodities are
Egg and growing till it bee eight or ten yards long their tailes are as long as their bodies their mouths and throats so wide that they are able to swallow a horse and man at one bit their teeth are engrailed they have no tongue and contrary to all other Creatures move only the upper jaw their bellies are penetrable their backs hard to bee peirced In the winter quarter they fast from food all the rest of the year devour their prey with much greedinesse sixty dayes passe before the female layes her eggs which are commonly sixty in number and shee is sixty dayes in hatching them and usually they live sixty years some call them Aligartos The Jchneumon steals into his belly and gnaws in sunder his guts whilst hee lies gaping that the little Trochil may pick his teeth which gives it feeding Java Major described Java the greater is an Island neer the Bengalan Sea in length four hundred and fifty miles in breadth two hundred and seventy the midland is for the most part Mountainous and ill peopled the Sea coasts low and populous yet unhealthful The Sea-coasts by reason of trade for Pepper hath well-built Towns especially Bantam Palamban Jackatra Japarra Tuban Jortan c. Bantam is the biggest City in the Island nigh two miles long It yeelds Rice Pepper and Cotton-wool though most of the Pepper bee brought thither by the Chineses from Janeby Borneo and Malacca Four Vice-Royes are under the Mattarans or great Kings command who is able to bring into the field two hundred thousand desperate slaves black but valiant the Climate is so hot that for the most part they go naked their weapons are lances darts arrows but especially creezes two foot long broad waved sharp and small pointed and basely poisoned the hilt of wood horn the better sort of gold silver or Ivory cut in the figure of a deformed Pagod They are given to murders theft Adultery deceit c. also Magick and Astrology delight them in which Satan instructs them the better to oblige them to his worship They are excellent swimmers they delight in hunting Tygers Ouzces c. They are friendly to the English especially ever since the Dutch took Jackatra from them Their Orankayes or great men are idle sociable but not to be trusted The Isle of Celibes Described Celibes is by some called Makasser from her best City in the Island Its oval and above two hundred miles long well peopled but with bad people It s fruitful though under the hotest part of the burning zone They are black naked only having a few plantane leaves tyed about their middles the better sort wear Tulipants and white shirts upon their coal-black skins The women are very immodest The men use long Canes out of which they can blow a little pricking quill which if it draw bloud in any part of the body it kills immediately so strong is the poyson The Molucco Isles described The Molucco Isles are five in number Molucco Gillolo Tirnate Tidore and Machan The English were the first Traders hither and the natives acknowledged our King their Sovereign though since the Dutch thrust us out as if all India was theirs by title from the Creation Gillolo is the greatest but in Cloves Mace Nutmegs Ginger Pepper Oile Aloes and Honey all of them alike plentifull The Bandaneza Islands Described Neer unto the former are the Islands of Amboyna Banda Puloway Pulerone Lantore Batan Labatacka Nero Ticobassa Cumber Salamo c. All of them especially Pulerone and Puloway seeming continued wildernesses of Nutmeg and Clove trees Pepper Vines and Olives These two last first traded with our Merchants and acknowledged fealty to our King James till the uncivil Dutch dispossessed us cruelly abusing our men and entitling themselves Lords of the Banda-Islands The Isle of Borneo described Borneo resembles an Oval shield and for the most part groans uâ—der the Spanish servitude It hath many villages and people which are great Idolaters It yeilds Mines of gold and Diamonds Bezar Musk Lignum Aloes Amber Sanguis Draconum VVax Rice and Rattoons Her chief haven Towns are Socodania and Bemermassin The Isle of Japan described Japan is in length six hundred miles in breadth One hundred four score and ten The best towns and Ports in it are Meacco Ozacca Tenze Firando Fuccate c. Macco is an inland City as big as Florence but not so beautifull Hath a sweet and large River low but comely houses abundance of stately Fotiquees or Temples full of guilded Idols called by them Mannada's The Government is Monarchicall above sixty petty Kings do homage to the Emperor whose frowns are worse than an ordinary death The Countrey is for the most part mountainous full of Rivers Trees Corn Grasse and Mines It hath plenty of villages swarming with Heathen Idolaters The people in the North and East parts of it are more savage treacherous idle Lascivious and awed by no Law malefactors they crucify The Civil Japonians are valiant courteous and great affectors of Novelties The best port in it is Ozacca strong and beautifull famous for its royal Castle varnished tiled and burnished over with pure Gold rich and Majesticall of excellent stone and well built the walls are every where twenty foot thick well polished and curiously cemented circled with deep trenches ful of water having above twelve Iron Gates with draw-bridges Fuccate is a pretty sweet Town well watered having a strong and defensive Castle It s environed for three miles compasse with spreading Sycamore Trees wherein are many small but richly-tiled Fotiquees or Temples in which they worship Pan or Priapus yea the Devil in his ugliest shapes In Meacco are seventy Temples wherein they number three thousand three hundred thirty and three little guilded Devils but more memorable is that in Meacco huge and wonderfull of guilt Copper Its posture is sitting in a chair seventy foot high and fourscore broad fifteen men may conveniently stand upon his head his thumb is forty inches about and his other limbs proportionable At Dabis is another of these Idols made of Copper hollow vast thick and double guilt his height is twenty four foot though formed kneeling his buttocks resting on his legs his arms are stretched out and sometimes making a fire in him they sacrifice a child which in his embraces is fryed to death with horrible torture The women of Japan if they want means to bring up their children most unnaturally deprive them of that life which not long before they had given them Their houses are most of wood because of their frequent Earth-quakes With them black is a feastival colour and white a Funeral They dye their teeth black Reproaches Thefts Peâ—â—â—ry and Dice-play is very hateful to them Herb. and Purch The Kingdome of China described China hath on the East the sea of Japan On the West the Deserts of Judustan On the North the Tartars On the South the Philippine Islands And on the South West Cochinchina Pegu with part of Siam
Lahor is the chief City afterwards described which is the chiefest City of Trade in all India 11. Chishmeere The chief City is called Siranakar the River Phat passeth through it that falls into Indus 12. Bankish The chief City is called Bishur It s divided from Chishmeere by the River Indus 13. Jengapor The chief City is of the same name It lies upon the River Kaul 14. Jenba The chief City is of the same name It lies East of Peniab 15. Delli The chief City is of the same name which is a great City where most of the Great Mogols lye interred 16. Bando The chief City is of the same name It hath Agrae on the West 17. Malway A very fruitful Province The chief City is Rantipore 18. Chitor A great Province where the chief City is of the same name 19. Guzarat A goodly Kingdome and exceeding rich inclosing the bay of Cambaia The chief City is Surat a place of great trading 20. Chandis VVhere the chief City is Brampoch large and populous and the South bounds of this Empire 21. Berar The chief City is Shapore the South part of it also bounds this Empire 22. Narvar VVhere the chief City is Gehud watered by a fair River that empties it self into Ganges 23. Gualiar The chief City is so called where the Mogol hath a great Treasure In this City also is a strong Castle where hee useth to keep his Prisoners 24. Agra Where the chief City is of the same name and afterwards described 25. Sanbal The chief City is of the same name It s watered by the River Jemini which falls into Ganges 26. Bakar where the chief City is Bikaneer It lies on the VVest side of the River Ganges 27. Nagracut The chief City is of the same name where is a Chappel richly seeled and paved with plates of pure gold The Idol is called Matta visited by many thousands yearly which out of devotion cut off a part of their tongues to sacrifice to it 28. Syba VVhere the chief City is Hardwair Here the famous River Ganges springs out of a Rock whither the superstitious Gentiles go daily in troops to wash their bodies 29. Kakares Where the principal Cities are Dankalee and Purhola It s very large and exceeding mountainous and is parted from Tartarie by the Mountain Caucasus being the Mogols most Northerly bound 30. Gor The chief City is of the same name The River Persilis begins here which runs into Ganges 31. Pitan the chief City is of the same name It s watered by the River Kanda which falls into Ganges 32. Kandua Where the chief City 〈◊〉 Karhakatenka the River Sersili parts it from Pitan and lies Northward 33. Patna The chief City is of the same name A fertile Province bounded by Ganges on the West 34. Jesual Where the chief City is Raiapore It lies East of Patna 35. Mevat Where the chief City is Narnol It s a very mountainous Country 36. Udessa Where the chief City is Jokanat It s the Eastermost part of this vast Empire 37. Bengala It s a very spacious and fruitful Kingdome bounded by the Gulph of Bengala into which the River Ganges emptieth it self at four mouthes This Empire hath plenty of excellent Wheat Rie and Barley whereof they make pure white bread As also of Kine Sheep and Goats with whose Milk they make much Butter and Cheese they have store of Bufelo's that give good milk It s a very large Beast having a smooth thick skin without hair They have store of red Deer fallow Deer Elks and Antilops which are good Venison and every mans Game not being enclosed in Parks They have Geese Ducks Pigeons Partridges Quails Peacocks and many other singular good fowl a sheep is usually sold for twelve pence four couple of Hens for twelve pence A Hare for a penny three Partridges for a penny c. They have store of Salt and Sugar They have abundance of Musk-melons Water-melons Pomegranats Pomecitrons Lemmons Orenges Dates Figs Plantans Mangoes in shape like our Apricocks but more luscious Ananas a delicate fruit store of Potatoes Carrats and other good roots as also Pears and Apples in the Northerly parts many good Garden Herbs and Ginger also Taddy an excellent Drink that issues out of a Tree For three months they have abundance of rain with much thunder and lightening the other nine months so clear that a cloud is scarce to bee seen The Country is beautified with many woods and great variety of fair goodly trees some having leaves as big as bucklers others parted small as Fern as the Tamarine trees that bear a sower fruit somewhat like our Beans very good to cool and cleanse the blood all their trees are green all the year about There are rare flowers of admirable colours but few of them sweet save their Roses and two or three more sorts The Country is watered with many goodly Rivers especially Indus and Ganges besides which they have store of springs upon many of which they bestow great cost of stonework making Tanks or Ponds some of them a mile in compasse others more surrounded with stone walls and within them fair stone steps round about Some of them are filled with rain water They have a strong drink called Rack distilled from Sugar and the spicie rind of a tree called Jagra they have also Cohha made with a black seed boiled in water that helps digestion quickens the spirits cleanses the blood and provokes lust Many of their houses are flat on the top on which in the cool seasons of the day they take the cool air they have no chimnies using no fire but only to dresse their meat The upper rooms have many lights to let in air but they use no glasse Amongst their houses are many fair trees which are a great defence against the Sun Most of their houses in the Cities are of Brick or stone well squared Their staple commodities are Indico and Cotton-wool of which they make diverse sorts of cloth some finer and purer than our best Lawns some of it they staine in variety of curious figures They have also store of Silk which they weave curiously sometimes with gold and silver whereof they make Velvets Sattens and Taffaties but not so good as in Italie They have store of Drugs and Gums especially Gum-Lac of which wee make hard wax The Earth hath store of minerals of Lead Iron Brasse Copper and Silver which yet they need not open having so much brought out of all other Countries They have curious Gardens planted with fruitfull trees and dainty flowers which never fade in which they have fountains to Bathe in and other water works for delight There are Lyons Tygers Wolves Jackals Over grown Snakes and in their Rivers Crocodiles There are many Scorpions and Flies that are very troublesome and Muskitees The Wind called the Monson blows six months Southerly and six months Northerly seldome varying April May and the beginning of June till the Rains fall are exceeding
the Alcoran In the Suburbs are fourteen thousand six hundred ninety eight Gardens each having Christian Slaves to keep them yea there is scarce a family in the City wherein they have not one or more Christian Slaves of both Sexes Besides in the Kings Prison are commonly two thousand and two or three thousand more in their Gallies so that in all there are seldome fewer than thirty thousand of these poor slaves See what misery these poor captives indure before in the Chapter of Cruelty Fesse and Morocco described Fesse and Morocco formerly called Mauritania Tingitana have on the East Algiers On the West the Atlantick Ocean and are parted one from the other by the River Omiramble The other principal Rivers in them are Tensilt Sus Suba and Lyssus Fesse is divided into seven Provinces in the which the chief City is Fesse so called from the abundance of Gold that was found at the laying of the foundation of it The City of Fesse Described The City of Fesse is both great and strong the soil about it is diversified with little Hills and pretty vallies which make it very pleasant The River neer it disperseth it self into many channels and when it enters into the City it divideth it self into two arms and these again are subdivided into variety of water-courses passing through every street and by pipes under ground is carried into every Temple Colledge Inne Hospital and almost into every private house whereby it carrieth away all the silth that might annoy either the sight or sent The buildings are of Mosaick-work with fine bricks and stones framed after a most curious manner lovely for delight and stately for admiration The roofes of the houses are adorned with Gold Azure and other excellent colours on the top they are flat for the Inhabitants use and pleasure within they are richly furnished every Chamber having in it a Presse curiously painted and varnished The Portals Pillars Cisterns and other Ornaments of the City are very exquisitly framed There are of Temples in it about seven hundred whereof fifty are very great and fair adorned with Marble Pillars and other Ornaments the Chapiters whereof are wrought with Mosaick and carved works each of them hath his Fountain of Marble and other costly stones the floores are covered with Mats closely joyned the walls also for a mans height are lined with the same every Temple hath its Steeple after the Mahometan manner whereon their Priests call the People to prayer at the appointed hours The principal Temple is that of Caruven so great that it contains in circuit a mile and a half It hath thirty one Gates great and high the Roof is one hundred and fifty Tuscan yards long and neer fourscore broad It s supported with thirty eight Arches in length and twenty in breadth Round about it are Porches on the East West and North every one in length forty yards and in breadth thirty under which are store-houses wherein are kept Lamps Oyle Mats and other necessaries every night are lighted nine hundred Lamps for every Arch hath his Lamp especially that row which extends through the midst of the Quire which alone hath one hundred and fifty Lamps amongst which are some great lights made of Brasse every of which hath sockets for one thousand five hundred Lamps The Steeple is exceeding high Not far from the City are twenty Lime-kills and as many brick-kills serving for the reparation of the Temple and houses that belong to it The revenues of this Temple are two hundred Duckets a day In the City there are two Principal and most stately Colledges adorned with Mosaick and carved works paved with Marble and stones of Majorca in each of them are many Chambers One of them containing above one hundred Chambers is adorned with a goodly Fountain of Marble and a continuall running stream about it are three Cloisters or Galleries of incredible beauty supported with eight square Pillars of diverse colours the Arches adorned with Mosaick of Gold and Azure the roof of carved work The Gates of the Colledge are of Brass finely wrought and the Chamber doors are well carved In the great hall where they say their Prayers is a Pulpit ascended by nine stairs all of Ivory and Ebony There are many Hospitals in Fesse not inferior to the Colledges for building there are also a hundred Bath-stoves well built each of them having four Halls and certain Galleries without in which they put off their cloaths most of them pertaining to the Temples and Colledges and yeilding them a great rent Their Inns are almost two hundred built three stories high each of them having one hundred and twenty Chambers in them with Galleries before all the doors but yeilding neither beds nor food for strangers There are also a thousand Mills the revenues whereof belong to the Temples and Colledges Each trade in Fesse hath a peculiar place allotted thereto There are six hundred fountains walled about which supply the Temples and other places with water because the River is sometimes dry In the territories of Fesse is the City of Sella where the buildings are of Mosaick work supported with Marble Pillars The shops are under fair and large Porches in which there are Arches to part the several Occupations it hath in it fair and beautiful Temples hither the English Genowayes Flemings and Venetians use to trade Morocco described Morocco is divided into seven Provinces in all which the chief City is Morocco once the Metropolis of Barbary containing one hundred thousand Families but now inferior to Fess for voluptuousnesse spaciousnesse and beauty yet there is a large Church in it bigger than that of Fesse though not so beautifull having a Tower on it so high that from thence may bee seen the hills of Azasi at one hundred and thirty miles distance There is also a large and stately Castle on whose Tower there stand three Globes made of pure Gold weighing one hundred and thirty thousand Barbary Duckets some Kings have been about to take them down but have always been hindred by some disasters which makes the common people judge that they are kept by spirits Numidia and Lybia described Betwixt Barbary and these is the Mountain Atlas so high that the top of it cannot bee seen It was so called from one Atlas a King that dwelt at the bottome of it Numidia hath on the East Egypt on the West the Atlantick Ocean on the North Atlas and on the South Lybia The Inhabitants live like the Nomades not in houses but in Waggons and Carts whence Lucan speaking of them said They dwell in Waines not houses and do stray Through fields and with them lead their gods each way Heilin They spend their time in hunting staying but three or four dayes in a place whilst the grasse will sustain their Camels so that there are few Towns in this Country and those far remote one from another Teffet is their greatest City which yet consists not of above four hundred housholds and hath
the wars or by other casualties were undone where their provision is so bountious that it can hardly bee matched in Europe the very house and appurtenances cost him thirteen thousand pound besides which hee endowed it with five manners in Essex two in Lincolnshire eight in VVilt-shire together with near four thousand acres of rich pasture ground in that County Two in Cambridge-shire beside his lands in Hackney-Marsh and Tottenham in the County of Middlesex and with all and singular the VVoods Reversions Presentations and Rights of him the said Thomas Sutton in any of the aforesaid Mannors over and above hee gave five thousand pound to make additions to his Hospital and for some other charitable uses And to the Treasury of the house to defend their right if need were one thousand pound besides some other gifts Wee may in the next place take notice how commodiously London is supplied with water conveyed by pipes under ground from excellent springs some of them at a remote distance besides the New-River water brought twenty miles from Chadwel and Amwel in Hartford-shire to the North side of the City near Islington where a large Cistern is made to receive it This work was undertaken by Mr. Hugh Middleton and begun February twenty Anno Christi 1608. and in five years space was fully accomplished by reason of the inequality of the ground the Trench in some places descended full thirty foot In others it was mounted over Vallies in a Trough born up with wooden Arches some fixed deep in the ground others rising in height above three and twenty foot Another convenience of water was devised by Peter Maurice a Dutchman who by means of a wheel brings water out of the Thames into a great part of the City Of the beauty and excelleny of this City one made these verses Along Thames banks outstretched far the City London lies Resembling much her Mother Troy aloft shee lifts her eyes VVhile on a gentle rising hill shee beareth towards East A City pleasant for her site in aire and soil much blest Religious and populous and hence shee looks on high And well deserves for to bee called the Britans Britany For learning new Lutetia Ormus for trade and wealth A second Rome for valiant men Chrysae for plate and health Salisbury described In VViltshire the City of Salisbury was built about the year 1218. at which time Richard Poor the Bishop purposing first to begin with the house of God in a most delectable place began to found a most stately and beautiful Minster which with an exceeding high spired steeple and double crosse Isles on both sides hee with great cost finished forty years after viz. one thousand two hundred fifty and eight concerning which Church Daniel Rogers made verses thus in English VVonders to tell how many dayes in one whole year there been So many windows in that Church ' men say are to bee seen So many Pillars made by Art of Marble there appear As houres do flit and flie away throughout the running year So many Gates do entrance give as months one year do make A thing well known for truth though most it for a wonder take A Cloister it hath besides on the South side for largenesse and fine workmanship inferiour to none whereunto adjoyned the Bishops Palace and on the other side an high bell-Tower passing strong standing by it self apart from the Minster Through the City there are Rills and sewers of water in every street It is passing well inhabited and frequented plentiful of all things especially of fish adorned with a very stately Market-place wherein standeth their common Hall of Timber-work a very beautiful building Camb. Brit. Bristow described The City of Bristow hath the River Avon passing through the midst of it It stands partly in Sommerset and partly in Gloucester-shire But is of it self a County incorporate It is situate somewhat high between Avon and the little River Frome sometimes it was invironed with a double wall it is so beautified with buildings publick and private that it fully answers the name of Bright-stow It hath common sewers or sinks so made to run under the ground for the conveyance and washing away of all filth that it is very cleanly and wholsome whereupon there is no use here of Carts it is excellently furnished with all things necessary for mans life so populous and well inhabited that next after London and York it may justly challenge the chiefest place of all the Cities in England It hath a very commodious Haven which admitteth Ships under sail into the very bosome of the City on the Southside Radcliffe by a stone Bridge with houses on each hand built upon it which makes it more like a street than a Bridge is joyned to the City It hath Hospitals in every quarter thereof for the benefit of the poor and fair Churches The most beautiful of all which is St. Maries of Radcliff without the walls into which there is a most stately ascent up many stairs large withal and finely and curiously wrought with an arched roof of stone over the head artificially embowed a steeple also of an exceeding height which was founded by one VVilliam Cannings an Alderman of the City Hard by there is another Church called the Temple the Tower whereof when the Bell rings shaketh to and fro whereby it hath cloven it self from the rest of the building There is also St. Stephens Church The Tower steeple whereof being of a mighty height was most sumptuously and artificially built by one Shipward alias Barstable a Citizen and Merchant On the East and North side it s fenced with the River Frome which gently falling into the Avon maketh a dainty harbour for ships with a convenient wharf called the Kay under which between Avon and Frome there is a plain set round about with trees yeelding a most pleasant walk On the South East there is a large and strong Castle for the defence of the City Beyond the River Frome which hath a Bridge over it there ariseth an high hill from which is a fair and goodly prospect of the City and haven upon the top of this Hill where it spreads into a plain shadowed with a double row of trees is an handsome School This City is further beautified with many stately buildings amongst the rest is the Cathedral Church c. Neer unto this City is an high Cliffe by the Avons side called St. Vincents Rock very full of Diamonds which are not much set by because of the plenty of them They are of a bright and transparent colour matching if not passing the Indian Diamonds in hardnesse only they are inferior to them Nature hath framed them four or six pointed with smooth sides as if cut by a Lapidary There is another Rock also on the West side full of Diamonds which by a wonderful work of nature are enclosed as young ones within the bowels of hollow and reddish flints There are within this City and suburbs
parts are yet joyned into one by two Bridges or causway's made over it having sluces to let out the water the South part is the greater consisting of divers streets having in it a School and an Hospital of St. John founded for the relief of the poor The farther part is the lesse but beautified with a very goodly Cathedral Church which is round about compassed with a very fair wall Castle-like This Church mounteth up on high with three Pyramids or spires of stone making an excellent shew and for elegant and proportionable building yeeldeth to few Cathedrals in England But by our late civil wars it is much defaced The City of Westchester described The City of Chester is built foursquare and is inclosed with a strong wall that is above two miles in compasse and hath in it eleven Parish Churches the fairest of which is that of St. Johns without Eastgate being a very stately building near unto the River Dee standeth the Castle upon a rockie-hill where the Courts Palatine and the Assises are kept twice a year The houses are built very fair and along the chief streets are galleries or walking-places they call them Rowes having shops on both sides in which a man may walk dry from one end to the other Here King Edgar in a magnificent manner triumphed over the Brittish Princes for himself sitting at the foredeck of his Barge Kennadie King of the Scots Malcolin King of Cumberland Mucon King of Man and of the Isles with all the Princes of VVales comming to do homage like watermen working at the Oare rowed him along the River Dee in a triumphant manner There is in it a very large and fair Cathedral Church wherein is the Tomb of Henry the fourth Emperor of Germany who as they say gave over his Empire and lived here an Eremites life This City wants not any thing required in a flourishing City but that the Sea being offended and angry as it were at certain Mills and a causway made crosse the channel of the River Dee hath by degrees drawn himself back and affordeth not unto the City the commodity of an haven which formerly it did injoy The wall hath in it four fair gates opening towards the four quarters of heaven besides three Posterns and seven watch-Towers Before the desolations made by our late civil wars without the East and North gate the City extended herself in her suburbs with very fair streets adorned with goodly buildings both of Gentlemens houses and fair Innes for the entertainment of strangers The Water-Gate leadeth to the River of Dee where it enters into the mouth of the Sea and by which is a fine spacious peece of ground called the Rood-eye yeelding pleasure and profit and upon which the Citizens walk for the air and use sundry recreations The Bridge-Gate hath lately been beautified by a seemly water-work of stone built steeple-wise by the invention and charge of Mr. John Tyrer and is of excellent use for conveying the River-water into the Citizens houses throâ—gh pipes of Lead and wood into almost all parts of the City The City of Hereford described The City of Hereford is seated amongst pleasant medows and plentiful Corn-fields compassed almost round about with Rivers on the North and West sides with one that hath no name on the South side with the River Wy that commeth out of Wales It is walled about having six Gates â—or entrance and fifteen Watch-Towers for defence extending in compasse to one thousand five hundred paces The Normans upon the side of Wy built in it a mighty great and strong Castle which time hath so defaced that now there remains nothing but the ruines of it The greatest glory that this City had was when King Athelstan brought the Lords of VVales into it and forced them yearly by way of tribute to pay him besides Hounds and Hawks twenty pounds of gold and there hundred pounds of silver by weight The City of York described The City of York is very ancient and of so great estimation formerly that the Roman Emperors kept their Courts there It is at this day the second City of England the fairest in all the Country and a singular both safeguard and ornament to all the Northern parts A pleasant place large and stately well fortified beautifully adorned as well with private as publick buildings rich populous and was lately an Archiepiscopal See The River Ouse flowing with a gentle stream from the North part Southward cutteth it in twain and divides it as it were into two Cities which are conjoyned with a stone Bridge having in it a mighty Arch of extraordinary bignesse The VVest part is compassed in with a very fair wall and the River together four-square wise and gives entrance only at one gate from which a long and broad Street reacheth unto the very bridge which is beautified with handsome houses having Gardens and Orchards planted on the backside on either hand and behind them fields even to the walls for exercise and disport On the East side the houses stand very thick and the Streets are narrower and it is fortified also with a strong wall and on the South-East it is defended with the deep channel of the muddy River Fosse which entring into the heart of the City by a blind way hath a Bridge over it with houses built upon it and so close ranged one by another that a man would judge it a Street rather than a Bridge and so a little lower it runneth into the Ouse where at there confluence a strong and stately Castle was built that commanded the City but is now gone to decay Towards the North stands the Cathedral Church an excellent fair and stately Fabrick King Henry the Eight appointed here a Council not unlike to the Parliaments in France to decide and determine the causes and controversies of these Northern parts according to equity and coâ—science consisting of a Lord President certain Counsellors a Secretary and under officers This City is governed by a Lord Maior twelve Aldermen many Chamberlains a Recorder a Town Clerk six Sergeants at Mace and two Squires which are the Sword-Bearer and common Sergeant who with a great Mace goeth on the left hand of the Sword The City of Durham Described The City of Durham is seated high and is passing strong withall yet taketh it up no great circuit of ground It is of an Oval form and environed on every side save on the North with the River Weer and fortified with a wall Towards the Southside stands the Cathedrall Church built high and stately with an high Tower in the middest and two Spires at the West end In the middest is a Castle placed as it were between two stone bridges over the River Northward from the Castle is a spacious Market place and St. Nicholas Church from whence there runneth out for a great length North-East a Suburb compassed on two sides with the River like as other on both sides beyond the River which lead unto the
temperate but not so clear as ours in England it doth not therefore ripen Corn well but causeth grasse to grow abundantly The Winter is more subject to wind than snow The soil is uneven wooddy wilde watrish and boggy full of Loghs and Meers yea great ponds are sometimes found upon high mountains hence new commers are subject to Rheumes dissenteries and Fluxes the usual cure whereof is Uskebah This Island breeds no venemous creature neither will any live there if brought from other places All the breed in Ireland except women and Grayhounds are lesse than in England The commodities are cattel and sheep which are twice shorne in one year but their wool is course of which they make Mantles Caddows and Coverlets their Hobbies also are of great esteem Bees there are in great abundance The people are generally strong and nimble patient of hunger and cold implacable in enmity light of beleef greedy of glory The Kernes or wilde Irish are extreamly barbarous not behaving themselves as Christians scarcely as men The chief Rivers are 1. Shenin or Sinei beginning in Ulster and running two hundred miles till it falls into the Vergivian Sea and is navigable threescore miles 2. The Slane 3. Awiduff or Blackwater 4. Showre c. of which Spencer makes these verses There was the Liffie rowling down the Lea The sandy Slane the stony Aubrian The spacious Shenin spreading like a Sea The pleasant Boyne the fishie-fruitful Bann Swift Awiduffe which of the English man Is call'd Blackwater and the Liffar deep Sad Trowis that once his people over-run Strong Allo tumbling from Slewtogher steep And Mullamine whose waves I whilome taught to weep There also was the wide embayed Mayer The pleasant Bandon crown'd with many a wood The spreading Lee that like an Island fair Enclosed Corke with his divided flood And baleful Oure distain'd with English blood With many more c. The principal Lakes are Lough Earn Lough Foile and Lough Corbes in length twenty in breadth four miles in which are three hundred Ilets abounding with Pine-trees Dublin the Metropolis of Ireland is seated on the Liffie in which is an University Our King John was the first that was entituled Lord of Ireland which title the Kings of England retained till Anno Christi 154â— at which time in an Irish Parliament King Henry the eight was declared King of Ireland as a name more repleat with Majesty The Province of Mounster described Mounster hath on the South the Vergivian Sea on the North part Connaught on the East Leinster and on the VVest the Ocean It s in length from Baltimore in the South unto the Bay of Galway in the North fourscore and ten miles Its breadth East and West from Waterford haven to Feriter haven is one hundred miles The air is mild and temperate the soil in some parts hilly with woods and solitary mountains the vallies beautified with Corn-fields The commodities are Corn Wood Cattel Wool and Fish especially abundance of Herring and Cod. The principal City is Limrick compassed about with the famous River Shannon by the parting of the channel Also neer unto the River Savaren which issues out of Muskerry mountains stands the City of Cork and lastly in this Province is the fair City of VVaterford having a commodious Haven for trade and traffick The Province of Leinster described Leinster hath on the East the Irish Seas VVestward on Connaught side it s bounded by the River Shannon Northward with the territory of Lougth and Southward with part of Mounster It s in length fourscore miles in breadth seventy The airds clear and mild the soil generally fruitful and plentifull both in fish and flesh stored with corn cattel and pastures It s well watered with Rivers and for the most part well wooded except the County Dublin where it is much wanting It breeds excellent Hobbies that amble very easily It hath in it three Rivers of note Shour Neor and Barraeo which issue out of the huge Mountains Blandinae and meet together before they empty themselves into the Ocean In this Province are 1. Kilkenny a fair midland Town 2. Kildare 3. VVexford which was the first English Collony 4. Dublin the Metropolitan City which is strong beautiful and frequented by Merchants Near to it is the beautiful Colledge consecrated to the holy Trinity which Queen Elizabeth made an University The Province of Connaught described Connaught is bounded Eastward with part of Leinster Northward with part of Ulser Westward with the main Ocean and Southward with part of Munster It s in length one hundred six and twenty miles and in breadth fourscore The Air is not so pure and clear as in other Provinces by reason of the many Bogs In it Twomond or the County of Clare is best both for Sea and Soil Galway commodious for shepheards Maio replenished with Cattel Deer Hawks and Hony Slego with pasturidge Le Trim full of rank grasse and forrage Roscomen plain and fruitful fit for cattel or husbandry The principal City and indeed the third in Ireland is Galway built in manner much like a Tower and is well frequented with Merchants having a convenient Haven near unto it is the Isle of Arran The Province of Ulster described Ulster on the North is divided with a narrow Sea from Scotland Southward it extends to Connaught and Leinster and on the VVest is beaten with the vast Ocean It s length is near one hundred miles from North to South the breadth one hundred and thirty and odd miles The air is temperate which causeth the ground to bring forth great store of several trees both for building and fruit-bearing plentiful it is of grasse for Cattel well furnished with horses sheep and Oxen. The Rivers carry Vessels for pleasure and profit furnished they are with great store of fish especially of Salmons abounding more in some of these Rivers than in any other place in Europe Indeed in some places this Country is barren troubled with Loughs Lakes and thick woods but in other places fruitful enough if it were but well husbanded The principal place in this Province is Armagh near unto the River Kalin which though it make but a poor shew yet lately was an Archiepiscopal See wherein once sate Richard Fitz-Ralph commonly called Armachanus who Anno Christi 1355. wrote so sharply against the begging Friers detesting such voluntary beggery in Christians Thus was the state of Ireland before the late horrid rebellion brake forth what alterations the same hath produced I am not able to write The Isle of Man Described Man is situated in that part of the British Sea that is called St. Georges channel It lyes between England and Ireland containing in length about thirty miles the broadest place exceeds not nine miles the narrowest is not lesse than five Generally it s an high land upon the Sea-Coasts defended with rocks lying out into the Sea The Harbours for shiping are 1. Douglas the safest 2. Rainsway 3. Ramsey 4. Laxie all towards England
more upon the back than upon the belly They are very ambitious and good Souldiers knowing as well how to use a victory as to gain it and are more exactly observant of Discipline than any other Nation in the world The Kingdome is hereditary and for want of an heir male it falls to the distaff Granada which is bounded with Murcia on the East Andaluzia on the West Castile on the North and the Mediterranean Sea on the South The chief Cities are 1. Granata a neat and stately Town the houses being all built of freestone with curious workmanship It hath many wholsome Springs about it and is fenced about with a strong wall in which are twelve Gates and one hundred and thirty Turrets 2. Alamia famous for her Baths 3. Malaga whence comes our Malaga sacks 4. Almeria a great Port-Town 5. Osuna 1. Estremedura watered with the River Batis the chief Cities are 1. Merida 2. Guadaloâ—nal famous for her Mines of Gold and Silver 4. Gallicia a very mountainous Country In it the chief Cities are 1. Compostella in which is an University 2. Baiona at the mouth of Minius 3. Coronna called the Groine a place often spoken of in our wars with Spain in Queen Elizabeths time 5. Biscaie having Navarre on the East Old Castile on the South Leon on the West and the Cantabrian Ocean on the North. The chief Cities are 1. Tholosa 2. St. Sebastian 3. Fontaraby 4. Bilbo It abounds with good Wines store of cattel and the best sword-blades It s mountainous and woody out of the hills arise one hundred and fifty Rivers of which Iberus and Duerus are the chief It yeelds plenty of Iron and good Timber for ships They admit no Bishops amongst them and the women at all meetings drink first 6. Toledo the chief City is of the same name standing upon the River Tagus beautified with many Palaces of rare and admirable architecture and fortified with good walls on which stand one hundred and fifty Towers it s seated almost in the midst of Spain and is well inhabited by Noble men for pleasure by Merchants for profit and by souldiers it being garrisoned The Arch-Bishop hereof is the chief Prelate of Spain President usually of the Inquisition whose revenues amount to three hundred thousand Crowns per annum It hath in it an University 2. The next City is Calatrava on the River Ana. 3. Talbora on the River Tagus a very neat City 7. Murcia The chief Cities whereof are 1. Alicante whence comes our true Aliâ—ant Wine made of the juice of Mulberries growing here in great plenty Murcia on the River Segourg 3. Cartagena a brave haven upon the Mediterranean Sea 8. Castile bounded on the East with Navarre Arragon and Toledo on the West with Portugal on the North with Asturias and on the South with Andaluzia and Granada It s now divided into the new and old the Old is on the North side wherein the chief Cities are 1. Soria 2. Segovia famous for Wooll and cloathing 3. Validolid a neat Town and an University 4. Avila 5. Burgos 6. Salamanca the chiefest University in Spain New-Castile is on the South of the old The chief Cities are 1. Madrid the Kings seat and the most populous City in all Spain though it bee seated in a barren Country 2. Alcara de Henares formerly Complutum an University 3. Alcantara 4. Signeuca a small Academy 5. Cuenca nigh to which is the Escurial or Monastery of St. Lawrence built by King Philip the second A building of that magnificence that no building either in times past or present is comparable to it The Front towards the VVest is adorned with three stately Gates the middlemost whereof leadeth into a very sumptuous Temple and into a Monastery wherein are one hundred and fifty Monks of the order of St. Jerom and a Colledge That on the right hand openeth into divers offices belonging to the Monastery That on the left into Schools and out-houses belonging to the Colledge At the four corners are four Turrets of excellent workmanship and for height Majestical towards the North is the Kings Palace On the South part are diverse beautiful and sumptuous Galleries And on the East side sundry Gardens and walks very pleasing and delightful It contains in all eleven several Quadrangles every one Cloistered about Portugal described 9. Portugal hath on the North the River Minius On the South the River Ana On the VVest the Ocean and on the East Castile formerly it was called Lusitania The air is very healthful the Country for the most part is hilly and bare of Corn But it abounds with Hony VVine Oil Allom Fruits Fish white-Marble Salt c. It s in compasse eight hundred seventy and nine miles the length three hundred and twenty the breadth threescore the most firtile part is about Conimbria The people are excellent Mariners and happy in forreign discoveries The Rivers great and small are near two hundred the greatest is Minius full of red Lead and its navigable one hundred miles The chiefest Cities are 1. Lisbon upon Tagus famous for traffick It s seven miles in compasse containing above twenty thousand houses of neat and elegant building It s walled about wherein towards the Sea are two and twenty Gates and towards the land sixteen on the walls stand threescore and seven Turrets 2. Miranda 3. Braga 4. Conimbra a famous University 5. Porto At the Southern part of Portugal is the Cape of St. Vincent After the overthrow of King Sebastian in the battel in Africk where three Kings fell in one day there were divers pretenders to the Crown of Portugal and amongst the rest Philip the second King of Spain was one who made a shew that their titles should bee lawfully debated yet in the mean time hee sent an Army under the Duke de Alva seized on it by force and so kept it till within these few years the Portugals drave out the Spaniards as was aforesaid on a sudden and made the Duke of Bragance one of the family of the former pretenders King who keeps it till this day The King of Spain by the losse of it hath lost one of the fairest Diamonds in this Crown having therewith lost the East Indies and Brasile in the West 10. Valentia The chiefest City is of the same name situated near the mouth of the River Guadalander In it is an University c. there is nothing of note in this Country 11. Catalonia which hath Iberus on the South Arragon on the West the Sea on the East and the Pyrenian mountains on the North the chief Cities are 1. Gironne 2. Barcelona on the Sea a Town of good strength 3. Perpignan 12. Arragon is bounded with Catalonia on the East Castile on the West Navarre on the North and Valentia on the South the River Iberus runs through the midst of this Country The chief Cities are 1. Lerida an University on the River Cinga c. there is nothing else of note The Pyrenean Hills
hath very spatious Piazza's Shee hath six Hospitalls three for the poor and three for Pilgrims Shee hath a place called Monte de Pieta set up on purpose to root out the Jews usury who used to demand twenty per cent for Brocage Shee hath other two Hospitals for Orphans and poor children There are thirty eight thousand Crowns deposited in the hands of several persons of quality to whom the poorer sort may repair with their pawns and if it bee under thirty shillings they pay no use for their mony if it bee above they pay five per centum for relieving the poor The City of Millan described The City of Millan in Italy lies within a stately wall of ten miles compasse It s situated in a great Plain and hath about it green Hills delightful Meadows navigable Rivers enjoyes an wholesome air and the fertile Country about it furnisheth it with all store of necessary provision The City it self is thronged with Artisans of all sorts There bee many stately Churches in it and before that of St. Lorenzo there stand sixteen Marble Pillars being a remnant of the Temple of Hercules But of all the Churches the Cathedral is most costly 'T is all of white Marble and about it are five hundred Statues of the same There is a late building added to it which is very glorious especially for the huge Pillars of Granito an excellent sort of Marble Private mens houses also in Millan are not inferiour to those of other Cities in Italy The streets are of a more that common breadth and there are very many Gardens within the Walls The greatest Hospital in Italy is that in Millan which is a square of Columnes and Porches six hundred Roods about seeming fitter to bee a Court for some King than an Hospital for the poor The Castle in Millan is accounted by all Engineers the fairest and strongest Citadel in Europe Riamund's Mer. Ital. The City of Naples described Naples the Metropolis of that Kingdome stands upon the shore of the Mediterranean Sea It s reckoned the third City in Italy and so great are the delights that nature hath allotted to this place that it is still frequented by persons of great quality The streets of it are generally well paved of free stone large and even The houses are very uniform built flat on the top to walk on a notable convenience in those hot Countries Another like accommodation which this City hath against the heat is the Mole which is an Artificial street casting it self into the Sea whither all the Gentry at the evenings resort to take the Fresco. Amongst the Palaces that of the Vice-Kings is the fairest It hath three Castles and the Churches generally are very curious and costly filled with Marble Statues This City is exceeding populous and consequently vicious Hee that desires to live a chaste life must not set up there For as their Gardens are well filled with Oranges so their houses want not Lemmons there are usually thirty thousand Courtesans registred that pay taxes for their pleasure Near unto Naples is Virgil's Tomb upon an high Rock And the Crypta Neapolitana in the rocky Mountain Pausylippus cut thorow very high spacious and well paved so that for the space of a mile two Coaches may go on front under the earth In the midst is a Madonna with a Lamp perpetually burning Not far off is the Hill of Brimstone on which neither grass nor any herb grows but 't is all white with ashes and ever casts out of several holes a continual smoak with flames making the very earth to boil The ground is hollow underneath and makes an hideous noise if struck upon with an hammer On the other side Naples is the Mountain of Vesuvius brother to Aetna upon the top whereof is a terrifying spectacle viz. a Vorago or hole about three miles in compass and half as much in depth and in the midst is a new hill that still vomits thick smoak which the fire within hath raised within these few years and it still daily increaseth Pliny the Naturalist being too inquisitive after the cause of this fire changed life for death upon this Mountain Idem Virgil made a Talisman or Brazen Fly which hee set upon one of the Gates of the City of Naples which for the space of eight years kept all manner of Flies from comming into the City Gaffarels Unheard of Curiosities part 2. chap. 7. See more there The City of Florence described Florence is the Capitol City of Tuscany situated at the bottom of very high hills and environed on all sides with the same except on the West side before which lies a plain Country This City is divided into two by the River Arno over which are built four Bridges of stone upon one of the two chief is the Goldsmiths street upon the other which is a very stately structure stand the four quarters of the year in Marble Opposite unto which stands a vast Columne with a Statue of Justice in Porphyrie at the top Hard by is the Palace of Strossie admirable for the immensity of its Fabrick on the left hand whereof is the Merchants Vault supported with many fair Pillars and before it a brazen Boar jetting forth water Before that is the great place in the middest whereof is the great Duke Cosmus on horseback in brass near unto which is a Fountain the like to which Italy affords not Round about the Laver is the Family of Neptune in brasse with his Colosse of Marble in the middest born up by four horses In this same Piazza is a Porch arched and adorned with some Statues amongst which that of Judith in brass with the rape of the Sabines three persons in several postures cut all out of one stone Just against it is the Palazzo Vechio at the entrance whereof stand two Colossi the one of David the other of Hercules trampling on Caous excellent pieces Within is a Court set about with pillars of Corinthian work Above is a very spacious Hall with divers Statues Near to it is the richest of Treasures the great Dukes Gallery in the uppermost part whereof are contained as many wonders as things some to bee admired for the preciousness and Art others for their rarity and antiquity On each side of the Gallery stand above fourescore Statues One an Idoll brought from the Temple of Apollo in Delphos Another of Scipio Africanus holding up his gown under his Arm Then two curious triumphant Pillars Over the Statues hang rare pictures the most famous Scholars on the one side and Souldiers on the other At the right hand of this Gallery are several Stanza's full of curiosities wherewith the spectators are astonished both in regard of the richnesse and rarity thereof In the first Room is an Altar totally compacted of Jewels and precious stones The value inestimable In the next is a Table with Flowers and Birds in their natural colours of precious stones with a Cabinet worth two hundred thousand Crowns covered with
Scandia which belongs to Denmark is divided into three Provinces 1. Hallandia 2. Scania in length threescore and twelve miles in breadth eight and forty the pleasantest and fruitfullest Country in all Denmark and having Seas abounding with Herrings 3. Blicker where is Colmar a strong Fortress against the Swedes The Province of Scania reaches up to Sweden and Juâ—land to Holstein The Kingdome is elective and the principal strength of it consists in good and stately ships not only for the defence of the Islands but of that most important passage of the Sound which is a streight separating Scania from Zeland and is of huge advantage by reason of the infinite number of ships which pass through it into the Baltick Sea and come from all the Havens of that Sea back into the Ocean The Noble men are much inclined to the wars zealous for their Rights and Liberties and make no alliance by marriage with the common people they refuse Ecclesiastical honours as below their condition The Gentlemen are all equal and as it were of one family there being neither Earl nor Baron only the Officers of the Crown and Counsellers of the Kingdome have the preheminence Norway described Norway is bounded on the North with Lapland on the East with the Doâ—rine Mountains which part it from Swethlâ—nd on the other parts with the Sea It s in length one thousand and three hundred miles in breadth not half so much It s much troubled with certain little Beasts called Lemmers about the bigness of a field-mouse which like Locusts devoure every green thing on the earth and at a certain time die in heaps and with their stench poison the air so that the people are long after troubled with the Jaundies and a giddinesse in the head but these beasts come not often The soil is barren and the common people live on dryed fish in stead of bread The chief Commodities are stock-fish butter rich furrs train Oile pitch masts cables deal-boards c. Towns here are few and the houses are miserably poor their cheif towns are 1. Nidrosia 2. Bergen an ancient mart town 3. Asloia 4. Staffanger On the North and West of it lieth Finmark a great and populous Province both of them are subject to Denmark The chief towns in Finmark are 1. Saman 2. Hielso both sea towns 3. Wardhouse a place of much trading Swethland Described Swethland hath on the East Muscovy on the West the Dofrine hills on the North the frozen Seas and on the South the Baltick Sea which doth not ebb and flow This Sea begins at the Sound and interlaceth Denmark Swethland Germany and Poland extending to Livonia and Lituania This Countrey with the Provinces of Lapland Scricfinia and Barmia is bigger than France and Italy joyned together The soil is fruitful the aire healthfull so that many of the Inhabitants live to one hundred and thirty and some to one hundred and forty years old It yeilds Mines of Lead Copper and Silver Buck-skines Goat-skines Oxen Tallow Tar costly Furrs c. The chief Provinces are 1. Lapland which is divided into two parts whereof the Eastern part belongs to the great Duke of Mosco the western containing Lapland properly so called and Scricfinia belong to Swethland they have store of rich Furrs but use not many and are good Archers 2. Bodia lying on the South of Scricfinia the chief towns whereof are 1. Virtis 2. Vista 3. Helsinga 3. Finland which hath the Baltick sea on the South It s a very fruitfull and populous Countrey containing one thousand four hundred thirty and three Parishes wherein are a thousand Families in some of them the chief towns are 1. Albo. 2. Name a strong place c. 4. Sweden which hath on the East Sinus Bodicus on the West the Dofrine Hills on the North Lapland and on the South Gothland For the most part it is a fruitful Countrey the chief Cities are 1. Upsale 2. Nicopia a sea town 3. Coperdole famous for its abundance of Brasse 5. Gothland which is the best and richest Province of the North It s divided into the Island and the Continent The Island of Gothland is seated in the Baltick sea being in length eighteen miles and but five broad the chief Town is Wisbich The continent of Gothland joyns to Denmark and hath in it the great Lake Weret which receiving into it twenty and four Rivers empties it self at one mouth with such an hideous noise that it is commonly called the Devills head The chief Cities are 1. Stockholm 2. Lodusia 3. Walburg 4. Colmar famous for its impregnable Castle Sweden is the biggest of all the Northern Kingdomes the Regall City whereof is Stockholm a town with the suburbs of great distent there are in it many huge Mountains Rocks and Forrests where are sometimes seen and hard strange illusions and phancies as likewise in the water which are very terrible both to men and horses that pass that way The Swedes are good souldiers both by sea and Land of a strong complexion and fit to indure hardship and labour the Nobility is very milde and frank loves learning and Languages especially the Latine and French they travel much abroad are dextrous at exercises and seek learned company they heartily love one another out of their own Country hide the vices of their compatriots and stand much for the honour of their Nation Muscovy Described Muscovy hath on the East Tartary on the West Livonia Lituania and part of Sweden on the North the frozen Ocean and on the South the Caspian sea and lake of Meotis It is in length from East to West three thousand and three hundred miles in breadth three thousand sixty and five The women love their husbands best that beat them most they use the Sclavonian Language and in their Religion follow the Greek Churches the Northren parts are so cold that the people do not only line their cloaths but their houses with Furrs the chief Commodities are rich Furs Flax Hemp Oil Honey Wax Canvasses Nuts c. It hath many great rivers as 1. Tanais which emptieth it self into Palus Meotis 2. Duina running into the Scythian seas 3. Boristhenes or Neiper running into the Euxine sea 4. Onega running into the Baltick sea 5. Volga which at seventy mouths empties it self into the Caspian sea The chief Provinces are 1. Novograd having a City of the same name on the Baltick sea a place of great trading 2. Plescovia whose chief town is Plescow it is in length three hundred and thirty miles and one hundred and thirty in breadth 3. Volodomire a fruitful Country where usually one bushel of Corn returns twenty and sometimes five and twenty the chief town is of the same name 4. Rhezan very plentiful in Corn Hony Fish Fowl c. 5. Severia a great Province upon the lake of Maeotis 6. Smolensco whose chief City is of the same name 7. Rescovy 8. Rostowia 9. Corelia 10. Permia where are abundance of stags 11. Condora 12. Petzora 13.
roving about from one place of the Country to another without property either of house or land Their leader in every company is a Priest Lapland described On the North of Russia next to Corelia lyeth Lappia about three hundred forty and five miles in length in breadth fourscore and ten The whole Country almost is either Lakes or Mountains those on the outside are barren craggie Rocks but in the inland they are well furnished with woods the Lakes being in the Vallies their diet is very mean bread they have none but feed only upon Fish and Fowle they are subjects part to Russia part to Sweden and the other part to Denmark which all exact tribute of them but the Emperor of Russia the most They are wholly unlearned not having so much as the use of the Alphabet amongst them They pass all Nations in witch-craft and sorcery Their weapons are long-Bows and hand-guns wherein they are very nimble and excellent marks-men through their continual practise in shooting at wilde fowle For our English cloath they give Fish Oil and Furs whereof they have store when their fishing is done they draw their boats to shore turning the keel upwards and so let them lye till the next spring-tyde They travel upon sleds drawn by Olen-Deer which they use to turn a grazing all the Summer time in an Island called Kilden and towards Winter when the Snow begins to fall they fetch them home for their use Anno Christi 1611. VVilliam Purseglove a servant to our English Muscovy company makes this relation of his travels in these Countries wee travelled saith hee in sleds each of them drawn by two Rain Deer the Snow was so hard frozen that it did bear sleds and Deer Two hundred and fifty Sleds were in this Argeshey or company with whom wee travelled some dayes then chusing the best Bucks I with seven Sleds more rid Post only staying now and then for an hour where the Samoed our guide knew that there was store of white Moss wherewith to refresh our Deer so that in eight and forty hours space wee rode three hundred and fifty miles These Samoeds by their frequent travel know the wayes though the weather bee thick and foggy as also where store of white Moss grows at which places if it bee night they pitch their Tents made of Deer or Elks-skins which work is done by the women and in the mean time the men unyoak the Deer and turn them loose to dig through the Snow though it bee very deep to seek for their food and sustenance Pur. Pil. v. 3. p. 548. When a rich Samoed dies because hee should not travel on foot his friends will kill three Deer to carry him into the new World they will also strangle a slave to attend on him If a young child dye under seven years old they use to hang it by the neck on some tree saying it must flye to Heaven The women are very hardy and at their labour the Husband plaies the Midwife as soon as the child is born they wash it with cold or Snow-water and the next day the woman will bee able to conduct her Argish of Sleds The men are stout and bold of spirit not very tall but broad breasted broad faced with hollow eyes their weapons are Bows and Arrows long Spears and short Swords Poland described This Country is plain and wooddie the air so cold that they have no Wine or Grapes but use Ale in stead thereof It so abounds with Corn that it sends much abroad into other Countries they have also great store of cattel They use the Sclavonian language yet are much addicted to the Latine tongue They are generally proud impatient delicious in diet and costly in attire they are of all Religions The chief Rivers are 1. Vistula which parts it from Hungary 2. Neister which parts it from Moldovia 3. Neiper c. But to speak more particularly of the Provinces which are 1. Livonia which is bounded on the East with Muscovy on the West with the Baltick Sea on the North with Finland and on the South with Lituania It s in length five hundred miles in breadth one hundred and threescore very mountainous and fenny yet yeelds plenty of Corn. The chief Cities are 1. Riga 2. Derpt a town of much traffick 3. Rivalia a strong place 4. Name another strong Fortress Other chief Countries in it are 1. Curland 2. Senugal 3. Estland 4. Virland 5. Harland 6. Geroenland 2. Lituania which hath Livonia on the South Podolia on the North Poland on the East and Muscovie on the West The chief Cities are 1. Vilna an University 2. Vilkomire 3. Brestia The air is sharp and the Country barren yet are there many beasts whose skins are good commodities 3. Volinia environed with Lituania Podolia and Russia It is a small woody Province the chief Cities are Kiovia and Circassia on the banks of the river Nieper 4. Samogitia whose chief town is Camia It joyneth to Livonia on the North and the Baltick sea on the West It s full of wood and yeilds great store of honey 5. Podolia which hath Lituania on the North Neister on the South Russia East and Poland VVest The ground is so fertile that of one sowing they have three harvests the chief Cities are 1. Camienza seated on high rocks 2. Orkzacow 3. Winieczia 6. Russia nigra having on the East Podolia on the West and North Poland and on the South Hungary the chief Towns are 1. Leopolis or Lembourg 2. Grodeck 3. Luckzo A fruitfull Countrey having store of horses and Cattel 7. Mazovia which is environed with Russia Prussia Lituania and Poland the chief City is Marzow 8. Spruce Prussia or Borussia is upon the Baltick sea that part of it which belongs to Poland is called Prussia Regal the chief Cities whereof are 1. Dantzick a famous Mart town 2. Koningsberg an University 3. Heilsperg 4. Maneburg or Marpurg 5. Angenberg 6. Clune 9. Podlossia which hath Lituania and Mazovia on the East and West the chief Towns are 1. Tycockzin a strong for t 2. Byesko 3. Knissin 10. The Dukedomes of Opswitz and Zator which have the chief towns of the same names they are in Silesia but under the King of Poland 11. Poland properly so called which hath Lituania on the East Germany on the West Mazovia on the North and Podolia on the South the chief Cities are 1. Cracovia on the bank of Vistula 2. Lublin 3. Guisna 4. Siradia 5. Sendomire 6. Minsko 7. Posna 8. Dobrinia 9. Vlatislavia Poland takes her name from the great fields which produce a huge quantity of Corn there are in it many fens Lakes and very great Forrests where in the trunks of trees is often found great store of hony whereof they make a certain drink chiefly in Lituania which is most delicate and yeilds not a whit in goodnesse to Spanish wine there Winter is very long and sharp against the rigour whereof they serve themselves of stoves and good furred
Tyrant opens to the South having a lofty Gate-house engraven with Arabick Characters set forth with Gold and Azure all of white Marble This gate leadeth into a stately Court three hundred yards long and about one hundred and fifty wide at the farther end whereof is another gate hung with shields and Cymiters this leads into a second Court full of tall Cypresse-trees being not much lesse than the former It is Cloistered round about covered with lead handsomely paved and supported with Columns of Marble which have Chapiters and Bases of Copper On the left hand is the Divano kept where the Bassa's of the Court do administer Justice Beyond this Court on the right hand is a street of Kitchins and on the left stalles large enough for five hundred horses Out of the second Court is an entrance into the third surrounded with the Royal buildings large curious and costly Without on the North side stands the Sultan's Cabinet in form of a sumptuous summer-house where hee of ten olaceth himself with variety of Objects and from whence taking barge hee passeth to the delightfull places of the adjoyning Asia In the Seraglio also are many stately rooms appropriated to the season of the year which are called Rooms of fair prospect into which the Sultan goeth sometimes alone but more usually with his Concubines for his recreation Within a fine little Court adorned with very many delicate Fountains is the Chamber wherein hee gives audience to Ambassadors c. one part whereof is spread with very sumptuous Carpets of gold and Crimson velvet embroydered with very costly Pearls upon which the grand Signeur sitteth the walls of the room are covered with fine white stones having divers sorts of leaves and artificial Flowers curiously wrought upon them which make a glorious shew A little Room adjoyns to it the whole inside whereof is covered with silver plate hatched with gold the floor being spread with rich Persian Carpets of silk and gold There are belonging to the Sultan's lodgings very fair gardens of all sorts of flowers and Fruits that can bee found in those parts with many very pleasant walks enclosed with high Cypresse-trees on both sides and fountains in such abundance that almost in every walk there are some of them Besides the former rooms which are very many for the Sultan's own use there are also the womens lodgings wherein the Queen the Sultanaes and all the Kings women do dwell and they have in them bed-chambers dining rooms with-drawing rooms and all other kinds of rooms necessary for women In another place there are divers Rooms and lodgings for all the principal and inferiour Officers so well furnished that nothing is wanting that is fit and necessary Amongst which are two large buildings one his Wardrob the other his Treasury with very thick walls Iron windows and Iron doors In the Seraglio are Rooms for Prayer Bagnoes Schools Butteries Kitchins Stillatories Swimming places places to run horses in wrestling places butts to shoot at and all the commodities that may adorn a Prince's Court. There is also an Hospital for such as fall sick in the Seraglio in which there are all things necessary for diseased persons And another large place wherein is kept Timber Carts c. to have them neer hand for the use and service of the Seraglio Over the Stables there is a row of rooms wherein is kept all the furniture for the horses which is of an extraordinary value for the Bridles Petorals and Cruppers are set so thick with jewels of divers sorts that they cause admiration in the beholders and exceed Imagination The Grand Signior's Bed-chamber hath the walls covered with stones of the finest China mettal spotted with flowers of divers colours which make a very dainty shew The Antiportaes were of cloath of gold of Bursia and their borders of Crimson Velvet embroidered with gold and Pearls The posts of his Bedstead were of silver hollow and instead of knobs on the tops there were Lyons of Crystall the Canopy over it was of cloth of gold and so were the Bolsters and Matteresses the floor was covered with very costly Persian Carpets of silk and gold and the Pallats to sit on and Cushions were of very rich cloth of gold In the hall adjoyning is a very great Lanthorn round and the bars of silver and gilt set very thick with Rubies Emeralds and Turkesses the panes were of very fine Crystal which made a very resplendent shew There was also a Bason and Ewre to wash in of massie gold set with Rubies and Turkesses In Constantinople is a Piazza in which is raised upon four Dice of fine Mettal a very fair Pyramid of mingled stone all of one peice fifty Cubits high carved with Heroical letters resembling the Agulia of Rome in whose top were the enclosed ashes of Julius Caesar In the same Piazzo also is a great Pillar of Brasse made with marvellous Art in form of three serpents wreathed together with their mouths upward There are in Constantinople eighteen thousand Mosques great and small In the chief place of it are two Burses built four square high and round at top each having four gates opening upon four streets round about garnished with shops stuffed with all sorts of rich and costly wares of inestimable value as precious stones Pearls Sables and other rich Furs of all sorts Silk and cloath of gold Bows Arrows Bucklers and Swords Here also they fell Christian Slaves of all ages as wee sell horses the buyers looking them in the eyes mouth and all other parts which is done every forenoon except Fridayes which is their Sabbath The Bassa's also in sundry places have built fair houses encompassed with high walls which outwardly have no beauty but inwardly full of all riches and pleasure the world can afford For they use to say that they build not to please passers by but for their own Commodity The Turkish Empire Described The Grand Signior who hath his seat in the stately and Imperiall City of Constantinople hath under his command the chiefest and most fruitful parts of the three first known parts of the world In Europe he hath all the sea coasts from the confines of Epidaurus the utmost bound of his Empire in Europe Westward unto the mouth of the River Tanais now called Don with whatsoever lyes from Buda in Hungary to the Imperial City of Constantinople in which space is comprehended the greater part of Hungary all Bosna Servia Bulgaria with a great part of Dalmatia Epirus Macedonia Grecia Peloponesus Thracia the Archipelago with the rich Islands contained therein In Affrica he possesseth from the river Mulvia the bounder of the kingdom of Fesse to the Arabian Gulph or Red-sea Eastward except some sea-towns held by the King of Spain and from Alexandria Northward unto the City of Asna Southward In which space are contained the famous Kingdomes of Tremizen Algiers Tunes and Egypt with divers other great Cities and Provinces In Asia all is his from the Hellespont
and comely When the King dieth they bury him with solemnity and upon his grave they set the cup wherein hee was wont to drink and about it they stick many Arrows for six months certain women are appointed to bewail his death His house and goods they burn together They sow or set their Corn as in Virginia and have two seeds times and two harnests their meat is Venisons Fish and Crocodiles dried in the smoak for preservation Peruana Described The other part of this new World is called Peruana being in compasse seventeen thousand miles comprehending in it Golden Castile Guiana Peru Brisile and Chili The first is so called from the abundance of gold in it lying in the Northern parts of Peruana and part of the Istmus which is but seventeen miles broad between sea and sea It s admirably stored with silver Spices Pearls and medicinal herbs and is divided into the Provinces of Castella del oro Nova Andaluzia Nova Granata and Carthagena Castella del Oro is in the very Istmus an unhealthful Countrey the chief Cities are Nombre de dios on the East and Panama on the West side Through which two places comes all the traffique between Spain and Peru. The commodities from Peru being unladen at Panama in the South sea and thence carried by land to Nombre de dios in the North sea and thence shiped to Spain In Guiana is the great River Orenoque which is Navigable with ships of burthen for one thousand miles and with Boats and Pinnasses almost two thousand more It was discovered by Sir Walter Rawleigh and the River Margnon called the River of the Amazons which is Navigable almost six thousand miles and towards the sea two hundred miles broad Peru lieth under the Aequinoctial line and stretcheth for the space of eight hundred leagues upon six hundred whereof viz. from Atacama to Tumbez it never rainethâ— and yet it is as fruitful a land for all sorts of necessaries for the life of man as is in the world On the West frontire is a mighty ridg of high Mountains that are always covered with Snow from whence issue great store of Rivers into the South sea with the water whereof being led by sluces and channels they moisten their vineyards and Corn fields which makes them exceeding fruitful Besides Mines of gold and silver there are mines of Copper and Tin there is also abundance of Salt-peter and Brimstone It is now well replenished with horses kine sheep goats and Wheat The Fortresse of Cusco Described One of the Incas of Peru built a fort that may rather seem the work of Devils than of men especially considering that these Indians had neither Iron nor steel to work and cut the stones with nor Cart nor Oxen to draw them yet was this Fort built with stones that seemed Rocks rather than stones drawn by strength of men with great Cables and that through uneven ways in rough mountains many of them being brought from places that were ten twelve and some fifteen Leagues off especially that stone which the Indians called VVearied which was brought fifteen Leagues and over a great river in the way The most of them came five Leagues off these stones they joined so close together in the building that the joynts could scarcely bee discerned which required often lifting up and setting down neither could they make Cranes or any kind of Engines to help them therein neither had they square or Rule to direct their work Instead of mortar they used a kinde of Clay that held faster This Fortresse was built on an hill on the North side of the City of Cusco the hill was so steep on one side that that way it could not bee assaulted and therefore one wall served on that side which was two hundred fathoms long On the other sides they made three walls one without another each being above two hundred fathoms and were made in the fashion of an half Moon in which there were stones admirably great each wall had in the middest one gate which was covered over with one entire stone each wall stood thirty foot distant from the other and at the top of them the battlements were above a yard high Within those walls there were three strong forts the middlemost was round which had in it a Conduit of very good water brought under ground from far The walls were all adorned with gold and silver and had Images of beasts birds and Plants enchased therein which served instead of Tapestry the other two Forts were square and they had passages under ground from one to another artificially made with Labarinthian windings and turnings inextricable but by a thread They drew their great stones with great Cables To draw the stone which they called Wearied they had twenty thousand Indians the one half before the other behind and yet in one uneven passage it crushed three or four thousand of them to death This proved so unweildy that they never laid it in the building Pur. Pil. v. 4. p. 1478. Another of the Incas to shew his magnificence caused a chain of gold to bee made which was seven hundred foot long and every link as big as a mans wrist two hundred Indians could but lift it Caxamalca another City in Peru is four miles in circuit entered by two gates on the one side stands a great Palace walled about having within it a great Court planted with trees this they call The house of the Sun whom they worship putting off their shooes when they enter into it in this City there are two thousand houses the streets are as strait as a line the walls are strong built of stone about three fathoms high within there are fair fountains of water In the middest is a very fair street walled about having before it a fortress of stone On one side of this street was the Palace of the â—nâ—as or Emperor with lodgings and Gardens the houses were all painted with diverse colours and in one room were two great Fountains adorned with plates of Gold one of them was so hot that a man cannot endure his hand in it the other was cold Atabalipa was Emperour when the Spaniards took it from whom they presently got fifty thousand Pezoes of gold each of them being worth one ducat and two Carolines and seven thousand Marks of silver besides many Emeralds The Spaniards asked Atabalipa what he would give them for his ransome Hee told them that hee would fill that room with Gold to a mark that was higher than a tall man could reach by a span the room being five and twenty foot long and fifteen foot broad Then they asked him how much silver hee would give besides Hee answered as much as ten thousand Indians could carry in vessels of silver of diverse sorts The Spaniards went to Cusco to receive part of it where they found a Temple of the Sun covered with plates of gold as also many pots and vessels of gold yea there was such store
of gold as amazed them especially one seat which weighed ninteen thousand Pezoes of gold In another room the pavement and walls were covered with plates of gold and silver they found also a great house full of pots and tubs of silver The Spaniards having worn out their horses shooes in their travel caused the Indians to shooe them with gold In the City of Pachalchami they found an Image with many Emeralds at his feet fastened in gold Idem p. 1490. Peru is plentiful in all manner of grain hath civil Inhabitants many Cities and an healthful air It hath store of Tobacco first brought into England by some Marriners Anno Christi 1585. the use whereof is now grown too common It abounds above all other Provinces with gold and silver In this Countrey is the river of Plate one hundred and fifty miles broad at the mouth and two thousand miles long In it also is a beast that hath a bag in her neck into which shee puts her young ones when any body approaches and so runs away with them there is also a sort of fig-trees of which they write that the Northside that stands towards the Mountains bringeth forth fruit in the Summer only and the Southside towards the Sea is fruitfull only in winter Atabalipa King of this Countrey being taken prisoner by the Spaniards was forced to redeem his life with an house full of refined gold and silver judged to bee worth ten millions which when they had received they perfidiously slew him The admirable High-waies in Peru described In Peru in the West-Indies are two admirable High-wayes made by the Ingas or Emperours The one is by the Andes or Forrests from Pasto unto Chile being nine hundred Leagues long the Cawsey five and twenty foot broad and every four leagues hath a stately house where was provision of victuals and apparel and every half League men that stood ready to carry messages and orders from hand to hand The other way was thorow the Plains along the coast of twenty five foot broad and on each side a wall of a mans height from Piura to Chile where both the wayes met This latter way was between trees that yeelded a very pleasant shadow in those hot Countries and both of them began at the imperial City of Cuzco P. Pil. v. 3. p. 887 888. The Emperors Garden described There belonged also to the Incas a Garden of silver and gold wherein were many sorts of Herbs Flowers Plants Trees Beasts great and small Snakes Snails Lizzards Butterflies small and great Birds each set in their places all of gold They had also Maiz Quinua Pulse Fruit-trees with fruit on them all of gold and silver resembling the natural In the Incas house they had heaps of wood all counterfeit of gold and silver All the vessels which were infinite for the Temple-service Pots Pans Tubs Hogsheads were of gold and silver yea the spades and pickaxes for the Garden were of the same At the taking of this City by the Spaniards the Image of the Sun fell to one Captains share who lost it one night at dice whereupon they said That hee had played away the Sun before it was up P. Pil. v. 4. p. 1464 c. The Temple of the Sun described Cusco the Imperial City of the Incas in America when the Spaniards first took it had in it a Temple of the Sun all the walls whereof were covered with plates of gold from the top to the bottom At the East end was the image of the Sun of one plate of gold as thick again as the other the face was round with raies of gold like flames of fire all of one peece It was so big that it filled all from one wall to the other On both sides were the bodies of their deceased Kings embalmed set in seats of gold placed on planks of gold All the doors about the Temple were lined with plates of gold without the Temple on the top of the walls ran a champhered work of gold above a yard broad round about the Temple Beyond the Temple ran a cloister of four squares round about the top whereof was such a crown of champhered gold above a yard broad In the corners of the Cloister were Chappels one whereof was dedicated to the Moon all which with the Gates thereof were covered with plates of silver the image was placed as that of the Suns with the face of a woman all of one plank of silver The next Chappel was dedicated to Venus and the Starres lined also with silver and the porch of silver The third was dedicated to the Thunder and Lightning The fourth to the Rainbow which two last were all lined and garnished with gold Hard by was an house for the Priests all lined with gold from the top to the bottom There were twelve doors to the Cloister and as many Tabernacles or Shrines which were all plated over with gold in form of Porches and the floores covered with gold The Images were all set with Turkesses and Emeralds In the house also were five Fountains of water wherein they washed the sacrifices out of them the water ran in Pipes of gold and many of their pillars were of gold hollow and some of them were of silver Brasile hath on the North Guiana on the South the River of Plate and Chile on the East the Ocean and on the West the Mountains of Peru called the Andes The hills are high and craggie full of ravenous beasts and poisonous Serpents on them also inhabite a barbarous people going stark naked In the Vallies the air is healthy the earth fat and alwayes flourishing It yeelds great store of Sugar and rich Mines and Brasil wood to dye with the natives go naked and are very barbarous In their feasts they used to roast a fat man and cutting him to collops did eat him with much delight Both men and women are great swimmers and excellent divers being able to endure long under water Here is a beast so slow in motion that in fifteen dayes hee cannot go further than a man can throw a stone whence the Portugals call it Pigritia Brasile is generally temperate of a delicate and healthful air so that many of the Inhabitants live till they bee above one hundred years old generally it s neither hot nor cold The Heavens are very pure and clear especially by night The Moon is prejudicial to health and corrupteth things very much the mornings are most healthful there are very little twilights their Summer begins in September and endeth in February Their Winter in March and ends in August the nights and dayes are almost all equal The Country is very watery both from the plenty of Rain and Rivers It s full of great woods which are green all the year Towards the Sea coast it is Hilly From Parnambuck to the Captainship of the Holy-Ghost it s scarce of stone From thence to St. Vincent mountainous with many Quarries of stone there is little provision for
Vallies and spreadeth it self into a Lake called Genazereth sixteen miles long and six broad environed with many pleasant Towns as Julias and Hippo on the East Tarichea on the South and Tiberias on the West made wholesome with her hot-waters But before it makes the Lake of Genazereth it makes another called Samachonitis it especially is filled with the snow of Libanus usually melted in the first month which causeth Jordan then to swell and overflow his banks which made Josua's passing thorough it at that time the more miraculous In Scripture it s called the waters of Merom The variety of fruits and other temporall blessings wherewith this Country was inriched are so fully set down in Scripture that I need make no particular mention of them What multitudes of people it fed may be taken notice of in those two Instances First When David numbred them there were found Eleven hundred thousand in Israel and four hundred and seventy thousand in Judah valiant men that drew the sword 2 Sam. 24.9 and yet Benjamin and Levi were not reckoned And in the dayes of Jeroboam 2 Chr. 13. Abijah King of Judah brought into the field four hundred thousand and Jeroboam eight hundred thousand and on this part were slain five hundred thousand all choice men which no history can match in any age or place of the world What then was the total number if women children impotent and aged men had been reckoned After the return from the Babylonish Captivity one third part of this Country was called Judaea to distinguish it from the other two Samaria and Galilee Galilee was the most Northerly confining on Libanus and Anti-Libanus towards the North on Phaenicia Westerly having Caelosyria on the East and Samaria with Arabia on the South Jordan parted it â—n the middest It was divided into the higher and lower Galilee the higher was called Galilee of the Gentiles containing the Springs of Jordan and those Cities which Salomon gave to King Hyram The lower was called Galilee of Tiberias that City giving name both to the Lake and Region in which Nazareth and the Hill Tabor were famous Samaria is seated betwixt Galilee and Judaea being much lesse than either of them Judaea is the most Southerly between the Mediterranean and Dead Seas Samaria and Idumaen Pliny addeth to these the Region of Decapolis so called from her ten Cities which were Caesarea Philippi Aser Kedes Nepthalim Sephet Corazin Bethsaida Capernaum Jotopata Tiberias and Bethsan called also Scythopolis A Description of Hierusalem and the Temple as they were when they were destroyed by the Romans Hierusalem was compassed with a treble wall on every side save only on that part where it was inclosed with inaccessible Vallies for on that side it needed onely one wall It was built upon two hils the one opposite to the other separated by a Valley which was wonderously replenished with houses One of these Hills whereon stood the upper part of the City was far higher and steeper than the other whereupon King David compassing it about with a Wall called it the City of David The other hill called Acra was the place whereon the lower part of the City stood And opposite to this Acra was another hill lower than it which at first was divided from it by a large Valley but when the Asmonians reigned they filled up this Valley and cut down the top of Acra that it might not hide the Temple within one of the vallies was Siloam a Fountain sending forth abundance of clear and sweet water The outmost wall by reason of the valley about it and the Rock whereon it stood was impregnable the rather because besides the situation it was built very strongly by David Salomon and other Kings A fourth wall was begun by Agrippa In humane reason had this wall been finished the City could never have been taken For hee began to build it with stones twenty cubits long and ten cubits broad so that it could neither bee easily undermined nor battered with Engines But hee built this wall but ten cubits high and then fearing lest Claudius Caesar should think that hee had a purpose to Rebell hee gave it over Yet afterwards the Jews raised this wall twenty cubits high made a Battlement two cubits high and the Tower three cubits in all four and twenty cubits high Besides upon the wall were three Towers twenty cubits broad and twenty cubits high built four square very strongly within these Towers were rooms for men to dwell in and Cisterns to receive rain-water The third wall had ninty of these Towers and between every Tower were two hundred cubits space The second wall had fourteen Towers and the old wall had threescore and the compasse of the whole City was three and thirty furlongs Between the North and the West-part of the City upon the outmost wall stood the Tower Psephina which was raised threescore and ten cubits high so that in a clear day a man might from thence discover Arabia and the utmost confines of the Jews even to the Sea Just opposite to this was the Toweâ— Hippicos built by Herod upon the old wall which for bignesse beauty and strength surpassed all others in the world It had four corners each of which was five and twenty cubits broad as many long and thirty cubits high and in no place hollow On the top was a Well to receive Rain-water twenty cubits deep On the top of all were Houses five and twenty cubits high divided into many rooms Above them were battlements two cubits high and Turrets three cubits high so that in all it was fourscore and five cubits high Hee built also a second Tower in breadth and length forty cubits and as many high in figure of a square pillar all solid and not hollow within And above this a Porch ten cubits high adorned with Turrets and Pinacles Over the midst of this Porch hee built another Tower distinguished into goodly roomes and sumptuous Baths and on the top it was beautifyed with Turrets and Pinacles so that the whole height was almost fourscore and ten cubits Lastly Hee built a third Tower which hee called after his Queens name Mariamne twenty cubits high and twenty broad all of solid stone and not hollow having more stately and magnificent lodgings in it than either of the former It was in all fifty five cubits high These Towers though they were very high yet by reason of their situation they seemed far higher For the old Wall whereon they were built stood upon a Rock that was thirty cubits high whereby their height was much increased They were not built also of ordinary stone but all of white Marble whereof each stone was twenty cubits long and ten cubits broad and five cubits thick and so curiously joyned together that every Tower seemed but one stone within the City was the Kings Palace surpassing all that can bee spoken of it and for greatnesse and curious workmanship may bee compared with any other in the world It
the River Bindamyr that springs out of the Tapirian Mountains It 's each way about three miles in length the compasse nine miles It s pleasantly seated in the North West end of a spacious plain twenty miles long and six broad environed with stupendious Hills under one of which the City is placed It s defended by Nature inriched by Trade by Art made lovely The Vine-yards Gardens Cypresses Sudatories and Temples ravish the eye and smell in every part sweet and delightful The houses are of Sun-burnt Bricks hard and durable flat and tarrassed about the Belconies and windows are curiously and largely trellized the floores spred with rich Carpets None are without their Gardens or Forrests rather of high Chenaers and Cypresses In it are fifteen brave Mosques pargetted with Azure-stones resembling Turquoises without lined within with pure black polished Marble the tops beautified with many double-guilt-spires which reflect the Sun beams with a rich and delightful splendor two excel all the rest One of them is fifty foot high in the body leaded covered with gold and blew the walls varnished and wrought with knots and poesies Above aspiring with two colums of wood round cut and garnished with great bravery very nigh as high as Pauls in London The other is Quadrangular the superficies of Arabick invention imbost with gold paved with Porphiry painted with Azure garnished with Mazes and at their festivals made resplenâ—ent with one thousand Lamps and Torches Idem When our English Embassador passed through this City hee was entertained in the Dukes Palace where all the great men of the Court and City were present and many young Ganimedes arrayed in cloath of gold went up and down with flagons of pure gold to fill out VVine to such as nodded for it they were served with a curious banquet at the end whereof came in the Duke Hee was ushered in by thirty gallant young Gentlemen vested in crimson Satten Their Tulipants were of Silk and Silver wreathed about with chains of Gold of Pearl of Rubies Turquoises and Emeralds they were all girded with rich swords and imbroidered scabbards they had Hawks on their fists each hood worth one hundred pound To these succeeded their Lord the Arch Duke of Shyraz his Coat was of blew Satten richly imbroidered with silver upon which hee wore a Robe of a great length so glorious to the eye so thick powdered with Oriental Gems as made the ground of it invisible the price invaluable His Turbant was of pure fine silk and gold bestudded with Pearl and Carbuncles his Scabbard was beset all over with Rubies Pearls and Emeralds His Sandals resâ—mbled the bespangling Firmament c. Idem The ancient Persepolis described Persepolis was a City so glorious that Quintus Curtius and Diodorus Siculus intitle it the richest and most lovely City under the Sun It was a very large City and the Metropolis of all Persia two of the gates standing twelve miles asunder which shews what the circuit of it was when in her beauty and bravery On the South side was a stately and magnificent Pallace built by King Cyrus On the North side stood a mighty strong Castle which was girt about with three walls The first wall was four and twenty foot high adorned and beautified with many turrets and spires The second was like the first but twice as high And the third was foursquare being ninety foot high all built of polished Marble On each side of the City were twelve brasen gates with brasen Pales set before them very curiously wrought On the East arose amiably an Hill of four Acres in which in stately Mausoleum's were entombed the Monarchs of the VVorld Many rare and admirable buildings it had amongst which the glorious Temple of Diana was the most exquisite for Art and materials in the VVorld The stones were of the richest Marble and Porphery the roof of refined gold The Pallace Royal was cut out of the Marble Rock above two miles in compasse the roof and windows were of Gold Silver Amber and Ivory The Seate within was of Gold and Oriental glittering Gems In one room was an artificial Vine the stalk of pure Gold the clusters of Grapes of Pearls and Carbuncles His bolster was valued at five thousand Talents of Gold the footstool worth three thousand Talents so that when the greedy Greeks had pillaged three dayes yet Alexander had for his share seventy two millions of Crowns of Gold besides hee loaded away three thousand Mules with two and thirty millions and seven hundred and fifty thousand pounds in Coin The ruines of this stately City are seen at this day with astonishment Herb. Trav. p. 144. The City of Spahawn described Spahawn The Metropolis of the Persian Monarchy is seated in the Parthian territory as the navel to that spacious body It 's nine English miles in compasse containing seventy thousand houses and of souls about two hundred thousand composed besides natives of English Dutch Portuguize Poles Moscovites Indians Arabians Armenians Georgians Turks Jews c. drawn thither by the magnetick power of gain and novelty The principal things observeable in it are The Bridge well built of stone supported by five and thirty Arches through which the Syndery from the Acroceraunian Mountains gently floweth The Midan or great Market-place which is the most spacious pleasant and Aromatick Market in the VVorld a thousand paces from North to South the other way above two hundred resembling our Exchange the building is of Brick well made and framed in a most delightful manner the inside is full of shops each shop full of ware arched above a top framed Tarrase-wise and cemented with excellent plaister it s placed in the heart of this triumphant City The Kings Pallace joyns to the West side of it possessing a large quantity of ground backward though to the street side it hath no magnifick front her best bravery being in the trim pargetting and painting with Azure and Gold in Mosaick and Antick sort interlaced with Poesies of Arabick But within the rooms are arched enlightened with curious trellizes the roof embossed with red white blew and gold the sides with sports and painted Images the ground spread with rich and curious Carpets of Silk and Gold Tarrased above garnished with a very high Tower excellent for view and breathing The Wildernesse behinde is filled with all sorts of birds priviledged from hurt or affrights who return their thanks in a sweet melodious consort The North Isle of the Midan contains eight or nine arched rooms hung with Lamps and Candlesticks which being lighted gives a curious splendor Opposite to this Pallace is a fair Mosque in form round and within distinguished into Isles the walls are lined fifteen foot high from the ground with white and well polisht Marble without pews or seats In the midst is a stately Tank or Pond and at the Portal another eightsquare filled with Christal streams of water wherein all Musslemen wash their hands armes eyes c. as an operative work
are large and pleasant The Midan is uniform and beautifull The Kings Palace nigh the market low built painted with blew red and yellow colours commixt with Arabick letters and knots in gold and azure The windows are spacious trellized and neatly carved Neer the Kings gate is a great Tank The Hummums or sweating places are many resplendent in the azure pargetting and tileing The gardens are pleasant for view and smell The City of Tauris Described Tauris was the late Metropolis of Media taking its name from the prodigious Mountain Taurus under which it is built the ancient name was Ecbatane when shee was farre greater than now shee is Strabo saith that it was fifteen miles in compasse the walls were strong and stately seventy cubits high and fifty broad beautified with many lofty Turrets and battlements within were many great and excellent Palaces especially that which was built by Daniel the Mausoleum of the Median Kings was most magnificent which remained undemolished till the time of Josephus That built by Darius was no lesse memorable most whereof was built of Cedar the roof studded and plaited with burnished gold At this day its about five miles compasse well peopled traded to from farre and neer The houses are flat on the top made of brick the Buzzar large and the gardens lovely The City of Derbent Described Derbent is a strong and famous Port Town upon the Caspian Sea viewing from her lofty Turrets the Armenian and Hyrcanian Territories as also Ararat and the sea It s circled with a strong high and defensible stone-wall above three miles in compasse The houses Hummums and Churches are but meanly beautifull the strong Castle Kastow is most observeable in it pleasantly and very advantagiously seated Hyspaan Described The City of Hyspaan in Persia was formerly called Hecatompolis by reason of its hundred gates It 's compassed with a strong wall and is in circuit as much as a man may well ride on horseback in a day it s a very strong City and is excellently watered with deep channels of running springs conveyed into it from the Coronian Mountains which are as a wall inaccessible about it On the North side is a very strong Castle which is compassed about with a wall of a thousand and seven hundred yards in compasse On the West side of the City are two Seraglio's one for the King the other for his women Palaces of great state and Magnificence the Walls whereof glister with pollished Marble and pargetting of divers colours and all the Palaces are paved with curious checkered work and covered with curious Carpets wrought with Silk and Gold the windows are made of Marble Porphery and Alabaster the Posts and doors of Massie Ivory checkered with glistering black Ebonie so curiously wrought in winding knots as may easilier stay than satisfie the wondering eye of the spectator Near the Palace is a stately Garden spacious and large beautifully adorned with a thousand sundry kinds of Fruit-trees plants and flowers of all sorts to delight the beholders There are in it a thousand Fountains and a thousand Brooks and as the Father of them all a pretty River which with a mild stream and delightful murmure divides the Garden from the Kings Palace Casan described Casan is the chiefest City in Parthia It is seated in a goodly plain having no Mountains within a dayes journey of it It wanteth neither Fountains Springs nor curious pleasant Gardens It aboundeth with all necessaries for the life of man It 's greatly frequented with all sorts of Merchandize especially out of India The Citizens are very industrious and curious in all manner of Sciences especially in weaving girdles and shashes in making Velvets Satins Damasks excellent Persian Carpets of a wonderful finenesse Here you may buy all manner of Drugs and Spices as also Turkesses Diamonds Rubies and Pearles as also all sorts of Silk raw and wrought For there is more Silk brought into Casan in one year than there comes broad cloth into London This City is much to bee commended for Civil Government For an idle person is not suffered to live amongst them the child that is but six years old is set to labour no ill rule disorder or riot is suffered there They have a Law amongst them whereby every person is compelled to give his name to the Magistrate withal declaring by what course hee liveth and if any tell untruly hee is either well beaten on the feet or imployed in publick slavery Casan contains above four thousand families the houses are fairly built the streets bee large and comely the Mosques and Hummums are curiously painted and covered with blew Tiles like Turquoises The Buzzar is spacious and uniform The Gardens abound with fruit and the fields with Corn The Carravans-Raw is an admirable Fabrick able to receive all the retinue of the greatest Potentate in Asia It was built by Saw-Abbas for the entertainment of Travellers on free cost The whole building is founded on Marble six foot high the rest of Brick varnished and coloured with knots and Phansies of Arabick characters in Azure red and white laid in Oile It s a perfect quadrangle each side two hundred paces long In the midst of this spacious Court is a large fouresquare Tank or Pond with Christaline water This Royal Inne is seated in the midst of fragrant and spacious Gardens Armenia the greater described Armenia Major lyeth on the farther side of Euphrates is a very mountainous Country hath part of Cappadocia and Euphrates on the West Mesopotamia on the South Colchis Iberia and Albania on the North. And the Caspian Sea and Media on the East One part of it is called Turcomania the other Georgia On the Mountain of Ararat in this Countrey the Ark rested and from hence the World was repeopled The chiefest Rivers are Phasis and Lycus which runne into the Pontick Sea Cyrus and Araxes into the Caspian Euphrates and Tygris which run into the Red or Persian Sea Tygris so called from its swiftnesse passeth through the Lake Arethusa yet neither mingling water nor fishes saith Solinus afterward it diveth under Taurus and riseth on the other side bringing much filth with it and is again hidden and again riseth and at last carrieth Euphrates into the Sea Mr. Cartwright in his Preachers Travels saith that these present Armenians are a very industrious people in all kind of Labour that their women are very skilful and active in shooting and managing any sort of weapon like the Ancient Amazons That their Families are great the Father and all his posterity dwelling together under one roof having their substance in common and when the father dyeth the eldest son governs all submitting themselves under his regiment after his death not his son but his brother succeeds and when all the brethren are dead then the eldest Son In diet and clothing they are all alike Media Described Media hath on the North the Caspian Sea on the South Persia on the West Armenia and on the East Parthia
and inriched more by trade from China seventy of these Islands are subjects or friends to the Spaniards their intestine divisions making an easy way to the Spanish Conquest They worshiped the Sun and Moon Now they have amongst them many Monasteries of Friers and Jesuites But the wicked lives of the Spaniards makes the Inhabitants abhor their Religion They carve and cut their skins in sundry fashions and devises all over their body The Island of Mauritius described The Island of Mauritius lies within the torrid Zone about one hundred Leagues from Madegascar It abounds with all good things requisite for mans use The land is high and mountainous the shape somewhat round in circuit about one hundred miles every where sweet and flourishing having an healthful air and the blooming fragrant trees abating the heat of the Sun besides the gentle Breezes moderating the weather There are delicious Rivers which make the Earth fruitful Infinite store of lofty spreading trees green all the year their boughs being never unapparrelled of their Summer livery The ground is ever spread with natures choicest Tapestry the mirthful Sun ever re-inforcing a continued vigor and activity Of the trees some are good for timber others for food all for use Here is store of Box and of Ebony of all sorts black white red and yellow the tree is high small and streight and the wood of such esteem that many ships come yearly to it to load with Ebony besides which there are Coquo trees Pines Ashes Cypresses c. As also store of rare fruits birds and fowl Hawks of all kinds Bats as big as Gos-hawks Passo-Flemingos Herons Geese and many others good in their flesh and excellent in their feathers Fish there are plenty as the Cow-fish Dolphins Abicores Cavalloes VVhale Porpice Grampasse Mullet Bream Trout Tench Soles Flounders Tortoises Eeles Sharks Pikes Crabs Lobsters Oysters Cuttle-fish Rock-fish and other strange fishes some like Hedg-hogs some like Cats others with bristles c. This Isle also affords Goats Hogs Beeves and land Tortoises so big that two men may sit on one of them and shee will go away with them Africa described in General Africa is divided on the North from Europe by the Mediterranean Sea On the South it runs on a point to the Cape of Good Hope and is bounded with the vast Ocean called there the Aethiopick Sea On the East with the Red-Sea and on the VVest with the Atlantick Ocean called Mare del Nort so that her longitude and latitude contains about four thousand and two hundred English miles It s much lesse than Asia and far bigger than Europe In most parts it s very barren and therefore hath no great plenty of Inhabitants It s full of sandy desarts which lying open to the winds and storms are often moved like to the waves of the Sea by which means Cambysis with his Army was much hazarded It s full of venemous Serpents which much endanger the Inhabitants besides other ravenous beasts which ranging about possesse themselves of a great part of this Country and make it a VVildernesse of Lions Leopards Elephants and in some places Crocodiles Hyena's Basilisks and Monsters without number and name for when for want of water Creatures of all kinds at sometimes of the year come to those few rivolets that bee to quench their thirst the Males promiscuously forcing the Females of every species that comes next him produceth this variety of forms Salust reports that there dye more of the people by beasts than by diseases And in the tracts of Barbary the Inhabitants every tenth fifteenth or five and twentieth year are visited with a Plague and with the French disease in such violence that few recover except they remove into Numidia or the land of Negros the very air whereof is an excellent Antidote against those diseases Their commodities are Elephants Camels Barbary-hoâ—ses Rams with great tails weighing above twenty pound c. Africa is divided into seven parts Barbary or Mauritania Numidia Lybia The land of Blacks Aethiopia superior Aethiopia inferior and Egypt besides the Islands Barbary hath on the North the Mediterranean Sea on the VVest the Atlantick on the South the mountain Atlas and on the East Egypt The Inhabitants are crafty covetous ambitious jealous of their VVives their Country yeelds Orenges Dates Olives Figs and a kinde of Goat whose hair makes a stuff as fine as Silk It contains in it the Kingdomes of Tunnis Algier Fess and Morocho Tunnis is famous for the chief City of the same name five miles in compasse and Carthage two and twenty miles in circuit that contended so long with Rome for the Monarchy of the world and Utica memorable for Catoes death there Algier contains in it a strong harbor for Turkish Pirates before the chief Town whereof the Emperor Charles the fifth received a mighty losse of ships Horses Ordinance and men Fess hath in it a City with seven hundred Churches one of which is a mile and an half in compasse Morocho where the chief City of the same name hath a Church larger than that of Fess and thereon a Tower so high that from thence may bee discerned the toâ— of the Mountains Azaci which are at one hundred and thirty miles distance Here is also a Castle famous for Globes of pure gold that stand on the top of it weighing one hundred and thirty thousand Barbary Duckeâ—â— Numidia the second part of Africa hath on the East Egypt on the VVest the Atlantick Ocean on the North the Mountain Atlas and on the South the desarts of Lybia It s called also the Region of Dates from the abundance that grows there The Inhabitants are very wicked stay in a place but till they have eaten down the grasse Hence there are but few Cities and those in some places three hundred miles distant Lybia on the East is bounded with Nilus on the West with the Atlantick on the North with Numidia and on the South with the Country of the Blacks It s so dry that a traveller can scarce meet with any water in seven dayes journey the Inhabitants live without any Law almost so much as that of nature The Land of Blacks or Negroes hath on the West the Atlantick on the East Aethiopia superior on the North Lybia and on the South the Kingdome of Manicongo The River Niger runs through it almost as famous as Nilus for her overflowing It yeelds store of gold silver Ivory and other commodities It hath in it four Kingdomes Tombuâ—o infinitly rich Bornaum where the people have no names proper no wives peculiar all therefore no children which they call their own Gonga the King whereof hath no estate but from his subjects as hee spends it And Gualatum a very poor Country Of this Land of Negroes one makes these verses The Land of Negroes is not far from thence neerer extended to th' Atlantick main Wherein the Black Prince keeps his residence attended by his Jetty-coloured train Who in their native beauty
no other Town within three hundred miles of it In this Country are abundance of Dates whence it s called Dactylorum regio This fruit is most of â—heir food and with the stones of them they feed their Goats which makes them fat and causeth them to give store of milk The air hath this property that it presently cures all that have the French disease and come into it The chief Cities are Stafilet Dausen Dara Lapsa and Teffet Lybia hath on the East Nilus on the VVest the Atlantick Ocean On the North Numidia and on the South the Land of Negroes In this Country Arius the Heretick was born who denyed the perpetual divinity of Christ. It is now called Sarra i. e. a Desart because the whole Country is full of sandy Desarts through which Merchants use to travel eight dayes together without the sight of either River Lake Bush or Tree The chief Cities are Huadan Guargata and Toherraum They have neither King nor Lawes but are governed by the chief man in every Tribe They are most Gentiles they have some Mahometans amongst them The Land of Negroes described The Land of Negroes hath on the East Aethiopia superior On the West the Atlantick Ocean On the North Lybia and on the South the Kingdome of Manicongo The people are very ignorant and bruitish most of them Gentiles yet are there some Mahometans and Christians amongst them They took the Portugal ships when they first saw them for great birds with white wings their guns for the work of the Devil and bag-pipes for living Creatures The Nobles in the presence of the King never look him in the face but sit on their buttocks with their elbows on their knees and their hands on their faces they anoint their hair with fat of fishes which makes them stink abominably They have abundance of gold and silver very pure and fine It s watered with the River Niger which from the fifteenth of June overflows its banks for the space of forty dayes and is so many more before it returns into its channel which makes the fields very fruitful In one place Niger hides it self for six miles under ground The second River is Senega upon whose Northern bank the people are cole black but on the South only tawny The Chief Kingdomes are 1 Gualata where they have no Laws 2 Guinie where there is neither Town nor Castle except Mina built by the Portugals 3 Tombutum where the Inhabitants spend all their time in singing and dancing The King hereof is the richest of all the Princes in those parts of Africa keeping a royal Palace and hath for his guard three thousand horsemen and footmen sance number 4 Melli which is three hundred miles long the Inhabitants are rich civil and industrious 5 Cana where are Plenty of Lemons and Pomegranats 6 Gialoâ—ie where the people are so nimble that they will leap upon a horse when hee gallops and stand upright when hee runs turn themselves about and suddenly sit down mount and dismount in a trice 7 Benin where the people rase their skins with three lines drawn to the Navel without which they think they cannot bee saved Both men and women go naked till they bee married and then they wear a cloath from the wast to the knees 8 Nubia where there is a poison so exceeding strong that the tenth part of a grain will kill a man in a quarter of an hour It s sold for one hundred Duckats the ounce 9 Bornum where the people have neither wives nor children that they call their own nor names but are only distinguished by some external accident 10 Goaga where the King hath no revenues but what hee winnes from his enemies 11 Ganaga where the King hath nothing but what his Nobles please daily to allow him The Country of the Mandigos described In Guinie upon the River Gambra live the Mandingos The River abounds with Crocodiles River-horses Torpedoes running-fishes c. On the banks of it are many Geese Ducks Hernes Curlews Storks Plovers c. On the Land are Beeves Goats Guinie Hens c. The people are perfeclty black and live a very idle life except it bee in their seed-time and harvest their usual food is Rice or some Grain boiled their drink is water or Dullo made of Grain like our Ale Their houses are round covered with Reeds many of them built together and compassed with a wall of Reeds six foot high to defend them from wild-beasts which yet many times much endanger them There are Ant-hills cast up by Pismires some of them twenty foot high and in compasse able to contain twelve men which with the heat of the Sun are baked into that hardnesse that our English which trade thither for gold use to hide themselves in the ragged tops of them when they take up their stands to shoot at Deer or other beasts The Town wherein the King dwels is seated on the River compassed about with Hurdles ten foot high and fastened to strong poles On the outside is a Trench of great breadth beyond which the Town is again circled with Posts set close together of about five foot high their Armes are Azegaies or Javelins made of Reeds six foot long with an Iron Pike artificially made and dangerous they have others that they cast like Darts with barbed heads as also swords about two foot long Some have Bows and Arrows made of Reeds headed with Iron poisoned when any of them come to the King they presently kneel down and comming nearer they lay their hands first upon the ground then upon their head then comming to him they lay their hand with much submission upon the Kings thigh and so retire back the King answers them with nodding his head They are generally cloathed in cloth made of Cotton whereof there is plenty their apparrel is a shirt to their knees and a pair of breeches they are mostly bare-headed their hair bedecked with Gregories made of leather of several fashions which whilst they wear they think that no evil can betide them The King hath two wives sitting by him laying their hands on his naked skin stroaking and gently pulling the same VVhen the woman is with child shee lyes no more with her husband till the child bee weaned The wives live in great servitude beating their Grain in Morters they never are admitted to sit and eat with their husbands you shall never see kissing or dalliance betwixt husband and wife nor brawling amongst the wives though one man hath many and they equal each woman hath her several house for the night and when they appear in the morning they salute their husbands kneeling laying their hands on his thigh her apparrel is loose and party-coloured from the wast upward shee is bare to shew her painted razed body whereof they are proud turning themselves to shew it and well pleased when you handle it Few either of men or women are without Tobacco-pipes made of earth well glazed about two inches long
buyers costly mirth and admiration to prevent which the Marriners upon the delivery of each beast either kill it quickly or fasten their horns with cords to stakes placed there on purpose The Kingdome of Sofala Described Sofala is situate on the cost of Eastern Ethiopia neer the Sea here the Portugals traffick to Manica a Land of much Gold within land above threescore Leagues the women perform the offices of Tillage and Husbandry In it are many sorts of fruit as Pomgranats which bear all the year some green some ripe and some in flowers Fig-trees which yeild black Figs all the year about Oranges Limes Vines which bear twice a year in January and July Ananas Sugar canes Palm-trees which yeild infinite Cocoes and Wine Guiny Wheat and Rice There are abundance of Hens Goats Kine Wild beasts and wild Swine In Manica grow little trees on Rocks which are dry most part of the year but if you cut off a bough and put it into water in the space of ten hours it springs and flourisheth with green leaves In some parts they have store of Orenges and Lemons The King of this Country is called the Quitive they are Gentiles Hee hath above one hundred women whereof one or two are his Queens and many of them are his Aunts Cosins Sisters and Daughters all whom hee useth promiscuously when hee dies his Queens must dye with him to do him service in the other world The Kingdome of Monomopata Described Monomopata is above two hundred Leagues long On the North-West lies the Kingdome of Abutua where is much fine Gold yet their greatest riches they count their Cattle On the East it hath the River Zambeze On the South-West it extends to the Ocean and Southward it s bounded with the River Inhanabane The King hath many women whereof one is principal None may speak with him except hee bring a present The King and his Subjects wear a white Perewinkle in their foreheads for a jewell fastened in their hair and the King hath another great one on his breast None of them cut the hair of their heads or beards yet they grow not long they live commonly to ninety or one hundred years when the King dyes his Queen must drink poyson to serve him in another World It abounds so with Elephants that about five thousand are yearly killed for their teeth-sake There are said to bee three thousand Mines of Gold The Kingdome of Congo or Manicongo Described The Kingdome of Congo hath on the West the Ocean On the South the Caphars and Mountains of the Moon On the East those Hills from which the Rivers issue and run into the Fountains of Nilus and on the North the Kingdome of Benin The most Southerly part is called Quimbibe a great and mighty Kingdome extending from Bravagal to Bagamidri the air is wholesome the earth out-outwardly furnished with store of fruits inwardly with Mines of Christal and other mettals Angola is another Province of Congo a great Kingdome and very populous Cabazza is the Royal City one hundred and fifty miles from the Ocean from this Country the Portugals use to carry above twenty thousand slaves yearly into Brasile They are Heathens have their Idols of wood in the midst of their Towns in fashion like a Negro which they call Mokisso's they take as many wives as they please there are Mines of Silver and excellent Copper they have many Kine but love Dogs-flesh better which they feed for the Shambles their houses are fashioned like Bee-hives Horse-tails are great Jewels amongst them for one of which they will give two slaves Congo properly so called extendeth Westward three hundred seventy five miles Northward five hundred and forty Southward six hundred crossing over the Mountains of the Sun and the Mountain of Christal It s divided into six Provinces Bamba Songo Sundi Pango Batti and Pemba Bamba is the greatest and richest there are Mines of silver and on the Sea-shore shells which they use in stead of mony Amongst them there are some very strong men who will cleave a slave in the middle or cut off a Bulls head at one blow There are certain creatures as big as Rams having wings like Dragons long tails and chaps with diverse rows of teeth they live upon raw flesh their colour is blew and green and they have but two feet the Pagan Negroes worship them for Gods The Rivers of Congo are many the greatest whereof is Zatre In all of them are River-horses and Crocodiles and they overflow as doth Nilus There are whole Mountains of Porphiry Jasper white Marble and other Marbles and one that yeelds fair Jacinthes straked with natural veins When any of the Inhabitants dye they have no power to bequeath their goods to their kindred but the King is heire general to all men The Kingdome of Loango described Loango is the Noâ—therly neighbour of Congo right under the Line the Country stretcheth two hundred miles within Land the people are called Bramanes and the King Mani Loango they are circumcised after the manner of the Jews as all the rest of the Nations in those Countries use to bee they have abundance of Elephants and wear cloaths of Palm they are Heathens and use many superstitions they have their Mokisso's or Images to which they offer several things Beyond the Country of Loango are the Anzigues the cruellest Cannibals that are under the Sun for in other places they eat their enemies or their dead but here they eat their Country-men and kins-folk and keep shambles of mans flesh as with us of Beef or Mutton They have many Mines of Copper and great quantity of Sanders both red and gray They are excellent Archers they are circumcised and worship the Sun for their greatest God and the Moon next Ethiopia Superior called also Abassia described It is watered with four principal Rivers and as many huge Lakes The first River is Taucea running Northward but drunk up by the thirsty sands before it can come to the Sea It hath bordering upon it Mountains of admirable height and inaccessible The second River is Oara larger than Nilus that emptieth it self into the Sea of Zeila the water is very clear but the superstitious Abassines refuse to drink of it because in its passage it watereth some Mahometan Regions The third is Gabea and the fourth is Nilus One of the Lakes is called Dambea threescore mile long and five and twenty broad It abounds with fish and River-horses and in it are many Islands in which traitors are confined The Abassine soil is for the most part hollow and in the midst of the plains rise many Rockie-hills which in times of war serve them for Fortresses The whole Country abounds with Mettal-Mines but the inhabitants partly through ignorance and partly for fear of the Turks if the riches of their Country should bee discovered suffer them to lye hidden in the earth only they make use of so much Iron as lyes upon the surface of the earth Of plants and
describes the people out of Epimenides The Cretians are lyers evil beasts slowbellies It s famous for three things 1. They have no venemous Creature there 2. If a woman bite a man hard hee never recovers again 3. There is an herb called Alimos which if one chaw in his mouth hee shall feel no hunger that day It was once called Hecatompolis because it had in it a hundred Cities It is in the Venetians hands The Jonian Isles described Cythera is in compasse threescore miles It was formerly called Porphyris from the abundance of that sort of Marble called Porphyrie which the Mountains yeeld The Strophades are two Islands wherein there is nothing remarkable but a spring of fresh water in one of them which hath his fountain in Peloponesus above five miles distant which passing under the Sea ariseth there Zacinthus now Zant is threescore miles in compasse It s wonderfully stored with Wine Oil and Currans of which last ordinarily they make yearly one hundred and fifty thousand Chekins for their own Coffers besides eighteen thousand Dolars which they pay for custome to the State of Venice when the English first traded thither the inhabitants were very poor and when the English bought so many Currans of them they asked our Merchants whether they dyed cloaths or fed their Swine with them which uses themselves put them to but now they know better and grow rich by the trade This Island is much troubled with earthquakes commonly once a week whereupon they build their houses low The chief City is Zant not big the streets rugged and uneven and the houses low for the cause aforesaid Over the Town-hall door in this City is this Distich inscribed Hic locus odit amat punit conservat honorat nequitiam pacem crimina jura probos The Echinades Islands are five in number being but like Rocks and are famous for nothing but for the famous battel of Lepanto fought near them betwixt the Turks and the Christians Cephalenia is in compasse one hundred sixty and six miles and contains two hundred Towns the chiefest commodities it yeelds are Wheat Hony Currans Powder for dying Scarlet Oil and Wooll c. Corcyra now Corfu is neer Epyrus in length four and fifty miles in breadth four and twenty Its seated in the midst of the Venetians Lordships by Sea The chief City is Corfu where the Turks have received sundry repulses It s very fruitful in Hony Wax Wine Oil c. The Adriatick Isles have nothing of note in them and therefore I proceed to the Mediterranean Isles the principall whereof is 1 Scicily in compasse seven hundred miles The people are ingenuous eloquent and pleasant but very unconstant and talkative The soil is incredibly fruitful in Wine Oil Hony Saffron Sugar Salt in Mines of Gold Silver Allom having also Agates and Emeraulds with such abundance of Corn that it was called The Granary of the Romane Empire In this Country is the Hill Hybla so famous for Bees and Hony and Aetna which continually sendeth forth flames of fire Here was once the famous City of Siracuse two and twenty miles in compasse but now Palermo is the seat of the Spanish Vice-Roy In this Island lived those two great Tyrants Dionysius the elder and Dionysius the younger who were so odious for their cruelty that all the people hated and continually cursed them only one old woman prayed for the life of the latter and being asked the reason shee answered that shee knew his Grand-Father to bee very bad and when at the prayers of the people hee was taken away his son succeeded that proved far worse than his Father and after their curses had prevailed also for the removal of him came this present Tyrant worse than either for whose life shee was resolved to pray least after his decease the Devil himself should come amongst them Malta is in compasse about threescore miles It s seated on a Rock over which the earth is not above three foot thick yet have they abundance of Pomegranats Citrons Orenges and other excellent fruit there is also great store of Cotton-Wooll whâ—ch they sow as wee do Corn In the Acts this Island is called Melita It consists of four Cities and threescore Villages It was by Charles the fifth given to the Knights of the Rhodes newly expelled by the Great Turk they are a thousand in number whereof five hundred must bee alwayes resident in the Island the others upon summons must make their appearance None are admitted into their order unlesse they bring a testimony of their Gentry for six descents But some make this Island to belong to Africk where you may see more of it 3 Corsica is just against Greece in the Ligurian Sea and is in length one hundred and twenty miles in breadth threescore and ten the whole circuit being three hundred twenty and five It s a fine Country yeelds excellent Dogs for game good horses fierce Mastiffs and a beast called Musoli found no where in Europe but here and in Sardinia horned like Rams and skinned like Stags of incredible hardnesse It produceth the best VVines Oil Figs Raisons and Hony but bitter and unwholesome It abounds also with Allom Box-trees Iron-Mines c. It s under the Government of Genoa The people are churlish stubborn poor and illiterate 4 Sardinia which is seven miles distant from Corsica It contains in length one hundred and fourscore miles in breadth fourscore and ten in circuit five hundred and threescore It abounds in Corn and Cattel but wants Oil. Their Bulls do naturally amble and therefore the Country Peasants usually ride upon them Here is the Beast Musoli of whose skins carryed to Corduba and there dressed is made our true Cordovan Leather The Inhabitants are little of stature and prone to Rebellion and therefore the Spaniard suffers neither Smith nor Cutler to live there The chief City is Calearis just opposite to Africk having a goodly haven much frequented by Merchants and is the seat of the Spanish Vice-Roy The Baleans Islands described The chief of these Islands are 1. Majorca about threescore miles distant from Spain and is three hundred miles in compasse the chief Cities are Majorca wherein is an university and Palma 2. Minorca distant from the former nine miles and is in circuit one hundred and fifty miles the inhabitants are effeminate the soil for the most part fruitful Nigh to these are two lesser Islands 1. Ebuisa one hundred miles in circuit the chief commodity in it is salt 2. Olhiusa threescore and ten miles about The men and women in both of them are excellent swimmers The lesser Islands scattered up and down have nothing in them remarkable but only in one of them called Ischia is a fountain so hot that in a short time it will boil any flesh or fish put into it Somewhat without the mouth of the Straits of Gibralter is the Island of Gades or Cales in length thirteen miles Anno Christi 1596. it was suddenly taken by
standeth the Tower A most famous and goodly Citadel encompassed round with thick and strong walls full of lofty and stately Turrets fenced with a broad and deep moat furnished with a gallant Magazine of warlick Ammunition and other buildings besides so that it resembles a big town Concerning the Church of St. Paul an ancient writer saith that it contains in length six hundred and ninety feet the breadth thereof is one hundred and thirty foot the height of the West arched roof from the ground is one hundred and two foot and the new fabrick from the ground is eighty eight foot high The stone work of the steeple from the plain ground rose in height two hundred and sixty foot and the Timber frame upon the same was two hundred seventy and four foot high the Spire before it was burnt down was five hundred thirty and four foot high About the time of William the Conqueror when Musters were made of able men to bear arms London brought into the field under their colours forty thousand foot men and twenty thousand horsemen It hath often and is daily enlarged with new buildings and spacious Suburbs stretched forth from the Gates a great length on every side but Westward especially which are the greatest and best peopled In which are twelve Inns for students of the Common Law The four principal houses are the Inner Temple the middle Temple Grates Inn and Lincolns Inn six smaller belong to the Chancery besides two Inns more for the Sergeants at Law These Western Suburbs are so carried on that they joyn to London another City called Westminster famous for the Seat and Sepulchre of our Kings and for the Courts of justice kept every Tearm in Westminster Hall No walls are built about this City and those of London are left to shew rather what it was than what it is whose Citizens as the Lacedemonians did do repute their strength to consist in their men and not in their walls In the City of Westminster along by the Thames side are many stately buildings for the Nobles and great men of the Land as Essex house Arundel house Summerset house c. The Abby Church in Westminster was the last time built by King Henry the third of excellent workmanship supported with sundry rows of Marble Pillars and the roof covered over with sheets of Lead a peece of work that cost fifty years labour in building It was afterwards much enlarged towards the West end by the succeeding Abbots and at the East end King Henry the seventh built for the burial of himself and his children a Chappel of admirable and stately workmanship called by Leland the VVonder of the VVorld for a man would think that all the curious and exquisite work that can bee devised is there compacted together wherein is to bee seen his own most stately and magnificent monument all of massy and solid Copper VVestminster Hall was built from the ground by King Richard the second and made his own habitation which continued so till Henry the eights time who removed it to VVhite-Hall which formerly belonged to Cardinal VVoolsey The New Exchange was built by the Earle of Salisbury and so named by King James But to return a little again to London There are in it many publick and beautiful buildings as that famous Senate-house called Guild-hall built by Sir Thomas Knowls Lord Mayor Leaden-hall a large and goodly building erected by Simon Eire to bee a common Granarie wherein to lay up Corn to bring down the price thereof in time of a dearth But especially the Burse which Queen Elizabeth with a solemn Ceremony named the Royal Exchange erected upon Pillars for the use of Merchants and ornament of the City It was set up by Sir Thomas Gresham Citizen and Knight A most magnificent work it is whether you respect the model of the building the resort of Merchants from all Nations thither or the store of wares therein The Royal Exchange This Royal Exchange was erected in the year 1566. in this order The ground whereon it stands and the houses were purchased by the Citizens of London It cost them above three thousand five hundred thirty and two pounds the houses they sold for four hundred seventy and eight pounds to such persons as should pull them down and carry them away Then was the ground levelled at the charges of the City and possession thereof was by some Aldermen given to Sir Thomas Gresham Knight and Agent for Queen Elizabeth thereupon to build a Burse at his own proper charges and hee on the seventh of June laid the first foundation Brick being accompanied with some Aldermen every one laying a peece of gold upon his Brick which the workmen took for themselves and forthwith followed their work with such diligence that in September Anno Christi 1567. the same was finished and covered with slate In the year 1570. January the three and twenty the Queen came from Summerset-house through Thridneedle-street to Sir Thomas Greshams house in Bishopsgate-street where shee dined and after dinner going through Cornhil entred the Burse viewed every part of it especially the Pawn which was furnished with all sorts of fine and rich ware and then caused the said Burse by an Herald and Trumpet to bee proclaimed by the name of the Royal Exchange and so to bee called from thenceforth and not otherwise Besides which this Sir Thomas Gresham gave a most spacious house sometimes his own habitation one part thereof to bee an Hospital for poor people and the other to the advancement of learning now known by the name of Gresham Colledge standing between Bishopsgate-street and Broad-street and instituted professors of Divinity Law Physick Astronomy Geometry Musick and Rhethorick allowing them fifty pounds per annum a peece besides Chambers and other accommodations Gresham Colledge The first professors in this Colledge were Mr. Anthony VVootton for Divinity Doctor Matthew Guin for Physick Doctor Henry Mountlow for Civil Law Doctor John Bull for Musick Mr. Beerwood for Astronomy Mr. Henry Bridges for Geometry and Mr. Caleb VVillis for Rhethorick These Lectures are read daily in Tearm-time except Sabbaths by every one upon his day in the morning betwixt nine and ten a clock in Latine and in the afternoon betwixt two and three in English notice whereof is given by ringing the Exchange-Bell at these hours Only the Musick Lecture is read in English on Saturdayes between ten and eleven in the morning and between three and four in the afternoon But to passe by Sion Colledge whereof Doctor VVhite was the founder which is governed by a President two Deans and four Assistants yearly chosen and the many Hospitals and other publick buildings yet amongst them The Charterhouse described Wee may not passe by that greatest and most noble work that ever was done by one man and hee a subject which was the building and endowing of the Charter-house by Mr. Thomas Sutton for the entertainment of youth and decayed Gentlemen who by maims in
Bridges and each of them have their several Churches Venerable Bede lies under a marble Tomb in the Cathedral Church of this City The City of Carlile in the County of Cumberland Described The City of Carlile is passing commodiously and pleasantly seated between severall rivers being guarded on the North side with the Channel of Eden on the East with Petteril on the West with Caud Besides which natural fences it is fortified with strong walls of stone with a Castel and a Citadel In form it is somewhat long running out from West to East On the West side stands the Castle fair and large Almost in the middest of the City riseth on high the Cathedral Church the upper and newer part of it being very artificially and curiously wrought On the West side stands the Citadel built by King Henry the eight very strongly and with bulworks VVales Described VVales is bounded with the Seas on all sides but the East where it is separated from England by the River Dee and a line drawn to the River VVie or rather by that huge ditch cast up by King Offa which begins where Wie falls into Severn and reacheth unto Chester even fourscore and four miles in length The Country is very Mountainous and barren yet by the industry of the Inhabitants is made fruitful their chiefest commodities are woollen Flannels Cottons Bays c. brought weekly to Oswestre the farthest Town in Shropshire and thence dispersed into other Countries It is divided into North-Wales and South-Wales in both which are twelve shires having in them one Chase thirteen Forrests thirty and six Parks ninety and nine bridges The chiefest Rivers are Dee VVie Conwy Tivy and Chedhidy The Welsh Language is least mixed with forreign words of any used in Europe but having many Consonants in it is lesse pleasing The People are cholerick and hasty but very loving each to other In VVales are one thousand and sixteen Parishes of which fifty and six are market Towns besides the Cities which are four viz. St. Davids in Pembrookshire Bangor in Carnarvonshire Asaph in Flintshire and Landaff in Glamorganshire In Cardiganshire were found some silver Mines by the industry of Mr. Thomas Middleton that yeilded some good quantity of Silver The twelve shires of VVales are Pembrookshire Caermardenshire Glamorganshire Brecknockshire Radnorshire Cardiganshire Moungomeryshire Mertonethshire Denbighshire Flintshire Caernarvonshire and the Isle of Anglesey which is separated from the main Land by the River Moenay wherein are Beu-marish and Holi-head common passages to Ireland Scotland described Scotland is separated from England by the Rivers Tweed and Solway and the Cheviot-Hills reaching from one river to the other It s in length four hundred and eighty miles In breadth much lesse no place being threescore miles from the Sea It s divided into High-land and Low-land The people of the High-land living on the VVestern parts of Scotland have some civility but those in the out Isles are very barbarous The Low-landers are in dispositions and language almost like the English Scotland is far more barren than England The chief commodities are course cloathes Freeses Fish Hides Lead-oare c. The principal Rivers are Forth Clada and Tay all navigable In Scotland there are four Universities St. Andrews Glasco Aberdeen and Edenburgh The Nobility and Gentry are great affecters of Learning and therefore do not only frequent their own Universities but travel into forraign parts for improvement of the same The whole Country is divided into two parts by the great River Tay the Southern part is more populous and fruitful every where bestrewed with Cities and Towns as England is the Northerly more barren and rude retaining the customes of the wilde Irish from whence they came The Southren part hath in it these Counties Tividale Merch Laudien Liddesdale Eskedale Annandale Niddesdale Galloway Carrick Kyle Cunningham Arran Cluidesdale Lenox Sterling Fife Strathern Menteith Argile Cantire and Lorn The Northern counties are Loquabrea Braidalbin Perth Athol Anguse Merâ—s Mar Buguhan Murrey Ross Sutherland Cathnes and Strathnavern And these again are divided into Sheriffdoms Stewardships and Bailiwicks The chief Cities in Scotland described Edenburgh is the Regal City of Scotland seated in Lothien where is the Royal Palace and the chief Courts of Justice It consists principally of one street about a mile long into which runne many petty lanes so that the whole compasse may be about three miles It s strengthened by a Castle that commands the Town Glasco in Cluidsdale where an University was founded by Bishop Turnbull Anno Christi 1554. St. Andrews in Fife Sterling or Striveling seated in Striveling hundred Aberdeen in Mar. Dondee in Anguis Perth or St. Johns Town Scotland was once inhabited by two populous Nations the Scots and Picts the former inhabited the Western parts of the land the latter the Eastern These two Nations at length falling out there were great and large warres betwixt them till at last the Scots prevailing they extinguished not the Kingdome only but the very name of the Picts Most memorable was that fortification drawn from Abercorn upon the Frith of Edenburgh unto Dunbritton opening upon the West Sea where Julius Agricola set the limits of the Romane Empire At this place began the great wood Caledonia famous for the wilde white Bulls bread therein with Manes like Lyons thick and curled of nature fierce and cruell so hatefull to mankind that they abhorred whatsoever was by them handled or breathed upon The Cattle in Scotland are but small yet many Fish so plentifull that in some places men on horseback hunt Salmons with Spears The Islands belonging to it are the Western the Orknayes and the Shetlands in number above three hundred Amongst the Western the Hebrides Skie Mula Ila and Arran are the chief all abounding with Corn Wood Salmons Herrings and some with Conies Deer Horses and Sheep The Orknay Islands upon the North lie in a raging Sea about three and thirty in number whereof thirteen are inhabited the other replenished with Cattel In them are no venemous Serpents nor other ugly vermine the aire sharp and healthful apt to bear Oats and Barley but have no wood Of these Pomonia is the greatest that hath six Minerals of Lead and Tin and twelve Parishes in it Ireland described Ireland is divided into four Provinces Mounster Leinster Connaught and Ulster In Mounster are the Counties of Limmerick Kery Cork Waterford Dismond and Holy Cross in Typperary In Leinster are East-Meath West-Meath Kilkenny Caterlough Queens County Kings County Kildare VVeshford and Dublin In Connaught are Clare â—r Towmund Gallaway Maio Slego Letrim and Roscoman In Ulster are Dungal or Tyr-connel Tyrone-upper Tyrone-nether Farmanagh Cavan Monaghan Colrane Antrim Down Armagh and Lough Ireland hath on the East that tempestuous Sea that divides it from England On the West the Western Ocean On the North the Deucalidonian Sea and on the South the Vergivian Sea It contains in length four hundred and in breadth two hundred miles The air is
described The Pyrenean Mountains stand as a natural boundary between the two great Monarchs of France and Spain they run in a ridge from Sea to Sea the Cantabrian Ocean fiercely beating on the West and the Mediterranean gently washing the East ends of them The highest of them is called Canus because it hath for the most part a white cap of Snow upon it on the top whereof in a clear day a man may see both the Seas The French side of these mountains is naked and barren the Spanish very fruitful and adorned with trees France described The Kingdome of France is composed of four and twenty Provinces wherein are fifteen ArchBishopricks ninety seven Bishopricks ten Parliaments fourteen Universities and four orders of Knighthood The French are so naturally inclined to Armes that the Proverb saith They are born souldiers nor indeed can they stay long at rest for if they have no war with their neighbours they quickly make it amongst themselves Points of honour make them run into the field as to a feast so that many of the Nobility unhappily fall by Duels They go like Thunderbolts to combats and conquests and overcome whatsoever opposes them but as soon as their heat is cooled they turn their backs and suddenly loose what they had gained with such reputation The French are more than men saith the Proverb at the beginning of a fight and lesse than women towards the end The French Cavalry is the stoutest and best in the World Their generosity is such that they grudge not to praise the vertue even of their enemies when they deserve it They agree so ill out of their own Country that they make themselves disesteemed by it France is wonderfully stored with Rivers the chiefest whereof are 1. Seine which arising in Burgundy passeth by Paris and Rhoan and receiving into it nine navigable streams disembogueth it self into the Brittish Ocean 2. Some upon which standeth Amiens hath its head about St. Quintins divides Picardy from Artois and receiving eight lesser streams into it falleth into the Sea 3. Loyre on which are seated Nants and Orleance it riseth out of the great mountains in Avergne runs six hundred miles receiveth into it seventy two lesser rivulets and so falleth into the Aquitane Ocean 4. Rhoane rising at Briga three miles from the head of Rhene watering Lyons where it meets with Sone flowing from Alsatia then it waters Avignion and admitting thirteen lesser brooks it falls into the Mediterranean at Arles 5. Garond which running from the Pyrenean hills passeth by the walls of Burdeaux and Tholouse Of these Rivers it is said The Seine is the richest the Rhoane the swiftest the Garond the greatest and the Loyer the sweetest But come wee to a more particular description of the several Provinces 1. Gascoyn and Guien are bounded with the Pyrenean Hills the Aquitane Ocean and the River Garond The cheif Cities in it are 1. Tholouse wherein is a Parliamentary Court for the execution of Justice the fields about it extend in length one hundred in breadth seventy French Leagues wherein was fought that dreadfull battel between Attila King of the Huns that had in his Army five hundred thousand fighting men and Aetius the Roman Lieutenant in France wherein the Romans were Victors and slew of the Barbarians an hundred and fourscore thousand persons 2. Burdeaux where our King Richard the second was born In it are an Vniversity and Parliamentary Court 3. Bazas on the Garond 4. Raion on the coast of Spain On the North end of this Country stands the little Province of Xantoigne the cheifest Cities whereof are Sainctes and Rochel the best fortified Town in all France and formerly the strongest hold of the Protestants 2. Poictou which hath on the North Brittain and Anjou on the East the Dutchy of Berry on the South Xantoigne and Guien and on the East the Aquitain Sea The chief Cities are 1. Poictiers on the River Clarius next in greatness to Paris it self 2. Castle Herauld the title whereof was given to the family of Hamiltons in Scotland by Henry the second and Francis his son c. 3. Anjou is but a little Province but very fruitfull and yeilds the best wines in France To it are annexed the Provinces of Turrain and Main The chief Towns of Anjou are 1. Angiers where is an University 2. Beaufort sometimes belonging to our Dukes of Lancaster 3. Saumur pleasantly seated on the Loyre and an University On the North sides of Anjou between it and Normandy lyeth Main whose chief Cities are 1. Man 's or Main 2. Beaumont 3. Vendosme On the South-East between Anjou and Berry lyeth Toureine and in it the Cities of 1. Toures neer unto which Charles Martel overthrew an Army of four hundred thousand Saracens under their Captain Abdaramen and slew of them three hundred and seventy thousand about the year 732. 2. Amboise 3. Bloys 4. Orleance upon the Loyre an University wherein especially the civil Law is studied 4. Britain environed with Main Tourain and the Sea in it are two good Havens Brest and St. Malo the chief Cities are 1. Naâ—ts upon the bank of Loyre where is a Parliament 2. Rhenes 3. Vannes 4. St. Briene 5. Rohan 5. Normandy which hath on the South Main and the I le of France on the East the River Some on the other parts the Ocean The river Seine runs through the middest of it The chief Cities are 1. Constance 2. Cane 3. Bayeux on the Sea side 4. Pontoyse 5. Roan 6. Falaise 7. Mortaigne 8. Crecy 9. Caux 10. Verneil The cheif Haven Towns are Hareslew Deep and Newhaven 6. The Isle of France encompassed with the Seine and other petty brooks in it is seated the regal City of Paris formerly Lutetia quasi in luto sita because situated in a clayie soil whence grew the Proverb It stains like the dirt of Paris The City of Paris Described Paris is in compass twelve miles It stands in a most fertile soil The Citizens are reputed to be about five hundred thousand It s honoured with a Parliament to which all others may appeal from which not one It hath in it a famous University counted the first in Europe containing fifty and five Colledges built by Charles the great Anno Christi 800. at the perswasion of Alcuinus an English-man It s seated on Seine which serves the Town with little boats and Barges the river ebbing and flowing no higher than Pontelarch about seventy and five miles below Paris It was held by the English sixteen years and in it our King Henry the sixth was crowned King of France and England in the Church of Nostre Dame or our Lady which Church is threescore and five fathom long four and twenty broad and fifteen high above which the Steeples are raised thirty and four fathoms In this Isle of France is also St. Vincents and somewhat Eastward Soysons then Carenton where the Protestants have a Church Also the Royall Palace of Fountainbleau one of the
stands in a pleasant valley amongst the Mountains and is beautified with many neat houses well fortified with a strong Castle and some outworks 2. Tarentaise which commands the passage into Italy through the hills Geneura 3. Bramont 4. Aquibelle 5. Carboneirs 6. Maurienne On the North East of Savoy is the County of Bresse the chief Towns whereof are 1. Chattillion 2. Mont Real 3. Bourg well seated and fortified The Marquisat of Saluzzes is seated in Piedmont a part of Italy Piedmont it self being bounded with Millaine on the East Savoy on the West Switzerland on the North and the Mediterranean on the South A fruitful Country compared with Savoy but inferior to the rest of Italy It hath in it one hundred and sixty walled places and is very populous It hath in it fifty Earldomes and fifteen Marquisates It s divided betwixt the Dukes of Savoy and Mantua the River Tenarus parting their possessions The chief Towns belonging to the Savoyard are 1. Turin built on the banks of the River Duria In it is the Palace of the Duke of Savoy and an University 2. Aoste 3. Vercelli a strong Town 4. Inurea c. The Alps described The Mountains of the Alpes which require five dayes to bee ascended divide France and Germany from Italy they are alwayes covered with Snow Hanibal made a way through them with fire and Vineger They begin at Savona and having run a good space in a continued hill are at last divided into many parts There are five passages over them into Italy three out of France and two out of Germany The first out of France is through Provence close upon the Tyrenean Seas and so through Liguria which is the easiest The second through the Hills called Geneura into the Marquisat of Saluzzes and so into Lombardy The third is over Mount Cenis through the Country of Turin The first way out of Germany is through the Grisons Country by the Town of Valtolin the other way is through the Country of Tyrol by the Towns of Inspurg and Trent Italy described This Country abounds with Rice Silks Velvets Sattins Taffaties Grograms Rash Fustians Gold Wire Allom Glasses c. The chief Rivers in it are 1. Poe which riseth out of the Alps and running through Lombardy emptieth it self into the Adriatique Sea 2. Rubicon 3. Tyber Italy is usually divided into six parts but the principalities thereof are ten as 1. The Kingdome of Naples having the land of the Church on one side and the Sea on all others It s in compasse one thousand four hundred sixty and eight miles It abounds with Mines of divers Mettals and the choisest Wines The chiefest Provinces in it are 1. Terra di Lavoro formerly Campania wherein the chiefest Cities are 1. Cajeta seated on the Sea side 2. Naples the Metropolis and a beautiful City containing seven miles in compasse In this City the French or Neapolitan disease was first known in Christendome It stands on the Sea shore and is fortified with four Castles 3. Capua which emasculated the valor of Hanibals souldiers 4. Cuma nigh to which is the Lake Avernus the stink whereof poisons birds that flye over it 5. Baiae famous for the Baths 6. Nola. 7. Puteoli 8. Misenum nigh unto which is the Hill Vesuvius that casteth forth flames of fire and in the reign of Titus it cast forth such abundance of smoak and ashes as darkned the Sun and overwhelmed two Cities 2. Abruzzo whereof the chief Towns are 1. Aquilea 2. Beneventum 3. Aquino where Thomas Aquinas was born 4. Sulmo Ovids birth-place 3. Calabria inferior whose chief Cities are 1. Peste where Roses blossom thrice in a year 2. Salernum famous for the study of Physick 3. Consensia 4. Regium 5. Locris 4. Calabria Superior wherein the chief Towns are 1. Tarentum 2. Crotona 3. Polycastrum 4. Amicle 5. Sybaris 6. St. Severine 5. Terra di Otranto wherein the chief Cities are 1. Brundusium one of the best Havens in the world 2. Hydruntum now Otranto 3. Gallipolis 6. Puglia the Cities whereof are 1. Manfredonia 2. Cannae where Hanibal slew of the Romans forty two thousand and seven hundred and had hee followed that victory hee had been Master of Rome In this Country is the Hill Gargalus or Mount St. Angelo one hundred and twenty miles in compasse strengthened both by nature and Art it abounds with cattel The people in these two Provinces are troubled with a Tarantula which is only cured by Musick 2. The land of the Church which North and South is extended from the Adriatick to the Tuscan Seas the East bounds are Axafenus and Trontus which divide it from Naples North-West its bounded with the Rivers Poe and Fiore which divide it from the Venetians and South-West with Pisseo which parts it from the Florentines The Provinces hereof are 1. Romandiola extending from Rubicon East to the Venetians on the West from the Appenine Hills South to Padus and the Adriatique on the North. The chief Cities are 1. Bononia the principal University in Italy where the civil Laws are much studied seated on the River Aposa 2. Rimana formerly Ariminum on the mouth of the River Rubicon 3. Cervia on the Adriatique Sea where great store of salt is made 4. Ferrara whose territories stretch in length one hundred and sixty miles and in breadth fifty wherein are contained the brave Cities of Modena and Rhegium Ferrara the chief-chief-City is seated on the bank of Poe a broad deep and swift River which guards it on the one side and on the other it s fortified with strong walls and a large moat In the midst of the City is a large Green into which there open on all sides nineteen streets most of them half a mile long and so even that the ends of them may bee easily seen The whole compasse is five miles 5. Ravenna 2. Marcha Anconitana environed with Romagna the Appennine Naples and the Adriatique The chief Towns are 1. Ancona seated on the Hill Cimmerius and it is an Haven Town 2. Ascoli the fair 3. Firmo the strong 4. Macerata 5. Adria which gave the name to the neighbouring Sea 6. Narma 7. Humona 8. Loretto famous for the Pilgrimages made thither 3. The Dukedome of Spoleto is situate under the Appennine Hills The chief Cities are 1. Spoleto 2. Ovietto seated on a very high Rock where is a Church very lightsome and yet the Windows are made of Alabaster in stead of Glasse 3. Perugia 4. Asis In this Country is the Lake of Perugia thirty miles in compasse Near which Hanibal slew Flaminius with fifteen thousand of his Romane souldiers 4. St. Peters Patrimony containing Campagna di Roma formerly Latium and part of Hetruria The chief Cities are 1. Alba. 2. Ostia at the mouth of Tyber 3. Antrum 4. Tybur 5. Praenâ—ste 6. Ardea 7. Gabii 8. Veii a large and rich City 9. Tivolis 10. Rome seated on the River Tyber enlarged with the receit of two and forty Rivers and is distant
another being about twenty and five foot broad It was made of hard flinty stones hewen and laid so close together yet without any morter or claspes of Iron that it seemed all of onestone the stones were three four and five feet square nine hundred years after it was made the stones were not one whit dis-joynted or broken ever and anon on the sides were stones whereon persons might sit or lay their burdens or get on horseback and at every miles end high stones or pillars were raised whereon were engraven the number of the miles Likewise there were many Monuments on both sides with witty inscriptions or pretty inventions on them yeelding both matter of mirth and seriousness to the travellers There were fourteen saith Pliny twenty saith P. Victor Aquaeducts in Rome the chiefest of which was the Claudian began by Caligula and finished by Claudius so big as a man might ride on horseback in it brought forty miles to the City in a level through the Mountains and over the Vallies as high as the highest hill in the City seven millions and a half were spent in making it There were besides in the City one thousand three hundred fifty two Lakes or great receptacles of water for common use The Cloacae or common sewers were made by Tarquinius Priscus they were so wide that a Cart loaden with Hay might passe along them viz. sixteen foot wide and as many high There were seven chief armes from the seven hills besides several smaller from other parts which ran into the main Channel Notwithstanding all the weight of building upon them and several earthquakes they remained firm almost eight hundred years And at one time when they were out of repair there were a thousand talents spent in repairing of them There was an infinite number of Statues or Images in every part of the City costly for their matter and curious for their workmanship some Authors say that there were near as many of them as there were living people in the City some of them were of polished Marble infinite of brass some of Ivory some of Silver and some of Gold Domitian the Emperour commanded that no statues should bee made for him in the Capitol but such as were all of silver or all gold solid and not hollow each of them weighing at least an hundred pound weight Commodus the Emperor had a statue made for him of gold that weighed a thousand pound weight Together with a Bull and a Cow of the same mettal as if hee had been the founder of the City Hee had also in the Market-place a Pillar erected and his Statue made upon it of a thousand five hundred pounds weight of silver Their statues of brass were most of them guilt and so were many of their statues of silver Some of them were of a Colossaean bigness others mounted on horse-back and in several postures and habits For the preserving of all which from hurt there was one who was called Comes or an Earl whose office it was continually to walk up and down in the night attended with many souldiers that none might wrong them and besides it was death for any man to do it Lipsius de Mag. Rom. Imperii Rome was for her beauty and bravery called Aurea and Aeterna and the Romanes thought that the Monarchy of the World was tyed to them with chains of Adamant But God hath confuted their golden dreams by breaking their Empire and given up their City six several times in one hundred thirty and nine years space into the hands of Barbarians who exercised therein all kinde of cruelty besides it is observed that Rome since it became Papal was never besieged by any enemy but it was taken Sybil long since prophesied Tota eris in cineres quasi nunquam Roma fuisses The manner of the Romane Triumphs and particularly that of Palus Aemylius after the conquest of Perseus King of Macedon First the people having set up sundry scaffolds as well in the lists and field called Circos where the games and races of horses and Charrets used to bee as also about the Market-place and in all the streets through which the Triumph should pass they all presented themselves in their best gowns to see the magnificence and state thereof All the Temples of the Gods were set wide open hanged full of Garlands of flowers and all perfumed within Through all the quarters of the City were set many Sergeants and other officers with tipstaves to order the stragling people and to keep them from pestring the streets or hindring the triumph which lasted three dayes The first day was scant sufficient to see the passing by of the Images Tables Pictures and Statues of a wonderful bignesse all wonne and gotten of their enemies and now drawn upon two hundred and fifty Charrets The second day there were carried upon a great number of Carts all the fairest and richest Armor of the Macedonians as well of Copper as of Iron and Steele all glistering bright being newly furbished and artificially laid in order Fair Burganets upon Targets Habergions and Corslets upon greaves Round Targets of the Cretans and Javelins of the Thracians and arrows amongst the armed pikes All bound so trimly one to another that one hitting against another as they were drawn made such a sound and noise as was fearful to hear After these Carts there followed three thousand men which carried the ready mony in seven hundred and fifty Vessels which weighed about three Talents a peece each of them carried by four men Others carried great bowles cups and goblets of silver and other pots to drink in beautiful to behold as well for their bignesse as for the great and singular embossed work about them The third day early in the morning the Trumpets sounded the brave alarum they give at an assault after whom followed one hundred and twenty goodly fat Oxen with their horns guilt and garlands of flowers and nosegaies about their heads and by them went many young men with aprons of needle-work about their middles who led them to the Sacrifice and with them young boyes that carried goodly Basons of gold and silver to receive and sprinkle the blood of the Sacrifices about After these followed all those that carryed all coins of gold and Basons and Vessels each of them weighing three Talents Then was carryed the great holy cup which Aemylius had caused to bee made of massy gold set full of precious stones weighing ten Talents for an offering to the gods Next to them went they which carryed Plate made and wrought after Antick fashions and the admirable cups of the ancient Kings of Macedon as the cup called Antigonus and another Seleucus and to bee brief all the whole cup-broad of plate of gold and silver of King Perseus and next them came the Kings Charriot with his Armour and his royal Crown upon the same A little after followed the Kings Children whom they led prisoners with the train of their School Masters and
Agates Emerauds Amethists c. Within it is the History of Christs Passion with the twelve Apostles all in Amber In the third is a Cabinet with Calcedonie Pillars filled with ancient Medals of gold Round about this Room are an infinite number of Natural and Artificial curiosities As the Emperours head cut on a Turquoise bigger than a Walnut with thousands more Next is the Armory wherein are the habits and diverse sorts of Arms of several ages and people There is likewise a Loadstone that bears up fourscore pounds weight of Iron In the last Cabinet are curious turned works of Ivory A Pillar of Oriental Alabaster c. In another Room are twelve great Cupboards of silver Plate of all sorts and another of all pure massie gold A Saddle all embroydered with Pearls and Diamonds besides many other things of great worth From hence is a private passage to the Dukes Court on the other side of the River The front of which edifice is very Majestick towards the Basis of Dorick work in the middest of Ionick and the uppermost story of Corinthian In the Court is a Grotto with Statues and a Fountain over it and a Loadstone of a most prodigious greatnesse The Gardens belonging to it for their largenesse have the face of a Forrest for their variety of a Paradise Here are Cypresse Groves their Walks with Statues Here a Sea of Fountains these Swans Ostriches and other delighting Creatures The Cathedral Church is of a vast bulk and exquisite workmanship made of Red White and black Marble The Cupola is so high that the brass Globe at the top will hold sixteen persons No lesse excellent is the Steeple composed of the same stone and materials with the Church but with more Art and Ornaments The Chappel of St. Laurence seems more than terrestrial It s wholly overlaid with fine polished stones neither is there any colour upon Earth but it 's there in stones naturally Near to this is a famous Library filled with great variety of Manuscripts In brief the houses of Florence are generally built high the streets are paved with great stones even and large and adorned with many excellent Fountains and other publick Ornaments The chiefest Cities of Italy are thus usually distinguished Rome the Un-holy Venice the Rich Naples the Gentle Florence the Fair Genoa the Proud Millan the Great Bolonia the Fat Padua the Learned and Verona the Ancient Idem Belgia or the Netherlands described Belgia is bounded on the East with the River Ems and part of Germany On the West with the Germane Sea on the North with East-Friezland and on the South with the Some Champaigne and Lorrain It s in compass one thousand miles The Country is very populous the men well proportioned and ingenious the inventers of Clocks Printing and the Compass They found out diverse musical instruments the making of Chariots Painting with Oil colours working pictures in Glass making of Worsteads Sayes Tapestry c. The women govern all both within doores and without The Country lies low upon the Seas and therefore is very subject to inundations In the reign of our King Henry the second Flanders was so overflown that many thousands of people whose dwellings were devoured by the Sea came into England and were by the King first planted in York-shire but afterwards removed into Pembrook-shire Since then the Sea hath swallowed up in Zealand eight of the Islands and in them three hundred Towns and Villages the ruines of the Churches c. being seen at low water till this day The commodities are Linnen Skarlet Worstead Sayes Silks Velvets Armour Cables Ropes Butter Cheese c. The chief Rivers are 1. Rheine 2. Mosa which compasseth half the Country 3. Ems dividing the two Friezlands 4. Scaldis which rising in Picardy runs through Artois divides Henault and Brabant and a little above Antwerp emptieth it self into the Sea 5. Ley which runs quite through Flanders In Zealand and Holland especially they are fain to defend themselves against the Sea by huge banks about ten ells high and five and twenty in breadth at the bottom made of the hardest Clay with great pains and maintained with great charge their inside is stuffed with wood and stone and their outside covered with strong and thick Mats It s divided into seventeen Provinces which are these that follow 1. Limbourg and the Bishoprick of Leige environed with Brabant and Namurce on the West with Brabant and Gulick on the North with Gulick and Collen on the East and with Luxenbourg on the South In the Bishoprick are four and twenty walled Towns and one thousand and eight hundred Villages the chief City is Leige seated on the Meuse the buildings of it are very fair It s a famous University wherein were students at one time nine Kings Sons four and twenty Dukes sons twenty nine Earles Sons besides Barons and Gentlemen The next Cities are 2. Tongres 3. Dinand neer Namur 4. Huy 5. Bilsen 6. Truden The Dutchy of Limbourg contains five Towns 1. Limbourg on the River Weser 2. Walkenbourgh 3. Dalem 4. Rode le Buck. 5. Carpen besides one hundred twenty and three Villages Luxenbourg which is bounded on the North with Limbourg on the South with Lorrain on the East with the Bishoprick of Triers and on the West with the Meuse It s in circuit two hundred and forty miles in which stand one thousand one hundred sixty and nine villages and twenty and three walled Towns The chief are 1. Luxenburgh on the River Elze 2. Bostonack commonly called the Paris of Ardenne 3. Thionville 4. Mommedi 5. Danvillers 6. Ivoy 7. Neuse Chastel 8. Rocke de March 9. Arluna Here is the Forrest of Ardenna once five hundred miles in compass now scarce ninety In the edges whereof are the famous hot Baths called the Spaw which are of most vertue in July because then hottest In the skirts of this Countrey towards France is the Dukedome of Bovillion whose cheif Towns are Sedan where is Schola Illustris and Bovillon The Duke is a Peer of France and hath been a great friend to the Protestants 3. Gelderland which hath on the East Cleve on the West Brabant on the North Frizland and on the South Limbourg It contains three hundred villages and twenty four Towns the chief whereof are 1. Nimmegen seated on the branch of the Rheine which is called Whael 2. Ruremond 3. Arnheim 4. Harderwick 5. Doesbourgh 6. Buren It s a fertile soil for feeding of Beasts which grow so great and fat that Anno Christi 1570. there was a Gelderland Bull killed at Antwerp that weighed three thousand and two hundred pounds 4. Brabant having on the East North and South the Meuse and on the West the Scheld It s in length seventy five in breadth sixty miles comprehending seven hundred villages and twenty six Towns whereof the chief are 1. Lovain in compasse within the walls four miles and six without It s an University wherein are twenty Colledges and a Seminary
of English Jesuits There are in it many goodly Gardens Mountaines Valleys Medows c. 2. Bruxels of the same bigness and the Dukes seat but for pleasure profit uniform buildings and elegancy thereof far beyond Lovain 3. Bergen ap some famous for the notable resistance it made to Spinola Anno Christi 1622. 4. Bolduc 5. Tilmont 6. Mastriecht 7. Breda the seat of the Prince of Orange 5. The Marquisat of the Empire is contained in Brabant the chief City is Antwerp in circuit seven miles In it are eight principal channels cut out of the Scheld on which the Town is seated the biggest of them being able to contain one hundred ships Before the Civil warres it was a place of wonderful great Trading but now the Hollanders have so blocked up the Haven that the traffick is removed to Amsterdam 6. Flanders is divided into the Imperiall Gallick and Teutonick Flanders The last of these is divided from the other two by the River Ley. The chief Towns in it are 1. Gaunt whose wall is seven miles round The Rivers Scheld and Ley run through it and make in it twenty six Islands conjoyned with ninety eight bridges 2. Burgiâ— situated on a fair and deep channel made by Art which much advantageth it 3. Ypres a very strong Town standing on a River of the same name 4. Winnocks-Berg 5. Grauling on the sea side a strong Fort. 6. Oudenard The four principal Ports of Flanders are 1. Dunkirk 2. Scluse at the mouth of the channel of Bruges having a fair Haven able to contain five hundred good ships It s in the hand of the States 3. Newport where was fought that famous Battle between the Spaniards and States 4. Ostend which held out a siedg of three years and three months against the Arch-Duke Imperiall Flanders is parted from Brabant by the River Dender from the Gallick Flanders by the River Scheld about Oudenard The chief Towns are 1. Alost on the Dender 2. Dendermond 3. Hulst 4. Axelle 5. Rupelmond The Gallick Flanders is severed from the Teutonick by the River Ley from the Imperiall by the Scheld The chief Towns are 1. Lisle 2. Doway where is an University 3. Orchies 4. Armentiers 5. St. Amand. 6. Turnay In all Flanders there are thirty five Towns and one thousand one hundred seventy and eight Villages It s in length ninety six miles in breadth much lesse It s bounded with Brabant on the East Picardy on the West the Sea on the North and Artoys on the South 7. Artoys which hath on the East Heinalt on the West Picardy on the North Flanders and on the South Champaigne It contains seven hundred fifty and four villages and twelve walled Towns whereof the chief are 1. Arras whence comes our Arras hangings 2. Ayre 3. Pernes 4. St. Omer a good Haven 5. Lilliers 6. Le-Cluse The frontier Towns are 1. Hedinfert against Picardy 2. St. Paul 8. Heinalt bounded on the East with Limbourg on the West with Flanders on the North with Brabant and on the South with Champaigne The length of it is sixty miles and the breadth fourty eight It contains nine hundred and fifty Villages and twenty four Towns the chief whereof are 1. Mons a strong and rich City 2. Valenciennes seated on the Scheld 3. Conde 4. Bavays 5. Landrecy on the River Sambre 6. Mariembourgh 7. Engien 8. Reulx 9. Avennes On the South part of Heinalt is the Town and territory of Cambray 9. Namurce which hath on the East Limbourg on the VVest Heinalt on the North Brabant and on the South Luxenburg In this Country are many Coals which are kindled with Water and quenched with Oil. It contains one hundred and eighty villages and four Towns 1. Namurce seated where Sicambris falls into Meuse 2. Charlemont 3. Valencourt 4. Bovines It s a fruitful Country enriched with Mines of Jasper and all sorts of Marble and abounding with Iron The Inhabitants are good souldiers 10. Zutphen is a Town in Gelderland an ancient Earldom seated on the River Ysell a strong place in the siege whereof that mirror of Chivalry Sir Philip Sidney lost his life 11. Holland is a woody Country having on the East Utrecht on the West and North the Sea and on the South the Meuse It s in circuit one hundred and eighty miles no part whereof is distant from the Sea three hours journey It containes four hundred villages and three and twenty Towns whereof the chief are 1. Dort where the National Synod was held against the Arminians Anno Christi 1618. 2. Harlem where Printing was invented 3. Leiden a famous University Which City consists of forty one Islands passed partly by Boats and partly by Bridges whereof there are one hundred forty and five and of them one hundred and four built with stone 4. Delft 5. Alkmer 6. Rotterodam 7. Horn. 8. Enchusen 9. Amsterdam a very fair Haven Town the men are good Sea-men the women very industrious there is scarce a boy of four years old but can earn his own meat It yeilds Butter Cheese c. The chief Village is the Hage having in it two thousand housholds 12 Zealand consisteth of seven Islands and in them three hundred Towns The first Island is Walcheren and in it the chief towns are 1. Midlebourg 2. Flushing an excellent Haven and of great strength Nigh unto it is the Fort Ramekins and the Brill 3. Vere The next Island is South Beverland whose chief Town is Tergowse The third is Schoven its chief Town Sixixee 4. Tolen whose chief Town is Tertolen c. In all this Countrey are eight Cities and one hundred and two Villages the soil is fruitful but they have neither wood nor fresh water 13. West-Freizland which hath on the East Groyning on the South Overyssel on the other sides the Sea It contains three hundred forty and five Villages and eleven Towns the chief are 1. Lewarden 2. Harlingem a sea Town 3. Zwichen 4. Doceum 5. Franeker an University 14. Utrecht is bounded on the East with Gelderland on the other three sides with Holland It contains seventy Villages and five Towns as 1. Rhenen 2. Wick de Duerstede 3. Amesford 4. Monfoort 5. Utrecht just in the middest 15. Overyssel is bounded on the North with Freizland and Groning on the South with Gelderland on the East with Westphalia on the West with the sea It contains one hundred and one Villages and eleven Towns the chief whereof are 1. Swall 2. Campene 3. Deventer basely betrayed to the Spaniards by Sir William Stanley 4. Steinwick 5. Hasselt 6. Oldezel 7. Handerberg 8. Delden 16. Machlin which is a Town in Brabant which Anno Christi 1546. was much defaced by fireing of eight hundred barrels of Gunpowder Besides the Town it contains nine Villages It s a fair and strong Town being daintily seated amidst the waters of the River Dele so that it may bee drowned on all sides 17. Groyning which is a Town of VVest-Friezland containing under her command
one hundred forty and five Villages the chief being Old haven and Keikerk It s bounded on the East with East-friezland on the West with VVest-Friezland on the South with Overyssel and on the North with the Sea These Countries are now divided between the States under an Aristocratical government and the King of Spain The States have the Dutchy of Guelders The Earldomes of Holland and Zealand and Zutphen The Lordships of Friezland Utretcht Overyssel and Groning seven in all the rest are Spanish Germany described The compass of this spacious Country is two thousand and six hundred English miles The Inhabitants are little addicted to Venus but very much to Bacchus they are of strong constitutions and much inclining to fatnesse The titles of the Fathers descend to all their Children every son of a Duke being a Duke and every Daughter a Dutchess The soil for the most part is healthful and profitable yeelding several Minerals Corn and Wine together with Linnen Quicksilver Allom c. The chief Rivers are 1. Danubius which rising out of Nigra sylva receiveth threescore navigable Rivers into it and having run a course of one thousand and five hundred miles emptieth it self at seven mouths into the Euxine Sea 2. Rhene which arising in Helvetia and running through Germany and Belgia after a course of eight hundred miles falleth into the German Ocean 3. Albis rising on the skirts of Bohemia passing by Magdenbourg Brunswick and Denmark after four hundred miles course falls into the same Sea 4. Oder arising in Silesia runs through Brandenbourg and Pomerania about three hundred miles and so falls into the Baltick Sea 5. Maenus or the Main 6. Weser The Empire of Germany is not hereditary but elective and when the Emperor is dead the Arch-Bishop of Mentz writes to the rest of the Electors to meet at Frankfurt within three months either in person or to send their Ambassadors In the vacancy the Elector Palatine is the Vicar and hee who is elected King of the Romans is declared heir The three Ecclesiastical Electors are the Arch-Bishops of Mentz Trevers and Colein the others are the King of Bohemia the Elector Palatine the Duke of Saxony and the Marquiss of Brandenburg to whom was lately added the Duke of Bavaria Being assembled at Frankfurt they make oath to chuse a fit person they are obliged to finish the choice within thirty dayes and may not go out of the Town till it bee accomplished If the voices happen to bee equal hee who hath the King of Bohemia's vote is proclaimed Emperour The three states of the Empire are 1. That of the aforesaid Electors wherein the Ecclesiasticks have the precedency The second state consists of four Arch-Bishops as Magdeburg Salsburgh Bremen and Bezanson after whom follows the great Master of the Teutonick Order and then one and thirty Bishops ten Abbots with the title of Princes and some Abbesses and lastly the Counts and Barons whereof there are many The third State is made up of the Imperial Towns which are in number threescore and five the four principall are Lubeck Metz Auspurgh and Aixe or Aquisgraâ—e Another Union there is for the preservation of Trade and commerce the chief Cities whereof are Lubeck Colein Brunswick and Dansick These are called Hanse-Towns The Empire is distributed into ten circles Franconia Bavaria Austria Swevia That of the upper Rheyn that of the four Electors towards the Rheyn Westphalia Saxony Low Saxony and Burgundy Come wee now in particular to the chief Provinces of Germany which are fifteen As 1. East-Friezland having on the West the River Ems on the East the Weser on the South Westphalia and on the North the Sea The chief Towns are 1. Emden 2. Ammer Dun. 3. Oldenbourg 2. Westphalia which is bounded on the East with Brunswick on the West with Belgia on the South with Hassia and on the North with the Sea The soil is fruitful the trees yeeld abundance of sweet Acorns which feed our Westphalia Bacon The Northern part is called Bremen from the chief City of that name the next parts belong to the Duke of Saxony the chief Towns whereof are 1. Clappenbourg 2. Exenberg 3. Alsdorpe c. The other part belongs to the Bishopricks of Collen Munster and Triers In that of Collen are 1. Collen the Bishops seat 2. Andernaâ—h 3. Lentz seated on the Rhene 4. Bonna 5. Mondenand The chief towns under the Bishop of Munster are 1. Warendorp 2. Herverden 3. Munster seated on the River Ems. Here the frantick Anabaptists seated themselves Anno Christi 1522. till they were deservedly punished and destroyed The chief Towns in the Bishoprick of Triers are 1. Bopport on the Mosel 2. Engers 3. Coblents 4. Triers on the Mosel also 3. Cleveland which Dutchy contains Cleve Gulick and Berge It joyns to Gelderland and the chief Cities are 1. Cleve 2. Calkar 3. Wesel 4. Emerick In Gulick the chief Cities are 1. Aquisgraue or Aken 2. Gulick 3. Dulken 4. Newis The chief Towns in Berge are 1. Dusseldorp 2. Hattingen 3. Arusberg 4. Alsatia which hath on the West Lorrain on the South Helvetia on the East the Rhene and on the North the Palatinate The chief Towns are 1. Strasbourg where is a Tower five hundred seventy and eight paces high It stands on the Rhene 2. Psaltburg 3. VVeisenberg On the South end of Alsatia stand Colmer Hagenaw and Selestade three fair Cities belonging to the Empire 5. Franconia which is bounded on the East with Bohemia on the West with Elsas on the North with Hassia and on the South with Swevia Bavaria and Helvetia It s divided betwixt the Palatine of Rhene the Duke of VVittenberg the Marquess of Anspach and Baden the Bishops of Mentz Bamberg VVestberg and the Emperour of which in order The Palatinate of Rhene is in length from North to South threescore and twelve miles in breadth from East to West fourscore and sixteen In which compass are some Towns of the Empire and some Lordships belonging to the Bishops of VVormes and Spires both seated on the Rhene The Palatinate hath store of fruits mettals and Rhenish Wines Hath many gallant Towns as 1. Mospotch 2. Heidelberg an University On the banks of Rhene stand 1. Bacharach whence come the best Rhenish Wines called Bachrach 2. Coub 3. Oppenheim 4. Cruitznack 5. Frankendale 6. Germensheim 7. Mainhem c. There are in this Country fourteen other walled Towns VVittenberg whereof the chief Towns are 1. Turbing an University 2. Stutguard the Dukes seat 3. Marback 4. Caustat c. Anspach the chief Towns whereof are 1. Anspach 2. Haâ—lbrun 3. Plenifelt Baden a fruitful Country lying between the Rivers Rhene and Neccar The chief Towns are 1. Durlach 2. Pfortshaime 3. Baden a neat Town seated on the Rhene having hot Baths in it Mentz seated where the Main emptieth it self into the Rhene whereof the chief Towns are 1. Lanstein 2. Bing seated on the Rhene Bamberg which is a fair City seated on the Main the other chief
The Kingdome of Casan and Citraham 14. Muscovia whose chief City is Mosco The City of Mosco Described Mosco the Regal City in Russia is almost round and bigger it is than London environed with three strong walls circling the one within the other and having many streets lying betwixt them The inmost wall and the buildings within it being fenced and watered with the River Moschua that runneth close by it is all accounted the Emperors Castle The number of houses as they were formerly reckoned amounted to forty one thousand and five hundred The streets of this City instead of paving are planked with great Firr trees planed and laid even together and very close the one to the other The houses are of Timber without Lime and stone built very close and warm of Fir trees which are fastened together with notches at each corner and betwixt the Timber they thrust in Moss to keep out the air which makes them very warm The greatest danger is their aptnesse to take fire which being once kindled is hardly quenched and hereby much hurt hath been done and the City miserably defaced sundry times The whole Countrey of Russia in the Winter lyeth under snow a yard or two thick but greater in the Northern parts from the beginning of November to the end of March in which time the Air is oft so sharp that water thrown upward congeales into Ice before it comes to the ground If you hold a pewter dish in your hand it will freeze so fast to it as that it will pull off the skin at parting divers in the Markets are killed with the extremity of cold Travellers are brought into towns sitting dead and stiff in their sleds some loose their Noses some their Ears Fingers Toes c. which are frozen off and yet in the Summer you shall see a new face on the Countrey the woods which mostly are Firr and Birch so fresh and sweet the Pastures and Medows so green and well grown such variety of Flowers such melody of the Birds especially of Nightingales that you cannot travel in a more pleasant Country The Summer is hotter than with us in England For Fruits they have Apples Pears Plums Cherries red and black Deens like Muskmelons but more sweet and pleasant Cucumbers Gourds Straberries Hurtleberries c. Wheat Rie Barley Oats Pease c. Their cheif Commodities are Furrs of all sorts as black Foxes Sables Lufernes dun Foxes Martrons Gurnstales or Armines Minever Beaver Walverines a great water Rat whose skin smels like Musk Squirrels grey and red foxes white and red as also Wax Honey Tallow Hides of Beeves and Buffs Train Oile Caviare Hemp Flax Salt Tar Salt-Peter Brimstone Iron Muscovy slate Fallow Deer Roe-bucks and Goats great store For Fowl they have Eagles Hawks of all kinds swans tame and wild Storks Cranes Fesants white Partridges c. For fresh water fish they have Carp Pike Pearch Tench Roach as also Bellouga of four or five ells long Sturgion Severiga Sterledy which four sorts breed in Volga and of all their Roes they make Caviare c. The streets in their Cities and Towns instead of paving are planked with Firr trees planed and laid even together Their chief Cities are Mosco Novograd Rostove Volodomire Plesco Smolensco Jaruslave Perislave Nisnovograd Vologda Ustiuck Colmigroe Casan Astracan Cargapolia and Columna It s governed by an Emperour or great Duke with most absolute authority after the manner of the Eastern Countries though it lye very near the North. The Muscovites follow the Greek Religion under a Patriarch though yet it bee mingled with very many superstitions which are not like to bee amended because the Great Duke suffers none of his subjects to travel and see other Countries They are much tormented by the Turks and Tartars They have waged great wars with the Poles and Swedes but with many losses A Description of the state and magnificence of the Emperour of Russia Sir Thomas Smith being sent Ambassador from King James to Boris Emperour of Russia Anno Christi 1604. one of his company thus relates their entertainment When saith hee wee entrâ—d the presence wee beheld the excellent Majesty of a mighty Emperour seated in a chair of gold richly embroidered with Persian stuffe In his right hand hee held a golden Scepter had a Crown of pure gold upon his head a coller of rich stones and Pearles about his neck his outward garments of Crimson Velvet embroidered very fair with Pearles precious Stones and Gold On his rightâ—hand stood a very fair Globe of beaten Gold or a Pyramis with a Cross on it Nigh that stood a fair Bason and Ewre which the Emperour used daily Close by him on another Throne sate the Prince in an outward Garment like his Fathers but not so rich with an high black Fox cap on his head worth there five hundred pound having a golden staffe in his hand On the Emperours right hand stood two gallant Noble men in cloath of silver high black Fox Caps with great long gold chains hanging to their feet with Poleaxes of gold on their shoulders and on the left hand of the Prince stood two other such but their Poleaxes were of silver round about on benches sate the Council and Nobility in golden and Persian Coats and high black Fox Caps to the number of two hundred the ground being covered with cloath of Arras After dinner saith hee again wee were led to have audience through many Chambers to a very fair and rich room where was infinite store of massie plate of all sorts where wee again viewed the Emperour and Prince seated under two Chairs of state each having a scul of Pearl upon their heads In the midst of the room stood a great Pillar round about which for a great height stood wonderful great peeces of Plate very curiously wrought with Beasts Fishes and Fowles besides other ordinary peeces of serviceable Plate The Emperour at dinner was served in rare dishes of silver but most of Massie gold c. Sic transit gloria mundi Pur. Pil. v. 3. p. 748. The Permians and Samoeds described The Permians lie North from Russia and are now subject to the Emperor thereof they have broad and flat faces like the Tartars from whom probably they had their original they live by hunting and trading with their Furrs The Samoeds live more towards the North Sea they are very brutish eating all manner of raw flesh even to the very carrion that lyeth in the ditch they are also subject to the Russees they acknowledge one God but represent him by such creatures as they have most good by and therefore they worship the Sun the Ollen the Losh c. They are clad in Seals-skins with the hairy side outward that reaches as low as the knees with their breeches and stockings of the same both men and women they are all black-haired and beardlesse the women are known from the men by a lock of hair hanging down by their ears they are ever
Aristotles birth-place 2. Apollonia 3. Pallene 4. Neapolis on the borders of Thrace 5. Antigonia and 6. Thessalonica now Salonichi seated on the Sea to the Church whereof St. Paul wrote two of his Epistles Thrace described Thrace hath on the East Pontus Euxinus Propontis and Hellespont on the VVest Macedonia on the North the Hill Haemus and on the South the Aegean Sea The Inhabitants are bold and valiant The earth ripens Corn slowly because of the cold The Vines yeeld more shade than juice and the Trees more leaves than fruit The chief Towns are 1. Sestos on the Hellespont over against Abidos in Asia famous for the love of Hero and Leander 2. Abdera the birth-place of Democritus who spent his life in laughing at others 3. Potidaea 4. Cardia seated on the Thracian Chersonese over against Troas on Asia side It s now called St. Georges Arme. 5. Lysimachia on the Sea shore 6. Callipolis on the Northern Promontory of the Chersonese which was the first Town that ever the Turks took in Europe which was Anno Christi 1358. 7. Trianopolis 8. Adrianople The first seat of the Grand Signiors in Europe 9. Pera formerly Galata and 10. Constantinople formerly Bizantium The City of Constantinople described Constantinople was built by Constantine the Great It stands on a cape of land near the entrance of the Bosphorus It s in form triangular On the East side washed with the Sea on the North with the Haven and the West side joynes to the Continent It s walled with brick and stone intermixed orderly having twenty four Gates and Posterns It s about thirteen miles in Circumference The world hardly affords a more delicate object if beheld from the Sea or adjoyning Mountains The lofty and beautiful Cypresse-trees are so intermixed with the buildings that it seems to present a City in a wood to the pleased beholders It s built on seven hills whose aspiring heads are crowned with magnificent Mosques or Churches all of white Marble round in form and coupled above being finished on the top with guilded spires that reflect the Sun-beams with a marvellous splendor some having two some four and some six adjoyning Turrets exceeding high and slender Tarrast aloft on the outside like the main top of a ship in several places equally distant whence their Priests with elated voices for they use no bells call the people together to their Mahometan service When Constantine first built this City hee enclosed it with a wall that for length fairness and thickness was one of the famousest in the world every stone being cemented together with brass couplets that the whole wall seemed to bee but one stone Hee erected also many high Towers built many sumptuous Temples and adorned it with infinit more magnificent buildings both publick and private commanding also by publick Edict all Princes of the Empire that each of them should build a Palace or some other sumptuous and splendid Monument there Hee also brought from Rome divers memorable Antiquities as the Palladium of Troy the high Pillar of Porsido which hee caused to bee erected in a fit place by which hee set Apollo's brazen Image of an unmeasurable bigness having his own name ingraven thereon Amongst other glorious buildings was the proud Palace of the publick Library wherein were one hundred and twenty thousand choice written Books in the midst whereof were the guts of a Dragon above one hundred and twenty foot long on which Homers Iliads were written in letters of gold In diverse other parts of the City were very rare things as the Nymphs Grove the Market-place of mettal the famous Images of Juno Minerva Venus c. with infinite other varieties so that strangers which saw it being full of admiration were astonished at the beauty of it judging it a dwelling meet for the Gods rather than an habitation for earthly Emperours But now Time with her Iron teeth and the many changes which have happened have quite altered the face of Constantinople So that now upon the Hill whereon the Imperial Palace once stood there are kept Elephants Panthers and other wild Beasts in the ruines of it On the second Hill whereon stood the Palace of the Patriarches in which were buried in chests of fine Marble most of the Christian Emperors a Mosque is now erected Upon the third Hill is the Sepulchre of the Great Mahomet that won the City of a marvellous greatness and magnificence surrounded with one hundred houses covered with Lead made to receive strangers of any Nation where themselves servants and horses may remain three dayes on free cost Sultan Mahomet leaving two hundred thousand Ducats revenue per annum to maintain the same The fourth Hill hath on it the Church and Sepulchre of Sultan Selim in the same form and order as the other The fifth hath the Church and Sepulchre of Bajazet with a great and spacious Piazza about it The sixth hath the Church and Sepulchre of Solyman the Magnificent which in greatness workmanship Marble Pillars and riches more than Kingly passeth all the rest and deserves to bee matched with the seven wonders of the world The seventh contained the sumptuous Temple of Sancta Sophia which deserves a particular description by it self The Temple of Sancta Sophia Described The Temple of Sancta Sophia standing upon one of these hills exceeds not only all the rest but all the most stately fabricks in the world the principal part thereof riseth in an Ovall surrounded with pillars admirable for their matter proportion and workmanship Over those are others through which ample Galleries curiously paved and arched above have their prospect into the Temple the roof is compact and adorned with Mosaick painting which is composed of little square peices of Marble gilded and coloured according to the place they are to assume in the Figure or ground which set together as if imbossed present an unexpressible statelinesse and are of marvellous durance The sides and floor of the whole Church are laid with excellent Marble it is vaulted underneath containing large Cisternes which are replenished with water from an Aquaeduct within on the left hand is a Pillar covered with Copper which ever sweats the doors are curiously cut through and plated It was from East to West two hundred and sixty foot long and in height one hundred and fourscore and hath contained at once six and thirty thousand Turks In the middest of it there are pillars of gold and silver huge Candlesticks Lanthornes Lamps and other Ornaments of gold and silver whereof the worth is inestimable It had in it one hundred gates and was above a mile in compass The Turks Seraglio Described In the extreamest North-east angle of Constantinople standeth the great Turks Seraglio or Palace compassed with a lofty wall three miles in compasse comprehending goodly Groves of Cypresse-trees intermixed with plaines delicate Gardens Artificial Fountains variety of Fruit-trees and what not rare Luxury being the Steward and the Treasury inexhaustible The proud Palace of the
strange nature that the one half of it doth never freeze in the coldest winter Descrip. of Scotl. In Lenox is a great Loch or Meere called Loch-Lowmond in length twenty four miles and eight in breadth wherin are three strange things First Excellent good Fish without any fins Secondly a floating Island whereon many Kine feed And thirdly Tempestuous waves rageing without winds yea in the greatest calms Desc. of Scotl. There is a certain Island called Lounda in the Kingdome of Congo wherein is no fresh water being a very sandy ground but if you dig but the depth of two or three hand breadthes you shall find sweet water the best in all those Countryes and which is most strange when the Ocean ebbeth this water grows brackish but when it flows to the top it is most sweet P. Pil. v. 2. p. 989. Not far from Casbine the Regal City in Persia is a fountain of a strange and wonderful nature out of which there continually springeth and issueth a marvellous quantity of black Oil which serveth in all parts of Persia to burn in their houses and is usually carried all over the Countrey upon Kine and Asses whereof you may often meet three or four hundred in company P. Pil. v. 2. p. 1431. About three days journey from old Babylon is a Town called Ait and neer unto that is a valley of pitch very marvellous to behold wherin are many Springs throwing out abundantly a kind of black substance like unto Tar and Pitch which serveth all the Country thereabout to make staunch their barques with and boats every one of which springs makes a noise like to a Smith's Forge in puffing and blowing out the matter which never ceaseth day nor night and the noise is hard a mile off the Moors call it Hell-mouth P. Pil. v. 2. p. 1437. Clitumnus is a River in Italy which makes all the Oxen that drink of it white Fulk Meteor Lib. 4 The River Melas in Boeotia makes all the Sheep that drink of it black Plin. The Fountain of Jupiter Hammon is cold in the day time and hot at midnight The Fountain of the Sun hath its water extream cold and sweet at noon and boiling hot and bitter at midnight Plin. lib. 2. c. 103. Augustine There is a River in Palestine called the Sabbatical River which runs with a violent and swift stream all the week but every Sabbath it remains dry Joseph de Bel. Jud. l. 7. c. 24. Some question the truth of this In Idumaea is a fountain called the Fountain of Job which for one quarter of the year is troubled and muddy the next quarter bloody the third green and the fourth clear Isiod The River Astaces in the Isle of Pontus uses sometimes to over flow the fields after which whatsoever sheep or milch Cattel feed thereon give black milk Plin. l. 2. c. 103. Furius Camillus being Censor in Rome the Lake Albanus being environed with Mountains on every side in the time of Autumn when other Lakes and Rivers were almost dry the waters of this Lake after a wondrous manner began to swell and rise upwards till at last they were equall with the tops of the Mountains and after a while they brake thorow one of those Mountains overflowing and bearing all down before them till they emptied themselves into the Sea Plut. The River d ee in Merionneth shire in Wales though it run through Pimble-Meer yet it remaineth intire and mingles not its streams with the waters of the Lake Cam. Brit. Ana a River in Spain burieth it self in the earth and runneth under ground fifteen miles together whereupon the Spaniards brag that they have a bridge whereon ten thousand Cattel feed daily Pliny tells us of a fountain called Dodon which always decreaseth from midnight till noon and encreaseth from noon till midnight Hee also tells us of certain Fountains in an Island neer Italy which always increase and decrease according to the ebbing and flowing of the sea Aristotle writeth of a Well in Sicilie whose water is so sharp that the Inhabitants use it instead of Vinegar In Bohemia neer to the City of Bilen is a Well of such excellent water that the Inhabitants use to drink of it in a morning instead of burnt wine Dr. Fulk In Paphlagonia is a Well which hath the taste of wine and it makes men drunk which drink of it whence Du Bartas Salonian Fountain and thou Andrian Spring Out of what Cellars do you daily bring The oyl and wine that you abound with so O Earth do these within thine entrals grow c. Aelian mentioneth a Fountain in Boeotia neer to Thebes which makes horses run mad if they drink of it Pliny mentioneth a water in Sclavonia which is extream cold and yet if a man throw his cloath cloak upon it it is presently set on fire Other waters there are which discolour the fleeces of the sheep which drink of them whence Du Bartas Cerona Xanth and Cephisus do make The thirsty flocks that of their waters take Black red and white Add neer the crimson deep Th' Arabian Fountain maketh crimson sheep And again What should I of th' Illyrian Fountain tell What shall I say of the Dodonean Well Whereof the first sets any cloathes on fire Th' other doth quench who but will this admire A burning Torch and when the same is quenched Lights it again if it again be drenched In the Province of Dara in Lybia there is a certain River which sometimes so overfloweth the banks that it is like a sea yet in the Summer it is so shallow that any one may passe over it on foot If it overflow about the beginning of Aprill it brings great plenty to the whole region if not there follows great scarcity of Corn. Pur. Pil. v. 2. p. 823. In the Kingdome of Tunis neer unto the City El-Hamma is a hot River which by diverse Channels is carried through the City the water of it being so hot that few can endure to go into it yet having set it to cool a whole day the people drink of it Idem p. 821. In Africa there is a River called Margania and by it a salt spring which turns all the wood is thrown into it into hard stone Idem p. 1547. The River Meander is famous for its six hundred windings and turning in and out whence that of the Poet. Quique recurvatis ludit Maeander in undis Maeander plays his watry pranks within his crooked winding banks Groenland in the Hyperborean Sea was discovered Anno Christi 1380. it hath in it the Monastery of St. Thomas situate in the North-East part thereof at the foot of a Mountain where there is a River so hot that they use to boil their meat in it and it serves for other such purposes as fire doth with us Isac Chron. p. 275. The River Hypanis in Scythia every day brings forth little bladders out of which come certain flies which are thus bred in the morning are fledge at
number of sticks and twigs wherewith to build their nests that thereby the inhabitants are also abundantly provided of fewel for the fire and such a mighty gain is made of their feathers and oile that no man would scarcely beleeve it but hee that hath seen it Camb. Brit. of Scotland p. 12 13. In Magallanes voyage about the world the King of the Island of Bacchian sent the King of Spain two dead birds of a strange shape they were as big as Turtle-Doves with little heads and long bills long small legs and no wings but in stead thereof certain long feathers of divers colours and tails like Turtle-Doves all their other feathers were of a tawny colour they flye not but when the wind blows and they call them Birds of God Pur. Pil. v. 1. p. 44. In Sofala in the East-Indies is a kinde of bird called Minga green and yellow very fair about the bigness of a Pigeon which never treads on the ground their feet being so short that they can scarce bee discerned they settle on trees of the fruit whereof they live when they drink they flye on the tops of the water and if they fall on the ground they cannot rise again their flesh is fat and savourie Idem p. 1546. CHAP. VI. The wonderful works of God in the Creatures Of strange Beasts and Serpents WHilst Sir Thomas Row our English Ambassador was at the great Moguls Court hee saw many stately Elephants brought before the Emperor some of which being Lord-Elephants as they called them had their chains bells and furniture of gold and silver each of them having eight or ten other Elephants waiting on him they were some twelve companies in all and as they passed by they all bowed down before the King very handsomely Pur. Pil. v. 1. p. 550. Though these Elephants be the largest of all beasts yet are they very tractable unless at such times when they are mad through lust some of them are thirteen and some fifteen foot high their colour is usually black their skins thick and smooth without hair they delight much to bathe themselves in water and are excellent swimmers their pace is about three miles an hour of all Beasts they are most sure of foot so that they never stumble or fall to indanger their rider they lye down and rise again at pleasure as other beasts do they are most docible creatures doing almost whatsoever their Keeper commands them If hee bid one of them afright a man hee will make towards him as if hee would tread him in peeces and yet when hee comes at him do him no hurt If hee bid him abuse or disgrace a man hee will take dirt or kennel-water in his trunk and dash it in his face c. Their trunks are long grissely snouts hanging down betwixt their teeth which as a hand they make use of upon all occasions Some Elephants the great Mogul keeps for execution of malefactors who being brought to suffer death by that mighty beast if the Keeper bid him dispatch the offender presently hee will immediatly with his foot pash him in peeces If hee bid him torture him slowly hee will break his joynts by degrees one after another as men are broken upon the wheel An English Merchant of good credit being at Adsmeer a City where the great Mogul then was saw a great Elephant daily brought through the Market-place where an Hearb-woman used to give him an handful of herbs as hee passed by This Elephant afterwards being mad brake his chains and took his way through the Market-place the people being affrighted hasted to secure themselves amongst whom was this Hearb-woman who through fear and haste forgat her little childe The Elephant comming to the place where shee usually sate stopt and seeing a childe lye about her hearbs took it up gently with his Trunk and without harm laid it upon a stall hard by and then proceeded in his furious course Idem p. 1472. The Males Testicles lye about his forehead the Females teates are betwixt her fore legs they carry their young two years in their wombs conceive but once in seven years they are thirty years before they come to their full growth and fulfil the accustomed age of a man before they dye As Pyrrus King of Epyrus was assaulting the City of Argos one of of his Elephants called Nicon i. e. Conquering being entred the City perceiving that his governour was stricken down to the ground from his back with terrible blows ran upon them that came back upon him overthrowing friends and foes one in anothers neck till at length having found the body of his slain Master hee lift him up from the ground with his trunk and carrying him upon his two tushes returned back with great fury treading all under feet whom hee found in his way Plut. In vita Pyrri The Lion hath the Jackall for his Usher which is a little black shag-haired beast of the bigness of a Spaniel which when the evening comes hunts for his prey and comming on the foot follows the scent with open crye to which the Lion as chief Hunt gives diligent ear following for his advantage If the Jackall set up his chase before the Lion comes in hee howles out mainly and then the Lion seizeth on it making a grumbling noise whilst his servant stands by barking and when the Lyon hath done the Jackall feeds on the relicks Idem p. 1575. See more afterwards Example seventeen The Panther hath a very sweet smell so that other Beasts are much taken therewith but they are terrified with the ugly deformity of his face and therefore as hee goes hee hides that part between his legs and will not look towards them till hee hath gotten them within his compasse which when hee hath done hee devours them without mercy so deals the Devil with wicked men strewing their way to Hell with variety of worldly delights and profits the thorns of afflictions must not touch their flesh nor hells terrors come within their thoughts till hee hath made them past feeling than hee devours them Plin. nat Hist. L. 8 C. 17. The Rhynoceros is so called because of the horn in his nose hee is a large beast as big as our fairest Oxe in England His skin lyeth plated and as it were in wrinkles upon his back Their Horn Teeth Claws yea flesh and blood are good against poyson which as is conceived proceeds from the Herbs which they feed on in Bengala where are most store of them The Camelopardalus is the highest of Beasts so that a man on horseback may ride upright under his belly his neck is long so that hee usually feedeth upon the leaves of trees his colour is white and speckled his hinder legs are shorter than his former so that he cannot graze but with difficulty P. Pil. p. 1381. He is also called a Jaraff In India is a certain beast called a Buffelo which is very large hath a thick and smooth skin but without hair She gives
of the situation of Utrecht in the Low-Countries Utrecht in the Low-Countries is so situated that one may go to what Town hee please of fifty that lye round about it in one day And in a Summers day if one go early from Utrecht he may dine at any one of twenty six Towns where he pleaseth and return to his own house to Supper Idem p. 200. Trajan built a Bridge over the River Ister or Danow containing twenty Arches each Arch being one hundred and fifty foot high sixty thick and one hundred and seventy foot distant one from another So that the whole length of it was four thousand seven hundred and seventy feet which was almost a mile long The River was very deep and swift and the bottome not firm ground neither could the stream be diverted any other way all which made the work farre more difficult and admirable Ancus Martius the fourth King of Rome built a woodden Bridge over the River Tybur yet without nails or pins so that in times of war it might be taken down Afterwards Aemilius the Consul built it of stone And Lastly Antoninus Pius the Emperor built it of Marble FINIS Soli Deo Gloria A TABLE OF THE Principal things contained IN THE Geographical part of this Book A General description of Asia Page 1. A more particular description of it Page 3. Cappadocia described Page 3. Galatia described Page 3. Pontus and Bithinia described Page 3. Paphlagonia described Page 4. Asia propria described Page 4. Phrygia major described Page 4. Phrygia minor described Page 4. Jonia described Page 5. Doris described Page 5. Pamphilia described Page 5. Armenia minor described Page 5. Canaan described Page 5. Galilee described Page 6. Samaria described Page 7. Syria described Page 12. Persian Empire described Page 14. Armenia major described Page 22. Media described Page 23. Parthia described Page 24. Hircania described Page 24. Arabia described Page 24. Tartaria described Page 25. Cyprus described Page 27. Rhodes described Page 28. Malabar described Page 28. Zeilan described Page 29. Coromandel described Page 30. Socotera described Page 31. Narsinga described Page 32. Malacca described Page 33. Siam described Page 33. Pegu described Page 35. Sumatra described Page 36. Java major described Page 36. Celebes Islands described Page 37. Molucco Islands Bandaneza's Islands Borneo Japan Page 37. China described Page 38. Industan described Page 43. Bengala described Page 49. Cambaia described Page 50. Philippine Islands described Page 50. Mauritius Island described Page 51. A general description of Affrica Page 51. Affrican Islands described Page 54. A more particular description of Affrica Page 54. Egypt described Page 54. Barbary described Page 61. Tunis described Page 62. Algier described Page 62. Fesse and Morocco described Page 63. Numidia and Libia described Page 65. Land of Negroes described Page 66. Country of the Mandingos described Page 67. Aethiopia inferior described Page 69. Aian described Zandzibar described Cafraria described Page 69. Cape of Good Hope described Page 69. Sofala described Page 71. Monomopata described Page 71. Congo or Manicongo described Page 71. Loango described Page 72. Aethiopia superior described Page 73. Islands in the Red-sea described Page 76. Madagascar described Page 77. Mohelia described Page 78. St. Hellens Island described Page 78. St. Thomas Island described Page 78. Princes Island described Page 79. Cape verde described Page 79. Maio Island described Page 79. Canary Islands described Page 80. Malta described Page 87.80 A general Description of Europe Page 81. The Islands in Europe described Page 84. Samothracia described Lemnos described Page 84. Lesbos described Chios described Euboea described Sporades described Cyclades described Crete described Page 85. Cythera described Strophades described Zant. described Echidnades described Cephalenia described Corfu described Scicily described Page 86. Corsica described Sardinia described Page 87. Majorca described Minorca described Cales described Page 88. England described Page 88. Wales described Page 106. Scotland described Page 106. Ireland described Page 108. Isle of Man described Page 111. Azores Islands described Page 111. Spain described Page 112. Portugal described Page 115. Pirenean Mountaines described Page 116. France described Page 116. The Alps described Page 121. Italy described Page 121. The Roman Triumphs described Page 129. Belgia or the Netherlands described Page 138. Germany described Page 142. Switzerland described Page 144. Bohemia described Page 146. Denmark described Page 148. Norway described Page 149. Swethland described Page 150. Muscovy described Page 151. The State of the Emperor described Page 153. The Permians and Samoeds described Page 154. Lapland described Page 154. Poland described Page 155. Hungary described Page 157. Dacia described Page 157. Sclavonia described Page 158. Greece described Page 158. Peloponesus described Page 159. Achaia described Page 160. Epirus described Albania described Macedonia described Thessaly described Page 161. Migdonia described Thracia described Page 162. The Turkish Empire described Page 166. America described Page 169. Mexico or New Spain described Page 171. Quivira described Nova Albion described Florida described Virginia described Page 172. Florida more fully described Page 173. Peruana and the Countryes therein described Page 174. Magellanick Streights described Page 180. American Islands described Page 180. Jamica described Cuba described Bermudae described Page 182. Hispaniola described Page 183. Newfound-land described Page 184. New-Scotland described Page 185. Groenland described Page 185. Spaniards cruelty to the poor Indians Page 186. Examples of the wonderful works of God in the Creatures Page 191. Of strange Stones Page 191. A moving hill Page 192. ex 8. Merlins Cave Page 192. ex 9. Earth turning wood into stone Page 192. ex 10. Wood and stones with Lozenges in them Page 193. ex 13. Stones with stars in them Page 193. ex 14.17 Burning Mountains Page 193. ex 15. Of a City petrified Page 193. Of strange Trees Hearbs Plants and Gums Page 194. Of strange Fountains Rivers and Waters Page 202. Of strange Fishes Page 207. Of strange Fowls and Birds Page 212. Of strange Beasts and Serpents Page 215. Of strange costly and stupendious works done by the Art of Man Page 221. The chiefest Cities in the World mentioned and described Cities in Asia NIce where the Council was held Page 3. Nicomedia Page 3. Apamia now Bursa Page 3· Chalcedon where a Council was held Page 3. Troy described Page 4· Cyzicus Page 4· Halicarnassus Page 5· The Chief Cities in Canaan Page 6· Hierusalem described Page 7. Nineve described Page 10. Babylon described Page 10. Tower of Babylon described Page 12. Bagdat described Page 12. Antioch described Damascus described Aleppo described Tripolis described Page 13. Scandaroon now Alexandretta Page 14. Lar described Page 15. Shyraz described Page 16. Persepolis described Spahawn described Page 17. Casbine described Page 20. Tauris described Derbent described Hyspaan described Page 21. Casan described Page 22. Callecut described Page 29. Negapatan described Page 30. Goa described Amadavar described Page 31. Ormus described Bisnagar described Mesulipatan described Page
though the Plague rage never so much as many times it doth yet upon that very day wherein Sol enters into Leo which is usually the twelfth or thirteenth day of July it immediately ceaseth and all that are then sick amend and such as are then come abroad need fear no further danger The Turks call Aleppo Halep which signifies milk because it yeilds great store of milk It s usuall here with many Christians to take a woman of the Country provided shee bee not a Turk for its death for a Christian to meddle with them and when they have bought them to enroll them in the Cadi's book and so to use them as wives at bed and board while they sojourn there and then at their departure to leave them to shift for themselves and children Tripolis is a City on the main land of Syria neer unto Mount Libanus which is a Mountain of three days journey in length reaching from Trypolis to Damascus The Christians which dwell upon this Mountain are called Maronites they are a very simple and ignorant People yet civil kind and curteous to strangers There are now few Cedars growing here only in one place there are four and twenty growing together they are tall and as big as the greatest Oaks with diverse rows of branches one over another stretching strait out as though they were kept by Art There is no place in all the VVorld wherein they speak the Syriack tongue naturally at this day but only in four villages on this mountain which are Eden Hatcheeth Shany and Boloza Neer unto Tripolis there is a gallant plain of about a mile in length full of Olive and Fig-trees Scandaroon by Christians called Alexandretta is in the very bottome of the Straights The Air is very unwholsome and infects those that stay any time there occasioned by two high mountains which keep away the Sunne from it for a great part of the day the water also neer the Town is very unwholsome Here our Merchants land their goods and send them by Caravan upon Camels to Aleppo distant about three days journey Here are many Jackalls which in the night make a great crying and comming to a grave where a Corse hath been buried the day before if the grave bee not well filled with many great stones upon it they will scrape up the Earth and devour the corps Mr. Bidulphs Travels The Empire of Persia Described Persia at this day hath many famous Provinces subjected to her Command as Persia Parthia Media Hyrcania Bactria Sogdiana Evergeta Arâ—a Drangiana Margiana Paropamisa Caramania Gedrosia Susiana Arabia Chaldea Mesopotamia Armenia Iberia and Mengrellia twenty Noble Kingdomes of old The whole Empire is bounded East West North and South with India Arabia the Caspian and Persian Seas In length from East to West is one thousand three hundred and twenty miles and in breadth from North to South it s One thousand four hundred fourscore and eight miles So that the whole Circuit is about Four thousand miles the Revenues of the Persian King amount yearly to the sum of one million and one hundred and ninty thousand pounds sterling The Persians are usually big-boned strong straight and proper Of an Olive colour the women paint the men love Arms and all love Poetry No part of their body is allowed hair the upper lip excepted where it grows long and thick they turn it downwards the meaner sort reserve a lock in the middest of their head by which they believe Mahomet will pluck them up into Paradise Their eyes are black their foreheads high and their Noses hooked upon their heads they wear Shashes of great rowls of Calico silk and gold the higher the more beautiful They wear no bands their outside garment is usually of Calico stitched with silk quilted with Cotton the better sort have them farre richer of silk silver and gold their sleeves are straight and long their garment reaches to the Calf of the leg their wasts are girt with Towels of silk and gold very long next their skin they wear smocks of Cotton very short their breeches and stockings are sowed together from the ankle to the shooes they are naked their shooes have no latchets sharp at the toes and turn upward Circumcision is so necessary that without it none can call himself a Mussulman Both men and women use it the women at any time from nine to fifteen the men at twelve which was Ishmaels age when Abraham circumcised him whom they make their progenitor Their ordinary houshold furniture is a Pan a Platter and a Carpet their diet is soon drest and as soon eaten their Table is the ground covered with a Carpet over which they spread a Pintado cloth before each man they lay four or six thin Cakes of Wheat for every one a wooden spoon their handles almost a yard long and huge big mouthes Their only meat is Pelo dressed after diverse manners It consists of Rice Mutton and Hens boiled together to which they adde various sauces c. Their drink is Sherbet made of fair water sugar Rosewater and juice of Lemmons mixt together The chief Cities in Persia described The City of Lar described Lar is the chief City in the Province of Larestan It s not walled about In that Art is needlesse the lofty Rock so naturally defending her shee hath a brave Castle on the North Quarter mounted upon an imperious Hill not only threatning an enemy but awing the Town with her frowninâ— posture the ascent is narrow and steep the Castle of good stone the walls are furnished with good battlements whereon are mounted twelve brasse Cannons and two Basilisks the spoils of Ormus within the walls are one hundred houses stored with souldiers who have there a gallant Armory able to furnish with Lance Bow and Gun three thousand men The Buzzar or Market-place is a gallant Fabrick the materials a good Chalkie-stone long strong and beautiful It s covered a top arched and containing in it a Burse or Exchange wherein the shops are stored with variety of wares the walk from North to South is a hundred and seventy paces from East to West one hundred and sixty the Oval in the Center is about one hundred and ninety The Mosques or Churches are not many One especially is round figuring eternity in some places engraven with Arabick letters and painted with knots and in other places with Mosaick fancies It s low and without glasse windows woodden trellizes excellently cut after their manner supplying that want Here are the fairest Dates Orenges Lemmons and Pomecitrons in all Persia at easy rates you may have Hens Goats Rice Rache and Aquavitae The Inhabitants are for the most part naked being a mixture of Jews and Mahumetans their habit is only a wreath of Calico tyed about their heads a cloth about their loins and sandals on their feet the rest naked Herb. Trav. Shyraz described Shyraz is at this day the second City for magnificence in the Persian Monarchy It 's watered by