Aragon It is a woodless Champain Countrey or Field naturally fenced about with Trees The chief Cities of this Kingdome are 1. Victoria 2. Viana 3. Sanguessa 4. Pampelune the strength of which City is made use of by the Spaniard as a Bulwark against France whose King hath the title though not the possession of it Corduba This Kingdome comprehendeth Andaluzia the Countreys of Granada and Estremedura This is the most rich and fertil Countrey in all Spain the chief City is Corduba Hence comes our true Cordovan-Leather made of the skin of a Sardinian Beast and near unto this City is a Wood of thirty miles in length 2. Xeres whence cometh our Sherry Sack 3. Sevil the fairest City in all Spain it is in compass six miles invironed with beautifull Walls and adorned with magnificent and stately Buildings Hence come our Sevil-Oranges 4. Granada from whence come our true Granada Stockings 5. Mallaca from hence come our Mallaca Sacks 6. Almeria a great Haven Town 7. Guadalcanal famous for her Mines of gold silver Gallicia Gallicia hath on the East Asturia West and North the Sea and South the River Nimius This Countrey is very mountainous and almost inaccessible The chief Cities are Compostella the Seat of an Archbishop called St. Jago in honour of St. James who lyeth buried here 2. Baionna 3. Coronna Biscay Biscay is betwixt Navarr East old Castile South Leon West and the Cantabrean Ocean North. The chief Cities are 1. Tholosa 2. St. Sebastians 3. Fonterabia 4. Bilbo from whence come our best Blades called Bilbo Blades It is a Town of great traffick and great riches the Countrey is mountainous and woody out of whose Hills arise 150 Rivers of which Iberus and Duerus are chief Tolledo Tolledo is now accounted part of new Castile and extendeth over the South-East of Castile now call'd Campo de Calatrava and so downward toward Murcia The chief Cities of it are 1. Tolledo seated on the River Tagus is passing well inhabited as well of Noblemen who reside there for pleasure as of Merchants who resort thither for Commodity It is now the Seat of an Archbishop who are the chief Prelates of Spain their revenue amounting to 300000 Crowns yearly The second is Calatrava seated on the River Ava The third is Talboia seated on Tagus a very neat Town Murcia Murcia is invironed with Tolledo West Granada South Valentia North and the Mediterranean Sea The chief Towns are 1. Alicante from whence comes our true Alicante Wines made of the juice of Mulberries 2. Murcia on the River Segourg 3. Nova-Carthago Castile Castile is bounded on the East with Navarr Aragon and Tolledo West with Portugal North with Asturia and South with Andaluzia It is divided into the old and new Old Castile The old Castile is situate on the North of the new The chief Cities are 1. Soria 2. Segovia a Town famous for Cloathing 3. Valadolis here is a Colledge for the education of young English Fugitives 4. Salamanca the famousest Academy of this Countrey New Castile It is on the South of the old The chief Cities are 1. Madrid the Kings Seat 2. Alcala 3. Alcantara Portugal This Kingdome is about 320 miles long and 60 broad the Air is very healthfull the Countrey for the most part hilly and bare of Corn which defect is recompenced with abundance of Honey Wine Oyl Allum Fruits Fish white Marble Salt Note that Portugal is at present under a King of their own The chief Cities are 1. Lisbon upon Tagus a famous City for traffick it is in compass seven miles and contains 20000 Houses all of neat and elegant building 2. Miranda 3. Braga the Metropolis of Portugal 4. Conimbra Porto or Portus Galloram Valentia Valentia is invironed with Aragon Castile Murcia and the Sea The chief Cities are Valentia giving name to the whole Countrey 2. Cullera a Sea-Town standing at the mouth of the River Kucar 3. Segorbe Catelogne Catelogne is between Iberus South Aragon West the Sea East and Pyrenean Mountains North. The chief Cities of it are Tyronne the title of the Aragonian Prince seated on the River Betulus and 2. Barcelone Aragon Aragon hath on the East Catte West Castile North Navarr and South Valentia The River Iberus runneth through the middle of the Countrey The chief Cities of it are 1. Lerida seated on the River Cinga 2. Moson 3. Tordesillo and 4. Saragossa Thus much of Spain The Pyrenean Hills Betwixt Spain and France are the Mountains call'd Pyrenei and are that neck of Land which tyeth Spain to the Continent the highest part whereof is Mount Canus whereon if one stand in a clear day he may see both the Seas The French side of these Hills is naked and barren the Spanish very fertil and adorned with Trees On this side standeth the Roncevals so famous for the Battel betwixt the French-men and the Moors in which 20000 of the French were put to rout together with Rowland Cousin to Charles the Great France FRance is bounded on the North with Low-Germany on the North-west it is washed with the British Ocean on the West with the Aquitain Sea on the South it is thwarted by the Pyrenean Mountains which part it from Spain being toward the East-lickt with the Mediterranean Sea and on the full East the Alpes divide it from Italy The figure of it is almost square each side of the Quadrature containing 600 miles Situation The Air hereof in the Northern part of France is purer than that of England and being not covered with Clouds drawn out of the Sea as England is for that cause it becomes more cold in Winter and more hot in Summer and far less annoyed with mists and rainy weather But the parts of France lying towards the Pyrenei and near the Equinoctial Line are subject to intemperate yet often allayed by the Winds blowing from the Sea and by the shadow of the Mountains Fertility It aboundeth with all manner of good Fruits beside store of fresh Fish but the chiefest things which draw forrein Coyns unto them are four especially Wine Salt Linnen coarce Cloth and Corn. They have plenty of Flax and Hemp whereof they make Canvâ—s Sails Ropes and Cables neither want they Wool whereof they make Cloth though not in quantity to be exported It also yields Saffron and Oad for Dying besides other things of less moment Natures and manners of the peâ—ple The French are very various and unconstant and in nothing more they shew it than in their familiarity with whom a stranger cannot be so soon at his House but he will be acquainted with him and as suddenly without occasion loose him again Also they are great scoffers and cannot away with patience and modesty Likewise he is wondrous talkative so willing is he to make himself ridiculous Diet. As well the Gentlemen as the Citizens live more sparingly than the English in
their ordinary private Diet. They dine most with sodden and liquid meats and sup most with roast but their feasts are more sumptuous than ours and consist for the most part of made fantastical meats and Sallets and sumptuous Compositions rather than of flesh or Birds Their temperancy I cannot commend for besides dinners and suppers they use Breakfasts and Bevers which they call Collations and Gouster so eating four times a day Apparel In general Men and Women excepting Courtiers and some of the Gentry wear light stuffs and rather delicate than sumptuous Garments Your Countrey people wear close Dublets with large Breeches with a large Coat hanging down to their knees all of light stuffs and their Wives in like sort attired have their Heads all over wrapped in linnen Buildings Concerning their Buildings they are magnificent and stately for in general all the Towns and Cities in France are fairer than ours in England Provinces The divers Provinces of this Kingdome are many of which are Picardy Normandy the Isle of France Beavois Poictu Aquitain Bretaign Daulphin Languedock Provence Champaigne Burgundy Of these in order Picardy Picardy is invironed with Normandy Belgium Champaigne and the Sea It is divided into the higher and lower in the higher are the Towns of Calice distant from Dover about 28 or 30 miles 2. Bullen taken by our Henry the Eight In the lower Picardy are S. Quineus Abenile and Amiens Noâ—mandy Normandy hath on the South Main and the Isle of France East the River Some and other parts the Ocean This Dukedome contains divers fair Cities and Towns the chief whereof are 1. Constance 2. Cane 3. Bayeux The chief Haven-Towns are Harflew Deepe and New-Haven Isle of France This Isle is sited in the circlings and confluences of Seine and other petty Brooks The chief City of it is Paris the Metropolis of all France the circuit of which excluding the suburbs is said to be six miles The buildings of this City is for the most part stately of unpolished stone with the out-side plastered and rough cast and the Houses for the most part are four stories high and in some places six The streets are somewhat large and among them the fairest is that of St. Dennis the 2. St. Honore the 3. St. Antonie and the 4. St. Martine The Market-places which are in this City are 11 in number The chiefest building in this City is the Cathedral Church of the blessed Virgin vulgarly call'd Notredam It is supported with 120 pillars whereof 108 are less and 12 very great being all of free-stone The Chauncel is in the midst of the Church which hath 174 walking paces in length and 60 in breadth It hath 45 Chappels in the circuit thereof which are shut with grates of iron In the front it hath 2 double doors with fair statues of 28 Kings Upon the sides are 4 Towers or Belfreys 34 cubits high The greatest Bell called S. Mary requires 24 Men to ring it The second Town of note is S. Dennis â— Charenton Here is in this Isle the royal Palace of Fountain-bleau the fairest House not of France but as they say of all Christendome Labeausse This Province hath on the East France or the Isle West Main North No mandy and South the Loyre The chief Cities are 1. Estampes 2. Chartres The third and principal City of it is Orleance It is seated on the Loyre and is one of the most pleasantest Cities in all France Poictou Poictou hath on the North Brittain and Anjou East the Dukedome of Berry South Xamtoign and Guieon West the Aquitain Sea The chief Cities are Poicters seated on the River Claive being next to Paris for greatness 2. Mailsay 3. Lasson Aquitain Aquitain containeth the Provinces of Gascoign and Xantoign It is bounded with the Pyrenean Hills the Aquitain Ocean and the Garond The chief Cities are 1. Tholouse 2. Bourdeaux a Town famous by the general concourse of Merchants trading for French Wines Bretaigne Bretaigne is invironed with Main Tourein and the Sea The chief Cities hereof are 1. Nantes on the Loyre 2. Rhenes 3. S. Breine 4. Rhoan seated on the North side of the River Seine partly in a plain partly on the side of Hills and the building is for the most part of free-stone Daulphine Daulphine is environed with Avergn West Provence South Savoy East and Bress North. The chief Cities are 1. Lyons a famous Mart-Town and University 2. Valence 3. Vienna Languedock Is almost encompassed with the Pyrenean Hills The chief Cities are 1. Narbon 2. Montpelier seated on the side and is an University Berry This Countrey is invironed with Poictu Toureine Labeause Champaign Bourbon and Limosin The chief City is Burges The Citizens at six Fairs in the year sell great quantity of woollen Cloth 2. Sancerre 3. Argent Tourein On the South-East of Anjou betwixt it and Berry lyeth Toureine The chief City of it is Tours 2. Amboys 3. Bloys Provence Provence is invironed with Languedock Daulphine Piedmont and the Mediterranean Sea The principal Towns are 1. Marseilles a famous Mart-Town 2. Aix 3. Arles the Metropolis of the Burgundian Kingdome 4. Aveignon a very fair City seated on the Rhosne famous in that it was the seat of the Popes for 70 years Champaign Champaigne so called because it is a Champain Countrey It is invironed with Picardy Belgium Lorraine the Burgundy Berry Bourbon and the Isle The chief Cities are 1. Rheims 2. Treys 3. Brir and 4. Chalons Within Rheims is a Colledge for the education of young English fugitives Burgundy Dutchy This Dutchy is invironed with Champaigne the County of Bress and Bourbonoys The chief Cities are 1. Digion 2. Autum 3. Beaulne where there is an Hospital equal to the Palace of any Prince in Europe Labress On the South-East of Burgundy Dutchy and North of Savoy is the Countrey of Labress The chief Towns of it are 1. Castilion 2. Monkeal and 3. Bourge an exceeding strong Town Within the limits of France are four Provinces which as yet acknowledge not the French Command viz The 1. Seignury of Geneva 2. Savoy 3. Lorrain and 4. the County of Burgundy Burgundy County THis County is invironed with Champaign Lorrain Switzerland Bress and the Dutchy The length of it is 90 miles the breadth 60. The people are much renowned for warlike affairs marching under the colours of divers Princes under the name of Walloons The Ground is so exceeding fertil that as France may be call'd the Garden of Europe so this may be accounted the fairest flower of that Garden The chief City is Besanson the Metropolis of both the Burgundies 2. Dole a Town for strength riches and beauty to be prefer'd before any in Burgundy 3 Salines rich in salt-Fountains 4. Castillion Here also are more than 26 walled Towns and 160 Lordships Lorrain THis Dukedome is compassed about with part of Belgium Alsatia the County
Italy It hath 3 fair broad and long streets namely La Toletano la Lapuana and la Vicaria the rest are very narrow There be 8 Gates towards Land and as many towards Sea amongst which the Capuan Gate is decked with Monuments and Statuaes There be in this City many Palaces of Gentlemen Barons and Princes There be 4 publick Houses call'd Segii in which the Princes and Gentlemen have yearly meetings and there also is the daily meeting of Merchants The exceeding delightfull having Gardens on all sides as well within the City as near the same and the Fields are no less fruitfull bringing forth abundantly all things for the use of Man Also within this Territory are many famous Antiquities and wonderfull things to be seen 2. Capua This City is of little compass but it hath a fair Senate House and a fair Church callâ—d l'Annonciata with a fair Altar 3. Cuma the oldest City in all Italy 4. Baiae an ancient City The situation is most sweet but all the Houses near the shore are drowned except the Bathes 5. Nola built on the ruines of Old Forma Calabria Calabria is another Region belonging to the Kingdom of Naples It is bounded with the River Iano the Tyrrene and Ionian Seas It is in compass about 500 miles and is divided into the higher and lower In the higher the chief Cities are 1. Consensia 2. Salernum famous for the study of Physick In the lower is Caterzara a strong City Otranto Otranto hath on the West Puglia and on the other 3 parts the Sea The chief Towns are 1. Tarentum 2. Brundusium glorying in one of the best Havens in the world 3. Otranto 4. Gallipolis Apulia Apulia This Province extendeth from the confines of Brunduse to the River Fortore It is divided into 2 Provinces the one call'd Bari the other Puglia The chief City is Manfredoin it lyeth under the Hill St. Angelo Puglia Puglia is another Province of this Kingdom It is bounded with the River Fortore and the River Tronto It is a fruitfull Countrey in the midst rough and mountainous The chief Cities of it are 1. Barlet 2. Cannae the wealth thereof consists in Cattel and Saffron Abruzzo Abruzzo is another Province in this Kingdom The chief Cities of it are 1. Aquino the birth-place of Thomas Aquinus 2. Sulmo Ovid's birth-place The Papacy THe Estate of the Pope is twofold the one consisteth in his temporal dominion the other in his spiritual jurisdiction As touching his temporal dominion he is Lord of a great part of Italy as of all that lyeth between the River Fiore and Cajetta between Preneste and the Truentian Streights except the Dukedom of Vrbin In that compass are incircled the Provinces of Romandiola Marchia Spoletto and St. Peters Patrimony Romandiola This Province extendeth from the Rubicon East to the Venetians West The chief Cities are 1. Bgononia the chief University of Italy and the retiring place of the Popes 2 Ferrara This City is seated in a plain and compassed with a fenny bank and is of a triangular form In the of the City is a large Market-place The Streets are broad and very dirty in winter and no less subject to dust in the summer The Houses are built of free-stone and not near one to another but with pleasant Gardens between The whole circuit of this City is said to contain 7 miles 3. Ravenna This is a most ancient City the buildings hereof are of Brick and Flint-stone and are so old as they seem ready to fall On the East-side the Sea lyes some 2 Italian miles distant where is the Haven for Ships so much spoken of in the Roman Histories Marchia Marchia reacheth from Tronto to Puglia between the Apenine and the Sea It is divided into little Hills and plains It is rich in Wine Oyl and Corn. The City of greatest trading is Ancona by reason of the Haven to which many Eastern Merchants do resort It is a very fair City encompassed with three Mountains and hath the form of an half Moon The streets of it are narrow and ill paved with flint The Haven is of a triangular form about which is pleasant walking and the place where Merchants meet called la Loggia lying upon the Sea is a most sweet open room but narrow 2. Ascoli a very fair City and 3. Firmo a strong City Spoletto Spoletto of old called Vmbria The chief Cities of it are 1. Spoletto 2. Onietto seated on a high Rock 3. Asis where S. Francis was born This Province is abundantly stored with Wine Cattel and some Saffron St. Peters Patrimony This Province contains all Latium or Campagna di Roma In this Countrey are the Mountains called Gallicanum The chief City is Rome seated on Tyber It is in compass 11 miles within which is not a little waste ground The Inhabitants are about 200000 2 parts of them being Clergy-men and Curtezans The most worthy places in it are the Church of St. Peter which were it once finished would be the rarest building in the world Then the Castle of St. Angelo impregnable unless by famine Next the Popes Palace called Betuidere And lastly the Library of the Hill Vatican called commonly the Vatican Library 2. Tiber. 3. Preneste 4. Veii a City of great wealth and compass The Commonwealth of Venice IN the very bottome of the Adriatick called at this day the Gulf of Venice is a ridge of Land reaching from the Lime-kilns called by them Fornaci to the mouth of the River Pi in form of a Bow and containeth inlength 35 miles and in breadth 2 where it is broadest This Ridge is cut into 7 principal Islands the Ports of Brondolo Chiozzo Malam Occo of the 3 Castles of St. Erasmus the Lito Maggiore and the Troports Between the part of this Ridge call'd Lito and the Continent standeth the Lake of Venice in compass 90 miles and in this Lake is seated the City of Venice upon 72 Islands distant from the shore 2 miles and from the firm Land 5. This stately City is in compass 8 miles and hath 70 Parishes wherein each Church hath a little Market-place for the most part four square and a publick Well for the common sort use Well-water and Rain-water kept in cisterns It hath 31 Cloisters of Monks and 28 of Nuns besides Chappels and Alms-houses Channels of water pass through this City consisting of many Islands so that a Man may pass to what place he will both by land and water The great Channel is in length about 1300 paces and in breadth 40 and hath only one Bridge called Rialto The passage by this Channel is very pleasant being adorned on both sides with stately Palaces And that Men may pass speedily besides this Bridge there be 13 places called Traghetti where Boats attend called Gondotr which being of incredible number give ready passage to all Men. The rest of the Channels be narrow and over them is many Bridges to be
licentiousness of the Souldiers They have divers kinds of Grain as Wheat the Grain call'd Milet Bâ—…y Oats Rye Pease and all kâ—…s of Pulse which for the kinds are like those of â—urope but for the bigness 〈…〉 preferred befor◠〈…〉 the Fields They have good plenty of all kinds of Cattel yet are they no more industrious in graâ—ing and feeding than in sowing and planting They have Hens Ryce Honey Fruits and Bread for daily food they desire no other dainties nor greater riches since they can neither enjoy their Goods while they live nor yet bequeath them at death and nothing is more dangerous than to be accounted rich Natures of the people The Turks are generally well complexioned of good stature proportionably compacted no idle talkers no doers of things superfluous hot and venerious servile to their Emperour and zealous in Religion They nourish no Hair on their Heads and therefore keep on of all sides counting it an opprobrious thing to see any uncover their Head In their familiar salutations they use to lay their Hands on their Bosome and a little decline their bodies but when they accost a Person of Rank they bow almost down to the ground and kiss the hem of his Garment They prefer as they pass the Streets thâ—â—eft hand before the right as being master of his Sword with whom they walk The Women are small of stature for the most part ruddy clear and smooth as never ruffled with the weather and often frequenting the Baths they seldome go abroad and then masked lascivious within doors pleasing in matters of incontinency and they are accounted most beautifull which have the greatest Eyes and are of the blackest hue These Women live in great awe and respect of their Husbands never sitting with him at the table but waiting till he hath done and then withdrawing into some by-room Diet. In their Diet they are very sparing and negligent not using any pomp or magnificence The richer sort sit like Taylors bending with their knees upon Carpets or on the Grass and their table is so low that they may well reach it sitting on the ground they use no Knives but seethe their Meat untill it be very tender that they may break it with their fingers neither have they variety of Dishes but one all sitting in a round circle fall upon one Dish and talk not whilst they eat but silently fall hard to work All the Turkish Houshold-stuff consists in one poor Pot to seethe Meat in one Spoon of wood one Cup of leather or wood to drink in a poor Bed or Mattress yea often a single Coverled and the Earth serves them for Bedstead Table and Stools Of those Countreys which the Turks term Romania anciently known by the Names of Greece and Dacia GReece is bounded on the East with the Aegean Sea the Hellespont Propontis and Thrace Bosphorus on the West with Italy and the Adriatick Sea on the North with the Mountain Hamus and on the South the Ionian Sea The situation of this Countrey is in the Northern temperate Zone under the five and six Climates Natures oâ— the Greeks The Greeks were once brave Men sound Scholars and addicted to the love of virtue and civil behaviour but now are they an unconstant People destitute of learning and the means to obtain it uncivil riotous and so lazy that for the most part they endeavour their profit no further than their Belly compells them The Women for the most part are brown-complexioned exceedingly well-favoured and excessively amorous Painting they use very much to keep themselves in grace with their Husbands for when they once grow wrinkled they are put to all the drudgery of the House The more natural Commodities that this Countrey affords and from hence are transported into other Countreys are Wine Oyl Copper Vitriol some Gold and Silver Velvets Damasks and Tarquess-Grograms The ordinary division of this Countrey is into Peloponesus Acbaia Epirus Albania Macedonia and Thessalia Migdonia and Thracia Peloponesus Peloponesus is a Peninsula rounded with the Sea except where it is tyed to the main Land of Greece by an Isthmus of six miles in breadth This Peninsula is in compass 600 miles and is at this day called Morea In this Countrey are contained the Provinces of Aelis Messenia Arcadia Laconia Argolis and Achaia propria 1. The Countrey of Elis hath East Arcady West the Ionian Sea North Achaia propria and South Messenia The chief Cities are 1. Elis. 2. Olympicum famous for the Statue of Jupiter Olympus one of the seven wonders being in height 60 cubits composed of Gold and Ivory 2. Messenia hath East Arcady North Elis South and West the Sea It takes name from the Metropolis Messene now called Golfo di Coron 2. Pilon now Navarino 3. Arcadia hath East Laconia West Elis and Messene and North Achaia propria The chief Cities are 1. Psophis 2. Mantinea 3. Megalopolis 4. Laconia hath East and South the Sea North Argolis and West Arcadia The chief Cities are 1. Lacedemon once a famous Commonwealth 2. Thalana nigh unto which is the Lake Lerna where Hercules slew the Monster Hydra and the Mount Tenarus from whence he drew the three-headed Dog Cerberus 5. Argolis so called from the chief City Argos It hath East and North the Sea West Achaiapropria and South Laconia The 2d. City is Micene and 3. Nema where Hercules slew the Lions 6. Achaia propria The chief City is Corinth seated at the foot of the Acro Corinthium Hills Achaia Achaia hath on the East the Aegean Sea on the West Epirus on the North Thessaly and South with Peloponesus It is divided into Attica Megaris Boetia Phocis Aetolia Doris and Locris The chief City of this Countrey is Athens seated in Attica This City hath been famous for many things especially 1. For the famous Scholars that are here taught and flourish And 2. For the excellent Souldiers it hath brought forth 2. Megaris is a small Region the chief City was Megaria 3. Boetia is a very large Region the chief City whereof is 1. Thebes built on the Brook Cephisus by Cadmus the Phenician 2. Aulis 3. Platea 4. Phocis the chief Towns whereof were Delphis seated at the foot of the Mountain Pernassus having the Temple of Apollo 5. Locris this is a small Region The chief City is now called Lepanto which once belonged to the Venetian but now to the Turk near unto which the Christian Navy gave a great overthrow to the Turkish Navy 6. Aetolia is divided from Epirus by the River Pindus The chief Towns are 1. Chalcis 2. Thermum the parliament-Parliament-City of all Aetolia 7. Doris pertains to the Region of Locri. The chief Cities are 1. Amphissa Epirus Epirus was once a famous Province and had in it 70 Cities now most of them destroy'd but the chief of the remainder are 1. Antigonia 2. Cassiope 3. Toronna and on the Western part is Nicopolis and Actium Albania Albania hath East Macedonia
Jesuits besides the Castle It is situate in a very unwholsome air yet a Town of great resort unto for Traffâ—ck of Spices 2. Siam whose stateliness giveth name to the whole Kingdom there are besides the Natives 30000 of Arabian Housholds 3. Odia consisting of 400000 Families it is the Seat of the Kings of Brama Patane is also another City standing between Malaca and Siam chief of that Kingdom whereto it giveth name in the height of 7 Degrees The buildings are of Wood and Reed but artificially wrought the Hollanders have had much Trading here of late Pegu. Pegu This Kingdom is blessed with a rich Soyl and a harbourous Sea-shore extending 300 miles in length in which the principal Haven is Martabane As for the City Pegu it is the most fair and elegant City in all India it is distant from the Sea 25 miles This King lives in extraordinary great riches and Majesty he keepeth four Elephants three milk-white and one black all which he divinely worships Thus much of India China CHina hath on the North Catay and the Tartars on the South Cauchin-China on the East the Sea and on the West Brama It reacheth from 17 Degrees to 42 of Northerly Latitude and lyeth after their own description almost four-square On the West it is separated and secure from unneighbourly Nations by a Sandy Wilderness On the North by a Wall which Nature hath framed partly of high Mountains and Art hath supplyed with the nature and industry of men Natures of the people The people are in composition of their body short nosed and small black eyes their beards are thin not having above twenty hairs They are white but not so much as in Europe the men as well as the women suffer their hair to grow long colour it and gather it into a Net or Cawl on the top of their head those which are unmarried wear their hair curled on the top of their foreheads They are for the most part an ingenuous and politick people much delighting in the exercise of manual Arts. The air is very temperate the soyl pleasant and Fertiliâ—y fertil they have two and somewhere three Harvests in a year It aboundeth likewise in Rice Wool Cotton Olives Vines Flax Silk all kinds of Metal Fruits Cattel Sugar Honey Rheubarb Porcelyne Dishes Camphir Ginger all kinds of Spices Wood Musk and Salt The Countrey is for the most part plain in so much that they have Coaches and Carts driven ordinarily with Sails few Mountains but plains of an hundred miles compass Diet. They eat thrice in a day but sparingly not touching their meat with their hands but with two sticks of Ivory Ebony and the like Provinces China is of wonderfull bigness well-nigh equalizing all Europe it is said to be 3000 leagues in compass and 1800 leagues in length As for the name of China it is only used by us the Inhabitants calling themselves Tamans and Tabencos It is divided into 15 Provinces to the least of which our European Countreys cannot admit comparison Six of these border on the Sea Cantan Foquien Chequiam Nanquin Xantam Paquin the other nine be In-land Quiansi Huquam Honan Xiensi Xansi Suchnon Queichen Junan Coansi some reckon these names somewhat differently The King holdeth his Court in Naquin his Predecessors before the Tartarian Conquest are said to have resided in Nanquin or as some say in Quinsay They have 244 Cities of name dignified by the title Fu and as many smaller Cities entituled Cheu with their several Jurisdictions and a third sort called Hieu as big as the meaner Cities of Spain above 1120. Two sorts of Castles both for Fortification and Habitation with priviledges also of Markets the greater sort named Huy 293 the less of greater number 2593 their Villages are innumerable The Cities generally are like one another except in greatness the Streets are strait yielding prospect from one Gate to the other Canton is accounted the least of the Metropolitan Cities yet the Walls of it have 83 Bulwarks the Streets so broad that ten men may ride in front and paved and adorned with many triumphant Arches and Shops on both sides the Bridges here and elsewhere are many of large Free-Stones very costly the High-wayes which lead to the Cities very stately and the Kings Houses for the publick Officers very magnificent after their manner Nanquin is some eight or ten leagues from the Sea with a River leading thither It hath three fair brick-walls with large and stately Gates the Streets are of two leagues or of two and a half in length wide and paved the compass is at least eleven or twelve leagues and containeth by conjecture 200000 houses It equals or exceeds four of the fairest Cities in Europe there are divers other Cities within a dayes journey hereof which are great and famous for Traffick of which Hancheum and Sucheum are chief which are of the Chinians called Paradise for the plenty of all things Sucheum is seated as Venice is having her Streets part by water and part on land so rich in Traffick that 12 millions of Revenue do accrue from hence to the King yearly Quinsay heretofore the Royal Seat of the Kings of Mangi the situation of it is in the midst of China and near the Sea but now this famous City containing heretofore 100 miles in compass having 12000 Bridges and 1600000 Housholds hath bequeathed her Land and greatness unto Nanquin and her Sea-treasures unto Sucheum both succeeding but not together equalling this great and famous City These Cities of China want that elegance and magnificence which stately Temples and sumptuous buildings do afford to our Cities of Europe Their Houses are low without the ornament of Porches Galleries Windows and prospect into the Streets besides these habitations there are many which dwell on Land but in their Ships for their Shipping is of two sorts one for sail and another for habitation also these also meaner or fairer according to the wealth of the Owner In the one side they carry their Families in the other their Passengers Many Barks are as Victualling-houses by the way and likewise as Shops of Merchandize They buy and sell not with Gold but Silver and that not coyned but every one hath his Scales with him to the Market to weigh his Silver and they are subtle and deceitfull if men be not wary Things are there exceeding cheap a hundred pound of Sugar may be bought there for nine or ten sixpences and other things proportionable Tamen This Kingdom is called Tamen and the Inhabitants Tamegines China is a meer stranger in China Revenue The King is absolute Monarch and in Revenue exceedeth all the Princes in Europe and Africk together his whole Revenue being reckoned ariseth together to 150 millions His expences are exceeding great all the Mandarines Eunuchs or Courtiers Souldiers Hospitals and Priests receiving Stipends out of his Exchequer The King hath one Wife but many Concubines whose Children inherit
if the lawfull Wife be barren These women are not suffered to go abroad nor likewise to speak unto their Kinsfolks His Courtiers are Eunuchs whom their poor Parents have gelded in their youth in hope of Courtly preferment of these there are supposed to be in the Court some 16000. Burials When any of these Chinoys dye they clothe him in his best Apparel set him in his best Chair and there all his hindred kneel before him and take their leave with tears when he is Coffined they place him in a room richly furnished and set by him a Table full of Viands and good chear with Candles continually burning and when he hath layn thus 15 dayes he is carried forth to his Funeral where they burn his Body Men Cattle and Provision for his attendance and sustenance Thus much of China and of the Continent of Asia Of Africa AFrica is a Peninsula encompassed almost round with the Red Sea on the East the Atlantick Ocean on the West the Southern Ocean on the South and the Mediterranean on the North. Where the Sea is defective to make it an Island there is a little Isthmus which tyeth it to Asia which is but 60 miles in length The form of Africk is like a Pyramis reversed the Basis whereof is in breadth 1920 miles but from the Pyris to the Basis it extendeth it self 4155 miles being much less than Asia and far bigger than Europe and yet not so well peopled Nature having made here her solitary place of retiring attended here by scorching heats and showers of Sands such are the many Desarts in Africa fertil only in barrenness yet in some places beyond admiration for fertility Many are the Creatures which Africa yieldeth not usual in our parts Elephants are there plenty and keep in great Herds together also Lions Leopards Crocodiles Sea-horses Hyenas and such like The usual division of this Countrey is into Barbary Numidia Lybia the Land of Negros Ethiopia Inferior Ethiopia Exterior Egypt and the Islands Barbary ALl the Tract of Land between Atlas and the Sea stretching in length from Egypt to the Straights is called Barbaria It comprehendeth both Mauritanias Africa minor Lybia exterior besides Cyreniaca and Marmarica Division It is bounded on the East with Cyreniaca West with the Atlantick Ocean North the Mediterranean and South the Hill Atlas It is divided into four Kingdoms Tunis Algier Fez and Morocco all which are of the like fertility and peopled with the like Inhabitants only the Cities speak the Arabick but not pure and the Countrey use the old African tongue Fertility The fertility consists in Fruits Figs Olives Dates Sugar and Horses of excellent beauty strength and service Natures of the People The Men are of a duskish colour comely of body stately of gate implacable in hatred constant in affection laborious and treacherous The Women are sumptuous in Jewels beautifull in blackness having delicate soft skins Tunis Tunis the Kingdom of Tunis containeth all that which the Ancients called Africa propria or minor and Numidia antiqua The Soyl is healthfull especially the West-part the Inhabitants are sound and healthfull seldom vexed with any sickness hereof are reckoned five parts Bugia Constantia Tunis Tripolis and Ezab this Ezab is the most Easterly-part having many Towns and Regions amongst which some account Mesrata from these parts unto Capes is the Tripolitan Region The chief Town is Tripolis where the Turk hath his Bassa or Viceroy a receptacle of the Pirates which rove and rob in those Seas This Region was named so of three Cities whose Colonies planted it Abrotonum Tophia and Leptis from Capes to Guadilbarbar is the Tunetan Territory The chief City is Tunis it is a great City since the ruines of Carthage near unto which it standeth It hath in it about 10000 Housholds it hath many Temples especially one of singular beauty and greatness Bizerta is also an ancient City supposed by some to be Vtica where Cato slew himself from thence unto the Mountain of Constantia is that Region hereof bearing name Constantia is the chief City it is an ancient City containing 8000 Families and many sumptuous Buildings a great Temple two Colledges and three or four Monasteries much resorted to by Merchants every Trade having their peculiar Streets In this Region is situate Bona someime called Hippo where St. Austin was Bishop Bugia so called of Bugia the principal City extends it self 150 miles this Bugia was once adorned with Temples Monasteries Hospitals and Colledges of Students in the Mahumetan Law Ezab is the most Easterly part of the Tunetan Kingdom the chief Province whereof is Mesrata The Inhabitants are rich and pay no tribute there grow Dates and Olives and they traffick with the Numidians to whom they carry the Wares which they buy of the Venetians The Great Turk swayeth with his Ottoman Scepter at this present the Kingdom of Tunis and all Africa from Bellis de Gomora to the Red Sea except that little which the Spaniard hath Algier and Telensin Algier and Telensin these Kingdoms were of old called Mauritanica The Kingdom of Telensin containeth in length from East to West 380 miles in breadth not above 25. It hath two frequented Haven-Towns Oram and Mersalcabir both taken and holden by the Spaniards Oran is a fair City having in it about 10000 Families Algier is subject to the Turks here is the Seat of a Turkish Viceroy or Beglerbeg and of Turkish Rovers It containeth about 4000 Families the Buildings very sumptuous Inns Bath-stones and Temples very beautifull every Occupation hath a several place by it self It hath adjoyning Plains very pleasant and fertil one whereof is 45 miles long and 30 broad it was sometime subject to the Kingdom of Telensin Within these Kingdoms standeth the Desart of Angad wherein are store of Roes Deer and Ostriches Arabian Thieves and Lyons Guaguido and Tegdemit are two Cities belonging to this Kingdom Fez. Fez this Kingdom of Fez stretcheth from Azamor to Tangier and from the Atlantick Ocean to Muldia This River is the Eastern Border on the North it is washed with the Sea on the South is the Kingdom of Morocco and on the West the River Ommicabili the Rivers Sube Luccus and others water it therein are numbred seven Provinces Temesna the Territory of Fez Azgar Elhabet Errif Garet and Chaus every of which had in old times their several Governours The City of Fez is now the Royal Seat it hath this golden title given it because the first day of the foundation of it there was found some quantity of Gold This City is now both great and strong and for the sweet situation of it both Nature and Art have played their parts for it is watered with a delicate River which disperseth it self by manifold channels into every Street and corner of the City and by Conduit-Pipes closely visiting every Temple Colledge Inn Hospital yea and almost every private House from whence with an officious service it
Inhabitants It hath on the East Ethiopia Superior West the Atlantick Ocean North Lybia and South the Kingdom of Manicongo in Ethiopia Inferior Natures of the People The Inhabitants at most want the use of reason most alienate from dexterity of wit and all Arts and Sciences prone to luxury and are for the greater part Idolaters Riches The Countrey is abundantly stored with Gold and Silver very fine and pure The River Niger here as the River Nilus in Egypt overfloweth the adjacent Fields for the space of 40 dayes and in so many more recollects his waters into his proper Channels The chief Provinces or Kingdoms of which here are 25 are Kingdoms or Provinces Gualata this Province was subdued by the King of Tombuto a beggarly thievish lying Countrey as any is in the World they anoint their hair every day with the fat of Fish for great gallantry whereof they stink exceedingly The women esteem it their chiefest parts of goodly feature to have large breasts which by art and stretching some have them hanging to their Navel Guinea confineth with Gualata here there is neither Town nor Castle but Mina built and fortified by the Portugal for their better trading here They have some Snakes here of 30 foot long Spiders as big as the palm of ones hand slore of Camelions blue Parrots and many sorts of Apes They esteem it a great part of beauty to have a flat Nose Tombutum this is the richest Prince in all this part of Africk keeping a Royal Palace he hath some Scepters that weigh 13000 pound weight a piece The King will admit no Jews into the City he hateth them so yet he loveth and maintaineth a great number of learned men Melli a Countrey of 300 miles in length hath the richest civilest and industriousest Inhabitants of any amongst these Negrites Cano is a Countrey abounding in Lemmons and Pomegranates Gialofi the people hereof are of that admirable nimbleness that they will leap on a Horse when he gallopeth and stand upright when he runs fastest Benin here the people go naked untill they are married and then are clothed from the wast to the knees the King hereof hath 600 Wives with all which twice a year he goeth in pomp the Gentlemen have some 80 some 90 the meanest 1â— Men and Women pinck their bodies putting thereon grease mixed with colour here they offer their Wives to Strangers Nubia stretcheth from Gaoga unto Nilus having the Egyptian confines on the North and the Desarts of Goran on the South Dangala is their chief Town and hath 10000 Families but ill built their Houses being Chalk and Straw the Inhabitants with their Traffick to Cairo become rich there is in this Kingdom great store of Corn Sugar Civet Sandal and Ivory They have a strong poyson here the tenth part of a Grain whereof will kill a man in a quarter of an hour one Ounce is sold for 100 Ducats Bornum here the people have neither Children Wives nor Names but are distinguished by some external accident Gaoga this Kingdom hath neither civility letters nor Government The chief Towns of these Provinces are Tombutum Genni Agadez Guangara Songum and Choninam the third City in estimation of all Africk Thus much of the Land of the Negros Ethiopia Superior or the Empire of Prester John THis is the greatest and powerfullest Prince in all Africk his Dominion begins at the entrance of the Red Sea and stretcheth to the entrance of the Island of Seine North East on Egypt and the Desarts of Nubia and on the South-side on Monemugi It contains in compass 4000 Italian miles Fertility The Region is scarce in Wheat but plenty in Rice Barley Pease and Beans They have abundance of Sugar Minerals of all sorts and infinite Herds of Oxen and Sheep they have no coyn of Gold or Silver Salt is the most currant money The Mountains and Woods are full of Bassill and other odoriferous Plants Natures of the People The people are much inclined to Barbarism destitute of learning not to be credited unless they swear by the life of their Prince they hate a Smith equally with the Devil their colour is generally Olive-tawny Rivers Their chief Rivers are Abas Totcasis and Nilus There are in this Empire 70 tributary Kingdoms the chief whereof are Barnagasso this Kingdom is situate upon the Red Sea it stretcheth from Suachen almost to the mouth of the Streits it hath no other Port on the Red Sea but Erocco neither hath the Prester any other Port in all his Dominion but this and of late the Turk hath taken this with that of Suachen and forced the Governour of this Province to compound for the yearly sum of 1000 ounces of Gold Tigramahon this Kingdom lyeth between Nilus Marabo Angote and the Sea It hath in it Cazunio supposed to be the Royal Seat of that Queen that visited Solomon Angote is between Tigramahon and Amare in this Kingdom Iron and Salt is currant money The Hill Amarah Amara is situate in the midst of the Countrey here is a steep Hill dilating it self in a round form many dayes journey in compass It is situate in a Plain extending it self every way without other Hill in the same for the space of â—0 leagues the form is round the height is such that it is a dayes work to ascend from the bottom to the top the air above is wholesome and delectable and they live there very long without sickness there are 34 Palaces on the top spacious sumptuous and beautifull where the Princes of the Royal blood have their abode with their Families Xoa this Kingdom hath store of Corn and Cattle Goyame this Kingdom hath plenty of Gold here only and in the Hills of the Moon is found the Unicorn which is seldom seen only the Horn is found which he casteth in manner of the Hart. Fatigar in Fatigar is a Lake on the top of a high Mountain 12 miles in compass stored with Fish and thence run many Rivers stored with the same Fish Guegere was sometime called Mero the Inhabitants are confederate with the Turks and Moors against the Abassines it is an Island situate in the Riveâ— Nilus The chief Cities of this Kingdom are Saba and Zambra besides these two there is none have above 3000 Houses in them but these are populous and magnificent with Towers Temples triumphant Arches Obelisks Pyramides and the like tokens of Industry Antiquity and Majesty Saba was founded by the Queen which visited Solomon and was the Mother-City of the Empire It hath 5000 Houses great and sumptuous the Streets spacious with Portals and Pent-houses it hath four choice Gates all Alablaster and Jasper wrought with antique works the great doors of Cedar curiously carved the wayes that lead to these Gates for the space of two leagues are set with Palms Planes Oranges Cedars Cypress and other Trees on both sides for shade and fruit Near to this City are Mines of Gold Gardens and other
very Isthmus It is not very populous by reason of the unhealthfulness of the air and the noysomness of the standing Pools The chief Cities are Nombre de Dios on the East and Panama on the West through these Towns cometh all the Traffick that cometh between Spain and Peru. Nova Andaluzia hath on the North Castello del Oro and on the South Peru. The best Cities are Toccio now St. Margarets and Santa Estritta Nova Granada is situate on the South-side of Cartegana The chief Cities are Fungia Tochannum Popaian S. Foye Palma and Merida This Countrey is very strong by reason of the situation amongst stony Rocks which environ it It yieldeth much Fruit and hath some Mines of Gold and Silver Cartegana hath a fruitfull Soyl in which groweth a Tree which if any one touch he will hardly escape poysoning The chief Cities are Cartegana S. Martha and Venzuela built on a plain Rock in the waters of a Lake Guiana Guiana hath East and South the River Maragnon called also Amazon and West the Mountain of Peru this Countrey is the fruitfullest part in all Peruana the Inhabitants in Winter dwell in Trees for fear of Inundations making on them many artificial Villages and ranges of buildings The like they have in Brasile and the Golden Castle The chief Towns are Marequito a safe Harbour Winicapora nigh unto it is reported that there is a Mountain of Chrystal Manoa called also Eldorado the greatest City of America situate on a Lake of Salt-water 200 leagues in length and is by the Spaniards called Eldorado or the Guilded City from the abundance of Gold both in Coyn I late Armour and other Furniture which Diego Ordas saw there the other City of note is S. Thome Peru. Peru hath on the East the Peruian Mountains West Mare Pacificum or del Zur North Castella Aurea and South Chile The Soyl is luxuriant in all manner of Grain fortunate in the civility of her Inhabitants and salubrity of Air here is great store of Tobacco The People hold opinion that Men after they are dead and buried eat drink and wantonnize with Women and therefore commonly at the death of any they kill some of his servants This Province above any other in America is aboundant in gold and silver the Mines whereof in silver the Mines whereof in divers places yield more of this Metal than of Earth by which abundance not Spain only but all Europe is stored with more pure and fine Gold than formerly it was The chief Cities of Peru are 1. St. Michael 2. Arequipa seated on the River Plata and the Haven-Town to Cusco 3. Lima distant about two leagues from the Sea the Port that serveth it being called Collao It is an Archbishops See and residence of the Peruvian Viceroy 4. Cusca the Seat of the ancient Kings of this Nation 5. Giacha 6. Portoneio 7. Tomobamba glorying in her fair Palaces and 8. Caxemalcha Brasile Brasile hath on the North Guiana on the South Rio de la plate and Chile on the East the Virginian Ocean and on the West the Mountains of Peru called the Anadees These Hills are high craggy and very barren full of ravenous Beasts and poysonous Serpents Here also live a Mountain-People being hairy all over going altogether naked and live without Houses or Bedding The Air here is of a healthfull temper the Earth fat and alwayes flourishing great store of Sugars and wonderfull rich Mines are the sinews of this Region Hence cometh our red Wood which we use in dyeing of Cloathes called Brasile the Trees of which are of that bigness that whole Families live in the Arms of one every Tree being as populous as many of our Villages for which purpose the Cities here are neither many fair nor populous The chief are S. Anna Equitum Ascensio Pernambucco from whence comes that Brasile-Wood which with us is call'd Fernanbuck-Wood which they use in dyeing of red Cloathes The People of this Countrey have two ill qualities as being mindfull of injuries and forgetfull of benefits the Men cruel without measure and the Women infinite laseivious Chile Chile hath East the Virginian Ocean West Mare dell Zur North Peru and South the Streights of Magellanus It taketh its denomination from the vehemency of the cold here The Countrey toward the mid-land is mountainous and unfruitfull toward the shore level fruitfull and watered with divers Rivers The Spaniards find here good plenty of Gold abundance of Honey store of Cattel and Wine enough for their own use The People are very warlike and of a Giant-like stature as being some of them 11 foot high The chief Towns are Arequipoum St. James built by the Spaniard Cocimbam Villadives and the Imperial Thus much of America and of the Continent of the whole World The Islands and Seas Having thus discoursed of the Continent and its particular Kingdoms I will say somewhat of the Seas and the particulars which lye dispersed in them First the Grecian Seas and Isles in them They being dispersed in the Grecian Cretan Ionian Adriatick Mediterranean British Northern And first of such as are about the Coasts of Greece Pontus Euxinus THis Sea is called also the Black Sea because of the dark mists thence arising or more commonly Mare Maggiore for its greatness It is a very dangerous shore full of Rocks and Sands and for this cause there is on the top of an high Tower a Lanthorn in which there is a great Pan full of Pitch Rosin and Tallow and the like in dark nights continually burning to give warning to Mariners how near they approach the shore of this Sea The chief Isles are Thinnus and Erinthus little famous From hence the Sea bending Southwards is brought into a narrow bounds not being fully a mile broad called Thracius Bosphorus scite near Thrace and hath no Isle worth naming This Streight having continued 26 miles in length openeth it self into the Propontis 330 miles in compass now called Mare di Marmora from the Island Marmora so called for the abundance of Marble there gotten The Sea having gathered her waters into a lesser course is called Hellespont or the Sea of the two Castles the one standing in Europe and the other in Asia Sestos and Abâ—dos in the same place where once stood Sestos and Abidos in which the fair Hero and her beloved Leander dwelt Here the Turks search and examine all Ships that pass that way staying the Ships three dayes to the end if any Slave have run away from his Master or if any Thief have stoln any thing they may in that place be pursued and apprehended Here also they receive the Grand Seigniors Customs and in effect these two Castles are the principal strength of Constantinople Tenedos In this Hellespont is the Island Tenedos an Island not very big but exceeding fertil lying some three miles from the place where Troy stood It hath a City called Tenedos having a Castle and a gallant
passed under The Buildings of this City are very rare there being at least 100 Houses or rather Palaces sit to entertain any Prince The magnificentest Buildings of this City are the Church of St. Mark which Saint is the protecting Saint of this City The Building hereof is become admirable for the singular Art of the Builders and Painters and the most rare pieces of Marble Porphry and Ophites stones so called of speckles like a Serpent and like stones 2. The Market-place of St. Mark being paved with Brick and consists of 4 Market-places joyned in one Again the Houses opposite to the Palaces of the Procurators of St. Mark are call'd the Houses of State and they belong to the Church of St. Mark having some 50 shops under the Arches of the upper roofs these yield great Rents to the Church Also the Steeple or Belfrey of St. Mark distant some 80 foot from the Church and set over against it it is to be admired not only for the foundation strangely laid but for divers other causes There is also in the second Market-place of the Palace the Library whose Building is remarkable Also in the said Market-place is the stately Palace of the Duke all covered with Marble and most sumptuous in the carved Images and Pictures and in the pillars of the arched Walk on the out-side The fourth square Market-place of Rialto is compassed with publick Houses under the arches whereof and in the middle partlying open the Merchants meet About this City are seated 75 other Islands the chief whereof are Onurano and Barano especially Mucano which aboundeth with goodly Orchards and Gardens and 1000 other objects of delight and pleasure Also here are the famous Glass-houses The whole Dominion of the Venetian Signeury is divided into firm Land and Sea On the Land they possess in Lombardy Marca Trevigiana Friuli and Istri Again it is divided into Continent and Island In the Continent they have Istria Dalmatia Sclavonia and Albania or some parts thereof The Islands are Corfu Cephalonia Zant Candia Conigo and other in the Adriatick Sea Marca Trevigiana The State of the firm Land contains Marca Trevigiana lying East of Frinli and the Gulf of Venice The chief City is Padua a very fair City the Building whereof is with arches of stone hanging over the Street under which they walk dry in the greatest rain but the Streets are thereby made narrow and in the midst very dirty 2. Brescia the Seat of an Archbishop who is an Earl a Marquess and a Duke The Cities Building is of Brick the Streets are large and paved with flint 3. Bergamo a City seated on a Mountain and 4. Vicenza Friuli Friuli environed with Histria the Alpes Trevigiana and the Adriatick The length of it is 50 miles and in the breadth as much The chief Town of it is Palma built by the Venetian 1583. and the best fortified of any in Italy Istria The greatest Territory of this Continent is Istria and the best unless it were for that the Air is naturally unwholesome especially about Nolo It yields great abundance of Oyl Fish and Salt The chief Cities are 1. Istinopolis 2. Pola The Dukedom of Florence THe Dukedom of Florence containeth the greater part of Tuscany parted from Genoa by the Magra and the West from Romagna and Ancona by the Alpenine on the North by the Pisseo East and the Pyrhene Sea South The chief City is Florence seated nigh the Confluence of Arnus This City is of a round form and upon the Walls thereof lye 8 Forts whereof the greatest and strongest lyes towards the South The Houses after the manner of Italy are built with a low roof excepting the Palaces which are stately built of free-stone engraven The Streets are most broad and have an open Air and the Pavement is of very broad and fair free-stone The River Arno running from East to West divides this City but into unequal parts the greater part lying on the North and the Bridge to pass from one to the other is almost in the midst of the City Also there be 3 other Bridges over Arno but far less in bigness and magnificence than the former Towards the North and East this City is encompassed with pleasant Hills planted with excellent fruits and behind them the high Mountains of the Apenine somewhat removed are instead of strong Walls to the City Also on the South side are the like Hills and distant Mountains but towards the West it lyes open to the most pleasant Valley Arno. On all sides without the Walls Palaces of Gentlemen are most frequent and Houses of Citizens not distant above three or four Closes one from the other Within this City the Duke hath two Palaces the one call'd Palazzo Dipitti the other Palace of the Duke is seated in the corner of the Market-place of Piazza della Signoria it being the fairest and largest Market-place within this City there being four more viz. Merchato Vecchio S. Spirito Santa Croce and Maria Novella 2. Pisa the River Arno runs through this City from East to West It is seated in a plain and toward the North-west-by-North is a Gate and a fair Cathedral Church paved with Marble and most curiously wrought In the midst of this City upon the Bank of Arno is the Palace of the Duke of Florence 3. Sienna the situation of this City is most pleasant upon a high Hill all the Pavement of the Street is of brick which lasteth the longer because there be neither Carts nor Coaches but all burthens are carried on the backs of Asses It is vulgarly said that Sienna abounds with Fountains Towers and fair Women There is no better place to live in through all Italy than the State of Florence and more especially this City of Sienna Besides it is commended for the best Language in all Italy 4. Massa famous for her quarries of white Marble 5. Ligorne this City is seated in a plain being somewhat longer from North to South than it is broad from East to West and the Sea lyes upon it partly on the North partly on the South and altogether on the West-side and it hath one Tower on the North-side and another on the South reaching into the Sea and between these two Towers full on the West-side there is a Haven for great Ships farther out into the Sea and also near the City and compassed with the Walls thereof are two Havens for Gallies and small Barks In this City our English Factors do reside for the traffick of Italy The Dukedom of Millain THe Dukedom of Millain hath on the East Mantua and Parma on the South Liguria North Trevigiana and on the West Piedmont It is in circuit 300 miles The chief Cities are 1. Pavia This City lyes in length from East to West and a new fair street divides it in the midst from the North to the South On the West-side are two Market-places one greater than the other The Buildings of the City are of Brick and
conversation probity of manners assurance of loyalty and confidence of disposition setting aside their imperfect customes of drinking excelling all people Upper Germany containing Swizzerland Germany is divided into the higher and lower the upper lying on the Alpes is subdivided into Austria Bavaria Suevia Helvetia or Swizzerland and Alsatiae Austria Austria This is a goodly and rich Countrey yea the best of all Germany both for Corn Cattel Wine and Fish It is separated on the East from Hungaria by the River Leire West from Bavaria by the Ems North from Moravia by the Tems and South from Styria by the Muer The chief Cities of it are 1. Wien or Vienna a famous Fort against the Turk The City is of a round form the Streets are narrow but the Buildings are stately of free-stone two Towers of the Church is curiously engraven the like whereof is not in Germany except Strasburg 2. Emps so call'd on the River Ems on whose Banks it is seated 3. S. Leopold 4. Neustat 5. Hamburg 6. Crems It containeth the Provinces of Styria Carinthia Tyrolis and Carniola Styria Styria is a small Region in the midst of the Alpes The chief Cities are 1. Marpurg 2. Hall 3. Greits the chief City Carinthia Carinthia this Countrey is 75 miles in length and 5 in breadth The chief Towns are 1. Vellach 2. Spittal 3. Veit the Metropolis of this Countrey Tyrolis Tyrolis this Countrey is 72 miles in length and as many in breadth It hath on the bast Carinthia West the Grisons North Schwaben and South Marea Trevigiana The Soyl of this Countrey is very good and full of silver Mines The chief Towns are â— Inspruch 2. Tyrol 3. Trent on the River Odefis Carniola Carniola this Countrey is 150 miles long 45 broad it is environed with Sclavonia East Italy West Carinthia North and Istria South The chief Cities are 1. Newmarcht 2. Esting upon the Sanus Bavaria Bavaria this Dukedom hath on the East Austria and Styria West the Leike North Danubius and part of Franconia and South Tyrolis and Carinthia This is a large rich and goodly Countrey lying in great length on both sides the Danubius The chief Cities are 1. Munchen upon the River Aser the Dukes Seat 2. Ingulstad on Danubius an University 3. Ratisbone seated on the Donaw 4. Passaw 5. Saltzbourg it is seated on the River Saltzech This City is honoured with a Bishoprick 〈◊〉 â—…venue is the greatest in Germany 6. Frising The whole number of Cities in Bavaria are 34. besides 46 great walled Towns the Soyl about which is sufficiently fruitfull in all things saving Wines with which they are supplyed from Austria Rhetia Rhetia or the Countrey of the Grissons hath on the East Tyrolis West Swizzerland North Suevia and South Millain This Countrey is half in Germany and half in Italy so that they use both Languages The chief Towns are 1. Coyra the Metropolis of the Grissons seated about half an hours journey from the Rhene For form it is triangular the Houses indifferent handsome but not uniform one within another 2. Musocco 3. Bormia In this Countrey they have free use of Religion both they of the Romish and they of the Reformed Churches Suevia Suevia or Schwaben hath on the East Bavaria West Danubius North Franconia and South Tyrolis and the Grissons The chief Towns are 1. Vlm so call'd from the company of Elms which inviron it 2. Lindair this is a free City and it is almost an Island seated in the Lake called Acronius 3. Auspurg this is a stately City the beauty whereof lyeth on the West-side the Houses being built upon a Hill are of free-Stone six or seven roofs high Also there be many Palaces built of the Fugares and other Citizens but in other places it is more poorly built 4. Norlingen 5. Wherlingen 6. Ravensperg all Imperiâ—l Towns Helvetia Helvetia or Swizzerland is almost situate among the Alpes and therefore supposed to be the highest Region in Europe and the rather because the most famous Rivers in those parts of the world viz. Rone Rhodan and Po falling from those high placâ—s disperse their channels through Christendome It is bounded on the East with Tyrolis North with Lorrain West with France and South with Italy The length of it is 240 and the breadth 180 miles The chief Cities are 1. Zurich this City is one of the Cantons of Swizzerland and is divided in the midst by the Lake Zurechsea having three Bridges for pâ—ssage the greater whereof the Merchants use for â—heir meetings The Streets are narrow and the Houses built of timber and clay and the City it self is seated upon and between Hills 2. Basil now one of the Swizzers Cantons Herein was that famous Council held by Eugenius the Pope in the year 1431. 3. Constance seated on the Bodeuse over against Lindaw It is within the Confines of Swizzerland but belongeth to the House of Austria This Town is famous by a Council held there where John Hus was condemned of Heresie and burned Near unto the City in a fair Meadow is the Stone to which he was bound when he was burnt where also his fellow Jerom of Prague was burnt in September the year following 4. Berne this City is built upon a Mountain yet it seems to be seated on a Valley because it is compassed with Mountains The Houses are uniformly and fairly built of free-Stone and round about this Mountain the Citizens have their Gardens so that it is a most fair and pleasant City 5. Baden seated in the midst of the Countrey and is for that cause the place of meeting for the Councel of Estate Near unto this City are the famous hot Bathes being 30 in number Alsatia Alsatia hath West Lorrain South Helvetia East the Rhene and North the Palatinate The chief City is Strasburg this City is in circuit three hours walking the Buildings and Churches are fair and high of free-stone most of the Streets are narrow but those divided by the water are broader Many things in this City are remarkable but especially the Steeple of the Cathedral Church which is counted one of the 7 miracles of the world the Clock hereof is of all other the most famous 2. Psaltburg 3. Wesenberg The Provinces of Lower Germany among which Bohemia is reckoned The Lower Germany is divided into Franconia Bohemia and its territories the three Electorates of the Palatinate Brandenburg and Saxony with its members Pomerania Medenburg Brunswick Luneberg Hassia East Friezeland Westphalia Cleveland and Veteravia or Weteraw Franconia Franconia is an ancient and noble Nation it is bounded on the East with Bohemia and Saxony West with Elsas North with Hassia and South with Bavaria This Province hath many ancient and fair Cities as namely Bamberg a Bishops Seat Weirztberg and Mentz or Metz both Bishops Seats the latter whereof is the Seat of the chief Elector Bishop and is a fair City and well fortified it
Malchaw 2. Sternberg 3. Wismar 4. Rostock an University Brunswick Lunebourg Brunswick Lunebourg these two Dukedomes are bounded on the East with Brandenburg West with Westphalen North with Denmark and South with Saxony and Hassia The chief Cities are 1. Brunswick It is a free City of the Empire strongly fortified and not any way subject to the Emperour 2. Wolfehaiten where the Duke keeps his Court 3. Halberstad a Bishops See 4. Lunebourg 5. Cella the Seat of the Duke of Lunebourg Hassia Hassia this Lantgravedom is invironed on the East with Saxony South with Franconia and West and North with Westphalen The chief Towns are 1. Dormstad the Seat and Inheritance of the youngest House of the Lantgraves 2. Marpurg an University and the Seat of the second House of the Lantgraves 3. Dryes 4. Frankenburg and 5. Cassels three Towns belonging to the elder House of the Lantgraves whereof Cassels is chief as being the Seat of their residence This City is seated in a fruitfull Countrey and is well fortified with strong earthen Walls and deep Ditches yet are the Houses of no great beauty being composed for the most part of Wood Thatch and Clay Unto this Province belongeth the County of Waldeck and Corbach East-Friezeland East-Friezeland hath on the West the Ems East the Weser South Westphalia and North the Sea The chief Towns are 1. Emden This City lyes in the utmost borders of the Empire and is only divided by the River Ems from the United Province of the Netherland This City is fairly built of Brick and is almost of a round form It is an Earldom of it self 2. Oldenburg which hath an Earl of its own Westphalia Westphalia is bounded on the East with Brunswick West with Belgium North with the Sea and South with Hassia The Northern part of this Countrey is called Bremen from the chief City Brem the Bishop whereof is Lord of this Tract The next part belongeth to the Duke of Saxony The chief Cities of which are Clappenburg Exenberg and Alsdrop The other parts belong to the Bishopricks of Cullen Munster and Triers 1. The Bishoprick of Cullen containeth a great part of Westphalia The chief City is 1. Collen the Archbishop whereof is said to be the second special Elector of the Empire and Chancellour of Italy 2. Ernace or Andernach 3. Lints 4. Bonna where the Bishop hath a Palace esteemed to be one of the fairest Houses of Germany The chief Towns under the Bishop of Munster are 1. Warendorp 2 Munster seated on the Ems. The chief Towns belonging to the Bishop of Triers are 1. Bopport seated on the Moselle 2 Engers 3. Coblents 4. Triers This is the Seat of the Chancellour of France and third spiritual Elector it is built on the Moselle Cleveland Cleveland this Dutchy containeth Cleve Gulick Berge The Dutchy of Cleve conjoyneth to Guelderland The chief Cities are 1. Cleve 2. Calker 3. Wesel 4. Emmerick 2. The Dutchy of Gulick The chief Cities are Aken where the Emperour after his election is invested with a silver Crown The Dutchy of Berge or Monte is in compass 130 miles The chief Towns are 1. Duseldorp 2. Hattingen and 3. Arusberg Veteravia Veteravia On the South-West of Hassia is the Countrey of Veteravia or Weteraw containing among others the County of Nassaw Hannaw and the free City of Friberg situate in the midst of most pleasant and delicious Corn-Fields The City Hannaw is distant from Francford and Moenum ten miles and is a County of it self The next Town of note to it is Windeck As for the County of Nassaw it hath in it many prime Towns as 1. Dillinbourg the principal 2. Nassaw 3. Catzenelbogen an Earldom of it self and 4. Hebron Thus much of Germany Denmark DEnmark hath on the East Mare Balticum on the West the German Ocean on the North Sweden and on the South Germany Situation It is situate near the Artick Circle and therefore must needs be subject to great cold howsoever the misty Air caused by the frequent Isles doth in some sort mitigate the extremity thereof Fertility The Soyl of the Countrey is rather fit for pasture than herbage for in regard of the Clime it cannot be expected that Fruits should grow here which are only ripened by the heat of the Sun They have Corn sufficient and likewise feed such a multitude of Oxen that 50000 are said to be sent hence yearly into Germany Commodity Their other Commodities are Fish Tallow Furniture for Shipping Armors Ox-Hides Buck-skins Wainscot Firwood Filbeards and the like Natures of the People The People are naturally good Souldiers both by Sea and Land fitter for the Sea than the Field The Magistrate is wise rather by experience than study the old Man covetous the young Man thrifty and the Merchant ambitious The Women are of the same conditions as the Women of Belgium Diet. Their Diet is much like the Germans and their Neighbours the Saxons Their dainties are Bacon and salt-Meats but the common people feed most on dryed Fishes It containeth the Cimbrick Chersoness the Islands of the Baltick and part of Scandia The Cimbrick Chersoness THis Chersoness hath on the South-West the Albis on the South-East the River Trave on the South a little piece of Germany and on all other parts the Sea It is in length 120 miles and in breadth 80 and containeth 28 Cities 4 Bishops Sees and 20 royal Castles or Palaces It is divided into the Provinces of Holsatia Dithmars Slesia and Juitland Holsatia Holsatia is the most Southern Province of Denmark towards Germany having on the North Slesia and on the other sides the Sea The chief Towns are Niemunster and Bramstede Upon the Confines of Holst lye the fair Imperial Cities of Lubeck and Hamburg Dithmars Dithmars taketh up the West-side of this Chersonesus The principal Towns of it are Marnes and Meldorp Slesia Slesia hath on the North Juitland and South Holst The chief Towns are Sleswick Goterpe and Londen an Haven-Town situate upon the River Ender Juitland Juitland is the most Northern part of this Chersoness The chief Towns of it are Rincopen Nicopen Halne and Arhausen The Baltick Islands The Baltick Islands are in number 35 and are so called because they lye dispersed in the Baltick Sea Of these four are of more especial note viz. Seeland Fionia Bornholme and Finera 1. Seeland is in length 64 miles and in breadth 52. It containeth 7 strong Castles belonging to the King and about 13 Cities The chief is Haffen or Hafnia call'd by the Germans Copenhagen It is the Kings Seat yet of no great beauty It is of a round form and the Houses are of Timber and Clay It hath a fair Market-place and is reasonable well fortified The Castle of the King is built of free-Stone in a Quadrangle 2. Helsinura standing on the Sea-side At this Town the Mariners which are to pass the Sound use to pay
West the Adriatick Sea North Sclavonia and South Epirus The chief Cities are 1. Albinopolis 2. Sfetigrad 3. Durazzo and 4. Croya Macedonia Macedonia hath on the East Migdonia West Albania North Misia superior and South Epirus and Achaia The chief Towns are Scydra Andaristus Aedessa all mid-land Towns Eribea on Albania side now called Pressa and Pidna seated on the Influx of the Riâ—er called Alaicmon into the Bâ—… call'd Sinus Thermaicus Thessalia The Southern part of Macedon is Thessalia a fruitfull and pleasant Countrey Here is the Olympium of such an infinite height that it seemed to transcend the clouds Here is also the Hills Othris and the Hills Pelion and Ossa about which the Centaurs dwelt and here lived the Myrmidons over which at the siege of Troy Achilles was Captain The chief Towns are 1. Tricca 2. Lamia 3. Pharsalia nigh unto which was that bloody Battel fought between Cesar and Pompey 4. Philippi Migdonia Migdonia this Countrey is by some accounted a part of Thrace Herein is the Hill Athos which is 75 miles circuit three dayes journey in ascent and casteth a shadow as far as Lemnos which is 40 miles distant The chief Cities are 1. Nicalidi 2. Aâ—polonia 3. Pallene 4. Neopolis and 5. Thessalonica vulgarly Salonichi seated in the Sea a Town of great traffick to the People of this City St. Paul wrote two of his Epistles It is a populous City replenished with Christians Turks and Jews in which there is abundance Thrace Thrace hath on the East the Euxine Sea Propontis and Hellespint West Macedon on the North the Hill Hamus and South the Aegean Sea It is a most noble Province cold plain and admirable populous stored with Grain Pulse and excellent Wine toward the Sea-side whereof Sestos on the Hellespont just over against Abidos not above two miles different the one being in Asia and the other Europe The Castle of Sestos is seated in a most fertil Soyl here the Ships that come from Constantinople use to be detained some three dayes to the end that if they carry away private mens slaves the Masters may have time to follow them likewise the searchers and customers look that they carry no prohibited wares neither can the Ship nor any Passengers be suffered to pass these Castles except they bring the Pasport of the great Turk which is granted by the chief Visziere or Basha 2. Abdera 3. Cardia seated in the Thracian Chersonesus now called St. George's Arm. 4. Lysimachus 5. Callipolis situate on the Northern Promontory of the Chersonesus and the first Town that the Turks had in Europe 6. Trajanopolis founded by Trajan 7. Adrianople built by Adrian 8. Constantinople seated in a most commodious place for an Empire over-looking Europe and Asia It was built 663 years before Christ was born by Pausanias a Lacedemonian and was first called Bizantium The Turks took this City from the Christians 1453 and by them is at this day called Stambolda It is built in form of a triangle whereof two sides towards the North and East lye upon two Seas and towards the West it lyes upon the Continent of Greece For many causes this City is famous and for two especially may be preferred to any in the world known to us namely for pleasantness of situation and the largeness and safety of the Haven the fruitfulness of the Fields the sweetness and beauty of the Flowers and the goodness of the Fruits cannot sufficiently be praised The Haven will receive an huge number of Ships and upon both the banks of the City and Gallata Ships of 500 tun once unloaded may so lye with their Cables fastned on the Land as they can pass from the Ships to the Land without any Boats The Buildings of this City have no magnificence being partly of a matter like Brick but white and as it seems unhardned by fire partly of Timber and Clay excepting some few Palaces which are of free-Stone but nothing at all so stately built as may be expected from the pride and riches of the great Turks servants and these Houses are built two stories high with a low roof without any windows after the manner of Italy The Streets of this City are narrow and shadowed with Pent-houses of wood and upon both sides the â—…y râ—ised some foot high but of 〈◊〉 breadth and paved for Men and Women to pass the midst oâ— the Street being left low and un-paved and no broader than for the passage of Asses or Beasts loaded There are two Houses for the same use as the Exchange is at London but not to be compared to it for the Buildings where Merchants use to meet for the selling of wares they are called the great and less Bezestan and use to be opened for certain dayes of the week and for some six hours at which time are to be sold Jewels Semiters or Swords pieces of Velvet Sattin Damask and the like and the Market-place is not far distant where captives of both sexes are to be sold and the buyers if they will may take them into a House and see them naked and handle them to know their fatness and strength The chiefest Buildings of this City are the Palace of the great Turk the Church of St. Sophia now made a Mosche the stately Mosche or Turkish Church built upon the Palace which of old belonged to the Grecian â—…triarch the Mosches and â—…chers of the Turkish Emperours amongst which that of Solyman is numbred amongst the Miracles of the world Thus much of Greece Dacia DAcia of old belonged to the Kingdom of Hungary but at this day is tributary to the Turks It is bounded on the West with Hungary on the East with the Euxine Sea North with the Carpathian Mountains and South with Hemus by which it is divided from Greece The People are generally stubborn and untractable they read like the Jews from the right hand to the left and are of the Christian Faith following the Greek Church The Countrey is sufficiently fruitfull abounding with Mines and Horses whose Manes hang down almost to the ground It is divided into Transilvania Moldavia Wallachia Servia Rascia Bulgaria and Bosnia Of Transilvania I have already spoken in the Kingdome of Hungary Moldavia Moldavia is seated on the North-end of Transilvania and extendeth to the Euxine Sea The chief Cities are Occazonia Fucciana and Falezing It is exceeding fertil in Corn Wine Grass and Wood. It affordeth great plenty of Beef and Mutton a fat Ox being sold here for 30 s. and a Sheep for 3 s. To this Moldavia belongeth the little Countrey of Bessarabia It lyes between Mount Hemus South and Lituania North and is seated very commodiously on the black Seas The chief Towns are 1. Kilim 2. Chermen or Moncastrum the Seat of a Turkish Sanziack Wallachia Wallachia is a plain fertil Countrey stored with excellent Horse Cattel Mines of gold and silver The chief Cities are 1. Sabrinum 2. Prailaba 3. Tergovista the Vaivods
Seat Servia Servia lyes between Bosnia and Rascia The chief Cities are 1. Stonibourgh 2. Samandria 3. Belgrade on the Danubius Rascia Rascia lyeth between Servia and Bulgaria The chief City is Boden famous for her annual Fairs Bulgaria Bulgaria hath East the Euxine Sea West Rascia North Danubius and South Thrace The chief Cities are 1. Sophia the Seat of the Beglerbeg of Greece 2. Nicopolis Bosnia Bosnia hath East Servia and West Croatia The chief Cities Gazachium the residence and Laiza the Sepulture of the Bosnian Kings Thus much of Dacia and of the Continent of Europe Of Asia ASia is the greatest and vastest part of the world exceeding Europe and Africk both in largeness and circuit Upon three parts it is bounded with the Vast Ocean sirnamed the Orient on the South with the Indian upon the North with the Scythian upon the West it is somewhere dis-joyned from Europe and Africk with the Red Sea somewhere with the Mediterranean somewhere with the Euxine and somewhere with the River Tanais Generally it enjoyeth a most excellent temperature of Air and is so rich and fertil that it excelleth all Countreys whatsoever For here are to be found divers sorts of living creatures and Plants the like whereof the whole world affordeth not as Balm Sugar-Canes Frankincence Myrth Cassia Cynamon Nutmegs Pepper Saffron sweer Wood Musk and divers other sorts of Drugs and Odours excellent Gold all sorts of Minerals and precious stones Of Beasts it affordeth the Elephant and Camel with divers strange sorts both wilde and tame The People are of excellent wits exceeding rich and happy in all good things This Countrey hath worn the Garland of super-eminency 1. Because here Man was created 2. Here was our Saviour Christ born wrought his divine miracles and suffered for our salvation 3. Here were done the Actions memorized by the holy Pen-Men mentioned in the Old and New Testament The principal Regions are 1. Natolia 2. Syria 3. Palestine 4. Armenia 5. Arabia 6. Media 7. Assyria 8. Mesopotamia 9. Chaldea 10. Persia 11. Parthia 12. Tartaria 13. China 14. India 15. The Islands a great part of which Regions are at this day possessed by the Turk Natolia NAtolia was formerly called Asia minor It hath on the East the River Euphrates on the West the Thracius Bosphorus Propontis Hellespont and the Aegean Sea on the North Pontus Euxinus and South the Rhodian and Lycian Seas This Countrey was once of great fertility but is now laid waste and desolate The people were once valiant and industrious but now given over to luxuriousness and effeminacy Here once flourished the Faith of Christ and here likewise stood the seven Churches to whom St. John dedicated his Revelations All which are long since removed so that few Christians remain and they which are follow the Church and Communion of Greece This Region comprehendeth the Provinces of Cilicia Pamphilia Lycia Caria Ionia Lydia Aeolis Phrygia major minor Bythinia Pontus Paphlagonia Gallacia Capadocia Lycaonia Psidia and Armenia minor Cilicia On the South-East of Anatolia is Cilicia It lies under the Mountain Taurus under the bosome of the Mediterranean Sea or Iecian Gulf where Alexander the Great overcame Darius he having but 30000 and the other 600000 men The chief Cities are 1. Nicopolis built by Alexander 2. Pompeiopolis built by Pompey 3. Alexandria built also by Alexander 4. Tarsus the birth-place of St. Paul The Inhabitants are given for the most part to feeding of Goats of whose sleece they make their Chamblets Pamphilia On the West-side of Cilicia lyeth Pamphilia The chief Cities are 1. Seleucia 2. Perga 3. Faselis In this Countrey are woven these fine Clothes which we call Chamblets watered and unwatered Lycia Lycia lies upon the Sea between Pamphilia and Caria The chief Cities are 1. Patras 2. Isaurus 3. Phaselis Caria On the West-side of Lycia is Caria The chief Cities are 1. Mindum 2. Halicarnassus in which was the Sepulchre of Mausolius the King held for one of the seven miracles of the World 3. Magnesia These four Countries are now called Caramania and is a Turkish Zanziackship Ionia On the North-side of Caria is Ionia whose chief Cities are 1. Miletum 2. Smyrna 3. Colophon 4. Ephesus where Timothy was Bishop to the people of this City did Paul direct one of his Epistles This Town is famous for the burial of St. John and for the Temple of Diana which was accounted one of the Worlds wonders it was 200 years a building In this Countrey is the Hill â—atinus the dwelling place of Endymion Lydia On the North-East of Ionia is Lydia This Countrey is watered with the Rivers Caestrus and Maeander the first is famous for its abundance of Swans The chief Cities are 1. Sardis 2. Pergamus where Galen was born 3. Laodecea 4. Theatyra 5. Philadelphia of these Sardis was the strongest but now are they only known in their names and ruines Phrygia minoâ— On the East-side of Phrygia major is Phrygia minor The chief Towns are 1. Adramitium mentioned in the 17th of the Acts. 2. Trajanopolis 3. Sigeum the Haven-Town to Troy 4. Ilium or Troy a famous Town Aeolis and Mysia On the North of Lydia is Aeolis The chief Towns are Merina and Hidra nigh to this Province are both the Mysias whose chief Towns are Lampsachus and Cyzichus Phâ—ygia major Phrygia major lyeth East of Phrigia minor The chief Towns are 1. Gordion 2. Mideium 3 Colosse where dwelt the Colossians to whom St. Paul directed his Epistles Bâ—thâ—…ia On the North-side of the Phrygias is seated Bithinia The chief Towns are 1. Nicomedia 2. Phasso 3. Heraclia 4. Nice where the first General Council was held 5. Chalcedon where the fourth General Council was held to repell the Heresie of Nestorian 6. Prusa or Bursa where the Turks eldest Son is sent untill he be dead Pontus Pontus lyeth on the North-East of Bithinia The chief Towns are 1. Tomos to which Ovid was banished 2. Claudiopolis 2. Pithius where Chrysostome lived in exile This Countrey together with Bithinia are now called Bursia Paphlagonia On the East-side of Pontus is Paphlagonia The chief City is Pompeiopolis built by Pompey the Great 2. Sinope famous for its plenty of Brass and Lead 3. Amisus a Sea-Town now called Simoso Galatia On the South-side of Paphlagonia is Galatia to this Province did St Paul direct one of his Epistles The chief Cities are 1. Gutia 2. Ancyra now Angauri famous at this time for the making of Chamblets 3. Pisius a Town of great Traffick and 4. Tavium This Countrey yieldeth the Stone called Amethists which are said to preserve the man that wears them from Drunkenness Capadocia On the East-side of Galatia is Capadocia The chief Cities are 1. Erzyrium situate on the confines of the greater Armenia 2. Amasia 3. Mazaca where St. Basil lived 4. Sebastia and 5. Trapesus or Trapezond
once the Imperial seat of the Comneni This Empire contained the Provinces of Pontus Galatia and Capadocia here the Amazones are said to have lived from the destruction of Troy to the time of Alexander the Great Lycaonia On the South of Capadocia lyeth Lycaonia The chief Cities are 1. Iconium 2. Lystra where Timothy was born where Paul and Barnabas were adored for Gods Paul for Mercury and Barnabas for Jupiter 3. Derbe Psidia On the East-side of Lycaonia is Psidia whose chief City is 1. Antiochia mentioned in the 13th of the Acts. 2. Lysimia Armenia minor Eastward from Psidia is Armenia minor thought to be the Land of Ararat upon whose Mountains the Ark of Noah rested after the Deluge The chief Town is Malexona whose territory abounds in Oyl and Wine Syria SYria hath on the East Euphrates on the West the Mediterranean Sea on the North Cilicia and on other parts Asia minor The Inhabitants of this Countrey are either Mahumetans or Christians these later are divided into the Sects of Melchies Jacobites and Maronites these last inhabit only Mount Libanus so much renowned for its goodly Cedars In this Countrey between it and Armenia minor live a certain people whom they call Cardi or Coordes These men worship the Devil and with good reason as they think because God is a good man and will do no man harm but the Devil is a Knave and must be pleased This Countrey is divided into three Provinces viz. Phoenicia Coelo-Syria and Syro-Phoenicia Phoenicia Phoenicia lyeth South towards Canaan The chief Cities are 1. Acon seated in a fair plain within a Creek of the Sea of the same name and compassing the City And such a plain lies all along the Coast from Joppa to Trippoli This City was famous for the Armies of Europe passing to conquer these parts 2. Sarepta where Elias was sustained in a Famine by a Widdow 3. Sydon once a famous City now contracted into a narrower compass 4. Tyre the ruines whereof witness the old magnificence This Countrey aboundeth with Wheat Honey Oyl and Balm Coelo-Syria The second Province is Coelo-Syria whose chief Cities are 1. Hieropolis famous for the Temple and worship of the Syrian Goddess 2. Damascus this City is seated in a very fruitful soyl bearing Grapes all the year long and girt round with most curious and odoriferous Gardens The Syrian Kings mentioned in the Bible were of this Syria Syro-Phoenicia The third Province is Syro-Phoenicia whose chief Cities are 1. Beritus a famous Mart-Town nigh unto which St. George is said to have delivered the Kings Daughter by killing the Dragon in memory whereof there was a Castle and an Oratory built in the same place and dedicated to St. George 2. Aleppo this City was of old called Aram-Sohab mentioned in the 2 Sam. 8. chaep and 3. vers The Traffick in this place is exceeding great so as the Goods of all Asia and the Eastern Islands are brought hither or to Cayro in Egypt This City lies within Land the Port whereof called Alexandretta by the Christians and Scanderona by the Turks I shall hereafter describe The building of this City as of all houses of Syria is one roof high with a plain top plastered to walk upon and with arches before the houses under which they walk dry and keep Shops of Wares This City is well fortified pleasantly seated and hath many fair Gardens The air here is exceeding hot and subtile so as the Christians coming hither from Scanderona a most unhealthfull place choaked with Fens commonly fall sick and dye and this is the cause the English Factors imployed here seldom return into England Within this City the English Merchants have three houses as it were Colledges where they live In these parts they have Sheep the tail of one wreathed to the ground doth weigh 30 or more pounds in fat and wool The 3. City is Biblis 4. Tripolis so called for difference from Tripoli in Africk The Haven lies on the West-side and is compassed with a Wall wherein were many little Barks and some Ships of Marseils in France The Haven is fortified with seven Towers and upon it are built many Store-houses for Merchants The City lies some half a mile from the Haven and is seated on the side of a Hill near unto this City lies Mount Libanus this Mountain is very pleasant abounding in fruitfull Trees and with Grapes yielding a rich Wine upon the North-side without the Gates they keep many Silk-worms in most pleasant Gardens The building of Tripoli is like to the other buildings in Syria The Street which leads to Aleppo is broad the rest narrow and the air and waters are unhealthfull The chief Traffick of this City is for the most part removed to Damascus and Aleppo The 5. City is Antiochia the Metropolis of all Syria Palestine PAlestine hath on the East Euphrates on the West the Mediterranean Sea on the North Phoenicia and on the South Arabia This Countrey was first call'd the Land of Canaan from Canan the Son of Cham. 2. The Land of Promise because the Lord promised it to Abraham 3. Israel from the Israelites 4. Judea from the Jews 5. Palestine quasi Philistin 6. The holy Land because here was wrought the work of our salvation It is in length 200 miles and not above 50 in breadth yet of that salubrity of Air and fertility of Soyl that it maintained the two potent Kingdoms of Israel and Juda wherein David reckoned 1300000 fighting Men besides the tribes of Levi and Benjamin The People hereof are now accounted a perjured vagabond Nation and great Usurers It is divided into the four Provinces viz. Galilea Judea Idumea Samaria and is watered with the Rivers Cedron and Jordan Galilea Galilea is the most Northern part of all Palestine it is divided into the higher and lower the higher Galilea contained the tribes of Asher and Nepthali and part of the tribe of Dan in Asher the chief Cities were 1. Acon 2. Tyre 3. Sydon 4. Sarepta all which we have before mentioned in the description of Phoenicia 5. Aphek whose falling down slew 27000 of Benhadad's Souldiers 6. Giscala the birth-place of Jehu In the tribe of Nepthali the principal Towns are and were 1. Jabin 2. Capernaum 3. Genasareth The chief Cities of that part of Dan are Hamath and Ramath The lower Galilea contains the tribe of Zabulon and Isacher In the tribe of Zabulon the chief Cities are 1. Hippopolis 2. Cana where our Saviour turn'd water into wine 3. Bethsaida the brith-place of Peter Andrew and Philip. 4. Tiberias on the Sea of Galilea 5. Nazareth in this tribe is the Brook Chison and Mount Tabor In the tribe of Isacher the chief Cities are 1. Tarichea 2. Enbadda near this Saul slew himself 3. Daberoth seated in the valley of Israel in this lower Galilea was our Saviour very conversant Samaria Samaria is here taken for that part of Palestine seated between Judea and
Galilea the People whereof were the descendants of such Assyrians as were by Sallamanser sent hither to possess the Inheritance of the captive Israelites This Province of Samaria contained the tribes of Ephraim Gad Reuben and the two half tribes of Manasses the one situate on the Mediterranean the other beyond Jordan In the half tribe of Manasses on the Mediterranean the chief Cities are 1. Bethsan 2. Thebes 3. Ephra where Gedeon dwelt 4. Endor where Saul consulted with the Witch 5. Jesreel 6. Cesarea Philippi seated in a plain 25 miles distant from Joppa now for the most part ruin'd 7. Antipatris whither the Souldiers led Paul by command of Lysias 8. Megiddo In the tribe of Ephraim the chief Cities are 1. Samaria the Metropolis of the Kingdom of Israel 2. Bethel 3. Sichem 4. Lidda 5. Arimathea 6. Silo. On the other side Jordan was the Habitation of the children of Gad and Reuben and the other half of Manasses the Countreys of these last was called Basan whose last King was Ogg. The chief Cities are 1. Edry the Seat of King Ogg. 2. Astaroth 3. Gaulon and 4. Hus the birth-place of Job The chief Cities of the Gadits are 1. Gergesa 2. Gilead 3. Succoth 4. Ramoth-Gilead where Jacob and Laban swore 5. Rabba now Philadelphia under the Walls whereof Vriah was slain by the command of David In the tribe of Reuben the chief Cities are 1. Macherus in this Town was John the Baptist slain 2. Bethbara where Moses made his divine exhortations to the People 3. Abel-Sittim seated in the plains of Moab 4 Ramath-Baal to which place Baleck brought Balem to curse the People Idumea Idumea was the Habitation of the Edomites the off-spring of Esau who also inhabited the Countrey called Mount Seir in which the children of Israel were stung with the fiery Serpents This Countrey of Idumea contained the tribes of Dan and Simeon The chief Cities of the tribe of Dan are 1. Joppe now Jaffa a famous Mart-Town situate very pleasant upon a Hill declining towards the Sea here the Prophet Jonas took Ship to fly to Tarsus 2. Gath the Countrey of that huge Giant Goliah 3. Ecron where Belzebub was worshipped 4. Asotos where a Temple was built in honour of the Idol Dagon 5. Ciriatharim where the Ark of the Lord was kept 20 years The chief Cities of Simeon are 1. â—…scalon 2. Gaza a very fair and strong Town 3. Beersheba where Abraham and Abimelech swore to each other where Hagar wandred with her Son Ismael Judea Judea is of the same extent now as it was when it was the Kingdom of Juda containing the two great tribes of Juda and Benjamin The chief Cities of the tribe of Juda are 1. Carioth the birth-place of Judas Iscariot 2. Maresa the native Soyl of the Prophet Micah 3. Hebron the Seat of the Giants called the Anakims adjoyning to this Town is the Plain of Mamre where Abraham was visited by the Angels 4. Tecoa the City of Amos the Prophet 5. Libna seated in the wilderness 6. Ziph in the wilderness wherein David hid himself from the fury of Saul 7. Bethlem where Christ was born this Village is from Jerusalem some three miles In this Countrey also are the Hills of Engaddi in a Cave of which David cut off a lap of Saul's garment In the tribe of Benjamin the chief Cities are 1. Gilgal 〈◊〉 unto which Joshua pitched the twelve stones as a memorial that the waters of Jordan divided themselves to give passage unto the children of Israel 2. Mispah 3. Geba 4. Ai a strong Town 5. Gibbeon 6. Jericho destroy'd by the sounding of Rams Horns 7. Mispah 8. Jerusalem the City of the Lord built by Melchisedeck Prince and Priest of Salem This City is strongly seated on Mount Sion encompassed with stately Walls of red and black Stone more than an ell long and about half an ell broad Here are seven Gates well fortified with Ordnance and is strong enough against sudden tumults although no way able to hold out a siege The Houses here as in all parts of Asia are built very low of Flint-stone only one story high the top whereof is plain and plastered and hath Battlements almost a yard high All the Citizens are either Taylors Shooe-makers Cooks or Smiths and in general poor rascal People mingled of the scum of divers Nations partly Arabians partly Moors and partly the basest Inhabitants of neighbour-Countreys In this City are still to be seen divers of the places mentioned in the Old and New Testament or the ruines of them if you will credit your Guides which shew them unto such Travellers and Strangers as come to behold this City but let a Man believe no further than his own judgement will warrant him Armenia ARmenia hath on the East Media and the Caspian Sea on the West Euphrates and the Euxine Sea on the North Tartary and on the South Mesopotamia now Dierbechia This Countrey is very mountainous which are reputed to be those parts of the Hills Taurus and Antitaurus which are called Periadres Scodrisci and Amamus The People hereof are more famous for nothing than their want of all things stour cruel and warlike maintaining themselves by hunting and stealing as Men living in so barren a Soyl that Husbandry were vain and foolish They are generally good Archers merry careless of honour desirous of ease greatbodyed comely and willing to be soothed The Women tall but homely having Children commonly at ten years old it is accounted a great credit unto them if they can please and be acceptable to such Guests as the Husbands bring in The whole Countrey is divided into three Provinces 1. Colchis 2. Georgia and 3. Turcomania Colchis Colchis lyeth on the Euxine Sea towards the North and the East The People are barbarous defending themselves from the Turks by the rough Hills and ragged poverty they are so inhumane that they sell their own Children to the Turks The Countrey of it self is very fertil but the People are so careless that they neither plant nor sowe to any purpose The chief Towns are 1. Alvati 2. Phasis or Phassum and 3. Dioscurias Georgia Georgia this Countrey is now call'd Mengrelia Georgia is bounded on the East with the Caspian Sea West with Colchis North with the Tartars of Astracham and South with the greater Armenia In this Countrey is a thing monstrous and wonderfull for in it there is a Province called Hamsem containing in circuit three dayes journey and so far is it covered with an obscure darkness that none can see any thing nor dare enter into it the Inhabitants thereabouts affirm that they have often heard the voice of Men howling Cocks crowing neighing of Horses and by the passage of a River it appears to have signs of habitation This Province was formerly called Iberia the chief Towns of it are 1. Lori 2. Bascapan 3. Teflis exceeding well fortified by the Turks 4. Tomanis For the greater part this Countrey
this Countrey are 1 Euphrates 2. Tygris Out of Chaldea the three Wise Men are thought to have come who worshipped Christ and presented Gifts unto him Thus much of Chaldea and the Continent of the Turkish Empire in Asia The Islands and his other Dominions subject unto him shall be mentioned in their due places Persia PErsia is bounded on the East with the River Indus West with Tygris and the Persian Gulf North with the Caspian Sea and the River Oxus and on the South with the Main Ocean Natures and Manners of the People The people of this Countrey are for the most part valiant and proper being Olive-coloured they have no hair on their head nor their Chin only on their upper lip they have it very long and turned downwards their eyes are generally black their noses high as be their foreheads Apparel In their Apparel they are very phantastical about their heads they wynde great rowls of Callico some of Silk and Gold Their outward Garment is commonly of Callico quilted with Cotton some wear them of party-coloured Silks some of Sattin and some of rich Gold or Silver Chamblets The Women likewise are gorgeous in attire their stature is mean but strait and comely their hair black and curled their forehead high their cheeks fat round and painted they look wantonly drink strongly and covet mens moneys really Houshold Furniture Their Houses to speak generally within are poor and sordid a Carpet a Pan and a Platter epitomizes all their Furniture The better sort sleep on Beds two foot high matted or done with girth'-web on which is a shagg or yopanger which riding serves as an Vmbrella against rain and sleeping for a Bed and Coverture Diet. They feed most on Rice boiled with Butter also Mutton Hens and Almonds The better sort sit on Carpets cross-legged using neither Spoon nor Knife for the poorer fort they feed most on Roots as Melons Garlick Opium and Honey They hate Swines-flesh Veal Beef Hares and Buffles because Mahomet forbids it them Provinces This Empire containeth the Provinces of Persis Susiana Caramania Gedrosia Drangiana Aria Arachosia Parapomisus Saca Hircania and Ormus The chief Cities of this Kingdom are 1. Persepolis now called Siras standing within the Province of Persis This City continued the mightiest in Asia 230 years at which time Alexander the Great gave a period to its greatness by the Whorish counsel of the Athenian Lais. It is in compass now some eight or nine miles and seated at the North-West end of a large Plain some twenty miles long and six broad the sides environed with mighty Hills under one of which this City is placed The prime beauty of this City is her Churches and Gardens there are some 14 or 15 Churches most of which are round like Theatres their outside tyling pargetted with Azure Stones two of these have two Pillars or Steeples as high as Pauls in London covered and wrought with Blew and Gold Their Houses are of Sun-burnt Brick flat on the top the windows trelized very curiously and though generally within they have no ornament yet some peculiar Houses as the Dukes and some others may be Competitors for delicacy with most in Europe The Gardens within this City abound in all kinds of Fruits In a word for all delicacy this City may compare with any part of Persia The 2. City of note is Sushan deriving her name from the Province wherein she stands This was once one of the three Royal Palaces of the Median Emperor one being at Babylon and another at Ecbatana Here it was that Ahashuerus made a Feast mentioned 1 Hester and yearly to this day the King celebrates a Feast of Roses and the Duke of Shiras who is Lord of Sushan a Feast of Daffadillies of like continuance 3. Caramania famous for Cloth of Gold and the best Scymitars 4. Gedrosia or Geste 5. Sige. 6. Aria most of them deriving their names from the Provinces wherein they stand Hyrcania Hyrcania This is now made a Province of the Persian Kingdom It hath on the North the Caspian Sea South Mount Taurus East and West Media this people are of late civilized by the Persians The Countrey of old and yet abounds with Tygers Wolves Lyons Wild-Cats Bears and Scorpions It is full of Woods which both befriends them against Winters cold and Summers heat which in their seasons are extreme The prime Cities of this Kingdom are 1. Asharaff she hath in her some 2000 Houses and is seated in a Plain not above two miles from the Caspian Sea The Buzzar in this Town is but homely nor enjoys she any Mosques or Prophets to be spoken of 2. Farabant is a very fair City this lies one mile from the Caspian Sea and five miles West from Asharaff It is yet the best Town for beauty greatness and wealth in the Kingdom of Hyrcania It is furnished with some long deep Prams sowed together with Hemp and Coord but unpitch'd or calk'd in these the Muscovian Merchants sail down Volga over the Caspian Sea and arrive at Farabant to traffick for raw Silks This City glories in her two large and beautifull Buzzars and fragrant Gardens and in a sumptuous Palace of the Kings 3. Omoall is built under Mount Taurus it hath 3000 Houses and inhabited by divers Nations In this City is a Church or Mosque wherein is intombed 444 Princes and Prophets of that Kingdom the people of this City are very courteous and beautified with complements and dainty feature The people of this Kingdom speak the language of the Persians their apparel is like the Irish Trooses their 〈…〉 are very kind and loving unto Travellers and upon any signal will receive them and hold it a point of rudeness in their Virgins if they be coy or disdainfull unto Strangers Ormus Ormus is an Isle within the Gulf it is in circuit 15 miles at the end of this Isle appears yet the ruines of that late glorious City built by the Portugals and lately taken from them by the Persians with the help of some of our English Ordnance so that it is now utterly ruined and not worth the owning which was but 15 years ago the only stately City of the Orient it is now disrobed of all her bravery the Persians each month conveying her ribs of Wood and Stone to aggrandize Gombroone not three leagues distant out of whose ruines she begins to triumph Gombroone is by the Natives called Bander or Port-Town it is distant from Ormus nine English miles It is seated on the Gulf and in the Ormusian Kingdom It containeth well-near 1000 Houses In January here arrive Ships from India English and Dutch and here the English Agent receives Custom of all Strangers that honour being granted for their good service done at Ormus The English and Dutch Merchants have their Houses here this Town in Winter is inhabited by sundry Nations as Persians Indians Arabs Jews all which fly away in the Summer to avoid the intollerable
heat In the Winter season there is abundance of all things necessary chiefly of Fruits and Flowers In the Town also is some Moschees and Synagogues of Jews Media MEdia is limited on the North with the Mountain Taurus on the South with Parthia East with Aria or Sablestam and West with Armenia minor Fertility This Countrey is generally barren especially in the Northern parts so that they make their Bread for the most part of dryed Almonds their Drink of the Roots of certain Herbs and feed ordinarily on Venison The great Cities of Media are Casbeene Tabris or Taurus Ordavill Tyroan Cashan and Coom. Tyroan is situate in the midst of a fair large Plain which although on some parts is environed with Hills of stupendious height yet some wayes it affords an ample Horizon The building is of Sun-burnt brick and it is watered with a small Stream which runs in two parts through the Town and mellows most of the Gardens and Groves within it The Town is most beautified with a vast Garden of the Kings succinct with a large to wred Mud-wall larger than the circuit of the City The Houses are open at the tops whereon are spread Carpets where each Man sleeps Carpets where each Man sleeps with his Seraglio some have three some six and some twelve sleeping by them It containeth some 3000 Houses and hath in her a Caravans Lodge which exceeds her Mosque Tauris or Ecbatana derives her Name from the Mountain Taurus and is now a City both great and famous her circuit is six miles it is placed by a River and is shaded by the Hill Baretano and to the South sheweth a large Plain 't is well peopled and much resorted to for traffick which makes it famous throughout all Asia it hath a small Mud-wall of little service the Houses are flat above and built of Brick dryed in the Sun her best ornament is a Garden built toward the South-East planted by Shaw Tamas Cazbeene was of old called Arsatia this City is situate in a fair even place no Hills being near it The compass of this City is seven miles her Buzzar is large and pleasant the Kings House and Seraglio are near the Market built of raw Bricks but painted and varnished very rarely with blew red and yellow the Mosques and Hummums are very resplendant with the Azure paint wherewith they are ceruleated for their other Buildings they are of no great magnificence Coom is a pleasant City standing in the half-way betwixt Cazbeen and Spahawn and in front of both 'T is a pleasant fruitfull and healthy City and the People courteous it hath in her 2000 Houses well built sweet and well furnished her Streets are wide her Buzzar fair and her Mosque of most honourable esteem among them It is watered with a sweet but small River and hath plenty of all Fruits Parthia PArthia is bounded on the East with Aria West with Media North with Hircania and South with Carmania The chief City is Spahawn it being the Imperial City it is situate in a fair and pleasant Horizon 't is by some called Hispaan It is a City both great antient and famous it is of an Orbicular form and is some nine miles in compass her Inhabitants some 300000 Souls The chief Ornaments of this City are the Mydan or great Market the Hummums or Hot-Houses the Moschees the Kings Palace and Gardens The Mydan is in the heart of the City and to say truth all the beauty concourse wealth and trade is comprised in her It is built in form of Royal Exchange with four Isles and Court within called the Hypodromo It is stored with all Merchandizes chiefly Drugs and to this place daily resort most Nations as English Dutch Portugall Arabians Turks Jews Armenians Muscovians and Indians there are many great Surroyes where are Houses made of purpose for laying in and keeping Merchants Goods and to harbour and lodge themselves and their Camels Horses and other Cattel Within this Mydan is nothing sold but things of great value as Cloth of Gold Silver and Tissue Sattins Velvets Jewels and Pearls In one end are nothing but raw Silks in another end are twisted and wrought Silks and in another those that sell all sorts of Apparel ready made after the Persian fashion very rich as Sutes of Cloth of Gold Silver and the like The buildings of their Mosques or Churches are large and handsom In this City is a Column compact of several Heads of Men and Beasts 't is at the base above 20 foot in compass and the height is three times as much Cashan is also a famous City in Parthia the antiquity of it is not much in this name It is well seated well peopled and well built the people are orderly and more given to Trade than in some Towns about her Silks Sattins Cloth of Gold are here in abundance at reasonable prizes The Caravans-Raw the Mosque and Hummums are her only Ornaments of which the Caravans-Raw exceeds any in Persia It was built by Abbas for Travellers to lodge in upon free-cost by act of Charity This City is distant from Spahawn some nine miles Divers other Cities there are but of less note Thus much of Parthia and of the Persian Kings Dominion Tartaria TArtaria is bounded on the East with the Eastern Ocean on the West with the Muscovy on the North with the Frozen Sea and on the South with Mare Caspium the Hill Taurus and the Wall of China It extendeth it self from East to West 5400 miles and from North to South 3600. It was of old known by the name of Scythia Natures and Manners of the People They are generally of a swarthy complexion square stature broad faces hollow-ey'd thin beards and ugly countenances barbarous in behaviour especially in Antiqua Asciatica for their Religion some are Pagans and some Mahumetans They are given to Divinations Auguries Sooth-sayings Inchantments and when they receive answer from the Devil they attribute the same to God whom they call Stoga they marvelously fear and reverence him offering him many oblations The Women are suitable to the Men wanting and scorning Money adorning themselves with Gew-gaws of Copper Feathers and Latton Division It is now usually divided into the Provinces of Precopensis Asciatica Antiqua Zagathay and Cathaia Procopenfis or Tartaria minor It containeth all Taurica Chersonesus and the Asciatican Banks of Tanais The chief Cities are 1. Precops 2. Crim the ancient Seat of the Tartarian Rulers 3. Ozaclow the residence of the present Princes 4. Capha anciently Theodosia a Town of great traffick Asciatica or Deserta Asciatica or Deserta This call'd also Moscovitica Deserta as anciently Sarmatia Asciatica is situate about the Banks of the River Volga The People here for the most part live in Tents made of Beasts skins and account it a great misery to stay longer in one place than the pasture affords meat for their Cattle They sowe no Corn but make Horse-flesh their chief food
either warm'd a little at their Saddle-bow or rosted in the Sun and drink sowr Mares-Milk The chief Cities are 1. Cashan 2. Noyhan 3. Charayckzicke 4. Astrachan a Town well frequented by Merchants Tartaria Antiqua Tartaria Antiqua is the old Habitation of the Tartars from whence they dispersed themselves over Europe and Asia The People are of the same life and condition with them of Asciatica and lye farthest North extending beyond the Polare Circle They have some few Cities as 1. Coras famous for the Sepulchers of the Tartarian Kings 2. Caracora 3. Campanion these Cities belong to the Kingdom of Tenduc the People hereof account it a great honour to have their Wives and Sisters at the pleasâ—…e of such as they entertain In this Countrey is the Desart of Lop and in this Countrey groweth Rheubarb an Herb of that excellent nature that the whole World is beholding to these Barbarians for it as a sovereign help for many diseases Zagathai Zagathai this Countrey was of old Scythia intra montem imanum It is situate East from the Caspian Sea they are now called Jeselbas from the colour of their Turbants They inhabit the ancient Countreys of Bactria Sogdiana and Margiana in times past the Habitation of the Massagetes so famous in Arms. These are the most honourable People of the Tartars indifferent civil given to Arts and Lords of many fair Cities as 1. Istigias one of the most pleasant Cities of the East 2. Samarchand which gave both a Cradle and a Grave to the mighty Tamerlain Cathaie CAthaie is bounded on the East with the Oriental Ocean on the West with the other Tartarian Provinces North with the Scythick Sea and South with China this is thought to have been the ancient Habitation of the Ceres It is said of this People that they have neither whore nor thief amongst them Fertility The Soyl aboundeth with variety of Fruits superfluously furnished with Rice Grain Wool Silk Hemp Rheubarb Musk and excellent fine Chamblets so that it scorneth to give precedency to any of the flourishing Provinces of Europe Natures of the People The People are fearless of the greatest dangers and patient of labour they are of a very good wit dress themselves gorgeously and on occasions fare very sumptuously The chief Cities are 1. Caraian where the Women use to guild their teeth 2. Tebeth famous for her abundance of Corral 3. Cambaln seated on the River Polysanga honoured with the great Cham's residence enriched with a mighty confluence of Merchants of all sorts beside other Merchandize there are every year 10000 Carts loaded with Silks sent thither ftom China It is in compass 28 miles besides the Suburbs which beside other Inhabitants are 50000 Astrologers or rather Fortune-tellers 4. Xamdu within this City did Cublai Can build a stately Palace encompassing 16 miles of plain ground with a Wall wherein are fertil Meadows pleasant Springs delightfull streams and all sorts of Beasts of chase and game and in the midst thereof a sumptuous House of pleasure which may be removed from place to place here he doth abide in the moneths of June July and August Government The Government of this Emperour is tyrannical the Great Cham being Lord and in his tongue consists life or death he is called by the simple People the shadow of Spirits and Son of the immortal Gods and by himself is reputed to be the Monarch of the whole World At the Funeral of some of these great Monarchs they use to kill some of his Guard-Souldiers whereof he hath 12000 in continual pay These Chams for the most part are severe Justices and punish almost every small fault with death especially theft lying and adultery Thus much of Tartaria Of India commonly called East-India INdia is bounded on the East with China on the West with the River Indus from whence it takes its denomination on the North with Tartary and on the South with the Ocean This is the biggest Countrey comprehended under one name of any in the World except Tartary and China Rivers The chief Rivers of it are Indus and Ganges Fertility abound it doth in all manner of Minerals except Copper and Lead and stored with all sorts of Cattle except Horses Riches more particularly with Mines of Gold pretious Stones Spices of all sorts and Civet Wheat only and Vines are wanting Natures of the People The People are indifferent civil and ingenious both Men and Women imitate a majesty in their frame and apparel which they sweeten with Oyl and Perfumes adorning themselves with Jewels Pearls and other ornaments befitting Several Nations in India They are a Nation composed of five several sorts of People 1. The Indians or Natives which are in part Gentiles in part Christians The second sort are Mahumetans Persians Tartars The third Jews The fourth Arabians or Moors and the fifth Portugals The River Ganges divideth the Countrey into two parts viz. India intra Gangem and India extra Gangem India intra Gangem India intra Gangem called Industan is divided into 47 Provinces or Kingdomes whereof two have yet their proprietary Kings namely Narsinga and Calecute the rest are under the Command of the Great Mogull The chief of the 47 Provinces are 1. Narsinga 2. Mallabar 3. Balassia 4. Cambaia 5. Mandao 6. Bengala 7. Oristan 8. Canora and 9. Delliâ— Narsinga NArsinga hath on the East the Gulf of Bengala West the Mountain Guate North the Mountain Guadaverno and South the Promontory of Comari It is in compass 3000 miles and hath a King acknowledging no superiour command he keepeth in continual pay 40000 Nairos and is able to bring into the Field many thousands more as his expeditions in War have specified Natures of the People The People hereof use to burn their Wives when their Husbands are dead the cause some ascribe to their Wives wonted custome to poyson their Husbands before this Law In these parts the chief City is St. Thomas or Malleaper where they say St. Thomas was martyred and burnt to his Sepulcher the Indian Christians go on Pilgrimage carrying a little of the earth with them for a great relique The Portugals now inhabit this Town almost desolate the Jesuits also have here a residence There is also Narsinga and Bisnagar fair and great Towns standing within this Kingdom Mallabar Mallabar containeth the Western part which of old was called Aurea Chersonesus It is full of People divided into many States by variety of Rivers which causeth many Crocodiles enriches the Soyl and yields easie transportation of Commodities which are Spices of divers kinds The chief Kingdoms in this Tract are 1. Kanonor 2. Calecute 3. Cranganor 4. Cochin 5. Cariolam and 6. Travancon Calecute is the chief of these Cities the City is not walled nor fair built the ground not yielding firm foundation Fertility This Kingdom hath not above 25 leagues of Sea-coast yet rich both by the fertility of the Soyl
which yieldeth Corn Spices Cocos Jaceros and many other Fruits and by the situation as the Staple especially before the Portugals unfriendly Neighbourhood of Indian Merchandize and therefore in her variety of Merchants being a Map as it were of all the Eastern World The Egyptians Persians Syrians Arabians Indians yea even from Catay the space of 6000 miles had here their trade and traffick The People here do yield divine honour to divers of the deceased Saints and build Temples unto Beasts The Gentlemen and Merchants have a custome to exchâ—nge Wives in token of great friendship Some Women amongst them have six or seven Husbands fathering their Children on which of them she best pleaseh The Men when they marry get others to use them if they be Virgins 15 or 20 dayes before they themselves do bed them Cranganor is a small Kingdom the Inhabitants of this City are Christians of St. Thomas profession about 70000 in number Cochin is now grown great by the Portugals traffick and friendship of the rest there there is not much worth recital The King of Coulam's Dominion stretcheth some 80 miles in which there is some 23 walled Towns Balassia Balassia or the Kingdom of Bocan is famous for its inexhaustible Mines of Gold and Silver The chief Cities of it are 1. Balassia 2. Bocan 3. Senergian Cambaia Cambaia is also called Guzant containing in length from the River Bate to Circam a Persian Region 500 miles of Sea-coast being on other parts invironed with the Kingdoms of Dulcinda and Sanga on the North Mandao on the East and on the West the Gedrosians the Sea and confines of Decan are the Southerly bounds It hath in it by estimation 60000 inhabited places watered with many streams the chief whereof is Indus Fertility This Countrey is very fertil not yielding to any other in India in the Fruits which the Trees and Earth bring forth beside the store of Elephants Gems Silk Cotton and such like Natures of the People The People are of an Olive-colour go naked except about their privy parts they eat no Flesh but Rice Milk Barley and other lifeless creatures Their chief Sea-Towns are Daman Bandora Curate Ravellum and within Land Cambaia Mallabar Campanel and Tanaa Cambaia hath bestowed the name on the whole Kingdom which they call the Indian Cairo for the excellency thereof it standeth three miles from Indus The Inhabitants of it are a mixture of Mahometans Moors Persians Bannyans and from Arabia they are crafty and deceitfull the Priests are singularly reputed of the Women proper but vailed and obscure in their best aspect their faces they colour their teeth black thinking that shews most delight and beauty ard to differ from Dogs whose teeth are white their Apparel is like the other Indians Mandao Mandao this Kingdom is so called of the chief City 1. Mandao which being 30 miles in compass held out a siege of twelve years 2. Molta where the Women ride booted and spur'd 3. Scernus 4. Polymbothia Bengala Bengala the Kingdom of Bengala is very large and hath a coast 120 leagues and as much within Land the River Chaberis watereth it Riches It is plentifull in Rice Wheat Sugar Ginger Long Pepper Cotton and Silk and enjoyeth a very wholesome Air. The Inhabitants near the shore are for the most part Mahumetans Gouro the State-Royal and Bengala are fair Cities Chatigan is also reckoned among the Cities Natures of the People They are a most subtil and wicked People and are esteemed the worst slaves in all India for that they are all Thieves and the Women Whores although this fault is common through all India no place excepted Here are found great abundance of Rhinocerots whose Horn and all other parts is good against poyson Oristan Oristan the Kingdom of Oristan hath on the Sea-coast 350 miles betwixt the richer Kingdoms of Bengala and Bisnagar poor of Ports and traffick Raman is the Royal City The Inhabitants except a few Moors are Gentiles little or nothing differing in Rites from their Neighbours Canora Canora the chief Cities of this Kingdom are 1. Vltabat 2. Danggar 3. Lispoe famous for her quarries of Adamant Six leagues from Decan is a Hill out of which the Diamond is taken this Hill is kept by a Garrison and walled about Dellie Dellie the Kingdom of Dellie is Northerly subject to cold and frosts as in Europe The chief Cities of this Kingdom are 1. Dellie 2. Besmer famous for the study of Magick 3. Tremell and 4. Fultabar This Prince liveth in great state having a Revenue correspondent thereunto his Subjects do reverence him exceedingly making it Holy-day when he cutteth his Hair or shaveth his Beard He is alwayes carried on Mens shoulders in a pompous Chair adorned richly Thus much of India intra Gangem India extra Gangem INdia extra Gangem hath on the East China West the rest of India This India hath formerly been divided amongst 12 Potentates but now by the prosperous fortune of the Kings of Siam and Brama it is wholly subject to their command The most remarkable of these 12 Kingdoms are Machin Arachan Camboia Cauchin-China Brama Siam and Pegu. Machin Machin This Kingdom is accounted famous for the Wood called by us Aloes by the Latin Writers Lignum Vitae this Wood is valued at its weight in pure Silver The chief City is Machin Arachan Arachan This Kingdom is environed round with Mountains and impenetrable Woods The chief Cities are 1. Arachan 2. Ava famous for her abundance of Gems Camboia Camboia This is a great and populous Countrey full of Elephants and Abadas this Beast is the Rhineceros The chief City is Camboia a Town of great Traffick and Commerce for its plenty of Gold Silver and Aloes and other Commodities of great worth Treacherous people They are a treacherous people as may appear by their dealing with the Hollanders in 160â— whom they invited to the shore with promise of certain Buffs and then cruelly slew them Cauchin-China Cauchin-China This Kingdom is situate between the River Cantan and the Kingdom of Siam divided into three Provinces and as many Kings Riches It aboundeth with Gold Silver Aloes Porcelane and Silk Their chief City is Cauchin-â—hina situate on the Sea much frequented by Merchants for Porcelanâ—… or China-Dishes here made Brama Brama Of this Kingdom of Brama the City-Royal is Pegu the Nation where began the greatness of the late Kings not long since This Kingdom was of no estimation but now hath he made all his Neighbours his Homagers having subjected to his Seigniory 12 Kingdoms being all of them rich in the best Commodities that the Indians afford Siam Siam This was not long since the Queen or Lady of this part of India but now is subject to the King of Brama The principal Cities are 1. Malaca now subject to the Portugals they have there their Bishop and a Colledge of
places of pleasure and profit Zambra is greater containing 30000 Houses and innumerable concourse of people It stands in the Kingdom of Caffates and near the great Lake called hereof Zambra where the Emperour leaving his wonted manner of removing up and down in Tents hath fixed his Court-Royal and yet without the City are many Tents belonging to the Court The other Cities are Cossonum Zameta Aruma Eranco and Suachen besides the Kings Court which is as a wandring City for with his Tents and Pavilions belonging to him he covereth no less than ten miles Buildings Their Houses in Ethiopia are for the most part round all of Earth flat-roofed covered with Thatch compassed with Yards They sleep on Ox-Hides they have neither Table nor Table-Clothes but have their Meat served in on wooden Platters some eat Flesh raw others broyl it The Person of this Emperour is very much honoured nay adored by the common People to whom he sheweth himself but thrice a year viz. Christmas Easter and Holy-Rood Thus much of the Ethiopian Empire Of Ethiopia Exterior EThiopia Inferior called also Exterior hath on the East the Red Sea West the Aethiopian Ocean North Terra Nigrarum and South the Southern Ocean Division The usual division of this Region is into five parts viz. Aian Benomotapa Zanzibar Cafaria and Congo Aian Aian after the Arabian account containeth all that Region that lyeth between the mouth of the Red Sea and Quilimanci being for the most part on the Sea-coast inhabited by the said Arabians but in the Inland-part thereof are People of a black heathenish Nation It comprehendeth two Kingdoms Adel and Adea the former of which extendeth it self from the mouth of the Red Sea to the Cape Guardasu South and West it bordereth on the Dominion of Prester John about the Kingdom of Fatigar Fertility It aboundeth with Flesh Honey Wax Corn Gold Ivory The chief City is Arar Zeila also and Barbora pertain to this â—ingdom Cities without the Streit on the Sea much frequented by Merchants It is stored with variety of Merchandize and yieldeth some representation of Antiquity in building thereof consisting of Lime and Stone Adea is situate between Adel Abassia and the Sea to which last it is tributary The chief Towns are Brava Pate and Gogia these two last belong to the Portugal Zanzibar Zanzibar extendeth from the River Quilimanci to Benomotape It is a low fenny woody Countrey with many Rivers which by the extremity of moisture causes the Air to be intemperate From the Waste upward they go naked Herein are contained the Territories of Melinde Mombara Quiloa Mozambique and others Melinde is the name of a Kingdom and of the chief City thereof The Inhabitants near the Sea are Moors and build their Houses after the manner of Europe Quiloa is the name of a City and Island which is a Kingdom of the Moors and extendeth her Dominion far in the Coast The People of this Island use when they have female-Children born to sew up the private passages of nature leaving only a small passage for the Urine and if they want this sign of their Virginity when they are married they are disgracefully sent home to their Parents and by them as opprobiously received Here are divers other Kingdoms also as Mombara Mozimba Macuas Embeve and against them the Promontory Prassum Mozambique by this name is signified a Kingdom in the Continent and Island also with a safe harbour Mozambique Island is inhabited by Portugals which have there a strong Castle Here the Portugal Ships winter they have Trade in the Continent in Sena Macura Sofala and Cuama Sofala is a rich Kingdom and abounds in Gold and Ivory it lyeth between Cuama and Magnice two Rivers Here the Portugals have on a little Island a Port and Factory of very rich Trade the People bringing great quantity of Gold for their Cloth and other Commodities it is supposed that it amounteth to two millions yearly Orfe is of opinion that this Sofala is that which in Solomon's time was called Ophir Besides these Kingdoms before-mentioned here are Gorova Colta Norzuge Moneulo Baduis and Monoemagi which is rich in Gold Benomotopa Benomotopa is almost invironed round with Waters having on the West and South the River callâ—d Rio D'Infanto on the East the Ocean and on the North the River Quama This Countrey is in compass 450 miles and aboundeth with such store of Elephants that no less than 5000 are yearly killed for their Teeths sake Here are said to be 3000 Mines of Gold the chief being Manica Boro and Quitiani The Mines nearest to Sofala are those of Manica which are in wide Champaignes compassed with Mountains 90 miles in circuit The places where the Gold is appear and are known by the dryness and barrenness of the Soyl. In the Mines of Boro and Quiticui and in the Rivers is found Gold but not so pure The chief Provinces are Motana Tocoa Melchucha Quinibebe Berfaca and Banagall The chief Cities are Benomotopa Zimbas and Tongum the Kings Seat Natures of the People All the People of this Region are of curled Hair and are more ingenious than those which are against Mozambique Quiloa and Melinde among whom are many that eat Mans Flesh and let their Kine blood to satisfie their thirst They punish nothing more than Witch-craft Adultery and Theft Cafraria Cafraria hath on the East Rio D'Infanto West and South the Ocean and North Lune Montes The People live like Beasts and are as black as Pitch Here are in this Countrey besides great herds of Oxen and Sheep abundance of Deer Antilopes Baboons Foxes Hares Ostriches Cranes Pelicans Herons Geese Ducks Phesants Partridges In this Countrey near the Cape of good Hope the People esteem so much of Brass or Iron and other trifles that they would exchange their Cowes and Sheep for a piece of old Iron scarce worth four pence Congo Congo hath on the East Aubassia West the Ethiopian Ocean North the Land of Negros and South the Hills called Lune Montes The Provinces of this Kingdom are 1. Matama this is a Kingdom great and mighty the Air thereof is wholsome Fertility the Earth outwardly furnished with store of Fruits inwardly with Mines of Christal and other Metals Angola was sometime a Province of this Kingdom but it is now a Kingdom of it self and very populous Here are Mines of Silver and most excellent Copper They have many Kine but love Dogs better than any other Flesh and fat them to the Shambles These Countreys are very populous insomuch that they sell to the Portugals yearly 28000 Slaves The chief Towns are 1. Benza call'd by the Portugals S. Savours 2. S. Pall lying on the Sea-shore It is the principal Haven in these parts Thus much of Ethiopia Exterior Egypt THis Kingdom is confined on the East with the Arabian Desarts those of Bara Lybia and Numidia West South it is divided from Ethiopia by the
great Cataract and North with the Egyptian Sea being part of the Mediterranean A Coast dangerous and unhospitable full of flats having no Haven but that of Alexandria which is by a Desart divided from the rest of the habitable Countrey so that it is neither by Sea nor Land to be invaded but with much difficulty It is said to extend from North to South 560 miles and in breadth from Rosetta to Damietta 140. Fertility The wonderfull fertility of this Soyl is rather to be admired than expressed in times past reputed the Granary of the whole World Amongst other Commodities which this Earth doth yield and are fetched hence by Foreigners are Riches Sugar Flax Rice all manner of Grain Linnen Cloth Hides Salt Butargio and Cassia being now the principal Nilus The fertility of this Countrey proceeds from the Inundation of Nilus which from the 15. of June overfloweth the Countrey for the space of 40 dayes and in as many more gathers his waters again if it flow not the height of 15 Cubits then is the Earth deficient of her abundance of encrease for want of moisture and if above 17 it cannot produce its natural operation but if the mean be granted there is no Countrey can brag of such abundance the Corn being all inned before the first of May During this Inundation the Cattle lye on Hills and in the Towns to which they are driven before hand as for the Towns and Villages they stand all on the tops of Hills Commerce and entercourse is not a jot diminished for Skiffs and like Boats supply the places of Horses and Camels The chief Cities of this Kingdom are 1. Alexandria once the Metropolis of Africa but now hath nothing left her but her ruines and those ill witnesses of her perished beauties only the Walls remain one within another imbattled and garnished with 68 Turrets rather stately than strong The buildings as they are now are mean and few erected on the ruines of the former that part that lyeth along the shore inhabited only the rest desolate the Walls almost quadrangular on each side a Gate one opens towards Nilus another regards Mariotis a third the Desarts of Bracha and the fourth the Haven Inhabited it is by Moors Turks Jews Christians Heathens and Grecians more in regard of Merchandize for Alexandria is a free Port both for friend or enemy than for the conveniency of the place being seated where they have neither Tillage nor Pasturage They keep good store of Goats with ears hanging to the ground which feed amongst the ruines In the Isle of Pharos stands a Castle which defends the entrance of the Haven ten in the hundred is to be paid for all the Commodities that is there brought a shore only Moneys pay but one and a half whereof they take an exact account that thereby they may aim at the value of the returned Commodities then paying eleven in the hundred even for such Commodities as are in value unaltered at so high a rate is this free Traffick purchased the Mahumetan paying as much as the Christian the Jews pay unto the Bassa for Custom 20000 Maidens a day but the Traffick of the Portugal English and Dutch hither is not discontinued they bringing such Wares to their several homes by the back-side of Africk 2. Rosetta is another City standing on a branch of the River Nile the Houses here are all Brick flat roofed as they are generally in those hotter Countreys for the Moors use much to lye on the tops of their Houses Raw-hides are here an excellent Commodity from hence transported into Italy 3. Cairo a City of marvelous strength seated on the East-side of the River at the foot of the Rocky Mountain Muccat it is in compass about 8 miles the Streets narrow the Houses high built all of Stone almost to the top at the end of each Street is a Gate making the Streets as defensive as a Castle The Houses are more beautified without than commodious within being ill contrived with cumbersome passages they are flat and plastered above the wall surmounting the roof commonly of single brick their Locks and Keys be of Wood even to doors that are plated with Iron their Mosques exceed in magnificency of which there are a great number in this City here are also divers goodly Hospitals both for building revenue and attendance the next to these in beauty are the Great Mens Seraglios by which if a Christian ride they pull him from his Ass with indignation and contumely The Streets are unpaved and exceeding dirty after rain which seldom happens here In the heart of the Town stands a spacious Cane which they call a Besestan in which are sold all kind of Wares of the finer sort Three principal Gates there be in this City Beb Anfre toward the Red Sea Beb Zueila leading to Nilus and the old Town and Bebell Futuly on the North of the City opening toward the Lake Esbiky This City is inhabited by Moors Turks Negroes Jews Copties Greeks and Armenians who are here the poorest and every where the honestest most of the Inhabitants consist of Merchants and Artificers and though they frequent no Foreign Marts yet they have great Commerce with divers other Nations for Silks Fruits Wax and the soveraign Balsamo good for all sorts besides many other Commodities of Cotton Wool rich Stuffs of Cloth of Gold and Silver and the best Sattins Damasks Taffaties and Grograms that are in the whole World But the main Commodity which comes hither is brought over-land by Caravans from Mecha as precious Stones Spices Stuffs of India Indico Gums Amber all sorts of Perfumes our English have but ill utterance for their Cloths in these hot Countreys Some four miles from this great City stand the Pyramids surnamed the Worlds Wonder The other Cities of note in this Kingdom are Sues a Haven-Town standing on the North end of the Red Sea Damietta a Port-Town There stand also the two antient famous Cities of Thebes and Memphis now known only in their ruines On the East-side of Egypt standeth the Red Sea so called of the colour of the Sand. It is famâ—… for the passage of the Israelites through it Cyrene Cyrene and the Isle Pharos are reckoned as parts of this Kingdom Cyrene hath East Egypt West the Kingdom of Tunis North the Mediterranean and South the Hill Atlas In this Countrey stood the Oracle of Jupiter Ammon whither when Alexander travelled he saw for four dayes space neither Man Beast Bird Tree nor River The chief Cities are Cyrene Arsinoa and Baria the Soyl is barren of water and Fruits the people are uncivil and Theftuous Isle Pharos Pharos is a little Island over against Alexandria in which for the benefit of Sailors was built a Watch-Tower reckoned one of the seven Wonders of the World Revenues The Revenue which the Turk receiveth hence is three millions yearly two of which is distributed to support the charge of his Vicegerent Bashaw
Isles THe principal Islands of this Sea are Cytherea the Strophodes Zacynthus the Echinades Cephalenia Corcyra Ithaca Leucadia Cytherea or Serigo Cytherea or Serigo this Isle is in compass 60 miles and about some five miles distant from Cape malo in Peloponesus It was formerly called Porphyrus from the abundance of Marble whereof the Mountains yield good plenty defended it is by Rocks in themselves inaccessible It hath but one Castle which is kept by a Venetian In this Isle is the Village Capsalo which is a Haven for small Barks Strophades Strophades these are two Isles now called Strivalli lying against Messenia famous for nothing but Harpies Zant. Zant this Island is not above 60 miles in compass yet is unspeakable fruitfull producing the best Oyl in the World It hath a City of great strength bordering along the Sea-side the chief Seat of the Isle on the top of a Hill near the Town standeth a strong Fortress wherein the Governour liveth This City in the Moneth of October and November is subject to fearfull Earthquakes which oft-times subverteth the Houses for which cause they build them very low Riches It produceth good store of Currans Olives Pomegranates Citrons Oranges Lemmons and Grenadiers Natures of the People The Islanders are Greeks a kind of subtil People and great dissemblers The Echinades The Echinades are certain little Islands or rather great Rocks now called Curzalari These Islands are in number five and are famous for nothing but the Battle of Lepanto fought nigh them Cephalonia Cephalonia this Isle is in circuit 156 miles and in length 48. It is very mountainous yet exceeding fertil Riches yielding Maluasie Muskadine Vino Leatico Raisins Olives Figs Honey Sweet Water Mulberry Pine Date and Cypress-Trees and all sorts of Fruits in abundance the commodity whereof redounds yearly to the Venetian for they are Seigniors hereof The chief Towns of it are Argastuli Guiscardo and Nollo Corfu this Isle is in length 52 miles in breadth 37 and in compass 120. It is no less strong than beautifull the Inhabitants are Greeks and the Governour a Venetian The City Corfu is situate at the foot of a Mountain whereon are built two Fortresses and invironed with a natural Rock the one is called Fortrezza Nova and the other Fortrezza Vechia The Governour of these two Castles are sworn not to communicate nor to write one to another for the space of two years which is the time of their Government for if these two Castles were taken the Trade of the Venetian were of no account Riches This Isle produceth good store of Wine Oyl Wax Honey and delicate Fruits Ithaca Ithaca this Isle now called Valde Compare lyeth North-East of Cephalonia being in compass 56 miles famous for the Birth of Vlysses Leucadia Leucadia this Isle now called St. Maure is only inhabited by Jews the chief City is St. Maure not long since subject to the Venetian but of late lost unto the Turks Thus much of the Ionian Isles The Adriatick Sea THis Sea extendeth 700 miles in length and 140 in breadth The Islands of this Sea are neither many great nor famous The chief Islands of this Sea are Lesina Lissa and Carzola Lesina Lesina this Island of Lesina is the biggest in the Adriatick Sea and is in circuit 150 miles It is exceeding fertil and yieldeth all things necessary for the sustenance of Man The City is unwalled and of no great quantity but they have a strong Fortress which defendeth the Town the Haven and the Vessels in the Rhode Lissa or Clissa Lissa or Clissa this Island is of length 20 and in circuit 60 miles It is beautified with two profitable Sea-Ports and is subject to the Venetian Curzola Curzola In this Island the chief Town is Curzola it hath two strong Fortresses and is commodious both for the Traffick of Merchandize they have and also for the fine Wood that groweth there whereof the Venetians make their Ships and Gallies it is in compass 90 miles being no less pleasant than profitable and the most populous of all the rest The Governour hereof is changed every 18 months by the States of Venice The other Islands in this Sea are Absirtides Cheros Wegger Grissa and Arbe the only Havenless Island of the whole Sea which defect is recompenced by its natural pleasantness Thus much of the Adriatick Sea The Mediterranean Sea THis Sea is so called because it hath its course in the middle of the Earth The chief Islands of it are Sicilia Malta Corsica Sardinia and the Baleares Sicilia THis Island is environed round with the Sea and hath in circuit 700 miles Fertility The Soyl is incredible fruitfull excelling in all sorts of Grain as Corn Wheat Wine Sugar Rice Oyl Salt Aâ—…um all kinds of Fruit and exceeding good Silk exquisite Mines of Metal and the best Coral in the World is found here The most of the Towns and Villages within land are built on the highest Hills and greatest heights in the Countrey by reason it is a great defence in the time of Carsary Invasion and from the salubrity of the air There are divers Grounds in this Island and Valleys that abound so in Wheat that the Inhabitants recoyle 100 measures for one In this Countrey is the Hill Hibla famous for Bees and Honey and the Hill Aetna which continually sendeth forth flames of fire Natures of the Inhabitants The Inhabitants of this Island are very humane ingenious eloquent and talkative pleasant they are and effeminate but generally wondrous kind to Strangers The chief Cities of this Island are 1. Palermo the Seat of the Vice-roy situate in the North-West part over against Sardinia It is a spacious City and well watered with delicate Fountains having goodly buildings and large Streets whereof Strado reale is principal The 2. City is Messina toward the East it is impregnable and graced with a famous Haven having three invincible Castles the chief whereof is St. Salvator by the Sea side In this City is held a Fair every year in August wherein all sorts of Merchandize are to be sold especially Raw-Silk in abundance The 3. City is Syracusa standing in the Southern Coast a renowned City and sometime the Metropolitan Seat The 4. City is Trapandy in the West over against Biserta in Barbary it yieldeth passing fine Salt The Marine here excelleth in Ruby and Coral which setteth half the Town at work which being refined is dispersed over all Christendom The other Cities of note are Catania placed at the Marine foot of Mount Aetna Nicosia and Emma two mid-land Towns Rudazza Franca Villa Bronzo and Argenti once Agrigentum where the Tyrant Phallaris lived Malta THis Island was formerly called Melita and is the place where the Viper leaped on Pauls hand mentioned Acts 28. 2. Fertility This Isle may properly be termed the Fort of Christendom yet a barren place and of no great bounds yielding neither
Corn nor Wine which are daily brought in Barks from Sicilia yet it yieldeth store of Pomegranates Citrons Cottons Oranges Lemmons Figgs Mellons and other excellent Fruits This Island is 10 leagues in length and 3 broad the Earth whereof being but 3 foot deep is the cause of its not being so fertil There are in this Island 60 Villages and 4 Cities namely Valletta the Town and Castle of St. Hermes la Insula and Malta seated in the midst of the Island upon a Hill formed like an Escutcheon held of no great importance yet kept by a Garrison The Inhabitants are of the African complexion and language and follow the Romish Church The Soyl produceth no Grain but Barley Bread made of it and Olives is the Villagers ordinary Diet with the Straw they sustain their Cattel Riches Cummin-seed Annis-seed and Honey they have in abundance of which they Merchandize and an indifferent quantity of Cotton Wool Corsica THis Island is situate against Genoa in the Ligurian Sea It is in circuit 325 miles The Soyl by reason of the Mountains is less fruitfull producing Corn in less plenty but the best Wines Riches it produceth also Figs Raisins and Honey it aboundeth also with Allum Box-Trees and Iron-Mines The chief Cities are Bastia seated on the North-East part of the Countrey on a commodious Haven where the Genoensian Governour hath his residence and a strong Garrison The other Cities are Marian Gallera and Pila the principal Havens hereof are St. Florence in the Northern part and St. Boniface just opposite to it in the South-corner both of good safety and capable of the greatest Vessels that frequent the Mediterranean Sardinia Fertility THis Island is South from Corsica and distant from it but 7 miles it is in circuit 560 miles and is abundant in Corn and well stored with all sorts of Cattle Natures of the People The people are small stature laborious given to Hunting indifferent peaceable among themselves and in some measure courteous to Strangers The principal City is Calliaris enjoying a goodly Haven and much frequented by Merchants the Seat of the Viceroy and an Archiepiscopal Sea The other Towns are Bossa S. Raparata and Aquilastro The Baleares THese Islands are divided into the greater or lesser Majorca and Minorca Majorca is about 60 miles distant from Spain and is 300 miles in circuit The chief Cities are 1. Majorca an University 2. Palma Minorca is distant from Majorca 9 miles and is 150 miles in circuit the Soyl is in some places barren but generally fruitfull The chief Towns are Minorca and Jana Nigh unto these Baleares are two small Islands the first is called Ebrisa distant from the Coast of Spain 50 miles and is 100 miles in circuit the chief City is Yvica the chief Commodity of it is Salt Some 10 miles hence is Olhiusa 70 miles round The lesser Islands that lye dispersed about are 1. The Vulcanian or Aeolian Islands lying on the Coast of Sicilie and are in number eleven the chief is Lipara 10 miles round from whence the rest are called the Liparean Islands 2. Vulcania 2. The Isles of Naples which are in number 18. The chief are Ischia 18 miles round the chief Town whereof is Ischia The second is Caprae and the third is Aenaria 3. The Ligurian Islands the chief of which are Elba whose Metropolis is Cosmopolis The second Isle of note is Gallinaria Thus much of the Mediterranean Isles The Isles of the Ocean THe chief Islands of it are first those of Zealand and Denmark which we have already described the other undescribed are those in the British and the Northern Seas The British Islands They are divided into the Greater as England Wales Scotland Ireland Lesser as Orcades Sorlings Hebrides Sporades Britain THis Island of Great Britain is in compass 1836 miles it is the most famous Island of the whole World It is divided into England Wales and Scotland each differing from other in Language Manners and Customs England ENgland is bounded on the East with the German Ocean South with the British Ocean West with the Irish and North with the River Twede and a line drawn from it to the Solway Westward Division It is divided into 39 Shires wherein are many fair Cities and Towns the chief whereof are 1. London the Seat of the Britains Empire and the Chamber of the Kings of England It is in compass about 8 miles the little City Westminster of old more than a mile distant is now by fair buildings joyned to London and is famous for the Church wherein the Kings and Nobles have stately Sepulchers and for the Courts of Justice at Westminster-Hall where the Parliaments are extraordinarily held and ordinarily the Chancery and Kings-Bench also it hath the Kings stately Palace called Whitehall to which is joyned the Park and House of St. James The City of London hath the sumptuous Church of St. Paul beautified with rich Sepulchers and the Burse or Exchange a stately house built for the meeting of Merchants a very sumptuous and wonderfull Bridge built over the Thames many fair and stately Palaces whereof great part lye scattered in unfrequented places 2. York the second City in England and the Seat of an Archbishop 3. Bristol a famous City standing on the Sea it is encompassed with a double Wall and hath so fair buildings both publick and private as next to London and York it may be preferred before any City in England 4. Norwich this City dâ—serves to be numbred among the chief of England for the riches populousness beâ—uty of the Houses and the fair buildings of the Churches 5. Coventry a large fair and walled City and at this day is the fairest City within Land There are besides these divers fair Cities in this Kingdom as Canterbury the Seat of an Archbishop Exeter a Bishops See Salisbury a fine City and pleasantly seated and is beautified with a Cathedral Church and the Colledge of the Dean and Prebends also the two Cities of Oxford and Cambridge containing in them the two famousest Universities in Christendom Riches The Riches of this Kingdom consists in the unexhaustible Mines of Tinn Lead Copper Iron and Coals most delicate Cloths are woven here which are transported into Germany Poland Denmark Swedeland Italy Turky and the Indies where they are in high request yea infinite quantity of Beer is transported hence into Belgium as also Pelts-Hydes Tallow and Sea-coal This Island is never without the resort of Portugal Spanish French Flemish and Easterling Merchants Fertility The Soyl is very fruitfull and plentifull yielding store of provision for the Inhabitants both of Corn Wild-fowl Fish and Flesh For Wine this Land affordeth none but hath it transported hither from Spain France and the Canaries Natures of the People The people are for the most part tall of stature fair of complexion and of their disposition courteous much resembling the Italian in habit and pronunciation The Women are most
of Burgundy and Champaigne The length of it is about four dayes journey the breadth almost three Fertility It aboundeth with Corn and Wine an excellent race of Horses plenty of Mines and store of salt Fish The chief Towns of it are Nancy seated on the Meuse the Dukes Seat This City is strongly fortified and the Houses are fairly built of free-stone 2. S. Nicholas a strong Town 3. Vancoleur Manners In Manners these people much resemble the French and German the French in their courtesie and civility and the German in their drinking Savoy THe County of Savoy is confin'd with Daulphin Bress Switzerland and Peidmont Also it comprehendeth under it almost all Peidmont on the Italian side of the Alpes The chief Towns of it are 1. Chambiers the seat of the Duke when he so journeth in these parts It is seated in a pleasant valley among the Mountains and is full of neat Houses belonging to the Gentry of this Province 2. Tarantaise 3. Agnabelle Piedmont Piedmont is a Countrey now wholly under the Savoyen and Mantuan Dukes of this Countrey the Mantuan possesseth Montferat and the Savoyen possesseth the rest This Countrey is seated at the foot of the Mountains and is bounded on the East with Millain West with Savoy North with the Swizzers and South with the Mediterranean Sea It is wondrous fertil and contains besides Lordships and Barronies 52 Earldomes and 15 Marquisates The principal Towns belonging to the Savoyen are 1. Turin the Dukes Seat 2. Aoste 3. Niza a Haven Town 4. Susa 5. Saluzzes a Marquisate and Bishops See The Signeury of Geneva VVIthin the limits of Savoy towards Labress standeth the famous Signeury of Geneva the territories of it being yet not 8 leagues out of which they raise a revenue of about 60000 Crowns The Town standeth at the end of the Lake Lemanus and by the â—hosne is divided into two parts the lower part of which call'd vulgarly La bas rue is seated in a plain and the rest upon a hill The Buildings are of free-stone the lower part thereof on the North-side lyes close to the South-side of the Lake is a little Haven for Gallies which they have built to keep free the passage of the Lake and on the same side is a strong Fort and there the River Rodanus coming out of the Lake enters into the City and runs through the lower part thereof having two Bridges for passage Fertility It aboundeth with all manner of good fruits besides store of fresh fish It also standeth well for trade of Merchandise by reason there are many great Merchants especially Italians who deal here the Inhabitants being most mechanical persons making excellent good Muskets and Calevers They likewise work Sattin Velvet and Taffaty The people are very civil both in their behaviour speech and apparel all licentiousness being severely corrected Thus much of France The Alpes THe natural bounds betwixt Germany France and Italy are the Alpes Mountains which require 5 dayes to be ascended There are 5 passages out of these hills into Italy viz. 3 out of France and 2 out of Germany The 1. from France is through Provence and so close upon the Tyrhenean Seas through Liguria which is the easiest The 2. is through the hill call'd Geneara into the Marquisate of Saluzzes and so to Lombardy The 3. is over Mount Cenis and through the County of Turin â—he 1. way out of Germany into Italy is through the Countrey of the Grissons by the Countrey of Valtolin The other way is through Tyrolis by the Towns of Inspruch and Trent Italy ITaly is a most fruitfull and goodly Region situate under a Clime most temperate commodious for traffick and most fertil for Corn and Herbage It contains in length 1020 miles and in breadth at the broadest not above 410. It is an Island almost in shape of a Mans Leg being bounded on the East with the Adriatick Sea South and West with the Tyrrene Seas and North with the Alpes Fertility It aboundeth with Corn Wine and Oyl yields plenty of Orangetrees and the like fruit as Citrons Limmons and Cedar-trees and of these fruits they transport great store into foreign parts Also they have Woods of Chesnut-trees little esteemed amongst them only the poor people eating some of them and with the rest they seed their Hogs Also they have plenty of Almond-trees and some Pomegranates and also the Cyprus Poplar and the Oake so that you would say the whole Province were but as one Garden Natures and manners of the pâ—…ple The people for the most part are honourable courteous prudent and grave withal to their superiors obedient to equals respective to inferiors courteous to strangers affable and desirous by kind offices to win their love and in expence and love of his money very wary Apparel In apparel they are modest in furniture of house sumptuous Diet. In their Diet compared with the English or French they are most sparing generally they require small preparation or furniture of their table they eat neatly and modestly they seldome make feasts but if they make any they make them sumptuous and that much more than ours Their greatest expences are about their Gardens in fitting places for birding in drawing water to them and adorning the Conduits head with Imagery in Chappels and other buildings The usual division is into 6 parts Lombardy Tuscany the Land of the Church Naples Genea and the Land of Venice But according to the present divers Principalities that are it is divided into The greater as The Kingdome of Naples The Papacy The Commonwealth of Venice The Dukedome of Florence The Dukedome of Millain The lesser as The Dukedome of Mantua The Dukedome of Urbine The Principality of Parma The State of Genoa The State of Luca. The Kingdom of Naples THis Kingdom is separated from the Land of the Church by the River Axofenus on the other parts it is invironed with the Sea the compass of it being 1468 miles Fertility This Kingdom is the fertilest place in all Italy abounding with Mines of divers Metals Saffron Silk Oyl and Wine This Kingdom contains the Provinces of Lavoro Calabria Inferior and Superior Otranto Apulia Puglia and Abruzzo Lavoro Lavoro This Province contains in it the City of Naples being the chief of the whole Kingdom Near unto this City is the Mountain Vesuvius now call'd Somma This Mountain is most high and the top is dreadfull where is a Gulf casting out flames the rest of the Mountain aboundeth with Vines and Olive-trees This City is seated at the foot of Hills and Mountains extending in length from the North-East to the South-West or rather seemeth to be triangular The Houses of this City are 4 roofs high but the tops lye almost plain so as they walk upon them in the cool time of the night The Buildings are of free-stone and the windows are all covered with paper or linnen cloth for glass windows are most rare in
seem to be of great antiquity 2. Alexandria 3. Cremona The form of this City is like unto a Cardinal's Hat with broad brims seated in a plain Within this City is a Tower built of Brick which requires 492 stairs in the Ascent 4. Millain This City is of a round form and hath 9 Gates the Building shews antiquity and the Houses are of Brick and low built excepting some stately Palaces The Streets are broad and the Pavement of Brick raised in the midst with broad stones In this City is thought to be inhabited 200000 souls of the best Artizans in Italy The Dukedom of Mantua THe Dukedom of Mantua hath on the East Romagna West Millain North Trevigiana and South Parma and Placentia The chief Cities are 1. Mirabella 2. Modena 3. Lucera and 4. Mantua a very strong Town being invironed on three sides with a Water being a quarter of a mile broad The form of this City is round save that the foresaid Lake on the North and East-sides enters into the City in form of a half Moon The Buildings are partly of Brick and partly of free-stone and the Streets are large and clean In the midst of this City is a large Market-place wherein the Jewes have there and sell all manner of Wares for all traffick is in their hands growing rich by the poverty of the Citizens It is unlawfull to wear a sword without licence of the Magistrate either at Millain Cremona or Mantua or almost in any other City of Italy only at Venice and Padua and the Cities of that State strangers may wear swords and only the wearing of Pistols or short Guns is forbidden The Dukedom of Vrbin THe Dukedom of Vrbin lyeth in the midst of the Papal Territories having on the North the Adriatick on the South the Apenine on the West Romagna on the East Marca Aconitana The length of it is 60 the breadth 35 miles Here are in this Dukedom 200 Castles and 7 Towns the chief of the seven being Vrbin seated on the bottom of the Apenine and built in the fashion of a Miter 2. Pisauro a good Haven 3. Belforto seated in the Mid-land The chief of the Castles are the Rock of St. Leo and Marivola The Principality of Parma THis Principate hath on the North Mantua and on the South the Apenine on the West Millain and on the East the Countrey of Modena The City of Parma is seated on the River Pirnia Placentia is seated on the Po. To this Principate belongeth Mirandula with her territories The State of Genoa THe State of Genoa was once very great but now they have nothing left but Liguria and Corsica Liguria hath on the East the River Varus West the River Magra by which it is parted from Tuscany North the Apenine and South the Ligurian or Tyrhene Seas The chief Towns are 1. Noli 2. Sarazena 3. Savona And 4. Genoa This City is seated upon the sides of Mountains declining from the highest Mountain on the West-side toward the East and to the Sea-side On the South side is the outward Haven in form of an half Moon upon the horn thereof towards the East lyes the Sea-bank called Lamola about 600 paces long which keepeth off the waves of the Sea that beat upon the City On the East-side and in the midst of this Bank is a Fort built to defend the Navy The whole circuit of this City is said to be 8 miles The streets are narrow but the Palaces are stately built of Marble and the Houses of free-stone 5 or 6 stories high and the Windows are glazed which is rare in Italy the streets are paved with flint and the Houses of the suburbs are almost as fair as within the City The State of Lucca THe State of Lucca is situate in Tuscany and comprehendeth the Territory and Town of Lucca This Town is seated in a plain and strongly fortified and compassed with Mountains on all sides but some what distant and only lyes open on the Sea-side towards Pistoia being 3 miles in compass The streets are narrow and paved with broad free-stone most easie to be walked on The Palaces of the chief Gentlemen are built of free-stone but with a low roof after the Italian fashion and they have many pleasant Gardens within the Walls Within this City no Man may wear any weapon no not a Knife except the point be blunt Thus much of Italy Netherland ON the North-west of Italy lyeth Germany which is divided into the higher and the lower this latter is called Netherland It is bounded on the East with Ems and part of Germany on the West with the German Sea on the North with East Friezeland and on the South with the Some Champaigne and Lorrain The situation The Air of this Countrey is very intemperate the winter-cold being excessive and the summers-heat far exceeding the ordinary heat of that Clime Natures of the people The Men for the most part are well proportioned much given to our English Beer being excessive in their drinking so that you shall hardly find a Dutch-man sober in an afternoon The Women generally are of a good complexion well proportioned especially in their leg and foot honourers of virtue active and familiar both within doors and without they govern all Diet. In their Diet Butter is the first and last dish at the table whereof they make all sauces as well your Men as Women passing from City to City to trade carry with them Cheese and Boxes of Butter for their food They use no Spits here but see the little pieces of flesh with Roots and Gobbets of fat mingled without any curiosity or else bake them in earthen Pipkins Fertility They have abundance of Butter Cheese and Roots for Corn they have not sufficient for their own use yet by traffick at Dantzick they furnish themselves and many other Nations therewith They have little plenty of River fish but Sea fishes salted and dryed they make great traffick therewith There is great abundance of Sea-fowl and they want not Land-fowl Commodity The Commodities in which they most abound are Tapistries Sayes Searges Worsteds Frigadoes and divers sorts of linnen Cloth with abundance of other small trifles This Countrey is divided into seventeen Provinces viz. Into 4 Dukedoms 1. Limburg 2. Luxenburg 3. Gelderland 4. Brabant 1 Marquisate Of the Holy Empire 7 Earldoms 1. Flanders 2. Artoys 3. Hainault 4. Namurre 5. Zutphen 6. Holland 7. Zealand 5 Baronies 1. West-Friezl 2. Vtretch 3. Overysell 4. Machlyn 5. Groyning Limburg THe Dukedom of Limburg hath Mastrich for the chief City and the Bishoprick of Leige pertains to it wherein the City of Leige is the Bishops Seat This City is seated on the Meuse The Buildings of this Town are very fair especially the Monasteries and Abbeys This Bishoprick comprehends in it 24 walled Towns and 1800 Villages Also the Eastern part which is properly call'd the Dukedom of Limburg contains in it 5 Towns and 23 Villages The chief
of these is Limburg Luxenbuâ—g Luxenburg is bounded with Limburg on the North Lorrain South the Bishoprick of Triers Eâ—st and the Meuse West It is in circuit 240 miles in which are contained 1169 Villages and 2â— walled Towns the chief whereof is 1. Luxenburg on the River Asnutius or Elze 2. Bostonake a fair Town 3. Danvillers The Inhabitants of the upper part of this Dukedom are Germans but the lower part are French both in language and manners Near to this Dukedom is the Forest of Arden once 500 miles in compass now scarce 90 round Brabant Brabant hath on the East North and South the Meuse and West the Schald It is in length 75 miles in breadth 60 comprehending under it 700 Villages and 26 Towns the chief being Lovain It is in compass within the Walls 4 miles and 6 without within which compass are many goodly Gardens Valleys Mountains Meadows It is a famous University in which are 20 Colledges 2. Bruxels the Dukes Seat 3. Bergenapzone this City is strongly fortified and is seated in Brabant 4. Breda The Marquisate The Marquisate of the Empire is contain'd in Brabant The chief Town is Antwerp being in circuit 7 miles It was a Town of infinite trading but now the Hollander hath so blockt up the Haven that the trading is removed from hence to Amsterdam Flanders Flanders is divided into Imperialem Gallicam Teutonicam this last is severed from the other two by the River Ley. The chief Towns of it are 1. Gaunt whose Wall is in compass 7 miles in which there lyeth much waste ground 2. Burgis 3 Ypres a strong Town The four principal Ports are 1. Dunkirk 2. Scluse it hath a very fair Haven able to contain 500 good ships 3. Newport 4. Ostend Imperial Flanders is severed from Brabant by the River Dender The chief Towns are 1. Alost on the Dender 2. Dendermond on the mouth of the said River 3. Hulst Gallic Flanders so called because it properly belongs to France The chief Towns are 1. Lisle the third Town of traffick in all the Netherlands There are in all Flanders 35 Towns and 1178 Villages It is in length 95 miles and in breadth much less Artoys Artoys contains 754 Villages and 12 Towns the chief being 1. Arras whence comes our Cloth of Arras 2. Lilliers The chief of the frontier Towns between this and Picardy are Hedinfert a very defensible Town Hainalt The length of this Province is 60 miles the breadth 48 in which space are 950 Villages and 24 Towns The chief are 1. Mons strong ancient and rich 2. Valenciens so seated that it cannot be besieged but with three Armies at once 3. Conde Namarre The County of Namarre so called of the chief City hath Mines of Iron and plenty of stony Coal contrary to â—ll other Coals in that it is quenâ—hed by the infusion of Oyl and burns more clear having water cast upon â—t This Countrey hath also quarries of frâ—e stone and Marble of divers colours Machlyn Machlyn is a Town in Brabant and contains besides it self 9 Villages It is a goodly strong Town and seated in the midst of the waters of the River Dele that it may on all sides be drowned The States of the Low-Countreys THe Provinces united are these Zealand Holland Vtretch Over-Issel Zutphen Groningen ¾ of Gelderland with some pieces of Brabant and Flanders This Union was made 1581. the Fleets and Forces of which Confederation are from the chief Province call'd altogether Hollanders Zealand The first of these Provinces is Zealand broken it is into seven Islands the chiefest of the seven is Walcheren the chief City whereof is Middleburg famous for traffick and the Staple for Spanish and French Wines Near this City is Vlisbing strongly fortified 3. Vere All these Islands are fertil and yield excellent good Corn more plentifull than any other Province Madder for dying of Wool grows plentifull here which likewise they export as likewise Spanish and French Salt and like traffick Holland The Countrey of Holland is in situation the second of the United Provinces but the first in dignity the Cities whereof are 1. Amsterdam famous for traffick 2. Rotterdam 3. Leyden and an University 4 Harlem 5. Dort the Staple for the Rhenish Wines And 6. Delph all very fair Cities And there is likewise the most pleasant Village of the Hage call'd Gravenhage Utretch Vtretch contains 70 Villages and 5 Towns the chief whereof are Vtretch Rhenen and Montfoort Overissel Overissel contains 101 Villages and 11 Towns the chief whereof are Swall Campene and Deventree Zutphen Zutphen is a Town in Gelderland which long hath been an Earldom it is seated on the River Issel and is a Town of very great strength It was subdued by the States Army 1591. Gelderland This Dukedom contains 300 Villages and 24 Towns the chief being 1. Nimegue seated on that part of the Rhene which is called the Whael 2. Ruremond 3. Arnheim this Countrey is fit for feeding of Beasts which grow so great and fat that anno 570. a gelt Bull was at Antwerp which weighed 3200 l. Groyning Groyning is a Town of West-Friezeland containing under her command 45 Villages the chief being Oâ—…dhavâ—n and Keikirk Freizeland It containeth 45 Villages and 11 Towns the chief are 1. Lewarden 2 Harlingem 3 Zwichen This territory aboundeth with excellent pastures for fatting of the greatest heards of Cattel and yieldeth it self all kinds of Cattle of extraordinary higâ—…ess Also near unto this Province is the Islank Sekelink the shores whereof are plentifully stored with Dog-fish Although this be the lesser part by far and more poor in respect of the Soyl yet it is more populous and by the industry of the people far more rich Thus much of Netherland Germany GErmany is bounded on the West with France and Belgium on the North with Denmark and her Seas on the East with Prussia Poland and Hungaria and on the South with the Alpes The compass of this spatious Countrey is 2600 English miles the figure of it is almost an exact square each side containing 650 miles Situation It is situate in the Northern temperate Zone under the 7 and 11 Climates the longest day being 17 hours and an half Of all Europe this is the greatest Countrey and beautified with the best and richest store of Cities Towns and Castles and Religious places Fertility It also doth abound with many things necessary for life and many things to be transported They have Corn sufficient and for Cattle they want not of all kinds but they are commonly lean and little so are their Horses many in number but little in stature Commodity The Commodities wherewith it is inriched are Mines of silver and other inferior Metals Wines which they transport into other Countreys together with fresh Fish Linnen Quick-silver Allum Armors Natures of the people The Inhabitants for honesty of
is seated on a Hill and in a fertil Soyl fruitfull of Corn. The free Cities in this Province that belong to the Emperour are 1. Norimberg this City is seated in a barren sandy ground yet is very rich by the Citizens industry This is a most stately City the Buildings whereof are of free-Stone six or seven roofs high In this City is a Granary which is so large as divers years provision may be laid up therein It hath also ten Churches whereof only four are used for Prayer and Preaching 2. Rottenberg a very fair City 3. Francford this City is famous for the Electors meeting here to choose the Emperour and for two yearly Fairs It is compassed strongly with a double Wall upon the East-side the Jewes have a Street who are permitted to dwell in this famous Mart-Town This City is of a round form seated in a large plain the Streets are narrow and the Houses being built of Timber and Clay the foundation of some being laid of free-Stone All the Province excepting the free Cities and the three Cities belonging to the Bishops is subject to the Marquess of Brandenburg Bohemia The Kingdom of Bohemia containeth Bohemia the Dukedom of Silesia the Marquisates of Lusatia and Moravia It is in a manner round and incompassed with great Mountains It contains in circuit 550 English miles in which compass are comprehended 780 Cities walled Towns and Castles and 32000 Villages Fertility The Soil is pleasant and fruitfull abounding with Corn Wood Wine and Grapes and affords Gold and Silver Copper Iron Tin and Lead great quantity Natures of the people The people for the most part live in great plenty and delicacy much resembling the English The Women be very beautifull but somewhat luxurious and that with consent of their Husbands The chief Cities are 1. Prage the Metropolis of Bohemia seated on the River Mulda It is a very great City as being three Towns in one each divided from other by the River Mulda and all three conjoyn'd together by a wooden Bridge of 24 Arches The Streets of this City are filthy there be divers Market-places the Buildings of some Houses are of free-Stone but the most part of Timber and Clay and are built with little beauty or art The second Town of note is Egra and the third is Budweis Silesia Silesia is in length 240 and in breadth 80 miles It is a most delicate and plentifull Countrey divided in the midst by the River Oder The chief Cities are 1. Breslaw a Bishoprick 2. Jagendorf 3. Glogaw Lusatia Lusatia this Countrey although but little to arm 20000 Foot as good as any in Germany The chief Cities are Gorlitz and Trabell on the River Nisse Moravia Moravia this Countrey is the most fertil in Corn in all Germany it aboundeth also with good and pleasant Wine besides it hath also no small store of Myrrh and Frankincence The chief Towns are 1. Brinne the seat of the Marquess 2. Almutz an University This Countrey is very mountainous and woody the people are very warlike and fierce especially the Mountainers The Electorate of the Palatinate The Electorate of the Palatinate His Dominion contains the upper and lower the lower being the chief of the two as being both richer and larger and the Seat of the Elector It is called the lower to distinguish it from the upper This Palatinate is said to be the most pleasing and delicious part in all Germany stored with all Fruits and Metals abounding with those Wines which with us are called Rhenish Wines It is adorned with many gallant Towns the chief whereof is 1. Heidleberg the Seat of the Palsgrave It is incompassed with high Mountains on the South East and North sides but towards the West it hath its Suburbs being longer than the City 2. Openheim 3. Crutznach 4. Frankendate On the East-side of this Countrey standeth Winheim and Lauden on the West-side are the Towns of Newstat and Keifers Upper Palatinate Vpper Palatinate this Countrey lyeth East and North of Bohemia The chief Towns of it are 1. Amberg the birth-place of the present Elector whose silver Mines yield yearly unto the Prince's Coffers 60000 Crowns 2. Newberg 3. Castel where the Palatinates of the Rhene when they journey in this Countrey use to keep their Court. The Electorate of Saxony Saxony is bounded on the East with Lusatia West with Hassia North with Brunswick and South with Franconia and Bohemia It containeth the Countreys of Turingia Misnia Voitland and Saxony Turingia is invironed with Hassia Franconia Misnia and Saxony The chief City is 1. Erdford the Dukes Seat This City is large and ancient and one of the free Cities of the Empire 2. Jene an University of Physitians Misnia is invironed with Bohemia Voitland Thuringia and Saxony The chief Towns are 1. Dresden seated on the Albis This City is very fair and strongly fortified in which the Elector keeps his Court. It is of a round form seated in a plain running between two Mountains but somewhat distant and the Houses are fair built of free-Stone four or five roofs high whereof the highest roof after the Italian fashion is little raised in steepness 2. Leipzich a famous University for Philosophers and Physitians It is seated in a plain of most fruitfull Corn-ground the Streets are fair the Market-place large and stately and such are the chief Houses built of free-Stone four roofs high 3. Râ—…lits 4. Misâ—n and 5 Wittenberg seated in a plain sandy ground one Street lyes the whole length of the Town being all the beauty thereof Voitland is a little Countrey South of Misnia whose chief Cities are 1. Olnitz 2 Werda This Dukedom is seated almost in the midst of Germany all of it together is imagined to be about the bigness of a third part of England The Electorate of Brandenburg The Electorate of Brandenburg this Marquisate is limited on the East with Poland West with Saxony North with Pomerania and South with Lusatia It is in circuit 520 miles in which are contained 50 Cities and 64 walled Towns The chief is 1. Brandenburg 2. Francfort and Oderam It is an University and situate in a Soyl most plentifully stored with Corn and Wines It is most famous for the Mart here kept 3. Berlin the Prince's Seat it is situate on the River Spre 4. Havelbourg the Seat of a Bishop This Marquisate is divided into the new and old the River Odera watering the last the Albis the first Pomerania Pomerania hath on the East the River Vistuta West Meclenburg North the Baltick Ocean and South Brandenburg The chief Towns are 1. Stetin the Prince's Seat and the Metropolis of the Countrey 2. Wolgast 3. Wallin once a famous Town and flourished in traffick but now decay'd 4 Gripswald 5. Newtrepon a Sea-Town To this Province belong three Islands Rugia Wisedonia and Volinia Meâ—…enbourgh Meclenbourg is on the West-part of Pomeren The chief Towns of it are 1.
their Custome 3. Roschilt the Sepulchres of the Danish Princes it is not walled yet hath it the title of a City 2. Fionia contains in it 8 Towns the principal whereof are Ottonium or Osel and Sweinbourgh 3. Bornholmia is situate on the Baltick Sea not far from Gothland The chief City is called Bornholm 4. Finera is that Island in which Tychobrahe that famous Mathematician built an artificial Tower wherein are many rare Mathematical Instruments The chief Town is Petersborne Scandia Scandia is invironed with the Seas save where it is joyned to Moscovy It lyeth part on this side part beyond the Artick Circle so that the longest day in the more Northern part is about three moneths It contains the Kingdoms of Denmark Norwey and Swedeland That part which belongeth to Denmark is situate on the South of this Peninsula and is divided into three Provinces viz. Hallandia Scania and Blescida 1. Hallandia hath on the North Swedeland and South Scania The chief Town is Halaenego 2 Scania hath on the South Hallandia on all other parts the Sea It is in length 72 miles and 48 in breadâ—h and is the pleasantest Countrey in all Denmark most abundant in Fruits and most rich in Merchandize The chief Towns are 1. Londen a great Haven-Town 2. Elbogen 3. Falskerbode Here is Elsimbourg one of the Keyes which openeth into the Sound 3. Blescida hath on the North Swedeland It is a mountainous and barren Countrey The chief Towns are 1. Malmogia 2. Colmar a strong Fortress against the Swedelander Norwey NOrwey on the East respecteth Denmark on the West it is bounded with the Ocean on the South lyeth Suevia and on the North it is separated from Lapland Fertility The Land of it self is not sufficiently fruitfull and toward the North yieldeth no sort of Corn therefore the Inhabitants instead of Bread eat dryed Fish called by us Stock-Fish which is transported through Europe in exchange of Corn. Commodity The Countrey especially the Southern part transports rich Furrs Tallow Butter Tann'd-Leather Train-Oyl Pitch Clap-boards all sorts of Timber-Works and Masts Firr-wood and that with great ease and little charge Natures of the people Their Buildings are base and poor the Inhabitants honest lovers of Strangers liberal of gift and most serviceable Amongst them are neither â—ilchers Thieves nor Pirats Their chief Towns are 1. Nidrosia the See of an Archbishop who is Metropolitan of Norwey 2. Bergen one of the four ancient Mart Towns of Europe 3. Ansloyn a Bishops See Thus much of Denmark and Norwey Swedeland Swedeland is bounded on the East with Moscovy on the West with the Dofrine Hills on the North with the frozen Seas and on the South with the Baltick Seas This Countrey alone without the adjacent provinces of Lappia Scricfinia and Biarmia is little less than Italy and France joyned together and with the additions of the said Nations is bigger by a tract of 900 miles Fertility The Soyl is so fertil that to see a Beggar is a difficult matter and the Air is so healthfull that it is ordinary to see Men of an 130 or 140 years of age Commodity It aboundeth with Mines of Lead Copper and Silver which are transported into other Nations together with Hides of Bucks Goats and Oxen Tallow Tare Barley Malt. Natures of the people The People participate much in nature with the Norweians hospitable and valiant as they It containeth the Provinces of Lapland Finland Gothland and Sweden Lappia Lappia is the most Northern part of all Scandia and is divided into the Eastern containing Biarmia and Corelia which belongeth unto the Duke of Russia and the Eastern comprehending Lappia and Scricfinia which are under the King of Sweden These two Provinces use to give worship and divine honour to that living creature what ere it be which they see at their first going out of their doors in the morning and are so poor that they pay unto the King of Sweden for tribute rich Skins and Furrs Finland Finland is situate between the Baltick Sea and the Finland Bay The chief Towns are 1. Abo a Bishops Seat 2. Narve a place of great strength Rangina and Augo both famous Mart-Towns Vames Viburg and Casteholme places of good strength Gothland Gothland is the best and richest Province of the North. It is divided into Island and Continent the Island is seated in the Baltick Seas being in length 18 miles and 5 in breadth The Continent of Gothia is the hithermost part of Scandia next to Denmark The chief Cities are 1. Stockholme seated after the manner of Venice 2. Lodufia a Town of great traffick 3. Waldbourge a well fortified piece and 4. Colmar famous for its impregnable Castle Sweden Sweden is situate on the South of Gothland The Countrey is very fruitfull and delicious unless in some places where the cragginess of the Mountains maketh it more barren and less pleasant The chief Cities of it are 1. Vpsal a famous Bishoprick 2. Nicopia a Sea-Town of good strength 3. Copperdell famous for its abundance of Brass There is also Finmach bordering on the Northern Ocean whose Inhabitants be Witches and Idolaters they use to sell windes to Merchants to carry their Ship to any Port. Bodia is also under his Dominion whose chief Town is Helsinga honoured with the title of a Dukedom Thus much of Sweden Moscovy MOscovy is bounded on the East with Tartary on the West with Lyvonia Lituania and part of Sweden on the North with the Frozen Ocean and on the South with Mare Caspium the Turks and Palus maeotis This Countrey containeth in length from East to West 3300 miles and in breadth 3065 miles Situation It is situate partly in Europe partly in Asia which separation is caused by the River of Tanais bounder of Asia and running through the middle of the Countrey The People are for the most part of a square proportion broad short and thick gray-ey'd and broâ—d-beâ—rded the Commons live in miserable subjection to the Nobles and they again in as great slavery to the Duke or Emperour Natures of the people They are persidious unnatural and malicious altogether unlearned even the Priests themselves are meanly indoctrinated it being cautionated by the great Duke that there be no Schools lest there should be any Scholars besides himself The Women are private fearfull to offend but once lascivious intolerably wanton It is the fashion of those Women to love that Husband best which beateth them most and to think themselves neither loved nor regarded unless they be soundly swadled two or three times a day Cities The chief City of this Kingdome is Mosco where both the Emperour and Patriarch resideth Roscovia and Novogrod are the Seats of Archbishops the latter of these two containeth about 20000 Housholds and was one of the four ancient Mart-Towns of Europe Vologda Smolensko and Plescovia the only walled Town in Muscovy Mosayco St. Nicholas Sugana Vstium
out of Poland and according to the wants of Europe carry it into many Kingdoms 2. Mons Regius call'd by the Germans Koningsberg and by us Regimount It is the most famous University in these parts 3. Holsperg 4. Mancburg and 5. Culme Podlassia Podlassia hath East Lituania and West Mazovia The chief Towns are 1. Tycockzin a Fort well furnished with Munition as being the place wherein the Kings treasure is reserved 2. Biesco 3. Knissen where the Kings of Poland have a fine retiring House as being well furnished with fishing-Ponds and Parks abundantly stored with Game Mazovia Mazovia lyeth West of Podlassia The chief City is Warsaw where the Parliaments of this Kingdom are held Poland Poland hath on the East Lituania West Germany North Mazovia and South Podolia The Metropolis is Cracovia seated on the Banks of Vistula here the King and Councel reside The Buildings are very fair of free-Stone four roofs high but covered with tiles of wood for the most part It is of a round form but somewhat longer from the East to the West In the midst of the City is a large Market-place wherein is a Cathedral Church and in the midst of the Market-place is the Senate-house for the City about which are many Shops of Merchants 2. Lublin 3. Guisna an Archbishoprick 4. Bosnau and 5. Ladisiavia seated on the River Vistula Thus much of Poland Hungary HVngary is bounded on the East with Transilvania and Wallachia on the West with Austria North with Poland and South with Sclavonia It was formerly called Panonia Inferior to distinguish it from Austria which was called Panonia Superior Situation It is situate in the Northern temperate Zone under the seven and nine Climates Fertility The Soyl is wonderfull fruitfull yielding Corn there thrice in a year the Grass in some places as in the Island of Comera exceeding the height of a Man which doth feed such a number of Cattel that this Countrey alone is thought to be able to feed all Europe with Flesh Also they have Deer Partridge Pheasant in such abundance that any Man that will may kill them which in other places is prohibited these creatures being reserved as Game for Gentlemen The other Commodities which are transported are Gold Silver Fish Copper Wine Turk This Kingdom now standeth divided betwixt the Turk and Hungarian the former having 1. Buda once the Metropolis of the Countrey and Court of the Kings 2 Gyula a strong Town in the Confines of Transilvania 3. Pest over against Buda 4 Alba Regalis call'd by the Germans Weisenberg 5. Quinque Ecclesie and 6. Jaurinum or Rab. Emperour In the Emperours part the chief Towns are 1 Presberg seated hard upon the edge of Austria it hath been the Metropolis of Hungary since the taking of Buda by the Turks 2. Strigonium or Gran. 3. Agraria 4. Comora in an Isle so called 5. Tectax 6 Camsta 7. Alkenbourg 8. Neuheusel Transilvania THis Countrey hath nature it self both fortified and honoured for the Woods and Hercynian Mountains do round about inviron it The length of it is 225 English miles and the breadth 200. It is bounded on the North with the Carpathian Hills on the South with Wallachia on the West with Hungaria and on the East with Moldavia Their chief Towns are 1. Weisenberg 2. Clausenberg The whole Count ey is fruitfull in one Commodity or other Corn Beeves Fish and Mutton they have great plenty and very cheap It is very rich in Salt-pits Stone-quarries and Mines both of gold and silver Iron Quicksilver and other Metals Thus much of Hungary and Transilvania Sclavonia SClavonia hath on the East the River Drinus and a line drawn from thence to the Sea on the West-part of Italy on the North Hungary and on the South the Adriatick Sea Situation It is in length 480 miles and 120 in breadth It is situated under the six and seven Climates the longest day being fifteen hours and an half Fertility This Countrey is more fit for grazing than for harvesting for the Sheep and other Cattel bring forth young twice a year and are shorn four times The People are couragious proud and stubborn and use their own Sclâ—vonian tongue They are of the Christian Faith and follow the Greek Church It is divided into Illiris Dalmatia and Croatia Illiris Illiris was once the name of the whole Province but it is now accommodated to one part It hath on the East Danubius West Carniola North with Dravus and South with Savus The chief Cities are 1. Zatha on Danubius 2. Zakaocz 3. Windishgretz on Dravus and 4. Sagonna nigh unto Savus This is now a member of the Kingdom of Hungary Dalmatia Dalmatia hath on the East Drinus West Croatia North Savus and South the Adriatick Sea The chief Cities are 1. Ragusi situate on the Adriatick Sea a City of great traffick and riches it is tributary to the Turks 2. Sebenicum or Sicum standing on the Sea-shore 3 Zara or Jadera on the same shore 4. Scodra or Scrutary and 6. Lissa It is now divided betwixt the Venetians who keep the greatest part and the Turk Croatia Croatia called by the Ancients Liburnia and Valeria hath on the East and South Dalmatia North Savus and West Istria and Carniola The chief Towns are 1. Gardiska situate on Savus 2. Bruman 3. Novigrod situate on the Savus also hard upon Germany and 4. Sisseghk The Croatians are generally called Crabats Their Countrey hath the title of a Dukedom and is subject partly to the Austrian and partly to the Venetian Thus much of Sclavonia Turky THe great Turk commonly called the Gran Seigneur for wealth territory and command of Souldiery all other Princes come short of him witness the Countreys which he possesseth His Countreys in Europe In Europe he possesseth all Dacia Grecia all the Aegean Isles and the Taurica Chersonesus In Asia In Asia he possesseth wholly Asia minor now Natolia with all the Regions within the Propontis and Hellespont as Phrygia Galatia Bithinia Pontus Lydia Caria Paphlagonia Lycia Magness Capadocia and Comogena Near the Caspian he hath Georgia Menteglia and Armenia next hath he Assyria Syria Palestine Mesopotamia Judea the three Arabies to which if you adde the Empire of Trebisond you shall find him great Controller of the black Sea Likewise all the Islands of the Archipelago except Candie and some few others are under his subjection In Africk In Africk he possesseth Aegypt and the Kingdoms of Tunis and Algiers and whatsoever he hath taken from Prester John Fertility The fertility of the Soyl generally through this vast Empire is exceeding great yet have they less plenty of all things than Europe for they very sparingly and only to serve necessity set plant or sow by reason they have no free fruition of their own Goods in the great tyranny under which they live as well of the Emperour as under-Governours and the general rapacity and
is covered with mountains woods and thickets it is notwithstanding feâ—til and adorn'd with many large plains and valleys Turcomania Turcomania is seated on the South of Colchis and Iberia the chief Towns are 1. Albanopolis 2. Van a strong Bulwark against the Persians Invasions 3. Arnimig the Metropolis of the Countrey 4. Artaxata now Coy 5. Sebastia the residence of the Patriach of Armenia This Countrey was formerly called Armenia the great to distinguish it from a less in Natolia is now vulgarly called Turcomania It is invironed with Mountains and beautified with Plains amongst the which Chalderan and Mons niger are most renowned The People by nature are much given to theft and spoil some of them inure themselves to tillage and mechanical trades in weaving of Chamblets and Hangings watered and unwatered Arabia ARabia is bounded on the East with the Persian Gulf on the West with the Red Sea on the North with Mesopotamia and Palestine and on the South with the Ocean The People hereof are extreamly addicted to theft which is the better part of their living They are mean of stature swift of foot raw-boned and tawny they are indifferently called Arabians Saracens or Moors Those that are the true Arabians live out of Cities in Tents dispersed over Syria Aegypt and Africk these give themselves to feed Cattel and droves of Camels Those which inhabit the Cities are called Moors these are dispersed over all the Southern part of Asia as Pedia East-India and likewise are advanced to divers Kingdomes famous Cities and worthy Mart-Towns yea and over all the South-coast of Africk This Countrey is 4000 miles in compass the People use the Arabick Language which extends it self through Palestine Syria Mesopotamia Egypt and all Barbary excepting Morocco It is divided into Deserta Petrosa and Felix Arabia Desâ—…ta The Desart Arabia hath a name answerable to the nature of it being in great part without Inhabitants for the barrenness of the Soyl only towards the River Euphrates and the Mountains of Arabia Felix it hath some Towns and is frequented with Merchants other-where fed with such roving Arabians as having no Houses wander to and fro seeking where to find pasture for their Beasts and lodge in Tents Bosra the City Petrosa Arabia Petrosa joyneth on the West and North to Syria on the East to the Desart Arabia and South to the Happy nigh to Syria This is somewhat fertil but otherwhere exceeding barren Both in this part and the former they had need go strong and well accompanied for fear of robbery and spoil which the Arabians attend This part is famous for the passage of the Israelites through the same and abode therein forty years The memorable things herein are the Mountains Sinai and Horeb upon the former whereof is built a Monastery of Christians following the Greek Church and the only Receptacle or Inn for wayfaring Christians other place of relief there is none Within this Countrey are good store of Dromedaries which will carry a Man an hundred miles a day here is also good store of Ostriches The chief Towns are 1. Petra 2. Aresh 3. Ezion geber on the coast of the Red Sea where Solomon's Navy kept station before they put forth to the Land of Ophir Felix Arabia Felix containeth a Peninsula girt almost round with the Persian Gulf the Red Sea and the Ocean In this Countrey is the Phenix which growing old burneth her self to ashes and from the ashes another Phenix is ingendred This is the most fruitfull and pleasant Countrey in all Asia abounding with Gold and Pearl Balsamum Myrrh and Frankincence besides Cassia and Cynamon This seemeth to be the Countrey wherein Saba stood the chief City of the Sabeans whose Queen visited Solomon 2. Medina 3. Mecha where Christians are not permitted to enter Within this City is the Body of Mahomet inclosed in an iron Chest 4. Oran the Key of the South-Ocean 5. Elter the only Town of Arabia where the Christians are of the greatest number Besides it is full of Villages especially toward the Sea-side where are many excellent places of trade Assyria ASsyria hath on the East Media on the West Mesopotamia on the North Armenia major and on the South Susiana a Province of Persia It is a custome in this Countrey that the Maids which are marriageable are yearly brought forth in publick and set to sale to such as would marry them and the money which was given for the fairest was given to the most deformed for their portions The chief Cities were and are 1. Nineve It was once a great City containing 66 miles in circuit but now almost ruin'd to nothing To this City was Jonah sent to preach 2. Arzeri whence the whole Region is called Arzeri 3. Arvela nigh unto which Alexander fought his third and last Battel against Darius 4. Mosull the Seat of the Nestorian Patriarch This City is in fame for its Cloth of Gold and Silk and for its fertility Mesopotamia MEsopotamia hath on the East Tygris on the West Euphrates on the North the Hill Caucasus and on the South Chaldea This Countrey in the Scriptures is called Padan Aram It is invironed with the Rivers Tigris and Euphrates which over-flow the Countrey as Nilus doth Egypt making it very fertil and now it is called Dierbeck Fertility The Soyl is exceeding fertil yielding in some places two and in some three hundred increase Here was Abraham born hither sent he his Servant to choose a Wife for his Son Isaac and hither Jacob fled from his Brother Esau and here Paradise is by most Men affirmed to have stood and as some think in an Island made by the River Tigris and Euphrates The chief Cities are 1. Rechiais formerly Edessa The second Town of note is Caramit the Seat of a Turkish Bassa who is of great command in those parts it is the Mother-City of the Countrey and is said to be twelve miles in compass Between this City and Orpha was the Paradise of Aladeules where he had a Fortress destroy'd by Selim. 3. Madrin Chaldea CHaldea is bounded on the East with Assyria on the West with Syria on the North with Armenia and on the South with Arabia Deserta The chief Cities were 1. Vr now Horrea where Abraham departed when he went to live at Aram 2. Erech 3. Accad 4. Bagdet built out of the ruines of Babylon this City standeth upon the River Euphrates and is a great rich and strong City with mighty strong Walls whereon are planted 120 pieces of brass Ordnance It is a Town of great traffick between which and Aleppo Carriers travel very often with many hundred Camels laden with Commodities There are only two Venetian Factors who trade for inestimable wealth of all sorts also some small number of Armenians which are all the Christians that are there resident They have a custome here of sending Post Pidgeons or sending by Pidgeons Letters of all Occurrences in hast The chief Rivers of
and presidary Souldiers Thus much of Egypt and the Continent of Africk Of America AMerica is so called because Americus Vespusius discovered it The most usual name among the Mariners is the Western Indies because of the West situation and India because by that name they express all wealthy if remote Regions This new World is very plentifull in Spices Fruits and such like Creatures as the old World never knew burdened with such store of Kine and Bulls that the Spaniards have killed thousands of them yearly for their Hides and Tallow blest with such abundance of Gold that the Spaniards found in their Mines more Gold than Earth a Metal which the Americans exchanged for Hammers Knives Axes and the like tools of Iron America is commonly divided by that Isthmus or neck of narrow passage of Land at Darien into two parts the one call'd Northern America or Mexicana the other Southern America or Peruana Mexicana Provinces MExicana containeth the Northern Tract and comprehendeth the distinct Provinces of Mexico Quivira Nocaragua Incutan Florida Virginia Norumbega Nova Francia Corterialis and Estotilandia Mexico Mexico giving name to half America is now called Nova Hispania In this Countrey is that excellent Tree called Mett which hath forty kinds of Leaves which serve for many uses Riches It aboundeth with golden-sanded Rivers and is very much furnished with Gold and glorieth in the Mountain Propochampeche which is of the same nature as Aetna and Vesavius It hath on the East Incutan West Calformio South Peruana the Northern bounds are unknown It is divided into four parts The first part is Gallicia Nova the principal Cities whereof are Xalis Guadaliara New Mexico Coanum Compostella S. Esprit S. Michael where is a Colony of Spaniards stony it is and rough yet yieldeth Mines good plenty 2. Mechuachan containing in circuit 80 leagues is one of the best Countreys in New Spain abounding in Mulberry-Trees Silk Honey Wax black Amber The Men are tall strong and active and some to be of a good wit The chief Towns are Smsoige Pascuar Colima and Valedolit The chief Havens are St. Anthonies and St. James or St. Jago 3. Guastachan which is most poor in the natural Commodity The chief City is Tlascalan the chief City in all these parts next to Mexico 2. Villeriche a Port-Town very wealthy because all the traffick of old and new Spain do pass through it The Spanish have in it two Colonies 4. Tremistatan or Mexico this is the greatest and noblest of all these four In it are the Cities of 1. Villarucha 2. Antithero 3. Meccioca 4. Ottopan and 5. Mexico the Seat of an Archbishop and of the Spanish Viceroy It is in compass six miles and contains 6000 Houses of Spaniards and 60000 of Indians The People are witty and industrious good hardy craftsmen and rich Merchants Quivira Quivira is seated on the most Western part of America over against Tartary It is full of Herbage and enjoyeth a temperate Air. The People hereof are desirous of Glass more than of Gold the chief Riches of this Countrey are their Kine which to them are both Meat Drink and Cloth Her Provinces are Cibola and Nova Albion 1. Cibola lyeth on the East-side and taketh its name from the chief City the next is Tetontoa 2. Nova Albion lyeth on the West towards Tartary It was discovered by Sr. Francis Drake and by him called Nova Albion The Countrey is aboundant in fruit the People are given to hospitality but withall to Witch-craft and adoration of Devils The chief City is Nova Albion Nicaragua Nicaragua is South-East from Mexico with whom it agreeth in nature both in Soyl and Inhabitants The Countrey is pleasing to the eye and abounding in all things necessary it is as plentifull in Parrots as England is of Crowes The chief Cities are 1. New Granada 2. Leo a Bishops See Incutan Incutan this Countrey of Incutan is 900 miles in circuit and is a Peninsula it is situate over against the Isle Cuba and is divided into three parts Incutan Cities of greatest worth are 1. Campechium Sida Lancum 2. Guatimala whose chief Towns are Guatimala Cassuca and Giapa 3. Acasamill vulgarly called Santa Cruza The chief Town whereof is Santa Cruza Florida Florida hath on the East Mare del Nort West Mexico North Nova Francia and Sourh Virginia This Countrey aboundeth in Fruits and hath good quantity of gold and silver Emeralds are also found here and here are Turquoypes and Pearls The principal Cities are Arx Carolina St. Helens St. Matthews Here are also three strong Ports held by the Spaniard viz. St. James St. Phillip and St. Austin Virginia Virginia hath on the East Marâ—el Noort North Norumbega South Floridia and West we know not what limit It is so fruitfull that two Acres of Land will return 400 Bushels of Corn. There is said to be rich Veins of Allum Pitch Tar Rosin Turpentine store of Cedar Grapes Oyl plenty of sweet Gums Dies Timber-trees Mines of Iron and Copper and abundance of Fruit Fishes Beasts Fowl and of that Herb or Grain which they call Maize The chief Towns are 1. Requoghton 2. James-Town 3. Dalefegilift New-England The Northern part of this Virginia is called New-England full of good Towns and Forts and is like to prove the greatest best and happiest Plantation of all this Western Continent Norumbega Norumbega hath on the North Nova Francia and South Virginia the air is of a good temper the soyl fruitfull and the people indifferent civil the chief Town is called Norumbega and is possessed by the French Nova Francia Nova Francia hath on the North Terra Cortelialis and South Norumbega the earth is barren the people barbarous it is inhabited besides the Natives with some few Frenchmen The chief Towns are Canada Sangunai and Hochelagi Terra Cortelialis Terra Cortelialis or di Laborodora hath on the North Estoitland and South the River Canada the men are barbarous of colour brown swift of foot the chief of their Villages are Breste Cabo Marzo and Santa Maria. Estoitland Estoitland hath on the South Terra Cortelialis the Soyl is enriched with natural endowments the Inhabitants are endowed with a greater readiness of wit and soundness of judgement than the other Americans This Province is called by us English the New-Found-Land Thus much of Mexicana Peruana PEruana containeth the Southern part of America it is tyed to Mexicana by the Isthmus or Streight of Darien being no more than 17 miles broad others make it but 12 only It comprehendeth Castella Aurea Guiana Peru Brasile and Chile Castella Aurea Castella Aurea so called for the abundance of Gold containeth the Northern part of Peruana and part of the Isthmus It is admirably stored with Silver Spices Pearls and Medicinal Herbs and is divided into four Provinces viz. Castella del Oro Nova Andaluzia Nova Granada and Cartegana Castella del Oro is situate in the
amiable and beautifull and attired in most comely fashion Wales VVAles is bounded on all sides with the Sea except on the East where it is separated from England by the River Dee and a line drawn to the River Wie Division This Countrey is divided into 13 Shires wherein are some fair Cities but divers great Towns The chief Cities are 1. Caerdiff where there is a commodious Haven 2. Caermaden where Merlin was born begot by an Incubus whom the common People took to be a most famous Prophet 3. Caernarvan a walled City and hath a fair Castle built by Edward the First wherein his Son Edward the Second was born Here in the County of Pembroke is Milford-Haven than which Europe hath not a more noble or more safe or more large with many Creeks and safe Roads Fertility The Soyl of this Countrey especially that which joyneth toward the Sea is most fertil both for Man and Beast but for the major part it is more barren and less fruitfull Natures of the People The Men are of a faithfull carriage one especially towards another in a strange Countrey and to Strangers in their own They are of a temper much inclining to Choler being quickly moved and soon appeased being of all angers the best and noblest Scotland SCotland is the Northern part of Great Brittain and separated from England by the River Tweede and Solway and the Hills extending from the one to the other It is in length 480 miles but of small breadth no place being distant from the Sea above 60 miles Division This Countrey is divided into 25 Shires the Cities and Towns whereof are neither fair nor many the chief of those that are are 1. Edenburgh once the Seat of the Kings of Scotland and the place wherein the Seat and Courts of Justice were held It is seated in a fruitfull Soyl and wholesome Air having many Noblemens Houses lying about it and abounds with many Springs and sweet Waters The Buildings are of unpolished Stone but the Galleries of Timber built upon the fronts of the Houses do rather obscure than adorn them The City consists especially of one broad and fâ—ir Street which is in length from East to West about a mile and is the sole ornament thereof the rest of the Streets and Allies being of very poor Building and inhabited with very poor People At the end towards the East is the Kings Palace joyning to the Monastery of the Holy Cross and at the other end towards the West is a Castle which the Scots hold to be inexpugnable 2. Leith is about a mile distant and is a most commodious Haven upon the narrow Scottish Gulf vulgarly called Edenburgh-Frith 3. S. Andrews seated in Fife and well known as an University and Seat of an Archbishop and Metropolitan of all Scotland 4. Glascow the Seat of an Archbishop and a little University 5. Striveling also is a little City where the King hath a strong Castle upon the brow of a steep Rock In general their Towns and Cities for number building or pleasantness are not comparable to those in England neither are their Gentlemens or Noblemens Houses so frequent or so stately built as the better sort of the English For their Villages they are of Clay covered with Straw being much more frequent than in England yet not so commodious within Among the Kings Palaces that of Edenburgh and Sterling for building and Fawlkland for pleasure of hunting are chief Fertility On the West-side of this Countrey are many Woods Mountains and Lakes on the East-side toward the Sea it is fruitfull in Corn especially in Barley and Oats It abounds in Fish and hath plenty of Cattel yet not so big as ours their Horses are little but full of spirit and patient of labour Natures of the People The People in general are much given to Venery those that inhabit the South are the best and civillest and speak the English Language but those in the Northern part are savage and uncivil termed Silvesters About Scotland in the Irish Ocean are above 40 Islands termed Merania and Hebrides the biggest of these in length exceeds not 30 miles and in breadth not above 12 the chief whereof is Pomonia well known by the Episcopal Seat and yielding both Tin and Lead Thus much of Great Brittain Ireland THis famous Island in the Virginian Sea is by the English at this day called Ireland and by the Irish Bardes at this day Banno It standeth between the Greater Brittain and Spain being dis-joynâ—d on the East from England by a tempestuous Sea termed Hiberniam not above one dayes sayling upon the West beateth the vast Ocean upon the North it hath an Island disjoyn'd no further than a Ship may sail in one day and on the South it beholdeth Spain not distant above three dayes sayling Division It contains in length 400 and in breadth 200 miles and is divided into five parts viz. Mounster which is sub-divided into six Counties Lemster divided into ten Counties Meath divided into two Counties Connaght divided into four Counties and Vlster divided into ten Counties The chief Cities of this Countrey are 1. Dublin standing within the Province of Lemster and in the County Dublin it is by the English called Divelin It is the chief City of this Countrey and Seat of justice fairly built and frequently inhabited and adorned with a strong Castle 15 Churches an Episcopal Seat and a fair Colledge and indowed with many Priviledges The Houses of this City as also of the City Waterford are for the most part of timber clay and Plaister yet are the Streets beautifull and the Houses commodious within 2. Armach it is the Seat of an Archbishop and the Metropolitan City of the whole Island 3. Tredagh a fair and well inhabited Town The fourth City is Corke consisting almost of one long Street but well known and frequented The Houses of this City as of Galloway and Limrick two other Cities are of unwrought free-Stone or Flint or unpolished Stones built some two Stories high and covered with Tiles Natures of the People The People of this Countrey are generally strong and nimble of Body haughty of heart careless of their lives patient of cold and hunger implacable in enmity constant in love light of belief and greedy of glory In a word if they be bad you shall hardly find worse and if good you shall no where find better Fertility The Soyl in general is sufficiently fruitfull but through the idleness of the Inhabitants it is made barren Amongst other rarieties of this Island this is one that it breedeth no venemous thing neither will any brought from other Regions live here Thus much of Ireland The lesser Islands are Orcades Sorlings Hebrides Sporades The Orcades THese Isles are in number 32 and are situate against the most Northern part of Scotland Pomonia the chief of which is Pomonia whose prime Town is Kirkwall honoured with a Bishops Seat and
strengthened with two Castles This Island is well stored with Tin and Lead and is by the Inhabitants at this day called Mamland Hethy Hethy the second Island of note is Hethy The People of this Island are great drinkers but no drunkards they use the Gothish Language which they derive from the Norwegians in whose possession they once were and of whose qualities they yet retain some smack The Hebrides THese Islands are situate on the West-side of Scotland and are some 44 in number Ila the chief of which are 1. Ila 44 miles long and 16 broad plentifull in Wheat and Cattel and herds of red Deer Iona. The second is Iona famous for the Sepulchers of the Scottish Kings whose chief Town is Sodore Mula The third is Mula which is 25 miles bigger than the other The People both in language and behaviour resemble the wilde Irish and are called Red-Shanks The Sorlinges THese Islands called by the English Silly are situate over against the Western Cape of Cornwall from which they are distant 24 miles They are in number 145 of which ten only are of estimation viz. Armath Agues Sampson Silly Bresar Rusco S. Helens S. Martins Arthur and S. Maries the chief of all the rest as being 8 miles in compass sufficiently fruitfull and strengthened with a Castle call'd Stella Maria. These Islands are well stored with Grass Grain and Lead The Sporades THe chief of these Islands are Man Anglesey Jarsie Gernsey and Wight Man Man this Isle is situate just over against the Southern part of Cumberland from which it is distant 25 miles it is in length 30 and in breadth 15 miles The People hate theft and begging they use a Language mixt of the Norwegian and Irish Tongues The Soyl is abundant in Flax Hemp Oats Barley and Wheat with which they use to supply the defects of Scotland The chief Towns are Balacuri and Russin or Castle-Town the Seat of a Bishop Jâ—…sie Jarsie this Island of Jarsie is in compass 20 miles and contains 12 Towns or Villages the chief being S. Hillary and S. Malo The ground is plentifull in Grain and Sheep most of them having four Horns of whose Wool our true Jarsie Stockings are made Anglesey Anglesey this Island is in length 20 miles and in breadth 17 containing in former times 360 Towns and Villages of which the chief are Beumaish Newberg and Abersraw This Island is abundantly fertil in all things necessary to preserve the life of Man Gernsey Gernsey is distant 20 miles from Jarsey to whom it is far inferiour in respect of fertility and largness but more commodious because of her safe harbours it contains ten Parishes the chief being St. Peters The People use the French Tongue and in their Ecclesiastical Discipline follow the Church of Geneva Wight Wight this Isle is severed from Hampshire by a little narrow and dangerous Streight of the Sea it contains 20 miles in length and 12 in breadth The Soyl is fruitfull the Sheep bear delicate fine Wool and the Trees store of Fruit. Here are two Parks and one Forrest as also 36 Towns and Villages the principal being Newport Yarmouth and Brading The Island is very strong especially toward France it is fortified with three Castles in one of which is Armour for 5000 Men. There are divers other Islands as Demry Londay and Chaldey in the Severn Sea Thanett and Sheppy near Kent and Holyfarne and Cockat on the Confines of Northumberland Thus much of the Brittish Islands The Northern Islands THe principal Islands dispersed in this Sea are Groaenland Island Freezland Nova Zemla and Sr. Hugh Willobyes Island Groaenland Groaenland this Island is situate under the Northern cold Zone the longest day in Summer being three moneths and a half it is in length more than 600 miles The chief Towns are S. Thome and Alba. In this Island the Londoners have met with a good trade of Fishing Island Island is about 400 miles in length and a damnable cold Countrey The People hereof use dryed Fish instead of Bread their best Commodity is their Fish which they exchange with forreign Merchants for other things The Island Ling is famous over all Europe the chief Towns are Hallâ—… and Schshâ—lten This Island is the Hill Hecklefort vomiting flames of fire like Etna in Sicilie Freezland the only riches of this Island is their Fish for which Commodity it is never without the Ships of Flemmings Danes Scots Hansmen and English much frequented by the last It is almost as big as Ireland and subject to the King of Denmark Nova Zemla Nova Zemla this Island lyeth on the North of Muscovy and Lapland and is famous for nothing but the Pigmies which are here supposed to inhabit Sr. H. W. Island Sr. Hugh Willougbies Island is so called because he first discovered it and because he was thereabouts frozen to death Thus much of the Northern and of the European Islands The Oriental Islands THe Islands of Asia are either in the Mediterranean Sea as Rhodes and Cyprus or in the Oriental Ocean as Japan Zeilan Moliccoes Java Major Minor Summatra Burneo and the Philippine Japan This Island on the East is situate over against China Natures of the People of whose nature and qualities the Inhabitants do some what participate It is in length 200 leagues and in breadth in some places 30 in others not above 10. It is devided into 66 Shires or petty Kingdoms Fertility The Soyl is not very fruitfull subject to much Snow but the air is very wholesome and the Bowels of the Earth inriched with divers Metals â—n this Island are two high Mountains one of which casteth forth Flames on the top whereof the Devil useth to shew himself in a bright Cloud to them that by long fasting have prepared themselves for the sight The other called Figeniaris is by some leagues higher than the Cloud The chief Cities are Meaco and Bandum an University This Island is said to be frequented by the Jesuites of whom 200 is said to live here Zâ—…ylon Zelon this famous Isle is not far distant from the point of India called Cape Comrein It is in form resembling an Egg Fertility and for fertility may be compared to any Country in the whole Universe It abounds in Odoriferous Aromatical Spices with whole Woods of the best Cynamon that â—ver the Sun saw besides fruits Oranges Lemmons surmounting those of Spane also here are found the best Smargads Rubies and Amber-Greese through Asia Natures of thaâ— People The Inhabitants are egregious Panyms they hold that on the high Peak called by the Europeins Columbo Adam was there created and lived there and hither do their Pilgrims resort apace where on the top of a high mount is conspicuously set the Idea of a horrible Caco Daemon is invelloped with a Cloud of Arms and sedulously looked unto The Moluccoes The Moluccoes are usually reckoned 5. but
a Province of lesser Asia it is in circuit 120 miles and takes denomination from Rhodes the chief City which is situate on the East part of the Isle on the bottom of a Hill and the brink of Sea so that it injoyeth a fair and safe Haven for Commodities and for strength it hath two Walls 13 high Towers five Bulwarks besides divers sconces and outworks It is Inhabited only by Turks and Jews the Christians having free Commerce and Traffick in it al the day time but on pain of death leaving it at night West of Rhodes lyeth Scarpanto an Island of 70 miles compass Thus much of Rhodes and the Islands of Asia The Affrican Isles These are In the Aethiopick Sea as Madagasker Zocotora In the Atlantick Sea as S. Thomas The Princes Isles The Gorgades The Canaries Azores and Hesperides Madagascar THis Isle is by the Portugal denominated St. Lawrence It is one of the greatest in the Universe extending in length 1000 English miles the breadth in some places being 230 miles The best known Bay is that of Augustine where our Ships ride Natures of the People The Inhabitants are exceeding black and have limbs of great strength and composure Both Sex go naked only a linnen Cloth about their middles they use pinking and cutting their Breasts and Faces Gold and Silver is of no value amongst them but the Beads of Aggats Bracelets Glasses Bells and such like they esteem well of They have Cattle both great many and good and for a Bead or two of two pence price you may buy Sheep and Beeves of good bigness and taste The Sheep here have their Tails weighing 16 or 20 pound Riches The Isle abounds in all good things necessary for Mans use as Copper Gold Iron and Silver Their Towns of note are Roma Augustine Santo Jacobo Matatana Angoda and Herendo Socotora Socotora this Isle lyeth just at the entrance of the Red Sea and in length 60 and in breadth 24 miles Riches It is rich in Aloes Gums and Spices yet it wanteth most things convenient for vital sustenance Inhabitants The Inhabitants are tall of stature and ashy colour â—he Portugals have here fortified two Towns Coro and Benin S. Thomas S. Thomas this Isle is in compass 180 miles and is so fruitfull in Sugar that forty Ships are laden with it every year The prime City is Pavoason an Episcopal See inhabited by Portugals and Negroes The Princes Island The Princes Island this Island lyeth nigh unto the Isle of S. Helen and are both under the Command of the Spaniard The Gorgads The Gorgads these Islands are in number nine and are called Insulae Capitis viridis they all do abound with Goats the chief of them is St. James whose chief Town is Riberia at this time fortified by the Spaniard The Canary Islands The Canary Islands these Islands in former ages call'd Fortunate are in number seven viz. Grand Canaria La Palma Teneriffa Lancaerota Hierro La Gomera and Forte Ventura they are now subject to the King of Spain Grand Canary precedes the rest in greatness and excellency for thither all the other Isles repair for tryals and justice Teneriffa is thought to equal it in wealth and circuit This Island is the highest Land in the World being 15 miles high This Isle is distant from the Grand Canary 60 English miles Azores Azores these Islands are in number nine of which Tercera is chief They are abounding in no rich Commodity only they afford much Oad which hath made them most famous and best enriched them The names of the other eight Islands are S George S. Michael S. Mary Fayall Pyco Gratiosa Flores and Corno Hesperyds Hesperyds these Islands are situate not far from the Gorgades These Islands are supposed to be they where the Daughters of Atlas dwelt where grew the golden Apples kept by a Dragon and taken hence by Hercules and here was suppos'd to be the abode of the blessed Creatures said to be called the Elysian Fields so oft memorized by the Poets These Islands are called Mayo Sal and Bonanista they are distant from the Continent of Africk some 10000 furlongs Thus much of the African Isles The American Islands THe American Isles are either in the Virginia Sea as Mare del Nort or in the Pacifick Sea as Mare del Zur The Islands in the Pacifick Ocean are 1. Insulae Solomonis which are in number many the three greatest being Guadalcanal S. Thome and S. Isabel The Islanders are of a yellowish colour and go naked The Islands of the Virginian Ocean ARe Margarica Cubagna the Baccaloes Boriquen Jamaica Cuba Bermude and Hispaniola Margarica Cubagna Margarica Cubagna these two Islands are situate nigh unto Castella Aurea they are deficient in Corn Grass Trees Water but they abound in precious Stones which make some amends for these defects Nigh unto these is the Island Trinadado well stored with Tobacco of the best Boluccoes Boluccoes these are certain Islands lying against the Influx of Canada nigh unto Corterialis The People of these Islands in a formal expression of reverence use to rub their Noses or stroke their Foreheads Boriquen Boriquen or St. Johns is 300 miles long and 70 broad traversed with a rough Mountain which yields many Rivers The Spaniards have there some Towns the chief whereof are St Johns and Port Rico. Jamaica Jamaica is almost as large as Boriquen it is extreamly troubled with such terrible gusts of Wind that nothing can resist them turning up Trees and over-turning Houses transporting Ships from Sea to Land with a terrible confusion The Inhabitants here are of quicker wits than the other Islands Ciba Ciba this Island is more Northerly and extends it self 300 leagues in length and 20 in breadth full of Mountains Woods â—ens Rivers Lakes both salt and fresh the Woods are replenished with Swine and Kine the Rivers with golden Sands and the Soyl is replenished with Ginger Cassia Mastick Aloes Cynamon Sugar The chief Cities are S. Jago a Bishops See and Hanana a safe road for Ships and the Staple of Merchandize Here rides the King of Spain's Navy till time of year and conveniency of wind serve to waft them homeward The other Towns of note are S. Christophero and S. Trinity Not far hence are the Lucacy above 400 in number Hispaniola Hispaniola is East-ward from Cuba it is called by the natives Haiti it containeth in compass 550 leagues enjoying a temperate Air and fertil Soyl rich in Mines Amber and Sugar This Island hath many high and craggy Hills over-looking the deep and dark Valleys but in many places it is most beautifull and flourishing It seemeth to enjoy a perpetual Spring the Trees alwayes flourishing and the Meadows clothed in green The chief Towns are Dominigo S. Jago S. Thome S John and Portoroyo Thus much of the American Islands And also of all the Islands throughout the whole
Haven for all sorts of Vessels It produceth good store of excellent good Wines The much of the Grecian Seas The Aegean Sea HEllespont of 40 miles compass expatiateth its waters into the Aegean Sea The chief Islands are Samothracia Lemnos Lesbos Chios Euboea Soyros Salamis the Sporades and the Cyclades or the Isles of the Arches Samothracia Samothracia this is a small Isle and little famous the chief Town is Samia beautified with a goodly Harbour which now by the Pyrates often infesting is almost left desolate Lemnos Lemnos this Isle contains in circuit 100 miles Fertility The Countrey is plain and barren if compared with the adjacent Islands The Western part is dry and barren the Eastern part more fruitfull The chief Cities of it are Lemnos or Meryna yet continuing though with no great beauty It hath also 75 Villages inhabited by the Greeks except three which are fortified by the Turks who are Lords of this Isle and call it Stalimene This Isle is famous for a kind of Earth digged here called in Latin Terra Sigillata Chios or Sio Chios or Sio this Isle is in compass 100 miles and famous for the Medicinable Mastich that groweth there on Trees Fertility This Countrey yieldeth great plenty of Oranges Lemmons Apples Prunes Pears Figgs Olives Apricocks Dates with Cypres and Mulberry-Trees and exceeding good Silk is made here The chief City is Sio built by the Genoeses but now detained by a strong Garrison of Turks It contains 100 fire-houses some whereof are Greeks some Genoeses some Turks and some Moors the City it self is unwalled yet a populous and spacious place spread along by the Sea-side having a goodly Harbour for Ships The Women of this City are most beautifull Dames greatly given to Venery and for the most part are exceeding proud and sumptuous in their Apparel the Artificers Wives going in their Sattin Taffaty and some in their Cloth of Gold and Silver adorned with precious Stones and Gems their Husbands are their Panders for when they see a Stranger arrive they will presently ask him whether he will have a Mistress and so make Whores of their own Wives Lesbos or Mytelene Lesbos or Mytelene this Isle is in compass 146 miles the East parts of it are level and fruitfull but the West and South parts mountainous and barren the chief Cities are Mittilene and Methimnos Euboea or Nigropont Euboea or Nigroponti this Isle is in circuit 346 miles and is separated from the Land of Thessaly by a narrow Channel over the which in one place there is a Bridge that passeth between the Isle and the Continent This Isle bringeth forth all things necessary for humane life and is decored with many good Villages The chief Cities of it are Nigropont and Calchos Scyros Scyros this Isle is famous for nothing but that it was the Birth-place of Pyrhus and the lurking place of Achilles where in Womans attire he was brought up amongst the Kings Daughters and deemed a Maid till by getting Pyrhus on Dedamia it was proved the contrary Salamis Salamis this Isle is near unto Megaris famous for the overthrow of Xerxes Army by the Athenians and their Confederates Sporades Sporades these Isles called the Sporades are in number twelve the principal whereof are Milo Canaton Assine and of these Milo is of most note It is in form round and in circuit 80 miles the Soyl is sufficiently fruitfull of Grain and Oyl deficient only in Wine Here is good store of Marble curiously spotted and store of Mill-stones here is also great quantity of Pitch and Brimstone and some Sulphury or hot Springs good for many diseases Cyclades The Cyclades so called because they lye in a circle round about Delos are in number 53. They are also called the Isles of the Arches because they lye in the Sea call'd Archipelago They stand so near together that in a clear day a Man may see twenty of them together at one time for which cause it is a dangerous place for Saylers in a storm The chief of these Cyclades are Delos Samos Coos whose chief Town Coos is inhabited by Turks only the Villages by Grecians Patmos also where St. John the Evangelist wrote his Revelation being confined by Domitian The Island is harbourous but the Countrey it self is barren Gioras is another of the Cyclades Into this Isle the Romans used to banish Delinquents These Islands lye part in Asia part in Europe all in that part of the Aeigean which is called the Icarian Sea The other Islands lye dispersed about the Greekish and yield nothing worth relation Thus much of the Grecian Islands Creta THis Island now known by the name of Candie hath to the North the Egean Sea West the Ionian Sea South the Libique and East the Carpathian Sea It is of circuit 650 miles Candia Canea Rethimes and Sittia are the chief Cities of it and in every one of these is a Governour and two Councellors sent from Venice every two years It is divided into four parts under the jurisdiction of these four Cities for the better administration of justice and they have a General who commonly remains in the City of Candie Note that since the writing of this Book Candie is fallen under the Jurisdiction of the Grand Signior which is a large and famous City situate in a Plain by the Sea-side having a goodly Haven for Ships and a fair Arsenall wherein are 36 Gallies It is exceeding strong and daily guarded with 2000 Souldiers the Walls in compass are about three leagues The Inhabitants are not costly in their apparel the Men for the most part wearing but linnen Clothes and use no Shooes but Boots of white Leather The Women imitate the Men wearing Breeches as they do and Boots after the same manner The second City is Canea a City very strong and populous It hath a Castle containing 97 Pallaces in which the Rector and other Venetian Gentlemen dwell there lye in it continually seven Companies of Souldiers who keep sentinel on the Walls and guard the Gates and Market-places of the City Rethima stands about the mid-way betwixt Candie and Canea It is somewhat ruinous and unwalled but the Citizens have lately built a strong Fortress to keep them from the invasion of Pirats Fertility The Soyl of this Island is very fruitfull especially of Wines which we call Muscadels of which they transport yearly 12000 Butts together with Sugar-candy Gums Honey Sugar Olives Dates Apples Oranges Lemmons Raisins Mellons Citrons Pomegranates yet it is not a little deficient in Corn the most or greatest part of which is brought hither yearly from Peloponesus Natures of the People The Island in general is very populous the People being much addicted to envy malice and lying The Islands in this Sea of less note are 1. Claudi mentioned Acts 27. 16. 2. Dio. 3. Aegilla of which nothing is famous Thus much of the Cretan Islands The Ionian