but to returne againe like to the wilde Irish so that no man was sure when he had obtained any victorie ouer them These were the people that gaue the great ouerthrow to that rich Marcus Crassus of Rome who by reason his couetousnesse intending more to his getting of gold then to the guiding of his armie was slaine himselfe many thousands of the Romanos The Parthians with exprobration of his thirst after mony powring molten gold into his mouth after he was dead Against these the great Lucullus fought many battailes but the Romanes were neuer able to bring them quite in subiection On the West-side of Parthia the Mare Caspium being on the North. Armenia on the West and Persia on the South Here lieth that country which in times past was called Media but now Shiruan or Seruan which is at this day gouerned by many inferiour Kings and Princes which are tributaries and do owe subiection to the Sophy of Persia So that he is the soueraigne Lord of all Media as our English men haue founde who passing through the dominion of the Emperour of Russia haue crossed the Mare Caspium and mâ—rchandised with the inhabitants of this Media This Nation in former time was verie famous for the Medes were they that remoued the Empire from the Assirians vnto them which as in themselues it was nor great So when by Cyrus it was loyned by the Persians it was verie mightie and called by the name of the Empire of the Medes and Persians Here it was that Afryages reigned the grandfather of Cyrus and Darius of the Medes the chiefe citie of this kingdome was called Ecbatana as the chiefe citie of Persia is Babylon De Armenia Assyria ON the West side of the Mare Caspium and of Media lieth a countrie called by a generall name Armenia which is by some distinctlie deuided into three partes the North part whereof being but little is called Georgia the middle part Turcomania and the thirde part by the proper name of Armenia by which a man may see the reason of difference in diuers writers Some saying that the countrie whence the Turkes first came was Armenia some say Turcomania and some Georgia the truth being that out of one or all these countries they be discended These Turkes are supposed to be the issue of them whome Alexander the great did shut vp within certaine mountaines neare to the Mare Caspium There is this one thing Memorable in Armenia that after the great floud the Arke of Noah did rest it selfe on the mountaines of Armenia whereas Iosephus witnesseth it is to be seene yet to this day The hils wheron it rested are called by some Noe montes The people of this Nation haue retained among them the Christian faith as it is thought from the time of the Apostles but at this day it is spotted with many absurdities On the South parte of Armenia bending towarde the East lieth the countrie of Assyria which is bounded on the West with Mesopotamia This country was that land wherin the first Monarchie war setled which began vnder Ninus which the Scripture calleth Nimrod liuing not long after Noahs floud And it ended in Sardanapalus continuing for the space of a thousand and three hundred yeares The King of this countrie was Senacharib of whom we reade in the booke of Kings and here raigned Nabuchadnezzer who tooke Ierusalem and led the Iewes away prisoners vnto Babylon In this countrie is the swift riuer Tygris neare vnto the which was Paradise vpon this riuer stoode the great cittie Niniuie called by prophane writers Ninus which was almost of incredible bignes and exceeding populous but the nearnesse of the riuer and maruailous fruitfulnes of the soile which Herodotus writeth did returne their corne sometimes two sometimes three hundred folde and did yeelde sufficiencie for to maintaine it This citie for a long time was the imperiall feat of the Monarchie but being destroyed as God foretolde it should be by the Chaldeans the residence of the king was afterwards remoued vnto Babylon a great citie in Chaldea first built by Semiramis De Chaldaea Next vnto Assyria lieth Chaldaea hauing on the East side Assyria on the West Syria or Palestina on the North Armenia on the South the desart of Arabia This countrie is often called by the name of Mesopotamia which name it hath because it lieth in the middle of two great riuers Tygris and Euphrates it is called also by the name of Babilonia which word of it selfe properly taken doth signifie only that part of the countrie which standeth about Babylon The chiefe citie hereof was Babylon the ruines whereof doe remaine to this day It was a rich and most pleasant citie for all kind of delight and was the imperiall citie of the Assyrians where Nabuchadnessar and other their great kings did lie It was to this citie that the children of Israel were caried captiues which thereof was called the captiuitie of Babylon The kings of Persia did also keepe their residence here it was built vpon the riuer Euphrates some part of it standeth on the one side and some on the other hauing so the foundresse Semiramis the wife of Ninus It is supposed by Diuines that in this Mesopotamia between the riuer Tygris Euphrates Paradice did stand this was the country wherin Abraham the Patriarke was borne vnto the which the Romanes could very hardly extend their dominion For they had much to do to get any such gouernment of any thing beyond the riuer Euphrates From this people it is thought that the wise men came which brought presents vnto Christ by the guiding of a starre For as in India and all the Eastern parts so especially in this countrie their Noble men and Priestes and verie manie people doe giue themselues to all Artes of diuination Here were the great Southsayers Enchaunters and wise men as they call them here the first Astrologians which are so descibed and derided in the Scripture and agaynst the inhabitants of Babylon and Chaldaea were the lawes of the Romanes made against deuining Mathematicians who in Tullie de Diuinatione Cornelius Tacitus as also in the lawes of the Emperours are ordinary called by the name of Chaldeans and in deede from these and from the Egytians is supposed to haue sprung the first knowledge of Astronomie De Asia minori ON the North-west side of Mesopotamia lieth that countrie which is now called Nitolia but in times past Asia minor hauing on the North-side Pontus Euxinus on the West the Hellespont and on the South the maine Mare Mediterraneum In the auncient writers both of the Graecians and of the Romanes this is oftentimes called by the single name of Asia because it was best knowne vnto them and they were not so much acquainted with the farther places of Asia the great This countrie in generall for the fruitfulnesse of the land standing in so temperate a Climate and for the conueniencie of the Sea euery way and so many good hauens hath
incredible greatnesse Such a citie as were wont to bee in anntient time in the East as Babylon Nilus and other This countrie was first discouered by the late nauigation of the Portugals into the East Indies The people of China are learned almost in all Artes very skilfull workemen in curious fine workes of all sortes so that no countrie yeeldeth more precious marchandize then the workemanship of them They are great souldiers very politique and craftie and in respecte thereof contemning the wits of other vsing a Prouerbe that all Nations doe see but with one eye but that themselues haue two Petrus Mathaeus historiographer to the King of Spaine for the Easterne Indies doth reporte of them that they haue had from very auntient time among them these two things which we holde to be the miracles of Christendome and but lately inuented The one is the vse of guns for their warres the other is printing which they vse not as we do writing from the left hand vnto the right or as the Hebrewes and Sirians from the right hand vnto the left but downeward directly so their lines at the top to begin againe De India orientali ON the South-side of China toward the Molucco Ilands and the Indian sea lyeth the great countrie of India extending it selfe from the South-east part of the continent by the space of many thousand miles west-ward vnto the riuer Indus which is the greatest riuer in all that countrie except Ganges one of the greatest riuers in the world which lyeth in the East-part of the same Indies This is that countrie so famous in ancient time for the great riches therof for the multitude of people for the conquest of Bacchus ouer it for the passage thither of Alexander the great through all the length of Asia for his aduenturing to goe into the South Ocean with so mightie a Nauie which fewe or none had euer attempted before him This countrie had in auncient time many absolute kingdomes and princes as in the time of Alexander Porus Taxiles and diuers others In it were many Phylosophers and men of great learning whome they called Gymnesophistae of whome was Calanus who burnt himselfe afore Alexander The men of the South-parte of India are blacke and therefore are called men of Inde The cattle of all sortes that are bred there are of incredible bignes in respect of other countries as their Elephants Apes Munkies and such like The riches hereof hath bene very great with aboundance of golde insomuch that the Promontorie which is now called Malachâ— was in times past named Aurea Chersonesus The commoditie of spice is exceeding great that commeth from thence The Portingales were the first which by their long nauigations beyond the Equinoctial and the farthermost parte of Africa haue of late yeares discouered these countries of India As heretofore of the King of Portingale so now of the King of Spaine who is reputed owner of them The Portingales did finde diuers small kingdomes at their first arriuall in those partes as the king of Calicut froÌ„ whence commeth our Calicut linnen the king of Cambaia the king of Cananor the king of Cochin and vâ—ry many other with whome they first entring league for trafique and hauing leaue giuen to build Castles for their defence they haue since by policie encroched into their handes a great parte of the countrie which lyeth neare vnto the sea-coast and are mightie now for the space of many thousand miles together The king of Spaine hath there a vice-roy whose residence is commonly in the Imperiall citie called Goa They doe euery yeare send home great store of riche commodities into Spaine The people of the countrie when the Portingales came first thither were for the most part Gentiles beleeuing no one God But the Saracens who reuerence the Prophet Mahomet from the baies or gulfes of Persia and Arabia did trafique much thither so that Mahomet was known among them But in one towne called Crangarior they founde diuers Christians diffenting in many things from the Church of Rome and rather agreeing with the Protestants which Christians had reteined by successe their religion from the time of Thomas the Apostle by whom it is recorded by the auncient Ecclesiastical historie part of India was conuerted De Persia THere be diuers countries betweene India and Persia but they are not famous Persia is a large countrie which lieth farre West from India it hath on the North Assyria and Media on the West Syria and the Holyland but next vnto it Mesopotamie on the South the maine Ocean which entereth in notwithstanding by a bay called Sinus Persicus This is that countrie which in auncient time was so renowmed for the great riches and Empire thereof These were they who took from the Assyrians the Monarchies and did set vp in their countrie the second great Empire which beganne vnder Cyrus and continued vnto Darius who was ouerthrowne by Alexander the great In this Countrie raigned the great Kings Cyrus Canibises Darius the sonne of Histaspes the great Xerxes Artaxerxes and many other which in prophane writinges are famous for their warres against the Scythians Aegyptians and Graecians and in the Scripture for the deliuerie of the Iewes from Babylon by Cyrus for building of the second Temple at Ierusalem and for manie things which are mencioned of them in the Prophecie of Daniel The people of this nation although they were in former times very riotous by reason of their great wealth yet after that they lost their Monarchy by the Macedonians they haue growne great souldiers and therefore as they euer did strongly defend themselues against the Romanes so in the time of Constantine and the other Emperours they were fearfull neighbours to the Romane gouernment And of late time they haue strongly opposed then selues agaynst the Turkes euer making their partie good with them They fight commonlie on horse-back are gouerned as in times past by a King so nowe by an absolute ruler and mightie Prince whom they tearme the Shawe or Sophie of Persia He hath many countries and small Kings in Assyria and Media and the countries adioyning tributaries The Persians are all at this day Sarazens in religion beleeuing on Mahomet but as Papists and protestants do diffor in opinion concerning the same Christ so do the Turkes and Persians about their Mahomet the one pursuing the other as heretikes with most deadly hatred In so much that there be in this respect almost continuall warres betweene the Turkes and the Persians De Parthia Media ON the North-east side of Persia lieth that countrie which in old time was called Paerthia but now named Arach of whose great warres with the Medians or Armenians or Romanes in Tacitus and ancient histories are true The countrie boundeth on Media by the West which was in auncient time very full of people whose fight as it is very much on hors-backe so the maner of them continually was for to giue an onset and then to runne their wayes
beene reputed alwayes a verie commodious and pleasurefull countrie It is wholie at this day vnder the Turke The mountaine Taurus goeth along from the West vnto the East part of it The greatnesse of it is such that it hath comprehended many kingdomes and great prouinces beside cities of great fame On the South-east part thereof neare Palaestina lyeth Cilicia the chiefe citie thereof is Tarsus the countrie of Saint Paul the place whither Salomon sent for great store of his golde and prouision for the Temple whither Ionas also fled when he should haue gone to Niniue In the straites of this Cilicia neere to the mountaine Taurus did Alexander giue the great ouerthrowe in person to Darius in the ioyning of their first battaile Westward from Cilicia lyeth the prouince called Pamphilia wherein standeth the citie Saeleucia built by Seleucus one of the foure great successors of Alexander the great On the West of this Pamphilia extending it selfe euen to the sea is Lydia where reigned sometime Croesus who was so renowmed for his aboundant riches Herein standeth as a sea-towne Halicarnassus the countrie of Herodotus and of Dionysius who wrote the Romane Historie which cittie was sometimes a kingdome as in the time of Xerxes to whose aide against the Graecians did goe Artimisia the Queene of Halicarnasse and here raigned Ada another Queene in the time of Alexander the great Vpon the sea-coast Northward from Lydia standeth diuers of those cities vnto the which Iohn in his Reuellation did write his seuen Epistles as Smyrna Pergamus Sardis and Ephesus but other of them as Laodicia Philadelphia Thiatira doe stand more in the inland Sardis was a citie of great pleasure and profite which is that place the winning whereof by the Greekes did so displease one of the kings of Persia that he caused it euerie day at dinner to be remembred vnto him that the Graecians had taken Sardis and that he must not cease till he had recouered it againe Ephesus was one of the most famous cities of the worlde the greatest glorie whereof did arise by reason of the most magnificent Temple of Diana which was at Ephesus to the building whereof all Asia the lesse did verie bountifully contribute It is reported to haue beene two hundred yeeres in building and at seuen seuerall times as otherwise so especiallie by lightning to haue bin set on fire but the final destruction of it was by a base person named Herostratus who of purpose set it on fire to make himselfe famous More Northward toward the Sea-coast lyeth Phrygia which was the countrie from whence the Goddesse called Bona Dea or Pessinuntia and Cybile was brought to Rome In this countrie liued Gordius who knit that knot that Alexander cut hoping thereby to obtaine as an oracle had foretolde the whole kingdome of Asia In this countrie stoode Troy the siege whereof by the Graecians is made so famous by the Poetrie of Homer and of Virgil. Yet Northwarde from Phrygia lyeth the Countrie of Bithynia which was sometimes a kingdome where Prusias raigned that had so much to doe with the Romanes In this countrie standeth the citie Nicea where the first generall Councel was held against Arrius the Heretike by Constantine the great thereof called the Nicene Councell Here standeth also Chalcedon where the fourth general Councell was held by the Emperour Martianus against the heretike Nestorius From Bithynia East-ward on the North-side of Asia the lesse standeth the countrie of Paphlagonia where was the citie built by Pompey the great called of his name Pompeiopolis From thence Eastward ioining to Armenia is the kingdome of Capadocia which bordereth on Armenia Northward from thence near to the sea called Pontus Euxinus lieth the kingdome of Mithridates which was called Pontus This Mithridates had long warres with the Romanes whose subiects he caused to be slaine all in one night throughout Asia the lesse He was afterward ouerthrowne by Pempey the great Romane By him was inuented that preseruatiue against poison which of his name is called Mithridate There were also in Asia the lesse some other small countries as Galatia Lycia Caria and some other De Syria Palaestina SOuthward from Cilicia and Asia the lesse lieth Syria called Palaestina hauing on the East Mesopotamia on the South Arabia on the West Tire and Sidon and the end of the Mediterran sea The people of this Syria were in times past called the Aramites In their language is the translation of the new Testament called the Syriacke In this countrie standeth Antioch which was sometimes one of the famous Patriarks seas and is a citie of reckoning vnto this day Here also standeth now the Citie of Aleppo which is a famous Mart towne for the Marchandizing of the Persians and other of the East and for the Turkes and such countries as bee adioyning Here standeth also Tripolis The South part of Syria lying downe toward Aegypt and Arabia was the place where the children of Israel did dwel beeing a countrie but of small quantitie not in length two hundren Italian miles yet was so fruitfull flowing with milk and honie as the scripture calleth it that both it did maintaine aboue thirtie kings and their people before the comming of the children of Israel out of Egypt and also was sufficient afterwarde to relieue the incredible number of the twelue tribes of Israel It was noted of this countrie that whereas by the goodnesse of the Climate wherein it stoode and the fertilitie of the soile but especially by the blessing of God it was the most fruitfull land that was in the world nowe our trauailers by experience doe finde the countrie in respect of the fruitfulnesse to bee changed God cursing the land together with the Iewes the inhabitants of it It is obserued also for all the Easterne parts that they are not so fertile as they haue beene in former ages The earth as it were growing olde which is an argument of the dissolution to come by the day of iudgement Through this countrie doth runne the riuer Iordan which hath heretofore beene famous for the fruitfulnesse of the trees standing thereupon and for the mildnesse of the aire so that as Iosephus writeth when snow hath layen in other places of the land about the riuer it hath bin so calme that men did goe in single thinne linnen garments In this countrie standeth the Lake called Lacus Asphaltites because of a kinde of slime or Bytumen which dayly it doth cast vp being of force to ioyne stones exceeding fast in building This Lake is it which is called Mare mortuum a Sea because it is salt and dead for that no liuing thing is therein the water whereof is so thicke that fewe thinges will sinke therein insomuch that Iosephus saith that an Oxe hauing all his legges bound will not sinke in that water The nature of this lake was turned into this qualitie when God did destroy Sodome and Gomorra and the citties adioyning with fire and brimstone from heauen for Sodom and
the other cities did stand neare vnto Iordan and to the Mare mortuum for the destruction of whome all that coast to this day is a witnes the earth smelling of brimstone being desolate and yeelding no fruite sauing apples and such which growing with a faire shewe to the eye lyke other fruite assone as they are touched turne presently to ashes as besides Iosephus Solinus doth witnes The land of Palaestina had for inhabitants all the twelue tribes of Israell which were vnder one kingdome till the time of Rehoboam the sonne of Salomon But then were they deuided into two kingdomes ten tribes being called Israel and two being called Iuda whose chiefe Citie was called Ierusalem Then the tribes after much Idolatrie were caried prisoners into Assyria and the kingdome dissolued other people being placed in their roome in Samaria and the countrie adioyning The other two tribes were properly called the Iewes their land Iudaea which continued long after in Ierusalem and thereabout till the captiuitie of Babylon where they liued for 70. yeares They were afterward restored but liued without glory till the comming of Christ But since his time for a curse vpon them and their children for putting Christ to death they are scattered vpon the face of the earth as runnagates without certaine countrie King Priest or Prophet In their chiefe Citie Ierusalem was the Temple of God first most gloriously built by Salomon and afterwarde destroyed by Nabuchadnezzer By the commaundement of Cyrus King of Persia was a second Temple built much more base then the former for besides the pouertie and smalnesse of it there wanted fiue thinges which were in the former as the Iewes write First the Arke of the couenant Secondly the pot of Manna Thirdly the rod of Aron Fourthly the two tables of the lawe written by the finger of God and fiftly the fire for the sacrifice which came downe from heauen Herod the great an Edomite stranger hauing gotten the kingdome contrary to the lawe of Moses and knowing the people to be offended therewithall to procure their fauour did build a third Temple much more glorious then the second which was that Temple wherein our Sauiour Christ and his Apostles did teach The Citie of Ierusalem was twise taken and vtterly laid desolate first by Nabuchadnezzer at the captiuitie of Babylon and secondly after the death of Christ by Vespatian the Romaine who first began the siege and by his sonne Titus who was afterward Emperour of Rome who brought such horrible desolation on that Citie and the people thereof by sire sworde and famine that the lyke hath not bin read in any historie He did afterward put thousands of them on some one day to be deuoured by the beastes which was a cruell custome of the Romaine magnificence After this destruction the land of Iudaea and the ruines of Ierusalem were possessed by some of the people adioyning till that aboute 600. yeares since the Sarazens did inuade it for the expelling of whome from thence diuers Frenchmen and other Christians vnder the leading of Godfrey of Bullen did assemble themselues thinking it a great shame that the Holy land as they called it the Citie of Ierusalem and the place of the sepulchre of Christ should be in the hands of the Infidels This Godfrey ruled in Ierusalem by the name of a Duke but his successors after him for the space of sixe score yeares called themselues Kings of Ierusalem aboute which time Saladine who called himselfe King of Aegypt and Asia the lesse did win it from the Ch istians for the recouery whereof Richard the first King of England together with the French King and the King of Cicilia did goe in person with their armies to Ierusalem but although they wonne many thinges from the infidels yet the ende was that the Sarazens did retaine the Holy land The whole countrie and citie of Ierusalem are now in the dominion of the Turke who notwithstanding for a great tribute doeth suffer many Christians to abide there There are therefore nowe two or more monasteries and religious houses where Friers doe abide and make a good commoditie by shewing of the sepulchre of Christ and other monuments vnto such Christian pilgrims as doe vse superstitiously to goe in pilgrimage to the Holy land The King of Spaine calleth himselfe at this day King of Ierusalem De Arabia NExt vnto the Holy land lyeth the great countrie of Arabia hauing on the North-parte Palestina and Mesepotamia on the East the gulfe of Persia on the South the maine Ocean of India or Aethiopia on the West Aegipt and the great bay called Sinus Arabicus or the redde sea This countrie is deuided into three partes the North parte whereof is called Arabia deserta the South parte which is the greatest is named Arabia Foelix and in the middle betweene both which for the aboundance of Rockes and Stones is called Arabia Petrea or Petrosa The deserte of Arabia is that place in which God after the deliuery of the Israelites from Egypt by passing through the red sea did keepe his people vnder Moses for fortie yeares because of their rebellion feeding them in the meane time with Manna from heauen sometime with water miraculously drawne out of drie rockes for the country hath verie little water almost no trees and is vtterly vnfit for tillage or corne There are no townes nor inhabitants in all this desert in Arabia Petrosa are some but not many Arabia Foelix for fruitfulnes of the ground and conuenient standing euerie way towarde the sea is one of the best countries of the world but the principall cause why it is called Foelix is for that it yeeldeth many things in aboundance which in other parts of the world are not to be had as Frankincense especially the most precious balmes myrhe and many other both fruits and spices and it yeeldeth withall store of some precious stones This is that countrie wherein Mahomet wes borne who being of meane parentage was brought vp in his youth in the trade of merchandise but afterward ioyning himselfe with theeues and robbers his life was to rob such marchants as passed through Arabia and to this purpose hauing gotten togither many of his owne countrimen he had afterwardes a whole legion or more out of the Romane souldiours who being offended with Heraclius the Romane Emperour for want of their pay ioined themselues to him so that at length hee had a great armie wherewith hee spoyled the countrie adioyning To maintaine his credit authoritie with his owne men he fained that he had conference with the holy Ghost at such time as he was troubled with the falling sicknes and accordingly he ordained a new religion consisting partly of Iewish ceremonies and partly of Christian doctrine and some other things of his owne inuention that hee might inueagle both Iewes and Christians and yet by his own fancy distinguish his followers from both The booke of his religion is called the Alcoran The people which were his Sectaries
A BRIEFE DESCRIPTION OF THE whole worlde WHEREIN ARE PARticularly described all the Monarchies Empires and kingdomes of the same with their seuerall titles and situations thereunto adioyning AT LONDON Printed by T. Iudson for Iohn Browne and are to be sould at the signe of the Bible in Fleete-streete 1599. A BRIEFE DESCRIPTION OF THE WHOLE WORLD THe globe of the earth doth eyther shewe the sea or land The sea generall is called by the name of the OCEAN which coasteth all the world and taketh his name in speciall eyther of the place neere which it commeth as Oceanus Britannicus Mare Germanicus Sinus Persicus Mare Atlanticum of the hill Atlas in the West-part of Africke or of the finder out as Fretum Magelanicum or of some other accident as the Red sea because the sand is red Mare Mediterraneum because it runneth betweene the landes of Europe and Afrike Mare Icarium because Icarus was drowned there or the like There be some few seas which haue no entercourse with the OCEAN as Mare mortuum neare Palestina Mare Caspium siue Hircanum not farre from Armenia and such a one is said to be in the North part of America The Straites or narrow seas are noted in the Latine by the name of Fretum as Fretum Britanicum the English narrowe seas Fretum Herculeum the straightes betweene Barbarie and Spaine Fretum Magellanicum c. The earth is either Ilands which are those that are wholy compassed by the sea as Britannia Sicilia Corsica or the continent which is called in the English the firme lande in the Latine Continent The olde knowne firme land was conteined onely in Asia Europe and Africa Europe is deuided from Africa by the Mediterran sea and from Asia by the riuer Tanais whereby appeareth that the North-partes of Asia and of Europe in olde time were but little knowne and discouered Africa is deuided from Europe by the Mediterran sea from Asia by the riuer Nilus and so Asia by Tanais and Nilus is seuered from Europe and Afrike De Hispania TO say nothing of England and Ireland the most westerne countrie of Europe is Spaine which is boūded on the South wth the Mediterran sea on the West with the Atlantike on the North with the Oceanus Cantabricus or the Spanish seas on the East with France from which it is seuered with certaine mountaines called Montes Pyrenei or the Pyrenei hills In this countrie heretofore there were many kingdoms as the kingdome of Portingale toward the West the kingdome of Granada toward the South the kingdome of Nauarre and Aragon towarde the East and the kingdome of Castile in the middle of the land but the whole dominion is now vnder the king of Spaine De Gallia THe next countrie is France which is bounded on the West with the Pyrenei hills on the North with the English seas on the East with Germanie on the South-east with the Alpe-hilles on the South-west with the Mediterran sea This was in auncient time deuided into three partes Aquitania which is toward the West Celtica toward the North and West and Belgica which is toward the North. Belgica is some times called Gallia inferior and sometime Germania inferior but we call it commonly by the name of the Lowe countries the gouernement where of at this day is not at all vnder France but Gallia Celtica and Aquitania are vnder the French king France hath many petie gouernements that doe border vpon it as the Duke of Sauoie the State of the Switzers the Dukedome of Loraine the Burgundians or Wallons against all which the King is forted to keepe his frontier townes There is nothing more famous in this kingdome then the Salike lawe whereby it is prouided that no woman nor the heire of her as in her right shall enioy the crowne of France a but it goeth alwayes to the heire male The Switzers are a people called in olde time Heluetij who haue no Noblemen or Gentlemen among them but onely the citizens of their townes the yearely officers whereof and their councill doe gouerne their State De Germania THe next countrie vnto France on the East-side is Germanie which is bounded on the West with France and the Lowe countries on the North with Denmarke and the Danish seas on the East with Prussia Polonia and Hungarie on the South-east with Istris and Illyricum on the South with the Alpe-hilles with Italy The gouernour generall of this countrie is balled the Emperour of Germanie who is chosen by three spirituall princes the Archbishop of Colen called Coloniensis the Archbishop of Ments called Moguntinus and the Archbishop of Triers called Treuereusis and three temporal princes the Duke of Saxonie the Marques of Brandeburg and the Countie Palantine of Rhine which if they cannot agree as to make a Maior parte in their election then the king of Boheme hath also a voyce whereof it commeth to to be saide that there bee seuen Princes electors of the Empire There is not that free libertie of choosing the Emperour out of any countrie as was heretofore But the election is tyed within one hundred yeares vnto the house of Austria and at this day of of them the king of Bohemia is Emperour who is called Rodulphus 2. Bohemia is a kingdome in the middle of Germanie which is compassed rounde with a mightie wood called Silua Hirciniae The chiefe citie thereof is called Prage In Germanie all are at a kinde of commaundement of the Emperour but most of the Princes otherwise take on them as absolute gouernours in their dominion So that they haue libertie of religion they make lawes they raise souldiers they stampe money with their owne coyne as absolute princes So doth the Duke of Saxonie the Archbishop and the rest There are also free States and cities which haue the same authoritie as Argentine Frankford and other De Italia ON the South-side of the Alpes and Germanie lyeth Italie stretching it selfe out in length towarde the South and East It hath on the South-side the Iland Sicilia on the East that part of the Med. which is called Mare Adriaticum or Mare superum which seuereth Italie from Graecia on the West side that part of the Med. which is called Mare Tyrrhenum or Mare inferum and by some Mare Ligusticum This countrie for the figure thereof is by some likened vnto a long leafe of a tree it hath in the middle of it which goeth all in length a mightie mountaine named Mons Aperminus which is likened to the Spina or ridge-bone of the backe out of this hill spring diuers Riuers which runne on both sides of it into the Adriatike and Tyrrhene or Tuscane seas The North parte of this Italie is that which in auncient time was called Gallia Comata or Gallia Cisalpina Gallia inhabited then by the French-men It is now called Longobardia or Lombardie wherein stand many rich gouernements as the Dukedome of Millaine of Mantua of Florence and others It is for the pleasantnesse thereof in respect of the soile
Scrikfinia and Biarmia and so passing to the East by Noua Zimbla halfe the way almost to Cathaio haue entred the riuer called Duina by which they disperse themselues for marchandize both by water land into the most parts of the dominioÌ„ of the Emperour This Empire is at this day one of the greatest dominions in the world both for compasse of grounde and for multitude of men sauing that it lyeth far North and so yeeldeth not pleasure or good trafique with many other of the best nations De Prusia Polonia IN Europe on the East and North corner of Germany lyeth a countrie called Prussia in Latine most times Borussia in English Pruthen or Sprusa of whome little is famous sauing that they be gouerned by one in a kinde of order of religion whome they call the Grand-master and that they are a meanes to keepe the Moscouite the Turke from some other partes of Christendome On the East-side of Germanie betweene Russia Germanie lyeth Polonia or Poland which is a kingdome differing from other of Europe because the king there is chosen by election by some of the Princes neare adioyning as was lately Henry the third King of France These elections oftentimes doe make great factions there so that intaking partes they grow often there into ciuill warre The king of Polonia is almost continually in warre either with the Moscouite who lyeth in the East and North-east of him or with the Turke who lyeth on the South and South-east and sometimes also with the Princes of Germanie whereupon the Poles doe commonly desire to chuse warriors to their King In this countrie are none but Christians but so that libertie of all religions is permitted insomuch that there be Papists Colleges of Iesuites both of Lutherans and Caluinistes opinions Anabaptists Artians and diuers others This is that countrie which in times past was called Sarmatia the chiefe citie whereof is named Cracouia De Hungaria Austria ON the South-side of Germanie lyeth Hungarie called in the Latine Pannonia which haue bene heretofore deuided into Pannonia superior and Pannonia inferiore it is an absolute kingdome and hath heretofore bene ritch and populous The Christians that doe liue there haue among them diuers sortes of religions as in Poland The kingdome hath bene a great obstacle against the Tuckes comming into Christendome but especially in the time of Iohannes Huniades who did mightily with many great victories repulse the Turke Here standeth Buda which was heretofore a great fortresse of Christendome But the glory of this kingdome is almost vtterly decayed by reason that the Turke who partly by policle and partly by force doth now possesse the greatest parte of it So that the people are fled from thence and the Christians which remaine there are in miserable seruitude Notwithstanding some part of Pannonia superior doth yet belong to Christendome That corner of Germanie which lieth neerest to Hungarie is called Austria which is an Archdukedome FroÌ„ which house are come many of the Princes of Germany and of other parts of Europe so that the Crowne imperiall of Germanie is now tied to some one of this house In this countrie standeth Vienna that noble citie which is now the principall bulwarke of all Christendome against the Turke from whence Soliman was repelled by Ferdinandus King of Hungarie in the time of the Emperour Charles the fift It was in this country that Richard the first king of England in his returne from the holy land was taken prisoner by the Archduke of Austria and so put to a grieuous raunsome The Archduke that now is by the King of Spaine is appointed in the place of the Duke of Parma as gouernour of the low countries Through both Austria and Hungarie doth runne the mightie riuer Danubius as through Germanie doth runne the Rhene whereon groweth Vinum Rhenâ—â—um commonly called Rhenish wine De Graecia ON the South-side of Hungarie and South-east lyeth a countrie of Europe called in old time Dacia which is large and wide comprehending in it Transyluania Valachia Moldauia and Seruia Of which little is famous saue that the men are warlike and can hardly be brought to obedience They haue lately bin vnder the King of Hungarie The riuer Danubius doth diuide this Dacia from Mysia commonly called Bulgaria which lieth on the South from Danubius and is seuered from Graecia by the mountaine Hamus From Hamus towards the South lieth Graecia bounded on the West by the Adriatike sea on the East by the Thracian sâ—â— and Mare Aegeum on the South by the maine Mediteran sea This contained in old time foure speciall parts Peloponnesus Achaia Macedonia and Epirus Peloponnesus which is now called Morea is the South part of Graecia being Paeninsula or almost an Iland for that it is ioyned by a litle straight called Isthmos vnto the rest of Gracia Herein stood Sparta and the auncient state of Lacedaemon On the Isthmos or straight stood the famous citie of Corinth which was in old time called the key of Greece On the West side of Graecia next to Peloponnesus stood the kingdom of Macedonia so famous vnder Philip for conquering al Graecia and vnder Alexander for vanquishing almost al the Easterne world and for taking of the Monarchy from the Persians and remouing it to the Macedonians On the North-side of Macedonia being the North-west from Graecia stood the little kingdome of Epirus where raigned Scanderbeg which was in his time so great a scourge to the Turke The rest of Graecia was called Achaia hauing on the North and East part thereof Thracia on the North Haemus the hill on the West Macedonia and Epirus on the South Peloponnesus on the East those seas which diuide Asia the lesse from Graecia In this part stood Thessalonica to the which S. Paule wrote his Epistle and Athens and Thebes and all the Cities of Boetia and the Cities of the Achai Argos Elis and many other Macedonia is by the best Writers and by auncient description rather sound to stand on the North-side of Achaia neere to the hill Hamus and to Thracia though some in ignorance haue taught the contrarie In this countrie of Graecia were in auncient time manie Kingdoms and States as at this day there are in Italie as the Macedonians the kingdome of Epyrus the State of Athens the gouernment of Sparta the citie of Thebes and very many other places in so much that almost euery towne had a peculiar gouernmeÌ„t But now it is all vnder one Monarchy From Graecia in olde time did almost all famous things come These were they that made the warre against Troy that resisted Xerxes the mightie king of Persia that had the famous Law-makers as Solon in Athens and Licurgus in Lacedaemon that tooke away the Monarchie from the Persians that brought forth the famous Captaines as Themistocles Miltiades Alexander and many other that were the authours of ciuilitie vnto the Westerne nations and to some in the East as Asia the lesse that gaue to
of the foure principall seas and remaineth so at this time This countrie was gouerned by a King as long agone as almost any in the worlde Here raigned Amasis who made those good lawes spoken of by Herodotus and Diodorus Siculus in whose writings the antient customes of the Aegiptians are worthie to be read After Alexanders time Ptolomeus one of his captaines had this kingdome of whome all his successors were called Ptolomeis as before time all their Kings were called Pharao They continued long friendes and in league with the people of Rome till the time of Iulius Caesar but afterward they were as subiects to the Romaines till the Empire did decaye When they had withdrawne themselues from the Romaine gouernement they set vp a Prince of their owne whome they tearmed the Sultan or Souldan of Aegipt of whome about 400. yeares sinee Saladine was one But when the race of these was out the Mamalukes who were the garde of the Sultan as the Ianisaries to the Turke appointed a Prince at their pleasure till that nowe aboute an 100. yeares agone or lesse the Turke possessed himselfe with sole gouernement of the countrie so that at this day Aegipt is wholy vnder the Turke There be Christians that now liue in Aegipt for their tribute vnto the Turke as they doe now in Graecia De Cyrene Africa minori ON the West-side of Aegipt lying along the Mediterran is a countrie which is called in olde time Cyrene wherein did stand that Oracle which was so famous in the time of Alexander the great called by the name of the Temple or Oracle of Iupiter Hammon whither when Alexander did repaire as to aske counsell of himselfe and his successe the Priests being before taught what they should say did flatteringly professe him to be the sonne of a God and that he was to be adored so that as the Oracle of Delphos and some other were plaine delusions of Satan who did raigne in that darke time of ignorance so this of Iupiter Hammon may be well supposed to bee nothing else but a cousinage of the Priestes In this countrie and all neare aboute where the Oracle stoode are very great wildernesses where did appeare to Alexander for foure dayes iourney neither Grasse Tree Water Man Bird nor Beast but onely a deep kinde of sand so that he was inforced to carry water with him for himselfe and his company and all other prouision on Camels backs At this day this countrie hath lost his olde name and is reckoned as a parte of Aegipt and lyeth vnder the Turke Westward from hence along the Mediterran lyeth the countrie which in auntient time was called Afried minor for as in Asia one part aboue another was by an excellencie called Asia or Asia the lesse so this parte of Afrike was termed by the Romaines sometimes Africa simply sometimes Afica the lesse In this countrie did stand that place so famous mentioned by Salust vnder the neme of Phileni Arae which was the bound in that time betweene Africa and Cyrene On the Notth and East parte hereof in the sea neare vnto the shore was that quicke-sand which in times past did destroy so many shippes and was called Syrtis Magna as also on the North and West parte was the other sand called Syrtis parua Some part of this countrie was heretofore vnder the Sultane of Egypt whose dominion did extend it selfe so far to the West there it was deuided frō the kingdome of Tunis but it is now wholy vnder the Turke and is commonly reputed as a parte of Barbarie For now by the generall name from the confines of Cyrene vnto the West as farre as Hercules his pillars all the whole space is called Barbarie though it conteine in it diuers kingdomes as Tunis Fessa and Marocco De Mauritania Caesariensi AParte of that countrie which by a generall name is called at this day Barbary hath in olde time bin called Mauritania which was deuided into two partes the East part whereof next to Africa minor was called by the Romaines Mauritania Caesariensis as the other was called Mauritania Tingitana In Mauritania Caesariensis was the countrie of Numidia the people whereof were vsed in the warres of the Carthaginians as light-horse men and for nimble seruices very actiue In the East-parte of this countrie standing in the Sea was that amous Citie of Carthage supposed to be built by Dido who came from Tyrus This Citie was it which for the space of some hundreth yeares contended with Rome for the Empire of the worlde In the Romaine histories are recorded three great warres which the people of Rome had with the Citie of Carthage In the first of the three their contention was for the Iles of Cicilia Corsica and Sardinia when the victorie fell to the Romaines and the Carthaginians were glad to redeeme their peace with the leauing of those Ilands The second warre was begunne by Hannibal who brake the league and after he had taken some parte of Spaine from the Romaines and sacked Saguntum a citie of their friendes came first ouer the Pyrenie hills to France then ouer the Alpes to Italie where he ouerthrew the Romaines in three great battailes and much endaungered their state he continued in Italie with his armie sixteene yeares till Scipio attempting on Carthage forced Hannibal to returne to rescue his owne countrie There was Hannibal ouerthrowne and his Citie put to a great pension by Scipio who for his victorie there was named Africanus In the third warre because the people of Cartharge still brake their leage their Citie was razed to the very grounde by the earnest and continuall sure of Cato the elder fearing euermore so dangerous a neighbour though Scipio Nasica counselled to the contrarie fearing least if the dread of that enemie were taken away the Romanes would grow eyther to idlenes or to ciuill dissension which after they did It is reported of Cato that he neuer spake his iudgement of any thing in the Senate but his conclusion was thus Thus I thinke for this matter and withall that Carthage is to be razed downe And Scipio Nasica would reply in his conclusion Thus I thinke of this matter and withall that Carthage is not to be razed downe In this countrie towards the West not far from Carthage stood Vtica whereof the younger Cato was termed Cato Vticensis because hee killed himselfe there in the ciuill warres betweene Pompey and Caesar because he would not come within the handes of his enemie Caesar Not farre from thence Westwarde standeth Hippon which was the Citie where S. Austen was Bishop This whole countrie at this day is called the kingdome of Tunis the king whereof is a kinde of Stipendarie vnto the great Turke The people that inhabit there are generally Sarazens and do professe Mahomets religion De Mauritania Tingitana THe other part of Barbarie that lieth along the Mediterran farthest into the west was called in olde time Manritania Tingitana The people of which countrie were those
which almost in all olde hystories were called by the name of Mauri Those of the other Mauritania being rather termed Namidae Into the Northwest part hereof did Hercules come and there did set vp one of his pillars which aunswereth to the other in Spaine at the straights of Gibraltar in times past called Fretum Herculeum On the South part hereof lay the kingdome of Bocchus which in the time of Marius had so much to doe with the Romanes In the Westpart of this Mauritania standeth the hill called Atlas minor and on the South part is the great hill called Atlas maior whereof the maine Ocean which lieth betweene Mauritania and America is called Mare Atlanticum This hill is so high that vnto those who stoode on the bottome of it it seemed to touch heauen with his top whereupon grew that fable of the Poets that Atlas was a giant who helde vp heauen with his shoulders This countrie hath beene long inhabited by the Sarazens who from thence finding it to be but a short passage into Spain did go ouer now seuen hundred yeers agone and possessed there the kingdome of Granado on the South-side of Spaine till they were thence expelled by Ferdinandus and Elizabeth or Isabell King and Queene of Castile In this countrie since that time haue the Spaniards taken some cities and holdes and so also haue the Portingales which by the diuers euent of victorie haue often beene lost and wonne by them Here it was that the Emperou Charles the fift had diuerse of his great warres agaynst the Moores as well as in the kingdome of Timis For the assistance of one who claimed to bee King of a part of this Countrie did Sebastian the king of Portingale goe with all his power into Africa in the yeare 1578. where vnaduisedly bearing himselfe hee was slaine togither with two other dying that day who claymed to bee Kings so that there it was that the battaile was sought whereof it is said that three kings dyed in one day which battaile was the ruine of the kingdome of Portingale and the cause of the vniting of a to the Crowne of Spaine Astrolegers did suppose that the blaging Starre which appeared the yeare before did signifie that ill euent This whole countrie doth containe in it besides some imperiall gouernment two absolute kingdomes the one the kingdome of Eezza or Fes which lieth on the North-part toward the Mediter and Spaine the other is the kingdome of Marocco which lieth from about the hill Atlas minor to the South and West part of Mauritania These are both Sarazens as be also their people holding true league with the Turke and with some other Christian Princes a league onely for trefique or Marchandise De reliquis Africae regionbius maritimis FRom beyond the hils Atlas maior vnto the South of Africa is nothing almost in antiquitie worthy the reading and those things which are written for the most part are fables In the new Writers there are some few things to be obferued As first that all the people in generall to the South lying within the Zona torrida are not onely blackish like the Moores but are exceedingly blacke And therefore as in olde time by an excellencie some of them were called Nigrita so that to this day they are named Negros as then whome no men are blacker Secondly that the inhabitants of all these parts which border or the sea coast euen vnto Caput bonae spei haue beene Gentiles adoring Images and foolish shapes for their gods neither hearing of Christ nor beleeuing on Mahomet till such time as Portingales cōming in among them haue professed Christ for themselues but haue wonne fewe of the people to imbrace their religion Thirdly that the Portingales passing along Africa vnto the East Indies haue fetled themselues in many places of those countries building Castles and townes for their owne safetie and to keepe the people in subiection to their great commoditie One of the first countries famous beyond Marocco is Guinea which we call Ginnie within the compasse whereof lieth the cape called Cape Verde and the other the Cape of the three points and the towne and Castle named Sierra Liona at which places commonly all trauailers doe touch that doe passe that way for fresh water and other shippe-prouision Our English men haue founde trafique into the partes of this countrie where their greatest commoditie as golde and Elephants teeth of both which there is very good store Beyond that toward the South not farre from the equinoctiall line lyeth the kingdome of Congo commonlie called Manicongo Where the Portingales at their first arriuall finding the people to bee heathens without God did induce them to a profession of Iesus Christ and to bee baptized in great aboundance allowing of the principles of religion vntill such time as the Priests did teach them to leade their liues according vnto their profession which the most part of them in no case enduring they returned backe againe vnto their Gentilisme Beyond Manicongo so farre to the South as almost ten degrees beyonde the tropicke of Capricorne lyeth the landes ende which is a promontorie now called by the name of Caput bone spei which Vascus Gama the Portingale did discouer and so called it because hee had there good hope that the land did turne to the North and that following the course thereof he might bee brought to Arabia and Persia but especially to Calicut in India Which course when himselfe and other of his countrimen after him did follow they founde on the coast vp towarde Arabia the kingdome of Mozambique Melinde Magadaxa and other whose people were all Gentiles and now are in league with the Portingales who haue built diuerse holdes for their safetie of which Countries and manners of the people he that listeth to reade may finde much in the hystories of Osorius and Petrus Maffeus But there is no matter of any great importance De Abissina imperio Presbyteri Iohannis IN the inland of Africa lyeth a verie large Countrie extending it selfe on the East to some part of the redde sea on the South to the kingdome of Melinde and a great way farther on the North vnto Egypt on the West vnto Manicorgo the people whereof are called Abissini and it selfe the dominion of him whom wee commonly call in English Prester Iohn but in Latine some tearme him Preciosus Iohannes because of his riches but in the most part Presbiter Iohannes writing of him that as he is a prince absolute so he hath also a Priestlike or Patriarchall function iurisdiction among them This is a very mightie prince and reputed to be one of the greatest Emperours of the worlde What was knowne of this countrie in former time was knowne vnder the name of Aethiopia but the voyages of the Portingales in these late dayes haue best described it The people therefore are Christians as is also their prince but differing in many thinges from the West Church and in no sorte acknowledging any supreme