The Signeurie of MACHLIN consisteth only of that City and a small Territorie of nine Villages adjoining to it The Citie seated on both sides of the River Dele which ebbeth and floweth to the town and a league above it and running through the very midst maketh in it a number of small Islands to the great ornament and commoditie of it A goodly town containing seven Parish Churches besides the Cathedrall being the See of an Archbishop founded here in the year 1559. strong in regard it may be easily drowned on all sides and of great wealth by reason of the many manufactures of linnen great Artillery of Brasse and Iron Bels painted works and others of like use and ornament And being situate in a manner in the Center of Brabant distant four Leagues from Antwerp Lovain and Bruxels was made by Charls the Warlike who loved the place the ordinary seat of the great Councell of State to which appeals are made from the other Provinces But yet more beautifull in former times then it is at the present the City being much defaced by firing 200 barrels of powder anno 1546. and by the â—ackage of of the Spaniard by whom it was taken by force anno 1572. most memorable at this time for a famous Nunnerie like to that of Nivelle wherein are sometimes 1600 Nuns who when they please may leave their Cloister and be married A town though in Brabant yet not of it but a State distinct for which cause many 〈◊〉 men at the time of their child-birth use to lay downe their bâ—llies in some Village of Brabant 〈◊〉 their children may be capable of the priviledges and immunities of that country The principall of the Villages is named Leest or Heyst pleasantly seated on an hill the residue of the Burroughs lying at the foot thereof Both Town and Villages the patrimonie heretofore of the noble family of the Bertholds which failing in the person of Gualter slain in the battle of Worancan by John Duke of Brabant it sell the one half to the Bishop of Leige who sold his moitie to John the second Duke of Brabant the other to the Earl of Gueldres who in the year 1333. sold his part unto Lewis of Malain Earl of Flanders But he sold nothing but the title John the third Duke of Brabant having seised upon it and added it to his estate the occasion of some quarrels between those Princes composed by the marriage of that Lewis with the heir of Brabant But to return again unto Brabant it self the antient inhabitants hereof were the Aduatici and some part of the Tungri accompted by the Romans a part of the Province of Germania secunda and by the French a Province of the Kingdom of East-France or Austrasia when it was a Kingdom as after of the great Dukedom of Lorrain conteining then the modern Dukedoms of Lorrain Gulick and Brabant with the lands of Luick Brabant at that time had the name of Basse or Low Lorrain and as a memory thereof there is a Court for criminall and civill causes held at Genappe one of the Franks or Market towns of Brabant called La Court de Lorrain to this day A Dukedom first erected by the Emperour Otho the 2. who gave it to Charles of France son of Gerburg his Aunt by Lewis surnamed Transmarine King of France reserving out of it as a Dower for his said Aunt Gerburg the towns and territories of Lovain Bruxels Nivelle and Antwerp lying in the Marches of his Dominions towards France which he honoured with the title of the Marquisat of the holy Empire anno 981. Gerburg the sister and after the death of her brother Otho the heir of Charls disseised of Lorrain and the right of that fair inheritance by the Emperour Henry who gave it to Geofrey of Ardenne succeeded her Grandmother the first Gerburg in the towns and territories of Lovain Nivelle and Bruxels which she conveyed in marriage to Lambert one of the sons of Reyner of Hainalt with the title of Earl of Lovain Henry his son having made himself Master of Antwerp also was by that means possessed of the whole Marquisate but still retained the title of Earl of Lovain Godfrey the 6. Earl having enlarged the bounds of his Dominions was by the Emperour Henry the 5. anno 1108. created the first Duke of Brabant whether so named from the old Bratuspantium which Caesar placeth in this tract or that it was so called quasi Brachland that is to say a barren soil is not yet determined John the first Duke of that name added hereunto the Dutchie of Limburg and John the third the Signeurie of Malines or Machlin How it became united to the house of Burgundie is to be seen by the ensuing Catalogue of the The EARLS of LOVAIN and DUKES of BRABANT 104 1 Lambert one of the sons of Regnier Earl of Hainalt made the first Earl of Lovain in right of Gerburg his wife 1015 2 Henry the son of Lambert who took Antwerp making it the head City of the Marquisate of the holy Empire 1046 3 Lambert II. son of Henry 1054 4 Henry II. son of Lambert the second 1068 5 Henry III. son of Henry the second 6 Henry IV. son of Henry the third 1096 7 Godfrey surnamed Barbatus brother of Henry the fourth created the first Duke of Brabant by the Emperour Henry the fifth anno 1108. father of Adelize the second wife of our Henry the first 1140 8 Godfrey or Geofrey II. son of Godfrey 1143 9 Godfrey or Geofrey III. son of Godfrey the second 1183 10 Henry V. son of Godfrey the third 1230 11 Henry VI. surnamed the Good son of Henry the fift 1247 12 Henry VII surnamed the Magnanimous by whose marriage with Sophia daughter of Lewis the sixt Lantgrave of Turingia the Lantgravedome of Hassia came into this house invested on it in the person of Henry his son by the said Sophia 1260 13 John son of Henry the seventh took in the Dukedom of Limbourg and destroyed the potent Familie of the Bertholds his younger brother Henry by another venter succeeding in Hassia 14 John II. son of John the first bought of the Bishop of Leige the moitle or one halfe of Machlyn 1312 15 John III. son of John the second added the whole estate of Machlyn to the Dukedome of Brabant 1355 16 Joane eldest daughter of John the third married to Wenceslauâ— the first Duke of Luxembourg but dyed without issue 1406 17 Anthony of Burgogne son of Philip the Hardie and the Lady Margaret his wife daughter of Lewis de Malain Earl of Flanders and of Margaret the sister and heir of Joane after the death of the said Wenceslaus and Joane his wife succeeded in the Dukedom of Brabant his elder brother John giving way unto it 1415 18 John IV. sonne of Anthony by his first wise Joane daughter of Waleran Earl of Saint Paul 1426 19 Philip the second son of Anthony and brother of John the fourth 1430 20 Philip
own family as before is sayd and to that end called in the French who after made such fowl work in Italie 29 Julio the second had more in him of the Souldier than the Prelate recovering many Towns unto the Church which had been formerly usurped being taken from the Occupants by Caesar Borgias and keeping Italie in his time in continuall wars This is the Pope who passing over the bridge of Tiber brandished his Sword and threw his Keyes into the River saying that if Peters Keyes would not serve his turn then Pauls Sword should do it 30 Leo the tenth was indeed a great Favourer of Learning but of great prodigalitie and vast expence For maintainance whereof he sent his saleable Indulgences into France and Germany which business being indiscreetly handled by his Ministers occasioned Luther in Germany and Zuinglius amongst the Switzers first to write against them and afterwards to question many points of Popish Doctrin In pursuance of which quarrell the Pope of Rome burnt Luthers Books whom he declared for an Heretick and Luther did the like at Wittenberg with the Popes Canon Law whom he declared to be a Persecutor a Tyrant and the very Antichrist Which flame increased so fast and inlarged so far that it burnt down a great part of the Papall Monarchy 31 Pius the fourth continued the Councill formery called at Trent by Pope Paul the third but interrupted and layd aside from on Pope to another and having brought it to an end and thereby setled and confirmed the Interess of the Church of Rome caused it to be received as Oecumenicall though the Italian Bishops being most of them the Popes creatures did more than double the number of all the rest and yet some of the rest also were but meerly Titulars He added also a new Creed consisting of twelve Articles to be added to that of the Apostles by all who lived in the Communion of the Church of Rome But of the words and actions of these Ghostly Fathers we have said enough if not too much I will therefore end with that of the Painter who being blamed by a Cardinall for giving to S. Peters picture too much of the red replyed that he had made him so as blushing at the lives of those who were called his Successours As for the Temporall power and greatness of the Popes of Rome there is a pretended Donation of the Emperor Constantine by which the City of Rome it self most part of Italie and Africk and all the Ilands of those Seas are conferred upon them the forgery whereof is very learnedly shewn by our learned Cracanthorp in his discourse upon that subject But that Donation might most justly be suspected of Fraud and Forgery though no body had took the pains to detect the same considering how fearfull the Popes are grown to have the truth thereof disputed insomuch that many leaves are razed out of Guicciardine by the Inquisition where it had been questioned For in that place the Historian not only denieth the sayd feigned Donation but affirmes that divers learned men reported that Constantine and Silvester to whom it is sayd to have been made lived in divers Ages Then sheweth how base and obscure the Authority of the Pope was in Rome it self during the time that the barbarous Nations made havock of Italie 2 That in the institution of the Exarchate the Popes had nothing to do with the Temporall Sword but lived as subject to the Emperors 3 They were not very much obeyed in matters Spirituall by reason of the corruption of their manners 4 That after the overthrow of the Exarchate the Emperors now neglecting Italie the Romans began to be governed by the advice and power of the Popes 5 That Popin of France and his sonne Charles having overthrown the Kingdom of the Lombards gave unto the Popes the Exarchate Urbine Ancona Spoteto and many other Towns and Territories about Rome 6 That the Popes in all their Buls and Charters expressed the date of them in these formall words Such a one the Lord our Emperour reigning 7 That long after the translation of the Empire from France to Germany the Popes began to make open protestation that the Pontificiall dignity was rather to give Laws to the Emperors than receive any from them 8. That being thus raised to an earthly power they forgot the salvation of souls sanctity of life and the Commandments of God propagation of Religion and Charity towards men And that to raise arms to make war against Christians to invent new devices for getting of money to prophane sacred things for their own ends and to inrich their kindred and children was their only study And this is the substance of Guicciardine in that place an Author above all exception He was a man whom the Popes imployed in many businesses of principall importance so that no hate to them but love to the truth made him write thus much As for the City of Rome so unlikely is it to have been given by Constantine that neither Pepin nor Charles his sonne though more beholding to the Popes than that Emperor was could be induced to part with it Lewis surnamed Pius is said to have been the first Donor of it and a Copy of his Donation is found in the third Book of Volaterran subscribed by the Emperor his three sonnes ten Bishops eight Abbots fifteen Earls and the Popes Library-Keeper yet notwithstanding it is thought by many very learned and judicious men that really there was no such matter but that all this was forged by Anastasius the Popes Bibliothecarian or Library-Keeper who is cited as a witness to the Donation And yet to put the matter further out of question let us next hear what that great Politician and States-man the Recorder of Florence Nic. Machiavel hath observed in this case Rome saith he was always subject to the Lords of Italie till Theodorick King of the Gothes removed his Seat to Ravenna for thereby the Romans were inforced to submit themselves to the Bishops An. 430. or thereabouts And talking of the estate of the Popedom An. 931. he states it thus In Rome were elected yeerly out of the Nobility two Consuls who according to the antient Custom ruled that Citie Under them was appointed a Judge to minister justice to the people There was also a Counsell of twelve men which gave Governors unto the Towns subject to Rome And for the Pope he had in Rome more or less Authority according to the favour which he found with the Emperors or others then most mighty but the leaving of Italie by the German Emperors setled the Pope in a more absolute Soveraignty over the City And yet it seems they were not of such absolute power but that the Romans tugged hard with them for their Liberties Concerning which he tells us in another place That the ambition of the people of Rome did at that time viz. An. 1010. make much war with the Popes and that having helped the Pope to drive
multum aeris habet ex eo fuso fit aes as that Author hath it It is one of the least of the Belgick Provinces containing in it but 125. Villages and no more then five walled Towns or Cities viz. 1. Limbourg which gives name to the whole Estate pleasantly seated on an hill amongst shady woods under which runneth the River Wesdo which having watered the whole countrey emptieth it self into the Maes well built and fortified with a very strong Castle mounted upon a steep Precipice of no easie accesse 2. Walkenbourg called by the French Fauquemont a reasonable fair Town with a large territory two Dutch miles from Maestricht conquered from Reynold Lord hereof by John the 3. Duke of Brabant 3. Dalem a little Town with a Castle the territory thereof extending beyond the Maes conquered by Henry Duke of Brabant of that name the second 4. Rhode le Duck a little old Town with as old a Castle half a league from Walkenbourg 5. Carpen situate between Gulick and Colen beautified with a Collegiate Church and a strong Castle in which there is a Governour with a good Garrison for defence of the place Each of these Towns hath jurisdiction on the parts adjoyning but with appeal unto the Chancery of Brabant The ancient inhabitants of this â—act and the Bishoprick of Leige adjoyning were the Eburones When it was first made an Earldome I am yet to seek but of an Earldome it was made a Dukedome by the Emperour Frederick Barbarossa anno 1172. Henry one of the Dukes hereof marryed his daughter Margaret to Godfrey the 3. Duke of Brabant which gave that house some colour to pretend unto it backed with a better title on the death of an other Henry the last Duke of Limbourg whose next heir Adelph sold it to John Duke of Brabaâ—t pretending to it in the right of the former marriage anno 1293. But Reynold Earl of Gueldres thinking himself to have a better title then Adolph in right of Ermingrade his wife the daughter of Herman a late Duke hereof put in his plea and challenged it by force of Armes but being vanquished and taken prisoner by the said Duke John in the battell of Woranem was fain for his release to release all his claim and title to the Dukedome of Limbourg after that quietly enjoyed by the Dukes of Brabant till they fell both together to the house of Burgundie The Armes hereof are Argent a Lyon Barrie of ten pieces Or and Gules 8. LVICK-LAND OR The Bishoprick of LEIGE Westward of Limbourg but a far mightier estate then it lieth LVICK-LAND as the Dutch or the Bishoprick of LEIGE Leâ—diensis as the Latine and French writers call it anciently under the protection of the Dukes of Brabant and afterwards of the Princes of the house of Burgundie as Lords of that countrey By some accompted of and described as a part of Germany but for the reasons before mentioned I shal place it here environed on all sides with the Belgick Provinces that is to say with the Dukedome of Limbourg on the East with Brabant on the North and West on the South with Luxembourg The Aire hereof is very wholesome and the Earth as fruitfull abounding with all kinde of grain and fruits some store of wine and as for flesh fish fowle and venison it hath very great plenty and that too of an excellent taste But the chief riches of this Countrey is under ground consisting in mines of Lead and Iron and some few of Gold quarries of Albasier mingled with all sorts of Marble rich veins of Brimstone and unexhaustible pits of Coal which last it hath in such abundance that there is digged within the compasse of one league of the City of Leige not only sufficient for that great City but so much overplus as being sold at mean prices about the countrey amounts unto 100000. duckets of yearly value The Coal much sweeter then elsewhere and of a nature contrary to all other Coal in that it is kindled with water and quenched with oyle and the strong servour of it taken off by casting salt on it The whole countrey containeth 24 walled Towns and 1800. Villages the principall of which are 1 Leige or Luick in Latine Leodium situate in a pleasant valley environed with hils the Meuse entring it in two branches accompanied with four lesser Riverets which make in it many delightfull Ilands The compasse of it about four miles the ordinary buildings very fair all built of stone the Bishops palace a magnificent and sumptuous piece the Churches in number forty of which eight are Collegiate 32. Parochiall all of them for their riches and bounty excelling all in any City of France or Germanie Besides these there are so many Convents Mâ—nasteries and religious houses about the Town that taking all together they amount to an hundred all of them of such fair revenues so well endowed and the Religious persons there of so great authority that it is cailed the Paradise of Priests and that deservedly It is also an University of good Antiquity wherein were Students at one time 9. Kings sons 24. Dukes sons 29. Earls sons besides Barons and Gentlemen the greatest part of which were Canons of the Church of S. Lambert which is the Cathedrall of the City Yet notwithstanding it hath tasted of the malice of fortune as well as others being first destroyed by the Danes then by the Normans twice taken and once destroyed by Charles of Burgundie anno 1468. Subject it is unto the Bishop as Lord temporall of it from whom being long since made an Imperiall Ctiy there lyeth an Appeal to the Chamber of Spires 2. Dinand upon the Meuse near Namur of very great traffick till destroyed by Charles of Burgundie in the same year with Leige hardly recovered of which wounds it was again sacked by K. Henry the 2. of France anno 1854. 3. Maeseck upon the Meuse or Maes also a league from whence is the fair Nunnery of Thuren of the same nature with that of Mentz and others spoken of before the like to which there is near 4. Bilsen another Town of this Bishoprick the Abbesses of each having the priviledge of coyning both gold and silver 5. Lootz by the Dutch called Borclom in the county of Diostein made a county in the time of Charles the Great the title and possession of Vgier the Dane so famous in the History of Gallen of France and others of the old Romances 6. Franchimont which gives the title to a Marquesse of the Bishop of Leige 7. Centron or S. Truden a fair Town so called of the Abbie dedicated to that Saint 8. Huy or Hoey so called of a violent River which there runs into the Meuse 9. Tungres the chief City of the Tongri which together with the Eburones were once the Inhabitants of this tract in which are still the ruines of a Temple consecrated to Hercules Anciently an Episcopall See translated hence to Maestreicht and at last to Leige and
not one of the Marquesses hereof being Jodocus Barbatus elected Emperour anno 1410. After whose death Sigismund his next heir Emperour and King of Bohemia gave it to his son-in-law Albert Duke of Austria anno 1417. who in the end succeeded him in all his Estates since which time it hath alwayes gone along with the Crown of Bohemia The Arms of the old Dukes or Princes of it were Azure an Eagle chequered Or and Gules membred and langued of the same 2 SILESIA or SCHLESI as the Dutch call it is bounded on the East with Poland on the West with Lusatiâ—a on the North with Brandenburg and on the South with Moravia Wholly encompassed with Mountaines except towards the North which lets in a sharp aire upon them the midland parts being full of Woods but withall of Mineralls Chief Cities are Jagendorse or Jegerndorse of late the Patrimony of John Georgius of the family of Brandenbourg commonly called the Marquesse of Jagendorse The lands and Estates in his possession first given by Ladislaus King of Bohemia to George surnamed Pius one of the sonnes of Frederick of Brandenbourg the first Marquesse of Auspach of this house for the many good services hee had done him But his posterity being extinct they fell to the said John Georgius brother to Sigismund the Electour proscribed by Ferdinand the second for adhering to the partie of Frederick Prince Elector Palatine A Prince of great note and activenesse in the beginning of the late German Bohemian wars 2 Munsterberg which gives the title of Duke to the posterity of George Pogebraccio once King of Bohemia advanced by him unto this honor and a fair Estate 3 Glatz or Gletz the last Town of Bohemia which held out for Frederick the Electour against that Emperour 4 Glogaw a strong Town on the River Odera 5 Niess on a River so named an Episcopall See 6 Breslaw in Latine Vratislavia so called from Vratislaus the founder of it once one of the Dukes of this Province by whose procurement it was made an Episcopall See anno 970 or thereabouts It is situate on the River Odera all the water wherein could not save it from being burnt down to the ground anno 1341. but it was presently reedified with fair Free strone and is now one of the prettiest Cities for the bignesse of it in all Germany fair populous and well contrived with open and even streets the chief of the Countrey 7 Oppolen on the Odera also well fortified both by Art and nature barricadoed by the River on the West and on the East with good out-workes strong walls and a fair Castle 8 Straten 9 Reichenbach both made Townes of war since the beginning of the Bohemian troubles There are also within this Province the two Seigneuries of Priguitz and Crossen so called from the chief Towns thereof belonging to the Electour of Brandenbourg the two Dukedomes of Oswitz and Zator appertaining to the Crown of Poland as also the Dukedome of Lignitz and Sue inits all of them bearing the names of their principall Towns of which two last Sueinits is in the immediate possession of the Kings of Bohemia and Lignitz hath a Duke of its own but an Homager and Tributary of that King The first two Inhabitants hereof were the Marsigni Burii Gothini and some part of the Quadi In the partition of the Eastern parts of Germany amongst the Sclaves laid unto the Dukedome or Kingdome of Poland continuing part thereof till the time of Vladislaus the second who being driven out of his Kingdome by his brethren was by the mediation of Frederick Barbarossa estated in this Countrey to be held under the Soveraignty of the Kings of Poland Divided betwixt his three sons and afterwards subdivided amongst their posterities according to the ill custome of Germany it became broke at last into fourteen Dukedomes of 1 Breslaw 2 Oppolen 3 Ratibor 4 Cessin 5 Bethom 6 Glogaw 7 Segan 8 Olents 9 Steinaw 10 Falkenbourg 11 Sweinits 12 Lignitz 13 Oswitsâ— and 14 Zator Of all which onely the two last doe remain to Poland the five first being made subject to the Kings of Bohemia by Wenceslaus the second the five next by King John of Luxenbourg Lignitz remaining in the possession of a Proprietary Duke as before was said and Sweinits given to Charles the fourth Emperour and King of Bohemia by the will and Testament of Boleslaus the last Duke all Schlesi by this means except the two Dukedomes of Oswitz and Zator being added to the Crown of Bohemia of which it is rather an incorporate then a subject Province 4. LVSATIA by the Dutch called Lausnitz is bounded on the East with Silesia on the West with Misnia on the North with Brandenbourg and on the South with Bohemia The countrey rough and full of Woods yet plentifull enough of corn and of such fruits as naturally arise out of the earth So populous and thick set with people that though it be but a little Province it is able to arme 20000 Foot as good as any in Germany Most commonly it is divided into the Higher and the Lower the first confining on Bohemia the last on Brandenburg Places of most note in the higher Lausnitz are 1 Bautsen Badissinum the Latines call it the first Town attempted and taken in by the Duke of Saxony when he took upon him the execution of the Emperors Bann against Frederick Elector Palatine then newly chosen King of Bohemia The poor Prince in the mean time in an ill condition the Saxon being the head of the Lutheran and the Bavarian chief of the Popish partie arming both against him So jealous are both sides of the active and restlesse Calvinian spirit as to leave no means unassaied for the suppressing of it Seated it is upon the Spre and for the most part is the seat of the Governour for the King of Bohemia 2 Gorlitz upon the River Nisse which gave the title of Duke to John brother of Sigismund Emperour and King of Bohemia and Father of Elizabeth the last Dutchesse of Luxembourg before it fell into the hands of the Dukes oâ— Burgundie A fine neat Town well frequented and strongly fortified founded about the yeare 1231. and not long after so consumed by a mercilesse fire anno 1301. ut ne unica domus remanserit as my Authour hath it that there was not one house left of the old foundation But it was presently rebuilt in a more beautifull form and more strong materialls then before it was both publick and private buildings very neat and elegant 3 Zittaw on the same River bordering on Bohemia 4 Lauben 5 Lubben 6 Camitz of which little memorable but that together with the former they make up those six townes which are confederate together in a stricter league for their mutuall defence and preservation but under the protection and with the approbation of the Kings of Bohemia Then in the LOWER Lusatia there is 7 Sprenberg so named from its situation on the River Spre which
generall name of Iones and there is very good ground for the assertion considering that the Greek Translators of the Bible instead of Javan read Jovan and that all those who elswhere ordinarily are called Iones are by Homer one of the anâ—ientest of the Greeks named Jaones Now Javan and Jaon sound so like each other that one may very well conclude that they were the same A name not onely proper to the Athenians and their Colonies though probable enough first belonging to them of Attica but comprehending the â—oeotians and Achaans also yea and extending also into Macedonia as appears Dan. 8. 21. where Alexander the Great in the Hebrew is called King of Javan which we English Graecia Nor do we much dif-joyn Javan from the rest of that stock by carrying him cross the seas into another part of the World for he might go along with Gomer in his second Plantation And leaving him well setled in the greater Phrygia and his sonne Askâ—naz in the lesser might then with very little trouble and no improbalitie at all pass over the Hâ—llespont and plant himself in Attica called at first Ionia saith Plutarch in the life of Theseus Or if any one notwithstanding conceive this for too great a leap and will rather think with Hecataeus that the Iones came ouâ— of Asia into Greece as Strabo cites him to that purpose I shall not much contend against that opinion so it be also granted on the other side that Javan not having room enough on the shores of Asia passed over into Greece as a land unoccupied With Javan went Elisha his eldest fonne the Father of the Aeoles or Aeolians on the Asian side as Josephus hath it and the founder of Elis in Peloponnesus and planter of the Gracian Isles which by the Prophet Ezekiel 27. 7. are called the Isles of Elisha And it agreeâ— exceeding well with the Isles of Greece which by the Prophet is affirmed of the Isles of Elisha namely that the inhabitants thereof did trade to Tyre with Blow and Purple in which some of the Grecian Isles were such excellent Artizans that Carpathus had the name of Porphyris and Cithera was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 onely from the abundance of Purple which they had amongst them Not to say any thing of Coos Nisyrus and Gyarus and some other of the Cyclades renowned in good Authors for that commoditie A shorter journey but withall a far shorter Territory fell to the lot of Tarshish the second sonne whom Javan when he travelled further upon new discoveries left setled in Calicia a Province of the lesser Asia where either he or some of his Posteritie in honour of him built the City of Tarsus the principall City of that Province For that Tarshish in those early daies should go into Spain and there build Tartessus I take to be a strange if not idle Romance that Town being built by the Phoenicians many ages after without relation unto Tarshish or his memory either What Voyages or Plantations those of Cilicia or Tarsus made in times succeeding as I no where finde so is not materiall to my present purpose which principally is to settle the sonnes of Noah in their first habitations On therefore unto Cittim the third sonne of Javan whom Josephus settleth first in the Isle of Cyprus where he finds a Citie called Câ—tium the birth-place of Zâ—no the Stoick thence surnamed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Josephus is herein followed by St. Hierome in his Notes on Genesis in whose time as Pintus telleth us in his Comment on Ezekiel the Town of Citium was still standing so do Eastathins in his Hexameron and divers others The Author of the Book of Maccabees sets him further off giving the name of Cittim unto Macedonia After that saith the Author Alexander the son of Philip went forth of the land of Cethim and slew Darius King of the Persians and Medes cap. 1. v. 1. And after in the 18. Chapter of the same Book verse 5. Perseus King of Macedon is called King of the Citims But this doth no way contradict that of his first planting in Cyprus where it is very probable that he made his dwelling for a time by reason of the neighbourhood of his brother Tarshish Ciliâ—in and the Citie of Tarsus lying neer unto it But finding in time that Island to be too small for his people and that the other parts both of Greece and Asia were taken up already by the first Adventurers he might finally fix himself or some of his posteritie in Macedonia as a spare place which no body could lay claim unto That either he or any of his sonnes planted first in Italae which I see Bochartus would fain have were against the method of Plantations and he must give them wings to fly that conveyeth them thither when as yet Mankind was not taught the use of shipping or not accustomed at least to make long voyages But that in course of time as the World grew fuller and that Greece was not able to contain its multitudes some of the race of Cittim might pass over into Italy the passage thither from some of the Ports of Greece being short and easie I am apt enough to beleeve and in its proper place shall declare my self for it Nor can I otherwise agree with him as concerning Dodanim whom against all right and reason he hath placed in Gaul making the River Rhodanus one of the principal of that Country to be named of him whom the Greeks mistaking the letter Daleth for that of Resh as indeed the letters are so like that one may very easily be mistook for the other most commonly present unto us by the name of Rhodanim Admitting which it is more proper in my mind to settle Rhodanim for a while in the Isle of Rhodes lying so neer the dwellings of his other brethren till wanting room for the increase of his posterity in so small an Island he might coast along the shores of Peloponnesus and fix himself finally in Epirus by his brother Elisha where in the Province of the Mollossians we shall finde a City called Dodona without any such mistake or change of letters as before is mentioned For that the three furthest parts of Europe in respect of Asia should be planted all at once by these sonnes of Javan is so incredible an imagination that he must have a very strong fancy or be of very light belief which can entertain it Finally as for Thyras the last sonne of Japhet having accompanied his brother Javan to the shores of Asia and seeing him passed over the seas to Greece he took the opportunity of the next streight of Fretum since called Thracius Bosphorus and fixed himself in Thrace which Country he gave name unto as most Writers testifie Nor want there such apparent footsteps of the name of Thyras besides the name of Thracia as some spell the word which may adde good autoritie to this generall testimony there being both a River and an
wherein Philip de Comines telleth us that Lewis the 11. used not to debate any matter but accounted it a sign of some great misfortune towards him if any man communed with him of his affairs and would be marvailously displeased with those that were near him if they troubled him with any matter whatsoever And finally here is the famous Lake called Thrasymene now Lago di Peruga from the neerness of it to that City where Annibal slew Flaminius the Consul and 15000 of his Romans which sight continued three houres with so great an eagerness that the Souldiers perceived not a terrible Earthquake which at that time hapned 6 COMPAGNA DI ROMA containeth that part of Italie which antiently was called Latium the habitation of the Latins and seat of Rome so called for that it is adjoyning to that Famous City as the more proper Territory and precinct thereof It is sometimes also called Campania nova to difference it from Campania properly so called the seat and dwelling of the Campans It is bounded on the East with the said Campania from which it is parted by the River Axofenus on the West with Tiber on the North with Umbria or the new Ducato Spoletano and Sabinta and on the South with the Tyrrhenian or Tuscan sea and came unto the Popes by no other Title than as they had the soveraignty and possession of the City of Rome to which it alwaies did belong The chief place of it in old times was the City of Alba then the Seat-Royall of the Latin or Silvian Kings ruined by Tullus Hostilius the third King of Rome in which war Rome and Alba being laid at the stake the whole action was committed by the Romans to the Horatii to the Curatii by the Albans being three Brethren of each side in which it hapned that two of the Horatii were first slain and the third counterfeiting a flight severed his Enemies and so slew them whereby the Albans ever after became subject to Rome 2 Lavinium built by Aeneas in honour of his wife Lavinia 3 Antium honoured many times with the seat and retirement of the Emperours the Country round about affording variety of Recreations The people once very strong in shipping till the taking of the Town by Maevius a Roman Consul who having broke their Forces at sea brought with him into Rome the Beaks of their ships and other vessels with which he decked and beautified the Pulpit for Orations in the common Forum which have generally ever since been called Rostra This was the chief City of the antient Volsci a people very strong in shipping though without an Haven afterwards much frequented by the principall Romans in their retirements from the City so that for pompous and stately buildings it might compare with any other Out of the ruins of this Town long ago destroyed sprang the new City called Neptunum situate on a rock near unto the sea the steepness of which gives it naturall strength enough and yet it is Fortified besides with two strong Castles surveying the sea and commanding the shore 4 Ardea the chief Town of the Lentuli and seat of Turnus the Rivall and Competitor of Aeneas afterwards taken by Superbus the last King of the Romans to which when the Galls had taken Rome the miserable Citizens were compelled to fly 5 Gabii taken also by the same Superbus whose sonne Sextus counterfeiting some dislike or his Fathers cruelties fled to the Gabii by whom improvidently entrusted with the command of their City which he betrayed unto the Romans 6 Ostia antiently the Port-Town to Rome built at the mouth of Tiber by Ancus Martius the 4th King of Rome but the Haven hath been long since dammed up to stop the passage of the Enemies ships unto the City The Bishop of this Town useth to consecrate the Pope 7 Praeneste first conquered by the Romans under Qu. Cincinnatus the Dictator Nothing so much endammaged this City as its naturall and artificiall Fortifications for when the Romans in the times of sedition abandoned the Town they used to make this place their refuge Among others Marius the younger made it the seat of war against L. Sylla but perceiving the unsuccessfulness of his affairs here killed himself and Sylla entring it as Conqueror put 12000 of the Citizens to the sword It hath since been so often sacked that it is very short now of its former lustre but still it holds the reputation of a Bishops See 8 Tibur an antient City also and seated in an healthy Air. It is now called Trivolis where there is a Fountain which with Artificiall Engines moved with water representeth the notes of divers Birds A device very rare it seemeth in the time of Adrianus who reporteth it but now grown ordinary In the perfection of which Art as almost all Civill Nations may pretend a share so I conceive that the priority herein doth belong of right unto the French whose Master-pieces in this kind do far exceed the rest of Europe For in the Kings house at St. Germains seven miles from Paris if it be lawfull for me to digress a little on this Argument one may behold the Statua of a Nymph sitting before a pair of Organs whose fingers by the help of water are taught to manage the Keys in so due an order and the instrument to yeeld such a Musick to it as comes exceeding near the Organ if it be not the same her head in the mean time jolting from one shoulder to another like an old Fidlers at a Wake there being also not far off the counterfeits of divers Mils who very busily plyed their work till the Musick sounded and then stood still as if inchanted with the noise In another place upon the drawing of a Curtain one may see two Tritons riding on their Dolphins in a Sea of water each of them with a shell in his hand which enterchangably and in turns served in stead of Trumpets In a third the story of Perseus and Andromeda most lively acted and in a fourth Orpheus in sylvis positus Orpheus playing on a Violl the Trees moving and the wild Beasts dancing in two rings about him by the artificiall guidance of the waters only the prettie Birds in every place so chirping out their several and respective notes that the hearer would conceive himself to be in some pleasant Grove But it is time to go from Trivoli to 9 Velitri called antiently Velitrae and then a City of the Volsci famous for the birth of the Emperor Augustus and the dwelling of the Octavian Family a place most delectably seatedamongst the Vines which yeeld as rich Wines as most in Italie 10 Anxur so called of the Temple which was here dedicated to Jupiter surnamed Anxurus that is Beardless first built by the Spartans who flying from the severity of Lycurgus his Laws did here seat themselves after a Colony of the Volsci and after of the Romans But this town being destroyed by the tyrannie of time there started up
River Arno where it meeteth with Sâ—rchius did erect this Town In the distractions of the Empire it stood up for it self and grew so potent that at one time they waged war both with the Venetians and Genoese They were once Masters of Sardinia Corsica and the Baleares but finally being discomfited by the Genoese neer the Isle of Giglio by whom it was made free An o 1369 they submitted themselves to the protection of Charles the fourth Not long after it was taken by John Galeaze the first Duke of Millain An o 1404 by John Maria his sonne and successor sold unto the Florentines from whose command they freed themselves by a popular violence The Florentines upon this besieged them and brought them to such extremity of hunger that they were ready to be starved Yet such was the humanity of the Besiegers that when they entred the Town every man carryed victuals in his hand instead of weapous to beget as it were new life in that rebellious people This victory the â—lorentines got by the valor and conduct of Sir John Hawkwood whom the Italians call Giovanni di Aguto who being first a Taylor in Essex afterwards served Edward the third in his French Wars where he was knighted And when upon the peace concluded after the battell of Poictiers he wanted employment he entered with his Regiment into Italie and put himself into the pay of the Florentines then in war with this City who for his valor have honoured him with a fair Tomb and Monument When Charles the 8th went into Italie the Pisans again revolted and were not without much labour and great charges reduced to their former obedience As for the City it self it is almost as big as Florence this being five miles in compass and that but six but very short of it in the numbers of people Florence being sayd to contain 90000 souls Pisa not a third part of that proportion yet it hath very good advantages to make it populous that is to say the publick Arsenal for Shipping an University for Students and the See of an Archbishop the Cathedrall Church of which is a very beautifull peece of work the Gates thereof are brass and the Steepl of it of such artificiall and exquisite building that it sheweth as if it were always falling But the unwholsomness of the Air over-ballanceth all these fair advantages The next place of importance within the Territory of this City is the Town and Haven of Ligorn Livornum it is called in Latin seated upon the influx of the River Arno well fortified against the Genoese by whom the Works were once slighted An o 1297. Upon a reconciliation made between those States it returned again to its old Masters And when the Pisans were sold over to the Florentines by the Duke of Millain Thomas Fregosa Duke of Genoa seized upon this place and sold it also to the same Chapmen for 120000 Ducats By the care of Duke Cosmo and his two sonnes it is much improved in strength and beautie and so well fortified that it is thought to be one of the strongest Cities in Christendom Cities I say and not Castles the Castles of Stockholm in Sweden and that of Millain being held to be the strongest Forts in the World After this comes in 3 Peira Sancta on the West side of the Arnus a place of great consequence and strength one of the best peeces of the Pisans when a Free-estate against their old enemies the Genoese towards whom it standeth 4 Terraciola Eastward of Ligorn neighboured with a capacious Bay on the Mediterranean 5 Castellona an Episcopall See and 6 Porto Berrato bordering on the Signeury of Siena now nothing but a station for ships nor much used for that but heretofore beautified with one of the best Cities of the Tuscans called Populonia 3 The third Member of this Dukedom is the City and Territory of SIENA lying betwixt the Estate of Pisa and the land of the Church The City sayd to be built by Brennus who did there put his old sickly men to sojourn and called it Sena the Birth-place of Aeneas Sylvius called afterwards Pope Pius the second of Francis Picolominy after Pope Pius the third and of Sixtus hence surnamed Senensis the greatest Scholar of the three if not of all the age he lived in By Antonine in his Itinerarium called Senae Juliae to difference it perhaps from another of that name near the Adriatick called Sena Gallica Built neer the Spring or Fountain of the River Arbia now better known by the name of Treissa but built which makes the situation of it exceeding pleasant upon an high hill on which there is a Castle that commands the Town the streets thereof even and very plain centring in a large and spacious Market-place near to which is a very fair Palace used for a Senate-house in the Free-Commonwealth and on the South side near the walls the Cathedrall Church reputed to be one of the fairest in Italie having only one door into it to which there is an ascent by fair Marble stairs of which the Pavement is made also Having long held the Gibelline or Imperiall faction it bought its liberty at an easie rate of the Emperour Rodolphus the first After it fell into the hands of the Spaniards then of the French and finally was made over to Cosmo de Medices Duke of Florence by the King of Spain An o 1558 in consideration of the great charge he had been at to beat out â—he French and other services expected for the time to come Cosmo being thus invested in it deprived the people of their Arms altered the Government and was the first Prince who had the absolute command of it after the constitution of their Common-wealth neither the French nor Spaniards ruling here as Lords but onely as called in by their severall factions and suffered to have Garrisons in it of their own people by the agreement of their party And to say truth it stood with good reason of State that the Florentine should use all his wit to get this City and having got it use all meanes to assure it to him For besides that great accession which it made unto his Estate by adding thereunto the yearly income of a hundred and fifty thousand Ducats above all expences it was also to be carefully looked on as a Rivall which had long time stood in competition with it for the soveraign command of Tuscanie Besides there had been mighty animofities between the Cities the Florentine being always of the Guelfes and the Siennoys of the Gibelline faction A faction at last so generally distated in all Italie and so abhominable to the Popes that on an Ashwednesday when the Pope being to cast Ashes on the heads of the Cardinals was to have sayd Memento O homo quod cinis es in cinerem converteris according to the usage of the Church of Rome seeing a Gibelline amongst them he forgot himself and sayd thus unto him Memento O homo
Peer Chamberlain and Regent of France in the absence of Charles the 8th 1503. 9 Charles Earl of Montpensier Duke of Bâ—urbon in the right of Susan his Wife Daughter and Heir of Peter the second Duke of Bourbon After whose death being slain at the sack of Rome Anno 1527. without Issue his Estate fell unto the Crown and so continued till by the Sentence or Arrest of the Court of Parliament in Paris Auvergne Forrest and Beau-jeau were adjudged to Madam Lovise Mother of Lewis the first Duke of Montpensier and Daughter and Heir of Gilbert de Bourbon Earl of Montpensier the Nephew of Iohn Duke of Bourbon the first of that name of which house she was the only surviving Heir from whence descended Henry the last Duke of that Familie spoken of before And for the title of Auvergne it was used customarily by the eldest Sonnes of the Earls and Dukes of Montpensier till given to Charles naturall Sonne of King Charles the ninth called from hence the Count or Earl of Auvergne who being a Confederate of Charles Duke of Bâ—ron was in the year 1604. made Prisoner by King Henry the fourth released by King Lewis the thirteenth Anno 1616. and within two years after made Duke of Aâ—golesme in whose posterity it remaineth The Arms of these Dukes were 1 France a Baston Gules for the Dukedom of Bourbon 2 Or a Daulphin Palme Azure for the Countie of Auvergne 3 Or a Lion Sable armed Gules under a Labell of fine peeces of the same for the Signeurie of Beau-jeu The Arms of the Earldom of Forrest I am yet to seek POICTOU HAving thus taken a survey of those severall Provinces which except Bretagne were the first purchases of the French in the modern France let us next look on those which were possessed by the Gothes And first we will begin with POICTOU their most Northern Province bounded on the North with Beetagne and Anjou on the South with Xantoâ—gne a member of the Dukedom of Aquitain on the East with Tourein Limosin and Bâ—rry and on the West with the Aquitain Seas It is called in Latine Pictavia from the Pictones as Ptolomie Caesar and some others or the Pictavâ— as Antoninus calleth them the old Inhabitants hereof and is a countrey so great and plentifull that there are numbred in it 1200 Parishes and three Bishopricks A strong Argument of the populousness and largeness of it Besides the goodness of the Soil it hath many other great helps to enrich it that is to say a large Sea coast some capacious Harbours not a few navigable Rivers emptying themselves into the Sea besides the benefit which redounds to it from the Clin or Clavius the Crevise and Vienne three Rivers falling into the Loire which also glides along on the North hereof The principall Towns and Cities of it are 1 Poictiers in Latine Pictavis seated upon the Clin or Clavinus by Pâ—olomie called Aâ—gustoruum the largest Citie for compass of ground within the Walls next to Paris it self but conteining in that circuit Meadows Corn-fields and other waste grounds It is an Vniversitie especially for the studie of the Civill Lawes and a See Episcopall one of the Bishops hereof being S. Hilarie surnamed Pictavensis that renowned Father of the Church and a stout Champion of the Catholick Faith against the Aâ—tans though countenanced in their Heresie by the Emperour Constantius 2 Souri upon the River Charente neer the edge of Xantoigne 3 â—almont upon the shores of the Ocean 4 Beaumoir a Sea Town also and a reasonable good Port neer the confines of Bretagne 5 Roch-sur-you which gave the title of Prince to one of the branches of the Royall race of Bourbon 6 Lusignan on the River Ion denominating the Noble Family of Lusignan sometimes Kings of Hierusalem and afterwards of â—yprus which last they had in exchange for the first by the donation of King Rich. the first of England 7 Lucon or Lusson seated upon a navigable arm of the Sea sufficiently famous in being the Episcopall See of the renowned Cardinal of Râ—cheleiu who so long managed the affairs of France for King Lewis the thirteenth 8 Maillesais a Bishops See also 9 Thovars which gives the title of Duke to the antient Familie of Iremovile from which the Dukes of Bretagne did derive themselves from the time that Constance the Daughter and Heir of Conan after the death of 〈◊〉 Plantagenet her first Husband had Guy of Thouars for her second 10 Chastell-Heraula or â—â—sirum Heraldi on the River Vienne of which James Hamilton Earl of Arran in Scotland by the gift of King Henry the second of France the better to assure him to the French Faction there against the English had the title of Duke In the Vine-Fields of this Countrey within two Leagues of Poictiers was fought that memorable Battell between John of France and Edward the Sonne of King Edward the third surnamed the Black Prince Who being distressed by the number of the French would willingly have departed on honorable terms which the French not accepting instead of conquest found a fatall overthrow For they presumingon their own strength to their own disadvantage bereft the enemy of all opportunity of retiring whereas ordinary policie would instruct the Leader of an Army to make his enemie if he would flie a bridge of gold as Count Petillan used to say Hereupon Themistocles would not permit the Grecians to break the bridge made over the Hellespont by Xerxes lest the Persians should be compelled to fight and so happen to recover their former losses and Charles the sixth lost his Army by intercepting of our Henry the fifth in his march to Calice For where all way of flight or retreat is stopt the basest Souldier will rather die with glorie in the front of his battell than flye and be killed with ignominie So true a Mistress of hardy resolutions is Despair and no less true this Proverb of ours Make a Coward fight and he will kill the Devill On the contrary it hath been the use of divers politick Captains to make their own Souldiers fight more resolutely by taking from them all hope of safety but by battell So did William the Conquerour who at his arrivall into England burnt the ships which transported his Armie thereby giving his Souldiers to wit that their lives lay in the strength of their arms and courage of their hearts not in the nimbleness of their heels Tariff the leader of the Moors into Spain burnt likewise all his Navy one onely Pinâ—ace excepted which he reserved to carry tydings of his success When Charles Martell encountred that infinite host of the Saracens of which you have already heard he commanded the people of Tours to open the gates onely to the Victors Then he led his Army over the Loire placing on the bankes thereof certain troupes of horsemen to kill all such as fled out of the field Hereby informing his men that there was to them no more France than what they fought
in those times so great and of such renown that Attila the Hun destroyed in it 100. Churches now but a very small Town and not worth the mentioning but for these Antiquities Eight leagues from hence amongst the shady thickets of the Forrest of Ardenne is that so celebrated 10. Villages and those famous hot Baths frequented from all the places of Europe called the Spa not so pleasant as wholesome not so wholsome as famous Yet are they good for sundry diseases as the Tertian Ague and Dropsie the Stone the exulceration of the Lungs the Sciatique c. They are of most virtue in July because they are then hottest and to such as taste them they relish much of iron from some iron mines it seemeth through which the waters run which feed them These Baths of great fame in the time of Plinie who doth thus describe them Tungri Civitas fontem habet insignem plurimis bullis stillantem ferruginei saporis quod ipsum non nisi in fine potus intelligitur Purgat hic corpora febres tertianas discutit calculorumque vitia So he lib. 31. cap. 2. agreeably to the nature of them at this present time As for the Bishoprick of Leige it was first founded at Tungres as before was said after the sackage of which City by Attila removed anno 498. by S. Servatius unto Maestricht But the people of Maestricht having Martyred S. Lambert then Bishop anno 710. by Hubert his designed Successour with the leave of Pope Constantine it was translated to this place and a Cathedrall Church here founded by the name of S. Lambert His Successours did so well husband their advantages that they did not only buy the Dukedome of Bovillon but the City and territory of Leige sold unto Speutus and Obertus successively Bishops of it by Godfrey of Bovillon Duke of Lorrain of which Dukedome it was formerly a part or member at his departure hence to the Holy-land not much increased since that in lands though he be in titles the Bishop being stiled a Prince of the Empire Duke of Bovillon Marquesse of Franchimont Earl of Lootz and Hasbain Yet are not his ordinary Revenues above 30000. duckets yearly his subjects living very well under him at easie rents and growing for the most part unto good estates An argument whereof may be that when the Leigeois had rebelled against Philip the Good Duke of Burgundie under whose Cleintele they were as Duke of Brabant they bought their peace of him at the price of 600000 Florens of the Rhene to be paid in six years After which time again rebelling against Charles the warlike as they have been observed to be the most rebellious City in Europe excepting Gaunt they were able to wage 30000 men but not being able to withstand the forces of their Lord Protectour they fell into that miserable destruction spoken of before Since that time they have lived with more moderation under the protection of the Princes of the house of Austria but counted neutrall in the quarrells betwixt the King of Spain and the States confederate as formerly between the Spaniard and the French though many times they suffer in the contestations 9. BRABANT 10. The MARQUISATE And 11. MACHLIN THese I have joyned together though distinct estates because they have a long time followed the same fortune and that the two last doe no otherwise differ from the first then the parts from the whole the Marquisate and Machlin being reckoned as parts of Brabant and included in it 9. BRABANT is bounded on the East with Luickland or the Bishoprick of Leige on the West with the River Scheld and a part of Flanders on the North with the Maes which severeth it from Holland and Guelderland and on the South with Hainalt Namur and part of Luickland The Air hereof is generally very wholesome and good and the Soil naturally fruitfull excepting Kempenland being the parts hereof lying towards the North which being barren of it self is made indifferently fertile by keeping Cattell Soiling the ground and other arts of good Husbandry The people live in most freedome and are the best priviledged of any in Belgium A thing for which they are more beholding to the Princes goodnesse then their own great wits being noted to be none of the wisest especially as they grow in age when most men learn wisdome Brabanti quo magis seneseunt eo magis stultescunt as Erasmus telleth us The length hereof from S. Gertrudenberg to Genblaurs North and South is 22 Dutch or German miles from Helmont to Berghen ap Some East and West 20 of the same miles the whole compasse 80. Within which circuit are conteined 26 walled Townes and Villages with Parish Churches 718. of which the odde 18 called Franks or Market-townes enjoy the priviledges of walled Townes or Cities though unwalled themselves Places of most importance in it are 1. Shertogen Bosch or the Bosch as the Dutch Bois le Duc or Bolduc as the French and Silva Ducis or Boscum Ducis as the Latines call it each name derived according to the severall languages from a pleasant wood belonging to the Dukes of Brabant where the Town now stands situate on a litle River called Deese some two leagues from the Maes neer the borders of Guelderland a large and well built Town very strongly fortified and of great trade for Clothing here being made yeerly in the time of Lewis Guicciardine 20000 Clothes worth 200000 Crownes to the Clother or Draper made an Episcopall See anno 1559. the Cathedrall which is fixed in the Church of S. John being fair and large and beautified with one of the goodliest Dials in the Christian world This is the principall town of Brabant properly and distinctly so called comprehending under it the four Countries of Kempenland Maesland Peeland and Osterwick and was taken by the Confederate Estates from the King of Spain after a long and chargeable siege Anno 1628. 2. Tilmont on the little River Geet once the chief of Brabant but long since decayed Arschot on the litle River Dennere which gives the title of a Duke to them of the Noble house of Croy the Dukes hereof advanced unto that honour by Charles the Fift being men of greatest Revenue and Authority of any in Belgium 4. Bergen ap Zome so called from the River Zome upon which it is situate about half a league from the influx of it into the Scheld and not far from the Sea which gives it a reasonable good Haven A town of great strength by nature but more strongly fortified Famous for being made a Marquisate by Charles the Fift anno 1553. more for the notable resistance which it made to the Marquis Spinola anno 1622. 5. Breda upon the river Merck a Town pleasantly seated well fortified and of great Revenue having under it the Town and Territorie of Steenberg the franchise of Rosindale and the Seigneury of Osterhout the residence Baronie and chief town of the Princes of Orange from whom being taken
beatissimum autem Archiepiscopum Constantinopoleos Novae Romae secundum habere locum that is to say that the Pope of Rome should have the first place in all Generall Councels and the Bishop of Constantinople or New Rome should have the second Encouraged wherewith and with the countenance and favor of the Emperor Mauritius John Patriarch of Constantinople in the time of Gregory the Great took to himself the title of Vniversal or Oecumenical Bishop the Pastor Generall as it were of the Church of CHRIST And though Pope Boniface by the grant of that bloody Tyrant PHOCAS got that title from him yet the Patriarchs of Constantinople made good their ground never submitting either themselves or their Churches to the Popes Authority for that cause specially accounted by the Church of Rome for Schismaticks accordingly reviled and persecuted with all kind of indignities How it succeeded with these Patriarchs in the times ensuing and by what means their jurisdiction was extended over all Greece Muscovie part of Poland and many other Churches in the North and East hath been said already Certain it is the constant residence of the Emperours from the time of Constantine gave great ground unto of whom I should here adde the names but that I must first summe up the affairs of Thrace before the building of this mighty and predominant City and take a brief view of the rest of those Provinces which we have comprehended under the name of Greece Concerning which we are to know that the antient Inhabitants of it had the names of Strimonii Bardi Doloâ—gi Sapaei Saii and some others united by most writers in the name of Thracians Governed at first by the Kings or Princes of their severall Tribes as most Nations else distinguished from the common people as in other pompes so most especially by their Gods which their Kings had to themselves apart and were not to be worshipped by the best of their Subjects These not agreeing well together for the common good gave the Athenians Spartans Thebans and other Nations of the Greeks a good opportunity to invade their Country to seize on the Sea-townes thereof and plant Colonies in them the Country in those times being meanly peopled and consequently giving that advantage unto the Grecians as the Indies in these later times have to the Spaniards Portugueze English Hollanders and all other Adventurers Such of them as lay next to Macedon proving bad neighbours here unto upon all occasions at last provoked Philip the Father of Alexander to put in for a share who being chosen Arbitrator betwixt two competitors for that Kingdome drawn at last into fewer hands came not unto the Councell with such poor attendants as Justice and Piety but with a great and puissant Army wherewith having vanquished and sâ—ain the two Pretenders he pronounced sentence for himself and made Thrace his own compelling the Inhabitants to pay him the tenth part of their Revenue for his yearly Tribute After the death of Alexander this Country was seized on by Lysimachus as his part of the spoil who here built the City Lysimachia from hence invading Dacia Macedon and the neighbouring Regions and he being dead the Thracians now accustomed to a forrein yoak were either Subjects or at least Tributaâ—ies to the Macedonians Aiding them in their warres against the Romans they incurred the displeasure of that people who having setled their affairs in other places and repulsed the Cimbri thought it fit time to call the Thracians to accompt for their former Actions but sped so ill in the attempt that Porcius Cato lost his whole Army in the onset cunningly intercepted in their woods and fastnesses Didius the Praetor coming in whilst the Thracians were busie in the chase gave them such a stop that he deserved a Triumph for it and the Victory more easie to Metellus who succeeded Cato in that charge and triumphed also over them as also did Lucullus on another Victory A. U. C. 680. Broken with so many ill successes they were finally subdued by Piso in the time of Augustus becoming so obsequious to that fortunate Prince that Rhitemalces a great and puissant â—ing hereof aided him with a strength of Horse against the Pannonians and Illyrians who had then rebelled Afterwards made a Province of the Roman Empire in Constantines new modell it became a Diocese under the Proefecius Proefetorio Orientis Thrace it self being cast into four Provinces that is to say Thrace specially so called Hamimontum Rhodope and Europa Scythia and the Lower Moesia spoken of before being added to it of which the Presidents of Rhodope and Haemimontum were not to be appealed from to the praefectus Praetorio as the others were but onely to the Praefect of Constantinople the Imperiall City But as Alfonsus King of Castile surnamed the Wise was once heard to say never the Wiser for so saying That had he stood at the elbow of Almighty God when he made the World he would have shewed him how some things might be better ordered so give me leave to play the fool and to say this here that had I stood at Constantines elbow I would have counselled him to lay the Diocese of Thrace to the Praefecture of Illyricum who had originally onely the Dioceses of Macedon and Illyricum under his command and not have placed it under the Praefect of the East who had both Asias and all Aegypt under his Authority For being that there lay Appeals from the Vicars of Lieutenants of the severall Dioceses to their severall and respective Prefects how great a trouble must it be to the subjects of Thrace on every occasion of Appeal to post to Antioch there to complain unto the Prefect of the Orient when Sirmium and Thessalonica the ordinary residences of the Praefectus Praetorio for Illyrirum were so hard at hand But Constantine was an absolute Prince and might doe what he listed He had not else removed his seat so farre towards the East and left the western parts of the Empire open to the barbarous people out of a fancy onely to preserve the Eastern For that it was a fancy onely the event did shew the Persians for all this prevailing more then ever formerly and Thrace it self though honoured with the Imperiall City and planted with so many Roman Colonies so ill inhabited that a great part thereof lay wast and desert many Ages after Insomuch as the Goths being by the Hunnes driven over the Danow where by the Emperour Valens plainted in this Country the Emperour having a designe to use them in his following warres where not contented with the portion allotted to them they bid fair for all wasting the whole Province taking divers townes and endangering Constantinople it self from whence not driven Valens himself being killed in the warre against them but by the coming of some Saracens to the aid of the Citizens Nor could the residence of the Emperours so protect this Country but that it was continually harassed and depopulated by the Sclaves Bulgarians Rosses
Paphlagâ—nia by reason of his dangerous and ambitious practises after his death pretending to reform the State came unto Constantinople first made Protector afterwards consort in the Empire with young Alexius Whom having barbarously slain and got the Empire to himselfe he was not long after cruelly torne in pieces in a popular tumult 1185 62 Isaacius Angelus a noble man of Constantinople and of the same Comnenian race designed to death by Andronicus was in a popular election proclaimed his successour deposed by Alexius his own brother and his eyes put out 1195 63 Alexius Angelus deprived his brother and excluded his Nephew from the Empire but it held not long 64 Alexius Angelus II. son of Isaac Angelus who being unjustly thrust out of his Empire by his uncle Alexius had recourse to Philip the Western Emperour whose daughter Mary he had marryed who so prevailed with Pope Innocent the 3. that the armie prepared for the Holy Land was employed to restore him On the approach whereof Alexius the Usurper fled Alexius the young Emperour is seated in his fathers throne and not long after slain by Alexius Dueas In revenge whereof the Latines assault and win Constantinople make themselves Masters of the Empire and divide it amongst them alotting to the Venetians Candie many good towns of Pâ—loponnesus and most of the Islands to Boniface Marquesse of Montferrat the Kingdom of Thessalie to others of the Adventurers other liberall shares and finally to Baldwin Earl of Flanders the main body of the Empire with the title of Emperour EMPEROURS of the LATINES in CONSTANTINOPLE 1200 65 Baldwin Earl of Flanders first Emperour of the Latines reigning in Constantinople taken in fight by John King of Bulgaria coming to aid the Greeks and sent prisoner to Ternova where he was cruelly put to death 1202 66 Henry the brother of Baldwin repulsed the Bulgarians out of Greece and dyed a Conquerour 1215 67 Peter Count of Auxerre in France son in law of Henry cunningly entrapped by Theodorus Angelus a great Prince in Epirus whom he had besieged in Dyrrachium But of an Enemy being perswaded to become his ghest was there murdered by him 1220 68 Robert the son of Peter having seen the miserable usage of his beautifull Emperesse whom a young Burgundian formerly contracted to her had most despitefully mangled cutting off both her nose and ears dyed of hearts grief as he was coming back from Rome whither his melancholy had carried him to consult the Pope in his affairs 1227 69 Baldwin II. son of Robert by a former wife under the protection of John de Brenne the titularie King of Hierusalem succeeded in his fathers throne which having held for the space of 33 years he was forced to leave it the Citie of Constantinople being regained by the Greeks and the poor Prince compelled to sue in vain for succours to the French Venetians and other Princes of the West The EMPIRE restored unto the GREEKS 1260 70 Michael VIII surnamed Palaeologus extracted from the Comnenian Emperours Emperour of the Greeks in the Citie of Nice most fortunately recovered Constantinople the town being taken by a partie of 50 men secretly put into it by some Country labourers under the ruines of a mine Present in person at the Councell of Lyons at the perswasion of the Pope he admitted the Latine Ceremonies into the Churches of Greece for which greatly hated by his subjects and denyed the honour of Christian buriall 1283 71 Andronicus II. vexed with unnaturall wars by his Nephew Andronicus who rebelled against him 1328 72 Andronicus III. first partner with his grandfather afterwards sole Emperour 1541 73 John Palaeologus son of Andronicus the 3. in whose minoritie Contacuzenus his Protectour usurped the Empire and held it sometimes from him and sometimes with him till the year 1357. and then retired unto a Monasterie leaving the Empire unto John during whose reign the Turks first planted themselves in Europe 1484 74 Andronicus IV. the son of Johanmes Palaeologus 1387 75 Emanuel Palaeologus the son of the said John and brother of Andronicus the 4. in whose time Bajazet the sixt King of the Turks did besiege Constantinople but found such notable resistance that he could not force it 1417 76 John II. son of Andronicus the 4. 1420 77 John III. son of Emanuel Palaeologus in person at the Councell of Florence for reconciling of the Churches in hope thereby to get some aid from the Western Christians but it would not be 1444 78 Constantinus Palaeologus the brother of John the 3. In whose time the famous Citie of Constanitinople was taken by Mahomet the Great 1452. the miserable Emperour who had in vain gone from door to door to beg or borrow money to pay his souldiers which the Turks found in great abundance when they took the Citie being lamentably trod to death in the throng Now concerning this Empire of the Greeks we may observe some fatal contrarieties in one and the same name as first that Philip the father of Alexander laid the first foundation of the Macedonian Monarchie and Philip the father of Perseus ruined it Secondly that Baldwin was the first and Baldwin the last Emperour of the Latines in Consiantinople Thirdly that this town was built by a Constantine the son of Helena a Gregory being Patriarch and was lost by a Constantine the son of a Helena a Gregory being Patriarch also And fourthly the Turks have a Prophecie that as it was won by a Mahomet so it shall be lost by a Mahomet So Augusius was the first established Emperour of Rome and Augustulus the last Darius the son of Hystaspes the restorer and Darius the son of Arsamis the overthrower of the Persian Monarchie A like note I shall anon tell you of Hierusalem In the mean time I will present you with a fatall observation of the letter H as I find it thus versed in Albions England Not superstitiously I speak but H this letter still Hath been observed ominous to Englands good or ill First Hercules Hesione and Helen were the cause Of war to Troy Aeneas seed becoming so outlawes Humbor the Hunn with forein arms did first the Brutes invade Helen to Romes imperiall Throne the British Crown conveyd Hengist and Horsus first did plant the Saxons in this Isle Hungar and Hubba first brought Danes that swayed here long while At Harold had the Saxon end at Hardie-Cnute the Dane Henries the first and second did restore the English raign Fourth Henry first for Lancaster did Englands Crown obtain Seventh Henry jarring Lancaster and Yorke unites in peace Henry the eight did happily Romes irreligion cease A strange and ominous letter every mutation in our State being as it were ushered by it What were the Revenues of this Empire since the division of it into the East and West I could never yet learn That they were exceeding great may appear by three circumstances 1 Zonaras reporteth that the Emperour Basilius had in his treasury 200000 talents of gold besides infinite
Ponticks Region The Countrey naturally rich and in those parts hereof which lie next the Bosphorus opposite to Constaxtinople so plentifully enriched with fruitfull hills and pleasant orchards when kept by the more curious Christian that it was thought not to be inferiour to the so much celebrated Tempe now robbed of all those former beauties by the carclessenesse of the Turks who affect neither art not sumptuositie in their retirements and delights Chiese Rivers hereof are Phillis 2. Sang trius now called Sangri both falling into the Euxine Sea this last arising from Mount Dindymus in the furthest parts of Phrygia Major and making two long reaches in his journey hither 3. Aseanius which rising also in Phrygia Major but more neer the borders of this Countrey falleth into the Propontis making the Bay called Sinus Ascanius Which with a lake in the same Countrey called Lacus Ascanius doth plainely manifest that the Bithynians are derived from Askenaz the Sonne of Gomer and grand-son of Japhet The principal Townes hereof are 1. Seutari over against the Haven of Constantinople called antiently Chrysupolis for that there the Persians received their tribute from the other Cities of all these parts of Asia Minor An ample Town well garrisoned within and surrounded round about with most pleasant Orchards and honoured with the neighbourhood of a Royall Seraglio Not far off is a Tower called the Murder-Power serving both for a Fort and watch-tower and being furnished for defence with twenty pieces of Ordnance 2. Caleedon on the same shore also a Colonie of the Megarenses called blinde by the Oracle for neglecting Byzantium and choosing the lesse convenie it place for their habitation And yet did Constantine the Great resolve upon the same place also for his Regall Citie but changed his resolutions on a kinde of miracle it being observed that when his workmen began to draw the plat-forme some Eagles conveyed away their lines to the other side of the Bosphorus and let them fall directly upon Byzemtium Memorable after that for the fourth Gener all Council there assembled by Command of the Emperour Martianus for repressing the heresie of Nestorius in which were five hundred and thirty Bishops now so decayed that it can onely shew some few of the ruines of it Scutari being risen on the fall thereof 3. Nicemedia so called from Nicomedes King of Bithynia the son of Zipes and grand child to that Bithynian King who so valiantly defended his own and his Countreys liberty against Calantus one of great Alexanders Captains by whom founded Sitaute on the top of an hill environed with a pleasant and delightfull Plain honoured with the leate and residence of many of the Roman Emperors when their affaires called them into the East before the building of Constantinople on that occasion made the Throne on which many of Gods Saints received the Crown of Martyrdome especially in the persecution under Dioclesiar In those tunes wealthy and of same now much decayed but notwithstanding well inhabited both by Greeks and Turks for the commodiousnesse of the fresh Springs which are thereabouts 4. Libussa betwixt Nicomedia and the River Ascanius memorable for the death and Sepulture of the famous Anmball who to prevent his being made Prisoner to the Romans when Prusius King of Bithynia intended unworthily to betray him here made away himself by poison 5. Prusa founded by another Prusiu whose name it beareth a large and wealthy City as most in Asia honoured for a long time with the residence of the Turkish Kings till the removall of their seat to Adrianople by Mahomet the first and still ennobled with the sepulture of the Princes of the Ottanan race except the Emperours themselves By the Turks called Bursu 6. Nicae or Nicaea by the Turks called Neichia but most commonly Isnichs situate caer the fennes of the River Ascanius occasioned by the frequent overslowings of that River by some affirmed to be the Metropolis of Bithynia but I think Nicomedia hath more right to claime that honour First named Antigonta from Antigonius the founder of it and afterwards Nicaea by the name of 〈◊〉 wife unto Lysimachus both of them Captaines of the Great Alexander which last had the happinesse to survive the overthrow of the former and was the longest liver of those great Commanders Sufficiently famous both in Ecclesiasticall and Civill story for the first generall Councill there holden by the appointment of Constantine the Great Anno 314. for settling the peace of the Church then miserably distracted by the Arian Heresie The number of Bishops there assembled no more then 318. yet of such high esteem for learning and piety that never Council hath been held in so great an Honour Here was also held the Councel by the Emperesse Irene for establishing the veneration of Images that passing by the name of the Nicene Councel the Acts thereof might be of greater reputation amongst ignorant men In which it was decreed by such doubtfull Atguments as Let us make man after our own Image once mainly insisted on by a Legate of the Eastern Churches that they should be reverenced and adored in as ample and religious manner as the blessed Trinity it self This City was also the Imperiall City of the Greek Emperours after the taking of Constantinople by the Westem Christians and there continued till the expulsion of the Lutines Under these Emperours of the GREEKS residing at NICE A. CH. 1200. 1. Theodorus Lascaris son in law to Alexius Angelus the Usurper upon the taking of Constantinople by the Latines passed over into Asia and fortifying the City of Nice made it the head City of his Kingdome conteining Bithyuia both the Phrygia's both the Mysia's Lydie Aeclis and Ionia 1223. 2 John surnamed Ducas the husband of Irene daughter of Theodore Lasearis succeeded his Father in law in the Empire to which he added Pontus most of the Isles of the Aegean and not a few places of importance in Theace it self 1256. 3. Theodorus II. the son of Ducas 1259. 4. John II. the son of Theodore the second an Infant of about six years old supplanted first and after cruelly deposed and deprived of right 1259. 5. Michael Palaeologus descended from the Imperiall family of the Conneni first took upon him as Protectour of the Infant-Empe our and afterwards as his assviate in the Empire in which confirmed by many fortunate successes as well against the Latixes as some Greek Usurpers in Tlessaly and Peliponesus especially the taking of Constantinople he deprived the young Emperour of his sight made himself sole Emperour and left it unto his posterity who held it with a great deal of trouble and continuall disquiets till the year 1452. when Conquered by Mahomet the Great as before was said But this recovery of Constantinople was the losse of Nice taken not long after the removall of the Imperiall seate by Sultan Ottonar Anno 1299. who presently thereupon took on himselfe the stile of King from which before he had bstained As for the
Queen of Harlicarnassus who in the honour of her husband Mausolus built a stately monument accounted one of the worlds seven wonders of which thus Martiall speaking of the Roman Amphitheatre erected by Domitian◠Aere nec vacuo pendentia Mausolaea Laudibus immodicis Cares ad astra ferant That is to say Mausolus tomb filling the empty Aire Let not the Carians praise beyond compare That the Carians were so called from Cares the sonne of Phoroneus King of Argos hath been said before But Bochartus will rather have them so called from Car which in the Phoenician language signifieth a Sheep or a Ram with numerous flocks whereof they did once abound And this may seem more probable in regard that the Ionians next neighbours to Caria borrowing this word from the Phoenicians called sheep by the name of Cara 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 faith Hesrchius the old Gramarian But from whomsoever they had their name certain it is they were a very warlike people 〈◊〉 morun pugnaeque amans saith Pomponius Mela ut aliena etiam bella appeterent who when they had no warres at home would seek out for action A little before the time of Xerxes Mausolus reigned here whose wife Artemisia lately mentioned aided that King in his undertakings against Greece Afterwards in the time of Alexander the Great we meet with Ada Queen hereof who aided him against the Persians adopting him for her Sonne and Successour Subject after her decease to the Macedonians it followed the same fortune with the rest of these Provinces till the defeat of Antiochus neer Magnesia in the division of whose spoiles it was given to the Rhodians incorporated not long after to the State of Rome and made a Province of the Empire Wrested from the Eastern Emperours by the Turkes of the Selzuccian Family the greatest part hereof on the death of Aladine 2d was raised unto a petit Kingdome by the name of Mentesia so called from Mendos or Mindus the chief City of it the residue being laid to the Caraman Kingdome both long ago subdued by the Ottoman Family that of Mentesia by Mahome surnamed the Great who dispossessed Elias the last Prince thereof Anno 1451. LYCIA LYCIA is bounded on the East with Pamphylia on the West with Caria on the North with parts of Lydia and Phrygia Major on the Sauth with the Mediterrenean Sea Environed on three sides with the Mountain Taurus which part it from the Countries above mentioned by consequence naturally strong aud not very accessible the Sea for the space of twenty miles shutting up the fourth And here it is to be observed that besides this there was a litle Region of the same name not far from Troy not much observed by our Geographers either old or new but mentioned sometimes by the Peets as in Virgill Aeneid 4. Qualis ubi hybernan Lyciam Xanthique fluenta deserit c. which is meant plainly of the Phrygian or Trojan Lycia the word hyberna being added because of its Northern situation in respect of this The People hereof were sometimes called Xanthi from Xanthus the chief River hereof which rising in two springs from the foot of mount Cadmus passeth by a Town called Xanthus also and falleth into the Sea But generally they were called Lycii and the Councrey Lycia from Lycius the sonne of Pandion King of Athens who either conquered them or did some memorable Act amongst them which deserved that honour The principall Mountain of this Countrey and indeed of Asia is the Mountain Taurus which hath his beginning in this Province extending Eastward to the great Orientall Ocean of which somewhat hath been said already and more is to be said hereafter when these hils are grown unto the greatest One of the branches of it and the most notable in this Countrey is that called Chimoera vomiting flames of fire like Cicilian Aetna the bottom whereof was infested with Serpents the midle parts grazed upon by Goats and the higher parts made dangerous by the dens of Lions Hence by the Poets made a Monster having the head of a Lion the body of a Goat and the taile of a Serpent according unto that of Ovid in his Metamorphosis Quoque Chimaera iugo mediis in partibns Hyrcum Pectus ora Leo caudam Serpentis habebat In English thus Chimaera from a Goat her mid-parts takes From Lions head and breast her tail from Snakes This dangerous Mountain was first planted and made habitable by the care of Bellerophou a noble Grecian who is therefore fabled by the Poets to have killed this Monster employed upon this business by Jobares the King of Lycia to whom he had been sent by Proetus King of Argos who was jealous of him and sent with letters to require that King to kill him Whence came the saying Bellerophontis liter as portare applied to those who were unawares imployed do carry letters tending to their own destruction such as those carried by Vriah to Joab the Generall by command of David This Countrey was so populous that antiently there were reckoned threescore Cities in it of which six and thirty remained in the time of Saint Paul now nothing left of them but the names and ruins Those of chief note were 1. Myra the Metropolis of Lycia when a Roman Province by consequence an Arch-Bishops See when Christian St. Nicholas one of the Bishops hereof in the primitive times is said to have been a great Patron of Scholars his festivall annually holden on the sixt of December is celebrated in the Church of Rome with several pastimes and still in some Schools here in England as in that of Burford in the County of Oxon where I had my breeding and my birth for a feast and a play-day Of this City there is mention Acts 27. v. 5. 2. Telmesus the Inhabitants whereof were famous for South-saying and accounted the first Interpreters of Dreams 3. Patara or Patras formerly called Sataros beautified with a fair Haven and many Temples one of them dedicated to Apollo with an Oracle in it for wealth and credit equall unto that of Delphos 4. Phaselis on the Sea-side also a nest of Pirates in the times of the Reman greatness by whom then haunted and enriched as Algiers is now but taken by Servilius a Roman Captain at such time as Powpey scowred the Seas And unto the Pirates of this Town the former Ages were indebted for the first invention of those swift Vessels which the Romans called a Phaselus by the name of the Town we may render it a Brigantine 5. Cragus with a Mountain of the same name thrusting out eight points or Promontories neer to the Chimoera 6. Rhodia or Rhodiopolis as Plinie calleth it most probably the foundation of the neighbouring Rhodians 7. Solyma on the borders hereof towards Pisidia the people of which were conquered and added unto Lycia by the sword of Bellerophon whom Jobares with a minde to kill him according to the request of Poetus imployed in that service 8. Corydalla neer
hath it in his Onomasticon I am not able to determine But measuring it by the last estimate which I more approve of it will amount to two millions and two hundred ninety and five thousand pounds a vast summe for a King to leave in ready money which was alwaies exercised in war And though I doe not find expresly what the Revenues of Judah might amount unto after the division yet by one circumstance I find them to be very great For it is written 2 Kings 18. 14. that the yearly tribute imposed upon Hezekiah by the King of Assyria was three hundred Talents of Silver and thirty Talents of Gold amounting according to the ordinary Hebrew Talent which questionless is there intended to two hundred forty seven thousand and five hundred pounds of English money and therefore probably his ordinary Revenue must be thrice as much above tha ttribue Else the Assyrian had not left him a subsistance for a King to live on Nor can I think that the Revenues of this Crown were less to Herod than formerly to Solomon or David considering his vast expences the many and magnificent Structures which he brought to perfection and the large Legacies he gave at the time of his death not paralleld by any King before or since though of a larger and more ample territory than he stood possessed of What forces the Kings of the Hebrews were able to bring into the field may best be estimated by the muster which David made when he numbred the People the inrolment of such as were able to bear arms and fit for service coming in all to five hundred thousand fighting men in Judab onely and eight hundred thousand men in the Tribes of Israel T is true that David never brought into the field so vast a multitude but when the Kingdomes wete divided and warre denounced betwixt Jeroboam and Abijah we find almost the whole number brought into the field that is to say eight hundred thousand on the side of Jerobsam the King of Israel and four hundred thousand by Abijah the King of Iudah After this out of that small Kingdome Asa the Son of Abijah being invaded by Zerah the Arabian or Ethiopian advanced an Army of five hundred and eighty thousand men which was more than the inrolment made in the time of David An infinite proportion for so small a Kingdome and were it not a vouched in the holy Scriptures far above belief had not that God who said to Abraham that his seed should be as the stars of Heaven for multitude been able to have made it good As for the story and affairs of this Countrey since the time of Adrian the Iews being all expelled their native Soyl and Christianity in fine prevailing over all those parts it was inhahited as the rest of the Empire was by men of that Religion onely in this Countrey so advanced and countenanced that Helena the Mother of Constantine is reported to have built in it no less than two hundred Temples and Monasteries in places of most note for the miracles of Christ our Savio ur or the dwelling of some of his Disciples In the year 615. the Persians under the conduct of Chosroes their King became Masters of it and possessed themselves of Hierusalem also expelled thence by the valour and good fortune of the Emperour Heraclius who recovering the Cross on which Christ suffered out of the hands of the Pagans carried it with as great a triumph into Constantinople as David once did the Ark into Hierusalem But this glory and rejoycing did not long continue For within twenty years after the recovery of this City from the power of the Persians it was again conquered and subdued by Homar or Aumar Caliph of the Saracens Anno 637. Under this yoak the captivated Christians had long suffered when they changed the Tyrant but not the tyranny the Turks about the year 1079. overcoming the Saracens and domineering in their steed Twenty years did the Christians langnish under this oppression when one Peter an Hermite travelling for devotion to the holy Lnd and being an eye-witness of the miseries under which they groaned at his return made his addresses to Pope Vrban the second acquainting him with the sad condition of the poor Christians in those Countries A Councill thereupon is called at Clermont in France where the Pope willing to imploy the Christian Princes farther off that he might the better play his game at home did so effectually advance and indeer the business that no fewer than three hundred thousand fighting men under severall Leaders undertook the service And it prospered so well with them in the first beginning that having beaten the Turks out of Asia Minor taken the great City of Antioch and most of the strong Towns of Syria they incamped before Hierusalem and in short time took it Anno 1099. after it had been four hundred years and upwards in the power of the Infidels The City being thus gained was offered with the title of King to Robert Duke of Normandy Sonne of William the Conquerour but he upon the hopes of the Kingdome of England refused that honour never prospering as it was observed after that refusall Godfrey of Bouillon Duke of Lorreine had the next offer of it which with a religious joy he accepted of though on the day of his Inanguration he refused the Crown affirming that it was not fit for a Christian Prince to wear in that City a Crown of Gold where the Redeemer of the World ware a Crown of Thornes The Kings of Hierusalem 1099. 1. Godfrey of Bouillon Duke of Lorreine 1100. 2. Baldwin of Lorreine brother of Godsrey wonne Ptolemais and many other Cities of Syria 1118. 3. Baldwin II. surnamed of Bruges Cousin of Godfrey and Baldwin the Former Kings overcame the Sultan of Damascus and inlarged his Kingdome by the addition of Tyre 1131. 4. Fulk Earl of Anjon having maryed Milliscent the daughter of Baldwin the 2d succeeded after his decease unfortunately killed with a fall from his horse 1142. 5. Baldwin III. Sonne of Fulk and Milliscent fortified Gaza against the Caliph of Aegypt and recoverd Paneade from the King of Damascus 1164. 6. Almericus the Brother of Baldwin the 3d. so distressed the great Caliph of Aegypt that he was forced to call in the Turks to aid him by whom slain and his Kingdome transferred on Sarracon the Turkish Generall 1173. 7. Baldwin IV. Sonne of Almericus overthrew Saladine the victorious King of the Turkes in a fight neer Ascalon and valiantly defended his Dominions 1185. 8. Baldwin V. Sonne of Sibyll the Sister of Baldwin the 4th by William Marquess of Montferrat unnaturally poisoned by his own mother having reigned only five moneths to make way for her second husband called 1185. 9. Guy of Lusignan the last King of Hierusalem that had the possession of the City during whose time Saladine the Sultan of Aegypt won that Kingdome Anno 1187. which his Successours defended against all invasions till the year
furlongs 50 fathom deep in the midst whereof were two Pyramides 50 fathoms above the water and as much beneath it the Fish of this Lake for one fix moneths in the year said to be worth twenty of their pounds a day to the Kings Exchequer for the other six each day a Talent 4. The Lakes called Amari into which the Trench or River called Ptolomaeus doth discharge its waters conveyed from thence into the Red-Sea The whole divided antiently into two parts only 1. That called Delta betwixt the two extreme branches of the River Nilus the form of which letter it resembleth to him who standing on the Sea-shore could take a view of it 2. That called Thebais from Thebe the principal City of it comprehending all the rest of the course of that River shut up on both sides with the Mountains spoken of before But this Division leaving out all those parts hereof which lie on the East-side towards the Arabian Golfs and on the West as far as to the borders of Libya Marmarica the Macedonians laying it all together divided it into 18 Cantreds or Districts by them called Nomi increased in the time of Ptolomie the Geographer to 46. Ortelius out of divers Authors hath found 20 more When conquered by the Romans and made a Diocese of the Empire it was divided into four Provinces not reckoning Marmarica and Cyrene into the accompt that is to say 1. Aegyptus specially so called containing all the Delta and the District or Nomus of Mareotica bordering on Marmarica 2. Augustanica so called from Augustus Caesar on the East of the Delta betwixt it and Arabia Petraea 3. Arcadia so called from the Emperor Arcadius in whose time it was taken out of Thebais lying on both sides of the River from the Delta to the City of Antinous 4. Thebais extending on both sides of the River from the borders of Libya Marmarica to the Red-Sea as the other doth unto Aethiopia Divided otherwise by some into Superiorem reaching from Aethiopia to the City of Antinous Mediam stretching thence to the point of the Delta and Inferiorem which comprehendeth all the rest But at this time that part hereof which lieth on the South and East of Caire is called Saud or Salud honoured heretofore with the dwelling of the antient Pharaohs because nearest unto Aethiopia their most puissant neighbour 2. That betwixt Caire Rosetta and Alexandria hath the name of Errifia wherein the Ptolomaean Princes did most reside because most convenient for receiving supplies of men from the States of Greece And finally that from Caire to Tenese and Damiata is now called Maremna in which the Turks and Mamalucks made the seat of their Empire because more neighbouring to the Christians whom they stood in fear of as likewise to invade them upon that side In the whole Country there was reckoned in the time of Amasis the 2d. no fewer then 20000 Cities but if the Towns and Villages be not reckoned in I should much doubt of the accompt By Diodorus Siculus it is said that there were 3000 in his time but Ortelius on a diligent search finds 300 only Those of most note in the Province of Augustanica 1. Pelusium the most Eastern City of Egypt towards Idumaea situate on the most Eastern channel of Nilus called hence Pelusiacum by Ammianus said to be the work of Peleus the Father of Achilles commanded by the Gods to purge himself in the Lake adjoyning for the murder of his brother Phocus Accounted for the chief door of Egypt towards the Land as Pharos was to those who came thither by Sea the Metropolis of the Province of Augustanica the birth-place of Ptolomie the Geographer and the Episcopal See of S. Isidore sirnamed Pelusiotes whose eloquent and pious Epistles are still extant Out of the ruines hereof if not the same under another title arose 2. Damiata memorable for the often Sieges laid unto it by the Christian Armies for none more then that under John de Brenne the titulary King of Jerusalem and the Princes of Europe An. 1220. During which being of 18 moneths continuance the Famine and the Pestilence so extremely raged that the Town in a manner was dispeopled before the Besiegers knew any thing of their condition till in the end two venturous Souldiers admiring the silence and solitude of so great a City in a Bravado scaled the walls but found no man to make resistance the next day the whole Army entred where they found in every house and every corner of the streets whole heaps of dead bodies none to give them burial A lamentable and ruthful spectacle 3. Heros or Civitas Heroum in the Arabian Isthmus at the very bottom of the Golf remarkable for the first interview betwixt Jacob and Joseph after his coming into Egypt 4. Heliopolis or the City of the Sun now called Betsames in the Scriptures On of which Potiphar the Father of Asenath whom Pharaoh married unto Ioseph was priest or Prince as is said Gen. 41. 45. Given as Iosephus telleth us for an habitation to the sons of Iacob by consequence one of the chief Cities of the Land Rameses or Goshen and memorable in times succeeding for a publike Temple built for the Iewes with the consent of Ptolomie sirnamed Philadelphus by Onias the High-Priest then dispossessed of his authority and office by the power of Antiochus a Temple much esteemed by the Hellinists or Grecizing Iews and though Schismatical at the best in its first original yet not Schismatical and Idolatrous as was that of Mount Garizim 5. Bubustis somwhat more North then Heliopolis by some of the Antients called Avaris by the Scriptures Pibeseth another City of that tract now better known by the name of Zioth supposed to be the same which the Notitia calleth Castra Iudaeorum memorable in times of Paganisme for a famous Temple of Diana 6. Arsinoe on the shore of the Red Sea so called in honour of Arsinoe sister of Philadelphus and wife to Lysimachus King of Thrace afterwards called Cleopatris in honour of Queen Cleopatra now better known by the name of Sues Of great commerce and trading in the time of the Ptolomies Now almost abandoned and would be utterly deserted were it not made the station of the Turkish Gallies that command the Gulfe which being framed at Caire of such Timber as is brought thither by sea from the Woods of Cilicia and sometimes from the Shores of the Euxine Sea are again taken in peeces carried from Caire unto this City on the backs of Camels and here joyned together Conceived to be the same which in former times was called Baal Zephon of which see Exod. 14. 9. the last incamping-place of the Tribes of Israel who from hence passed through the Red Sea as upon dry land 7. Gleba Rubra by the Greeks called Hiera Bolus and sometimes Erythra Bolus also more neer the Latine the redness of the soyl giving name unto it situate on the River or Trench of Tralan more memorable for a