the River Bindamyr that springs out of the Tapirian Mountains It 's each way about three miles in length the compasse nine miles It s pleasantly seated in the North West end of a spacious plain twenty miles long and six broad environed with stupendious Hills under one of which the City is placed It s defended by Nature inriched by Trade by Art made lovely The Vine-yards Gardens Cypresses Sudatories and Temples ravish the eye and smell in every part sweet and delightful The houses are of Sun-burnt Bricks hard and durable flat and tarrassed about the Belconies and windows are curiously and largely trellized the floores spred with rich Carpets None are without their Gardens or Forrests rather of high Chenaers and Cypresses In it are fifteen brave Mosques pargetted with Azure-stones resembling Turquoises without lined within with pure black polished Marble the tops beautified with many double-guilt-spires which reflect the Sun beams with a rich and delightful splendor two excel all the rest One of them is fifty foot high in the body leaded covered with gold and blew the walls varnished and wrought with knots and poesies Above aspiring with two colums of wood round cut and garnished with great bravery very nigh as high as Pauls in London The other is Quadrangular the superficies of Arabick invention imbost with gold paved with Porphiry painted with Azure garnished with Mazes and at their festivals made resplenâ—ent with one thousand Lamps and Torches Idem When our English Embassador passed through this City hee was entertained in the Dukes Palace where all the great men of the Court and City were present and many young Ganimedes arrayed in cloath of gold went up and down with flagons of pure gold to fill out VVine to such as nodded for it they were served with a curious banquet at the end whereof came in the Duke Hee was ushered in by thirty gallant young Gentlemen vested in crimson Satten Their Tulipants were of Silk and Silver wreathed about with chains of Gold of Pearl of Rubies Turquoises and Emeralds they were all girded with rich swords and imbroidered scabbards they had Hawks on their fists each hood worth one hundred pound To these succeeded their Lord the Arch Duke of Shyraz his Coat was of blew Satten richly imbroidered with silver upon which hee wore a Robe of a great length so glorious to the eye so thick powdered with Oriental Gems as made the ground of it invisible the price invaluable His Turbant was of pure fine silk and gold bestudded with Pearl and Carbuncles his Scabbard was beset all over with Rubies Pearls and Emeralds His Sandals resâ—mbled the bespangling Firmament c. Idem The ancient Persepolis described Persepolis was a City so glorious that Quintus Curtius and Diodorus Siculus intitle it the richest and most lovely City under the Sun It was a very large City and the Metropolis of all Persia two of the gates standing twelve miles asunder which shews what the circuit of it was when in her beauty and bravery On the South side was a stately and magnificent Pallace built by King Cyrus On the North side stood a mighty strong Castle which was girt about with three walls The first wall was four and twenty foot high adorned and beautified with many turrets and spires The second was like the first but twice as high And the third was foursquare being ninety foot high all built of polished Marble On each side of the City were twelve brasen gates with brasen Pales set before them very curiously wrought On the East arose amiably an Hill of four Acres in which in stately Mausoleum's were entombed the Monarchs of the VVorld Many rare and admirable buildings it had amongst which the glorious Temple of Diana was the most exquisite for Art and materials in the VVorld The stones were of the richest Marble and Porphery the roof of refined gold The Pallace Royal was cut out of the Marble Rock above two miles in compasse the roof and windows were of Gold Silver Amber and Ivory The Seate within was of Gold and Oriental glittering Gems In one room was an artificial Vine the stalk of pure Gold the clusters of Grapes of Pearls and Carbuncles His bolster was valued at five thousand Talents of Gold the footstool worth three thousand Talents so that when the greedy Greeks had pillaged three dayes yet Alexander had for his share seventy two millions of Crowns of Gold besides hee loaded away three thousand Mules with two and thirty millions and seven hundred and fifty thousand pounds in Coin The ruines of this stately City are seen at this day with astonishment Herb. Trav. p. 144. The City of Spahawn described Spahawn The Metropolis of the Persian Monarchy is seated in the Parthian territory as the navel to that spacious body It 's nine English miles in compasse containing seventy thousand houses and of souls about two hundred thousand composed besides natives of English Dutch Portuguize Poles Moscovites Indians Arabians Armenians Georgians Turks Jews c. drawn thither by the magnetick power of gain and novelty The principal things observeable in it are The Bridge well built of stone supported by five and thirty Arches through which the Syndery from the Acroceraunian Mountains gently floweth The Midan or great Market-place which is the most spacious pleasant and Aromatick Market in the VVorld a thousand paces from North to South the other way above two hundred resembling our Exchange the building is of Brick well made and framed in a most delightful manner the inside is full of shops each shop full of ware arched above a top framed Tarrase-wise and cemented with excellent plaister it s placed in the heart of this triumphant City The Kings Pallace joyns to the West side of it possessing a large quantity of ground backward though to the street side it hath no magnifick front her best bravery being in the trim pargetting and painting with Azure and Gold in Mosaick and Antick sort interlaced with Poesies of Arabick But within the rooms are arched enlightened with curious trellizes the roof embossed with red white blew and gold the sides with sports and painted Images the ground spread with rich and curious Carpets of Silk and Gold Tarrased above garnished with a very high Tower excellent for view and breathing The Wildernesse behinde is filled with all sorts of birds priviledged from hurt or affrights who return their thanks in a sweet melodious consort The North Isle of the Midan contains eight or nine arched rooms hung with Lamps and Candlesticks which being lighted gives a curious splendor Opposite to this Pallace is a fair Mosque in form round and within distinguished into Isles the walls are lined fifteen foot high from the ground with white and well polisht Marble without pews or seats In the midst is a stately Tank or Pond and at the Portal another eightsquare filled with Christal streams of water wherein all Musslemen wash their hands armes eyes c. as an operative work
parts are yet joyned into one by two Bridges or causway's made over it having sluces to let out the water the South part is the greater consisting of divers streets having in it a School and an Hospital of St. John founded for the relief of the poor The farther part is the lesse but beautified with a very goodly Cathedral Church which is round about compassed with a very fair wall Castle-like This Church mounteth up on high with three Pyramids or spires of stone making an excellent shew and for elegant and proportionable building yeeldeth to few Cathedrals in England But by our late civil wars it is much defaced The City of Westchester described The City of Chester is built foursquare and is inclosed with a strong wall that is above two miles in compasse and hath in it eleven Parish Churches the fairest of which is that of St. Johns without Eastgate being a very stately building near unto the River Dee standeth the Castle upon a rockie-hill where the Courts Palatine and the Assises are kept twice a year The houses are built very fair and along the chief streets are galleries or walking-places they call them Rowes having shops on both sides in which a man may walk dry from one end to the other Here King Edgar in a magnificent manner triumphed over the Brittish Princes for himself sitting at the foredeck of his Barge Kennadie King of the Scots Malcolin King of Cumberland Mucon King of Man and of the Isles with all the Princes of VVales comming to do homage like watermen working at the Oare rowed him along the River Dee in a triumphant manner There is in it a very large and fair Cathedral Church wherein is the Tomb of Henry the fourth Emperor of Germany who as they say gave over his Empire and lived here an Eremites life This City wants not any thing required in a flourishing City but that the Sea being offended and angry as it were at certain Mills and a causway made crosse the channel of the River Dee hath by degrees drawn himself back and affordeth not unto the City the commodity of an haven which formerly it did injoy The wall hath in it four fair gates opening towards the four quarters of heaven besides three Posterns and seven watch-Towers Before the desolations made by our late civil wars without the East and North gate the City extended herself in her suburbs with very fair streets adorned with goodly buildings both of Gentlemens houses and fair Innes for the entertainment of strangers The Water-Gate leadeth to the River of Dee where it enters into the mouth of the Sea and by which is a fine spacious peece of ground called the Rood-eye yeelding pleasure and profit and upon which the Citizens walk for the air and use sundry recreations The Bridge-Gate hath lately been beautified by a seemly water-work of stone built steeple-wise by the invention and charge of Mr. John Tyrer and is of excellent use for conveying the River-water into the Citizens houses throâ—gh pipes of Lead and wood into almost all parts of the City The City of Hereford described The City of Hereford is seated amongst pleasant medows and plentiful Corn-fields compassed almost round about with Rivers on the North and West sides with one that hath no name on the South side with the River Wy that commeth out of Wales It is walled about having six Gates â—or entrance and fifteen Watch-Towers for defence extending in compasse to one thousand five hundred paces The Normans upon the side of Wy built in it a mighty great and strong Castle which time hath so defaced that now there remains nothing but the ruines of it The greatest glory that this City had was when King Athelstan brought the Lords of VVales into it and forced them yearly by way of tribute to pay him besides Hounds and Hawks twenty pounds of gold and there hundred pounds of silver by weight The City of York described The City of York is very ancient and of so great estimation formerly that the Roman Emperors kept their Courts there It is at this day the second City of England the fairest in all the Country and a singular both safeguard and ornament to all the Northern parts A pleasant place large and stately well fortified beautifully adorned as well with private as publick buildings rich populous and was lately an Archiepiscopal See The River Ouse flowing with a gentle stream from the North part Southward cutteth it in twain and divides it as it were into two Cities which are conjoyned with a stone Bridge having in it a mighty Arch of extraordinary bignesse The VVest part is compassed in with a very fair wall and the River together four-square wise and gives entrance only at one gate from which a long and broad Street reacheth unto the very bridge which is beautified with handsome houses having Gardens and Orchards planted on the backside on either hand and behind them fields even to the walls for exercise and disport On the East side the houses stand very thick and the Streets are narrower and it is fortified also with a strong wall and on the South-East it is defended with the deep channel of the muddy River Fosse which entring into the heart of the City by a blind way hath a Bridge over it with houses built upon it and so close ranged one by another that a man would judge it a Street rather than a Bridge and so a little lower it runneth into the Ouse where at there confluence a strong and stately Castle was built that commanded the City but is now gone to decay Towards the North stands the Cathedral Church an excellent fair and stately Fabrick King Henry the Eight appointed here a Council not unlike to the Parliaments in France to decide and determine the causes and controversies of these Northern parts according to equity and coâ—science consisting of a Lord President certain Counsellors a Secretary and under officers This City is governed by a Lord Maior twelve Aldermen many Chamberlains a Recorder a Town Clerk six Sergeants at Mace and two Squires which are the Sword-Bearer and common Sergeant who with a great Mace goeth on the left hand of the Sword The City of Durham Described The City of Durham is seated high and is passing strong withall yet taketh it up no great circuit of ground It is of an Oval form and environed on every side save on the North with the River Weer and fortified with a wall Towards the Southside stands the Cathedrall Church built high and stately with an high Tower in the middest and two Spires at the West end In the middest is a Castle placed as it were between two stone bridges over the River Northward from the Castle is a spacious Market place and St. Nicholas Church from whence there runneth out for a great length North-East a Suburb compassed on two sides with the River like as other on both sides beyond the River which lead unto the
describes the people out of Epimenides The Cretians are lyers evil beasts slowbellies It s famous for three things 1. They have no venemous Creature there 2. If a woman bite a man hard hee never recovers again 3. There is an herb called Alimos which if one chaw in his mouth hee shall feel no hunger that day It was once called Hecatompolis because it had in it a hundred Cities It is in the Venetians hands The Jonian Isles described Cythera is in compasse threescore miles It was formerly called Porphyris from the abundance of that sort of Marble called Porphyrie which the Mountains yeeld The Strophades are two Islands wherein there is nothing remarkable but a spring of fresh water in one of them which hath his fountain in Peloponesus above five miles distant which passing under the Sea ariseth there Zacinthus now Zant is threescore miles in compasse It s wonderfully stored with Wine Oil and Currans of which last ordinarily they make yearly one hundred and fifty thousand Chekins for their own Coffers besides eighteen thousand Dolars which they pay for custome to the State of Venice when the English first traded thither the inhabitants were very poor and when the English bought so many Currans of them they asked our Merchants whether they dyed cloaths or fed their Swine with them which uses themselves put them to but now they know better and grow rich by the trade This Island is much troubled with earthquakes commonly once a week whereupon they build their houses low The chief City is Zant not big the streets rugged and uneven and the houses low for the cause aforesaid Over the Town-hall door in this City is this Distich inscribed Hic locus odit amat punit conservat honorat nequitiam pacem crimina jura probos The Echinades Islands are five in number being but like Rocks and are famous for nothing but for the famous battel of Lepanto fought near them betwixt the Turks and the Christians Cephalenia is in compasse one hundred sixty and six miles and contains two hundred Towns the chiefest commodities it yeelds are Wheat Hony Currans Powder for dying Scarlet Oil and Wooll c. Corcyra now Corfu is neer Epyrus in length four and fifty miles in breadth four and twenty Its seated in the midst of the Venetians Lordships by Sea The chief City is Corfu where the Turks have received sundry repulses It s very fruitful in Hony Wax Wine Oil c. The Adriatick Isles have nothing of note in them and therefore I proceed to the Mediterranean Isles the principall whereof is 1 Scicily in compasse seven hundred miles The people are ingenuous eloquent and pleasant but very unconstant and talkative The soil is incredibly fruitful in Wine Oil Hony Saffron Sugar Salt in Mines of Gold Silver Allom having also Agates and Emeraulds with such abundance of Corn that it was called The Granary of the Romane Empire In this Country is the Hill Hybla so famous for Bees and Hony and Aetna which continually sendeth forth flames of fire Here was once the famous City of Siracuse two and twenty miles in compasse but now Palermo is the seat of the Spanish Vice-Roy In this Island lived those two great Tyrants Dionysius the elder and Dionysius the younger who were so odious for their cruelty that all the people hated and continually cursed them only one old woman prayed for the life of the latter and being asked the reason shee answered that shee knew his Grand-Father to bee very bad and when at the prayers of the people hee was taken away his son succeeded that proved far worse than his Father and after their curses had prevailed also for the removal of him came this present Tyrant worse than either for whose life shee was resolved to pray least after his decease the Devil himself should come amongst them Malta is in compasse about threescore miles It s seated on a Rock over which the earth is not above three foot thick yet have they abundance of Pomegranats Citrons Orenges and other excellent fruit there is also great store of Cotton-Wooll whâ—ch they sow as wee do Corn In the Acts this Island is called Melita It consists of four Cities and threescore Villages It was by Charles the fifth given to the Knights of the Rhodes newly expelled by the Great Turk they are a thousand in number whereof five hundred must bee alwayes resident in the Island the others upon summons must make their appearance None are admitted into their order unlesse they bring a testimony of their Gentry for six descents But some make this Island to belong to Africk where you may see more of it 3 Corsica is just against Greece in the Ligurian Sea and is in length one hundred and twenty miles in breadth threescore and ten the whole circuit being three hundred twenty and five It s a fine Country yeelds excellent Dogs for game good horses fierce Mastiffs and a beast called Musoli found no where in Europe but here and in Sardinia horned like Rams and skinned like Stags of incredible hardnesse It produceth the best VVines Oil Figs Raisons and Hony but bitter and unwholesome It abounds also with Allom Box-trees Iron-Mines c. It s under the Government of Genoa The people are churlish stubborn poor and illiterate 4 Sardinia which is seven miles distant from Corsica It contains in length one hundred and fourscore miles in breadth fourscore and ten in circuit five hundred and threescore It abounds in Corn and Cattel but wants Oil. Their Bulls do naturally amble and therefore the Country Peasants usually ride upon them Here is the Beast Musoli of whose skins carryed to Corduba and there dressed is made our true Cordovan Leather The Inhabitants are little of stature and prone to Rebellion and therefore the Spaniard suffers neither Smith nor Cutler to live there The chief City is Calearis just opposite to Africk having a goodly haven much frequented by Merchants and is the seat of the Spanish Vice-Roy The Baleans Islands described The chief of these Islands are 1. Majorca about threescore miles distant from Spain and is three hundred miles in compasse the chief Cities are Majorca wherein is an university and Palma 2. Minorca distant from the former nine miles and is in circuit one hundred and fifty miles the inhabitants are effeminate the soil for the most part fruitful Nigh to these are two lesser Islands 1. Ebuisa one hundred miles in circuit the chief commodity in it is salt 2. Olhiusa threescore and ten miles about The men and women in both of them are excellent swimmers The lesser Islands scattered up and down have nothing in them remarkable but only in one of them called Ischia is a fountain so hot that in a short time it will boil any flesh or fish put into it Somewhat without the mouth of the Straits of Gibralter is the Island of Gades or Cales in length thirteen miles Anno Christi 1596. it was suddenly taken by
standeth the Tower A most famous and goodly Citadel encompassed round with thick and strong walls full of lofty and stately Turrets fenced with a broad and deep moat furnished with a gallant Magazine of warlick Ammunition and other buildings besides so that it resembles a big town Concerning the Church of St. Paul an ancient writer saith that it contains in length six hundred and ninety feet the breadth thereof is one hundred and thirty foot the height of the West arched roof from the ground is one hundred and two foot and the new fabrick from the ground is eighty eight foot high The stone work of the steeple from the plain ground rose in height two hundred and sixty foot and the Timber frame upon the same was two hundred seventy and four foot high the Spire before it was burnt down was five hundred thirty and four foot high About the time of William the Conqueror when Musters were made of able men to bear arms London brought into the field under their colours forty thousand foot men and twenty thousand horsemen It hath often and is daily enlarged with new buildings and spacious Suburbs stretched forth from the Gates a great length on every side but Westward especially which are the greatest and best peopled In which are twelve Inns for students of the Common Law The four principal houses are the Inner Temple the middle Temple Grates Inn and Lincolns Inn six smaller belong to the Chancery besides two Inns more for the Sergeants at Law These Western Suburbs are so carried on that they joyn to London another City called Westminster famous for the Seat and Sepulchre of our Kings and for the Courts of justice kept every Tearm in Westminster Hall No walls are built about this City and those of London are left to shew rather what it was than what it is whose Citizens as the Lacedemonians did do repute their strength to consist in their men and not in their walls In the City of Westminster along by the Thames side are many stately buildings for the Nobles and great men of the Land as Essex house Arundel house Summerset house c. The Abby Church in Westminster was the last time built by King Henry the third of excellent workmanship supported with sundry rows of Marble Pillars and the roof covered over with sheets of Lead a peece of work that cost fifty years labour in building It was afterwards much enlarged towards the West end by the succeeding Abbots and at the East end King Henry the seventh built for the burial of himself and his children a Chappel of admirable and stately workmanship called by Leland the VVonder of the VVorld for a man would think that all the curious and exquisite work that can bee devised is there compacted together wherein is to bee seen his own most stately and magnificent monument all of massy and solid Copper VVestminster Hall was built from the ground by King Richard the second and made his own habitation which continued so till Henry the eights time who removed it to VVhite-Hall which formerly belonged to Cardinal VVoolsey The New Exchange was built by the Earle of Salisbury and so named by King James But to return a little again to London There are in it many publick and beautiful buildings as that famous Senate-house called Guild-hall built by Sir Thomas Knowls Lord Mayor Leaden-hall a large and goodly building erected by Simon Eire to bee a common Granarie wherein to lay up Corn to bring down the price thereof in time of a dearth But especially the Burse which Queen Elizabeth with a solemn Ceremony named the Royal Exchange erected upon Pillars for the use of Merchants and ornament of the City It was set up by Sir Thomas Gresham Citizen and Knight A most magnificent work it is whether you respect the model of the building the resort of Merchants from all Nations thither or the store of wares therein The Royal Exchange This Royal Exchange was erected in the year 1566. in this order The ground whereon it stands and the houses were purchased by the Citizens of London It cost them above three thousand five hundred thirty and two pounds the houses they sold for four hundred seventy and eight pounds to such persons as should pull them down and carry them away Then was the ground levelled at the charges of the City and possession thereof was by some Aldermen given to Sir Thomas Gresham Knight and Agent for Queen Elizabeth thereupon to build a Burse at his own proper charges and hee on the seventh of June laid the first foundation Brick being accompanied with some Aldermen every one laying a peece of gold upon his Brick which the workmen took for themselves and forthwith followed their work with such diligence that in September Anno Christi 1567. the same was finished and covered with slate In the year 1570. January the three and twenty the Queen came from Summerset-house through Thridneedle-street to Sir Thomas Greshams house in Bishopsgate-street where shee dined and after dinner going through Cornhil entred the Burse viewed every part of it especially the Pawn which was furnished with all sorts of fine and rich ware and then caused the said Burse by an Herald and Trumpet to bee proclaimed by the name of the Royal Exchange and so to bee called from thenceforth and not otherwise Besides which this Sir Thomas Gresham gave a most spacious house sometimes his own habitation one part thereof to bee an Hospital for poor people and the other to the advancement of learning now known by the name of Gresham Colledge standing between Bishopsgate-street and Broad-street and instituted professors of Divinity Law Physick Astronomy Geometry Musick and Rhethorick allowing them fifty pounds per annum a peece besides Chambers and other accommodations Gresham Colledge The first professors in this Colledge were Mr. Anthony VVootton for Divinity Doctor Matthew Guin for Physick Doctor Henry Mountlow for Civil Law Doctor John Bull for Musick Mr. Beerwood for Astronomy Mr. Henry Bridges for Geometry and Mr. Caleb VVillis for Rhethorick These Lectures are read daily in Tearm-time except Sabbaths by every one upon his day in the morning betwixt nine and ten a clock in Latine and in the afternoon betwixt two and three in English notice whereof is given by ringing the Exchange-Bell at these hours Only the Musick Lecture is read in English on Saturdayes between ten and eleven in the morning and between three and four in the afternoon But to passe by Sion Colledge whereof Doctor VVhite was the founder which is governed by a President two Deans and four Assistants yearly chosen and the many Hospitals and other publick buildings yet amongst them The Charterhouse described Wee may not passe by that greatest and most noble work that ever was done by one man and hee a subject which was the building and endowing of the Charter-house by Mr. Thomas Sutton for the entertainment of youth and decayed Gentlemen who by maims in
miles the building for the two first stories are built of Marble curiously wrought but by the Law they are forbidden to use marble any higher It hath a very spacious Haven well fortified where ships may ride in safety 10. The state of Luca which is situated in Tuscany the City is three miles in compass the Territories eighty miles in which they can raise three thousand horse and fifteen thousand foot upon occasion And thus I have done with Italy and come to the description of the chief Cities in it The chief Cities in Italy described A Description of old Rome and the chiefest Rarities thereof Rome when it was first built was but two twenty miles in compasse it was situated upon dainty hills in a most healthfull air had a brave River running by it with the more ease to convey the in-land commodities for her necessity and delight it had the Sea at a convenient distance not too neer whereby shee might be annoyed with Forreign Navies nor so remote but that shee might bee supplyed with outlandish Commodities The River Tiber at Rome is four hundred foot broad and so deep that it will carry ships of the greatest burden It s about sixteen miles distant from the Sea It was almost round in compasse The Suburbs in processe of time grew so great that Aurelian the Emperor built new walls which were almost fifty miles in compasse the walls were adorned with seven hundred and forty Turrets And yet again the Suburds in a little time grew so great that one of them was fifteen miles long and reacht even to the Sea and in Augustus his time there was numbred in Rome above three hundred and twenty thousand poor people that received relief from the publick Besides the number of Bondmen was very great few rich men but they had an hundred and some four hundred a peece Seneca saith in his time that the Inhabitants were so many that the spatious and innumerable houses were scarce able to contain them that a great part of them were Forreigners that came from all parts of the world to live there So that the number of Inhabitants was reckoned to bee at least four millions These people were sustained with provisions brought out of all Nations so that Rome seemed to bee the common Mart of the whole World Heliogabalus to shew the greatnesse of the City caused all the Spiders to be gathered and put together which being weighed amounted to ten thousand pound weight and a great plague breaking out at Rome for many dayes together there dyed ten thousand persons The houses were generally built very high that so they might bee the more capacious insomuch as Augustus was fain to make a Decree that their buildings should not exceed seventy foot in height conceiving that they marred the delicacy of the air by their over-much shadow but this extended only to private mens houses for the great men were not limited But besides the great height of the houses they were beautified by the matter whereof they were built by the Architecture and by the Symmetry of them wherein Art and Elegancy strove for priority And for that end what exquisite workmen soever Greece or Asia brought forth they were either sent for or came of their own accord to beautify this Imperiall City especially in Augustus's time who made his boasts Marmoream se relinquere quam lateritiam accepisset that hee should leave Rome built of Marble which hee found built of Bricks Nero also when hee had burned a great part of it at his own charges built it up again beautifying it with excellently composed streets large wayes and curious porches to all the houses which three things were a great Ornament to the City whereupon Cassiodorus saith Our fore-Fathers tell us of the seven wonders of the world The Temple of Diana at Ephesus The costly Tomb of King Mausolus The brazen Statue of the Sun in the Isle of Rhodes called the Colossus The Image of Jupiter Olympicus made by Phidias The house of Cyrus King of the Medes and Persians built by Memnon The walls of Babylon built by Semiramis And the Pyramides of Egypt But now saith hee the City of Rome is the greatest miracle of them all There were in it four hundred twenty four Temples erected to their Idol-gods There were two Capitols in Rome The old built by Numa the new begun by Tarquinius Priscus and Superbus finished by Horatius Pulvillus Consul upon the Saturnin or Tarpeian or Capitoline hill It was eight acres or eight hundred feet in compasse almost four square It was ascended unto by one hundred steps on the South part which looked towards the market place and Palace it would hold eight thousand men It was covered with Brasse-tiles all guilt with Gold There were three Chappels in it to one of which viz. Jupiters Augustus gave sixteen thousand pound weight of gold and jewels worth almost as much more twelve thousand talents were spent in gilding of it The gates were covered with thick plates of Gold The only foundations of this Capitol cost Tarquinius forty thousand pound weight of silver the pillars of it were cut out of a Quarry of Marble called Pentick-marble and they were as thick as long Plut. Next after the Capitol the Pantheon is worthily noted It was built by Agrippa son in Law to Augustus in the year of the City seven hundred twenty and nine The Architecture of it was admirable the beauty and proportion of all the parts most exquisite the breadth of it was one hundred forty and four feet and the height as much It was wholly covered over with very great tiles of Brass richly guilt In the reign of Trajan it was burnt by lightning and re-built by Hâ—drian The Temple of Peace was built by Vespasian three hundred foot long and two hundred broad It was the most beautifull of all the Temples in the City and enriched with gifts of inestimable value It was adorned with Statues and pictures of most exquisite workmanship yea and all the rarities were collected into this Temple for the sight whereof men formerly used to travell through the whole world And here also hee placed those vessels which formerly belonged to the Temple of Hierusalem and were brought from thence by Titus at the sacking of it It was burnt down in the time of Commodus either with fire from heaven or arising out of the earth after a little Earthquake There were an infinite number of Baths both publike and private in Rome Some of which baths were all paved with plates of silver and set with rows of Pillars for ornament Antoninus's bath had sixteen hundred seats of polished Marble in it The Appian Causey was built by Appius Claudius Censor It reached from Rome to Capua the bounds of the Empire that way at that time which was afterwards lengthened to Brundusium by Julius and Augustus Caesar in all three hundred and fifty miles long and so broad that two coaches might easily pass by one
another being about twenty and five foot broad It was made of hard flinty stones hewen and laid so close together yet without any morter or claspes of Iron that it seemed all of onestone the stones were three four and five feet square nine hundred years after it was made the stones were not one whit dis-joynted or broken ever and anon on the sides were stones whereon persons might sit or lay their burdens or get on horseback and at every miles end high stones or pillars were raised whereon were engraven the number of the miles Likewise there were many Monuments on both sides with witty inscriptions or pretty inventions on them yeelding both matter of mirth and seriousness to the travellers There were fourteen saith Pliny twenty saith P. Victor Aquaeducts in Rome the chiefest of which was the Claudian began by Caligula and finished by Claudius so big as a man might ride on horseback in it brought forty miles to the City in a level through the Mountains and over the Vallies as high as the highest hill in the City seven millions and a half were spent in making it There were besides in the City one thousand three hundred fifty two Lakes or great receptacles of water for common use The Cloacae or common sewers were made by Tarquinius Priscus they were so wide that a Cart loaden with Hay might passe along them viz. sixteen foot wide and as many high There were seven chief armes from the seven hills besides several smaller from other parts which ran into the main Channel Notwithstanding all the weight of building upon them and several earthquakes they remained firm almost eight hundred years And at one time when they were out of repair there were a thousand talents spent in repairing of them There was an infinite number of Statues or Images in every part of the City costly for their matter and curious for their workmanship some Authors say that there were near as many of them as there were living people in the City some of them were of polished Marble infinite of brass some of Ivory some of Silver and some of Gold Domitian the Emperour commanded that no statues should bee made for him in the Capitol but such as were all of silver or all gold solid and not hollow each of them weighing at least an hundred pound weight Commodus the Emperor had a statue made for him of gold that weighed a thousand pound weight Together with a Bull and a Cow of the same mettal as if hee had been the founder of the City Hee had also in the Market-place a Pillar erected and his Statue made upon it of a thousand five hundred pounds weight of silver Their statues of brass were most of them guilt and so were many of their statues of silver Some of them were of a Colossaean bigness others mounted on horse-back and in several postures and habits For the preserving of all which from hurt there was one who was called Comes or an Earl whose office it was continually to walk up and down in the night attended with many souldiers that none might wrong them and besides it was death for any man to do it Lipsius de Mag. Rom. Imperii Rome was for her beauty and bravery called Aurea and Aeterna and the Romanes thought that the Monarchy of the World was tyed to them with chains of Adamant But God hath confuted their golden dreams by breaking their Empire and given up their City six several times in one hundred thirty and nine years space into the hands of Barbarians who exercised therein all kinde of cruelty besides it is observed that Rome since it became Papal was never besieged by any enemy but it was taken Sybil long since prophesied Tota eris in cineres quasi nunquam Roma fuisses The manner of the Romane Triumphs and particularly that of Palus Aemylius after the conquest of Perseus King of Macedon First the people having set up sundry scaffolds as well in the lists and field called Circos where the games and races of horses and Charrets used to bee as also about the Market-place and in all the streets through which the Triumph should pass they all presented themselves in their best gowns to see the magnificence and state thereof All the Temples of the Gods were set wide open hanged full of Garlands of flowers and all perfumed within Through all the quarters of the City were set many Sergeants and other officers with tipstaves to order the stragling people and to keep them from pestring the streets or hindring the triumph which lasted three dayes The first day was scant sufficient to see the passing by of the Images Tables Pictures and Statues of a wonderful bignesse all wonne and gotten of their enemies and now drawn upon two hundred and fifty Charrets The second day there were carried upon a great number of Carts all the fairest and richest Armor of the Macedonians as well of Copper as of Iron and Steele all glistering bright being newly furbished and artificially laid in order Fair Burganets upon Targets Habergions and Corslets upon greaves Round Targets of the Cretans and Javelins of the Thracians and arrows amongst the armed pikes All bound so trimly one to another that one hitting against another as they were drawn made such a sound and noise as was fearful to hear After these Carts there followed three thousand men which carried the ready mony in seven hundred and fifty Vessels which weighed about three Talents a peece each of them carried by four men Others carried great bowles cups and goblets of silver and other pots to drink in beautiful to behold as well for their bignesse as for the great and singular embossed work about them The third day early in the morning the Trumpets sounded the brave alarum they give at an assault after whom followed one hundred and twenty goodly fat Oxen with their horns guilt and garlands of flowers and nosegaies about their heads and by them went many young men with aprons of needle-work about their middles who led them to the Sacrifice and with them young boyes that carried goodly Basons of gold and silver to receive and sprinkle the blood of the Sacrifices about After these followed all those that carryed all coins of gold and Basons and Vessels each of them weighing three Talents Then was carryed the great holy cup which Aemylius had caused to bee made of massy gold set full of precious stones weighing ten Talents for an offering to the gods Next to them went they which carryed Plate made and wrought after Antick fashions and the admirable cups of the ancient Kings of Macedon as the cup called Antigonus and another Seleucus and to bee brief all the whole cup-broad of plate of gold and silver of King Perseus and next them came the Kings Charriot with his Armour and his royal Crown upon the same A little after followed the Kings Children whom they led prisoners with the train of their School Masters and
gowns the Nobility is very studious of warre and desirous of travel and of an humor much like that of the French they express their gallantry in the beauty of their cloaths weapons and horses In the sumptuousness of feasts weddings funeralls Christenings and in numerous traines of servants when they go a wooing The most eminent dignities amongst them are to be Senators whom they call Waiwodes Chattellans and starosts or Captains Of Poland it is said that if a man hath lost his religion let him go seek it in Poland and he shall find it there or else let him make account that its vanished out of the world Europae spec Hungary Described The soil is wonderfull fruitful yeilding Corn thrice a year the Grass in some places exceeds the height of a man which feeds a wonderfull number of Cattel Besides which they have Deer Partridg and Pheasant in such abundance that any man may kill them They have also Mines of Gold Silver and Copper Fish Wine c. The chief Rivers are 1. Danubius called also Ister 2. Savus 3. Dravus 4. Tibiscus which exceedingly abounds with Fish The Turk hath these chief Cities in Hungary 1. Buda on the Danow 2. Gyula on the confines of Transylvania 3. Pest. 4. Alba Regalis 5. Quinque Ecclâ—siae 6. Rab. The Emperor hath in his part 1. Presburg upon the edg of Austria 2. Strigonium or Gran. 3. Agraria 4. Comara 5. Toctax 6. Canista 7. Alkeinburg 8. Neheusel 9. Zigeth on the Dravus Dacia Described This Countrey is sufficiently fruitful and abounds with horses whose manes reach to the ground but to speak of the Provinces more particularly which are 1. Transylvania which hath on its North the Carpathean Mountains on the South Walachia on the West Hungary and on the East Moldovia The chief towns are 1. Alba Julia or Weisenburg 2. Claudiopolis or Clausenburg 3. Bristitia 4. Centum Colles 5. Fogaros 6. Stephanopolis c. Their present Prince is Rogotzi a Protestant 2. Moldovia is on the North end of Transylvania and extending to the Euxine Sea the chief Cities are 1. Zucchania 2. Fucchiana 3. Falezing 3. Walachia divided from Bulgary by the Danow the chief Cities are 1. Sabinium 2. Prailaba 3. Tergovista the Vayvodes seat It abounds with gold Silver Iron Saltpits wine Cattel horses brimstone c. 4. Servia which lyeth between Bosnia and Rascia the chief Cities are 1. Stoinburg the seat of the Despot 2. Samandria 3. Belgrade on the Danow 5. Rascia between Servia and Bulgary the chief City is Boden 6. Bulgary joyning on the East to the â—uxine sea on the West to Rascia the chief Cities are 1. Sophia the seat of the Beglerbeg of Greece 2. Nicopolis 7. Bosnia having Servia on the East Croatia on the VVest Savus on the South and Illiricum on the North the chief Cities are 1. Cazachium 2. Jaziga Sclavonia Described Sclavonia is more fit for Pasturage than for Corn their sheep and other Cattle bring forth young twice in a year and are shorn four times the Provinces are Illiricum or Windismarch which is bounded on the East with the Danow on the West with Carniola on the North with Dravus and on the South with Savus the chief Cities are 1. Zatha on Danubius 2. Zakaocz 3. VVindishgretz on Dravus 4. Sagouna It s now a member of Hungary Dalmatia which hath on the East Drinus on the West Croatia on the North Savus and on the South the Adriatique sea the chief Cities are 1. Ragusi a sea town and of great traffick 2. Sicum on the sea also 3. Jadara another sea Town 4. Spalato a sea town 5. Scodra or Scutary 6. Lyssa where Scanderbeg was buried these two last are under the Turks the other under the Venetians Croatia which hath on the East and South Dalmatia on the North Savus and on the West Istria and Carniola the chief Cities are 1. Gradiska situate on Savus 2. Bruman 3. Novigrade on the Savus neer Germany 4. Sisseg or Sissaken 5. Petrowya These people are usually called Crabbats and serve as mercenaries in the Emperors Armies Greece described Greece is bounded on the East with the Aegean sea the Hellespont Propontis and the Thracian Bosphorus On the West it hath Italy with the Adriatick sea on the North with the Mountain Hemus and on the South with the Jonian sea It s situate in the Northern temperate zone under the fifth and sixth Climates the longest day being about fifteen hours The people once were famous for Armes and Arts which made them account all others Barbarians now they are degenerated from the Prinstine vertue of their ancesters and are become unconstant ignorant riotous and idle At their feasts they drink till they come to the height of intemperancy hence grew our Proverb As merrie as Greeks The women are generally brown yet well-favoured and excessively amorous they use much painting to keep themselves in favour with their husbands who when they are wrinkled and old put them to all drudgery Their Church government was by four Patriarks 1. Of Alexandria 2. Of Hierusalem 3. Of Antioch 4. Of Constantinople Their language was Greek of which they had five Dialects 1. the Attick 2. the Dorick 3. the Aeolick 4. the Jonick 5. the common Dialect but now it is almost devoured by the Sclavonian or Turkish Tongue The soil is fruitfull and would yeild good profit if it were well husbanded but the natives having nothing that they can call their own in regard of their slavery to the Great Turk neglect husbandry The Commodities that they send abroad into other Countries are Wine Oil Copper Vitreal Velvets Damasks Grogreams c. and some Gold and Silver The chief rivers are Cephisus which rising in the frontiers of Epirus emptieth it self into the Aegean sea Erigon Alaicmon Strimon Athicus Stymphalus Ladon Inacus Pineus Populifer c. Greece is ordinarily divided into these seven parts 1. Peloponesus 2. Achaia 3. Epirus 4. Albania 5. Macedonia 6. Migdonia 7 and Thracia Peloponesus Described Peloponesus is a Peninsula almost surrounded with the sea only it is joyned to the firm land by an Istmus five miles broad which was fortified by a strong wall and five Castles called Hexamilium which reached from sea to sea It is in compasse six hundred miles and it is now called Morea and is divided into six Provinces 1 Elis. 2. Messina 3. Arcadia 4. Laconia 5. Argolis and 6. Achaia propria 1. Elis which hath on the East Arcadia on the West the Jonian sea on the North Achaia propria and on the South Messina the chief Cities are Argis nigh unto the river Alpheus It was formerly called Olimpia famous for the statue of Jupiter Olimpicus which was one of the Worlds wonders And Pisa. 2. Messina which hath on the East Arcadia on the North Elis on the West and South the sea the chief Cities are 1. Messina now Golpho di Coron 2. Pilon now Navarino 3. And Methone or Medon 3. Arcadia which hath