Selected quad for the lemma: country_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
country_n according_a call_v zone_n 18 3 13.1286 5 false
View all documents for the selected quad

Text snippets containing the quad

ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A07439 Historia mundi: or Mercator's atlas Containing his cosmographicall description of the fabricke and figure of the world. Lately rectified in divers places, as also beautified and enlarged with new mappes and tables; by the studious industry of Iudocus Hondy. Englished by W. S. generosus, & Coll. Regin. Oxoniæ.; Atlas. English Mercator, Gerhard, 1512-1594.; Hondius, Jodocus, 1563-1612.; Saltonstall, Wye, fl. 1630-1640.; Glover, George, b. ca. 1618, engraver. 1635 (1635) STC 17824; ESTC S114540 671,956 890

There are 23 snippets containing the selected quad. | View lemmatised text

did traffique with the Townesmen did once aske an Irishman in what part of Galloway Ireland stood valuing this Towne as the whole Country and the whole Country as this Towne There are reckoned to Galloway Anner Clare Sligo Arctlo and Alon Townes of note The Auteri whom I mentioned before did heretofore possesse the more Southerne part of this Connacia where is now Twomondia or Claria the Country of Clan-Richard and the Baronie of Atterith which plainely intimateth whence came the name of the Auteri Twomond called by Giraldus Theutmonia which though it lie beyond the River Senus or Shinnin may be added to Momonia is stretched forth into the Sea with a great Promontorie famous for the Seat of an Archbishop which they call Toam and for the Earles thereof namely the O-Brennis who descending from the ancient Earles of Connack were honoured by Henry the Seaventh with the Title of Earles of Twomond This Country or the most part of it the English call Clare-shire from Thomas Clare the youngest sonne of Gilbert the first Earle of Glocester to whom King Edward the first gave this Country Clan-Richard that is the Land of the sonnes of Richard is next unto this it tooke its name according to the Irish custome from one Richard an Englishman called de Burgo or Burgensis who afterward in this Country became a man of great note and power and out of this Family Henry the eighth created Richard de Burgo Earle of Clan-Richard Atterith commonly Athenri doth glory in that warlike Baron Iohn de Bermingham an Englishman out of which Family the Earles of Louth are descended but these Berminghams of Atterith degenerating into the Irish Wildenesse and incivilitie will scarce acknowledge that they were once English In this Atterith Geographers doe place the mouth of the River Ausoba which is now called the Bay of Galway for Galway in Irish called Gallive is seated on it being a faire Towne which through the benefit of the River is filled with many commodities brought thither both by Sea and Land Geographers doe also place the River anciently called Ravius but now Trowis in Connack it is also knowne by the name of Bannus for the inhabitants do call it Banny This River comming out of the Lake Ernus is the bounds of Connack and Vlster THE THIRD TABLE OF IRELAND ULTONIA CONATIA et MEDIA MEDIA MEDIA is the third part of Ireland which in the Country speech is called Mijh the English call it Methe Giraldus Midia and Media because perhaps it lyeth in the very middle of the Island For the Castle of Killaire in those parts which Ptolomie calls Laberus is held to be in the middle of Ireland and so much the name it selfe doth expresse for Lair in the Irish speech signifies the middle Richard Stanthurst writeth thus concerning the Etymon or signification of the word Media In the yeare of the World 2535. five brethren possessing the Islands they resolved to divide it equally into foure Provinces that so they might governe in them severally But least their younger brother whose name was Slanius might bee without some honour they consented together to bestow on him a share taken out of all foure partes Which was received by him chearefully and hence some suppose that it was called Media It stretcheth and extendeth it selfe from the Irish Sea even to the River Shennin which River doth part it from Connack It hath a wholesome pleasant Aire and deligthfull Prospect It aboundeth with corne pasturage and cattle having store of Flesh Butter Cheese Milke and the like and in regard of the strength of the Townes and Castles and the peace arising thence it is called the Chamber of Ireland The Irishmen doe write that this Country heretofore had Kings and that Slanius afterward became sole Monarch of all Ireland But when the English had set foote in Ireland Hugh Lacey did conquer the most part of it and King Henry the Second King of England granted it unto him to hold in fee and stiled him Lord of Media He having his head on a suddaine cut off by an Irishman while he was building the Castle of Derworth left behinde him Hugh Earle of Vltonia and Walter Lord of Trim the Father of Gilbert who dyed before him But by the daughters of Gilbert Margaret and Matilda the one part fell by the Ienvills of the House of Lorraine and the Mortimers unto the King for Peter of Ienvill being borne of that Matilda had issue Ioane who was married to Roger Mortimer Earle of March the other came by the Verdons to many Families in England In our forefathers time by an Act of Parliament it was divided into two parts namely into East and West Media The River Boand or Boyne which Ptolomie calleth Buvinda runneth through the East side and afterward when it hath washed Droghda a faire and populous Town called so from the bridge it divideth that part from Vltonia The Westerne Media hath nothing worthy of memory or note beside Laberus which Camden seemes to call Kaillair and the Towne of Delvin which heretofore did honour Peter Meset and now the renowned English Familie of the Nogents with the title of Barons For Gilbert Nogent as Richard Stanihurst hath it who writ eloquently of Irish matters having a gentlemans estate was rewarded by Hugh Lacy for his service performed in the Irish warres with the Colonies of Delvin and Four from him are the Barons of Delvin descended Those Irish Countries of O-Malaghlem Mac-Coglan O-Madden and Mogoghian whose names have a barbarous sound we leave unto others Among the Townes of Media Pontana is reckoned which is commonly called Droghda being a faire Towne and having an Haven fit for the receipt of Shippes But there are some who place the middle part of this Towne in Vltonia beyond the River There are also in Media these Townes Molingar Four Delvin Trimme Kelles Navain Aboy Dulek and Scrin There are also in this Province neare Fonera three Lakes not farre one from another whereof every one containeth his severall sorts of fish which never come one to another although the way be passable by the River flowing betweene them and beside if the fish be carried from one Lake to another they either die or returne to it againe Here is the River Boand aforesaid called so from the swiftnesse of it for Boan both in Irish and Welch doth signifie swift and Nechamus hath sung of it THE FOVRTH TABLE OF IRELAND WHICH CONTAINETH THE EASTERNE PART AND DOTH present these following Territories to view Glandeboy Tirone Arde Lecale Enaugh Arthule Newry Morne Fuse Vriel and many others also the Cities Armack and Downe LAGENIA THE FOVRTH TABLE OF IRELAND ULTONIA ORIENTAL Et quantum longis carpunt armenta diebus Exiguâ tantum gelidus ros nocte reponit How much the flocks doe eate in the long day The cold dew in the short night doth repay But for the company of Gyants which Giraldus placeth in this
which the most renowned for the studie of good Arts is Fanum Andraeae or Andrews Chappell which the ancient Scots did call Fanum Reguli and the Picts Rigmud In the middle of the Countrie is Cuprum or Cuper whither those of Fife do come to have their causes tryed on that side where it toucheth Iernia there stands Abreneth the ancient Pallace of the Picts Here Ierna runneth into Taus But Taus runneth foure and twentie miles having broken out of the Lake Taus which is in Braid Albin and is the greatest River in Scotland This River bending toward the mountaine Grampius doth touch Atholia a fertile Region placed in the wooddie Countrie of Grampius Beneath Atholia Caledon is seated on the right-hand bank of the River Taus an old Towne which onely retaineth a name common-called Duncaldene that is Hasell-trees For the Hasell trees spreading themselves all over and covering the fields thereabout with their shadie boughs gave occasion of that name both to the Towne and people These Caledones or people of Caledon being once reckoned among the chief Brittaines did make up one part of the Kingdome of the Picts For Ammianus Marcellinus divideth them into the Caledones and Vecturiones but of their names there is scarce any memorie left at this day Twelve miles beneath Caledon lyes the Countrie of Perth on the same right-hand banke On the left-hand banke beneath Atholia is Gour looking toward the East renowned for corne-fields and beneath this againe is Angusia stretched out betweene Taus and Eske this the ancient Scots did call Aeneia Some suppose it to be called Horestia or according to the English speech Forrest In it is the Citie Cuprum which Boethius to gratifie his Country ambitiously calleth Dei Donum the gift of God but I suppose the ancient name was Taodunum from Dunus that is an Hill situate by Taus at the foot whereof there is a Towne Beyond Taus the next foureteene miles off on the same banke is Abreneth otherwise called Obrinca After this Countrie is the Red Promontorie very conspicuous The River Eske called the Southerne cutting through the midst thereof the other Northerne Eske divideth it from Mernia It is for the most part a THE THIRD TABLE OF SCOTLAND SCOTIAE tabula III. plaine field countrie untill Grampius meeting with it beneath Fordune and Dunotrum the Earle Marshalls castle it somewhat remitteth its height and soe bendeth downe into the Sea Beyond it towards the North is the mouth of the River Deva commonly called Dea or Dee and about a mile distant from it the River Don by the one is Aberdon famous for the Salmon-fishing by the other another Aberdon which hath a Bishops Seat and Publike Schooles flourishing by the studies of all Liberall Arts. I finde in ancient monuments that the Hithermost was called Aberdea but now these Townes are called the old and new Aberdon From this strait Foreland betweene these two Rivers beginneth Marria which by little and little enlarging it selfe runneth 60. miles in length even to Badenacke or Badgenoth This Countrie extends it selfe in one continued ●●dge and doth send forth divers great Rivers into either Sea ●●●bria doth border on Badenacke being somewhat enclined toward the Deucalidon Sea and is as plentifull as any Countrie in Scotland with all Sea and Land-commoditie For it hath good corne and pasturage and is pleasant as well in regard of the shadie woods as coole streames and fountaines It hath so great plentie of fish that it is not inferiour to any part of the whole Kingdome For beside the plentie of river fish the Sea storeth it for breaking in upon the plaine ground and there being kept in with high bankes it spreads it selfe abroad in manner of a great Lake whence it is called in their countrie speech Abria that is a standing water They give also the same name to the neighbour Countrie Northward next to Marria is Buchania or Buguhan divided from it by the river Don. This of all the Countries of Scotland doth stretch it selfe farthest into the Germane Sea It is happie in pasturage and the increase of sheepe and is sufficiently furnished with all things necessarie for mans life The rivers thereof do abound with Salmons Yet that kinde of fish is not found in the river Raira There is on the bankes of this river a Cave the nature whereof is not to be omitted which is that water distilling drop by drop out of the hollow arch thereof these drops are straightway turned into little Pyramides of stone and if it should not be clensed by the industrie of men it would quickly fill up the cave even to the top Beyond Buchania towards the North are two small Countries Boina and Ainia which lye by the river Spaea or Spey that separateth them from Moravia Spaea riseth on the back-side of Badenach aforesaid and a good way distant from its fountaine is that Lake whence Iutea breaketh forth and ●owleth it selfe into the Westerne Sea They report that at the mouth thereof there was a famous Towne named from the river Emmorluteum the truth is whether you consider the nature of the Countrie round about it or the conveniencie of Navigation and transportation it is a place very fit to be a Towne of traffique And the ancient Kings induced thereunto by the opportunitie of the seat for many ages dwelt in the Castle Evon which now many are falsly persuaded was Stephanodunum For the ruines of that Castle are yet seene in Lorna Moravia followes from beyond Spaea even to Nessus heretofore it is thought it was called Varar Betweene those two rivers the German Ocean as it were driving backe the Land into the West floweth in by a great Bay and straightneth the largenesse of it The whole Countrie round about doth abound with Corne and Hay and is one of the chiefe of the whole Kingdome both for pleasantnesse and encrease of fruits It hath two memorable Townes F●gina neare the River L●x which yet retaineth its ancient name and Nessus neare the River Ne●●us This River floweth foure and twentie miles in length from the Lake Nessus The water is almost alwaies warme it is never so cold that it ●●ee●eth And in the extremitie of winter pieces of ice carried into it are quickly dissolved by the warmth of the water Beyond the Lake Nessus toward the West the Continent is stretched forth but eight miles in length ●o that the Seas are readie to meete and to make an Island of the remainder of Scotland That part of Scotland which lyeth beyond Nessus and this strait of Land North and West is wont to be divided into foure Provinces First beyond the mouth of Nessus where it drowneth it selfe in the German Ocean is the Countrie Rossia running out with high Promontories into the Sea which the name it selfe sheweth For Ro● signifies in the Scottish speech a Promontorie It is longer then broad For it is extended from the German Sea to the Pe●●alidon where it
Their memory is preserved by the Towne Contayna or as some pronounce it Contentaina at the head of that River at the mouth whereof the Town Oliva is seated over against the Pityusian Ilands Fiftly the Lusones whom Appianus placeth by the River Iberus in Iberia neere to the Numantines but Strabo at the Fountaines of Tagus Sixthly the Lobitani whose Metropolis Ptolemie cals Lobetum and which Beuterus writeth was first called Turia afterward Avarazin and last of all as at this day Albarazin Seventhly The Torboletae in Iberia neere to the Saguntines from whom Ptolemie calleth the Citie Turbula now perhaps called Torres Lastly the Celtiberi so called by Plinie lib. 3. cap. 3. Pomponius Mela lib. 3. cap. 13. and other Latines but by Ptolemie Celtiberes for though some doe place them in Old Castile yet the most in Valentia Among the Cities of this Kingdome Valentia commonly called Valencia is the Metropolis and a Bishops Seate It was built by King Romus as Vasaeus and others write and from him called Rome And the Romans having afterward amplified and enlarged it did call it Valentia a name signifying the same which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greeke doth But this seemes a fable to Resendius who reporteth that it was built and so named by the Portugals and other Souldiers It is seated in the innermost part of the Bay of Sucronia on the right-hand Banke of the River Turia It is famous for its manners institutions and profession of all Arts both Liberall and Mechanick It is happie in great wits and desirous to preserve peace and concord within it selfe It hath many Gentle-men in it and is very rich in Merchandize Wee will not passe by that which L. Marinaeus Siculus noteth concerning the Valentians They have saith hee a custome every yeare on the Feast of Saint Matthew that having made many supplications and prayers they repaire to the place of execution and there they take up the bodies of those who have suffered death whether they be hanged up or lye on the ground gathering also together their scattered bones if any be and by and by having laid all things on a Beere they carrie them to the common burying-place of the Citie and there with sacrifices and prayers doe bury them Petrus Medinensis relates that there are in this Citie ten thousand springs of water Heretofore on the left-hand banke of Turia not farre from Valentia stood Saguntum which Ptolemie affirmeth to be a Citie of the Heditani Strabo and Plinie doe place it a mile off from the Sea Strabo calleth it Saguntus Stephanus Zacynthus and Antoninus corruptly Secundum and Secunthum The most doe thinke it now to be the same with Morvedere being so called as some suppose from the ancient wals thereof Appianus maketh it the Colonie of the Zacynthi some doe suppose that Saguntis the Sonne of Hercules was the builder of it and some would have it named from the Iberian Sagi Silius the Italian Poet describeth the situation of it in his first Booke Livie in his 30 Book saith that the wals of Saguntum were cemented with Lime and dirt mingled together which was an ancient kinde of building It seemeth by Plinie that the Saguntini did heretofore reverence Diana being brought thither by the Zacynthians their Progenitors two hundred yeares before the destruction of Troy Pomponius Mela saith that the Saguntians are faithfull in the midst of troubles and adversitie Concerning the overthrow and devastation of this noble Citie which through their admirable constancie and great fidelitie towards the Romans happened in the yeare from the building of the Citie 535 M. Lucius Salinator and L. Aemilius Paulus being Consuls you may reade and have recourse to Livie lib. 21. Polybius lib. 3. Orosius lib. 4. cap. 14. Eutropius lib. 3. Florus lib. 2. cap. 6. Silius the Italian lib. 1. Valerius Maximus lib. 6. cap. 6. Augustine lib. 3. de Civit. Dei cap. 20. Aemilius Probus in Hannibal Cicero in his Philippicks and many others There are also at this day these famous places in Valentia First Segorbia which Ptolemie and Strabo as also Vasaeus Clusius Tarapha Emanuel Henricus and Augustus his coyne doe call Segobriga Plinie also calleth the Inhabitants Segobricenses placing them in the chiefe part of Celtiberia But Moralis thinketh that Segobriga should be called Injesta or Cabeca el Griego and Ioannes Mariana is of the same opinion Hieronimus Surita professeth that hee knew not where this Segorbia was Secondly there is Denia called by Cicero and Plinie as Florianus Morialis and Clusius will have it Dianium and Dianium Stipendarium Thirdly Incibilis so called by Livie and by Frontinus Indibilis where Scipio put Hanno Captaine of the Carthaginians to flight It is thought by Florianus to bee Chelva Fourthly that Towne which Plinie cals Illici Ptolemie Ilicias Pomponius Illice and in the Inscription of coyne Ilce Colonia Ptolemie also cals it Illicitani whence commeth the appellation of the Illicitane Bay and now some call it Alicanta and others Elche which commeth somewhat neerer to truth Fifthly Belgida a Citie of Celtiberia which still keepeth its old name Sixthly Leria which Ptolemie cals Hedeta whence the Heditani have their name Clusius and Moralis Oliete and later Writers Liria Seventhly the Towne which Florianus cals Orcelis and Gomecius and Clusius Horivela and Oriola but Nebrissensis Zamora Eightly the Towne which Livie and Ptolemie call Bigerra Beuterus and Vasaus Bejar and Clusius Villena Ninthly the Towne which Strabo cals Setabis Ancient Stones Satabis as Clusius witnesseth and is now called according to Florianus his opinion Xativa This Countrie hath many Rivers and especially Turia which Pomponius calleth Duria and Ptolemie Dorium The Inhabitants doe keepe the Arabick word calling it Guetalabiar which signifies pure Water This River bringeth great commodities to those places by which it floweth There is also the River Xucar called of old Sucron and Surus which riseth out of the Mountaines of Orespeda Valentia hath two Mountaines which are called Mariola and Pennagolosa which being full of divers sorts of rare hearbs and plants doe cause a great number of Physicians and Herbalists to resort unto them out of divers parts of Spaine in regard of the rarities which are found there The Citie of Valentia being venerable for antiquity hath many ancient Marbles which remaine to posteritie engraven with Roman inscriptions some of which may be seene in Beuterus Ambrosius Moralis Hottomannus and others In the Citie of Saguntum now called Morvedre there was a Theater a Scene and many other Reliques of antiquitie as the Sepulchres of the Sergii of L. Galba and Sergius Galba and other Romans with the stones whereof a Monasterie was built for the Friars of the Order of the Trinitie Valentia hath a famous Universitie in the Citie so called and also an other Universitie at Gandia which was not long since erected and founded by the Duke of Gandia that the Fathers of the Society of Iesus of which Society hee became one
of shot scaling Ladders underminings and all manner of engines which could bee invented or used And on the besieged side you might have seene men women and children with great courage of minde sustaine the furious assaults of their enemies and with constancie and cheerfulnesse repaire the ruines of the wals keepe down those that would have ascended up drive back their enemies to their trenches pursue them and at last fight it out for the most part with good successe Moreover you might have beheld them wearying the besiegers with daily sallying out upon them and lastly subsisting after nine assaults in which though their enemies did fight valiantly yet they were enforced to retire with great losse At length the Ambassadours of Polonia comming the 15 of Iune that they might bring with them Henry Duke of Anjou whom the States of the Kingdome had chosen for King God used this as a meanes to free Rochelle being now exhausted and drawne drie of Corne and being weakned in warlike fortifications besides the losse of many thousand men for now the King by Articles of peace confirmed by his royall solemne edicts did grant that Rochelle Montalban Nemansum and other Cities which did defend themselves should bee free to use their owne Religion such an event had this grievous siege which endured almost for seven moneths In which time more than twentie thousand men perished in conflicts sallies besieges by wounds hunger and sicknesse Rochelle is a constant Seate for presidiall Senatours and other Lawyers The other Cities Townes of note in Santonia are commonly called S. ●ean d' Angely Ponts or Pont l' Oubleze Blaye Taillebourg Borbesieux Brovage and Iosac S. Iean d' Angely otherwise called Angeliacum and S. Ioannes de Angeria is a new Citie although it be one of the speciallest and greatest of all Santonia It renewed its name from an Abbey which was built in that place to the honour of S. Iohn the Baptist the foundation whereof happened to be in the reigne of King Pipin who kept his Court in the Pallace of Angeria neere the River commonly called Boutonne in the Countrie of Alnia for hither as they say came certaine Monkes out of the Holy Land who brought with them the head of S. Iohn Baptist by whose comming the King obtained a famous victorie over his enemies and therefore in remembrance thereof hee built in that place where was the Pallace of Angeria the Abbey of Saint Iohn there placing religious men and endowing them with great revenues that they might there devote themselves to the service of God now by this meanes people flocking thither and building round about the Abbey by degrees it began to be a Citie as it is now at this day and was called by the name of S. Iohn All these things happened about the yeare of our Lord seven hundred sixtie eight while Pipin waged warre against Gaifer King of Aquitania whom hee overcame as it may bee read in the Historie of the Foundation of this Abbey This Citie the Duke of Andegavium or Aniou did besiege in the yeare 1569 and it was yeelded to him after 50 dayes siege the King granting the Citizens th●se conditions That they should march forth of the Citie with their Armour Horses and Colours displayed Santonia raiseth great store of money by its Corne which the Spaniards every yeare doe transport from thence or Merchants which fell it unto them And the Citie of Rochelle is very rich in regard of its neerenesse to the Sea and especially because of the traffick of the English and Dutch whose shipping doe often arrive there AQVITANIA AQVITANIA whose Southerne part is delineated in this Table some would have so called from the waters wherewith it doth abound and some derive it from the Towne Aquis or Aqs. It was extended according to Ptolemie from the Pyrenaean Mountaines even to Liger But now as Ortelius witnesseth from the River Garumna to the Ocean and the Pyrenaean Hils Towards the North-West it hath the Ocean which is called the Aquitanick Bay on the West Spaine on the North Gallia Lugdunensis and on the South Gallia Narbonensis In it according to Mercators account there are five Dukedomes twentie Counties and sixe Seigniories The Dukedomes are Vasconia or Guienna Avernia the Countrie of Engoulesme Berrie and Turonia Vasconia or Guienna being situated neere the Sea betweene Bayon and Burdeaux yeeldeth great store of wine which is transported from thence into other parts of Europe The chiefe Citie in it is Burdigala or Burdeaux the other Cities as Nerac Condom Mirande Nogerat Orthes Bazes and Dax are of no great note yet Dax is famous for her hot Fountaines Salt-pits and Iron-mettle Burdigala so called by Ptolemie is situated in a marsh which the overflowing of Garumna maketh and is adorned both with a Parliament and an University in which the Professours of all Arts and Sciences doe instruct Youth Avernia or the Dutchie of Avergne is partly a plaine and partly a mountainous Countrie It hath on the East Forest on the South Languedock on the West Quercy Perigort and Lemosin and on the North Berry and Bourbon Avernia is two-fold the Higher and the Lower The Higher which is called Le hault pays d' Avergne and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Avernia hath one prime Citie in it called S. Flour being seated on a high Rock the other Townes are commonly called Orillac Carlatum Muratum Buillons le Puy c. There is also in it the Territorie and Bayliwick of Beaucaire The Lower is rich and very fertile being full of excellent Wine Fruit Honey Saffron Cattell Wooll Medowes and Woods The Metropolis of it is Clarimontium commonly called Clermont It is proude of her Castle and is a Bishops Seate The other Cities or Townes are 13 in number of which Rion Monferrat and Isoire doe excell the rest Engoulesme on the North joyneth to Poictou on the West to Santonia on the South to Perigort and on the East to Lemosin It hath abundance of very good Wine fruit and Hempe The Metropolis of it is Inculisma now called Engoulesme being an ancient Citie It is seated on a hill which hangeth over the River Charente in a remote place from the Kings high way The lesser Towns are those which are commonly called Marton Chasteau Neuff Blaisac Chabannes Confollant Cuffec Aigres Gourville la Roche-Foucault Marveil Lanzac Villebois Momberon and Bouteville Concerning the Countrie of Berry wee will speake in a Table by it selfe Turonia commonly called Touraine beginneth somewhat beyond the Citie Amboise towards Belsia and endeth at the towne which is commonly called la Chapelle Blanche AQVITANIA AQUITANIA being subject in spirituall matters to the Bishops of Anjou and Chousai For they appoint and set downe limits betweene the Turonians and Andigavians The sweetnesse of the Ayre doth make this pleasant country more delightfull so that it is called the Garden and Orchard of France It is fruitfull in Wine and
Corne and hath woods convenient to hunt in The Metropolis or Mother-citie of this Dukedome is Caesarodunum Turonum called in French Tours This Citie excelleth for wealth and faire edifices or buildings On the East side the River Ligeris or Liger on the South and West sides the River Idra doe flow neere unto it The lesser Townes in it are Amboise Langes Chinon and others The Counties of Aquitaine are Tholouse Narbonne Albret Armignac Bigorre Bear Estrac Commingcois and Foix. Also Ventadour Pompadour Montignac in Poicton Perigort Fronssac Esparre Lymosin Touraine Marche the Vicountie of Aulnay and Basque The Signories or Lordships are Planes Grave Chaloces Saintonge and Auluis There are moreover five Archbishops first the Archbishop of Narbon under whom are these suffragans to wit the Bishops of Carcassone Agde of S. Pont de Tomieres Alet Mompelier E●ne Besiers Lodeut Nismes and Vse●z Secondly the Bishop of Bourges under whom are ten Bishops namely the Bishop of Clermont of Rhodes of Lymoges of Mande of Alby of Cahors of Castres of Tulies of S. Flour and of le Puy Thirdly the Bishop of Burdeaux under whom there are eight Bishops namely of Poictiers of Lucon of Matlezais of Sainctes of Engoulesme of Agen of Codon and of Sarlac Fourthly the Bishop of Tholouse which hath these Bishops under him the Bishop of Pamiers of Mirepoys of Montauban of La Vour of Rieux of Lombes and of Papons Fifthly the Bishop of Aux under whom are the Bishops of Aqs of Comminge of Tarbe of Basas of Lescure of Lictoure of Conserans of Oleron of Ba●one and of Adure which some call Ayre The Kingdome of Arelatum THe Kingdome of Arelatum is so called from the Citie Arelatum It containeth those Countries which lye betweene the Rivers Rhodanus and the Alpes And there are in this tract Sabaudia Delphinatus or Daulphine and Provincia There are divers conjectures concerning the name of Sabaudia or Savoy some derive it à Sabatiis vadis from the Sabatican Fordes others give it that name quasi Sabbatorum Pratum which Volaterranus calleth Sabaudiensis Auwe that is the Sabaudian Land some would have it called Savoy quasi Saul voje a way through Osiers and Willowes or quasi Sauve Voye that is the safe way which I know not who is feined to have made by fabulous Writers as being before dangerous in regard it was full of theeves and robbers Neere to Sabaudia on the North lyeth the Countrie of Burgundie and Helvetia having the Lake Lemanus lying betweene them On the East it hath Valesia and Pedemontium which have no certaine bounds but that high Mountaines doe runne betweene them and on the South and the West is Daulphine with some part of Rhodanus separating Sabaudia from the Dukedome of Burgundie The Ayre of Sabaudia is pure and the country is very mountainous In the Valleyes and Plaines the Soyle is very pleasant and fruitfull especially toward the North neere the Lake Lemanus where it yeeldeth most excellent rich Wine which is called Ripalium from the banke of the Lake The pastures doe bring up and feed all sorts of Cattell and especially there where the lesser Mountaine of S. Bernard doth rise in heigth The Metropolis or Mother-citie of Sabaudia is Chamberiacum commonly called Chamberri in which there is a Parliament The Citie is seated in a Vale and encompassed round about with Mountaines The Counties of Geneva Morienne and Tarentais the Marquesate of Susa and some other Signiories are described with Sabaudia as parts thereof and lastly the Countrie of Bressa The Countrey of Geneva Antoninus calleth Cenava It is a very ancient City seated by the Lake Lemanus and divided in two parts which stand upon the two bankes of the River Rhodanus but joyned together by a wooden bridge on both sides whereof there are houses though the greater part of houses be toward the South and the lesser toward the North. The Countrie of Morienne doth extend it selfe to the River Archus where there is a faire Towne called S. Iean de Morienne The Countie of Tarentaise is almost enclosed with the Alpes and the Rivers Archus and Ara It is so named from the Citie Tarantais which the Inhabitants doe now call Moustier the Germans Munster in Tartaansen and the Latine Writers Munsterium The Marqueship of Susa is so called from the Towne Susa not farre from the head of the River Doria or Duria which doth discharge and exonerate it selfe into the River Padus called by the Italians Po. There are also other Townes of Sabaudia as Aiguebelle Mont Belial Bellay Ni●y Montmelian Incilles c. Delphinatus followeth Some would derive the name thereof à Castello Delphini which is called in French Chasteau Dolphine Provincia cleaveth unto it on the South and Bresse on the North the River Rhodanus running betweene them on the West side is the Countie of Viennois and on the East lyeth Pedemontium and Sabaudia The Archiepiscopall Cities heere are Vienna and Ebrodunum Strabo calleth Vienna the Metropolis of the Allobrogians Ptolemie cals it the Mediterranean Citie of the Allobrogians Stephanus calleth it Biennus and it is commonly called Vienne Ebrodunum Ptolemie cals Eborodunum and Strabo Epebrodunum It is a famous Towne of the Caturigians of the maritime Alpes which lye neere the Sea Antoninus calleth it Eburodunum but in French it is called Ambrum There are five Cities which have Bishops Valentia Dia Gratianopolis Augusta and Vapingum Valentia according to Antoninus and Ptolemie is commonly called Valence and is the title of a Duke Dia is called by Antoninus Dia Vocontiorum but commonly Dio and is the Metropolis or chiefe Citie of the Countrie which in French is called Pays de Diois Gratianopolis was heretofore called Cularo Isidorus calleth it the Citie of Gratianopolis but it is commonly called Grenoble Augusta neere to the River Isere Plinie cals Augusta Tricastinorum where the great Senate of Daulphine is kept Sidonius Tricastina Vrbs but now as Ioseph Scaliger thinketh it is called S. Antony de Tricastin That which Antoninus cals Vapingum or as some reade it Vapincum and the Itinerarie Table Gap is now called Caput agri and in French Gapencois It is environed round with Mountaines It was formerly and is also at this day a famous Towne the Inhabitants doe call it L●●●l S. D●go I passe by the lesser Townes Provence is to be described next but before I come unto it I will adde something out of Mer●ator concerning the State Ecclesiastick Heere are five Archbishops as first the Archbishop of Tarentais in Sabaudia under whom are the Bishops of Sitten and Augusta 2 ly the Arch-Bishop of Am●rum under whom are the Bishops of Lagne of Grasse of Lena of N●●a of S. Glande of Valne of Vap which some call Gap of Bria●●on and of S. Pol. Thirdly the Archbishop of Vienn● to whom there are sixe suffraganes the Bishop of Valence and Dye the Bishop of ●●viers of S. Iean de Morienne of Geneve
doe now call Virdunum and Verdunum Antonius calleth it Verodunum And in the Register Booke of the Provinces it is called Civitas ●erdune●sium or l' Euesch● de Verdun And the three Cities aforesaid have Counties belonging to them THE DVKEDOME OF LOTARINGIA The Southerne part OUR order and Method doth now require that we should reckon up the chiefe Rivers of Lotaringia but first wee will speake concerning the Lakes It hath many Pooles and Lakes which are full of fish Among which there is one that is 14. Miles in compasse in which there are great Carpes of three foote long which are so pleasant in taste that they farre exceede the Carpes in other Countries for sweetnesse The Duke of Lotaringia receaveth 16000. Franks every third yeare for fish taken in this Lake It is watered with these famous Rivers Mosa Mosella Saravo Voloia Mortana Mu●ta Sella Hidia and others Concerning Mosa it appertaineth to lower Germanie The other Rivers doe properly belong to this Dukedome the better part of Mosella and Saravus the rest wholy Mosella riseth in the Mountaine Vog●sus not farre from the Springhead of Araris a little above the Towne which is commonly called Bussan and so gliding downe from Vulturnum to the West having view'd those Townes which are call'd in French l' Estrate Remiremont Espinal Charmes Baton it bendeth his course from the East westward and runneth straite forward to Tullum an Episcopall Citie whence running againe Eastward it bendeth Northward even to Fruardum and having visited the Mediomatricians the Treverians and other people it runneth into the River of Rhene That which the Germanes call Mosel the French call Moselle It is thought that Rhenanus Ptolemie Lib. 11. Cap. 9. and others did call it Obri●gos But Iohn Herold noteth that Obringen so called by Ptolemie is not a River but a part of Land neere the River Rh●me which is now called Ober Rhingham also Clemens Trolaeus Mosellanus witnesseth as Abraham Ortelius writeth that a certaine Country of ●and neere Mosella is yet called Obrincum Ausonius Eidyll 3. doth celebrate the praise of Mosella in learned verses both for the clearenesse of the water and easy sayling thereon and for the Townes and Pallaces which beautified the bankes thereof and also for the fish therein as the Mullet the Trout the Barbell the Salmon the ●amprey the Perch the Tench the Bleake and the Gudgeon of which i● hath great store and lastly for the Rivers which runne into it as Pronaea Nemesa ●ura Gelbi Erubro Lesura Drahona Salmona Saranus and Alisontia L. Vetus in the Raigne of Domitius Nero the Emperour attempted to joyne Mosella and Araris by making a channell be●weene them that the armies being convey'd out of Italie by Sea and afterward on the Rivers Rhodanus and Arar by that channell and so passing by the River Mosella into the Rhene might at last be brought againe to the Ocean that so the jouney might bee more easie and the westerne and northerne shoares betweene them might be made navigable as Cornelius Tacitus writeth Lib. 18. Of which Ausonius Te foutes vivique lacus te caerula noscent Flumina te veteres pagorum gloria luci Te Druna te sparsis incerta Druentia ripis Alpinique colent Fluvij dupitemque per Vrbem Qui meat dextrae Rhodanus dat nomina ripa Te stagnis ego caruleis magnumque sonoris Amnibus aquorea te commendabo Garumnae The Fountaines Lakes and blew streames shal know thee And woods which of Villages the glorie be Thee Druna thee Druentia that doth glide With winding course betweene his bancks so wide And all the Rivers on the Alpine hill Shall thee adore and reverence thee still And Rhodanus that doth through the Citie flow Naming the right hand banck as it doth goe With the blew Lakes and streames that greatest are And Sea-like Garumne I will thee compare Saravus rising not farre from the Salmensians is the greatest of all those Rivers which runne into Mosella it is navigable and famous for the receipt of other Rivers and after it hath view'd the Cities and Townes which are commonly called Sar-Burg Fenestrange Sar-Vberden Sar-Abben Guemund Sar-Pruck Walderfing Sar-Brug and others at length it meeteth with Mosella neere the walls of Augusta of the Treverians not farre from Kontherbruck Ausonius mentioneth it in praysing Mosella It retaineth that name still For the Inhabitants call it Sar. And the ancients did call it Sarta as appeareth by an inscription which was brought to Trevers from a Towne seated by that River which is now called Sarpruck that is Sarrae Pons or Sarra Brigde CAES RO. EXER IMP. P. P. S.C. Au. TREVE INGR. ESSUM H. CASTRA SARRAE FLU PRO. MIL. CUSTODIA BIENN POTITUS EST. THE DVKEDOME OF LOTHORINGIA Lotharingia Meridiona THE DVKEDOME OF BVRGVNDIE· LET so much according to our Method suffice concerning Lotharingia The Dukedome of Burgundie followes or lower Burgundie The name of Burgundie commeth from the Burgundians who being a people of Germanie descended of the Vandalls and so called from the word Burgis that is from the Townes of Garrison being disturbed by the Almaines who violently seated themselves in their Countrie which is now cal'd the Palatinate under the conduct of Theodisius the sonne of Arcadius the younger they drove out the Sequeans and Aedians and possest themselves of this part of ancient France with the Nuithons whom Tacitus mentioneth Peter Sancto-Iulianus deriveth the Etymologie of Burgundie from a certaine place commonly call'd Burg-ogne in the Countrie of Langrenia It was heretofore a Kingdome about the yeare 1034. and afterward it was divided into a Dukedome and Countie the former toward the East called the lower and royall Burgundie the latter toward the East called the higher and Imperiall Burgundie Wee will entreate of the Dukedome in this Description and of the Countie in the next The Dukedome is encompas'd on the East side with the Counties of Sabaudia and Burgundie having the River Rhodanus flowing betweene them on the South is the Territorie of Lions on the West the faire fields of the Nevernians and Borbonians on the North lies Campania It is a Champion Countrie and inferiour unto none for fertilitie and fruitfullnesse for here is plenteous stoare of Wine and Corne so that Bacchus and Ceres seeme to contend who should exceede the other in bestowing their guifts most liberally upon this Country Richard Earle of Augustodunum a stoute man and well experienced in warlike matters was created Duke of all Burgundie beyond Araris by Odon King of France who was afterward Duke of Burgundie 32. yeeres Hee left Burgundy to his Sonne Rudolphus who was afterward chosen King of France and Hugo Niger his Brother succeeded him in his Dukedome After him succeeded Odo his Brother or his Sonne for I finde Authors of both opinions After whom followed Henry his Brother who dying without Issue Robert King of France got the Dukedome of Burgundy Henry having left it him as they say by his last
aedifices and houses in it which yet the warres have somewhat defac'd and also a Church consecrate to S. Nicolas and a Monastery to S. Francis in which Iohn of Lutzenburg King of Bohemia the sonne of the Emperour Henry the seaventh and father of Charles the fourth was buryed This Citty hath beene often defaced by the fury of Mars who hath no agreement with the Muses who love peace and tranquility yet it hath bred many famous learned men And among many others Nicolas Navis a man so learned and skilfull in the civill law that he was Praesident of the Court at Lutzenburg untill he dyed but he left a sonne of his owne name who being equall to his father in vertue was in such savour with the Emperour Charles the fifth that he made him Vicechancellour of the whole Empire in which office he continued untill his death Arlunum which is called in their language is situate on the top of a hill being a very neate town where the Moone was worshipped after the manner of the heathens and from thence it is supposed to have beene so named Heere many Monuments of antiquitie are found which the Earle Peter Ernest caused to be brought home to his owne house which is in the suburbs of the Cittie of Lutzenburg Bartholmew Latemus a very learned man was borne in this country Which is watered with many rivers the chiefest of which is Mosella of which I have spoke in Lotaringia the others are Chier Mosa B●moy H●ul Lech Alsatus Atardus Sourus Prum●us M●neus Ghomeus Orto Albis and besides many little Rivuletts The Country is raised on every side with Mountaines and interlaced with thicke woods But all of them are but boughes in respect of the Forrest of Arden in France The politicke state as in the other Countries doth consist of three members first the Clergie secondly the Nobles in which are the Counts of V●anden of la Roch en Ardenne Salme Durby Marche S. Vit. S. Iansberg There are also many Baronies and Lordships The third member is the principall Citties as Lutzenburg Arlunum Theonis villa otherwise called Dietenhove and Rodemacher● The Court for the whole Province is kept in the Cittie of Lutzenburg and the pleadings are in French or Dutch according as the Plantiffes are of severall Countries For Lutzenburg Arlunum Theonis Villa and Rodemachera doe speake Dutch but Ivoys Mammedy Marville and Danvilliers doe speake French in regard whereof it is necessary that the Iudges and Advocates and the officers of the Court should understand both languages From this Court appeales may be brought to Mechlin where those things which are written in Dutch are faithfully translated into French This Dukedome hath two Marquiships under it seaven Counties many Baronies and Lordships and great store of Noble men so that no Province doth produce so many All of them doe live magnificently and are curteous vertuous constant and faithfull to their Prince Their exercise is Armes and hunting They live civilly and courteously together visiting one another in mutuall kindnesses They contract marriages with their neighbours and in their matches they doe more respect honour and dignity than portion If any one doe commit an enormity he loseth his credit and is not admittted to converse with the Nobles and is thought to be unworthy of any publicke office and his oath is not esteemed in publicke trialls If any controversie doe arise amongst them they referre it to certaine Arbitrators who are to compound and end the matter so that they have no great use of Lawyers and Proctors yet they are too much given to wine And the Country people doe complaine very much of their hard usage and servitude so that if a Country-man intend to put forth his children he cannot doe it without his Lords leave which is farre different from the libertie of the Low Countries Arlunum which we mentioned before is situate on the top of a Mountaine and is foure miles distant from Lutzenburg and sixe from Mommedy It was sometime a faire Towne but somewhat defaced by the violence of warres Rodemachera is three miles distant from Lutzenburg which though it be no great towne yet is very beautifull and fortified with a strong Castell Theodonis-villa which in Dutch is called Dietenhoue is very conveniently situated on the left hand bancke of the River Mosella it is foure miles from Lutzenburg having a faire bridge it is a pleasant strong Towne and well fortified against the invasions of enemies Regino affirmeth that Charles the Great was used to hunt very much neere unto this Cittie Gravemakerum and Koninckmakerum are small little Townes neere Mosella being a mile distant one from another and 5 miles from Lutzenburg Dieterichum is seated neere the little River Sure and is five miles distant from Lutzenburg Viretonum and Echternatum are little small townes and are both five miles distant from Lutzenburg Vianda standeth by the side of a little Riu●let seaven miles from Lutzenburg it hath a Countie belonging to it and is subject to the Prince of Orange Bastona●um is neere unto the Forrest of Arden being three miles from the new Castell and 17 from Lutzenburg It is a little Towne but so famous heretofore that it was called Paris en Ardenne in regard of the markets for Cattell and Corne which were usually kept there whither the Countrie round about did bring all sorts of commodities to the great enriching of the Towne Betweene this Cittie and Arlunum and S. Huberts Church there are some Villages in the middle of the wood in which the women after the Spanish fashion when their husbands are carryed forth to be buried and interred doe runne crying and weeping through the streetes tearing their hayre and scratching their faces with their nayles in a mad and furious manner which custome doth rather favour of Heatheanisme than Christianity M●mmedium is conveniently situated on a high mountaine at the foote whereof the River Chirsus glideth along it is nine miles distant from Lutzenburg and foure from Danvillieres being a faire fortified towne New-Castell is in Ardenne it is 5 Miles distant from Ivosium and nine from Lutzenburg it is now a small Towne and much decayed Danvillieres is twelve miles distant from Lutzenburg and foure from Verdunum being in Lotharingia Marville is divided into two parts the one whereof is subject to the Duke of Lutzenburg and the other to the Duke of Lotharingia and therefore it is called the common Towne it standeth by the River Chirsus and is 12 miles distant from Lutzenburg Roche en Ardenne or the Rocke in Ardenne and Durbium are twelve miles distant from Lutzenburg being both pleasantly seated S. Viti is a very pleasant small towne and is 12 miles distant from the Metropolis and belongeth to the Prince of Orange Salma is a rich and populous Cittie having a Countie appendant unto it Marcha is a very auncient Towne and is 14 miles from Lutzenburg We will not mention for brevitie sake the Castells
neere unto it Lago de Perugia that which Antoninus calleth Lacus Aprilis is now called Fangosa Palude the Sea-lake or the Salt-lake or Lago d'Orbitello is called in their language Lacus Vadimonis there are also the Ciminian Lake the Volsiniensian the Sabatian the Bientinian and the Cianian It hath many Rivers which are full of excellent Fish as namely Laventia Frigidus Anser Arnus Cecinna Cornia Alma Brunus Vmbro Osa Albengia Floris Martha Minio Eris Vacina Sanguinaria Aron and some others It hath also wholesome Bathes and other waters endued with wonderfull vertue Here are divers Mountaines as also the Mountaine Ciminus well knowne to Livie Vibius and Virgil. That which Pliny calls Soractis is now called Monte de S. Silvestro Orosius also placeth the Fessulanian Mountaines in Etruria The Cortonensians also are there on the North side of the Lake Transumenus The Woods are the Volsinian wood the Ciminian wood and Maesia It hath also divers Libraries as at Pisa by the Dominicans at Luca by the Franciscans sixe in the Citty of Florence and one at Saena and Perusia Moreover Livy and Diodorus doe report that the Etrurians are the strongest richest and best governed Nation of Italy It appeareth by ancient Writers that they were alwayes much adicted to ceremonies insomuch that they were the first that invented Sacrifices Divinations Southsayings and Auguries and so delivered them to the Romanes as Tully in his Booke of divination and others doe note Mercator doth reckon these Bishops in Tuscany Nepesinus Castellanensis Montis Falconis Viterbiensis Suavensis Castellanus Vulteranus the Archbishop Senensis Fesulanus Zarzanensis Sutri Ortanensis Cornetanensis Tuscanensis Clusinus Aretinas Pientinensis Pistoriensis Binensis Corthonensis Civitatensis Balneorigensis Vrbevetanus Castrensis Perusinus Grossetanus Lucanus Florentinus Arch Lunensis the Archbishop of Pisa under whom are Messanensis Civitanensis and other Bishops in Corsica THE MARQVISHIP OF ANCONITANA AND the Dukedome of SPOLETO THE Marquiship of Ancomitana was so called by the Langbards from Ancone a famous Mart Towne where the Marquesses of this Country had their seate of residence Livy and others doe call it Picenum There confineth on the Marquiship of Ancomitana on the South the Sabinians Vilumbrians and Vmbrians with the Apennine Mountaine on the West Gallia Cisalpina with the River Isaurus on the North the Adriatick Sea Concerning the Easterne bounds there are divers opinions Pliny maketh them to be the Rivers Ate●nus and Ancon and Ptolomy the River Matrinus with Ancon The moderne writers the chiefe whereof is Leander doth make the River True●tum to bee the bounds and limmits betweene them and the Preturiarians The Country of Picenum according to Livy is very fertill but yet it hath greater store of fruite than corne The best wine is made at the Towne called Sirolum which Plinny calleth Ancon●tanian Wine This Country is for the most part under the Popes Iurisdiction there are these Townes in it Ancona Recanatum Fanum D. Mariae Laureti Camerinum Fanum Fortunae Tolentinu●● ●●mum Macerata and some others Townes also Eugebium Coligum ●orum ●e●●rronij S. Leo Senogal●ia V●binum and some others The chiefe Citty is An●ona which Ptolomy calls Ancon It still retaineth that name which was first given to this Citty because the Country bendeth here like an Elbowe It is opposite to the Promontorie Cumeras and it is enclosed on the North with the Sea and the Haven moreover it is well fortified with Gates Bulwarks and Walls It hath a Port or Haven which is strong both by Art and nature and hath a convenient entrance into it and is able to receive many shipps which was built by the Emperour Traian The Citty hath twelve Fortes which are all well furnished with ordinance It is famous in regard that Graecians Illyriaus Pannonians and all Europe doe trade and traffique here it is very populous and the streets are long and straite The soile round about is fruitfull yeelding Wine and other commodities There are also Firmium now called Firmo an ancient Citty Ricenetum Reccanolo or Recunati which the Italians doe now call Ricanati is a famous Mart-towne in so much that Merchants out of all Europe and Asia doe come thither twice a yeere to Faires Some ruinous pieces of Helvia Ricina may be seene as you travell along among the rest there is a great brick Amphitheater on the banke of the River Potentia and other carkasses of great Buildings Auxinum is an ancient Episcopall Citty commonly called Osmo Livy calls it Oximum Many Epitaphs and Elogies which have beene found here of late do shew the antiquity thereof Fabrianum in Latine call'd Faberiana is a Towne THE MARQVISHIP OF ANCONITANA AND the Dukedome of SPOLETO MARCHA ANCONITANA cum SPOLETANO DUCATU very full of Shops which are so distributed that every street hath severall shops so that one street hath all Smiths and another all Shopmakers and another Papermen Sevogallia is an Episcopal Citty which as it appeareth by Polibius and others was first called Sena afterward Senogallia it is now called Sinigaglia or Sinegalia it hath a thick ayre Parvum is watered on the West with the River Misa being fortified with a thicke brick wall with a Ditch and Bulwarkes But yet in regard it is so neere unto the Sea it wanteth fresh water so that they are faine to use that which is brought thither Fanum is an Episcopall Towne not very great situated on a Mountaine commonly called Fano Tacitus and Ptolemy doe commonly call it Fanum Fortunae for there are still many ruines remaining of that sumptuous Church which was dedicated to Fortune Here is a Marble Arch of costly and curious workmanship which is thirty Cubits high and thirty broad On the top whereof which is fallen downe there was an Elegie engraven in praise of the Emperour Constantine The River Argilla runneth by it Forum Sempronium now called Fossumbrunum or Fossumbruno is an Episcopall Towne in which there are many tokens of antiquity for besides Aquaeducts paved wayes pillars and other things there are many marbles throwne downe with ancient inscriptions which have beene gathered by others Pisaurum is an Episcopall Citty now called Pesaro A famous Mart-towne of Italy rich in Merchandise beautifull and adorned with faire houses Vrbinum is situate on a high unlevell Mountaine betweene the same Rivers it is a neate Citty fairely built and hath a fruitfull soyle round about it and it is adorned with a faire Library which is furnished with many excellent Bookes In Picenum by the side of the Mountaine Victor there is a famous La●e which they call Nursinum The common people doe affirme that evill spirits doe swim in it because the water doe continually leape up and fall downe againe to the great admiration of those who are ignorant of the cause thereof These Rivers doe water it Truentus commonly called Tronto Castellanus Asonus Letus mortuus Tenna Chientus Flastra Letus Vivus Asinus Potentia Muson Esinus Misa Sontinus Cesanus Metaurus Cantianus Boasus Argila There are these
●dumaea It was so called from Iudah which was the chiefe Tribe in which there were many Citties and Townes but the fairest of them all was Hierusalem the Metropolis of Iudaea and the most famous Citty in the World In Ptolemies time it was called Ae●ia Capatolia and now the barbarous Inhabitants doe call it Coz or Godz or Chutz There are also other Townes and famous places in Iudaea beside Hierusalem as Iericho Ioppe which is now called I●ffa Stratoes Towre afterward call Caesars Towre also Bethlehem Chebron or Hebron before called Arbee and Mambre and Cariatharbe that is the Citty of foure men And the Towne Macherus with a strong Castle beyond Iordane ●ere were also Sodom and Gomorrah which were destroyed for their abominable wickednesse Samaria followeth which is situate in the middle betweene Iudaea and Galile It was so called from the Metropolis of the same name which Amri King of Israel built it is now called Sebaste here are these Townes Sichem afterward called Neapolis also Capernaum Bethsaida and Chorazin Galiley is situate beweene the Mountaine Liba●us and Samaria and it is devided into the higher and the lower the higher is otherwise call'd the Galiley of the Gentiles neere to Tyre The lower is situate by the Sea of Tiberias or Genezareth The Citties in it are Naim Cana Nazareth and Gadara Butthe whole Country is situate betweene two Seas and the River Iordane It hath many Lakes which are Navigable and have great store of good Fish But the Riuer Iordane which the Hebrewes call Iarden runneth thorow all the length of this Country This River as Hierome writeth issueth from two Fountaines not farre distant one from another namely ●or and Dan and afterward these two forked streames joyning together doe make the River Iordan It hath two chiefe Mountaines Hermon on the East and Tabor on the West which are very high and all the other Mountaines are but armes and parts of them For Ebal Bethoron and Misha or Maspha and Be●el by Hermon Gelboe Gerizim Sarona and lastly Carmel neere to the Sea are but part of the Mountaine Tabor There are also these Mountaines Mount Sion Mount Moriah Mount Olivet Mount Calvary and others It hath also many Woods Wildernesses and Groves Here are many faire buildings and especially at Hierusalem But of all those workes which were famous in ancient time the chiefe is Mons Domus and the Jebusians Tower into which King David carried the Arke of the Lord and there is continued untill Salomons Temple was built and consecrated of which there are some ruines yet remaining where it is thought that Christ supped at the time of the Passeover There are also some Monuments of David and the Kingdome of Iudah There was also Davids House which is still preserved and called by the name of Davids Tower Here also some ruines of Mello at the farthest part of the Mountaine Moriah Here was Salomons famous Temple which was 7. yeeres building and had 50000. men working daily at it Concerning the magnificence and statelinesse whereof you may reade in Lib. 1. of the Kings Cap. 6.7 Chron. Lib. 2. Cap. 3. 4. Concerning their Lawes and Customes for brevity sake I will adde nothing but referre the Reader to the Bookes of Moyses Exodus Leviticus Numbers and Deuteronomy ASIA THE LESSE VVHICH IS NOVV CALLED NATOLIA ASIA the lesse so called to distinguish it from the greater is now to be described for so the Romanes when they made a Province did call it after the name of the Continent The Turkes doe call it now Natolia or A●atolia as if you should say the East Country from the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies the East which Peter Bellonius sheweth in his learned observations of his travels And it is called of late the greater Turky Marius Niger delivers that the Low-Country-men call it new Turky and the Barbarians Rom namely the Northerne part which containeth Bithynia Galatia and Cappadocia But they call the Southerne Country in which are Licia Cicilie and Pamphilia Cottomanid●a The bounds of this Country on the East is the River Euphrates on the South the Mediterranean Sea on the West the Aegean Sea or the Archipelagus of Greece on the North it is washed with the Euxine Sea and the greater Sea It containeth therefore all that Chersonesus which lyeth betweene the Euxine the Cilician and Pamphilian Sea The breadth of it according to Pliny is about 200. miles namely from the Isacan Bay now called Golfo de Lajazzo and the Amanian Haven even to Trapezuntes which is on the Sea Coast in which he consenteth with Herodotus who saith that the Isthmus of the lesser Asia is 5. dayes journey This Country is not inferiour to any other both for the gentle temperatenesse of the ayre and the fertility and goodnesse of the soyle Which Cicero witnesseth in these words The Custome and Revenues of other Provinces O Citizens are so small that we are not content to undertake the defence of the Provinces for them But Asia is so fat and fruitfull that it excelleth all other Countries both for the fertility of the Fields the variety of Fruits faire Pastures and divers commodities which are exported from thence So that it was heretofore enriched with fruitfull Fields fatt Pastures and Gold-bearing Rivers Besides it hath all things that can be desired wanting nothing but is content with her owne commodities It hath great store of Wine and Oyle But it hath one shrewd inconvenience which is that it is often troubled with Earth-quakes so that Citties are over-throwne by them as in the raigne of Tiberius Caesar 12. Citties in Asia fell downe in one night as Pliny reporteth Lib. 2. In this Asia there were heretofore the great Kingdomes of the Trajans of Craesus Mithridates Antiochus of the Paphlagonians Galatians Cappadocians and others It was first governed by Cyrus King of Persia afterward the Macedons and Alexanders Captaines together with Syria Aegypt and Babylon did devide it amongst themselves afterwards it was wasted by the Romanes and then by the Turkes so that it hath now nothing memorable in it and it is all subject to the Turkish Emperour Here are no Nobility THE LESSER ASIA· PEREGRINATIO PAULI In qua omnis loca querit●● fit 〈◊〉 in actis et epistolis Apostolorum et Apocal●psi describunt●● by blood or descent but all are equall and the great Turke uses them as slaves who hath here his Beglerbeys and Sangiacks in divers Countries and Provinces Natolia containeth these Countries Pontus Bithynia Asia properly so called Lycia Galatia Pamphilia Cappadocia Cil●cia and the lesser Armenia Pontus and Bithynia were heretofore devided and parted by the little River Sagaris flowing between them afterward they were reduced into one Province which is now called Birsia or Be●sangial It was heretofore Mithridates his Kingdome The chiefe Citties are Chalcedon Ni●●media Cerasus Prusa by the Mountaine Olympus where the great Turke kept his residence before he tooke
one certaine point and also Mathematicians prove by the Eclipses and shadowes of Dyalls Besides it is found out by the long and certaine observations of Travellers that the longitudes and latitudes of places doe varie according to their severall distances so that it is most certaine without any farther demonstration that there are Perioeci that is to say those that dwell under the same Parallel and Antoeci that is those that dwell alike distance from the Aequator but the one Northward and the other Southward and Antipodes that is people dwelling on the other side of the earth with their feet directly against ours Antiquitie sheweth that the compasse of this Globe where it is largest is 360 degrees and this latter age doth affirme the same wherefore if to every degree you allow 15 Germane miles or 60 Italian miles it will be easie to finde out the circuit of the whole earth All the parts whereof as Plinie saith in his 2 d booke of Naturall Historie Cap. 68. and as others also have delivered are but a point in respect of the World for the whole Earth is no better This is the matter and seate of our glory here we beare honours here we exercise government here wee covet riches here men doe make tumults and wage civill warres thereby to make themselves roome upon the earth by slaughtering one another And that I may passe over the publicke furie of nations this is it in which we drive forth our bordering neighbours and by stealth encroach upon their Country so that hee that hath most enlarged his territories and driven the adjoyning inhabitants from their bounds in how small a part of earth doth he rejoyce or when hee hath enlarg'd it to the measure of his owne covetousnesse what portion doth hee obtaine for all his labour Thus farre Plinie And let this suffice concerning the earth as it does make one Globe with the Sea Now as it is distinguisht from the waters and called in the Scriptures drie land it is the proper habitation of men And for the great desert thereof we give it the name of Mother This receiveth us at our birth nourishes us being borne and being once brought to light it doth alwayes sustaine us Lastly when we are cast off and forsaken by nature then chiefly like a mother shee hides us in her bosome This also is to be added that a Promontorie is called a part of land lying out farther than the rest and OF THE WORLD TYPUS ORBIS TERRARUM יהוה Domini est terra plenitudo eius orbis terrarum universi qui habitant in eo Psalmo 24. is contrary to a Bay Such are the Lacinian and Sephyrian in the farthest part of Italie the Lilybaean in Sicilie and the Sigaean in Asia That is called an Iland which is washed on every side with the Sea such are Crete Cyprus Sicilie c. A Paeninsula is that which is joyned to the Continent by a narrow ridge of Land which the Greekes call Isthmos and the Paeninsula it selfe Chersonesus such are the golden Chersonesus the Cimbricke the Dacike the Tauricke and others In this place something also is to be added concerning the Sea one Sea is called the Mediterranean the other the Ocean The Ocean which the holy Scripture doth call the gathering together of the waters doth exceed all the other Seas in bignesse and largenesse and is spread abroad through the whole earth and wandring with a winding course by diverse coasts of the world and by the Shoares Iles and Promontories of severall Nations it changeth its name with those places As in one place it is called the Westerne Ocean in other places the Easterne Aethiopian Spanish Atlanticke Scythian French Brittish Germane Northerne and Frozen and elsewhere by moderne observation it is called Mare del Sur or the peaceable Sea the Archipelagus of Lazarus the Indian Sea Lantchidol There are many Bayes belonging to it as the Arabian the Persian the Gangeticke the Great the Sarmaticke the Mexican and the Vermilian There are two famous Streights of the Ocean the one of Gibraltar the other of Magellan to which may be added Ania which lyeth between the farthest Westerne parts of America and the Easterne parts of Tartaria The Mediterranean Sea divideth Africke from Europe and hath diverse names according to the situation of diverse Countries As the Iberian the Balearick the French the Tuscane the Sicilian the Adriatick the Ionian Cretian Aegyptian Pamphilian Syrian Aegean Myrtian Icarian and the Sea of Propontis Concerning the motion of the Sea which they call the Tide seeing it is a matter most worthy of admiration we are to speake something of it in this place The Tide is said to be a motion of the Sea wherby it floweth upward having finished his course ebbeth backe againe As there is one cause thereof so there are many events and effects concerning it For in some places there is little or no Tide at all On the Northerne Coast of the Pacificke Sea there is none In the Tuscan Tyrrhene and Narbonian Sea in the Celtiberian Sea at Barchino and in the Mexican at Cuba with the neighbouring Islands there is none at all But elsewhere it is great as at Bengala in the Indies neere to Ganges in the Gothicke Germane Brittish and Portugall Ocean and so great in the Erythrean that the despisers of holy Scriptures have fained that Moses used to passe over on dry-land by the opportunitie of the Ebbe which could not be because even to Sues which lyeth backward the Sea covereth that Shoare neither going backward doth it leave it so naked as that by its ebbing it should discover the lower parts over which the Hebrewes passed The Tides in the Ocean are alwaies greates then those in Bayes yet are they more discerned about the shoares then in the deep But concerning them we will speake more in another place The Sea is not altogether barren but bringeth forth Fish Plants and pretious stones and it is to be noted how Nature with Dedalus cunning hath represented in the Sea all the chiefest things which are seene either on the Earth or in the Aire I let passe the Sea-Elephants the Sea-Hogges the Torteises Dog-fishes Sea-calves Sea-horses I omit the Falcons and Sea-swallowes seeing Nature hath exprest even man himselfe in the Mairman in the Siren and Nereides and also in the Monke-fish as for the Corrall the Pearles the Amber Gumme Sponges and infinite other things Whom do they not worthily draw into the admiration and adoration of Gods power But of this wee have spoken sufficiently Let us come now to the distribution of the Globe of the Earth The Ancients have divided the Globe of the Earth sometimes into two parts sometimes into three the division into three parts Europe Asia Africke or Libya is most famous among the Ancients to whom the new World was not yet knowne But America being found our age hath added
middle of the Mountaines having the same bredth Moreover the way in the uneven and lower part of the Valleyes is fortified with fences as the nature of the Country requires These wayes King Gninacava who lived not long since caused to to be clensed and the ruinous walls to be repaired and adorned otherwise the worke is more ancient and there were placed all along by the way side Innes both faire and pleasant they call them Tambi in which all the Kings traine were received And let this suffice concerning the foure parts of the World in generall now our method doth require that we should describe particularly the partes of Europe which was set before in the first place THE NORHTH-POLE AND A DESCRIPTION OF THE COVNTRIES SITVATE ROUND ABOUT IT HAving made courteous Reader a Generall Description of the whole Globe and the foure parts thereof methodically and according to the order of nature I purpose in Imitation of Ptolomie the Prince of Cosmographers to begin the Geographie of particular Countries from the Pole it selfe and the Countries lying round about it that so descending from the higher to the lower parts and proceeding from the left hand to the right hand I may by degrees joyne the North with the South and the West with the East which I pray God may be profitable to the Common-wealth The Pole is the extremitie or end of the Axis which is a Line drawne through the Center of the Globe the Latines call it vertex There are two Poles the Northerne and the Southerne The Northerne is that which is alwaies beheld towards the North and therefore also it is called the Northerne and Articke Pole The Southerne is that which appeareth to those onely which dwell toward the South and therefore it is called the Meridionall Southerne and Antarticke Pole And thus much in this place shall suffice concerning the Poles I come to the Countries situate round about the Articke Pole which are Groenlandia or Greeneland Frizlandia or Freesland Nova Zembla with some others of which wee will entreat briefely as farre as they are knowne Groenlandia or Greeneland is so called from the greennesse thereof is an Island for the most part yet unknown it is situate betweene the Northerne Circle the Pole the farthest paralels therof towards the South are the Degrees of 65 and towards the North the Degrees of 78. In this Island if wee beleeve Nicolas Zenetus who in the yeare 1480. endured much hard weather in the bordering Sea there is continuall winter for nine Moneths all which time it doth never raine there neither doth the snow which falleth at the beginning thereof melt untill the end yet is not this harmefull to the grasse for here is a great increase both of grasse and fodder Therefore here is great store of milke-beasts in regard of the great plentie thereof so that they make store of Butter and Cheese which they sell to those they traffique withall There are onely two inhabited places knowne unto us in Groenland Alba and the Monasterie of Saint Thomas of which wee will speake by and by The Slow Sea which is also called the frozen Icie Sea doth touch upon Greeneland There is in Greeneland a Monasterie of the Preaching Order and not farre from it a fire-vomiting Mountaine like Aetna at the foot whereof there is a fountaine of running waters by whose great heat THE NORTH-POLE POLUS ARCTICUS cum vicinis regionibus they do not onely make hot all the roomes of the Monasterie like a hot-house but also they bake their bread and dresse their meat without the helpe of fire The whole fabricke of the Monasterie doth consist of brittle sandie stones which the Mountaine doth cast forth in the midst of the flames This fountaine doth warme the neighbour gardens so that they continually flourish with divers kindes of flowers and herbes And the Sea neare unto it by the vertue of these waters is never frozen but lyes continually open both for the fish and the use of man which makes so great a concurse of fish to resort hither from colder places that not onely these Monkes but also the Inhabitants round about do live plentifully Frislandia or Freezland was an Island altogether unknowne to the Auncients being greater than Ireland The Climate is very intemperate The Inhabitants have no fruits but live for the most part upon fish The chiefe Towne thereof hath the same name with the Island and it belongeth to the King of Norway The Inhabitants for the most part live by fishing For in the Haven thereof so great a plentie of all kind of fish is taken that many ships are loaded with them and so carried to the Islands lying neare it as Zieglerus writeth The same man writeth that the Sea next to the Island on the West being full of rockes and sands is called the Icarean Sea and the Island in it is called by the Inhabitants Icaria This Island in our time beginneth to be known again that by the Discoverie of the English Nova Zembla is an Island situated under the 76 Degree Here the aire is very sharpe and the cold most vehement and intolerable It is a wild woodie and rugged Country where neither leaves nor grasse grow nor any living creatures but those which live by flesh as Foxes and Beares whereof there is great store not onely in this Island but in most of the Northerne Countries There are Sea-monsters here whose bodies does exceede the bignesse of an Oxe and are commonly called Walruschen they are headed like a Lyon their skin hairy they having foure feete and two teeth sticking forth of the upper part of their mouth beeing smooth hard and white and are worth as much as Elephants teeth The Bayes here are called Weggates Bay Forbishers Bay and Davises Bay Weigates Bay is streitched out towards the East even to the place called Crucis Angulus toward the Aerctapelietes to the place called Dissidit Angulus a a little enclining to the East On the Southerne side of the Continent of Weggats Bay William Barendson found some wild men called Samiutae The shape of their cloathes which they use is like that which our Painters do bestow on woodmen or Satyres but yet they are not wild men but endued with a good understanding They are cloathed frō head to foot with the skins of beasts called Rangiferi for the most part are of low stature broad faced small eyed short and splay-footed and very nimble both to runne and leape They have coaches unto which they put one or two of these Rangiferi which will draw it with one or two men in it with more speede then any of our Horses can do Forbishers Bay was so called from Martine Forbisher an English man who in the yeare 1577. seeking a passage to Cathaia by the North arrived at this Bay in which hee found both Islands and many men concerning which wee will adde some things The men thereof being
ARE VLTONIA CONNACIA MEDIA AND PART OF LAGENIA VLTONIA IRELAND being described in generall I thinke it worth my labour before I come to a particular description of the severall parts first to make a division thereof Ireland is divided into five Parts or Provinces Into Lagenia which being Eastward is next to England Connacia or Connachtia which lyeth toward the West Vltonia on the North side Momonia which is situate in the Southerne part The fift part is called Media which being placed in the midst is enclosed with the rest In these five Provinces there are many notable Territories As Lagenia doth include Fingal Offal Leis Ossir and Ormund Media containeth Slani Four and Delvin In Connacia is contained Clar in Vltonia is contained Vril Antrimen Lecal and Treconch In Momonia are included Trippitate Kerie Cosmay Desmond Tomond and some others There is another division of Ireland which wee have touched in our generall Table which is diligently to be considered if any one desire to know the state of this Countrie wherefore hee must observe that Ireland is divided into two parts the English part and the Irish part The latter the native Irish do inhabit the former the Englishmen and that part in common speech is called the English Province because it is as it were empaled and environed with the Territories of the English For after that the English having supprest the Irish Rebells had restored Dermicius to his Countrie and Kingdome they seated themselves and built themselves seats in the chiefest places of Ireland Afterward seeing that as it were certaine Islands did part them from the subdued Irish they called that part in which they placed a Colonie the English Province In this is contained the greater part of Lagenia and Media and that part of Vltonia which is called Vril but the chiefest part of Lagenia which is called Fingal neere to Dublin on the North hath the chiefe place and Media is next to that But Mercator useth the same division which wee made of it in the former Tables describing it in foure Tables beginning with Vltonia Connacia Media and part of Lagenia I will make a briefe description of all these parts in the same order as our Author placeth them Vltonia offers it selfe in the first place This part of Ireland was first called by the Welch Vltun by the Irish Cui-Guilli by the Latines Vltonia and by the English Vlster toward the North it is parted with the Narrow Sea toward the South it stretcheth it selfe to Connaught and Lagenia the THE SECOND TABLE OF IRELAND UDRONE East part is bounded with the Irish Sea and the West part is beaten with the great Westerne Ocean This Countrie beeing neere to Scotland is reckoned one of the Scotch Islands which are called the Hebrides and lye scatterd in the Sea betweene both Kingdomes which Islands the Irish-Scots the successours of the Ancient Scythians do inhabit It is round in forme and in length from the Haven Coldagh in the North to Kilmore in the South it is about an hundred miles and it is in breadth from Black-Abbey in the East to Calebegh a Westerne Promontorie an hundred and thirtie miles and more The whole circumference or compasse of it is about foure hundred and twentie miles This Country hath seldome any intemperate weather for the suddaine and fresh gales of winde do refrigerate and coole the heat of Summer and soft and gentle raines do mitigate the cold of Winter Briefly it is neither in the Cold nor Torrid Zone The clouds are faire and cleare and when they are most impure yet the winde continually driving them about doth make the aire wholsome and at length quite dispelleth them The equall temper of the Clime is the cause that the soyle doth plentifully bring forth divers kindes of trees some bearing fruit and others for building The Countrie is full of grasse and fit for pasturing very rich in horse and sheepe and Oxen. The Rivers are as I may say doubly commodious being navigable to bring up Vessels and Barques and also being full of fish and very convenient for the inhabitants in other uses Among these the first is Vinderius which is now called the Bay of Knocfergus from the Town seated on it from the safety of the Haven which the English call Knocfergus the Irish Caregfergus that is Fergus his rock which name it received from Fergusius who was drownd there There is also Banna which as Giraldus saith is a very faire River as the name witnesseth it runneth out of the Lake Eaugh and dischargeth it selfe into the Ocean with a double Channell it is fuller of Salmons than any River in Europe because as some thinke the water is so cleare in which Salmons do chiefly delight And there is the River Logia which Ptolemie mentioneth and now is called Lough Foile which falleth into the Sea with a great streame There are many great Lakes in it in which is the Lake Eaugh which spreadeth it selfe abroad from Armaugh and on the East side are the woods Kilulto Kilwarney and Dyffrim into which the Lake doth so insinuate and winde in it selfe that it maketh two Peninsula's Lecale toward the South Ard toward the North Lecale runneth out farthest toward the East of any part of Ireland the farthest Promontorie therof Marriners do now call Saint Iohns Foreland Ptolomie calls it Isanius perhaps from the Brittish word Isa which signifies Lowermost In the Isthmus therof stands Dunam which Ptolemie mentions now called Down being an ancient Towne and the Seat of a Bishop Ard lyeth over against it being divided frō it by a little slip of land There are also Lakes of which we have made mention in our generall Table The Countrie is shadowed with great woods To speake in a word although it be barren in some places by reason of Lakes Bogs thicke Woods yet it is every where full of Cattell Grasse at all times it abundantly requiteth the labour of the husbandman Nature is so little beholding here to Art or Industrie that the flourishing bankes of Rivers embrodered with flowers the shadie Woods greene Medowes bending Hills and Fields fit to beare corne if they were tilled do seeme to be angrie with the Inhabitants because by their carelesnesse and negligence they suffer them to be rude and wilde The Voluntii Darni Robogdii and Erdini in Ptolemies time held all this Countrie who also dispersed themselves into other parts of Ireland The speciall place in this Countrie is Armach neere the River Kalis which although it be not very faire yet it is the seat of an Archbishop the Metropolis of the whole Island The Irish-men do fabulously report that it was called so from Queene Armacha but Camden thinkes it to be the same which Beda calleth Dearmach which signifies in the Scotch and Irish language the field of Redmen There is one Archbishop in Vltonia who
of the Aestii In as much as Rhenanus saith it did appeare that it was in the first copie Aestui in stead of Aestii the ancient Writers of Bookes putting U for I. And Althamerus saith if it were in the ancient copie the Efflui hee durst affirme that the Eyslanders were so called from them by a litle alteration of the word These people also are called Sudini and their Countrie Sudina joyning to Prussia Some doe place the Lectunni hereabouts from whom it may be that their name was derived Livonia is stretched toward the Balthick Sea or the Venedick Bay being 500 miles in length and 160 in breadth Borussia Lithuania and Russia doe encompasse most part of it the rest the Livonian Bay doth hemme in The Countrie is plaine and very fertile it bringeth forth corne in such abundance that in deare times and yeares of scarcity it supplieth the wants of other Countries It aboundeth also with the best flaxe and breedeth store of cattell Besides there are in the woods of this Countrie many Beares Alces Foxes Leopards Cats of the mountaines and here are many Hares which according to the season of the yeare doe change their colour in like manner as they doe in Helvetia upon the Alpes in the Winter they are white in Summer of an Ash colour And heere is such plentifull hunting of wild beasts that the Countrie people though they be cruelly used by the Nobles are not prohibited from it In briefe Livonia wanteth none of those things which are necessarie for the preservation and sustentation of mans life except wine oyle and some other things granted by the divine bountie to other Countries as being under a more warme and gentle Climate which yet are brought hither in great abundance Livonia being Anno 1200 by the industrie and labour of the Merchants of Bremes and especially by the Knights of the Dutch order brought and converted to the Christian Faith when it had a long time suffered the miseries of forreine and civill warres and had beene made as it were a prey to the neighbour Kings and Princes at length in the yeare 1559 being under Gothardus Ke●lerus the last Governour of the Dutch Oder it was received into the protection and government of Sigismundus the King of Poland as a member of his Kingdome and of the great Dukedome of Lithuania But Gothardus resigning his Order on the fifth day of March Anno 1562 in the Castle of Riga before Nicholas Radziwilus the King of Polands Commissarie and Palatine of Vilna as first the Crosse afterward the Seale then his Letters Patents and all Charters which the Order had received from the Emperours and Popes besides the keyes of the Castle of Riga and of the gates of the Citie the office of Commendator the priviledge and power of coyning money the custome of fish and all other rights belonging to him hee was presently proclaimed by the aforesaid Palatine in the Kings Majesties name Duke of Curland and Semigallia and straightway the Nobilitie of Curland and Semigallia did take their oath of allegeance before him as to their lawfull and hereditary Lord. The next day the Duke of Curland sitting in estate was proclaimed in the Court of Riga Governour of Livonia and received the keyes of the castle and the gates of the Citie after which the Nobility and the Citizens had all their rights and priviledges restored and confirmed unto them Livonia is divided into three parts distinguished both by situation and language namely into Estia Lettea and Curlandia The Provinces of Estia or Eastland are Harria or Harland the chiefe Citie whereof is Revalia or Revel being situated toward the North neere unto the Balthick Sea and nothing inferiour unto Riga it was built by Voldemata and hath a famous Haven The Citizens use the Lubeck Law and doe coyne foure-square money Also the Province of Viria Virland or Wirland in which are Weisenburg Tolsberg and Borcholm the Seate of the Bishop of Revalia In the third place is Allantika where is the Towne Nerva or Nerve by a River of the same name over against which is the Castle called Ivanow Gorod belonging to the Moscovites for the river that runnes between these townes doth part Livonia from Moscovia also Nyschlot or Neuschlos In the fourth place is Odenpoa in which is Derpt or Topatum an Episcopall Citie Wernebes Helmet and Ringen In the fifth place is Iervia or Ierven in which are We●ssenslein Lais Overpolen or Ober Paln and Vellin or Fellin In the sixth place is Wichia or Wicke wherein is Abseel or Hapsel Leal Lode and Pernaw Neere to the Estians lye the Islands Osilia or Osel Dageden or Dachden Mona Wormse or Worist Wrangen Kien and many others in which they use partly the Estian language and partly the Swedish The Cities of Lettea or Letten are Riga Kokenhusen Wenden and Wolmar Riga is the chiefe citie of Livonia neere the River Duina which doth discharge it selfe into the Venedick Bay This citie is fortified with a strong Wall with strong Towres and pieces of Ordnance against any assault and is strengthned or fenced with double ditches and sharpe stakes round about it It hath a Castle well provided in which heretofore the Governour of Livonia being of the Teutonick or Dutch Order kept his residence and this Castle though Gothardus Ketlerus aforesaid did governe in the King of Polands right yet hee did usurpe no authoritie over the Citie for the Citizens being strong and defenders of their libertie cannot endure to have any Governour or Captaine over them They doe onely pay tribute and yeeld obedience LIVONIA OR LIEFLAND LIVONIA to the King of Poland in other things they have Lawes peculiar to themselves Besides heere is a Market of all Northerne commodities as of Pitch Hemp Waxe Timber and such other things The Townes and Castles of Curland are Goldingen Candaw Windaw which the Polanders call Kies and the Germans Wenden this Towne was famous heretofore for that the Master of the Teutonick Order did keepe his Court heere Parliaments were here wont to be held now it is defended by a Garrison of Polanders There are also the Cities Durbin Srunden Grubin Pilten Amb●t●n and Hase●●ot The Cities of Semigallia are Mitovia commonly called Mitaw where the Duke of Curland kept his Court also Seleburg ●a●●●burg Doblin and Dalem The River Duina doth divide Semi●allia and Curland from Lettea and the rest of Livonia In Livonia there are many Lakes the chiefest is Beibus which is 45 miles long and doth abound with divers kindes of fish The Rivers are Duina Winda Beca and some others Duina or Duna which Ptolemie cals Turuntus and Pe●cerus Rubo running out of Russia a great way through Lithuania and Livonia at length eight miles below Regia powreth it selfe into the ●avorick Bay and the Balthick Sea Winda in like manner dischargeth it selfe into the Balthick Sea which neere unto the mouth thereof is very deepe and dangerous The River Beca
others call Asta Antoninus with an asperation calleth it Hasta Moralis writeth that it doth still retaine the name of Asta and thinketh it to be that place neare the river Guadalet which is commonly called Masa de Asta But Ortelius supposeth that it was drowned with the Island Tartessus in the mouth of Baetis An hundred furlongs from the mouth of Baetis standeth the Towne Chipiona which Strabo lib. 3. calleth Capionis Turris At the mouth of the River Lethes which is now called Guadelet or in the Arabian language Bedalac there is a Towne which is called Portus S. Mariae and commonly El puerto de S. Maria. Having passed over Lethes the next towne you shall meet withall is Medina Sidonia and somewhat more Southward toward the Sea-shoare is Conilium a famous towne of Spaine sixe leagues distant from the Citie Gadiz and subject to the Duke of S. Lucar and Medina Sidonia There is also Carteja called commonly Tariffa and not far from thence is the Towne Vegelium commonly called Vegel It is indeed a litle Towne but yet famous for the situation and beautie of it for it is seated on a hill which is environed round about with a large plaine so that it hath a faire prospect as farre as the eye can reach not onely upon the plaines and greene medowes toward the East as also the Mountaines of Africke and the Southerne coast but likewise upon the great troublesome Ocean toward the North and West Lastly from hence toward the Northwest lyeth the towne Munda for so Pliny nameth this towne which now is called Monda though some do thinke that to be old Munda which now is called Ronda veja There are in the Diocese of Hispalis an innumerable company of Monasteries and Nunneries It would be a tedious thing to reckon up the Hospitalls for strangers that are in this country seing there are in Hispalis it selfe an hundred and twenty which are richly endowed some of them having eight thousand Crownes and some fifteene thousand Crownes yearely revenue Hispalis is the most beautifull of all the Cities of Spaine in regard of the Religious houses and Churches which are therein among many Churches the chiefest is the Church dedicated to Saint Mary than which the Christian world cannot shew a better if you consider either the greatnesse and majestie of the worke which carrieth with it an excellent beauty or if you behold the heigth of the Towre wrought with admirable workmanship from whence there is a pleasant prospect over all the City and the fields that lye round about it What shall I describe the royall furniture of the Kings Castle in this Citie than which the Kings of Spaine have none more fairely or curiously built What should I mention the Pallaces here belonging to Dukes Earles and other Nobles Or why should I speake of the Citizens houses adorned with pleasant Fountaines and Gardens I passe by the ancient Aquaeducts by which water is convey'd into severall parts of the Citie and those later which were brought with great cost and labour to the Pillars commonly called Hercules Pillars and dedicated to publick delight besides many other ornaments of this Citie since I feare lest I be tedious VALENTIA AND MVRCIA VALENTIA taketh its name from the Metropolis thereof being a faire Mart-Towne and of great antiquitie On the South it looketh toward Murcia on the West toward both the Castiles on the North toward Aragon and on the East the Sea beateth on it It hath a more temperate Ayre and a more pleasant Climate than any other part of Spaine yea the Kingdome of Valentia hath such a gentle Climate the warme Westerne windes breathing upon it that at any time even at Christmas and in the Moneth of Ianuarie the Inhabitants may carrie Posies of flowres in their hands as they doe in other places in April and May. It is an excellent Country having plenty of all things as Sugar Wine Oyle Corne and divers other fruites It hath Mynes of Silver in a place which they call Buriel betweene Valentia and Dertosa And there are stones found which have as it were golden veines and lines running through them in a place which is called Aioder At the Promontorie Finistratum there are Iron Mynes and neere to Segorbia there are some signes remaining of a Quarrie out of which Marble was heretofore digged and carried to Rome In some places Alablaster is digged up but Alume Tinne Marking-stone and Chalke is found every where The Moores by a long succession of Dukes held the Citie of Valentia for a long time though it had beene often besieged by the Kings of Aragon untill Iames the first King of Aragon by a long siege obtained it and enforced their Captaine Zaen Maure together with fiftie thousand Moores to depart the Citie and to flie unto Denia carrying with them their Gold Silver Armour and Houshold-stuffe Valentia being thus forsaken King Iames sent a Colonie to replenish it againe The Colony consisted of Catalonians and Aragonians their Captaine being Berengarius Palatiol Bishop of Barcelona Vidalus Cavelia Bishop of Ossa Peter Ferdinandes d' Acagra and Simon de Vrrea Knights they distributed the whole Citie among the new Inhabitants which were 384 families according to their severall dignities and adorn'd the Common-wealth with new Lawes This Countrie obtained the title of a Kingdome in the yeare of Christ 788 as Ortelius writeth out of Petrus Metinensis Petrus Antoninus Beuterus The Historie hath it thus Hisen King of Corduba being dead there succeeded him in the yeare of Christ 788 his sonne Alca whose uncle Aodala Lord of Valentia called to him his Brother whose name was Culema and had beene disinherited out of Taviar these two Brethren uniting their forces came to Corduba and endeavouring to expell their Nephew out of his Kingdome were overcome in battell so that Aodala fled for his safety and returned to Valentia VALENTIA AND MVRCIA REGNI VALENTIAE TYPUS But the chiefe of the Moores interposing themselves betweene the Uncles and the Nephew they brought them to that agreement that Aodala should write himselfe King of Valentia and that Culema should receive every moneth out of the revenues of Valentia a thousand of Moradines which was a kinde of money for the maintenance of his table and five thousand Moradines more for the provision of other necessaries To which agreement when Aodala had consented hee first stiled himselfe the King of Valentia The ancient Inhabitants of Valentia were the Hedetani which as Ptolemie thinketh were the same with the Sedentani Secondly the Biscargitani whose Metropolis was Biscargis whereof there is some mention made in the Inscription of Caesars coyne as Hub. Goltzius witnesseth and these seeme to have beene of the Heditanians seeing Ptolemie names Biscargis to be amongst them Thirdly the Leonicenses whose Metropolis Ptolemie cals Leonica and placeth it also among the Heditanians Fourthly the Co●●stani from whom Pliny nameth the Countrie of Contestania in Tarraconia
Camaras and Itona eighteene Counties the Countie of Barcinon which doth farre exceede all other honours belonging to Catalonia the Countie of Gerunda of Vrgella of Ceretania of Bisuldinum of Rossellion of Emporia of Ausonia of Minorisa of Prata of Palmosium of Petraelata of S. Columba à Queralto of S. Columba à Scintilliis of Savallanium of Vallisfogona of Guimeranum and and Mont acuto It would bee too tedious to the Reader to reckon heere the number of the Vicounties and Baronies It hath sixe Universities famous for all Arts and Sciences It subsisteth for the most part by wool-dressing and handy-craft-trades by which the Inhabitants doe live pay their debts sustaine their Families get that estate which they have and keepe that which they have gotten But let so much suffice concerning Catalonia let us passe to other Countries THE DESCRIPTION OF FRANCE To the studious and curteous READER SEeing wee are not borne for our selves alone but as much as every one can doe for the common good so much the benificent Framer and Maker of mankinde doth require of him I thought it meete to accommodate and fit this Geographicall Worke part whereof wee heere present as much as I could to the utility benefit of the Common-wealth The use and utility of Geographie in reading Histories and retaining them is greater than that I neede to make any admonition or description of but there is an other greater dignitie belonging unto it if it be directed to its proper end and rightly used and that is it doth much availe to the knowledge of Politick Government when the situation of a place is not onely described but also the nature and condition thereof which is sometimes the office of a Geographer to doe And as that Painter doth not satisfie himselfe in his profession which delineates a man according to the proportion of his limbes but doth not with colours and physiognomicall shadowes expresse his nature and affections so hee shall but figure out an unpleasing and as it were a dead Geographicall body or carcasse who having set downe places according to their symmetrie and proportion shall not shew their Politicall respect which they beare one to an other Wherefore I esteem'd it as a thing chiefly to be respected that in every severall Countrie the nature and order of Government appendant thereunto should be prefixed before the Tables themselves whereby I might somewhat benefit those who are studious of politicall and publick affaires If our writing be in many places imperfect defective or erronious the Reader needes not wonder for the formes of things throughout all Nations are not extant neither have I found all that are purposely described by any Author yet even as I could gather them out of Histories I have collected them whereby thou maist partly understand the order and manner of every government and so maist supply and correct that which is wanting in thy owne Countrie which if every one would doe how profitable would Geographie be to Students There are three heads especially to be considered in the administration of Kingdomes Principalities and Provinces namely the Ecclesiasticall State the Politicall State and the Administration of Iustice first therefore according to the title of the Countrie described in the Table I will reckon up how many members or parts there are of the Politicall State thereof according to the order of dignitie as they are observed there Secondly in distinguishing Noble-mens places sith the whole government is in the hands of the Nobilitie I will in the first place reckon those who are Feudals to the Prince and afterward those that are free descending still in order from the highest degree of Nobilitie as Dukes Earles Barons and Lords Thirdly I will shew into what Prefectures the Countrie is divided and I suppose that by these three things the Politicall State will be sufficiently declared In the administration of Iustice the juridicall Diocesses shall be noted and the higher Senates to which appeale may be made Lastly in the Ecclesiasticall State the Archbishops if there be any shall bee placed first and then the suffragan Bishops which are under them as also those which are suffragans to others To reckon up all these things requires much stud●e but seeing for want of matter it may be briefly delivered I will performe what I may that so I may stirre up lovers of their countrie to emulate a greater perfection in their writings The severall places shall be noted with numbers that they may be straight-way found out in the following Table the first number shall containe the degrees and minutes of Longitude which shall be sought out in the Northerne or Southerne side of the Table the later shall have the numbers of Latitude which are to be sought on the Westerne or Easterne side From these bounds heere by the direction of the Meridian and there of the Parallel of Latitude you shall come at last to their intersection and so finde out the place propounded The situation of those places which are in the description of the generall Tables ought to be sought from thence But if so be that some names are not found in the table following it was the fault of the Chorographer who delineated it for the right designing and placing of principalities and dominions is not to be omitted The rule and government of Countries is in the power of the Nobilitie and therefore it is both profitable and delightfull to know and distinguish their severall degrees and the proper conditions of them The highest degree is that of Emperour or King whom in order doe follow the degrees of Duke Earle Baron the militarie Tribune whom the Low-country-men call Banderheer quasi Bendae that is Lord of the Troupes which he leadeth under his Banner After him is the Knight or hee that hath attained to be of the Horsemans Order whom the French-men doe call Chevalier and the Low-country-men Ridder In the last place is vn Escuyer who beareth Armes but hath attained to no publick dignitie There are three degrees of Earles the first whereof the French-men call Viconte who excelleth the rest in dignity priviledges Ludovic Guic. would have him now called a Burgrave And though this Order of Earles in time hath remitted something of its honour yet in the beginning it was of more excellent dignitie as the description thereof shall by and by declare In the second degree is the Earle Provinciall who is called in Dutch Landgrave In the third degree is the Marquesse or Marckgrave These are the speciall degrees and orders of Nobilitie among which the government of every Countrie is divided There are also some differences in these degrees which might occasion a subdivision but such as are distinguisht rather by priviledges than by forme of government Yet moreover I will deliver the lawfull differences and conditions of every order which I have mentioned as I have found them in a certaine French Booke entituled La division du monde deducing their creation from
doth speake more at large It seemeth that after that time the ar●itrarie erection and raising of Kingdomes and Principalities did f●●le the Monarches now contriving how to establish a setled Empire which consisteth in the just proportion and harmonie of its parts as in man the parts of the body to the head Therefore that some order might be perpetually kept in Principality and in government I suppose that at length about the same time which I mentioned before these afore-said Lawes were devised And so Reader thou hast the distinct Degrees of all the Nobilitie and the differences of their dignities Now if thou observe how Provinces in every Kingdome are divided in respect of them how the government and administration of the whole and in what proportion it is distributed among these degrees what is every ones peculiar office what is the habitude or relation which they have one to an other and especially to their head you shall behold either an excellent harmony tending to the preservation of peace and tranquillity strength and power riches and state vertue and wisedome to the Majestie of a Kingdome and the enlarging of territories or a confused disorder tending to instabilitie declination destruction or inundation according as there are divers kindes of government If those matters which thou shalt see or judgest did succeed ill thou maist consider whence that ill successe proceeded but if thou finde any prosperous and successefull event search the cause thereof so thou shalt behold which is the best policie in governing of Common-weales and shalt studie Geographie with more profit An Admonition concerning the use of the Tables following WHen it was my purpose to reduce all Geographie to the consideration of the Heavens that the just symmetrie of places as they lye in the Sphericall figure of the Earth might as neere as could be observed in plano or on a plaine superficies a due proportion of degrees of Longitude was to be set down according to the degrees of Latitude Seeing therefore the Table could containe but a few degrees of Latitude I have reduced the proportion thereof almost to the midle Parallel of the Table so that what the proportion is of that Parallel to the Meridian the same should be the proportion of the degrees of Longitude in the same Parallel to the degrees of Latitude and so all the Meridians are Parallels one to an other But seeing there were more degrees of Latitude because there is a great difference of proportion in the Parallels both in the top and the bottome unto the Meridian lest the symmetric of places should not be true I have chosen two Parallels almost equally distant from the midle and the extreames to the proportion whereof I have drawne the Meridians to designe and note out the degrees of Longitude which are not then Parallels but according to the greater or lesser distance of the assumed Parallels they doe encline more or lesse one to an other and to the midle Meridian of the Table Moreover thou shalt finde the degrees of Latitude and Longitude designed and set forth on the sides of the Tables and for the most part the degrees of Latitude on either side of the Table and of Longitude on the top and bottome seeing according to the usuall manner of Geographers wee place the North on the higher part But if the Countrie to be described be more extended toward the South and North than toward the East and West then commonly wee place the West upward Howsoever it be made the East and West sides shall alwayes represent unto thee the degrees of Latitude the other two sides the degrees of Longitude And all the degrees are divided into 60 partes which they call minutes sometimes into single parts when the magnitude will permit sometimes into two five or ten This foundation being laid wee have followed the best descriptions in delineating of Countries in which I had much helpe from a famous Measurer of Countries and a most diligent Geographer to the King of Spaine called Christianus Grothenius who had viewed many Countries and described them more largely and exactly than any other and also from a most diligent Geographer to the King of Spaine Abraham Ortelius who was candor and curtesie it selfe and who in evidence thereof liberally communicated unto mee what Tables soever hee had gotten though he had the same purpose that I intended Those who besides did helpe mee any thing at all I will mention in due place so that Students may give them their deserved praise and I may not bee found ungratefull And whatsoever hath beene offerr'd mee by others and I found out by my owne diligent search I have compar'd together that as neere as may bee I might set forth accurate descriptions yet in one thing which I chiefly desired I am defective namely in an exact numbring and reckoning up of Principalities Noble-mens places which are much sought for in Tables that are set forth therefore READER thou must pardon that defect and vouchsafe to helpe mee in describing the Politicall Order of the Nobilitie and in shewing their places names and qualities which will be an honour and grace unto thy name Litle round circles doe shew the true situation of every place from whence their distance is to be taken and these have some markes whereby places are distinguisht one from an other The Villages are marked onely by round circles where wee meete with a Castle wee marke it in this manner and where with Friaries with a Crosse thus Townes have two Towres at least and Villages of note where Noble-men reside one These things wee observed as notes And wee have taken easie markes for distinction that so any may supply those things which are omitted If any one would finde out the Longitude and Latitude of any place hee shall do it where the Meridians are Parallels by taking with a paire of Compasses the distance thereof from the one side of the Table and by applying the Compasse so opened to the other side If you have taken the distance from the East side the Compasse from the same side in the North side will shew the degree and minute of Longitude But if you have the distance from the North side it will shew you the Latitude in the East side When the Meridians are not Parallels the Latitude of a place shall bee found out in the same manner as in universall Tables where the Parallels are circular for the distance of the place taken from the next Parallel will shew the same in the East side But the Longitude is to be sought out with a thread or ruler laid upon the place and turned about untill on the North and South side the same minute of the same degree be on either side designed and whatsoever that is is the Longitude of the place assumed The miles in divers Countries do differ much therefore if you please to compare them one to an other bring them with your Compasses to the degrees of
Dukes Earles and Noblemen Or what should I mention the other publicke or private buildings for if I should endeavour to reckon them up I should sooner want time than matter wherefore it is better to be silent than to speake too sparingly The politick state of these Countries both in generall and speciall is threefold the first is the Ecclesiastick state in which the Abbots are the chiefe the second is of the Nobility as the Duks Earles Marcgraves Princes Barrons and great Lords The third is of the Citties which the chiefe Citties of every Country doe represent These states the Prince calleth together when they are to consult concerning matters appertaining to the Prince or to the Principality or to the preservation or utility of the Countrie The Ecclesiasticke state is thus there are foure Bishops in the Low Countries the Camaracensian the Tornaycensian and the Atrebatensian these three are under the Arch-bishop of Rhemes and the Vltrajectine who is under the Arch-bishop of Colen I proceed to the Vniversities which are 4 the Vniversitie of Lovaine and Doway of Leyden and Flankford Lovaine is famous for the many Colledges Students and learned men the chiefe Colledges are Lilium Castrense the Colledge of Porus and Falcon in which Philosophie is read The Buslidian Colledge hath three languages taught in it namely Greeke Latine and Hebrew This Vniversitie at the request of the Nobles of Brabant was first instituted and adorned with Priviledges by Iohn the 4 Duke of Brabant in the yeare 1426. Martinus the fifth being Pope The other were erected in our memory Out of which as it were out of the Troian horse innumerable learned men have proceeded and doe dayly come from thence For in the Low Countries there are learned men skilfull in all faculties and sciences and as heretofore so now it produceth famous Schollers whom it would be too tedious to reckon up Here are divers Libraries in sundry places which are replenished with excellent rare Bookes Among which that at Leyden is the chiefe The inhabitants are faire quiet not cholericke nor ambitious nor proud not much given to venerie civill plaine curteous affable ingenious and ready witty and sometimes talkative laborious industrious faithfull gratefull towards those that have done them a curtesie capable of all Arts and Sciences stout in defending their liberties and Priviledges even to death And this may truely be spoken in the generall prayse of them that the Low Country men are frugall house keepers and thrifty husbands who following the example of the Ant do lay up before winter that which cannot then be gotten and doe buy fish and flesh which they either pickle up or doe dry it in the smoake For every house according to the number of their familie doth kill in Autumne an whole Oxe or provideth halfe an one beside a Hogge which they salt up and then it will serve them to spend a good part of the yeare untill the Spring returne againe Yet many of them are very covetous and desirous of wealth The Women are beautifull well behav'd and curteous For according to their Country fashion they are used from their childhood to converse familiarly with every one and therefore they are very ready both in action or speech or any matter neither doth this freedome or liberty make them lesse honest Neither doe they onely walke alone through the Cittie but they will goe for fellowship to the next Townes without any the least suspition of dishonestie They are very continent and apt and ready in their affaires And they are not onely carefull of houshold matters of which their husbands take no care but they also use Merchandise and dispatch and conferre of businesses belonging unto men and that with so great dexterity and diligence that in many of the Provinces as in Holland and Zeland the men do commit all their affaires unto them And by this manner of living joyned with the innate desire which women have to rule they become for the most part too Imperious and proud It is the fashion both among Princes and men of inferior ranke as also among other Nations on this side the Alpes to give the first born their Parents names althogh they be yet living And the Noble of what quality and condition soever they are doe more esteeme of their eldest daughter than the rest of the younger although they have all an equall dowry so that they marry the rest to those unto whom they denyed her in marriage reserving her for a better husband And they are to be praysed because they easily contract marriages with forrainers if occasion so require and are not bound to match them in their owne Country which is a matter very profitable and commodious for these alliances by marriage are very advantagious to themselves and the Commonwealth Moreover it is accounted undecent and absur'd for young men to marry old women or on the contrary for old men to marry young maydes as also for a noble personage to marry an ignoble person or a master to marry his Maide and a Mistresse her servant But the Low Country men are chiefely given to Mechanicke Arts but not of the base and servile sort but the more nobler as weaving clothing and making of hangings tapestry which serve not only for the use of their owne country but are also transported into France Spaine Germany and other parts of Europe and also into Asia and Affricke For Pictures there is no Nation that doth excell it nor none doth excell in Musicke or for variety of Languages Iohn Eickius a Lowcountryman did first shew the way how to mingle colours with oyle And every one in Flanders Brabant or Zeland can speake not onely their owne Country speech which is Low-Dutch but also French The Sea men Merchants and Schollers can speake also Italian Spanish and Greeke for the most part and some can understand Hebrew the Chaldean and Arabicke language The Lowcountrie men are also skilfull Seamen I come to their food the Lowcountrymen doe use Wheate Rye Oates and Barly they esteeme of no pulse but Beanes and Pease they have few Vetches and no Millet at all For the great strong windes doe lay it and spoyle it The Common people maintaine their families soberly and frugally Their drinke is for the most part Beere which is made of Malt into which they afterward put some ground Barly and Hops And this is a very good and wholesome drinke for those that are used to it they doe also drinke much milke The rich have wine They eate commonly Rye bread They are wont also upon Festivall dayes especially those which beare their owne name to make great feasts and to invite their Parents Kinsemen and friends unto them and to banquet sumptuously with them and to shew themselves generous and magnificent They keepe their houses very neate and cleane being furnished with all kinds of necessary houshold stuffe And truly it is a faire sight to see what store of housholdstuffe they have and
state of the government I have onely found out that there are two Counties Solms 30.15.50.35 and Witgenstein 30.17.50.50 The Meridians are distant according to the proportion of the 510 Parallel to the great circle HASSIA or the Landgraviate of HESSEN HASSIA Landgraviatus Qualis Hyperborcum prospectans Thrasa Booten Gradivi domus ad Rhodopen Hemum que nivalem Circumfusa jacet gelidis assucta pruinis G●gnit in arma viros duratos frigore quique Aut Hebrum Nestum que bibunt aut Strymonis undas Talis ipsa situ talis regione locorum ●t fluvus Silvisque frequens montibus altis Hassia Natura similes creat alma locorum ●eu natos in bella viros quibus omnis in armis Vita placet nonulla juvat sine Marte nec ullam Esse putant vitam quae non assueverit armis Quod si tranquillae vertantur ad ocia pacis Ocia nulla terunt sine magno vana labore Aut duro patrios exercent vomere colles Aequatosque solo campos rimantur aratris Namque planities segetum faecunda patentes Explicat innumeras plena messe colonos Ditat ipsa sibi satis est aut ardua Sylvae Lustra petunt Canibusque feras sectantur odoris Venatu genus assuctum Genus acre virorum Aut leges aut Iura ferunt aut opida condunt Fortia c. As warlike Thrace looking upon the North By Rhodope and Hemus stretcheth forth It selfe and is mur'd to snow and cold Breeding such men as hardy are and bold Who of Hebrus or of Neslus water drinks Or of the River Strimon yet ne're shrinke Such for Situation and Mountaines hie For many woods and Rivers gliding by Is Hassia for the men by nature are Like those and even borne unto the warre Who in the warres alone doe take delight And all their life time are enur'd to fight And if sometime they live in quiet peace From toilesome labour they doe never cease For either they the levell fields doe till Or with the Plough they teare up the hard Hill For this same land hath many fruitfull Plaines Which plenteous harvests doe bring in much gaines Vnto the husbandman or else repaire To the woods to hunt such wilde beasts as there are With Hounds for these same people don't contemne Hunting but are a violent kinde of men For either they make lawes or Townes doe build Which doe not onely strong defence them yeeld In times of Warre but in the times of peace They yeeld delight when as the warres doe cease What should I here the Sacred springs commend The Greenes and valleys which doe even contend With the Aemonian vales which doe excell For fruitfulnesse or what should I declare Those sweete and shady places which even are Fit to be the Muses seates and may right well Become the Goddesses therein to dwell O yee Fountaines of my Countrie cleare and cold And O ye Rivers that were knowne of old O the vales and pleasant Caves which still did use To be most acceptable to my Muse THE COVNTIE OF NASSAW or NASSAVIA NAssavia is called as it were Nass-gavia which word signifies a moist and slimie Country for the Towne which nameth the Country is encompassed on every side with moist and moorish grounds and in the Germaine speech Aw and Gaw doe signifie a Country so Thurgaw signifies a dry Country Rhyn-gaw a Country by the Rhene Otten-gaw a Country abounding with corne and so also Oster-gaw Wester-gaw and Brisgaw But this Countie hath others annexed to it as Weilburg Ideste●nen W●esbaden Dietzen Cattimelibocen Beilstein It is boundered on the South with the Countie of Wiesbaden and Idesteinen on the East with Isenburg Solms and Hassia on the North it is bounded with Westphalia and the Countie of Witgenstein on the West with the Dukedome of Bergen and the Counties Weidan and Seynen It hath many Praefectureships As Frudebergen Sigenen Nephens Hegerana Ebersbacen Dillenburg Hilligenbacke Dringensteinen Lonbergen Herbornen Dridorf Beilsteinen Marenbergen Honstetten Ellerana Cambergen Altenberg Kidorff Nassavia and many others It is one of the freest Counties of the Empire the Lords whereof are subject to none but the Emperour and doe enjoy all the royall priviledges and praerogatives of the Empire as well as other Noble men They have power also to coyne gold or silver or brasse money as appeareth by some peeces of gold which are ye● currant The Landgrave of Hassia and the Earle of Nassavia are Coe-Lords and by a joynt Title doe receive the revennewes of the Countie of Cattimeliboc by a covenant made in the yeere 1557 betweene Phillip Prince of Hassia and the Earle of Nassavia The Countrie in some places is plaine ground and in other places it riseth and swelleth into hills here it hath flourishing Vines as in the Countie of Dietzen and by the bancke of the River Lanus and otherwhere it hath pleasant meddowes and pastures or else fruitefull cornefields It hath also mettall Mines For in the Territorie of Sigen a certaine kind of Iron Mettall is melted out of stone out of which they cast Fornaces Iron Potts Kettles Stithies or Anvills Bulletts and doe make all kind of Iron worke At Frendeberg there is excellent steele made There are also the like Mines in the Countrie of Dillenburg Hegeran and Burback out of which Lead and Copresse are digged as in Ebersback where there is also a Glasse-house The chiefe wood is Westerwalt which is a peece of Hercyni● the lesser woods which are also part of Hercinia are Kalt-Eych Heygerstruth THE COVNTIE OF NASSAW or NASSAVIA NASSOVIA Comitatus Schelderwald● di● Horre der Calemberg in which there is great store of wilde beasts for hunting The chiefe Rivers are ●a●●●● Siega and Dille neere Siega is Sigena neere ●illa is He●gera D●llenburg and Herborn neere Lana are Dietz Nassovium L●●●ste●●●um where ●ane mingleth the river Rhene The Baths at Emsana do belong both to the Earles of Nassavia and the Landgrave of Hassia unto which they come farre and neere in regard of the soveraigne vertue of the water which they finde to bee very wholesome for many diseases There are also Fountaines at Codinga and C●mberga the water whereof being drunke will expell the winde Cholicke M●●●●a and Bertius among others have drawne the Pedegree of the Earles of Nassavia THVRINGIA or the Landgraviate of DVRINGEN The Nobilitie and state of this Countrie are yet unknowne unto me I have onely found out the Countie of Glei●hen 32 50 50 58 c. and I thinke Kranichfelt 34 17 15 26 Also the Bishoprick of Mersburg 34 17 51 26. The Meridians are mutually distant one from another according to the Proportion of the Parallel 510 to the Aequinoctiall THuringia followes after Hassia commonly called Duringen being situated between the two Rivers Sala Werra the latter on the West-side the first on the East-side on the North it hath the wood Hercynia which they call Hartz and on the South the Forrest called Duringer waldt The length
is equall to the bredth being 12 miles over This Countrie hath aboundance of all kindes of fruites and pulse and hath more store of Corne than any other part of Germanie So that George Agricola calleth it the fatte of Germanie Heere is great stoare of that hearbe which Plinnie calleth Glastum is now called Guadum and Pastillum and commonly Weedt Pastell which maketh a blew colour which to the great benefit of the inhabitants is transported into other Countries so that a famous Poet writeth thus Herba Thuringorum celeberrima crescit in agris Hanc Isatim Graecus sermo vocare solet Ponderis haec magni est multo venditur are Hac etenim tingi lana parata solet A famous hearbe doth in Thuringia grow In Greeke call'd Isatis and named so It is weighty and much gaine is made thereby For with it they their wooll doe use to die THVRINGIA or the Landgraviate of DVRINGEN THURINGIA Hinc placet Hebraeo nobis hanc nomine dici Vt vetus a Iajin nomen Iena tenet Cur ita crediderim nisi mentem vocula fallit Certa hujus ratio nominis esse potest Quippe vocat Iajin Solimae pius incolaterrae Hoc quod nos Latio dicimus ore merum Quae caput in medijs urbs fertilis erigit vuis Hanc quisquam a vino nomen habere nega● Hence from an Hebrew word at first it came As we cold Iena doe from Iajin name And unlesse we b● deceived in the word We may some reason for this name afford For the holy inhabitant of Palestine Calleth that Iajin which we doe call wine So this Cittie standing in the midst of Vines May well be named from the fragrant Wines Thus much Stigellius It hath a publicke Schoole which was erected in the yeare 1558. G●tha was so called from the Gothes And hence Ritha●merus in his description o● the world writeth that the Turingians were originally de● from the Goathes because the Gothes builded a Cittie in this Co●●● which they called Gotha about the yeare 723. It had a wonderfull strong Castell called Grimmenstein which is now levell with the ground And this was the cause that it fell to ruine William Grunbach a nobleman rather by descent than vertue in regard of his many enormous attempts whereby he endeavoured to depose the Emperour and to introduce a new forme of Empire was declared and pronounced to be guilty of conspiracie with all his associates and was condemned and banished both by the Emperour Ferdinand and the Emperour Maximilian his son and the Emperour and the other States of the Empire with one consent did commit the execution of this sentence to the most illustrious Prince Elector of Saxonie Which banishment he contemned trusting to himselfe and his Protector Iohn Fredericke the second Duke of Saxonie Who after many admonitions from the Prince did still persist in defending the rebells so that the most illustrious Duke of Saxonie and Prince Elector enforced by necessitie beseiged the Cittie and tooke it by surrender And then Grunbachius with foure more of the conspirators for their treason against Caesar were put to death the Castle was razed to the ground and Duke I●hn Fredericke was brought prisoner to Vienna This Countrie is ●atered with many Rivers as Sala or Salza Werra Vnstrut Ilma Ge● Or Apselstet Helbe and Cling And Her testifieth that the Mountaines have mines which have rich Veines of gold and silver which ●d not far from Braitenborn and Schwartzenburg This Countrie also is here and there cloathed with woods which are part of the wood Hercynia also the Thuringian wood is well knowne commonly called Thuringer Waldt Caesar calleth it Baceins it is a wood in Germanie which divideth the Cheruscians from the Suevians there are also Hainich Hainset●e and Finne with divers others where there is good hunting of divers kindes of wilde beasts There are also in this Countrie many Churches and Monasteries among which is the Church of the blessed Virgin Marie at Erford which was built by Bo●●●e Bishop of Moguntium This Church hath a great Bell which is famous through all Germanie The people are fierce hardy couragio●s against their enemies the men are large of stature strong and well-set THE DVKEDOME OF FRANCONIA THuringia a Countrie of high Germanie being thus described there followeth next Franconia or East France Which was so called from the Frenchmen Some say that the originall of this name came from Francus whom others call Francio fabulously supposed to bee the sonne of Hector and the first founder of this Nation And Peter Ronsard the Poet writeth that the auncients did call him Astyanacta Francum as it were Hastigerum that is the speare-bearer Others as Gaguinus and Aeneus Pius doe affirme that the Emperour Valentine gave that name to Franconia because the Frenchmen in the Northerne Language where called fierce or from the remission of tribute and their freedome they were called Franci that is Free-men Albeit I doe more approve of a latter Etymologie that they were called Franci as it were Frioncy because they were free from taxes and impositions which ●y signifies or else they were so called as it were fryansi Fransi for Ansi being a word proper to the Gothish speech doth signifie those who excell others in fortune and riches And are next to Heroes or Semigods that are above the condition of mortalls whence they corruptly call Great Noble men Ansos and with an aspiration Hansos But to the matter the Frenchmen after they grew wealthy and weary of the Romane yoke of subjection encouraged by the desire of rule got their liberty and thereby gained the name of Franci insteed of the old name of Germaines Fronconia on the South is neere to Suevia and Bavaria on the West to the Rhene on the East it hath Bohemia on the North it hath Hassia and Thuringia The ayre of this Countrie is pure and wholesome The Country it selfe except it be that part which is called Norica and is neere unto the Rivers is not very sandy as Aeneas Silvius writeth nor yet very stony But it is generally very fruitefull and doth yeeld a great increase of Barly Wheate and all kinde of graine and pulse which is sowed there There are no where greater and better Turnips and Onions than heere in this Countrie And in many places there are hills planted with Vines of which excellent wine is made transported to other Countries The Country of Babenberg doth yeeld such great store of Liquerize that whole Cart loades of them are carried through Germanie This Country also hath many faire Orchards and pleasant meddowes it hath great store of tame Cattle and wilde beasts The Princes doe cherish the wilde beasts who have many Dens in the Woods where they live in the winter time and doe house themselves as it were from the stormie THE DVKEDOME OF FRANCONIA FRANCKENLAND weather It is not lawfull for any private man to take them or hunt them It is manifest that
appeareth by some Epitaphs written in Caldean letters It is thought that it was built in Abrahams time being seated in a pleasant fruitfull soyle It looketh Northward and is washed with the Tyrrhene Sea having high walls which were built by King Frederick Neere the Sea there is a Castle which hath beene much enlarged which they call Castrumad Mare or the Castle by the Sea There are also three Gates of the ancient Citty yet standing and the old Walls with many Towres built of foure square stone There is a Church at Panormus consecrate to S. Peter which was built by Rogerius King of Sicilie which excelleth both for beauty and costly building all the ancient and new Churches in THE KINGDOME OF SICILIE· SICILIA Italy so that learned men and travellers that come to see it doe much admire it The greater Church of this Citty is of a kind of a networke building carved with divers figures and Images and built by Gualther the second Archbishop of that name which was founded in the yeare 1185. where the bodies of the Kings and Queenes and Dukes are buried and interr'd There is also a publike Schoole and an Hospitall for strangers It would be tedious to rehearse the other faire buildings and aedifices which are in this Citty The other Citties are Siracusa which was heretofore a great Cittie which the Orator thus describeth in his 4. Oration against Verres You have often heard that Siracusa is the greatest and fairest of all the Graecian Citties And so it is O Iudges as you have heard For it is strongly situate and hath a faire comming to it both by Sea and Land and it hath Havens which are inclosed on every side with bvildings which having divers entrances doe at last meete and flow together Where a part of the Towne which is called the Ile being disjoyned by their meeting together with a straite Sea is joyned together againe with a Bridge It is so great a Citty that they say it doth consist of 4. great Citties one of which is the Iland aforesaid which is encompassed with two Havens at the Mouth of one of which there is King Hierons Pallace in which the Praetors now dwell There are many Churches in it but especially two which doe farre exceede the rest one consecrate to Diana and the other to Minerva which was a faire Church before Verres came thither In the farthest part of the Iland there is a Fountaine of sweet water which is called Arethusa which is very great and full of fish which would be coverd with the waves of the Sea but that it is walled about with stones But there is another Citty of Syracusa which is called Acardina in which there is a great Market-place a faire Gallery and Counsell-house a great Court and a Temple of Iupiter Olympus and many private Aedifices There is a third Citty which is called ●yche in which there is a great Schoole and many Churches and it is well inhabited and frequented The fourth Citty is that which because it was last built is called Neapolis or the new Citty in which there is a great Theater two great Churches one consecrate to Ceres and another to Bacchus and a faire Statue of Apollo which is called Tennites But not all the beauty of this Citty is decayd and onely some ruinous parts of the Towne are remaining Messana is a Citty by the Sea side the Inhabitants whereof were first called Messanians and afterward Mamertinians which Herodotus and Thucydides doe mention There is also Catina which is called Catana where Charonda the Lawmaker was borne and it hath now a famous Schoole Taurominium is a Citty built by the Zanclaeans it is now called Taormina There is also Leontium where Gorgias Sophista was borne Agrigentum is an ancient Citty which heretofore the Carthaginians raced and Megalus and Feriscus re-edified it againe There are also Augusta which was heretofore called Megara also Castrogianum heretofore Ennea Drepanum Monreale Heraclea and many other Citties It is watered with many Rivers in which as in the Lakes there are good store of Mullets Eeles Tenches and Trowts And in the Sea there is good fishing for Tunyes not onely at Pachynum but also at Panormum and Drepanum and all that Coast which lyeth by the Tyrrhene Sea There are also Sword-fishes taken in the Massonian Sea Lastly there is excellent good fishing in the Sicilian Sea for there are great store of Mullets which the Grecians call Trichias and Sophronius and Cicero doe call them Barbels and also great store of Lampreys But the Cicilian straites are narrow dangerous and rough and are called by the name of Scylla and Charybdis The chiefe Mountaines Aetna Eryx Aetna by Pindarus is called the Pillar of Heaven Silius Italicus calleth it Tiphoeum It is now called Monte Gibella or Mongibello Eryx is much memoriz'd for Venus Chappell which was built by Aeneas In Sicily are the Archbishops Panormitanus under whom are the Bishops Agrigentinus Masarensis Milevitanus or Maltensis The Archbishop of Montis Regalis under whom are Siracusanus and Cothanensis The Archbishop of Messanensis under whom are Cephaludensis Pacensis Lipariensis Marcus and Militensis now Milaza STIRIA COMMONLY CALLED STIRMARCK which was made a Dukedome by FREDERI OR BARBAROSSA In it there are many Countries among the which is WARASDEN by the River DRAVUS and LEBNAW by the River MURA. STIRIA commonly called Stirmarck was without doubt so called from a Bull or Steere to which opinion Aegidius Tschudus subscribeth where he reporteth out of Pliny that Caro doth affirme that the Lepontians and Salassians were of the Taurick Nation but these Tauriscians were Frenchmen who in the ancient French warres seated themselves beyond the Alpes of which Polybius Lib. 2. of the French warre writeth thus Those that are called the Transalpine French doe dwell by the Alpes on either side of Mountaines on that side which looketh Northward and towards the River Rhodanus but on that side which lyeth towards the plaine ground there are the Tauriscians the Agonians and many other barbarous people from whom the Transalpines are onely distinguisht by their different habitation and therefore called Transalpines because they live beyond the Mountaines But after these Tauriscians departed hence they sought themselves other habitations and possessed the Country which is now called the County of Goerts and so comming into Stiria they left their name unto that Country For a Bull in the Germane language is called a Stier And so they spred and dispersed themselves into Austria and Hungary Some affirme that Stiria was heretofore called Valeria in honour of Valeria the Daughter of Dioclesian as Marcellinus doth report Volateranus thinketh that it was called Iapidia for so he writeth in the 8. Booke of his Geogr. The next unto this Iapidia which they now call Styria though Pope Pius thinketh it should bee called Valeria by according to Rufus his description doe thinke that Valeria should be rather called Croatia betweene Danubius and Dravus
The last Marquesse was called Ottocarus whose Daughter Lupold Duke of Austria married who by the Emperour was made Duke of Stiria Afterward his Line being extinct the Governour of Hungary sent his Sonne to governe his Country but hee living loosely and having laid intolerable taxes and taxations on the Stirians was droven out and Ottocarus the King of Bohemias Son was called in who did usurpe the Dukedome of Austria and got Carinthia in the yeere of Christ 1269. but he could not keepe it long For he grew so arrogant that hee contemned the Emperour and would not doe homage for the STIRIA OR STIRMARCK STIRIA Lands which he held in Bohemia unto the Emperour Rudolphus Habsburgius the Emperour at Augusta called a Counsell of the Princes of Germany and citeth Ottacarus to appeare at his perill and to answere concerning those Provinces of the Empire which he unjustly possessed as also concerning his contempt against the Emperours Majesty Ottacarus laughs at the Citation and sends no body to the Counsell to answer for him In the meane time Embassadours being sent from the States of Austria came to Augusta to the Emperour and the Counsell of Princes there assembled and there having grievously complained before Caesar and the Princes of Ottocarus his injury and cruelty they shewed that he had gotten Austria by an unjust Title and that he had repudiated and divorced his lawfull wife Margarite the Inheretrix of Austria and kept a Whore and at length poysond his owne wife and that he tooke away the lawfull Inheritance of Austria from Agnes Badensis and her Daughter Elizabeth with her Brother Henry and that he had murderd many of the Noblemen in the Citty of Vienna and had butcherd many innocent people and that hee had secretly devided Austria Stiria Carniola and the Marquiship of the Vindorians which were in the Emperours gift and that hee might hold Austria by the ayde of a forraine power and lay the yoke of servitude on the people he did therefore revolt from the Empire and Caesar c. It was hereupon decreed by the Princes that Embassadors should be sent to Bohemia But they in stead of an answere giving reproachfull speeches to Caesar and the Princes of the Empire they decreed and agreed that Caesar should make warres against them and should have their ayde therein Hee having levied a great Army goeth into Austria On the other side Ottocarus marcheth forth with no lesse forces but he doubting the event of the warre and fearing Caesars wisedome and force by the intercession of two Noblemen made a peace with him and restored back Austria and did homage unto Caesar for Bohemia and the other Provinces which he held of him and while he did his homage he kneeled before the Emperour and the whole Army which matter being taken in dudgeon by his wife and some factious spirits they violated the peace and entred Austria with a great Army On the other side the Emperour Rodolphus marcheth forth with his Army of Germanes and his auxiliarie Hungarian forces and so joyning battle with Ottocarus not farre from the Towne Marcheccus he overcame him and slew him afterward hee invaded Bohemia and with fire and sword enforced the young man Wenceslaus the Sonne of the deceased Ottocarus to seeke peace and prescribed him conditions according to his Imperiall pleasure But hee made his eldest Sonne Albert Duke of Austria and afterward by the common consent of the Princes of the Empire hee was made Duke of Austria and Stiria Stiria is distinguisht into the higher by the turning of the River Mura and the lower neere the confluence and meeting of Dravus and Mura which is next unto the second Pannonia or Hungarie whence that place is called am Hungerischen The chiefe Citties of Stiria are Bruga by the River Mura and also Grazium Viana commonly called Voytsperg by the River Kaynacha Also Wolspergum by the River Lavandus Marchpurg is a Metropolitan Citty on the left banke of the River Dravus and on the same side there is Petovia or the Petovian Colonie where the Romane Legions were seated Beyond the River is Warasinuns which they call the Varian Castle there is also Rachelspurg seated on the left banke of the River Mura where the Country of Savaria beginneth In this Country also there is Cilia on the banke of the River Savus which seemeth to be an ancient Citty for there are many Inscriptions of Romane names in it The Townesmen say that it was built by Sulla and that it was called Sullaces but on no ground as Volaterrarus saith For perhaps it was that Citty or built out of the ruines thereof which Ptolemy placeth not farre from home and calleth Celia In the Dukedome of Styria there are more Counties among which are Warasden by the River Dravus and also Lebnau by the River Mura Stiria is watered with these Rivers Dravo Lavanda Sackan Sulmo Raynacho Mura Martza Arrabone Veystritza Lausintio and infinite many Torrents and Rivulets which at length doe all runne into Danubius Here are no particular Mountaines for they are all called by one generall name the Norician Alpes whence they are called by the name of Alpes as Rauch Alben Subalben Saw Alben Schwaberger Alben In the confines of Austria Carinthia and Stiria there is the Mountaine Taurus The Mountaine Gesacus doth hang over the River Mura which is now commonly called Der Schockel and Sattli Mansenperg Wemsperg and neere unto the River Salzis it is called Ina Sawrussel that is os porcinum or Hogs mouth and Deifelsteig that is the Devils Praecipisse Below the River Mura it is called in Gaistal Stainperg and Kainacher Alben and somewhat lower are the Mountaines Kreiczpergus and toward the East Radel and Plaitzperg Beyond Dravus Southward is the Mountaine Claudius which is now called Dracimperg Vadianus relateth that it was a current report at Vienna in Austria that a Mountaine began to burne in Stiria whereupon the Emperour Maximilian sent Messengers who found it to bee true And it is probable that this hapned about the yeere of Christ 1520. at what time Vadianus writ thus much Moreover the aforesaid Mountaines are every where clothed and crowned with woods The Stirians are a rustick people and some of them have such swellings about their necks that it hindereth their speech and women that give sucke doe cast it behinde their back that it may not hinder their Children from sucking Ortelius doth report that he saw at Frisachium while he traveld from Vienna to Venice in the yeere 1558. a man that had a Chin that was as broad as his shoulders and it hung downe upon his breast The Inhabitants doe thinke that the ayre and water are the cause of this swelling The Stirians doe use the Germane speech and habit except it be those that dwell by the River Dravus SCLAVONIA CROATIA BOSNIA VVITH PART of DALMATIA AMONG the Countries which are presented in this Table Sclavonia is the first which was so called from the Sclavonian Nation who did heretofore
namely India on this side Ganges and India beyond Ganges It is thought that the latter is called in the sacred Scriptures Hevila or as some write Havilah or Evilath and the former Seria But wee reade in Marius that the Inhabitants doe call it Macyn or Magin others that follow Mercator doe call it Mangi and China Iohn Barrius affirmeth that the Inhabitants doe call the former ●ndostan It is the largest Country of all the world Pomponius writeth that a ship may sayle 60. dayes and nights along the coast of it But it is bounderd according to Pliny and Strabo on the West with the River Indus which divideth Persia from India on the North is the Mountaine Taurus on the East it is encompassed with the Easterne Ocean on the South with the Indian Ocean The Country hath a wholsome gentle ayre yet it is so great that it hath a different climate in many places for in some places it is hott namely toward the Aequator and in other places temperate enough and rather cold towards the North. But the Countrey it selfe in generall both for the Situation the ayre and the fertility of the Soyle doth farre exceede other parts of the world Here new Starres doe rise and set and here are two Harvests in a yeare and two Summers and the Winter is in the middle betweene them and the Estesian or East windes doe coole and qualifie the heate Although this Countrey for the most part hath no Wheate yet it yeeldeth plenty of Pulse and other graines and especially of Barley and Rice It doth also bring forth divers other fruits as Pepper Franckincense Myrrhe Ginger and in the most Southerne parts Cinnamon Spicknard and other Aromaticks and sweet spices as Arabia and AEthiopia There are also Honey or Sugar Canes Besides it hath many Druggs and rootes of trees some of which are wholsome and some hurtfull What should I speake of their Mettalls stones and Mineralls For there is great store of gold and silver in the Countrey as also of Brasse Iron and Copper as Diadorus witnesseth But Plinny saith that it hath neither Brasse nor Leade but instead thereof Precious stones and Pearles which the Sea casteth up upon the shoare For it hath abundance of Berills Adamants Carbuncles and Pearles Here is silke enough to furnish all the world Here are greater beasts than in others parts of the world as Oxen Cammels Lions Dogs and Elephants There are great store of Elephants And great Dragons in the Wildernesse that are as bigge as Elephants and doe fight continually with them And Dogs as fierce as Lions And great store of Serpents which the Inhabitants doe roast and eate and a kind of THE EAST INDIES· INDIA Orientalis Ants which they eate with Pepper as we doe Crabfishes Here are white Apes and Cameleons which were heretofore thought to live by aire Moreover there are divers sorts of Birds not knowne to other Nations besides great store of Hens Pheasants and Partridges and also Parrets of divers colours Plinny writeth thus of the Indies The Indians alone of all nations were never droven out of their Countrey they had from Bacchus to Alexander the great 153. Kings in 6402. yeares and 3. monethes And Strabo writeth that never any but Bacchus Hercules and Alexander got the victory against them although Cirus and S●mirami● assailed them often But leaving these matters let us passe to the Citties The companions of Alexander the great doe write that there were 5000. Townes in that part of India which they conquer'd and every one as bigge as Co whence you may easily collect the vast largenesse of this Countrey The chiefe Citty is Calechut which is the famous Mart of all the East There are also other Citttes as Cambaja Dec●n Batticalla Canonor and many others There are also many great Lakes In the history of Alexander there is a mention made of a Lake which hath great old wood in it here Alexanders army was like to perish for thirst But the greatest Lake of all is Chiamy which is 400. Miles in compasse and is 600 Miles distant from the Sea Hence many chiefe Rivers doe issue the next unto this Lake is ●incuthay and others Here are many great Rivers It is reported that Alexander the great did sayle every day 600. Furlongs in the River Indus yet he could but sayle over it in 5. moneths and odde dayes and yet it is lesser than Ganges It riseth out of the Mountaine Ca●sasus which is called Paropamissus and now Naugocrot and so having runne 900. miles it dischargeth it selfe into the Southerne or Indian Ocean In which compasse of ground it receiveth 20. Rivers but the famousest are Hydaspes which bringeth 4. others with it and Cantabra which bringeth three with it Some say that the Rivers Ganges doe issue from unknowne Springs as Nilus and that it watereth the Country round about as Nilus doth some say that it riseth out of the Scythian Mountaines and that 19. Rivers doe runne into it Some say that the Springs thereof doe breake forth with great violence and so rowling down thorow the Rocks it runneth first thorow the Plaines and from thence glideth gently forward and that it is 8. miles broad in the narrowest part of it and in other places 100. Furlongs broad and is no where lesse then 20. yards deepe This River in the Scriptures is called Phison But now Geographers doe seeke for it For some suppose it is that River which floweth into the Bay of Bengala perhaps in regard of the affinity betweene their names for the Inhabitants doe call it Guengua But our Mercator sheweth by good probable reasons that Ganges is that River which is called Rio de Cantaon Next to these Rivers there are the Rivers Mandona Chaberis Ava Campumo Menam Menon and many others Megasthenes reporteth that there are 60. Rivers in the Indies many of which doe overflow their bankes in the Summer like Nilus which is the chiefe cause of the fruitfulnesse and fertility of this Country It is said that Ganges hath Crocodiles as well as Nilus also Dolphins and Eeles 30. foote long as Pliny witnesseth Moreover the chiefest part of the East-Indies lieth over against the Southerne or Indian Ocean by the Shore or Sea Coast which although for the most part it hath Havens yet in many places it is so environd with Ilands Rocks and Sands that it is dangerous sayling that way Solinus saith that the Indian Seas have Whales as bigge as 4. Acres of ground There is also a kinde of Fish called a Whirle-poole which are very great and will lift themselves above the Hatches of a Ship and will so spout Sea-water out of their spouts that the waight of it falling downe againe is ready to overset Ships Here are many Mountaines so that it would bee troublesome to reckon them many of which have no greene things on them Imaus Emodus Par●pamissus doe joyne together being parts of Caucasus The Woods in the Indies as Solinus
over-against the Easterne Promontory of the greatest Iland Neere which there are many other Ilands to which the English have given severall names And that they might not want fresh water they have digged Wells not farre from the Sea shoare for the Sea doth not flow above a foote high The ayre in these Ilands is cleere and temperate and not too hot so that fruits brought from other places doe grow and thrive here very well but yet for want of heate they doe seldome come to maturity or ripenes they reape two Harvests in a yeere and their Wheate is bigger than ours Two graines of Maiz will grow to a pound waight Neither are they much troubled with cold or raine by reason of the divers windes which come from the Sea which doe also mittigate the heate they have thunder often but it doth no harme There are no venamous creatures in these Ilands neither doth the earth bring forth any venemous thing except one Plant. So that the English doe live here peaceably and commodiously and have abundance of all things necessary A DESCRIPTION OF THE SVMMER ILANDS Mappa AESTIVARVM Insularum alias Bermudas dictarum ad Ostia Mexicane SOVTHERNE AMERICA· SOutherne America or Pervana followeth betweene which and new Spaine there is a Neck of Land or Isthmus which is 18. miles broad Which keepeth the Country Pervana from being an Iland and it is called the Province Dariena from the great River Dariene Moreover all Southerne America hath the forme of a Pyramis being broad beneath and sharp toward the top the Base whereof is neere the Isthmus Northward the top thereof doth lesson by degrees like a Wedge even to the Straits of Magellan toward the Southerne Pole and so endeth in a sharp point The parts of it are many but these 5. are the chiefe Castella aurea Popajana Peruvia Chile and Brasilia Castell aurea or Castiglia del oro was so called from the great store of Gold which it hath It is situated by the Isthmus which joyneth the Southerne part of America to the Northerne The breadth of the Isthmus is 73. miles But this part of Land is but little inhabited in regard of the intemperatenesse of the ayre and Marshes or standing waters And it hath no Corne but they gather their Maiz twice or thrice a yeere It hath two Citties Nombre de dios by Mare dael Nort or the North Sea and Panama by Mare del Sur or the South Sea It hath Gold-bearing Rivers and Mines of Gold whence great store of Gold is gotten The Country Popayana beginneth from the North side at the Citty Antioch and endeth on the South side at the Citty Quinto Therefore it is bounderd on the North with Castella aurea from which it is separate by the Citty Antioch On the South it bordereth on the Country Pervana and is parted from thence by the Citty Quinto on the East it is bounderd with the Kingdome of New Granada and the Country Pervana which beginneuh from thence Eastward On the West it hath the Southerne Sea This Country is full of high rugged Mountaines SOVTHERNE AMERICA AMERICA MERIDIONALIS The Kingdome of Chili is situate beyond the Tropick of Capricorne betweene Peruvia and the Country of the Patagons the latter on the North side the former on the South side on the West it hath Mare Pacificum or the peaceable Sea It was so called from the cold in these parts which is so vehement that it will freeze Horses and their Riders untill they be hard as Ice It hath raine and thunder and severall seasons according to the time of the yeere as in Europe but that it is Summer with them when it is Winter with us All the Country is partly Maritine and partly Mountainous the Maritine part which lyeth neere unto the Sea is the hotter The soyle is naturally fruitfull and hath abundance of all things necessary as Honey and Woad for Diers c. It hath also long Pepper and the Vines which were brought thither out of Spaine and planted there doe yeeld good Wine It hath also geeat store of pure Gold And the fruits which are brought out of Spaine and planted here doe easily grow here are great store of Cattell and Ostriches The Metropolis is S. Iames his Citty which is a Colony of Spaniards That part which lyeth neere the Sea is watered with many Rivers which together with the Snow which melteth with the dayes heate doe fall downe from the tops of the Mountaines and so runne into the Pacifique or Magellanick Sea but for the most part the vehemency of the cold doth freeze them by night but in the day time they runne when the Ice is thawed The Mountaines in these Countries doe exceed all the other Mountaines in the Indies The more Easterne Country Brasill remaineth which was so called from the great store of red wood growing there which is called Brasill wood It is situate betweene the two Rivers Maragnon and Della Plata Maffejus describeth it thus Brasil runneth forth from 2. degrees from the Aequator to 45. degrees Southward it lyeth in a triangular or three cornerd figure the Basis whereof is turned against the North and so runneth straite forward from the East unto the West The farthest corner or point doth reach to unknowne Countries Southward The East side hath the Ocean betweene it and Aethiopia A high ridge of Mountaines doth part the other side of it from the Province of Peruana which are so high that Birdes are tyred with flying to the top of them All the Country is pleasant and hath a delightfull wholesome ayre by reason that the gentle Breezes of winde which come from the Sea doe dispell the morning vapours and clouds and doe purifie the ayre This Country openeth partly into Plaines and riseth gently into Hills having a fat Glebe and a fruitfull soyle alwaies greene and for the seed which is sowne it returneth a great interest of increase and especially it hath great store of Sugar It hath many wilde Beasts which are partly knowne and partly unknowne and Birds of an excellent colour Here are many Colonies of Portugals who having built many Houses to boyle Sugar in namely Pernambicum Caput St. Augustini Portus Omnium Sanctorum where the Bishop and the President of the Province are resident This part of the Country is full of Fountaines Woods and Rivers as the Silver River which runneth into the Sea 40. leagues with such violence that the Marriners can take in fresh water from thence before they discover Land The Brasilians doe worship no Gods at all yet they adore the rising Sunne and they beleeve the immortality of the Soule THE STRAITES OF MAGELLANA· ANd so much concerning Southerne America Fretum Magellanicum or the Straites of Magellan are now briefely to be unfolded and described It was so called from Magellan who discoverd this narrow Sea Of whose skill and experience which hee shewed in finding out the Molucco Ilands by a