England Scotland is the chiefest next vnto it haue ye Ireland then more northerly is Island Frisland lastly Groonland all in the Ocean sea In the Mediteraneum sea it hath Sicilia Sardinia Corsica Candie Maiorica Minorica Corphum Nigropont and others of lesse fame whose seueral names and situations do appeere in the Mappe This our Europe besides for the Romaine Empier honorable throughout all the world hath aboue 28 Christian Kingdoms yf you adde the 14 which some recon only in Spaine It is passing fertil naturally temperate and of a milde aier And inferior to no other parte in plentie of all kinde of fruit wyne and plants but to be compared with the most exellent beeing made pleasant with most faire Citties Villages and Throughfares And although it be in compas lesser then the other yet for the woorthinesse of the people it is preferred before all other partes of the world euer hath bin by all auncient writers hauing both for the Empier of the Macedonians and mightynesse of the Romaines bin moste renowmed EVROPA ASIA ASIA being the second parte of the world hath on the west syde to deuyde it from Europe the riuer Tanais from the head whereof the deuision is made as it vvere by a lyne extended vnto Sinus granduicus It is moreouer denyded by Mare Magiore a pece of the Mediteraneum sea On the south syde it hath the sea of India On the east the Ocean called Eous otherwise the east sea And on the north the icy sea of Sithia Asia by estimation seemeth as great as Europe and Affrica yet is it not taken to bee so populus as Europe having many wonderfull great deserts huge mountaines spatious sandy regions the mount Taurus stretcheth it self very farr through the middest thereof Some haue deuyded this parte of the earth into fyue portions The first is that which ioy neth vnto Europe obeyeth vnto the great Duke of Muscouy The second that which is vnder the great Cham Emperor of the Tartars The third that which is occupied by the race of the Ottomans vnder the fowrth is comprehended the kingdome of Persia gouerned by the Sophie And the fift last parte is that which as of old so yet at this present it retayneth the name of India beeing denyded vnder the comaund of many pety Kinges whereof diuers are tributaries to the great Cham. And in this parte is also conteyned the great mighty kingdome of China This parte of the earth is not only famous among prophane authors for the first monarchies of the world as of the Assyrians Persians Babilonians Medes but it is more illustred aboue other partes in sacred scripture wherein not only appeereth that in the same mankynde was first created by Almighty God but our Lord sauiour Iesus Christ coming into this world for the redemption of man did choose to make herein his birth place It is also to bee considered that the most pretious thinges that the world doth yeild are fonnd in this noble parte thereof as besydes great varietie diuers kyndes of beastes birds excelent sortes of spices frutes medicinall herbes rootes other thinges As also the moste pretious metalles pretious stones and pearles ASIA AFRICA THis third parte of the vvorld the auncient writers haue diuersty deuided But as Ioannes Leo vvitnesseth it is now deuyded into fowre partes to vvitt Barbaria Numedia Libia and the country of the Negroes or moores The first of these beeing Barbarie is the best and moste frutefull enclosed with the Atlantike and Mediterraneum seas the mount Atlas and the region called Barcha which confyneth on Egipt Numedia which yeildeth dates is of the Arabies called the date countrie is otherwise called Biledulgerid this beeing the second parte bordereth on the Atlantike sea in the west and the mount Atlas in the north in the east it reatcheth vnto the citie Eloacat and southward vnto the sandie deserts of Libia Libia the third parte is in the Arabeck tongue called Saâ—ra which signifieth wildernesse it beginneth at the riuer Nilus and reatcheth to the Atlantyke sea having on the south the Negroes or Moores and on the north Numedia The fourth and last parte is that which is called the country of the Negroes or Moores for that they are black people it hath Libia on the north The AEthiopian sea towardes the south the Gualates towardes the west and on the east syde the kingdome of Goaga It is further to be considered that all Africa is enuyroned with the Mediteraneum Atlantyke and Aethiophian seas and the riuer Nilus Some haue accompted Aegipt and Aethivpia to bee of Asia but with more reason all moderne Cosmographers do recon them to belong to Africa The south parte or coaste of Africa was vndiscouered vnto the yeare of our Lord 1497 that Vasca de Gama passed the promontorie or cape de Bona speranza and sailing round about all the south coast of this parte of the world arryued at Calecut in the east Indies Africa hath great and dry deserts wherein many strange beastes and serpents are nowrished and in some partes there of as about the riuer Nilus sundry new creatures or monsters are often produced AFRICA AMERICA THis fowrth parte of the world for the exceeding largenesse thereof is called the new-world altogether vnknowne vnto all Consmographers vntil the yeare of our Lord 1492 in which it was discouered by Christopher Columba of Genua who for that discouery was employed by Ferdinand King of Castille Queene Isabel his wyf It seemeth moste strange that so great a parte of the world should so long remaine vnknowne considering the dilligent search of Geographers to describe the whole earthe the oportunitie to search out countries the insatiable desyre that man hath of gold siluer wherewith this America aboundeth yet could neuer before bee found out Some think it was decyphered by Plato vnder the name of Atlas others affirme a pece of coyne to bee found there having on it the Image of Augustus the Emperor about the which there are diuers opinions and disputes This parte of the world hath bene all sailed about except on the north syde which coast is yet vndiscouered It seemeth to forme it self into two peninsulaes whereof the one which is northerly conteyneth new Spaine the prouince of Mexico the landes of Florida Terra noua etc. That which is southward called Terra firma conteyneth the regions of Peru Bresilia and others America had not in tymes past either wheat or wyne kyne shepe gotes asses or dogges but it hath since the discouery there of bene enriched from Europe with all these and sundry other comodities AMERICA ENGLAND THe whole I le of Albion called also Britannie beeing the greatest Ile of this parte of the world is at this day by two seueral names called England and Scotland because it contayneth those two kingdomes The Meridional greatest best parte thereof is called England of Englishmen somtyme a people of
bene often subiect to the spoile of enemyes many of the inhabitants haue abandoned it gon to liue in other countries Lutzembourg was wont to bee an earldome til Henry the seauenth Emperor Earle of Lutzemburg as saith Levvis Guicciardin erected it into a Duchie LVTZEMBOVRG HENALT THe earldome of Henalt hath on the north parte of Brabant parte of Flanders on the south it hath parte of Champagne parte of Picardie on the east it hath the earldome of Namure a pece of the country of Liege on the west it hath the riuer of Skeld a pece of walsh-Flanders This prouince is very fertil aboundant in corne cattel with great store of Orchardes many fish pondes It hath mynes of Iron and lead hilles wherein are quarreys of marble Stone-coles corruptly called in english seacole are here found though not so good as in the country of liege Mouns is the chief citie so ordayned to bee by Carolus Magnus The next vnto this is Valeneyne called rightly val de cignes that is the valey of Swannes for the situation of the place is low the riuers there about haue bin wont to nowrish many swannes About a league from Valencyne is the faire Abbey of Vicogne wherein is a library stored with all sortes of rare booke many other walled cities there are in this country among which is Cimay the birth place of Iohn Frosard that wrote a french cronicle About Barbançon glas for the glasing of windowes is made as also other glasses HENALT ARTOIS IN this prouince Ceasar placeth the Atrebates so called of their chief cittie Atrebatum at this present Arras which now vnto the whole prouince giueth the name of Artois It is almost circuited by Flanders Picardie having the first of these on the northeast sydes the later on the southwest It hath hereto fore belonged to Flanders but afterward vnto France by S. Levvis King of France it was made an earldome but in the agreement made in the yeare 1529 betwene the Emperor Charles the fift Francis King of France the first it came to be vnder the how 's of Austria The ayre is very temperate the earth frutefull yeilding principally great aboundance of corne Arras afore named is the chief citie next vnto lers S. Omer which according to the opinion of Ortelius was that Iccius Portus where Ceasar embarked himself when hee made his voyage to England then Britannie And that the sea hath of old tyme come vnto this towne is aparent by the often fynding of ankers in digging in the meddowes other places there abouts Not far from S. Omer is a lake wherein are certaine litle Iles that with acord or the wynde are made to pas vp downe from the one syde to the other ARTOIS NAMVRE THis earldome is enclosed betwene Brabant Henalt and the country of Liege It is but a litle countie very hillie but a fyne and pleasant region It aboundeth in mynes of Iron it yeildeth a black or browne marble as also a veyned marble of different colours and here are Stone coles also found as in the country of Liege There are in it fowre fortified or strongly walled townes The first is the citie of Namure which is principal a Hishops sea and situate where the riuer of Sambre runneth into the Mase The second is Boâ—inâ—s the third Charlemont the fowrth VValcourt The citie of Namur taketh name as some say of an Idol called Nanus which was placed on the top of the hil where now the castle standeth where to the demaunders of thinges to come he gaue answere vntil the coming of Christe by whose coming this fals God as all the others which the Pagans honored became dumme NAMVRE BRABANT THe Duchie of Brabant is limitted eastward with Geldres westward with Flanders northward with Holland and southward with the country of Liege In it is conteyned the Marquisat of the holy Empyre whereof Antvverp is the chief towne The country is very pleasant fruteful but moste towards the south It beareth all kynde of grayne about Louayn it hath vineyards but they yeild a small kynde of wyne Campinia or Kempenland is the most barren parte of all this country by reason of the sandy heathes howbeit it nowrisheth kyne sheep the soile is much bettered through the labor of the people It hath fiue woods whereof that of Sonien which beginneth neere vnto Bruxels conteyneth about 7 Brabant myles in circuit is the chief There are in it 26 walled townes whereof the moste fayre famous citie of Antvverp lying on the riuer of Skeld is the principal in trafike opulence not only of this country of Brabant but of all the netherlandprouinces inferior to no citie in Christendom In one day a man may pas from Antvverp to Macklyn which albeit it bee a prouince a parte yet lieth it within the limitts of Brabant from Macklyn to Bruxels from Bruxels to Louaine ryde an easy pace taking his repast by the way The first of these hath the trafike of marchandise the second the highest court of Law the third the court of the Prince the fourth the vniuersitie The people of Brabant haue many great strong priueleges graunted vnto them by their former Dukes Princes BRABANT FLANDERS FLanders the best fairest earldome in Europe hath lying next vnto it on the east syde Brabant on the west the Germaine Ocean on the north it hath Zealand but separated by some smal parts of the sea on the south it hath Artois VVhence this country took name it is diuersly reported the lykelyest is to bee of the lady Flandria for whose husband the earle of Harlebeke his great seruice to Charles the great the said Charles did of espetial fauor giue vnto the whole prouince her name In old tyme it was as a wildernisse therefore the gouernour was alwayes called Forestier de Flandres The whole earldome is deuyded into 3 partes to wit Flemish Flanders vvalsb Flanders Emperial Flandres Gant is the chief citie of all the country beeing 7 Italian myles in compas it is very ancient was before the tyme of Iulius Ceasar called Odueum Bruges is the next conteyneth in circuit 4 Italian myles Then followeth Ipers Lyle Tornay Dovvay sundry other In brief there are accompted in Flanders 35 cities or townes almoste all walled such as are vnwalled haue the priuileges of walled townes Of thorps or villages there are 1174 to wit such as haue their seueral parish churches The country is very fruteful easely cultiued faire horses are bred therein the yeowes do ordinarily bring 2 lambes at a tyme and very often 3. Twelue riuers take their passages through this prouince the principal whereof is the Skeld certaine Iles adiacent do belong vnto Flanders as Cadsant Osburg and Biervliet in the later of these lieth buried VVilliam Beuckelens who died in the yeare 1397 was the first
FRANCONIA FRanconia in the Germaine tongue vulgarly called Franckenland hath on the southsyde Bauaria on the west the riuer of Rhene Bohemia on the east Hassia Thuringia on the north Out of this prouince according to the opinion of many very good authors came Faramond with his Francks or Franc-men so called because they were a free people thereof since called French-men into Galia which therevpon came to lose that ancient name to be called France of some authors Francia Occidentalis or vvest-france because this country of Franconia is called Francia Orientalis that is East-france Adriauns Iunius notwithstanding holdeth a paradox that the Franckes that went out of Germanie to inhabite Galia did dwel much lower vpon the east syde of the Rhene The most famous citie of Franconia is Franckford where 2 very famous faires or martes are holden euery yeare the one about midlent the other in the middest of September The Emperor Charles the fowrth ordained Franckford for the place of the Emperors election All Skirm-masters to wit masters of defense through all Germany must come to this citie bee here allowed so to bee yf by the burgers which are notable fensers they are found to deserue tht name The Bishop of VVirtsberg is duke of Franconia The country is pleasant fruteful hauing store of vineyardes About the citie of Bamberg groweth so great aboundance of Licoris that it is transported thence with cartloades FRANCONIA VVIRTENBERG THe dukedome of VVirtenberg in tyme past an earldome doth ioyne westward vpon the marquisdome of Baden northward vpon the territories of the Paisgraue of the Rhene east southward vpon Svveuia It is very fertile hath many faire townes thorpes the principall cittie is called Stutgard there the Duke keepeth his court There are such fruteful vineyards about this cittie that the people haue a prouerb that yf the grapes of Stutgard were not gathered the cittie would bee drowned in wyne Next vnto this is the cittie of Tubing which hath an vniuersitie the which was founded by the Earle Euerard in the yeare 1147. At the townes of VViltbad Zil there are hotte bathes and at Gipping there is a fountaine which yeildeth water of a fyne tartish sauor which the inhabitants in their tongue do call Saurbrun which is in english sower-bourne or sower-water and beeing dronck it serueth for a remedy against diuers diseases The castle of VVirtenberg whereof the country taketh name is situate vpon the pleasant riuer of Neccar on the sydes whereof groweth a very good kynde of wyne wel knowne in Germaine by the name of Neccar-vvyne VVIRTENBERG TIROL THis earldome of Tirol conteyneth a parte of the Alpes that deuyde Germany Italy hauing on the northerne syde Bauaria on the southern syde Italy The chief cities hereof are Inspruck Bolzan Tirol Trent Brixia Bruneck and Schvvatz This country is very ritch in mynes and notwithstanding the hillynesse thereof yet hath it sufficient of all thinges for humaine sustenance About three Germaine myles from the cittie of Trent lieth a mountaine called Nausberg which is in length 12 Germaine myles and 3 in bredth Rodulph the sonne of Albert Duke of Austria annexed by mariage this earldome vnto his other possessions the same beeing also confirmed by the last wil restament of the fore-going heyre possessor thereof TIROL SVITZERLAND SVitzerland called in Latin Heluetia hath on the southsyde Lombardy on the west syde Sauoy on the north the county of Burgundy on the east the county of Tyrol This people hauing taken all gouernment from the Nobillitie deuyded the country into 13 partes or Cantons the magistrates of each chief towne of these cantons do gouerne the whole canton there vnto belonging The 13 cantons are these Zurick Berne Lucerne Vri Suits Vndervvalden Zug Glaris Basel Fribourg Soleurre Shafhouse and Appenzel besydes these they are confederate with certaine other iurisdictions This country of Suitzerland is held to bee the highest land in all Christendome very probably for the exceeding high mountaines thereof from whence the riuers of Rhene Danubius Po Sone Rhosue descending do seek their passages through lower regions hold their courses diuers wayes as the Danubie eastward the Rhene northward the Po southeast the Sone Rhosue westward which z riuers lastly ioyning in one do turne southerly fall into the sea at Marcels It hath many great lakes one of them beeing vpon a high hil is not knowne to haue any issue foorth nor by any chanels coming to it to bee augmented There groweth very good corne wyne such store of cattel is there nowrished that oxen are sent thence to serue other prouinces both of Italy Germany SVITZERLAND ITALIE ITalie beginning in the northwest at the foot of the Alpes which deuydeit from Germany and France extendeth it felf betwene the Mediteraneum and the Adriatyk sea toward the foutheast in the forme of a mannes arme This famous countryes praise would rather requyre a large volume then so brief a description as a page of paper wil admit The sweetnes of the ayre the goodnes of the earth the fruteful vynes olyue trees the plenty of cattel the sweete riuers lakes fountaines the sea hauens about it what praise deserue they not There are in Italy very many faire ancient citties amongst the which the chiefest is the maiestical cittie of Rome whose glory both antiquitie power hath highly renowmed ouer all the world The principall citties of Italie are comonly thus praised Rome for holynesse Naples for noblenesse Florence for fairenesse Bononia for fatnesse of the soile Rauenna for oldnesse Venice for ritchnesse Milan for greatnesse and Genua for statelynesse c. The people of Italy are generally very ingenious excelling in all excellent artes sciences ITALIE FRIVLI FRiuli called in latin Forum Iulij lieth at the vpper end of the Adriatyksea or gulf of Venice and not farr from the cittie of Venice on the east syde it hath Istria on the north the hilles called Lapides westward a parte of the Alpes on the south the aforesaid sea This country hath serued for the dore entrance of sorrow affliction to it self the adioyning countries for that the Batbarians in tymes past did here make their aryuall It is on the one syde plaine euen but afterward it riseth higher higher groweth steep vp vnto the high neyghbouring mountaines it hath notwithstanding fruteful feilds faire vineyards much wood both for fuel and maintenance of chase In the mountaines are mynes of all mettals as namely Iron Lead Tin Quicksiluer Siluer Gold There is also passing faire whyte marble taken our of the quarreyes moreouer Christal Beril other stones of price are there found This country was subiect vnto the Romans so long as their gratnes endured afterward it was subdued by the Longobards gouerned by dukes and now lastly it belongeth vnto the Venetians who accompt them-selues
flesh of it is very good meat In this I le groweth the herb which in latin is called Ranunculus the qualitie whereof is such that whoso eateth of it dieth laughing Among the townes or citties of name of this I le is Calaris now called Caglire situate vpon a hil vpon the seasyde towards Africa hauing a very good hauen in this citie the Vice Roy hath his residence SARDINIA CORSICA THis Iland lieth in the Mediteraneum sea hauing Sardinia ouer-against it on the south syde the state of Genna ouer-against it on the north It is nor easy to bee manured by reason of the stonynesse of the soyle by reason of the hilles that are in it as wryteth Strabo who addeth withall that the inhabitants in his tyme were of rude behauior Howbeit they haue long since receaued the ciuilitie of Italy they are esteemed good soldiers It now bringeth foorth very good wyne there are bred in it faire horses houndes of extraordinary greatnes which serue for the chase of wyld beastes The Signorie or domination hath somtyme belonged to the Tirbenes after that to those of Carthage and lastly to the Romanes as Titus Liuius reporteth and vnder the Romanes it remained vntil such tyme as the Saracins stretched ouer it their powre-ful hands but these beeing ouercome by those of Genua to Genua was then the rule of this place transferred who kept thereof the gouernment vntil such tyme as those of Pisa gat it from the Geneuoises from whome the Geneuoyses did in fyne recouer it againe It hath moreouer bene belonging vnto the Churche but vnder those of Genua it now remaineth CORSICA ISCHIA DIuers authors are of opinion this I le now called Ischia situate in the Mediteraneum sea hath heretofore bin firme land with Italy the lykelyhood hereof appeereth by the rockes on the sea syde towards Italy where through the hollownes of them it is seene how the sea hath in length of tyme eaten out the earth from among them also that the very soile kynd of earth is euen the same that is in Italy on the syde that is neerest vnto this I le It is so circuyted with stony rocks that there is hard coming to it it also hath a very strong fortresse wherein Fernandino the sonne of Alphonso the second King of Arragon retyred himself at such tyme as Charles the 8 King of France was receaued into Naples It the yeare 1301 in the tyme of Charles the second King of Sicilia certaine vaynes of sulphure whereof this I le is ful beeing kindled the fyre extended diuers wayes and burnt a great parte of the cittie of Ischia now called Geronda through this fyre which continued the space of 2 moneths much people cattel were destroyed numbers of the inhabitants forced to flee into the kingdome of Naples This I le conteyneth 18 myles in compasse it yeildeth good wyne in it are diuers bathes of hot water ISCHIA MALTA SOuth from Cicilia lieth this I le of Malta in the Mediteraneum sea it was of old called Melita It is afaire Ile wel inhabited on the sea towards the southsyde thereof are highrocks but towards the east the north it is very euen fruteful It hath a good hauen where the knightes of S. Iohnes otherwise called the knightes of Malta haue builded a very strong towne They of this order were called the knights of the Rhodes but since the losse of the Rhodes their residence hath bin here There is mention made in the scriptures of this I le by the name of Melita to wit how S. Paule in his iorney from Ierusalem to Roome hauing suffred shipwrack came here on shore beeing bitten on the hand by a viper was not hurt thereby since which tyme as diuers authors do reporte no viper or venemous thing doth liue heere The fame of this I le hath in our age bene reuyued through the valour of those woorthy knights who to their vndying glorie haue so wel defended it against the attempts of the Turck MALTA CORFV THis Iland of Corfu was heretofore called Coreyra It lieth at the mouth of the gulf of Venice or Adriatyke sea where the said sea conioyneth with the Midland or Mediteraneum sea It is vnder the Venetians who haue in it a very strong fortified towne called by the name of the I le This place by the forces of Soliman the Turck was besieged at which tyme two venetian gouernours for the Signorie of Venice were within it and were of necessitie constrayned to put the vnnecessarie people foorth of it sin the night season who remaining close without the walles betwene their mortal enemyes their vnhelpful freindes their arose so great a tempest such continuall raine that almoste all the yong children died vpon the laps of their mothers In fyne Soliman beeing aduertised by his Captaines Barbarossa and Aiax that the place was inuincible that they were in despaire euer to obtayne it fynding it to bee so in truthe hee leuyed his siege retyred away his forces During the beeing in this I le of these miscreants they sent caried away with them into bondage and slauery as wryteth Paulus Ionius about 16000 christian soules CORFV CANDIE THis Iland of Candie of old called Creta lieth in the Mediteraneum sea is of great ancient fame the name it now hath of Candia is of the chief cittie thereof so called The country is ful of hilles valleys many woods there bee moste of them of Cypres trees which ouer the whole I le do yeild a sweet sauor Sirabo Plinie do write that in Creta in english Creet there are no damageable beastes nor serpents gotes there are great store but no deere except about Cydon The aboundant vineyards of this I le do yeild excellent malmesey which is thence transported into far countries here also groweth sugar Heere only as Plinie faith groweth the herb Dictamum where with the gotes by instinct of nature know to cure themselues beeing wounded by the arrowes of the hunter The 100 faire townes or citties that were of old reconed to bee in this countrie are now come vnto three to wit Candia Canea and Rhetimo but in Candia the Potestate that there administreth iustice in behalf of the venetians hath his residence The first inhabitants were rude vnciuil til Rhadamantus the sonne of Iupiter did first bring them to oder and ciuilitie after him came King Minos who amended amplyfied their lawes Pordoneus saith that on the northsyde of the I le is a certaine caue in the earth made by the handes of men beeing 40 cubits in length 4 in bredth which to this day is called the graue of Iupiter there is his epitaph yet to bee seene CANDIE CYPRVS THis Iland of Cyprus is one of the greatest of the Mediteraneum sea betwene Sicilia Syria and it is the farthest Ile eastward of all the Midland sea some think
that it hath bene firme or continent land in tymes past with Syria by tempests force of the sea cut of seperated It was of old tyme called Macaria by reason of the pleasantnes thereof The chiefest comoditie that it yeildeth is silk which from thence in great quantitie is yearely brought vnto venice It hath also very good wyne lyke vnto the malmesey of Creete salt is there also found It is said for a spetial comendation of this I le that ships can therein be buylt wholy furnished with the owne comodities of this country as not needing to haue ought vnto them belonging to be brought from other partes for heere are great high trees both for buylding them for their mastes here is also pitch flax for failes ropes Not far from the towne of Lymise is a place which is so full of wormes such lyke creeping vermin that no people can inhabite there There is some distance from this place a monasterie wherein is kept many cattes which are let out into the fieldes to diminish this vermin so taught that by the sound of a bel they are called home againe vnto the monasterie There are in this Ile two famous citties namely Famagosta and Nicosia in Nicosia the kinges of Cyprus were wont to make their dwelling but whyle the venetians had the rule the Gouernour garrisons their for them remayned in Famagosta vntil such tyme as by Selym the Turkish emperor it was taken from them This I le hath bene in tymss past deuyded into 9 kingdomes but came afterward to bee all reduced vnto one CYPRVS GREECE THis famous countrie of Greece was somtyme called Hellas It hath on the west syde the Midland Adriatyk sea on the east syde the sea called Archipelago on the south it hath the Peninsula Morea northward it is aioyned vnto the maine continent The moste famous Republykes hereof of old tyme were two to wit that of Athens that of Lacedemonia Sundry strange woundres haue bin said to bee in this countrie as that the riuer Melas made whyte sheep to become black that the riuer Cephis made the black sheep whyte with sundry other thinges found to bee no lesse fabulous moreouer that the sea called Euripus did in 24 howers 7 tymes ebbe flow so that Aristotle not wise enough to vnderstand this secret of nature for shame anger cast himself into the said sea whereof it was said that because Aristotle could not comprehend Euripus Euripus had comprehended Aristotle Sundry moste pleasant places were renowmed in Greece of old tyme as Helicon Parnassus where Apollo with the nyne muses had there residence Hymeirus euer greene Olympus Pindus Tempe places exceeding delightful Delphos where the Oracle was of Apollo which was in this manner In a rock was a deep hole out of the which issued a cold spirit lyke vnto a vapour or wynde which possessing the sences of the southsaiers they became as frantyke in their frantiknes they gaâ—e their ambiguous answers to the demaunders foretold thinges that were to come This noble countrie of Greece after all her flowrishing lyeth now vnder the subiection and stanery of the Turck GREECE ILLYRICVM BEtwene the Adriatyke sea the kingdome of Hungarie were in old tyme two famous regions the one Illyricum the other Dalmatia but Illyricum beeing now deuyded into many sundry prouinces as Schlauonia Croatia Carnia or Carinthia Istria Bosnia c. maketh that the confynes of this country through diuersiue of the opinions of authors are not easy to bee set downe Strabo saith that this country hath good hauens the soile is very fat deuyded into vineyards Oliue trees exceptin certaine stony places Among the country people some are found to haue great bagges growing vnder their chinnes which is said to proceede of their drincking of snow water which falleth from the hilles The famous citties were Flamone Segne Iadere Scardone Spalare Epidaure which beeing destroyed by the Gothes the cittie of Ragusia is growne great through their ruynes beeing now a cittie of great trasyke but of litle territorie and accompted the least comon weith or republyke in the world is now vnder the protection of the Turck for the which they pay a tribute of 12000 ducats by yeare In Carinthia is a cittie called Clagen where they obserue an old custome albeit very rigorous for yf a thief bee taken with the fact hee is foorthwith hanged without more a doo they hang those also which are vpon great presumptious thought culpable of theft 3 dayes after iudgement is giuen on the case yf the iudges then fynde the party guylty is hee left hanging on the gallowes til hee fall thence but yf hee be vnguilty hee is taken downe honestly buryed to make him amends ILLYRICVM HVNGARIE THis kingdome beginneth on the south at the riuer Era on the north it extendeth vnto Polonia VValachia westward it ioyneth to Austria eastward vnto Maesia The people are strong valiant And scarsly is any country found whereof the soile is more fertile the ayre more sweet temperate or that hath greater aboundance of cattel greater store of mynes then this and wanting neither corne wyne nor great choise of excellent frutes c in somuch as diuers authors affirme yf it were not so afficted through continual warre but were wholy in the quiet possession of Christians it might rather be preferred before all the prouinces of the world then after any one of them Buda is the chief cittie of All Hungarie which King Sigismond beautified with a faire Pallace other sumptuous edifices Agria is also a comodious cittie Cassouie is more ancient so called after one Cassio a Roman At Alba regalis the ancient kinges of Hungarie are buryed But to the grief of all good myndes the chief citties best partes of this country are now in the possession of the Mahometicall Tyrant The famous riuer danubie passeth through this countrie in diuers places is so large that in it are sundry Iles hauing rownes villages in them The Emperor beareth at this present the tytle of King of Hungarie hath a good parte of the countrie and some good citties also in possession HVNGARIE OZVVICZIN and ZATOR ON the south vvest syde of Polonia bordering vpon Silesia are these tvvo dukedomes of Ozwiczin and Zator In former tyme they belonged not vnto the kingdome of Polonia but vvere brought vnto it by Casimire the third and Sigismond the first The cittie of Ozwiczin lieth neere the riuer Sola vvhich cometh out of the confyning hilles of Morauia not farr from this to vvne falleth into the riuer Vistula vulgarly called VVixel The iurisdiction of the cittie the Germanes call Auschwitz vvhich King Casimire obtayned by svvord-right in the yeare 1454. The tovvne of Zator is situate on the riuer Skauda vvhich falleth also into VVixel vvas gotten through force by King
also sheep whose tailes are of incredible greatnes conteyne 5 or 6 yea 8 or 9 pound of flesh A certaine beast there is which is called Hyena which draweth dead bodies out of the graues vnto his den and their feedeth on them it is about the bignes of a wolf the people of the country are of opinion that these beastes do vnderstand their speech espetialy when they go about to catche them These people are generally held to be very crafty fals deceatful NATOLIA EGIPT THis ritch ancient kingdome hath on the north syde thereof the Midland sea on the east the desert of Sues the northerne end of the Red sea on the south the countrie of Nubia on the west the land of Barcha In this country of Egipt it raineth not but the riuer of Nyle ouerflowing it at sundry tymes doth make it of great fertilitie in the said riuer is a piller of marble whereon are made certaine markes of the height that the water doth arise vnto when the yeare wil prooue plentiful The riuer is deep great ships may pas on it the great serpent called the Crocodile liueth heere and eateth both men horse the fish of the riuer The greatest cittie is called Cairo or Alcaire it is meruelous great of great welth Not far from hence are the moste wonderful Pyramides vpon the greatest whereof as Plinie writerh 2060 men did continually woork for the space of 20 yeares they are buylded foure square from the foot vnto the top do stil grow sloping lesse lesse a man standing on the top for there is some space to stand or go shooting a bolt out of a crosbow the bolt in falling downe wil light on the same Pyramide which argueth the greatenes of the space it carieth beneath at the foot which greatnes also apeereth in that it neuer yeildeth any shadow from it These Pyramides haue bene buylt by the ancient kinges of Egipt to serue for their sepulchres these sepulchres the Egiptians vsed for the conseruation of their dead bodies which euen at this present are found vnrotten the flesh of them is called Mummia caried thence into other countries to bee vsed in medicyne The 2 principall sea-hauens of Egipt are Alexandria Damiata EGIPT THE porte of CARTHAGE THe countrie enuyroning the gulf of Golette otherwise called Sinus Cartha ginensis hauing at the south end thereof the cittie of Tunis is now after the name of that cittie called the kingdome of Tunis It lieth on the northsyde on the Midland sea almost directly ouer against Sardinia on the west it extendeth to Algiers eastward to Mesurata all along on the southsyde it hath the mountaines that seperate Barbarie from Biledulgerid This kingdome conteyneth 5 prouinces to wit Bugia Constantine the iurisdiction of the cittie of Tunis Tripoli and Ezzab On the west syde of thesaid Gulf are the ruynes of an aquaduct of the Ancient cittie of Carthage whereof but some sew ruynes els are left behynde to testify that once so famous a cittie hath flowrished in that place some number of howses village-lyke to that it hath bin about 25 shops of marchants are now there to bee found This cittie of Carthage is a true glasse wherein the incertitude of this vaine world may bee seene that no glorie on earth can haue euerlasting durance THE porte of CARTHAGE ABISSINE or the EMPYRE of PRESTER-IOHN THe great King comannder of all Aethiopia sundry other kingdomes countries is called of Christians Proster Iohn of the moores Arictabassi of his owne people Acegue that is Emperor His dominions are limited on the southsyde with the Mountaines Lamae on the west with the kingdome of Congo the riuer Nyger c. on the north with Nubia Bugia that confyne vpon Egipt on the east with the Red sea Synus Barbaricus The country generaly is very fruteful albeit there bee litle corne yet is there other grayne other good frutes not found in Europe vineyards they haue but no olyue trees yet make they oyle of an herbe called Gena Of hony and wax they haue meruelous great store They haue al sortes of great beastes as Elephants Lions Camels horses red-deere kyen gotes c. they are much endamaged by great multitudes of grashopers Good mynes of metals they haue but not theskil to make vse of them They haue 2 somers 2 winters which are not greatly denyded by heat or cold but by rainy faire wheather The people are of a kynde of tawny colour vnseene in notable scyences without knowlege of Phisick They haue no coyned mony but vse peces or wedges of gold by waight They are Christians but hold many grosse errors both men and women are circumsised they are Christened at 40 dayes old They haue a book which is deuyded in 8 partes which they beleeue the Apostles to haue written before their departure from Ierusalem Mōnasteries they haue many both of men women wherein they do liue stricktly but it is lawfull for lay men to haue 2 or 3 wyues at once deuorcements are also allowed The Emperor affirmeth him self to be descended from the lyne of King Dauid he hath no one setled place of residence but remoueth from one prouince to another dwelleth in tents It is said hee is not of the colour of his people but of a whyter fairer skin He may surely bee accompted one of the greatest princes of the world is esteemed able to bring to the feld a million of men 500 elephants a great nomber of horses camels ABISSINE or the EMPYRE of PRESTER-IOHN BARBARIE ON the northsyde of Africa all along by the Mediteraneum sea oueragainst the south partes of Spaine France Italy lieth this country of Barbarie al along on the southsyde thereof are certaine woodie mountaines that deuyde it from Biledulgerid in these hilles are great store of wyld beastes This country of Barbarie is held the best moste fruteful parte of Africa conteyneth 4. kingdomes or rather in deed prouinces to wit Maroco Fez Telesine and Tunis The inhabitants are of a duscish colour are called Barbarians of the woord Barbara which in the Arabee tongue signifieth grumbling because their speech soundeth in the eares of the Arabians as no perfect or cleere pronunced speech but as a kynde of grumbling they were first Idolaters afterward conuerted to the faith of Christ yet at the length they came to Mahometisme wherein they yet continew are for the most parte subiects or tributaries to the Turck except some few places which are in the possession of the King of Spaine BARBARIE FESSE and MAROCCO AT the west end of Barbarie are thease 2 kingdomes of Fesse Marocco that of fesse lieth of the twaine more toward the north the Mediteraneum sea that of Marrocco more inward toward the south The realme of Fesse taketh name of
He endued the monasteries which he founded with competent landes renenues the churches with vessels of gold siluor faire hanginges goodly paintinges ornaments c. His sonne after his death perusing his bookes of accompts did fynd that there was scarsly found any one citizen that was not one way or other in his debt And notwithstanding his great opulence he did not in his porte or apparel beare himself otherwise then the other citizens neither maried hee his children or kin folks but among his neighbours fellow citizens Thus much I thought good to ad in this place by occasion of this faire cittie of Florence which is so ancient that the name thereof was not vnknowne to Tacitus Procopius Agathias other ancient authors Touching the soile countrie becauseit is alredy spoken of in this epitome in the description of Tuscane it is heer omitted THE SIGNIORIE of FLORENCE APVLIA APulia otherwise called Terra di Otranto is the furthest east end of Italy enuyroned with the sea saue where it ioyneth vnto Terra di Barri aprocheth vnto Calabria It seemeth one of the moste temperate partes of the world Corne frute all sortes of pot-herbes medicinal herbes are heer most excellent The oates may bee compard vnto barley the barley vnto wheat of other countries But the countrie with thease extraordinarie good comodities is not exempt from incomodities as extraordinarie euil for the foile doth heer bring foorth the serpent Tarantola whose venim is cured by instrumental music Here are also certaine water-serpents and gras-wormes that poison and destroy the thinges which they touch Tarentum in tymes past was a towne of this prouince situated betwene 2 armes of the sea thought impregnable Calliopolis standeth vpon a promontorie stretching out into the sea with so narrow a passage vnto it in some places that 2 cartes cannot pas together in front Hydruntum which hath a good hauen is thought to haue bin in tymes past the Metropolitaine cittie of all this Peninsula Brindezi is also a good comodious hauen-towne the hauen whereof is chained vp euery night with 2 chaynes of Iron fastened vnto the rockes that are on either syde APVLIA ISLAND IN the north sea south from Groneland lieth the I le of Iseland so called because immediately beyond it the Icie sea is accompted to begin In this I le in somer when the Sun is in the Tropyk of Cancer there is no night contrariwise in winter no day The countrie is all ful of high hilles stony iockes the people do make themselues dwellinges in the rock sydes some do buyld themselues cabins of the bones of whales other fishes Townes villages are scarse among them not a tree is to bee found in the country neither haue they corne growing there but the valeys are so aboundant in grasse that they are faine to keep vp their cattel from ouermuch eating thinking they would els die of to great fatnesse They haue wonderful aboundance of fish much of it they do dry so make it stockfish The I le is deuyded into fowre partes those according to the foure quarters of the world east west north south They are subiect vnto the King of Denmark who yearly sendeth them a gouernor There Bishop who is of the Lutheran religion they haue in great reuerence They delight exceedingly in songes of the valiant actes of their fore fathers and euery where in the stony rockes the doughty deedes of their predecessors are grauen carued Sundry of their hilles are so high that they are alwayes couered with snow yea somtymes the snow may bee seene on the top of the hil when the foot of it burneth in flame of these the hil Hecla is the chief it lieth on the west syde of the I le There are also 2 other burning hilles the one is called Crosberg the other Helga and neer vnto mount Hecla are heard diuers hideous and strange noises ISLAND IAPPONIA BEyond the furthest continent eastward of all Asia ouer against China lierh the I le of Iapponia or Iapan it conteyneth in length about 400 english myles in bredth in some places but 20 where it is largest not aboue 60. It is deuyded into 3 partes the first whereof conteyneth 2 kingdomes to wit of Miace Amaguco In the second part are also 2 kingdomes whereof Bungi the principal of al is one Figen is another The third parte is deuyded into fowre prouinces lieth betwene the other two partes and in the kingdomes aforesaid are many seuerall gouernments The I le is hilly somwhat cold rather vnfruteful then fruteful in diuers places Howbeit in some places they gather in their graine in the moneth of May and their rice in the moneth of September they make no bread of their corne but a kynde of potage They haue neither eyle not butter beastes they haue both wyld tame but they eat the flesh of the wyld rather then of the tame they haue a kynde of auersion from much seeding on flesh therefore their greatest sustenance is ryce herbes fish they also eat the fat of fish serueth them in steed of oyle or butter Two mountaines in this I le exceed all the other the one in wonderful heigth reatching aboue the cloudes the other in casting foorth flaming fyre Many of these people haue of late yeares through the preaching of the Iesuits receaued the Christian faith howbeit not al for fome do yet continew in paganisme haue a custome diuers tymes to kil their new borne children thereby to auoyd the trouble charge of bringing them vp IAPPONIA ROMANIA THe region which now is named Romania the ancients called Thrace It is the furthest southeast parte of Europe and hath on the east syde the sea now called Mare Magiore of old Pontus Fuxinus On the southsyde it hath the sea called Archipelago on the west it hath Bulgaria c. on the north Syrfia vvalachia c. In this region lieth the ancient famous cittie of Constantinople of old called Byzantium of the Turks that now possesse it corruptly called Stambol the countrie lying about this cittie the Turks do call Galatie neere vnto this said cittie is a litle towne called Galata but more modernly Pera of old tyme Cornu-Byzantium This countrie of Thrace or Romania is neither of good soile nor good ayre but cold and barren except towards the sea syde The principall citties thereof are Abdera Apollonia Phinopolis Philippopolis Nicopolis Hadrianopolis Selybria Debeltus Heraclea Lysmachia the chief of all the aforesaid cittie of Constantinople called Byzantium of Byza the founder thereof afterward Constantinople after Constantyne the Emperor of whome it also receaued new honor new augmentation ROMANIA THE TABLE VNTO THE ADDITION LImagne 1 Champagne 2 Touraine 3 The territorie of Blois 4 Maine 5 Languedoc 6 The I le of France 7 Daulphiney 8 The Signorie of Florence 9 Apulia 10 Island 11 Iaponia 12 Romania 13 Typis Henrici Svvingenij
haue made their residences This citie of Auignion among other rareties hath seauen thinges of note seauen againe of each of them to wit seauen Pallaces seauen Parishes seauen Hospitales seauen Monasteries of women seauen Colleges seauen Couents seauen Gates PROVENCE THE COVNTIE OF BVRGVNDY THe countie of Burgundy the frenchmen call La franche Conté that is to say a free earldome the limits of this earldome northward are Lorraine Germany southward Sauoy westward the Duchy of Burgundy eastward Svvitserland Besançon Dole are the two chief cities of this country The former of these beeing very auncient is the principall of all It hath as good pleasant a situation as any citie els beeing enuyroned with ritch mountaines plentiful vineyards forests of goodly Oakes the riuer of Doux which passeth through the middest thereof doth yeild vnto it very good fish Dole standeth also vpon the same riuer and hath a flourishing vniuersitie in all faculties of learning In a parte of this country there are salt pittes which do yeild moste excellent pure whyte salt In that parte called Arbois groweth the excellent wyne called vin d'Arbois The whole country although but litle is both fruteful wel inhabited albeit it bee said of Orgelet a place where very industrious people dwel that liue by clothmaking that by reason of the rocks mountaynes the fields are without gras the riuers without fish the hilles without wood THE COVNTIE OF BVRGVNDY THE DVCHIE OF BVRGVNDIE THis second or lower Burgundie now a Dukedome was in former ages a kingdome the kinges where of did for the moste parte make their residences in the citie of Arles so as the boundes of this kingdome stretched much farther then this Duchie now doth the which paleth with Campaigne on the north syde with Niuernois Bourbonnoys on the west with the country of Lions on the south the countie of Burgundie on the east Of this Duchie Dijeon is the chief citie it lieth vpon the riuer of Ouche here is held the tribunall or courte of Parlament for Burgundie c. The riuer whereon this citie standeth is full of fish The country is very frutefuul yeildeth very good wyne The Dukes of Burgundie haue heretofore bene very famous of great power opulence and the people valiant The country taketh name as Saniulianus saith of a Burg or castle in the vally of Ogue therefore called Burgogue It hath besydes Dijeon diuers fair cities as Beaunle Chalon Mascon sundry others among which Autun sheweth it self to bee of great antiquitie where the ruynes of a great Theatre are yet to bee seene The cronicles of Aemylius do shew how about the yeare 1044 the whole country of Burgundie was deuyded into two partes to wit into a Dukedome and an Earldome THE DVCHIE of BVRGVNDIE LORRAINE THis Dukedome accompted to bee of Germanie hath on the east syde the country of Alsatia in the south the countie of Burgundy in the west Champaigne on the north the forest of Arden It was heretofore a kingdome and called Austrasia but then extending it self much farther then it now doth It tooke the name of Lorraine of Lotbarius nephew vnto Charles the great was annexed vnto the Empyre vnder Otho the first The country is hilly but wanteth nothing necessary for mannes vse It is furnished with cattel hath very good medowes pasture groundes it yeildeth corne wyne It hath mynes of Siluer Tin Copper Iron Lead Pearles are found in some waters in the valley of vaguy The pretious stone called the Calcedony with sundry other stones of woorth are here fomid as also azure More-ouer here is exceeding pure whyte salt which is said to yeild yearly vnto the Duke all charges borne 100000 Franckes There is a lake about 14 leagues in compas wherein amonge other sortes of fish are carpes of exceeding sweet taste comonly of three foote long one foote large this Lake beeing fished euery three yeares doth yeild somuch that it maketh in yearly value vnto the Duke 16000 Franks Lorraine hath many fyne riuers the holesome warm bath of Plombiers The chief citie is Nancy there the Duke moste comonly resydeth LORRAINE CALIS and BVLLEN OF all partes of the maine continent this only parte is in the view of England England thereof is viewed These two townes with their territories are paled on the east syde with west Flaunders on the west syde with the English or narrow seas northward with the Germaine Ocean southward with Artois Picardie The country aboute Bullen is good pleasant inward into the land are hilles some woods which are accompted portions or partes of the great forest of Arden which the french call Boys de morman The country about Calis is vnpleasant low warrish Calis of sundry authors is called Iccius Portus but others atribute that name vnto Bullen At Bullen is yet beheld a strong tower built by Iulius Ceasar of Englishmen called the old man The towne territory of Calis was subiect to the crowne of England from the yeare 1346 what tyme through force of armes it was by Edvvard the third taken from the french vnto the yeare 1557 when the Lord vventvvorth beeing gouernour thereof for Queene Marie it was taken againe by the French so that it remayned in the possession of the English 210 yeares and the towne of Calis became famous through the Staple of wool by them there holden In tymes past the towne of Calis belonged vnto Flaunders after vnto France then to England so to France agame as hath bin said in the yeare 1596 It was taken from the French through force by the Archduke then Cardinal Albertus of Austria gouernour of the Netherlands at that tyme for the King of Spaine in the yeare 1598 vpon a peace concluded betwene France Spaine it was rendred againe to the French CALIS and BVLLEN VERMANDOIS VErmandois is almost enuyroned with Picardy saue that on the one syde thereof it ioyneth vpon Artois and Cambresy It is a litle prouince but the name is of antiquitie the people thereof were of old called Veromandui The chief towne hereof is called S. Quintins which was long since called Augusta Veromanduorum howbeit one author saith that thesaid Augusta was two myles from the towne of S. Quintines and was since called the Abbey of Vermond This was wont to bee a Bishopryke but S. Medard the fourteenth Bishop of Vermandois translated that seat vnto Noyon in the yeare 524 when the Vandales came into France Phillip the second King of Spaine tooke this towne by force of armes in the yeare 1557 with great discomfiture losse of the French men In this country of Vermandois two notable riuers haue there begining the one not far from the other The one is the riuer of Somme which passing through Picardie falleth into the sea at S. Valeries The other is the riuer of Skeld which passing
through Cambressi Tournay into Flannders cometh vnto Antwerp so downe into Zealand is there receaued into the sea VERMANDOIS PICARDIE PIcardie accompted of old a parte of Galia Belgica hath on the east syde Vermandois on the west Normandie a parte of the narrow sea on the north it hath Artois and on the south Champagne The riuer of Somme which of Ptolomey seemeth to bee called Phrudis watreth this country maketh it frutefull and the townes to bee furnished with all necessary prouision The soile yeildeth great aboundance of corne albeit it hath no wyne it is rather thought to procede of the negligence of the inhabitants in not planting vineyards then through the vnfitnes of the soile to nourish them The principall citie of this country is Amiens which is a Bishops sea ancient very famous and aswel fortified as any citie in France Next vnto this is Abbeuile then haue ye Peronne as also the towne of Guyse whereof the how 's family of Guyse taketh name From whence the name of Picardie is deryued there are diuers opinions Some think that the Begardi should be changed into Picardos which Caenalis wil not affirme of certainty Others do say that these people haue the name of Picardes consequently their country the name of Picardie for hauing in warr first taken vp the vse of pykes PICARDIE GERMANIA THis great spatious country hath on the northsyde thereof the Germaine Baltish sea southward it confyneth with Italy westward it reatcheth vnto France eastward northerly it ioyneth on Polonia southerly vpon Hungaria within it lieth the Kingdome of Bohemia It is a country mightely replenished with goodly cities townes and villages exceeding populus hauing therein many goodly riuers whereof the Rhene the Danubie the Elbe are the chief It is deuyded into sundry Dukdomes Earldomes other gouernments yet all in some sorte depending on the Empyre for here in Germany the Emperor hath his seat residence for whose election Pope Gregory the fyft beeing of the how 's of Saxony ordayned seauen Princes electors to wit three spiritual 4 temporal the spiritual are the Bishops of Magunce Cullin Treuers The 4 temporal are the Dukes of Saxon and Bohemia for Bohemia now a kingdome was then a dukdome The Palsgraue of the Rhene the Marquis of Brandenbourg The earth ayre as also the people of Germanie seeme much altered since the tyme of C. Tacitus who described the soyle to be barren the ayre not very good the country woodie watrish the people very rude vnciuil for now wee fynde the ayre to be helthsome good the country fruteful the inhabitants courteous ciuil It hath now good wyne growing in it such aboundance of corne in the east partes thereof that it sustayneth sundry other countryes neither is it vnfurnished of all other necessaries It hath also mynes of Gold Siluer Copper Iron other metalles The people are warlyke very industrious many rare inuentions haue bene by them found out GERMANIA INFERIOR GERMANIE INferior Germany conteyning the seauenteene prouinces which the Emperor Charles the fift left vnto his sonne King Philip the second of Spaine Is corruptly of some strangers called Flaunders the inhabitants Flemings whereas Flaunders is but one of these prouinces the inhabitants thereof properly Flemings The names of the prouinces are these The Dukedomes of Brabant Geldres Limbourg and Lutzembourg The Earldomes of Flanders Artois Henalt Holland Zeland Namure and Zutphen The Marquesat of the holy Empire The Signories of Friseland Macklin Vtreck Ouerysel and Grooning The prouinces are generally by the inhabitants called by the name of Nederlant which in English is Netherland and the people generally call themselues Netherlanders There are in it as Levvis Guicciardyne affirmeth the number of 226 walled townes diched about and more then 6300 villages each village hauing a parish Church then are there Castles fortresses noble mennes howses a great number Some parte of this country is very euen flat lyke vnto Lombardy other partes are more high hilly It is very frutefull having plenty of corne of flesh and fish some of which comodities are in some prouinces more or lesse abounding then the others according to the nature situation of the place The people are maruelous industrious and do excell in all artes and sciences whereby as also by their great trade of marchandise this country may wel bee said to bee one of the moste pecuniary countryes of the world INFERIOR GERMANIE LIEGE THis Bishopryk ioyneth on the north west syde unto Brabant on the east on the duchie of Limbourg southward it extendeth vnto Lutzembourg partly vnto France The ayre is sweet the country exceding frutefull in corne and other graine it hath wyne albeit but smalle it hath store of beastes both wyld tame It hath exceeding good Iron it hath lead also gold Alablaster very faire marble is digged out of the hilles with great labor and arte of vndermyning Stone-coles are digged out of deepe pittes which kynde of cole was first discouered to be there in the yeare 1198 whereof besydes those there spent there is transported yearely to other prouinces to the value of more then 100000 ducates Sr Iohn Mandeuill knight doctor of phisick beeing borne in England having trauailed so farr through somany countries kingdomes did not fynde a place that for the sweetnes of the ayre the frutefulnes of the earth accompagned with a very great freedome that better pleased him then did this country of Liege where he chose to end the rest of his dayes there died in the yeare 1272. The citie of Liege is the chief of all the townes in this country wherein are 8 collegiat Churches with ritch Canonries Tungres for the antiquitie thereof is reconed next vnto Liege the ruynes without and within the towne do aswel as old bookes declare the oldnes of this citie there apeereth yet the paued high way that reatched from thence vnto Paris Some thinke the fountaines to bee about Tungres whose vertues Pliny somuch comendeth but experience sheweth them to bee at the Spaw LIEGE LVTZEMBOVRG THis Duchie is bordered on the northsyde with the Bishopryk of Liege the Earldome of Namure on the south Lorraine on the east the Mosel the Bishopryk of Treuers westward partly with the Mose partly with the forest of Arden The country is altogether hilly woody much of the wood of late yeares is turned to corne land The chief cirie is of the same name that the whole Duchie beareth but was by Ptolomey called Augusta Romanduorum It lieth parte on a hil parte on low ground The inhabitants do speake the high duitsch for the more parte except those which dwel on the syde towards France for they vse the french tongue By reason of the situation of this country beeing frontyred with so many seueral iurisdictions it hath
man that found out the manner of salting barrelling vp of hering FLANDERS GELDRES GEldres extendeth in the northwest vnto the Zuder-sea south west it confyneth with Brabant eastward it hath the Duchie of Cleue westward the Signory of Vtreck It is deuyded into 4. seueral quarters whereof the 4 principall cities are Nimmegen Ruremond Zutphen Arnhem The country is very frutefull hauing come wood but it moste exceedeth in medow pasture ground by reason of the riuers of Rhene VVale Mase which do all take their passage through this country Leane oxen are sent from other partes to bee here fatned in the yeare 1570 an Ox was brought from hence to Antvverp that weyed 3200 pound The people of all the inhabitants of the Netherland prouinces haue alwayes bene reputed the moste warlyke the country by warre hath bin moste wasted They were of old tyme called Sicambri as Henricus Aquilius in his compendious Cronicle plainly proueth who also sheweth how it afterward took the name of Geldres It was somtyme an Earldome but Reynold the second for his great valour whereby the made himself both feared honored being withal a great iusticer hauing don great faithful seruice to the Romaine Empyre was in an assembly or diet holden at Frankford in the yeare 1329 by Levvis the Emperor honored with the tytle of Duke in the presence as is said of the Kings of France England of all the Princes electors GELDRES ZELAND VNder the name of Zeland are comprised all the Iles lying betweene Flanders Brabant Holland and the sea VVhereof 7 are esteemed the principall to wit VValkere Southbeuerland Northbeuerland VVolferdyk Skovv Doueland and Tole These 7 with certaine other of lesse accompt do altogether make an earldome which hath in all 8 walled townes with some other that are vnwalled and 102 thorps or villages The chief citie of Zeland is Midlebourg situate in the I le of VValkere where the staple of wyne is kept in this I le is Flushing Campheere Armuy And Midlebourg lying in the middest taketh there of that name VVel may this country be called Zealand or Sealand beeing so low that the sea is at euery high water higher then the land men standing in the meddowes may see in looking vpward the very keeles of the ships as they saile along were it not for the sand-bancks or downes on the one syde the banckes of earth fagots made on the othersyde the sea would soone ouer-runne it It is said for a prouerb that none of the 4. elements are good in Zealand or Holland the ayre is strong the earth vnfirme by reason of the marishnes the fyre stincking because it is made of turf the vvater salt brackish Zeland notwithstanding bringeth foorth faire corne the meddowes do nowrish cattel ZELAND HOLLAND THe earldome of Holland lieth al along on the west syde vpon the Germaine Ocean with the creeks whereof it is almost enuyroned hauing a great number of waters riuers euery way passing through it It is said to haue the name of Holland by reason that the earth through the vnfirmnes thereof seemeth hollow others affirme it to haue taken the name of Holland of the Danes or Normans that inuaded it in Anno 837 hauing before bene called Batauia for that they called it Oland after an I le so named in their northern region The country of Holland is lyke vnto Zealand very low the earth soft weak much of it beeing by the waters ouerflowen All along the maine Ocean it hath through the mercie of nature the downes or sand-hilles that defend it from the inundation of the sea in these downes are woonderful store of conies The medow groundes for the feeding of cattel are so exceeding good as the great aboundance of butter and cheefe transported from Holland into so many countryes doth declare The inhabitants do also reap great comoditie by their wyld ducks waterfoule but espetially by their sea-fishing principally by there hering-fang Litle or no corne groweth in Holland but they haue it from the east countries of Germany VVood they haue not their fuel for the moste parte is turf their wood beth for howsing shipping is brought from Norvvay other places The chief citie is Amsterdam the howses whereof are built vpon pyles of wood which are driuen into the watrish ground The court of Holand is kept at the Hage which is no walled towne howbeit the fairest village in all Europe situate in the moste pleasant parte of all the countrie The people are exceeding industrious the country ful of townes cities HOLLAND FRIESLAND BOth east west Friesland hath all along on the northsyde the Germaine Ocean on the southsyde VVestphalia ce Tacitus in his description of the manners of the old Germaines parteth Friesland in Maiores and Minores that is the greater the lesser freslanders according to their power and habitation The country is now deuyded into east and west Friesland Generally it is very low the Somer beeing past it is not to bee vsed it hath litle corne ground but very notable meddowes yeildeth very fat oxen as also faire great horses The chief citie in VVest friesland is Grooning and in East-friesland Embden Groening with the territory thereof is accompted one of the seauenteene Netherland prouinces but Embden belongeth vnto the earle of the same place The Frizons or Frieslanders are an ancient and warlyk people beeing in old tyme gouerned by a king of their owne Plinie saith that an herb groweth in this country which he calleth Herba Britannica which herb is good for the fastning of loose teeth for the weaknes of the legges knees espetial good for the disease called the Scorruie which disease is scarsly knowne but in these low-landes the remedy in lyk forte espetialy here to bee found FRIESLAND VVESTPHALIA THat VVestphalia should take that name of the Goddesse Vesta is very fabulous for the name is aptly significant in the self countrie language It ioyneth on the northwest syde with Friesland on the northeast with the dioces of Breme on the southeast syde it hath the country of Padelborne on the southwest the dioces of Cullen parte of the duchie of Cleue It was according to the opinion of Sebastian Munster the ancient habitation of the Saxons It hath in it diuers earldomes Signories The people of this country are strong faire good soldiers the country is moste woody pasture ground very good for the nowrishing of cattel Dainty meates delicacies are not he ere found with bacon beef browne bread the people do liue very long helthfully and here is the best Bacon the greatest store The chief citie of westphalia is Munster which in Anno 1535. the Anabaptists hauing gotten into possession erected there a new comon welth vnder their king Iohn of Leyden who before had
AVstria heretofore called the higher Panonia hath on the east parte the kingdome of Hungarie on the west it hath Bouaria towards the south the mountaines of Stiria on the north Morauia It is very fruteful hauing many riuers and they for the moste parte do fall into the riuer Danubius which taketh his course through this country It hath such good store of wyne that it therewith furnisheth sundry other prouinces of Germany The chief citie is Vienna the walles whereof are said to haue bene buylded with the ransome that Leopold the duke did take of Richard the first King of England A litle beneath the citie of Greim there is in the riuer of Danubius a very dangerous place for such botes vessels as there do pas the water whirling about so very switftly some haue sought by lyne and plomet to haue measured the depth of this place which hetherto none hath bene able to do it is so exceeding deep Polibius sheweth diuers reasons that through the heapes of sand scowred downe the riuers of Danubius Borystenes others the sea called Pontus Euxinus whereinto they fall would be made innauigable which experience the best reason-teacher doth shew to bee otherwise that sea no whit lesse nauigable now then in Polibius tyme. Austria was first gouerned by Marck-graues afterward by Dukes now lastly by Arch-dukes AVSTRIA BOHEMIA THis kingdome lying in Germany is compassed about with hilles woods it hath on the north syde Silesia on the west Franconia on the south Austria Bauaria on the east Morania The ancient inhabitants where the Boy whereof the country tooke the name of Bohemia but by a people of Sclauonia they were vanquished The language of this country is not the Germaine but the Sclauonian tongue Prage is the chief citie of this realme now the more famous for the court and residence of the Emperor The riuer Multania vulgarly Vltania runneth through this citie entreth afterward into the riuer Albis or Elbe In wheat barley the country is very fruteful beastes both wyld tame it nowrisheth in great aboundance among the wyld beastes are store of Beares Reddeere Ouroxen this beast called the Ourox in the Germaine tongue in the Bohemian Lomi hath growing vnder the neck as it were a bag with water beeing hunted he casteth foorth thesaid water vpon the houndes who therby become as scortched or scalded The country is ritch in mynes which yeild gold siluer quicksiluer Iron sulpher Stones of price pearles are here also found wyne it hath reasonable store beere is here also vsed This kingdome was in former tymes a dukedome vntil the yeare 1086 at what tyme as Munsterus saith the Emperor Henry the fourth made Vratislaus King of Bohemia howbeit some authors say that Vladislaus was the first King aduanced to that dignity by the Emperor Frederik BOHEMIA THE DIOCES OF SALISBVRG THis Dioces is in Bauaria the chiefest Bishopryke of the whole country it lieth on the Southsyde of thesaid Duchy taketh name of the citie so called which is situated on the riuer of Saltza the which coming from the Alpes passeth by this citie hereof some think the citie it self to haue taken name though others hold it to come of the salt pits out of which salt is digged Iulius Ceasar did here buyld a fortresse calling it Iunania which the Germaines in their tongue called Helfenberg that is the hill of help aluding therin vnto the Latin name Iunania This place in the tyme tiranny of Attila suffred great detriment S. Rupertus Bishop of wormes having conuerted Theodon Duke of Bauaria to the faith of Christ in the yeare 540 was the cause of the reparation of this citie and became thereof the first Bishop there erected churches monasteries This Bishopryke hath mynes of gold siluer copper and Iron Brimstone allum and antimonie is here also found quarreys of marble stone The store of wyld beastes foule do heere yeild much delight exercise of hunting hauking Among the Bishops of this Dioces Bishop Ernestus by birth palsgraue of Rhene Duke of Bauaria a very learned man is renowmed for that he would trauaile abrode yea into other countries vnknowne as a meane person to do woorkes of charitie pietie THE DIOCES OF SALISBVRG BAVARIA IN all Germanie is not any prouince found where more fairer cities are then in Bauaria The country is deuyded into 2 partes to witt the higher the lower Bauaria It hath on the northsyde Franconia on the west Svvenia the Alpes of Italy in the south Bobemia and Austria on the east The higher Bauaria which lieth southward hath diuers forests lakes riuers many wild beastes as beares wyld-swyne thowsands of stagges The cities of this parte of the country are Monaco where the duke moste resydeth Ingelstat which hath an vniuersitie Frising hauing a Bishops sea sundry others The lower parte is of both best inhabited through it passeth the famous riuer Danubius the cities thereof are Regensburg Passavv Straubing Lantsbut c. The country is frutefull in wyne corne cattel foule but of all beastes it moste aboundeth in Swyne whereof it furnisheth diuers other prouinces of Germanie If Strabe who esteemed all Bauaria to bee a wildernesse were now aliue he might see it mightely changed for that there are in it 34 cities besydes 46 faire marcket townes 72 monasteries infinite thorps castles lordes gentlemens howses Bauaria was somtyme a kingdome vnto the tyme of the Emperor Arnulphus for then began it to be gouerned by dukes BAVARIA NORTGOIA THis prouince of Northgovv beeing accompted a parte of Bauaria lieth on the westsyde next adioyning vnto the forest of Bohemia The chief citie of this countrie is Nuremberg the castle whereof lying on a high place was somtyme called Castrum Noricum The cittie is very strongly walled having on the walles 182 towers it standeth in a barten and sandy foile but yet is very ritch hath great trade trasike through the great industry of the people whose Iron copper woorcks are caried from thence almost to all countries of Europe Some authors say that by the Emperor Conrade in the yeare 913 a Burgh-graue was placed in this cittie howbeit some apoint the tyme to haue bene in the yeare 1140 by Henry then Emperor but the burgers or cittizens of Nuremberg for a somme of mony giuen by them to Frederic their fourth Burgh graue obtayned the gouernment of the cittie to themselues left him to gouerne in the country thereabouts In this prouince the Emperor Charles the great caused a ditch to bee begonne which should haue bene in length 2000 paces in bredth 300 whereby through the help of the riuers Regnits and Altmul he ment to haue made a passage for botes from the Danubius into the riuer of Rhene which begonne woork was hindred by continual raynes and the marishnes of the ground NORTGOIA
the habitation of sundry sortes of wyld beastes And albeit no great store of corne groweth heere yet hath is barley rice the Indians by rice cheese milk flesh fish delicate frutes are nowrished besydes their store of frutebearing trees they haue great reedes or canes whereout whyte hony lyke vnto gum is pressed Silk is heer in great aboundance beastes both wyld tame are in infynit numbers greater then in other places of the world as Kyen Camels Lions Dogges Elephants there are also dragons serpents whyte apes camelions that liue by the ayre all sortes of the best kynde of foule The spyces of India are knowne to all the world Heben wood groweth heer the trees that yeild frankensence the shores or sydes of the riuers do deliuer gold the sea faire pearles Diamonds Rubies Saphires Amatistes Agates sundry other sortes of pretious stones are found in this noble country The inhabitants of India are of different languages different in apparel of different religions some beeing Christians some Mahometaines some Iewes some Pagans The people are generally talle of stature strong of a tawny or browne colour many do liue to 130 yeares or thereabouts INDIA PERSIA THe name of Persia is very ancient but the country was in tymes heretofore far lesse then it now is It hath on the eastsyde of it parte of Tartarie parte of East India on the south syde Sinus Persicus parte of the Indian sea on the west syde it confyneth with the dominions which the Turk now occupieth in Asia on the north it hath the Caspium sea c. The beginning of the greatnes of this kingdome was in the yeare 1269 when a noble persian of the cittie Ardenelim named Sophi being also a Mahometain reuolted from the Turk beganby war to conquer countries and his successors haue since both augmented their possessions continued the great quarrel about the right successor of Mahomet The Persians are a more humane people then the Turkes not beeing so rigorous against the Christians which liue among them hauing among them noble gentlemen which the Turkes haue not The countrie is very fruteful except in the mountanous desert partes It yeildeth aboundance of fyne silke the best Iron for armour steele for armes of the whole world is here found It hath also ritch mynes pretious stones pearles and the fertillitie thereof in many places may bee compared vnto that of the neighbouring India PERSIA TVRKIE THe Turkish Empyre conteyneth the foutheast parte of Europe the northeast of Africa the southwest of Asia so as it lieth where these 3 partes of the world do meet taketh a parte of each of them howbeit the fargreater parte is in Asia which far exceedeth the partes both in Africa Europe At Constantinople which is in Europe the great Turk keepeth his residence This cittie was taken by force of Mahomet the eight Turkish Emperor vpon the last day of May in the yeare 1453. after it had bene besieged 54 dayes after sundry other victories this Mahomet died on the first day of May in the yeare 481 was buried in the said cittie of Constantinople In Europe is subiect vnto the Turk the greater parte of Hungarie all Bulgarie Greece Macedonia Romania Morea sundry other prouinces In Africa Barcha Egipt besydes the kinges kingdomes there tributarie vnto him In Asia hee hath Natolia the two Arabiaes to the great grief of Christians the countrie of Palestyne where Christ our sauiour liued died many other prouinces to long heer to describe Both Christians jewes are suffred to liue in this Turkish Empyre vnder tribute albeit the Turkes do carry somwhat a better opinion of Christians then of jewes yet are the Christian inhabitants subiect to very great inconueniences The Turkes according to the law of their great reputed prophet Mahomet are circumsised they are forbidden to drink wyne to eat swynes flesh allowed to haue many wyues TVRKIE PALESTYNE THe old pagan authors called this country Palestyne the Iewes called it The land of prontis Christians haue termed it the Holyland It hath al along on the west syde the Mediteraneum sea on the east syde Arabia northward it hath Mount Libanus southward it reatcheth downe towards Egipt the Red sea This countrie was denyded among the 12 trybes of Israel but after the tyme of King Salomon it was denyded into a kingdomes In this moste noble country liued the holy prophets And the Sonne of God did heer receaue humaine flesh It was in former tymes so excellent aboue other countries that it was called the land that flowed with milk hony but it is now greatly altered the sinnes of the inhabitants hauing deserued no better Burcardus saith that it yet excelleth in yeilding aboundance of pure wheat that with litle laboring of the ground Roses Sage fenel other flowers herbes do without the industrie of man grow in the feilds The riuer of Iordan hauing his issue vnder Libanus runneth through the lake of Genazareth into the dead sea the country half a dayes iorney euery way from this sea is barren by reason of the euil vapors sauouis thereof It seemeth to haue the name of Mare Mortuum because there is in it no liuing thing The ancient famous cittie of Ierusalem is situate in a hilly place Mount Syon lieth on the southsyde Mount Gyon on the west By the encreased greatnes of this cittie the holy sepulchre wherein Christ was buried hauing a church built ouer it is now within the walles The mount of Caluarie whereon our Lord was crucified is 108 foot from the graue there is a pauement to pas from the Chruch to the place where the crosse did stand which riseth in height to 28 foote on the same rock the clifts rentings do yet appeere which hapened at the death of our deere lord and sauiour PALESTYNE NATOLIA NAtolia extendeth it self from Asia where vnto on the eastsyde it is aioyned and lieth in length westward towards Europe hauing on the northsyde Mare Maggiore and on the south the Midland sea and at the west end the sea called Archipelago The Turkes who now possesse it do call it Litle Asia It conteyneth Phrygia Galathia Bithinia Pontus Lydia Caria Paphlagonia Lycia Magnisia Capadocia and Comagena all goodly countries ancient renowmed prouinces some of them Kingdomes yea a perticular Empyre of Trehizonde whereof Nicomedia heretofore a moste noble cittie appeereth now but in the ruynes thereof Nyce is also here to bee seene where the famous great Councel heertofore was holden Amasia is the chief cittie of Capadocia was the birth-place of Strabo the wel-knowne Cosmographer And the renowmed martyr and Patron of England S. George was also of this country of Capadocia In Natolia are gotes which haue that fyne heare or rather wolle whereof the thamlets are made There are
the chief cittie thereof which is so called it is the greatest cittie of all Barbarie hauing in it 500 Moschees to wit churches wherein their Mahometical seruice is said for the inhabitants are Mahometaines as those of Marocco also are they are vncourteous vnciuil espetialy toward strangers they are of a pale-tauny collour often subiect vnto agues by reason of the vnhole somnes of the ayre The cittie of Marocco whereof that kingdome also taketh appellation is not as it was of old hauing lost the third parte of the wonted greatnes thereof as the yet remayning ruynes do testify where were wont to bee goodly edifices there are now gardens groues of palme trees That which doth now retaine any beauty therin is the royal pallace which the King Mansor caused to bee buylded FESSE and MAROCCO THE TABLE A AByssine 108 Africa 4 America 5 Ancona 71 Andalusia 12 Aniovv 20 Asia 3 Abruzzo 80 Artois 37 Austria 52 B Barbarie 109 Bauaria 55 Bohemia 53 Berry 21 Brabant 39 Brandenbourg 49 Brescia 74 Britannia 18 Burgundie countie 26 Burgundie Duchie 27 C Calis Bullen 29 Candie or Creet 87 Carthage porte 107 China 100 Como lake 72 Corfu 86 Carsica 83 Crema 77 Cremona 76 Cyprus 88 D Denmarck 47 Ditmers 46 E Egipt 106 England 6 Europe 2 F Fesse 110 Flanders 40 France 15 Franconia 57 Friuli 62 Friesland 44 G Gades 14 Gasconie 16 Geldres 41 Germanie 32 Greece 89 H Henalt 36 Holland 43 Hungarie 91 I Illyricum 90 India 101 Inferior Germanie 33 Ischia 84 Istria 63 Ireland 8 Italia 61 L Larius lake 72 Liege 34 Limousin 22 Lituania 95 Liuonia 96 Lorraine 28 Lutzenburg 35 M Malta 85 Marroc 110 Milan 65 Misnia 48 Mosscouie 98 N Namure 38 Natolia 105 Naples 79 Nortgoia 56 Normandie 19 Northern Regions 97 O Orange 23 Oruieto 70 Ozvviczin 92 P Padua 73 Palestyne 104 Persia 102 Perugia 69 Picardia 31 Piemont 26 Poictou 17 Polonia 95 Pomerania 50 Portugal 11 Prouence 25 Prussia 94 R Roome territ Russia 98 S Salisburg Dioces 54 Sardinia 82 Sauoy 24 Saxonie 48 Scotland 7 Sclauonia 90 Siena territ 68 Sicilia 81 Silesia 51 Spaine 10 Suitzerland 60 Svveden 97 T Tartarie 99 Tercera 9 Thuringia 48 Tirol 59 Transsilunia 92 Tunis 107 Turkie 103 Tuscane 78 V Valencia 13 Vermandois 30 Verona 75 VV VVestphalia 45 VVirtenberg 58 The VVorld 1 Z Zara Zebenico 64 Zator 92 Zeland 42 AN ADDITION OF CERTAINE MAPS VNTO THIS EPITOME OF THE THEATRE OF ABRAHAM ORTELIVS LIMAGNE THis region conteyneth the best parte of the countrie of Auuergne It is most pleasant delectable with goodly forests pure fointaines hot bathes mines of siluer and many sortes of good frutes in it is a certaine water that turneth thinges cast into it into stone Here in is the chief cittie of all Auuergne called Clerment the which francis Belforest affirmeth to haue bene of old tyme that much renowmed cittie Gergonie where Vercingetorix King of Auuergne was wont to kepe his residence In this cittie in the yeare of our lord 1095 was hild the great counsel by meanes of Pope Vrban the fifth about the solicitation of Christian Princes to vndertake war against the infidels for the winning of the Holy land more Christian Princes nobillitie were here then met together then scarsly can bee remembred to haue bene at one tyme place in one assembly Here was also holden in the yeare 1374 a generall meeting of the states of France vnder King Charles the fifth about the expelling of the Englishmen out of such strong places as they then possessed in Auuergne LIMAGNE CHAMPAGNE THe name of this prouince is not ancient the first knowne author that nameth it Champaigne is Aimon as it seemeth it taketh this appellation because it is a champaine vnhillie countrie It is frontyred on the east syde with Lorraine on the south with the Duchie of Burgundie on the west with Brie on the north it hath Retelois It is very plentiful of wyne corne in it are sundry principal citties townes whereof Trois Rbemes are the chief The first beeing a ritch cittie of marchandise where great store of paper is made the other an vniuersitie the staple for wynes of those partes whereof the countrie people haue among them an old prouerb that hee that hath the purs of Troys the seller of Rhemes is able to make war against the King The cittie of Rbemes is very ancient as apeereth by Ceasars comentaries and in this cittie the kinges of France are wont to bee anioynted CHAMPAGNE TOVRAINE THis countrie of Touraine beeing not great hath on the west syde Anion on the south Poictou on the east the territorie of Blois on the north the countrie of Maine parte of Veudome The chief cittie is called Towers which may be reconed among the richest citties of France aswel for the fertillitie of the countrie about it seeming rather gardens then feildes as also for the industry of the inhabitants both in their trasike of marchandise and in their skil in the woorking weauing of silk as fyne wel as yf it came out of Italy VVestward from Towers downe the riuer of Loyre is the cittie of Amboise situate in a healthful ayre moste pleasant territorie Vpon the riuer of Indre which falleth in fyne into the Loire standeth the towne of Laches which hath a faire castle the which through the situation of the place is held impregnable for that it standeth on a rock In this castle was discouered a passage through an Iron gate into a deep caue or dongeon therein was found sitting a Giant resting his elbow vpon the syde of the place where he sat his head vpon his hand as yf he had slept but beeing touched his flesh fel to duste the bones only remayned besydes him stood a cofer which beeing opened their was found in it whyte linen folded together but in the opening of it it brake in peces How this Gigant came to bee here so set seeing no records do shew it s it is left vnto sundry supposals Diuers othergood townes there are in this territorie as Paâ—trâ—y Chastillion Cormery Beaulieu others TOVRAINE THE TERRITORIE of BLOIS VPon the riuer of Loyre about the midway betwene Orleans Amboys lieth the cittie of Blois whereof the territorie about it is accordingly named The soile is very fruteful espetially in corne and the ayre so holesome that sundry noblemen beeing sickly haue bene by their phisitians aduysed to go liue for the recouery of their health in this cittie or territorie for which cause of holesomnes of the ayre diuers kinges of france haue not only here much resyded but haue made it the nercery or place for the bringing vp of their children The cittie of Blois is very ancient at a place called Orcbeze which is about two leagues from it was sometyme Ceasars Magasin or the place of prouision of graine