sorts of Nations viz. Saxons Inhabitants Bulgarians and Hungarians the first possess the Province called the Seven Towns the Bulgarians dwell on the Banks of Marise the Hungarians possess the Frontiers of Walachia and follow the Grecian Religion These are divided into Counties pay no Tribute to the Prince of Transilvania but are obliged to serve at their own Expences when he goes to War The Doctrine of Calvin and Luther were introduced here in 1561. For George Brandrata Religion Physician to John Zapol Count of Scepus and Vayvode of Transilvania made this young Prince embrace the Sentiments of Luther by means of Denis Alexis but this Man not Executing his Orders with care enough he substituted Francis David in his Place who of a Lutheran made the Prince a Calvinist and at last taught him the Doctrine of Arius Stephen Bathori Prince of Transilvania in 1571. afterwards chosen King of Poland endeavoured to re-establish Popery and to that end gave the Government of this Principality to his Brother Christopher Bathori who cast David into Prison where he died Mad. He founded a College of Jesuits at Colaswar but dying in 1583. his Son Sigismund who succeeded him to comply with the Transilvanians was forced to dismiss the Jesuits but recalled them two years after This Principality is now incorporated with the Kingdom of Hungary Government under the protection of the Emperor for Michael Abafti the 23d Prince from John Huniades who succeeded John Kemani in 1661. by a solemn Act given at Hermanstadt May 9. 1688. with the full consent of the States of Transilvania made an entire submission of this Country to the Emperor and the King of Hungary to last for ever and accordingly he received Imperial Garrisons into all the principal places The said Prince dying in 1690. the States in a general Assembly resolved to adhere to the Interests of the Emperor against all the Pretences of Count Teckely or the Ottoman Port according to the Tenour of the said Treaty The most considerable Places in the Principality of Transilvania are Hermanstadt Bish Cap. Alba Julia or Weissemburg Bish Brassow or Cronstadt Coloswar or Clausenburg Segeswar Agnetlin Altenberg Bestercze Newmark I. Hermanstadt Hermanstadt Lat. Cibinum or Hermanopolis called by the Inhabitants Zeben the Capital of Transilvania and Residence of the Prince is a large populous strong and well built City It has no Bishop at present but is reckoned a Bishop's See Suffragan of the Archbishop of Colocza in Hungary The Inhabitants of this City are Saxons and five Jurisdictions depend upon it The Prince of this Country having formerly put himself under the Protection of the Grand Signior the late Duke of Lorrain prevail'd with the Prince Abafti to put himself under the Protection of the Emperor and to receive a Garrison of 3000 Germans in 1687. This City stands in a Plain on the River Cibin 160 Miles N. E. of Belgrade and 235 almost E. of Buda Long. 45 d. 48 m. Lat. 46 d. 46 m. II. Weissemburg Weissemburg Lat. Alba Julia which the Hungarians call Giula Fejerwar is situate upon the River Marise which the Inhabitants call Marons and the Germans Merisch with a Bishop's See under the Archbishop of Colocka The ancient Kings and Princes of this Country made their ordinary residence in this City which has been much greater than now it is as may be seen by its rare Roman Medals Coins and Inscriptions evident signs of Antiquity and Grandeur It stands 34 Miles W. of Hermanstadt 68 N. E. of Temeswar 90 E. of Waradin and 196 E. of Buda Long. 45 d. Lat. 46 d. 46 m. III. Cronstadt or Brassaw Brassaw or Cronstadt Lat. Patrovissa is a strong City and a Bishop's See situated near the Frontiers of Moldavia and the Carpathian Mountains Some take it for the Praetoria Augusta of Ptolomy and others call it Corona and Stephanopolis and pretend that it is one of the Seven Cities Built or Repaired by the Saxons It stands 65 Miles almost N. E. of Hermanstadt Long. 47 d. 20 m. Lat. 47 d. 5 m. IV. Clausemburg Clausemburg called Coloswar by those of the Country and Claudiopolis in Latin is a great and populous City with the Title of a Bishoprick and an old Cittadel situated upon the little Brook Samos at the foot of the Mountains towards the Frontiers of Hungary 34 Miles N. W. of Weissemburg and 64 of Hermanstadt Long. 44 d. 25 m. Lat. 47 d. 11 m. The States of Transilvania are kept in it V. Segeswar Segeswar called Schezberg by the Germans Lat. Segethusa is seated on the River Cochel at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains subject to the Prince of Transilvania under the Emperor It stands 40 Miles N. of Hermanstadt VI. Agnetlin or Agnabat Agnetlin or Agnabat is one of the Chief Towns in Transilvania tho' of no strength it is seated on the River Harbach 25 Miles almost N. of Hermanstadt subject to the Prince of Transilvania and protected by the Emperor VII Altemberg Altemberg is a small City seated upon a Hill Built out of the Ruins of Zalnatra 20 Miles S. W. of Weissemburg or Alba Julia and 42 S. of Clausenburg VIII Bestercze or Besteriza Bestercza or Besteriza Lat. Bistricia is a small but very neat City which stands in a very large Plain upon a River of its own Name 80 Miles N. W. of Hermanstadt IX Newmark Newmark Lat. Nova Marchia called Waverhely by the Hungarians is seated on the River Merish at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains 36 Miles N. E. of Clausenburg The States of Transilvania usually meet here Article III. Podolia Bounds POdolia is a great Province of Poland in Lithuania between Moldavia to the S. Black Russia to the W. Volhinia to the N. and the Tartars of Oczakow to the E. This Province is very fertile but has been often wasted by the Inroads of the Tartars and Cossacks and is now the Theatre of the War between the Poles and the Turks It 's usually divided into the Higher Podolia that lyes to the West wherein are the Cities of Kaminieck and Bar and into the Lower which lyes to the East and has in it the City of Bracklaw I. Kaminieck Bish Cap. Kaminieck or Caminieck Lat. Camenecia Clepidava or Camienicum is a very strong Town and the Capital of Podolia The Poles call it Kaminieck Podeleki It is a Bishop's See under the Archbishoprick of Lemberg and stands upon a Mountain by the River Smortzyck which a little lower falls into the Niester The Turks very often attempted this Place without success but it having suffered much by Fire in 1669. and being thereupon Besieged by them in 1672. it was taken the Poles being then Engaged in a Civil War amongst themselves and the Town in an ill condition of Defence The Cossacks under Motula blocked it up in April 1687. and the Polish Army designed to Attack it in September following but upon the approach of the Ottoman Forces they were both of them forced to retire The Polish
Repair the Ruins caused by this Accident This Town is a Bishop's See Suffragan of Antivari and stands 8 Miles N. W. of that City Long. 41 d. 44 m. Lat. 48 d. 54 m. XV. Antivari Antivari Lat. Antibarum which some take to be the Ancient Doclea is seated upon the Adriatick Sea or Gulph of Venice of a Bishoprick created into a Archbishoprick by Pope Alexander II. with 10 Suffragans in 1062. It has since fallen under the Tyranny of the Turks It stands 60 Miles S. E. of Ragusi Long. 41 d. 42 m. Lat. 43 d. 15 m. XVI Dolcigna Scutari Dolcigno or Dulcigno and Scutari or Scodra were formerly reckoned in Dalmatia but belong now-a-days to the Kingdom of Albania of which we shall Treat in the next Section Of the Republick of Ragusi RAgusi or Ragusa is a City and Republick upon the Gulf of Venice with an Archbishop's See Some Authors esteem it to be the same with the Ancient Epidaurus but others will have the Ruins of that City to be on the other side in a place called Ragusi Vecchio However it be this City which the Selavonians call Dobronich is very well Built It s situation is upon a Rock so high on one side and craggy that 't is a Covert to it and on the other side it stretches along a little Tongue of Land where 't is washed by the Sea Near this City is the Fort of St. Lawrence and a Port. It 's Inhabited by many Merchants and the best peopled place in Dalmatia The Government of it is almost like unto that of the Republick of Venice It 's true that the fear of losing their Liberty is so great that it obliges them to change their Duke or Governour every Month and to continue their Officers in their Posts but for six Weeks wherefore Gentlemen cannot wear a Sword nor lye abroad without informing the Senate therewith and in the Night time Strangers and especially Turks are lock'd up in their Lodgings by them Moreover the Gates of the City are never open but for three or four Hours by Day in Summer time and not above an Hour and a half in Winter The Ragusians pay Tribute to the Turks whom they fear to the Venetians whom they hate to the Pope Emperor and King of Spain upon consideration Ragusia or the Country of Ragusa is but inconsiderable comprehending no more than the Town of that Name Stagno and two or three Villages This City is very much subject to Earthquakes and had terrible shocks in 1637. and 1667. The Senate of Ragusa is composed of Sixty Senators whereof Forty at least must meet together when they assemble for Judgment Civil Matters at the Commencement of the Suit are brought before Six of the Senate from whom there is an Appeal to the College of Thirty who are no Senators and if the Decrees be for Sums exceeding 500 Crowns the Appeals are finally determin'd by the Senate Their Judicial Proceedings are in Latin but they plead in Italian or the Language of the Country Criminal Affairs are judged by an Officer from whom there is an Appeal to a Jurisdiction composed of Six Senators and if the Sentence be confirm'd there the Affair is terminated but if otherwise the Senate takes Cognizance thereof and Judges it As to Politick Affairs of lesser Importance the Governour with Six of the Senate decides them and these Six Senators exercise that Charge a Year Ragusa stands 82 Miles N. W. of Scutari 160 S. E. of Jaicza 165 S. E. of Zara and 168 S. W. of Belgrade Long. 40 d. 40 m. Lat. 43 d. 3 m. Stagno Stagno Lat. Stagnum is a small City and Sea-Port belonging to the Commonwealth of Ragusa with a Bishop's See under the Archbishop of that City from which it stands 18 Miles almost N. W. Long. 40. d. 40 m. Lat. 43 d. 18 m. THE MARTIAL-FIELD OF EUROPE SECT VI. Greece Lat. Graecia THIS Country which the Turks now a days call Rumelia Name derives its ancient Name of Greece from a certain King call'd Graecus Another King whose name was Hellen gave it the name of Hellas and its People that of Hellenes But the name of Greece is taken variously for at first it comprehended only two little Countries of which the one was called Thessalia and the other Hellas or Greece properly so called Afterwards Epirus Macedon Achaia the Peloponnesus as also the Islands round about that extremity of the Continent received the name of Greece Besides that the name of Great Greece was given to Sicily and the lower part of Italy And lastly the name spread it self into the Continent of Neighbouring Asia which was called Asiatick Greece Greece properly so called which we are now to describe is bounded on the North by a long Chain of the Mountains Mariani Bounds which separate it from Romania Bulgaria and Servia on the West by the Adriatick and Jonian Seas on the South by the Mediterranean Sea and on the East by the Archipelago or White-Sea formerly Mare Aegeum It stretches from the 42 d. Situation 30 m. to the 49 d. 30 m. of Longitude and from the 34 d. 40 m. to the 43 d. of Northern Latitude Extent so that its Extent W. and E. is about 420 Miles and about 500 S. and N. Ancient Division Greece was formerly divided into six part viz. 1. Peloponnesus 2. Epirus 3. Greece Proper 4. Thessaly 5. Macedon 6. The Islands Greece properly so called or Hellas was subdivided into Aetolia Doris Phocis Attica Megaria Baeotia and the Country of the Locri. Modern Division Greece at this Day is divided into seven parts viz. six large Provinces and the Islands 1. Albania on the Adriatick Sea or Gulph of Venice 2. Epirus on the Jonian Sea 3. Macedon On the Aegean Sea or Archipel or White Sea 4. Thessaly On the Aegean Sea or Archipel or White Sea 5. Achaia 6. Morea a Peninsule on the South of Achaia environ'd with the Jonian Cretian or of Sapienza and Aegean Seas 7. The Islands The six first have preserved their ancient Names except Morea formerly called Peloponnesus and Albania formerly part of Epirus The Air is here generally mild temperate and wholesom Quality The Soil extreamly fruitful in all necessaries as Corn excellent Wine and Fruits the most exquisite in the whole World There are also very good Pastures that feed abundance of Cattel and the Woods are stock'd with Fowl and Deer The Ancient Greeks had the advantage over all other Nations for Learning Ancient Inhabitants Their Wit Bravery and Wisdom They were the Inventors of Arts and Improvers of Sciences and as they were renowned for Learning so were they no less fam'd for their Military Prowess Courage extending their Arms into several Kingdoms of the Universe so that People resorted to 'em from most parts of the World either to be instructed in the Liberal Sciences or else to learn the Art of War The Countrey was so fertile in Men of Learning
THE MARTIAL-FIELD OF EUROPE BEING A Geographical and Historical Description of those Parts of EUROPE which are most Famous in this Present War Viz. I. Flanders II. The Rhine III. Savoy IV. Catalonia V. Hungary VI. Greece With an Account of the several Revolutions of those Places either by Conquest or Treaties of Peace particularly from the Treaty of Munster in 1648. to this present time By A. BOYER Gent. London Printed for Tho. Salusbury at the King's-Arms near St. Dunstan's Church in Fleetstreet MDCXCIV The CONTENTS SECT I. Flanders GEneral Division p. 1. Chap. I. Of the Netherlands in General p. 1. Chap. II. Of the Catholick Provinces or Flanders in general p. 3. Art 1. Of the County of Flanders p. 6 Art 2. Of the Dukedom of Brabant p. 22 Art 3. Of the Marquisate of the Holy Empire p. 35 Art 4. Of the Lordship of Malines p. 37 Art 5. Part of the Dukedom of Gelderland p. 38 Art 6. Of the Dukedom of Limburg p. 48 Art 7. Of the Bishoprick of Liege p. 42 Art 8. Of the County of Namur p. 48 Art 9. Of the Dukedom of Luxemburg p. 51 Art 10. Of the County of Hainault p. 55 Art 11. Of Cambresis p. 63 Art 12. Of Artois p. 65 Sect. II. The Rhine Chap. I. Description of the River Rhine in general p. 73 Art 1. Of Alsatia p. 75 Art 2. The Palatinate of the Rhine p. 85 Art 3. The Archbishoprick of Mayence or Mentz p. 95 Art 4. The Archbishoprick of Treves or Triers p. 98 Art 5. The Archbishoprick of Cologne p. 102 Art 6. The Succession of Cleves and Juliers p. 108 Sect. III. The Duke of Savoy's Dominions Chap. 1. Savoy p. 121 Chap. 2. Piedmont p. 132 Chap. 3. County of Nice p. 146 Chap. 4. Montferrat p. 149 Sect. IV. Catalonia p. 153 Art 1. Description of the Places of Note under the Spaniards p. 156 Art 2. Catalonia belonging to the French p. 162 Sect. V. Hungary Art 1. Hungary p. 166 Art 2. Transylvania p. 190 Art 3. Podolia p. 194 Art 4. Moldavia p. 196 Art 5. Walachia p. 198 Art 6. Bulgaria p. 200 Art 7. Servia p. 202 Art 8. Rascia p. 205 Art 7. Bosnia p. 207 Art 10. Sclavonia p. 209 Art 11. Croatia p. 212 Art 12. Dalmatia p. 214 Sect. VI. Greece p. 223 Chap I. Albania p. 227 Chap. II. Epirus p. 230 Chap. III. Macedon p. 232 Chap. IV. Thessaly p. 235 Chap. V. Achaia p. 238 Chap. VI. Morea p. 245 Chap. VII Of the Islands about Greece p. 262 ERRATA PAge 4 l. 1 read Graveline p. 33 l. 7 r. Neerlanden p. 65 r. Art XII p. 134 l. 20 r. Masseran THE MARTIAL-FIELD OF EUROPE SECT I. THE Places of Europe which are now most famous for Great Actions and Warlike Exploits may be reduced to six viz 1. Flanders 2. The Course of the Rhine 3. Savoy and Piedmont 4. Catalonia 5. Hungary 6. And Greece I shall begin with Flanders because it is the most remarkable of them all as being the Field where our Glorious Monarch has so often signaliz'd his Conduct and Bravery at the Head of our Gallant Englishmen CHAP. I. Of the XVII Provinces or Netherlands in general THese Provinces were known to the Romans under the Name Name of Belgium at present they are called sometimes Low-Countries sometimes Netherlands and sometimes Lower Germany from their Situation on the lower part of the Rhine They are bounded on the South with France on the East with Germany Bounds on the North and West with the Ocean Their extent Extent is from the 49th d. 10. m. to the 53. d. 37. m. of Latitude and from the 21. to the 26. d. 28. m. of Longitude in form somewhat Triangular being in length from the Northest parts of Groningen to the South parts of Luxemburg 264 miles and in breadth from the West parts of Artois to the East parts of Luxemburg 192 miles Division They are divided into XVII Provinces which are IV. Dukedoms viz. Brabant Limburg Luxemburg Gelderland VII Counties viz. Holland Zealand Zutphen Flanders Artois Hainault Namur I. Marquisate of the Holy Empire V. Lordships or Baronies viz. Mechlin or Malines Vtrecht Over-Issel Friesland Groningen To which we may add the Archbishoprik of Cambray and the Bishoprick of Liege which are inclosed in them These Provinces were first Conquered by the Romans History afterwards by the French and then divided into several Governments depending on the Crown of France till the year 1305. reduced to one by Philip Duke of Burgundy of which house is the King of Spain Then they passed to the Crown of Spain by Mary Henrietta Heiress of the House of Burgundy The Emperor Charles the Vth having gotten from Francis I. King of France his Prisoner at Madrid a renunciation of the Old right the French had to Flanders was sole Master of these Provinces But in the year 1581. some of them openly revolted from Philip II. his Son King of Spain having two years before made their Vnion at Vtrecht to secure themselves from the Cruelties and Barbarous usage of the Duke of Alva their Governour Since that there are in the Netherlands two very different States the one is a Republick called the Vnited Provinces or Holland from the chief of them The other belongs to the King of Spain under the name of Catholick-Provinces or Flanders the principal of them but is possessed partly by the Spaniards partly by the Hollanders and partly by the French as you shall see in its proper place The Vnited Provinces are eight in number viz. 1. The County of Holland 2. The County of Zealand 3. The Barony of Vtrecht 4. The Dukedom of Gelderland in part 5. The County of Zutphen 6. The Barony of Over-Issel 7. The Barony of Groningen 8. The Barony of West-Friesland These Provinces being not as yet the Seat of War 't would be beyond my purpose to say any thing more of them and therefore I pass to the Catholick-Provinces CHAP. II. Of the Catholick-Provinces or Flanders in general THE Spanish Netherlands or the nine Catholick Provinces commonly called by the general name Name of Flanders the principal of these Provinces including the two Fees of the Empire viz. the Archbishoprick of Cambray Bounds and the Bishoprick of Liege are bounded on the North with the Ocean and the Vnited Provinces On the West or North-West with the Ocean On the South and South-West with France and on the East with Germany Their Extent Extent South and North is about 140 miles from Thionville in Luxemburg to Boisleduc in Brabant and about 150 West and East from Gravelins in Flanders to Aix la Chapelle on the confines of the Dukedom of Juliers Flanders is generally one of the best and most plentiful Countries in the World Quality extremely Populous and full of excellent Towns and Villages its Air is good its Soil most Fertile the People good natured hardy and laborious This Countrey was once so very rich
Long. 21 d. 37 m. Lat. 51 d. 2 m. VII Courtray Courtray or Cortrick Lat. Corteriacum and Cortracum is seated on the River Lys it is thought that in Caesar's time it was under the Jurisdiction of the Nervians and Tournisians Philip the Bald Built a Castle in it and others have added other Fortifications at different times The French by their too great precipitation lost a Battel here in 1302. and because they of Courtray kept an Anniversary to Celebrate the Memory of that happy Day it was Plunder'd and Burnt in 1382. Some time after it was Rebuilt again and is now pretty considerable for its Commerce good Citadel and great Territories The River Lys divides it in two The French took it in 1646. and the Spaniards retook it in the Year after Lewis XIV made himself master of it in 1667. and kept it by the Treaty of Aix La Chapelle in 1668. and Fortified it regularly but being afterwards given to the Spaniards by the Treaty of Nimeguen in 1678. and retaken again by the French they Dismantled it before they restor'd it to the Spaniards by the Truce of 1684. The French took it again in _____ It stands 12 Miles N. E. of Lille 14 N. W. of Tournay and 180 W. of Paris Long. 16. d. 45 m. Lat. 49 d. 9 m. VIII Douay Douay Lat. Duacum on the River Scharpe was the Chief Town of the Country of the Catagues mention'd in Caesar's Commentaries as 't is thought Pbilip II. King of Spain founded its University in 1563. which is a Seminary for the English Roman Catholicks It is of considerable strength and has a Magazine very well furnished It is likewise considerable for its extent ancient Buildings and September's Fair. The Fort stands about a Cannon shot below the Town upon the Scharpe and judged by its Situation among Marshes by means of its Sluces whereby it can drown all the Country about to be impregnable The Chief Trade of this Town consists in fine Woolen Camlets sent into many Parts The French are Masters of it since 1667. It stands 13 Miles almost N. of Cambray and 34 W. of Mons. Long. 22 d. 12 m. Lat. 50 d. 24 m. IX Furnes Furnes which the Flemings call Wernen is a well Built and pleasant Town tho' but small The Canals support the Trade of the Town which consists in Linnen and other Manufactures The City is dignified with the Title of a Viscountship and the Jurisdiction of a Lord Castellain It was three times taken and now Fortified by the French and at length resign'd to that Crown by the Peace of Aix La Chapelle in 1668. It was taken by the English in 1692. and retaken by the French in 1693. It stands not far off Sea Five Miles S. W. of Newport and 12 nigh E. of Dunkirk Long. 21 d. 50 m. Lat. 51 d. 8 m. X. Dixmude Dixmude or Dixmuyde is situated on the Confluent of the River Ypre and another small Stream It is not very large but is reckoned a Place of importance and Famous for a great Fair in July It has often changed its Masters The English took it and new Fortified it in 1692. The French retook it the Year after It stands Nine Miles N. of Ypres and 20 E. of Dunkirk Long. 22 d. 8 m. Lat. 51 d. 6 m. XI Cassel Cassel or Mont-Cassel Lat. Castellum and Castellum Morinorum is an ancient Town situated on a Mountain It is well Fortified and has a considerable Jurisdiction and two Famous Fairs one in January the other in August King Philip Augustus took it in 1213. and it was taken and retaken since upon several occasions The French are Masters of it since 1677. It stands by the River Fene 15 Miles S. of Dunkirk Long. 21 d. 39 m. Lat. 50 d. 57 m. XII Orchies Orchies is an ancient and considerable Town called by Ptolomy the Capital of the Atrebatii It stands between Tournay and Doway 10 Miles off each Long. 22 d. 26 m. Lat. 50 d. 34 m. XIII St. Amand. St. Amand Lat. Elno is seated on the River Scharpe and is Famous for the Abbey of St. Amand where died the Saint of that Name Abbatia Sancti Almandi Elnonensis The French have been in Possession of it ever since 1667. The Forest of St. Amand beginning on the Frontiers of Flanders and extending it self in the County of Hainault near to Valenciennes was cut down by Order of Lewis XIV in 1676. after his taking of Conde and Bouchain St. Amand before the French dismantled it was a Place of great strength the River Scharpe on which it stands falls a little lower into the Schelde the Lands that lye between the two Rivers are called the Isles of St. Amand. This Town lyes 16 Miles N. E. of Doway and 40 S. of Ghent Long. 22 d. 42 m. Lat. 50 d. 27 m. XIV Armentiers Armentiers Lat. Armentariae stands on the Lys and is considerable for its strength and Linnen Manufactory and Trade It has been often taken and retaken in this last Age. The Archduke Governour of the Low-Countries in 1647. took it from the French who not long after became Masters of it again and still are in Possession of it by the Treaty of Aix La Chapelle It lyes Seven Miles almost W. of Lille 32 S. E. of Dunkirk and 40 S. W. of Ghent Long. 22 d. 8 m. Lat. 50 d. 45 m. Chief Towns in Flanders belonging to the Hollanders I. Sluys SLuys Lat. Slusa or Clusa is a Sea-port Town over against the little Island Cadsant or Guisant It formerly belonged to the Counts of Nemours descended from the Counts of Flanders and then fell into the Possession of the French Philip the Bold King of France kept a strong Garison here to curb those of Bruges and Charles VI. Built a Fleet here against England The Emperor Maximilian I. took it afterward in whose Family it remain'd some time During the Wars of the Netherlands the Prince of Parma took it for the King of Spain and the Dutch retook it in 1604. under the Conduct of Prince Maurice which they look'd upon as a sufficient Compensation for the loss of Ostend and thereupon Coin'd a Medal with this Motto Jehova plus dedit quam amisimus God gave us more than we lost The Defence of the Besieged was very memorable for they held it out for three Months till such time that they were out of all hopes of relief and had eat up all the Leather Mice Rats c. which they could find The Dutch Fortified the Haven and Town which they repeopled with the Inhabitants of Ostend who came thither after the Surrender of that Place But on a Treaty of Peace it was afterwards dismantled It is now very strong but thinly Inhabited and nothing near so Rich as formerly its Trade being removed first to Bruges and from thence to Antwerp It has still the largest Haven in all Flanders being capable of 500 good Ships This Town stands 22 Miles N. W. of Ghent 10
N. E. of Bruges and 14 S. W. of Middleburg Long. 22 d. 34 m. Lat. 51 d. 24 m. II. Sas-Van-Ghent Sas-Van-Ghent is a small place but so strong by reason of its situation and fortifications that it is accounted impregnable Yet the Hollanders took it in 1644. It stands 11 miles N. of Ghent Long. 23 d. Lat. 51 d. 20 m. III. Ardenburgh Ardenburgh is also a small place but very strong in Flanders subject to the Hollanders It stands 20 miles N. W. of Ghent Long. 22 d. 36 m. Lat. 51 d. 22 m. Article II. Of the Dukedom of Brabant Lat. Brabantia THIS Dutchy is in a manner an Island encompassed with Rivers having the Meuse on the East and the Nort the Demer on the South which runs through part of this Province and the Schelde on the West with the Ocean on the side of Breda and Bergin-Op-Zoom So that it borders part of the Country of Gelderland Bounds and the Bishoprick of Liege on the East The Country of Hainault and the Country of Namur on the South Flanders and part of Zealand on the West and Holland and another part of Gelderland on the North. Its Extent Extent South and North is about 70 miles and about 60 West and East Quality The Air is generally good and wholesom the Soil is very Fertile except some of the Northern parts which are somewhat sandy and barren The Cities are very fine whereof there are 26 Walled and Strong Towns not mentioning others of less importance and about 100 Villages Villages History The Brabanders are descended from a Colony of Saxons brought from beyond the Elbe by Charlemaign and planted in this Country in 806. Divers Authors say that Anchises or Anchisices Father to Pepin of Haristol was Lord of Brabant Charlemaign and his Children were Masters of this Country until such time as Otho Son to Prince Charles of France Duke of Lower Lorraine being dead in 1004. without being Married Brabant became the Portion of Gerbege second Daughter to the same Charles of France and his first Wife Bonne of Ardenne Married to Lambert II. Earl of Monts and Louvain the Founder of the Branch of the Duke of Brabant and Lothier at first they took only the Title of Earls but 1235 Henry I. took the Title of Duke of Brabant and Lorrain Philip III. called the Good recollected the succession of the Duke of Brabant which he left to Charles the Rash his Son Father to Mary of Burgundy who carried it into the House of Austria by her Marriage to Maximilian afterwards Emperor This Country has been fruitful in illustrious Men and Learned Writers The Rivers Rivers here besides the Meuse and the Scheld are Demer Dommel Senne Aa Dyle Gias Jeckes Nephte both great and small and Mert there is also a great number of small Lakes and Ponds Brabant comprehends the Marquisate of the Holy Empire whose Capital is Antwerp the Lordship of Mechlin the Dutchy of Arschot the Marquisate of Bergues the County of Hooghstraet the state of Maestricht formerly that of Liege and 19 Baronies Louvain was in time past Capital of this Province but now Brussels Brabant is divided into four parts 1. Dutch-rBrabant in which the most remarkable Places are Boisleduc Bish Cap. Breda Bergen-Op-Zoom Grave Ravestein Helmont Eyndenhove Maestricht Lillo 2. Spanish-Brabant properly so called which comprebends Brussels Cap. Louvain Leuwe Arschot Duke Nivelle Tillemont or Tienen Judoigne Gemblour Lire Diest Vilvoerde Herentals Hannuye 3. The Marquisate of the Holy Empire Antwerp Bish 4. The Lordship of Malines which has Malines or Mechlin Arch. To keep to my General division I shall give you here the Description of the Dutch and Spanish Brabant and reserve that of the Mâ—rquisate and Lordship of Malines for the two following Articles Chiefs Towns belonging to the Hollanders in Brabant I. Boisleduc BOisleduc Bolduc or Bosleduc Lat. Boscum-Ducis Sylva-Ducis Bolducum and in Dutch Hertogenbosch the Capital of the Dutch-Brabant with a Bishoprick Suffragant of Malines is situated upon the River Domel which there receives the Aade and afterward the Diese and discharges it self about two Leagues from thence into the Meuse at the place where it formeth the Isle of Bommel Boisleduc is built in a plain where there was a Hunting Forrest belonging to the Dukes of Brabant But Duke Henry going to oppose the incursions which those of Guelder-land made into his Country caused this Wood to be cut down in 1172. where the Foundations of this City were laid which Duke Jeffery finished in 1184. Pope Paul IV. erected it into a Bishoprick in 1559. and Francis Sonnius was its first Prelate The Bishops now are but Titular and make their residence at Goldorp since Boisleduc is fallen into the hands of the Hollanders This City is naturally strong as well by its situation as by its fortifications It is environ'd with Rivers and Meadows covered with Water so that the Avenues to the Town are upon artificial Causeys made turning and winding and commanded by one or other of the six Forts built at some distance without the Town Its Ditches are filled with the Waters of the said Rivers which enter into the City by divers Channels very commodious to the Inhabitants They are almost all Soldiers tho' they do not neglect Trade which occasioneth this saying That the Inhabitants of Boisleduc are Warlike Merchants The City is large fair well built and very populous The Cathedral Church of St. John is one of the most sumptuous of the Netherlands with a very fine Clock The Market-place is environed with fine Buildings where 10 of the greatest Streets do end The Hollanders became at last Masters of it in 1629. by the Valour and Conduct of Frederick Henry Prince of Orange This City stands 43 miles N. E. of Antwesp and 50 almost S. of Amsterdam Long. 24 d. 30 m. Lat. 51 d. 42 m. II. Breda Breda is seated on the River Mereck with the Title of Barony which comprehends now about Seventeen Villages but it had more formerly and Berg-Op-Zoom did then depend upon it Breda had anciently particular Lords of its own and was sometimes in Possession of the Dukes of Brabant but John III. Duke of Brabant sold it again in 1350. to John Polon Lord of Lieck who left an only Daughter Johanna Married in 1404. to Engelbert of Nassau Henry of Nassau begun the Castle of Breda where the Tomb of Renatus of Nassau is to be seen in the Collegiate Church of St. Peter founded about 1303. This City suffered very much during the War between the States and the Spaniards The Prince of Parma took it from the Vnited Provinces July 18. 1581. Maurice of Nassau became Master of it against in 1590. by a Boat loaden with Turf under which he hid 60 Souldiers who rendered themselves Masters of the Castle and he afterwards took the City by Capitulation They tell a very remarkable thing of one of these Soldiers that was hidden under the Turf viz.
foot whereof is watered by the River Chier It stands 32 Miles almost W. of Luxemburg VII Stenay Stenay Lat. Stenaeum or Stenacum is a strong City upon the Meuse on the Borders of Champagne and Lorrain The French took it in 1654. and annexed it to the Dukedom of Bar in Lorrain It stands Eight Miles W. of Montmedy VIII Damvilliers Damvilliers is a strong little Town in the Dukedom of Luxemburg but annexed to the Dukedom of Lorrain It was taken by the French in 1659 given them since by the Treaty of the Pyrenees and dismantled by the same in 1673. It stands 31 Miles W. of Thionville IX Maisiers Maisiers is a little Town on the Moselle about 25 Miles S. of Luxemburg X. Durbuy Durbuy is another small Town with the Title of a County on the River Ourt nigh the Bishoprick of Liege subject to the French ever since 1681. It stands 20 Miles almost S. of Liege and 26 almost E. of Namur and Dinant XI Bastoigne Bastoigne or Bastonach Lat. Bactonia and Bactonacum near the Forest of Ardenne is so well Built and of so great Trading that the People of the Country call it Paris in Ardenne It stands 25 Miles N. W. of Luxemburg XII Vianden Vianden is a considerable Town with the Title of a County on the little River Vra and about 21 Miles N. of Luxemburg XIII Arlon Arlon Lat. Arlunum is a strong little Town on the Borders of Lorrain dignified with the Title of a Marquisate in 1103. and seated upon a Hill where the Ancient Inhabitants were wont to adore the Moon about 14 Miles W. of Luxemburg Article X. Of the County of Hainault Lat. Hannonia THIS Province is bounded on the North with Brabant and Flanders Bounds on the West with the Scheld which parts it from Artois and part of the French Flanders on the South with Cambresis Chumpagne and Picardy and on the East with part of Brabant and the County of Namur Extent It s Extent North and South is about 60 Miles and about 70 West and East It bears the Title of Earldom Name anciently called Saltus Carbonarius from the abundance of Char-coal made in the Woods and Forests of it and now Hainault from the River Haine that runs through it The Air is here temperate and the Soil very fruitful Quality the Country being well watered by Rivers Lakes c. which do much enrich it so that the Country abounds in most places with fresh Meadows and sweet Pastures good Fruit and profitable Trees but especially with great plenty of Corn. There are also Lead and Iron Mines and Quarries of excellent Marble The Principal Rivers here are Rivers 1. Sambre which here washes Landrecy Armiers Maubeuge and runs into Namur 2. Scheld which washes Bouchain and Valenciennes and runs into Flanders 3. Haine which washes Binch and Mons and falls into the Scheld near Conde 4. Dender which here washes Leuse Aeth and Lessines and runs into Flanders This Province is said to contain 24 Walled Towns Towns c. and 950 Villages among which there are reckoned One Principality 10 Counties 12 Peerages 22 Baronies 26 Abbies with One Earl-Marshal a Seneschal a Great Huntsman a Chamberlain and divers other Officers whose Places are Hereditary Rainier I. Sirnamed Long-neck is accounted the first Earl of Hainault History he had 21 Successors to Charles V. King of Spain and Emperor of Germany in the Possession of whose Successors to the Crown of Spain Hainault continued till the French got the greatest part of it by force of Arms. The most Remarkable Places in Hainault are To the French Mons. Cap. Binch Conde Valenciennes Bouchain Soignes Roccles Quesnoy Bavay Maubeuge Beaumont Landrecy Avesnes Chimay Marienburg Philippeville To the Spaniards Lessines Aeth Enghien Halle Braine-le-Comte Fountain or l'Evesque Places of Hainault Subject to the French I. Mons. MONS named Berghen by the Natives Lat. Montes or Montes Hannoniae is situated on a Hill near the River Trulle It is large and well fortified with good Bulwarks and three Ditches with Sluces that may drown all the Country round about except the Eastern side where the Ground is somewhat higher and where they have raised good Bastions This Town has fine Buildings and an old Castle and is famous for its Trade good Workmen and the Abbey of Canonesses of St. Waltrude They are Virgins of Quality who are present at the Morning Service in Canonical Habit but wear Secular Cloaths the rest of the day and are permitted to Marry The Ancient Earls of Hainault took the Title of Earls of Mons. This Town is in the Possession of the French who carried it after a vigorous Siege and Gallant Defence of the Town in 1691. It stands 27 Miles S. W. of Brussels 37 W. of Namur 39 S. of Ghent and 48 almost E. of Arras Long. 23 d. 12 m. Lat. 50 d. 28 m. II. Binch Binch or Bins Lat. Binchium is situated upon a Branch of the River Haine within 10 Miles E. of Mons. It is an ancient and pleasant City in a fertile Country abounding in all manner of Game and the Air is very good for which reason Mary Queen of Hungary Sister to the Emperor Charles V. Built in it a very fine House which the French ruined in 1554. after the taking of Marienburg and Dinant It has been sincere-built and called Marimont The French are Master of it since 1668. it being yielded unto them by the second Article of the Peace of Aix la Chapelle since which they have repaired it and added some Fortifications to it III. Conde Conde Lat. Condatum or Condate is situated on the Banks of the Scheld with the Title of Principality The French took it in 1676. and rendred it a very Important Place It has given its Name to many of the Royal House of Bourbon since Francis of Bourbon Count of Vendome Married Mary of Luxemburg Eldest Daughter and Chief Heiress of Peter of Luxemburg second of the Name Count of St. Paul Conversion Soissons Viscount of Meaux Lord of Enghien Conde c. This Town stands 13 Miles W. of Mons. IV. Valenciennes Valenciennes Lat. Valentianae or Valentincanae is a very ancient pleasant and strong Town upon the Scheld It 's thought our Ladies Church there was Built by King Pepin There are several other considerable Churches and Colleges a fine Town-house The Inhabitants are noted for Commerce and Riches This Place was Besieg'd in 1656. by the Mareschals of Turenne and La Ferte Senneterre but Don John of Austria back'd by the Valour of the Prince of Conde raised the Siege and took Mureschal La Ferte Prisoner Lewis XIV having laid Siege to it in 1677. carried it by Assault by the favour of one of the Gates which was half open and to save it from Plunder forc'd the Inhabitants to be at the Charge of Building a Cittadel It stands 17 Miles almost W. of Mons 41 S. W. of Brussels and 43 S. of Ghent
made himself Master of Bonn Keiserswert c. which were retaken in 1689. by the Brandenburghers and restored to the right owner This contest about the Election of the Archbishop of Cologne is the more remarkable that it was the first sparkle that kindled the War which has raged these 5 years through most part of Christendom Cologne stands 25 Miles E. of Juliers 68 almost N. of Triers 70 S. of Munster and 74 N. W. of Mentz Long. 26 d. 32 m. Lat. 50 d. 55 m. II. Bonn. Bonn is situate upon the Rhine 14 Miles almost South of Cologne in a very fine Country environed with Hills and covered with Vines and Wood. Several Authors think that it was built by the Trojans after the destruction of Troy However it is certainly the Ara Vbiorum of the Ancients and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Ptolomy It s name was also found in some Medals of Augustus related by Goltzius under the name of Colony Col. Julia Bona. It is a regular Fortification the Walls are faced with Brick and the Ditch which is dry is pretty broad but the Counterscarp is none of the best As for the Town it self it is small and poor yet remarkable as being the ordinary Residence of the Elector of Cologne who has there a very fine Castle and curious Gardens in the Neighbourhood The Town-House is also very well built with divers Paintings and a Clock with a melodious Chime after the fashion of the Country There are still fine Churches to be seen the principal of which is dedicated to the Holy Martyrs Cassius Florentius and Malusius This Town suffered much in the first Wars of the Low-Countries and was fiercely attackt partly by the Bavarians and partly by the Troops of the Duke of Parma who carried it at last by Famine in 1588. In this City Frederick of Austria chosen in opposition to Lewis of Bavaria was Crowned Emperor in 1314. It was in times past an Imperial City but now it is under the Archbishop of Cologne In 1673. the Prince of Orange now King of Great Brittain having taken Naerden and secured Holland by a part of the Army he marched with the rest into Germany and joined part of the Confederate Troops to Besiege Bonn which had been put into the French Kings hands by the Elector of Cologne and the taking this Place forced the French to withdraw his Forces out of the united Netherlands The French made themselves Masters of it again in the beginning of this late War Lewis XIV having given Troops to Cardinal Furstemburg to maintain his pretended Right to the Electorate It was besieged in Summer 1689. by the Elector of Brandenburg who after having almost ruined it with Bombs took it by Capitulation At the last Siege of this Town they found a Vault in which there was an Iron Chest that was full of Medals of Gold to the value of 100000 Crowns the Metal was Ducat-Gold and the Impressions made for Roman but very ignorantly as being not above four or 500 years old some few of them that seem'd true were of the latter Greek Emperors III. Rhineberg Rhineberg or Rheinberg Lat. Rhenoberga is a little but very strong Town situated upon the Rhine in the Borders of the Dukedom of Cleves It was taken from the Spaniards by the Hollanders in 1633. and continued under them till 1672. when it was taken by the French and restored to the Elector of Cologne the Right Owner It stands 42 Miles N. W. of Cologne IV. Keiserswert Keiserswert Lat. Colonia Traja Cayserswerda and Insula Rheni is a very mean but well fortified Town upon the Rhine It has a broad Ditch very regular Fortifications and high Walls faced with Brick as is also the Counterscarp which is in very good condition This Town was first Mortgaged to Adolph Duke of Cleves by Charles IV. Emperor of Germany Gerard Duke of Cleves Brother of Adolph sold it to the Archbishop of Cologne for 100000. Florins about An. 1399. and in 1464. it was finally with Bielstem and Frederberg confirmed to him in exchange for Soest and Santen by John Duke of Cleves The French had possest themselves of it for Cardinal Furstemberg but the Elector of Brandenburg retook it in 1689. It stands six German Miles beneath Cologne to the N. W. V. Nuis Nuis or Nuys Lat. Novesium is seated on the Rhine where it receives the River Erpt. It is an ancient strong City and famous for the resistance it made against Charles the Rash Duke of Burgundy who besieged it a whole year It has been often taken and retaken during the late Wars of Germany It stands 22 Miles N. W. of Cologne VI. Andernach Andernach stands on the Rhine by the Borders of Triers 15 Miles almost S. E. of Bonn it was once Imperial but now subject to the Elector of Cologne Article VII The Dukedoms or the Succession of Cleves and Juliers Lat. Ducatus Clivensis Juliacensis THE Country of Cleves Juliers Berg Mark Bounds Ravensberg and Ravestein are about the Rhine but so strangely dispersed that it is hard to determine their Bounds One may say however that they border the Vnited Provinces on the North the Catholick Provinces on the West the Archbishoprick of Triers on the South and Hesse and Westphalia on the East Their extent North and South is about 100 Miles Extent and about 70 East and West including the Electorate of Cologne which is incircled in them Quality The Air is here pretty cold The Soil fertile in Corn Wine in some Places and Pastures The Principal Rivers Rivers here besides the Rhine are Roer and Lipe which fall both into that the first at Duysburg the other at Wesel There are also several springs of Hot Waters and some Marishes The succession of Cleves and Juliers is divided into six Territories Division viz. 1. The Dukedom of Cleves Cleves 2. The Dukedom of Juliers Juliers 3. The Dukedom of Berg Dusseldorp 4. The County of Mark Dortmond 5. The County of Ravensberg Ravensberg 6. The Lordship of Ravestein Ravestein Dukedom of Cleves THE Dutchy of Cleves lies part on this and part on the other side the Rhine having the Dutchy of Berg County of Mark and part of Westphalia to the East Brabant and part of the Dutchy of Gelderland to the West The Archbishoprick of Cologne and Territory of Aix la Chapelle to the South Overissel and the Provinces of Zutphen to the North. This Country is about 15 Leagues in length and four or five broad The soil tho' hilly Extent Quality and much covered with Wood is very fruitful in all kind of Grain and abounds with good Pasture and great Quantity of Game Cleves is a sovereign Family of Germany extinct by the Death of John William Duke of Cleves History Juliers Mons c. in 1609. without issue by either of his Wives Jacqueline of Bade Daughter of Philibert Marquiss of Bade or Antoinette of Lorrain Daughter to Charles II. Duke
now partly under the Turks and partly under the House of Austria that has made it almost Hereditary It lyes betwixt the 39 and 47 degrees of Longitude Situation and betwixt the 45 and the 49 degrees of Northern Latitude This Kingdom part of the Ancient Pannonia is called Magiar by the Turks Name Wiergieskas by the Sclavonians Hungarland by the Germans Onheriae by the Italians and Spaniards Hongrie by the French and Hungary by the English It is bounded by Transilvania on the East by Russia and Poland on the North Bounds by Moravia Austria and Styria on the West and by Servia and Bosnia on the South Form It is square and its four Corners front the four parts of the World The Air is here unhealthful chiefly to Strangers Air. and it breeds abundance of Vermin so that it is not safe to Encamp in one Place above a Month. Waters The Waters except that of the Danube are not good there are some Springs whose Water is Mortal increasing and decreasing with the Moon and is quite dried up when the Moon is full There are also some Springs which change Wood to Stone and Iron to Mud whence is afterwards made the best Copper hot in Winter frozen in Summer Others whose Water is sourish and salt They have also Baths and Medicinal Waters In the Country of Zolien there is also a Gulph whose Pestilential Vapours kill the very Birds that fly over it The Soil is very fruitful so that 't is thought Hungary could supply all Europe with Corn. Soil The Pasture-grounds are wonderfully good and there is such a plenty of Fowls Venison Fowls Fish Fishes Venison and Cattel that Country People live commonly on wild Boars and Stags and sometimes feed their Hogs with Fish a Thousand Carps have been sold under eight Shillings Cattel Horses Mines and more than 80000 Oxen have been driven in one Year out of Hungary to Vienna There are also good Warlike Horses and many Salt Gold Silver Copper and Tin Mines the richest are in the Mountains betwixt Buda and Strigonia The highest Mountains here are Crepach or Carpathian Mountains towards Poland and Transylvania Mountains Earldoms There were formerly about 77 Earldoms which are now reduced to 50. The chief Rivers are 1. The Danube or Danaw Lat. Danubius the greatest River of Europe Rivers which rises in Germany at the foot of a Mountain called Abnuba in the Black Forest in Suabia It runs through Suabia Bavaria Austria and Hungary and here washes Presburg Komora Gran Buda Belgrade Semendria and some other places of less note and so goes into Walachia Servia and Bulgaria and disburthens it self into the Black Sea by six or seven great Streams with so much rapidity that its Water continues fresh for 20 Leagues From the Source to the Mouth are reckoned above 700 Leagues and all the way a very fine Country The upper part is called Danube and the lower Ister which latter name it is by most Authors said to take at its Cataracts near Axiopolis It receives 60 other Rivers 30 of which are Navigable The chief are Inne Iller Leck Ens Morau Vag Drave Save Tibisc or Teiss the four last are in Hungary Tho' this River rise from a very small Fountain yet there is none in Europe comparable to it for length breadth and deepness of its length we have heard it is called broad by way of eminence above all other Rivers for its depth Jornandes writes that it is 200 Foot deep in many places Then as to the quality of the River it is for the most part coloured like Whey and very wholesom both to Drink and Bathe in It has many sorts of excellent Fishes and some poysonous It is very often frozen in the Winter The number of its Mouths which is seven in all is controverted because two of them are dead and marshy but Five great Streams all agree on of which two only are Navigable This River has had many Naval Fights upon it between the Turks and Christians at one time were 20 Galliots 80 small Pinnaces and little less than 100 Ships of Burthen imployed upon it in a Siege of Buda At the Siege of Belgrade Mahomet the Great brought 200 Ships and Gallies up the Stream the Hungarians sent a like number from Buda which after a sharp Encounter took many of the Turkish Ships and forc'd the rest on Shore and burn'd them In this present War also great Fleets have been fitted out on both sides on the Danube some of the Ships carrying 30 Guns 2. The Drave or Drau Lat. Dravus has its Source in the Alps runs through Carinthia Stiria and Hungary and here falls into the Danube 3. The Save or Saw Lat. Sava has its rise in Germany in the Vpper Carniola near to Carinthia and then running Eastward through both the Carniola's and separating Sclavonia from Croatia Bosnia and Servia after a Course of 300 Miles falls into the Danube a little above Belgrade 4. The Teiss or Tibisk of which 't is commonly said that two parts are Water and the third Fish The other Rivers here of less note are the Raab which forms an Island of the same Name The Marisch the Vag the Gran Lakes and the Sarvithze which comes out of the Lake Balaton besides which there are also the Lakes of Newdsiler and Beczkerk The Hungarians are more inclined to War than to Arts or Trading Manners they are Cruel Proud Revengeful and so divided among themselves that it is no wonder if they be exposed to the Barbarians They speak several Languages and chiefly Latin which is familiar to them They eat and drink with excess and live very nasty in their Houses yet the Gentlemen live nobly and are great Lovers of Horses Hunting and Feasting They are only stately in their Gardens and Baths and provided their Palaces be large they care not how ill furnished they be They hate the Germans though the Nobles seem to stick to the House of Austria to save themselves from the Oppressions of the Turks who value a Peasant as much as a Gentleman The greatest strength of this Kingdom consists in light Horse called Hussars Strength their Foot Souldiers are called Heiduques The Clergy the Barons the Nobles and the Royal and Free Towns Government make Four Bodies or States The States are to meet once in three Years according to the Laws of the Country and they have Right to Elect the Palatine who by the Laws of the Land is to be a Hungarian and has the whole direction of the War and Judicature Nevertheless Croatia dependent of Hungary has a Viceroy who has as much Authority as the Palatine There are in Hungary two Archbishopricks viz. Strigonia and Colonitz and 16 Bishopricks Archbishopricks Bishopricks five under the Archbishop of Strigonia eight under that of Colonitz and three Suffragan of Spalato in Dalmatia The Hungarians were Converted to Christianity by Gisle St. Henry's Sister
The principal Trade of the City is in the Jews Hands who are exempt from Tribute in consideration whereof they are to furnish the Janisaries of the City with Cloth for their Cloathing William King of Sicily Conquered this City in 1180. but afterwards the Emperor of Constantinople reduced it to his Obedience again Andronicus Palaeologus gave it to the Venetians in 1313. but two Years after the Turks drove them thence and have been Masters of it ever since The Greek Christians have 30 Churches in this City the Chiefest whereof is the Archbishop's See Dedicated to St. Demetrius This Church has three Bodies supported by very fair Pillars and was formerly honoured with the Preaching of St. Paul There are also five Convents of the Order of St. Basilicus in every one of which are about an Hundred young Women who may if they please quit the Habit and Marry The most Magnificent Turkish Mosques are those Buildings that formerly were the Churches of St. Sophia the Blessed Virgin St. Gabriel and St. Demetrius Mahomet IV. who was Dethroned in 1687. changed the Church of the Blessed Virgin into a Mosque on each side of this Building are twelve great Pillars of Jasper-stone whose Chapiters or Tops support so many Crosses which the Turks have not defaced The Jews also have 36 Synagogues in this City the most considerable of which are that of Castille of Portugal and of Italy They have also two Colleges which contain above Ten Thousand Scholars who come to study there from all parts of the Ottoman Empire Of all the stately Pieces of Architecture that were of old in this City there remains nothing very remarkable at present save only a Triumphal Arch of Brick-work supported by two Marble Pillars full of Trophies and abundance of other Figures but so much shattered and defaced by Time that it cannot well be guest what it was erected for The City is Governed by a Mousselin Justice is Administred by a Molla and a Mufti Orders all Matters relating to Religion This City stands 108 Miles S. of Sophia 300 S. E. of Belgrade and 330 W. of Constantinople Long. 47 d. Lat. 41 d. 37 m. II. Zuchria Zuchria or Jeniza is a small City Built by the Turks out of the Ruins of Pella formerly the Capital of Macedonia and the Birth-place of Alexander the Great upon the Bay of Salonichi between the Rivers Bevola and Castora 27 Miles S. W. of Salonichi I. Amphipolis or Emboli Amphipolis is a City of Macedonia on the Borders of Thracia with an Archbishoprick under the Patriarch of Constantinople The Greeks call'd it Christopoli since and its Modern Name is Emboli It is situated on the River Strymon which washes it on every side 60 Miles almost E. of Salonichi This City is very famous in the Ancient History of Greece IV. Siderocapsa Siderocapsa is a small Town only remarkable for the Gold Mines that are about it Philip the Father of Alexander the Great caused a Gold Coin to be Coin'd called Golden-Philips after that Crenidas had discovered the Gold Mines there and wrought them which Mines afforded King Philip a 1000 Talents of Gold a Year and do still yield the Grand Seignior 9 or 10000 Ducats a Month. There are no less than five or six Hundred Furnaces for the melting of Gold in the Mountains near this City CHAP. IV. Janna or Thessaly Lat. Thessalia THessaly is bounded on the East by the Archipel on the North by Macedon Bounds on the West by Epirus and on the South by Achaia This Country has had different Names derived from divers Princes who have lived therein Name and was divided into five parts viz. Thessaly Proper the Country of the Pelasgi Estiosia Magnesia and Phtiotide It s Modern Name is Janna from a Town of this Name The Air is here very good the Soil fruitful producing delicious Figs Water Melons Quality Pomegranates Oranges Lemons Citrons excellent Grapes Almonds Olives and all sorts of Corn. The Ancient Inhabitants were well-bred civil but somewhat too voluptuous Inhabitants yet they did not want Courage They were also noted for Magick and Drunkenness were the first that Minted Gold and Silver tam'd Horses and put Ships to Sea They are still Warlike and are a handsom Race of People having black Hair black Eyes and their Faces of a Beautiful Sanguine Fresh Colour and are for the most part Christians This Country is encompass'd with four great Mountains viz. Olympus Pindus Ossa and Aeta Mountains famous in the Greek and Latin Poets It had for along time its particular Kings until it was subjected to the Macedonians History and afterwards to the Romans Deucalion was one of the most Ancient and Celebrated Kings He Reigned in the same Age with Cecrops first King of Athens 349 Years before the Ruin of Troy Hellen his Son gave Name to a great part of Greece Dorus his second Son left his Name to the Dortans near Mount Parnassus Xuthus the third was Father of Achaeus Founder of the Peleponnesian Achaeans Ion his second Son was the Chief of the Inhabitants of Attica This Country is very famous for the remarkable Defeat of Pompey by Julius Caesar in the Plains of Pharsalus Sultan Amurath Conquered the greatest part of it and his Posterity still enjoys it The most remarkable Places in Thessaly are Larissa Archb. Cap. Armiro Volo Pharsalus or Farsa Archb. Scotusa Bish Voidenor Demetriada I. Larissa Larissa is the Principal City of Thessalia the Country of Achilles upon the River Peneus 25 Miles from the Bay of Salonichi to the West It is an Archbishop's See and one of the most flourishing Cities of Greece by reason the late Grand Seignior being disgusted with Constantinople almost 20 Years together kept his Court here It is pleasantly seated on a Rising Ground in the upper part whereof stands the Grand Seignior's Palace upon the North the famous Mountain of Olympus and on the South a Plain Inhabited by Christians Turks and Jews There is a handsom Stone-bridge over the River consisting of Nine Arches This City stands 90 Miles S. of Salonichi 160 N. W. of Setines or Athens and 380 S. W. of Constantinople Long. 46 d. 55 m. Lat. 39 d. 45 m. II. Armiro Armiro Lat. Eretria is a City and Sea-port mentioned by Thucydides Strabo Livy and several other Ancient Writers it lyes upon the Sinus Pelasgicus which from it now is called the Gulf of Armiro about 17 Miles from Larissa to the South Out of this Gulf the Argonauts loosed when they went to Colchis for the Golden-Fleece and in it the Navy of Xerxes was sorely shattered by a Tempest which then saved Greece In the same Bay lyes Pagase in which the Ship Argo was Built III. Volo Volo is a Fortress that gives its Name to a Gulf of Thessaly to the North of Negrepont The Ancients called this Town Pagasa and the Gulf Pagasicus Sinus or Pelasgicus Sinus and Gulf of Armiro The Fortress has a good and
of the Castle are 17. Colums 18 Foot in circumference and proportionable in height the remainder of 300 which they say formerly belong'd to the Palace of Theseus Over the Portal yet intire is this Inscription in Greek This ancient City of Athens is certainly the City of Theseus And another within thus The City of Athens is the City of Adrian and not of Theseus Here is also the Fanari or Lantern of Demosthenes whether he retired to study in privacy It is a small Marble Tower with six Columns round it and a Lamp with branches over the Duomo which covers it whence perhaps it was called the Lantern supposed to have been dedicated to Hercules by the several Figures set in the Frises thereof combating in Lions Skins Here are also the Ruins of the Areopagus whose Glacis or Senate-House 40 paces long is supported by vast pieces cut out of the Rock and pointed like a Diamond In the midst thereof is a kind of Speakers Chair cut out of the Rock with Seats round it for the Senators Add to these the Remains of the Temple of Victory built after the Jonick Order where the Turks lay their Powder The Arsenal of Lycurgus and the Temple of Minerva both of the Dorick Order Setines was taken by Mahomet II. in 1455. but regain'd by the Venetians in 1687. It stands nigh the Gulph of Engia about 120 Miles almost N. of Misitra 160 S. E. of Larissa and 420 S. W. of Constantinople Long. 48 d. 20 m. Lat. 37 d. 25 m. II. Stives or Thebes Stives anciently called Thebes was once one of the most celebrated Cities of Greece the Capital of Baeotia the Birth place of Pindar who calls it Heptapyle by reason of its seven Gates and of the renowned General Epaminondas This City sustained great Wars against the Athenians Lacedaemonians and Macedonians it submitted to the last with reluctancy so that upon the report of Alexander the Great being Dead they revolted and sollicited their Neighbours to do the same but the Town being taken a second time it was quite destroyed not one House being left standing but that of Pindarus Cassander Antipater's Son repair'd it 20 years after and it had afterwards the Title of Archbishoprick but is now an inconsiderable Borough subject to the Turks The Venetians took it in 1687. and soon after left it again it stands 40 Miles N. W. of Setines or Athens III. Aulis Aulis is a City of Baeotia upon the Streight of Negropont famous for the Harbour that belongs to it where Agamemnon and all the Grecian Captains rendezvouz'd before they set Sail for Troy IV. Marathon Marathon called at this Day Marathona or Marason is a small Town in Attica It is famous for the Victory which 12000 Athenians under the Command of Miltiades obtained over the Persian Army of above 500000 Men Anno Rom. 264. towards the end of September V. Livadia Livadia is a Town and Castle of Achaia from which all that Principality is now called Livadia It is subject to the Turks and stands 70 Miles W. of Athens or Setines VI. Megara Megara called by the Turks Megra the Birth-place of Euclides was anciently a famous City built upon two Rocks but now one is Desolate and the other has but about 3 or 400 pitiful Cottages built one story high and close together the Walls of which are but the Ruins of the former Houses or a few Fagots covered with Clay A place at first Capital of a Monarchy under the Reign of 12 Kings than a Republick which maintained divers Wars with the Athenians and others and established a Colony in the Island of Sicily VII Delphos Delphos or Delphes is a little Village of Phocis under Mount Parnassus famous in ancient History for the Temple of Apollo whence he pronounced his Oracles VIII Lepanto Lepanto Lat. Naupactus is a City of Aetolia now Livadia a Country of Achaia called by the Turks Einebachri seated near the entrance of the Western Bay of Corinth now called the Gulph of Lepanto This City is built on the South-side of a Mountain formed like a Sugar Loaf on the top of which is a strong Castle surrounded with four strong Walls set at some distance one above the other between which Walls the Inhabitants have their Houses and by them the City is divided into four Parts The Port is very handsome and beautiful and may be secured by a Chain The Mouth of it is so strait it will hold but a few Ships and those cannot go out and in at sometimes neither for want of Water The Country round this City is pleasant and full of delightful Gardens The Wine of Lepanto is the best of all Greece but they pitch their Vessels as they do generally over all Morea and at Athens to preserve the Wine as the Germans and Hollanders are wont to Sulphurate them for the same purpose which renders the Taste at first somewhat disagreeable to Strangers The Turks have five or six Mosques here and the Greeks have two Churches one in each Suburb tho' but very small and they but few in number and ill treated for which reason their Archbishop kept his residence at Marta The Jews have three Synagogues there The Chiefest Commodities of the Place are Leather Oyl Wheat Tobacco Rice and Barley but the most considerable of all the rest is Turkey Leather In 1408. this City was under the Empire of Greece but Emanuel then Emperor assigned it to the Venetians who took care to fortifie it as it is now In 1475. Mahomet the Great the same that took Constantinople having gained Corinth besieged it with an Army of 30000 Men but was forced to raise the Siege but in 1498. Bajazet II. attack'd it with an 150000 Men and took it by the Treachery of the Venetian Governour whom he had corrupted with Money In 1687. The Venetians having in the foregoing years almost beat the Turks out of all the Morea their General Morosini landed near Patras notwithstanding all the opposition of the Seraskier whom he fought and defeated on the 24th of July and having taken Patras and the Dardanel Castle on that side he crossed to the other to Lepanto where he found the Turks making haste to empty the Place for him whereupon he took possession of it with out striking a blow and found in it 120 Pieces of Brass Cannon Lepanto stands 100 Miles S. E. of Prevesa 140 W. of Setines and 480 S. W. of Constantinople Long. 45 d. 30 m. Lat. 37 d. 25 m. IX Dardanels of Lepanto At the Entrance of the Gulph of Lepanto are two Capes about 13 or 14 Miles S. W. of Lepanto that which joins to Morea is called by the Ancients Anthirium Promontorium now adays Cape Antirio and has a little Fortress called the Castle of Morea or of Patras The other that joins to Achaia is called by Strabo Rhium Promontorium vulgarly Cape Rio and has also a little Fort called Castle of Romelia These two Castles are also called Dardanels of Lepanto
in allusion to those of the Hellespont Their Figure is square environed with strong Walls mounted with good Cannon even with the Water All the Commodities that go out of the Gulph of Lepanto pay here a Toll which comes to about 3 per Cent. The Famous Sea-Fight of Lepanto in 1571. It was near the Gulph of Lepanto that a famous Sea-Fight was fought against the Turks Octob. 2. 1571. in which they lost above 30000 Men being the most bloody defeat they ever met with since the first establishment of their Empire Besides the slaughter the Christians took 5000 Prisoners amongst whom were the two Sons of Haly General of the Turkish Fleet. They took also 130 Galleys stranded burnt or sunk 90. and redeemed near 20000 Christian-Slaves Neither was the Booty less considerable for their Fleet pillaged all the Isles thereabouts and took many Merchant-Men This Battel was fought in the same Gulph were Augustus defeated Marck-Anthony and it is hard to say which of both was the most Glorious Victory The Christians lost 8000 Men the most considerable whereof was Barbarigo Commander of the left Wing The Christian Commander in chief in this Signal Combat was Don-John of Austria natural Brother to Philip II. King of Spain CHAP. VI. Morea MOrea is a Peninsule in vulgar English a Demi-Island bounded Bounds on the North by the Isthmus or neck of land of Corinth that joins it to Achaia and by the Gulph of Lepanto and on the other sides by the Mediterranean Sea called Mare d' Jonia on the West Mare de Sapienza or of Candia on the South and Mare Egeo on the East It lies betwixt the 34 d. 40 m. and the 37 d. 30 m. of Northern Latitude Situation and betwixt the 44 d. 50 m. and the 48 d. 30 m. of Longitude being in length about 170 Miles from Castel-Tornese Tornese to the Cape of Schili about 160 in breadth from Corinth to Cape Matapan and in circumference about 550. This Country has had several Names Name it was anciently called first Argo or Argos from one of its Principal Cities afterwards Aegialeia from Aegialus a King of the Sicyonians afterwards Apia from Apis third King of Argos Then Peloponnesus from Pelops Son of Tantalus King of the Phrygians and at last Morea Authors differ much about the derivation of this name some think that it's shape like a Mulberry-Trees Leaf Lat. Morus and in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 made the last Emperours of Constantinople call it Morea Others derive it from the Word Romea which by a transposition of Letters was changed into that of Morea It being certain that as long as Constantinople was subject to the Roman Emperors that City was called New Rome and those of that Country Romeans as much to say Romans Doglioni is of another opinion and thinks the Moors gave their name to this Peninsula when they made Incursions into it There is no Country in Europe that can be parallell'd to this Peninsula Quality It s Air is clear wholesome and temperate It Soil Fertile and abounding with Corn Wine Olives and all manner of Fruits the most exquisite in the World and its Mountains full of Game and Medicinal Plants The Inhabitants Inhabitants are accounted Witty and Couragious There are in this Peninsula several famous Mountains Mountains viz. Foloe now Dimizana Cyllene Liceus Parthenius Meralus Sepia Cronia now Grevenos Mintia or Mente now Olonos Neris Nonacris Taigetus now Orta Of all these Mountains Cyllene is accounted the highest and Taigetus the most considerable as being full of Deer Bears Wild-Boars c. All these Mountains have been celebrated by the ancient Greek and Latin Poets The Principal Rivers Rivers in this beautiful Country are 1. The River Carbon formerly called Orsea Alpheus or Alpehius and Strimphalus or Nyctymus Fluvius so much famed for its Virtue of taking away the spots and blemishes of the Skin which besides 140 Torrents or Brooks receives the Rivers Celadon Erimanthus and Amarinthe The Poets feigned that it ran under the Sea into Sicily to be joined with the Waters of the Spring Arethusa because it goes often under the Ground and comes out always with more strength 2. Vasili Potamos formerly Eurotas Iris Hemerus and Marthaton which rises at the same place where the River Carbon has its Source and washing Misitra discharges it self in the Gulf of Colchine 3. Planizza formerly Inachus Haliaemon and Cravamor 4. Spirnazza formerly Stomius Pomylus and Panysus discharges it self into the Gulf of Coron near Calamata There are also the Rivers Linceus Astoria or Stella and Erasin which run with rapidity all along the Mount Stymphalus As also the Styx that flows at the foot of Mount Nonacris and which the Poets have feign'd to be a River of Hell because its Water tho' clear and agreeable to the sight is most fatal to those that drink it Peloponnesus after several Revolutions fell into the Hands of Emanuel a Greek Emperor about 1150. who at his Death having divided his Empire among his Seven Sons was thereby the Cause of its Ruin These Princes were called Despotes that is Lords or Governours they depended upon the Emperor both as to their Government and Election otherwise they were absolute and their Dignity almost Hereditary for it seldom hapned that the Emperor chused any Successor to the late Despote but his Son Brother or near Relation Constantine sirnamed Dragares Brother of Theodorus II. was Despote when Amurat made an Irruption into Morea The Greek Emperor stopt his fury by the Promise of a yearly Tribute Some time after Constantine being Crowned Emperor at Constantinople divided Morea between his two Brothers Demetrius and Thomas The Turks under Mahomet II. under the pretence of assisting Demetrius against Thomas took occasion of their Divisions to Invade their Estates and the Places the Venetians possessed in Morea which they accomplished without much Resistance after the Death of General Bertoldo d'Este whom the Republick had sent with a good Army to oppose them Since that the Turks kept here a Governour with the Title of Sangiac or Morabegi that is Lord of Morea under the Beglerbey of Greece This Sangiac made his ordinary Residence at Modon Morea is now under the Venetians since 1687. General Morosini having Reconquered the best Places in it viz. Patras Lepanto Castel-Tornese Corinth Misitra Napoli di Romania c. as you shall see in the particular Articles of each of those Towns he caused all the Churches that were Mosques before to be reconsecrated so that many Greek Families have left Achaia to settle in Morea and more than 12000 Inhabitants have resorted thither This Peninsule has at different times been variously divided Division In Pausanias's time it had but three Regions viz. 1. That of the Arcadians 2. That of the Achaians and 3. Lastly That of the Dorians After this Ptolomy and others divided it into Eight Parts viz. 1. Achaia Proper 2. Arcadia 3. Argia