of a plentifull country and excellent husbandry in their gardens The mountaines yeeld a red stone and parget called ardoises the vallies plenty of grasse the riuers fish and the barrennest place pasture for cattle The chiefe Citie is Angiers on the banke of the Meduan not far from the Loire yet is it ioyned by a bridge of stone to another on the other side and so you may conclude that two townes make one Citie Here you haue also ruines of Theaters vulgarly Brohan and an Academy enlarged or rather founded by Lodwick the second 1389 the other townes are Samurs Belforce Bange and such like of whose particulars my purpose is not to make relation The fourth part is Britania in times past Armorica It boasteth for sending ouer such inhabitants into our countrey as not onely taught them a language but peopled and possessed the same Wee againe are resolued that though France was first inhabited yet from the greater Britaine the lesse receiued denomination and by entercourse of people affinitie mariage and politike confederation both countries learned one anothers language For being called Armorica it at last condiscended to be entitled litle Britaine retaining a long time an absolute Duke of her owne and diuiding her territories into low and high Britaine in both which are numbred nine Bishopricks Carnouaile S. Paul Treguires Doll Rheines S. Malo Nants Vannes and Brein amongst whom Doll hath the precedency though Renes and Nants be the chiefest and greatest Cities It is three parts exposed to the sea and hath many strong ports especially Brest famous for sundry warlike exploits and the last intrusion of the Spanish leaguers The fift part is Normandy diuided into the countries of Constantine Bessin Maine and Auge in which as principall Cities are recorded Roan Pontoise Alenson Argenni Caen Baieux and some few others The people boast of their endeuors in spinning linnen cloth excellent wits and able bodies for the warres But of all other things they would exceede especially the Gentlemen for mansuetude courtship and affabilitie in attending the affaires of peace and quietnes The sixt part challengeth the title of the I le of France a countrey so named because it is in a manner environed with excellent riuers which make the ground so fertile that for number of Townes Gentlemens houses places of pleasure conueniencie of prouision and other particulars tending to brauery and profit it excelleth all the countrey But her chiefest pride ariseth from the possession of Paris on the riuer Sequana or the Sein the mistris of all Cities and Orleans on the Loire famous for many remarkable actions betweene whom almost 40 English mile is one cawsey of stone or otherwise there were no trauelling especially in winter For all the ground is so fat and clammy that Paris it selfe is called Lutetia of luto or the durtinesse of the soile The seuenth part belongeth to Bourges or Berry a countrey boasting of many delicate things but the Citie is quite out of patience if you either forget her monuments or contradict her first founder to be Ogiges the grand-childe of Noe It is enclosed with the countries of Touraine Burbon and Niuernois and on the riuer of Loire washing cleane the fields with his strange ouer-flowings are erected Cosme Le Charity the Citie of Neuers with her long bridge Molins and many other townes some of hansome eminence and some of lesse consequence The eight part is attributed to Limosin or Lemania contayning the County of Auernge and yeeldeth such plenty of fenns and marishes that the fatnes of the soile is both bettered and augmented thereby howeuer the aire seemeth not so wholesome and the Cities Townes are fuller of inhabitants by reason of natures suppliment in all things and the easines wherewith good husbandry dispatcheth her busines yet are they neither great nor extraordinarily beautified no not Limoges Clermont Beurgard Monferau and Goudade which are the principall The ninth lot of France her renowne is taken out of fortunes lap for Languedock reaching to the sea as farre as Montpelier and Arles on the other side Westward Carâ—…ossen and Narbon yet doe some ioyne Languedock to Prouence and call all these sea-coasts with the territories adiacent by the title of Gallia Narbonensis The tenth principall roome of this French palace is beautified with the Parliament roabes of the seuerall countries of Prouence Daulphine and Orange For they account Arles a towne compassed with the streames of Rhodanus rather in Prouence then Languedock because it standeth as it were at the mouth of the riuer to watch how the sea and the fresh water meets as for Narbon they esteeme it the pride of the riuer Araxis and boast of the great lake for her denomination accordingly Heere abouts were those excellent bathes contriued spoken of so much in the Roman Commentaries and Marius celebrated his triumphs for conquering the Cimbrians who came thus farre in those dayes from that countrey which we now call Denmarck to reâ—…st the Romans To Daulphine they added a gracious allowance of the famous and ancient city of Lyons whom the 〈◊〉 diuideth and whose wals are so ambitious that they â—…mb vp to the top of very rockes the riuer playes the wanton about the towne and runs a pace to Valence Vienna neuer leauing vntill he thrust himselfe into the Mediterranean sea hard by Marselles a city and port of great consequence but is so separated from the riuer as if it were affrayd of his swiftnesse But Lyons hath yet more cause of insulting in regard that all this part of France was called Gallia Lugdunensis from her owne name Lugdunum and diuers monuments of water-workes bridges towers and temples were magnificent in Caesars time The prouince of Daulphine was giuen to the eldest sonne of France with no other intent but to name himselfe accordingly by which occasion all Europe knowes what the Daulphine means To Orange is a town so named appropriate Grenoble with Auignion are coniured within this circle For although euer since the Pope made it his seat established heere a Conclaue for the Cardinals it hath since remaâ—…ed firme to the Roman Clergy yet is it sited in this prouince and called France her naturall mother some reckon heerein the three Bishoprickes of Carpentoract Lissa and Vaurias with many other townes allowing vs to call it the Principate of Orange and will haue vs take notice that the house of Nassau which challengeth the glory of the Low-Countries as by the worthy life of the last Prince of Orange whose younger sonnes are still so famous for the Belgick warres may appeare was extracted from hence and glorieth in her denomination accordingly For mine owne part I haue thus bound them together within the girdle of Prouence and could finde in my heart to make Geneua with her great lake and plaines vnder the mountaines a daughter of France although she hath vrgently denied her first mother Besides howeuer the Rhosne or
yeeld no other they weare coloured bootes comming no higher then their knees the soles plated with yron the better sort haue them gilded painted and embrodered the women weare such too and like the Turkes are not seene abroad bare-faced all sorts loue iustice or at least the shew of it For they punish petty thefts how euer great robberies and manslaughters yea after due examination passe without capitall execution which makes me remember the answer of Cleonidas the Pirate to Alexander the Great when he sharply reprehended him for the basenes of his life and intimated besides the common scandall of a rouer the mischiefes depending as hindring the Merchant from filling the harbours and resorting to the Cities whereby the Kings customes were inlarged and the Common-wealth enriched T is true O King saith he because I rob with one or two ships I am condemned for a rouer but thou that runnest ouer the Hellespont and fillest great seas with thy Nauies art saluted a mighty Monarch and reuerenced more for the feare of thy reuenge then beloued by the extention of thy bounty or liberalitie Their coine is both gold and siluer without forme as stamped long and vnfashionable their furres fill all the world with merchandize making vs not onely warme but proud in Europe yea such is the estimation of Ermines Sables and blacke Fox from a receiued opinion of Priamus King of Troy whose mantle to the greatest shew of ostentation and magnificence was lined with Ermines that in the secrets of Armory except the Prince all persons are limited what and how to weare them and amongst themselues though the Emperor Nobles haue gownes of cloth of gold and siluer tread vpon Persian and Turky carpets and are indeed adorned with great wealth both in iewels and marks of maiestie yet hath their head attires of blacke fox the preeminence wherein he thinketh himselfe more honored than in an imperiall crowne after the manner of auntient Kings Their great Cities are very thin and villages lye scattered with low houses spatious on the ground with stones and the territories which now he challengeth extendeth almost 1200 English mile their woods foster plenty of beasts which in an extreame winter will come downe to their houses and endanger both cattle and people their horse are reasonable good many by whom they maintaine the strength of their Armies and practising them in hunting haue them the more seruiceable in the warres But I purpose no further discoueries and therefore attend the businesse proposed which is onely to giue you a superficiall view of these countries that when we come to compare England vnto them we may finde them the sooner and be able to iudge the better Thus liueth and raigneth this North-east Monarch with reputation of one of the greatest sharers in the aduenture of the worlds happines As for the other Kingdomes of Norway Sweden Goteland Denmarke with the prouinces of Bothnia Finmarck Lapland Finland and such like they are onely called Reges simplices because they liue and take care of their particular Scepters without ambitious intrusion into anothers possession to make it their owne hereditary For though sometime Sweden and Norway is vnited sometimes Denmarke triumphing and sometimes as it were disioynted yet hapneth it by seuerall factions amongst themselues and to reuenge iniuries for the present and may resemble a throng and presse of people in a yard who one while driue to that corner another while shoue to this and suddenly stand at a stay as wearied with the shouldring For as Princes are exasperated to displeasure by their owne conceiued opinions of a wrong and indignity so doe they prosecute reuenges from a wrathfull indignation and many times draw whole Armies into the field to stop further outrages and shew the aduersarie there is no end but blood and death yea the countries deuastation without an honorable agreement or satisfaction and thus haue these people vpon no other colour but wilfulnes weakned one another with counterchangeable preuailings But yet I doe not see that the Russian Emperor taketh aduantage of their disagreements onely at this instant by reason of former troubles about the succession and well-grounded suspition of the King of Polands warlike humors he standeth on his guard and for some priuate respects hath bin auxiliary to the King of Swedea to which belong so many particulars that a whole history might fill your eares with pleasure and instances of worthy prosecution which I desist from for swelling the booke too bigg with so poore a breath of common and knowne relations and will onely goe forward with some slender descriptions as the country now lieth vnder fortunes controule Norway is famous vpon the etymologie of the word as it were the North-way and yeeldeth plenty of fish called stockfish which is taken in the greatest frost for lasting and is a reasonable good country for feeding cattle the increase of a dairy and many other excellent blessings for the nourishment of life Swedia inviteth you to a Towne in imitation of Venice called Stokeholme as if shee boasted onely of this place considering the rest of her villages resemble the scattered troopes of a retired Armie yet must you not ouer-passe the famous Castle of Calmar which is proprietory to Goteland and so depending on Sweden as the principall Port Citie and fortification of these parts and aduanceth her reputation of strength in such a manner that excellent enginers and iudicious Trauellers haue ranked it next the Castle of Millaine Denmarke and his tributes are knowne to euery body with the shipping and customes of the Sont where at one time you shall haue 5000 saile brought to the barre of payment and defraying the Kings charges Their feasts and drinking customes wherein you must not challenge their liberall promises nor take hold of cursory speeches vpon an hereafter remembrance least his displeasure suppose you ouer-politicke for his plainenes yet dangerous humors in his rages Their maintayning of Gentry though fearefull for affording titles of honour by opening the enclosures of desires to affect greatnes and popularitie so that you haue no ambitious titles amongst them Their feminine scorne of mechanicall men trades or professors of Arte insomuch though a man bee neuer so excellent a scholler or Musician yet will not the Ladies of their countrey admit of their society nor entertaine their wiues with befitting complement but with a primordiall contempt of ill musico scholastico pedante or such like countermand their intrusion Their ouer-looking of passengers into the East Countries and many other things are matters of some notice But amongst other points of Heraldry the blason of the coates of these countries displaieth the profitable distribution of masts firre deale pitch tarre rosen cables ropes hempe flax and such like To which I must needes adde how from this Continent former times detruded those Nations of Vandalls Gothes Lombards Getes and other famous people who not onely blotted out the scandall
with Ianus looke two contrary waies and study the arts both of detracting and flattery yet there is but one truth if a man did liue in such a blessed age that he might maintaine the same with worthy boldnesse speaking what he thinkes thinking what he knowes and knowing nothing but honest certainties wherein not to be corrupted is a glory exceeding report and a worke of wonder indeed therefore as neere as I can I will reiect all impossible reports and authorities and tie my selfe to probabilities and truth or at least so much as is either receiued for currant in iustifiable relations or my poore experience dare warrant from mine owne endeauours and so I will shew you with what face Italy lookes vp to heauen at this houre and may with Heraclitus weepe for the vanities and miseries of the earth yet is cheerefull and thus like a strumpet is knowne by the pride of her eyes CHAP. XI ITALY described at this time FIrst towards the East lies the Kingdome of Naples within whose enclosures are detained the countries of Calabria Brutia and Apulia now Abruzzo Puglia and separated by the chāmpaine of Romandiola and the large Appenini which bee mountaines rising by Ancona and running forward to the great gulph that thrusteth it selfe between Rocca Imper◅all and Gallipolis It hath many townes but few cities onely Brindisi Ottonto Barletto and Naples are of some account the Countrey is rich in vines oyle and silke-wormes the people are dangerous superstitious and the Villano liues beastly the Gentle men are maintainers of liberty and pleasure scoffers at their owne religion and as great blasphemers as the Greekes of Cyprus insomuch that I haue heard them in their rages cry out Iddio Beco Puttana del Di and sweare by the absurd oath of potta del Cielo as in their commedy called Ruffiana and published in print may appeare yet is their adoration of her so superstitious that the Sauiour of the world is accounted her inferiour her attributes make heauen amazed and her altars smoke with incense and prophanation And what is this but to cause the Prophets to exclaime against the sacrifices of the Queene of Heauen and what is this but with Ahaz to make images for Baalim and burne children in the valley of Hinnon after the abhomination of the heathen and what is this but to build high altars with Manasses and like a Sorcerer to regard the crying of birds to vse enchauntments giue way to the imposturing art of witchcraft As for true religion oh God! thou laughest them to scorne as they haue the truth in derision which makes me remember what is reported in these parts of that worthy Sr. Philip Sidney who conuersing with a Neapolitane Count and brought to one of their Churches wherein he was loth to enter at that time was yet vnwilling altogether to distaste him but interiected some excuses but the Count vnderstanding him well enough bad him tarrie a while and so went into his formall deuotion but quickly returning embraced him with an oath by his Santa Donna that he would renounce all the religion of the world yea his part of Paradice before hee would trouble againe the conscience of so well deseruing a Gentle-man and companion They liue in great pomp for outward shew and make the City both rich and stately because they are not permitted to be resident in the Countrey but keepe heere continuall entercourse howeuer they groane vnder the Vice-Royes controll and the ouerwatchings of two strong castles which keepe both towne and harbour in awe and although the Spanish pride and sometimes cruelty is exercised amongst them as abating their natiue glory yet doth it little abridge them of moderne pleasures and customary wantonnesse so that if the Prophets in times past exclaimed against Tyrus and Sidon threatned Damascus and Syria prophesied the desolation of Aegypt and Aethiopia lamented Iuda and Samaria and mourned for Babylon and Assyria they might now cry out against Italy and Naples which as in times past was called Parthenope of the Syrens haunting these shores of the dangers of Scilla and Caribdis and for the notorious transhaping men into monsters by Circes allegorically alluding to the voluptuous sinnes and abusiue pleasures of this City and Countrey so still may it retaine the comparison and men bee terrified with the same dangers For if any place in the world keepes wickednesse warme with glorious flames and stretcht-out sensuallity to the length and bredth heere men are not only drunke with iniquity but commit fornication with Idols yea are mad with the rage of impiety The next is Romagnia or Romandiola called S. Peters patrimony a great countrey vnder the Pope in which are reckned the two Dukedomes of Ferrara and Vrbine of late daies fallen into the power of the Conclaue of Cardinals for want of lawfull succession or else by reason of their weaknes who peraduenture haue right but are not able to contest with so irregular an aduersary which makes them step a litle aside for feare of being trampled to peeces indeed The chiefe Cities are Rome Loretto Rimano Bologna Ferrara Vrbine Perugia Viterbium Spoletto Ancona and Rauenna all places of account well fortified adorned with palaces replenished with inhabitants and resort of Gentills both natiues and trauellers and supplied with all manner of prouision both for necessitie and wantonnes But Rome is the seat of the Pope and keepeth the Priests to the duties of the Sanctuary For the Colledge of Cardinals suffer no man to depresse the glory of the Church and proclaimes him an heretike that intermedleth with the ordinances of the great Bishop so that according to their seuerall degrees religious persons liue in great st◅te keepe Curtezans trauell in Carosses with six moiles sumptuously trapped though but a quarter of a mile to the Conclaue solemnize feasts and banquets make onely show of some ridiculous ceremonies and are in truth of slender deuotion in spirituall secrets but foolish superstition in absurd apparitions so that if I were an Atheist and a man vnconscionable to suppose that there were not a day of account to be made with the commander of all actions I had rather liue a religious man in Rome than be a Nobleman of Naples who as I said a litle before of all men liuing wash their hands in carelesnes and like Pollicrates the tyrant haue nothing to trouble them but that nothing hath troubled them concerning worldly encombrances so that with the Prophet I may well cry out the Priests are gone astray by the meanes of strong drinke and are ouercome with wine they faile in prophesying and stumble in iudgement their tables are full of vomit and filthines and no place is cleane yea the vision of the Prophet is come vnto them as the words of a booke which is sealed vp which men deliuer to one that is learned saying read thou and he replies I cannot for it is sealed then it is deliuered to an ignorant with read thou but
resembled vnto children pull'd out of the armes of a louing mother But I will quietly bring you into her own roomes whereby you shall partly behold the beauty and workmanship of her building onely by the way I must a litle touch the Etymologie of the word and tell you that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greeke signifieth milke and so the people from their complexion and resemblance to whitenes were called Galli or Galati For other particulars you haue Caesars commentaries and well compacted histories which haue tossed and tumbled the lodgings yea the very beds of her chambers and our owne acquaintance hath ouer-lookt her choicest closets It was once the nurse of valour and afforded her vberant paps in those daies to such men as trampled ouer the fields of Greece robbed Apollos Temple at Delphos fetcht away the spoiles of Asia and by the assistance of Brennus an Englishman performed actions of wonderment and applause It was afterward the pride of Roman Consuls and the greatest ambition thought it selfe sufficiently recompenced with her gouernment when Rome had yet lessned her roome to make it prouinciall Presently followed the diuision of the Empire and all the gouernment almost of Europe was rent asunder with the furie of very strange and sauage Nations whose confused Chaos of barbarisme the brauery and goodnes of this countrey redacted to vniformity A litle while after diuers families by being maiores palatij became masters of the Kingdome wherein some by suppression some by merit some iure militari and some by right of inheritance lifted vp the crowne and maiesticall head of this country Straight-way the Eagle of Rome was sicke and from France recouered health how euer afterward it sought for further cure from the Germanes Then followed the Law Salick amongst them with absolute interdicting the Crowne of this glorious Monarchy to fall to the distass whereupon the three famous houses of Valois Burbon Loraine entailed the same and made as it were a feofment of perpetuity wherein this Diadem still keepeth her residence and is dunged watred and liketh her manuring so that whatsoeuer hath bin long since diuided amongst many Princes looking vpon one another with the eyes of emulation and ambitious desires to become greatest in the same is now at length vnited vnder one Monarchy and title of France so that howsoeuer some will haue Loraine absolute of it selfe and no subiect some stomach that Burgoine is revolted some repine that Daulphine was vnited by donation some confound Gascoigne and Guienne abolishing quite the name of Acquitane some remember that Normandy was English some presume of Britany as a Principate of her owne some make Sauoy afraid when Geneua calls the King of France patron and protector and some by diuision and subdiuision would extenuate her greatnes yet is now all France and the worthy Princes are resolued to keep correspondency with strangers but suffer no new intrusion nor any forreine claimes to preuaile at their marble table I will therefore desist from any further vnwinding the yarne of strange bottomes but spread a moderne cloth and giue you some slender taste of her present dainties whereby you shall not depart away altogether vnsatisfied To begin euen vnder the mountaines Pirenei which diuide Spaine from France the first part is called Gasconia including Guienne and Acquitane Dukedomes once appropriate to the heire of England before the inuesture of the Principat of Wales The chiefest Cities are Burdeaux and Tholouse washed with the plenteous waters of the Garonn a riuer not onely spreading her many armes abroad to send plenty all ouer the fields but powring out her greater streames into the sea welcommeth store of ships into her ports and harbours sending them backe againe into many countries of Europe with glad tidings of an abundant vintage Burdeaux is watrishly scited by reason the riuer and springs raiseth many marshes here about yet is it wholesome and the heat of the climate can endure the moistnes of the aire the Citie is ancient and boasteth of an Vniuersitie but more properly of the great concourse of Merchants It is beautified with many monuments especially the Pallace wherein King Richard the second the sonne of the blacke Prince was borne and another without the Towne a worke euer since the Emperor Galienus and then supposed a glorious Amphitheater The towne of Tholouse is more proud of antiquitie and telleth of time before Troies devastation yea remembreth since Deborah Iudge of Israel was famous for her wisdome and gouernment It hath now a well disciplined schoole a court of Parliament populous streets and reasonable buildings but indeed they seeme very ancient and for some speciall structures may carry the credit of magnificence The other townes are many and very good except countrey villages which are as rude as in other places and the Pesant liueth like a drudge not daring scarse drinke of the wine of his owne garden lest he should not raise such profit as would answer the proportion of his rent But herein our English Merchant hath somewhat ouer-reached them For they hire the gardens themselues and make the best vse of them not trusting their labourers and husbandmen to handle the presses but as they be hired by the day or great The second part is called Poictoy a countrey so great and plentifull that there are numbred 1200 parishes and three Bishopricks faine would haue you reckon these principall walled townes within her diuision of inferior and superior The bishopricks are Poictiers Leucòne and Mailezay The superior townes Roch sur yon or if you will Rochell one of the strongest townes in Europe and the rather because it hath not trusted her walls and ramparts which are yet stupendous and magnificent but the Lord of hostes and his true religion which hath alwaies raised their spirits to an extraordinary confidence of mercy and preuailing against any Antichristian attempt Talmont Meroil Vouuant Meruant Bresfure Lodun Fountenay le Conte The inferior or townes of the lower diuision Noiart Partenay Touars Moncontoul Herenault Meribeau Chastelleraut and others of like eminence amongst whom Poictiers is reckned the most populous of all France next to Paris it is watred with the ouer-flowings of Clanius a riuer filling the Loire and sending it the faster into the sea it boasteth of some antiquities a Theater called the Sandes a palace of the Emperor Galienus an Aquaeduct to which belong certaine fountaines vulgarly called arceux de parigne and other memories from famous Romans who were here euer resident To talke of their Churches prisons walls ports ramparts arsenals towers riuers bridges and such like it were superfluous considering they are not subiects either of admiration or delicacie but euen common or ordinary buildings The third part is Aniou though a litle Prouince yet very fruitfull and affordeth such excellent vines that the common prouerbe crieth out the wine of Aniou For the stately riuer of Loire comming from Orleance posteth a pace with the glad tidings
of Deuils the glory of the firmament the diuision of the earth the bonds and limits of the sea the secrets of hell and the terrors of the last dissolution what neede wee more or go any further for a marking stone to colour any kingdome with whereby it may be known to come neere and enioy most of those blessings wherewith God hath sealed and ratified the glory of Countries then out of the storehouse of the Scriptures To this purpose I dare be bold to aduance our England into the highest chaire as if she were to triumph for some notorious victory and that I may bring vp my forces together to a close encounter and connect my reasons with probability I will discouer at large what I haue learned out of industrious Authors obserued by my owne indeauours knowne as oculatus testis in most countries of Europe and since determined in a combat of comparisons not that I meane to rippe vp the bowels of antiquity and call in question so many thousand volumes which haue consumed as many thousand yeeres in discouery of originals and as it were tormented Time with strange discourses so that if you should take off the vaile wherewith diuers Authors haue ouermantled both Countries Kingdomes and Cities you would stand amased at their deformed shapes and remaine confounded to veiw now their disparity I will therefore leaue all maligne circumstances of my quiet and shew you with what countenance they looke vp to heauen at this instant and in what manner they seeme proud of their establishment whereby 〈◊〉 that are willing to be impartiall shall be the better enâ—…ed to yeeld vp a verdict of truth against all adulterate sophistication Yet must I adde with all this lesson of morality that in 〈◊〉 kingdome where vnderstanding hath pleasured the people with 〈◊〉 of ciuility as for barbarous natâ—…s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 onely make vse of their names Sol vitae est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Antidotus vitae patientia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c Vita vitae conscientia c gloâ—…â—…ntia For with wealth your entertainement 〈◊〉 â—…ght wâ—…th Princes attonement made with Tyrants 〈◊〉 â—…ed amongst strangers adoration aâ—… 〈◊〉 and such as know not ciuilitie will stand 〈◊〉 at thy â—…rauery and florishing By wealth are ofâ—…â—…gated imperfections remitted scandals reâ—… 〈◊〉 pardoned follies excused and the frowns 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…ed For wealth beauty yeeldeth to a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…es are in opposition enforced 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 men transported to exorbitant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for strange vndecencies and all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…ounded with contraries But this is a pasâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 part of my worke or meaning 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for feare of longing after that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aâ—…l as the Dutchman who onâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Now to conclude The whole 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into two seuerall Bookes In the first you shall haâ—… a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Countries of the world by way 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 planaâ—…on as they are noâ—… 〈◊〉 In the 〈◊〉 as Drapers doe 〈◊〉 clotâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereby the 〈◊〉 and prerogâ—… of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 made apparâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3. Discite nunc miseri Quid sumus aut Quis datus aut mâ—…ae quam mâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quis modus argeâ—…o Uâ—…le numâ—…us habâ—… Quantum elargâ—… Iussit humana qua THE CONTENTS OF THE FIRST BOOKE THe Empire of Tartaria Fol. 1 The Monarchy of China 10 The Monarchy of India 14 The Empire of Persia. 19 The Empire of the Turkes 27 The story of the Ottomans together with their conquests 31 The Empire of Aethiopia 39 The Empire of Russia 44 The story of the Goths and Lombards comming into Italy and Spaine 53 The Empire of Germany 56 The history of Coleine 64 The glory of the Spanyard 69 The Description of Italy as in times past 78 Italy described at this time 83 The story of Sauoy 93 The story of Millaine 100 The description of France 111 The description of the Low-Countries 123 The Monarchy of Great Britaine 142 The description of Ireland 144 THE CONTENTS OF THE SECOND BOOKE THe Maiesty of Salomon and happinesse of Canaan a full and absolute example for all Nations 155 Countries compared to Canaan and Salomons glorious happinesse and first of all the Tartars 162 China compared and her deficiency manifested 166 India compared and her defects manifested 170 Persia compared with her insufficiency 174 Turkie compared and her imperfections layd open 177 The lamentable death of the principall Viceer when Sultan Achmat came first to the crowne 181 The famous history of Mustapha 185 The story of a Renegado Bashaw 188 The indirect proceedings of Turkes against Christians contrary to all religion or morality 191 Their manner of aduancement and diuersity of customes farre from our example and orderly prosperitie 198 Russia compared 210 Aethiopia compared 213 Germany compared 217 Italy compared 221 Spaine compared 230 France compared with a discouery of her defects 236 England compared with the probable reasons why shee is neerer the example of Canaans happines than any other nation 242 Wherin the happinesse of England is both perspicuous and commendable 251 Forraine Cities compared to London with the defects of either made apparent and our sufficiency manifested 256 Diuers particulars wherein England excelleth other kingdoms and first in religion 270 Certaine particulars concerning the Greeke Church 282 Certaine particulars concerning the Latine Church 289 Another excellency of England exposing the noble worth of hier Princes beyond other nations 294 Another excellency of England casteth vp an account of her anâ—…quity in one vnited Monarchy before other nations 299 Another excellency of England consisteth in the happy life of our Countrey man and common people 3â—…4 Another excellency of England consisteth in the goodnesse of our nauy and shipping 309 Another excedency of England consisteth in the number riches enâ—…uors and extraordinary worth of our Marchant 316 Another excellency of England may bee drawne from this obseruation that wee haue had more glorious persons and famous Kings and Princes to visit our countrey then any other nation 320 The Conclusion 330 THE GLORIE OF ENGLAND The First BOOKE TOPOGRAFICALLY describing the Countries of the World with some historicall amplification CHAP. I. The Empire of TARTARIA ACcording to the vaine popular and indeed ridiculous error of opinion the world hath inuested nine seuerall Monarchs with his glory and from strange disproportions giuen them prerogatiues to command all the Nations of the earth interdicting any petty Prince to come neere them by way of competition or comparison First then the Empire of Tartaria laid prostrate vnder the throne of the great Cham called Dominus dominantium and Rex regum spreadeth it selfe with so large embracings that it extendeth from the northren Obba or if you will Tanais which falleth into the great Euxinum euen to the easterne sea sometimes surnamed the Atlanticke whose vast lappe is almost filled with a fry of Ilands all Idolaters and most of them enemies to strangers but especially Christians It begirteth those Countries
the buâ—…nesse in hand but to please one another in matters of incontinency yet haue they many wiues who striue with all â—…cting demeanour to bee best beloued of their 〈◊〉 But you haue diuers bookes of this subiect both anâ—… and moderne as Herodotus Pliny and other Cosmographers who thus relate the matter that since the conquest of Bacchus whom by another name they call â—…oer Paâ—…r they haue settled in their countrey with magnificent eqâ—… page 5000. principall cities aduancing a fashion â—…le gouernment to equall the best Common-wealths onely they adored Bacchus for a God and Hercules for a giant they neuer intruded into any other princes territories but haue defended their owne from all innouation of strangers as Q. Curtius relateth adding withall a delicate commentary of their famous exploits and noble greatnesse euen against the Conquerour of the world in the time of the Heâ—…e Porus who with great maiesty valour and armies of Elephants would haue maintained their freedome and glory but that Fortune and Successe had condescended to the conditions of ratifying Alexanders prosperity And although the many Princes haue sometimes repined one against another and for superiorities sake shewed the â—…ety of their owne glories and mightinesse yet 〈◊〉 still combined in the propâ—…ing of forâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 appeasing priuate encombrances not reaching 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ciuill deciding and hating iniustice and coâ—… 〈◊〉 much as may bee They loue and reuerence their Kings amongst whom the great Mogull hauing vs in some estimation before other Princes of Europe and with whom we haue a kinde of correspondency as by reciprocall letters may appeare is principall and of greatest reputation making holy-day when hee shaueth his head and attending his chariot with pompous brauery spredding the way where he must passe with costly ornaments and delicate perfumes For hee is carried in great pomp on the shoulders of men adorned with purple golde and precious stones the chaire hanging with orient pearle and all thing so ordered as if the best of our ceremonies should adde an honor to Maiesty His Guards for his person are many and the best of his souldiers who suffer no neerer approaches to his stately throne then hee himselfe shall command which is publikely knowen by the disrobing of his head of common ornaments and inuesting himselfe with a magnificent Diadem then are Embassadors admitted and diuers lawes enacted for the good of the people Another booke will discouer that when hee disposeth himselfe to pleasure his concubines are sent for to be partakers of the hunting and then in open view the beasts are killed being chased before hand into certaine straight enclosures for the purpose but if he determine a longer progresse their chariots are drawne with Elephants and their honourable Queenes left at home but the wantons are enstructed to make proud incontinency swell with variety not accustoming their wiues to be partaker of such lasciuious changes but reseruing them for necessity of children or moderation of contentment when he determineth to sleepe or peraduenture is ouerloded with wine that he must resettle his spirits and senses with rest and ease the loueliest dames bring him to bed singing a song of inuocation to the God of silence and the night Another will relate how worthily their honest matrons liue after they haue had children how euer they yeelde their chastities at the first to their louers for the price of an Elephant which yet neuer exciteth any exprobation against them In some places when a virgin desireth marriage her parents bring her to publike view amongst a number of young men where shee electeth whom shee fancieth In their mutuall commerces they hate vsury disclaime iniustice denie indentures of couenant contracts of writing and haue many seeming excellencies of loue confidence and trusting one another onely they are impatient of wrong and thinke it a glory to take reuenge but will not offer the occasion Another will tell you that they once esteemed two sorts of wisemen by the names of Samaraei and Brachamanes both which were charactered for Gymnosophists but the Samaraei for their precisenesse were better esteemed of the Kings for liuing more moderate then the rest as eating neither fish nor flesh it added to their reputation that the peace of their Kingdomes was established by their orizons and the prosperity of the countrey confirmed through their holinesse Another will demonstrate how St. Thomas conuerted them to Christianity how euer with the Syrians in Samaria they haue since intermingled horrible idolatry and vntill the Portugals came amongst them would scarse reforme the most grossest abuses Another will enlarge the conquest of their countrey by the Portugals and Spanyard with a full description of all things which may shew you the perfect portraiture of their kingdomes courts common-wealth riches pleasures ciuill administration and mightinesse yet as I take it so farre from a conquest as wee were ouer France when we had only Callis in Picardy or Turwin and Tornay which cost more the re-edifying then all the country about it was worth Heere you shall also finde how they haue striued with the Aegyptians for antiquity and cunning how many Ilands are subiected vnto them amongst whom Summatra in times past called Taprobana mustreth the power of eight Kings Iapan affoordeth our English a harbour and at Bantam they receiue the commodities of China from the Indian Marchants who are only admitted to commerce amongst them and diuers others as are therein variated with many particulars To conclude no one Countrey comes neere it for greatnesse which without other addition lifteth vp her title alone as challenging all the territories betweene China and Persia yea in times past China it selfe almost 1200. English mile and amongst many Kings hee is principall that obtaineth by force or popularity But of late they haue ouer-exalted the high Priest called Voo who in spirituall matters as I may say hath absolute power and authority and vpon whose blessing or cursing dependeth the expectation of future happinesse Yet hath this idolatrous superstition acknowledgement of a God whom they inuest with a triple crowne not yeelding any reason for the same but that he commandeth Heauen Earth and Hell The Iesuites haue taught them to baptize infants in some places and to fast wherein they are now tedious obseruants as barbarous people are best maintainers of customes and ceremonies and they vse the signe of the crosse but it is where they are enforced by the Spanish garisons otherwise what I spake before of China for all their silkes clothes of gold delicate beds houses of canes Serpents Elephants precious stones minerals pearles perfumes drugs spice sweet wood barkes of trees shels nuts and other things of estimation I may with a Christinn-like sorrow amplifie concerning their turpitude and morosity As for their cities euery one would affoord a story and I am vnwilling to runne into the errour of fiction or miracle considering your best Cosmographers haue onely extended the relations of others
sterling his company was not aboue 2000. horse most of them Capogies and Chiauses in veluet gownes and rich saddlesâ—… should 〈◊〉 he went not farre because 200. Gimoglans carried his repast on foot in certaine delicate baskets couered ouer with rich handkerchifs after he was past I was admitted into his gally in which he came from his Caska a delicate banquetting-house without his Seralio close by the sea side to Porta del Fiume where hee tooke horse it was a roome of great riches yet small capacity set all ouer with inlayed worke of mother of pearle rubies opals emeralds and had the mettall beaten into thin plates layd countercompony which with the borders answered one another in gracefull proportion within this Cabinet as I may say no man comes but himselfe nor on horse-backe were any neere him by 60. foot except such as ran by him in their proper places or durst aduenture to deliuer petition vnto him which certaine Russians did complaining on the borderers of Bogdonia and daily excursions of the Rouers and Pirates of the blacke sea Amongst other entertainements the Ambassadour Sr. Thomas Glouer had seuerall times inuited the Bashaw of Tunis the Polish and Persian Ambassadours from whom I receiued an extraordinary description of all the well-deseruing vertues of our noble Queene Elizabeth as if that Maiesty alone had made all the East to wonder who before were neuer mooued with any businesses of Europe and with whom I went to Scideret a towne in Asia iust ouer the sea against the City in whose fields about Iuly before the great army of 200000. Turkes and Tartars were mustered by the way in the midst of the sea standeth a watch-tower as the guard of the passage into the blacke sea which in truth is a riuer of great pleasure for twenty miles to the blacke tower and Pompey's piller adorned on each side of the banke with delicate houses wherein both Turkes and Greekes pastime themselues in their haruest and vintages and sometimes retire in the raging of a plague yet was I in the great City when there died 80000. in fiue months but of all other things suppose themselues graced when the Gran Signieur will vouchsafe to visit them and extend his pleasure amongst them this tower is well guarded and erected in such a fashion that wee may dispute therof if an Iland how so small and not washed in peeces with the violence of some tempest if none how was twenty fathom deepe raised to a foundation within two mile more particularly called the vines of Pera the Greekes for seuen or eight daies resort in famelies to their gardens and solemnize their vintages with musike and dancing and although the countrey seemeth stony and hot yet vnder the skirt of the hils are mantling meddowes running in stripes yeelding hay and pasture for their greater cattle Beyond Constantinople Northward are the Iewes licensed to bury their dead and according to the greatnesse of the family and person set vp tents of watchet and crimsen satten and obserue a commendable order of mourning lamentation in their exequies The riuer runneth into the sea by the vines of Pera so that Galata neither standeth in Asia nor is an Iland but resembleth a spurre of fortification and is ioyned to the Continent of Thrace with an Istmus some fiueteene miles from the City those stately aquae ductus of which there be sixteene in seuerall places which feede the cesternes of Constantinople giue notice what men and money can doe For being the workes of pleasure and ostentation they are raised to a leuell from hill to hill and the water comming from open springs is as it were sent to be better secured within passages of stone mounted vpon arches 200. foot high and a thousand in length from whence it posteth with gladnesse to a delicate aboad of cesternes and fountaines which by diuers pipes vnder ground pay a continual tribute to the conduits of the great Citie The townes and villages of the countrey are disordered and the people line â—…luttishly on roots fruit garlicke onions gourds and such like For they sildome eat any flesh and if any good thing fall to their share as melions pomegranets almonds grapes figs and other delicates they raise what profit they can yea as beastly as it is they send their butter and cheese to Stanbole which with a loathsome shew openeth the Cow-hides it is put in and next the filthy haire glutteth a strangers stomach without tasting at all They cart and plow with Buffoloes yet haue oxen whom they feede to supply the markets and court as being proportioned out of their Sansacks end Timatriots to a weekely number About the end of Nouember was a comet seene in the West neere the Constellation of Andromeda and the plague continued without feare or repining to which was added a lasting fire of seuen dayes consuming almost 4000. houses and shaking the wals of diuers Bashawes houses the losse lighting vpon the already broken backes of the Iewes and some Grecians and the repining dispersed amongst the Turkes themselues who casting vp an vntoward catalogue of many accidents and summoning altogether with diuers reuolts but especially the rebels of Armenia and the distasting humours of the Sâ—…uano of Asia or if you will the Bashaw of Aleppo dared to whisper many things against the dignity of the Empire So that at this very instant the expectation of a change may embolden vs all if Christendome will acknowledge that there is one in heauen who disposeth of earthly kingdomes and the Princes could admit of some principall Iosua to conduct his brethren For without controuersie this swelling Monarch is now at the highest marke and must haue a cadence according to the reuolution of time and gouernments CHAP. VI. The Empire of AETHIOPIA THe sixt part of the worlds Honour spreadeth abroad the roiall mantel of Aethiopia or if you will Abisse vnder the command of Prester Iehan to whom at this houre are so many Nations and Cities obedient that for my owne part I want names to decipher them and concerning the Nauill of Africke few Europians I am sure haue seene the secret or searched how the compacted sinues are vnited yet was Meroe once the principall Citie and many famous things are recited by the Scriptures Pliny and Ptolemy in the description thereof as that in Hebrew it was called Chus for the blacknesse of the people dwelling betweene the two tropickes or else of Chus the sonne of Cham the sonne of Noe or Aetheria afterward Atlantia and last of all Aethiopia of Aethiope the sonne of Vulcane that they are now diuided into Arothertae Athaâ—…uii Daraticae Hesperij and Perorsi that Diodorus and Volacoranâ—… haue maintained how the originall of all Creatures first beganne in this Countrey and would extend Paradice to this place when GOD caused Adam to name them but these Philosophers not vnderstanding the truth inuented what they listed to please themselues as you may perceiue by Homers fictions that
and Turditanes betweene the Celtibrians and Iberians setled nations in Spaine to the deciding of whose controuersies Marrhable and Haldruball were called out of Carthage which both made a conquest of Spaine and proiected to clip the feathers of the Roman Aegle who now began to spread her wings ouer the best inhabited fields of the world That from this emulation Rome stood on a better guard and accounted these Africans a barbarous people in respect of themselues as foretold from the prophesie of Daniel and the Sibills of her strange establishment as Queene of the world and at last shared the plenty of Spaine for impatient of any aduenturers in that voyage the Carthaginians were expelled and the royall standard of Italy aduanced That time ouer-wearied with the insulting of perpetuitie at last incited the strange nations of Gothes Vandalls and Lombards to labour in the worke of the god of alteration who pull'd this country from all Emperors and Kings and made a fearefull diuision of the same keeping themselues warme in Spaine when all other countries failed That long after Count Iulian began a new worke as if he could haue powred downe vengeance on the author of his discontents For after Rodrigo had rauished his daughter hee called in the Mores a race of Mahumetans into Spaine to be reuenged on the King by whose assistance he not onely banished the Gothes and other people into Castile but kill'd the King vsurped the country altred the gouernment and so plaied their parts in Granado Valentia and Andolozia as if they were created of purpose to shew some wonder of heauen when dissolution of Kingdomes and punishment of offences is determined so that they quickly made their owne conditions and bound the countrey euer since to the ratifying of them infecting the best families of Spaine with paganisme whereby our moderne Kings weeding them out by litle and litle haue also attempted to purge their Churches of such filthines and when they could not preuaile by precept and authority of reason they erected the office of Inquisition to discouer who were addicted to the adoration of Mahomet and durst contest against the blessednes of saluation in IESVS CHRIST whereupon the Mores haue raised many innouations in the countrey euen the last yeere to the number of a million fraighted their hearts with treason and a burning desire to set on flame the wondrous compacted peace of Spaine Here is yet no great cause of amazement For thus were the children of Israel persecuted by the Aegiptians affrighted with the Philistims maligned by the Edomites subiected and made slaues to Babylon tormented and threatned by Syrians and Graecians and at last not onely subdued but subuerted by the Romans who of all other put the axe to the tree and at one stroke laid the same on the ground leauing the holy Citie desolate as a widow cast out as an orphan despised as a vagabond and punished worse than a traiterous rebell vntill the Mahumetans by way of curtesie ridd her of her paine at once and vtterly trampled her to peeces so that now to see the people dispersed without a law common-wealth or King to view the countrey like a barren wildernes to behold nothing but rapes and robberies where so many promises had bin made from heauen where such riches and maiestie flourished where such mightines and state increased and where all prosperity triumphed would leniat an adamantine heart and raise a crying voice from commiseration with Heu cadit in quenquam tantum scelus tanta iniquitas And thus much for example concerning the seuerall alterations of Spaines gouernment now to the rest of his ostentation The whole countrey retaineth still the antient diuision of Baeticam Lusitaniam and Tarraconensem and the memory of eight seuerall Kingdomes 1. Gallicia to which Asturia and Cantabria are connected 2. Nauarra the proper inheritance of the house of Burbon in France 3. Castiles a coople boasting both of antiquitie and excellency 4. Lusitania tother day Portugall but now incorporated with the rest into the house of Austria 5. Leon extinguished long since by the greater light of Arrogon 6. Arrogon laying claime to Naples and Ierusalem and so enlarging the King of Spaines titles 7. Valencia mourning for her corruption in religion and 8. Granado to which Andolozia or the countrey of Vandalls with the former Iland of Gades are vnited Amongst these Portugall did once boast of the conquest of India Aethiopia Persia and many other places especially Taprabona or the Iland of Saint Lawrence betweene whom and Great Britaine as I haue said before at this instant of all the Ilands in the world is comparison for circuit and spatiousnes of ground But shall we let them goe on with these vaine-glorious titles of conquest and victory when they are yet but poore possessors of some harbours and townes by the sea shore and stand on their guard with more terror to lose than euer they entertained comfort in getting them I I let them alone a gods name For quarrels arise from contradiction and there is no disputing with men resolued in the vaine promises of worldly deceit nor must you be incredulous when a Portugall shall report that these exploits were carried in the current of successe without the helpe of Spaine at all as though there was euer a distinction or rather separation betweene themselues and a Castilian yea they proceeded further as if there were an Antipathy in nature For they vsed to spit at the naming a Spaniard like simple people in England after the Deuill was pronounced But to the rest if you would truely vnderstand the cause of his pride and former elation of countenance you must then take notice that he detaineth all these Kingdoms within his owne Continent as a commanding Monarch and after many convulsions begged at fortunes hands the ratification of the Royalty stiling himselfe withall King of Naples Sicilia and Hierusalem the two former gouerning by Viceroies the latter claiming by inheritance as vnwilling to lose himsele or forget the glory of his auncestors wherein he pleadeth imitation For the Emperor writeth King of the Romans not once visiting of Italy the Denmarke King of England England of France and France of Nauarre then are the Ilands of Sardinia Corsica Maiorca and Minorca entred his booke of accounts to which if you adde the noble Duchie of Millane into whose demeanor Count Fuentes looketh with prying eies for his behalfe that the state of Genoa dependeth on his protection you will say ambition set him well on worke and as well rewarded him for his daies labour As for the Low Countries he would faine shew them as feathers belonging to his broken wings and taketh the house of Burgundie for his owne hoping that the Pope which can canonize a Saint will make the daughter of Spaine a Queene especially of her owne inheritance Thus liueth and ruleth he in Europe but all this were rather burthensome vnto him considering the barren hills and
sandy plaines of his countrey if you looke not one way into the shores of Affricke and another way ouer the bottomles Ocean and so examine the cause of his boasting indeede which is his store-houses of golden mines his conquest of many nations his reducing them to Christianity and his triumph in the fruition of possessed tranquillitie For America is almost his owne resembling a Peninsule and ioyned in the midst with an Istmus If you begin at the streights of Magellane they will tell you that Magellanus a Spaniard first explored the passage If you aske what was done a litle before an answer is ready that Americus Vesputius gaue name to this new world and Christophorus Columbus of Genoa about a 130 yeeres since searched her entrailes discouered her maladies and applied a Cataplasme to her most dangerous wounds which was irreligion and barbarous idolatry For although he found vnlookt-for glorious Cities and well compacted gouernments yet was he faine by strong hand to ouerthrow their idols and punish their obstinacy with cruelty The south shore or if you please the Continent on the left hand 10000 miles long called Psitacorum regio is questionles inhabited though vndiscouered and not fully descried The other Continent beyond the line inuites you to the view of strange nations whom we confound with the generall horror of Cannibals as men or rather monsters feeding on humane flesh Giants the land of Patagons and Amazons as supposed to flie hither when the Kings of Europe repined to see women the equall sharers of honour amongst them But for my owne part I rather suppose it the error of ignorant Cosmographers who when they cannot or dare not certainly deliniate a countrey then will they fill vp a place with monsters and formidable creatures both men women Thus haue they done with the interior parts of Africke and the remote countries of Mangia and the inhabitants of Taunis when God knowes all these places with the rest are possessed by men and of orderly proportion yea such men that though they be idolaters beleeue the immortality of the soule and care not to dye in hope of a better life therefore let the iudicious be perswaded that what hath not voice and reason is a beast or monster From hence neerer the line or more northward looking from the streights of Magellane you come into the golden kingdomes of Peru Brazill and Caribana and may be pleased with the streames of two mighty riuers De la Plata and Maragnon which by computation maketh a winding of 5000 mile and haue their shores stored with Cities and inhabitants of whom and which so many idle things are reported that though I am not incredulous as knowing what barbarous nations can afford yet doe I disclaime vnnecessary discourses because I haue further busines in hand and of better consequence A litle more remote toward the West beginneth the Istmus circumspected with the territories of Mexico Cusco and Themistian with many other Cities of such wealth and mightines that the people were slaine by thousands or rather millions ere they could sauour other obedience than idolatrous and sauage liberty On the other side toward the North looketh vp to heauen the new fashioned Ilands of Cuba Hispaniola S. Iohns and many others the further side of the land is as it were fringed with the countries of Virginia Terra Florida Noua Francia Norrembega and the fishing land I call it fringed because as yet we haue onely entred vpon the skirts of the same not daring further exploration and indeed not knowing what to doe with the rest much desiring the discouery of the north-west passage into India and resolued there is a way if successe would lead vs by the hand to preuent the tediousnes and the charge of going about by the south Cape Here you see is great cause of triumph For of all these he either challengeth the principality and confederation or ouer-looketh with such ielous eyes that they dare not start from his obedience and would not so many kingdomes so many nations and such power elate any Prince to assume extraordinary titles But as I said all this were vaporous smoake and the frothy breath of opinion if his treasuries at home were not yeerely supplied from the tribute of the Esterne Westerne mines abroad whereby he presumeth to yeeld more reason of his ostentation than Salomon himselfe For though Salomon did fetch gold from Ophir and that the pride of Ierusalem swelled with plenty when gold filled euery mans purse and siluer was as common as stones yet he made it a iourney of three yeeres and had no other cunning no other wisdome no other Philosophers stone than the industry of Merchants and confederation of the Kings of Tyrus and Sidon But the King of Spaine can make a yeerely returne or at least once in 16 moneths as vnderstanding himselfe thus farre that his Cities of Toledo Madrid Valiodolid Leon Barcelona Saragossa Valentia Cartagena Malaga Corduba Seuilla Lisbone Baione and the rest cannot maintaine their glories without them That the monastery and stately Palace of the Scurial could neither invite you to her magnificent structures nor supply necessities of life with prouision That the Garisons of Millane Naples Sicilia the townes of Africke the inheritance of Burgundy his owne Castles and frontiers townes with diuers other remote in many Prouinces would quickly decay and haue oftentimes mutined for want of money and their ordinary entertainment That the Ports and Harbours would be empty of shipping yea the ships themselues vnbuilt and vnfurnished that the countrey commodities might be vnuttered his souldiers disappointed his kingdomes many times famished and his glory vtterly eclipsed if there wanted but one returne of his treasure or that any disastrous encounter defeated or disappointed his Nauy And thus much for the seuerall principall Monarchs of the world as at this howre they looke vp to heauen with ouer-liberall titles and haue blowed opinion bigg with some seeming reasons and yet in comparison of true roialtie and happinesse absolute partiality CHAP. X. The description of ITALY as in times past WHereas you partly heard that the house of Austria obtaining the Empire euen with the Popes grudging did also intrude it selfe into the pleasant fields of Italy whereby the King of Spaine would haue his head empaled indeed with one of the Imperiall Diademmes of the world we will steppe thether and see with what fashion her countenance is made cheerefull and how her curtesie is prepared to entertaine vs. I will therefore desist from any former ampliation of absolute beginnings least I should wrong the labours of ther men and speake indeede their owne words more imperfectly onely I must somewhat abstrusely and abstractly to helpe your memory with some things that sauour of antiquity and shall assist your comparatiue bringing them face to face in these moderne times Vnderstand then that it was the first Countrey inhabited of Europe by Ianus or Iaphet the sonne of
Citie is large boasteth of Virgils birth the delicate streames of Po ouer which for all the swiftnes and bredth a gallery bridge transporteth both coach cart and horse and vnder which are preserued many courtly barges both for magnificent showes pleasure of the water in summer time and necessitie of the inhabitants at all times The eight prize of Italies lottery is proclaimed for the Dukedome of Parma connited to the house of Farnesius a Spaniard and signorising ouer Macentia and Mirandula not onely holdeth vp a stately countenance of three magnificent Cities famous for many alterations proud of well contriued ramparts boasting of hansome women and exposing an extraordinary profit from the vent of seuerall country merchandice but openeth the plentifull fields of increase and giueth cause of wonder for many temporary blessings The ninth proportion of this countries happinesse is distributed to the Duchie of Millanâ—… a principality in times past of such eminence that like a faire shining planet in a conspicuous orbe it once had a prerogatiue of title and goodnes ouer other Dukedomes and how euer the King of Spaine hath charged Count Fuentes to ouer-looke the Citie and countrey and Don Diego de Piemontel to superuise the Castle and Garison yet is the brauery of the place very litle abated nor doth the Nobleman shrinke vnder the burthen but carrieth his load lightly how euer his inward grones are breathed and lifteth vp a face of cheerefulnes as if he dranke wine and fed on oyle indeed according to the properties of either On the tenth rondell of Italies ladder is Genoa mounted a rich proud and sumptuous state yet much perplexed for their perfidious dealing with the French and now depending on Spanish protection hath a Duke by their constitution and placed or displaced according to the mightinesse of factions or fauour of the Clergy The Citie hath many buildings of eminent sumptuousnes and is not so filed in the rankes of reputation but that they iest it thus with the aire birdlesse the sea fishles the mountaines woodles the men respectles and the women graceles On the eleuenth seate of this Countries Councell-chamber hath residence the Prouince of Trent famous for a Generall Councell and lieth warme vnder the Alpes neighbouring Germany you may passe to it through the famous lakes of Lombardy De guarda and De Como from whence arise those swelling springs that fill the streaming riuer of Padus and strengthen the Citie like an Iland except it be toward the West where yet you shall behold a reasonable fortification and a well murited wall with ramparts and rauelings It is subiect to a Cardinall who like a Count Palatine taketh all iurisdiction vpon him and with the two mastring coorbes of the world praemium and poena gouerneth the sterne of this principalitie The twelfth place to make the iury the fuller is assigned to Piemont the flourishingst part of Sauoy as opening the gates of his chiefest palace and Citie Turine where a Citadell of Spanish Garisons taketh account of all passengers which come ouer the Alps it sendeth the riuer of Po through the countrey as farre as Ferrara into the Venetian Gulph and hauing many Knights of Malta within her walles is ready for their succour which way soeuer it chance and they againe for hers as reciprocally depending vpon one another and howeuer they are all ielous of the Spaniard they yet dare not breath it aloud but sure I am when I passed through Italy and that the Cardinals Aldabrandino and Caesario came with a treaty to haue the Prince of Piemont and his brother vnder the King of Spaines protection the Secretary was imprisoned by the Councell of State for vrging the matter in the King of Spaines behalfe so that there is probable suspition that the Sauoijen and Spaniard will not continue long friends for all their alliance it receiueth the customes of Merchants trauelling ouer the Alpes and maintaineth the office of Dacij and could be contented to haue either Millane or Naples annexed to his Coronet But if you will haue Sauoy flie with her owne wings you must hearken a litle after some antiquitie CHAP. XII The storie of SAVOY THE countrey of Sauoy is all mountanous euen from the fields and champaine of Lions to Mount Sinese the onely passage of the Alpes into Italy It is called Sinese quasi nunquam sine niue neuer without snow and is indeed a dangerous tedious and cold trauell euen in the midst of summer but Sauoy hath many other hills as Aguabelle and Agabellette and is euery way full of strange and vneuen iournies so that it shall not be amisse to deriue our discourse from the etymologie of the word which may serue to confront ignorance and enrich vs with the knowledge of things which is no great burthen but rather a happines according to the Poet Foelix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas You must then vnderstand that this strange and vnsauoury nation by reason of the streight and narrow waies to trauell in was euer subiect to theeues and being slenderly inhabited had not sufficiency to protect either themselues or passengers from the confused rages of men addicted to spoiles and murthers wherevpon it continued in the name and scandall of Maluoy the ill or mischeeuous way vntill a worthy aduenturer of the countrey attempted a reformation and shew'd these disordred people the strength of a more powerfull arme preuailing so farre that by his industry and fortune these enormities were not onely purged but the first causers remoued I meane the robbers and theeues were either slaughtred outright or publikely executed for a terrifying example and as a reward to his vertues the end of his labours had a quadruplicitie of blessings First the Emperor made him a DVKE gaue him part of Italy called now Piemont as if it would speake for it selfe that it is a countrey at the foote of the mountaine and inuested him with iura regalia not to be accountable to any Prince for his actions within his owne territories Secondly the countrey it selfe changed her title from Maluoy into Sauoy quasi salua via Thirdly these incredible mountaines erected houses entertained husbandmen and cattle and builded Chappels where a man would imagine an impossibilitie of footing Last of all it was stored with forts and castles in such a defensiue manner that some of them at this day rancke themselues in the highest forme of bulwarkes and and ramparts But I must not thus passe ouer their accounts nor vilipend their glory For they boast of antiquity of Kings as that Hanibal found Brunco disseised of his inheritance by his yonger brother and so rectified that discord That Bitultus or Bituitus another King was taken prisoner by Q. Fabius Maximus some 50. yeeres after Hanibals passage into Italy And that Cotius raigned in the time of Augustus the Emperour so that till the Goths and Vandals dissolued all gouernments of the West these countries remained firme
Rhodanus commeth a pace out of Burgundy it was once knowen by the name of Araris and telleth a true tale of an hundred seuerall townes dispersed on his streames and supported by his bankes The eleuenth booke of this noble countrey openeth the leaues of knowledge for Burgundy which was once a Kingdome as absolute as the King of France himselfe and is still a Dukedome and County graced with such royalties that by their owne prerogatiues they haue brought armies into the field and proclaimed the absolute freedomes of their gouernment yea in the latter times of contestation with France they held the dignity of a Parliament kept a full palace sequestred and instituted the noble order of knighthood called the golden Fleece some would annex the Dutchy of Barr vnto it which I thinke more properly belongs to Loraine and many Earledomes of estimation The petty riuers receiue augmentation from the springs of her fields and the swift Araris is sent into the sea from her mountaines Her cheefest cities are Digion and Austune maintaining regall tribunals exposing ostentous edifices boasting of great antiquity setting out the brauery of diuers monuments and palaces and supporting the necessities of many people The townes of the Dukedome would bee called Latornelle Rochpot Chalons Verdune Seure Argilly Sausieu and such like The townes of the County please the inhabitants with the titles of Iussy Gray Dole Besanson Quingay Salins Arboies Paligny Bouteuant Noseroy Vennes Chastillion and diuers others none of which but either boasteth of one excellency or other some for making salt some for fulling cloth some for spinning linnen some for mines and minerals some for excellent pastures some for vines some for cattle and all for good building plenty of Gentle-men and concourse of people The twelfth doore of this Countries enclosure is vnlocked for Loraine howeuer the Duke repineth that he is not a King with his ancestors and still protesteth he wil be as absolute within his own territories as an Emperor nay sometimes addeth the French King himselfe For louing both alike he will bee auxiliary to either and sometimes enemie to both as being such a Prince who aduanceth and diminisheth at his pleasure the Marquisate of Ponce the Earledoms of Vademont Verdune Blamont Demanche Marchen and diuers other coronets with the immunities of sundry Baronies all depending vpon his praemium poena The townes of this countrey are Metts famous for the Emperours siege and many warlike fortifications Nancy Voige Chaligy Vaudmont Dompair Rosiers Rumbelluillier and such like worthy description but as I sayd in the beginning I intend not to extenuate the endeauours of other men either in their trauels or commentaries nor tell any abrupt tales when such and so many famous Authors and Cosmographers speake so orderly and plainely Therefore I referre you thither for more ample discourses especially concerning such cities as I haue ouerpassed and yet flourish at this hower in seuerall countries it shall only suffice me to name the countries and principall places that I may prepare you the better to attend my comparison when I shall set out England to the sale with her ornaments of commendation indeed The thirteenth roome of the palace of France her Honour is appropriate to Callis and Boloigne maintaining the sea-shores ouer against Kent and the sweet breathing mouth of the Thames in England but in such emulation being so neere that either they complaine to be thus long disioynted from her gouernment or seeme offended that we euer possessed them and could keepe them no longer much of this countrey once belonged to Artoys and was diuided betweene the Emperour and France by way of composition But if you would know wherin and wherof it boasteth indeed it is for two famous Dukes of the same or if you will but Earles who by their valours and heroik endeauours obtained the noble Diadems of the world the one was Godfrey inuested King of Ierusalem and made like another Agamemnon Captaine Generall of the Christian army against the Saracens The other was Stephen sonne of Duke Williams daughter of Normandy raised to the dignity of England and maintaining the possession against Maud the Empresse and her sonne during his life The last part of this glorious Kingdome may include Vermond and Picardy whose principall townes are Guise La Fere Han St. Quintine Tornay Chatel Abeuile Amiens Auxi Peron and such like washed with the streames of the Some and Scaldis whose rivulets make the fields plentifull in corne and grasse although the inhabitants are not industrious in planting of vine-yards which I rather impute to the indisposition of the soile then their negligence Thus you see with what a glistring crowne the head of France is impaled in the chaire of Maiesty and may visit the palace of honour with more and better attendance of Princes Dukes Earles and Gentle-men then any absolute Monarch of the world yet because it hath some defects in meere matters of state according to the true prosperity of a countrey and that diuers deficiencies chance somewhat disgraciously vnto her like staines and spots to pure linnen I cannot yeeld her the pride of happinesse because you shall see in my next book of comparison wherin her fulnesse of glory is ecclipsed and how wee our selues enioy many prerogatiues before her CHAP. XV. The Description of the Low-Countries BEyond all euen to the sea which made a sea of their fields and townes lie the seuenteene Prouinces called the Low-Countries or Germania inferior For alas the name and title of Gallia Belgica is long since extinguished although as I sayd all the Countries on this side the Rhene toward France were reputed as France Of these I must vse a little ampliation because I cannot chuse but wonder how any Prince would neglect such a benefit as the peaceable possession of these places which for goodnesse greatnesse and wealth vnited with the loue of the inhabitants might haue exceeded Spaine it selfe as by their reuenewes multitude of people cities shipping traffique with all nations and home-bred commodities may appeare They are called Ditiones inferior is Germaniae diuided into Dukedomes Counties and Lordships and knowen by these Characters The Dukedomes Brabant Limburck Luzenburg and Gelderland The Counties Flanders Artoys Henault Holland Zeland Namurs and Zutphen which is but one principall towne and some small territories adiacent The Marquisate of the Empire The Lordships Freesland for you must take notice that East Freesland belongeth to a Prince of her owne and euer disclaimed to bee subiect either to Emperour or King and so holdeth vp a head of liberty accordingly Mechlin Vtrech Trans-Ysell and Groining In these are numbred 228. great townes murited with wals ramparts ditches warlike ports bridges and fortifications Besides their guards are continuall either of their owne Burgers or Souldiers lying in garison according to the proximity of the enemy importance of the place necessity of affaires or inconueniences of the time The villages or dorps are 6300.
mens Cosmography who tell you of Turwin and Tornay and those noble endeuours of Hen. 8. when the King of France claimed Artois and Flanders as well as Picardy The Prouince of Gelderland is altogether champaine yet intermingled with woods and stored with euery thing to satiate our desire especially if wee looke after plenty of corne and pasture which both stuffeth full their garners and fatteth their cattle insomuch that they bring them leane in great heards from the furthest part of Denmarke to receiue here as it were a more seemely forme It is visited with the three riuers of Rhene Mase and Whale it hath 22 walled townes attended on by the care and diligent seruice of 300 villages amongst whom Numegam is metropolis and indeed boasteth not onely of antiquitie but the royaltie of a King had not time worne out the shining brightnes of his Crowne or some boistrous hand pull'd the scepter out of his arme and shouldred him quite aside from his Throne or else it was as the Kings of Cities in Mesopotamia Reges à regendo when nine of them made battaile together and the preuailers spoiled Lot and tooke him prisoner Herein is also contained the country and Earledome of Zutphen and the delicate Iland of the Betto how euer Holland would challenge her of disobedience if shee should call another mother For Goricum Worchum and many other townes are reputed hers onely Arnham on the other banke of the Rhene with the sweet fields of the Vellwe will still belong vnto Gelderland and could tell you of a sconce builded ouer against it of another on the banke of Icell of another before Numegen where that valiant German Sir Martin Skinck lost his life and was tossed from graue to graue vntill a military ceremonie laid him in an honorable place of rest and of another at the point of the Iland diuiding the riuer into the Rhene and Whale which saies you can scarce shew such another and is proud of nothing more than her founder and title For it is called still Skinck sconce and could affright you with the relation of many strange designes and changes of military seruice as if the Armies chose these parts of the country to play at base in and as it were dance a mattachene in armour For I my selfe knew the leaguer one yeere in Gelderward within two mile of Eltam another yeere at Bommel a third at Berck a fourth in Cleueland c. It flourished vnder Otho the third Earle of Gelderland who walled in Ruremond Arnham Harderwick Bomell Gooch and Waggenhen and so held the title of a Countie vntill Rheinaldus the second whom for his valour iustice piety and other vertues the Emperor Lodwick lifted vp to the dignitie of a Duke in the presence of the Kings of England France and the Princes Electors 1339. Zeland is a new name and not read of in ancient histories as if a man should say a countrey compounded both of land and sea For it is euery where distinguished with Ilands which are environed with water and knowne by 15 seuerall names against whom the sea hath much preuailed and not long since with violent invndations swallowed 300 of their inhabited townes so that now you may saile by the steeples of Churches and not knowing the reason wonder to what purpose the Towres were so erected There remaine now three principall which are preserued against the rage of the Ocean with exceeding cost and powerfull industry namely Walcheren Schouen and South-Beueland and foure inferior Diuelant Tolen North-Beuelant and Woolfersdike which are graced with the prerogatiues of eight walled townes whereof six continue their Estates Deputies for the whole County Midelborough Flushing Camphere and Armenden which hath no voice although it cry out neuer so loud that it standeth with the rest in Walcheren In Schouen Sirexee and Bucers hauen which hath likewise no voice In South-Beueland which is the greatest and fertilest Iland the towne of Tergowse and in the land of Tolen the towne of Tertolen and Martins dike which hath also no voice These Ilands are preserued by the downes which be certaine bankes of sand cast vp with the tides and where there are no sands as toward the south the dikes are raised by the industry of man and proportioned with equall height to the rest all so rammed with mats casses of fagots 6 or 7 foote long that it not only performeth the effect of their securitie but seemeth an artificiall gracefulnes and being so neere England is worthy the ouer-viewing In times past the Marquis of La Vere and Flushing were onely at the Generall Councels of the countrey now the places are supplied with Deputies and new times haue giuen way vnto new orders For these inheritances and titles are incorporated in Prince MAVRICE of NASSAV and the Abbot of St Martins in the towne of Midlebourgh which at this instant is the Court of Zeland As for the Prince he is the seruitor of the States and can doe nothing absolute of himselfe without their direction And for the Abbot his name is extinguished with his superstition and the reformation of religion hath also reformed his very title and authoritie so that the Estates make the Democratia a princely gouernment and assume to themselues the power of life death controuling punishing rewarding and resolute ordering all their affaires except in cases of necessitie wherein there is no disputing nor interiecting any cause of imputation either of negligence or improuidence For so great Princes either diminish or augment their illustrious royaltie and Monarks whose pride at the first swelled ouer the banks of preuailing haue in one age bin left bare on the sands of an ebbing fortune The cheefest trade of the inhabitants is nauigation fishing and making salt yet within the land they imploy themselues to tillage and feeding of cattle The people doe so multiply and increase that they are compelled to inlarge their Townes as well for their owne inhabitants as frequentation of strangers who since the troubles of Antwerpe resort hither extraordinarily but if I should adde the brauery of fortifications I should do them no wrong nay I might augment their glory For Flushing is one of the strongest Townes of Europe and Midleborough so ramparted and guarded that a very militarie renowne is attributed vnto them and the Burgers themselues deserue well of all good reports The prouince of Holland is as it were a Peninsule circumuironed with water For the sea the Rhene and the meeting riuers open their doores in such a manner that you may goe as it were round about the house except in one corner toward Gelderland and although it containeth not in circuit aboue two hundred English mile yet lifteth vp the wals ramparts and warlike ports of thirty townes of such receipt wealth and shipping that the pride of Tyrus and Sidon exclaimed vpon by so many Prophets had not greater occasion of raging and oftentation howeuer they are yet blessed with
moderation and restraint of distempered actions The villages or dorps are foure hundred amongst whom the stately county of the Hague aduanceth her counteuance equall to a great city for their court retaineth some shew of princilnesse and the old palace maketh demonstration of those noble customes and hospitality which the ancient Earles in their former power maintained yet because it is vnwalled neighbouring a pretty parke of fallow Deere and inuiteth you to better retired places then the townes of hurliburly and continuall commerces accustome it is reputed a Dorp and seemeth much contented with her situation so remote from the forraine enemy of the State Harlem with her spaciousnesse is founded most delicately for as soone as you are entred the pleasure of a pretty wood inuiteth your abode where the Citizen in the dayes of pastime make their honest conuersation the strengthning of one anothers friendship Besides for bulwarkes harbours shipping capacity entercourse and noble meetings it challenged the precedency of all the towns of Holland howeuer Amsterdam hath got the start for riches marchants and nauigation yet hath Harlem a greater wall and better compacted buildings Dort or Dordrech some 150. yeeres since was made an Iland by the inundation of the sea which with vngentle violence at that time washed away whole fields of firme ground and like a barren vnsatiate wombe filled her paunch with aboue 200. villages It is a beautifull long towne and graced with the staple of Rhenish wine corne and timber brought in great strange and long boats called Punts which neuer goe backe againe but serue in these riuers as a receptacle of diuers families and many people who haue no other dwelling then on shipboord if you demand how they liue the voyage ended maintain their estates when the first businesse is determined They spin fish follow the league with prouision carry corne and turffe from towne to towne and are employed for the vse of bridges to transferre whole armies ouer riuers but to tell you that some of them are 160. foot long and haue three or foure diuisions or houses in one boat would raise a suspicion and peraduenture make you smile at the fiction but admire the truth Delft is so named of a ditch cut out betweene it and the Hague and is a sweet and pleasant towne although the inhabitants are emploied for the most part about brewing and spinning of wooll Leyden boasteth of her antiquity as deriuing her originall from the Legions of the Roman souldiers heere resident when the custome of warre and the coldnesse of winter did enforce them to garison and orderly sequestration it is now an Vniuersity beautified with walkes of pleasure and magnificence yet cannot wash away the imputation of many trayterous reuolts and vnconstant resolutions against the gouernment of the States Gouda is a populous towne vpon the riuer Isell yet could tell you of another of her owne name that runneth into the Ocean as if it made haste to tell you from whence it came Amsterdam besides the sea is visited by the gentle riuer Tia yet seemeth sory that she cannot be affoorded the sweetnesse of her waters and is so contriued as the channels of Venice which direct you by boat from house to house for shipping it is one of the most famous harbours in the world and hath such entercourse of Marchants and Saylors that I haue numbred 1000. ships of all sorts to goe out at one tide for buildings it equals the best and for orderly watches and fortifications the Burgers haue a blessed vniformity and glorious reputation Enchusen vpon the banke of the sea called the Zuidersea is famous for the building of ships which are heere yeerely built and orderly rigged Horne hath the same foundation and in May bringeth together such a faire of butter and cheese and in such incredible manner that almost all countries haue suppliment from thence Alcmar likewise maintaineth the dairy and encloseth such fields that a very few acres of ground raise a good farme Purmerndum boasteth of her first estimation by reason of the palace and delicate castle which belonged to Count Egmond was within her wals Edam hath great store of shipping and such kine that few oxen are larger besides heere is sowed so much hemp that most of the netting which either Holland or Zeland vse is heere made Sconhouen is a delicate towne and place of pleasure for indeed it is an attribute or significant name from the attracting delight of their gardens and hath a staple for Salmons Rotterdam a great city full of shipping yet rather boasteth of the birth of Erasmus Brill is a towne of defence and was once causionary to England in regard of great summes disbursed for the States but now of late by the Kings Maiesty resigned into the hands of the States Thus for strength fertility wealth and plenty of shipping Holland exceedeth any countrey in the world challenging no more circuit of ground as may be ghessed by the yeere 1587. when there was 600. ships arrested in the Sont by the King of Denmark and in 1588. it is well knowen that in very short warning they supplyed vs with an hundred men of warre as for Cales voyage the third part of that Nauie was theirs but if you looke further in the West and East-Indies in the hauens of Barbary and Affrick in the Arches and Constantinople in the Gulph of Venice and almost all the frequented places of the world the Hollander aduentures and is now a glorious Marchant and Mariner To conclude Holland Zeland and Freesland smile in the possession of 2500. good ships from 150. tun to 700. and although they haue no timber or at least very little growing for this purpose yet doe they yeerely set vpright 5. or 600. of one sort or other Of all in the States diuision the City and Lordship of Vtrech is principall as retaining an ancient Bishops See and shewing the ruines of a castle erected to suppresse the insolency of the inhabitants who in a pride of their owne greatnesse made a continuall sport of rebellion it is now vtterly defaced and the loyalties of their harts seeme more firme then the workes of mens hands assuring vs that so noble a citie and populous territories would yeeld a very ambitious Prince reasonable satisfaction if it might bee commanded by the authority of a Monarch and had the vnity of a well-ordered Common-wealth and Kingdome The Countrey of Freesland would require an ample discouery to extract her originall and relate her stories so would Cleeueland the land of Luke Munsterland and some others reputed Neuters that is neither maintaining the Spanyard in his military inuasion nor supporting the States in their iustifiable defences But I refer you to their own manyother cōmentaries content myself with a cursory trauell and what I can catch hold of by running touches It is diuided into two parts by the riuer Amisia which commeth downe by Embden East Freesland challenging
paths or if you will dangerous quagmires of their mountaines where a 100 shot shall rebate the hasty approch of 500 and a few muskets if they durst carry any well placed will stagger a pretty Armie not acquainted with the terror or vnpreuenting the mischeefe The Prouince of LEMSTER is more orderly than the rest as being reasonable well inhabited and hauing some forme of a Common-wealth so that I finde no mislike either for delight or profit but that the want of wood abridgeth their computation of happinesse yet questionles was the principall cause of our reducing them to ciuilitie and the place wherein we first setled many English families Some vnite and some diuide the kingdome of Meth from Lemster and make it a Prouince of it selfe containing East-Meth West-Meth and Longford wherein O Roorck is resident supposing himselfe the greatest Gentleman in the world yea contesting many times with Oneal how euer with much adoe he afforded him precedencie The countrey is very fruitfull and pleasant not so mountanous but ill inhabited For the warres and their owne bestialitie haue not onely made a separation of all good order but euen terrified both beast and fowle from commorance amongst them in many places The Prouince of MVNSTER hath some Townes well aduanced by the sea coasts and many excellent harbours wherein Ireland may boast ouer all the countries of Europe The grounds adiacent are very fertile and in many places afford cause of ostentation but more inward they are very barren and mountanous full of boggs wood and other remote places whose fastnes hath incited the people to ouer-great presumption yet because of the spatiousnes with men desiring good order it might be reduced and reformed as enioying plentifull and sweet riuers full of fish and some of sufficient depth to transport reasonable boates into the land The Prouince of CONACH is diuided from the rest by a goodly riuer called the Shanon being as I take it the greatest of any Iland in the world For it fetcheth a course of 200 mile and filleth his channell along the shores of Longford Meths Ormond Limrick and Kerry yet serueth them in no great stead For their shipping commeth no further than Limrick where it is fiue mile broad fresh water and 60 mile from the maine sea from thence small cotts as they tearme their boates carry their wood turff fish and other commodities but for fish as Salmon Breame Pike and diuers other sorts I shall not be beleeued to relate the numbers and hugenes by such as are enemies to obseruation or the beleefe of the blessings of other countries Within 20 mile of Limrick as I take it a litle beyond the praecinct of Caher-Castle a strange rock hath taken her lodging euen crosse the riuer and filleth the roome in such a manner that almost the nauigation is hindred thereby but what cannot men and money doe and why should not these idle people be industriously imployed to remoue the same so free the passage to Athlone As for an obiection of impossiblitie the iudgement of men hath yeelded to suruey and many examples haue confirmed the effects of more laborious attempts The south part namely Tomond for by reason of the riuers interposing it selfe I see no reason why it should be disiointed from Conach with Galloway and Clenricard is very stonie full of marble alablaster and iett and hath better order both for number and good building in their Castles than other parts of Ireland The north from Athlone to the Abbey of Aboile and so beyond the Curlewes as farre as Slego is of excellent temperature and goodnesse These Curlewes are mountaines full of dangerous passages especially when the Kern take a stomach and a pride to enter into action as they terme their rebellion and tumultuary insurrections On the other side the County of Maio consorteth with the pleasingest place in the Kingdome by whose beaten banks lye those famous Ilands of life of whom a ridiculous tale is fathered that nothing dies in them so that when the inhabitants grow old they are caried else where which custome they haue of late superstitiously obserued both in these Ilands of Aran and some other adioyning of the same condition as they suppose The Prouince of VLSTER and called the North is very large and withall mountanous full of great Loughs of fresh water except Lough Cone which ebbeth and floweth as the Sea shouldreth aside the streites at Strangford and with that violence at the ebb that a ship vnder saile with a reasonable gale of winde cannot enter against the tide These lakes nature hath appointed in steed of riuers and stored with fish especially Trowt and Pike of such strange proportion that if I should tell you of a Trowt taken vp in Tyrone 46 inches long and presented to the L Montioy then Deputie you would demand whether I was oculatus testis and I answer I eat my part of it and as I take it both my L Dauers and Sir William Goodolphin were at the table and worthy Sir Iosias Bodley hath the portraiture depicted in plano Here are no Townes or at least very few but diuers Castles dispersed and the inhabitants remoue their cabbins as their cattle change pasture somewhat like the Tartarians except in times of warre and troubles then doe they retire vnder the couett of Castles and order their houses wonde with rods and couered with turffs as well as they can bringing their cattle euen within their houses lying altogether in one roome both to preuent robberies of Kern and spoile by Wolues Amongst these euery country is subiect to the Law Tanist which is he which is best able to maintaine the reputation of their familie is the great O and commander Through the Kingdome generally the winter is neither so cold nor the summer so hot as in England by reason whereof Haruest is very late and in the North wheat will not quickly ripen nor haue they acornes once in a dozen yeere their principall corne is oates which are commonly burnt out of the straw and then trod from the husks with mens feete of this they make their bread in cakes being first grownd by calliots and drudges very naked and beastly sitting on the ground with the mill like our mustard quernes betweene their legs and then vpon broad yron presses they bake the meale when it is kneaded which custome the best obserue in Munster with their cheefest corne The continuall showers and mists make the countrey more dangerous to our Nation debarring the absolute assurance of wholesome aire and the consequent health seldome any frost continues or snow lieth long but on the mountaines in which are great store of Deere both red fallow The abundance of Wolues compels them to house their cattle in the bawnes of their Castles where all the winter nights they stand vp to the bellies in durt another reason is to preuent theeues and false-harted brethren who haue spies abroad will come 30 mile
some good customes though farre short of our example all which in in this Chapter shall be for diuers reasons enlarged You must then consider that euery second or third yeare his Officers range ouer all his kingdomes and territories for slaues Moores and Eunuchs but especially for the beautifullest and handsommest children they can finde being all the sonnes and daughters of Christians who accordingly are brought into his seuerall Seralios by 20. and 30000. at a time and there from their infancy instructed in the Law of Mahomet circumcised and disposed of without knowledge of parents friends or countrey except some Eunuch or Keeper out of meere commiseration discouer the same so that all his Concubines Wiues Officers and souldiers are the off-springs of Christians depending immediately on the Princes Exchequer and pensions not acknowledging other God other law other religion other King other Benefactor or other life except in the story of George Castriot who rebelled against him after he knew his father was a Christian and King of Epirus which we may briefly runne ouer thus When Amurath the 2. had conquered Epirus with many other places of Seruia Bulgaria and Albania he tooke prisoners with him to Adrinopolis the King and fiue of his sonnes whom he tormented most barbarously vpon some distasting reply of the old Prince by putting out their eyes and at last strangling them except the youngest named George whom he so fancied in his infancie that he presently circumcised him instructed him in the Law of Mahomet and kept him secure in his owne pallace vntill a mighty Champion of Persia made a challenge to fight with any Turke for the honour of both Empires hand to hand starknaked and with single Semiters wherein as the motiue might be honourable enough so the manner seemed ridiculous yet so formidable that for three daies together he insulted round about the Court without a daring answerer or any man who durst take the matter in hand at last this George Castriot out of some diuine inspiration and generous spirit stepped foorth in the presence of the Emperour not fully 18. yeere old and without procrastinating the matter stripped himselfe before them and made them as much amazed at the beautifulnesâ—… and comelinesse of his person as greatnesse of courage and shaking his sharp and glistring curtelax triumphantly ouer his head approached the Persian who by this time was prepared to the encounter and in lesse then one quarter of an houres trauersing the ground closed with him wrastled with him stradled ouer him like a Colossus after hee had layd him on his backe and strucke off his head for which hee was presently embraced in his sweat by the great Emperour inuested with a robe of honour proclaimed by the sound of a trumpet Scanderbeg quasi Alexander Magnus and aduanced to the dignity of Generall of the army Therfore I wonder at their ignorance or slender enformation which haue published in print that it was a name of scorne and derision when we neuer read of so famous an action and so high a recompence wherein hee proceeded more and more with loue of the army and regard of the Prince till indeed an Eunuch rauished with his worthinesse discouered what he was and opened at large his fathers story vnto him whereat hee startled as it were confounded and neuer desisted till he had perswaded the army to reuolt and so obtained his Kingdome making war against the Turke seuenteene yeere together as in the larger stories may appeare But to the businesse in hand The naturall Turke they call Muscellman and he seldom comes to preferment but liues as a trades-man in cities husbandman in the countrey or mariner at sea yet for the most part are all your gally-slaues Christians and ouerlooked by the cruell eyes of hard-hearted masters the rest cast vp their account in this manner At the beginning they are called Gimoglanes or Azamoglanes resembling poore hospitall-boyes doing all manner of drudgery both in court the houses of Bashawes and are known by a plaine habit and strange hat on their head which is a felt like a suger-loafe of a maiden-haire colour The second degree is of Ianizaries whose Haga or Captaine is a most honourable though dangerous place Of these be two sorts of the court limited in their numbers and at large without restraint as alwaies mustred for chiefe souldiers in the army yea as a man may say the principall beame of the whole Empires frame For from their suffrages and obedience the Gran Signeur is confirmed from their repinings disorders are multiplied from their partiality a sonne deposeth a father and from their mutinies confusion riseth and like a swelling sea casteth downe the bankes of all gouernment The third sort are Capogies employed as porters of gates purseuants on errands attenders on the Viceers as they sit at meat in their great Dowana's which be open hals trauersed as occasion shall serue with Persian hangings and sometimes trusted with secret murthers and such like dangerous businesse The fourth place is appropriate to the Spahyes who are inferiour horse-men with high fethers in their strange fashioned hats somewhat more glorious then the Ianizaries their arming as also the Ianizary keepes some correspondency with the Persian On foot either bow and arrowes and a semiter or hargabush and a semiter on horse-backe the very same with addition of a shield made of sinewes or the barke of an Indian tree cast behinde at their backs with addition of a pollax hatchet or iron mace which are made like scepters but for the most part none presumes to weare them vnder the degree of a Chiaus who haue them in the city of siluer for shew and of steele for execution The fift roome is supplyed by the Chiaus a degree of honourable eminence and may ranke with our Barons For they ride in veluet gownes siluer-plated saddles costly stirrups and rich turbanes with these I may almost equall the Captaines of castles forts frontire townes bands of foot cornets of horse and such like Commanders known by the name of Haga's Heere also though hee seeme to step a little higher may be seated the Cady who is a Iudge or Magistrate ouer criminall causes ouer whom there is one principall called Cadeleskier as our Lord cheefe Iustice in some places they haue also Sub-Bashawes according to his Sansacks Trimatriots or countrey diuisions either for maintaining his armies or prouision ouer his cities Then may you name with a little better reputation the Treasurer called Testerdy ouerseer of customes which is an office farmed by the Iewes his Chancellor Doctours of the Law and such like On the sixt step ofhonour is the Bashaw lifted vp who is a principall Viceroy or at least hath beene ouer Kingdomes and Countries such as Arabia Aegypt Tauris Tunis and diuers others both in Asia Affricke and Europe and according to the dignity and maiesty of the place called Beglerbeg these are euery three yeeres
altar was odious vnto them and vntill his later falling away from God which was reuenged with the falling away of 10. Tribes from his sonne there was no mention made of idolatry and the very sound was a harsh kinde of discord In Muscouia they are both ignorantly superstitious and ambitiously affected to superiority for although in that poore knowledge they haue they euer depended vpon the authority of the Greeke Church as by their Saints may appeare which be Saint George Demetrius and Nicholay to whom is consecrated one of the richest Abbies of the world yet haue they presumed in the assumpting the same to themselues boasting of a bargaine by commutation wherein the Patriarch of Constantinople was contented to resigne to the Metropolitane of Mosco all his authority and supremacy for a great summe of gold But see the iust iudgement of God as he returned into Greece he was robbed of the same and most treacherously murthered Thus yet doe they presume of the glory of the Church amongst them and in Russia thinke it sufficient to cry out IESV thou sonne of God as for the Scriptures in some places they haue the Greeke Testament onely and heare of the Bible a farre off For preaching or interpreting they know not what it meanes and the common people beleeue any thing their Priests tell them allowing of nothing but some ridiculous ceremonies strange fasts and idle feasts Concerning their Princes oh how farre are they from the reciprocall duties between themselues and subiects and those excellent prescriptions which Samuel prescribed to Saul and Salomon practised to his eternall honour For such hath beene the confused and disordred intrusion of these Emperours that they haue without care of posterity conscience or the Common-wealth shouldred one another from their thrones by treasons murthers deuises and publique hostility For euer since that old Iuan Vasellowich grew odious to his subiects horrible stratagemmes haue succeeded and euen Poland like a neighbour hath feared the burning of his owne house when the next hath beene on a blaze especially in the vsurpation of Borris Pheordiwich who to aspire to the dignity made away Demetrius the second sonne to Vasellowich and so from other monstrous effects of policy obtained the Diadem wherein at the first by his bounty and worthy promising demeanor he in a manner blotted out the print of his former vniust proceedings and taught them as it were away to forget the wrongs done to their lawfull Princes till at last growing odious to the subiect a new search was made and a further hurliburly about another Emperor confounded all estates and for many yeeres hath turmoiled the Countrey round about Concerning the gouernment there is onely some forme of iustice punishing of adultery but so far from Salomons magnificense Salomons pallace Salomons prouision Salomons nauy Salomons Nobles Salomons tranquillity and peace and Salomons worthines in euery thing that I am ashamed to name them for Christians For the common people though they lie not with other mens wiues yet they change their owne as often as they list and howeuer the better sorte mainetaine many wiues yet doe they practise nothing more then gurmondize and incontinency with Strumpets and Concubines whom they resorte vnto in certaine stoues or hot houses as the hotter Countries haue Balnea's and washing places Concerning their Citties in a word both their Citties and townes are subiect to such bestialitie and confusion that they seeme rather so many smoakie cotages and Irish cabbines then hansome dwellings or conuenient places of aboad and in Mosco it selfe for all her populousnesse and large extension of ground there is not any thing worthy the admiration or imitation more then the markets of furres and some rich ornaments of the skinnes of beasts as for the Citizens or Countreymen I rather resemble them to some scattered troupes of a discomfited army then men orderly disposed to the managing affaires either for mutuall commerce or noble trade of Merchants And thus could I runne ouer all other particulars but that I shall ouer-runne my owne discourse considering there is nothing but a meere disparity betweene them and our example CHAP. X. AETHIOPIA compared AS the distempered climate of cold and vnseasonable weather seemed a barre of separation betweene Muscouia and hansome Prosperity or true happinesse of a kingdome so is orderly plenty and necessary prouision affrighted to come neere Aethiopia least the scorching heate and burning sunne should consume the same and not only turne their corne into cinders but stifle their cattle for want of water sending them braying as the Hart to the riuers vp and downe after refreshing springs For although Aegipt hath bin counted the garner of corne and that the watrey Nilus hath dispersed her rivulets ouer many Countries yea comming out of Aethiopia hath taken along sundry swelling fountaines to accompany her into the Mediterranean sea so that diuers Historiographers haue numbred 6000. Citties on the bankes of the same and boasted of the glory of their Emperors and mightinesse of their armies yet not once speaking of the barrennesse of the rest could any of these places take vpon them any glorious exaltation of a well compacted Common-wealth or terrestriall happinesse of a Nation For you may read that when it flourished in the height of prosperity as when there was a generall famine in many Countries there was corne in Aegipt Saba the Queene of Aethiopia came to visit Salomon in his roialty and went away with admiration when she saw the difference betweene her owne Countrey and the blessednesse of Iudea so that the particular relation of the Court and gouernment was occasioned from this Empresses willingnes to be instructed and desire to gratifie the King for his extraordinary magnificense and administration of the Common-wealth whereby I am not incredulous of their information that report how that many times the Parents sell their children to Merchants for corne and at all times send the people to the market for slaues which are bought vp at easie rates and dispersed ouer the world nor will I much contradict their opinion that haue fashioned their Common-wealth out of an vnfashionable gouernment without law terrour of disobedience ciuill institution orderly precepts and sociable louing of one another For since they marched vnder the colours of Christianity it hath not beene much better and except it be such as are borne vnder the same Climate no man of a temperate Countrey can liue amongst them Their manners and customes I haue partly described and could here adde that howeuer they boast of their antiquity as being the first Countrey inhabited by Chus the sonne of Cham which in the Hebrew tongue signifieth blacke and that afterward they changed their name from the sonne of Vulcane I cannot finde either any setled gouernment or state worthy the imitation or noble enterprises befitting a story or slender praise Howeuer they are commended for the first acknowledging a diuine power and entertaining a religious Priesthood and
France both cities and townes with their inhabitants and Merchants are vnfashionable sluttish dangerous rebellious and the people neither of wealth nor eminence In Paris they dare talke of a Kings wantonnesse entermeddle with tractates of Parliament and State call any Prince Hugonet that onely saies the Nostre Dame is but a darke melancholly Church and iustifie very monstrous and abusiue actions Besides to tell of their inconstant and refractary dispositions would be too tedious and sooner discouer their loathsome treasons then preuent the customary and mischeeuous practises of the people The peace of Salomon caused plenty and that spred it selfe ouer all Israel like a shady tree which as a double shelter kept backe the cold of winter and tempered the burning heate of summer so that it is apparant with the Kings magnificense at Court the husbandmans peace and wealth in the Countrey was enlarged whereupon most of them were Berzalites and would go no further then ouer Iordan with Dauid but rerurne to their owne houshold sit vnder their owne figg-trees and bee gathered together into the graues of their ancestours But France knowes not now what to say For the Court is a meere mapp of confusion and exposeth many actions more ridiculous then worthy imitation as for the Countrey-man hee is called a Pesant disparaged in his drudgery and seruile toylsomnesse liueth poore and beastly is treacherous at aduantage and yet afrayd of his owne shadow and cannot free the vineyards from theeues and destroyers yea all the countrey swarmeth with rogues and vagabonds whose desperate wants driue them to perpetrate many horrible murthers although for the most part the Prouosts of euery diuision are very diligent The wisdome of Salomon setled his cities that strangers were admitted at all times except in frontire townes which peraduenture were guarded in the night according to martiall discipline prouided that the passages were easie and secure admitted of all complainants and leuiated their greeuances aduanced himselfe on a golden throne to entertaine matters of Iustice allowed of the Prophets who yet out of zeale cryed out against the abuses of the Temple and Palace and commanded the subiect first to remember his duty to God then his obedience to the Prince and last of all his loue to his neighbour and this hee performed by admonitory preceps to enstruct the ignorant and princely indignation to punish the obstinate France referreth all to Parliaments and Presidents excludeth the reformed Churches out of the walls of the cities hath the name of Prophet in derision suffered the Iesuites to murther two famous Princes permitteth them still a Sanctuary and from worldly policy excludeth true religion out of doores In France the passages are toylesome and disordered dangerous for extraordinary robberies and vnder officers shuffle vp diuers times most notorious abuses To conclude in France many particulars choak the breath of happinesse from giuing life to a glorious Kingdome indeede if the reciprocall duties betweene Prince and subiect were but easily extended so that with these defects I cannot chuse but exempt her from sitting on any hand of Salomons throne Whither shall wee then goe to match our example or at least to come so neere that a ciuill censurer will neither flatter nor detract you know my first purpose and I now determine to lead you into the sweet and orderly fields of England CHAP. XV. ENGLAND compared with the probable reasons why she is neerer the example of CANAANS happinesse then any other nation WIthout preface or circumloquution you shall finde the Kingdome of England in geographicall dimension equall to the country of Canaan and the people praysing of God in regard of their great and extraordinary blessings For begin where you will wee shall come so neere the comparison as a close order in ranging a battalion Concerning the generall view of the same did you euer heare or read of any so well diuided into shires and hundreds with Lords Lieutenants Sheriffs Iustices and other inferiour officers insomuch that it hath layd an imposition on the endeauours of a principall scholler and hee according to the secret of satisfaction hath most worthily vnclasped the records of antiquity and with such sufficient ampliation that our aduersaries haue beene silent in excepting against it But to my first purpose I say that to match all the particulars wherwith I haue stored Salomons magnificence and the countries prosperity there is not at this houre any Kingdome in the world so ready apt or worthy to take him by the hand to pace out the measures of true glory and happinesse as the Kingdome of England Concerning our glory abroad what worthy voyages haue we made I hope no people or nation euer equalled vs witnesse Sr. Iohn Mandeuill into India by land Stafford ouer Europe much about the same time Ienkinson Willoughby Borogh and many others into Russia and Muscouia Forbisher and Hawkins to discouer the northerne passages the Fenners Ralph Lane Iohn Clarke and diuers into America another voyage where of Sr. Walter Raleigh was the proposer our setling in Virginia our traffique to the West Indies Brasill Peru Caribana and Guiana Captaine Drake round about the world twice or thrice Thomas Candish the like our trauels to the East Indies or Philippines the Earle of Cumberlands worthy voyages amongst others that to Santo Port-Ricco the Portugall voyage Cales voyage the Iland voyage and sundry others as in Master Hackluits booke about this subiect only Besides moderne trauellers both of Noble-men Gentle-men although euery man is not a free Denizon of prosperities Kingdom nor can boast of natures bounty in the gifts of vnderstanding or fortunes liberality in disposing her treasures If you would see how our marchants are bestowed look into all the Ports of the world you shall find them setled our shipping in harbour If you could view all the countries of the earth where men dare or can come we are nobly dispersed I beleeue might be pull'd out of the center of the same if such a passage did euer excite man to explore for secrets marchandize or wealth If you were admitted into the remotest palaces of Emperours Kings yea Tartary it selfe English-men would salute you and speak your owne language and if you haue a purpose to affright idlenesse with any enterprize in the world especially to make them beleeue that the hand of profit will fill their laps with plenty English-men dare set endeauours on their best feet and can tell how to tumble all blockes and hindrances aside which may either terrefie them from such enterprizes or detaine them from the glory of the actions only heere lies a secret of traducing them that a supposition of the wants of others or feare of cumbersomnesse when they meet with an indigent countrey-man abroad hath debarred free conuersation and doth make the mutuall supplying the necessity of strangers a harsh-kinde of welcome yea an absolute leauing them to misery if they haue not bills of exchange or letters of
aduanceth or deiecteth can attend the good houre and begge all such graces as a Princes fauour distributeth to the subiect yet haue I read of a King in England who importuned by a Yeoman to be made a Gentleman answered hee could enoble him with knighthood or the title of a Baron but not confirme him a Gentleman because true gentry had another manner of lustre from the raies of vertue and honour in a continuall discent of Auncestors illuminated from the sunne of worthy actions either in military profession or administration of ciuill gouernment But thus liueth our Countreyman by what name or title soeuer onely we were wont to interpose this difference betweene Yeoman Francklin or Farmer that the Yeoman was a landed man either Freeholder or coppieholder the Farmer onely hired another mans land paying a fine or rent and so growing rich had the denomination of the other and did not in times past murmure though you called him Good-husband or expert Plow-man yet call him what you will he is in some Countries able to lodge you richly set a peece of plate on the cupbord fiue or six dishes of meate on the Table sweete and fine linning on your bed cheerefully to welcome you and is so cunning besides that he can tell his Lawyer a formall tale and complaine to the Iustice if a farre better man doe him wrong and in this who can come neere vs CHAP. XXV Another excellencie of ENGLAND consisteth in the goodnes of our Nauy and shipping I Hope I shall now passe without contradiction especially when I bring you forward to our ports harbours and riuers shewing you the glory of our shipping whether you esteeme them as the Kings and onely purposed for magnificence state and occasion of warre or the Marchants for exploration of countries plantation of Colonies bringing in of commodities enriching of our Kingdoms and yet withall defending our selues or both together for noble actions memorable voyages extraordinary encounters and ceremonious brauery wherein wee haue bin so priuiledged that from the memorable fame of Edward the third to this instant we neuer met enemy but preuailed vpon equall termes yea great odds and when we had misfortunes it was as Sampsons death amongst the Philistims who pulld downe the Temple on their heads and slew more at that instant than in his former enterprises witnes many nauall battailes wherein what losse soeuer we susteined the aduersarie had double and treble euen when about the fourth yeere of Hen 8. the Nauies of England and France met at Britaines Bay and we lost the Regent of England wherein Sir Thomas Kneuet was Captaine with 700 men yet did they endure the wreck of many ships especially the French Carick called then the wonder of Europe in which Sir Piers Morgan with a 1100 men perished as also when Sir Richard Greenueild within our memory miscaried by a meere disastrous chance although I might honestly excuse it by ouer-great aduantage of both ships and gallies yet as they themselues haue confessed they had no great cause to boast or let any vaine-glorious insulting runne at random But how wee haue preuailed indeed let these few instances suffice About the 14 of Edw 3. the King gathered a Nauy of 200 saile against the French who in those daies were coadiuted with Flanders as a Peere of France wherein though he was mightily ouer-matched with numbers yet preuailed he in execution and had so triumphant a victorie that their owne account numbred 30000 men slaine 200 ships surprized and taken and the rest put to an ignominious flight The 20 yeere hee went into Normandy dismantled her Townes spoiled Cane and as a messenger of reuenge brought fire into the Harbours vntill the ships were consumed and set on a blase Anno 24 he encountred the power of Spaine and vnplumed their fethers of ostentation by taking 28 great ships and making the rest vnseruiceable Anno 33 he sailed into Picardy and so preuailed that the sea yeelded him safe passage and all Burgundy safe conduct Anno 41 with a memorable victory both at sea and land did the blacke Prince resettle Peter of Spaine and in despight of all the sea forces or other warlike opposition passed and repassed at pleasure In the time of Rich 2. about the 10 yeere the Duke of Lancaster sailed into Spaine but how glorious that victory was on our side and how surmounting our Nauie before theirs the wonderfull successe attested and their owne inventories record the losse with lamentable Items The next yeere following Richard Earle of Arundell and Thomas Earle of Notingham encountred at sea with an infinite number of Flemmings but victory is in the hands of God and multitudes of men faile in their ostentation For in that maritime contention were taken a 100 ships and better the successe filling our Cities with commodities and our mouthes with praises and thanksgiuing In the 5 of Henr 4 when the French came to the I le of Wight and assailed Dartmouth with a great Nauy the rusticall people preuailed against them and manning out but the fisher-boats of the country with certaine Pinaces attending the seruice tooke 16 of their best ships and compulsed the rest to be the messengers of their owne obloquy The 3. of Hen 5. was a yeere of triumph and a 1000 saile of ships filled the narrow seas cleared the passage into Normandy amased all men who had notice of our brauery and reioyced the rest of Europe with Encomians of our successe which followed presently in France In the 15 of Edw 4. it pleased the King to passe ouer to the aide of the Duke of Burgundy but howeuer his inconstancie proued vnsauory to vs at land it matters not I am sure the seas gaue vs way nor durst their Nauy presume to intercept vs. In the 5. of Hen 8. the former encounter which I named at Britaines bay was a day of terror and we tooke burnt and spoiled as many as we mustred out of harbour The next yeere threatning Turwin and Turnay our Nauy carying all afore it like a swelling riuer beating downe the slender banks there scarce appeared an opposite for the former losses were so great that they halted downe-right in their recouery and France once lamed in her shipping cannot euery yeere bring a new Nauy into the channell with good equipage or aduantage The 14 yeere the Earle of Surrey was Admirall and not onely preuailed in all encounters at sea but by vertue of our shipping conquered diuers townes both in Britaine and Picardy The 15. the Duke of Suffolke was sent into France with an army of 30000 who passed the seas yea the water of Some without battaile and so terrified the French with all their coadiutors at that time for you must vnderstand in those repining and murmuring daies against our glory France Spaine the Low-Countries and Scotland were either confederate or entertained for wages so that almost all the mercenary shipping of Europe attended on the payment of the