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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
country_n	call_v	great_a	inhabit_v	1,448	5	9.6227	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A20492	The surueye of the vvorld, or situation of the earth, so muche as is inhabited Comprysing briefely the generall partes thereof, with the names both new and olde, of the principal countries, kingdoms, peoples, cities, towns, portes, promontories, hils, woods, mountains, valleyes, riuers and fountains therin conteyned. Also of seas, with their clyffes, reaches, turnings, elbows, quicksands, rocks, flattes, shelues and shoares. A work very necessary and delectable for students of geographie, saylers, and others. First vvritten in Greeke by Dionise Alexandrine, and novv englished by Thomas Twine, Gentl.; Orbis terrae descriptio. English	Dionysius, Periegetes.; Twyne, Thomas, 1543-1613.	1572 (1572)	STC 6901; ESTC S112016	35,765	93

often breaketh ▪ forthe secretely and discouereth firste of al the Sea whiche the Mariners call Pharium reaching to to the furthest pointe of the hill Casius next Sidoniū which stretching forth by North and East into the mayne lande and wetting the countrie Issica nowe ●aiassa is called Issicum And thence running not muche further turneth nygh Sicile so resteth Then running forth a shosh northerly windeth it selfe like a Serpent and making many elbows at lengthe ●●ydeth by the coaste of Pamphilia ▪ But when it is approched the Chelidone Ilandes it taketh part of the west and bringeth to viewe the top of Patareis a far off Agayne towardes the north it maketh the Sea Agaeum nowe Arch●pe●ago Whose broken course by reason of many Ilandes in it causeth such roaring and raging of the water that it is thought there is no Sea more troublous nor more dangerous nor that rayseth more noyse frō the botom From thence it goeth to Tenodus and there as it were maketh an ende béeing as who saye ashamed of his accustomed wydenesse and forgetting hys wonted fiercenesse kéepeth with in a narrowe channell and gyneth a newe shewe and so obtayneth a newe name For neyther is it longer called Aegeum neyther Pamphilicum neyther Cilicum but a certayne narrow Sea vntyll it come to the mouthe Bosphorus in Thracia nowe el far de Constantinopoli where as report goeth Io harlotte too Iupiter when shée was transfourmed into an Heckfer by Iunos aduise swamme crosse the water wherefore it was called Bosphorum mare that is to witte the Sea where ouer the yong Cowe was caryed But so soone as it falleth into that narrowe channell running a little towarde the Northe at length breaketh forthe into the continente as far as Propontis neare which many kingdomes of Asie doe lye héere and there within the lande and bendeth to the Southe butting foorthe in length and bredth lykest an Isthmus But when it is come too Bosphorus it gathereth it selfe togyther in a narrowe fourme and maketh the narrowest Sea of all In the which is to bée séene a straunge sighte Certayne greate rockes swimming vppon the toppe of the water whych when they méete cause a great and terrible noyse thence running foorth towardes the East anone groweth into a great Sea. And there are séene also dyuers smal braunches thereof partly running to the East partly towardes the Northe twixt two Promontaries rysing from one roote whereof the one towarde the Southe is called Charambus the other whych bendeth to the North towards Europe for the roughnesse and raggednesse therof is called the Rams head These Promontaries althoughe they stande ryght ouer agaynst other and appeare a farre off as though they grewe nightogither yet stande they so far a sunder as a shippe is able to sayle betwéene in thrée dayes in the spring of the yeare After that this Sea séemeth to be cut and fashioned into the maner of an halfecircle and runneth one way into Pontus another into Maeotis nowe el Ma●negro The middle is Charambus at whose right hande the waye lyeth open to those that trauel into Pōtus At the lefte hande the head or brow which there ryseth sheweth playnly into Maeotis which croking like a payre of hornes not altogyther vnlike the horns of a bowe is not amysse called by that name and for naught appeareth not into Maeotis being continually beaten with his waues This is that same ●en aboute whome the Scythes doe dwell and which they call the mother of Pontus chiefly bycause from thence muche water runneth thereinto which for the most parte commeth forthe of Cimerius Bosphorus many other places which do so fyll the marish that it is not able to conteyne it About which also many nations of Cimeria inhabite whyche are directly vnder the cold foote of Taurus ¶ The description of Lybia or Affrica AFtter that we haue intreated of the thréefold diuision of the earth and of the measure and circuite of the Oceane with his boundes diuersitie of names héereafter we purpose to speake of the situation and fourme of the earth beginning first as before with Libya Libya therfore lyeth foorth towarde the south and east in the lykenesse of a certain table beginnyng at Gades nowe Caliz where the Ocean is most mayn déepe and stretcheth forth to the Arabike sea and approcheth nigh that countrey whiche is in the vttermost part of Asia and bringeth foorthe partely the Ethiops or Moores partly the Erembes This countrey bycause it bringeth foorth menne spotted lyke Lybardes of sundry dispositions the Grecians called it Pardaler that is to say a Libards skinne it is for the greater parte of it a very drye and roughe countreye and in dyuers places couered with blacke spots lyke seales But the other vayne whiche reacheth vnto the Columnes of Mauritania is muche more ciuile and plentyfull Nexte vnto that is Numidia then the kyngdomes of Massilians by whom report goeth the Citie Massilia was buylded A sauage kynde of people and altogether inexperte of Husbandrye not knowyng what a Plowe doth meane but wholly wandryng in wooddes and Forrestes doo lyue by maste and praying on Venyson after the manner of wylde beastes Too these ioyne the Carthagians bendyng in lyke a bowe whose noble Cittie as menne saye was buylded by Dido when that shée departed oute of Phoenicia by the compasse of an Oxe hyde So foorth next lye the Syrtes wythin the mayne lande But more towardes the Easte are séene the shelfes of Asie farre larger than the other and much more dangerous wyth heapes of sandes Where as when the Tyrrhene sea once hath raged and is caulmed agayne there are founde suche heapes as though greate mountaynes of sande were broughte thyther by the water In the middest almoste of whiche Sandes there standeth a Citie whyche the Gréekes in fore tyme called Neapolis nowe Mahometa and inhabited by the people that were called Lotophagi nowe Los Chelbens a Nation verye friendlye too straungers whyche in tymes past receyued Vlysses wyth verye gentle and curteous entertaynmente Aboute this Countreye are founde manye deserte and forlorne dwellynges after that the Nasamonij were thoroughly destroyed the whych sometyme dydde there inhabite and were slayn as some wryters affirme by Ausonius the sonne of Iupiter whose father they had contemned The Asbystae bée borderers to these inwards to the continent lande where within the thickest of the Sands standeth the Temple of the god Lybicus commonly knowne Also the citie Cyrene commonly Corena the brooder of good horses and the ancient seat of the people Amyclaei nere whom the Marmaridae do lye towards Egypt and the Getuli and their borderers the Nigretes Then the Pharusij nowe Asenagi and the Garamantes not farre from them And last of all the Aethiopes lying hard to

gliding forth within a kenning of the Rammes browe directly ouer agaynst Cyane falleth into the sea Euxinum also Aldescus and Penticapes with great murmur and noyse fall down frō y hils Rhipae● whose streams running néere to the frosen sea for thither they run cary down with them an orient kind of metal halfe golde halfe amber in colour not vnlike to the purple glyttering beams of the moone whē the firste riseth they engender also the diamond This water also washeth the shore of the Agathi●●● whiche of the rest are most northerly but on the south side are the Gerrae and Norici also the Pannonij the Mysi and Thraces but the Mysi lie more to the north than the Thraces which dwell scattred here and there in a wyde countrie partely inhabiting the S●a coa●t of Propontis partely cast forth to ▪ Hellespontus and partly also to Agaeū where about the tops of Pallenae which floweth with hony the precious stome of gret price called Asterius doth grow nothing inferioure in shewe to a glyttering starre or a flaming fyre by 〈…〉 nt whereof it was ●o named moreouer there lye many other countries vnder this heauenly constitution ▪ or in this tract of the earth dwelling all nigh to Ister called also Danubius receyuing great commoditie by trauelling on the water whose names were superfluous to recite It remayneth therefore nowe that we speake of another part of Europe whyche lying foorthe in thr●● shoares reacheth forthe into the East whereof the Hiberi possesse parte the Greekes parte the Italians parte The furthermoste ●id● of Heberia lyeth to the Ocean there where one of the pillers is to be séene set in by Libes erected beneath the mounte Tartessus the countrie where about is verie rych and plentiful vnto whom the Cempsi be adherēt dwelling at the foote of the mountaynes Pyrrhenei Consequently we come to Italy whome a greate hie hill stretching forthe and cutting it through straight high in the middle and low on each side after the maner of the beame of a payre of balence cōpasseth in about round to y great beutifying wonderfull strengthning of the countrie There can no man that is skylful in building when be séeth it denie but that it was a maruellous piece of worke framed by Minerua for ornature and strengthe of the countrie béeing compassed therewyth as wyth a crowne The inhabitantes call it the hil Apoeninus which rysing at the Alpes whiche deuideth Lumbardie from Heluetia runneth forth towards the North as farre as y Sicilian ▪ Sea within which many countries peoples do dwell whose names I cannot easly rehearse But the first of them are Tyrrheni dwelling on the side whiche lyeth twixt Northe and West togither with the people Pelasgi which running into Italy out of Cylene ar reported to haue setled with the Tyrrheni in the same place Ne●te to these are the Latini a glorious kynde of people verie plentifull with goodnesse of soile and excellencie of wits through the myddle wherof the ryuer Tyberis runneth watering all the countrie aboute and is at length receyued into a calme bosome of the Sea at the towne called Hostia the heade and principall ryuer of al other deuiding the noble and mightie Citie Rome the chiefe sea and dwelling place of our kings and heade of all the worlde Then followeth Compania ▪ a pleasant countrie of other most plentiful where the temples of Parthenope are to be séene who as fame goth was friendly receyued out of that strayt sea ▪ Towards the south vnder the hil Serenis runneth the ryuer Silaris of Surrhentū now Sur●ento where the Lucani and Bretij dwell so far as Leucopetra from whence northerly by west somwhat the Locri be planted who long ago cōming forth of A●●ica into Italy being in loue with the plesantnesse of the coūtrie ioyned as is sayd in fellowship frendship with the people of that place building a citie there which they called after their owne name whose stock a● yet remaine th●near vnto y ryuer Alex ▪ Beyond them lythe Metapontini ▪ whose citie is now called Relie●● notsar off them the flourishing city Crotona now Cr●tone ▪ ●igh to the riuer Sarum wher the renouined temple of Iuno of Lacinia now Cabo do Colone is builded and vnfu●tunate Sybaris is reported to haue mourned bicause of Iupiters displeasure against hir citizens for vsing reprochfull wordes in the sacrifice of Alpheus ▪ But the Samnites are more within the land and the Marsi which in running are verie quicke of foote The Tarentini whose countrie nowe Taranto stand● nearer y shore possessing there a town founded in times past by destruction of the Amyclaei To whom ●oyn the Calabri of the stocke of Iapix reaching forth ▪ ●● Hyrus which lieth to the sea And the ●●● Adriaticum beginneth to increase ●● ▪ Aquilia now Algar castelium ▪ the citie ▪ of the Tergestini now Trieste ▪ lying at y extreme 〈…〉 but whē it turnet● eastward thēce first it li●keth the shore of the Liburni ▪ afterwarde beateth on all that countrie ▪ oppressed with great darknesse which lieth nigh 〈◊〉 so rūning to the shore of y Bulemei so●●nly stretcheth forth with a verie large ●hane● 〈…〉 y Illirici ▪ now Sc●auoni 〈…〉 y high mountain Ceraunij ▪ in which place are seene certaine ancient monuments after the maner of spires or pinacles set vp as is taught by Cadmus and Hermione his wife who béeing both come to extreame olde age departed thyther from Ismenus where they were transformed into serpents There is also séene in the same place an other straunge wōder For there be two pillers set directly eche againste other who so soone as any daunger approcheth the people dwellyng nigh do both méete whith suche violence as though they fought At the south a little on thys side Thracia and beyond Horitia a parte of Graecia that parte called Hellas entreth with an hard rising and a daungerous accesse by reason of two sharpe Seas Aegaeum and the straighte Siculum As also for two winds vnto whome it lyeth very bleate the Hesperian or Sicilian wynde whiche is West and the Southeaste whiche bloweth from the sea Aegaeum Hereafter ensueth Pelops Ilande called also Peloponesus nowe ●a Moren whiche differeth not much in forme from a Playn trée leafe For it is broad in the beginning and endeth with a sharp corner At the farthest poynt towards the north it resembleth a certain narowe Isthmus is as it were ioyned and fastened to Hellas and intrenched round on euery other side with the sea where on the west parte the lande Triphylis lyeth continually moystned with the plesant streames of the riuer Alpheus Whiche béeing as it were cut of by the waters Mes●enius

of the kinde of Scythians whose names and maners doe remayne vnknowne by reason of the sharpnesse of place where they dwel and the vneasy accosse vnto them with the extremitie of the ayre and bytter colde wherwith those countreys which lye to the vttermoste part of the earth for the moste parte are molested And these be the countreis which as we sayd lye to the north about the sea Caspium Hereafter I wil entreate of those which lye towards the west from Golchis ▪ and Phasis on this side and dwell vpon the shoare of the sea Euxinum and also of them which in habite as farre as Traicium where the land of Chalcidos lieth Of countreys in the west In this rehersall the Byzeres shall be first and nexte the Bechyres and Macrones and then the Phylires who as yet do retayne their aunciente Cities and woodden cotages which they builded lōg since Vnto these do ioyne the Thibareni noble shipmasters nexte to these sit the Chalybes a very harde people who hauing obtayned a cuntrey which for immoderate drouth is vnapte for any tillage haue very much profited in the arte which they haue learned For they neuer rest from hammeryng and forgyng of weapons and armoure for warre In so much that all the countrey béeing couered with smoke séemeth as though it were on syre and clattereth with continuall knocking bearing of yron Thēre we procéede to Astyria whiche is wat●red by the riuer Thermodo● falling frō the mounte Armenus and from thē●e runneth to the Amazones with a swif●e streame who as the reporte goeth following Sinope from Sopida ▪ at commaundement of Iupiter who entirely louing hir had transported hir though unwilling out of hir owne countrey and had placed hir nigh within his quarters and curteously appoynted a place where she mighte cōtinually bewayle the absence of hir parēts In which place afterward she builded a citie and called it Sinopaea now Sinopi after hir owne name About the banks of this riuer there is chrystal hewed very pure and white like yce and there also is found the Iasper stone And not very far off y riuers Iris Halys rūning along do make the coūtry moyst plesant both of them gliding towardes the north frō the hil Armenus wher thei issue ●o lick the land along nigh the hill Carabis Then next be the Paphlagons cast off somwhat néere the shore so forth to the holy land of y Mariandyni where as it is reported the furious thrée headed dog whom that hardie hand of valiāt Hercules ouercame and led away out of hel vomited forth a certaine deadly kinde of frothie venime which poysoned all the countrie with infectiō After the Paphlagons and Mariandyni we passe into Byth●ia now y great T●urchia a plesant country fulfilled with al plētie whō the noble water Rhebas moistneth with his swéet streame vntil he fal into y sea which is at hād beingin al y earth no water more plesant or y bringeth to the ●●e greter delectatiō And these be the coūtrei● people whiche as I haue saide do inhabite the Weast partes of the sea The other of whiche I intreated laste before be Scythians and lye to the north Of the third part of Asie NOw I must go through with y third part of Asie whiche boundeth to the sea looketh to the south discouering y entrāce into Hellespōtus openeth the southerly course into the sea Aegaeum butteth forth into Syria Arabia And first of al the Calcedons apere at y very mouth looking ouer directly to Bizantū whose borderers are Bebryces the mounts of Mysia ▪ out of which y riuer Cius yeldeth forth his plesant water wher it is said that the Nimphs in time past stale away the beutiful child Hylas being then attendāt vpon great Hercules From thence there lieth open a gret vent into Hellespontus in Phrygia y lesse The one is situate farther within a great deale is farre larger néere to the riuer Sangarius And thys which is the larger and lieth forth to the east is very fruitfull for corne grasse ●ingeth vp great store of good horses The other which looketh to the west is descried at the foote of the renoumed Ida hauing at the one syde the noble and famous citie of Troy called also Ilium so muche spoken of so large and so wyde the nourse and brooder of many a valiant Gentleman buylded as it is thought by Neptunus and Apollo but afterward destroyd by the aduis● of Iuno and Pallas planted faste by the riuers Xanthus and Simois of Ida. Hereto lyeth Aeolia nigh aboue Hellespontus ▪ towardes y shore of the sea Aegaeum in which also y Iones be included and the memorable riuer Meander glyding thorough with his gentle streame parteth also Miletus and wide Prienes Wherof that whiche is in the middle and lyeth moste to the north al that wholly Ephesus doth possesse lying to the sea syde sometyme the glorious citie of quiuered Diana ▪ to hir de●●●ated ▪ Wher as ●ame telleth in old time the Amazones ●uylded a temple of wonderful workmāship vpon the sto●k an Elme ●ree and for that ●ause was had in greate admnation amongest all people allages ▪ From this next forth to the East lieth Meonia vpon a stéep rock vnder the side of the mount Tmolus out of whiche the Riuer Pactolus runneth with his sande all of golde and maketh therwith the whole countrey to glitter Vppon whose bankes when once the spring tyme of the yeare is come there are Swannes herd continually singing whiche féede there commonly raunging on the riuers side with such harmonie that nothing can be more pleasant to the eare their foode dayly encreasing vpon the shoare And the Riuer also Enister spryngeth vp and bestoweth his water plentifully in diuers places of the countrey Moreouer it bringeth foorthe very faire women who many tymes according to their custome hauing their loynes girded with girdles of gold do make pastyme among them selues leadyng straunge formes of dauncing cast round into a ring or circle chéefly whē they celebrate their accustomed feastes of Bacchus once euery yeare in daunces and other myrthe Where wenches of flourishing yeres being mingled with them lyke wanton kiddes and lambes dance and play togither raise no small pleasure while they be daūcing to the beholders For the winde somtime huffeth vp their garmēts their order in dauncing ingēdreth a certain plesant noyse much deliting the minds of the hearers But let vs leaue these things to the mē of Lydia whose practise study is on them y hauing allotted a coūtrey ful of pleasures they may also intēd to folow the same nothing degenerating frō nature or theyr coūtry maners Consequently the Licij enioy the next shore chiefly where the riuer Xāthus cōmeth down

hearde the noyse whiche fierce and couragious horses do make whē they méet and fyght togyther And it is not lawful for any there to go to supper before that with suche like exercise all his body be in a sweat They lyue chiefly by hunting whiche they followe darting or shooting in whiche and also for theyr sauage demeanoure howbeit they séeme inuincible yet being ouercome by y Romain Captaine were compelled to obey the Fasces béeing a fewe rods bounde about an axe so borne before y officer the peculiar scepter of y Romaine Empire But I will nowe declare into how many kinds of people that kingdome is distinguished with what Riuers moystned and with what hilles enuironed They only and first hadde among them the title and honour of a king And they only surpassed all other in power and strength after that they had ouerrunne Meonia and Sardinia nowe Sardengne and sacked them for after that time they vsed in warres armour and weapons of golde with golden brydles and trappings wyth other furniture for their horses and shoed them with siluer shoes bringing such treasure away with them in y conquest that euery one ●lowed in ryches Persia is entrēched on euery side with high stéepe mountaines beginning as I sayde at the gates Caspiae where the way lyeth to the south and reaching to the Sea whiche is of the countrie called Persicum it is inhabited especially in thrée places For there are some that dwelt towarde the North cleaning vnto the dark and shadowy hilles of the Medi Others in the middle whiche possesse the inlande countrie and some contrariwise in the Southe nighe to the Sea Persicum of whiche I spake right nowe The first are the Sabae nere vnto whom lye the Passagardae and the Tasci and many moe whose countrie is washed with diuerse riuers which run forth in many turnings and crooked channels On the one side runneth Corus an other Choaspes which rising out of the Riuer Indus and watering the cittie Susa sheweth the precious stone called an Achate lying white as mylke among the sandes long and rounde after manner of a Cilinder which the streame bringeth down from the hill to the plaine fruites be there alwayes gréene by reason of the temperatayre But nowe I must entreate of the other parts of Asie which lye to the east and cloase vp the bounds and ends therof Wherefore about the shoare of the Sea Persicum which is Eastwarde the Carmani are planted possessing two countries not far from Persis for some haue desired to dwel neare the sea coast which other mislyking haue rather chosen to inhabite farther with in the land Among which the Gedrossi nowe Turquestan whiche lye easterly are nigh to the Oceane and be also borderers vnto those Scythiās which I sayde were south nigh the riuer Indus that runneth into the read Sea ouer against it wyth two mouthes But before that it fall into the sea it passeth by many townes and regions wandreth along and croked way It riseth foorthe of the mounte Caucasus towards the north but it turneth to the south and embraceth the I le Patelenes with two armes and after that conuerting his course to the west deuideth the Oritae and Erebes the Arachotae which weare none other than linnen garmēts And so foorth it runneth to the Satraidae and to all those people that lye about the mouth Parpausus who are all called by one name Arieni These inhabite a very wilde and vnciuile countrey the mould béeing very sandy and not méete for anye tillage hauyng notwythstandyng some singular giftes and commodities of Nature For there are founde commonly Corall stones of all kyndes and Saphyres are digged oute of the vaynes of the hilles lying in mouldes lyke shelles of a brownishe yelowe coloure In the East lyeth the countrie India whiche althoughe it be the farthest and last yet it is of all other most pleasant and is as it were betwéene the lyppes of the Ocean Whiche so soone as euer the Sunne beginneth to ryse and lyfte vp his heade out of the Ocean Sea is the firste lande that it toucheth with his beames making the people blacke and grosse of nature They haue verie thicke woods and trées not muche vnlike to a Iacint in colour But bycause they dyg there in many places for Golde dyuers of them become great gayners thereby Others weaue linnen cloth some shaue and cut Elephantes téeth many search the chanels of Riuers loking if they can espie eyther a Berill glittering in the sande or a Diamond or a Iasper or a wheyish Topase or lighte on an Amatist beeing of coloure purple or lyke bloude These are their practises for the most parte for the countrie is full of Riuers whyche maketh them verie ryche in suche Iewels There are also Gardens and medowes verie faire and fruitfull which are greene through out the yeare some florishing with goodly woods with red boughes and twigs some bearing a grayne called Myllet But I muste nowe speake of the fourme and situation hereof with what Ryuers it is washed with what hilles enuironed and finally how many nations it hath in it The description of India IT consisteth of foure angles whiche runne almost into the fourm of a Triangle whose sides do meete and so it becommeth well nigh rounde The Ryuer Indus of whome I spake runneth at the West parte thereof and Ganges at the East Caucasus lyeth to the North atthe going downe of the Beares Many noble and worthie menne haue dwelled in this countrie not in one place nor of one name For some went to one side some to an other as nature custome desire moued them Some planted them selues nigh Indus which are called Dardanes where the Ryuer Hydaspis receyueth into his bosome Acesma an other Riuer rysing harde by out of the rocks For Hydaspis is a verie wyde and déepe streame able to beare any shippe and washing that part of the West whereto the Riuer Cophes is neare and moystneth the same with mylke white water betwéene whome the Sabae lye and the Toxili with the Scodri Then the countries of the Peucanei and the Gargaridae which worship Bacchus where Hypanis and Megaros carie downe golde two the moste rychest Ryuers of all other These ryse out of the mount Haemodus and runne towards the coast of Ganges at last bending to the South neare the I le Colidos which standeth in the Ocean falleth into the Sea. This I le standeth so highe and stéepe that no birdes will flye thether and therefore is called of the Grecians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to say without birdes And it was called Colidos bycause it is dedicated to Venus Not farre from thence towards Ganges also there appeareth an other place counted holy of the inhabitants for a strange chaunce which befell there For on a tyme when Bacchus was mad he came thether and

Lybia from Asie Since therefore the whole Earthe is wyth these boundes deuyded into three no manne oughte to doubte but that it is compassed wyth the Oceane Whyche Ocean béeing but one as also the earth is yet is distinguished by dyuerse names accordyng as it dyuersly intrencheth and diuydeth the partes of one bodye For néere vnto the furthest partes of the Worlde from whence the Western wynd bloweth and the mightie Hill Atlas called nowe Maiust ryseth it is called no more the Oceane but of the further Hesperia nowe Bernie wherby it passeth the sea Hesperum or of the hill Atlas Atlanticum By higher to the north where the sauage nation of y Arimaspi hauing only one eye in their forheade doo dwell for so muche as the Sunne by his farre distance from them ryseth late and shyneth fayntely and the coūtrey is enclosed with high hilles whereby it is alwayes couered wyth darke cloudes and congealed with hard frostes what parte of the Ocean lyeth about those quarters of the ycie water they call Pontus Glacialis or the Frozen sea Or else bycause the waues there séeme to die Mare mortuum or the dead sea also for that it standeth euer quietly without m●uing Saturnium or Saturnus sea where the sunne ryseth Eoum and also the same Indicum from whence immediatly it runneth to the south and is called the red sea or Mare Aethiopicum chiefly running foorth by a certain wast desert and an inhabitable soyle of the earth alwayes tossed with extreme heate But out of the Oceane manye armes rise on euery side which pa●●ing through the mids of the earth are termed of our coūtrymen Inland seas but of the Gretians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 proprely signifying bosoms or hollow roomths such as ar within the vdders of beasts Wherof Hesperum is first bicause it passeth by the ends of Hesperia and Lybia ▪ and runneth to Pamphilia The other though it be lesse yet is it more profitable For it issueth out of that Sea which we called Glaciale ▪ or Saturnium on the side that Caspia lyeth and the fierce northeaste bloweth and maketh the sea ▪ Hircanum Bothe other twaine running from the south the higher floweth foorth into Persis ▪ against the sea called Caspium and maketh the crooke Persicum and the other Arabicum which breaking forth by little and little at last draweth togither into Euxinum of the Arabicum chāgeth name into Pontus Euxinus Ther be also many m● reaches and turnes howbeit bicause thei be vnknowne and of small accompte neyther searched out by any of our men I leaue them as dead vntouched But I think it best to return to those which we haue thus diuided whiche I sayd before were foure that we may plainly declare what they be what course they obserue and what countries they runne by And that I may beginne with the Ocean ▪ the nooke called Hesperius whiche in widenesse and length of course surpasseth the reste passing by many countries citties and townes enuironing diuers Ilāds and high Mountaynes filleth all places with greate store and varietie of al māner prouision engendreth great abundance euery where And this is it at the entraunce wherof the hugie pillers as common reporte goeth set vp by Hercules do stande chiefly aboute the toppe of Atlas and the extreame parte of Gades now Caliz whereof at this day one is to be séene made of massy brasse erected of such heigth that it appereth to reache aboue the cloudes that is more maruel to touch the skye At this place beginneth the sea Hibericum and therfore it is said that at that mark as at a newe beginning Hercules began to sweate who conquered al the coūtries therabout But that sea after that flowing betwixt Libya and Europe giueth knowledge of begynning of them both For the pillers are erected in suche maner on eche side the shore that the one sheweth where Europe is the otherwher Libya or Aphrica Afterward passing forth along bounding shortly on the coaste of Fraunce at length by many goares and crooks turneth to Massilia where loosing the olde name is afterwarde called the Frenche Sea. Then runneth ▪ it foorth by Liguria nowe terra de Genoua where Italy beginneth and the countrey Ausonia and approcheth diuers cities thereof chiefly towards the North and therehence is called Ligusticum of Liguria whose shoare it washeth From thence it higheth anon to Leucopetra which is oueragainst and is washed with the Sicilian Sea now elfar de Mesina So vnto Cirnus that is Corsica Thēce flowing to Sardinia now Sardegna is by and by called Sardinium mare Anon it floweth south by the coaste of Tyrrhenia and is called Tyrrhenum or Thuscum But afterward whē it bendeth to the rising of the sunne and runneth about Sicilia which the Sicilian sea encompasseth and glyding by the Mounte Pachynus now Cabo Pacino ▪ and Crete now Candy enuironed wholy with the Sea where then it waxeth very wyde and ample immediatly discouereth Gortina famous both for religiō and antiquitie also Phaeston although it lye more within the land and rising vpward crokedly after the maner of a Rammes hed is called the Rammes head by the inhabitants Thēceforth it procedeth to Iapygiū ▪ wher it wideneth toward the north and there is called the sea Adriaticū now la Canal de Venetia So bēdeth it to the hither Hesperia and maketh mare Ionium where by by two coūtries each ouer against other are descried Wherof one which lieth on the right hād at entrance is called Illyrica nowe Sclauonia the other on the left Ausonia whiche of it selfe is as it were in maner of a great lithmus stretching for the along the continente enclosed rounde almoste wyth three Seas namely the Tirrhenum the Sicilian and that which we spake of last Adriaticum Whereof euerie one is moued with his owne winde that those whiche trafficque with other countries may safely fall therewith out of their hauens For the Tyrrhene searequireth a west wind and the Sicilian a southe Adriaticum the southeast But that whiche of Sicilia is called Siculum breaking forth towarde Libya ouerfloweth the southe Syrtes nowe Baxi or Banqui de Barbaria and runneth forth into another Sea which though it be bigger and wyder yet séemeth to deuoure and destroy it quite That whiche is inner hauing entrance but verie weake receyuing the waues of another issuing in a far off rolleth in somtime with such force that the fluddes whiche come along the hilles of Sicile and passe forth by Crete are beaten backe agayne eastward to the toppe of Salmonis which they say is the highest part toward the East of al Crete But chiefly these two Seas séeme to striue and rage when they be moued with the northeast wynde of Thracia which

the Ocean and almost extreme in temperature But ouer against them wher the Blemij inhabite there riseth an hill whereout Nilus runneth and so foorth procéedyng eastward toward the Aethiopes is termed of them Syrus Afterward running into Egypte when it is come to the citie Syena is first called Nilus by the inhabitants there From thence it rūneth into the north and at length diuideth it selfe into many partes and floweth into the sea with seuen streames ouerflowing al Egypt by the waye and replenishing it with greate and wonderfull fertilitie And truely there is no one riuer in that part of the world comparable with that eyther in widenesse plentie of water or other cōmodities This same is the boūd whiche parteth halfe Affrike from Asie leauing Affrike on the southe syde and Asie on the Easte This is the same Egypt which hath always brought forth notable men of sundrie and incomparable wits For as antiquitic doth recorde the Egyptians were the firste men and they first prescribed the fourme and discipline of life and manners who first also found out the vse of the plough plowing of the lande and sowing of the séede The same were they whiche firste tooke the measure of Heauen with an instrument and inuented the oblyque course of the Sunne and Moone in the Zodiacke and whiche firste founde out this knowledge of Cosmographi● whereby the countrie hath deserued no smal commendation Besides all this there is no lande whiche surpasseth it in plentie of all things eyther in aboundance of herbage and corne or in greatnesse or beautie of building The fourme whereof is caused by the lying of the sides for it is br●●de and wyde towardes the Northe but narower in the East butteth forth ●●opewise to the Syenes and intrenched wyth two hilles betwéene whome Nylus runneth This is the same Egypt whiche in tymes past ● nourished vp so many noble and 〈…〉 so many puissant princes and that chiefe is in whome stoode that moste auncient citie Thebes with hi● hundred gates Wher it is also sayde that Memnon the wyse king was went to salute his mother Aurora Which nourisheth also them whiche inhabited the Inlande Heptapolis and those which do dwell on the coast of the south sea toward the marish Serbonis where on the west lyeth the most famous citie sometyme founded by Alexander king of Macedoma called Alexandria And where that wōderful temple of Iupiter of Sinopita ▪ standeth ▪ much spoken of and hery ●●●●ou●●y builded with m●●● preci●●se metals of al kinds Touching this citie it is constantly adnouched that there is none in the earth of more excellencie none more worthy admiration none richer or more happy for all things Where also the goodly high ●ops of Pallenis ▪ from whence ●●uellers commyng a farre of● may be espied be di 〈…〉 nere the rockye Hills 〈…〉 the Towne Peleus is erected whose inhabitaunts ●●e s● experte in the arte of sayling that ●● the other people of Libya they be reputed rather Gods than men These dwell aboute the mouth of seuenfolde Nilus There be moreouer many other peoples and nations diuersly dispersed ●● that countrey wherof some be caste back as it were to the Oceane sheare ●●●●e dwell within the lād replenishing ●●s same with many excellent faire buildings Diuerse a●● inhabite the shoare of the lake Triton whiche runneth also through the middest of Libya into the sea The Situation of Europe HEreafter ensueth the situation of Europe whiche differeth not muche in forme from Libya but that it bendeth a litle to the north and likewise retourneth againe and ioyneth to the ende of South Libya and butte bothe in one ●●nner sorte on Asie the one reaching foorthe to the extreame parte of the North the other to the South But to speake more plainly howe it lyeth it is so that at the head it séemeth sharpe poynted lyke the pointe of a triangle waxing alwayes narrower towards the West and encreasing in widnesse much in the East By vnderstanding whereof we shall y better perceyue what bounds it hath howe farre they stretche and what dominions and countries it cōte●neth Wherefore I will begin at the ●●per side which reacheth forth to Hercules pillers where firste of all the Hiberi dwell a people very proude high minded Nexte towards the Northe are the Britannes then the Germanes whose bodyes are white and faire and naturally giuen to warres possessing the countrye nexte to the forest Equinus And not farre off Boia appeareth both large and wyde so called of the lykenesse it hathe to an Oxe hyde So tourning to the mounts Pirrhenaei towards the floud Eridanus the Celtae inhabite where as fables testifye the sisters Heliades beeing oppressed with immoderate sorowe for the death of their brother Phaeton continued so long in wéeping that so con●i●●●ed with heauinesse they were all conuerted into a precious kynde of A●●er trées still sheading teares Which ●●ares are often and diligently wyped away by the Celtae there dwelling and are turned into Amber lyke Golde and a● harde as a stone After ensueth Tyrrhenia at the Northe syde whereof the Alpes begin to arise forth whereof the Rhyne a greate and large streame issueth But before that I passe to Tyrrhenia I muste fyrste speake of the ryuer Rhenus or the Rhyne whether he passeth to the boundes of Europe The Rhyne therefore rysing as we haue sayde oute of the Alpes fyrste seuereth the Celtae from the Germans and runneth into the Northerne Oceane with a large chanell But before that he come ●ighe the Sea out of his springs he engendreth the riuer Ister amōg the Sueui which maketh all that cuntrie nauigable for trafike of marchandise This riuer Ister running toward the east is encreased with many other waters and so runneth forward fomie and misty nere Pe●ce through 〈…〉 ●ightie ch●●●●l● into the sea 〈…〉 the north it 〈…〉 ●iue 〈…〉 countries vntil● it ▪ 〈…〉 to the ●oot●● ▪ of fen●e Maeous ● For first it 〈…〉 the ▪ Germanes and after ●●●i●●th 〈…〉 Sarmatae now● 〈…〉 ●● p●sseth by the Ge●es and Bast●●●●s ▪ which●●●● towarde the O●ean● ▪ ● ▪ fulfilleth ▪ the country of Dacia with plentie 〈…〉 ningth roughe the mi●●●st of the Alani and T●uri gyueth ●●●sage for shippe● throughe the 〈…〉 lande 〈…〉 ●yche ●●u●● inhabiting that hye country ●o● ▪ time parte of 〈…〉 race possess● ▪ a na●o●● howbeit ●●o●g ▪ pi●●● of lande ▪ stretching to the ●●o●●●● the 〈…〉 whose ●eig●bour●s 〈…〉 the Alan● as ●e haue sayde 〈…〉 ●● 〈…〉 ●●●● with horses Vnt● t●●se ▪ 〈…〉 the ▪ Melan●●leni the H●ppemolo●i ▪ the Ne●●● ▪ the Hippopodes ▪ the Gelones ▪ and A●●●●●●si ▪ with moe in ●i●w● whe●●● of it is stra●nge to s●● howe that ▪ al● moste infinite of nations possesse that vtter parte of Europe from whence ▪ the ryuer Borystenes

and Eurotas doo séeme neyther of them to flowe oute of any sea but rather to spring out of the inner bowels of the earth Alpheus parteth the lande of the Clij Eurotas passeth through the Amyclaei In the middle of the Ilande in a valley at the foote of the hil Erimanthus dwel the Arcades From which hill Melas Crathia and Iaon thrée riuers do fall and also auncient Ladon Nexte vnto these are the Argiui and Lacones whose countreis lye one to the east an other to the southe The sides of this Isthmus as is well knowne are beaten with two seas one on the East parte an other on the West vntill it drawe nearer and narower aboute the places called Sacronida But in syghte of this same Isthmus called Pelopone●us and towarde the east syde thereof boundeth the noble kingdome of A●●ica the n●urce and mother of renoumed ●● and excellente witts whome the diuine water Ilisus passeth by where sometime as Poets do fable Boreas state away his louer Orithya There do the Boetes and the Locri inhabite After this Thessalia and Macedonia are discouered the●e where the snowye toppes of Emeus in Thracia may be séene Ouer directly against that towards the Weste Epirus Dodonea butteth foorth very long and large and so do the Aetolia towards the South through whose middle floweth the riuer Achelous with his siluer sands into the straytes of Tinacria deuiding the Ilands called Echinadae néere vnto the citties of the Cephalleni Eastward lyeth the countrey Phocis whiche stretcheth alōg to the North vnto the mouth of the Thermopylae vnder the toppe of snowy Parnaius Out of whose middle the riuer Zephisus runneth foorthe of a rocke féedeth the countrey nigh wyth perpetuall moysture Then followeth the lande Phiton wonderously abounding with diuerse ●● straunge●dori●erous fauours Where the Dragon of Delphos at Diotripodes lyeth slayne within the walles of the temple at this day horrible to be séene for multitude and greatnesse of scales Where Apollo as often as occasion serued hym to trauaile from the Iles of Miletum nowe Melasar or Clarum was wont to rest hymself and put off his golden quyuer And thus muche is sufficient to haue declared as briefly as we coulde the situation and countreyes of Europe and how the same lyeth in respect of other partes of the worlde Of the Ilands in Europe OVre purpose nowe is to intreate of the Ilands whiche be in Europe before y we come to any other part of the world to describe it which in widenesse contayneth almost the other twayne Wherefore to begin where Europe f●●●●e lifteth vp his head and Hercules pillers be erected and deuide Libya from other parts the Ocean running betwéene Gadira first cōmeth to hande For that being in times past possessed by the Phoenices which worshipped Hercules was called of them Gadira for before it was called not Gadira but Contimissa by the Hiberi Ne●te followe the Iles Gimnesiae the nearest whereof is called Bausus The other twain are called Baleares for stinging wherin the people there are much exercised Whereof the one and bigger nowe Mallorea hath in it the citie Tirracona nowe Tarragona the other and lesser now Menorca the citie Barcilona now Barchino lying to the North. Then followe Sardinia nowe Sardegne and néere to that Cirnus lying bothe almoste direct ouer against Ostia wherof the one which is Corsica standeth a great deale higher and is mere inacce●●ible enuironed partly with high and craggy clyffes and rockes partely with a mightie roughe wood bothe of them verie good for fruitfulnesse of soyle and plentie of dyuers commodities growing in the countrie Consequently there appeare certayne Ilandes standing rounde which beeing once in the hands of king Hippota which dwelte there a most friendly king vnto straungers were by him named Aeolides The same for the excellente vertues wherewith he was endued for be surmounted in godlinesse and curtefie was reported to haue obteyned of the gods that he shold not only be lord ouer those Ilands which are seuen in numbre but also be ruler of the winds where euer they blew on any nauigable sea These Ilāds also be called Plociae of the Greks But there is none nearer vnto these than Tinacria called also Sicilia standing in sight of Italy and defended with thrée famous promontories whereof one is called Pachynus nowe Cabo Pacino standing to the Easte and hath at the foote the noble citie Syracuse nowe Saragosa de Sicilia in foretime a greate and stout seate of tyrants The other is called Pelorus which standeth northerly and looketh to Italy to whome the cittie Messana now Missetia adioyneth The thirde promontorie is Lilybaeus arising against the surges of the west winde and sea where standeth also a cittie of the same name But as touching sayling from Pelorus which lyeth towardes Italy it is very daungerous and almost present death for the course is very narrow and crooked the sea kept within the straite not withoute greate force and violence for the streame is there swallowed vp in voyde and déepe caues which as some saye were made by Eonius and Neptunus and there roreth and rageth with moste horrible bellowings Forth of Sicilia Southerly is the passage into Lybia at the begynning of one of the Syrtes The other is quickly perceyued in looking toward the shoare of Italy In sight wherof we may espie two Ilands one Menix the other Gortina whiche are in maner of an hauen into Lybia In the elbowe of the sea Adriaticum at the left hande towardes Iapygium ryseth an Ilande wherein bicause Diomedes sometyme had buylded and possessed it was called of him Diomedea Whether as the fame goeth that valiant gentleman béeing driuen in a flaw by force of wind and tyde with certaine prisoners of the Hiberi continued there through the enticement of a wicked woman called Aegialaea Towarde the East afarre off is there a course open to the Ilands of Absyrtes where as reporte goeth certaine men whiche trauayled from Colchos brake in whyle they pursued Medea then running from them Néere vnto these the Lyburnides are planted And towarde the Southe behinde the crags of the Mounte Ceraunius there are certein Ilandes discouered which they call Amphraciae Ther is also Corcyra now Corfu to be séene a riche and plentyfull Iland the noble and renoumed kyngdome of aunciente Alcinous and néere neyghbour to Neritia in Ithaca a pleasaunt laye and countrey to Vlysses with diuers other lying here and there which the Riuer Achelous whyle hée passeth from Chalcis compasseth and watereth There bée many also towardes the Northe whereof Aegyla is one and Cythera an other and Caluaria and on the other syde towardes the Weaste Carpathos Also Creta nowe called Candia whyche lyeth not farre off a goodly Ilande and

no deale behind in wit and promptnesse of tong There are also not farre distant from these other Ilandes as namely the Amitae worshippers of Bacchus in which the wines of the most worthy and substanciall men being crowned with garlandes of ●uie with the b●rries hanging downe in knots about them do ●sape and spring as though they were aprehended with furie crying on Bacchus with a loud voice and doing hym sacrifice in the nighte according as ●s the custome For the inhabitantes on the shore of the lake Biston in Thracia do cal accustomably on their God Bacchus in no more solemne sorte Neyther the Indian children at the ryuer Ganges do daunce with more shryll noyse than these women of whō I speak do clatter shout and sing when they celebrate the feastes of Bacchus and say their deuotions while they be dauncing But not farre from this Ilande there lyeth an other whiche is called the farthest Tile where as when the hote somers Sun approcheth to the northern Pole their nyghtes be like vnto perpetuall daye in fairenesse and brightnesse vntill he return● agayne to the South From thence if a man sayling towards Scythia turne his shippe to the East he shall fynde Chrysia whiche is an other Ilande of the Ocean in the whiche also the Sunne shyneth very clearly then if he returne him contrarie to the ●outh immediatly he shall discouer Taprobana a great and large Iland and plentifully replenished with all maner riches and a brooder of many Elephants which from thence are transported into Asie This same is especially dedicated to Venus and to hir doth sacrifice They lye directely vnder the lyne of Cancer which is ouer theyr heades a very hot and burning signe continually turning about and almoste burning vp the countreye with heate They haue whales in their seas and fyshes of inestimable bignesse which feeding fyrst in the redde sea afterwardes doe come thyther monstrous thynges in déede and of such greatnesse that they come to the shoare lyke great moūtaines Their backes are very sharpe with long rewes of finnes They be very hurtfull vnto children if they chance to méete any vpon the shoare And not vnto them onely but vnto others also For none can well escape theyr iaws yf they may once sée them Whose deformed mouthes are of suche wydenesse that dyuers tymes they deuoure whole shyps with men and all Which wofull plague is thoughte to chaunce vnto menne for none other cause but onely for our offences and wickednesse whyche whyle wée lyue wandring in thys vale of miserie God doth reuenge with suche horrible monsters Besides this there is also an other Iland called by the Aeolij Ogyris an ancient monumente of kyng Erythrax lying ouer against the Promontorie Carmanis from which if a man turne northerly to y Persicū sea he shall by by finde Icarus wherin Tauropola the faire tēple of Diana is to be séene wondrous for antiquitie but more maruellous of the straungenesse of a sighte therin For there ryseth alwayes a smoke withoute any fyre at all very dampishe and hurtfull to those that come néere it And these bée also the Ilandes whiche are of any name in the Oceane Howebeit I denye not but that there be many mo there whereof some be in the reach Lybicum some in the sea Asiaticum also aboute Europe and within the Oceane Whereof howebeit many bée habitable and yelde pleasaunt harbour sometyme to shippes that saile that way ye● bycause they haue continued vnrenowmed and vnknowne vnto our countreymen it was not only harde for me but also séemed superfluous to declare eyther their names or situation Wherfore I will nowe speake of Asie The description of Asie THe plateforme of Asie being as some men say of one fashion and as other say of another yet is it well knowne that it resembleth very muche a wedge For it beginneth with a certaine large bases or foundation and so goeth foorth along to the ende where the pillers of Dionysius whiche was borne at Thebe are séene standing and where the Indi which dwell in those vttermoste parts are reposed within the hilles And also where the riuer Ganges with his white streames falleth downe to the banks of Nyseum nigh a large chanell The same is deuided frō the mounte Taurus which is the nearer and not thought cōparable in bignesse to the other neither in shew lyke vnto it The same is it which hath the sea flowing into it and bearing superioritie therin The other which is the wyder is much mingled with y Ocean which boyling forth thrée streames maketh thrée seas Per●icum Hircanum and Arabicum wherof the last twayne lye forth to the south The other reacheth towards the north and the sea Aphricū to Euxinum where as there dwell kinds of people almost innumerable forasmuch as betwéene them bothe there lyeth a great Isthmus conteyning a very large plot of ground But the mounte Taurus which as I haue said diuideth the whole through the middle beginneth at Pamphilia and stretcheth forth to the Indie which rising in some places into greater heigth than other and turning on bothe sydes much like the crookes of a Bulles hornes whiche is gréedie of his foode is by similitude thereof called Taurus that is to saye a Bull. Out of this mounte there doe aryse almoste infinite springs and waters whereof some runne East some West some North some Southe which by reson they passe by diuers coūtreys are called also by diuers names Also the mount it selfe during the spac● of continuance thereof is not alwayes termed one the Indi call it Hiamos the Parthi praeniphates the pamphyli Cragus where it riseth in greatest height it is named Caucasus But it is no easie matter to declare bothe the names of it whereby it is notified in dyuers languages or of the waters therefore flowing That care take they who inhabite the néere places it only remayneth to mée to declare those ryuers and nations whereof we coulde attayne any lyght of vnderstanding In recytal whereof I will not quaile so far as my poore abilitie shall serue me Wherefore the people of Maeorae and Sauromatae whiche possesse the vppermost parte of Asie which loketh to the north come nowe firste vnto hande that I muste néedes prefer them in this beadroll before all others These be they whiche dwel about the fennes Maeotis and discended lineally as is sayde from the Amazones for the reporte goeth that when they ranne awaye from theyr countrie and had pytched their tentes néere the ryuer Thermodon they companied with the Sauromati to the intēt that the children that were then begotten shoulde be stout men and warlike and so they alwayes continued They dwell in the middest of a vast and huge wood full of thycke and bushye trées through y middle therof the ryuer Tanais nowe Tana runneth foorth and falleth into the fenne

the moūt Taurus beginneth by litle to decrease towardes Pamphylia ▪ to change name béeing no longer called Taurus but Cragus where standeth also a town by the riuer Eurimedon y inhabitāts wherof do worship Venus do accustomably offer vnto hir the bloud of swine other beasts Ther folow other cities of Pāphilia as Corycus Pergae and Phaselis very much through blown with winds Amōg the thickest of whom towards the easte lye the Lycaones men also very fit for warre and well practised in shooting Whose neighbours are the Pi●idei whose principall cities be these Termesus Lyrbae and Selgae which they say was of aunciente time founded by the Amyclei From thence when towards the east the sea commeth in with a round reache like a circle all the lande that lyeth neare therto must neads also resemble the same shape for that cause it is not muche vnlike to the sea Euxinū In that nooke be the Cilices very farre into the East the aunciente records of antiquitie since our forefathers dayes called that place the straights of Asie That cuntrey is muche moystned with many riuers not all rysing there but comming from other places whereof there be thrée chiefe Pyramus Pinarius and Cydnus which only amōgst the rest rūning through y midst of Tharsus deuideth y citie with his cōfortable stream a citie most noble for beutiful buildings where they say lōg ago the famous horse Pegasus left his hoofe therof y citie was called Tharson ▪ And also where the report goth Bellerophō was cast down by him so departed to Iupiter whereby y place becā renoumed wher he had cōtinuedlōg before sequestred from all companie of man There are to be séen also many other cities of Cilicia standing here and there among whiche Lyrnessus is one and Malos by the sea side Diuers also there are which stande partely within the lande and partly on the shore The land Comogena is neare hereto and the cities of Syria nowe Suria a large countrie and wide reaching vnto the Sea but the side whiche lyeth to the West stretcheth to the foote of mount Casius Who so vnderstandeth wel the situation and fourme hereof with studie and diligence shall soone perceyue howe the other parts of Asie lye For the fourme thereof consisteth of foure angles the parte that lyeth easterly surmounteth the other in multitude We declared howe that all Asie was deuided into twayne and that it stretched forth to the mount Indus whiche is one of the boundes therof especially where it lyeth to the North and Nilus an other where it runneth to the west The Ocean standeth in steade of the rest whiche is called Indicus on what parte it loketh to the East and boundeth at south on the read sea called Mare Rubrum But Syrie wherof we speake but nowe béeing thrust as it were almost into the middes and bowels therof and touching the sea both at East and south hath within it that way many citties Which bicause it standeth lowe and is enclosed with two very high hilles Casius at the west side and Libanus at the east y inhabitaunts cal it in their tōgue a valley And bicause it séemed vnto thē more commodious and far more frutefull than any other for grasse corne and such like and easie to be passed vnto by ship many noble mē and such as were of great abilitie chose that place to dwel in building there citties townes and distinguishing them by diuers names For those which dwell more within the conunent land are by one name called Sirij But they whiche lye nigh the Sea side are Phoenices ▪ which in times pa●●e comming from the Erytheri are thought to haue bin the firste which assayed the Sea with shippe and inuented the trade of marchandise whereby men might be pronoked to conetousnesse and desire of riches And firste also which founde out the motions of the heuens and course of the starres with the supernall bodies by the excellencie of their witte and industrie These are the inhabitours of Ioppes now Iaffa Gaza and Elicides and which of long continuaunce haue possessed the fayre and aunciente citie Tyrus nowe Sur builded from the beginning Then they which founded the watry citie Byblon nowe Gae●a and windy Sidon now Sidoni vpon the banke of the calme riuer Bostrenus who possesse also Tripolis now Tripol de la Suria Orthosides and Marathon nowe Maugath and the noble citie Laodex nowe Lyche builded as they say by Neptunus where Daphne was weaned Also the people of Apamia within the mayne lande where the riuer Orontes nowe Tarfaro running towardes the Easte parteth Antiochia in twayne And generally all Syria is very riche and plentyfull abounding with corne and pasture for grazyng of cattell at whose inlande partes which are to the Southe moste adiacent lyeth the entrance to the sea Arabicum which washeth the shoares of both Arabia and Syria continually howbeit by little and little turning to the east approcheth the Elani where as the Arabes lye possessing a countrey of all other moste rythest and precious It standeth highe and is enuironed with two seas Persicum and Arabicum and lyeth also open vnto two wynds For the Arabicum requireth a Western wynd and Persicum an Easterne But that parte of Arabia whych lyeth to the east and south is washed also with the Red sea called Mare rubrum Of this countreye I wyll speake somewhat bycause it conteyneth many regions whose power and wealth all other doe wonder at and are amazed to beholde their greate store and abundaunce And I wyll not omitte that béeing verye muche delyghted with Sacrifice there is no one parte of all the countrey but dothe smelle of Parfume and Myrrhe and of soote smellyng Calamus whiche are caste into the fire to burne Who will not take it for an vndoubted truth that Iupiter being father to Dionysius tooke him foorth of his thinghe at the celebration of whose natiuitie he replenished the whole countrey with fragrant odoures And that those shéepe wherwith Arabia aboundeth obteyned that guift that while they were féeding they should be clad in thick and fine fléeses and the pondes and waters swarme with varietie and multitude of Fishes And that so many flocks of birds forsoke the deserte and came thither bringyng with thē boughs of precious Cinamom wherwith that coūtrey now is wonderfully stored Moreouer that this Dionysius after that he was borne and somewhat sprong vp wearing on the skinne of a yong Goate and hauing his lockes tressed vp with yuie and vine leaues his belly ful of good wine went wandering about all the countrey rather pouring foorth vnmeasurablye than bestowing moderatly great riches sowing golde like séede to bryng foorthe fruite which should neuer perish And for that cause all that region vntill this daye is thought to abound with such commodities that the very

hilles yeld forth gold and the Riuers siluer and theyr shores and bankes balme and soote herbes and the inhabitants be very rich and weare none other garments than of pure gold or fyne silke They whiche dwell vppon the browe of the hill Libanus the same be those which they call Nabathaei And those whiche ioyne to them Calbasii and Agrees and next the lande Chatramis whiche lyeth in sight of Persis But the Minaei and the Sabae lye on the redde sea shoare and the Cletabei nighe vnto them And these bée all the kingdomes and nations in Arabia whiche I supposed to be woorth memorie Howebeit ther be some more rude altogither without any fame and neyther for maners nor learning woorthie to be accompted among the Arabes For towardes the Weast and vttermoste syde of Arabia dwell a people called Erembi a roughe and wylde nation dwelling vppon the hilles and mountaynes and haue none other houses than dennes and ragged hollowe rockes going all naked and hauing no kind of felicitie or happinesse that aperteyneth to mā and being dryed vp with sharpnesse of liuing haue burned their skinne with blacke coloure And if there happen vnto them anye trouble they betake not themselues to armour not to their arrows not to their weapons as other do but like wilde and sauage beastes run through woods ouer hilles and dales not like the other Arabians whome nature hath indued wyth such and so many benefits But on the other side of Libanus which lyeth to the East there openeth another parte of Syria butting foorth to Sinopes now Sinopi which boundeth on the Sea coast In the midst whereof the Cappadoces mē truly who for the stoare of fine horses whiche they haue and continuall exercise of ryding theron do become therin very perfecte and singular The Assyrij lying to the sea do kepe the mouth of Thermodō Forth of whose hilles and chiefly to the north the noble riuer Euphrates breketh vp first falling from the mounte Armenus But when it hath continued a long time there running among the hilles of Assyria toward the south and afterward turning to the east washeth through the midst of Babylon and last of all licketh the citie Theredon and maketh hast into the sea Persicum And not far in the east the riuer Tigris floweth forth not altogither so big as Euphrates but incomparable swifte For it runneth so fast that in one day it riddeth so much grounde as any swifte man is able to runne ouer in seuen And so gliding forward not farre till he come into a plaine groūde where like as he were wery and willing to rest himselfe awhile gathereth togither into a rounde circle like a boule and there abideth whiche place the nigh dwellers call Thomitida Yet dothe hée not long continue so but rising as it were from sléepe and béeing ashamed of so muche idlenesse sodenly riseth vp and beginneth a great deale swifter course thā before The lād which lyeth betwene Euphrates and Tigris is called Mesopotamia of the Grecians nowe Halapia whyche is of suche sorte and nature that there is no sheapheard or grazer what euer he bée though he were of counsell with Pan the god of shepherds can in any parte fynde faulte with that countrey for goodnesse of pasture nor any planter iustly condemne the frutes whiche grow there wylde in the hedges and woods either for lacke of store varietie or pleasantnesse of verdure For there is suche plentie of all thing growing and suche abundaunce of herbes and floures that the country is accompted blessed and verye acceptable to the gods Also the countrey which is next lying to the north is very good and rich the Armenei possesse it which dwell in sight of Euphrates a people very stoute and hardie very expert in feates of chiualrie abounding in wealth and riches At the South stādeth Babylon of whom we haue spokē which as histories do report Semiramis the queene of the Medi whē she had cōquered the whole countrie being delited with the pleasantnesse of the place enuironed it with an vnpregnable wal within the toures forts of the citie builded strong and warlike houses wrought curiously with fyne gold siluer and Iuorie the countrey is right noble and frutefull It bringeth foorthe dates sweter than are in any other place It hath also in it the stone called Berillus more precious than golde whiche groweth chiefly about the top of the hill Ophietis But aboue Babylon towards the north dwell a people called Cissi And neare vnto them the Massabateae Chalonitae About the hilles Armeni towards the East lye the Tempea whiche are plesant woods wyth waters running through them of the Medi wherof they at north are called Geli and the Mardi and Atrapatini are there at hande And at the south side who euer of the Medi at any time florished do dwell there or that procured thēselues empyre or founded citties For they say that these descended of the noble family of Heriona a famous gentlewoman and daughter to Osta the good king Howbeit she is not cleare without spot for she slewe hir sonne Pandion ▪ wyth strong poyson at the shoare of the riuer Illisius hir owne selfe For whyche facte béeing verye much ashamed she ran from thence priuily and came into that countrey which is called now by hir name being not far from Colchis and neuer durste returne home agayne to beholde hir Parentes wéeping eyes whose wrathe she muche feared Wherefore the people there vntyll thys daye are muche enclined to Magicke Witchcrafte and Sorcerie The countrie is verie large and hath in it manye Hilles and Mountaynes wherein the precious stone Narcissites is found being somwhat of colour and hauing vaines in it lyke an Iuie leafe But some chose rather the plain to dwel in being delyghted with pleasant pastures and flockes of cattell whiche reacheth forthe vntill we come to the gatès Caspiae whiche loke to the East and lying beneath vnder the high Mountains doe open the passage for trauellers into the Northe and South For at the one side lyeth the way Hircana on the other the Mounts of Persia vnder whose féete dwell the Parthi a warlike nation ànd verie experte in shooting of whome I thinke it not amysse to say somewhat for they are such as neuer learned to dig or plowe the ground or otherwise to til it nor yet to passe by Sea into any other countrie or to get any thing by trafique of marchandise Neyther is there any among them that followeth or féedeth any heardes of cattell But so soone as euer they be of any yeares eyther they take a bowe in hand and learne to shoote or else they practise running on foote or horsebacke vntill they become maruellous readie therein For that countrie is alwayes ratling and crackling with Dartes broken launces or strokes of arrowes There is also continually