the south or toward the north unto the number ninety The Longitude is returned from the Meridian circle and about the west Islands called Carva and Flores beginning right at the Equator easterly and running forwards unto the number three hundred sixty As for example London lyeth from the Equinoctial northward fifty one degrees and a half which is the Latitude and the Longitude thereof is twenty degrees answering unto that degree of the Equinoctial reckoning from the Meridian And now that I have briefly touched upon the Longitude and Latitude of Countries and having often spoke of the Meridian and Horizon I shall I hope not unprofitably take time in a word or two to tell you what each of them are The Meridian is a great circle rounding the earth from pole to pole There are many Meridians according to the divers places in which a man liveth But the chief and first Meridian passeth through the Islands Saint Michael and of the Azores The Horizon is a great circle designing so great a space of the earth as a quick sight can ken in an open field the use of it is to discern the divers risings and settings of the stars I shall now speak a little of the Climates and Parallels and then I hope I have done with things generally concerning the earth A Climate is a space of the earth included within the space of two parallels The use of them is to shew the difference of length and shortnesse of dayes over all the world as you may see in the midst of every climate the number of the longest day in the year under that climate the longest day in one climate differing half an hour from the longest of another so that there are twenty four climates consisting of forty eight parallels ere the day come to be twenty four hours of length which is twelve hours longer than the Equinoctial day is Now under the Equinoctial line and thirteen degrees that is three parallels on either side thereof the dayes exceed not the length of Twelve hours but after in every clime encrease the length of half an hour and when they come to forty eight parallels and twenty four climates as I said before the dayes being then twenty four hours long their increase is then by whole weeks and months till in the twenty fourth clime about the pole the day is full half a year long and as it is thus between the Equator and the north pole so it is between the said Equator and the south pole wherefore there are two sorts of climes that is twenty four northern and as many southern touching the names of which and other circumstances I shall say nothing here but leave the readers to other more large discourses thinking this enough in a Tract of this nature to have spoken of things generally concerning the whole earth The whole Earth is now divided into four parts Europe Asia Africa America Of each part and their several Regions Empires Kingdoms Dominions Common-wealths Titles of honours and Laws as briefly as I can together also with their sundry trade and commodities Europe though the least of the three first parts of the world nevertheless excelleth all other parts in worthiness power renown multitudes of well-builded Cities and of People skilful in all kind of arts also excelling in virtue and the knowledge of God better than all the riches of the world Through the Grecian and Romane Empire in it it hath had once the Dominion over Asia and Africa Mr. Heylin mentions in it fourteen mother Tongues which I will not stand now to name It hath plenty of grain plants fruits coals rivers and fountains of admirable virtue it needs nothing but what may be well spared as hot spices not so fit for our temper precious jewels the nourishers of vain and soul-destroying pride and wild beasts which cause desarts where they breed yet of gold silver and other commodities it hath a part it is divided on the east from Asia partly by the Rivers Duina and Tunnis and partly by the lake called Meotis now termed Mare de le Zabacche pont Euxine or Mare Maggiore From Africa it is severed by the midland Sea on the west and north side it hath the great Ocean I shall follow Mr. Heylin's method in the description of the Regions and Countries thereof beginning with first Italy then going secondly to the Alps thirdly France fourthly Spain fifthly Brittain sixthly Belgia seventhly Germany eighthy Denmark ninethly Swetheland tenthly Russia eleventhly Poland twelfthly Hungary thirteenthly Solavonia fourteenthly Dacia and the fifteenth Greece speaking of the several Islands as they relate to some or other of the greater Countries Italy the Mother of all Latine Learning stretcheth out easterly on Asia between the Adriatick and Thuscan Seas and borders towards the west upon France and towards the north on Germany and is severed from those countries by the river Varus and the mountains called Alpes the rest being compassed with the Sea It hath had seven kinds of Government first Kings second Consuls third Dictators forth Decemviri fifth Tribunes sixth Emperours seventh Popes It flourished most in the time of Christ and a little afterwards by means of the great and wide dominion of the mighty city of Rome which then reigned as Queen of the world over many Lands of Europe Asia and Africa This land excelleth all the lands of Europe in fruitfulness and pleasantness the inhabitants are witty industrious and frugal yet hot and lascivious And withall the men very jealous and that taken to be not without cause The religion there now professed is the Popish religion unto which they are more straightly kept by the Inquisition The chief Wares which are carried out of Italy into other Countries are rice silks velvets sattins taffaties grogrems rashes stamels bumbasins fustians felts serving for Clokes costly arras gold and silver thred allum galls Venetian drinking and looking-glasses It containeth at this day the Kingdoms of Naples Sicily and Sardinia the lands and patrimony of the Church so called which the Pope posseth the great Dukedomes of Urbin and Tuscany the Common-wealths of Venice Genoa and Luca and the estates of Lumbardy being the Dukedomes of Millain Mantua Modena Parma Monferrat and the Principality of Piemont of all which I shall observe somewhat The Kingdome of Naples in Italy is environed on all sides with the Adriatick Ionian and Tuscan Seas excepting where it joyneth on the west to the Lands of the Church from which separated by a line drawn from the mouth of the River Tronto or Druentus falling into the Adriatick to the spring head of Axofenus it taketh up all the east of Italy one thousand four hundred sixty eight miles it hath anciently been called the Kingdome of both the Sicilies The fertilest place of all Italy abounding in all things necessary for life delight and physick Hence are also brought the Neapolitan Horses It hath had thirteen Princes twenty four Dukes twenty five Marquesses ninety
the Chinese or with the Russe but the Crim Tartar is wholly Mercenary being in the late War of Poland employed first by the Pole and then by the Swede and Transylvanian Prince Ragotzki China is bounded on the east by the east Sea on the west with India and Bramus and on the north it is divided from Tartaria with a wonderfull Wall four hundred miles long built between the Mountains It is divided into fifteen Kingdoms or great Provinces each having a peculiar Prince but all yielding obedience to their great King It is reported that he may bring into the Field three hundred thousand Foot and two hundred thousand Horse-men The Land is fruitful of Grain and Beasts wild and tame Wines of Precious Stones Gold Copper Iron Steel Pearl and good store of Silk Also very great Cities well peopled Paqu'n is the Royal City of which things be written that be incredible The People are lively witty wonderous Artists they make Waggons that sail over the land as Ships do over the Sea the Art of Printing and making of Guns is more ancient with them than with us they have good Lawes according to which they do live but they want the knowledge of God for they are Heathens and Worship the Sun Moon and Stars yea and the Devil himself that he may not hurt them Of this Kingdome of China there is little writ either certain or true because of its vast distance which if the North-west passage had been passable and not frozen might have been throughly known The last news from thence was that the Tartars had invaded that Kingdome and had thrown down part of that eminent Wall abovesaid that was built for a Fence against their incursions and defeated the Chinese in several Battels It hath been travelled of late by some forraign Friers but our English Ships seldome thriving in the Voyage is the reason no better account can be given of their Government Lawes and Customes From thence come the China dishes called Porcelane which the Fathers prepare 40 years under ground and lay up for their Sons as an Estate before it be fit for use its fineness and transparency requiring such a time of perfection Iapan aboundeth so with Gold that it is reported that the Kings Pallace was covered therewith in the time of Paulus Venetius These Iapanneses are the best Navigators and Sailers of the Nations of those parts of the World for which they are beholding to the situation of their Country being an Island so that they are very frequent and use Commerce in all that Quarter and prove good Auxiliary Souldiers to the several Princes They are much entertained by the Dutch as may be seen in the business of Amboyna India situated between Persia and the Tartars Sinca and the Indian Sea all Writers account the best and goodliest Land in the World for it fills almost the whole World with precious Jewels and Pearls Medicinal Drugs and Perfumes that it may be called an earthly Paradise The King of this Country the Great Mogul is certainly the richest and most Magnificent Prince in the World which to shew to his Subjects at the several seasons of the year as it grows Hot or Cold he removes his Court from City to City of great distance south and north his Countrey being very vast and well peopled But his chief Imperial City is Agraâ—… where as most great Cities of the East Lime trees and others of great shade and sweet sent are placed along the streets most beautifull and pleasant to behold The Mogul is altogether if not more absolute than any of the Eastern Princes all whose Governments are Monarchical Tyrannies Every morning he shews himself in great State to his Nobles and Princes who prostrate and adore him and at the same time the Elephants of which he keeps many hundreds are brought to Salam that is to bow and bend their knee which being taught they will do very readily To this Mogul King Iames sent the Earl of Denbigh Ambassador to Treat or rather to Complement about our Trade in the East-Indies Surrat being in his Dominions where constantly one of his chief Nobles is resident as Governour The Earl carried Presents with him but was most magnificently and costly Re-presented by the Mogul even to an Estate and his Ambassie civilly and effectually answered we count them Barbarians but they are a Nation of extraordinary Civility as our Commerce witnesseth where they love they love ardently and constantly and where they hate they hate furiously and deadly At present they are engaged in a Civil War for the Mogul Sultan Coram lately dying left his Estate in Dispute though divided to his three Sons of whom he most loved his youngest who by the favour and practice of the chief of the Nobility having gained the Army which is alwayes kept standing possest himself of most part of the Empire while his Brothers were disputing with one another about other the private Limits and Boundaries of their Lands Both are now joyned against him but with what successe is not yet known The English Trade is neverthelesse no way molested or impeached their Governour now siding with the Younger Brother but is carried on as formerly the chief Merchants of that Nation being the Banians a sect and preciser sort of People than the rest the most of them being Mahometans who are just dealers and very rich and negotiate in all the Traffique of the East The Hollanders have some places of Strength here also and are in League with the Mogul though in War with some of the adjacent lesser Princes The King of Portugal is possest of the Kingdome of Goa and other large Provinces and Territories which were formerly distinct Kingdomes and Principalities but Conquered and won by his Sword but hath been disquieted and disturbed very often as well by the Natives as the Dutch but yet he hath made a shift to keep the greatest part still in his hands and consequently a very rich Trade and Traffique which he manageth himself There is alwayes resident at Goa his Vice-roy one of the Portugal Nobility who lives in great Pompe and State in a very fair Palace The City is strongly fortified and several out-Forts and Guards circumjacent to prevent a sudden attempt of an Enemy and other Fortresses are erected in that Kingdome some whereof are put into the hands of the English by agreement the Coast being beneficial to our Navigation into the Indies The Portugal Inhabitants follow the Habit and Fashion of the Indians as all Nations whatsoever Trading thither do their Habit. Persia is a mighty rich Land governed by the Sophy though he be a Mahometist yet he warreth against the Turk for the Religion of Mahomet concerning the expounding of the Alcoran out of Persia are brought the Bezoar-stone and other precious Stones Pearls of great value and many Silk-works This Kingdom once honoured with the Universal Empire as absolutely lost it self under the Turkish Slavery as before under the victorious
their resolutions During their abode here they found in one entire Lump among the crevises of the Rocks a piece of Ambergreece the greatest yet found weighing 80 l. with other small crumbles This with much adoe was secured for the Company of these Sumer-Islands who to the number of one hundred and twenty had purchased a Patent for the said Isle whom the News of the Ambergreece much augmented The first Governour was Mr. More he departing there was a monthly succession of six till one should come from England which was Captain Daniel Tucker in the mean time the Fortifications were finished and the Isle secured from any attempt of the Spaniard in whose time happened that memorable Voyage of five Persons Viz. Richard Sanders William Godwin a Ship-Carpenter Thomas Harrison a Joyner Iames Barker a Gentleman and Henry Puet who making a Boat under pretence for Fishing being hardly used and not suffered to depart in the Ships by the assistance of a Compass unknown to any person till they were gone set to Sea having provided themselves of Victuals and by a direct Course the wind favouring them in five weeks time though a Pyrat to whom they sailed hoping to be taken in took away from them their Compass and other necessary implements arrived in Ireland where the Earl of Thomond honourably received them and hung up their Vessel for a Monument It is now divided into eight Tribes each Tribe having in it 50. Shares of which there are some for their publike charge The names of the Tribes are Sandys Southampton Warwick Paget Pembroke Cavendish Smith Hamilton formerly Bedford And thus much for Bermuda's The Swedes Plantation The Swedes are seated between the Dutch and Virginia in a Village by a Fort which lyeth eight miles within the River of Delaware in Virginia on the northside of the River they are few in number and their principle business is their Commerce with the Indians for they have little or no Cattle they furnish the Indians with Guns and weapons as the Dutch do and once in a year are supplyed by a ship or two from Swethland that fetch away their Merchandise Mary-Land This Province is divided from Virginia by the great River Patomuck it lyeth on the North side of the great River and the west side of the great Virginia Bay it is more wholesome then the parts of Virginia and seated better for the English grain It is now better peopled than formerly the Inhabitants being Papists and Protestants a like countenanced the propriety by Patent is vested in the Lord Baltimore a Catholick New-Holland To the South-west of New-England lyeth the Dutch Plantation it hath good ground and good air but few of that Nation inhabiting there which maketh that there are few Plantations in the Land they chiefly intending their East-India Trade and but one Village whose Inhatants are part English and part Dutch Here hath been no news or any matter of War or State since the first Settlement There is the Port Orange thirty miles up Hudsons River they are mischievous neighbours to the English for according to the European Mode they sell Guns and Ammunition to the Common Enemy the Indians New-England This Plantation was first undertaken in the year 1606. by Patent from King Iames to several Merchants of London and the West-Countries with a special Inhibition not to plant within 100 miles of the former Colony of Virginia but never took effect till 1622 or thereabouts after many losses and discouragements of several adventures At last Sir Francis Popham had the Happinesse and Fortune to establish it though with much hazzard and difficulty by the Treachery of the Indians and the unproportionablenesse of the after-Supplies The Plantation beginneth about 44. degrees and is indifferently peopled with English as Southwardly at 41. At this day it hath three Divisions the North the middle and the South In the middle is Boston the best Seat and best inhabited the South is the Government of New-Plimouth Boston hath a Street neer half a mile long full of Merchandâ—…ze Here is Resident a Council and a Governour which is yearly chosen and accommodated with a very good Port and Castle furnished with Men and Ammunition Near Boston lyeth Charles-Town and five miles into the Countrey is Cambridge an University of Nonconformists to the Church of England This Country having alwayes been the Receptacle of such religious Male-contents The Land of all this Region is generally barren and rocky the Commodities are these ensuing Pipe-staves Clabboard Fish English Grain and Fruits and Iron works with these they drive a Trade to most parts of Europe especially to Spain the Canaries and Chariby Islands They are at present very numerous and deserve their Name except their diversity in Religion which hath made them disgustful to old England Near adjoyning to this Colony the French have a Plantation called Canada or Nova Francia not worth the mentioning save for some bickerings that have lately happened betwixt us and them concerning limits wherein we have been successful driving them out of some Forts they unjustly possessed New-found-land This is the most Septentrional land of America but there is a straight of Sea not yet throughly discovered called Hudsons Straight by which the North-west passage was concluded feasible the Lands adjoyning being called Nova Brittannia or Nova Franmurcia This Island stretcheth North and South from 46. degrees and a half to 50. and a half Latitude The Natives of this place are few and Savage The Commodity thereof is Fish which is mostly Poor Iohn traded for in great quantity by French Biscayners and English chiefly of the West Country who for the profit hereof endure the Winter cold and Summer heat of the Climate amidst other very great difficulties This Island lyes at the mouth of the River Canada distant from the continent at the north end near half a League and the South-west point is about a League from Cape Britton Martins-Vineyard This is a small Island upon the Coast of New-England the Governour thereof being appointed by the Council of New-England It is 20. miles long and 10. miles broad there is great plenty of Fish in this Coast. On the Southwest of this Island lieth Long-Island in length 60. English miles and in breadth 15 inhabited by some English who for their Sectary opinions have been put from New-England They are claimed also by the Dutch but depend of nor pay duty to either As also there are divers other Islands more particularly Cape Hatrash a part of Island in 36 degrees from whence till you come to the point of St Helena which is in 32 degrees all the Coast along are broken Isles and uninhabited the best whereof is Roantke of 18 miles compasse The Islands of Lucahos or Bahama These Islands are Southwest from the Bermuda's and to the North of Portorico Hispaniola and Cuba the most emment is Lucayneque in 27 degrees There is likewise the Islands of Abacoa and Yuma of 12. and 20. Leagues in
briefly of the Globe of the whole Earth and things incident thereunto then more particularly of the several parts thereof and every remarkable Country in each part as I promised in the beginning The Globe of the earth therefore is defined to be a spherical body proportionably composed of earth and water the two parts thereof The parts of the earth are either real or imaginary The real parts are either Continents or Islands A Continent is a great quantity of Land not interlaced or separated by the Sea wherein many Kingdomes and Principalites are contained as Europe Asia Africa and America An Island called in Latin insula quasi in salo is a part of the earth environed round with water as Brittain Iava St. Laurence Isle Bermoodes Now these again are sub-divided into a Peninsula Isthmus and a Promontory A peninsula is such a tract of Land which being almost incompassed round by waters is nevertheless joyned to the firm land by some little Isthmus as Peloponesus Taurica Cymbrica and Pervana An Isthmus is a little narrow neck of land which joyneth any peninsula to the Continent as the straits of Dariene in Peru and Corinth in Greece A Promontory is some high mountain which shooteth it self into the Sea the utmost end of which is called a Cape as that great Cape of good hope and Cape Verde in Africa Cape Gomerie in Asia and that of St. Michaels mount in Cornwall the North Cape in Norway and divers others There are also other real parts of the earth as mountains valleys fields plains woods and the like The other general part of the Globe is the water divided into the Ocean Secondly the Sea Thirdly the Straights Fourthly Creeks The Ocean is the general collection of all waters which invironeth the whole world on every side The Sea is part of the Ocean to which we cannot come but through some strait as the Mediterranean Sea the Baltick Sea and the like These two take their names either from the adjacent places as the Brittish Ocean the German sea the Atlantick sea and the like Or from the first Discoverer as the Magellanick sea Forbushers Straits or from some remarkable accident as the Red-sea from the red colour of the sands and the like Thirdly a Straight is a part of the Ocean restrained within narrow bounds and opening a way to the sea as the Straits of Gibralter Hellespont Anian Fourthly a Creek is a crooked shore thrusting forth as it were two arms to embrace and affectionately to hold the Sea as the Adriatick Persian and Corinthian Creek Hitherto belong Rivers Brooks and Fountains engendred of congealed air in the earths concavities and seconded by Sea-waters creeping through hidden crannies thereof Thus much of the real parts of the Earth in general The compass of the whole earth is cast by our latest learned Geographers twenty one thousand six hundred English miles which we thus compute We see by continued experience that the Sun for every degree in the heavens gains sixty miles upon the earth towards his circuit round and after three hundred sixty degrees returneth to the same point in respect of us as before it was Add the number of sixty so oft and you will find the account the same and so by proportion of the circumference to the Diameter which is tripla sesqui septima the same which twenty two hath to seven We may count likewise the earths thickness to the center The whole Diameter by rule being less than a third part of the circuit That in the proportion to twenty one thousand six hundred will be six thousand eight hundred seventy two half the number will reach the middle of the world and that is three thousand four hundred thirty six being considered with great exactness as the measure of such a great bulk as the earth is can easily be taken and comprehended Geographers attribute unto the earth five circles The first is the Equinoctial when the Sun in his course is come thereunto about the eleventh of March and September the day and the night are of equal length through the whole earth It is also termed the Equator and by the Sea-faring men the middle Line because it divideth the earth into two equal parts of which the one lyeth towards the north the other towards the south and because it is in the middest between the two poles of the world one in the north the other in the south The second circle is called the Tropick of the Crabb because when the Sun is come thither about the tenth of Iune it returneth by little and little unto the Equator And then unto them that dwell on the north-side of the Equator is the day longest and shortest to them that dwell on the south-side thereof This circle is distinct from the Equinoctial Twenty three Degrees three Minutes and an half Northward The third is called the Tropick of Capricorn because the Sun being come thereto on the eleventh of December turneth his course backward to the Equator and then contrariwise to them who live on the north of the Equator is the day shortest and longest to them on the south thereof it is distant from the Equinoctial southward twenty three degrees thirty one minutes and an half The fourth is called the Artickcircle the fifth the Antartick of which the one is distant twenty three degrees thirty one minutes and an half from the north pole the other just so many from the south pole And are described by the revolution of heaven from the poles of the Zodiack which is the Sun Mercator the ancient Astronomer understood by the Arctick circle not onely that aforesaid but also every circle whose half Diameter answereth to the pole in any place whatsoever and containeth according to the Altitude of every Countrey certain stars which never set but alwayes are above the earth so that in all regions differing in Latitude this circle is diverse as also is the Antartick Now the four lesser circles the two Tropicks and polar circles do fitly part the earth into five Zones that is to say girdles because they compass like bands the round Globe of the earth The first of these Zones lyeth under the Artick or north circle and is called the cold north Zone the second lyeth under the Antartick or south circle and is called the cold south Zone the third is situate in the middle between the two Tropicks called the scorched Zone the fourth lyeth under that which is between the north circle and the Tropick of Cancer and is called the temperate north Zone the fifth also is under that space which is between the Tropick of Capricorn and the south circle and is called the temperate south Zone Now to understand rightly the situation of Countries their Longitude and Latitude according to the mind of Geographers is to be known The Latitude of places which with the height of the Pole is alwayes one beginning at the Equinoctial is taken two manner of wayes either towards
who maintained the Isle of Rhee against the Duke of Buckingham newly before This Ducall Family is now by Marriage principally allyed to the Emperour and House of Austria I shall pass by the Dukedoms of Modena Parma and Mountferrat as being all three but small estates of Italy and havinâ—… but four Bishops amongst them all the arms of Modena the same with the Dukedom of Ferrara and the arms of Mountferrat Gules a chief Argent thus much for Italy These three small principalities have afforded very excellent Couragious Princes Not to mention the exploits of that renowned Alexander Duke of Parma Governour of the Low-Countries for the King of Spain in the time of Queen Elizabeth it shall suffice to say that they ballance the over-growing Power of either of the Monarchs of France or Spain siding alwayes with the weakest lest they become a prey to the Conqueror and to that purpose are commonly divided in the Quarrel siding in opposition yet exercise no Hostility upon each others Dominions Moun ferrat is now annexed to the Dutchy of Mantua whose Duke is Prince of the same The Principality of Piemont a part of the Alpes situate at the foot of the Mount is bounded on the east with Millain and Mountferrat on the west with Savoy on the north with the Switzers and on the south it runneth in a narrow valley to the Mediterranean having Mountferrat on the one side Provence and a part of the Alpes upon the other it is very fertile compared with Savâ—…y and Switzerland but thought to be inferiour to the rest of Italy the Arms of this Principality are Gules a Cross Argent charged with a Label of three points Azure It is now subject to the Dukedom of Savoy This Principality hath been often made the seat of War especially in the Reigns of Hen. the 4. and Lewis the 13th of France in the passage of their Armies into Italy and the Duke of Savoy who is Prince and Soveraign thereof hard put to it most of his strong holds being seized while he partaked with the Spaniard but since the alliance of that Duke with the French it hath had a refreshment which hath been inteâ—…rupted by some intestine troubles about Religion a great part thereof being of the Reformed Religion witness that Massacre there for which such liberal Collections and Contributions were made in 〈◊〉 for those Protestants in time of Oliver Savoy strictly and specially so called is bounded on the East with Wallisland and part of Piemont on the west with Daulphin and La Bresse on the south with some parts of Daulphine only and on the north with Switzerland and the lake of Geneva The Country is altogether Hilly and Mountainous very healthful but not very fruitful The Common People are naturally very dull but the Gentry pleasant ingenious and civil There have been near thirty Earls and Dukes of Savoy It is a very strong place with fortifications of nature the Revenue ordinarily a million of Crowns yearly The onely Order of Knighthood here is that of the Aâ—…nunciado ordained one thousand four hundred and eight their Collar is of fifty links to shew the mysteries of the Virgin at the end is her pourtraicture with the history of the Annunciation in stead of a Motto these Letters F. E. R. T. i. e. Fortituâ—…o ejus Rhodum tenuit are engraven to every plate or link of the Collar each link being interwoven one within another in form of a true lovers knot the number of Knights is fourteen beside the Duke the Soveraign of the Order the Solemnity held annually on our Lady-day the Arms are G. a crosse A. Geneva is a City of the Dukedome of Savoy now a free State having cast off both the Pope and their own Duke and kept free by their neighbours jealousie each of other touching it the Religion is Calvinist Protestant the Government Presbyterial the Language the worst French the People industrious and Merchants their situation for neighbours advantagious thereunto Of the Duke and this Dutchy enough hath been said before in the Historical description of Mantua and Piedmont onely thus much may be added that the present Duke is Cousin German to our Soveraign King Charles the Second by his Mothers side who is Sister to our present Queen Mother and that he is the powerfullest Arbitrator of the Affairs of Italy and hath the peculiar stile of His Highness Royal as a pretender to the Kingdoms of Cyprus as also Ierusalem and Portugal Wallisland reacheth from the Mountain de Burken to the Town of St. Maurice where the hills do close and shut up the valley which is so narrow in that place that a bridge laid from one hill to another under which the River Rosne doth passe is capable of no more than one Arch onely and that defended with a Castle and two strong Gates on other parts it is invironed with a continual Wall of steep and horrid Mountains covered all the year long with a crust of Ice nor passable at all by Armies and not without much difficulty by single passengers so that no Citadel can be made so strong by Art as this Countrey is by nature The Valley is very fruitful in Saffron Corn Wine and most delicate Fruits having Meadows and pleasant Pastures They have also a Fountain of Salt and many hot Baths and Medicinal VVaters they have Cattel enough to serve them also a wild Buck equal to a Stag in bigness footed like a Goat and horned like a fallow Deer leaping with wonderful agility and not so easily caught but in Summer time for then with the heat he is blind The People are courteous towards Strangers but very rough and churlish towards one another They are of the Romish Religion and subject to the Bishop of Sion The Deputies of the seven Resorts having not onely voices with the Cantons in his Election but being chosen they joyn with him also in the Diets for choosing Magistrates redressing grievances and determining matters of State Of this Countrey few Military Occurrences are historified for that it is by Nature as it is described no way fit for the entertainment of Mars and is onely a nursery no residence for Souldiery Switzerland hath on the east side the Grisons and some part of Tyrol in Germany on the west the Mountain Iove and the lake of Geneva which parts it from Savoy and Burgundy on the north Suevia another Province also of the Upper Germany and on the south Wallisland and the Alpes which borders on the Dukedome of Mâ—… It is totally in a manner over-grown with craggy Mountains but such as for the most part have grassy tops and in their hollowness rich Meadows and nourishing Pastures being two hundred fourty miles in length and one hundred eighty in breadth The Inhabitants are rich and rugged of disposition like their Land good Souldiers and mercenary almost to every one their Religion mixed some Papists some Protestants-Zwinglians yet they have agreed to tolerate one another their
Government popular These People first knew their strength by the defeated Ambition of Charles Duke of Burgundy some Ages since whom after their request to him for Peace which he would not admit without Subjection intending also to swallow Italy they utterly overthrew at the Battel of Nancy but Francis the first of France made them know they were not invincible at the Battel of Serisolles in the Dutchy of Millain where he slew near 20000 of them and brought down their stomachs They are now the best strength the Kings of France have for Infantry of which there is a constant standing Force maintained but so Mercenary that upon any failure of their Pay their cry grown into a Proverb iâ—… No Money no Switzer The Cantons of the two different perswasions Roman and Zuinglian were lately at feud and several skirmishes happened to the Breach of the Confederacy and Union but all was at last Composed by the mediation of the French Ambassadors no lesse a Person then the Duke of Longoville being employed in that affair to prevent the designs and intrigues of the Spaniard and the Pope who promoted that difference The Country of the Grisons is bounded on the east with the Country of Tyrol with Switzerland on the north with Suevia and a part of the Switzers on the south with Lombardy on the west a very Mountainous and barren Land the People now Protestant their Government popular in these Alpine parts there are two Arch-bishops thirteen Bishops This Countrey is modernly called the Valtoline being the passage out of the Emperour 's Hereditary Countrey in Germany into Italy and therefore anxiously and jealously look'd upon by both the Crowns of France and Spain lest the Spaniard should have it open for any assistance suddenly to overwhelm the Princes thereof upon which account these Grisons suffered by both Armies in the business of Mantua aforesaid but in that Peace were re-established in their own Signiory as it now continues more out of others distrust then its own impregnability In this Country of the Grisons some thirty years agoe a Mountain by an Earth-quake fell and covered a Village called Pelura burying the Town and Inhabitants together in its ponderous Sepulchre so irrecoverably that not the Cry of any of those miserable persons was ever heard and were swallowed up quick in that terrible manner France hath alwayes been held the principal and worthiest Kingdome of all Christendome it is bounded on the east with Germany and southward with the Mediterranean Sea south-east with the Alps and on the north with the British Sea It is very fruitful in all sorts of grain and whatsoever is needful for the maintenance of life especially it hath great abundance of wines wherewith many other Lands are also served It is divided into many great Dukedoms and Provinces it hath in it also divers great mighty and famous Cities the People are heady but ingenious and good Warriours The Government is meerly Regal and at the pleasure of the Prince of which it hath had many great and powerful ones The Religion of the Land is Popish but there are many Protestants there who although they have been greatly persecuted yet sometimes their number hath indulged them in the exercise thereof The chief Orders of Knighthood yet extant here are first of St. Michael instituted one thousand four hundred and nine It consisted first of thirty persons but after of three hundred the Habit of the order a long Cloak of white Damask down to the ground with a border interwoven with cockle-shels of gold interlaced and furred with Ermins with a Hood of Crimson Velvet and a long tippet about their necks they wear a Collar woven with Cockle-shels the word Immensi tremor oceani the Picture of S. Michael Conquering the Divel was annexed to the Collar the Seat thereof antiently Saint Michael's mount in Normâ—…dy and the day Saint Michael's day Secondly of the Holy Ghost ordained one thousand five hundred seventy nine The order of St. Michael is to be given to none but such as were dignified with this whereunto none were to be admitted but such as could prove their Nobility by three descents their Oath to maintain the Romish Catholick Religion and persecute all opponents to it their Robe a black velvet mantle pourtrayed with Lillies and flames of gold the Collar of Flower-de-luces and flowers of gold with a Cross and a Dove appendent to it The Arms of France are Azure three Flower-de-luces Or it hath seventeen Arch-Bishops one hundred and eight Bishops and one hundred thirty two thousand Parishes The Pyrenean hills are only a bound between France and Spain two potent Kingdoms the whole length not reckoning in the windings and turnings affirmed to be eighty Spanish Leagues at three miles to a League the People barbarous but of what Religion my Author saith not It may be he esteemed them so barbarous that he thought they could live without any Religion at all The Kingdom of France hath been Governed and possessed by three several Races of Princes since the failure of the Issue of Charlemayn the last of whose name Chilperick the fourth was deposed first by the Pope and then by the common Consent of Parliament and Pepin the Great Son of the Mayre of the Pallace which Officer a long space of 120 years and upwards had successively mannaged the State both for Peace and War was advanced to the Crown which after a long descent vested in the name of Valois which for some centuries of years and during the Wars with England valiantly and prudently swayed the Sword and Scepter This line was extinct almost in memory in the Person of Henry the 3. of France stabbed at the Siege of Paris by a Iacobine Monk when by vertue of the Salique Law which admits of no Females to the Crown it devolved after a long and bloody war worse then their three Civil Wars concerning Religion the Head of the Protestant Armies being this very Prince to Henry of that name the fourth of Bourbon This was a Son of Valour the Great Captain who by assistance of Queen Elizabeth by some Forces under the Earl of Essex broke that abominable League of the Guisians against him and established his Throne and preparing for some great design was stabbed by one Francis Ravilliac in hâ—…s Coach in the Streets of Paris His Son Lewis the 13 succeeded in whose Reign in the year 1627. was that unfortunante Expedition of the English to the Isle of Rhee in relief of the Rochellers where the French taking advantage the English as they were retreating after four Months Continuance in that Island defying the whole strength of France but in vain besieging the strong Citadel of St. Martins were at last ventured on as they were passing over a Cawsey to their Ships On both sides this way there were Salt-pans the way it self broad enough but for four Men a Breast where they were put unto some Confusion and a great many perished in the Salt-pans but the
to the 25. of March 1641. but five months there are reckoned 150000. Protestants slain and murthered by the Catholick confederate Rebels After many Combats and change of Fortune and Governors in that Kingdom it was by Ireton Cromwel's Son in Law totally reduced and the prime ringleaders of the Rebellion with Sir Phelim O Neale of the Family of Tyrone their Generalissimo deservedly executed The Isles belonging to Great Brittain are the Surlings or Scillies Garnesey Iarsey Wight Anglesey Man Hebrides 〈◊〉 and many others All which three Kingdoms and Islands aforesaid make up one Realm restored to the Government of his most Sacred Majesty Charâ—…es the second whom God long preserve Their Religion is Protestant their Church Government by Gods mercy again Episcopal The Low Countries contain seventeen Provinces the Dukedoms of Erabant Guelderland Lymburge and Luxenburgeâ—… the Counties of Flanders Artois Utrecht Henault Holland Zeland Nâ—…men Zutfen the Marquisate of the Holy Empire the Lordships of Freezland Mechlen Overysel and Graving All which are Lands above measure well tilled and inhabited contaâ—…ning two hundred and eight Cities fortified with Walls and Ditches and about six thousand three hundred Villages with Parish-Churches beside the Castles Forts and Noble-Mens Houses which are almost infinite in number This Land is watered with many excellent Rivers as the Rhine the Mose the Mard the Scheld and others It hath also many commodious Sea-Havens abounding in Ships and very skilful and expert Mariners and Pilots as by their Navigations may appear whereby they have compassed as it were the whole World The Inhabitants are also very valiant and notable Warriours as well by Sea as by Land as their Enemies themselves will witness They are excellently well skilled in all cunning and handy-crafts Many attribute unto them the Invention of the Sea-Compass as also the Needle and laudable Art of Printing Books they send abroad into other parts all sorts of Linnen and Woollen Cloth Camerick Pasement-lace of Gold Silver and Silk Taffata Wrought Velvet Grograms Sayes whole and half Velvet Bags Silk Laces Say and Liâ—…en All manner of twined Thred wrought Silk refined Sugar prepared Buff and Ox-hides as also Spanish Leather Pictures Books Cables Ropes and other Ship-furniture Cards Pins and all kind of Mercery dried and salt Fishes Herrings Butter Cheese and Bisket the People are of the Reformed Religion except the Spanish Provinces and they are Papists they suffer any Religion among them the principal Order of Knighthood ordained by these Princes is that of the Golden Fleece instituted one thousand four hundred thirty nine ordained as someâ—… conceive from Gideons Fleece Their Habit is a Collar of Gold interlaced with Iron seeming to strike fire out of a Flint Or Ex ferro flammam being the word at the end whereof hung the Foison'd Or or a Fleece of Gold the King of Spain may now make as many of them as he please There are in these parts three Arch-bishops fifteen Bishops These Provinces have been Governed by several distinct Soveraigns as the Dukes of Brabant and Guelderland Earls of Flanders Holland Henault and Zeland c. All which by several Marriages of the Co-heirs for want of Issue-male at last devolved the entire Soveraignty into the House and Family of the Dukes of Burgundy the Male-line whereof expiring the Heir General Married with Maximilian Arch-Duke of Austria in the time of H. 7. and conveyed these seventeen Provinces to her Son Philip the 1 of Spain by Marriage with Ioan Daughter and Heir of Castile and Arrâ—…gon in whose Posterity they continue the Emperour Charles the fifth in his division of his Estates leaving these to his Son Philip the second who by the Tyranny of the Duke of Aâ—…va and the Establishing the Inquisition and a bloody Council like our High Courts of Justice contrary to the Fundamental Laws of those People so alienated the Affection of those Provinces that they the most of them revolted and being Headed and led by William Prince of Aurange Count of Nassâ—…n and a Feudatory Subject of Burgundy shook off the yoke of Spain and declared themselves a Free Estate for that the King of Spain had forfeited his Right Title and Authority over them The Wars thereupon are so famous both for the length vigourousness and policy thereof both in Battels and Seiges it becoming a Trade in which most of the young Gallants of all Nations were bred and also for the renown of those Captains Generals on both sides such as Prince William assissinated by a Bâ—…rgundian Prince Maurice and Prince Frederick Grandfather to this prince of Aurange on the Estates side who were mainly supported by the English and by their blood raised to this Grandeur and partly also by the French and Alexander prince of Parma natural Son to Charles the fifth and the Marquiss of Spinola on the King of Spains who by more moderation and Arms regained some provinces of the Defection but seven of them to wit Holland Zeland and â—…trecht and Overysel part of Brabant and most part of Guelderland and Zutfen could never be reduced but after a War of 80. years he was constrained to acknowledge them a Free State or Commonwealth now Governed in Common by the States General and in particular by the Estates of each individual Province This peace was concluded on at Munster in 1647. to the great content of the Spaniard who was embroiled in a fierce War against the French who therefore mightily obstructed the proceeding thereof but after this calm there arose such a Tempest at Sea that had neer sunk them to their former condition of the distressed Estates by a difference between the up-start Common-wealth of England and them concerning Traffique and Soveraignty of the Sea The usurping Protector after six terrible Naval Fights to secure his invasion of the Government granted them peace in 1653. which hath been better confirmed by our Soveraign Charles the second since his Restitution of which they seemed to be as exceedingly and pompously during his stay in their countrey just before his happy return as concernedly joyous Of the ten other provinces belonging to the Spaniard two of them Artois and Henault are conveyed and transferred to the French in portion for the late Marriage and a part of West-Flanders in which is seated that memorable and well fortified Port of Dunkirke at present acknowledgeth the Dominion of the Crown of England being put into English Hands during the Usurpation in 1658. after the joynt Conquest of it by their and the French Forces the same year Germany is one of the greatest Provinces in Europe and is in the midst thereof bounded on the East with Hungaria and Polonia on the South with Italy and Bolonia on the West with France and on the North with the North-Sea and with the Sea called Mare Balticum In the midst whereof lieth Bohemia wherein stands Prague where the Emperour commonly keeps his Court It is adorned with magnificent Towers well fortified and furnished with such a number
Arms of Alexander the Great till the time of Ismael some two hundred years ago justly as great as he considering the contemptiblenesse of himself and his Forces he drove the Turkâ—… out of all their Conquests and left Persia to his Successors an entire and Potent Dominion After many changes in his Line and Family it devolved at last to as renown'd a Prince as himself Sultan Abbas but infamous for his unnatural Fact He had a hopeful Son his expected successor of whom by the flatteries and surmises of some Courtiers being jealoused he resolved on his Death and communicated it with his command of Execution to his General and being by him bravely refused to another his Confident who likewise knowing the worth of the Prince offered his own Head in lieu of his with which not yet disswaded he procured one of his Chams or Commanders to perform the Fact which the Innocent Gentleman patiently suffered being as he was riding dragged off his Horse and strangled After the preparation of it the Tyrant was exceedingly sorrowful and going to the relief of Bagdat alias Babylon there besieged by the Turk after he had caused the Executioner of his Son to be put to death and was returning home in triumph he deceased declaring his Grand-son whom he had named after his Father Mirza Sefi or Sofi from whence the Modern name of Sophy to be his Successour and commanded his Death to be kept secret till his Inauguration This Injunction was duely observed and the young Prince after three dayes perswasion to get him from his Mother who feared the like Cruelty from the cunning Tyrant solemnly enthroned It was reported he was born with his hands full of blood but very true it was he dyded with them full in the year 1642. in the middle of his Age when he began to be more Considerate having caused by his Cruelties many of his chief Lords to revolt to save their Heads His Son Sophy Abbas now reigns in great Splendor at his return from Bagdat to his City of Issaphan he passed to his Pallace through the streets filled with Roses up to the Horses Belly and covered from the Sun by Carpets thrown upon Cords tyed from the opposite Windows where in the middle hung great wax Lamps and Candles which made an Artificial Day The Persian hath had a lazy Peace of late but a Rupture with the Turk or Mogul is to be expected for they are excellently active and indefatigable warriours As to our English Trade thither it is greatly improved within these few years from some immunities they have above other Nations traffiquing there by reason of the assistance the Persian had from them by Shipping without which he could never have taken Ormus the great Mart of the East from the Portugals in 1620. but for all that destructive kindnesse to our selves he hath saltered of his Articles and Agreement in delaying that money which he was to pay to the English East-India Company for the hire of the said Ships There is now two English Factories in his Dominions one at Gomeron a Sea-port and the other at 〈◊〉 oâ—… Ispahan aforesaid to the no less reputation than profit and advantage of the said Company and the whole Nation Natolia or Asia the lesse wherein is that part of Land formerly called Canaan by which lie the Arabians this Asia is a good and fruitful Country and hath been eminent in the true Religion for therein were written the most part of the New Testament It is almost divided from Africa by the Red and Mediterranean Sea and is now a part of the Turkish Empire The Body of this huge Empire is like a Monster that consists of several Heterogeneal parts and members It hath large Dominions in Europe larger in Africa but largest in Asia All which were meer Conquests scarce a Cottage belonging to the first Founder of the Ottoman Greatnesse who was little better than an unruly Shepherd from whom are lineally descended twenty successive Monarchs terrible to all the world being seated in the very midst and Heart of it Mahomet the Great became terrible by the subversion of the Greek Empire about Anno Christi 1400. when he took Constantinople and soon after that the Empire of Trebisand in Asia minor since which time Selymus the first conquered Aegypt and Selymus the second Cyprus to omit the seizure of Dalmatia and Epirus somewhat before Sultan Solyman perfected their invasions and secured their possessions in Hungary and made more absolute Tributaries and Vassals of the Princes and Waywods of Transylvania and Moldavia advancing his Ensignes and Infidel Crescents to the walls of Vienna but failed in his ambitious Design upon the Empire of the West After his Decease they stood at a stay not a Martial Prince succeeding till Sultan Morat in our memory whose assumption to that Imperial Turbant will not be unpleasant to relate Sultan Achmat a voluptuary and no way addicted to War deceasing about 1615. left behind him two Sons and a Brother of his named Mustapha whom contrary to the unnatural and cruel policy of that Government he had preserved alive though once over-perswaded by his Bashaws he had sent for him to his presence to strangle him and after his decease appointed him to succeed him but he being of a Bookâ—…h and Contemplative nature the Ianizaries weary of such a Log and idle Person deposed him and shut him up in a Prison and advanced the eldest Son of Achmat named Osman a Child to his Fathers Throne and being alike weary of him not onely laid him aside but murthered him and set up Mustapha again and then relenâ—…ing of their ungrateful dealing to Osman murthered Mustapha and proclaimed Sultan Morat Osmans Brother to be the Grand Seigniour He during these alterations and fatal changes was grown to discretion and perceiving that those Distractions happened through the head-strong insolency of the Ianizarics insomuch that it was verily believed by others that a period was near set to the Glory of the Empire after therefore he had as usually destributed his Donatives among them at his first Assumption and gained their affection He resolved with some private advice to be rid of the whole order and Militia of those Ianizaries and to substitute a new standing Force in their room In prosecution whereof he denounced a War against the Persian which hath alwayes been the Sepulture of the Turkish Infantry and against all disswasions marched to the siege of Bagdat where in several Assaults on purpose to put them to the Slaughter he had well neer wasted the greatest part of them when in the midst of his design and in the flourishing years of his Hope by over-labouring himself He contracted a Feaver and dyed but Victorious with the Fortune of Alexander who dyed at the Siege of the same place Being asked upon his Death-bed whom he would name his successour he started up and with indignation replyed what do you talk of Successors will there be any more Worlds when
part of the World The chiefest Cities of Asia with the Rivers THe chiefest cities in Asia which belong unto the Turks are in Anatolia Burse Chioutai Angoure Trebisond Sattalie the Rivers there most famous are the Rivers of Alie Iordan Euphrates and Tigris The most famous Cities in Syria are Aleppo Tripoli Damas Said and Hierusalem The most famous Cities in Georgia are Mosul Bagded Balsora Sanatopoli Stranu Derbent The most famous Rivers in Georgia are the Rivers of Fazze and Arais The most famous Cities in Arabia are Herac Ava Medina and Mectra the most memorable River is the River of Cayban The chiefest Cities in Persia are Tauris Gorgian Coysolma Hispahan Erat Sus Schirae and Ortmutz the chiefest Rivers are the Rivers of Tirditiri and Bendimur The chiefest Cities of India are Amedabath Cambaia Gouro Diu Bengala Pangab or Lahor Agra Goa Calicut Visnagor Pegu Arracan Malaca Camboge and Facfo the fairest Rivers in India are the River Indus Ganges and Mecon The most famous Cities in China are Paguin Quinsay Caneun Macao Mancian and Nagaia Hordo the greatest River is the River of Quinam or Iamsu Quiam The most famous Cities in Tartary are Zahaspe Samarcanda Thibet Cambalu Tatur or Tartar the chiefest Rivers are the Tatar the Ieniscoy the Oby the Chezel and the Albiamu The Isles in Asia in the Ocean are the Isle of Iapan where are the Cities of Bungo Meaco and Sacay The Phillipine Islands in which are the Cities of Lusor Manille and Mindanao The Molucco Islands in which are the Cities of Gililo Mucasar and Aquen Not far from thence is Sumatra and Iava where are the Cities of Candra and Columbo near unto it is Bornro Manur and Male. In the Mediterranean Sea there are the Islands of Cyprus Rhodes and Scarpanto in which are the famous Cities of Nicosia Famagusta Rhodes and Scarpanto In the Archipelago there are the Islands of Chios and Metelin which have Cities after their own names Africa AFrica the third part of the world is separated from Europe by the Mediterranean Sea and from Asia by the Red Sea she yieldeth Gold Balm Ivory Ebony Sugar Ginger Dates Aloes Myrrh Feathers also Madera the countries in Africa now follow Barbary is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea northward on the east with Egypt on the south with the Mount Atlas and westward with the Atlantick Ocean the Inhabitants are faithless crafty in promising and also in performing they are fraudulent covetous and beyond measure jealous of their Wives their Countrey yields Olives Figs Dates Oranges and a certain kind Goat whose hair makes a stuff as fine as silk This Countrey once famous for the strife of Empire with Rome while Carthage stood and after that for the Iugurthine War is now cantonâ—…zed and parted into several Principalities and as many Feuds betwixt the Kings of Morocco Fez Tuny and the Dy of Algier the King of Billedulgerid and others to one of which Sebastian King of Portugal being invited and inviting our Countryman Stukely and Glorioso to partake with him in the Enterprise in favour of an expulsed Prince were all three of them killed in the plains of Alcazar upon the Death of which Sebastian issueless hath risen a worse Feud then that he engaged in about the Crown of Portugal Some while before Charles the Fifth Emperour of Germany invading this Countrey took the City of Tunis and the Castle Guletto but the Turks coming with Supplies and the unagreeableness of the Climate to his Europeans joyned with the Witchcrafts of the Moors for which they are infamous made him quit his design and return home with loss Ever since they have continued their bold Depredations and Piracies at Sea countenanced by the Grand Seigniour who receives therefore or his Bashaws for him good part of the spoil Some kind of Traffique they use here but among such Thievish Companions it can scarce be call'd so though there are good Merchandises of the growth and Manufacture of the Countrey So that it may properly be said of this place what we have in an English Proverb Here is more Cry then Wooll more Complaint then Commerce the Captivity and Slavery of People and the Rapine of their Ships and Goods being the common Lamentation of all Christendom Our late General Blake terrified them into a better Comportment with the English by his noble and brave exploit upon Porto Ferino where he burnt their Ships and battered down their Stone Castles upon their Heads but no longer pipe with the Musick of the Cannon no longer would they dance to any agreement though they willingly subscribed then to those Termes Since the putting of Tangier into English Hands and the attempt made upon Algier the very Den and Nest of these Thieves by the Earl-of Sandwich they have again bethought themselves of the terrour and danger of the English Power and are agreed to new Terms This Tangier is a notable Fort in the mouth of the Straits and may serve as a Bridle to their Piracies There hath lately an Army presented it self before it under one Guyland and some Skirmishes have happened betwixt the Garrison and them but another Army coming against him he being but a Rebel to his Prince Cidi Ali Benbucar he drew off and is Marched to oppose him but what the Event will be will neither advance nor prejudice the English Interest though the King now rebelled against seemes to Court our Friendship Egypt hath Idumea on the east and the Bay of Arabia on the west Barbary Numidia and part of Lybia on the north the Mediterranean Sea on the south Ethiopia superior or the Abassin Empire It containeth in length five hundred sixty two Italian miles and in breadth one hundred sixty situated under the second and fifth Climates so that their longest day in Summer is not above Thirteen Houres and a half The air is very hot and offensive the soil is fruitful by the overflowing of Nilus it hath rich Pastures wherein they feed great store of Camels Horses Asses Oxen greater of growth then usually in most places else and by reason of the morishness of the Country they have also great store of Fouls it is furnished with great plenty of mettals some precious stones good wines and fruits as lemmons oranges pomgranets citrons figs cherries and such as these excellent both for taste and colour here grow the Palm-trees which alwayes grow in couples the male and female both thrust forth cods full of seed but the female alwayes fruitful and that not except growing by the male and having his seed mixed with hers the pith of these trees is an excellent Sallade better then an hartichoke which in taste it doth much resemble of the branches they make Bedsteds Lattices c. of the leaves baskets mats fans c. of the outward husk of the cod cordage of the inner brushes the fruit it bears is best known by the name of Dates which are in taste like figs and finally it is said to yield whatsoever
is necessary to the life of man it is the nature of this tree though never so ponderous a weight wereput upon it never to yield to the burden but still to resist the heaviness of it and to endeavour to lift and raise it self the more upwards a fit emblem of the resurrection The people are not black but tawny or olive-coloured they weep and mourn over the bodies of their dead daubed over with dung they hold it a great impiety to burn or bury them but having embalmed them they lay them in some inner room the men keep at home for the houshold business the Women follow merchandise and affairs abroad the men carry burdens upon their heads and the women upon their shoulders a witty and ingenious people the first Inventers of Geometry Arithmetick Physick Astronomy Necromancy and Sorcery yea they found out the very use of Letters The Christians among them differ from all other Christians first using circumcision with baptism Secondly conferring all orders under priesthood on infants immediately after baptism their parents till they come to sixteen years of age performing what they promised in their behalf to wit chastity fasting on Wednesday and Friday and the four Lents of the year Thirdly reputing baptism not to be of any efficacy except ministred by a Priest in the open Church in what extremity soever Fourthly and yet not baptising any children till the fortieth day though they die in the mean time Fifthly giving the Lords Supper to Infants as soon as Christned Sixthly contracting marriages in the second degree without dispensation Seventhly not observing the Lords day nor any Festivals except in cities Eighthly reading the Gospel writ by Nicodemus They differ from the Papists in these things first administring the Lords Supper in both kinds secondly with leavened bread thirdly admitting neither extreme unction nor the Lords Supper to those that are sick fourthly nor Purgatory nor prayer for the dead fifthly nor using elevation in the act of administring and sixthly accounting the Roman Church for heretical and esteeming the Latines no better then the Jews This Kingdom of Aegypt was a long while possessed by the Mamalukes a kind of Stratocracy or Army-power such as we had lately in England by Red-coats and Protector the Sultan was always elected by the souldiery who chose always one out of themselves the last of that Dignity was Tomombejus who being defeated by Sultan Selymus some 260 years ago was taken in Grand Cayro whither he fled out of the field and had made a brave defence by barricading the streets for three days He continued not long in a condition of Captivity for he was hanged at his Prison Door and exposed to the view of the Egyptians as a spectacle of the Vanity of humane greatness By this Selymus this Kingdom was reduced into a province where one of the principal Bashawes keeps Court in great state His Government being the richest in all the Turkish Dominions from whence yearly many ships lading of wealth is brought to Constantinople which is alwayes way-laid by some Gallies of Malta or Florence but of late years with little success they come so strongly guarded and if they fear any danger have all the Coast of Cyprus Rhodes and the Continent to Friend The Bashawes are sent thither as Spunges for when they have sucked an incredible treasure by pilling fraud and rapine they are sent for home and are squeezed to their skins which sometimes they are forced to part with to boot There hath been no change but of the Governours ever since the Conquest of this Kingdom which is usual with other Bashawes as namely those of Aleppo who do often rebel and threaten the Grand Seigniour so that at present the Egyptians continue in the same obedience and dumb slavery to which they have been so long accustomed changing in this Turkish Tyranny the names not the nature thereof from that they suffered under the Mamalukes Mount Atlas is a ridge of hills of exceeding height and of no small length it is above the clouds and is always covered with snow in the midst of summer full of thick woods and against Africa so fruitful that it affords excellent fruits of its natural growth not planted grafted or inoculated with the hand of man Lybia hath mount Atlas on the north by which it is parted from Barbary and Asrenaca on the east with Lybia Marmarica interposed betwixt it and Egypt and part of Ethiopia superior or the Abassine Empire on the south with Ethiopia inferior and the land of Negroes and on the west with the main Atlantick Ocean the countrey abounds with dates the chief diet of the people which commonly rotteth out their teeth their Goats they feed with the stones wherewith they grow fat and yield store of Milk the Air is so sound that it cureth the French Pox without any Physick the Inhabitants are base and vile People Thieves Murderers Treacherous and ignorant of all things feeding most on Dates Barley and Carrion counting Bread a diet for Holidayes their Garments of the coarsest Cloth so short that they cover not half the body the richer sort wear a Jacket of blew Cotton with great Sleeves they ride upon Camels without Stirrup or Saddle a Leather thrust through an hole made in the nose of the Camel serves them for a Bridle and to save Spurs they use a Goade their Religion is Mahometisme The land of Negro's is bounded on the east with Ethiopia superior on the west with the Atlantick Ocean on the north with Lybia Deserta and the south with the Ethiopick Ocean and part of Ethiopia inferior the Country very hot by reason of the situation under the Torrid Zone yet very well inhabited full of People and in some places alwayes grassy well watered specially where the River Nâ—…ger overfloweth well stored with Corn Cattel and Garden ware well wooded having store of Beasts wilde and tame they want fruit Trees they have both Gold and Silver Mines very pure the Inhabitants are of little wit and destitute of all Arts and Sciences prone to Luxury and for the most part Mahomeans Ethiopia superior is bounded on the east with the Red Sea and the Sinus Barbaricus on the west with Lybia inferiour the Realm of Nubia in the Land of Negroes and part of the Kingdome of Congo in the other Ethiopia and on the north with Egypt and Lybia Marmarica and on the south on the Mountains of the Moon it is in length a thousand five hundred miles in breadth half as much The religion of the people is they use to circumcise their children both males and females Secondly they baptise the males at forty and the Females eighty dayes after Circumcision Thirdly after the Lords Supper they are not to spit till the Sun-set Fourthly they professe but one nature and one will in Christ. Fifthly they accept only the three first generall Councils Sixthly their Priests live by the labour of their own hands for they allow them nothing nor
besides Malta In the Western Ocean the Canaries the Cape Verd and the Isle of Saint Thomas the chiefest in the Canaries is called Saint Iago and in Saint Thomas Panoasan In the Eastern Ocean there is the Isle of Madagascar or Saint Laurence and the Isle of Zocotora which hath a City after her own name America THE Vain and Ambitious lamentation of Great Alexander had he extended his Life to the same prodigious length as he did his victorious Arms might have found new Worlds to conquer when he might have past from his Conquest of the Sea of the East to the Shore of the West-Indies It hath been observed by those that have curiously calculated the rise growth and perfection of Arts and Learning that they have alwayes followed the fortune of Arms and Empire which having traversed the East and verged Westward to Grecia setled in the Roman Greatnesse among the rest of those Arts Astronomy and Geometry and the product of those Navigations have been by the Europeans highly improved who scorning the pusillanimity of former Ages that crept in their Vessels by the Shore have adventured into the dangerous Main and by skilfull presumption have discovered new Lands and so far advanced the knowledge of them by frequent Voyages that it is concluded so far as Sea and Land is passable there can be no other Countries undiscoverable Since which fortunate adventures the course of the World and Governments have been altered for Empire hath followed Arts to wit the discovery of those Treasures and Mines which innocent Nature had so long obscured and hidden from these parts of the World For the King of Spain being possest of these Mines as we shall see presently a wonder it is how formidable he grew and to what greatness he arose even to the aspiring ambition of an Universal Monarchy disdaining to be numbered the Fifth the other Four being indeed but partly so whereas this aimed to be one and all and Thomas de Campanella a Learned Iesuit hath written a very elaborate Tract shewing the means and feisible wayes thereunto The first Discoverer of this Fourth part of the World was Christopher Columbus a Genoese who having studied Geometry and been bred at Sea had more then strong imaginations that there were great and vast Regions to the Westward of Europe and thereupon communicated the Project to several Merchants who unwilling or unable to hazard so much Money as was requisite to such an undertaking advised him to address himself to some Prince whose Dominions were accommodated to the Design if it did succeed by whom he might be set forth upon the Voyage which he so importunately prosecuted as it is natural with all Men who fancy to themselves a single and sure way to Honour and Profit VVhereupon he addressed himself first to our King Henry the Seventh and laid open to him and his Council the fair possibilities of the Design and the advantages which would thence accrue to this Crown being so conveniently scituated for that Navigation King Henry heard him but gave little credit to his Discourses affecting a secure Exchequer which he had unknown wayes before to fill beyond the uncertain hopes of unknown Mines which like the Philosophers Stone might have no other existence than in projection He then made offer of this his service to Ferdinand King of Arragon and Castile a wise and prudent Prince who publickly weighing the small charge against the exceeding Honour and Gain consented to His desires and furnished him with fifteen Ships Men and Victuals for the Vovage giving him Commission and Authority in his name to pursue the adventure Our Chronicles indeed report that after this fruitless proffer which was in the year 1488. King Henry gavea Commission to one Iohn Canbâ—…t and his three Sons Sebastian Lewis and Santius Iohn and Sebastian setting Sail ranged a great part of this unknown Land in one thousand four hundred ninety and seven which Columbus had only touched in 1492 and it was 1498 ere he saw the continent Americus Vesputius came long after though the whole Continent at this day is called America after his own name This Sebastian discovered more than them all and was therefore Knighted by K. Henry the Eighth who made him grand Pilot of England with a pension of 166 l. 13 s. 6 d. yearly but the Spanish Seizure and Landing prepossessing the Countrey we got nothing there more then our pains for our labour till a great while after For it was almost 100 years after before we set footing in any part thereof The first that promoted it was Sir Walter Rawleigh in 1584. who with Letters Patents assisted by Sir Richard Greenvile great Unckle to the now Earl of Bath and other Gentlemen set out two ships from the Thames who in less then three Moneths time by an undue course to the Southward passing the Canaries fell in with the Coast of Florida and entring there into Harbour after they had sailed an hundred and twenty miles in sight of land they took possession of it for the Queens Majesty which from the tops of the Hills beholding the Sea on both sides they reputed to be an Island which they named Florida by reason of its flowery green soyl and flourishing herbage The Continent was then called by the Salvages Weganâ—…aca but afterwards upon the return of the Fleet Her Majesty was pleased to honour it with her own unmarried State and to call it Virginia the first Governour thereof being Mr. Ralph Lane Hither during the aboad of the English that were left while the Ships returned came Sir Francis Drake and seeing the men in distress lent the Governour and them a ship to carry them home The next were those in 1485 that came with Sir Richard Greenvile from Plimonth with seven sail who in a Months time came to St. Domingo in Hispaniola and within a fortnight after anchored at Florida and in 1586. Sir Richard Greenvile came again but the Colony he had left were all killed so he returned and sent Mr. White who made a successeful Voyage and was Governour there who returning into England and leaving another Colony they were all destroyed at his coming again which so dis-heartned all further undertakings that it was twelve years before another Voyage was begun under Captain Gosnol in the year 1602. who passing by the Azores made the Voyage shorter by 500. Leagues which was also seconded by two Barks from Bristoll 1603. and another from London 1605. But still no convenient Harbour for Ships nor Security for the Men that should stay there was yet found till the Arrival of Capt. Smith in 1606. Virginia is seated between the degrees of 34. and 45. North Latitude the Bounds thereof on the East-side are the great Ocean on the South lieth Florida on the North Nova Francia as for the VVest thereof the limits are unknown The English Plantations as they were in that year 1606. were under the degrees of 35 38. and 39. the temperature thereof
agreeing very well with the English Constitution The Summer is as hot as in Spain the Winter as cold as in France or in England The Heat of Summer is in Iune Iuâ—…y and August but the constant breezes at that time of the year do much allay its vehemency The extreme cold of the Winter is half December Ianuary February and half March The Winds are variable but no such Thunder or Lightning as in Europe all the varieties of needful Fruits which we have here may by the industry of men be in great plenty there There is but one entrance by Sea into this Country and that is at the Mouth of a very goodly Bay eighteen or twenty miles broad The South Cape is called Cape Henry and the North Cape Charles in honour of those two Princes The Land may have the prerogative over most places known for large and pleasant Navigable Rivers Mountains Hills Valleys and Champion Fields In the Bay which lieth North and South are many Isles both great and small the water floweth herein neer 200. miles and hath a Channel for 140. miles of betwixt 6 and 15 Fathom deep being in breadth some 10 or 14 miles The Mountains are of divers natures for at the Head of the Bay the Rocks are of a Composition like Mill-stones some of Marble c. the Colour of the Earth did in some places resemble Bole Armeniac Tirra Sigillata Fullers Earth but generally it is a black Sandy Mould In some places again fat slimy Clay in others a very barren Gravel The whole Country is neither Mountainous nor yet low but bestowed into pleasant Hills and fertile Valleys one prettily crossing another and watered conveniently with fresh Brooks and Streams no less commodions then delightful There is little Grass for all the Country is over-grown with Trees whose continual Droppings causeth their Grass to turn to Weeds by reason of the ranckness of the Ground which is now well amended by the Plantations The Wood is commonly Oake and Walnut many of their Oakes so tall and streight that they will bear two foot and an half square of good Timber for twenty yards long there is also some Ash and Elm Mulberries Chesnuts which taste like Damsons and Vines but they are wild and bear few Grapes There are also Gums Cedars Saxafras-Trees Berries Herbs and Roots Pellitory and Oranges For Beasts there are Deer Squirrells Beaver Otters Foxes Dogs Martins Pole-cats and Weasels For Birds there are all sorts of Hawks Partridges Turkeys Blackbirds Thrushes and divers of our small Birds In Winter there are great plenty of Swans Geese and such Wilde Foul as also Parrots and Pigeons For Fish there is Sturgeon Grampus Porcupisce Seal Mullets white Salmons Trouts Soales Plaise Herrings Pearch Crabs Stromps Eeles Lampreys Oysters Cockles and Muscles The Inhabitants differ much in stature but generally they are tall and streight they are of colour Brown or enclining to an Olive when at Age but are born white They are inconstant in every thing but what fear constraineth them to keep Crafty Timorous quick of apprehension and very ingenious They are soon moved to anger and so malicious that they seldome forget an Injury Their Buildings and Habitations are for the most part by Rivers or not far distant from some fresh Spring their Houses are built like our Arbours of small young Twigs bowed and tyed and so close-covered with Mats or the Barks of Trees very handsomly that notwithstanding either Wind Rain or Weather they are as warm as Stoves but very smoky yet at the top of the House they have a Hole to let it out The Men use Fishing Hunting and other Manly Exercises while the Women sow and reap and carry burdens and do all the Drudgery Their Chief God they serve is the Devil whom they call Okee more out of fear then love In their Temples which are Houses 60. foot high built Arbour-wise are placed the Images of their Devils and Kings and their Tombes They have a Chief and Inferiour Priests but keep no Day more Holy then another They use also divers Conjurations and have Altars but they stand from their Temples In some parts of their Country they have yearly a Sacrifice of Children Upon some conference with them concerning their Religion although they could not be perswaded to forsake their False Gods yet they did believe that our God as much exceeded theirs as our Guns did their Bows and Arrows Many encounters the English had with these Natives who by treacheries and open assaults endeavoured to disturb their possession but they were so frighted with the noise and so terrified with the Execution of the Guns that they were kept in some awe while Iames Town was finished which by the constant supplies sent yearly by the Council for Virginia was at last well built and fortified and pallisadoed and the Salvages awed into a good Comportment untill the comming of the Lord de La Ware just as through want the English were resolved to quiâ—…t the Country a little before which time as they had taken the same resolution Sir Thomas Gates and Sir George Sommers prevented them by arriving from the Bermudas where they had been in great danger by a leaking Ship His Lordship arrived the 9. of Iune 1610. accompanied with Ferdinando Waynman Captain Houlcroft Captain Lawson and divers others in three ships well appointed with a years provision who built Fort Charles and Fort Henry that were afore but bare Capes and soon after good store of Kine and Swine were sent by Sir Thomas Dale who was Governour after my Lord De la Ware was returned who built a Town called Henrico and portioned out the adjacent Country into Hundreds as also he built another Town and called it the New Bermoudas about fifty miles from Iames Town and the English Collony fell to planting their Corn about April every year every man having been allotted three Acres of Ground in the nature of Farms the first Farmer there being one William Spence who were to supply their stores for it with a small quantity of Corn yearly by which means it was wonderfull to see how in so short a time this Colony was thriven in its reputation But it advanced faster soon after by the means of the standing Lottery and a perfect peace made with Powhatan the King of the Country whose Daughter being surprised one Mr. Rolfe had married She proved a very good Christian and Vertuous Woman being Christened Rebecca They begun also now to plant Tobacco every year changing their Governour and had a dispute with the French in their new plantations A Convention also in the nature of a Parliament was called and several gifts to charitable uses for bringing up the Indian Children transmitted to the Governour and Council so that they were by the year 1620 in a very flourishing condition that year arriving no less than eleven ships and 1216 persons which were thus to be disposed 80. for Tennants to the Governors Lands besider 50. sent the
Spain or Portugal The mortality that happened there at our first Landing proceeding either from the griping Monopoly of some hoarding Officers or through want of timely recruits or through some fatal Conjunction of the superiour Luminaries It is by good Experience found to be a temperate climate for all 't is scandalized with the Fiction of the Torrid Zone the Heat in the day time being alwayes allayed with the Sea-Breezes which rise with the Sun and the Nights are by an interchangeable and never-failing intercourse refreshed with Land-Breezes Nor is the fertility lesse propitious than the temperature producing in as great abundance as any where in the Indies Sugar-Canes Tobacco Cotton Maez or Indian Corn Potatoes Yaums and Coco-Nuts the Earth continuing its Spring and being green and florid all the year long Here are store of Hogs fatned by what drops from the Trees whole Herds of Beeves which before they were frighted by our unskilful method of killing them by shot fed by 1000 in the Savana's or large Champion fields but now sculk in the Woods and Coverts and appear not but by night Here are also a number of wilde Horses well shaped and very serviceable being all bred of Spanish Gennets which may be bought for 3 l. sterling and will yield 6000 l. of Sugar at Barbadoes There are likewise excellent plenty of choice Timber Trees and Wood for the Dyers use as Fustick Brasiletta and Ebony and a kind of Logwood China Roots Gum Guaiacum Lignum Vitae Cassia c. There are also abundance of Cocoa Trees which the Spaniard reckons one of his chiefest Incomes which may be yearly improved There is one Rarity more which is the Alligator or Indian Crocodile some of them 6 or 7 foot long but they cannot hurt a man if he be aware of them their motion being slow and head and body must move together There are no Mines found out yet but they are not to be despaired of in the prosecution of the Plantation The English have built a new Town at Cagway point of about 600. Houses where at present the Governour resides having quitted the City of S. Iago de la Vega the Spaniards chief town which is seated in a pleasant Savana This City was some 30 years ago plundred by General Iackson who came with 500 men from St. Christophers and in spight of 2000 Spaniards in a readinesse to receive him and 7 Barricadoes such was the Mariners exceeding greediness of spoil forced the Town and plundered it and made the Spaniard give him a great sum to boot to spare it from the fire it had formerly 2000 houses and 16 Churches and Chappels and now but 600 Houses the Skeleton of two Churches and an Abbey Point Cagway is very well fortified and has Guns in it as good as any the Tower had there is also another Plantation of the English in one Regiment at Port Morant who have already made it considerable by planting several Commodities After Venables left the Island the Government was devolved to the eldest Collonel and afterwards Cromwel sent Collonel Brain to command them who died there and then it was conferred on Collonel Doyley who hath been happily active in promoting this Colony and is yet Governour till the Arrival of the Lord Windsor sent thither with a Patent from the King and Grant of the whole Island under whose care it is likely to flourish The King of Spain's Dominions in the West-Indies IT will be unnecessary and of no use to insist much upon the Countries subject to the King of Spain in America because we have no traffique in those parts the King of Spain forbidding and keeping all men from thence with as much diligent watchfulness as the Dragon did the Golden or Hesperian Apples With much difficulty he obtained his Mines severall supplies being lost and his Colonies ready to depart besides the frequent Fights betwixt themselves in point of private advantages several Governours supplanting one another by Tragical means the principal whereof was Columbus that successeful Captain Ferdinandus Cortesius Marquiss of the Valley Pizarro Almagrus Vasca and Blasco By Cortesius Atabalipa King of Peru was taken Prisoner in which are his Mines of Potossi c. Who refusing a dangerous peace offered by the Spaniard by the fortune of the War was made a Prisoner and for his ransome sending to his chief City of Cuscon and other places of his Kingdome filled his Prison being a reasonable Hall with Gold and Silver and yet neverthelesse lost his Life being strangled by the deliberate advice of his Enemies who substituted his Brother in his place The Indians upbraiding the Spaniard with their Cruelty and Covetousnesse and calling Money their God bidding them to eat it It is reported when they first entred the Country they shooed their Horses with Gold and Silver To our discourse this Countrey is divided into Mexicana and Peruana That part of America which is called Mexicana is divided into three several parts according to the scituation of the Land in Plains Mountains and lesse Hilly grounds Out of these Countries are brought over into Europe Gold Silver Bezoar and other precious stones Sarsaparilla and Sugar in abundance Brasil-Wood Cotton costly Plumes Jackanapes several sorts of curiously feathered Birds and many more Drugs and Merchandize We will run over only the several Countries and so conclude The first is the Island of Hispaniola famous for our Defeat before the chief City of St. Domingo though formerly sacked without much opposition by Sir Francis Drake It is seated in 18 19 and 20 degrees of Northern Latitude being 150. Leagues long East and West inhabited chiefly by Negroes which with the Spaniards make not in all above 500. the Commodities are Ginger Sugar Cotton Wool c. and Tallow and Hides 100000. yearly gotten of the wild Cattel which are the biggest in the World The next is the I le of Cuba lying West from Hispaniola 200. Leagues long East and West the broadest part not 45 the Commodities the same with Hispaniola the Land neither so pleasant nor wholsome In it is the Town of Havana in 22. degrees the great resort of the Spanish Fleet the Harbour strongly secured by two Castles Next Porto Rico 15 Leagues from Hispaniola 45 Leagues long East and West 23 broad then Sancta Crux in 16 degrees and a half the Virgins Virgin Gorda Blances Anagada Sambrito Angula St. Martins in 17 degrees and a half once possest by the Spaniards now by the Dutch as is Eustas likewise More Southwardly is Trinidado I le 50 Leagues long and 70 broad Margareta Tortuga Gardiner Caracute Calava and Tamasca On the Continent the Spaniard hath Florida which begins in 34 degrees the Gulf hereof is notable having two Entrances the one between Youcatan and Cuba where the stream cometh fiercely in the other is between Cuba and the Cape of Florida where it runneth more violently out New Spain Besides this Province of Florida the King of Spain in this Nothern America