A Geographicall Description Of all the COUNTRIES In the known VVORLD AS ALSO Of the greatest and famousest Cities and Fabricks which have been or are now remaining Together with The greatest Rivers the strangest Fountains the various Minerals Stones Trees Hearbs Plants Fruits Gums c. which are to bee found in every Country Unto which is added a Description of The rarest Beasts Fowls Birds Fishes and Serpents which are least known amongst us Collected out of the most approved Authors and from such as were eye-witnesses of most of the things contained herein By SA CLARKE Pastor of the Church of Christ in Bennet Finck London PSALM 104.24 25. O Lord how manifold are thy Works In wisdome hast thou made them all The earth is full of thy riches So is the great and wide Sea wherein are things creeping innumerable both small and great Beasts c. LONDON Printed by R. I. for Thomas Newberry at the three Lions in Cornhill over against the Conduit MDCLVII A GEOGRAPHICALL DESCRIPTION OF ALL THE COVNTRIES IN THE KNOWNE WORLD as also of the Chiefest Cittyes Famousest Structures Greatest Rivers Strangest Fountaines c. Together with The rarest Beasts Birds Fishes c which are Least knownâ— amongst vs. BY SA CLARKE R Gaywood fecit A Geographicall Description Of all the COUNTRIES In the known VVORLD The Division of the World THE Earth is commonly divided into four parts Asia Africa Europe and America Asia Described Asia is divided into two parts Asia the lesse next to Europe called also Anatolia or Natolia thus bounded Towards the West and North is Greece Full West is the Archipelagus On the East is the River Euphrates On the North is the Euxine Sea And on the South the Mediterranean This Country was once of admirable fertility affording all sorts of Commodities both for necessity and delight But for the sins of her Inhabitants it s turned into barrennesse having been so often wasted by the great Monarchs of the earth First by the Babylonians then by the Meads and Persians then by the Grecians then by the Romans and lastly by the Turks who have made such wofull havock that in it are to bee seen the ruines of above four thousand Cities and Towns the residue have lost both the names and memory of their Predecessors and the people are faln from the Knowledge Religion and Industry of their fore-fathers and for the most part are Mahumetans In this Asia the Lesse are contained these Provinces Caria Jonia Doriâ— Lydia Aeolis Phrygia minor and major Cilicia Pamphilia Lycia Bythinia Pontus Paphlagonia Galacia Cappadocia Lycaonia Pysidia and Armenia minor In Jonia stood Miletum where Paul Preached to the Elders Acts 20.17 and Ephesus In Lydia were seated Laodicea Thyatira Philadelphia Sardis and Pergamus In Phrygia minor was Adramitium mentioned Act. 27.2 In Phrygia major was Colosse to whom Paul wrote his Epistle In Cilicia was Tarsus where Paul was born In this Country feed those Goats whose hair makes our curious Chamlets and Grogerams falsely called Camels hair In Pamphilia are seated Perga Pisidia and Attalia Sea Towns Act. 13 1â— 14. In Lycia the cheif City was Patara In Lycaonia were Iconium and Listra In Pisidia was the famous City of Antiochia In Asia the Greater are contained these Countries Syria Palestine Armenia major Araâ—â—a the Happy Stony Desert Media Assyria Mesopâ—tamia Persia Chaldâ—n Partâ—ia Hircania Tâ—rtaria â—hiâ—a and India In Syria are Phaenicia Caelâ—syria and Syrophâ—nicia In Phaenicia are Tyre and Sidon Sarepta and Ptolaemais In Caelosyria are Hieropolis Damascus Aleppo Tripolis c. Palestine is in length two hundred miles in breadth but fifty containing Samaria Idumaea Judaea Galile the higher called Galile of the Gentiles Galile the lower wherein were Nazareth and Mount Tabor where Christ was transfigured Armenia major now Turkomania wherein was Colchus whence Jason fetched the golden Fleece Arabia divided into three parts Arabia Deserta where the Children of Israel were fed with Manna forty years Arabia Petrosa where Mount Sinai was and the Law given Arabia Faelix abounding with Spices and Drugges where Medina is the place of Mahomets Sepulchre Media where the fruits of the Country are said to bee always green and flourishing Assyria where Nineveh stood to which Jonah was sent Mesopotamia where was Babylon Persia a great Empire where the Regall City is Persepolis Chaldaea often mentioned in Scripture Parthia the Inhabitants whereof were famous for their Archery and opposition against the Romans Hircania which hath many Cities of note and abounds with Wine and Honey Tartaria formerly called Scythia whose Queen Tomyris overcame Cyrus and cut off his head They have neither Cities nor houses but live in hoards their Prince is the great Cham. China is a very great populous and fruitful Country and the Inhabitants are very ingenuous but it is lately overrun by the Tartars as you shall hear afterwards India through the midst whereof runs the River â—anges dividing it into India intra Gangem which lieth towards the West and India extra Gangem which lyeth towards the East The chief place whereof is Goa where the Vice-roy of Portugal resides The Islands of Asia the less are Rhodes over against Caria and Cyprus formerly consecrated to Venus In the Indian Ocean the Islands are very many principally Ormus Zeilan Sumatra Avirae insulae Bocuro Java major and minor Japan the Molucco's and the Philippine Islands which abound with Spices of all sorts Pearls and Gold whereof I will now give a more particular account Asia minor more largely described Cappadocia described Cappadocia called also Leucosyria and now Amasia stretcheth four hundred and fifty miles along the Euxine Sea bounded on the West with Paphlagonia Galatia and part of Pamphilia on the South with Cilicia on the East with the Hills Antitaurus and Moschius and part of Euphrates Here runneth Halis the end of Craesus Empire both in the site and fate thereof hee being deceived with that ambiguous Oracle Craesus Halin penetrans magnam pervertet opâ—m vim that passing Halis hee should overturn a great State which hee interpreting actively of his attempts against Cyrus verified it passively in himself In Cappadocia was the City of Comana famoused by the Temple of Bellona and a great multitude of such as were there inspired by Devillish illusions Not far thence also was Castabala where was the Temple of Diana Persica Galatia or Gallo-graecia hath on the South Pamphilia and on the North it s washed with the Eâ—xine Sea by the space of two hundred and fifty miles Sinope was the chief City Deiotarâ—s a famous King but Galacia is made more famous by St. Pauls Epistle written to the Church thereof Pontus and Bithinia now called Bursia hath on the West the mouth of Pontus the Thracian Bosphorus and part of Propontis Galacia on the East part of the Euxine Sea on the North and Asia properly so called on the South The most famous Cities in it were Nice wherein was celebrated the first General Council gathered
against the Arians Nicomedia sometimes the seat of the Emperors Apamia or Bursa nigh to Mount Olympus where the first Ottamans had their Seat-Royal and all of that race except the Great Turks themselves are still there buried Chalcedon builded seventeen years before Biâ—amium and the builders thereof are said to bee blinde which neglected that better seat Here was held a famous Council of six hundred and thirty Bishops against the Heresie of Eutiches Paphlagonia hath on the North Pontus on the East the River Halis on the South Phrygia and Galacia and on the West Bithynia Vetruvius tells us of a â—ountain here that seems to bee mixed with wine that makes drunken such as drink freely thereof Asia properly so called now Sarcum is bounded on the West with part of Propontis and Hellespont the Aegean Icarian and Myrtoan Seas On the South with the Rhodian Sea Lycia and Pamphilia On the East with Galacia and on the North with Pontus Bythinia and part of Propontis In which space are contained Phrygia Caria and both Mysia's Aeolis Jonia Doris and Lydia Phrygia is divided into the greater and the less called also Hellespontiaca and Troas The greater lyeth Eastward and is so called from the River Phryx which parts it from Caria Here stood Midaium the Royal Seat of Mydas and Apamia the Phrygian Metropolis Here also upon the River Sangarius stood Gordie where was the Gordian knot which when Alexander could not untie hee cut it in sunder with his sword In the lesser Phrygia stood the eye of Asia and Star of the East called Ilium or Troy destroyed by the Grecians after ten years siege the ruines whereof appear at this day the walls and decayed buildings entertaining the beholder with a kinde of majesty the walls were of a large circuit of great spongy black and hard stones cut foursquare the ruines of the Turrets on the walls are yet to be seen also great marble Tombs of ancient workmanship made Chest-fashion and their covers whole are yet to be seen without the walls Many great Cisterns made to receive rain water are yet whole The soil about it is dry and barren The Rivers Xanthus and Simois so much famoused are small Rivers which in Summer are quite dry Nunc seges est ubi Troja fuit Cyzicus was a City of Mysia wherein was a famous Temple whose Pillars were four cubits thick and fifty cubits high each of one stone the whole building was made of polished stone and each stone was joyned to other with a line of gold The Image of Jupiter within was made of Ivory crowned with a marble Apollo which City and Temple were swallowed up in an Earthquake and probably for their abominable Idolatry The like befel Philadelphia one of the seven Churches to which St. John wrote another City of Mysia and the like to Magnesia in the same Region A little hence standeth Abydus and over against it on Europe side was Sestus one of the Guards of the Turkish Empire he having built Castles there which are well furnished and the Straits not being above seven Furlongs over Here Xerxes joyned Asia to Europe by a Bridge for the transportation of his huge Army into Greece In Mysia also was that famous Pine-tree that was four and twenty foot in compass and growing intire for seventy foot from the root was then divided into three Arms equidistant which afterwards gathered themselves close into one top two hundred foot high Jonia is situated on the Icarian Seas over against the Isle of Chios wherein were ten principal Cities Miletus Myus Priene Ephesus Colophon Lebedus Teos Clazomenae Phocaea and Erythraea The Temple of Diana Described The Temple of Diana at Ephesus was one of the Worlds Wonders two hundred and twenty years were spent in the building of it It was built upon a Marish to prevent hurt by Earthquakes which were very common in those parts the first foundation was laid upon Coals the second upon Wooll It was four hundred twenty and five foot long and two hundred and twenty broad there were in it one hundred twenty and seven Pillars of Marble sixty foot in height and thirty six of them curiously wrought and engraven the works of so many Kings The doors of the Temple were of Cypress which after four hundred years were as fresh as if they had been new made the roof was of Cedar The Image which superstition supposed to have come down from Jupiter was made by one Canesia some say of Ebonie others of the Vine which had many holes made and filled with Spikenard the moisture whereof closed up the rifts It was inriched and adorned with gifts beyond value It was contrived by Ctesiphon and was seven times fired the last whereof was by Erostratus who did it to get himself a name Herodo Doris was almost surrounded with the Sea wherein was Gnidus a City famous for the Marble Image of Venus and Halycarnassus famous for Herodotus and Dionysius the Historians and for Mausolus whose Sepulchre erected by Artimesia his wife and sister was accounted one of the seven Wonders of the World Lycia is washed by the Sea for the space of two hundred miles In it Mount Taurus ariseth hence stretching it self Eastward under divers appellations to the Indian Sea Pamphilia beareth Eastward from Lycia and now together with Cilicia is by the Turks called Caramania Armenia minor which is divided from the greater now Turcomania by the River Euphrates on the East A more full description of the Countries in Asia major The Land of Canaan Described It was first called Canaan after that the posterity of Canaan the son of Cham had possessed it when Moses and Joshua had conquered it it was called the Land of Israel After the Babylonish Captivity it was called the Land of Judaea From the Philistines which inhabited the Sea-coasts it was called the Land of Palestine and by Christians since the Holy Land Adricomius which hath best described it makes it to bound Eastward on Syria and Arabia Southward on the Desart of Paran and Egypt Northward on Mount Libanus and Westward on the Sea From Dan to Bersheba its about a hundred and sixty Italian miles in length and sixty in breadth No Country in the world had so many Cities in so little a compass as this once had The Royal Cities in each Tribe were these In Aser Acsaph besides Sidon and Tyrus In Benjamin Bethel Gaaba Jerusalem and Jerico In Dan â—achish besides Eckron and Gath In Ephraim Gazer Samaria Saron and Tapua In Gad Rabba In Isachar Aphec In Juda Arad Beâ—eck Eglon Hebron Libna Mackeda Odolla Taphua In Manasse Dor Gilgal Jezreel Megiddo Taanac and Thirza In the other part of Manasse Astaroth Edri Geshur Machathi Soba Teman and Damascus In Nepthali Aser Kedes and Hemath In Ruben Heshbon Madian and Petra In Simeon Debir and Gerar In Zebulon Jeconan and Shimron Jordan is the chiefest River which at last looseth it self in the Lake Asphaltites but before that it makes many fruitful
Egg and growing till it bee eight or ten yards long their tailes are as long as their bodies their mouths and throats so wide that they are able to swallow a horse and man at one bit their teeth are engrailed they have no tongue and contrary to all other Creatures move only the upper jaw their bellies are penetrable their backs hard to bee peirced In the winter quarter they fast from food all the rest of the year devour their prey with much greedinesse sixty dayes passe before the female layes her eggs which are commonly sixty in number and shee is sixty dayes in hatching them and usually they live sixty years some call them Aligartos The Jchneumon steals into his belly and gnaws in sunder his guts whilst hee lies gaping that the little Trochil may pick his teeth which gives it feeding Java Major described Java the greater is an Island neer the Bengalan Sea in length four hundred and fifty miles in breadth two hundred and seventy the midland is for the most part Mountainous and ill peopled the Sea coasts low and populous yet unhealthful The Sea-coasts by reason of trade for Pepper hath well-built Towns especially Bantam Palamban Jackatra Japarra Tuban Jortan c. Bantam is the biggest City in the Island nigh two miles long It yeelds Rice Pepper and Cotton-wool though most of the Pepper bee brought thither by the Chineses from Janeby Borneo and Malacca Four Vice-Royes are under the Mattarans or great Kings command who is able to bring into the field two hundred thousand desperate slaves black but valiant the Climate is so hot that for the most part they go naked their weapons are lances darts arrows but especially creezes two foot long broad waved sharp and small pointed and basely poisoned the hilt of wood horn the better sort of gold silver or Ivory cut in the figure of a deformed Pagod They are given to murders theft Adultery deceit c. also Magick and Astrology delight them in which Satan instructs them the better to oblige them to his worship They are excellent swimmers they delight in hunting Tygers Ouzces c. They are friendly to the English especially ever since the Dutch took Jackatra from them Their Orankayes or great men are idle sociable but not to be trusted The Isle of Celibes Described Celibes is by some called Makasser from her best City in the Island Its oval and above two hundred miles long well peopled but with bad people It s fruitful though under the hotest part of the burning zone They are black naked only having a few plantane leaves tyed about their middles the better sort wear Tulipants and white shirts upon their coal-black skins The women are very immodest The men use long Canes out of which they can blow a little pricking quill which if it draw bloud in any part of the body it kills immediately so strong is the poyson The Molucco Isles described The Molucco Isles are five in number Molucco Gillolo Tirnate Tidore and Machan The English were the first Traders hither and the natives acknowledged our King their Sovereign though since the Dutch thrust us out as if all India was theirs by title from the Creation Gillolo is the greatest but in Cloves Mace Nutmegs Ginger Pepper Oile Aloes and Honey all of them alike plentifull The Bandaneza Islands Described Neer unto the former are the Islands of Amboyna Banda Puloway Pulerone Lantore Batan Labatacka Nero Ticobassa Cumber Salamo c. All of them especially Pulerone and Puloway seeming continued wildernesses of Nutmeg and Clove trees Pepper Vines and Olives These two last first traded with our Merchants and acknowledged fealty to our King James till the uncivil Dutch dispossessed us cruelly abusing our men and entitling themselves Lords of the Banda-Islands The Isle of Borneo described Borneo resembles an Oval shield and for the most part groans uâ—der the Spanish servitude It hath many villages and people which are great Idolaters It yeilds Mines of gold and Diamonds Bezar Musk Lignum Aloes Amber Sanguis Draconum VVax Rice and Rattoons Her chief haven Towns are Socodania and Bemermassin The Isle of Japan described Japan is in length six hundred miles in breadth One hundred four score and ten The best towns and Ports in it are Meacco Ozacca Tenze Firando Fuccate c. Macco is an inland City as big as Florence but not so beautifull Hath a sweet and large River low but comely houses abundance of stately Fotiquees or Temples full of guilded Idols called by them Mannada's The Government is Monarchicall above sixty petty Kings do homage to the Emperor whose frowns are worse than an ordinary death The Countrey is for the most part mountainous full of Rivers Trees Corn Grasse and Mines It hath plenty of villages swarming with Heathen Idolaters The people in the North and East parts of it are more savage treacherous idle Lascivious and awed by no Law malefactors they crucify The Civil Japonians are valiant courteous and great affectors of Novelties The best port in it is Ozacca strong and beautifull famous for its royal Castle varnished tiled and burnished over with pure Gold rich and Majesticall of excellent stone and well built the walls are every where twenty foot thick well polished and curiously cemented circled with deep trenches ful of water having above twelve Iron Gates with draw-bridges Fuccate is a pretty sweet Town well watered having a strong and defensive Castle It s environed for three miles compasse with spreading Sycamore Trees wherein are many small but richly-tiled Fotiquees or Temples in which they worship Pan or Priapus yea the Devil in his ugliest shapes In Meacco are seventy Temples wherein they number three thousand three hundred thirty and three little guilded Devils but more memorable is that in Meacco huge and wonderfull of guilt Copper Its posture is sitting in a chair seventy foot high and fourscore broad fifteen men may conveniently stand upon his head his thumb is forty inches about and his other limbs proportionable At Dabis is another of these Idols made of Copper hollow vast thick and double guilt his height is twenty four foot though formed kneeling his buttocks resting on his legs his arms are stretched out and sometimes making a fire in him they sacrifice a child which in his embraces is fryed to death with horrible torture The women of Japan if they want means to bring up their children most unnaturally deprive them of that life which not long before they had given them Their houses are most of wood because of their frequent Earth-quakes With them black is a feastival colour and white a Funeral They dye their teeth black Reproaches Thefts Peâ—â—â—ry and Dice-play is very hateful to them Herb. and Purch The Kingdome of China described China hath on the East the sea of Japan On the West the Deserts of Judustan On the North the Tartars On the South the Philippine Islands And on the South West Cochinchina Pegu with part of Siam
with pleasant houses At one end is the Mogols house and a Mohol most excellently framed the other side is glorious by a curious Mosque or Church ascended by thirty steps adorned with a brave gate the top is full of Pyramids the Court within is six times bigger than the Royal Exchange in London excellently paved with free stone the Iles are large and well paved the Pillars all of one stone and beautifull and affronting this Gate is a most sumptuous Monument covered with painting and Pearl-shell proud in the many Princes there buried Idem Candahor is seated in a reasonable fruitfull Countrey redundant in all good things yet by reason of so many Caravans passing and repassing from Lahore to Persia all sorts of provision is very dear and the passage much pestered with theeves the City is not very spatious but strong made defensive by many helps of Nature and Art In the South and East it s surrounded with an advantagious wall In the West and North with high and precipitious Mountains the Suburbs are large adding to the City both beauty and Wealth Idem Mandow is a City both antient and famous seated on the side of a lofty and steep hill and beautified with a strong and stately Castle encompassed with a defensive wall of five miles compass the City is very beautiful adorned with Temples in one of which are buried four Kings Palaces Fortresses especially with a Tower ascended by one hundred and seventy steps supported by Massy Pillars and adorned with gates and Windows very observable Idem Surat is at this day a City great famous rich and populous yet neither air nor soil agrees with strangers the one being extream hot the other sandy and sulphurious From June to September the clouds showre down continually unhealthful rains the wind and thunder so commixing that no place in the world seems more unhealthful It s counted the third best Town in the Guiarat Kingdome Amadavar and Cambaya excelling her It s watered with a sweet River called Tappee which arising out of the Decan mountains glides through Brampore and so to Surat It s circled with a mud-wall a strong stone Castle is built at the South-West side the River washing it the VVest opens into the Buzzar through a fair gate of stone The Medan is of no great beauty nor do the shops give any splendor The houses are indifferently beautiful some of carved wood others of Brick the English and Dutch houses at the North end excelling the other for bignesse and furniture adjoyning to one gate is a Tank of water made of good free-stone circling in above one hundred sides or angles in compasse near one thousand paces Agra is the navel of the Mogols territories and Empresse of India It s watered by the River Jeminey which from Delly glides hither and commixing with Ganges flows into the Bengalan Sea It s in shape like an half Moon the streets long and narrow and nasty of seven miles continuance part of it is walled about the rest ditcht Here the Great Mogol hath a Palace wherein are two large towers at least ten foot square which are covered with Plates of the purest gold Asmeer is seated upon an high impregnable mount the greater part of the City being below fairly built walled with good stone and moated about the Country about it is Champaigne and very fruitfull The Kingdome of Bengala Described Bengala is a very large Kingdome lying along the Sea-coast one hundred and twenty leagues and as much into the land It s watered by the River Cabaris called by some Guenga It abounds with Rice VVheat Sugar Ginger long Pepper Cotton and Silk and enjoyeth a very wholesome air Gouro is the Regal City spacious and beautiful and so is Bengala which hath given name to that part of the Sea called the Gulph of Bengala Chatigan is also another of their Cities The inhabitants are a most subtile and wicked people Men and VVomen given much to uncleannesse they never dress or seeth meat twice in one pot but every time have a new one Adultery is punished with the losse of their noses In this Country are many Rhinocroces It is now subject to the Great Mogol Cambaia described Cambaia is called also Gâ—sarat containing in length from the River Bate to Circam which is a Country belonging to Persia five hundred miles upon the Sea-coasts On all other parts it s invironed with the Kingdomes of Dulcinda and Sanga on the North Mandao on the East and with the Gredosians on the VVest the Sea and the confines of Decan being the Southerly bounds It hath in it sixty thousand Cities and villages It s watered with many Rivers whereof Indus is the chief which divides it in the middle arising from Caucasus and after a course of nine hundred miles at two mouths disembogues it self into the Ocean It s a fertile Country not inferiour to any other in India the earth and trees bring forth plenty and variety of fruits It hath store of Elephants precious stones Silk Cotton c. The people are of an Olive colour and go naked except about their privities They eat no flesh but Rice Barley milk and other liveless Creatures their chief Sea-Towns are Daman Bandora Curate Ravellum and Bazuinum and within land Cambaia Madabar Campanel Tanaa c. Cambaia being the chiefest situate three miles from Indus It s called the Indian Cairo having much trafick to it by Indians Portugals Persians Arabians Armenians c. The VVomen dye their teeth black thinking it a great part of their beauty and therefore alwayes go with open lips to shew it VVhen men die they burn their bodies and their wives dressed as for a wedding burn with them Six leagues from Decan is a Hill out of which Diamonds are taken it is walled about and kept with a Garrison Their Religion is partly Moorish partly Heathenish They have Hospitals for sick or lame Birds Beasts c. yea they redeem Beasts and Birds lives and if maimed or hurt carry them to their Hospitals In the high wayes and woods they set pots with water and scatter meat to feed them If they catch a Flea or a Louse they will not kill it but let it go and you can do them no greater injury than to kill either in their presence and if by intreaty they cannot perswade you to forbear they will redeem its life with mony They drink no Wine eat no Vinegar use water only they will eat no Eggs as supposing blood to bee in them they are very careful before they sit down that no living Creature bee under them Pur. Pilgrimage The Philippine Islands described The Philippine Islands were discovered by the Spaniards out of new Spain Anno Christi 1542. who in honour of their King Philip the second gave them that name They are many in number lying far into the Sea before Cauchin-China and Chambaia some of them are great and very rich in Rice Honey Fruits Birds Beasts Fishes Gold c.
stained with Hierogliphical Characters The Linnen being pulled off the bodies appear solid uncorrupt and perfect in all their dimensions whereof the musculous parts are of a brown colour hard as stone-pitch and hath in Physick the like operation only more soveraign To keep these from putrefactions they drew the brains out at the nostrils with an Iron instrument replenishing the head with preservative spices then cutting up the belly with an Aethiopian stone they took forth the bowels cleansed the inside with Wine and so stuffing it with a composition of Myrrhe Cassia and other odours they closed it up again The like the poorer sort effected with Bitumen fetched from the Lake of Asphaltites in Jury whereby they have been preserved till this day having lyen there for about three thousand years The Lake of Maeris described Maeris one of the Egyptian Kings undertook and finished that most admirable Lake which for greatnesse and colour is like a Sea It s about six hundred furlongs from the City of Memphis the circumference of it contains M.M.M.DC. furlongs the depth of it is fifty fathom or three hundred feet many myriads of men were imployed for many years about it The benefit of it to the Egyptians and the wisdome of the King cannot bee sufficiently commended For seeing the rising of Nilus is not alwayes alike and the Country is more fruitful by the moderatenesse thereof Hee digged this Lake to receive the superfluity of the water that neither by the greatnesse of the inundation it should cause Marshes or by the scarcity of water the earth should not yeeld her strength hee therefore cut a ditch from the River to this Lake fourscore furlongs long and three hundred feet in breadth by which sometimes receiving in and sometimes diverting the River hee gave at his pleasure a sufficient quantity of water to the husbandmen After the Kings name it s called the Lake of Maeris In the midst of this Lake hee built a Sepulchre and two Pyramids each of them of an hundred fathoms high placing upon them two Marble statues sitting on a Throne one representing himself the other his wife seeking hereby to make his memory immortal The revenews which came by the fish of this Lake hee gave to his wife to buy her unguents and ornaments which was so great that it amounted to a Talent a day For it was mightily replenished with fish of twenty sorts so that very many were continually imployed in catching and salting of them Diod. Sion Herod Barbary described Barbary hath on the East Cyrenaica on the West the Atlantick Ocean On the North the Mediterranean Sea and on the South the Mountain Atlas It s now usually divided into the Kingdomes of Tunnis Algiers Fess and Morocco It produceth Figs Olives Dates Sugar and horses excellent for shape and service The men are comely of feature of a duskish colour stately of gate implacable in hatred laborious and treacherous The women are rich in Jewels beautiful in blacknesse and have delicate soft skins The Kingdome of Tunis described Tunis hath on the East Cyrenaica and on the VVest Algier It containeth all that which the Ancients called Numidia antiqua The soil is fertile especially the Western part The Inhabitants are healthful seldome vexed with any sicknesse it s divided commonly into five parts 1 Ezzab in the East having many Towns and Regions in it 2 Tripolis where the chief City is of the same name and where the Great Turk hath a Bassa or Vice-Roy It s at this day a receptacle of Pyrats that rove and rob in those Seas Anno Christi 1551. It was wonne from the Knights of Malta by Sinan Bassa 3 Tunis where the chief City of the same name standeth near to the ruines of Carthage It hath in it about ten thousand housholds and many Temples and especially one of singular beauty and greatnesse Cairoan also hath been a famous City six and thirty miles from the Sea and one hundred from Tunis where is an admirable Temple built upon Pillars of Marble 4 Constantina having the chief City of the same name wherein aâ— eight thousand families and many sumptuous buildings a great Temple and two Colledges 5 Bugia which for one hundred and fifty miles space extends it self by the Sea side to the River Major the Principal City is called Bugia sometimes adorned with Temples Hospitals Monasteries and Colledges of students in the Mahometan Law There is also in Bugia Necotus a very pleasant City and Chollo very rich In this Country also is seated Bona formerly called Hippo where St. Augustine was Bishop The Kingdome of Algier described Algier formerly called Mauritania Caesariensis is bounded on the East with Tunis on the VVest with Fess and Morocco It hath in it five Principal Cities 1 Hubeda 2 Tegdenit 3 Guagido 4 Telesine which sometimes contained sixteen thousand families and is adorned with many beautiful Temples and hath in it five dainty Colledges curiously wrought with Mosaick work And 5 Algier The City of Algier described Algier is seated on the Mediterranean Sea upon the side of an hill whereby one house hinders not the prospect of another It s in fashion like a Bow the old Town is in compasse three thousand four hundred paces the Island wherein it stands is walled about except that part which is open to the Port and City where lately they have erected a five cornered Tower to secure both It s well strengthened with Turrets Fortresses and Bulworks without the Wall is a ditch of sixteen paces broad without the Town there are three Castles the Streets are generally narrow and in the Winter Dirty The Houses toward the street are dark but being inwardly built with square Cloisters it makes them light the roofs being flat serve them for galleries and Prospect In the middest is a well but the water brackish they use no chimnies but make fires in Panns The Kings Palace and great mens houses have spacious Courts with specious Pillars about and many by-rooms spread with Mats and Carpets their Custome being to put off their shooes when they enter Their houshold furniture is generally mean their common lodging is upon a Mat or Carpet upon the ground Pelts are their Nappery water their drink Rice with pulse their meat c. five Cisterns without the City supply them with water fetched in upon the shoulders of their slaves There are seven fair Mosques five Colledges of Janizaries where six hundred of them live together in one house One Hospital four fair Baths whereof two for washing with hot and cold water paved with Marble Two Royall Porches one of thirty six foot square with columes for the Janizaries and the other is before the Palace within the Walls are neer thirteen thousand houses many of them containing thirty Families and some more There are in all above one hundred Mosques besides the Oratories of Hermites Sixty two Baths fourscore and six Schools wherein children learn to read and write and a few others for
more upon the back than upon the belly They are very ambitious and good Souldiers knowing as well how to use a victory as to gain it and are more exactly observant of Discipline than any other Nation in the world The Kingdome is hereditary and for want of an heir male it falls to the distaff Granada which is bounded with Murcia on the East Andaluzia on the West Castile on the North and the Mediterranean Sea on the South The chief Cities are 1. Granata a neat and stately Town the houses being all built of freestone with curious workmanship It hath many wholsome Springs about it and is fenced about with a strong wall in which are twelve Gates and one hundred and thirty Turrets 2. Alamia famous for her Baths 3. Malaga whence comes our Malaga sacks 4. Almeria a great Port-Town 5. Osuna 1. Estremedura watered with the River Batis the chief Cities are 1. Merida 2. Guadaloâ—nal famous for her Mines of Gold and Silver 4. Gallicia a very mountainous Country In it the chief Cities are 1. Compostella in which is an University 2. Baiona at the mouth of Minius 3. Coronna called the Groine a place often spoken of in our wars with Spain in Queen Elizabeths time 5. Biscaie having Navarre on the East Old Castile on the South Leon on the West and the Cantabrian Ocean on the North. The chief Cities are 1. Tholosa 2. St. Sebastian 3. Fontaraby 4. Bilbo It abounds with good Wines store of cattel and the best sword-blades It s mountainous and woody out of the hills arise one hundred and fifty Rivers of which Iberus and Duerus are the chief It yeelds plenty of Iron and good Timber for ships They admit no Bishops amongst them and the women at all meetings drink first 6. Toledo the chief City is of the same name standing upon the River Tagus beautified with many Palaces of rare and admirable architecture and fortified with good walls on which stand one hundred and fifty Towers it s seated almost in the midst of Spain and is well inhabited by Noble men for pleasure by Merchants for profit and by souldiers it being garrisoned The Arch-Bishop hereof is the chief Prelate of Spain President usually of the Inquisition whose revenues amount to three hundred thousand Crowns per annum It hath in it an University 2. The next City is Calatrava on the River Ana. 3. Talbora on the River Tagus a very neat City 7. Murcia The chief Cities whereof are 1. Alicante whence comes our true Aliâ—ant Wine made of the juice of Mulberries growing here in great plenty Murcia on the River Segourg 3. Cartagena a brave haven upon the Mediterranean Sea 8. Castile bounded on the East with Navarre Arragon and Toledo on the West with Portugal on the North with Asturias and on the South with Andaluzia and Granada It s now divided into the new and old the Old is on the North side wherein the chief Cities are 1. Soria 2. Segovia famous for Wooll and cloathing 3. Validolid a neat Town and an University 4. Avila 5. Burgos 6. Salamanca the chiefest University in Spain New-Castile is on the South of the old The chief Cities are 1. Madrid the Kings seat and the most populous City in all Spain though it bee seated in a barren Country 2. Alcara de Henares formerly Complutum an University 3. Alcantara 4. Signeuca a small Academy 5. Cuenca nigh to which is the Escurial or Monastery of St. Lawrence built by King Philip the second A building of that magnificence that no building either in times past or present is comparable to it The Front towards the VVest is adorned with three stately Gates the middlemost whereof leadeth into a very sumptuous Temple and into a Monastery wherein are one hundred and fifty Monks of the order of St. Jerom and a Colledge That on the right hand openeth into divers offices belonging to the Monastery That on the left into Schools and out-houses belonging to the Colledge At the four corners are four Turrets of excellent workmanship and for height Majestical towards the North is the Kings Palace On the South part are diverse beautiful and sumptuous Galleries And on the East side sundry Gardens and walks very pleasing and delightful It contains in all eleven several Quadrangles every one Cloistered about Portugal described 9. Portugal hath on the North the River Minius On the South the River Ana On the VVest the Ocean and on the East Castile formerly it was called Lusitania The air is very healthful the Country for the most part is hilly and bare of Corn But it abounds with Hony VVine Oil Allom Fruits Fish white-Marble Salt c. It s in compasse eight hundred seventy and nine miles the length three hundred and twenty the breadth threescore the most firtile part is about Conimbria The people are excellent Mariners and happy in forreign discoveries The Rivers great and small are near two hundred the greatest is Minius full of red Lead and its navigable one hundred miles The chiefest Cities are 1. Lisbon upon Tagus famous for traffick It s seven miles in compasse containing above twenty thousand houses of neat and elegant building It s walled about wherein towards the Sea are two and twenty Gates and towards the land sixteen on the walls stand threescore and seven Turrets 2. Miranda 3. Braga 4. Conimbra a famous University 5. Porto At the Southern part of Portugal is the Cape of St. Vincent After the overthrow of King Sebastian in the battel in Africk where three Kings fell in one day there were divers pretenders to the Crown of Portugal and amongst the rest Philip the second King of Spain was one who made a shew that their titles should bee lawfully debated yet in the mean time hee sent an Army under the Duke de Alva seized on it by force and so kept it till within these few years the Portugals drave out the Spaniards as was aforesaid on a sudden and made the Duke of Bragance one of the family of the former pretenders King who keeps it till this day The King of Spain by the losse of it hath lost one of the fairest Diamonds in this Crown having therewith lost the East Indies and Brasile in the West 10. Valentia The chiefest City is of the same name situated near the mouth of the River Guadalander In it is an University c. there is nothing of note in this Country 11. Catalonia which hath Iberus on the South Arragon on the West the Sea on the East and the Pyrenian mountains on the North the chief Cities are 1. Gironne 2. Barcelona on the Sea a Town of good strength 3. Perpignan 12. Arragon is bounded with Catalonia on the East Castile on the West Navarre on the North and Valentia on the South the River Iberus runs through the midst of this Country The chief Cities are 1. Lerida an University on the River Cinga c. there is nothing else of note The Pyrenean Hills
on the East Laconia on the VVest Elis and Messina on the North Achaia propria and on the South the sea The chief Cities are 1. Psophis 2. Mantinia 3. Megalopolis And 4. Phialia here was the Lake Stymphalus and the River Styx whose water for the ill tast was called the Water of hell this Countrey was fit for pasturage and grazing 4. Laconia which is bounded on the East and South with the sea on the North with Argolis and on the West with Arcadia the chief Cities are 1. Lacedaemon once a most flourishing Commonwealth 2. Leuctra on the sea side 3. Thalana nigh unto the Lake Lerna and Mount Tenarus and 4. Selassia 5. Argolis which is bounded on the East and North with the sea on the VVest with Achaia propria and on the South with Laconia the chief Cities are 1. Argos 2. Micene 3. Nemaea 4. Epidaurus and 5. Nauplia 6. Achaia propria which hath on the South Elis Arcadia and Argolis on all other parts the sea The chief Cities are 1. Corinth at the foot of the Acro-Corinthian hills neer to the fountain Pyrene this City was formerly strengthened with a Castle which standing on the said Hills was called Acro-Corinthus and was impregnable Here lived Lais that famous strumpet that exacted ten thousand Drachmas for a nights lodging It s now called Crato and is a place of small note 2. Patras 3. Scycion now Vasilico and 4. Dimea The Country of Achaia described Achaia is bounded on the East with the Aegean Sea On the West with Epirus On the North with Thessaly and on the South with Peloponesus and the Sea thereof It s divided into seven Provinces 1. Attica 2. Megaris 3. Boeotia 4. Phocis 5. Aetolia 6. Doris and 7. Locris 1. Attica which hath on the West Megaris and on all other parts the Sea the soil is barren yet by the industry of the Inhabitants was made fruitful their current mony was stamped with an Oxe whence grew that saying of corrupt Lawyers Bos in lingua The chief Cities are 1. Athens once famous all the world over 2. Marathron where Mâ—ltiades overthrew the huge Army of Darius 3. Piraea the Haven Town to Athens and 4. Panormus 2. Maegaris which hath on the East Attica on the West Sinus Corinthiacus on the North Boeotia and on the South the Istmus The chief Cities are 1. Megara now Megra and 2. Eleusis 3. Boeotia which is bounded on the East with Attica on the West with Phocis on the North with the River Cephisus and on the South with Megaris and the Sea The chief Cities are 1. Thebes on the River Cephisus 2. Daulis 3. Platea 4. Leuctra where Epaminondas gave that great overthrow to the Lacedemonians 5. Ascra the birth-place of Hesiod 6. Cheronea the birth-place of Plutarch 7. Orchomenon In this Country are the streights of Thermopylae where Leonidas with three hundred Spartans slew twenty thousand of Xerxes his Army and were themselves all slain 4. Phocis which hath on the East Boeotia on the West Locris and Doris on the North the Rivers Cephisus and on the South Sinus Corinthiacus Here is Mount Helicon consecrated to the Muses Mount Citheron and Pernassus whose two-fold top kissed the clouds The cheif Cities are 1. Cyrra 2. Crissa 3. Anticyra on the Sea side where grew Eloborum that cured the Phrensie 4. Elladia 5. Pytho or Pythia seated in the heart of Greece Here the Amphictyons kept their Court. They were men selected out of the twelve principal Cities in Greece and had power to decide all controversies and to enact Lawes for the common good 6. Delphos where was the Temple of Apollo the most famous Oracle of the Heathens 5. Locris which hath on the East Aetolia on the North Doris and on the other parts the Sea The chief Cities are 1. Naupactum now called Lepanto where was that famous battel between the Turks and Christians 2. Ematia 6. Aetolia which is bounded on the East with Locris on the West with Epirus on the North with Doris and on the South with the Gulph of Lepanto Here is the Forrest of Caledon where Meleager slew the wild Boar and the Rivers Evenus and Achilous The chief Cities are 1. Chalcis 2. Olenus 3. Plurona and 4. Thirmum 7. Doris which hath on the East Boeota on the West Epirus on the South the Sea and on the North the Hill Oeta The chief Cities are 1. Amphissa 2. Libra and 3. Citinum Epirus described Epirus is bounded on the East with Achaia on the North with Macedonia and on the other parts with the Sea Here is the Mount Pindus sacred to Apollo and the Muses and the Acroceraunian Hills Here are also the Rivers Acheron and Cocytus for their colour and taste called the Rivers of Hell The Eastern part of this Country is called Acarnania the Western Chaonia The chief Cities are 1. Antigonia 2. Cassiope 3. Toronia These in the Western part and in the other 1. Nicopolis 2. Ambracia now Larta 3. Leucas 4. Anactorium and 5. Actium nigh to the Sea of Lepanto where Augustus and Anthony fought for the Empire of the world This Country was once called Molossia Here that famous Scanderbeg was King as also of Albania Albania described Albania hath on the East Macedonia on the West the Adriatick Sea On the North Sclavonia and on the South Epirus The chief Cities are 1. Albanopolis 2. Sfetigrade 3. Durazzo formerly called Dyrachium 4. Croya under whose walls Amurath lost his life Macedonia described Macedonia hath on the East Migdonia on the West Albania on the North Misia superior and on the South Epirus and Achaia The chief Cities are 1. Scydra or Scodra 2. Andaristus 3. Aedessa 4. Eribaea 5. Pidna upon the mouth of the River Alaicmon 6. Pella on the same shore and 7. Syderocaspae famous for her gold and silver Mines Thessaly described On the Southern part of Macedonia is Thessalia planted It s a fruitful and pleasant Country Here is the Hill Olympus upon which were the Olympick games as running with Chariots and on foot wrestling fighting with Whirlebats c. The reward of the Conquerors was only a Garland of Palm and yet highly esteemed by them Here also are the Hills Pelion and Ossa and betwixt Olympus and Ossa was that delectable Valley called Tempe five miles long and six broad so beautified with natures riches that it was accounted the Garden of the Muses The chief Cities are 1. Tricca 2. Lamia 3. Demetrias 4. Larissa both upon the Pelasgick Bay 5. Pharsalis nigh unto which was that great battel fought between Caesar and Pompey for the Monarchie of the world And 6. Pherae Migdonia described Migdonia is bounded on the East and South with the Aegean Sea on the West with Macedonia and on the North with Thracia Here is the Hill Athos which is threescore and fifteen miles in compass three dayes journey in height and casts a shadow as far as Lemnos which is forty miles off The chief Cities are 1. Stagira
Vallies and spreadeth it self into a Lake called Genazereth sixteen miles long and six broad environed with many pleasant Towns as Julias and Hippo on the East Tarichea on the South and Tiberias on the West made wholesome with her hot-waters But before it makes the Lake of Genazereth it makes another called Samachonitis it especially is filled with the snow of Libanus usually melted in the first month which causeth Jordan then to swell and overflow his banks which made Josua's passing thorough it at that time the more miraculous In Scripture it s called the waters of Merom The variety of fruits and other temporall blessings wherewith this Country was inriched are so fully set down in Scripture that I need make no particular mention of them What multitudes of people it fed may be taken notice of in those two Instances First When David numbred them there were found Eleven hundred thousand in Israel and four hundred and seventy thousand in Judah valiant men that drew the sword 2 Sam. 24.9 and yet Benjamin and Levi were not reckoned And in the dayes of Jeroboam 2 Chr. 13. Abijah King of Judah brought into the field four hundred thousand and Jeroboam eight hundred thousand and on this part were slain five hundred thousand all choice men which no history can match in any age or place of the world What then was the total number if women children impotent and aged men had been reckoned After the return from the Babylonish Captivity one third part of this Country was called Judaea to distinguish it from the other two Samaria and Galilee Galilee was the most Northerly confining on Libanus and Anti-Libanus towards the North on Phaenicia Westerly having Caelosyria on the East and Samaria with Arabia on the South Jordan parted it â—n the middest It was divided into the higher and lower Galilee the higher was called Galilee of the Gentiles containing the Springs of Jordan and those Cities which Salomon gave to King Hyram The lower was called Galilee of Tiberias that City giving name both to the Lake and Region in which Nazareth and the Hill Tabor were famous Samaria is seated betwixt Galilee and Judaea being much lesse than either of them Judaea is the most Southerly between the Mediterranean and Dead Seas Samaria and Idumaen Pliny addeth to these the Region of Decapolis so called from her ten Cities which were Caesarea Philippi Aser Kedes Nepthalim Sephet Corazin Bethsaida Capernaum Jotopata Tiberias and Bethsan called also Scythopolis A Description of Hierusalem and the Temple as they were when they were destroyed by the Romans Hierusalem was compassed with a treble wall on every side save only on that part where it was inclosed with inaccessible Vallies for on that side it needed onely one wall It was built upon two hils the one opposite to the other separated by a Valley which was wonderously replenished with houses One of these Hills whereon stood the upper part of the City was far higher and steeper than the other whereupon King David compassing it about with a Wall called it the City of David The other hill called Acra was the place whereon the lower part of the City stood And opposite to this Acra was another hill lower than it which at first was divided from it by a large Valley but when the Asmonians reigned they filled up this Valley and cut down the top of Acra that it might not hide the Temple within one of the vallies was Siloam a Fountain sending forth abundance of clear and sweet water The outmost wall by reason of the valley about it and the Rock whereon it stood was impregnable the rather because besides the situation it was built very strongly by David Salomon and other Kings A fourth wall was begun by Agrippa In humane reason had this wall been finished the City could never have been taken For hee began to build it with stones twenty cubits long and ten cubits broad so that it could neither bee easily undermined nor battered with Engines But hee built this wall but ten cubits high and then fearing lest Claudius Caesar should think that hee had a purpose to Rebell hee gave it over Yet afterwards the Jews raised this wall twenty cubits high made a Battlement two cubits high and the Tower three cubits in all four and twenty cubits high Besides upon the wall were three Towers twenty cubits broad and twenty cubits high built four square very strongly within these Towers were rooms for men to dwell in and Cisterns to receive rain-water The third wall had ninty of these Towers and between every Tower were two hundred cubits space The second wall had fourteen Towers and the old wall had threescore and the compasse of the whole City was three and thirty furlongs Between the North and the West-part of the City upon the outmost wall stood the Tower Psephina which was raised threescore and ten cubits high so that in a clear day a man might from thence discover Arabia and the utmost confines of the Jews even to the Sea Just opposite to this was the Toweâ— Hippicos built by Herod upon the old wall which for bignesse beauty and strength surpassed all others in the world It had four corners each of which was five and twenty cubits broad as many long and thirty cubits high and in no place hollow On the top was a Well to receive Rain-water twenty cubits deep On the top of all were Houses five and twenty cubits high divided into many rooms Above them were battlements two cubits high and Turrets three cubits high so that in all it was fourscore and five cubits high Hee built also a second Tower in breadth and length forty cubits and as many high in figure of a square pillar all solid and not hollow within And above this a Porch ten cubits high adorned with Turrets and Pinacles Over the midst of this Porch hee built another Tower distinguished into goodly roomes and sumptuous Baths and on the top it was beautifyed with Turrets and Pinacles so that the whole height was almost fourscore and ten cubits Lastly Hee built a third Tower which hee called after his Queens name Mariamne twenty cubits high and twenty broad all of solid stone and not hollow having more stately and magnificent lodgings in it than either of the former It was in all fifty five cubits high These Towers though they were very high yet by reason of their situation they seemed far higher For the old Wall whereon they were built stood upon a Rock that was thirty cubits high whereby their height was much increased They were not built also of ordinary stone but all of white Marble whereof each stone was twenty cubits long and ten cubits broad and five cubits thick and so curiously joyned together that every Tower seemed but one stone within the City was the Kings Palace surpassing all that can bee spoken of it and for greatnesse and curious workmanship may bee compared with any other in the world It
was invironed with a wall thirty cubits high adorned with goodly Towers round about Beautified with Houses for an hundred of the Nobility The variety of the Marble wherewith it was built was admirable all sorts being therein used though never so rare to bee found In every room also were many vessels of gold and silver and many Porches round about adorned with most curious Pillars There were in it very many pleasant walks adorned with all sorts of Trees and Gardens beset with Fountains that spouted up water on high and Cisterns beautiâ—yed with many Brazen Statues from which ranne out water continually The Temple Described The Temple was built upon a Rocky Mountain the plain on the top whereof was at first scarce big enough for the Temple and Court the hill being very steep But the people every day bringing earth thither at last made it plain and large enough and inclosed the hill with a treble wall which was a work passing all expectation to the effecting whereof many Ages were spent and all the holy treasure offered to God from all parts of the world The foundations of the Temple were laid three hundred cubits deep and in many places more The stones of it were forty cubits The Porches were double and every one was supported by many stately pillars five and twenty cubits high all of one peece of white Marble the tops of them were of Cedar so exactly wrought as astonished the beholders These Porches were thirty Cubits broad and the compass of all was six Furlongs The Courts were curiously wrought and paved with all sorts of stones Thirdly The way to the inward Temple was all inclosed with stones wrought like Lattice-work which were three Cubits high of curious workmanship to this second there was an ascent by fourteen staires and aloft it was four square and enclosed with a wall by it self whose outside being forty Cubits high was all covered with stairs to ascend up to it and within it was twenty five Cubits high At the top of the fourteen staires within the wall was a level compassed with a wall of three hundred Cubits which had eight Gates in it and between the Gates were Porches opposite each to other reaching from the wall to the Treasury supported with great and stately Pillars All the gates were covered with Plates of gold and silver only one was covered with Corinthian brasse which for beauty far excelled the other dazling the eyes of the beholders In every gate were two doores each of them thirty Cubits high and fifteen broad and on each side they had seats thirty Cubits long and forty Cubits high each one supported with two Pillars twelve Cubits thick Only the gate which was covered with Corinthian brasse was fifty Cubits high the gates were forty Cubits and it was more richly adorned than the rest Fourthly the Holy of Holies was situated in the midst of all and had twelve staires to go up to it The forepart of it was an hundred Cubits high and as many broad Backward it was forty Cubits on each side it had as it were two shoulders rising up in height twenty Cubits The first gate was seventy Cubits high and five and twenty wide and had no doores to shew that Heaven was alwayes open c. All the fore-parts were gilded and all wiâ—â—in was covered with fine gold The inward part was divided into two rooms whereof the first only might bee seen which was in height fourescore and ten Cubits in length forty and in breadth tvventy round about the wall vvas a golden Vine vvhereon hung many grapes in clusters all of gold every cluster being about six foot long It had golden gates fifty five Cubits high and sixteen Cubits broad It had curious hangings of the same length admirably vvrought vvith Purple Violet and Scarlet Silk all the fabrick vvas so exquisitely and richly vvrought that none could possibly imagine any vvorkmanship that it vvanted For it vvas all covered vvith a massie plate of pure gold vvhich dazled the eyes of the beholders The top vvas all set vvith rods of gold sharp like pikes at the ends lest birds should sit thereon and defile it The stones wherewith it was built were forty five Cubits large five in length six broad and as many long Joseph l. 6. c. 7. The City of Ninive described Ninive was first founded by Assur the son of Sem Gen. 11.10 Enlarged by Ninus the third Babylonish King The compasse of it was four hundred and eighty Furlongs or sixty four Italian miles the Walls were one hundred foot high and so broad that three Chariots might passe abreast upon them upon the Walls were fifteen hundred Towers each of them two hundred foot high It 's called a great City Jonah 3.3 It was eight years in building and there were never fewer than ten thousand workmen about it The City of Babylon described Babylon was founded by Nimrod Gen. 10.10 but enlarged by Semiramis who for the carrying on of that work drew together thirty hundred thousand workmen who in one year finished the Walls which contained in circuit four hundred and eighty furlongs or sixty four Italian miles They were two hundred foot high and fifty foot thick so that six Chariots might drive abreast on them The River Euphrates ran through the midst of it over which shee built a strong and stately Bridge of a mile long binding each stone to other with clips of Iron fastened with molten lead These Walls were one of the seven Wonders of the World It was built four square each side sixteen miles long scituated in a large plain Aristotle calls it a Country rather than a City and it must needs bee very great when some part of it was taken three dayes before the other heard of it It had a hundred brazen Gates and two hundred and fifty Towers upon the Walls for beauty and strength Semiramis built in it two Pallaces both for ornament and defence One in the West which was sixty Furlongs in compasse with high brick Walls and within that a lesse and within that a third wherein also was an impregnable Tower These were wrought sumptuously with Images of Beasts It had three stately gates and within the walls were game of Beasts of sundry sorts The other Pallace was in the East on the other side of the River containing thirty Furlongs in circuit Semiramis her Obelisk described Semiramis Queen of Babylon caused an huge Obelisk square and of the fashion of a Pyramid to bee cut out of the Armenian Mountains one hundred and fifty foot long and four and twenty foot thick which with much difficulty was brought to the River Euphrates and from them thence to Babylon where shee erected it to bee matter of admiration to future ages Diod. The Rarities in old Babylon described Within the heart of this huge and stately City of Babylon shee built a Tower reckoned amongst the VVorlds VVonders It had an hundred brazen gates and two hundred and fifty Towers
though the Plague rage never so much as many times it doth yet upon that very day wherein Sol enters into Leo which is usually the twelfth or thirteenth day of July it immediately ceaseth and all that are then sick amend and such as are then come abroad need fear no further danger The Turks call Aleppo Halep which signifies milk because it yeilds great store of milk It s usuall here with many Christians to take a woman of the Country provided shee bee not a Turk for its death for a Christian to meddle with them and when they have bought them to enroll them in the Cadi's book and so to use them as wives at bed and board while they sojourn there and then at their departure to leave them to shift for themselves and children Tripolis is a City on the main land of Syria neer unto Mount Libanus which is a Mountain of three days journey in length reaching from Trypolis to Damascus The Christians which dwell upon this Mountain are called Maronites they are a very simple and ignorant People yet civil kind and curteous to strangers There are now few Cedars growing here only in one place there are four and twenty growing together they are tall and as big as the greatest Oaks with diverse rows of branches one over another stretching strait out as though they were kept by Art There is no place in all the VVorld wherein they speak the Syriack tongue naturally at this day but only in four villages on this mountain which are Eden Hatcheeth Shany and Boloza Neer unto Tripolis there is a gallant plain of about a mile in length full of Olive and Fig-trees Scandaroon by Christians called Alexandretta is in the very bottome of the Straights The Air is very unwholsome and infects those that stay any time there occasioned by two high mountains which keep away the Sunne from it for a great part of the day the water also neer the Town is very unwholsome Here our Merchants land their goods and send them by Caravan upon Camels to Aleppo distant about three days journey Here are many Jackalls which in the night make a great crying and comming to a grave where a Corse hath been buried the day before if the grave bee not well filled with many great stones upon it they will scrape up the Earth and devour the corps Mr. Bidulphs Travels The Empire of Persia Described Persia at this day hath many famous Provinces subjected to her Command as Persia Parthia Media Hyrcania Bactria Sogdiana Evergeta Arâ—a Drangiana Margiana Paropamisa Caramania Gedrosia Susiana Arabia Chaldea Mesopotamia Armenia Iberia and Mengrellia twenty Noble Kingdomes of old The whole Empire is bounded East West North and South with India Arabia the Caspian and Persian Seas In length from East to West is one thousand three hundred and twenty miles and in breadth from North to South it s One thousand four hundred fourscore and eight miles So that the whole Circuit is about Four thousand miles the Revenues of the Persian King amount yearly to the sum of one million and one hundred and ninty thousand pounds sterling The Persians are usually big-boned strong straight and proper Of an Olive colour the women paint the men love Arms and all love Poetry No part of their body is allowed hair the upper lip excepted where it grows long and thick they turn it downwards the meaner sort reserve a lock in the middest of their head by which they believe Mahomet will pluck them up into Paradise Their eyes are black their foreheads high and their Noses hooked upon their heads they wear Shashes of great rowls of Calico silk and gold the higher the more beautiful They wear no bands their outside garment is usually of Calico stitched with silk quilted with Cotton the better sort have them farre richer of silk silver and gold their sleeves are straight and long their garment reaches to the Calf of the leg their wasts are girt with Towels of silk and gold very long next their skin they wear smocks of Cotton very short their breeches and stockings are sowed together from the ankle to the shooes they are naked their shooes have no latchets sharp at the toes and turn upward Circumcision is so necessary that without it none can call himself a Mussulman Both men and women use it the women at any time from nine to fifteen the men at twelve which was Ishmaels age when Abraham circumcised him whom they make their progenitor Their ordinary houshold furniture is a Pan a Platter and a Carpet their diet is soon drest and as soon eaten their Table is the ground covered with a Carpet over which they spread a Pintado cloth before each man they lay four or six thin Cakes of Wheat for every one a wooden spoon their handles almost a yard long and huge big mouthes Their only meat is Pelo dressed after diverse manners It consists of Rice Mutton and Hens boiled together to which they adde various sauces c. Their drink is Sherbet made of fair water sugar Rosewater and juice of Lemmons mixt together The chief Cities in Persia described The City of Lar described Lar is the chief City in the Province of Larestan It s not walled about In that Art is needlesse the lofty Rock so naturally defending her shee hath a brave Castle on the North Quarter mounted upon an imperious Hill not only threatning an enemy but awing the Town with her frowninâ— posture the ascent is narrow and steep the Castle of good stone the walls are furnished with good battlements whereon are mounted twelve brasse Cannons and two Basilisks the spoils of Ormus within the walls are one hundred houses stored with souldiers who have there a gallant Armory able to furnish with Lance Bow and Gun three thousand men The Buzzar or Market-place is a gallant Fabrick the materials a good Chalkie-stone long strong and beautiful It s covered a top arched and containing in it a Burse or Exchange wherein the shops are stored with variety of wares the walk from North to South is a hundred and seventy paces from East to West one hundred and sixty the Oval in the Center is about one hundred and ninety The Mosques or Churches are not many One especially is round figuring eternity in some places engraven with Arabick letters and painted with knots and in other places with Mosaick fancies It s low and without glasse windows woodden trellizes excellently cut after their manner supplying that want Here are the fairest Dates Orenges Lemmons and Pomecitrons in all Persia at easy rates you may have Hens Goats Rice Rache and Aquavitae The Inhabitants are for the most part naked being a mixture of Jews and Mahumetans their habit is only a wreath of Calico tyed about their heads a cloth about their loins and sandals on their feet the rest naked Herb. Trav. Shyraz described Shyraz is at this day the second City for magnificence in the Persian Monarchy It 's watered by
are large and pleasant The Midan is uniform and beautifull The Kings Palace nigh the market low built painted with blew red and yellow colours commixt with Arabick letters and knots in gold and azure The windows are spacious trellized and neatly carved Neer the Kings gate is a great Tank The Hummums or sweating places are many resplendent in the azure pargetting and tileing The gardens are pleasant for view and smell The City of Tauris Described Tauris was the late Metropolis of Media taking its name from the prodigious Mountain Taurus under which it is built the ancient name was Ecbatane when shee was farre greater than now shee is Strabo saith that it was fifteen miles in compasse the walls were strong and stately seventy cubits high and fifty broad beautified with many lofty Turrets and battlements within were many great and excellent Palaces especially that which was built by Daniel the Mausoleum of the Median Kings was most magnificent which remained undemolished till the time of Josephus That built by Darius was no lesse memorable most whereof was built of Cedar the roof studded and plaited with burnished gold At this day its about five miles compasse well peopled traded to from farre and neer The houses are flat on the top made of brick the Buzzar large and the gardens lovely The City of Derbent Described Derbent is a strong and famous Port Town upon the Caspian Sea viewing from her lofty Turrets the Armenian and Hyrcanian Territories as also Ararat and the sea It s circled with a strong high and defensible stone-wall above three miles in compasse The houses Hummums and Churches are but meanly beautifull the strong Castle Kastow is most observeable in it pleasantly and very advantagiously seated Hyspaan Described The City of Hyspaan in Persia was formerly called Hecatompolis by reason of its hundred gates It 's compassed with a strong wall and is in circuit as much as a man may well ride on horseback in a day it s a very strong City and is excellently watered with deep channels of running springs conveyed into it from the Coronian Mountains which are as a wall inaccessible about it On the North side is a very strong Castle which is compassed about with a wall of a thousand and seven hundred yards in compasse On the West side of the City are two Seraglio's one for the King the other for his women Palaces of great state and Magnificence the Walls whereof glister with pollished Marble and pargetting of divers colours and all the Palaces are paved with curious checkered work and covered with curious Carpets wrought with Silk and Gold the windows are made of Marble Porphery and Alabaster the Posts and doors of Massie Ivory checkered with glistering black Ebonie so curiously wrought in winding knots as may easilier stay than satisfie the wondering eye of the spectator Near the Palace is a stately Garden spacious and large beautifully adorned with a thousand sundry kinds of Fruit-trees plants and flowers of all sorts to delight the beholders There are in it a thousand Fountains and a thousand Brooks and as the Father of them all a pretty River which with a mild stream and delightful murmure divides the Garden from the Kings Palace Casan described Casan is the chiefest City in Parthia It is seated in a goodly plain having no Mountains within a dayes journey of it It wanteth neither Fountains Springs nor curious pleasant Gardens It aboundeth with all necessaries for the life of man It 's greatly frequented with all sorts of Merchandize especially out of India The Citizens are very industrious and curious in all manner of Sciences especially in weaving girdles and shashes in making Velvets Satins Damasks excellent Persian Carpets of a wonderful finenesse Here you may buy all manner of Drugs and Spices as also Turkesses Diamonds Rubies and Pearles as also all sorts of Silk raw and wrought For there is more Silk brought into Casan in one year than there comes broad cloth into London This City is much to bee commended for Civil Government For an idle person is not suffered to live amongst them the child that is but six years old is set to labour no ill rule disorder or riot is suffered there They have a Law amongst them whereby every person is compelled to give his name to the Magistrate withal declaring by what course hee liveth and if any tell untruly hee is either well beaten on the feet or imployed in publick slavery Casan contains above four thousand families the houses are fairly built the streets bee large and comely the Mosques and Hummums are curiously painted and covered with blew Tiles like Turquoises The Buzzar is spacious and uniform The Gardens abound with fruit and the fields with Corn The Carravans-Raw is an admirable Fabrick able to receive all the retinue of the greatest Potentate in Asia It was built by Saw-Abbas for the entertainment of Travellers on free cost The whole building is founded on Marble six foot high the rest of Brick varnished and coloured with knots and Phansies of Arabick characters in Azure red and white laid in Oile It s a perfect quadrangle each side two hundred paces long In the midst of this spacious Court is a large fouresquare Tank or Pond with Christaline water This Royal Inne is seated in the midst of fragrant and spacious Gardens Armenia the greater described Armenia Major lyeth on the farther side of Euphrates is a very mountainous Country hath part of Cappadocia and Euphrates on the West Mesopotamia on the South Colchis Iberia and Albania on the North. And the Caspian Sea and Media on the East One part of it is called Turcomania the other Georgia On the Mountain of Ararat in this Countrey the Ark rested and from hence the World was repeopled The chiefest Rivers are Phasis and Lycus which runne into the Pontick Sea Cyrus and Araxes into the Caspian Euphrates and Tygris which run into the Red or Persian Sea Tygris so called from its swiftnesse passeth through the Lake Arethusa yet neither mingling water nor fishes saith Solinus afterward it diveth under Taurus and riseth on the other side bringing much filth with it and is again hidden and again riseth and at last carrieth Euphrates into the Sea Mr. Cartwright in his Preachers Travels saith that these present Armenians are a very industrious people in all kind of Labour that their women are very skilful and active in shooting and managing any sort of weapon like the Ancient Amazons That their Families are great the Father and all his posterity dwelling together under one roof having their substance in common and when the father dyeth the eldest son governs all submitting themselves under his regiment after his death not his son but his brother succeeds and when all the brethren are dead then the eldest Son In diet and clothing they are all alike Media Described Media hath on the North the Caspian Sea on the South Persia on the West Armenia and on the East Parthia
Ecbatane was once the Metropolis of it twenty miles distant from the Caspian Straits which are a narrow way made by hand through the Hills scarce wide enough for a Cart to pass eight miles in length the rocks with their obscure frowns hanging over them and in the summer time multitudes of Serpents guarding them The walls of Ecbatane were built of hewen stone seventy cubits high and fifty cubits broad and sixteen miles in compasse Herodotus saith that after the Assyrians had raigned in Asia five hundred and twenty years the Medes rebelled chose Deioces for their King at whose command they builded him this royall City and in it a Palace of Cedar wood joyned with plates of silver and gold being a stately thing the whole compasse of it was seven furlongs Diodorus Siculus reports that at one time multitudes of Sparrows that devoured their seed forced the inhabitants to leave this Countrey and to seek their living in other places as Mice caused them in some part of Italy and Frogs that rained out of the Clouds made the Attariotae and Fleas chased away the Inhabitants of Myus How great is that God who of the smallest of his Creatures can muster Armies to conquer them that swell in the conceit of their own greatnesse as against Pharoah c. And how many Nations in Africa have the Grashoppers exiled from their native habitations amongst the Medes none might bee King except hee was in stature and strength more eminent than others They used to nourish Dogs with great care to whom they cast men ready to dye whilest yet breathing to bee devoured of them In this Country is the Lake of Van three hundred miles long and a hundred and fifty broad of salt water the greatest next to Meotis Gyllicus affirms that eight great Rivers run into it without any apparent issue to the Sea Parthia described Parthia is seated at the roots of the mountains having the Arians on the East the Medes on the West Caramania on the South and Hyrcania on the North surrounded with Desarts they used not gold or silver but only to adorn their armour they had many wives of whom they were so jealous that they forbad them the sight of any other man They performed all businesses both publick and private on horseback this being the distinction of free men from servants they buried their dead in the bellies of birds or dogs they were exceeding superstitious in the service of their Gods they were a stout unquiet and unfaithful people their fight was more dangerous in their flight than in their onset whence Seneca saith Terga conversi metuenda Parthi The Parthians flight doth most affright It s now called Arach Hyrcania described Hyrcania now Strava hath on the West Media on the East Margiana on the South Parthia and on the North the Caspian Sea It s famous for store of woods and Tygers Strava the chief City abounds with trafick for Silk Their Religion agrees with that of the Persians Arabia described Arabia is a very large Country lying between the Persian Gulph on the East and the Arabian Gulph on the West On the South is the Ocean and on the North is Syria and Euphrates It s usually divided into Petraea Deserta and Foelix The name Faelix or Happie is given to the Southern part from the fertility of it Petraea to a second part of Petra the Seat Royal Deserta or the Desert from the nature of it being a very barren soil Arabia the Desert is bounded on the East with Babylonia and part of the Persian Gulph on the North with Mesopotamia neer to Euphrates On the West with Syria and Arabia Petraea and on the South with the Mountains of Arabia Faelix neer unto which and Euphrates it hath some Towns which are frequented by Merchants In other parts it is unpeopled only by some roving Arabians wandering in it seeking pasture for their Cattel Arabia Petraea hath Syria on the West and North Arabia the Desert on the East and Arabia Foelix on the South some call it Nabathaea that part of it which is next to Syria is fruitful the other barren wanting both wood and water and frequented by wandring theevish Arabians In this Country it was that the Israelites wandred forty years up and down in their passage to Canaan Here is Mount Sinai a mile and an half from Horeb and far higher Sinai is ascended by steps cut out of the Rock and from the top of it may bee seen both shores of the Red-Sea Arabia Foelix bounds upon the former and hath the Sea on all other parts against which it doth abut for the space of three thousand five hundred and four miles It s now called Ayaman or Giamen It s probable to bee the Country where Saba stood whose Queen came to visit Salomon though the Abassines challenge her to themselves It hath store of Rivers Lakes Towns Cities Cattel and fruits of many sorts The chief Cities are Medina Mecca Ziden Zebit Aden c. Here is store of gold silver and variety of precious stones As also wild beasts of diverse kinds The Inhabitants use circumcision at thirteen years old after the â—xample of Ismael Frankincense grows only in this Country and not in every part but in one part only guarded and almost unpassable by Rocks the place is one hundred miles long and about fifty in breadth there are three hundred families appointed to attend this Wood who are called Holy and when they cut the trees whence Incense sweats which is in the Spring and Autum they must abstain from Women funerals c. when it s gathered they carry it on Camels by Sabota where they pay the Tithe to a God called Sabis They have in Arabia sheep with great tailes some of which weigh forty pounds some much more they kill all the Mice they can as supposing them enemies to their Gods the women cover their faces being contented rather to see but with one eye than to prostitute their whole faces They have also Balsom trees The Arabick language is now the most common in all the Eastern Countries especially amongst those that imbrace the Mahometan Religion Tartary described The Tartars inhabit a vast space of ground in Asia and are divided into many Tribes different both in name and government one from another The greatest and mightiest of them is the Crim Tartar called by some the great Cham that lyeth South and South East from Russia Their Arms are Bows Arrows and Swords they are all Horse-men and use to shoot as readily backward as forward the common souldiers have no armour more than their ordinary apparel which is a black sheep skin with the wool side outward in the day time and inward in the night with a cap of the same the Nobles imitate the Turks both in apparrel and armour In their wars they chiefly seek to get store of Captives especially of Boyes and Girles whom they sell to the Turks or other neighbour Nations they are most
of it no considerable party opposing them in their peaceable possession as you may read more fully in a book called Bellum Tartaricum The City of Quinsay described Quinsay was formerly the Regal City of China situated abuut the heart of the Country and yet not far from the Sea In it were to bee found so many delights that it seemed an earthly Paradise It was one hundred miles in compasse for the streets and channels thereof were very wide and the Market-places very large It had on the one side a clear lake of fresh water and on the other a great River which entring into many places of the City carryed away all the filth and occasioned a good air There were store both of Carts and Barks to carry necessaries It had in it twelve thousand Bridges great and small those on the chiefest Channels being so high that ships might passe under them On the other side of the City was a great Trench forty miles long large and full of water from the River which served both to receive the overflowings of the River and as a fence to that side of the City the earth that was taken out being laid as a bank or hill on the inside There are ten chief Market-places besides infinite others along the streets all of them square the square being half a mile on each side and from the fore part of them runs a principal street forty paces wide reaching from one end of the City to the other with many Bridges traversing of it and at the end of every four miles is such a Market-place There is also a large channel running over against the street behinde the Market-places on the banks whereof are erected store-houses of stone where Merchants out of all Countries laid up their Commodities being commodious to the Markets In each of the Market-places three dayes in a week was a concourse of forty or fifty thousand persons which brought in whatsoever was requisite for the life of man besides beasts and fowls of game Then followed the Butchers rows of Beef Veal Kid and Lamb Besides there were all sorts of Herbs and fruits and amongst them huge Pears weighing ten pound a peece and very fragrant Peaches yellow and white very delicate Every day from the Ocean which is but five and twenty miles off is brought up abundance of fish besides what the Lake and River yeeld All the Market-places are encompassed with high and fair houses and underneath are shops of Artificers and all sorts of Merchandises Spices Jewels Pearls Rice-wine c. Many streets answer one another in those Market-places wherein are many Bathes both of cold and hot waters and people wash every day before they eat any thing At the end of each Market-place is a Palace where Magistrates determine all controversies which happen amongst Merchants and others There are twelve Principal trades each of which have one thousand shops and yee shall see in every shop ten twenty thirty or forty men at work under one Master The Masters themselves work not but stand richly apparreled and their wives with Jewels inestimable their houses are well ordered and richly adorned with Pictures and other stupendious costs About the Lake are many fair buildings and great Palaces of the Nobles and chief men and Temples of their Idols and Monasteries of many Monks In the middest of the Lake are two Islands upon each of which is a Palace with incredible numbers of rooms whither they resort upon occasions of marriages or other feasts where are provisions of Vessels Nappery and other things kept in common for such purposes In the Lake also are Boats and Barges for pleasure adorned with fair seats and Tables and other provision for banquets covered over head within they are neatly painted and have windows to open and shut at pleasure Nor can any thing in the World seem more pleasant than from the Lake to have such a prospect the City so fully presenting it self to the eye with so many Temples Monasterys Palaces Gardens with high trees Barges People c. For their manner is to work one part of the day and the other part to spend in solace with their friends or with women on the Lake or in riding in Chariots up and down the City All the streets are paved with stone as are all the high wayes in China The principal street of Quinsay is paved ten paces on each side and in the midst it 's well gravelled with passages for the water which keeps it alwayes clean There are also multitudes of Chariots accommodated with cloathes and cushions of Silk for six persons in each of them and in them the inhabitants solace themselves in the streets or go to Gardens provided on purpose for their pleasure This City contains about sixteen hundred thousand housholds and together with the Country adjoyning yeelded to the King sixteen millions and eight hundred thousand Ducats of gold yearly besides six millions and four hundred thousand Ducats for the customes of salt Pur. Pil. v. 3. p. 98. The Great Mogols Empire described The Great Mogols Country is called Indusâ—an which for spaciousness abundance of brave Towns numberlesse inhabitants infinit treasure mines food and all sort of Merchandise exceeds all Kings and Potentates in the Mahomitan World This vast Monarchy extends from East to West two thousand six hundred miles From North to South one thousand four hundred miles It s in circuit five thousand It is bounded with the Bengalan Gulph and Indian Ocean On the South with Decan and Mallaber North and North West with Tartary and Persia It contains thirty seven large Provinces thirty great Cities three thousand walled Towns His revenues are very great He hath in continual pay three hundred thousand Horse and keeps two thousand Elephants at a vast charge his Treasurer yearly issuing out above forty millions of Crowns The names of the Provinces are 1. Candahor The chief City is of the same name It lies Northward and confines upon Persia. 2. Cabul The chief City is of the same name It lyes in the North West part and confines upon Tartary 3. Multan The chief City is of the same name On the West it joyns with Persia. 4. Hajacan It hath no great City It s bounded Eastward with the famous River of Indus and Westward with Persia. 5. Buckor The chief City is Buckor-succor Indus runs through it and much inriches it 6. Tatta The chief City is of the same name The River Indus maketh many fruitful and pleasant Islands in it the chief arm of it falls into the Sea at Synde a place famous for curious handy crafts 7. Sorat The chief City is Janagar It s a little Province but rich bounded with the Ocean on the South 8. Jeselmeere The chief City is of the same name 9. Attack The chief City is of the same name It lyeth on the Eastside of Indus 10. Peniab It 's seated 〈◊〉 five Rivers which all fall into Indus It s a great and very fruitful Province
and inriched more by trade from China seventy of these Islands are subjects or friends to the Spaniards their intestine divisions making an easy way to the Spanish Conquest They worshiped the Sun and Moon Now they have amongst them many Monasteries of Friers and Jesuites But the wicked lives of the Spaniards makes the Inhabitants abhor their Religion They carve and cut their skins in sundry fashions and devises all over their body The Island of Mauritius described The Island of Mauritius lies within the torrid Zone about one hundred Leagues from Madegascar It abounds with all good things requisite for mans use The land is high and mountainous the shape somewhat round in circuit about one hundred miles every where sweet and flourishing having an healthful air and the blooming fragrant trees abating the heat of the Sun besides the gentle Breezes moderating the weather There are delicious Rivers which make the Earth fruitful Infinite store of lofty spreading trees green all the year their boughs being never unapparrelled of their Summer livery The ground is ever spread with natures choicest Tapestry the mirthful Sun ever re-inforcing a continued vigor and activity Of the trees some are good for timber others for food all for use Here is store of Box and of Ebony of all sorts black white red and yellow the tree is high small and streight and the wood of such esteem that many ships come yearly to it to load with Ebony besides which there are Coquo trees Pines Ashes Cypresses c. As also store of rare fruits birds and fowl Hawks of all kinds Bats as big as Gos-hawks Passo-Flemingos Herons Geese and many others good in their flesh and excellent in their feathers Fish there are plenty as the Cow-fish Dolphins Abicores Cavalloes VVhale Porpice Grampasse Mullet Bream Trout Tench Soles Flounders Tortoises Eeles Sharks Pikes Crabs Lobsters Oysters Cuttle-fish Rock-fish and other strange fishes some like Hedg-hogs some like Cats others with bristles c. This Isle also affords Goats Hogs Beeves and land Tortoises so big that two men may sit on one of them and shee will go away with them Africa described in General Africa is divided on the North from Europe by the Mediterranean Sea On the South it runs on a point to the Cape of Good Hope and is bounded with the vast Ocean called there the Aethiopick Sea On the East with the Red-Sea and on the VVest with the Atlantick Ocean called Mare del Nort so that her longitude and latitude contains about four thousand and two hundred English miles It s much lesse than Asia and far bigger than Europe In most parts it s very barren and therefore hath no great plenty of Inhabitants It s full of sandy desarts which lying open to the winds and storms are often moved like to the waves of the Sea by which means Cambysis with his Army was much hazarded It s full of venemous Serpents which much endanger the Inhabitants besides other ravenous beasts which ranging about possesse themselves of a great part of this Country and make it a VVildernesse of Lions Leopards Elephants and in some places Crocodiles Hyena's Basilisks and Monsters without number and name for when for want of water Creatures of all kinds at sometimes of the year come to those few rivolets that bee to quench their thirst the Males promiscuously forcing the Females of every species that comes next him produceth this variety of forms Salust reports that there dye more of the people by beasts than by diseases And in the tracts of Barbary the Inhabitants every tenth fifteenth or five and twentieth year are visited with a Plague and with the French disease in such violence that few recover except they remove into Numidia or the land of Negros the very air whereof is an excellent Antidote against those diseases Their commodities are Elephants Camels Barbary-hoâ—ses Rams with great tails weighing above twenty pound c. Africa is divided into seven parts Barbary or Mauritania Numidia Lybia The land of Blacks Aethiopia superior Aethiopia inferior and Egypt besides the Islands Barbary hath on the North the Mediterranean Sea on the VVest the Atlantick on the South the mountain Atlas and on the East Egypt The Inhabitants are crafty covetous ambitious jealous of their VVives their Country yeelds Orenges Dates Olives Figs and a kinde of Goat whose hair makes a stuff as fine as Silk It contains in it the Kingdomes of Tunnis Algier Fess and Morocho Tunnis is famous for the chief City of the same name five miles in compasse and Carthage two and twenty miles in circuit that contended so long with Rome for the Monarchy of the world and Utica memorable for Catoes death there Algier contains in it a strong harbor for Turkish Pirates before the chief Town whereof the Emperor Charles the fifth received a mighty losse of ships Horses Ordinance and men Fess hath in it a City with seven hundred Churches one of which is a mile and an half in compasse Morocho where the chief City of the same name hath a Church larger than that of Fess and thereon a Tower so high that from thence may bee discerned the toâ— of the Mountains Azaci which are at one hundred and thirty miles distance Here is also a Castle famous for Globes of pure gold that stand on the top of it weighing one hundred and thirty thousand Barbary Duckeâ—â— Numidia the second part of Africa hath on the East Egypt on the VVest the Atlantick Ocean on the North the Mountain Atlas and on the South the desarts of Lybia It s called also the Region of Dates from the abundance that grows there The Inhabitants are very wicked stay in a place but till they have eaten down the grasse Hence there are but few Cities and those in some places three hundred miles distant Lybia on the East is bounded with Nilus on the West with the Atlantick on the North with Numidia and on the South with the Country of the Blacks It s so dry that a traveller can scarce meet with any water in seven dayes journey the Inhabitants live without any Law almost so much as that of nature The Land of Blacks or Negroes hath on the West the Atlantick on the East Aethiopia superior on the North Lybia and on the South the Kingdome of Manicongo The River Niger runs through it almost as famous as Nilus for her overflowing It yeelds store of gold silver Ivory and other commodities It hath in it four Kingdomes Tombuâ—o infinitly rich Bornaum where the people have no names proper no wives peculiar all therefore no children which they call their own Gonga the King whereof hath no estate but from his subjects as hee spends it And Gualatum a very poor Country Of this Land of Negroes one makes these verses The Land of Negroes is not far from thence neerer extended to th' Atlantick main Wherein the Black Prince keeps his residence attended by his Jetty-coloured train Who in their native beauty
most delight And in contempt do paint the Devil white Aethiopia superior or the Kingdome of the Abyssines Is bounded on the North with Egypt on the South with the Mountains of the Moon on the East with the Red-Sea and on the VVest with the Country of the Blacks The King hereof is called Prete Janny or Presbyter John they are mungril Christians The King hath under him seventy petty Kings which have their several laws and customes The Country yeelds Orenges Lemmons Citrons Barley Sugar Honey c. Aethiopia inferior is on every side begirt with the Sea except on the North which is bounded with the Mountains of the Moon It consists of five Kingdomes 1 Aiana which abounds with Gold Ivory Honey Wax Corn large sheep c. 2 Zanguabar in which is Mosambique 3 Monomopata wherein are plenty of Gold Mines The King is served with great pomp and hath a guard of two hundred Mastiffs 4 Cafraria in which is the cape of Good hope alwayes stormy to the Spaniards whence one was very angry with God for suffering the English Hereticks to passe by it so easily and not giving his good Catholicks the like speed 5 Manicongo where in many parts the Inhabitants are men-eaters selling such flesh in their Shambles Egypt hath on the East the Red-Sea on the VVest Barbary on the North the Mediterranean and Aethiopia superior on the South It was called the Granary of the VVorld for though it hath rain but seldome yet Nilus overflowing makes it very fruitful the chief Cities are Grand Cairo and Alexandria see afterward a more full discription of it The Islands belonging to Africa Described The Atlantick Islands are 1. that of Saint Thomas lying directly under the Aequinoctiall line inhabited by the Portugalls and yeilding plenty of Sugar 2. Prince Island lying between the Aequator and Tropick of Capricorn a fertile place 3. The Gorgades being nine in number lying neer to Cape Virde they abound in Goats and the chief of them is called St. James 4. The Canaries for their fruitfulnesse called The fortunate Islands they are seven in number the cheif is called the Grand Canary they yeild excellent wines 5. The Hesperides not far from the Gorgades where the soil is very fruitful the weather continually fair and the air very temperate The Aethiopick Islands are 1. The Island of Saint Laurence or Madagascar which is four thousand miles in compasse and longer than Italy rich in all commodities for mans use The people are very barbarous and most of them black yet there is some white amongst them supposed to bee transplanted out of China 2. Socatrina or Socotera which lyes at the mouth of the Red-sea and is sixty miles in length and twenty five in breadth It s very dry and barren yet hath diverse good drugs in it From thence cometh our Aloes Socotrina The Principal Countries in Africa more largely Described Africa is usually divided into 1 Egypt 2 Barbary 3 Numidia 4 Lybia 5 The land of Negro's 6 Aethiopia interior 7 Aethiopia exterior 8 And the Islands as was aforesaid A more full Description of Egypt This Country of Egypt containeth in length from Siene to the Mediterranean Sea five hundred sixty and two miles and in breadth from Rosetta to Damietta above one hundred and forty miles yet in some places it s not above thirty seven miles broad The Inhabitants are tawny and brown From its fruitfulnesse it was called Horreum Populi Romani The Roman Granary where Lucan saith The Earth content with its own wealth doth crave No forreign Marts nor Jove himself they have There hopes alone in Nilus fruitful wave Dr. Heilen This Nilus is divided towards the Sea into seven Channels It swelleth above its banks by the space of forty days beginning upon the 15th day of June and is forty days more decreasing and returning into its banks During this inundation the Cattle live on hills and in the Towns unto which they are aforehand driven and foddered till the return of the water into its Channel The Towns and Villages stand all upon tops of hills and in the time of the flood appear like so many Islands and the people by boats have free intercourse all the while In the mud left upon the fields are many creatures ingendred by the heat of the Sun Whence Ovid And when the seven mouth'd Nile the fields forsakes And to his ancient Channel him betakes The tillers of the ground live creatures find Of sundry shapes int h ' mud that 's left behind Dr. Heilen This River is almost three thousand miles long and being the only River of Egypt affords the only drink to the Egyptians and indeed it s very good water The Paper made of Sedges called Papiri growing by this River afforded Ptolemy Philadelphus materials for Books in that brave Library of Alexandria but understanding that Attalus King of Pergamus used this Egyptian Paper for to exceed him in another Library hee prohibited the carrying of it out of Egypt whereupon Attalus invented Parchment called from his City Pergamena and before these inventions they wrote either on the inside of the bark of a tree called Liber whence wee call our Books Libri Or on Tables made of wood called Caudex whence came our Codex Or on Tables covered over with wax whence Tabellarius is a letter Carryer and the pin which they wrote with was called Stylus which was afterwards used for that peculiar phrase used by any as Negligens Stylus exercitatus Stylus Sometimes they wrote in leaves as the Sybils did their Prophesies called Sybillae folia whence we call it a leaf of paper Pharos is a little Island over against Alexandria in which Ptolemaeus Philadelphus built a watch-tower for the benefit of Saylors the chief workman was Sostratus of Gnidos It was all of white Marble of a wonderfull height ascended by degrees and in the top were many Lanthorns with lights in the night to direct those that travelled by Sea for the admirable structure it was counted one of the wonders of the world The chief Cities in Egypt described The Grand Cairo described The Grand Cairo in Egypt is accounted one of the greatest Cities in the world It is situated upon a most beautiful plain neer unto a certain Mountain called Mucatun about two miles from the River Nilus It 's invirond with stately walls and fortified with Iron Gates In it are built most stately and admirable Palaces and Colledges and most sumptuous Temples There are also many Bath stoves very artificially built It aboundeth with all sorts of Merchandise out of all parts of the World There is in it a famous Burse Exchange called Canen Halili wherein the Persian Merchants dwell It 's built very stately in the manner of a King's Palace of three stories high Beneath it are many rooms whither Merchants resort for the exchange of their costly wares as all sorts of Spices precious stones Cloth of India c. There is also a stately Hospital the yearly
revenues whereof amount to two hundred thousand peices of gold called Saraffi The Suburbs are very large wherein also are many stately buildings especially a Colledge being of a wonderful height and great strength Besides many other Palaces Colledges and Temples Here they have great store of poultry For in certain Ovens built upon sundry lofts they put abundance of Eggs which Ovens being kept in a moderate heat will in seven days hatch all those eggs into chickens P. Pil. There are in it eighteen thousand streets It is so populous that its reputed in very good health if there dye but a thousand a day or thirty hundred thousand in a year I mean when the Plague which comes once in seven years is amongst them Heil In one of the streets are about threescore Cooks shops then follow othâ—r shops wherein are to bee sold delicate waters and drinks made of all kinds of fruits which are kept charily in fine vessels next to these are shops where diverse confections of honey and Sugar like to ours in Europe are to bee sold Then follow the Fruiterers shops who have out-Landish fruits out of Syria as Quinces Pomgranats c. Next to them are shops wherein they sell Eggs Cheese and Pancakes fryed with Oyle Next is a street wherein all manner of Artificers dwell Then there are diverse ranks of Drapers shops In the first rank they sell excellent fine linnen fine cloth of Cotton and cloth called Mosal of a marvellous breadth and finenesse whereof the greatest persons make shirts and scarfs to wear upon their Tulipants Then are Mercers shops wherein they sell Silks Damask Cloth of Gold and Velvet brought out of Italy The next are woollen Drapers with all sorts of European cloth next of all are store of Chamblets to bee sold. At the gate of Zuaila dwell great store of Artificers Next to the forenamed Burse is a street of shops where are all kind of Perfumes as Civet Musk Ambergreece c. Next follows the street of Paper Merchants with most excellent smooth Paper There are also to bee sold pretious stones and Jewels of great value which the Brokers carry from shop to shop Then come you to the Gold-Smiths street inhabited mostly by Jews who deal in rich commodities Then are there Upholsters and Brokers who sell apparel and rich furniture at the second hand as Cloaks Coats Nappery c. It hath many large Suburbs as that of Bed Zuaila containing about twelve thousand Families being a mile and an half in length The Suburb called Gemâ—li Tailon adorned with a most admirable Palace and sumptuous Temple where also dwell great store of Merchants and Artificers The Suburb called Bell Elloch containing neer three thousand Families inhabited by Merchants and Artizans of diverse sorts there is also a great Palace and a stately Colledge Here are many stage-players and such as teach Camels Asses and Dogs to dance very delightful to behold The Suburb Bulach upon the Bank of Nilus containes four thousand Families here are many Artificers and Merchants especially such as sell Corn Oyle Sugar c. It s also full of stately Temples Colledges and Hospitalls under this Suburb you may sometimes see above a thousand Barks upon the River The Suburb of Caresa contains about two thousand Families Here are many Sepulchers built with high and stately vaults and Arches adorned within with diverse Emblems and colours the pavement spread with sumptuous and rich Carpets The Inhabitants of Cairo in the Winter time wear garments of cloth lined with Cotton In the summer they wear fine shirts over which some have linnen garments curiously wrought with silk others wear Chamblet and great Turbants on their heads covered with cloth of India The women go in costly attire having on their foreheads frontlets and about their necks chains of Pearl on their heads they wear a sharp and slender Bonnet about a span high very pretious and rich their Gowns are of woollen cloth with strait sleeves curiously imbroidered with needle work over which they cast veils of excellent fine cloth of India their faces are covered with a black scarff on their feet they wear fine shooes or Pantoffles c. The City of Alexandria described The great City of Alexandria was founded by Alexander the great not without the advise of most famous and skilful Architects upon a beautiful point of land stretching into the Mediterranean Sea being distant forty miles Westward from Nilus It was most sumptuously and strongly built four square with four Gates for entrance One on the East-side towards Nilus Another on the South towards the Lake of Buchaira the third Westward towards the Desert of Barca and the fourth towards the Haven Neer unto the City walls are two other gates which are divided asunder by a fair walk and a most impregnable Castle which stands upon the Wharf in which Port the best ships out of these parts of the World ride Here the Christians pay a tenth of all their wares whereas the Mahometans pay but a twentieth part At this time that part of the City that lyes towards Cairo is best inhabited and furnished with Merchandize and so is the other part that lies next to the Haven under each house in the City is a great vaulted Cistern built upon mighty Pillars and Arches whereinto at the overflowing of Nilus the water is conveyed under the City walls by a most artificiall Sluce that stands without them The City stands in a sandy Desert so that its destitute of Gardens Vines and Corn but what is brought from places at forty miles distance The City of Rosetto Described Rosetto was built by a Slave to one of the Mahometan Governours upon the Eastern bank of Nilus three miles from the Mediterranean Sea and not far from the place where Nilus emptieth it self into the sea In it is a stately Bath-stove having fountains both of cold and hot water belonging thereunto The City of Thebe Described Thebe at this present contains but about three hundred Families â— but the buildings are very stately and sumptuous It abounds with Corn Rice and Sugar with a certain fruit of a most excellent tast called Muse It hath in it great store of Merchants and Artificers The Countrey about it abounds with Date-trees which grow so thick that a man cannot see the City till hee comes neer the Walls Here grow also store of Grapes Figs and Peaches Over against the City the River of Nilus makes an Isle which standing high brings forth all sorts of fruits but Olives The City of Chanca described The great City of Chanca is about six miles from Cairo at the very entrance into the Desert through which is the way to Mount Sinai It s replenished with most stately houses Temples and Colledges All the fields between Cairo and it are full of Dates From Chanca to Mount Sinai are one hundred and forty miles in all which way there is no habitation Through this City lye the two main roads one leading to Syria
no other Town within three hundred miles of it In this Country are abundance of Dates whence it s called Dactylorum regio This fruit is most of â—heir food and with the stones of them they feed their Goats which makes them fat and causeth them to give store of milk The air hath this property that it presently cures all that have the French disease and come into it The chief Cities are Stafilet Dausen Dara Lapsa and Teffet Lybia hath on the East Nilus on the VVest the Atlantick Ocean On the North Numidia and on the South the Land of Negroes In this Country Arius the Heretick was born who denyed the perpetual divinity of Christ. It is now called Sarra i. e. a Desart because the whole Country is full of sandy Desarts through which Merchants use to travel eight dayes together without the sight of either River Lake Bush or Tree The chief Cities are Huadan Guargata and Toherraum They have neither King nor Lawes but are governed by the chief man in every Tribe They are most Gentiles they have some Mahometans amongst them The Land of Negroes described The Land of Negroes hath on the East Aethiopia superior On the West the Atlantick Ocean On the North Lybia and on the South the Kingdome of Manicongo The people are very ignorant and bruitish most of them Gentiles yet are there some Mahometans and Christians amongst them They took the Portugal ships when they first saw them for great birds with white wings their guns for the work of the Devil and bag-pipes for living Creatures The Nobles in the presence of the King never look him in the face but sit on their buttocks with their elbows on their knees and their hands on their faces they anoint their hair with fat of fishes which makes them stink abominably They have abundance of gold and silver very pure and fine It s watered with the River Niger which from the fifteenth of June overflows its banks for the space of forty dayes and is so many more before it returns into its channel which makes the fields very fruitful In one place Niger hides it self for six miles under ground The second River is Senega upon whose Northern bank the people are cole black but on the South only tawny The Chief Kingdomes are 1 Gualata where they have no Laws 2 Guinie where there is neither Town nor Castle except Mina built by the Portugals 3 Tombutum where the Inhabitants spend all their time in singing and dancing The King hereof is the richest of all the Princes in those parts of Africa keeping a royal Palace and hath for his guard three thousand horsemen and footmen sance number 4 Melli which is three hundred miles long the Inhabitants are rich civil and industrious 5 Cana where are Plenty of Lemons and Pomegranats 6 Gialoâ—ie where the people are so nimble that they will leap upon a horse when hee gallops and stand upright when hee runs turn themselves about and suddenly sit down mount and dismount in a trice 7 Benin where the people rase their skins with three lines drawn to the Navel without which they think they cannot bee saved Both men and women go naked till they bee married and then they wear a cloath from the wast to the knees 8 Nubia where there is a poison so exceeding strong that the tenth part of a grain will kill a man in a quarter of an hour It s sold for one hundred Duckats the ounce 9 Bornum where the people have neither wives nor children that they call their own nor names but are only distinguished by some external accident 10 Goaga where the King hath no revenues but what hee winnes from his enemies 11 Ganaga where the King hath nothing but what his Nobles please daily to allow him The Country of the Mandigos described In Guinie upon the River Gambra live the Mandingos The River abounds with Crocodiles River-horses Torpedoes running-fishes c. On the banks of it are many Geese Ducks Hernes Curlews Storks Plovers c. On the Land are Beeves Goats Guinie Hens c. The people are perfeclty black and live a very idle life except it bee in their seed-time and harvest their usual food is Rice or some Grain boiled their drink is water or Dullo made of Grain like our Ale Their houses are round covered with Reeds many of them built together and compassed with a wall of Reeds six foot high to defend them from wild-beasts which yet many times much endanger them There are Ant-hills cast up by Pismires some of them twenty foot high and in compasse able to contain twelve men which with the heat of the Sun are baked into that hardnesse that our English which trade thither for gold use to hide themselves in the ragged tops of them when they take up their stands to shoot at Deer or other beasts The Town wherein the King dwels is seated on the River compassed about with Hurdles ten foot high and fastened to strong poles On the outside is a Trench of great breadth beyond which the Town is again circled with Posts set close together of about five foot high their Armes are Azegaies or Javelins made of Reeds six foot long with an Iron Pike artificially made and dangerous they have others that they cast like Darts with barbed heads as also swords about two foot long Some have Bows and Arrows made of Reeds headed with Iron poisoned when any of them come to the King they presently kneel down and comming nearer they lay their hands first upon the ground then upon their head then comming to him they lay their hand with much submission upon the Kings thigh and so retire back the King answers them with nodding his head They are generally cloathed in cloth made of Cotton whereof there is plenty their apparrel is a shirt to their knees and a pair of breeches they are mostly bare-headed their hair bedecked with Gregories made of leather of several fashions which whilst they wear they think that no evil can betide them The King hath two wives sitting by him laying their hands on his naked skin stroaking and gently pulling the same VVhen the woman is with child shee lyes no more with her husband till the child bee weaned The wives live in great servitude beating their Grain in Morters they never are admitted to sit and eat with their husbands you shall never see kissing or dalliance betwixt husband and wife nor brawling amongst the wives though one man hath many and they equal each woman hath her several house for the night and when they appear in the morning they salute their husbands kneeling laying their hands on his thigh her apparrel is loose and party-coloured from the wast upward shee is bare to shew her painted razed body whereof they are proud turning themselves to shew it and well pleased when you handle it Few either of men or women are without Tobacco-pipes made of earth well glazed about two inches long
buyers costly mirth and admiration to prevent which the Marriners upon the delivery of each beast either kill it quickly or fasten their horns with cords to stakes placed there on purpose The Kingdome of Sofala Described Sofala is situate on the cost of Eastern Ethiopia neer the Sea here the Portugals traffick to Manica a Land of much Gold within land above threescore Leagues the women perform the offices of Tillage and Husbandry In it are many sorts of fruit as Pomgranats which bear all the year some green some ripe and some in flowers Fig-trees which yeild black Figs all the year about Oranges Limes Vines which bear twice a year in January and July Ananas Sugar canes Palm-trees which yeild infinite Cocoes and Wine Guiny Wheat and Rice There are abundance of Hens Goats Kine Wild beasts and wild Swine In Manica grow little trees on Rocks which are dry most part of the year but if you cut off a bough and put it into water in the space of ten hours it springs and flourisheth with green leaves In some parts they have store of Orenges and Lemons The King of this Country is called the Quitive they are Gentiles Hee hath above one hundred women whereof one or two are his Queens and many of them are his Aunts Cosins Sisters and Daughters all whom hee useth promiscuously when hee dies his Queens must dye with him to do him service in the other world The Kingdome of Monomopata Described Monomopata is above two hundred Leagues long On the North-West lies the Kingdome of Abutua where is much fine Gold yet their greatest riches they count their Cattle On the East it hath the River Zambeze On the South-West it extends to the Ocean and Southward it s bounded with the River Inhanabane The King hath many women whereof one is principal None may speak with him except hee bring a present The King and his Subjects wear a white Perewinkle in their foreheads for a jewell fastened in their hair and the King hath another great one on his breast None of them cut the hair of their heads or beards yet they grow not long they live commonly to ninety or one hundred years when the King dyes his Queen must drink poyson to serve him in another World It abounds so with Elephants that about five thousand are yearly killed for their teeth-sake There are said to bee three thousand Mines of Gold The Kingdome of Congo or Manicongo Described The Kingdome of Congo hath on the West the Ocean On the South the Caphars and Mountains of the Moon On the East those Hills from which the Rivers issue and run into the Fountains of Nilus and on the North the Kingdome of Benin The most Southerly part is called Quimbibe a great and mighty Kingdome extending from Bravagal to Bagamidri the air is wholesome the earth out-outwardly furnished with store of fruits inwardly with Mines of Christal and other mettals Angola is another Province of Congo a great Kingdome and very populous Cabazza is the Royal City one hundred and fifty miles from the Ocean from this Country the Portugals use to carry above twenty thousand slaves yearly into Brasile They are Heathens have their Idols of wood in the midst of their Towns in fashion like a Negro which they call Mokisso's they take as many wives as they please there are Mines of Silver and excellent Copper they have many Kine but love Dogs-flesh better which they feed for the Shambles their houses are fashioned like Bee-hives Horse-tails are great Jewels amongst them for one of which they will give two slaves Congo properly so called extendeth Westward three hundred seventy five miles Northward five hundred and forty Southward six hundred crossing over the Mountains of the Sun and the Mountain of Christal It s divided into six Provinces Bamba Songo Sundi Pango Batti and Pemba Bamba is the greatest and richest there are Mines of silver and on the Sea-shore shells which they use in stead of mony Amongst them there are some very strong men who will cleave a slave in the middle or cut off a Bulls head at one blow There are certain creatures as big as Rams having wings like Dragons long tails and chaps with diverse rows of teeth they live upon raw flesh their colour is blew and green and they have but two feet the Pagan Negroes worship them for Gods The Rivers of Congo are many the greatest whereof is Zatre In all of them are River-horses and Crocodiles and they overflow as doth Nilus There are whole Mountains of Porphiry Jasper white Marble and other Marbles and one that yeelds fair Jacinthes straked with natural veins When any of the Inhabitants dye they have no power to bequeath their goods to their kindred but the King is heire general to all men The Kingdome of Loango described Loango is the Noâ—therly neighbour of Congo right under the Line the Country stretcheth two hundred miles within Land the people are called Bramanes and the King Mani Loango they are circumcised after the manner of the Jews as all the rest of the Nations in those Countries use to bee they have abundance of Elephants and wear cloaths of Palm they are Heathens and use many superstitions they have their Mokisso's or Images to which they offer several things Beyond the Country of Loango are the Anzigues the cruellest Cannibals that are under the Sun for in other places they eat their enemies or their dead but here they eat their Country-men and kins-folk and keep shambles of mans flesh as with us of Beef or Mutton They have many Mines of Copper and great quantity of Sanders both red and gray They are excellent Archers they are circumcised and worship the Sun for their greatest God and the Moon next Ethiopia Superior called also Abassia described It is watered with four principal Rivers and as many huge Lakes The first River is Taucea running Northward but drunk up by the thirsty sands before it can come to the Sea It hath bordering upon it Mountains of admirable height and inaccessible The second River is Oara larger than Nilus that emptieth it self into the Sea of Zeila the water is very clear but the superstitious Abassines refuse to drink of it because in its passage it watereth some Mahometan Regions The third is Gabea and the fourth is Nilus One of the Lakes is called Dambea threescore mile long and five and twenty broad It abounds with fish and River-horses and in it are many Islands in which traitors are confined The Abassine soil is for the most part hollow and in the midst of the plains rise many Rockie-hills which in times of war serve them for Fortresses The whole Country abounds with Mettal-Mines but the inhabitants partly through ignorance and partly for fear of the Turks if the riches of their Country should bee discovered suffer them to lye hidden in the earth only they make use of so much Iron as lyes upon the surface of the earth Of plants and
describes the people out of Epimenides The Cretians are lyers evil beasts slowbellies It s famous for three things 1. They have no venemous Creature there 2. If a woman bite a man hard hee never recovers again 3. There is an herb called Alimos which if one chaw in his mouth hee shall feel no hunger that day It was once called Hecatompolis because it had in it a hundred Cities It is in the Venetians hands The Jonian Isles described Cythera is in compasse threescore miles It was formerly called Porphyris from the abundance of that sort of Marble called Porphyrie which the Mountains yeeld The Strophades are two Islands wherein there is nothing remarkable but a spring of fresh water in one of them which hath his fountain in Peloponesus above five miles distant which passing under the Sea ariseth there Zacinthus now Zant is threescore miles in compasse It s wonderfully stored with Wine Oil and Currans of which last ordinarily they make yearly one hundred and fifty thousand Chekins for their own Coffers besides eighteen thousand Dolars which they pay for custome to the State of Venice when the English first traded thither the inhabitants were very poor and when the English bought so many Currans of them they asked our Merchants whether they dyed cloaths or fed their Swine with them which uses themselves put them to but now they know better and grow rich by the trade This Island is much troubled with earthquakes commonly once a week whereupon they build their houses low The chief City is Zant not big the streets rugged and uneven and the houses low for the cause aforesaid Over the Town-hall door in this City is this Distich inscribed Hic locus odit amat punit conservat honorat nequitiam pacem crimina jura probos The Echinades Islands are five in number being but like Rocks and are famous for nothing but for the famous battel of Lepanto fought near them betwixt the Turks and the Christians Cephalenia is in compasse one hundred sixty and six miles and contains two hundred Towns the chiefest commodities it yeelds are Wheat Hony Currans Powder for dying Scarlet Oil and Wooll c. Corcyra now Corfu is neer Epyrus in length four and fifty miles in breadth four and twenty Its seated in the midst of the Venetians Lordships by Sea The chief City is Corfu where the Turks have received sundry repulses It s very fruitful in Hony Wax Wine Oil c. The Adriatick Isles have nothing of note in them and therefore I proceed to the Mediterranean Isles the principall whereof is 1 Scicily in compasse seven hundred miles The people are ingenuous eloquent and pleasant but very unconstant and talkative The soil is incredibly fruitful in Wine Oil Hony Saffron Sugar Salt in Mines of Gold Silver Allom having also Agates and Emeraulds with such abundance of Corn that it was called The Granary of the Romane Empire In this Country is the Hill Hybla so famous for Bees and Hony and Aetna which continually sendeth forth flames of fire Here was once the famous City of Siracuse two and twenty miles in compasse but now Palermo is the seat of the Spanish Vice-Roy In this Island lived those two great Tyrants Dionysius the elder and Dionysius the younger who were so odious for their cruelty that all the people hated and continually cursed them only one old woman prayed for the life of the latter and being asked the reason shee answered that shee knew his Grand-Father to bee very bad and when at the prayers of the people hee was taken away his son succeeded that proved far worse than his Father and after their curses had prevailed also for the removal of him came this present Tyrant worse than either for whose life shee was resolved to pray least after his decease the Devil himself should come amongst them Malta is in compasse about threescore miles It s seated on a Rock over which the earth is not above three foot thick yet have they abundance of Pomegranats Citrons Orenges and other excellent fruit there is also great store of Cotton-Wooll whâ—ch they sow as wee do Corn In the Acts this Island is called Melita It consists of four Cities and threescore Villages It was by Charles the fifth given to the Knights of the Rhodes newly expelled by the Great Turk they are a thousand in number whereof five hundred must bee alwayes resident in the Island the others upon summons must make their appearance None are admitted into their order unlesse they bring a testimony of their Gentry for six descents But some make this Island to belong to Africk where you may see more of it 3 Corsica is just against Greece in the Ligurian Sea and is in length one hundred and twenty miles in breadth threescore and ten the whole circuit being three hundred twenty and five It s a fine Country yeelds excellent Dogs for game good horses fierce Mastiffs and a beast called Musoli found no where in Europe but here and in Sardinia horned like Rams and skinned like Stags of incredible hardnesse It produceth the best VVines Oil Figs Raisons and Hony but bitter and unwholesome It abounds also with Allom Box-trees Iron-Mines c. It s under the Government of Genoa The people are churlish stubborn poor and illiterate 4 Sardinia which is seven miles distant from Corsica It contains in length one hundred and fourscore miles in breadth fourscore and ten in circuit five hundred and threescore It abounds in Corn and Cattel but wants Oil. Their Bulls do naturally amble and therefore the Country Peasants usually ride upon them Here is the Beast Musoli of whose skins carryed to Corduba and there dressed is made our true Cordovan Leather The Inhabitants are little of stature and prone to Rebellion and therefore the Spaniard suffers neither Smith nor Cutler to live there The chief City is Calearis just opposite to Africk having a goodly haven much frequented by Merchants and is the seat of the Spanish Vice-Roy The Baleans Islands described The chief of these Islands are 1. Majorca about threescore miles distant from Spain and is three hundred miles in compasse the chief Cities are Majorca wherein is an university and Palma 2. Minorca distant from the former nine miles and is in circuit one hundred and fifty miles the inhabitants are effeminate the soil for the most part fruitful Nigh to these are two lesser Islands 1. Ebuisa one hundred miles in circuit the chief commodity in it is salt 2. Olhiusa threescore and ten miles about The men and women in both of them are excellent swimmers The lesser Islands scattered up and down have nothing in them remarkable but only in one of them called Ischia is a fountain so hot that in a short time it will boil any flesh or fish put into it Somewhat without the mouth of the Straits of Gibralter is the Island of Gades or Cales in length thirteen miles Anno Christi 1596. it was suddenly taken by
stands in a pleasant valley amongst the Mountains and is beautified with many neat houses well fortified with a strong Castle and some outworks 2. Tarentaise which commands the passage into Italy through the hills Geneura 3. Bramont 4. Aquibelle 5. Carboneirs 6. Maurienne On the North East of Savoy is the County of Bresse the chief Towns whereof are 1. Chattillion 2. Mont Real 3. Bourg well seated and fortified The Marquisat of Saluzzes is seated in Piedmont a part of Italy Piedmont it self being bounded with Millaine on the East Savoy on the West Switzerland on the North and the Mediterranean on the South A fruitful Country compared with Savoy but inferior to the rest of Italy It hath in it one hundred and sixty walled places and is very populous It hath in it fifty Earldomes and fifteen Marquisates It s divided betwixt the Dukes of Savoy and Mantua the River Tenarus parting their possessions The chief Towns belonging to the Savoyard are 1. Turin built on the banks of the River Duria In it is the Palace of the Duke of Savoy and an University 2. Aoste 3. Vercelli a strong Town 4. Inurea c. The Alps described The Mountains of the Alpes which require five dayes to bee ascended divide France and Germany from Italy they are alwayes covered with Snow Hanibal made a way through them with fire and Vineger They begin at Savona and having run a good space in a continued hill are at last divided into many parts There are five passages over them into Italy three out of France and two out of Germany The first out of France is through Provence close upon the Tyrenean Seas and so through Liguria which is the easiest The second through the Hills called Geneura into the Marquisat of Saluzzes and so into Lombardy The third is over Mount Cenis through the Country of Turin The first way out of Germany is through the Grisons Country by the Town of Valtolin the other way is through the Country of Tyrol by the Towns of Inspurg and Trent Italy described This Country abounds with Rice Silks Velvets Sattins Taffaties Grograms Rash Fustians Gold Wire Allom Glasses c. The chief Rivers in it are 1. Poe which riseth out of the Alps and running through Lombardy emptieth it self into the Adriatique Sea 2. Rubicon 3. Tyber Italy is usually divided into six parts but the principalities thereof are ten as 1. The Kingdome of Naples having the land of the Church on one side and the Sea on all others It s in compasse one thousand four hundred sixty and eight miles It abounds with Mines of divers Mettals and the choisest Wines The chiefest Provinces in it are 1. Terra di Lavoro formerly Campania wherein the chiefest Cities are 1. Cajeta seated on the Sea side 2. Naples the Metropolis and a beautiful City containing seven miles in compasse In this City the French or Neapolitan disease was first known in Christendome It stands on the Sea shore and is fortified with four Castles 3. Capua which emasculated the valor of Hanibals souldiers 4. Cuma nigh to which is the Lake Avernus the stink whereof poisons birds that flye over it 5. Baiae famous for the Baths 6. Nola. 7. Puteoli 8. Misenum nigh unto which is the Hill Vesuvius that casteth forth flames of fire and in the reign of Titus it cast forth such abundance of smoak and ashes as darkned the Sun and overwhelmed two Cities 2. Abruzzo whereof the chief Towns are 1. Aquilea 2. Beneventum 3. Aquino where Thomas Aquinas was born 4. Sulmo Ovids birth-place 3. Calabria inferior whose chief Cities are 1. Peste where Roses blossom thrice in a year 2. Salernum famous for the study of Physick 3. Consensia 4. Regium 5. Locris 4. Calabria Superior wherein the chief Towns are 1. Tarentum 2. Crotona 3. Polycastrum 4. Amicle 5. Sybaris 6. St. Severine 5. Terra di Otranto wherein the chief Cities are 1. Brundusium one of the best Havens in the world 2. Hydruntum now Otranto 3. Gallipolis 6. Puglia the Cities whereof are 1. Manfredonia 2. Cannae where Hanibal slew of the Romans forty two thousand and seven hundred and had hee followed that victory hee had been Master of Rome In this Country is the Hill Gargalus or Mount St. Angelo one hundred and twenty miles in compasse strengthened both by nature and Art it abounds with cattel The people in these two Provinces are troubled with a Tarantula which is only cured by Musick 2. The land of the Church which North and South is extended from the Adriatick to the Tuscan Seas the East bounds are Axafenus and Trontus which divide it from Naples North-West its bounded with the Rivers Poe and Fiore which divide it from the Venetians and South-West with Pisseo which parts it from the Florentines The Provinces hereof are 1. Romandiola extending from Rubicon East to the Venetians on the West from the Appenine Hills South to Padus and the Adriatique on the North. The chief Cities are 1. Bononia the principal University in Italy where the civil Laws are much studied seated on the River Aposa 2. Rimana formerly Ariminum on the mouth of the River Rubicon 3. Cervia on the Adriatique Sea where great store of salt is made 4. Ferrara whose territories stretch in length one hundred and sixty miles and in breadth fifty wherein are contained the brave Cities of Modena and Rhegium Ferrara the chief-City is seated on the bank of Poe a broad deep and swift River which guards it on the one side and on the other it s fortified with strong walls and a large moat In the midst of the City is a large Green into which there open on all sides nineteen streets most of them half a mile long and so even that the ends of them may bee easily seen The whole compasse is five miles 5. Ravenna 2. Marcha Anconitana environed with Romagna the Appennine Naples and the Adriatique The chief Towns are 1. Ancona seated on the Hill Cimmerius and it is an Haven Town 2. Ascoli the fair 3. Firmo the strong 4. Macerata 5. Adria which gave the name to the neighbouring Sea 6. Narma 7. Humona 8. Loretto famous for the Pilgrimages made thither 3. The Dukedome of Spoleto is situate under the Appennine Hills The chief Cities are 1. Spoleto 2. Ovietto seated on a very high Rock where is a Church very lightsome and yet the Windows are made of Alabaster in stead of Glasse 3. Perugia 4. Asis In this Country is the Lake of Perugia thirty miles in compasse Near which Hanibal slew Flaminius with fifteen thousand of his Romane souldiers 4. St. Peters Patrimony containing Campagna di Roma formerly Latium and part of Hetruria The chief Cities are 1. Alba. 2. Ostia at the mouth of Tyber 3. Antrum 4. Tybur 5. Praenâ—ste 6. Ardea 7. Gabii 8. Veii a large and rich City 9. Tivolis 10. Rome seated on the River Tyber enlarged with the receit of two and forty Rivers and is distant
Agates Emerauds Amethists c. Within it is the History of Christs Passion with the twelve Apostles all in Amber In the third is a Cabinet with Calcedonie Pillars filled with ancient Medals of gold Round about this Room are an infinite number of Natural and Artificial curiosities As the Emperours head cut on a Turquoise bigger than a Walnut with thousands more Next is the Armory wherein are the habits and diverse sorts of Arms of several ages and people There is likewise a Loadstone that bears up fourscore pounds weight of Iron In the last Cabinet are curious turned works of Ivory A Pillar of Oriental Alabaster c. In another Room are twelve great Cupboards of silver Plate of all sorts and another of all pure massie gold A Saddle all embroydered with Pearls and Diamonds besides many other things of great worth From hence is a private passage to the Dukes Court on the other side of the River The front of which edifice is very Majestick towards the Basis of Dorick work in the middest of Ionick and the uppermost story of Corinthian In the Court is a Grotto with Statues and a Fountain over it and a Loadstone of a most prodigious greatnesse The Gardens belonging to it for their largenesse have the face of a Forrest for their variety of a Paradise Here are Cypresse Groves their Walks with Statues Here a Sea of Fountains these Swans Ostriches and other delighting Creatures The Cathedral Church is of a vast bulk and exquisite workmanship made of Red White and black Marble The Cupola is so high that the brass Globe at the top will hold sixteen persons No lesse excellent is the Steeple composed of the same stone and materials with the Church but with more Art and Ornaments The Chappel of St. Laurence seems more than terrestrial It s wholly overlaid with fine polished stones neither is there any colour upon Earth but it 's there in stones naturally Near to this is a famous Library filled with great variety of Manuscripts In brief the houses of Florence are generally built high the streets are paved with great stones even and large and adorned with many excellent Fountains and other publick Ornaments The chiefest Cities of Italy are thus usually distinguished Rome the Un-holy Venice the Rich Naples the Gentle Florence the Fair Genoa the Proud Millan the Great Bolonia the Fat Padua the Learned and Verona the Ancient Idem Belgia or the Netherlands described Belgia is bounded on the East with the River Ems and part of Germany On the West with the Germane Sea on the North with East-Friezland and on the South with the Some Champaigne and Lorrain It s in compass one thousand miles The Country is very populous the men well proportioned and ingenious the inventers of Clocks Printing and the Compass They found out diverse musical instruments the making of Chariots Painting with Oil colours working pictures in Glass making of Worsteads Sayes Tapestry c. The women govern all both within doores and without The Country lies low upon the Seas and therefore is very subject to inundations In the reign of our King Henry the second Flanders was so overflown that many thousands of people whose dwellings were devoured by the Sea came into England and were by the King first planted in York-shire but afterwards removed into Pembrook-shire Since then the Sea hath swallowed up in Zealand eight of the Islands and in them three hundred Towns and Villages the ruines of the Churches c. being seen at low water till this day The commodities are Linnen Skarlet Worstead Sayes Silks Velvets Armour Cables Ropes Butter Cheese c. The chief Rivers are 1. Rheine 2. Mosa which compasseth half the Country 3. Ems dividing the two Friezlands 4. Scaldis which rising in Picardy runs through Artois divides Henault and Brabant and a little above Antwerp emptieth it self into the Sea 5. Ley which runs quite through Flanders In Zealand and Holland especially they are fain to defend themselves against the Sea by huge banks about ten ells high and five and twenty in breadth at the bottom made of the hardest Clay with great pains and maintained with great charge their inside is stuffed with wood and stone and their outside covered with strong and thick Mats It s divided into seventeen Provinces which are these that follow 1. Limbourg and the Bishoprick of Leige environed with Brabant and Namurce on the West with Brabant and Gulick on the North with Gulick and Collen on the East and with Luxenbourg on the South In the Bishoprick are four and twenty walled Towns and one thousand and eight hundred Villages the chief City is Leige seated on the Meuse the buildings of it are very fair It s a famous University wherein were students at one time nine Kings Sons four and twenty Dukes sons twenty nine Earles Sons besides Barons and Gentlemen The next Cities are 2. Tongres 3. Dinand neer Namur 4. Huy 5. Bilsen 6. Truden The Dutchy of Limbourg contains five Towns 1. Limbourg on the River Weser 2. Walkenbourgh 3. Dalem 4. Rode le Buck. 5. Carpen besides one hundred twenty and three Villages Luxenbourg which is bounded on the North with Limbourg on the South with Lorrain on the East with the Bishoprick of Triers and on the West with the Meuse It s in circuit two hundred and forty miles in which stand one thousand one hundred sixty and nine villages and twenty and three walled Towns The chief are 1. Luxenburgh on the River Elze 2. Bostonack commonly called the Paris of Ardenne 3. Thionville 4. Mommedi 5. Danvillers 6. Ivoy 7. Neuse Chastel 8. Rocke de March 9. Arluna Here is the Forrest of Ardenna once five hundred miles in compass now scarce ninety In the edges whereof are the famous hot Baths called the Spaw which are of most vertue in July because then hottest In the skirts of this Countrey towards France is the Dukedome of Bovillion whose cheif Towns are Sedan where is Schola Illustris and Bovillon The Duke is a Peer of France and hath been a great friend to the Protestants 3. Gelderland which hath on the East Cleve on the West Brabant on the North Frizland and on the South Limbourg It contains three hundred villages and twenty four Towns the chief whereof are 1. Nimmegen seated on the branch of the Rheine which is called Whael 2. Ruremond 3. Arnheim 4. Harderwick 5. Doesbourgh 6. Buren It s a fertile soil for feeding of Beasts which grow so great and fat that Anno Christi 1570. there was a Gelderland Bull killed at Antwerp that weighed three thousand and two hundred pounds 4. Brabant having on the East North and South the Meuse and on the West the Scheld It s in length seventy five in breadth sixty miles comprehending seven hundred villages and twenty six Towns whereof the chief are 1. Lovain in compasse within the walls four miles and six without It s an University wherein are twenty Colledges and a Seminary
of English Jesuits There are in it many goodly Gardens Mountaines Valleys Medows c. 2. Bruxels of the same bigness and the Dukes seat but for pleasure profit uniform buildings and elegancy thereof far beyond Lovain 3. Bergen ap some famous for the notable resistance it made to Spinola Anno Christi 1622. 4. Bolduc 5. Tilmont 6. Mastriecht 7. Breda the seat of the Prince of Orange 5. The Marquisat of the Empire is contained in Brabant the chief City is Antwerp in circuit seven miles In it are eight principal channels cut out of the Scheld on which the Town is seated the biggest of them being able to contain one hundred ships Before the Civil warres it was a place of wonderful great Trading but now the Hollanders have so blocked up the Haven that the traffick is removed to Amsterdam 6. Flanders is divided into the Imperiall Gallick and Teutonick Flanders The last of these is divided from the other two by the River Ley. The chief Towns in it are 1. Gaunt whose wall is seven miles round The Rivers Scheld and Ley run through it and make in it twenty six Islands conjoyned with ninety eight bridges 2. Burgiâ— situated on a fair and deep channel made by Art which much advantageth it 3. Ypres a very strong Town standing on a River of the same name 4. Winnocks-Berg 5. Grauling on the sea side a strong Fort. 6. Oudenard The four principal Ports of Flanders are 1. Dunkirk 2. Scluse at the mouth of the channel of Bruges having a fair Haven able to contain five hundred good ships It s in the hand of the States 3. Newport where was fought that famous Battle between the Spaniards and States 4. Ostend which held out a siedg of three years and three months against the Arch-Duke Imperiall Flanders is parted from Brabant by the River Dender from the Gallick Flanders by the River Scheld about Oudenard The chief Towns are 1. Alost on the Dender 2. Dendermond 3. Hulst 4. Axelle 5. Rupelmond The Gallick Flanders is severed from the Teutonick by the River Ley from the Imperiall by the Scheld The chief Towns are 1. Lisle 2. Doway where is an University 3. Orchies 4. Armentiers 5. St. Amand. 6. Turnay In all Flanders there are thirty five Towns and one thousand one hundred seventy and eight Villages It s in length ninety six miles in breadth much lesse It s bounded with Brabant on the East Picardy on the West the Sea on the North and Artoys on the South 7. Artoys which hath on the East Heinalt on the West Picardy on the North Flanders and on the South Champaigne It contains seven hundred fifty and four villages and twelve walled Towns whereof the chief are 1. Arras whence comes our Arras hangings 2. Ayre 3. Pernes 4. St. Omer a good Haven 5. Lilliers 6. Le-Cluse The frontier Towns are 1. Hedinfert against Picardy 2. St. Paul 8. Heinalt bounded on the East with Limbourg on the West with Flanders on the North with Brabant and on the South with Champaigne The length of it is sixty miles and the breadth fourty eight It contains nine hundred and fifty Villages and twenty four Towns the chief whereof are 1. Mons a strong and rich City 2. Valenciennes seated on the Scheld 3. Conde 4. Bavays 5. Landrecy on the River Sambre 6. Mariembourgh 7. Engien 8. Reulx 9. Avennes On the South part of Heinalt is the Town and territory of Cambray 9. Namurce which hath on the East Limbourg on the VVest Heinalt on the North Brabant and on the South Luxenburg In this Country are many Coals which are kindled with Water and quenched with Oil. It contains one hundred and eighty villages and four Towns 1. Namurce seated where Sicambris falls into Meuse 2. Charlemont 3. Valencourt 4. Bovines It s a fruitful Country enriched with Mines of Jasper and all sorts of Marble and abounding with Iron The Inhabitants are good souldiers 10. Zutphen is a Town in Gelderland an ancient Earldom seated on the River Ysell a strong place in the siege whereof that mirror of Chivalry Sir Philip Sidney lost his life 11. Holland is a woody Country having on the East Utrecht on the West and North the Sea and on the South the Meuse It s in circuit one hundred and eighty miles no part whereof is distant from the Sea three hours journey It containes four hundred villages and three and twenty Towns whereof the chief are 1. Dort where the National Synod was held against the Arminians Anno Christi 1618. 2. Harlem where Printing was invented 3. Leiden a famous University Which City consists of forty one Islands passed partly by Boats and partly by Bridges whereof there are one hundred forty and five and of them one hundred and four built with stone 4. Delft 5. Alkmer 6. Rotterodam 7. Horn. 8. Enchusen 9. Amsterdam a very fair Haven Town the men are good Sea-men the women very industrious there is scarce a boy of four years old but can earn his own meat It yeilds Butter Cheese c. The chief Village is the Hage having in it two thousand housholds 12 Zealand consisteth of seven Islands and in them three hundred Towns The first Island is Walcheren and in it the chief towns are 1. Midlebourg 2. Flushing an excellent Haven and of great strength Nigh unto it is the Fort Ramekins and the Brill 3. Vere The next Island is South Beverland whose chief Town is Tergowse The third is Schoven its chief Town Sixixee 4. Tolen whose chief Town is Tertolen c. In all this Countrey are eight Cities and one hundred and two Villages the soil is fruitful but they have neither wood nor fresh water 13. West-Freizland which hath on the East Groyning on the South Overyssel on the other sides the Sea It contains three hundred forty and five Villages and eleven Towns the chief are 1. Lewarden 2. Harlingem a sea Town 3. Zwichen 4. Doceum 5. Franeker an University 14. Utrecht is bounded on the East with Gelderland on the other three sides with Holland It contains seventy Villages and five Towns as 1. Rhenen 2. Wick de Duerstede 3. Amesford 4. Monfoort 5. Utrecht just in the middest 15. Overyssel is bounded on the North with Freizland and Groning on the South with Gelderland on the East with Westphalia on the West with the sea It contains one hundred and one Villages and eleven Towns the chief whereof are 1. Swall 2. Campene 3. Deventer basely betrayed to the Spaniards by Sir William Stanley 4. Steinwick 5. Hasselt 6. Oldezel 7. Handerberg 8. Delden 16. Machlin which is a Town in Brabant which Anno Christi 1546. was much defaced by fireing of eight hundred barrels of Gunpowder Besides the Town it contains nine Villages It s a fair and strong Town being daintily seated amidst the waters of the River Dele so that it may bee drowned on all sides 17. Groyning which is a Town of VVest-Friezland containing under her command
one hundred forty and five Villages the chief being Old haven and Keikerk It s bounded on the East with East-friezland on the West with VVest-Friezland on the South with Overyssel and on the North with the Sea These Countries are now divided between the States under an Aristocratical government and the King of Spain The States have the Dutchy of Guelders The Earldomes of Holland and Zealand and Zutphen The Lordships of Friezland Utretcht Overyssel and Groning seven in all the rest are Spanish Germany described The compass of this spacious Country is two thousand and six hundred English miles The Inhabitants are little addicted to Venus but very much to Bacchus they are of strong constitutions and much inclining to fatnesse The titles of the Fathers descend to all their Children every son of a Duke being a Duke and every Daughter a Dutchess The soil for the most part is healthful and profitable yeelding several Minerals Corn and Wine together with Linnen Quicksilver Allom c. The chief Rivers are 1. Danubius which rising out of Nigra sylva receiveth threescore navigable Rivers into it and having run a course of one thousand and five hundred miles emptieth it self at seven mouths into the Euxine Sea 2. Rhene which arising in Helvetia and running through Germany and Belgia after a course of eight hundred miles falleth into the German Ocean 3. Albis rising on the skirts of Bohemia passing by Magdenbourg Brunswick and Denmark after four hundred miles course falls into the same Sea 4. Oder arising in Silesia runs through Brandenbourg and Pomerania about three hundred miles and so falls into the Baltick Sea 5. Maenus or the Main 6. Weser The Empire of Germany is not hereditary but elective and when the Emperor is dead the Arch-Bishop of Mentz writes to the rest of the Electors to meet at Frankfurt within three months either in person or to send their Ambassadors In the vacancy the Elector Palatine is the Vicar and hee who is elected King of the Romans is declared heir The three Ecclesiastical Electors are the Arch-Bishops of Mentz Trevers and Colein the others are the King of Bohemia the Elector Palatine the Duke of Saxony and the Marquiss of Brandenburg to whom was lately added the Duke of Bavaria Being assembled at Frankfurt they make oath to chuse a fit person they are obliged to finish the choice within thirty dayes and may not go out of the Town till it bee accomplished If the voices happen to bee equal hee who hath the King of Bohemia's vote is proclaimed Emperour The three states of the Empire are 1. That of the aforesaid Electors wherein the Ecclesiasticks have the precedency The second state consists of four Arch-Bishops as Magdeburg Salsburgh Bremen and Bezanson after whom follows the great Master of the Teutonick Order and then one and thirty Bishops ten Abbots with the title of Princes and some Abbesses and lastly the Counts and Barons whereof there are many The third State is made up of the Imperial Towns which are in number threescore and five the four principall are Lubeck Metz Auspurgh and Aixe or Aquisgraâ—e Another Union there is for the preservation of Trade and commerce the chief Cities whereof are Lubeck Colein Brunswick and Dansick These are called Hanse-Towns The Empire is distributed into ten circles Franconia Bavaria Austria Swevia That of the upper Rheyn that of the four Electors towards the Rheyn Westphalia Saxony Low Saxony and Burgundy Come wee now in particular to the chief Provinces of Germany which are fifteen As 1. East-Friezland having on the West the River Ems on the East the Weser on the South Westphalia and on the North the Sea The chief Towns are 1. Emden 2. Ammer Dun. 3. Oldenbourg 2. Westphalia which is bounded on the East with Brunswick on the West with Belgia on the South with Hassia and on the North with the Sea The soil is fruitful the trees yeeld abundance of sweet Acorns which feed our Westphalia Bacon The Northern part is called Bremen from the chief City of that name the next parts belong to the Duke of Saxony the chief Towns whereof are 1. Clappenbourg 2. Exenberg 3. Alsdorpe c. The other part belongs to the Bishopricks of Collen Munster and Triers In that of Collen are 1. Collen the Bishops seat 2. Andernaâ—h 3. Lentz seated on the Rhene 4. Bonna 5. Mondenand The chief towns under the Bishop of Munster are 1. Warendorp 2. Herverden 3. Munster seated on the River Ems. Here the frantick Anabaptists seated themselves Anno Christi 1522. till they were deservedly punished and destroyed The chief Towns in the Bishoprick of Triers are 1. Bopport on the Mosel 2. Engers 3. Coblents 4. Triers on the Mosel also 3. Cleveland which Dutchy contains Cleve Gulick and Berge It joyns to Gelderland and the chief Cities are 1. Cleve 2. Calkar 3. Wesel 4. Emerick In Gulick the chief Cities are 1. Aquisgraue or Aken 2. Gulick 3. Dulken 4. Newis The chief Towns in Berge are 1. Dusseldorp 2. Hattingen 3. Arusberg 4. Alsatia which hath on the West Lorrain on the South Helvetia on the East the Rhene and on the North the Palatinate The chief Towns are 1. Strasbourg where is a Tower five hundred seventy and eight paces high It stands on the Rhene 2. Psaltburg 3. VVeisenberg On the South end of Alsatia stand Colmer Hagenaw and Selestade three fair Cities belonging to the Empire 5. Franconia which is bounded on the East with Bohemia on the West with Elsas on the North with Hassia and on the South with Swevia Bavaria and Helvetia It s divided betwixt the Palatine of Rhene the Duke of VVittenberg the Marquess of Anspach and Baden the Bishops of Mentz Bamberg VVestberg and the Emperour of which in order The Palatinate of Rhene is in length from North to South threescore and twelve miles in breadth from East to West fourscore and sixteen In which compass are some Towns of the Empire and some Lordships belonging to the Bishops of VVormes and Spires both seated on the Rhene The Palatinate hath store of fruits mettals and Rhenish Wines Hath many gallant Towns as 1. Mospotch 2. Heidelberg an University On the banks of Rhene stand 1. Bacharach whence come the best Rhenish Wines called Bachrach 2. Coub 3. Oppenheim 4. Cruitznack 5. Frankendale 6. Germensheim 7. Mainhem c. There are in this Country fourteen other walled Towns VVittenberg whereof the chief Towns are 1. Turbing an University 2. Stutguard the Dukes seat 3. Marback 4. Caustat c. Anspach the chief Towns whereof are 1. Anspach 2. Haâ—lbrun 3. Plenifelt Baden a fruitful Country lying between the Rivers Rhene and Neccar The chief Towns are 1. Durlach 2. Pfortshaime 3. Baden a neat Town seated on the Rhene having hot Baths in it Mentz seated where the Main emptieth it self into the Rhene whereof the chief Towns are 1. Lanstein 2. Bing seated on the Rhene Bamberg which is a fair City seated on the Main the other chief
Moravia on the West with Franconia on the North with Misnia and Lusatia and on the South with Bavaria and is encompassed with the Hercynian Forrest The whole Kingdome is in compasse five hundred and fifty miles in which are contained seven hundred and eighty Cities walled Towns and Castles and thirty two thousand Villages they use the Sclavonian Language The soil is fruitful enriched with Mines of all sorts but Gold Here are many Forrests and in some of them a beast called Loris having under its neck a bladder of scalding water with which when shee is hunted shee so tormenteth the Dogs that shee easily escapeth them The chief Cities are 1. Prague in the middest of the Countrey seated on the River Mulda It consists of four several towns each of them having their several Magistrates Laws and Customes the principal is called the Old Town adorned with many fair buildings a spacious Market place and a stately Senate-house the second is called the New-town separated from the other by a deep and wide ditch the third is called the Little-town divided from the Old by the River Mulda and joined to it by a beautiful Bridge consisting of twenty four Arches In this Town is the hill Rachine on whose sides are many stately houses of the Nobles and on the top a magnificent Palace for the Kings the fourth is that of the Jews who have in it five Synagogues and live after their own Laws The second City is Egra seated on the River Eger on the borders towards Franconia 3. Budwus towards Austria 4. Melmukle on the river Albis 5. Weldaw 6. Pilsen Silesia is bounded with Bohemia on the West Brandenburg on the North Poland on the South and Hungary and Moravia on the East It s in length two hundred and forty miles and fourscore in breadth and is equally divided by the river Oder the chief towns are 1. Preslaw or Uratislavia 2. Jagundorfe 3. Glats 4. Oppolen 5. Glogaw 6. Olderberg all seated on the River Oder Lusatia which hath on the East and North Silesia on the West Brandenburg and on the South Silesia the chief Cities are Gorlits and Trabel on the river Nisse Spemberg and Gotthuse on the River Spe and lastly Bautsen Moravia which hath on the North and East Silesia on the West Brandenburg and on the South Austria and Hungary It abounds with Corn and hath much Myrrh and Frankincense which contrary to the usuall manner grow immediately out of the Earth not from trees the chief towns are 1. Brinne 2. Olmutz an University 3. Terebitz 4. Jasa c. 11. Brandenburg which hath on the East Poland on the West Saxony on the North Pomerania and on the South Lusatia It s in compass five hundred and twenty miles in which are contained fifty Cities and sixty four walled towns the chief are 1. Brandenburg 2. Frankfurt upon Oder an University seated in a fruitful soil abounding with Corn and Wine 3. Berlin where the Prince keeps his Court seated on the River Spre 4. Havelburg to this belongs part of Prussia called Ducal with the Dukedomes of Cleve Juliers and Berg c. So that in largenesse of territories they exceed the Dukes of Saxony but not in revenues 12. Pomerania and Meclemburg The first is bounded on the East wirh the River Vistula on the VVest with Meclemburg on the North with the Baltick sea and on the South with Brandenburg the chief towns are 1. Stetin the Princes seat and an University 2. Wolgast 3. VVallin 4. Gripswald an University 5. Newtrepton a Sea Town Meclenburg or Megalopolis stands on the West of Pomeren the chief towns whereof are 1. Malchaw 2. Sternberg 3. VVismar 4. Rostock an University On the West hereof stands the fair Hans-Town of Lubeck and about ten miles from it Hamborough On the further side of the River is Stoade where the English house is to sell their wares 13. Saxony which hath on the East Lusatia and Brandenburgh On the West Hassia On the North Brunswick and on the South Franconia and Bohemia It contains the Countries of Thuringia Misnia Voitland and Saxony The chief Cities in Thuringia are 1. Erdford a great City 2. Iene an University of Physicians 3. Smalcald 4. Hale 5. VVeimar The whole Country is in length one hundred and twenty miles and about as much in breadth and yet it contains two thousand Villages and twelve Earledoms Misnia environed with Bohemia Voitland Thuringia and Saxony the chief Towns whereof are 1. Dresden on the River Albis the Dukes seat and principal Magazine 2. Lipsique an University 3. Rochlits 4. Mulburg Voitland is a little Country South of Misnia whose chief Towns are 1. Olnits 2. VVerde 3. Cronach 4. Culmbach 5. Hoffe Saxony lies on the North of Thuringia and Misnia The chief Cities are 1. Magdeburg formerly Parthenopolis 2. VVorlits seated on the Albie 3. Helderick 4. VVittenberg the seat of the Duke and an University where Luther lived within the bounds of Saxony are the two small Principalities of Anhalt and Mansfield 14. Brunswick and Luneburg which have on the East Brandenberg On the West Westphalia On the North Denmark And on the South Saxony and Hassia The River Ems runs through this Country and the chief Cities are 1. Brunswick 2. Wolfohaiton where the Duke keeps his Court Halberstade 4. Lunebourg 5. Cella 5. Hassia which hath Saxony on the East Franconia on the South Westphalia on the West and North The chief Towns are 1. Dormestad 2. Marpurg an University 3. Geysen 4. Dries 5. Frankenburg 6. Cassels In this Country is the VVederaw containing the Counties of Nassaw and Hannaw and the free City of Friburg In the County of Nassaw are 1. Dillingbourg 2. Nassaw 3. Catzenelbagen and 4. Herborne an University where Piscator and Alstedius were Professors Denmark described Denmark contains the Cimbrick Chersoness part of Scandia and the Islands of the Baltick Sea The Chersoness is in length one hundred twenty miles and in breadth fourscore wherein are contained eight and twenty Cities and twenty Royal Castles or Palaces The cheif Provinces are 1. Holstein whose chief Cities are Nyemunster and Brumsted 2. Ditmars whose chief Cities are Meldory where they cover their houses with Copper and Mance 3. Sleswick whose chief Cities are Goterpe and Londen a Haven Town 4. Iuitland whereof the chief towns are Rincopen Nicopen Hol and Arhausen The Islands are five and thirty whereof the principal are 1. Senland or Zeland in length threescore and four in breadth two and fifty miles containing seven strong Castles and about thirteen Cities the chief being 1. Coppenhagen an University 2. Elsennour on the Sea side where they that pass the Sound pay their customes This Sound is in breadth three miles and is commanded by the Castles of Elsenbourg on Scandia side and Cronburg in this Island 3. Roschilt The second Island is Fuinen 3. Bornholme 4. Fimera wherein Ticho Brahe built his artificial Tower in which are rare Mathematical Instruments That part of
Scandia which belongs to Denmark is divided into three Provinces 1. Hallandia 2. Scania in length threescore and twelve miles in breadth eight and forty the pleasantest and fruitfullest Country in all Denmark and having Seas abounding with Herrings 3. Blicker where is Colmar a strong Fortress against the Swedes The Province of Scania reaches up to Sweden and Juâ—land to Holstein The Kingdome is elective and the principal strength of it consists in good and stately ships not only for the defence of the Islands but of that most important passage of the Sound which is a streight separating Scania from Zeland and is of huge advantage by reason of the infinite number of ships which pass through it into the Baltick Sea and come from all the Havens of that Sea back into the Ocean The Noble men are much inclined to the wars zealous for their Rights and Liberties and make no alliance by marriage with the common people they refuse Ecclesiastical honours as below their condition The Gentlemen are all equal and as it were of one family there being neither Earl nor Baron only the Officers of the Crown and Counsellers of the Kingdome have the preheminence Norway described Norway is bounded on the North with Lapland on the East with the Doâ—rine Mountains which part it from Swethlâ—nd on the other parts with the Sea It s in length one thousand and three hundred miles in breadth not half so much It s much troubled with certain little Beasts called Lemmers about the bigness of a field-mouse which like Locusts devoure every green thing on the earth and at a certain time die in heaps and with their stench poison the air so that the people are long after troubled with the Jaundies and a giddinesse in the head but these beasts come not often The soil is barren and the common people live on dryed fish in stead of bread The chief Commodities are stock-fish butter rich furrs train Oile pitch masts cables deal-boards c. Towns here are few and the houses are miserably poor their cheif towns are 1. Nidrosia 2. Bergen an ancient mart town 3. Asloia 4. Staffanger On the North and West of it lieth Finmark a great and populous Province both of them are subject to Denmark The chief towns in Finmark are 1. Saman 2. Hielso both sea towns 3. Wardhouse a place of much trading Swethland Described Swethland hath on the East Muscovy on the West the Dofrine hills on the North the frozen Seas and on the South the Baltick Sea which doth not ebb and flow This Sea begins at the Sound and interlaceth Denmark Swethland Germany and Poland extending to Livonia and Lituania This Countrey with the Provinces of Lapland Scricfinia and Barmia is bigger than France and Italy joyned together The soil is fruitful the aire healthfull so that many of the Inhabitants live to one hundred and thirty and some to one hundred and forty years old It yeilds Mines of Lead Copper and Silver Buck-skines Goat-skines Oxen Tallow Tar costly Furrs c. The chief Provinces are 1. Lapland which is divided into two parts whereof the Eastern part belongs to the great Duke of Mosco the western containing Lapland properly so called and Scricfinia belong to Swethland they have store of rich Furrs but use not many and are good Archers 2. Bodia lying on the South of Scricfinia the chief towns whereof are 1. Virtis 2. Vista 3. Helsinga 3. Finland which hath the Baltick sea on the South It s a very fruitfull and populous Countrey containing one thousand four hundred thirty and three Parishes wherein are a thousand Families in some of them the chief towns are 1. Albo. 2. Name a strong place c. 4. Sweden which hath on the East Sinus Bodicus on the West the Dofrine Hills on the North Lapland and on the South Gothland For the most part it is a fruitful Countrey the chief Cities are 1. Upsale 2. Nicopia a sea town 3. Coperdole famous for its abundance of Brasse 5. Gothland which is the best and richest Province of the North It s divided into the Island and the Continent The Island of Gothland is seated in the Baltick sea being in length eighteen miles and but five broad the chief Town is Wisbich The continent of Gothland joyns to Denmark and hath in it the great Lake Weret which receiving into it twenty and four Rivers empties it self at one mouth with such an hideous noise that it is commonly called the Devills head The chief Cities are 1. Stockholm 2. Lodusia 3. Walburg 4. Colmar famous for its impregnable Castle Sweden is the biggest of all the Northern Kingdomes the Regall City whereof is Stockholm a town with the suburbs of great distent there are in it many huge Mountains Rocks and Forrests where are sometimes seen and hard strange illusions and phancies as likewise in the water which are very terrible both to men and horses that pass that way The Swedes are good souldiers both by sea and Land of a strong complexion and fit to indure hardship and labour the Nobility is very milde and frank loves learning and Languages especially the Latine and French they travel much abroad are dextrous at exercises and seek learned company they heartily love one another out of their own Country hide the vices of their compatriots and stand much for the honour of their Nation Muscovy Described Muscovy hath on the East Tartary on the West Livonia Lituania and part of Sweden on the North the frozen Ocean and on the South the Caspian sea and lake of Meotis It is in length from East to West three thousand and three hundred miles in breadth three thousand sixty and five The women love their husbands best that beat them most they use the Sclavonian Language and in their Religion follow the Greek Churches the Northren parts are so cold that the people do not only line their cloaths but their houses with Furrs the chief Commodities are rich Furs Flax Hemp Oil Honey Wax Canvasses Nuts c. It hath many great rivers as 1. Tanais which emptieth it self into Palus Meotis 2. Duina running into the Scythian seas 3. Boristhenes or Neiper running into the Euxine sea 4. Onega running into the Baltick sea 5. Volga which at seventy mouths empties it self into the Caspian sea The chief Provinces are 1. Novograd having a City of the same name on the Baltick sea a place of great trading 2. Plescovia whose chief town is Plescow it is in length three hundred and thirty miles and one hundred and thirty in breadth 3. Volodomire a fruitful Country where usually one bushel of Corn returns twenty and sometimes five and twenty the chief town is of the same name 4. Rhezan very plentiful in Corn Hony Fish Fowl c. 5. Severia a great Province upon the lake of Maeotis 6. Smolensco whose chief City is of the same name 7. Rescovy 8. Rostowia 9. Corelia 10. Permia where are abundance of stags 11. Condora 12. Petzora 13.
roving about from one place of the Country to another without property either of house or land Their leader in every company is a Priest Lapland described On the North of Russia next to Corelia lyeth Lappia about three hundred forty and five miles in length in breadth fourscore and ten The whole Country almost is either Lakes or Mountains those on the outside are barren craggie Rocks but in the inland they are well furnished with woods the Lakes being in the Vallies their diet is very mean bread they have none but feed only upon Fish and Fowle they are subjects part to Russia part to Sweden and the other part to Denmark which all exact tribute of them but the Emperor of Russia the most They are wholly unlearned not having so much as the use of the Alphabet amongst them They pass all Nations in witch-craft and sorcery Their weapons are long-Bows and hand-guns wherein they are very nimble and excellent marks-men through their continual practise in shooting at wilde fowle For our English cloath they give Fish Oil and Furs whereof they have store when their fishing is done they draw their boats to shore turning the keel upwards and so let them lye till the next spring-tyde They travel upon sleds drawn by Olen-Deer which they use to turn a grazing all the Summer time in an Island called Kilden and towards Winter when the Snow begins to fall they fetch them home for their use Anno Christi 1611. VVilliam Purseglove a servant to our English Muscovy company makes this relation of his travels in these Countries wee travelled saith hee in sleds each of them drawn by two Rain Deer the Snow was so hard frozen that it did bear sleds and Deer Two hundred and fifty Sleds were in this Argeshey or company with whom wee travelled some dayes then chusing the best Bucks I with seven Sleds more rid Post only staying now and then for an hour where the Samoed our guide knew that there was store of white Moss wherewith to refresh our Deer so that in eight and forty hours space wee rode three hundred and fifty miles These Samoeds by their frequent travel know the wayes though the weather bee thick and foggy as also where store of white Moss grows at which places if it bee night they pitch their Tents made of Deer or Elks-skins which work is done by the women and in the mean time the men unyoak the Deer and turn them loose to dig through the Snow though it bee very deep to seek for their food and sustenance Pur. Pil. v. 3. p. 548. When a rich Samoed dies because hee should not travel on foot his friends will kill three Deer to carry him into the new World they will also strangle a slave to attend on him If a young child dye under seven years old they use to hang it by the neck on some tree saying it must flye to Heaven The women are very hardy and at their labour the Husband plaies the Midwife as soon as the child is born they wash it with cold or Snow-water and the next day the woman will bee able to conduct her Argish of Sleds The men are stout and bold of spirit not very tall but broad breasted broad faced with hollow eyes their weapons are Bows and Arrows long Spears and short Swords Poland described This Country is plain and wooddie the air so cold that they have no Wine or Grapes but use Ale in stead thereof It so abounds with Corn that it sends much abroad into other Countries they have also great store of cattel They use the Sclavonian language yet are much addicted to the Latine tongue They are generally proud impatient delicious in diet and costly in attire they are of all Religions The chief Rivers are 1. Vistula which parts it from Hungary 2. Neister which parts it from Moldovia 3. Neiper c. But to speak more particularly of the Provinces which are 1. Livonia which is bounded on the East with Muscovy on the West with the Baltick Sea on the North with Finland and on the South with Lituania It s in length five hundred miles in breadth one hundred and threescore very mountainous and fenny yet yeelds plenty of Corn. The chief Cities are 1. Riga 2. Derpt a town of much traffick 3. Rivalia a strong place 4. Name another strong Fortress Other chief Countries in it are 1. Curland 2. Senugal 3. Estland 4. Virland 5. Harland 6. Geroenland 2. Lituania which hath Livonia on the South Podolia on the North Poland on the East and Muscovie on the West The chief Cities are 1. Vilna an University 2. Vilkomire 3. Brestia The air is sharp and the Country barren yet are there many beasts whose skins are good commodities 3. Volinia environed with Lituania Podolia and Russia It is a small woody Province the chief Cities are Kiovia and Circassia on the banks of the river Nieper 4. Samogitia whose chief town is Camia It joyneth to Livonia on the North and the Baltick sea on the West It s full of wood and yeilds great store of honey 5. Podolia which hath Lituania on the North Neister on the South Russia East and Poland VVest The ground is so fertile that of one sowing they have three harvests the chief Cities are 1. Camienza seated on high rocks 2. Orkzacow 3. Winieczia 6. Russia nigra having on the East Podolia on the West and North Poland and on the South Hungary the chief Towns are 1. Leopolis or Lembourg 2. Grodeck 3. Luckzo A fruitfull Countrey having store of horses and Cattel 7. Mazovia which is environed with Russia Prussia Lituania and Poland the chief City is Marzow 8. Spruce Prussia or Borussia is upon the Baltick sea that part of it which belongs to Poland is called Prussia Regal the chief Cities whereof are 1. Dantzick a famous Mart town 2. Koningsberg an University 3. Heilsperg 4. Maneburg or Marpurg 5. Angenberg 6. Clune 9. Podlossia which hath Lituania and Mazovia on the East and West the chief Towns are 1. Tycockzin a strong for t 2. Byesko 3. Knissin 10. The Dukedomes of Opswitz and Zator which have the chief towns of the same names they are in Silesia but under the King of Poland 11. Poland properly so called which hath Lituania on the East Germany on the West Mazovia on the North and Podolia on the South the chief Cities are 1. Cracovia on the bank of Vistula 2. Lublin 3. Guisna 4. Siradia 5. Sendomire 6. Minsko 7. Posna 8. Dobrinia 9. Vlatislavia Poland takes her name from the great fields which produce a huge quantity of Corn there are in it many fens Lakes and very great Forrests where in the trunks of trees is often found great store of hony whereof they make a certain drink chiefly in Lituania which is most delicate and yeilds not a whit in goodnesse to Spanish wine there Winter is very long and sharp against the rigour whereof they serve themselves of stoves and good furred
gowns the Nobility is very studious of warre and desirous of travel and of an humor much like that of the French they express their gallantry in the beauty of their cloaths weapons and horses In the sumptuousness of feasts weddings funeralls Christenings and in numerous traines of servants when they go a wooing The most eminent dignities amongst them are to be Senators whom they call Waiwodes Chattellans and starosts or Captains Of Poland it is said that if a man hath lost his religion let him go seek it in Poland and he shall find it there or else let him make account that its vanished out of the world Europae spec Hungary Described The soil is wonderfull fruitful yeilding Corn thrice a year the Grass in some places exceeds the height of a man which feeds a wonderfull number of Cattel Besides which they have Deer Partridg and Pheasant in such abundance that any man may kill them They have also Mines of Gold Silver and Copper Fish Wine c. The chief Rivers are 1. Danubius called also Ister 2. Savus 3. Dravus 4. Tibiscus which exceedingly abounds with Fish The Turk hath these chief Cities in Hungary 1. Buda on the Danow 2. Gyula on the confines of Transylvania 3. Pest. 4. Alba Regalis 5. Quinque Ecclâ—siae 6. Rab. The Emperor hath in his part 1. Presburg upon the edg of Austria 2. Strigonium or Gran. 3. Agraria 4. Comara 5. Toctax 6. Canista 7. Alkeinburg 8. Neheusel 9. Zigeth on the Dravus Dacia Described This Countrey is sufficiently fruitful and abounds with horses whose manes reach to the ground but to speak of the Provinces more particularly which are 1. Transylvania which hath on its North the Carpathean Mountains on the South Walachia on the West Hungary and on the East Moldovia The chief towns are 1. Alba Julia or Weisenburg 2. Claudiopolis or Clausenburg 3. Bristitia 4. Centum Colles 5. Fogaros 6. Stephanopolis c. Their present Prince is Rogotzi a Protestant 2. Moldovia is on the North end of Transylvania and extending to the Euxine Sea the chief Cities are 1. Zucchania 2. Fucchiana 3. Falezing 3. Walachia divided from Bulgary by the Danow the chief Cities are 1. Sabinium 2. Prailaba 3. Tergovista the Vayvodes seat It abounds with gold Silver Iron Saltpits wine Cattel horses brimstone c. 4. Servia which lyeth between Bosnia and Rascia the chief Cities are 1. Stoinburg the seat of the Despot 2. Samandria 3. Belgrade on the Danow 5. Rascia between Servia and Bulgary the chief City is Boden 6. Bulgary joyning on the East to the â—uxine sea on the West to Rascia the chief Cities are 1. Sophia the seat of the Beglerbeg of Greece 2. Nicopolis 7. Bosnia having Servia on the East Croatia on the VVest Savus on the South and Illiricum on the North the chief Cities are 1. Cazachium 2. Jaziga Sclavonia Described Sclavonia is more fit for Pasturage than for Corn their sheep and other Cattle bring forth young twice in a year and are shorn four times the Provinces are Illiricum or Windismarch which is bounded on the East with the Danow on the West with Carniola on the North with Dravus and on the South with Savus the chief Cities are 1. Zatha on Danubius 2. Zakaocz 3. VVindishgretz on Dravus 4. Sagouna It s now a member of Hungary Dalmatia which hath on the East Drinus on the West Croatia on the North Savus and on the South the Adriatique sea the chief Cities are 1. Ragusi a sea town and of great traffick 2. Sicum on the sea also 3. Jadara another sea Town 4. Spalato a sea town 5. Scodra or Scutary 6. Lyssa where Scanderbeg was buried these two last are under the Turks the other under the Venetians Croatia which hath on the East and South Dalmatia on the North Savus and on the West Istria and Carniola the chief Cities are 1. Gradiska situate on Savus 2. Bruman 3. Novigrade on the Savus neer Germany 4. Sisseg or Sissaken 5. Petrowya These people are usually called Crabbats and serve as mercenaries in the Emperors Armies Greece described Greece is bounded on the East with the Aegean sea the Hellespont Propontis and the Thracian Bosphorus On the West it hath Italy with the Adriatick sea on the North with the Mountain Hemus and on the South with the Jonian sea It s situate in the Northern temperate zone under the fifth and sixth Climates the longest day being about fifteen hours The people once were famous for Armes and Arts which made them account all others Barbarians now they are degenerated from the Prinstine vertue of their ancesters and are become unconstant ignorant riotous and idle At their feasts they drink till they come to the height of intemperancy hence grew our Proverb As merrie as Greeks The women are generally brown yet well-favoured and excessively amorous they use much painting to keep themselves in favour with their husbands who when they are wrinkled and old put them to all drudgery Their Church government was by four Patriarks 1. Of Alexandria 2. Of Hierusalem 3. Of Antioch 4. Of Constantinople Their language was Greek of which they had five Dialects 1. the Attick 2. the Dorick 3. the Aeolick 4. the Jonick 5. the common Dialect but now it is almost devoured by the Sclavonian or Turkish Tongue The soil is fruitfull and would yeild good profit if it were well husbanded but the natives having nothing that they can call their own in regard of their slavery to the Great Turk neglect husbandry The Commodities that they send abroad into other Countries are Wine Oil Copper Vitreal Velvets Damasks Grogreams c. and some Gold and Silver The chief rivers are Cephisus which rising in the frontiers of Epirus emptieth it self into the Aegean sea Erigon Alaicmon Strimon Athicus Stymphalus Ladon Inacus Pineus Populifer c. Greece is ordinarily divided into these seven parts 1. Peloponesus 2. Achaia 3. Epirus 4. Albania 5. Macedonia 6. Migdonia 7 and Thracia Peloponesus Described Peloponesus is a Peninsula almost surrounded with the sea only it is joyned to the firm land by an Istmus five miles broad which was fortified by a strong wall and five Castles called Hexamilium which reached from sea to sea It is in compasse six hundred miles and it is now called Morea and is divided into six Provinces 1 Elis. 2. Messina 3. Arcadia 4. Laconia 5. Argolis and 6. Achaia propria 1. Elis which hath on the East Arcadia on the West the Jonian sea on the North Achaia propria and on the South Messina the chief Cities are Argis nigh unto the river Alpheus It was formerly called Olimpia famous for the statue of Jupiter Olimpicus which was one of the Worlds wonders And Pisa. 2. Messina which hath on the East Arcadia on the North Elis on the West and South the sea the chief Cities are 1. Messina now Golpho di Coron 2. Pilon now Navarino 3. And Methone or Medon 3. Arcadia which hath
which the tide entereth with a violent stream the other between the said Cuba and the farthest part of Florida at which the tide with the like violence goeth forth the Sea is very tempestuous and hath only two safe Havens viz. Havana on the North side and St. John de Luna on the South which are strongly fortified by the Spaniards The Country of Mexico is inferior to Peru in the plenty and purity of gold and silver but far exceeding it both in the Mechanical and ingenious arts here professed and in the abundance of fruits and cattel of which last there is such store that many a private man hath forty thousand Kine and Oxen to himself Fish also are very plentiful that only which is caught in the Lake whereon Mexico stands being reputed worth twenty thousand Crowns per annum Mexico was conquered by Ferdinando Cortez Anno Christi 1521. His Army consisting of one hundred thousand Americans nine hundred Spaniards eighty horsemen seventeen small peeces of Ordnance thirteen Brigandines and six thousand Wherrie-boats which from the Lake assaulted Mexico In Quivira another Province the riches of the people consists in cattel whose hides yeeld them coverings for their houses their bones bodkins their hair thred their sinewes ropes their horns mawes and bladders vessels their dung fire their Calf-skins budgets to draw and keep water in their blood drink and their flesh meat Nova Albion lyeth on the West towards Tartary It was discovered by Sir Francis Drake Anno Christi 1585. The King whereof did willingly resign himself and land to our Queen In it is a Hare resembling a Mole in his feet a Cat in his tail under whose chin nature hath fastened a little bag as a store-house for in it when hee hath filled his belly hee reserveth the rest of his provision It abounds in good fruits Jucutan is a Peninsula in circuit nine hundred miles a fruitful Country situated over against Cuba Florida hath on the East the Northern Sea on the West Mexico on the North New-France and on the South Virginia It abounds with goodly fruits and hath some quantity of gold and silver Emeralds are also found there and Turquesses and Pearls Women when their Husbands dye cut off their hair close to their heads strewing it upon their husbands graves and may not marry again till their hair bee grown to cover their shoulders Virginia described Virginia is seated between four and thirty and four and forty degrees of Northerly latitude It s bounded on the East with the great Ocean with Florida on the South New-France on the North and the Western limits are unknown The Summer is as hot as in Spain the VVinter is as cold as in France and England It was discovered by the English by the direction and at the charge of Sir VValter Rawleigh Anno Christi 1584. and in honour of our Virgin Queen called Virginia It yeelds store of Tobacco and now they get Silk-worms and plant store of Mulberry trees which is like to bee a good commodity There is but one entrance by Sea into this Country at the mouth of a goodly Bay The Capes on both sides are named Henry and Charles The water floweth in this Bay near two hundred miles and hath a Channel for one hundred and forty miles between seven and fifteen fathom deep and ten or fourteen miles broad At the head of the Bay the land is mountainous from which proceed great brooks which make five navigable rivers the mountains have in them Milstones Marble and some peices of Christal The earth is generally black and sandy The river neer to the mouth of the bay is called Powhatan the mouth whereof is neer three miles broad and it is Navigable one hundred miles Hence their Emperor is called Powhatan In a Peninsula on the North side thereof is placed James Town No place in Summer affords more Sturgeons whereof threescore and eight have been caught at one draught In Winter they have abundance of Fowl Fourteen miles from Powhatan is the River Pamaunk seventy miles navigable with big vessels Then Toppahanock which is Navigable one hundred and thirty miles Then Patawomeck one hundred and twenty miles navigable At the mouth of Powhatan are the Forts Henerico and Charles forty two miles upward is James Town seventy miles beyond that the Town of Henerico ten miles higher are the falls where the River falls down between Mineral rocks twelve miles beyond that there is the Crystall Rock wherewith the Indians head their Arrows The Commodities are silk-grass Hemp and Flax surpassing ours A certain Sedg which by boiling yeilds skeines of good strength and length some like silk some like flax and some like hemp There is also Allom Terra Sigillata Pitch Tar Rozen Turpentine Sassafras Cedar Grapes Oil Iron Copper c. Sweet Gums Dies Timber Trees of sweet wood of fourteen kinds Besides plenty of Fowl Fishes Beasts Fruits Plants Hearbs Berries Grains especâ—ally Maiz whereof one acre of ground will yeild two hundred Bushels of Corn Roots c. Their chief Beasts are Bears Deer a beast like a Badger but living in trees like a Squirrel Flying Squirrels another beast headed like a Swine tailed like a Rat as big as a Cat and hath under her belly a Bag wherein shee carrieth her young Their Dogs bark not their Wolves are little bigger than our Foxes their Foxes like our silver haired Conies and smell not as ours They have Eagles Hawks wild Turkies c. The People are cloathed in Deer skines about their middles else all naked Their houses are round of small poles fastened at the tops and covered with bark or mats they are good Archers so that they will kill birds flying fish swiming and beasts running Their chief God is the Devil which they call Oke whose Image is made ill-favouredly On the North of it lyes New-England planted with many English Towns especially New-Boston an haven Town and a place of good trading The other Countryes in this tract of ground have little that is remarkable in them Florida Described The length of Florida extends to twenty and five degrees It runs with a long point into the Sea and into land it stretches Westward unto the borders of New-Spain and to those Countries which are not yet fully discovered On other parts it s washed with a dangerous sea It is very rich with Silver Gold and stones of great value In it are great variety of Trees fruits fowls Beasts as Bears Leopards Ounces Wolves Wild Dogs Goats Hares Conies Deer Oxen c. Their Towns are paled about with Posts fastened in the ground having no more entrance than for two men to passe at a time where stand two watch Towers for defence their houses are round their apparrel nakedness except a skin about their secrets they paint and rase their skin curiously which they rub over with the juice of an herb that cannot bee gotten out they let their nailes on their fingers and toes grow long they are tall nimble
causeth great swelling also there is a worm that creepeth into the soles of mens feet which causeth great swelling and pain for which they have no remedy but to lance the flesh and so to dig them out They have a certain kinde of Beetles which have four lights that shine much in the dark two in their eyes and two under their wings when they flye they use to bring them into their houses where they do them double service First by killing the Gnats secondly by giving them light which is so great that they can see to read by it Kine in this Island carried thither by the Spaniards are so multiplied and grown wild that they kill them for their hides and Tallow leaving their flesh to bee devoured by dogs and fowl Almost forty thousand of them have been transported in one year Anno Christi 1519. Ants were as noisome to them as Grashoppers in other parts of the world they spoiled their fruits and fruit trees they could keep nothing in their houses which was fit to bee eaten from them and had they continued they would have unpeopled the Island There are worms also which do such harm in Timber that a house will scarce stand here thirty years when the King in this Countrey died they buried the best beloved of his Concubines with him who also had other women buried for to attend upon them in the other World together with their Jewels and Ornaments they had also set in their Sepulchre a Cup of water and some of their Cassavi bread Anno Christi 1508 here happened such an Hurricane as threw down most of the houses in Domingo and Bona ventura destroied twenty sail of ships lifted up many men into the air who falling down again were miserably bruised Newfound-land described Newfound-land is an Island bordering upon the continent of America no farther distant than England is from the nearest part of France It lies between six and forty and three and fifty degrees of Northerly latitude It s near as big as Ireland and is near half the way between Ireland and Virginea even in winter it s as pleasant and healthful a place as England The natural Inhabitants are not many and those rude ignorant of God and living under no kinde of civil Government In their habits customes and manners they resemble the Indians which live upon the continent They are ingenious and tractable and take great pains in helping those Christians which yearly fish upon their coasts to kill cut and boil their Whales expecting nothing for their labour but a little bread or some other trifles All along the coast of this Country there are many spacious and excellent Bayes some of them stretching into the land more than twenty leagues And round about the Coast and in the Bayes there are many small Islands all within a league of the land which are both fair and fruitful neither doth any Country in the world afford greater store of good harbours nor those more safe commodious and free from danger The soil of the Country in the Vallies and sides of the Mountains is so fruitful that without the labour of man it naturally produceth great plenty of Pease and Vetches as full and wholesome as ours in England Other places produce plenty of Grass There are Strawberries red and white and Rasberries as fair and good as ours in England Multitude of Bilberries and other delicate Berries in great abundance There are also Pears Cherries Filbeards c. There are Herbs for Sallets and broth as Parsley Alexander Sorrel c. As also Flowers as Red and Damask-Roses with others beautiful and delightful both to the eye and smell There are also diverse Physical Herbs and Roots Some Corn that our men have sowed proved very good and yeelded great increase so do Cabbages Carrats Turneps Lettice c. In the Country there are great store of Deer Hares Foxes Squirrels Beavers Wolves Bears and other kindes of Beasts both for necessity profit and delight Besides great numbers of small Birds there are Hawks great and small Partridges Thrustles Nightingals c. As also Ravens Gripes Crowes c. besides plenty of water-Fowle as Geese Ducks Gulls Penguines Pigeons c. Of these there is such abundance that the Fisher-men which yearly trade thither finde great refreshing by them The Country yeelds store of Rivers and Springs pleasant delightful and wholesome together with abundance of fuel for the fire besides Timber Trees as Fir Spruce fit for Masts of ships from whence also comes abundance of Turpentine Pines also and Birch-Trees c. The Rivers and Harbours are stored with delicate Fish as Salmons Pearles Eeles Herrings Makarel Flounders Cods Trouts as large fat and sweet as any in the world Besides Lobsters Crab-fish Muscles c. There are also Beavers Otters c. The Seas along the shore yeeld Whales Spanish-Makarel Dorrel Pales Herring Porposses Seales c. Especially by their Cod-fishing both our own and other Nations are much enriched Two hundred and fifty sail of Ships go thither usually in one year from England New-Scotland described New-Scotland lyeth on the East of St. Croix on the North it s compassed with the great River Canada and hath the main Ocean on the South It hath many safe harbours and great Rivers having on the sides of them delicate medows where the earth of it self bringeth forth Roses red and white and Lillies having a dainty smell The soil is fat producing several sorts of Berries as Goos-berries Straw-berries Hind-berries Ras-berries c. as also Pease Wheat Barley and Rye The Rivers abound with Lobsters Cockles and other small fishes There are great store of wild fowle as Geese Herons Ducks Wood-cocks Pigeons The Coast hath store of Cod and other great fishes The Land is full of wood mostly of great Oaks the rest Fir-trees Spruce Birch and many other sorts here unknown Groenland described Groenland is accounted part of America and is high mountainous and full of broken Islands along the Coast It hath good Baies and navigable Rivers that are full of fish Between the mountains are pleasant plains and vallies there aâ—e store of fowle black Foxes and Deer The people wander up and down in the Summer time without fixed habitations for hunting and fishing carrying their Tents and baggage with them they are of a middle stature brown active warlike eating raw flesh or a little perboiled in blood oil or a little water which they drink Their apparrel are Beasts or Fowles skins the hairy or feathered side outward in summer and inward in winter Their Arrows and Darts have but two feathers and a bone-head no wood growes there they worship the Sun Their Winter-houses are built of Whales-bones covered with earth and vaulted two yards deep under the earth within land they have a King that is carried upon mens shoulders They have Hares as white as Snow with long fur Dogs which live on fish whose pizzels as also of the Foxes are bony Their Summer work is
strange nature that the one half of it doth never freeze in the coldest winter Descrip. of Scotl. In Lenox is a great Loch or Meere called Loch-Lowmond in length twenty four miles and eight in breadth wherin are three strange things First Excellent good Fish without any fins Secondly a floating Island whereon many Kine feed And thirdly Tempestuous waves rageing without winds yea in the greatest calms Desc. of Scotl. There is a certain Island called Lounda in the Kingdome of Congo wherein is no fresh water being a very sandy ground but if you dig but the depth of two or three hand breadthes you shall find sweet water the best in all those Countryes and which is most strange when the Ocean ebbeth this water grows brackish but when it flows to the top it is most sweet P. Pil. v. 2. p. 989. Not far from Casbine the Regal City in Persia is a fountain of a strange and wonderful nature out of which there continually springeth and issueth a marvellous quantity of black Oil which serveth in all parts of Persia to burn in their houses and is usually carried all over the Countrey upon Kine and Asses whereof you may often meet three or four hundred in company P. Pil. v. 2. p. 1431. About three days journey from old Babylon is a Town called Ait and neer unto that is a valley of pitch very marvellous to behold wherin are many Springs throwing out abundantly a kind of black substance like unto Tar and Pitch which serveth all the Country thereabout to make staunch their barques with and boats every one of which springs makes a noise like to a Smith's Forge in puffing and blowing out the matter which never ceaseth day nor night and the noise is hard a mile off the Moors call it Hell-mouth P. Pil. v. 2. p. 1437. Clitumnus is a River in Italy which makes all the Oxen that drink of it white Fulk Meteor Lib. 4 The River Melas in Boeotia makes all the Sheep that drink of it black Plin. The Fountain of Jupiter Hammon is cold in the day time and hot at midnight The Fountain of the Sun hath its water extream cold and sweet at noon and boiling hot and bitter at midnight Plin. lib. 2. c. 103. Augustine There is a River in Palestine called the Sabbatical River which runs with a violent and swift stream all the week but every Sabbath it remains dry Joseph de Bel. Jud. l. 7. c. 24. Some question the truth of this In Idumaea is a fountain called the Fountain of Job which for one quarter of the year is troubled and muddy the next quarter bloody the third green and the fourth clear Isiod The River Astaces in the Isle of Pontus uses sometimes to over flow the fields after which whatsoever sheep or milch Cattel feed thereon give black milk Plin. l. 2. c. 103. Furius Camillus being Censor in Rome the Lake Albanus being environed with Mountains on every side in the time of Autumn when other Lakes and Rivers were almost dry the waters of this Lake after a wondrous manner began to swell and rise upwards till at last they were equall with the tops of the Mountains and after a while they brake thorow one of those Mountains overflowing and bearing all down before them till they emptied themselves into the Sea Plut. The River d ee in Merionneth shire in Wales though it run through Pimble-Meer yet it remaineth intire and mingles not its streams with the waters of the Lake Cam. Brit. Ana a River in Spain burieth it self in the earth and runneth under ground fifteen miles together whereupon the Spaniards brag that they have a bridge whereon ten thousand Cattel feed daily Pliny tells us of a fountain called Dodon which always decreaseth from midnight till noon and encreaseth from noon till midnight Hee also tells us of certain Fountains in an Island neer Italy which always increase and decrease according to the ebbing and flowing of the sea Aristotle writeth of a Well in Sicilie whose water is so sharp that the Inhabitants use it instead of Vinegar In Bohemia neer to the City of Bilen is a Well of such excellent water that the Inhabitants use to drink of it in a morning instead of burnt wine Dr. Fulk In Paphlagonia is a Well which hath the taste of wine and it makes men drunk which drink of it whence Du Bartas Salonian Fountain and thou Andrian Spring Out of what Cellars do you daily bring The oyl and wine that you abound with so O Earth do these within thine entrals grow c. Aelian mentioneth a Fountain in Boeotia neer to Thebes which makes horses run mad if they drink of it Pliny mentioneth a water in Sclavonia which is extream cold and yet if a man throw his cloath cloak upon it it is presently set on fire Other waters there are which discolour the fleeces of the sheep which drink of them whence Du Bartas Cerona Xanth and Cephisus do make The thirsty flocks that of their waters take Black red and white Add neer the crimson deep Th' Arabian Fountain maketh crimson sheep And again What should I of th' Illyrian Fountain tell What shall I say of the Dodonean Well Whereof the first sets any cloathes on fire Th' other doth quench who but will this admire A burning Torch and when the same is quenched Lights it again if it again be drenched In the Province of Dara in Lybia there is a certain River which sometimes so overfloweth the banks that it is like a sea yet in the Summer it is so shallow that any one may passe over it on foot If it overflow about the beginning of Aprill it brings great plenty to the whole region if not there follows great scarcity of Corn. Pur. Pil. v. 2. p. 823. In the Kingdome of Tunis neer unto the City El-Hamma is a hot River which by diverse Channels is carried through the City the water of it being so hot that few can endure to go into it yet having set it to cool a whole day the people drink of it Idem p. 821. In Africa there is a River called Margania and by it a salt spring which turns all the wood is thrown into it into hard stone Idem p. 1547. The River Meander is famous for its six hundred windings and turning in and out whence that of the Poet. Quique recurvatis ludit Maeander in undis Maeander plays his watry pranks within his crooked winding banks Groenland in the Hyperborean Sea was discovered Anno Christi 1380. it hath in it the Monastery of St. Thomas situate in the North-East part thereof at the foot of a Mountain where there is a River so hot that they use to boil their meat in it and it serves for other such purposes as fire doth with us Isac Chron. p. 275. The River Hypanis in Scythia every day brings forth little bladders out of which come certain flies which are thus bred in the morning are fledge at
number of sticks and twigs wherewith to build their nests that thereby the inhabitants are also abundantly provided of fewel for the fire and such a mighty gain is made of their feathers and oile that no man would scarcely beleeve it but hee that hath seen it Camb. Brit. of Scotland p. 12 13. In Magallanes voyage about the world the King of the Island of Bacchian sent the King of Spain two dead birds of a strange shape they were as big as Turtle-Doves with little heads and long bills long small legs and no wings but in stead thereof certain long feathers of divers colours and tails like Turtle-Doves all their other feathers were of a tawny colour they flye not but when the wind blows and they call them Birds of God Pur. Pil. v. 1. p. 44. In Sofala in the East-Indies is a kinde of bird called Minga green and yellow very fair about the bigness of a Pigeon which never treads on the ground their feet being so short that they can scarce bee discerned they settle on trees of the fruit whereof they live when they drink they flye on the tops of the water and if they fall on the ground they cannot rise again their flesh is fat and savourie Idem p. 1546. CHAP. VI. The wonderful works of God in the Creatures Of strange Beasts and Serpents WHilst Sir Thomas Row our English Ambassador was at the great Moguls Court hee saw many stately Elephants brought before the Emperor some of which being Lord-Elephants as they called them had their chains bells and furniture of gold and silver each of them having eight or ten other Elephants waiting on him they were some twelve companies in all and as they passed by they all bowed down before the King very handsomely Pur. Pil. v. 1. p. 550. Though these Elephants be the largest of all beasts yet are they very tractable unless at such times when they are mad through lust some of them are thirteen and some fifteen foot high their colour is usually black their skins thick and smooth without hair they delight much to bathe themselves in water and are excellent swimmers their pace is about three miles an hour of all Beasts they are most sure of foot so that they never stumble or fall to indanger their rider they lye down and rise again at pleasure as other beasts do they are most docible creatures doing almost whatsoever their Keeper commands them If hee bid one of them afright a man hee will make towards him as if hee would tread him in peeces and yet when hee comes at him do him no hurt If hee bid him abuse or disgrace a man hee will take dirt or kennel-water in his trunk and dash it in his face c. Their trunks are long grissely snouts hanging down betwixt their teeth which as a hand they make use of upon all occasions Some Elephants the great Mogul keeps for execution of malefactors who being brought to suffer death by that mighty beast if the Keeper bid him dispatch the offender presently hee will immediatly with his foot pash him in peeces If hee bid him torture him slowly hee will break his joynts by degrees one after another as men are broken upon the wheel An English Merchant of good credit being at Adsmeer a City where the great Mogul then was saw a great Elephant daily brought through the Market-place where an Hearb-woman used to give him an handful of herbs as hee passed by This Elephant afterwards being mad brake his chains and took his way through the Market-place the people being affrighted hasted to secure themselves amongst whom was this Hearb-woman who through fear and haste forgat her little childe The Elephant comming to the place where shee usually sate stopt and seeing a childe lye about her hearbs took it up gently with his Trunk and without harm laid it upon a stall hard by and then proceeded in his furious course Idem p. 1472. The Males Testicles lye about his forehead the Females teates are betwixt her fore legs they carry their young two years in their wombs conceive but once in seven years they are thirty years before they come to their full growth and fulfil the accustomed age of a man before they dye As Pyrrus King of Epyrus was assaulting the City of Argos one of of his Elephants called Nicon i. e. Conquering being entred the City perceiving that his governour was stricken down to the ground from his back with terrible blows ran upon them that came back upon him overthrowing friends and foes one in anothers neck till at length having found the body of his slain Master hee lift him up from the ground with his trunk and carrying him upon his two tushes returned back with great fury treading all under feet whom hee found in his way Plut. In vita Pyrri The Lion hath the Jackall for his Usher which is a little black shag-haired beast of the bigness of a Spaniel which when the evening comes hunts for his prey and comming on the foot follows the scent with open crye to which the Lion as chief Hunt gives diligent ear following for his advantage If the Jackall set up his chase before the Lion comes in hee howles out mainly and then the Lion seizeth on it making a grumbling noise whilst his servant stands by barking and when the Lyon hath done the Jackall feeds on the relicks Idem p. 1575. See more afterwards Example seventeen The Panther hath a very sweet smell so that other Beasts are much taken therewith but they are terrified with the ugly deformity of his face and therefore as hee goes hee hides that part between his legs and will not look towards them till hee hath gotten them within his compasse which when hee hath done hee devours them without mercy so deals the Devil with wicked men strewing their way to Hell with variety of worldly delights and profits the thorns of afflictions must not touch their flesh nor hells terrors come within their thoughts till hee hath made them past feeling than hee devours them Plin. nat Hist. L. 8 C. 17. The Rhynoceros is so called because of the horn in his nose hee is a large beast as big as our fairest Oxe in England His skin lyeth plated and as it were in wrinkles upon his back Their Horn Teeth Claws yea flesh and blood are good against poyson which as is conceived proceeds from the Herbs which they feed on in Bengala where are most store of them The Camelopardalus is the highest of Beasts so that a man on horseback may ride upright under his belly his neck is long so that hee usually feedeth upon the leaves of trees his colour is white and speckled his hinder legs are shorter than his former so that he cannot graze but with difficulty P. Pil. p. 1381. He is also called a Jaraff In India is a certain beast called a Buffelo which is very large hath a thick and smooth skin but without hair She gives
good milk and her flesh is like beefe Idem p. 1469. In the same Country also are certain wild Goats whose horns are good against poison Pur. Pil. p. 472. In the Country of Indostan in the East-Indies are large white Apes as big as our Grey-hounds which will eat young birds whereupon Nature hath taught their Dams this subtilty they build their Nests on the utmost boughs at the end of slender twigs where they hang them like Purse-nets to which the Apes cannot possibly come yet many times with their hands they will shake those boughs til the nests break and fall down and then they will devour them Pur. Pilgrimag p. 1475. The Camelion is of the shape and bigness of a Lizzard it is a deformed lean and crooked creature having a long and slender tail like a Mouse and is of a slow pace It lives only upon Flys It changeth colours according to the variety of places where it comes It is a great enemy to venemous Serpents for when it sees any lye sleeping under a Tree it gets upon a bough just over the Serpents head and voideth out of its mouth as it were a long thred of Spittle with a round drop hanging at the end which falling on the Serpents head immediately kills him P. Pil. p. 848. There was lately found in Catalunia in the Mountains of Cerdania a certain Monster that had humane shape as far as the waste and downwards it was like a Satyre Hee had many heads Arms and Eyes and a mouth of extraordinary bignesse wherewith hee made a noise like a Bull His picture was sent by Don John of Austria now Governour of the Low Countryes to the King of Spain and afterwards many Coppies thereof were drawn and sent abroad by Ambassadors and other persons to several Princes and States in Europe Hist. of this Iron age In Brasile is a certain Beast called a Tamandua or Ant-Bear of the bignesse of a great dog more round than long and the tail above twice so long as the body and so full of hair that under it hee shelters himself from raine heat cold and wind His head is small and hath a thin snout his mouth round with a tongue three quarters of a yard long hee is diligent in seeking Ant-hills which hee teareth with his claws and then thrusts in his long tongue upon which the Ants run and when it is full hee licks them in and this is all his food Pur. Pil. v. 4. p. 1301. The Armadillo is of the bignesse of a Pig and of a white colour It hath a long snout and the body is covered with shels like Plates wherwith they are armed for they are so hard that no arrow will pierce them except in the Flanks where they are softer their flesh is good to eat they dig holes in the ground with their snouts in which they lye Idem The Porcupine hath bristles or quils white and black of a span and an half long which they can cast and they have this quality that where one of these bristles enters into the flesh if it bee not pulled out presently it will work it self quite through they are of a good flesh and taste The Civet Cat exceeds the Castor for bignesse her head is little her eyes cleer hath a long muzzle sharp and offensive teeth Her hair is parti-coloured harsh and bristley yellow above and whiter downwards The pocket wherein the Civet is bred is neer the genitory which is taken forth with a spoon or stick But when shee is wild shee casts it forth of her own accord and by the sent it is found by the passengers The Lyons in Affrick are more fierce than in colder Countryes here was one of their skins brought into England which from the snout to the top of the tail contained one and twenty foot in length They engender backwards as do Camels Elephants Rhinoceroses Ounces and Tygers They spare such men as prostrate themselves to them and prey rather upon men than women and not at all on Infants except compelled by hunger His tail is his Scepter by which hee expresses his passion Hee shrinks not at danger except some covert of woods hides him from witnesses and then he will take the benefit of flight which otherwise he seems to disdain The Hyaena hath no joints in her neck and therefore stirrs not her neck but with the bending of her whole body Shee hath one continued tooth through her whole mouth In Africk are many wild Asles whereof one male hath many females he â—s so jealous that he bites off the stones of the young males if the suspicious female prevent him not by bringing forth in a close place The Dabuh is a simple Creature like to a Wolf but that his legs and feet are like to a mans they which know his haunt with a Taber and singing will bring him out of his den and captivate his ears with their Musick whilst another captivateth his legs with a rope The Zebra is a very beautiful Creature resembling a curiously shaped horse but not all out so swift all overlaid with party coloured lades and guards from head to tail In Sofala there is a certain creature called Inhazaras as big as a hog and somewhat like with thin and black hair having on his hinder feet five fingers like unto a mans and four on his forefeet they live meerly upon Ants by thrusting their tongues which are two spans and an half long into an Ant-hill whereon the Ants running they pull them into their mouths and so eat them some call them Ant-Bears Pur. Pil. There is in Affrica a certain monster called Pongo in the whole proportion like unto a man but that it is bigger It hath a mans face hollow eyes long hair upon the brows his face and ears being without hair but his body is all hairy of a dunish colour c. Hee differs from a man only in his legs which have no calves hee goes always upright upon his legs and carries his hands clasped in the nape of his neck when hee walkes upon the ground They use to sleep in trees and live upon fruits and nuts Idem v. 2. p. 982. In Congo there is a strange Creature as big as a Ram that hath wings like a Dragon a long tail and great chaps with diverse rows of teeth They feed upon raw flesh Idem p. 1003. In Affrica there is a beast called a Dabuk in bignesse and shape resembling a Wolf saving that his legs and feet are like a mans Hee useth to rake dead men out of their graves and eat them Idem p. 847. In the Kingdome of Mexico there are Kine with bunches on their backs about the bignesse of our bulls having little horns and more hair on their foreparts than behind which is like Wooll On the back bone they have manes like horses and long hair from their Knees downward with much long hair on their throats They are meat drink shooes houses fire vessels and their masters