or Iupedes what people they were there are opinions enow concerning them Some say that they were at first of Scythia and came thence as the Lombards did into Italy But hauing made a more curious and dilligent search I finde that they were a people of Germany and called then Gepudij or Sepusij and according to Ptolomeus Matauastus now at this day Siebemburgs that followed the Gothes the Vandals and the Normands also beeing erring and Vagabonde people till at length they ventured on the Seas and went to inhabite the Isles of the Orchades whereof Thylle is the latest inhabited as Volateranus auoucheth and they are now subiectes to the King of Scotland In speaking of so many Nations who are all said to be deriued from the Scithians we may not forget the Picts who by most Writers opinion are said to be a people of Germany that had their Originall out of Scythia descending of the Agathyrsi in Sarmatia who vsed to paint and collour their faces thereupon were named Picts Before they entred into Britaine they inhabited the Isle of Orkeney for a long time together ferrying ouer into Cathnesse daily so multiplying both in power number that getting vp further into the land they possessed Rosse Murrey-land Merne Angusse whence passing into Fife and Louthian they droue thence the Brittain Inhabitantes who were onely poore people that liued by nourishing breeding Cattle This their entrance into Albion for so was it then called was in the year of the worlds creation 3633. Cruthneus Camelonus is said to be the first king of the Picts that he builded a famous Citty on the bank of the Riuer called Caron appointing it to be the chief City of all the Pictish kingdom He builded also the town of Agneda afterward called Edenbrough of Ethus king of the Picts and the Castle named The Castle of Maydens because the Pictish kings kept their daughters there vnder strict custody in all good exercises til their yeares of mariage Concerning the warres strifes and bloody contentions betwéene the Albion Scots and Picts thorough all their Kings raigns til their vtter ouerthrow and quite desolation of Pict-land by Kenneth the victorious King of Scots I referre it to our larger discourse Only letting you know that this subuersion and vtter ruine of the Picts hapned in the year of our redemption 839. in the sixt yeare of King Kenneths glorious raigne 1168. yeares after their first plantation in Albion The Getes haue bin and yet are a warlick people mollested greatly by the Turkes at this instant and yet they found the Romain work sufficient These are the Transyluanians Valachians Moldauians their country is neere to the Riuer Ister where it falleth into the Pontick sea The Bourguignons are helde by Orosius to come forth of Germany and Volatteranus saith that Iouinianus the Emperour vanquished some such people that liued by the Riuer of Rhine But there is nothing more certaine according as I haue gathered by the Germaine Histories then that they yssued from some remaynes of the Gothes Vandals and Hunnes who beeing altogether chased by the Romains threw themselues on that part of Gaule which is called after theyr name and there perforce enthroned themselues For afterwarde they coulde so well resist the Romaines that they were constrained to yéelde them tolleration and let them liue in the saide Countrey amongst the first Inhabitants There they builded Fortes Villages and Townes which they called then Bourgs of the Gothes Hunnes but being soone corrupted into one word from Bourgs-Goth-Hunnes they are now called Bourguignons as much to say as a martiall people Aetius Lieutenant to the Emperor Theodosius gaue them a battel in the yeare of Christ 435. and won the day But it cost him so deare that he would neuer after meddle any more with them About the yeare 430. they receiued and embraced the Christian fayth This people in these dayes are become very ciuill and are as much addicted to Learning as to Armes For they haue a goodly Vniuersitie founded by one of the Dukes of Bourgougne wherein many Lectures are read of all the Sciences to Schollers of all Nations at Dola the Capitall Cittye of that parte of Bourgougne which is vnder commaund of the house of Austria and there they hold a Parliament also As for the other part of Bourgougne in obedience to the Crowne of France Digeon is the Metropolitane Citty thereof where likewise is helde another Parlament And these two Bourgougnes are maintained in very good peace albeit they are in obeysance to diuers Princes We wil conclude this discourse with the kingdome of Naples which is a Citty very auncient and Noble in all respects and giueth the Title of kingdome to the whole Prouince by her owne proper name As concerning the name of Kingcome I do not hold it to be of any great antiquity because the Normanes took it from the Grecians who possessed this Prouince in diuers partes thereof and then it was entitled the Earldome of Apulia or Puglia as some do yet tearme it Robert Guiscard a verie valiant and woorthy man expulsed suddenly the Grecians thence and tooke Sicilie also from the Sarrazins entitling himselfe Duke of Apulia and of Calabria and Earle of Sicilie In no long time after his nephew Ruggiero or Roger hauing conquered the Citty of Naples which till that time had béene in the Grecians Gouernment receiued the Title of King of both the Scicilies by Anacletus the Anti-Pope in the yeare of our Lorde 1130. which afterwarde was confirmed vnto him in good and lawfull manner And from that time forwarde it was called the kingdome of Scicilie on this side Pharos vntill the raigne of Charles the first when it became deuided from Sicilie by occasion of that famous accident called Vesro Sciciliano the Scicilian Euening wherein so many of the French were slaine I finde moreouer in many good Historians that Naples hath had three seuerall Names to wit the Kingdome of Naples the Kingdome of Apulia and the Kingdome of Scicilie on this side Pharos ¶ Of the Kingdome of Portugall THe Kingdome of Portugall beganne in the yeare of Christ M.C.X. after this manner Henry Earle of Lorrayne comming thether performed many valiant déedes against the Sarrazins And his high deseruings mooued Alphonsus the sixte King of Castile to giue him a Bastard daughter of his in mariage named Tiresia and in way of Dowrye assigned him also that part of Galicia which then was contained in Lusitania Of this marriage was Alphonsus borne who was the first that euer stiled himselfe K. of Portugall and he was the first also that tooke the Citty of Lisbone from the Sarrazins For he hauing conquered fiue of their kings in seueral battels caused his Armes to bee adorned with fiue seuerall Crownes and Coat-Armors which euer after continued the Ensigne of the kings of Portugall in perpetuall memory of his valour But he quickly
stained this faire fame with crueltie vsed by him to his owne mother for after her second marriage he caused her to be imprisoned albeit the Pope labored the matter greatly by his Legate yet could hee neuer compasse her deliuerance Which sin was seuerely punished on him by his enemies who afterward tooke him in battell And then his son Sanctio succéeded him and after Sanctio diuers other to Iohn who was the tenth King in direct and natural line This Iohn was at the first expulsed from his Kingdome and made a Knight of S. Iohn of Ierusalem but at length he was re-called to his kingdome where he made very honorable proofe of his valour and among diuers famous déeds he tooke from the Sarrazins the Citty of Septia Hee had seauen Sonnes among which Ferdinand for intergrity of life was tearmed a Saint Henry another of his Sons was the first that found Noua Insula in the Athlantike Sea He being very skilful in the Mathematicks liued continually without a Wife and made his daily abiding in a Promontory which was called the Cape of S. Vincent and there he died in the yeare 1460. But Edward who was the eldest brother was made King and by warres he adioyned to the kingdome of Portugall Zelia Tigea and Alcazar in Affrica He had two Daughters or Sisters as some say named Ioane and Leonora the first was married to the king of Castille and the other to Frederick the third Emperor of whom was borne Maximilian the first who was afterward Emperor and Grandfather to Charles the fift He had also a Son named Alphonsus who succéeded him in the Kingdome and begate Iohn Emanuel who was 14. king of Portugal Emanuel had Iohn who took to wife the sister of Charls 5. Emperor called Katherine Lodwick died an infant but Isabel was wife to the said Charles he had another daughter that was maried to Charls D. of Sauoy After him succéeded Sebastian who in our time fighting with the Moors was slain and the king of Marocco with diuers other great Lords of the Moores Henry Vnckle to the deceased king followed him in succession he being then a Cardinal very aged holding the kingdom but some few months But he dying Phillip king of Spain entred on the kingdom resisting the claime of Don Anthonio beeing a Brothers-son of the dead King Henry and so out-wearied him that hée could neuer attaine thereto in full possession So it remaineth still vnder the Spanish gouernment ¶ The Kingdome of Italy COncerning the Kingdome of Italy the antiquity thereof when at first it was called Ianicula of Ianus Camesena of Cameses Saturnia of Saturnus Hesperia of Hesper and Italia of Italus with all the Kinges there raigning till the Latines and those likewise that descended of Eneas to the time of Romulus with the History both of olde Rome and Rome as it now is it remaineth to our generall History Onely we will say somewhat of the Originall of Venice moued thereto by iust occasion A breefe discourse of the Originall of the Venetians the foundation of Venice and how it hath beene gouerned from the year of our saluation 421. to thiâ— instant To the ancient Right Worshipfull and worthy Society of the Gold-Smiths HIstoriographers who haue written of the Venetians doe not agrée together in theyr true Originall For some doe write that they are descended of the Venetian Gaules inhabiting along the Ocean Sea in little Britaigne called Armorica whereof one of the principall Citties béeing a Bishops Sée was called Vennes Others and among them Titus Liuius borne in Padua assures vs that they came forth of Paphlagonia and that Philemon their Captaine being slaine at Troy the great they went with Antenor into Italy Others write that this Nation hauing béene Neighbours to the Cappadocians and venturing fight with the Cimmerians they hazzarded further vpon the Adriatick Sea in their Fortune The most common opinion is of them who say that the Hinitians or Henetes came with Antenor and in sometime after by changing of a letter were called Venitians or Venetes First of all they expelled the Euganeans who inhabited this Countrey betwéene the Adriatick Sea and the Alpes and builded the Cittie of Padua Afterward by successe of time they increased in such sort as they would not be satisfied to bee Maisters onely of that which had appertained to the Euganeans consisting of thirtie foure faire Citties and Townes but intruded farther to seaze on Bressano and Forli Some report this Countrey to be bounded with the Riuers of Pau and that of Adde as also the Lake of Guard aunciently called the Benack the Alpes and the Adriatick Sea And so the auncient Venetians in this manner extended their Dominion both in longitude and latitude in the most pleasant Countrey of Italy but the seating of the places did daily beget the elder estate of the Venitians hatred For on the one side the ordinary robberies of the Liburnians and on the other side the frequent and frightful courses of the Barbarians did hinder them froÌ„ any long time of continuing in quiet For without these impeachments this Nation had béene most fortunate in conquering by the right of Warre one of the most goodly and beautifull Regions in all Italie Nowe ouer and beside that on the South-side it is enuironed with a most calme circuite of the Sea and in regard thereof is the more capable of receiuing all strange Merchandizes So is it likewise wattered with very delectable Riuers whereby whatsoeuer commeth from the Sea is easilie transported to the very Nauell of the Prouince It aboundeth in Pooles Pondes Forrests and vnder-woodes and the whole Land is choicelie fertile in Corne Wine Oyle and all kindes of Fruites It is also plentifully stored with Countrey Houses Townes Citties and Villages Castles Fortes and such like very commendable for the scituation and enclosure of their Wals. These nâ—w Inhabitants when their weake estate beganne to growe in fairer forme they were seldome exempted from the Warres and incursions of Straungers For after manie bolde insolencies of the Barbarians with continued Warres against each other euen from their very beginning vntill the time of Attila they were yet much more dreadfully encombered with the furious assault of the Gothes a teÌ„mpest farre excéeding in turbulencie all other former disasters happening to them whatsoeuer For first the Hunnes a people of Scythia dwelling néere to the Riphean Mountaines conducted by Attila the Sonne of Mandluck dispersed themselues ouer Italie and making horrible spoyle wheresoeuer they went fell into the Prouince belonging to the Vinitians After a long siedge they tooke the Cittie of Aquileia and spoyled and burnt it wholly In like manner did they ruinate the Citties of Concordia and Altina and almost all the Venitian Region At the fearefull newes of this Warre the Venitians were more amazed then any other and so much the rather because they had béene formerly invred to sustaine their
the Worshipfull Maister William Dios Esquire Remembrauncer of the Honourable Citty of London WHether this Lande were peopled before the flood or no it is no part of my purpose to argue heer thereon albeit Dominicus Marius Niger and Berosus do affirme that well as this Islande was inhabited with people long before the dayes of Noah as any other Countrey or part of the world beside But after the floud according to Annius de Viterbo Berosus and others when Noah deuided the earth among his thrée Sonnes that part which is now knowne by the name of Asia fell to the lot of his eldest Sonne Sem Affrica to his second Sonne Cham and Europe withall the Isles thereto appertaining to his third Son Iaphet among which this Island now called Brittaine with other Isles thereto belonging was certainely numbred Iaphet Noahs third Sonne by some called Iapetus by others Atlas Maurus because hee died in Mauritania in the iudgement of Bodinus auouching the consent and authority of the Hebrew Greeke and Latine Writers was the first that peopled the Countries of Europe deuiding it also by the Grand-fathers example among his Sonnes of whom Tuball according to Tarapha had the rule of Spaine Gomer the Italians and Samothes was the founder of Celtica which contained in it as Bale testifieth a great part of Europe but especially those Countries now called Gallia and Britannia which peopling of this Island by Iaphets Children is affirmed to be 200 yeares after the floud Samothes being the sixt Sonne of Iaphet and called by Moses Mesech by others Dis had for his portion as Wolfangus Lazius auoucheth the Countrey betweene the Riuer of Rhine the Pyrenean Mountaines where hee founded the kingdom of Celtica tearming his people Celtae which name was as indifferent to them of Gallia as to the Inhabitantes of the Isle of Britaine This King Samothes is reported to bee a Man excelling all other in that age in learning and knowledâ—e that of him theÌ„ arose a sect of Philosophers both in Britaine Gallia which were cald Samothei as Aristotle and Secion do say were surpassing both in the Law of God man and therefore greatly addicted to religion especially them of Britaine which not onely made the whole nation to take name of them but as Bale and Doctor Caius affirme the Island it selfe was named Samothea which was the first peculiar name it had before the arriuall of Albion Magus the Sonne of Samothes was second King of Celtica after his Father This Magus was likewise so famous for his learning that the Persians Magi or Diuines are said to come of him Sarron succéeded his Father Magus in the Countrey of Gallia and the Isle Samothea of whom Diodorus Siculus reporteth that a sect of Philosophers descended among the Celtes who were called Sarronides Druis or after Seneca Dryus raigned after his Father Sarron indifferently ouer the Celtes and Samotheans Of him came the Philosphers called Druides whom Caesar anoucheth to haue the charge of common and priuate sacrifices the discussing of pointes of Religion the education of youth the determining of matters in variance and full power to interdict so many from the Sacrifices to their Gods and societie of men as disobeyed their award If any doubt arose in the Countries about matters of Discipline they alwayes resorted to these Druides who as Humphtey Llhoyd witnesseth made theyr chéefest aboade in the Isle now called Anglesey and there at all times receiued their resolution Bardus the Sonne of Druis was the fifth King ouer the Celtes and Samotheans a man much renowmed for inuention of Musique and Ditties and he made an order of Philosophicall Poets or Herauldes calling them Bardi after his owne Name Of these Bardi Nonnius Strabo Diodorus Stephanus Bale and Sir Iohn Price doe thus record That they vsed to Register the Noble exploits of auncient Captaines and to draw the pedegrées and Genealogies of such as were liuing They did so excell in singing swéete Songes and Ditties to theyr Harpes that if two Armies had béene ready to ioyne battaile and any one of these Bards by fortune entred among them they had not the power to strike vntill he left singing and went from the Armies When Bardus was deceased the Celts began to affect liberty and addicting themselues to pleasure and ydlenesse would liue no longer vnder the strict orders of their auncient Kinges which brought them the sooner vnder subiection to the Gyant Albion who straited Celtica and the Celtes within the boundes of Gallia tearming this Island formerly called Samothea Albion according to his owne name and subdued the people albeit the Title of Samotheans according to the iudgement of diuers Writers had continued from Samothes to Albion the space of 310. yeares This Albion was the fourth Sonne of Neptune whom Moyses calleth Nepthuim and who did put his said Son in possession of this Island by conquering the Samotheans as he did the like to his other Sonne named Bergion in Ireland and the Orkenies which were brought vnder his obeysance Concerning the Historie of Hercules Lybicus whom Moyses nameth Laabin his Conquests in Spaine his passage into Italy against Lestrigo and lastly his killing Albion and his Brother Bergion it being nothing incident to my present purpose I leaue it Also the Story of Danaus Daughters being fifty in number that they should arriue in this Island after the slaughter of their Husbandes the fifty Sonnes of King Aegyptus and that one of those Ladies should bee named Albina of whom this Land should bée called Albion I passe it ouer likewise and will now procéede to the knowne History of Brute Yet not daring to enter into so rich a Mine of hidden treasure till being guided by the Light of Brittaine the learned labour of a worthy Gentleman and Antiquarie Maister Henry Lyte of Lytescarie Esquire and which with his owne hand hée presented to our late Soueraigne Quéene and matchlesse Mistresse on the day when shee came in royall manner to Paules Church I be guided therein for my better direction vsing his owne words The Light of Britaine BRitannia Maior the Countrey of the bright Britona called Britomartis the president of Britaine that is to say the chast Diana of Calydonia sylua Astrorum decus Syluarum dea casta et innupta custos et cultrix nemorum metuenda Virago terror syluestribus apris This Britannia maior was first found by Brute of Albania the Conqueror of the Greeks the mightie deliuerer of the Troyans and first founder of the Noble Britaines Who by the Oracle of the bright Britona called Diana of Calydonia sylua Astrorum decus brought the remaines of the Albanian Troyans of Asia from Albania Calydonia sylua Aetolia in Greece to Albania Calydonia sylua and Aetolia in Briraine Before whose most happy and fortunate arriuall there was neither Towne Citty Countrey Riuer Region or place of name in Britannia for Britannia
at Brutes arriuall was no Britannia but a rude and solitary Desert or wildernesse without name Ferarum altrix a verie nursery or place of store for wilde Beastes The Countries and Regions of Britayne were then all ouer-growne with Woodes replenished with all kindnes of sauage and cruell beasts as Lyons Beares Wolues Foxes wild Boares and all other game belonging to the Chase Beside diuers other kind of wilde Beastes and Cattell especially a certaine kinde of white monsterous wilde Buls and Kine with long shagd curled haire and maines which kind of Cattel were as fierce and cruell as Lyons and could neuer be tamed by mans art as you may finde it registred and recorded in our ancient Chronicles and noted in the very common Dictionaries vppon these wordes Caledonia and Caledonia sylua Britanniae alwayes mistaken and corruptly Written Caledonia for Calydonia because the reason why our Countrey was first called Caledonia sylua was no better knowne to the auncient Romaines in Iulius Caesars time then it is at this day knowne to dyuers of our Antiquaries and Chronicles of Britayne For one deriueth Caledonia sylua from Calden and another fetcheth Calydonia sylua from Kaled But the ones faire Daughter Kaled is too young to bee the Mother of Calydon or Calydonia sylua Britanniae And the others Calden or Hazellsticke is as weake to be the Mother of Calydon For Calydon of whom Calydonia sylua by Aetolia in Greece tooke name was the Sonne of Aetolus who was the Sonne of Mars the God or Patron of battaile Mars was the father of Aetolus of Parthaon of the bright Britona called Britomaris the president of Britayne Aetolus the Sonne of Mars and Brother to bright Britona was Father of Calydon of whom Calydonia sylua by Aetolia in Greece Mother of our Calydonia sylua the generall name of all Britayne tooke name but especially of Calydonia sylua secunda which is Scotland called Britannia secunda In which part of Brytaine at this day is the most ancient Towne of Parthaon now called Perth and Saint Iohns Towne the principall Towne of Aetolia now called Atholl a Region or Countrey of Britannia Albania or Calydonia sylua secunda where the great Calydon Wood which beginneth at Striueling called the Dolorus Mount runneth foorth thorough Mentieth and Stratherne to Aetolia that fruitefull Region of Grampius Mount which reacheth to Lochquhaber and to Calydonium Promontorium which is Cathnesse or Orcha the angle point cape foreland or lands end of Scotland This Calydonia sylua Brytannia was the daughter of Calidonia sylua by Aetolia in Greece who tooke his originall from Calydon the Sonne of Aetolus Aetolia now called Atholl in Britayne is the Daughter of Aetolia a Citty of Albania and Calydonia sylua in Greece so called of Aetolus the Sonne of Mars Parthaon now called Perth or Saint Iohns Towne the principall Towne of Aetolia in Scotland tooke his glorious name of Parthaon the Brother to bright Britona called Britomaris the president Brytaine Of whome all Britannia contayning all the Countries and Regions of England Scotland Wales and Cornewall called by Alexander Necham in his book De diuina sapientia Bruti tellus took the most glorious name of Britaine For Brute of Albania the Founder of Brittaine came to this Isle by the Oracle of Britona called Diana of Calydonia sylua therefore hee called this Isle of Britannia of the bright Britana c. The same Brute also who was borne in Albania bannished to Albania and the first founder of Britayne called Albania called all our Countrey of Britayne Albion seu Albania not of the White Rockes and Cliftes as some men suppose but of Albania in Asia and Albania Epiri in Greece the Countrey of Helenus and Andromache Quéene of Albania Epiri from whence Brute of Albania brought the Albanian Troyans the founders of Britayne To approue what formerly hath béene sayde without any néede of repetition wée haue a multitude of most glorious Recordes and Chronicles Written and Printed confirmed by the Testimony of Iulius Caesar by Pope Eleutherius by a Parliament holden at Norham vppon Twede and another at Lincolne in the time of King Edward the first who by his Letters sent from Lyncolne â—o Pope Boniface dooth approoue Brutes Historie to bee no Fâ—ble as some Criticks of our time haue done who will not beleeue our ancient written Records although confirmed by Emperors Kings Popes and Parliamentes neyther the Testimony of Strangers Wherefore by the Oracle of Diana called Britomartis the President of Britayne and by the Oracle of Diana Lucifera that is to say Venus called Bosphorus the bright Quéen of Phrygia and Caria Mother of Eneas and the Graces of whom came Brute of Albania founder of Britaine who brought in Carius a Noble Prince of Lydia and Caria with the people of Caria and Swannes of Carie in Britaine By the Oracles aforesaide the Swans of Carie in Britaine are now stirred vp to maintain the verity of the Brittish History The Goddes of the Gentiles whose Temples our fore-fathers of the Troyan race erected in diuers Countries and regions of Britaine especially at Troia-noua now called London in Britaine where the Troynouants did sometimes Sacrifice Buls Bullocks and Stags to Diana Tauropolia whome the Gentiles called the Quéene of Heauen whych was the same Diana called Bellona whome the Brigantes honoured at Yorke Brigantium Ciuitas And what were these Brigantes I pray ye Herodian saith that the Briges Phryges and Brigantes were all one Whereupon I conclude that the Brigantes that is to say our Northerne Britaines were Phrygian Troyans The Brigantes of Brittaine are the people of Yorkshire Richmondshire Lancashire Dutham westmerland and Cumberland hard to the Pictes Wall where the Abij and Picti Agathyrsi dwell about Abus AestuariuÌ„ now called Humber And what were those Abij but Albanian Troyans that came also from Abus a Riuer of Albania Epiri And the auncient Brittaines called Picti Agathyrsi what were they Euen Scythian Troyans of Albania who sprang of Scythes and Agathyrsus the Sonnes of Hercules that sometime raigned in Troy for the famous Cittie of Troy in Phrygia the head of all Asia was in Scythia The noble Troyans were called Taurini and Tauroscythi of a famous mountaine of Asia called Tauâ—us Mount which runneth thorough all Asia a great part of the Mountain Taurus endeth in Caria which is a countrey of Asia belonging to Troy Venus called Bosphorus the mother of Eneas and the Graces of whome came Brute of Albania the founder of Britaine was Quéen of Phrygia and Caria The famous Riuer of Maeander is in Caria which riuer hath Golden sands and singing Swannes that sometime serued Venus Quéen of Phrygia and Caria wherefore the Swans of Caria and Signets of Troy in Britaine must alwayes sing of Troy Troyans The daughters of heauen and earth Isis Themis Rhea Thetis Abus Arius Alanus Ax Tameres
to bee the first Byshop of Rome then liued likewise Philo the Iew Perseus Mela Pliny the elder and Columella Saint Paule the Apostle went then thorow the World proclaiming Iesus Christ accompanyed with Saint Luke Then liued Dionisius Areopagita And then was the first Councell of Ierusalem Nero the Sonne of Agripina afterward the Wife of Claudius raigned thirtéene yeares Hee was the first Persecuter of the Church and did put Saint Peter and Saint Paule to death hee slew likewise his Maister Seneca also his owne Mother and Lucan the Poet. Then liued Simon Magus and Appolonius Nero beeing erpulsed from Rome slew himselfe after hee had set Rome on fire to make himselfe pastime of a Bon fire Sergius Galba the seauenth month of his Empire was slaine by Otho Suetonius Egesius Lib. 4. Cap. 21. M. Siluius Otho he also most wickedly slewe himselfe in the third month of his Empire confessing that he had cruelly tormented the spirit of Galba According to Suetonius and Tacitus Lib. 7. Aulus Vitellius brought vp at Bourdeaus de Caprea being a vicious Man and a glutton was hewed in péeces and cast into Tyber hauing raigned eight months He caused himselfe to bée serued at his Table with two thousand seuerall kinds of Fishes and seauen thousand of Foules all at one supper Suetonius Lib. 9. Iosephus Lib. 5. de Bel. Iudas Vespasian a modest and gracious Prince a louer of skilfull men and good Artisans raigned ten yeares accompanied with his Sonne Titus who ruinated Ierusalem Iosephus Proclus Epictetes This ruine was the most lamentable that euer happened for therein dyed 110000. men read Iosephus in his sixe and seauen Bookes of the Iewish wars and Egesippus Titus the delight and sollace of mankind raigned two years He vsed to say That no man ought to depart from a Prince with a sad countenance Casstus Neracius Proculeius and Pegasus were then Lawyers and Saint Bartholmew was then martired in India Saint Matthias in Iudea S. Andrew in Scythia Saint Mathew in Aethyopia Saint Thomas in Bragmania Hierusalem was then taken the Famine beeing so extreame as Mothers were compelled to eate their owne children Domitian Brother to Titus was a most wicked man and persecuter of the Christians hee raigned fiftéene yeares then liued Martiall Iuuenall Statius Trogus and saint Iohn wrote the Gospell as also Iosephus did the Warres of the Iewes Domitian would néedes afterward bée called God and Lord of his people wherfore being hated of all men he was slaine Nerua a good Prince and the adopted father of Traian raigned one yeare he gaue more than an hundred thousand Crownes to reléeue poore Cittizens He tooke away extreame taxations and wanting mony he sold his garments plate and Pallace esteeming his owne Parents and kindred much lesse then he did the publick benefit The Christians were in great quyet vnder him and the banished repealed among whome was S. Iohn Traian a good Emperour but that he persecuted the Church reigned 19. yeares Being admonished that he was ouer gracious to all men he answered That he was such to his Subiects as he could wish others should be to him if he were a Subiect Then liued S. Ignatius S. Eustachius Pliny the yonger Plutarch Aulus Gellius Suetonius Tacitus Solinus Aelius Adrianus a man studious and skilfull in all Sciences and the first Emperour that suffered a beard on his face raigned 21. yeares Iulius Celsus Iulian and Neracius Priscus were Lawyers councellors to the Emperour Then were liuing Ptolomy the great Astrologer Phanorinus Dionisius the Milesian and Heliodorus Hierusalem was repaired by Adrian who therefore had his name chaunged and was called Helias Antoninus Pius reigned 23. yeares He was a Prince of such estéeme as straunge Nations would resort vnto him and make him Iudge of their differences for hee had alway this saying ready I had rather saue one Cittizen then kill a thousand Enemies In this time were Polycarpus Ireneus Iustine Martire Egesippus Appian Florus Macrobius Iustine Gallen and Palladius Lucian the Atheyst also was then torne with Dogs This Emperour tooke awaie the wages or hire of strumpets punnished idle Magistrats and was called Father of his country Read Eutropius Lib. 8. Thelesphorus the ninth Pope as some report did then institute or rather restore the time of Lent M. Antoninus the Phylosopher called Aurelius borne in Gaule with L. Commodus Verus and called Brethren in the Bookes of the Pandectes raigned 19. yeares This good prince being vnwilling to oppresse his subiectes made sale of all his fairest and richest Iewels plate wearing garmentes belonging vnto him and his wife Eutrop. lib. 8. Lucius Aurelius Verus gouerned the empyre with his brother Marcus Antoninus the space of eleauen yeares By some Authors he is set down in order before his brother by others after him L. Commodus the most wicked sonne of good Antoninus raigned 13. yeares He was strangled by his Concubine and other Conspirators Eutrop. lib. 8. Orosius lib. 8. cap. 18. Lampridius doth most amply describe his life at large Aeâ—ius Pertinax raigned six moneths He had refused the Empire and beeing desirous to reforme the gouernment he was slaine by Iulian his successour who bought the name of Caesar of the Warriors The people much bemoaned this Prince crying out aloud O father of goodnesse Father of the Senate Father of al bounty Farewell V. Iulian raigned seauen moneths and being hated of all men for sleying his predecessor him selfe was also slaine by appointment of the Senate Dissention grew amongst the Christians for the celebration of Easter And the second Councell appointed the day of Sunday and fiue other after Euseb lib. 5 cap. 24. Metianus Sâ—euola Martianus and Cassius were now Iurisconsultes Aphrodiseus and Aphronius Sophysters Pescennius Niger or Nigerius the sonne of Annius Fuscus indifferently lerned fierce proud and inclined to all vice was saluted as Emperour by the souldiors of Syria where he commanded and was slaine by Seuerus L. Septimâ—us Seuerus raigned 18. yeares He was a Persecutor of the Church but otherwise a valiant Prince addicted both to good letters and Armes He was so well beloued and gouerned so nobly that the Senate said of him Eyther he should neuer haue bin borne or else hee deserued neuer to die Read Spart and Vict. Then liued Origen Tertullian Philostrates the Sophister and Apuleyus Cl. Albinus issued of the Romaines families of the Posthumians and Albines made himselfe Emperour in France He was surprised by the Souldiers and brought halfe aliue to Souerus where hauing his head smitten off he was hanged on a gibbet and being torne with dogges he was throwne into the Riuer A. B. Caracalla the sonne of Seuerus and husband to his stepmother raigned seuen years He slue Geta his brother and Papinian the great and famous Lawyer with diuers other At last himselfe was slaine by a souldior of his Guarde Herod lib. 4. Antoninus Geta
million of men Sigismund reigned 27. yeares a man renowned for wisedome and goodnesse Then was the Councell of Constance wherein thrée popes were deposed Iohn Hus and Hierom of Prage were then burned Albertus the second reigned two yeares well and valiantly He chased Amurath the Turke out of Hungary Frederick the third a louer of Peace raigned 53. yeares Then was Constantinople taken The Art of Printing found out Artillerie more auncient 1380. Gaza Victornius Blondus Aeneas Syluius Platina Bessarion G. Trapezoncius N. Perottus Pomponius Laetus H. Barbaxus A. Politianus I. Picus Mirandula B. Mantuanus Ph. Beroaldus Maximillian a louer of vertuous men raigned 27. yeares He was valiant and learned could deliuer his actions himselfe in the Latine tongue Then liued I. Nauclerus Volaterranus G. Valla Polydor Virgill A. Sabellicus I. Reuchlinus Iouianus Pontanus M. Ficinus P. Crinitus Amb. Calepinus Trithenius P. Bembus and others Charles the fift a most magnanimous prince raigned 35. yeares In his time happened maruellous mutinies in Germany by Peazantes and Rusticke people of which were slaine more then an hundred thousand in lesse space then 3. Moneths Beside these strange warres there insued ciuill dissentions likewise about matters of religion Erasmus Io. Lud Viues Luther Munster Camerarius Fuctius Latomus Sadoleâ—us Pagninus Eugubinus Melancthon Rhenanus S. Grineus Zozius Oldendorp Alciat Zuinglius Oecolampadius and others then liued Ferdinando a Prince wise vigillant liberall kind and a louer of quietnesse He made warre vpon the Turkes in Hungary for the space of 38. yeares and laboured to accord the Christians to the end that the enemy might be resisted by generall consent He raigned seauen yeares and then liued Gesner Lycosthenes Sturmius Gualterus Riuius Pantaleon Vadian P. Constantinus Functius c. Maximillian the second sonne of Ferdinand was a good and prudent Prince not dissolute in habits but liuing soberly hauing knowledge in many toogues good iudgement speaking discréetly and sententiously and inclined to receiue al requests as also to giue liberally Neuer curious of rich Cabinets or sumptuous buildings He reigned twelue yeares Rodulphus the second sonne to the most vertuous Prince Maximillian and raigning at this present To whom God giue grace as to al other Monarches Princes and Potentates to do those thinges that become a Christian Prince blessing him with good Councell faithfull people c. Now come we againe to the Emperors of the East Nicephorus who was kinsman to Irene got the Empire from her by craft exiling hir thence as hath béene before declared and méerely vsurping the Empire of Constantinople At his first enterance euery one hadde a singular good opinion of him because they grewe weary of a Womans gouernement Neuerthelesse he proued to bee wicked cruel and couetous therfore felt quickly his deserued punishment For entring battle against the Bulgarians he was discomfited and slaine His sonne Stauratius whom he had made fellow Emperor with him was likewise then sore wounded and dismissed of the Empire with in thrée moneths after by Michaell Curopalates who had married his sister Procopia And so hee was sent to finish his daies in a Monastery Stauratius the sonne of Nicephorus a man deformed and mishapen hauing also a simple spirit was made companion and participant in the Empire with his Father And yet notwithstanding very soone after his Fathers death he was chased from his Empire his haire being shauen off and he inclosed in a Monastery not raigning after his father aboue thrée moneths or thereabout Michaell Curopalates otherwise called Rangabus was Emperour after Nicephorus and his sonne Stauratius This Emperor Michaell was better skild in the affaires of peace pollicy and Iustice then in the action of warre For in his first battell against the Bulgarians he fled away like vnto a Coward and hid himselfe in a Monastery to which life hee yéelded himselfe and quite forsooke the Empire as not willing to meddle any more eyther with warre or the State of an Emperor He according as Nicephorus did the like sent an Ambassador to Charlemaine the new made Emperor of the west to treat of peace and alliance with him And it was agréed that the Venetians should liue according to their own Lawes Customes and ancient liberties Leo of Armenia was Emperor of Constantinople being the fift of that name and the fourth after Charlemaine Emperor of the Romaines who began with Nicephorus He was Colonell of the warlike troopes belonging to the Emperor Michaell Curopaletes and aspyring to dominion he raised a commotion and so was made Emperor by the Souldiers Hee being thus elected Emperor entring into his Pallace-Royall hee caused the priuy members of the Sonne of the said Emperor Michaell to be cut off and then banished him He Conquered the Bulgarians recouered Thrace tooke many of his enemies reprehended their boldnesse that had surprized Adrianapolis and prepared also to besiedge Constantinople Hée would by no means suffer the Images of saints but beat downe and defaced them Not long after himselfe was taken and slaine in a Church as he was assisting Diuine seruice in the eyght yeare of his Empire his wife was bestowed in a Monastery and his Children closely conuaied away Michaell the Stammerer or stutterer a wicked man and murderer of the foresaid Leo was after him made Emperor of Constantinople Hee was descended of base and vile place and there was one called Thomas a man also of as base Birth that sought to vsurpe the Empyre working so many disturbances thereto that the Emperour being halfe in despaire commanded a great chain of yron to thwart the arme of the Sea euen from Constantinople so farre as Pera. But in the ende he tooke this Thomas and caused his handes and féet to be cut off At this time the Sarazins surprised Candy had two seuerall victories ouer the Gréekes and Michaell died of a flux in his belly Theophilus sonne to Michaell the Stammerer was Emperor of Constantinople after his father He was a good Iusticer well affected towards his Subiects but he held the Images of Saints in great detestation and seuerely punnished all such as worshipped them being therein his fathers true follower Two seuerall times he gaue battell to the Sarazins that wasted and spoyles the Countries of Asia And as many times was he foiled loosing there all his Tents and Pauillions Amorium a little village of the higher Phrygia being the place of his birth was besieged taken and rifled by those Sarazins The Emperour grieued thereat so immeasureablie that hee refused to eate and woulde drinke nothing but colde water So falling into a Dysenterie hee died Theodora after the decease of Theophilus her Husband as Tutresse or Guardian vnto her son Michaell who was in his young yeares gouerned the Empire of Constantinople very sufficiently comforting the poore distressed Christians and reuoking home such as liued in exile about the question of Images She treated a peace with the
kindes of Théeues as formerly hath bin saâ—â— who name themselues Sarracenis not in regard of Religion or bloud but by an auncient appellation of the said people of whome Ptolomey makes mention and saith that their liuing is in Idumea Amianus Marcellinus in the History of Iulian the Apostat Emperour makes a description of them and saith that Those places more than two hundred yeares before the Originall of Mahomet or of his Alcoran were fully furnished with the said Sarrazins and Assyria afterward euen so farre as the Cataracts of Nylus or the kingdome of Prester Iohn where they vsed the same courses violences thefts vpon merchants and inhabitants of the neighboring Countries according as the Arabes or Alarbes doe at this day Whereupon because that their chiefest habitation was in the Desarts and Mountaines which are in Arabia and the neighbouring quarsers or Countries as Chaldaea Assyria Mesapotamia Suria and Aegipt when the Arabes arose with their new Religion and had frequented the foresaid Regions the néerer Countries supposed that these people were those former Sarazins by ignorance of their Language as also by rashnesse of some Writers who liued then in Suria and since that time in Spaine séeming to haue good knowledge of those people and therefore continually then called Sarazins Moreouer to confirme that vaine appellation those Interpreters in Spaine who by commandement of S. Bernard were appointed to interpret the Alchoran in euery place where they found the vocable Mulsulman which is as much to say in the Arabian tongue as Peaceble and faithfull towards God they interpreted the same Sarraceniâ— or Sarazins This Mulsulman then is the vocable whereby al that beléeue in the Alcoran will be called whether they bee Arabes Syrians Persians Tartars Turks or Moores Whosoeuer then would enter into any peaceable and friendly conference with them albeit none doe hate their name more than the Turks must call them Mulsulmans as we do our selues Christians or faithfull people So are they all named by the Author of the Ismaell or Ismaelitish race and by their Bastard Prophet After our manner and in respect of Religion they term a man Mulsulmam and a woman Mulsulmina or Mulsulminet albeit some say Mussim by a corrupt pronunciation As we may well conceiue by our owne selues who do vse to call those disfigured wanderers that walke among vs with deformed faces and long ilfauored lockes vsing all subtle Thefts piâ—â—eries and legerdumaines they can deuise we nick-name them to be Sarrazins Aegiptians or Gypsies I thus conclude then that when Hystorians write that the Sarrazins inuaded and made vse of Rhodes next of Thrace then of Italy Spaine and other Countries it is to be vnderstood of the Orientall people and Affricanes that were of the Mahometan Religion because they vsed the selfe same cruelties thefts and robberies as the Sarazins of rockie Arabia did And to speak truly all Europe wold at this instant haue bin haunted with those people if they had not béene formerlie expelled and spoiled It remaineth yet freshe in memory that the great Graundfather to Phillip king of Spaine not long since deceased named Ferdinand expulsed them out of the Kingdom of Granado with their king called Melen and he bestowed six whole years together in stout wars onely in foiling them And then the dominion which the Sarazins and Moores held in Spaine had finall conclusion After which time those faith lesse Mahumetists durst neuer presume any more vpon Spaine where they had held the Kingdome of Granado eight hundred yeares Before the said Ferdinand king Alphonsus in the yeare of our Lord 1233. slew in diuers places aboue two hundred thousand of them when they held strong forts and Citties in Spaine which he forced them to forsake and since then haue béene vtterly ruined Henry the Emperour made another great massacre of them in the yeare of Iesus Christ 1010. in Italy expelling them wholy out of that Countrey Among the Sarazins there were not only very generous persons but likewise some men of great learning as Auicen Mesuus Isaac Mansor Auerroes and many others Now as all things haue their vicissitude and alteration by courses so after that the Sarazins had raigned in Africa and partly in Europe for about the space of eight hundred yeares there came a people from diuers parts of Scythia which at this day we call Turks who in lesse than twoe hundred yeares ouercame in Armes those people called Sarazins with many other Christians beside not onely in Asya but in Europe and Affrica And albeit that those Turks were of the same Religion to wit Mahumetists yet did they not abstaine from vexing and troubling them with warre euen in like manner as they did the Christians For in the yeare 1012. they took Ierusalem and all Iudaea from them but the Sarazins of Aegipt recouered them againe and held them for three hundred yeares after Neuerthelesse they were yet againe deiected thence in the year 1517 by the Turks the Sarazins loosing then not onlie Palestine and the Holy-land but likewise Egipt Syria Arabya and the very same Countrey of Idumea where as the Sarazins had their original and are there subiect to the Turkes nowe at this instant For Campson their King lost the daie against Selim Emperor of the Turks and Tomombeus his successour being next chosen to bee King in his place was taken and afterward ignominiouslie strangled in the graund Caire the very principall Citty of Egypt where we may behold the end of the Sarazins not any part of them now remaining except such few as are in the Turks seruility This short discourse giues vs to vnderstand that Sarazins were not all such as are called Mahumetists but they that had their beginning in the Countries of Idumea and the desart or rockie Arabia and all those that being ioined with them commanded vnder them in diuers Countries rendring other Nations subiect to them by Armes Vncill such time as they were exterminate by the people whose Countries they vniustlie vsurped and planted their Religioâ— by war As also at length by the Turkes although they be of the same Religion For warre is maintained among them for desire of soueraignty and ambition euen as well as among vs that are Christians ¶ A briefe Collection of the Byshops and Popes of Rome from the yeare 44. to this instant 1611. With the seuerall Ages of the Church since the Ascension of our blessed Sauiour Iesus Christ vp into Heauen OVr Lord Iesus Christ the Nazarite God and man Messias Sauiour of the world Holy of holies Soueraigne and Eternall Highe Priest head of the Church 1 Peter called Cephas borne in Bethsaida the sonne of Iohn and first called of the Apostles is said to hold his seat seauen yeares at Antioch and afterward at Rome xxiiij yeares vnder the Empire of Claudius and Nero who caused him to be crucified in the same place Simon Magus being reputed to be
that were in Ierusalem chose F. Ermingard d'Aps to bee their Mayster The second day of October in the same yeare the Citty of Hierusalem was submitted to the power of Saladine 88. yeares two months and seauentéene daies after that it was deliuered by Godfrey of Bullen from the handes of the Infidels Frederick the first sirnamed Barbarossa then holding the Empire of the West and Isaac the Angell that of the East at Constantinople Vrbane the third beeing Pope of Rome and Phillip the second called Augustus Gods Gift and Conquerour raigning in Fraunce Then were expulsed out of Hierusalem the Knightes Hospitallers Templers and al the Latine Christians of which Christians the Hospitallers redéemed from captiuity of the barbarous to the number of two thousand with their Money All the Churches of the cittie were then polluted and prophaned except the Temple of the Resurrection which was bought with a great summe of Money by the Christians of the East After the losse of Hierusalem the Knights Hospitalers were continually in Armes faithfully assisting the Christian Princes that had put on Crosses for the recouery of the holy Land and did actions of high desert at the siedge of Ptolomais which after a long siedge of thrée yeares was regayned from the Infidels by the Christians the twelft day of Iuly 1191. And in that Citty the Knights of Saint Iohn kept then their ordinary aboad and residence And in the verie same yeare the Christians wonne a notable victorie against the Barbarians and Saladine theyr chiefe wherein they were worthily assisted by the knightes Hospitallers and Templers The yeare following beeing 1192. in Winter dyed Ermingard d'Aps the great maister in the cittie of Ptolomais and then was chosen in his place 11 Geoffrey de Duisson In his time there was truce taken for fiue yeares betwéene the Christians that were in the holy Land and Saladine by which meanes many Lords and Gentlemen of diuers Nations who had worne the Crosse and gotten great store of goodes and possessions returned home to their Countries and gaue their goods to the Brotherhood of saint Iohn which greatly did augment their renennewes And after the death of Henry Earle of Champaigne the Hospitallers and Templers remayned gouernours and administrators of the kingdome of Hierusalem howbeit that by the fewer number of Christians there abiding election was made of Amaury de Lusignan who had succéeded the king of Ierusalem in the kingdome of Cyprus with consent of the Patriarch the Prelats and Barons of the Realme in the yeare 1194. when soone after died Duisson the Great-Maister and then succéeded him by election 12 F. Alphonso of Portugall a knight of the Order of Saint Iohn and of the Royall house of Portugall though it dooth not appeare certainely to what king he was Sonne He made very worthy and commendable statutes whereof to this day there are some inuiolably kept But because he was of too stiffe nature ouer-rough surely and seuere hee encurred the hatred of the greater part of the Knights Hospitallers Which was the cause that hee renounced his Maistershippe and shipt himselfe for returne home to Portugall in the same yeare of his election But he dyed the first day of March in the yeare 1207. 13 The same yeare that Alphonso renounced the Great Maistershippe to wit in the yeare 1194. Geoffrey le Rat who was Graund-Pryour of Fraunce was chosen Mayster And Saladine then dying his Sonne Noradine Lord of Alepo succéeding him About this time Simon Earle of Montfort was sent by King Phillip Augustus with an Army into Syria where finding much disorder he tooke truce for tenne yeares with the Infidels in the yeare 1198. In the time of this tranquile estate there chanced a great difference betwéene the Knights Hospitallers and Templers grounded on this occasion The Hospitallers complayned that the Templers had enterprised too farre vppon their iurisdiction with much contempt and violation thereof Which quarrell after manie rough encounters and skirmishes was appeased accorded by the interposition of king Amaury the Patriarches of Antioch and Hierusalem and other Princes and Christian Prelats who comprimitted this difference in the name of Innocentius the third which fell out very successiuely For after that God the onely Staffe and stay of all affaires in the holy Land had permitted this friendly vnity betwéen these two millitary Orders of Knight-hood King Amaury of Lusignan so preuailed that the Great Mayster and Knights of Saint Iohn might liue with him in the Isle of Cyprus where hee graunted the gouernment of the Kingdome to them In the yeare 1205. King Amaury dyed so did Quéene Isabell who appointed her Daughter Mary which she had by Conrade of Monferrat to be her heire and he left her to be tutoured and guided by the Knightes Hospitallers and Templers In the yeare 1260. Geoffrey le Rat the Great Mayster dyed and then succéeded him 14 Guerin de Montagu of the language of Auuergne who with the Knights of his order ayded Lyuon King of Armenia against the Turkes and Barbarians that had intruded into his Kingdome In recompence whereof he gaue them the citty of Salef with the castles of Camard and new castle and their dependances Hee likewise recommended his heire and Kingdome to the Knightes of the Hospitall of Saint Iohn which guift was confirmed by the Pope the fift of August 1209. Then were Iohn de Brienna and Mary his Wife Heire to the Kingdome crowned King and Quéene of Hierusalem At length in the yeare 1230. Guerin the great Maister died in the citty of Ptolomais and during his tyme all the Christians affaires in the holy Land depended very much vppon the Knightes Hospitalers and Templers who albeit they had many contentions betwéen them yet did they still agrée together in all matters against the Infidels After him succeeded 15 One F. Gerin of whom no other name is found remembred Richard Duke of Cornewal and Brother to Henrie then King of England arryued soone after in Palestine with an Army of forty thousand men and did many worthy actions there The great Maister also and his knights with him bearing him company fought valiauntly against the Corasmine Infidelles There the saide Mayster was taken and sent as a Prisoner to the Soldane of Egypt where he died and in his place the Knights of S. Iohn elected in the citty of Ptolomais for their great Maister 19 Bertrand de Comps in the time of Pope Innocent the fourth and when the Generall Counsell was called at Lyons 1245. This great Maister was present in a furious battaile fought against the Turcomans that wasted all the country about Antioch in the month of August 1248 where hauing receiud sundry deadly wounds he ended his daies And in the Citty of Ptolomais on the 24. of Aug. was elected as Great maister 17. Peter de Villebride In his time Lewes K. of France called S. Lewes tooke on him the crosse against the Infidels with
get fooling raigning ouer the Regions of Fez as Beni Zeiren did in Telensm and in Granado These two great Potentates beganne to warre vppon each other and to contend for priority of State But by this their discord the power of the Lordes of Tunis encreased so that they went with an Army against Telensi and compelled them to pay them tribute Whereupon the King that new arose from the House of Marino and had béene at surprizall of Marocco sent many rich presents to the Gouernour of Tunis recommending both himselfe and his whole State vnto his fauour The Gouernour accepted him as a Friende alwaies prouided that hee should be inferiour to him And so he returned in tryumph to Tunis causing himselfe to bée called King of Affrica which Tytle was thought very desertfull for him because as then there was not a more powerfull Prince in all Affrica then hée He began then to ordaine his Court Royall with Secretarie Councellers and a Captaine Generall vsing all those Ceremonies that the Kinges of Marocco formerly had done And from the time of this Prince euen to our dayes Tunis held on the same encreasing Dignity as well in habitations as ciuility so that it became the onely and singular Cittie of Affrica Where now wee leaue her to our larger History as also the Kingdome of Fez because the Originall of the one came from the other and therefore they are the more capable of an intire discourse which aryseth to a very spacious and large quantitie There also will we relate the condition and originall of sundry other remote Kingdomes which for the reason before alleadged are in this briefe Chronicle purposely omitted ¶ Of the great Prouince of Moscouia As also the Manners Religion and power of the Prince their ruling MOscouia is a very great Northerly Region containing more then fiue hundered leagues in length The principall Citty thereof beeing called Mosca or Moscuua greater then the Citty Paris in Fraunce and seated on the Riuer Mosqua There is a large Stone squared in the middest of the Cittie whereon whosoeuer can mount himselfe without beating down in the vacancy of the Crowne he is held as Prince of the Countrey and obtayneth the principality For very great fightes and combates the Inhabitants haue had one against another about the mounting on that stone Hée that comes to be Prince of the Countrey dooth not call himselfe King but Duke being contented with that popular name and differeth not in Garments from the other Noble-men of the land saue only that he weareth a higher bonnet It is a Countrey rich in Siluer and so stronglie guarded thorow out that not onely straungers but their owne natiue people likewise can passe no way without the Princes Letters The countrey is flat and plaine without any Mountains therefore that which is saide of the Ryphean Mountaines and that they are in this Countrey is méerely fabulous for there is not any such hill at all There are great store of Forrests abounding with wilde Beasts which are daily chased and great profite is made by Trafficke for the skinnes of those Beasts as of Harts Wolues Ermines Martines Zubelines Fouoynes and diuers others This Prouince confineth Liuonia on the one side Tartaria on the other on the third quarter it hath the Euxine Sea containing many other Prouinces to it so that the Prince can in very few daies leuie foure hundered thousand men on foote to begin warre withall They drinke nothing but a kinde of Béere and yet none but the rich may drinke thereof for they haue no Wine but what is broughte from other countries They be subiect to drunkennes as all other Northerly people are and Winter is there so sharpe long and extreame that if any Water be hurled vp into the Ayre it fréezeth before it can fall to the earth Their Corne â—â—uer perfectly ripens but when they haue reaped it they dry it in their stoues or hot-houses and then grinde it The Spring time is very colde with them and their Summer which lasteth but two months onely is extreamly hot They haue not any vse of money but instead thereof they haue Plates of Gold or siluer squared without anie marke or stampe thereon which is taken for as much as it weigheth in merchandize As for their Garments they go cloathed like Turks in long Gownes or Robes hauing narrow sléeues and girded about their middle Their buildings and manner of life differeth very little from them of Poland and Bohemia They are Christians like vnto the Greekes receiuing order of Priest-hood from the Patriarche of Constantinople saying Seruice in their Temples in their vulgar toong which is the Sclauonian Language and theyr Carracters are Greeke The abiding of the Prince is in a goodly great Pallace in the Citty of Moscuna built after the Italian manner being so strong and spacious as in our times the like is not to be found There are in the fore-named Citty as also in diuers other places men very learned and wise that did make their aboad whereas the Schooles be The Muscouite is Tributary to the King of Tartaria who ouercame them in the yeare of the Worlde 6745. according as their Annales doo deliuer their Chronologies are not according to our Obseruation in accounting after the yeares of Iesus Christ When the Tartarian Ambassadors doo come before the Moscouite Prince hee standeth bare headed before them and they sit couered He hath wel-néere daily Warres against the Polonois and Scythian who albeit they are subiects to other Kings yet doth he much enlarge his dominions ouer them Now although as we said at the first these Princes contented them-selues with the name of Duke vntill the time of hys Father now raigning yet would he néeds vsurp the name of King giuing himselfe these ensuing Titles as his Son also doth the same The great Lord Basilius by the grace of God king Prince of Russia Great Duke of Volodimeria Moscouia Nouogardia Plescouia Sureluchia Tuueria Iugaria Permia Vraquia Bulgaria Great Lord and Duke of the Lands in Nouagadia the lower of Cyeruigouia Rezauia Riscouia Belloya Iaroslauia Bierosolia Vdoria Obdoria Condidia c. By which large plurality of Titles it appeareth that he is farre more potent then some haue immagined him to be But concerning his vassailage to the King of Tartars he holdes it no dishonor to him for he doth it to this end That while hee kéepeth peace with him hee bringeth much more easily vnder his obedience all the néere neighboring people and with the power of the great Tartare he is ten times stronger then of himselfe For the saide Tartare bringes ordinarily a Million of men with him to the field al well appointed for warre with two or thrée hundered péeces of Cannon and thrée hundred thousand horsse c. Of the Kingdome of Poland POlonia in elder times called Sarmatia is said to receiue that name of the worde Pole which in that
because they were the first that forsooke their owne natiue Countrey which was called Gothia or Gothland signifying a good Land it béeing a Northerne Prouince of Germanie This Land abounded in Graine Fruites Cattle Woodes Riuers Mettals but especially in Copper and Skinnes seruing for Furres At all times and as yet at this day is to be discerned the Kingdom of Swessia or Sweuia hath bin comprized vnder the Dominion of the Gothes As the Countrey was fertile in fruites euen so were the Women thereof likewise in Children for as they were strong and of great stature so had they vsually two Children at a birth which was the cause then and so it yet continueth that they had and haue more people then can wel liue together the Country not being sufficient to find sustenance for so many In like manner they are very great féeders much more then they that liue in the Easterne or Meridionall partes The Gothes perceiuing and aduisedly pondering on this vrgent case they leuied the more part of the youngest and strongest men of their Countrey to the number of thrée hundred thousand and married such as were not to ridde themselues of the charge of Daughters as well as of Sonnes for the Countrey ordinarily abounded in the Feminine more then in the Masculine Sexe So being well prouided of all necessaries for warre and leauing a chiefe commander at home of the Royal linage they wandred abroad through the fields to win by power or compasse by loue some new habitation wherein to liue Many Authors and among the rest Trebellius sayth that the first tidings of this their straiing was vnder the raigne of the Emperour Flauius Claudius about the yeare of Iesus Christ 272. And that they passed thorough Allemaign Hungary Thrace Greece Gaule and into Italy They lost many battailes and wonne likewise as many against the Romaines and other people maintaining themselues so well that they raigned in Italie euen in despight of the Italians and Emperours the space of seauentie one yeares as Procopius auoucheth At length they went into Spaine whence afterward they would not remooue For the Catholique Kinges of Spaine that then raigned by succession and raigne yet to this present were issued from the race and line of their Kinges who were indéed very generous people Now it is not to bee imagined that in regard of such a mightie leuy of men the Countrey of Gothia or Gothland or the neighbouring borders remained without Inhabitants or the rule of Kinges For there were then left behinde so many as the Land was able to nourish who had their Kinges in authority ouer them and strength sufficient to withstand any inuasion of the Countrey As for the conquering Armyes abroad they continued in Honour for a very long time albeit they lost great store of men in battailes encounters surprisals and passages of Riuers yet were these disaduantages still supplied by the daily birth of Children among them because they had their wiues in all places with them Perhaps some strangers mingled among theÌ„ who wearing their habits learning their language holp still to supply the friâ— of this people Such as haue bin named Ostrogoths were people issued of the same country of Gothia or Gotteland froÌ„ a place which is yet cald Ostrogothia the principall Citties whereof are Scheâ—ng and Lincopt They vsed to warre alone by themselues being separate from the Goths yet ranging the world according as they did The Westrogothes in like manner came out of a Country cald Westrogothia among whom the chéefest Citties to this day are Scaris and Vernen Wisigoths or Bisigoths came foorth of a Countrey named Visbi the principall Cittie whereof iâ— yet called Visbi I was the more willing to make this discription because I haue heard of diuers who are but slenderly experienced in Cosmography that do tearme those Ostroâ—goths to bee Gothes Orientall or of the East and the Westrogoths Occidentall Gothes or dwelling in the West and so contrarywise of the other Albeit they were all descended and came out of the kingdome of Gothia or Gotteland as Munster hath very well obserued The Vandales in the erronious iudgement of Procopius a Gréeke Authour are said to bée of the same Nation and that all the people of Goths Vandales Alains Hunnes and others whom I am hereafter to describe were deriued out of one and the same Land and were comprehended all vnder the Name of Sauromates or Sarmates and haue no other difference but by the names of their Captaines or Kinges But I must maintaine against him that the land of the Vandales is distant from Gotheland aboue the space of two hundered leagues and therefore they cannot bee one people with the Gothes True it is that this Nation is Septentrionall or in the North as the others are and is a Maritime Countrey named yet to this day Vandalia but as I haue already saide very farre off the one from the other This people did almost as much hurt to the Romaine Empire as the Gothes did for ioyning diuers other people with them as the Alaines Suabes Franconians they trauerssed the Rheine Gauderichus béeing then their King and passing among the Gaules wasted and spoyled them very greatlie Then went they into Spaine and tooke possession in despight of the Gothes of the Countrey adioyning to the Kingdome of Granado which to this day is called Vandalia or by corrupting the Worlde Vandelusia albeit the Spanyards mince it more nicely and nick-name it to be Andalusia But to bee bréefe they were thrust foorth of Spayne wholly in the yeare 431. vnder another of their Kings named Gensericus and passed thence into Asia where they raigned 76. years From thence they were compelled in the seauenth yeare of the Emperor Iustinian Anno Dom. 528. by the valour of one of his Captaines named Belisarius The Hunnes departed also out of their Countrey for the selfe-same cause as the Gothes did about the yeare one hundred sixty eyght onely to séeke some Land where they might liue after the Scythians Religion making first choyce of Pannonia where they alwayes so strongly kept and guarded it till after their owne name it was called Hungaria This people came from that part of Scythia which is tearmed Hunos no long distance from the Riuer Tanais but it is a miserable estate at this day and vnder subiection of the Moscouite Hauing vsurped Pannonia they kept it manfully against the Romaines and two hundred yeares after Attila theyr King accompanied with some people of Allemaigne as Bohemians Gepides or Girpides Schlesites Werlies Thuringians Goths Ostrogothes and others making in all about the number of sixe hundred thousand men passed through Allemaigne which they much endamaged Then went he into France where hee lost a battaile in which perished a great number of his men this battel was giuen him by the Romans Gaules and certaine Goths allied together and he lost as some Authors
doe affirme aboue two hundred thousand men At length he iournyed into Italy which he well-néere vtâ—erly ruined and retiring afterward into his owne Countrey of Hungary he died within fewe following moneths and on the day of his nuptials which was in the yeare of Iesus Christ 443. The Lombards were a Northerne people decended out of Denmarke as Eusebius maintaineth and no other reason had they to leaue their Countrey but onely a desire to win some other There happened in the time of Seno or Sweno as some call him King of Denmark a very great dearth or scarsity in the Land of victuals and because the people endured it very impatiently it was concluded by the King and his Councell to ease the Countrey of so many men as were ready to famish that all such persons as were vnable either for war or labor of the ground should be slaine whether they were old or young But this seuere Edict being reuoked they then resolued to make a leuy of all sorts of people that by the help of armes might trauaile to find out some other dwelling so to disburthen the charge of the Countrey This being put in execution they trauailed so far and carried themselues so couragiously in trauersing diuers lands that they came at last into Italy and there conquered the Countrey which was called Istria making themselues absolute Maisters thereof Now because these people were long and tall of stature the Italians and Istrians called them long Barbarians which by corruption of the word and succession of times made them tearmed Longbards or Lombardes Some are of opinion that vnder the raign of Valentinian the Emperor they began to make theÌ„selues first knowne which was about the yeare of Christ 385. and that they became commaunders in Istria in the yeare 570. Likewise according to Diaconus the Emperours made peace with them in the yeare 730. and euer since they haue held that Country which at this day is named Lombardy Let it here be further noted that where in any History mention is made of people tearmed Daces or Danians the Nation of Denmarke is thereby vnderstood out of which countrey many great Armies haue trauailed at sundry times and haue mightily troubled diuers kingdomes among which they continued long time in England but were thence expelled about the yeare 860. The Normanes were people of Norduegia or otherwise called Normania or Norwey a Countrey in the North being much addicted to crueltie and inhumanitie because they vsed many great Piracies on the Sea An hundred and fifty thousand men of this Nation bestowed themselues in vessels on the Sea and took possession of that part of Gaule or Fraunce which was then tearmed Neustria now Normandie which was doone in the yeare of Iesus Christ 600. others saie 884. and in the time of Charles le Gros. But bée it howsoeuer they haue since then kept it against all encounters of the Emperours Kings of France and England preseruing it still by the Name of Normandy and themselues reckoned to bee people of vndaunted courage There are diuers others that doe sauour of this their first originall and doe yet proule vppon the Seas committing many cruell Robberies The Nation which we call Swesses Zuitzers or Sweues who at this daie are auxiliarie to the French came out of Sweuia or Sweueland a Northerly Region like vnto the other They likewise by the dearth of food among them departed forth of their Countrey about the yeare of Grace 800. and went so farre as the Rhine which they would haue passed but were hindered therein by the Franconians Thence went they to the Land of the Heluetians who dispising the Suessians because they were poorely and wretchedly apparelled rude in their féeding and not looking like souldiers suffered them to wander about their Countrey At length perceiuing the kinde sufferaunce of the Heluetians they sought to abide in a certaine Canton of their Land Which when the Heluetians noted they demaunded of them to what ende they thus wandered about the World They answered that they were poore people and sought but to weare out their liues in trauaile by deluing or labouring in the Earth And séeing that there was wast Ground in those partes vnlaboured or any vse made of it béeing Hilles and Vallies enuironed with Lakes they desired the Heluetians to permit them to woorke in those rough Fieldes as yet not cultiue and they should receiue the benefit thereof onely allowing them but nourishment for their pains This was all that they séemed to pretend iustifying their requests with solemne oathes and protestations Theyr desire was graunted and not long after the Countrey wherein they liued was not onely called Suesia in regarde of the Swesians there dwelling but likewise the ancient Inhabitants had the same name giuen then and yet the country is very hilly and vnapt for Ryding Howe afterward it came to be called the Lande of Cantons or Leagues shall at large be shewne in our Generall history Iustinian and other Emperors both before after him entitled themselues Lordes of the Allemaignes for hauing receiued some victories ouer the Allemaignes But this may not be said as some doo that those victories were obtayned against the Germaines For euen at this daye when we speake or write of Allemaigne therein is comprehended all the Nations which are contained throughout Germany and that do speake the Language of the Tentones But as for Allemaigne or Almaines the Romains neuer vnderstood or meant any other people then those of Suaba And to speake vprightly they haue euer bin the true and ancient Allemaines as Cornelius Tacitus plainely confirmeth Drusus Nero was the first that styled himselfe Germanicus for hauing rather angered the Germaines then foyled them as diuers other Emperours afterward did Moreouer by Germany is to be vnderstood nine and forty great Prouinces as well of the lower part as the higher part of the sayde Germany comprizing the Countrey of the Suisses and Heluetians Now concerning the Alaines or Alans many haue supposed them to be a people of Germanie But therein they were and are deceiued for Ptolomy knew them whom he placeth in a parte of Scythia Capitolinus bestowes them in Dacia Marcelinus Plinie Dionisius the Poet giues them a being in Sarmatia of Europe Iosephus in his last Booke affirmes their aboade to bee betwéene the Riuer Tanais and the Palus Moeotides And saith moreouer that in his time the Alaines or Alanes accompanied with the Hyrcanians both robbed and spoyled all the Region of the Medes As for my selfe by that which I haue gathered from such as haue written on the actions of the Gothes I am perswaded that those Alaines were theyr companions and that oftentimes in their warres for their owne aduantage they sundered them-selues from them as one while they did with the Vandales But questionlesse their discent was from Scythia according to Ptolomies affirmation If we shall speake of the Gepides Girpedes
then what I haue read and séene written Some say that in times past there was a nation in Europe scattered dispierced héere and there who were called Cimmerians one part of them had the Name of Cimbrians another Sicambrians and a third Francs or Francions These people passing thorough the Countrey of Pannonia now deuided into two parts the one called Hungaria and the other Austria were driuen from their precedent dwelling which was at the Cimmerian Bosphorus by the Goths in the yeare of the Worldes Creation 3520. Others say that these Cimmerians tearmed theÌ„selues to bée deriued of those Fraci that appeared on the Earth after Noahs Floud viz that of those diuisions made in the whole vniuerse by partage of the Mediterranean Sea those which were in Europe distinctly on the right hand gaue to the Haebrews these Fraci euen as them on the left hand did the Affricanes There are some others who doe fetch the Originall of those Cimmerians from Gomer the Sonne of Iaphet and youngest Sonne of Noah of whom they should take their Name by change of some Letters calling them Cimmerians instead of Gomorians But howsoeuer it was that Nation of Cimmerians abandoning the vtmost Confines of Thrace and the fore-named Bosphorus deuided themselues into dyuers bands oâ—e whereof made their way to the Pannonians another to that side of Germanie where the Cimbrian Chersonnesus is described by our Geographers And the rest leauing Europe passed into Phrygia and making vppe higher into Asia set downe their rest on the Banckes of Danubie and the maine Ocean There once more they separated them-selues into two Troopes One whereof entred into Europe vnder conduct of their King named Francion And being no other then méere Vacabond persons enquiring still for noueltie of Countries after they had runne through a great part of Europe at length they rested on the banckes of Rhine where they would néeds build a Citty in semblaunce and Name of Troy the Capitall Commaunder of Phrigia They began the foundation but the worke remained imperfect The other sort that made their aboad on the banckes of Danubie elected for their K. one named Torchor by whose name they were called Torches or Torques euen as on the contrary side the other after the name of Francion their King were tearmed Francs Françions or Françons They waxing weary of their kings Empire which grew to an insupportable tyranny expulsed them liued a long time without any King vnder authoritie of their Captaines But in the end corruption ouer-swaying those Captaines and threatning a tyranicall vsurpation they did likewise cast them off and grew to their former election of Kings againe euen from the selfe-same stirp and race whereof their first Kings had bin elected They made choise then of a Man named Theudomer son to Richomer a man of strong great and goodly stature wearing his Haire long and hée was descended of the race of Priam King of Phrygia and of Francion So that if this opinion be true it should enstruct vs that the Originall of the Françons or Françions procéeded of the Cimmerians and that those Cimmerians came from Phrygia and the Troyans The Cimbrians who were descended of the Cimmerians went to the banckes of Rhine and dwelt there in those straits where in these daies are the Countries of Holland and Gueldres But they were forced thence by frequent ouerflowings and strange invndations of the waters of Rhine The Sicambrians being issued of these Cimbrians and who neuer boudged from the shoares of Rhine as these others did of whom we haue formerly spoken they passed into Italy and from thence into other Regions heretofore mentioned And it is to be noted that when the Cimbrians went first to Rhine bee it that they came from the Pannonians by Land or from Phrygia and Thrace by the Germaine Sea being in number about 489360. they were by the Teutones and Thuringians Neighbors to Rhine named Neumagi as much to say as new Kins-men or Cousins Afterward when their King Antenor a man of great power had espoused Cambra a beautifull wise and chast Lady borne in the Country of Brittaine now called England in fauour of her he tearmed his people Sicambrians This happened in the yeare of the Worlds Creation 1550. At which time Artaxerxes raigned ouer the Persians and Hanniball passed first into Italie Antenor King of the Sicambrians lest to those his people inhabiting on the Rhine his Sonne Priam for their King After whom succéeded Marcomedes who extended his Dominion from the banckes of Rhine so farre as Thuringe The other Sicambrian Kinges succéeding after these fore-named did almost all of them tearme themselues Troyans which holdeth with good iudgement to shew that the Sicambrians were issued of the Cimmerians and Phrygians There were also many Kinges of these Nations and after that the Sicambrians grew to encrease néere the Rhine both in multitude of men and riches diuers other Kinges raigned ouer them who extended the limites of their possessions on eyther side the Rhine In the raignes of Clodion Clodomire the second Meradac and Bolon vnder conduct of whom the Cimbrians forsooke the shoares of Rhine by reason of the invndations of the saide Riuer and likewise of the Sea they leagued them-selues with the Teutones or Allemaignes and departed in great troopes from their habitations leauing very few there behinde them who being afterward vanquished by the Romaines with other people of the Gaules neighbouring néere the Rhine continued peaceably in their dwellings vntill the declining of the Romaine Empire but yet they were wadged as Souldiers in the Romaine Legions and serued the Romains faithfully in all their wars Some certaine yeares after they rebelled against the Emperour Honorius who conquâ—red them in a battaile But recouering theyr losse they grew in to good fauour with the Emperour Valentinian Héereupon some haue written that in regard they gaue him good ayde against the Alaâ—nes expelled them from the Palus Maeotides they were by him called Francks and dispensed withall for tenne yeares tribute which formerly as a Due they payed to the Romaines But at the ten yeares end the Emperor sent his Collectours to them to leuy againe the saide tribute whereto they would in no wise listen but despising his commaundement they murdered his Officers The Emperor being offended at their rebellion assembled a potent Army that vanquished them in battaile wherein also Priam their King was slaine and they driuen to flight from theyr Cittie Sicambria Beeing thus expulsed thence they came into Germany which then was enimy to the Romains possessing themselues of Thuringe they liued there for some time vnder the raigne of Marcomedes son to Priam of Sueno sonne to Antenor one of their Kings thus you may sée what some haue said But as concerning the Citty of Sicambria builded néer to the Palus Maeotides not by the Françones or Françions but onely so auouched by the writings of Hunibant
impositions whereby great seditions happened at Paris Rouen and Orleaunce The King tooke into the Armes of France againe the thrée Floure-de-Luces onely and fell sicke of a Phrenzy by reason of two factions in his Court the Dukes of Berry and Burgundy against the Dukes of Orleaunce and Bourbon whereby many lamentable mishaps ensued The Princes tooke the gouernment into their hands and diuision happening concerning the treasure the Duke of Burgundy caused the Duke of Orleaunce to bee slaine at Paris and the Duke of Burgundy was slaine at Montereau Phillip his Sonne craued ayde of the English who presently tooke well neere all Normandy beside the vnhappy day to the French of Agincourt or Azincourt where many woâ—ull Tragedies were acted on the Theater of France by the English Burgundians and the Kings Mother who was imprisoned at Paris The King of England maried Madame Katherine of France The Duke of Burgundy deliuered him the King the Quéene and the Citty of Paris where he caused him to be crowned King and many other Citties and Towns were deliuered him beside King Charls hauing raigned forty two yeares died at Paris and lieth buried at Saint Denis His raigne was long but full of calamity 54 Charles the seauenth Sonne to Charles the sixt was made King in the yeare 142. Hée found his Kingdome possessed in all partes by the English Paris and the greater part of the Realme beeing then commaunded by the Duke of Bedford Regent for young Henry King of England who called himselfe King of Fraunce held his Parliament at Paris was there crowned king and made the Seale and Monies also in his own name King Charles hauing nothing else but the Countries of Poictu Berry and Orleaunce whereon the English in a mockery called him the king of Bourges They went to besiedge the Cittie of Orleaunce but they were thence repulsed by the French Captaines For they had a Maide in their Company who was called Ioan the Pucelle and they verily beléeued that she was sent of God for the succour of King Charles and to chase the English out of France The King after the discomfiture of the English néere to Partenay was conducted to Rheimes and there crowned But the English got the Pucelle and burned her at Rouen The King made peace with the Duke of Burgundy who foorthwith left the English and afterward recouered Paris and Normandy from them King Charles raigned 38. yeares and lieth buried at S. Denis 55 Lewes the eleuenth succéeded his Father in the yeare 1461. beeing then in Burgundy whence the Duke conuayed him to Rheimes where he was crowned Hée found a number of notable Enemies both Domesticall and Forraigne For his Lords made warre against him which they tearmed The Weale-publike warre he lost the day to them at Montle-hery Gransson Nancy and Guinegaste The order of S. Michaell was then instituted and Iacques d'Armaguac beheaded His raigne was full of feare suspition and treachery which so pierced his hart that in a long time of dismay after 33. yeares gouernment he died and lieth buried at Nostre Dame de Clery 56 Charles the eight succéeded his Father Lewes in the yeare 1484. being crowned at the age of 14. yeares yet the States méeting at Tours appointed that hee should not haue any Regent Hee sustained a long warre in Bretayne which termined by his marriage with Anne eldest Daughter to Fraunces Duke of Bretayne by whom he had three Sons but could not long enioy any one of them At the request of his Confessour hee rendered to the King of Spaine the Earledomes of Roussillon and Parpignan which his Father had won Being in peace he aduentured to recouer the kingdom of Naples which he did without striking one stroke in full conquest K. Alphonsus and his son Ferdinand being thence retired left Glibert de Montpensier Vice-Roy there Returning home into France he was assailed on the way by the Romans Venitians and them of Milleyne at Fornouë where his person was in great danger the enemies being tenne to one Neuerthelesse hee charged them with such courage that he bare thence the victory He deliuered the Duke of Orleaunce béeing besiedged in Nouarre and made peace with the Duke of Millaine He returned home into France where hee dyed within a yeare after at Amboise as hée stood and beheld the Princes playing at Tennis He raigned fouretéene yeares and lieth buried at S. Denis Thus ended in him the direct ligne of Valois he dying without any heires Masle and then followed the collaterall Issue which began in 57 LEwes the twelft néerest of Kinne to Charles the eight in the yeare 1499. Hée beeing Duke of Orleaunce and also of Valois He repudiated Ioane Daughter to King Lewes the eleauenth whom hee had married perforce and espoused Anne of Bretaigne Widdow to the King his Predecessour He established a Parliament at Rouen gaue orders to the Uniuersitie of Paris sent his Army into Italy tooke Genes and Millayne and Lewes Sforza Duke of Milleyne who dyed a Prisoner in France The Kingdome of Naples was re-taken vnder the conduct of Monsieur d' Aubigny And the King vanquished the Venetians Army at Agnadell where hée tooke Bartholmew their Leader albeit the Pope banded with the Venetians against him Gaston de Foix tooke Boulongne and wonne the battaile néere to Rauenna where he was slaine by chasing the enemies ouer-far and yet notwithstanding the victory remained to the French with surprizall of the Cittie and many Captaines and great persons taken Prisoners Hereupon the Pope raised many heauy enemies against him whom in the ende hee woorthily vanquished He raigned 17. yeares and lieth buried at S. Denis 58 Frances de Valois as néerest of Kin succéeded King Lewes in the yeare 1515. This King bare such affection to learning that he was sir-named The Father and Restorer of the Sciences At his beginning he ouercame the Switzers took Millaine and Fontarabie Afterward being desirous to winne the Townes belonging to the Dutchy of Millaine and to bring his siedge before Pauia hee was taken Prisoner in the yeare 1524. and carried Captiue into Spaine Fraunce was then very greatly afflicted not only by this disaster but by a great Famine because the Corne was frozen vppe in the Earth The King was deliuered by a treaty holden at Madrill and married Elianor Sister to Charles the fift Emperour peace beeing then concluded in the yeare 1535. The King possessed himselfe of Sauoy Piedmont repulsing the Emperour out of Prouence But peace beeing made for tenne yeares the Emperour passed thorough Fraunce with very great entertainement War began in the Low-Countries which after many alarmes was accorded in the yeare 1544. euen then when the English won Bullen The King deceased at Rambouillet hauing raigned 32. yeares an lieth buried at S. Denis 59 Henry the second succéeded his father Frances de Valois in the yeare 1547. No way degenerating from the laudable
a Pestilence that the liuing dyed burying the dead The Frizons reuolting againe from obedience made all his raigne a continuall warfare and the Armies on eyther side méeting néere vnto Winckell so dreadfull a battaile was fought betwéene them that the Hollanders sustained the worst Count Arnolde being there slaine and a great number of his chéefest Nobility This battaile was fought the eightéenth of October the morrow after Saint Lamberts day in the yeare 993. So this Earle Arnolde hauing raigned fiue years and being thus vnfortunately slaine was buryed by his Father and Grand-father in the Abbie of Egmont 4 Thierrie third of that name and Sonne to Counte Arnolde succéeded as fourth Earle of Holland Zeland and Lord of Frizeland Being desirous to reuenge his Fathers death vppon the Frizons hee was much impeached therein by Adelbold Bishoppe of Vtrecht against whom neuerthelesse hepreuailed in two foughten battailes in the year 10â—8 and with great slaughter of the Fryzons brought them vnder obedyence to his youngest Sonne Floris whom hee made Lord of them This Earle Thierrie liuing afterward in very peacefull daies vndertooke a Pilgrimage to Ierusalem with the Lord of Arckell his loyall Subiect who died at Hierusalem and was there very honourably buried by Thierrie After whose returne home and some yeares passed in peace with his Wife and Children hauing raigned 46. yeares he died in Anno 1039. and was buried by his Fathers in the Abbay of Egmont 5 Thierrie fourth of that name was the fift Earle of Holland Zeland and Lord of Frizeland after the decease of Thierrie his Father In a Iourney of Princes and Lords performed for pleasure in the Cittie of Liege it was this Earles hard hap to kill a Brother of the Bishops of Cullen and Liege whereby ensued such discord and mollestation that after many aduentures of reuenge vnder-taken by the Germaine Gentlemen albeit therein they sustained much losse of men the Earle was shot into the Thigh with a poisoned Dart of which wound hee dyed the fiftéenth of May 1048. after he had gouerned nine years and was buryed by his Fathers in the Abbay of Egmont He was neuer marryed and therefore left not any Childe to succéede him 6 Floris who as you haue heard before was Earl of Frizeland now after his Brothers death became the sixt Earl of Holland and Zeland The former mishap at Liege could not as yet be forgotten by the Bishops of Cullen and Liege but they would needes prosecute fresh reuenge vppon Count Floris who beeing a man of vndaunted spirite defeated his Enemies in two seuerall attempts Once by a cunning Stratagem causing Ditches and Pit-fals to be made in South Holland and couering them with Straw and grasse so that they could not be easily discerned At this time a bloody battaile beeing fought betwéene them there was forty thousand of the Earles enemies slaine beside twenty sixe thousand more who were drowned and smothered in those Ditches An. Dom. 1058. The second foile of his aduersaries happened foure yeares after this when the Hollanders putting the Germans to flight returned with rich spoiles and great store of Prisoners this was in the yeare 1062. yet was it this Earles ill fortune to be afterward slaine vnarmed as he sate vnder an Elme taking the aire his enemies preuailing by this aduantage Hee had ruled in Holland 14. yeares and in Frizeland 21. and lieth buried at Egmont 7 8. Gertrude widow to Earl Floris in regard that Thierrie her son was in his nonage gouerned those Countries in his right And in the year 1063. she remarried with Robert the Frizon son to Baldwin of Lisle de Buck Earle of Flanders with the good lyking of all the States and Nobility Hee also was made Guardian of young Earle Thierrie and had this Gertrude thrée Sonnes Robert Sur-named the young who went with Godfrey of Bullen to the holy Land and was after his Father decease Earle of Flanders Phillip father to William of Ixt Baldwin Bishop of Teroanne beside thrée daughters also which he had by the saide Gertrude This Robert was called the Frizon not in regard of his birth but of his big stature strength and courage for hauing preuailed against the Frizons and hearing of his Brothers death Baldwine de Mons Earle of Flanders hee laide claime to the saide Earledome and notwithstanding the opposition of Richild Widdow to Earle Baldwin by meanes of the Flemings hee ouer-threwe the King of France in a battaile and shee with her Sonne Baldwine remaining satisfied with the Country of Henault Robert became quietly Earl of Flanders For eight yeares space he carryed himselfe with great wisedome and valour and dying in the yeare 1077. was buried in the Cannons Church founded by himselfe at Cassel Gertrudes time of rule by her selfe and Roberts after are reckoned as two seuerall gouernments 9 Godfrey sir-named the Crooke-backt Duke of Lorraine in this time of young Earle Thierries minority was made an instrument in regard of the former quarrell of Count Floris and the Byshops of Cullen and Liege as yet not reuenged to their minds to suggest a false information to Henry the fourth Emperour whereby the sayde Godfrey became an Vsurper of the young Earles right for the space of foure yeares But as he was sitting on the draught to ease his body a Seruant of young Count Thierries did thrust a Iaueling vp into his fundament whereof he died not long after at Maestrecht 10 Thierry fift of that name who by Crooke-backt Godfrey and other strange oppositions had long time bin debarred from quiet possession of his right at length by an absolute conquest of the Frizons in two seuerall great battailes recouered all and returned home as a Conquerour Afterward he married Whithilde daughter to Frederick Duke of Saxonie by whom hee had a Son and a Daughter Floris that succeeded him and Mathild married to the Duke of Orleans Earle Thierrie hauing gouerned fiftéen yeares dyed and was buried in the Abbey of Egmont 11 Floris second of that name and sir-named the Fat or Grosse succéeded next after his father Thierrie he greatly fauoured men of the Church whereby the Abby of Egmonts reuenewes were largely encreased He being a man of very peacefull inclination little or no disturbaunces happened in his time but onely by the Frizons who for their rebelling were seuerely punnished and forced to submit themselues to his mercy This Floris married Petronilla or Parnell Daughter to Didier Duke of Saxony and Sister to Lotharius the Emperor By her he had thrée Sonnes Thierrie Floris called the Blacke Prince of Kenemerlandt and Symon also one Daughter named Hadewick who was Countesse of Gueldres Hauing gouerned his Countries very honorably for the space of thirty one yeares Hée died in Anno. 1133. and lieth buried in the Abby of Egmont 12 Thierrie sixt of that name succéeded his Father Floris and was much mollested by the Frizons in regard that his
4000. for his diet and maintenance appointing the rest to young maides marriages and the releefe of Widdowes and Orphanes he not liuing aboue two yeares after When not onely happened his death but likewise the deaths of the Quéens Dowagers of France and Hungarie as also of Mary Quéene of England after whom succéeded her Sister Elizabeth in which time Emanuell Philebert Duke of Sauoy and Prince of Piemont was Gouernour and Lieutenant Generall of the Netherlands for King Phillip till the King of Spaines marriage beeing turned into tears by the vntimely death of the French king caused Margaret of Austria Bastard to the Emperor Charles the fift and Dutchesse of Parma to succéede the Duke of Sauoy in the Netherlandes regiment King Phillip returned then home into Spaine it being his last departure out of those Countries whereon not long after ensued the subtle bringing of the Spanish Inquisition into the Netherlands by the creation of new Byshops and such was the power and priuiledge of the Inquisitors as none were able to withstande them in confiscation both of body and goodes at their owne pleasure Nowe albeit the Tyrannie of the Dutchesse gouernment in the Lowe Countries was more then the people could well endure yet to putte a sharper Snaffle in their mouthes King Phillip remooued his Bastard Sister Margaret and sent Don Ferdinando Aluares Duke of Alua who quickly brought the Netherlands into a most pittifull estate making himselfe sure of Gaunt and Count Horne and Count Egmont abusiuelie made Prisoners he builded the Castle of Antuerpe where he erected his owne proud Statue and procéeded to apprehend the prince of Orange by Commission setting downe Articles by the Spanish Inquisition which were confirmed by the King to ruinate the Netherlandes vppon which soone followed the execution of the sons of Batembourg at Brussels as also the Earls of Egmont and Horne William of Nassau Prince of Orange was made Gouernor of Holland Zeland Vtrecht for the States and proued verie fortunate in many attempts against the Duke of Alua which made him labor his repeale home into Spaine with Don Frederick his son Don Lewes de Requesens the great commander of Castile was sent to spoil the Dukes place in the Netherlands for the king of Spain to whom Aluaes former behauiour serued for an example in hys procéeding and notwithstanding his besieging of Middlebourg néere hande to famishment yet was his fléet defeated before his face the Town yeilded vppe by Collonell Mondragon to the Prince of Orange After many dangerous turmoiles on both sides the States sent to require succour of Elizabeth Quéene of England and soone after dyed Don Lewes de Requesens at Brussels in whose roome succéeded Don Iohn of Austria Bastard sonne to the Emperor Charles the fift as Gouernor for King Phillip in the Netherlands all the Prouinces whereof were vnited at the pacification of Gand whereupon the Castle was yeelded vnto the States and all the Spaniards departed out of Antuerp castle which was also deliuered into the States handes Don Iohn being receiued as Gouernor he sought ocasions how to renew warre against the Prince of Orange and diuers discontentmentes as also treacherous practises being noted in Don Iohn the States grew iealous of him and he was proclaimed the Countries enemye Then was the Arch-Duke Mathias called to be Gouernor and while the heart-burnings helde betweene Don Iohn and the States the Duke of Aniou and Duke Casimire also were required to succour them but to little effect for Arthois and Henault fell from the Netherlands generall vnion and then followed the death of Don Iohn of the plague in the Campe néere vnto Mamure Then Alexander Farnase Duke of Parma and Placentia bastard Nephew to the king of Spain succéeded Don Iohn in the Netherlands gouernment Whereuppon a stricter Vnion then before was made betwixte the Prouinces at Vtrecht The Duke of Aniou was called to bee Protector and partly Lord of the Countreyes in the Vnion which made the King of Spaine proscribe the Prince of Oraunge and set his life at sale to which proscription the Prince in euerie point made his iust answere Then were valiant and woorthye seruices performed by Syr Iohn Norris and Captain afterwards Sir Roger Williams In the yeare following the Generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces hauing declared Phillip K. of Spain second of that name to be faln from the Seigneury of the said prouinces in regard of his extraordinary and too violent gouernement against their priuiledges and freedomes solemnly sworne by himselfe In way of right and Armes tooke vpon them all the Gouernment of the politicke Estate and of the Religion in those Prouinces breaking the Kinges Seales absoluing the Subiects of their Oath to him and causing them to take a new Oath for preseruation of their Countrey and obedience to the saide States Vpon a bargaine made by the King of Spaine to kill the Prince of Orange the saide Prince was shot by one Iohn Iauvregui a banquerout-Merchants Seruant who was presently slaine but the Prince escaped that attempt with life Afterward he was traiterously murdered by one Balthazar Gerard a high Bourguignon at Delft in Holland whereon Prince Maurice being his Sonne succéeded his Father in the gouernment Then followed the siedâ—e of Antuerpe in which time the States once more re-commended their cause to the Q. of England either to giue her the full Soueraignty of the Netherlands or else to succor and reléeue them with her forces vppon good conditions offered Her Maiesty graunted to send them assistance but no soueraignty or protection of them would she take vpon her whereupon certain cautionary towns and Skonces were deliuered vp to her for repaiment of such sums of Mony as should be disbursed by her and Articles of couenant set down betwéene them Also Robert Lord Dudley Baron of Denbigh and Earle of Leicester was appointed by the Quéene of England to be her Gouernor generall ouer the English powers in the Netherlands In the time of the Earle of Leicesters gouernment for the Quéene were sundry woorthy seruices performed by the Earle of Essex Sir Iohn Norris the Lord Willoughby Sir Phillip Sidney Sir William Russell c. beside the subtile pretences of Sir William Stanley Rowland Yorke Patton and others who held faire weather with the Earle of Leicester and had the gouernment of Zutphen Sconce and the strong Towne of Deuenter to the great dislike of the States yet performed no such matter as the Earles hope was perswaded of them For after the death of that matchlesse Noble Gentleman Sir Phillip Sidney he being shot before Zutphen and thereof dying the Earle of Leicester being gone for England both Deuenter and Zutphen Sconce were deliuered vp to the Spaniards by base â—oruption of Money And not long after the Prince of Parma beleagering Sâ—luice by composition it
1522. 1523. 1534 1550 1555 1555 1559 1566 1572 1585 1590 1590 1590 1592 1605 1605 1099 1099 1113. 1118 The beginning of the Knightes Templers Knightes Hoâ—pitallers of the Hospitall of S. Iohn in Ierusalem became afterward to be Knights of the Rhodes lastly Knights of Malta 1131. 1139. 1160 1163 1167. 1169 1169. 1179. 1187 1187 1191 1192 â—194 1194 1198 1205 1260 1230 1240 This is mistaken for this was K. Richard the first himselfe 1345 1248 1251 1260 1265 1278 1288 1294 1296 1308 The beginning of the Knights of the Rhodes who helde their first name of S. Iohns Knights stil 1317 1327. 1346 1353 1355 1365 1373. 1376 1395. 1321. This Anthony de Riuers was sent for to Rhodes he being then chiefe Commander of the Brotherhood at S. Iohns of Ierusalem in Saint Iohns street 1437. 1342 1461. 1467. 1476 1503. 1512 1513. 1521 The losse of Rhodes to the great gâ—eefâ— of al Christendome The knightes of Saint Iohn becam Knightes of Malta 1534 1535 1536. 1558 1561. A new Citty builte at Malta on S. Elemes Mount 1568 1572 1582 1595. 1601 Ecclesiasticall orders 1070 1099 1308. 1523. 1117. 1310 1130 1150 1212 11â—0 1219 1320 12â—â— 1048 The Secular Orders 1349 1350 1367 1409 1429. 1469 1561. 1578 Sabellic lib. 8. de Suplem Chron. The power of Prester-Ian His souldiâ—â—s Armour foâ— tâ—â—ir defence The exercise of the King Ptete-Ian His dyet manner of life The attendance and seruice of the Emperor The wiues of the Emperor The Originall of the Ceremony The Emperors Crown Scepter and habit The Emperors tribute by his Kings Tributes in generall of his people The onely glories of Prete-Ian his Ethyopians Whence the Ethyopians de deriue their antiquity The chiefe Citty of Persia The gouernment of the great Sophy Fishing for Pearles Of the Persian gouernment and nature of the people The ancient name of Tunis Cairoan a new Citty builded Cairoan destroyed by the Arabes Tunis gouerned by the Kinges of Marocco Tunis besiedged by the Arabes Tunis deliuered froÌ„ the Arabes The declyning of the kingdome of Marocco rising of that of Fez. The King of Tunis King of Affrica A strange election of the duke of Moscouia Concerning the Countrey Men for the Warre Their drink and Corne. Their money Their Religion The Princes Court Learned men amoÌ„g them His daily warres The K. of Muscouâ—aes Tules He is tributary to the King of the Tartars Of the maner and scituation of Polonia The firste Rulers of Poland Vayuodes called Paladines Gracchus the firste Prince of Poland Paladines chosen againe A King created againe Gracouia forsaken by the King Piastus refused the name of K calling him selfe Duke of Poland The discent of the kings of Poland Henry heire of France King of Poland Strange nations weakned the Roman Empire The originall of the Gothes More people then the Countrey can feede The Goths wander to seeke a new dwelling The Goths raigne in Italy and Spaine The reason of the Gothes continuance Of the Ostrogoths Westrogoths Wisigoths The errour of some young Cosmographer Of the Vandales The errour of Procopius The trauels of the Vandales into diuers couÌ„tries The Huns of Scythia and theyr trauailes Attila King of the Huns Attila his losse in France Of the Lombardes and whence they descended A very seuere Edict Istria in Italy conquered and new named Lombardy The Normans issued from Norduegia Suesses cam out of Sweuia They goe among the Heluetians Their pouertie among the Heluetians Of the Allemaignes whence they were deriued The true Alemaigns of Suaba Alaines what people they were and whence they came Of the Gepides or Girpedes The Originall of the Picts and their comming into the Isle of Orkeney The first k. of the Picts Kenneth K. of Scots desolateth Pictland Of the Getes Of the Bourguignons Of their first name A faire vniuersitie in Bourgougn Of the kingdome of Naples Robert Guiscard the valiant Norman The Scicilian euening Hen. count of Lorraine The first K. of Portugal The King of Portugal a Knight of S. Iohn of Ierusalem The succession of the Kinges of Portugall People of Paphlagonia People by the inner gulfe of the Adriatick Sea towardes the Alpes Liburnia the Countrey of Croaua between Istria Dalmatia The scituation of Venice and capacitie thereof Mountains in the north part of Scythia where snow lieth continually An ancient citty in that part of Italy called Forum Iâ—lij The first foundation of Venice Litle IslaÌ„ds in the Sea and neere adioining The prime estate of the place wher Venice now standeth The first builders of Venice at what time Theyr first buildings destroyed by fire The first Church built in Venice Noble and rich men the first fouÌ„ders of Venice The first Goldsmiths knowne in Europe were in Venice Care of Iustice and common good Loue of religion in especial respect Aristocratia optimatum principatus The Gouernment of Consuls and who were the first in Venice The creation of Tribunes and what they were Election of a Duke among the Venetians Who was the first D. of Venice Spaine deuided at first into six Prouinces viz. 1. Terracon 2. Carthage 3. Lusâ—tania 4. Gallacia 5. Boetia 6. Tingintaua 433. The Moors in possession of all Spaine The Kingdomes of Nauarre Arragon Portugall conquered from the Moores 1492 The beginning of the kingdom of Spaine and deâ—cent of their kings 1516. 1555 1598 Of Germany and the Princes Electors Three Ecclesiastiks and three Layickes with addition of a fourth the K. of Bohemia The errour of Writers about the names originall Francus or Frencion the son of Hector Sicambra the Daughter of King Priam. Cimmerians Cimbrians Sicambrians Francs or Francions The Hebrew Fraci and the Affricanes The Cimbrian Chersonnesus Torches or Torques of Torquor their King Theudomer a kinsman by descent to king Priam Neumagi is new kinsmen Antenor married Cambra Daughter to the King of Britaine Priam Son to Antenor succeeded him then Marcomedes Clodion Clodomire Meradac BoloÌ„ kings leagued with the Teutones Why the Emperour Valentinian called theÌ„ Francâ— K. Priam slaine and his people fled into Germany The Sicambrians liued with the Pánonians Franconia in Saxonie and France in Gaule Of the word Franc or Francs The French wold haue their name deriued of Ferocitie Hector had no son but Astianax Franchise and Immunitie The Francs builded a Citty neere to the Palus Maeotides The Francs foyled by the Emperor chuse a Captaine named Marcomir The words of Amianus Marcellinus They chuse an order of gouerment among theÌ„ The aduise of Charamond concerning the election of Pharamond Quadrek his opposition against Charamond The election of King Pharamond Pharamond first King of the Francs or Franconians Clodion was the first that entred into Gaule Pharamond deuiseth Lawes for his people with consent of his Lords Lawes Saliques or Ripuaries A custome among barbarous Nations Especiall maters happening in the time of Pharamond 431 Clodion sirâ—named Hayrie for wearing long hayre and a beard in signe of
Language is as much to say as plaine smooth or éeuen and so much the rather is it to bee credited because all the Countrey is plaine spacious full of thicke woodes and verie few hilles or mountaines in it The Earth is colde and fréezing whereby it produceth little store of Wine or Oyle but contrarywise it yéeldeth much Graine and diuers other kindes of Pulse c. Zechus and Lechus or Leschus were the first that euer gouerned in Polonia or there builded any Citty Castle They both gouerned for some time but after the whole race of Lechus was extirpated the Barons of the kingdome assembling to giue succession to Leschus concluded to liue at liberty and without any farther checke or controule Neuerthelesse that Iustice might be administred to the people and they gouerned as necessity required they ordained twelue Vaiuodes or Paladines which order hath continued in that kingdome euen to our daies but not without great hurt to the whole land For there was no change of these Officers but the dignitye lasted their life time although they carried them-selues badly in their authority despising their betters and euill entreating their Inferiours Such as among these Vaiuodes were Castillians Commaunders of Castelles Captaines Iudges and such like great Magistrates did what themselues pleased whereby ensued that this Kingdome could neuer haue any great progression in armes being oppressed by such petty and no mightie or potent Lords But in no long while after the faction of Lechus growing in hatred of the Vaiuodes or Paladines gouernment would néedes haue one peculiar Prince and therefore they made choise of a worthy and valiant man named Gracchus who dwelt at the foote of the Sarmatian Mountaines néere vnto the Riuer Vistula He builded a Citty calling it Graccouia which is nowe corruptly named Cracouia a Cittie greatly blessed both in beautie and Scituation as also infinite Marchandizes which is there Trafficked from all Nations of the worlde it being the Metropolis of the whole kingdome The race of Gracchus fayling it returned againe to the gouernement of twelue Paladines but with much infelicity because in contending for Competitors diuers factions grewe amongst them and consequently insurrections in armes to withstand one another wherby great damage happened to the whole lande Among these turbulent spirits there was a Polander named Pâ—â—arislaus a man expert in armes of quicke apprehension and one that could well fish in such troubled Waters The people reuolted all to his faction they made him their King and he was the fift Gouernour of that Prouince after the firste Lechus or Leschus After his death another gallant young man succéeded him tearmed by the Polacks Leschus the second who proued to be a man of singuler prudence but made olde with time and dying he left it to his Sonne Leschus the third This man made his Sonne Pompilius Legittimate but deuided the Kingdome among twenty other that were his Bastards to the great detriment of the Country But Pompilius being legittimate entred into the gouernment and leauing Cracouia appointed his seate in another City called Gneza but finding it too mollestuous he transferred the State to another Citty named Crusuicza In this Citty he died of the Stone according as himselfe had continually foretold And the chiefe Lords being assembled in Counsell they determined that no more of Pompilius his successours shoulde raigne ouer them but with one consent made choise of a Countreyman named Piastus one of no great stature but strong and well sinnewed This was the first branch of those Kings that continued to the time of Casimirus the second of Lodwick of which selfesame race were also descended the moderne Princes of Slesia This Piastus accepting the Gouernement tooke vpon him the Title of Duke onely whose succession comming at length to Boleslaus in the yeare D. CCCC XC IX hee was then made King by Otho the third Emperour But the Kingdome comming to another Boleslaus successour to the former hee was expulsed thence and dyed Whereupon the Polonians aduaunced in his place his Brother Vladislaus in the yeare MLXXXII by the Title of Duke But in the yeare MCCXCV the Title of King was taken againe by Primislaus the second who at first was Duke of the greater Poland and of Pomerauia or Pomerland and so continued the succession euen to Ladislaus the first begotten sonne of Cassimirus who while his Father liued was designed to bee King of Hungaria and of Bohemia He tooke in Marriage Anne Daughter to the King of Fraunce by whom hee had Lodwick and Anne Lodwicke succéeded his Father in both his Kingdomes and tooke to Wife Marie Sister to Charles the Emperour But in the yeare of Christ 1492. the Barons of Polonia at a dyet elected after the Death of Cassimirus his Sonne Iohn Albertus His continuaunce was but a while therefore by the greater part of the Barons Alexander Great Duke of Lithuania was elected who going in Armes agaynste the Tartares dyed in Vilua aged fiue forty yeares Sigismond his younger Brother succéeded him Anno 1500. who hadde the Title of King Anno 1506. and made great Warre vppon the Neighbouring Nations especially on the Moscouites of whom he slew thirty thousand in the yeare 1514. He deceasing Augustus Sigismond tooke his place and after him Henry the thirde Brother to Charles the ninth King of Fraunce was chosen and made King But his Brother dying and he affecting his paternall kingdome more then the other forsooke Poland and went into France to his rightfull Inheritance The Polanders being thus forsaken they made choise of Maximilian the second being Emperour to be their King But he not resoluing to accept it and the Kingdom standing on some doubtful tearms Stephanus Battori Prince of Transiluania being a man of great valor came into Poland with a slender power where he was created King and so continueth A briefe Suruay of sundry other kingdomes as they were by commaund of the Emperor Iustinian set downe in the Romaine Bookes de Iuris-prudentia THe Romaine Emperors in their Imperiall Titles of honour and renowne did not onely obserue giue to themselues the names of those Prouinces wonne by them or reduced vnder the yoke of their Empire but likewise of such Nations and people as lefte theyr owne Countreyes in abounding multitudes and entered vppon the possessions of others to expell and chase thence the Naturall Inhabitauntes to plant there their owne abyding by bidding them many Battailes in some surmounting and in others spéeding according to the Fortune of Warre Of those Nations I intend to speake in some measure of their Originall and howe they succeeded because at length they ruined the greate Romayne Empyre whereto I am the rather induced to instruct such as are little skilled in Histories not onelye Cosmographicall but likewise Geographicall and to shewe them apparantly howe much they haue iniured the greater part of our Hemisphere Wee will first beginne with the Gothes