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A07439 Historia mundi: or Mercator's atlas Containing his cosmographicall description of the fabricke and figure of the world. Lately rectified in divers places, as also beautified and enlarged with new mappes and tables; by the studious industry of Iudocus Hondy. Englished by W. S. generosus, & Coll. Regin. Oxoniæ.; Atlas. English Mercator, Gerhard, 1512-1594.; Hondius, Jodocus, 1563-1612.; Saltonstall, Wye, fl. 1630-1640.; Glover, George, b. ca. 1618, engraver. 1635 (1635) STC 17824; ESTC S114540 671,956 890

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Pyrenaean Mountaines And lastly those whom Ptolemy cals 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 neere to the Citie Dortosa Livie Ilercaonenses and Caesar Ilurgavonenses Catalonia is famous both for strong and wise men for wonderfull atchievements and for many victories gotten by divers Nations For in Catalonia the Carthaginians heretofore contended against the Inhabitants the Romans against the Carthaginians the Gothes against the Romans the Saracens against the Gothes and the French against the Saracens besides the contentions which afterward happened betweene the surviving remainder of the Gothes and the Earles of Barcinon Who can relate the warres which the Sons of the Earles of Barcinon being Kings of Aragon did wage with other Nations and the great victories which were gotten to the admiration of all men The Baleares commonly called Majorica and Minorica Ebusa Murcia Valentia Sardinia Sicilie Naples Athens and Neopatria can onely declare them Concerning the Metropolis or chiefe Citie of Catalonia and the other Cities Towns looke into the former description On the very top of the high Mountaine Canus in the Countie of Roscellion there is a certaine great Lake which hath abundance of those great fishes in it which we call Turturs into which if any one cast a stone the water is presently troubled and sendeth forth vapours which being condensed and converted into CATALONIA More particularly described CATALONIA cloudes doe cause a tempest immediately to follow with thunder lightning and haile The Countrie of Balneole or Aquae Voconis hath a Fountaine of a golden colour so that you may see any thing that is cast into it And there is a wholesome Fountaine in Catalonia the water whereof being drunke often and in great abundance doth not onely not oppresse the stomack but also miraculously cures men of many diseases they fabulously report that S. Maginus after some prayers to God to give it that vertue did digge and open it with his staffe being in a drie mountanous and stonie place Over against the Towne Aulotum there are about 12 Fountaines arising or springing from brasse mynes which both day and night all Winter and Summer doe as it were breathe out a thinne vapour warme in Winter but so cold in Summer that no man can endure it for any while and the water if the Inhabitants doe set any bottles into it as they often doe maketh them as cold as Ice so that the water which is in these bottles affordeth a delicate drinke to coole the heate of the stomack There are also many Fountaines alwayes hot which shewes that there is some fire there which lyes hidden in the bowels of the Earth There are more than foure such hot Fountaines in Catalonia and all of them very excellent to helpe divers kindes of diseases wherefore many that have griefes and infirmities doe resort unto them from all parts Catalonia doth abound with Rivers for it hath almost fiftie which runne through it and all of them very full of Fish some are small but yet very pleasant streames some are of a midle size and lastly there are some very faire ones as namely Tettus which is also called Ruscison Techum which is also called Tetrum Fluvianus otherwise called Clovianus and Plumialbus Tardera otherwise called Tarnum Besotium which is also called Bisocto and Betulo Rubricatus Cinga Sicoris and Iberus All of them doe flow and runne into the Sea except Cinga and Cicorus the former whereof runneth into Sicoris the later into Iberus which being much enriched with the watry tribute of these and other Rivers becommeth one of the greatest Rivers in all Spaine The best Corall groweth in the Catalonian Sea on the East thereof There are Mountaines and very high hils every where in Catalonia and those so cloathed with the constant liverie of greene bushes shrubs and many kindes of trees that the most of them are full of woods and thickets There are many Beech-trees on them many Pine-trees abundance of Oakes many Holme-trees innumerable Maple abundance of Hasel Nut and Chesse-nut-trees and infinite store of Corke-trees whose barke is very thick and being bark't and taken off groweth againe Chrystall is found in the Mountains of Nuria on the Cardonensian rocks And that which any one will wonder at as being worthy of admiration there is found at the Towne of Cardona a Mountaine having very wholesome salt growing in it and shining against the Sunne with a great deale of variety and delight to the eye out of which as Pliny reports of the Mountaine Oromenus in India salt is daily cut and digged and yet groweth againe yea the Mountaine still groweth so much the higher by how much the more salt is cut out of the pits that are in it There is also an other thing very wonderfull and that is whereas places where salt is found are barren and produce or beare nothing yet this Mountaine hath many Pine-trees and Vines upon it In the Bishoprick of Gerunda on the South side thereof there is a Hill of white small sand which as in Lybia the winde carries heere and there and makes great driftes of it which are very perillous and dangerous for those that travell that way Heere I cannot but mention the Mountaine called Mount Serrato being distant toward the East seven leagues from Barcinona it is very rockie and cliffie in manner of a rugged Saw and so high that from thence the Pyrenaean Mountaines and the farthest Mountaines of the Island Majorica may bee seene This Mountaine is full of great shining Stones like Iaspers There are some Fountaines which spring and flow out of it it produceth many hearbs which have speciall and soveraigne vertues and it is watered toward the North with the River Lubricatus and at length like Soractus in Italie and Tabor in Galile it here raiseth up it selfe wherefore it is very delightfull to behold Now let us come to the publick and private Workes There are every where many Churches in this Countrey and many famous Monasteries especially that memorable Church of S. Michael à Fago built betweene a Cave and an ancient Friarie of the Benedictines over the top whereof there runneth a litle Rivulet which the Inhabitants call Tanez from thence it presently rusheth downe so that the sound arising from the fall of the water doth much delight those which stand by it There are besides so many faire-built-houses disjoyned from the Citie Towns and so scatter'd through all the plaines fields valleyes hils mountains woods groves that are in the Countrie that all Catalonia may seeme to be one Citie It hath every where strong Castles and Towres which are fortified not onely by Nature and the situation of the place but by Art Catalonia is a Principalitie and containeth in it the Archbishoprick of Tarraconia eight Bishopricks to wit the Bishoprick of Barcinona Gerunda Vrgell Vicke Ilerda Dertosa Herlua and Celsona two Dukedomes the one of Mont Albo and the other of Cardona five Marquesates namely of Ilerda Dertosa Pellearia
name it Adiris Solinus Duris others call it Astrixis or Astre●xis but Dioscorider calleth it Tmolus l This Mountaine is called by Ptolomie Pliny and others Deorum cursus m So named either frō t●●n fruitfulness or goodnesse of A●e as Stephanus thinketh The name by whom why ●●●n n Daughter to ●●●anus and Teth●● o 〈…〉 p From the Greeke wo●d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wha●h signifieth the East because it lyeth Eastward of Asia the Great q From ●●m the ●●me of Noah The Situation The temperatenesse of the Aire The fertilitie of the So●le The various kindes of li●ing Creatures The government of th● Ancients r Cap. 10. vers 8.9.10 ſ Se● Iust●n lib. 1. and Diodo●us Siculus lib. 2. cap. 7. t Whom Iunius saith the Scripture calles Ahasuerus Either 1.4 u This is meant of Darius the son of Histaspi● w Herodotus reckons all his forces by Sea and Land to be 2641610 men besides Con●uoines Eunuchs women bakers 〈…〉 an 〈…〉 The Cities Lakes Rivers Mountaines x Eustathius affirmeth that this Mountain was so called by the reason of its magnitude for saith he among the Ancients all great strong things were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and as it is called Taurus many other names by humane Writers so the Scripture calleth it Ararath if we shall beleeve A●●a● Montanus and Becanus y Heylin saith that reckoning its severall bendings in out it is 6250. miles long 375. miles broad p. 519. The publicke workes z See Iustin Hist lib. 1. a Read 1. King chap. 5. and 6. America whence so called b In the yeare 1492. c But improperly for the true India is a part of Asia deriveth its name from the River Indus which this Country can●ot * Venient an●● s●●●la seris quibus occanus vin●ula rerum laxet ingens pateat tellus nec sit terris ultima ●hule d Borne at Nervi in the Countrie of Genoa The Situation e Read Heylin pag 770. f Or Cassader g Or Potatoes The Lakes Rivers The Mountaines h So called for its nearnesse to a constellation in the North Hemisphere called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth a Beare i So called because it is opposite to the Articke Pole Greenland whence so called k The London Marchants call this Island K. Iames his new Land The qualitie of the Aire and Soyle Freezland n Heyling saies almost as bigge as Ireland p And therefore now subject to the King of Denmarke Nova Zembla q Pigmies are here supposed to inhabit r Iason and his Companions who sayled to Colche● to fetch the golden fleece of whom reade Valerius Fla●cu● Lib. 1 The name by whom and why given See Heylin p 8 The Situation ſ Which is a great circle rounding the Earth from Pole to Pole and passeth through the Islands called Azores See marg pag. 10. The quality of the Soyle and Ayre The varietie of living Cr●●tures The Fountaines The Sea The Mountaines t The Papists thinke that here is th●●● feined Purgatorie The manner● of the Inhabitants Their foode Th●● Tr●●fick o● 〈◊〉 The name by whom why given x If this bee true then did it not receive its denomination from Brutus See Heylin pag. 455. The temper of the Aire The fertilitie of the Soyle The varietie of living Creatures The I le of Albion y Verstegan affirmeth it was so called ab albis rupibus the white rocks towards France The figure z Which the English and French call the channell of S. George a This division was made by Severus the Emperor saith Camden p. 98. b The Romans saith Camden called those Provinces of any Country they conquered which were next unto thē Primas superiore the more remote secundas ●●se● o●es p 99. c What Countries these five parts contained and why they were so denominated See in Camden pag. 98. 99. d They were first united in in the yeare of grace 1603. The Sea The commodities e See Camden pag. 640 and 595. The Orcades f H●yler saith they are 3● pag 51● The fertility of the Soyle The names of the Hebrides g Stephanus calleth them the Hebrides others Ebonia ●nsulae h This Iland is 24. miles long and 16. miles broad The new and ancient names by whom and why given i Isacius calleth this Kingdome Britannia Occidentalis or Westerne Brittaine and Isidorus and others call it Scotia because the Scots coming from Spaine dwelt here the Irish Ba●di call it Ba●● whence Festus Av●enus calleth it Insula sacra See Camden pag. 643. k pag. 642. The Situation The temper of the Ayre The Government l Camden saith it was in the yeare 1172. p 649. The Cities m This Town was built by Harald Harfager the first King of Norway Lakes The Rivers n or the River Liffie o or Shennin is some interpret it tho ancient River p It runneth saith Heylin a course of 200 miles to the Vergician Sea and is navigable 60 miles q The reason of this See in Camden p. 678. Their Diet. The names of Vltonia The bound● The Forme The Aire The Rivers ſ A famous Scot as Camden affirmeth pag. 669. t Banna in Irish signifies faire Camden p. 669 The plentie of Salmons The Lakes Here was buried S. Patricke who as they say being sent by Celestinus the Bishop of Rome An. 433. converted this Island to the Christian faith The Ancient Inhabitants x See Camden pag. 66● The names of Conn●gh The bounds The Forme The Aire The Citie The names whence derived The Situation The fertilitie of the Soile The Townes names The names The fertilitie of the Soyle The ancient government Whence the names are derived d See Camden pag. 663. The Situation The fertilitie and fruitfulnes The auncient go●e●nment k See Camden● Brit. pag. 663. The names of the Townes The Mountaines and Rivers q Or M●d●na which Camden thinkes to bee Slane See him pag. 569. ſ Called Lifnius or Labnius Fluvius t Or Dublin which is called by the West Brittaines Dinas Dublin and by the Irish Balacleigh 1. the Towne upon Hurdles for it is reported that the foundation therof was laid upon Hurdles u Which is Pharich x Some call it Cabo del Mar. others Ca●a and Cabo de Cler. The Rivers Citties and Townes a This Citie the Irish and Brittaines call Porthlargy d pag. 655. The names e or Scitti a people of Germany that seised on a part of Spaine f Anno 424. The Situation The temperature of the Ayre The fertility of the Soyle g in the yeare of grace 740. h This Citie the Scotch-Irish call Dun Faden ● the Town Eaden i Which the word Edenburrow much resembles for saith Camden Adam in the Brittish tongue signifieth a wing See pag. 6●7 The Sea The Ports Mountaines Woods Publick w●●ks k The Gospel was fast p●●ac●●d 〈…〉 P●llad●●● 〈…〉 4●1 The manner of Government l which is also called the Bishop of Gallowa● m or Argile n Which is an arme of the Sea where the water ebbes flowes The names of Cities o Called by Ptolemie Bode●ia by Tacitus Bodotria and by Boethius Fluvius Levinus Lothiana p The Country is now called Lauden and anciently Pictland The fertilitie of the Soyle The Rivers The names of Cities u Or Cl●●ddesdale The Rivers Called Vedra by Ptolemie The names of Cities Galloway The Situation b
Riphaean wo●ds which are a pa●t of Hy●cinia for 〈…〉 The Situation The 〈◊〉 of th● So●le and 〈…〉 The variety of living creatures o 〈…〉 of their 〈◊〉 under the wills of Achen Anno 1100. p A Floren is ●cording to the ●nglish val●●tion three s●●●●ings 〈◊〉 of ●●ties The Rivers a Called at this day Dravaniz and anciently Visula Bisula and ●ridanus The commodities of the Sea The Woods The manner of government The 〈◊〉 The Lawes Institutions The Mountaines The Countrie whence so called c So called because the Vene●● anciently lived there The Situation and fruitfulnesse of the Countrie The varietie of living Creatures The Government The Cities The Lakes 〈◊〉 The Woods 〈…〉 The 〈…〉 Their habit● Their commodities The names The 〈◊〉 M●s●●●i● The Situation The temperature of the Aire 〈◊〉 of the Soyle The varietie of living creatures The Government The Cities 〈◊〉 to this 〈…〉 was 〈◊〉 the 〈…〉 betweene 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 q 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 Then Diet. Then Traffique The Country whence ●●●●lled The Situation The quality of the Climate The fertilitie of the Soile 〈…〉 T●● Ancient Government ſ Wh● 〈…〉 The Cities The R●●e●s The Woods The Senators Their manners The food Their commodities Samogitia The names The fertilitie of the Soyle Their manners Their food Russia The Citie Leopolis Volhinia The Situation The fertilitie of the Soyle The Cities Lakes Woods Podolia The fertilitie of the Soyle The Cities d So called from the Daci the first Inhabitants who afterward passing into the Cimbrick Chersonesus were called Dani. The names e Because it hath on the Frontiers therof 7 Castles for its defence The Situation The fruitfulnesse of the Soyle The ●arie●● o● living Creatures The ancient Government The Cities 〈…〉 h 〈◊〉 Pt●l●mie 〈◊〉 i 〈…〉 Millenb●●● k 〈…〉 〈…〉 l 〈…〉 The Wood● 〈…〉 Their manner● The names p Stephanus saith it hath beene called by others Taunais Alope●ia and Maotis The Situation The temper of the Aire The fertilitie of the S●●le The varietie of living Creatures The ancient Government The Cities and Townes Ptolemie calls this Citie Taph●os and Pliny Taphra The Rivers y This Strait is called by Martianus O● Maeotid●● by Marcellinus Pat●res Angustia by the Italian● B●●cadi S Iovanni by Castaldu● S●●t●●d● Cassa and by the Tartars Vo●per● z This L●ke is called commonly Mardelle S●b●●●he by the Italians Mard●lla Tana and by the Arabians Ma●●l Aza●h The Se● a This sea is called by some mare Boreale by Claudianu● Pōtus Amazonius by Flaccus ●out●●● S●ythicu● by Fe●●us Avienus Pontus Ta●●●●us by Herodotu● and O●osius Mare Cammerium by Stra●o Mare C●l hi● by Apolonius lib. 4 Mare Canchasium by Ta●●●tus Mare Pen●●cum by A●●st●d●● Mare P●astan●● by Ovid M●re Sa●●●ati●um by the G●th●s Tanais by the Italians Mar● Ma●o●e by the Greekes Ma●roth●laffa by Lucian Pontu● Niger and by the Turkes Carade●is The mountaines The manner of government The Senators Their manners Their food Their trading and traffique The names whence so called The Situation b So called frō the Cantabri a people of Spain who inhabited upon the coasts thereof c The Atlanticke Ocean though it bee sometimes taken for the whole Ocean yet it is taken properly for that Sea which washeth Europe and Africa upon the West It is called by Ptolemie Mare occiduum exterius by Florus Mare externum and the Arabians call it Magrib d So called frō two Islands in the Mediterranian Sea named Majorca and Minorca but anciently both of them Bal●ares e Called by Ptolemy Ocaso by Mela ●asen by Martianus Iarse by ●●●a●o Idanu● f This Promontorie some have called Sacrum ●ugam and others Caput Europ● ● the head of Europe The temper of the Aire The fertilitie of the Soyle The variety of living creatures The Government g A rose chiefe Captaine was o●●●a●is who overthrow Ro●●ri●● and his 〈◊〉 consisting of ●●000 foot 35000 horse h Who having sent Iulian on an embassage ●o the Moores in Africa in the meane time deflo●●ed his Daughter Cana to revenge which m●a●●e 〈…〉 The names of the Cities The Lakes i This River is called also Doria Duria● Dorius and commonly Dueto k Which is a people which inhabite the Countrie of Toledo l A people of Tar●ace●ensi Hispania The commodities of the Sea Mountain ● 〈◊〉 publick in priva●e workes The manner of Government The Senators and their numbers l There are beside these Coūsells the Counsell of the Low Countries the Counsell of the order of S. Iohn and the Counsell of the Inquisition m A Ducket is according to our English valuation 6 s 8 d n For there are in all 45 Marque●●●●s o Fo●nded by King R●y●● of 〈◊〉 Anno. 984. p A T● New-C●●●●l where the order was instituted by Ferdinand of Leon and confirmed by Pope Lucius Anno 1183. q A Towne which Raymuna Abbot of Pisu●a defended against the Saracem and therefore instituted this order r This order was instituted by Denis King of Portugall and confirmed by Pope Iohn the 22th Aunt 1321. The names and whence so called The Situation The temper of the Ayre The fertilitie of th● Soyle The ancient Government ſ A people of ●●usita●● called also Turdecans t So called because as some say Vlysses in his ten yeares travels comming hither built it The Rivers The commodities of the Sea The Havens The Mountaines The publick sacred workes The Universities u The Masters of this Vniversitie made the Commentarie upon most part of Aristotle called Schoks Commbricensis Their manners Their traffick Algarbia whence so called The Situation The Towne● The ancient Government The Situation The 〈…〉 of the Soyle The Cities Leon. The Situation Asturia a This Citie is called by Moletius Asturum Lucus and by Tarapha Br●gentium The Countrie whence so called The Situation The temper of the Aire The fruitfulnes of the Soyle The varietie of living creatures r Whence the Country was called Cantabria The ancient Government The Townes The traffick The Countrie The names The Situation The temper of the Ayre The fertilitie of the Soyle y This is also called Testosages by Ptolemy and by Martialis Palladia The River Chalybs The Havens The Mountaines z Some suppose that Navarre had its name from a Towne among the Mountains called Navarrin The Country whence so called 〈…〉 The fertility of the 〈◊〉 The 〈…〉 Government The C●●●es Th●● 〈…〉 is built 〈…〉 rather ●●part by Nugno B●lid●●a German 〈◊〉 contendeth with Toledo 〈◊〉 the P●●ma●●ship of Spaine b This is a famous Universitie and instituted by Ferdinand the second of Castile Anno 1240. c Here Tostatus was Bishop New Castile The Situation The fertilitie of the Soyle The Cities The publick seates d Quade reporteth that it hath eleven severall Quadrangles and every one incloystered The Universities The Trades Mechanicke Arts. The name and whence derived The Situation The temper of the aire and fertilitie of the Soyle The Ancient Government e It is ● miles in compasse f
Here likewise studied Avicen Pope Silvester the second and Le●nder g From hence comes our Cordo●an leather h Here was borne Lucan the Poet the two Seneca's i Whose Duke was Captain● Generall of the Invincible A●mad● A. 1●●8 k So called b●cause Tariffa the L●●d● of the Mo●●nto Spaine here landed l Hard by this Towne was fought the notable battle betweene Caesar and the sonnes of Pompey The Countrie whence so called The Situation The temper of the Ayre The fertility of the Soyle The ancient Government m He●●e ● Dominick Father of the Dominican Friars studied The Rivers The Mountaines The publick workes The Trades The traffick The Countrie whence so called The Situation The qualitie of the Soyle The Cities The ancient Government The names The Situation The temper of the Aire The fertilitie of the Soyle The varietie of living Creatures The ancient Inhabitants Their ancient valour and vertue The Rivers The Mountaines The publick private workes The manner of government The Schooles The Trades a It was called Austrasia either from one Austrasius a President whō Iustinian the Emperour let ov●● this cou●trey or from the world Aus●●● because it is mo●● Eastward th●n ●n● other part of France How by the Mappe to finde out the Longitude and Latitude t A River breaking out of the Alpe● and now called D●●nia u Nine navigable streames saith Heylin p. 84. w Which now they also call Isara x On this River stand the Citie Orleans Nantes and many others y That is the Inhabitants of Gallia Narbonensis which comprehends the Provinces of Languedock Provence and Daulphine and this Countrie was so called from Narbone a Citie in Languedock z This River is called by Marcellinus Sangona or Saugonna by Polybius Scora● and anciently Brigulus as some have written a Lib. 26. 30 b Lib. 43. c A people of Gallia Lugdunensis d A people of Gallia Lugdunensis The publick workes The manner of Government e So called from the words S● Aliqua so often mentioned therein f Some also say that these Pa●rries were erected by Hugh Capet but others more truly think thē to be instituted by Lewis le Ieune Anno 1171 to ayde and assist the King in his Councell The Universities The 〈◊〉 Their manners Their Habit. The Countrie whence so called The Situation The fruitfulnesse of the Soyle The ancient Government The Cities g This Citie is by some called also Corbilum The Rivers The Sea The Havens Their manners The fertility of the Soyle The Situation The Cit●●● i It was anciently called Genabum but in these times Aurelia for that in the year 276. The Emperour Aurelius built it out of the ruines of old Genabum The names whence so called The Situation k It is called Limosin quasi in ●imo s●a The qualitie of the Soyle The ancient Government The Cities The Families The Nobles Their manners The Countrey whence so called The Situation The fruitfulnesse of the Soyle l This River is called by Ptolemie Canentelum m This Citie is called by some Maluaso● n Then freedome is now lost for they were lately compelled by the now King of France to receive a Garrison of Souldiers in the City and to undergoe the voake of subjection o Now the Rochellers are compell'd by the now King of France to exercise their Religion without the Citie The Countrie whence so called Vasconia The Situation The fruitfulnesse of the Soyle The Cities Avernia The Situatio● The Cities and Townes p This Citie is called by Ptolomie R●●es●●m and 〈◊〉 and by Mer●a●e● Ri●●● q This Citie was anciently called Arverna and Gergobia r Called by Antoninus S●rion and by others Serion Engoulesme The Situation The fruitfulnesse of the Soyle The Cities Townes Turonia The Situation The Cities The State Ecclesiastick Sabaudia whence so called The Situation The fertility of the Soyle ſ This Citie is in compasse about two English miles and is supposed to containe about 17000 Soules Daulphine whence so called t Some say it had its name from Dolphine wise to Gu●gne the second Prince of this Province The Situation The Cities The Countrie whence so called The S●tuation The temp●● of the Ayre The fruitfulnesse of the Soyle The ancient Government u In this town was called a Councell by Constantine An. 313. for the quiet establishing of the Church w This Towne is now called Venza The Countrie whence so cal●led 〈…〉 The fertilitie of the Soyle 〈…〉 〈…〉 In this Church Edward the ● King of England did homage to Philip de Val●● for the Dutchie of Guienna y O●telius thinkes it probable that this is that Citie which Caesar in his Commentaries calls Noviodunum The Co●●●● whence so called The Situation The temper of the aire The fertilitie of the Soyle The Cities z This Citie is also called by Gregorius Turonensis ● Treca● a This Citie was called Rhemes from the Rhemag● 〈◊〉 a potent N●tion of these parts See H●ylen pag. 120. The Cities The Vniversity here is accounted the chiefest in Europe as containing 55. Colledges Aim●niu● c●lled th●s Tow●e Pisias The Country whence so called The Situation A Vidamate is as much as to say Vice-dominatus which is an honor used onely in France The lower Picardy The River is called by Ptolemy Phrudis and by Caenalis Sambre This River Caesar calls Axona and Caenalis Disne The Country whence so called The Situation The ancient government The Cities The Country whence so called The fertility The Cries The Country whence so called The Situation The Cities The County of Guisnes The Townes The Rivers The Situation The Country of Maine The nature of the Soile The ancient goverment The Situation The fertility The Rivers The Woods The publike workes The Situation The fertility The ancient government The Townes The Rivers The publike workes Their manners The Situation The fertility The Cities The Country whence so called The Germans call it Lottring The Situation The fruitfulnesse The variety of li●●●g creatures The ancient government The Country whence so called The Dukedome of Burgundie The Situation The Fertility The Ancient government The Citles The Situation The Fertility The variety of living Creatures The ancient Government The Lakes ●●e Rivers The ancient government The Names Whence derived The fertility The variety of living creatures The Rivers The fertility The Citie Zurich The Towne ●urg●um The Situation The Ports Rivers The Mountaines The W●●ds The publicke workes The Court The Senators The Lawes and Statutes The noble familes The learned men The Libraries Their manners Their trading The Towne Suitia The towne Vnderwaldia Glarona The auncient government The Lakes The Rivers The Country whence so called The Situation The temper of the ayre The fruitfulnesse of the soyle The variety of living creatures The names of the Citties The Rivers Mountaines Woods The Government The Ecclesiasticke state Wassia with the 4 officiall Townes Birfler Ardenbug Middleburrough Damme Ostend Aldenburg The Country whence so called The Situation The temper of
the ayre The fruitfulnesse of the soyle The Country whence so called The Situation The fruitfulnesse of the soyle The variety of living creatures The auncient Government 〈…〉 〈…〉 The Country whence so called The Situation The temper of the ayre The fruitfulnesse of the soyle The variety of living creatures The auncient Government Their Arts. Their Trafique 〈…〉 〈…〉 The names of the Citties The Rivers Their manners Their Trafique Zutphania The Etymologie of the name Their ancient valour The auncient Government Trans Isalania whence so called The 〈◊〉 The fruitfulnesse of the ●●●le The 〈◊〉 The fruitfu●nesse of the soyle The aunci●●● Go●ernment T●● Riv●● The W●ods The publicke workes The Country whence so called The Situation The fruitfulnesse of the soyle The auncient Government The names of the Citties T●e Rivers Mountaines Woods The Govern●ment The Country whence so called The Situation The temper of the ayre The fruitfulnesse of the soyle The auncient Government The Country whence to called The fruitfulnesse of the Soyle The Country whence so called The Situation The temper of the ayre The fruitfulnesse of the soyle The variety of living creatures The auncient Government The Country whence so called The Citties The Citties The Dukedome of Bergen whence so called The Situation The Government The Countie of Marck The auncient Government The Townes The publicke workes The Government The Country whence so called The Situation The temper of the ayre The fruitfulnesse of the soyle The Rivers Mountaines 〈◊〉 The Countie of Muers The Situation The chiefe Towne The Dukedome whence so called The Situation The temper of the ayre The fruitfulnesse of the soyle The variety of living creatures The auncient Government The Townes The tempe● of the ●y● The variety of living creatures The auncient Government The Citties and Townes The Countie whence so called The Situation The fruitfulnesse of the soyle The variety of living creatures The anci●nt Government The Countie w●en●●●o called 〈…〉 The Country whence so called The Situation The Climate The fertility The Citties The Countrie whence so called The Countrie whence so called The Situation The fruitfulnesse of the soyle The Countrie whence so called The Countrie whence so called The Situation The auncient Government The Situation The fruitfulnesse of the soyle The Countrie whence ●o called The Country whence so called The Situation The temper of the ayre The fruitfulnesse of the soyle The variety of living creatures The Cittie of Wittenberg The Citties The Rivers of Saxonie The Wood● Their Lawes The Country whence so called The fruitfulnesse of the soyle The varietie of living creaturese Pl●●e th●s l●●fe 〈◊〉 the q●●re 〈◊〉 of two sheetes in the quire and after 〈◊〉 56● The Situation The fertility The variety of living Creatures The ancient government The Lakes The Woods The Nobility The Country whence so called The Situation The temper of the ayre The quality of the soyle The ancient ●overnment The Country whence so called The Climate 〈…〉 The Country whence so called The Woods The Country whence so called The fertility The Lakes The Rivers The Mountaines Parmizan * Rhegium is so called from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies to breake because Sicilie is here broken of and divided from Italie Muskadine whence so called Which was so great that they seem'd to shadow and obscure the beams of the Sunne a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. ab obstipando vel obseuran lo. Pl● The Country whence so called The Situation The 〈◊〉 ●f ●he Soyl● 〈…〉 The fruitfulnesse of the Soyle The variety of living creatures The Country whence so called The fruitfulnesse The variety of living creatures The Citties The Country The fruitfulnesse of the Soyle The variety of living creatures The manners and beliefe of the Inhabitants The Country whence so called The Situation The temper of the Ayre The f●●●●fulnesse of the Soyle The Names The Situation The fertility The variety of living creatures The ancient government The Country whence so callod The Situation The fertility of the soyle The Country whence so called The Situation The ●emper of the Ayre The ancient government 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 graece Snow The Country The Situation The Cities The Lakes The Rivers The Mountaines The Woods Their government The names of the Citties The Havens Mountaines Their publike workes The private Buildings Their manner of government Their School Their Manners Their manner of feeding Their Traffi●● The Iland The Names The Situation The Climate The Fertility S. Iohns Iland Hispaniola Cuba Iamayca The Country Situation The Climate The variety of Creatures The Rivers The Mountaines Their manners The Country The names Situation The Climate The variety of Creatures The temper of the Aire The quality of the Soile The I le The Names The Situation S. Iohns Citty The Country whence so called The fruitfulnesse of the soyle The Country Situation The variety of living creatures Their ancient of government Virginia so now flourisheth that it vittels other parts The Citties Sir George Summers Butler The Country The Situation Castellana Aurea Whence so called The Country Popayana The Southerne L●nd The Situation The quality of the soyle The variety of liv●●g creatures The Paciffick Sea Their maners A TABLE OF THE FOVRE GENERALL PARTS OF THE VVorld Europe Affricke Asia and America and also of the North-Pole Iseland and the Iles of BRITTAINE Countries A ADea Magaduzzum Fol. 16 Aeolia 18 Aethiopia neere Egypt 12 Aethiopia the innermost 12 Affricke 12 Affricke properly so call●d 12 Ag●dez 12 A●ana 12 Allania 38 Albion 38 Amara 12 America 22 America Northerne 22 America South 22 Angola 12 Angote 12 Anterr●t 12 Anzichi 12 Apulchen 22 Articke Pole 28 Asgara 12 Asia 18 Asia the Lesse 18 Bamba 12 Barbary 12 Barea 12 Barnagnes 12 Borra 12 Benin 12 Bidulgerid 12 Biro 12 Bornum 12 Brasil 12 Bugamedrum 12 Bugia 12 Butua 12 Cafria 12 Cambria 12 Cano 12 Caria 18 Caseva 12 Castella aurea 22 Cayrenaica 12 Cephala 12 Chile 22 Constantina 12 Damali 12 Damar 12 Dara 12 Dauma 12 Del 12 Dobas 12 Ducala 12 Egypt the higher 12 Egypt the Lower 12 Elchausum 12 Elhabata 12 England 38 Errifa 12 Estotiland 22 Europe 8 Ezzaba 12 Fatiagar 12 Fessan 12 Fesse 12 Florida 22 Freezland 28 Gago 12 Galata 12 Garetum 12 Giolosa 12 Goago 12 Gora 12 Goyami 12 Guangara 12 Guber 12 Gueguorre 12 Guinea 12 Guzala 12 Hea 12 Hosiora 12 India 22 Jonia 18 Ireland 33 Jucatan 22 Land of Labour 22 Libya 12 Libya the Innermost 12 Loangi 12 Loegria 38 Lycaonia 18 Lydia 18 Manaemuci 12 Manamotapa 12 Manicong 12 Marmarica 12 Mauritania 12 Mauritania Caesarieusis 12 Medra 12 Meligens 12 Melinara 12 Melli 12 Morocc● 12 Mombazza 12 Mozambique 12 Natolia 18 New France 22 Nicaragua 22 North-Pole 28 Norumberg 22 Nova Hispania 22 Nova Zembla 28 Nubia 12 Numidia 12 Pango 12 Paphlagenia 18 Pemba 12 Pontapolis 12 Peru 22 Plopiana 22 Quiloa 12 Quivira 12 Scotland 38 Seb 12 Semia 18 Songo 12 Sunde 12 Susa 12 Tedletes
Irish did often use to doe Kerri as it is now called at the mouth of the River Shennin was Anciently their Seat A countrie full of inaccessible and wooddy mountains betweene which there are many hollow vallies having thicke woods in them The Earles of Desmond were heretofore honoured with the dignitie of Counts Palatine hereof but by the wickednesse of men which would have libertie and yet knew not how to use it it was long since converted into a sinke of impietie and a refuge for seditious persons A ridiculous opinion hath invaded and persuaded the mindes of the Wild Irish that hee that doth not answer the great shouting or warlike crie which the rest make when they joyne battell should be suddenly taken up from the earth and as it were flying be carried into these desart vallies from any part of Ireland and there feed on grasse drinke water and yet know not what he is having reason but not speech and at last should be taken by hunters and brought home againe The middle of this Countrie is cut into two parts by a River which hath now no name but floweth by a small Towne called Trailes now almost ruinated where the Earles of Desmond had their mansion houses This River by the situation of it in Ptolemies tables doth seeme to be Dur and saith Camden I would avouch no lesse if Duris which at this day is reckoned among the Hauens of this Westerne Coast be at the mouth of it as I have understood by some Not farre from hence is the Haven Smerwick the word being contracted in stead of S. Mary Wick of which not many yeares agoe when Girald Earle of Desmond a man profound in trecherie towards his Prince and Countrie did daily by severall inrodes waste the Countrie of Momonia a mixt band or companie of Italians and Spaniards arrived being sent unto his aide from Pope Gregory and the Spaniards who having engarrison'd themselves in a place called Fort del Ore seemed not to feare Heaven it selfe But when that famous and warlike Deputie the Lord Arthur Gray came with his forces hee did soone decide the matter For forthwith they yeelded themselves and most part of them were put to death because it seemed most safe and fit so to doe the affaires of the Kingdome requiring it and the rebells being on every hand The Earle of Desmond himselfe fled to the woods and having hid himselfe in a Cottage was wounded by a Souldier or two who rushed in upon him and afterward being knowne he was beheaded for his trecherie and wasting of his Countrie All Desmonia toward the South is subject to the Gangans which the Irish call Dassown the English Desmond heretofore three sorts of people dwelt in it namely the Luceni the Velabri the Iherni which are conceived in some Maps to be the Vterini The Luceni seeme to have drawne both their name and originall from the Lucensii of Spaine which held the opposite Coast The Velabri were so called from Aber which is as much to say as Aestuarii because they were seated neare the armes of the Sea hence also the Artabri and Cantabri were so called Orosius places these at the Promontorie Notium which Mariners at this day doe call Biar-head under this Promontorie the River Iernus is received into the Ocean neare to which stands Dunck-eran a Bishops Seat this Dunck-eran which in the Scottish-Irish is as much as to say the Towne Eran doth not onely expresly shew it selfe to be that Citie Ivernis which Ptolemie mentions but the river to be that Iernus whereof hee speaketh which hath its appellation together with the whole Island from Hier an Irish word signifying the West For it is the farthest River of this Country toward the West as Ireland is the farthest Island Westward of all Europe The Iberni who are also called Vterni that is according to Camdens interpretation the High Irish did inhabit by this River on one side of the Promontorie where are the Havens Berebavim and Baltimore well knowne for the plentie of Herring taken therein neare to which dwelt Mac-Carti More an Irish Nobleman who in the yeare 1566. did deliver render his Lands and possessions into the hands of Elizabeth Queene of England and received thē againe from Her to hold thē by fealtie after the manner of England And at the same time he was created Earle at Glencar and baron of Valentia A man in this Countrie of great name and power and an enemy heretofore to the Giralds who deprived his Ancesters being heretofore as he contended the lawfull Kings of Desmond of their ancient right For these Giralds or Fitz-Giralds being descended from the house of Kildare and having conquered the Irish did here get themselves large possessions and of these Giralds Maurice Fitz-Thomas was created by Edward the third THE FIFT TABLE OF IRELAND Hiberniae v. Tabula the first Earle of Desmond in the yeare of Grace 1355 left so firme so established an inheritance that the aforesaid honour in a continued successiō did descend to this wretched rebel of which I have spoken before who was the tenth Earle after him Next to the Iberni dwelt the Vdiae who are also called Vodiae of which names there remaineth some tokens in the Country of Kilkenni for the greatest part is called Idou Idouth These did inhabit the Counties of Corke Triperarie Linrick Kilkenni and Waterford In the Countie of Triperarie there is nothing worthy of memorie but that there is a Palatinate in it and the little Towne called Holy Crosse that hath great immunities and freedomes granted as the Monkes have persuaded them in honour of a piece of our Saviours Crosse which was kept there The famous River Suirus which the inhabitants call Showr is carried out of this Countrie of Triperarie into Kilkenni This River running out of the Mountain Blada through Ossiria the Lower of which the Butlers are stiled Earles and afterward Thurles of which they are stiled Vicounts first passeth by the Citie Cassilia or Cassel adorned by Pope Eugenius with an Archbishop under whom are nine Suffragan Bishops And from thence growing bigger by the receipt of two other Rivers into it neere Waterford it dischargeth it selfe into the Ocean Hitherto I have runne over this part of Ireland with Camden now it remaines to unfold some things concerning the Cities and Townes in the same Among them the first that offers it selfe is Waterford which is the second Citie in Ireland and alwaies faithfull and obedient to the English governement For after Richard Earle of Pembroke conquered and tooke it it alwaies continued in peacable quietnesse and obedience to the English endeavouring to bring Ireland into subjection whence the Kings of England did grant them many and divers immunities and freedomes which Henry the seventh did encrease and confirme because the Cittizens did behave themselves valiantly and wisely against Perkin VVarbeck who with the wings of impudence thought to aspire to the royall Throne
This Citie was built by Pyrats of Norway which although it have a thick aire a soile not very pleasant and very narrow streets yet such is the conveniencie of the Haven that it is the second Ctity in Ireland for wealth populousnes is filled with many wise well behaved Citizens It hath a safe quiet Haven which is often full of outlandish forraine ships For there are many Merchants in Waterford who in trading do so wisely use their stock so warily cast up their accoūts that in a short time they get great store of wealth they are not for the most part indebted but have ready money There are very few usurers which by fraudulent intolerable interest live upon the goods spoile of the Cittizens by taking them to pawne The Citizens are curteous bountifull thriftie hospitable to strangers and serviceable both in private and publique affaires This Citie was anciently called Menapia as Dublin Eblana or rather Amellana from Amellanus who built it as it is reported that Sitaracus built Waterford and Ivorus Limrick They being Cosen-Germans and heretofore of great authoritie in Ireland There is also in this Countrie Limrick which is the third Citie that excells the rest for commodious situation and for the fairenesse of the River being watered with Shennin the chiefe of all the Irish Rivers though this Citie bee distant from the Sea sixtie miles yet the ship-masters doe bring shippes of great burthen even to the walls of the Citie neither neede they feare any rockes all the way they come up It is wonderfull to see what store and plentie of fish you shall finde there Iohn King of England being enamoured with the pleasantnesse of this Cittie built there a faire Castle and a Bridge There is also Corcagia in the Countie of Corke which the English call Cork and the natives Korkeach environed with a wall not very wide in compasse It is stretched out so as to make but one street yet there is a prettie and very faire market place it hath an excellent safe harbour but hath heretofore beene so encompassed with seditious neighbours that they keepe continuall watch and ward as if they were alwaies besieged and they scarce marrie their daughters into the countrie by reason whereof marrying among themselves all the Citizens are somewhat allied one to another The Citizens are strong in Souldiers they addict themselves to merchandise and governe their affaires both at home and abroad very frugally Coenalis writeth that the holy man Briacus came from hence from whom the Diocesse of Sanbrioch in Brittaine commonly called S. Brieu tooke its name But in this hee wandereth from the truth because he placeth the Coriondi of Ireland in this Citie For Ptolemie doth not mention it at all Yet the River which floweth by it seemeth to be the same which Ptolemie calls Daurona and Giraldus calls Sauranus and Saverenus by changing one letter Learned Camden saith that the affinitie which is betweene these names did intimate so much unto him and that with greater probalitie then if hee should call the next River Daurona which running through the Countie Corke and Triperarie falls into the Ocean by Lysmor and is called by Historians Avenmor that is the Great River of which Nechamus thus writeth Vrbem Lissimor pertransit flumen Avenmor Ardmor cernit ubi concitus oequor adit Avenmor runneth by Lissimors wall And at Ardmor into the Sea doth fall THE KINGDOME OF SCOTLAND THE Northerne part of the Island of Brittaine is called Scotland heretofore Albania The Inhabitants who keepe their ancient speech doe call it Albain and the Irish Albany as if it were an other Ireland which the Bardes call Banno For Historians doe call Ireland Greater Scotland the Kingdome of Scots in Brittaine the Lesser Scotland Ptolemie doth call it Little Brittaine Rufus the Second Brittaine Tacitus calleth it Caledonia from a certaine Forrest so called But the Scots were so called from their Neighbours the Scyths For as the Dutchmen call the Scyths and Scots by one name Scutten that is Archers so also the Brittains did call both of them Y-scot as appeareth by the Brittish Writers And 't is manifest that they descending from the Scyths came out of Spaine into Ireland and from thence into that part of Albain which they now possesse and grew with the Picts into one Nation Thus much of the Name the Situation followes The Southerne bounds towards England are the Rivers Tweede and Solwey on the North is the Deucaledon Ocean on the West the Irish on the East the German other parts the Ocean and the German Sea doe compasse It is 480 miles long but no where above 112 miles broad The Country is more temperate than France the heate and cold being more remisse in like manner as it is in England but yet it cannot be compared unto it in fruitfulnesse The Earth for the most part is full of Sulphure or moorish which affordeth them coale and turfe for firing especially in those places where there is want of wood Yet here groweth as much corne as the Inhabitants can spend The Earth also bringeth forth divers mettals as Gold Silver Quicksilver Iron Lead and Copper It hath in Drisdale a Gold Myne in which the Azure stone is found It hath also pretious stones especially the Gagate which burneth in the water and is quenched with oyle Also excellent pastures which doe feed and bring up all kinds of Heards whence they abound with plenty of flesh milke butter cheese and wooll When the Scots came to the Picts into Brittain although they stil provok't the English by warres robberies yet the Scottish affaires grew not upon a suddain but a long time they lay hid in that corner in which they first arriv'd neither as Beda noteth for more than an hundred and seven and twenty yeares durst they beare Armes against the Earles of Northumberland untill at one and the same time they had almost slaine all the Picts and the Kingdome of Northumberland by domestick troubles and by the incursions of the Dane was almost ruined For then all the North part of Brittaine came to be called Scotland together with the Countrie beyond Cluide and Edenburgh-Frith The Scots are valiant in warre and stout souldiers to endure hunger watching or cold The chiefe Citie of Scotland is Edenburgh commonly called Edenburrow THE KINGDOME OF SCOTLAND SCOTIA this royall Seate Ptolemie cals the Winged Castell and not onely the Metropolis of Lauden but also of all Scotland it hath its situation on the Mountaines much like to Prague in Bohemia the length stretched from East to West is a thousand paces or a mile the breadth is halfe as much The whole Citie hangeth as it were on the side of a Mountaine and is highest toward the West toward the North it fortifies the Citie with its steepnesse the other parts toward the East and South are environ'd with a wall On
praise These are the names of the Dukedomes Earledomes and Vicountships of Scotland the Dukedome of Rotsay and Albania and the Dukedome of Lennox the Countie of Carnes Sutherlant Rosse Murray Buchquhan Garmach Garmoran Mar Mernis Angus Gowry Frisse Marche Athole Stratherne Menteith Wagion Douglasse Carrike Crawford Annandale Ourmonth and Huntley The Vicountships are Berwich alias North-Berwyk Roxburgh Selkirk Twedale Dunfrise Niddisdale Wigton Are Lanarke Dunbretton Sterueling Louthean Lauden Clacmanan Kiuros Fisse Perth Angus Mernis Aberdone Bamph Fores and Inuernes There are the Universities of Saint Andrew and Aberdone the later was adorned with many priviledges by King Alexander and his Sister Isabel about the yeare 1240. The former was begun to be established under King Iames in the yeare 1411. To which is added the University of Glasgo founded by Bishop Turnbul anno 1554 and Edenburgh The disposition of the Scots is lively stirring fierie hot and very capable of wisdome THE SECOND TABLE OF SCOTLAND I Have ended that which I purposed to speake of Scotland in generall our method requireth that we should run through the parts of it in speciall Scotland is divided by the Mountaine Grampius cutting it in the midst into the Southerne or Higher part and into the Northerne or Lower part It is divided from England by the River Tweede by the high Mountaine Cheviota and where the Mountaine faileth by a trench made not long agoe and lastly by the Rivers Eske and Solway Beyond these bounds the Countries even from the Scottish Sea to the Irish doe lie in this manner The first is Marcia Merchia or March so called because it is the limits and lies on the Marches of Scotland this reacheth to the left side of Tweede on the East it is bounded with the Forth Aestuarium and on the South with England In March is the Towne of Berwyke Borwick or Borcovicum which the English hold Here is also the Castle of Hume the ancient possession of the Lords of Hume who being descended from the Earles of March became at last a great and renowned Familie Neare to this Castle lyeth Kelso famous by a certaine Monasterie and the ancient habitation of the Hepburni who a long time by Hereditary right were Earles of Bothwell and Admiralls of Scotland which honours by the Sister of Iames Earle of Bothwell married to Iohn the lawfull Sonne of King Iames the fift did descend to Francis his Son From thence we may see Coldingham or Childingham which Beda calls the Citie Coldana and Vrbs Coludi and Ptolemie perchance calls Colania On the West side of March on either side of Tweede is Tifedale being so called from the River Tyfie It is divided from England by the Mountaine Cheviota After this are three small Countries Lidesdale Eusedale and Eskedale so named from three Rivers of like name Lide Eue and Eske The last is Annandale which is so called from the River of Annan dividing it in the midst which runnes along by Solway into the Irish Sea Now that wee may returne againe to the Forth or Scottish Fyrth it doth bound Lothiana or Lauden on the East side the Cochurmian Woods and the Lamirian Mountaines doe seperate it from Marcia And then a little toward the West it toucheth upon Lauderia Twedia the one so called frō the Town Laudera the other frō the River Tweede cutting through the middle of that Country On the South and West Lidesdale Nithesdale and Clidesdall doe touch upon Tweede the name of Nithesdale was given unto it from the River Nyth called by Ptolemie Nobios which glideth through it into the Irish Sea Lothiaria was so called from Lothius King of the Scots On the East side it is bounded with the Forth or Scottish Sea and on the West it looketh toward the Vale of Clide This Country both for curtesie and plenty of all things necessary for mans life doth farre excell the rest It is watered with five Rivers Ti●● both the Eskes who before they fall into the Sea doe joyne together in one channell Letha and Almone These rising partly out of the Lamirian Mountaines partly out of the Pictland Mountaines doe runne into the Forth It hath these Townes Dunbarr Hadinia commonly called Hadington Dalneth Edenburrough Leth and Lemnuch Somewhat more towards the West lyeth Clydesdale on either side of the River Clide or Glotta which in regard of the length is divided into two Provinces In the former Province is a hill not very high from whence three Rivers doe discharge themselves into three divers Seas Tweede into the Scotch Sea Annand into the Irish and Clide into the Deucalidon Sea The chiefest Cities in it are Lanarick and Glasco The latter the River Coila or Coyil runneth by on the West beyond Coila is Gallovidia or Galloway It is seperated from Nithesdale with the River Claudanus almost enclining toward the South whose bankes doe hemme in the other side of Scotland The whole Country is more fruitfull in Cattle then in Corne. It hath many Rivers which runne into the Irish Sea as Vrus Dee Kennus Cray and Lowys It is no where raised into Mountaines but yet it swells with little Hills Among which the water setling doth make innumerable Lakes which by the first raine which falls before the Autumnall Aequinox doe make the Rivers rise whence there commeth downe an incredible multitude of Eeles which the Inhabitants having tooke up with wickar-weeles doe salt up and make a great commoditie of In this Country is the Lake of Myrton part of whose Waters doe congeale in Winter the other is never frozen The farthest part on this side is the Promontorie Novantum under which in the mouth of the River Lowys is the Bay which Ptolemy calls Regrionius On the other side there flowes into it the Bay of Glotta commonly called the Lake Rian which Ptolemy calls Vidogara That Land which runneth betweene these two Bayes the Inhabitants call Rine that is the Eye of Galloway they call it also the Mule of Galloway or the Mules nocke The whole Country is called Galloway or Gallovid which in the language of the Ancient Scots signifies a French-man Beneath Vidogara on the backside of Galloway Caricta gently bendeth toward the estuarie of Glotta Two Rivers doe cut through it one called Stinsianus and the other Grevanus on both of which many pleasant Townes are seated Between the Rivers in those places where it swells into little hills it is fruitfull in pasturage and hath some Corne. The whole Country hath not onely a sufficiency of all things for the maintenance of men both by Sea and Land but also doth furnish the neighbour Countries with many commodities The River Dun doth seperate it from Coila arising out of a Lake of the same name which hath an Island in it with a small Castle There are in the Countrie of Caricta very exceeding great Oxen whose flesh is tender and sweet in taste and whose fat being once
tempered The Court of Requests heareth the causes of the poore and of the Kings Servants The chiefe spirituall Courts are the Corporatition of the Clergie the Courts which belong to the Archbishop himselfe and the Chancellours Courts kept in every Diocesse There are two famous Universities in this Kingdome Oxford and Cambridge England doth produce happy and good wits and hath many learned men skilfull in all Faculties and Sciences The people are of a large stature faire complexion'd and for the most part gray-eyed and as their Language soundeth like the Italians so they differ not from them in the habite and disposition of their body Their foode consisteth for the most part of Flesh They make Drinke of Barley being a very savorie and pleasant drinke It is transported often into forraine countries They use a habite not much different from the French And thus much shall suffice concerning England in generall wee will declare the rest in the particular Tables following THE SECOND TABLE OF ENGLAND CONTAINING The Counties of Northumberland Cumberland and the Bishoprick of Durham WEE have finished that which wee intended to speake concerning England in generall Our Method doth require that wee should goe through the parts thereof in particular The Romans diversly divided the hither part of Brittaine being reduced into a Province But the Saxons instead of the Pentarchie of the Romans made an Heptarchie of it in which are Kent Sussex Eastanglia Westsex Northumberland Essex and Mercia At this day it is divided into Counties which the English by a proper word call Shires And first in the yeare of Christ 1016 in the Reigne of Ethelred there were onely two and thirty Afterward under William the Conquerour there were 36. And lastly these being augmented by three more came to be 39 Counties To which are added 13 Shires in Wales six whereof were in the time of Edward the first the other Henry the eigth ordained by Parliamentarie Authoritie These Counties or parts of England with some Islands our Mercator doth lively expresse in six Tables Of all which Tables wee will make a briefe Description or Delineation in that order as our Author propoundeth them In the first place Northumberland offereth it self commonly called Northumberlant lying in a manner in the forme of a triangle but not equilaterall The Southerne side thereof Derwent flowing into Tine and Tine it selfe doe enclose where it looketh toward the Bishoprick of Durham The East side is beaten with the German Sea But the Westerne side is drawn out in length from the North to the South first by a continued ridge of Mountaines and afterward by the River Tweede and being opposite to Scotland it is the bound of that Countrie The Soyle it selfe for the most part is barren and unfit for tillage Toward the Sea and the Tine if tillage be used the Husband-man receiveth sufficient increase but in other places it is more unfruitfull and rugged In many places great store of Sea-cole as the English call them are digg'd forth There is in Northumberland the Citie of New Castle famous for the Haven which the River Tine maketh having so deepe a chanell that it receiveth ships of great burthen and desends them both from tempests and sands The last Towne in England and the strongest in all Brittaine is Berwick which some doe derive from a certaine Captaine called Berengarius Leland from Aber which in the Brittish Language signifies the mouth of a River as if it were Aberwick a Towne at the mouth of a River But whence soever it hath its name it stands farre in the Sea so that it is THE SECOND TABLE OF ENGLAND Northumbr Cumberlādia Dunelm Episcop compassed round about therewith and the River Tweede The Rivers here are the Southerne and Northerne Tines which are so called because they are bound in with straight and narrow bankes for so much Tine doth signifie in the Brittish speech as some doe affirme the Southerne riseth out of Cumberland neere Alstenmore where there is an ancient Myne of Brasse having runne a good while toward the North it turneth toward the East and runneth straight forward with the Picts Wall The Northerne Tine arising out of the bordering Mountaines doth joyne it selfe with the River Reade which being powred out at the Mountaine Redsquier watereth Readsdale that is the Vale of Reade which nourisheth the best Fowle Both the Tines doe flow beneath Collerford and growing bigger and bigger doe hasten their journey to the Ocean in one channell Tweede for a great way parteth England from Scotland and is called the Easterne bound This River breaking forth of the Mountaines of Scotland runneth a great while in a winding course but where it comes neere unto the Towne Carram growing strong in waters it beginneth to distinguish the Limits of the two Kingdomes and at last having received the River Till it disburthens it selfe into the German Sea There are also other Rivers as Coquet Alaunus or Alne Blithe Wanspethel which I omit and so passe to the second part and that is Cumbria commonly called Cumberland this lieth before Westmoreland on the West side It is the farthest Shire in this part of England insomuch that it toucheth Scotland it selfe on the North side being beaten on the South and North with the Irish Ocean but on the East side above Westmoreland it joyneth to Northumberland It takes its name from the Inhabitants who were the true and native Brittains calling themselves in their Language Kumbri Kambri Although the Countrey seemeth in regard of the Northerne situation to bee cold and verie mountainous yet it delights the beholder with much variety For behinde the Cliffes and cluster of Mountaines betweene which the Lakes doe lye there are grassie Hils full of Flocks under which againe there lye plaine and fruitfull Valleys There is in this Countrie an ancient wel-seated Citie called Carlile being defended on the North with the deepe Channell of Ituna or Eeden on the East with Peterill on the West with Cauda and besides these fortifications of Nature it is strengthened with strong Wals of square stone with a Castle and a Cittadell There are other Townes as Keswick Wirkinton Bulnesse called anciently Blatum-Bulgium Penrith or Perith that I may passe over Villages and Castles This Shire hath 58 Parish-Churches It hath also Lakes abounding with all kinde of flying Fowles and many Rivers among which is the little River Irton in which while the gaping shell-fish receive the dew they become presently as it were great with childe and bring forth pearles which the Inhabitants when the water setleth doe seeke for There are also the Derwent Cokar Olen or Elen Eden and others all abounding with Fish Besides this Ocean which beateth on the shore doth bring forth great shoales of excellent fish and doth seeme to reproach the Inhabitants with negligence because they use fishing so lazily Heere are many Mountaines close together being full of mettall among
England who being killed Henry the seventh enlarged the inheritance of this Countrie and gave it to Gaspar his Unkle and Earle of Bedford but hee dying without issue the King tooke it againe into his owne hands Caermardenshire is bounded on the East with Glamorganshire and Brecknock-shire on the West with Penbrockshire on the North with the River Tay separating it from Cardiganshire on the South with the Ocean It is sufficiently fruitfull abounding with flocks of cattle and in some places with pit-coales The chiefe towne of the Shire is Caermarden which Ptolemie calls Maridunum Antoninus Muridunum having pleasant Meadows and woods about it it is very ancient and as Giraldus saith it was encompassed with a stone wall part whereof yet standeth There is also the auncient towne of Kidwilly which now is almost ruinated for the Inhabitants passing over the River Vendraeth Vehan did build a new Kidwilly being drawne thither with the conveniencie of the Haven which yet is of no note The Rivers are Vendraeth Vehan Towy or Tobius and Taff. Penbrokshire is on every side encompassed with the Sea except on the East where part of Caermardenshire and on the North where part of Flintshire lyeth against it The countrie beeing neare Ireland hath a temperate and wholesome aire and is plentifull in all kinde of graine The chiefe towne hereof is Penbro now called Penbroke and seated on a craggie long rocke The other Townes of note in this Countrie are Tenby Hulphord now called HarfordWest and Menevia or Tuy Dewi which the English at this day do call S. Davids I finde but two Rivers in this Shire but here is a Port called Milford-Haven which is the fairest and safest in all Europe Gilbert Strongbow was the first Earle of this Countie on whom King Stephen did first conferre the title of Earle of Penbroke and hee left it to his sonne Richard Strongbow who subdued Ireland from whom with his daughter Isabel William Lord of Hempsted and Marshall of England a man flourishing both in times of peace and warre received it as her dowry Concerning the other Earles read Camden Brecnockshire is called so from the Prince Brechanius as the Welchmen suppose This is bounded on the East with Hereford on the South with Monmouthshire and Glamorganshire on the West with Caermardenshire on the North with Radnorshire The countrie is very full of Mountaines yet it hath every where fruitfull vallies The chiefe towne in it is Brecnock stiled in the Brittish tongue Aber-hodney and placed in the midst thereof There are also the townes of Blueth or Bealt Hay or Trekethle The River Vaga called by the Brittaines Gowy and by the English Wye watereth the Northerne part of the countrie and Vsk runneth through the middle thereof Herefordshire called in the Brittish tongue Ereinuc is as it were of a circular forme it is environed on the East with Glocester-shire on the South with Monmouthshire on the West with Radnor and Brecnock shire and on the North with Shropshire It is a pleasant countrie full of fruit and cattle Hereford or Hareford is the chiefe citie of this countrie having round about it faire medowes and fruitfull fields it is encompassed with Rivers almost round about on the North West with a namelesse river on the South with Vaga which hasteneth its course hither out of Wales There are also the townes of Lemster called anciently Leonis monasterium and by the Brittaines Lhanlieni Webley Ledburie and Rosse and there are in it 157 Parishes The chiefe Rivers here are Vaga Lug Munow and Dor. THE FIFTH TABLE OF ENGLAND Containing these Shires Yorkeshire Lincolnshire Darbyshire Staffordshire Nottinghamshire Leicestershire Rutlandshire and Northfolke THE fifth Table of England comes to be unfolded in the which the first that wee meete withall is Yorkeshire the greatest Shire in all England and called by the Saxons Ebona-y●yne On the East it is bounded with the German Ocean on the West with Lancashire and Westmoreland on the North with the Bishoprick of Durham and on the South with Cheshire Darbyshire Nottinghamshire and Lincolneshire It is held to be temperate and fruitfull If in one place it bee sandie stony and barren in an other place it hath fruitfull fields if heere it be voide of woods there it is shadowed with thick trees Nature being so provident that the Countrie is more pleasant by this variety Here is Eboracum called by Nennius Caer Ebrauc and by the Brittaines Caer Effroc but commonly stiled Yorke It is the second Citie of all England and the fairest in all this Country which is a great strength and ornament to all the North parts It is pleasant large strong beautified both with private and publick Buildings and full of wealthy Citizens The River Ouse doth as it were part it and divide it into two Cities which are joyned together by a great stone Bridge There are also the Townes of Kingston upon Hull Dancaster called by the Scots Doncastle and by Antoninus Danum Halifax anciently Horton Pontfreit Shirborne Wetherby Kingston Patrington called anciently Praetorium and many others for there are in this Shire 39 great Townes and 459 Parishes besides many private Chappels of ease which great Parishes are faine to provide in regard of the multitude of the Inhabitants The chiefest Rivers are Don or Dune Calder Arc Wherfe Nid and Ouse which arising out of the Mountaines doe runne through the fruitfullest parts of the Country There are also other Rivers as Cokar Fosse Derwent Foulnesse Hull Teyse Dow Rhie Recal and Wisck Lincolneshire is a great Country being almost three score miles long and in some places more than thirty miles broad On the East it is beaten with the German Ocean on the North it toucheth the Aestuarie of Abus or Humber in the West it looketh toward Nottinghamshire and on the South it is parted from Northamptonshire with the River Welland It is a Country that produceth much fruit and breadeth up abundance of cattell The chiefe Citie of this Shire is Lincolne which Ptolemie and Antoninus call Lindum The Citie it selfe is large and faire being seated on the side of a Hill where the River Witham bendeth toward the East There are also the Townes of Stanford Grantham Ancaster anciently called Crococalana Crowland Spalding Boston rightly called Botolps towne and others And there are in this Shire about 630 Parishes This Countrie is watered with many Rivers as Witham which is full of Pikes Lud Trent Welland Idle Pan c. The next Countrie that followeth is Darbyshire which on the South is enclosed with Leicestershire on the West with Staffordshire on the North with Yorkeshire on the East with Nottinghamshire It is of a triangular forme but not equilaterall or having equall sides It is divided into two parts by the River Derwent The Easterne and Southerne parts are tillable and fruitfull the Westerne part is
did possesse the inward part of Asia and being expell'd by the Scythians repairing Westward did passe into Scandia and from thence unto the Cimbrian Chersonesus I see no reason how a more convenient name can bee given to Gomer the Author of the Cimbrian Nation and to the people retaining their fathers name tha● from the desire of circuiting and wandring about For I thinke no man hath read of any Nation that hath travelled a greater circuit of earth as Iosephus an accurate Writer of the Iewish antiquities doth perspicuously and diligently explaine when he writeth that the posterity of Gomer comming out of Armenia did runne out into the River Tanais and from thence with their multitudes did overspread all Countries of Europe as farre as the utmost coasts of the Gades Plutarch in the life of Marius hath clearely explained the desire that was in that Nation to propagate and finish this their course when hee reporteth thus of them The Cimbrians as often as they change their seates doe attempt the neighbour Countries by warres yet not with a daily or continuall violence but every yeare when the season serveth they make some inroade and seeing there are divers and severall names of people amongst them they call their troupes by a common appellation Celtoscythians Some do report that there was no great company of Cimbrians who were anciently knowne to the Grecians but that some banished men or seditious persons cashiered by the Scythians THE SECOND TABLE OF DENMARKE IUTIA SEPTENTRIONALIS passed from Maeotis into other parts of Asia under the conduct of Lygdamis and that the greatest and most warlike part of the Nation did seate themselves on the outmost coasts of the Ocean and did inhabite a darke Country which in regard of the high and thicke woods reaching even to the Forrest of Hircynus was to the Sunne-beames inaccessible Hitherto I have for the most part rendred his owne words but I understand not whence Plutarch from the Germane Etymologie or Festus Pompetus from the French can prove that the Cimbrians were called theeves robbers unlesse wee take hired Souldiers for theeves and robbers or unlesse it seeme that Plutarch did referre it to the manner of warring peculiar to that Nation who did set upon their neighbours with secret ambushment and assaults like theeves for he relates that Italy was strooken with feare by their fierce inrodes when they understood that a Nation of no name or setled habitation was like a sudden cloud of raine ready to fall upon their heads Hitherto Iunius This Iutia is divided into foure large Episcopall Seats into the Ripensian which is kept at Ripen the Arhusian which is at Arhusium the Vandalican which is at Alburg and the Wiburgian which is at Wiburg The Ripensian Diocese hath 30 Prefectures seven Cities ten royall Castles Queen Dorothy the widdow of Christian the third erected and built a Schoole at Kolding at her owne proper charge and cost The Arhusian Diocese hath one and thirty Prefectures seven Cities and five Castles Arhusium or Arhusen is a famous Mart-Towne in regard of its Haven made by the great Promontorie of Hellen which extendeth it selfe through the Country of Mols from the royall Castle Kalloe even to the high Mountaine ●llemansbergh and by its owne situation and some Islands lying neare unto it maketh the Sea very placable and calme for Marriners Under this Diocese there are the Islands Samsoe Hielm Tuen Hiarnoe sometimes called Gerno Hilgenes and many other The Vandalican Diocese called also the Diocese of Burglaw hath thirteene Prefectures and sixe Cities The most speciall parts thereof are Wendsyssel Handharet Thyland and Morsoe Wendsyssil or Vensilia that is the Land or Seat of the Vandalls hath sixe Prefectures three Townes and one Castle Here is the Mountaine Alberg in which are certaine Monuments of Gyants the adjacent Isles are Grysholm Hertsholm Tydsholm and others In Handhaeret is a Rocke of great height called Skarringelint and on the coast thereof those two quick-sands which they call Sandores and Brac●● The Isles subject unto it are Oland and Oxeholm Thyland hath foure Prefectures one Towne called Thystad or Tystet where Christian the third built a Schoole for the nurture of Youth and one Castle called Orumna Under it are the Islands Hansholm Ostholm Iegen Cifland Egholm Bodum Morsia hath three Prefectures the Citie Nicoping the Castle Lunds●od or Lundgard and an Island adjacent neare unto it called Agero● The Diocese of Wiburg doth containe sixteene Prefectures three Cities and as many Castles At Wiburg the generall Councell of the most Noble and wise Trium-vi●● concerning enquiring into and judging of civill matters is continued almost all the yeare unlesse sometimes when they are wearied with that troublesome office they refresh themselves and recollect their strength in their owne Country houses Hither are brought the causes of all the Cimbrian Chersonesus as complaints of bounds controversies concerning inheritance and all capitall causes as slaughters adulteries thefts poysonings c. Neare to the Peninsula Wenslia where ending in a Cone it bendeth by degrees toward the East is that corner of Iutia so perilous and fearefull to Marriners for a great ridge of rockes runne so farre into the Sea that those who would bee free from danger come not neare to the shoare by 8. miles Such also is all the Westerne shoare of Iutia so that those who purpose to sayle into Norwey or out of the Ocean Eastward are enforced to take a large compasse to avoyde it and to this purpose there are foure Mountaines on this shoare which the Marriners observe as Sea-markes The Inhabitants of this Country seeing they have no fit Haven for ships to ride in draw them out of the deepe upon the shoare so farre that the waves of the Sea by beating upon them cannot bruise them In this Sea there is plenty of fish and especially of Herrings and therefore the Inhabitants use fishing much These things being declared I will adde something not impertinent to conclude this place withall which is that the people in these Northerne Countries have beene and yet are cold and drie of a large stature faire complectioned well coloured merrie jocund suspitious crafty and provident in businesse healthfull proud loving to their friends they eate and drinke much they digest well and therefore live long they abound with bloud they are blunt in behaviour and in regard of much heate about their heart they are quarrellous and contentious they love dangers hunting and travelling they are obstinate in defending their owne opinions and yet mindefull of Justice they are very docible and apt to attaine Languages they are lovers of the Muses and doe strictly performe their covenants and bargaines they have many children which the weomen with great difficulty bring forth their woemen are also beautifull and both wise and sparing in the government of their Familie but they die for the most part of Catharres the Kings evill the Pleuricy the Fistula the
Dropsie or Ptisicke Achilles Gassarus affirmeth that Guns were here first invented by a Monke THE THIRD TABLE OF DENMARKE Jn which are part of the Dukedome of SLESWICH and HOLSATIA SO much concerning Northerne Iutia the Southerne followeth which the Ancients did call Nordalbingia because it is seperated and parted toward the North from the rest of Germanie by the river Albis It containeth the two Dukedomes of Sleswick and Holsatia of which wee will speake in order The Dukedome of Sleswick taketh his name from the Metropolis and ancient Mart Towne of Sleswick Heretofore this Countrie was called the Dukedome of Iutia which Woldemare Nephew to Abel King of Denmark received to hold in fee of King Ericus about the yeare 1280. But the Royall Line of the Kings and Dukes being extinct and the Dukedome of Sleswick being thereby fallen to the Crowne Margaret Queen of three Kingdomes gave it to Gerard Earle of Holsatia on this condition that hee should acknowledge to hold it of the King of Denmarke The Cities which are subject to this Dukedome because they have the same priviledge with other parts of Denmarke therefore they have the same Lawes with them The Subjects may appeale from the Sentence of the Magistrates of any place to the Princes and their Senators and not farther as it is provided by their priviledges But the generall government of both these Dukedomes belongeth to the King of Denmarke and the Duke of Holsatia by turnes When it is devolved and doth fall to the King it is governed by his Substitute in his name The chiefe Towne of this Dukedome is Slesvicum commonly called Schleswick It hath its name from a German word in regard it is situated neere Slia in the Bay of the Baltick Sea for Wick signifies in the Saxon language both a Towne and a crooked winding or Bay of the Sea as Becanus hath observed in his Bookes of Gothish Danish matters Crantzius and those who have writ the Saxon Histories doe give it an other appellation besides Sleswick which is still in use with the Danes Freeslanders for they call this Towne in their language Heidebui or Heideba because they say it was first built by a certaine Queene of Denmarke whose name was Heth. It hath a convenient situation for traffick and a convenient Haven for commerce and trading Not farre from this Towne is seated the Castle Gotorpi Heere is a famous Custome or Toll for it hath beene observed that in plentifull yeares fifty thousand Oxen being driven out of Denmarke into Germanie have heere beene paid toll for There is also in this Dukedome Flensburg a famous Towne lying among the high Mountaines neere the shore of the Easterne Sea It HOLSATIA THE THIRD TABLE OF NORWEY hath a Haven so convenient deepe and safe that many of the Citizens may loade and unloade ships even at their owne doores And heere are the Townes Husenum or Hussum and Haderslebia This Dukedome hath onely one Bishoprick two Chapters three Monasteries and divers Castles belonging to the Prince and his Nobles The order of Senators whereof I have heretofore made mention doth consist of the number of 24 persons of the Gentry to whom is joyned a generall Chancellour and two Doctors of the Law The Dukedome of HOLSATIA SOme doe suppose that Holsatia was so called from the many Woods and Forrests which are in it for the Cimbrians and Low Germans doe call a wood holt and some doe derive the Etymologie of the word from a hollow stone because the Dukes of Holsatia were formerly called Dukes of the hollow Stone It is bounded on the East with the River Bilena on the West with Stora or Steur on the South with Albis and on the North with Eider The Countrie it selfe is woody and full of Forrests whence they have such store of fuell that they are able to supplie Freesland with wood when they themselves also doe keepe great fires But although their woods are very spatious so that they seeme to have no end yet they seldome have any great Oakes in them but are full of Beech-trees with whose waste an innumerable sort of Hogges are fatted The Land for the most part doth afford them every three yeares great store of fishing and a very rich and plentifull harvest For three yeares together it is tilled sow'd and mow'd and three yeares afterward the Lakes are let in to feede the fish and grasse thereby a certaine fat and slimie matter is brought in which doth fertilize the fields This place beares neither Vines nor Olives but there is much hunting of wilde beasts And this Countrie doth breede a great number of horses Holsatia is divided into foure parts Dithmarsh Holsatia Stormaria and Wagria These were heretofore Counties and afterward chang'd into a Dukedome by Frederick the third Emperour at the suite and request of Christierne the first who now is charged to maintaine 40 horsemen and fourescore foot for the use of the Roman Empire Dithmarsh at the first enjoy'd freedome and libertie for some hundred yeares and albeit it were granted by the Emperour Frederick to Christierne the first in fee yet it was not at that time subjected Afterward his Sonnes King Iohn and Duke Frederick did undertake to make an expedition against it in the yeare of our Lord 1500 but the Dithmarsians having overthrowne their Armie defended their owne libertie untill they were conquer'd overcome by the Nephews of Christierne the first namely Duke Iohn Adolphus and Frederick the second King of Denmarke in the yeare of our Lord 1559. In Holsatia are these Cities first Segeberg in Wagria a Countrie of Holsatia 16 miles from Lubeck 2 Itzohoa a faire Towne in regard of the nature and situation of the place and the resort of ships unto it 3 Stormaria is encompassed and as it were embraced in the armes of a fishie and navigable River which arising in the inner parts of Holsatia doth wash the wals of certaine Townes and the noble Ranzovian House of Bredenberg and afterward doth discharge it selfe into the River Albis Heere is in this Countrie Chilonium commonly called Kile which is an ancient Towne and hath a large Haven in which to the great commoditie of the Holsatians divers sorts of merchandize are brought out of Germanie Livonia Denmarke and Swethland Also Krempe and Reinholdsburg or Rensburg the former taketh his name from the River gliding by it the later from the first builder Here are moreover Meldorp Heiningsted or Henste and Tellingsted in Dithmars and Hamburg the Metropolis of Stormaria a renowned Mart-Towne neere the River Albis which after many devastations and calamities suffered in the warres was at last reedified and in the time of Henry the fourth Emperour it began to be encompassed with wals and to be beautified with three Gates and twelve watch-towres In this Citie Albertus Crantzius an eloquent and true Historian lived and was buried This Countrie is full of Lakes and especially Dithmars
whose Inhabitants trusting to the benefite of their Lakes did refuse to acknowledge obedience to the Kings of Denmarke though of late they have beene compell'd thereunto The chiefest River of note which watereth this Countrey is Egidora or the Eidera there are also some others the most whereof may rather be called Brookes or Rivulets than Rivers but the B●ltick Sea in that part where it washeth the Dukedomes of Holsatia and Sleswick hath safe and pleasant Bayes which are safe harbours for Merchants and weather-beaten ships In some places also it affordeth great store of fish and especially of Salmons It is a plaine Countrey seldome raised with any mountaines yet one it hath betweene Lubeck and Hamburg of a pleasant situation and famous for the ornaments of peace and warre with which Henry Rantzovius did adorne it It hath an ancient Castle seated on it famous for the antiquitie and first builder thereof and at the foote of the hill a Towne adjoyning to it Heere are many woods with which the Countrey of Holsatia is beset replenished but especially Dithmars as the woods of Borcholt Burgholt Alverdorpenholt Resenwalde and many others The Holsatians had heretofore 48 men who were Presidents and Governours of the whole Countrie to these they made their appeale out of the severall Parishes and they did judge all matters But they being subdued and the Countrie now divided into two parts in each of them there are twelve speciall and principall men together with a Prefect who for the most part is a Doctor or Licentiate at Law These have all yearely pensions from the Princes and they have a Clerke joyned to them as also an Overseer or President out of the Holsatian Nobilitie The one of these Prefects which is for the King is called the Prefect of Steinburg and the other being for the Duke the Prefect of Gottorpe Yet the Subjects have leave to appeale or make suite to the Princes and Senators of either Dukedome as well of Sleswick as Holsatia but not further They had heretofore a written Law which now by degrees is changed and reformed according to the Common Law compiled by Henry Rantzovius the Kings Substitute by Sigefrid Rantzovius heretofore Lord of Nienhs the Lord Adam Trazigeriu and the Lord Erasmus Kirslemius according to which Law all causes are decided and punishments pronounced against delinquents offenders Holsatia hath foure Orders or degrees of people The Nobles the Clergie the Citizens and the Countrie-men whereof there are two kindes for some possesse goods of their owne being hereditarie and free others hired goods or lands for which they pay rent and doe certaine services The Nobles have Castles and Lands together with the royalty of hunting fishing and hawking which for the most part are hereditarie unto them The whole Countrie hath not above 24 Families whose names are mentioned in the Holsatian Chorographie but divers Families there are that are descended from the same stock as the Rantzovians doe at this time possesse an hundred and fiftie Castles and divers other possessions The Aleseldians and Powischians have almost as many Holsatia hath one Bishoprick namely Lubeck for the Bishoprick of Hamburg is subject to the Bishoprick of Breme The contentions which happen among the Nobles are judged by a Senate of Dukes the Princes for the most part sitting Presidents in judgement as it is provided by their priviledges and Lawes From the order of Senators any one putting in a sufficient caution may appeale to the Imperiall Chamber The Citizens enjoy priviledges peculiar to themselves and use the Roman Law or else the Lubeck The Subjects may appeale from the judgement of the Senate of their owne Citie to the judgement of foure Cities appointed to judge and determine of all speciall matters From them againe they are permitted to appeale to the Princes and Senators of Holsatia and also further even to the Imperiall Chamber so that fit securitie be put in Countri-mens cases or suites are pleaded by their Lawyers even in the open fields where are present the Noble-men thereabout the Prefects and two Assistants There they come forth doe make their appearance who have any suit one against an other the Defendant and Plaintiffe being both heard the whole company or assemblie of Countrie-men are bidden to goe forth and then their causes being diligently weigh'd on both sides they returne againe and the suiters being called in they give sentence in their case according to Law and right THE FOVRTH TABLE OF DENMARKE CONTAINING FIONIA WITH THE ISLANDS LYING ROUND ABOUT IT SO much according to our Method concerning the Dukedome of Sleswicke and Holsatia Fionia followes with the Isles lying round about it Fionia commonly called Fuynen is the chiefe of all other Isles lying in the Bay of Codonus from Zeland It taketh its name from the beautie thereof both in regard of the forme and situation It is separated from the Continent of Denmarke by so small and narrow a Sea flowing between them called Middlesar that it seemeth almost to cleave unto the Continent This Iland as it looketh on the West toward Iutia so on the East toward Zeland It is 48 miles in length and 16 in breadth The Land that I may omit the Sea which is full of fish is a fruitfull soyle and very profitable to the husbandman For it aboundeth with such plentie of corne that it sends store thereof yearly to other farre Countries especially Wheate and Barley And the ground albeit it be very fruitfull and endowed with the gifts of Ceres yet it is never dunged Whence the Cities and Townes thereof are annoyed with filthy smells of the dung of cattle which is cast out being thereof no use as Munster writeth This Countrie aboundeth with so many Droves of Oxen and breedeth such a number of Cowes and Horses that it sends yearly into Germany great Heards and Droves of them And in regard of the many woods which are in the Island there is great store of game for hunting as Harts Hares and Foxes In the middle of it is the Metropolis or mother Citie called Ottania or Ottonium commonly called Ottensel being a Bishops Seat built as it appeares by many testimonies by Otto the first about the time when he compeld King Herald to receive the Christian faith This Citie is a famous Mart for the whole Island in which about Epiphanie or Twelfetide there is a great meeting of the Islanders and especially the Nobles as there is at Kile in Holsatia Fionia is divided into five and twentie Prefectures sixteene Cities and six royall Castles The other cities are in a manner equally distant from Ottonia which is as it were the Center and are so built of the Sea shoare that in regard of the conveniencie of the Havens they traffique not onely in the Balticke Sea but also exercise their negotiations throughout all Swethland and Norwey Russia the Low-countries and Germany the chiefe amongst them are Niburch Swynburch
in Zeland Hasnia 12 miles distant from it South Southwest also Helsinger where those ships that saile or passe by do pay custome or tribute and the Castle Cronaburg both distant from it on the Northwest 8 miles Helsingburg which lies on the shoare of Scania is as farre distant from it toward the North and on the same shoare is Landskrone being foure miles from it toward the East lyeth Lunda or Londen which although it be not a Sea-towne yet is but 16 miles distant from hence And although the Island be not very great yet no part of it is barren or unfruitfull but produceth great store of fruit and aboundeth with cattell it bringeth forth Does Hares Cunnies and Partridges in great plentie and is very convenient for fishing It hath a wood of Hasell trees which are never worme-eaten but hath no Dormise Heretofore it was remarkable for foure Castles whose names do yet remaine Synderburg which was seated on the Southerne shoare Norburg on the opposite Northerne shoare Karheside which stood toward the East side of the Island and Hamer toward the West the foundation of these foure Castles may be yet seene but there are no ruines thereof remaining This Island lyes very deepe in the Salt-sea and yet it hath many fresh Rivers and Springs among which there is one Spring that never freezeth with the violence of the Winters cold a strange thing in these Countries BORVSSIA OR PRVSSIA BORVSSIA being the farthest coast of Germany taketh its name from the people called Borussians as Erasmus Stella witnesseth These as Ptolemy affirmeth placed themselves by the Riphaean Hills where they runne out Northward not far from the head of Tanais arising out of them and weary of their owne habitations with a strong head and violent force they seated themselves in these places and called the whole Country from their owne name Borussia which now by wiping out one letter and pronouncing another more softly is called Prussia Borussia beginning from the River Vistula which boundeth it on the West and running to the Balticke Sea which compasseth the Northerne side thereof hath the Alani or Lituanians on the East and on the South the Hamaxobij i. the Scythians inhabiting the European Sarmatia It hath a pleasant ayre but somewhat cold All the Country is more fruitfull than the neighbour Provinces The ground is very fertile in bearing of corne and such as farre excells the corne of Poland and Lithuania It hath as great store of Bees and Honey as any of the other Northerne Countries There is also in it much cattle and great store of game for hunting The great and vast woods bring forth many kindes of wild beasts as Beares Boares with which they abound yeelding a sort of Beares very strong and swift called Bubali They bring forth Buffons being a wilde kinde of Oxen and wilde Horses whose flesh the Inhabitants do eate They bring forth Alces which they commonly call Elandes and white Weesels or Ferrets The Borussians for the most part were Idolaters untill the time of the Emperour Fredericke the second in whose raigne and in the yeare 1215. some Knights of the Dutch order or the order of the Crosse did overcome them and taught them the Christian Religion After the Provinces and Cities of Borussia An. 1419. being mooved thereunto by the covetousnesse and cruelty of those of the order of the Crosse did revolt to Casimirus King of Polonia And 30 yeares after the first defection revolting againe they sold Mariburg with other Castles and Cities to the King for 476000 Florens But the Marians refusing to yeeld obedience to the King they a long while contended by a doubtfull and uncertaine warre untill at last the whole Country came into the hands of Albert Marquesse of Brandenburg the last Governour of that Order who afterward at Cacrovia was made a Duke and a secular Prince by Sigismund King of Polonia They report that Prince Venedusus did divide Borussia into twelve Dukedomes whereof these are the names Sudavia Sambia Natangia Nadravia Slavonia Bartonia Galinda Warmia Ho●kerlandia Culmigeria Pomesania and Michlovia BORVSSIA OR PRVSSIA PRUSSIA Sudavia was so wasted by those of the order of the Crosse that now of a Noble Dukedome at this day there are scarce seven Townes remaining and those very meane In Sambia are many Cities as Lebenicht built in the yeare 1256 Kneyback built in the yeare 1380. Regimount called by the Germans Keningsberg and built in the year 1260 by Duke Albert Fischusen built in the yeare 1269 lastly Lechstet built in the yeare 1289. In Natangia there are these Cities Valdonia Girania Zinten Crentzburg Heiligenbeil Fridland Shippenbeil Brandenburg In Nadravia there are a few Cottages onely remaining but all the Townes of note wasted In Slavonia are these Cities Ragnet Tilse Renum Liccow Salaw Labia Tapia Vintburg Christaderder Baytia Cestia Norbeitia Vensdorfe Angerbury and Dringford In Bartonia are these Townes Nordenburg Iabansburg Iurgburg Insterburg Richtenerder Barton and Rhenum In Galindia are these Towns Ortleburg Rastenburg Neyburg Passenhume Dreschdow and Luzenburg In Warmia are Ressen Seburg Bitstein Wartenburg Allensteyn Melsak Heilsberg Werinedit and Gustat In Hockerlandia are Brunsburg Tolkemit Munhuse Scorpow and Elbing the greatest of them all being built on the Sea shoare and famous for the wealth of the Citizens and frequencie of Merchants In Culmigeria are Turuma or Thorn a famous Marti Towne built neare the River Vistula or Weisel in the yeare 1235. Also Culmina or Culine Wentslaw Althasis Graudentz Gilgehburg Schonsee Strasburg Bretchen Neumarckt Pappaw Fridech Leippe Lesen Golb Reden Berglaw and Lantenburg In Pomerania is Marienburg a large City built in the yeare 1402. Also Newtich Stum Christburg Preusmarck Salfeld Merine Holand Lichstad Osterod Rosenburg Mariemweder Garnesie Lebmul Hohenstein Schonenberg Culenburg Neunburg and Salaw In Michlovia all is wasted and destroyed except Straburg onely Prussia is a Country in regard of the navigable Rivers Bayes and Havens fit for the importation or exportation of divers commodities and merchandises The chiefe Rivers are Vistula Nemeni Cronon Nogent Elbing Vusera Passerg Alla Pregel Ossa Vreibnitz Lua and Lavia In which as in the Lakes there are great store of fish Moreover on the shoares of Borussta neare the Balticke Sea a certaine kinde of Amber is gathered which the Inhabitants call Barstein from burning and Augstein because it is very good for the Eyes The Greeks call it Electrum because the Sunne is called Elector having recourse as it were to the fable of Phaethon Servius upon the eighth Aeneid saith that there are three kindes of Amber one of which commeth out of trees another which is found in the earth a third which is made of three parts gold and one part silver Plinie writeth that the Germanes called it Glessum or Glesse because it is not unlike unto it seeing both of them are perspicuous and transparent and from thence the Romans did call this Country
which the Inhabitants call ●●●●●●k is carried in one channell to the Ocean and there rushing down headlong from the steepe Rocks as Leunclavius saith doth make those dease which dwell neere unto it as they report the Water-fals of Nilus doth those who inhabite neere unto them The Countrie hath no mountaines but is full of thick woods for heere are the great armes of Hercynia and other such At the mouth of Duina neere to the Sea is Dunamunta or Dun●mund an impregnable Castle not farre from Riga kept by a Polish Garrison to which all ships doe pay a certaine tribute as they passe by There is also in the mid-way Blokaus a royall fortresse which commandeth ships as they sayle by it There is moreover the castle and citie Felinum or Fellin in the Dukedome of Estland which the German hired Souldiers together with the last Governour of Lavonia William Furstenberg by most detestable treachery did betray to the Duke of Moscovia Ternestum which others call Taurum in this Country was heretofore a strong castle but after it had beene taken by the Moscovites the Lithuanians marching under the conduct of their Captaine Nicholas Radziwilus Palatine of Vilna by undermining and by planting powder under it did quite demolish it in the yeare 1561. In Livonia many yet doe live in a heathenish manner and wanting the true knowledge of God some adore the Sunne some a Stone and there are those who doe worship Serpents and Bushes When they are to interre and burie a dead body they banquet freely round about the dead carkasse and doe drinke to the dead man powring also upon him a great pot of drinke Afterward they put him in a Sepulchre and lay by him an hatchet meate drinke and some money for his journey and then they crie out Get thee gone into an other world to rule over the Germans as they have heere ruled over thee and thine They first received the Christian faith under the Emperour Frederick They account it a fault to be laborious and painfull The women borne in the countrie carrie a great state with them doe despise those women which come from other parts They will not bee called women but Mistresses and they never busie themselves with any womans worke but doe vagarie and wander abroad in the Winter time in Chariots and in the Summer by Boate. The drinke of the countrie is Mede Beere and Wine which the richer sort onely use being brought from forraine countries especially Rhenish Wine The women doe disgrace the beauty and comlinesse of their bodies by the disguisednesse of their garments The commodities which are transported out of Livonia into Germanie other Countries are Waxe Honey Ashes Pitch and Tarre Hemp Skins of divers wilde beasts and Hides Also that kinde of corne which the Latines call Secale and wee Rye is yearely transported in great plenty from hence into Germanie and other bordering countries Having explained and declared thus much concerning Livonia I hope it will bee a matter acceptable to the Reader if heere for conclusion I shall adde some thing concerning those Lycaons or men transformed into wolves who are reported to be very frequent and common in this place There are Writers who thinke themselves worthy to be beleeved among which is Olaus Magnus that doe affirme that in this Countrie every yeare some men are turned into wolves I will heere set downe his owne words thereby to recreate the minde of the Reader with the relation of an unheard of noveltie and thus hee writes in his 18 Booke cap. 45. Although in Prussia Livonia and Lithuania all the Inhabitants all the yeare are much endammaged by ravening Wolves because every where in the woods they teare in pieces and devoure a great number of their cattell if they stray never so little from the flock or heard yet they esteeme not this losse so great as that which they sustaine by men changed and transformed into wolves For in Christmas in the night time such a companie of men●wolves doe gather themselves together and shew such fierie cruelty both towards men and other creatures which are not wilde by nature that the Inhabitants of this Countrie doe receive more detriment and losse from these than from true and naturall wolves For as it is found out by experience they doe besiege mens houses standing in the woods with much fiercenesse and doe strive to breake open the doores that so they may destroy and prey upon the men and other creatures that are within But of these things wee have spoken enough let us goe forward to Russia RUSSIA OR MOSCOVIA RUSSIA which is called also Roxolonia is twofold the Blacke and the White The former bordereth on Polonia the latter is a part of Moscovia Moscovie was without doubt so called from the River Moschus or Morava which giveth its name also to the chiefe Citie Mosco through which it floweth The Territories thereof are extended farre and wide and it is bounded on the North with the Icie Sea on the East it hath the Tartarians on the south the Turkes and Polonians and on the West the Livonians and the Kingdome of Swethland In all which spaces of ground many large countries are contained and therefore the Duke of Moscovie doth thus enstile himselfe The Great Lord and by the grace of God Emperour and Governour of all Russia also Great Duke of Volodimiria Moscovia great Novogrodia Pskovia Smolonskia Thweria Iugaria Permia Viathkia Bulgaria c. Governour and Great Prince of Novogrodia the Lesse of Czernigovia Rezania Wolochdia Resovia Bielloia Rostovia Iaroslania Poloskia Biellozeria Vdoria Obdoria and Condimia c. The temperature of the Aire in Muscovia is immoderately cold and sharpe yet it is so wholsome that beyond the head of Tanais toward the North and East there is never any plague knowne although they have a disease not much unlike unto it which doth so lye in the head and inward parts that they die in few daies of it The Countrie in generall neither bringeth forth Vine nor Olive nor any fruit-bearing tree except it be Mellons and Cherries in regard that the more tender fruits are blasted with the cold North windes The corne fields do beare Wheat Millet a graine which the Latines call Panicum and all kinde of Pulse But their most certaine harvest consists in waxe and honey Here is the wood Hercynia being full of wild beasts In that part which lyeth toward Prussia great and fierce Bugles or Buffes are found which they call Bison And also the beast called by the Latines Alces like an Hart save that hee hath a fleshie snout like an Elephant long legges and no bending of the hough and this creature the Moscovites call Iozzi and the Germans Hellene Besides there are Beares of an incredible bignesse and great and terrible Wolves of a blacke colour No Countrie hath better hunting and hawking than this For they take all kinde of wild beasts
Counsellers doth judge of capitall matters as murder and theft In declaring whereof they need no Lawyer neither do they use the subtiltie thereof nor excuses or prolonging matters by delay For the meanest of the Tartarians or strangers do frely declare their owne wrongs and grievances before the Judges and the Chan himselfe by whom they are quickly heard and dispatched They instruct their sonnes when they are children in the Arabicke language they do not keepe their daughters at home but deliver them to some of their kindred to be brought up When their sonnes come to ripenesse of yeares they serve the Chan or the Sultans when their daughters are marriageable they marrie them to some of the chiefe Tartars or Turkes The best of the Tartars in the Princes Court go civilly and decently in their apparell not for ostentation or pride but according as necessitie and decencie requireth When the Chan goeth abroad in publike the poorest men may have accesse unto him who when he sees them doth examine them what their wants necessities are whence they did arise The Tartarians are very obedient to the Laws and they adore reverence their Princes like Gods Their Judges according to Mahomets Law are accounted spirituall men and of undoubted equitie integritie and faithfulnesse They are not given to Controversies Law-suits private discord envie hatred or to any wanton excesse either in diet or apparell In the Princes Court none weare Swords Bowes or other weapons except it be Travellers or strangers that are going on some journey to whom they are very kinde and hospitable The chiefe men eate bread and flesh drinking also burnt Wine and Metheglin but the Country people want bread using instead thereof ground Millet tempered with milke and water which they commonly call Cassa They use cheese instead of meate and their drinke is mares milke They kill also for their food Camels Horses and Oxen when they are ready to dye or are growne unserviceable and they often feed on the flesh of sheepe Few of them do use Mechanicke Arts in the Cities and Townes few do use Merchandizing and those Artificers or Merchants that are found there are either slaves to the Christians or else they are Turkes Armenians Iewes Cercesians Petigorians who are Christians Philistines or Cynganians all men of the lowest ranke But let this which hath been spoken suffice concerning the Taurick Chersonesus and the Northerne Countries Let us passe to the Description of Spaine which we have placed next and take a view thereof THE DESCRIPTION OF SPAINE SPAINE is a chiefe Country of Europe and the first part of the Continent it was so called as Iustine noteth from King Hispanus Some would have it so called from Hispalis a famous Citie which is now called Sevill But Abraham Ortelius a man very painfull in the study of Geographie when hee had read in the Author that treateth of Rivers and Mountaines following the opinion of Sosthenes in his third Booke that Iberia now called Georgia a Country of Asia was heretofore called Pania from Panus whom Dionysius having conquered the Country made Governour over the Iberians and that from thence Moderne Writers did call it Spaine moreover when he had observed that almost all Writers did derive the first Inhabitants of Spaine from Iberia he was induced to beleeve that the Country was so called rather from that Spaine than from Hispanus or Hispalis This opinion is the more probable for that Saint Paul doth call this Country Spania in his Epistle to the Romans chap. 15. verse 28. as doth also Saint Ierome and many others But that which the Latine Writers call Hispania and Ptolemie Stephanus and others doe call Ispania leaving out the aspiration Strabo Pliny and others doe testifie that in ancient times it was called Iberia and Hesperia It was called Iberia from Iberia a Country of Asia from whence many doe derive the first inhabitants of Spaine though some doe fetch the word Iberia from King Iberus others from the River Iberus and Avienus from Ibera a Towne in Baetica or Andaluzia Some report that it was called Hesperia from Hesperus the brother of Atlas or as Horace thinketh from Hesperia the daughter of Hesperus or rather from Hesperus the Evening-starre under which it was supposed to be situated because it is the farthest Country Westward of the whole Continent of Europe And seeing Italie might have the same name Horace calleth this Hesperia ultima Appian reporteth that it was heretofore called Celtiberia which yet is rather to be thought a part of Spaine heretofore called Celtica as Varro witnesseth Gulielmus Postellus and Arias Montanus in his commentaries upon Obadiah doe note that the Hebrewes did call it Sepharad and so much concerning the name the Quantitie and Qualitie followeth The Quantitie doth consist in the bounds and circuit thereof and in the forme and figure which ariseth from thence Concerning the bounds of Spaine the Ocean doth wash two sides thereof the North side the Cantabrian Ocean and the West the Atlanticke The Iberian or Balearicke Sea doth beat on the South side where is the Bay of Hercules and on the East it hath the Pyrenaean Mountains running along with one continued ridge from the Ocean where stands Flaviobriga at this day called Funtarabia even to the Mediterranean Sea Hence it is that they make two famous Promontories the one called Olarso which shooteth out into the Ocean the other which taking its name heretofore from the Temple of Venus but now called Cape de Creus doth jet out into the Mediterranean Sea The utmost length of Spaine is 200 Spanish miles the breadth where it is broadest is 140 miles and where it is narrowest it is 60. Iohannes Vasaeus in his Chronicle of Spaine doth report that Spaine is so narrow at the Pyrenaean Hills that when he travell'd over them on the Mountaine of Saint Adrian he saw the Sea on either side namely the Ocean which was next unto him and a farre of as farre as hee could see he discerned the white waves of the Mediterranean Sea They suppose that the whole compasse thereof is 2480 miles Ptolemy Strabo and others doe compare Spaine to an Oxe-hide stretched out on the ground the necke whereof is extended toward France which cleaveth unto it The necke I say which reacheth in breadth as farre as the Pyrenaean Mountaines from the Mediterranean Sea to the Brittish Ocean the fore part of it is stretched from New Carthage even to the Cantabrians and the hinder part from Hercules Bay to Gallicia and the Brittish Sea that which represents the tayle of the hide is the Holy Promontorie called at this day Saint Vincents Promontorie which stretcheth it selfe out into the Atlanticke Ocean farre beyond any other part of Spaine Spaine is under the middle of the fourth all the fift and part of the sixt Climats where there is an excellent temper for the producing of all things For it
and placed here under the command of the Emperour Nerva as some suppose The Metropolis hereof is that famous Citie which taketh its name from the Countrie and is called by Ptolemie Legio septima Germanica Antoninus calleth it Legio Gemina but it is now commonly called Leon which name I cannot see why Franciscus Tarapha should rather derive from Leonigildus King of the Gothes than from the Legion it selfe Moralis doth deliver also that it was heretofore called Sublantia and writeth that some evidences of that name are extant in a place but a little distant from Legio called Sollanco L. Marinaeus Siculus writeth thus concerning the Church of Legio in his third Booke of Spaine Although the Church which the Citie of Hispalis hath built in our age doth exceed all the rest for greatnesse although the Church of Toledo surpasse the rest for treasure ornaments and glasse windowes and the Church of Compostella for strong building for the miracles of Saint Iames other things yet the Church of Legio in my judgement is to be preferred before them all for admirable structure and building which hath a Chappell joyning to it in which lye buried seven and thirtie Kings and one Emperour of Spaine It is worthy of memorie that this Citie was the first from which about the yeare 716. the recoverie of Spaine which formerly the Moores and Saracens almost wholly possessed was begun For as also Rodericus Toletanus in his sixt Booke of Spanish matters for many Chapters together and Roderick Sanctius in the first part of his Spanish Historie cap. 11. do relate Pelagius the sonne of Fafila Duke of Cantabria and descended of the royall blood of the Gothes being made King by the remainder of the Christians who fled into the mountaines made a great slaughter on the Moores and being scarcely entred into his Kingdome tooke Legio from the enemies This man afterwards making it the Seate of his Principalitie built a new Castle there as a Fort and defence against the violence of their incursions And laying aside the armes of the Kings of the Gothes gave the Lion Rampant Gules in a field Argent which the Kings of Legio do use at this day Fafila the sonne of Pelagius succeeded him in the Kingdome and he dying issuelesse there succeeded him Alphonsus Catholicus the sonne of Peter Duke of Cantabria being descended from the stocke of Ricaredus Catholick King of the Gothes who married Ormisenda the onely sister and heire of Fafila The government of Legion remained in the hands of Alphonsus his familie even to Veremundus the 24 King of Legio who dying in the yeare 1020. without a Successour his sister Sanctia married Ferdinando of Navarre King of Castile and brought the Kingdome of Legio to be joyned and united to his kingdome Asturia hath on the North the Ocean on the East Biscay on the South old Castile and on the West Gallicia It produceth and bringeth forth gold divers sorts of colours otherwise it is but little tilled and thinly inhabited except it be in those places which are next to the Sea Here was the Seat of the ancient Astures who were so called as Isidore writeth lib. 9. Etymolog cap. 2. from the River Asturia whereof Florus maketh mention in the fourth Book of his Roman Histories and others From whom Ptolemie calls the Countrie it selfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Latines Asturia as also Astyria as is evident by what I have read in ancient marbles At Rome in the pavement of the Chappell which is in the Temple of Saint Gregorie in the mountaine Caelius there is a broken marble-table engraved with these words Acontit L. Ranio Optato V. C. Cos Curatori Reip. Mediolanensium Curat Reip. Nolanorum Procos Provincia Narbonensium Legato Aug. Et Iuridico Astyriae Et. Galaecia Curatori Viae Salariae c. Moreover I see it called Asturica in a marble-Table which is at Rome beyond Tiber in a private Roman-citizens house I will set downe the words in the Description of Italie where I shall speake of the Alpes joyning to the Sea And it is called at this day Asturias Pliny lib. 3. cap. 3. doth divide the Astures into the Augustini and Transmontani The one being on the hither side of the mountaines toward the South and the other beyond the mountaines Northward neare the Ocean Concerning the Astures Silius the Italian Poet writeth thus lib. 1. Astur avarus Visceribus lacerae Telluris mergitur imis Et redit infelix effosso concolor Auro The covetous Asturian will goe Into the bowels of the earth below Whence he returnes in colour like gold Oare Which hee unhappily digg'd up before The Metropolis of the Province is Oviedo of which Rodericus Toletanus writeth much lib. 4. de rebus Hisp cap. 14. where among other things he giveth the reason wherefore it was called the Bishops Citie Here is also Astorga called anciently Asturica Augusta and some other small Townes BISCAY GVIPVSCOA NAVARRE and Asturia de Santillana BISCAY as Iohannes Bishop of Gerunda affirmeth taketh its name from the Bastuli the ancient Inhabitants of Baetica for they comming from Lybia into that part of Spaine which is called Baetica and being beaten and expulsed thence by the Moores they fled into the Mountaines of Galaecia and so building themselves houses the whole Countrie was called from that time Bastulia which is now called Biscay Some doe call Biscay Viscaia which word hath some affinity with the name of the Vascones Biscay is a Countrie of Spaine lying neere the Ocean and very full of hils out of which arise 150 Rivers It hath a more temperate Climate than other parts of Spaine For being environ'd with great Mountaines it is not troubled with too much cold nor burnt with too much heate The Countrie is full of trees fit for the building of Ships which not onely Spaine doth acknowledge but other Countries whither whole ship-loades are often transported Heere are abundance of Chesse-Nuts Hasel-Nuts Oranges Raizins and all kind of Mettals especially Iron and Black-lead besides other commodities Where they want wine they have a kinde of drinke made of prest Apples which hath an excellent taste Heere are also store of beasts fish fowle and all things which are convenient and necessarie for the sustaining of mans life The Cantabrians did heretofore inhabite that Countrie which wee now call Biscay but it was larger than Biscay is now and contained Guipuscoa and Navarre These Cantabrians were a famous people and much celebrated by many Writers They thought that was no life which was without warres and when all the people of Spaine were subjected and reduced to the obedience of Rome they alone with the Asturians and some others who joyned with them could not be overcome untill at last C. Caesar Octavianus Augustus did subdue this stout Nation being broken wearied by a warre of almost five yeares continuance hee himselfe going against them and the rest that were not
obedient to the Romans by the industrie and valour of Vispanius Agrippa and of the other Generals which hee brought with him There is in Biscay besides other Townes one speciall Towne of note called Bilbao which is as some doe suppose by changing of the letters which is frequent with the Spaniards as much to say as Beluao that is Bellum vadum Didacus Lopeus de Hazo Prince of the Cantabrians built it in the yeare of Christ 1300 or thereabouts This Towne is especially commended for three things the convenient Situation the plenty of Corne and the wonderfull great traffique and merchandizing which is heere for whatsoever comes or is brought from England France or the Low-Countries is transported and carried through this Towne into other parts of Spaine and whatsoever Spaine doth communicate by way of traffique unto other Countries it is exported and carried through it Heere are Citizens who at their owne proper charge doe yearly build three or foure ships On the side of the Citie there is a litle towne on the Sea-coast commonly called Portugallete from whence a certaine River or rather a great arme of the Sea doth flow into it even unto the houses of the Inhabitants By reason of which divers kindes of wares are daily for a small matter imported and exported There are also faire Havens in Biscay There is no kinde of fish but you may have it heere and that good and new The Sea-shell-fish here have pearles in them but of a meane sort The people of the Countrie are curteous merry and eloquent It is a custome and fashion that the Virgins in Biscay as long as they are unmarried doe never let their haire grow neither doe they cover themselves with any veile but presently when they are married they cover their heads with a Quoife made like a Helmet of linnen cloth of a golden colour which they wrap up in such a manner that it standeth forth a pretty way like an horne upon their foreheads The Spaniards heere have great store of trading with the French the Germans the English and other people It especially affordeth wooll so that all Market-places are full of buyers and sellers GVIPVSCOA was heretofore the Countrie of the Cantabrians some doe call it Lipuscoa and Lipuisca yet corruptly as Stephanus Garybayus an inhabitant thereof noteth But whence it hath this appellation I cannot easily determine unlesse perhaps it taketh it from the ancient Citie Opuscua It is enclosed and bounded on the East with the River Vidosone which is also called Vidorso Alduida Huria and Beoyvia being in the middle betweene France and Spaine and the Pyrenaean Hils on the South with the Kingdome of Navarre on the West with Biscay of which I spake before and on the North with the Cantabrick Sea This Countrey is very temperate neither feeling too much cold nor too much heate of the Sunne It hath a moist and variable Climate It is very rugged and mountainous and therefore it is not every where tilled but yet those places which are tilled are very fruitfull It hath but few Vineyards except it be on that side which is next to the Sea But it hath every where great store of Iron and Steele so that no Countrey hath better or greater abundance for so much of it is digged here as is sufficient for many Countries Moreover not onely Vulcans shop but Mars his Armory seeme to be placed heere by Nature for there is here so great plenty and store not onely of Iron and Steele but also of wrought Armour that in some writings belonging to the Countrie it is deservedly called the Wall or defence of the Kingdomes of Castile and Legio Navigierus writeth that in this Countrey so much Iron Steele is digged that every yeare they make 80000 Duckats gaine thereof Therefore not without cause doth Pliny write lib. 34. cap. 45. that there is a whole mountaine there of Iron There is saith hee a very high BISCAIA AND GVIPVSCOA BISCAIA ET LEGIO mountaine of Cantabria on the Sea side a thing incredible to be spoken which is all of Iron Ptolemie Pomponius and Plinie doe place here the Orogeviones the Autrigones and the Varduli The Metropolis is Tolosa seated at the confluence and meeting of Araxis and Orta There are also other Townes as Placentia where there is an incredible company of Iron-smiths Motrico or as others thinke it should be written Monte de Trico from the Rocke which hangeth over the Towne Fuentarabia which Ptolemie cals Phlasiobriga the Fane or Temple of Saint Sebastian heretofore called Hisuru afterward Don Bastia and now corruptly Donastien signifying the same with Saint Sebastian for Don signifieth that among the Cantabrians which Sanctus doth with the Latines and Sancto with the Castellanes and many places in Cantabria have for the most part divers names in regard of the difference of speech the Cantabrians call them by one name the other Spaniards by an other and the French-men by an other name and yet they commonly signifie one thing This Towne is situated at the mouth of the River which is called by Pomponius Mela Menascus by Ptolemie Menosca but now is called Rio Gurumea or Vramea The River Chalybs doth rise up hereabout the water whereof is very good to temper Iron withall so that the Spaniards doe approve of no other Armour but that which hath beene tempered therewith Iustine lib. 44. saith that the bordering people were called Chalybes from this River The Fane of Saint Sebastian hath a very large Haven not made by humane Art but by Natures providence where ships doe ride securely and safely being defended from the violence of winde or Seas The entrance into it is betweene two Castles the one whereof standing towards the East is built on a high Mountaine higher than that which is on the West side which is onely placed on a rock The Inhabitants are like in manners to the Inhabitants of Biscay and speake the same language They are by nature ingenious politick well accomplished neate easie to be allured but hard to be compelled desirous of honour stoute defenders of their owne priviledges nimble couragious ready and quick in handling their Armes and apt for war The women also are very strong and of a warlike spirit well bodied well favoured although they accustome and use themselves to labour which is a cause why they are lesse proud Those that dwell by the Sea side doe get much by fishing and especially by taking those kinde of fish called Baccali The Kingdome of Navarre which was also anciently called the Kingdome of Sobabre in all parts is as fertile and abounding with all things necessary for mans life as any other Kingdome of Spaine And though commonly it bee thought to be very small yet it hath sixe and fiftie walled Cities The Inhabitants of this Countrie were heretofore very stout and warlike and such as oftentimes shooke off the yoake of the Roman subjection
no man is seene idle neither are there any beggars unlesse it be those who are impotent through age or sicknesse seeing none doe want meanes how to get a living or how to employ themselves That Citie which is now called Aranda neare the River Durius Ptolemie would have to be Rhanda of the Vaccaeans in Tarraconia Antoninus calleth it Rhanda by the correction of Hyeronimus Surita for heretofore it was called Randachunia That Towne which an uncertaine Writer calleth Exoma Pliny calls Vxoma who often addeth that this name is often used in other places it is read Vxsama with an S. in an ancient Marble and now it is called Osma But let so much suffice concerning the Cities and Townes wee passe to New Castile New Castile on the North cleaveth to the Old Castile on the other sides it is enclosed with Portugall Extremadura Andaluzia Granada and Valentia It aboundeth with corne and other graine being situated on either side of the River Tagus The Metropolis of this Country is Toletum as the Latines call it Ptolemy calls it Toleton now it is called Toledo and Villanovanus in Ptolemy saith that it was once called Serezola it is the Center and Navell as it were of Spaine it hath a very cliffie rugged and unlevell situation and the ascents are so steepe that it is very difficult travelling through it The River Tagus doth wash the greater part of it and doth fence it against enemies it is fortified with 150 watch-Towers There are a great number of Noblemen in this Citie The Citizens are very industrious It is beautified with many faire Edifices and buildings as also with a rich and stately Church There have beene 18 nationall Councells held here when as so many have not been held in any other place Madritum commonly called Madrid doth reverence Toletum as her mother and Queene it hath an wholesome aire and situation It aboundeth with all things and the Kings of Spaine have an house of residence in it Not farre from hence is Villamanta which as Montanus and Villonovanus and Tarapha would have it is that Town which Ptolemy calls Mantua in Tarraconia That Town which by an Arabicke word the Spaniards do now call Alcala de Henares Ptolemy beleeveth so certainly to be Complutum that it is called so in Latine in all publique acts It is seated on a plaine neare the River which they call Henares and aboundeth so with all things necessary for mans use that it needes no supply from other places Antoninus placeth Segontia betweene Complutum and Caesar-augusta it is at this day called Siguensa Now I returne to Hispalis and from thence passing by the Pallace the bridge of Alcantarilla and the Townes Cabeca and Nebrissa I come now to the Towne Fanum Luciferi for so the Latines doe name it and Strabo in his fourth Booke where he addeth that it was heretofore called Lux Dubia now they call it Saint Lucar de Barrameda Not farre from hence almost foure leagues toward the Northeast there is a Towne which hath a famous ancient Bridge now called Talavera and as Beuterus and Moralis do suppose named by Livy Aebura Here are also the Townes Cuenca which Pliny calls Cacenses Lebazuza which Antoninus calls Libisosa and Castola veja which the same Antoninus calleth Castulo The River Tagus doth water New Castile together with other Rivers and Rivulets which run into it and the Spring-head of the River Anas or Guadiana is in this Countrie But enough of these things I come now to the publique workes Five leagues from Madrid toward the West you may behold the magnificent and sumptuous Monasterie of Saint Laurence who was of the order of Saint Ierome It was the worke of Philip the second King of Spaine and may compare with the Egyptian Pyramides the Graecian and Roman Temples Theaters Amphitheaters or other famous places for the structure for there is scarce any thing equall or second to it The Frontispice of it looking toward the West hath three stately gates the middlemost and chief wherof leadeth you into a Church a Friery and a Colledge that on your right hand bringeth you into the Offices belonging to the Monasterie that on the left hand bringeth you into the Schooles The foure corners are adorned with foure curious Towers which are exceeded by two other Towers placed one by another at the foot of the Church Above the gates of the Church doe stand the Statues of the sixe Kings of Israel cut out in Marble and being 17 foot high on the North side there is a Pallace adjoyned to the Church which is able to receive the King and all his traine On the South side there are divers sumptuous Galleries and on the East side a garden set with all kinde of hearbes and flowers and enriched with many other ornaments Also an Hospitall for the Sicke a Roome for an Apothecarie and other places Lastly every thing doth so amaze the beholder that it is better for me to be silent with modestie than to make a meane description of those things which remaine There is also in this Countrie the famous Pallace of Toledo reedified by Charles the fifth adorned with new buildings and Royall furniture in which besides many other singular things there is a water-worke made by the wonderfull invention of an Italian which by the helpe of a great wheele draweth up water out of the River Tagus and so imposing an artificiall violence upon nature doth force it to ascend through Pipes into the highest part of the Castle where it being received into one large Cisterne is dispersed againe by Pipes and serveth for the use of the Castle and the whole Citie for it doth water gardens and serveth for Noble mens houses Stewes Fullers of cloath and other necessary uses of the Citie Here are two Universities Complutum a famous Academie for all Arts which was instituted by Francis Ximenius Cardinall and Archbishop of Toledo The other is the Academie or Universitie of Toledo being a famous nurserie of Learning and Wisedome All disciplines and Mechanicke Arts are greatly esteemed in the Citie Toledo and ten thousand men doe live thereby dressing Wooll and Silke ANDALVZIA Jn which are the Countries of HISPALIS and GRANADA ANDALUZIA is a part of Hispania Baetica it is supposed that it was heretofore called Vandalia from the Vandals a people of Germany who formerly came into these parts Therefore some having searched more nearely into the name do thinke it was called Andaluzia quasi Wendenhuys that is the house of the Vandals yet Marius Aretius doth thinke it was called Andaluzia quasi ante Lusitania the letters being somewhat changed On the East it hath Granada on the North New Castile on the West it is bounded with the Diocesses of Badaios and Silvis the River Anas and on the South it looketh toward the Atlantick Sea The chiefe part of it is the jurisdiction of Hispalis This hath on the East Corduba on the
himselfe might studie there The Citie of Valentia in regard of its government of the Common-wealth doth excell all the Cities in Spaine The Countrey wherein this Citie is seated is inhabited for the most part by a Nation which are descended from the Moores and therefore they doe yet retaine their Ancestours speech and manner of life That is not to bee omitted which M. Tully doth speake in his last Oration against Verres in the praise of Valentia Valentinorum saith hee hominum honestissimorum testimonio that is by the testimonie of the Valentians who are most honest men Much silke is made in this Kingdome Valentia as Olivarius Valentinus writeth hath great store of traffique and trading for divers sorts of wares are exported from thence as silke-thread of all colours and raw silke as it comes from the Silke-worme the best cloth also is carried from thence into the Isles called Baleares and into Sicilie and Sardinia Besides there is exported from thence Rice Wheate Sugar Raizins Figges and preserv'd fruites into many Countries in Europe ARAGON AND CATALONIA ARAGON tooke its name either from the Autrigonians a people of Spaine as Laurentius Valla witnesseth or from Tarracone an ancient Citie as it pleaseth Antonius Nebrissensis and Vasaeus Some suppose it was so called from the River Aragon which rising there doth flow into Iberus Some doe derive it from the the Altar of Hercules called in Latine Ara and his sports called Agonalia which if it be true it is a wonder that Ancient Writers are so silent concerning Aragon Navarre cleaveth to this Kingdome on the Northwest Calatrava toward the Southeast On the Southwest it looketh towards Castile and on the North it hath the Pyrenaean Mountaines The Country is for the most part rugged drie towards the Pyraenean hills so that you shall not meete with a house for many dayes journeys yet here are some fruitfull Valleyes abounding with the best corne and other fruits and it is refreshed with sweet Rivers All Writers do report that Ranimirus was the first King of this Kingdome He was made King of Aragon in the yeare 1016. But concerning the Kingdome and the Kings of Aragon as also Valentia and Catalonia how and from whom they had their beginnings and of their union you may reade Rodericus Sanctius in the first part of his Spanish Historie cap. 13. Also Lucius Marinaeus Siculus de Regibus Hispaniae lib. 8. and others The Metropolis and head Citie of the Kingdome Pliny and others doe call Caesar-Augusta Ptolemy Caesarea-Augusta It is now called Sarragosa and is a famous Universitie They report that the builder thereof was Iuba King of Mauritania who called it Saldyba that is the house of Iuba but afterward the former name being left off it was called Caesar-Augusta It is seated on the banke of Iberus in a plaine place and hath a long stone bridge which serveth the Inhabitants to passe over the River as Strabo speakes in his third booke The Citie lyeth in the forme and shape of a shoo-soale It hath foure gates looking to the foure quarters of the world It is encompassed with strong walls and well fortified with many Towres In this Citie the Kings of Aragon were wont to be crowned by the Archbishop Primate of the whole Kingdome The other Cities are these first that which Ptolemy and Plutarch doe call in Latine Osca and is now called Huesca but Velleius Paterculus fabulously calleth it Eteosca where he writeth that Sertorius was slaine Secondly the Citie Tyriassona neere the Mountaine Cacus which some doe suppose was built by the Tyrians and Ausonians Thirdly Iacca lying in a valley heretofore the Seate of the Iaccetani Fourthly Calatajut standing in a Plaine and built out of the ruines of Bilbilis which together with many other Monuments of Antiquitie are to be seene a mile and an halfe from the Towne on a Hill which is commonly called Bambola or Banbola This Mountaine is enriched almost on every side with the River Salon or Xalon where Valerius Martialis lib. 10. Epigram 103. doth place Bilbilis being borne a Citizen of it Paulinus calleth it Bilbilis hanging on the rock Ptolemie corruptly calleth it Bilbis and Martiall calleth it Augusta Bilbilis as also doe the Inscriptions of ancient coyne Fifthly Barbastrum famous for Iron Crosse-bowes which Ptolemie cals Burtina and Antoninus Bortina as some thinke Sixthly Monsonium seated in the midle or navell of the Kingdome not farre from the Banke of the River Cinga neere which there is a hill from whence the Towne taketh its name It is a Towne that is famous by reason of the meeting and convention of the Kingdomes of Aragon and Valentia and the Principality of Catalonia where it standeth It is commonly called Moncon and hath not onely a fruitfull Soyle but a sweete and open Ayre Seventhly Fraga between Ilerda and Caesar-Augusta Ptolemie cals it Gallica Flavia and Antoninus Gallicum as Varronius thinketh though some doe place Gallicum there where now stands Zuera Eigthly Gurrea heretofore called Forum Gallorum which Antoninus placeth betweene Caesar-Augusta and the Pyrenaean Hils Ninthly Ajerbium where it is thought that Ebellinum sometime stood which Antoninus and others doe mention 10 ly Vrgella which Aimonius calleth Orgellum and Ptolemie Orgia It is a Towne not farre from the Fountaines of Sicoris or Segre There were also other Townes which are now so ruinated that there remaines nothing of them among which was the Towne Calagurris Nassica being an other besides that in Navarre The Citizens thereof are called Calagurritani by Caesar in his first Booke of Commentaries and Suetonius noteth that Augustus had a Guarde of them in the life of Augustus cap. 49. Pliny nameth them Nassici The Rivers heere are Iberus or Ebro and Gallego or Gallicum with others ARAGON AND CATALONIA Arragonia et Catalonia Aut fugies Vticam aut unctus mitteris Ilerdam From Utica thou either now shalt flee Or else sent to Ilerda thou shalt bee Heere Pope Calixtus the third taught publickly the knowledge of the Law as Platina witnesseth These things may suffice which have beene spoken hitherto concerning Spaine But yet I thinke it fit to adde by way of conclusion the excellent testimonie of a French-man concerning this Kingdome wherein whatsoever wee have hitherto said in praise and commendation thereof is briefly and pithily repeated by way of recapitulation This French-man whom I mentioned was called in Latine Pacatus who writ a most learned Panegyrick to Theodosius the Emperour being a Spaniard in which hee speaketh to this purpose Now it will appeare that hee is declared Prince who ought to bee chosen of all men and out of all men For first Spaine is thy Mother a Land more happie than all other Countries the great Fabricator and Maker of all things hath beene more favourable in enriching and adorning this Countrie than the Countries of others Nations for it is neither obnoxious to the Summers heate nor subject to the Northerne
Charles the eigth who afterward maried her by which marriage Brittaine was annexed to the Crowne It is now two-fold the Higher and the Lower that being neere to Liger this to England and it is otherwise called Ripiensis The Metropolis of the Higher Brittaine is the Citie commonly called Nantes Ptolemie cals it Kondioviknon Nannetum as Ioseph Scaliger and others doe thinke It was heretofore the Seate of the Dukes of Brittaine having the title of a Countie and it belongeth to the Dukes eldest Sonne It is situated neere Liger and two other litle Rivulets in a convenient place not farre from the Sea being a Bishops Seate as also the foure other Townes following Vrbs Redonica or Rhenes Condate Redonum as Ptolemie cals it and as Antoninus Condate Dolum now a Towne but heretofore a Castle commonly called Dol or Doul and Fanum Briocense commonly called S. Brien a faire Town where there is a high rock which affordeth an harbour for ships and a Castle built thereon for the defence of the Citie There is moreover the Towne of Sanctus Machlovius called in their owne language S. Malo And Dina a very faire Towne which the Dukes of Brittaine sometime much delighted in There are also other Townes of Higher Brittany as Riculx Chasteau-briant Lambellum Vitray Iugon S. Aulbin du Cormier Montcontour Plerel Iocelin Malestroit Pontigni S. Iulian Encenis Lastly toward Poictou Cliffon Raiz and others In the Lower Brittaine there are these famous Townes and Cities Venetia now called Vannes Fane de S. Paul S. Paul de Leon Triguier Blavet Morlaiz Quimpelray Conquerneaux Quimpercorentin S. Renant des bois and others The Dominions are the Countie of Montford the Vicountship of Rolian and Grello the principall place thereof is Chasteau Andron Also the Countrie of Gueel Baignon Montfort and Vannetais The Rivers of Brittaine are Liger Rausa Ella and others The Brittish Sea is fit for traffique and out of it the Inhabitants doe extract salt which being hardened in the Sunne they sell to the neighbour countries As for the Havens besides the above-named Cities and Townes these Townes doe afford the most convenient to wit Brest Ancrayum Haucbont and Pontsecrot where great plenty of Oysters are gotten The Archbishop of Dol hath these Bishopricks under him the Bishoprick of Nantes of Vannes of S. Brien in which three they speake both the French and the Brittish Speech also the Bishoprick of Cornovaille S. Paul de Leon and Triguier in which the Brittish Speech which they call Briton Britonant is in use which they suppose was the Language of the ancient Trojanes Also the Bishopricks of Saint Malo Rhenes All the Inhabitants have not the same cheerfulnesse of minde nor the same curtesie the most of them are warie and desirous of gaine and they are wont to debate of weightie matters amongst their cups BRITANY NORMANDIE and BELSIA BRITĀNIA et NORMĀDIA cum confinijs BLISIA commonly called La Beausse is a very drie Countrie and wanteth water very much yet it is fruitfull and hath abundance of Corne It is three-fold the Higher the Midlemost and the Lower the Higher being called Le haut Beausse beginneth at a Village which is commonly called Ablys reaching to the Countrie of the Carnutes or Carnoti and farther There are in it the Countrie of the Carnutes the Dukedome of Andegavium or Aniou and the Countie of Perche The Territorie of the Carnutes commonly called the Countrie of Chartrain cleaveth on one side to the Countie of Perch and on the other sides to the Dukedome of Orleance It is inferiour to no other part of France both for fruitfulnesse and pleasantnesse for it aboundeth with all kinde of Corne Fruite and Cattell and is not wanting in Wine The chiefe Towne is called Carnutum Ptolemie cals it Antricum but now it is called Chartres To this Territorie are wont to bee reckoned the Counties of Dreux and Montfort wherein are two Townes of the same names The Dukedome of Andegavium hath an especiall and peculiar Table to it selfe The Countie of Perch is divided into two parts the one whereof is called the Lower commonly le Perche Govet the chiefe Town whereof is Nogent Retrou the second is called the Higher in which is the Towne Mortaigne The third is the Midle which lyeth on either side of the Bankes of Liger from Roven to Vendomium or Vendosme and from hence on the right-hand Banke of the same River Liger it extendeth it selfe from Castellodunum even to the Countrie of Touraine It excelleth the other parts of Belsia in fertilitie Lower Belsia remaines It is all Field-ground and plaine abounding with Corne so that it is accounted the Barne or Store-house of France It lyeth betweene the Bishopricks of Orleance Chartres and runneth out from the Towne Estampes toward the East to Sens and on the South to the Bridge of Orleance In this Countrie is Aurelia commonly called Orleance being situated neere the River Liger It is honoured with the title of a Dukedome and adorned with an Universitie Heere are also the Territories of Lorriacum and Solonium and the Archbishoprick of Tours which hath under it the Bishop of Le Mans and Angiers As for the Bishops of Chartres and Orleance they are under the Bishop of Sens in Campania LEMOVICIVM LEMOVICIVM was so called from the chiefe Citie Lemovicum but it is not knowne from whence the name thereof is derived Some doe referre it to Lemovices the first establisher of this Countrie It is commonly called Pais on compte de Limosin On the North and North East side of it lyeth Berry on the East Burbon on the South and South-East Arverma on the West and West-South-West Pericort and lastly on the North-West Poictou There is a great ancient Elme standing Northward betweene the Village called La Maison Nesuc from the new House that is in it and Argentomum a Towne of Berry toward the North which doth bound and limit foure Countries Berry Burbon Arverma and Lemovicium so that it is reported that the foure Princes of these Countries did heere talke and conferre together and every one of them stood in his owne Territorie The Soyle is not every where equally fruitfull being for the most part somewhat barren yet it produceth all kinde of fruites especially Wheate Barley a kinde of Graine called Panicum Chesse-nuts and Wine but of an inferiour small kinde yet in the lower parts of Lemovicium they have a richer sort Some would have the Lemovicians for so Pliny calleth the ancient Inhabitants whom Strabo calleth Lemobikes and Ptolemie Lemovikoi from the Citie Lemovick to be the native and ancient Inhabitants of this Countrie and they make Lemovi●es to bee their Founder being descended from the Gomeritae or Galatae as some doe thinke Some doe suppose that hee was of the blood of the great Lybian Hercules who when he had come through Spaine passed over the Pyrenaean Mountaines lived a
of shot scaling Ladders underminings and all manner of engines which could bee invented or used And on the besieged side you might have seene men women and children with great courage of minde sustaine the furious assaults of their enemies and with constancie and cheerfulnesse repaire the ruines of the wals keepe down those that would have ascended up drive back their enemies to their trenches pursue them and at last fight it out for the most part with good successe Moreover you might have beheld them wearying the besiegers with daily sallying out upon them and lastly subsisting after nine assaults in which though their enemies did fight valiantly yet they were enforced to retire with great losse At length the Ambassadours of Polonia comming the 15 of Iune that they might bring with them Henry Duke of Anjou whom the States of the Kingdome had chosen for King God used this as a meanes to free Rochelle being now exhausted and drawne drie of Corne and being weakned in warlike fortifications besides the losse of many thousand men for now the King by Articles of peace confirmed by his royall solemne edicts did grant that Rochelle Montalban Nemansum and other Cities which did defend themselves should bee free to use their owne Religion such an event had this grievous siege which endured almost for seven moneths In which time more than twentie thousand men perished in conflicts sallies besieges by wounds hunger and sicknesse Rochelle is a constant Seate for presidiall Senatours and other Lawyers The other Cities Townes of note in Santonia are commonly called S. ●ean d' Angely Ponts or Pont l' Oubleze Blaye Taillebourg Borbesieux Brovage and Iosac S. Iean d' Angely otherwise called Angeliacum and S. Ioannes de Angeria is a new Citie although it be one of the speciallest and greatest of all Santonia It renewed its name from an Abbey which was built in that place to the honour of S. Iohn the Baptist the foundation whereof happened to be in the reigne of King Pipin who kept his Court in the Pallace of Angeria neere the River commonly called Boutonne in the Countrie of Alnia for hither as they say came certaine Monkes out of the Holy Land who brought with them the head of S. Iohn Baptist by whose comming the King obtained a famous victorie over his enemies and therefore in remembrance thereof hee built in that place where was the Pallace of Angeria the Abbey of Saint Iohn there placing religious men and endowing them with great revenues that they might there devote themselves to the service of God now by this meanes people flocking thither and building round about the Abbey by degrees it began to be a Citie as it is now at this day and was called by the name of S. Iohn All these things happened about the yeare of our Lord seven hundred sixtie eight while Pipin waged warre against Gaifer King of Aquitania whom hee overcame as it may bee read in the Historie of the Foundation of this Abbey This Citie the Duke of Andegavium or Aniou did besiege in the yeare 1569 and it was yeelded to him after 50 dayes siege the King granting the Citizens th●se conditions That they should march forth of the Citie with their Armour Horses and Colours displayed Santonia raiseth great store of money by its Corne which the Spaniards every yeare doe transport from thence or Merchants which fell it unto them And the Citie of Rochelle is very rich in regard of its neerenesse to the Sea and especially because of the traffick of the English and Dutch whose shipping doe often arrive there AQVITANIA AQVITANIA whose Southerne part is delineated in this Table some would have so called from the waters wherewith it doth abound and some derive it from the Towne Aquis or Aqs. It was extended according to Ptolemie from the Pyrenaean Mountaines even to Liger But now as Ortelius witnesseth from the River Garumna to the Ocean and the Pyrenaean Hils Towards the North-West it hath the Ocean which is called the Aquitanick Bay on the West Spaine on the North Gallia Lugdunensis and on the South Gallia Narbonensis In it according to Mercators account there are five Dukedomes twentie Counties and sixe Seigniories The Dukedomes are Vasconia or Guienna Avernia the Countrie of Engoulesme Berrie and Turonia Vasconia or Guienna being situated neere the Sea betweene Bayon and Burdeaux yeeldeth great store of wine which is transported from thence into other parts of Europe The chiefe Citie in it is Burdigala or Burdeaux the other Cities as Nerac Condom Mirande Nogerat Orthes Bazes and Dax are of no great note yet Dax is famous for her hot Fountaines Salt-pits and Iron-mettle Burdigala so called by Ptolemie is situated in a marsh which the overflowing of Garumna maketh and is adorned both with a Parliament and an University in which the Professours of all Arts and Sciences doe instruct Youth Avernia or the Dutchie of Avergne is partly a plaine and partly a mountainous Countrie It hath on the East Forest on the South Languedock on the West Quercy Perigort and Lemosin and on the North Berry and Bourbon Avernia is two-fold the Higher and the Lower The Higher which is called Le hault pays d' Avergne and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Avernia hath one prime Citie in it called S. Flour being seated on a high Rock the other Townes are commonly called Orillac Carlatum Muratum Buillons le Puy c. There is also in it the Territorie and Bayliwick of Beaucaire The Lower is rich and very fertile being full of excellent Wine Fruit Honey Saffron Cattell Wooll Medowes and Woods The Metropolis of it is Clarimontium commonly called Clermont It is proude of her Castle and is a Bishops Seate The other Cities or Townes are 13 in number of which Rion Monferrat and Isoire doe excell the rest Engoulesme on the North joyneth to Poictou on the West to Santonia on the South to Perigort and on the East to Lemosin It hath abundance of very good Wine fruit and Hempe The Metropolis of it is Inculisma now called Engoulesme being an ancient Citie It is seated on a hill which hangeth over the River Charente in a remote place from the Kings high way The lesser Towns are those which are commonly called Marton Chasteau Neuff Blaisac Chabannes Confollant Cuffec Aigres Gourville la Roche-Foucault Marveil Lanzac Villebois Momberon and Bouteville Concerning the Countrie of Berry wee will speake in a Table by it selfe Turonia commonly called Touraine beginneth somewhat beyond the Citie Amboise towards Belsia and endeth at the towne which is commonly called la Chapelle Blanche AQVITANIA AQUITANIA being subject in spirituall matters to the Bishops of Anjou and Chousai For they appoint and set downe limits betweene the Turonians and Andigavians The sweetnesse of the Ayre doth make this pleasant country more delightfull so that it is called the Garden and Orchard of France It is fruitfull in Wine and
Corne and hath woods convenient to hunt in The Metropolis or Mother-citie of this Dukedome is Caesarodunum Turonum called in French Tours This Citie excelleth for wealth and faire edifices or buildings On the East side the River Ligeris or Liger on the South and West sides the River Idra doe flow neere unto it The lesser Townes in it are Amboise Langes Chinon and others The Counties of Aquitaine are Tholouse Narbonne Albret Armignac Bigorre Bear Estrac Commingcois and Foix. Also Ventadour Pompadour Montignac in Poicton Perigort Fronssac Esparre Lymosin Touraine Marche the Vicountie of Aulnay and Basque The Signories or Lordships are Planes Grave Chaloces Saintonge and Auluis There are moreover five Archbishops first the Archbishop of Narbon under whom are these suffragans to wit the Bishops of Carcassone Agde of S. Pont de Tomieres Alet Mompelier E●ne Besiers Lodeut Nismes and Vse●z Secondly the Bishop of Bourges under whom are ten Bishops namely the Bishop of Clermont of Rhodes of Lymoges of Mande of Alby of Cahors of Castres of Tulies of S. Flour and of le Puy Thirdly the Bishop of Burdeaux under whom there are eight Bishops namely of Poictiers of Lucon of Matlezais of Sainctes of Engoulesme of Agen of Codon and of Sarlac Fourthly the Bishop of Tholouse which hath these Bishops under him the Bishop of Pamiers of Mirepoys of Montauban of La Vour of Rieux of Lombes and of Papons Fifthly the Bishop of Aux under whom are the Bishops of Aqs of Comminge of Tarbe of Basas of Lescure of Lictoure of Conserans of Oleron of Ba●one and of Adure which some call Ayre The Kingdome of Arelatum THe Kingdome of Arelatum is so called from the Citie Arelatum It containeth those Countries which lye betweene the Rivers Rhodanus and the Alpes And there are in this tract Sabaudia Delphinatus or Daulphine and Provincia There are divers conjectures concerning the name of Sabaudia or Savoy some derive it à Sabatiis vadis from the Sabatican Fordes others give it that name quasi Sabbatorum Pratum which Volaterranus calleth Sabaudiensis Auwe that is the Sabaudian Land some would have it called Savoy quasi Saul voje a way through Osiers and Willowes or quasi Sauve Voye that is the safe way which I know not who is feined to have made by fabulous Writers as being before dangerous in regard it was full of theeves and robbers Neere to Sabaudia on the North lyeth the Countrie of Burgundie and Helvetia having the Lake Lemanus lying betweene them On the East it hath Valesia and Pedemontium which have no certaine bounds but that high Mountaines doe runne betweene them and on the South and the West is Daulphine with some part of Rhodanus separating Sabaudia from the Dukedome of Burgundie The Ayre of Sabaudia is pure and the country is very mountainous In the Valleyes and Plaines the Soyle is very pleasant and fruitfull especially toward the North neere the Lake Lemanus where it yeeldeth most excellent rich Wine which is called Ripalium from the banke of the Lake The pastures doe bring up and feed all sorts of Cattell and especially there where the lesser Mountaine of S. Bernard doth rise in heigth The Metropolis or Mother-citie of Sabaudia is Chamberiacum commonly called Chamberri in which there is a Parliament The Citie is seated in a Vale and encompassed round about with Mountaines The Counties of Geneva Morienne and Tarentais the Marquesate of Susa and some other Signiories are described with Sabaudia as parts thereof and lastly the Countrie of Bressa The Countrey of Geneva Antoninus calleth Cenava It is a very ancient City seated by the Lake Lemanus and divided in two parts which stand upon the two bankes of the River Rhodanus but joyned together by a wooden bridge on both sides whereof there are houses though the greater part of houses be toward the South and the lesser toward the North. The Countrie of Morienne doth extend it selfe to the River Archus where there is a faire Towne called S. Iean de Morienne The Countie of Tarentaise is almost enclosed with the Alpes and the Rivers Archus and Ara It is so named from the Citie Tarantais which the Inhabitants doe now call Moustier the Germans Munster in Tartaansen and the Latine Writers Munsterium The Marqueship of Susa is so called from the Towne Susa not farre from the head of the River Doria or Duria which doth discharge and exonerate it selfe into the River Padus called by the Italians Po. There are also other Townes of Sabaudia as Aiguebelle Mont Belial Bellay Ni●y Montmelian Incilles c. Delphinatus followeth Some would derive the name thereof à Castello Delphini which is called in French Chasteau Dolphine Provincia cleaveth unto it on the South and Bresse on the North the River Rhodanus running betweene them on the West side is the Countie of Viennois and on the East lyeth Pedemontium and Sabaudia The Archiepiscopall Cities heere are Vienna and Ebrodunum Strabo calleth Vienna the Metropolis of the Allobrogians Ptolemie cals it the Mediterranean Citie of the Allobrogians Stephanus calleth it Biennus and it is commonly called Vienne Ebrodunum Ptolemie cals Eborodunum and Strabo Epebrodunum It is a famous Towne of the Caturigians of the maritime Alpes which lye neere the Sea Antoninus calleth it Eburodunum but in French it is called Ambrum There are five Cities which have Bishops Valentia Dia Gratianopolis Augusta and Vapingum Valentia according to Antoninus and Ptolemie is commonly called Valence and is the title of a Duke Dia is called by Antoninus Dia Vocontiorum but commonly Dio and is the Metropolis or chiefe Citie of the Countrie which in French is called Pays de Diois Gratianopolis was heretofore called Cularo Isidorus calleth it the Citie of Gratianopolis but it is commonly called Grenoble Augusta neere to the River Isere Plinie cals Augusta Tricastinorum where the great Senate of Daulphine is kept Sidonius Tricastina Vrbs but now as Ioseph Scaliger thinketh it is called S. Antony de Tricastin That which Antoninus cals Vapingum or as some reade it Vapincum and the Itinerarie Table Gap is now called Caput agri and in French Gapencois It is environed round with Mountaines It was formerly and is also at this day a famous Towne the Inhabitants doe call it L●●●l S. D●go I passe by the lesser Townes Provence is to be described next but before I come unto it I will adde something out of Mer●ator concerning the State Ecclesiastick Heere are five Archbishops as first the Archbishop of Tarentais in Sabaudia under whom are the Bishops of Sitten and Augusta 2 ly the Arch-Bishop of Am●rum under whom are the Bishops of Lagne of Grasse of Lena of N●●a of S. Glande of Valne of Vap which some call Gap of Bria●●on and of S. Pol. Thirdly the Archbishop of Vienn● to whom there are sixe suffraganes the Bishop of Valence and Dye the Bishop of ●●viers of S. Iean de Morienne of Geneve
in it The Inhabitants are reputed to be very honest and faithfull The Countie of Corduba is so called from Corduba which is a Towne neare Somona and is seated by a River which runneth there into it Peguignya is so called from a Towne commonly called Peguigny which received its name PICARDIE AND CAMPANIA PICARDIA if wee shall beleeve the common report from one Pignon a Souldier of Alexander the great It is famous in Histories because William Duke of Normandie surnamed Long-sword was slaine by an ambushment laid by Baldwin Earle of Cambray who drew him thither under a colour of making a peace as the Norman Annals doe testifie The Countie of Veromandois as Geographers that describe France doe note containes under it the Counties of the Suessons and Laudunenses the Territorie of the Tartenians and the Cities of Noviomagus and Fane de S. Quintin The Suessones are commonly called Suessons or Soissonois whose Citie is now called Soisson having in it a strong Castle Antoninus calls it Suessones by the name of the Inhabitants and Ptolemie Augusta Suessonum The Countrie of the Laundunenses now called Laonnois hath its name from Laudunum mentioned in the life of Charles the great which is now called Laon being seated on a hill The Country of the Tartenians is called in French Tartenois the Metropolis whereof is Fera commonly called La Fere. It is a Citie strongly fortified and commodiously seated neare the confluence and meeting of the Rivers Oysa and Serva having also a strong Castle The Citie Noviomagus which Antoninus placeth betweene Soisson and Amiens and maketh the seat of the eighteenth Roman Legion is now called Noion Ptolemy calls it Noviomagos Vadicassimum and others Noviomus It is a Citie which seemeth to be very ancient and is a Bishops Seate the Prelates whereof stile themselves Earles of Noion and Peeres of France Fane de S. Quintin which was sometime the head Towne of the Country and seate of the Earles of Vermandois was so called from Quintin who suffered Martyrdome there whereas before it was called Augusta Veromanduorum so much concerning Veromandois The Territorie of the Retclians commonly called Retelois is situate betweene Hannonia Lotharingia and Barrois The Metropolis thereof is Retelium The chiefe Citie of Tirascha called La Tirasche is Guisa having a stately Castle to defend it against the Luxenburgians Campania CAMPANIA called in French Comté de Champagne was so called from the broad and long fields thereof as Gregory Turonensis noteth For it is a very plaine and champion Country and fit for tillage The Territories of Brye Burgundy Carolois and Lotharingia doe encompasse it one every side The skie thereof is very cleare and the aire temperate The fields do yeeld abundance of Corne Wine and all sorts of Cattle and there are woods which do yeeld great store of game both for hauking and hunting Campania is described both by it selfe and also with the Principalities adjacent and lying neare unto it If it be considered properly by it selfe it is twofold the Lower and the Higher In the Lower is Tricassium and the Territories which are commonly called Ivigny Bassigny and Vallage Moderne Writers doe call that Tricassium which is now called Troyes It is a Citie neare the River Seyn Antoninus calls it Tracasis and placeth the two and twentieth Legion there Ammianus names it Tricassa Bede Trecassa Nithardus Tricassinum and anciently it was called Augusiobana Trecasium as Ioseph Scaliger noteth It is now a Bishops Seat and hath a strong Castle for its defence The County of Ivigny doth seperate Campania from Burgundy The chiefe Towne thereof is Ivigny which is under the jurisdiction of the Baylywicke of Troyes Bassigny is so called because it is the better part of the Lower Campania for Bas signifies in French beneath It is encompassed with the Rivers Matrona or Marne Mosa and a little part of Mosella and it is watered with more Rivers than the other parts of this Country The Metropolis thereof is commonly called Chaumont en Bassigny which hath the title of a Baylywicke and a stately ancient Castle seated on a Rocke which is well fortified These Townes are reckoned in it besides Langres of which I shall speake hereafter namely Montigny Goeffy Nogent le Roy Monteclar Andelot Bisnay Choiseul Visnory and Clesmont being all strong Townes and the most of them fortified with Castles The Territorie of Vallage is thought to bee so called from the faire and fruitfull Valleyes which are in it The Townes of chiefe note are Vassy neare Bloisa in the Countrie of Guise Fanum S. Desiderij or S. Desire and Ianivilla or Ianville the inheritance of the Familie of the Guises some write it Iont-ville There are also in the Territorie of Vallage Montirandel Dentlerant Le Chasteau aux forges Esclaren and others The Higher Campania is called Le Pays de Partoys having its appellation from a Towne commonly called Perte It is a most fruitfull Country abounding with Fruits Wood and Hempe The Metropolis thereof is Vitriacum or Vitry seated neare the confluence and meeting of the Rivers Saltus and Matrona And there are also contained in it Argilliers Lasaincourt Louvemen and other Townes Thus we have taken a view of Campania by it selfe now we are to describe the adjacent places as the Dukedome of Rhemes and Langres and the Counties of Catalaune Ligny and Motte which are free within themselves and not subject to Campania The Dukedome of Rhemes or the Duché Parrie Archivesche de Reims is so named from a Citie which was anciently called Duro●ortorum but now Rhemis Ptolemy calls it Durocottorum Strabo Duricortora Stephanus Dorocotteros and Caesar Durocortum Remorum It is a free Citie of Campania the Archbishop thereof is a Duke and the first Peere of France under whom are these Bishops in this Country the Bishop of So●sson of Chaalon of Amiens of Noyon of Senlis of Beaurois and of Laon In this Citie the Kings of France are inaugurated and annoynted with oyle The Dukedome of Langres or the Duché Patrie Evesché de Langres hath a Citie which was heretofore called Andomatunum Lingonum but is now commonly called Langres Ptolemie calls it Andumatonon and Antoninus vitiously Antematunum Pentingerus his Itinerarie table Andematunum Tacitus Lingonum urbs and Gregory of Tours urbs Lingonica It is a Bishops See the Prelates whereof are Dukes and Peeres of France The Countie of Catalaune or Euesché Conté Pairie de Chaalon was so named from the Citie Catalaune the later Writers doe call it Cathelaunum but now it is called Chaalon en Champaigne It is a Bishops See situated on a plaine neare to the River Matrona and adorned with high Towers which stand up like aspiring Pyramides In the Countie of Lignie is the Towne Lignium venerable for antiquitie neare the River Saltus Concerning the Countie of Motte or Conté de la Motte we finde nothing but the name thereof The Countrie of the Briensians whom Nithardus calleth
after a certaine victory obtaind against them were all slaine at this Towne who could not pronounce the name thereof for they pronou●ced it ●equeny in stead of Pequigny The Geographers that describe 〈◊〉 doe note that Veromandois doth containe under it the Territories of ●issenois La●nn●is and ●artencis and the Cities N●yon and S. Quintins The City of Soiss●ns is subject to Themes the chiefe City of Calaa Belgica and was honoured by Caesar with the title of a Royall City It was in the power of the Romanes but was taken from them by Cladoveus after whose decease his Sonnes restored it to that former honour which it enjoyed in Caesars time The Inhabitants are a warlike people In this City in the raigne of Philip Augustus there was a Consell held by the Clergie of England and France for that the King of England having thrust the Bishops out of their Seates had kept the Churches goods in his owne hands for 6. yeeres and afterward had banisht the Bishops into Fran●e In this Cou●sell he had excommu●ication and warres denounced against him as an enemy to the Church upon which he was overcome in Battell and all his auxiliary Forces which he had out of Planders were overthrowne the Suess●nes among the rest behaving themselves very valiantly against him The Temple and Monastery of the blessed Virgin in the City Soiss●ms was built by Ebroynus the Tyrant who was Master of the Palace of ●rauce The Bishops of Soissons from Sixtus to Mathew Paris were 79. The Country of Laonois so called from the City Laon which i● situated betweene the Rivers Ayne and Oysa on a Hill and ●gisbertus saith that ●l●doveus in the yeere 500. did honour this City with a Dukedome and a Bishoprick Hee constituted Genebaldus to bee the first Bishop thereof and after him unto Iohannes Bu●●erius there are reckoned 72. Bishops It is also a Bayliwick under which are these Cities Soissons Noviomagus or Noyon S. Quintins Ribuaria or Ribemont C●u●y Chau●y Guise Perona Mondidier and Roia Next adjacent unto Laon is ●●mpendium called by the French Compiegne and by others Par●p●●is from Carolus Calvus who in the yeere 896. did enlarge and fortifie it like Constantinople erecting there also a Monastery to Saint Cornelius The Church of Compiegne and the Monastery of the Dominicans and Franciscans were built by S. Ludovicus King of France The Metropolis of Tartenois is Fera commonly called La Fere being a City well fortified and commodiously seated at the confluence and meeting of the Rivers Oysa and Serva and having a strong Castle Concerning the Cities Noyon and S. Quintins there is enough spoken in the Description of a former Table So much therefore concerning true Picardie There are divers parts of the lower Picardie called Le Basse As Sancterra Pontium Bolonesium Gu●naeum and Oyum. Sancterra or Sancterre lyeth betweene Mons S. Desiderij Perona Roye and Nesla Mons S. Desiderij or Mondidier is a strong Place or Hold. Perona is situated at the River Somona here Herebert Earle of Veromandois kept Cha●les the Simple King of France Captive where he died and left the Kingdome much troubled Roye is a faire Towne fortified with a Castle Antoninus calleth it Caesaremagnus as also the Itinerary Tables ●essa is a strong Fortresse as many other places are in this part of the Kingdome In Sancterra have many famous men beene borne and the ancient Lords thereof being Marquesses formerly joyned in affinity and allyed to the Family of the Courtneys which descended from the Kings of France Pontium or in French Le Conté Ponthieu is so named from the great company of Bridges and Marishes which discharge and empty themselves into the Sea neere to S. Valeri The chiefe Towne of the County is Abatisvilla commonly called Abbeville neere the River Oyse being a Bailiwick and the Seate of a President from whence Causes and Suites in Law are brought to Paris The other Townes are Cr●toy Rua Treport and S. Richeri besides Cressiacum or the little Towne of Cressi famous for the slaughter of 36000. Frenchmen under the conduct of Philip of Valots in the yeere 1346. This Country also doth containe two other under it to wit the Counties of M●●streul and S. Paul some thinke the former was so called quasi M●rs Reguis that is the Royall Mountaine but others imagine it to bee so named from a Monster which had his dwelling house here Lower Picardie containeth the County of Bononia commanly call'd Co●●● de Boleigne and the County of Guisne of which we will speake in the Description of Bononia The chiefe Rivers of Picardie are Somona neere to which lye the Towne Ambianum or Amiens and Abbe-Villa Oyse or Esia Scaldis Escault or Sceldt and those which are commonly call'd A●●● and Scarpe I come to their manners The Picardians are of a good disposition well set courteous Officious valiant and prone to anger whence they are called hot heads they are so soone assuredly given and addicted to wine so that a man can hardly obtaine any thing of them unlesse he will beare them company in drinking Yet they agree so well among themselves that if you offend one of them all the rest will be your enemies The Nobles are warlike and doe most of all delight in military affaires So much concerning Picardy CAMPANIA THE STATE ECCLESIASTICK Here is the Archbishop of Rhemes under whom are eight suffragan Bishops as the Bishop of Laon a Duke and Peere of France the Bishop of Chalon an Earle and Peere of France the Bishop of Suesson the Bishop of Terwaen whose Seate was translated to Boulogne the Bishop of Amiens the Bishop of Noviomagum or Noion an Earle and Peere of France the Bishop of Senlis and the Bishop of Beauvais an Earle and Peere of France Here is also the Archbishop of Sens under whom are seven Bishops to wit the Bishop of Paris of Chartres of Orleans of Nivers of Auxerre of Trois en Champaigne and of Meaux CAMPANIA CAMPANIA called in French Comté de Champaigne is derived as I have said before if we shall beleeve Graegorius ●uronensis from the great and spacious Field wherof it consisteth For it is a very plaine and Champion Country The Territories of Brie Burgundie Carolois and Lotharingia doe encompasse it on every side The Tricasses Lingones the R●mi the Catalaunians the Meldae the Senones and others who are now worne out of memory were heretofore seated in this Country The Tricasses nominated in Plinies chiefest Bookes Ptolemy calls Trikasstoi and Ammianus Tricassini as also in certaine Panegyricks and in the Inscription of an ancient Stone Hericus calleth the Trecae in the life of S. Germane and others call them by contraction Tresses Their City is called Tricassium and commonly Trois en Champaigne Those which Caesar Pliny and others doe call Ling●nes Ptolemy calls Do●gones and the same Pliny Faederati That Province which containes their City which is Langres is now called La Duché Patre and
distinguished by their surnames as the Bitu●iges Cubi whose Metropolis was Avaricum in the first Aquitania and the Vibiscian or Viviscian Bituriges whose chiefe Citie was Burdigala in the second Aquitania Both of them were free Cities under the Romanes as Pliny witnesseth The Register of the Provinces calleth it the Citie of the Bituricians or Berotigians in the first Aquitania or Sexta Vienne sis Iohn Calamaeus writeth much concerning the appellation and name of this Country who containeth the lustorie of the Biturigians in sixe Bookes THE DVKEDOME OF BITVRICVM BITURIGUM Ducatus Here are seventeene Collegiat Churches as they call them and seventeene Parish Churches This City hath an Archbishoprick and a flourishing University to which there is none equall in France being Mother and Nurse of most learned men The study of the Law is in greatest estimation there of which there are excellent Professours As Avaricum is the chiefe Tribunall of the whole Dukedome where the Monarch of the Biturigians sitteth as President and is commonly called le Bailly de Berry Hither are all appeales brought both from the City Praetor and from all Magistrates of other places in the Territory of Bituricum But the Prefect of Bituricum hath under him the Metropolis it selfe Avaricum and 5. Dioeceses Yss●udum Dum le Roy Vi●son Mehun Con●ressault There are reckoned with the Metropolis the County of Sancerre and S. Aignan the Barony of Mountfaulcon and almost Some suppose that Sancerra was so called from Ceres who was there reverenced and worshiped as it were the Chappel of Ceres The more learned Latine Writers leaving this Etymologie doe call it Xantodorum It hath the Title of a County which in the yeere 1015. it exchanged with Bellovacum and in the yeere 1573. it indured a hard Siege that they were enforced to eate Dogges Cats Horses Dormice Mice Moles and after they had eaten Hornes skins and the like they were compelled to eate their owne excrements and mans flesh These Cast●llania are subject to it Sanceges Beaufeu Chapelle d'Anguillon le Chastel de Boncard ●alonges ●arenay Verdigny Menesme Charentomry Brie and others S. A●gnan is so called from the Bishop S. Anianus The Barony of Mountfaulcon which signifies in Latine Montem Faulconis or the Mountaine of the Faulcon doth containe the Signiories of Baugy and Gion also la Fane Lyvr●n ●ony Villab●n Seury Marcilly Marnay Farges Av●r Saligny Per●igny ●●u Lassax Boisbos●n Nuissement Villiers Compoy Lastly the Castellania are Ays d Anguillon Sury en Vaux S. Soulange S. Palais la Salle du Roy Bueil Quintilly P●morigny Francheville la Chapelle Nancay Drye Levreux Beaulicu Brecy Beugy S. Fleurant Neufvi sur Baranion Morthonnier Maymaignes Maubranches S. Vrsin Tillay Brilliers Vatan S. Satur Lury Estrechies Maulpas Villeneusve S. Crapaix Ascilly Iussy le Chauld●●er la Corne les Ch●●zes Vaulvrilles les Cloy●s Bonge So much concerning the Metropolis and the large Jurisdiction thereof the other Dioeceses are Yssouldun a Royall City and a Bayliwick which hath under it the Baronies of Chasteauroux Gracay Ceracoy S. Severe Lynieres to which is joyned the Castelania of Rizay also Argenton in which are the Marshalship of Ravennes and the Praefectureship of Servignet The Castelania are Bourssac Chasteau Meillant Mareul Nef si S. Sepulchre ●ully Puuldy Massy Cahors Perouse Chastellet Masseuvre Augurandae S. Chartier le Palleteau Bomm●eres Moche Fully Voullon la Ferte N●hant Ville Dieu Chastre Charroux There is also Dunum Regium or Dun le Roy under which are these Castelaniae besides others Pra dict ●a●●aut a Baronnie Chasteauneuf neere the River Caris S. Iulian. Vierzon a royall City and a Dioecese having these Signiories under it Champ●e M●tte d' A●sy Saragosse Brivay Mery. Mehun hath under it the Castellania Love and Foici Concourfault or Concressault hath under it Vailly Argeny Clemon Beaujeu This Country is watered with the Rivers Ligeri Souldra Aurrona Che●re Theone ●●dro Creusa and some other smaller Rivulets Here are no Mountaines of any note The Country is interlaced here and there with Woods the chiefe whereof are Si●va Roberti Lacenna Sylva or Robert● Wood and the Wood Lacenna I come to the publike and private workes At Avar●●um besides the 34. Churches aforesaid There are foure Monasteries of Mendicant Friers two Abbies for men the one dedicated to S. Sulpitius being strong rich and standing without the Walls the other within the City dedicated to D. Ambrosius and well endowed and three Nunneries Not long since a godly Magistrate thereof did build an Hospitall for the reliefe of poore and decreped people Of all the faire Aedifices here which are many the chiefe is the stately and sumptuous House of Iames Cordus who lived in Charles the 7. time There are also the Almanes Houses who were formerly the Kings Treasurers before the Faires to which a great concourse of Strangers were wont to resort were kept at Lions Here are infinite ruines both within and without the Walls of old Aedifices which were built with curious workmanship and many are daily digged forth especially out of the Sand-pits as they call them where sometime stood the Amphitheater The Archbishop of Bourges hath these Suffragan Bishops under him the Bishop of Clermont of Rhodes of Lymoges of Mende of Alby of Cahors of Castres of Tulles and of S. Flour but the Bishop of Puy is exempted THE DVKEDOME OF BVRBON· THE Country and Dukedome of Burbon or le Pays and Duché de Burbonneis was so called from the Dukes of Burbon who were Governours thereof On the West it is neighboured with the Biturigians and Lemonicians on the North with the Nivernianis On the East lyeth Burgundie on the South are the Lugdunians The Soile for the most part is all pasture ground and hath no Corne but in some few places But there are very good Wines and great plenty of Corne. Those people whom Caesar Lib. 1. de Bello Gallico calleth Boij were supposed to have dwelt here formerly and hee calleth their Towne Lib. 7. Gergovia where hee also mentioneth Boia which doubtlesse was the Boians Towne Their strength was so greate that joyning themselves with the Cenomanians and Insubrians they pluckt downe the pride and arrogancy of the Thuscians possest their dominions and seated themselves in that parte of Italie which is now calld Romania The Romanes did call it Gallia Togata because the Frenchmen who were subject to the Romanes dwelt there The Sugusians also did inhabit all that part which is called le Pays de Fores. All this Territorie as many other bordering Countries was heretofore subject to the Kings of Aquitaine Afterward it had Dukes who from a Towne of no meane note were called Dukes of Burbon The last of them was Arcibaldus who had one onely daughter and heyre called Agnes Shee marrying Iohn Duke of Bugundie gave her daughter Beatrix which shee had by him the Dukedome of Burbon for her dowry having married her to Robert the Son of
Flandrians were very desirous to beseige this Cittie which they attempted on the 5 of Iuly the yere 1601. The beginning of the seige was very terrible and continued so to the end thereof as it is well knowne yea it was such a long and grievous seige as there was never the like in the memory of man so that during the time of this seige there were slaine on both sides about 110000 men There was a Table book found about a certaine commissary of Spaine being dead in which the number of men that were slaine were set downe and the number of women and children by themselves of which this was the totall summe Tribunes or Praefects of the Souldiers commonly called Marshalls of the field 9. of Colonells 15. of Sergeants 29. Captaines 165. Ancients 322. Lieutenants 200 and 1 masters of the Horse 101. Common-souldier 54663. Mariners 611 children and Women 119. The totall summe of all was ●2126 It would be tedious to mention all their trenches and Fortresses all their engines and warlike Instruments and other matters Moreover there was a battaile fought betweene Ostend and Newport on the second of Iuly in the yeere 1600 between the Archduke Albert and Grave Maurice in which there were slaine on both sides seaven thousand foote and horsemen The battell continued doubtfull for three houres together But at length Grave Maurice got the victory and overthrew the Spaniard The Archduke Albert lost in that fight 6000 men there were taken besides a great number of common Souldiers the Admirall of Arragon and with him many of the Nobles and there were 105 Banners taken from the enemies foote troopes and foure from his horse troupes Yet it was a bloody victory to Grave Maurice for there were a thousand slaine on his side A mile distant from Ostend is Aldenburg It hath onely one gate being an auncient Cittie and heretofore a famous Mart towne The other matters which are contained in this table are unfolded in the next description And therefore I passe to Brabant THE DVKEDOME OF BRABANT BRabant for the most part doth containe the Countrie of the Advatians Ambivaritians and Tungrians but it is uncertaine at what time this Country was called Brabant some deriving it from Brennus a Frenchman some from a Cittie of that name of which there is no mention neither in the Country nor in histories some derive it from Bratuspandium a towne of the Bellovacians which Caesar mentioneth Lib. 2. Some doe mention a Captaine called Salvius Brabon an Arcadian who came with Caesar into the Low Countries whose wife Suana was Caesars Nephew Some also thinke that it was called Barbantia from Gotefridus Barbatus Earle of Lovaine and afterward Brabant I had this name of late which is manifest but the originall thereof is unknowne The length of Brabant from Gemblours even to the holy Mountaine of S. Gertrud is about 22 miles The breadth from Helmontium to Bergae is 20 Miles And the compasse of it is 80 miles It hath on the North the River Mosa which parteth Gelderland from Holland On the South Hannonia the Countie of Namurcum and the Leodiensian Bishopricke which confineth on it on the East On the West is the River Scaldis with the countrie Alost It hath a wholesome ayre and a fertile soyle abounding with all sorts of fruites but yet the countrie of Kempen is barren by reason of the sands which part yet is not altogether unfruitfull There are 26 Citties in this Dukedome As Lovanium or Loven which is an auncient Cittie and the first seate of the Grudians in which the Duke doth binde himselfe by taking the Sacrament It is a pleasant Cittie and now somewhat enlarged the compasse of it within the walls is foure miles It is watered with the River Dela Brussells is a faire great Cittie fortified with a double wall and situate in a fertile soile abounding with all things It is a wonderfull thing that this Citty could yeeld plentie of provision to serve the Dukes Court the strangers and forreine Princes which lay there with their whole trayne There is also Antwerpe which they commonly call Antwerpen the French call it Anvers the Italians Anversa the Germaines Antorff Peter Appian thinketh that it is the same with that which Ptolemie and Caesar doe call Atuacutum It is supposed that this Cittie was so called from the casting forth of hands For a certaine Giant called Druo who dwelt in these parts before C. Caesars comming when any travellers came by if they did not pay him the halfe of their commodities he caus'd their right hands to be cut off and to be cast into the River which appeareth by the armes of this Cittie and certaine great bones of this Giant Druo which are kept untill this day some say he was called Antigonus But these things are fabulous But it is more likely that the inhabitants called it so from the heape or rifing of Earth neere Scaldis which the Lowcountrimen doe call Antwerpen for by making banckes on both sides they straitned the River and made the channell deeper It is situate by the deepest part of the River under the 26 degrees of Longitude and 42 minuts And 51 of Latitude and fiftie eight minutes It is 4 miles distant from the Sea and as many from Mechlin 7 miles from Lovaine 10 miles from Gandavum 15 miles from Bruges 8 miles from Brussells threescore miles from London 29 from the Agrippine Colonie 60 miles from Franckford It was thrice walled First with a narrower wall Anno 1221 afterward with a larger wall Anno 1314 which yeare there was a great famine and the next a great pestilence Lastly the suburbs were enlarged toward the North Anno 1543. The compasse of it without the walls is 4 miles and eight hundred and twelve paces There are eight ditches which are brought into the Cittie out of the River and are able to receive many great shippes It is a great Cittie for traffique Guicciardine giveth an estimate that the yeerely trading in this Cittie doth amount to above twelve thousand Crownes which was lesse than it came to when the Cittie of Antwerpe flourished And therefore Iulius Scaliger doth worthily praise it thus Oppida quot spectant oculo me torvasinistro Tot nos invidiae pallida tela petunt Lugdunum omnigenum est operosa Lutetia Roma Ingens ro● Venetum vasta Tolosa potens Omnimodae merces artes priscaeque novaeque Quorum insunt alijs singula cuncta mihi Looke how many Townes doe lye on our left side Even by so many Townes we are envide Leyden and Paris painefull are Rome great Venice is rich Tolouse in power compleate All wares and strange inventions that there be In severall Citties are all found in me There are two and forty religious houses in Antwerp also Churches Monasteries and Hospitalls The chiefe Cathedrall Church is dedicated to the blessed Virgin Marie It is a faire and sumptuous worke and hath a famous Tower steeple which is all built of
second order is the Lords the chiefe whereof that are wont to appeare at Hage are these the Lords of Poelgeest of Polanen of Lochorst of Assendelfi Warmont Sparwoude Matnes Schooten Noortwi●● Verdoes or Does Myne van Amstel Spangen Alkemade Benthuysen Keneborch Raaphorst Sweten Heemskericke Ruven Duyn and Sprangen Moreover there are these Lordships in Holland Ho●sden Outhoesden Papendrecht Wijngarden Ghissenborch Ameyde Woerden Waterlant Schagen Purmerende Goude Naeldw●jc Rijswijc Schoonhoven Wateringen Soctermeer Heemstede Heuhtwoude Merwen Haestrecht Dalen Spijc Hardischsvelt Bardtwijck Wijck The third order are the sixe great Citties which are called and summoned to appeare at the Hage for all the rest as Dordretch this Cittie hath a Praetor and a Magistrate whom the Cittizens obey and a Bayly that governeth the whole Country round about both in civill and criminall matters Harlem hath a Praetor and a Magistrate within it selfe and a Bayly for the Country who hath jurisdiction in civill and criminall matters Amsterdam hath also with it selfe a Praetor and a magistrate and a Bayly for the Country to judge of civill and criminall causes Gouda hath a Praetor and Major for the Cittizens and a Baytiffe and a Governour of the Castell THE COVNTIE OF ZELAND ZEland signifies nothing else but a Sea-land the name thereof being compounded from Sea and Land For it is encompassed on every side with the Sea Lemnius doth collect out of Tacitus that it was not unknowne unto the ancients but not by that name by which it is now called but the people and inhabitants thereof did vulgarly call it Maet For hee nameth them Mattiacans when he saith Est in eodem obsequio Mattiacorum gens Battavis similis nisi quod ipso terrae suae solo ac coelo acrius animantur that is The Nation of the Mattiacans is also subject unto them and are like the Battavians but that their soyle and climate doth make them more couragious and lively It was called Zeland from the Danes and Normanes who comming out of the Cimbrian Island in Denmarke which is called Zeland to seeke new Countries being pestered with multitudes of inhabitants they invaded the Coasts of Brittaine and France and they called Walachria and the neighbour Islands Zeland after the name of their own Island These Islands are situate betweene the mouthes or outlets of the Rivers Mosa and Scaldis on the North they have Holland on the East Brabant on the South Flanders on the West the Germaine Ocean Zeland hath somewhat an intemperate ayre for in some parts it is very cold and sharpe and not so wholesome as the neighbour Countries especially in Summer in regard of the Vapours arising from the ditches and standing Pooles and also because the Country is not planted with trees But yet it hath this blessing that it is not often troubled with plagues or pestilent diseases but when it hath a plague it is most violent and it is long before the cessation of it But it hath a very fat and fruitefull soyle and fields which yeeld abundance of wheate so that no Country hath the like for whitenesse and waightinesse and many other fruites also Coriander seede and Madder which is good to dye cloath in graine and make it hold colour and also great store of faire Baytrees loaden with Berryes and also many wholsome hearbes both to eate and to cure disseases withall Heere are also excellent Meddow Pastures for fatting of Cattell not onely inclosed within hedges and ditches but also upon the very shore by the Sea side in which many thousand head of Cattell doe graze to the great gaine and commoditie of the owners being not onely of an unusuall bignesse but of a delicate and excellent taste by reason of the sweetenesse and goodnesse of the soyle grasse so that they are much esteemed by forreiners In the yeere 8●3 in the yeere of Charles the ●●lde a principality was first erected among the Battavians and Zelanders and then they were called Counties and the first Earle thereof was Theodoricke the sonne of Sig●●bert Prince of Aquitania who having beene Earle thereof eight and thirty yeares left his second sonne Theodoricke successor thereof after whom these Countries by a long succession of Earles came and was devolved over to Phillip King of Spaine The Islands of Zeland are seaven three beyond the mouth of Scaldis toward Battavia and the East which are therefore called the East Islands as Scaldia Duvelandia and Tolen And 4 on this side toward the West Walachria Zuythevelandia Northevelandia and Wolferdi●● The greatest and chiefest Ile of them all beyond Scaldis is Scaldia the inhabitants doe call it Landt van Schouwen the compasse whereof is 7 miles yet heretofore it was greater and was divided onely by a little straite of the Sea from Northevelandia The chiefe Citties in it are Zirizaea and Brouwershavia Zirizaea is supposed to be the auncientest Cittie in Zeland being built by one Siringues about the yeare 869. It was a long time a famous towne of traffique in regard of the commodiousnesse of the Haven and the resort of strangers unto it but when the Haven was filled up with sand it grew out of esteeme yet there is hope that if a new Haven were digged it would be as famous as ever it was In this Cittie Levinus ●e●●nius a learned and famous Phisitian was borne and lived Fishermen doe inhabite Brouwershavia who live by the Sea The second Island to Scaldia is Dwelandia so called from the great store of Doves that are therein and it is foure miles in compasse There are in it some Townes onely and Villages but no Cittie In the yere 1130 it was overflowed with the Sea to the losse of many people but afterward the banckes being repaired and the Sea kept out that losse was soone recompenced The third Island is Tollen which is neere unto Brabant being onely parted and divided from it by a straite narrow sea in which is Toletum which the Low countriemen in regard of the custome and tribute which is payd there doe call Tollen being an auncient little Towne and not farre from thence is the Martinian bancke commonly called S. Martines Dijck being a pleasant place and planted round about with trees in which great store of fowle especially Hernes doe breede The chiefe Island on this side Scaldis toward the West is Walachria which the inhabitants call Bewester Schelt being so called from the first inhabitour or from the Welch or Frenchmen This Island lyeth on the East over against Brabant on the South against Flanders on the North against Batavia on the West against Brittaine This is the chiefe Island of all Zeland being famous both for the situation thereof the wealth populousnesse and for the beautie of the townes and traffique being 10. miles in compasse The Citties in it are Middlebrough Veria Flushing Arnemuda There are also many townes in it Middlebrough is so called from the situation thereof for it is a towne in the middle of
to the King of Spaine Moreover any one that setteth forth in the morning from Vltrajectum may walke softly to any of those sixe and twenty Citties aforesayd and there refresh themselves and make merry and at evening come home This is a great Cittie pleasant and powerfull having many stately publicke and private aedifices it hath a faire strong Castell built by the Emperour Charles the fifth and called in their speech Vredenburch The Churches thereof are very magnificent and especially these five which belonged heretofore to so many auncient Colledges of Cannons Namely our Saviours Church S. Martines Church S. Peters S. Iohns and S. Maries But the sumptuous and faire Church of Saint Martine doth exceede all the rest which is a Bishops seate The Bishop Adelboldus caused this Church to be pulled downe and afterward to be built up againe more fairely it was reëdified in the yeare 1023 and twelve Bishops did consecrate it in the presence of the Emperour Henry the first as these verses doe declare Tempore Francorum Dagoberti Regis in isto Praesenti fundo conditur ecce decens Primitus Ecclesia Sancti Thomae prope Castrum Trajectum quam gens Frisica fregit atrox Sed prior Antistes Dominus Clemens ob honorem Sancti Martini post renovavit eam Desidis Henrici sub tempore Regis at illam Praesul Adelboldus fregit ab inde novam Ecclesiam fundans Henrici tempore primi Caesaris electi quem duodena cohors Pontificum pariter benedixit denique Praesul Henricus caepit hanc renovare suam Ecclesiam Regis Gulielmi tempore qvi tum Hollandensis erat inlytus ecce Comes When Dagobert was King of France they did sound Saint Thomas Church upon this present ground Even by the Castell of Trajectum placed But by the Friesland Nation it was raced Then the reverend Praelate Clemens call'd by name In honour of S. Martine built it up againe Even in the time of Henries slothfull raigne But Adelbolde puld it downe unto the ground And afterward a new Church he did found In the first Henries time which with great state Twelve Bishops solemnely did consecrate Lastly the Bishop Henery began For to reëdifie this Church againe Even when King William this same land did guide Who was then Earle of Holland too beside This Saint Maries Church is very faire and beautifull and was built by the Emperour Fredericke as a mulct and charge imposed on him by the Pope of Rome for wasting the famous Cittie of Mediolanum and destroying the Churches therein It was strange that at the laying of the foundation of this Church there was a quicksand found on which they could not build but that it would still sincke at length they cast Oxe hides into it which made the ground sollid and firme so that they built this Church on it in remembrance whereof these verses are extant in Vltrajectum Accipe Posteritas quod post tua secula narres Taurinis Cutibus fundo solidata columna est THE CITTIE AND PROVINCE OF MACHLIN MAchlin is situated almost in the middle of Brabant and is as it were enclosed within it neere the River Dilia which cutteth through the middle of it being equally distant from Antwerp Bruxells and Lovanium in a Champion Countrie and fertile soyle having a light and sandie ground the Cittie is very faire conspicuous both in regard of the pleasantnesse of the situation the cleanenesse and breadth of the streetes the largenesse and curiousnesse of the houses some reckon it as a part of Brabant but yet truely it is a distinct country from it There are divers uncertaine conjectures concerning the originall thereof but this is manifest that in one of the letters Pattents of Pepin King of France dated in the yeare 753 there is mention made of it and that it is there called M●slinas as it were the line of the Sea because the Sea doth flow and ebbe before it which Etymologie pleaseth some better than to call it Machel from one Michael who possessed these parts as Orte●●us doth deliver in his Itinerarie of the Low Countries Others doe deduce the name from other derivations But as we sayd Machlin after the yeare 753 had Adon to be Earle thereof which he held by fealty and service But who were his Praedecessors or successors is not yet knowne Long time afterward there follow'd the Bertoldi who denyed fealty and homage to Godfrey Barbatus Duke of Brabant which occasioned warres betweene them After the Berltoldi Machlin had various fortunes and divers Lords at length it recovered libertie and was not subject unto any in the yeare 1336. And afterward it came to the Burgundian family in the yeare 138● And lastly unto the Austrian family in the yeare 1477. And it is now one of the 17 Provinces of the Low countries where the chiefe Counsell doth sit whither the last appeale in the Low Countries is made instituted by Charles of Burgundie Prince of the Low Countries and at length in our time it was made an Archbishopricke the chiefe Metropolitan seate whereof is Saint Rumolds Church Besides there is an Armorie in it which in the yeare of Christ 1546. in the moneth of August the Gunpowder being set on fire by lightning was burnt downe and the Cittie much defaced thereby Here Nicasius of Woerden a most learned Lawyer although hee THE CITTIE AND Province of MACHLIN MECHLINIA DOMINIVM were blinde was borne also Christopher Longolius Rombert Dodonaus the Emperours Phisitian and professor of Phisicke at Leyden and also Philibert of Bruxells an excellent Lawyer It doth also produce many excellent artificers and workemen especiall stone-cutters and carvers of Images He that desireth to know more concerning this Cittie and the antiquitie of this Province let him have recourse to Iohn Bapt. Gremajus his large description of Machlin and he shall finde very good satisfaction therein THE LORDSHIP OF GRONINGA GROENINGA Domin̄i GRoninga is the head Cittie of the Province of Groninga and the fairest Cittie in Friesland Some thinke it to bee that which Ptolemie calls Phileum They derive the name from Grano a certaine Trojan or Friesland Prince but Vbbo Emmius rejecting other opinions which are grounded on fabulous reports supposeth that it was so called from the greene Meddowes and tufts of trees therein It is distinguished from the other parts of Friesland in the middle whereof this Province is seated by the River Amasus and the Lavician Bay and now since the yeare 1536 it is counted one of the seventeene Provinces at what time the Groningians did put themselves into the protection of Charles the fifth Heretofore this Lordship did doe homage and fealtie to the Bishop of Vltrajectum being given him by the Emperour Henry the third and afterward by the Emperour Maximilian the first in the yeare 1494. And also he gave the Government of Groninga and all Friesland to Albert Duke of Saxonie the Groningians refusing the governement of the Saxons who having made many treaties of peace but
Lichtenavius doe call them Wormbser-B●s●●●umbs But P● on the contrary affirmeth that the Vangionians are those of Sp●res and the Nemetians those of Wormes and Irenicus addeth this reason namely because Ptolemie who in description of Rhene did usually proceede from the South Northward doth first mention the Vangians and afterward the Numetians But Sig. Gemblacensis who writ about five hundred yeares agoe calleth Wormes the Cittie of the Vangionians Also Iohn Herald doth gather out of an inscription that the Cittie Wormes was heretofore called the Watch Tower of the Vangionians There are 48 Citties in the Palatinate the chiefe whereof is Heidelberg where the Prince Palatine keepeth his residence It was so called either from the people whom the Germaines call Heyden or from the Mir●le-tree which they call Heydelbeer and heereupon the most learned Melissus doth call this Citty Myrtilletum T●a● which Pyramius calleth Durlacum others more rightly doe call Durlach Iohn Herald doth call it Capellatium others doe call Cap●llatium the Palatinate as we sayd before Munster calleth it Bergstras which standeth in the way from Frinckford to Heydelburg Some doe suppose that the Cittie which Ptolemie calls Beudoris was scared here but this is but conjecturall For Ptolemie placed Beudoris in the 51 degres of Latitude when as Heidelberg is in the 49 degree and 35 minutes of Latitude Some suppose that it should be read and written Edelberg which signifies the noble Mountaine and others Eidleberg which signifies the neere Mountaine It is situate by the River Nicrus or N●icarus in the entrance of the Mountaines it hath beene a famous Vniversity for learning and Arts from the yeare 1356 being then instituted by Rupert the elder Prince Palatine who sent for one Marsilus from Paris to be governour thereof And from that time it was well replenished with learned men and students The most famous Doctors were Rodolphus Agricola Iohn Dalburgius Iohn Virdungus William Xilander Thomas Erastus Zachary Vrsin and many others Moreover the whole Palatinate is divided into foure Praefectureships as Heydlebergensian the Alzaeens●●● the Neostadiensian and the Mosbachensian which are so called from the Citties of Hedelberg Alzea Neostadium and Mosbacum There is also Bretta which is a small Towne neere the River Salza in which Philip Melanchton was borne who writ much concerning the liberall Arts also Ladeburg so called from the Romaine Tents halfe of which was pawned to Duke Rupert the elder the other part came to the Bishop of Wormes Sifrid of Stralnberg sold unto the aforesayd Prince in the yeare 13●7 the Towne Schriess●n and the Castle of Stralnberg And in the yeare 1344 the Towne W●inheim was given to the Prince by awardment of Arbitrators which heretofore the Bishop o● Moguntinum did possesse There are also the Townes Cauba G●l●usen Sintzon Luden by the River Tuberus Oppenheim Caesar●a ●●tra Inge●heim Lowenstein and in Brureinia there is Bruxells and others as may be seene in the Table and also many Castles and Villages The chiefe Rivers are Rhene and Neccarus The latter doth water and cut th●ough the middle of the Palatinate and doth discharge it selfe into the Rhene neere Ladeburg the auncients did call it Nicer it hath great store of Mullets which are commonly called Barbells Also there continually commeth downe this River great pieces of timber from the wood Otto which the River Necarus bringeth into the Rhene The lesser Rivers are Tuberus Lutherus Iaxtus and others The Country is both Mountainous and field ground It hath high Mountaines which doe beare excellent Vines of which the Rhenish Wine is made And there are Woods which yeeld stoare of game for hunting The chiefest whereof is the Wood Otto which is a part of the Hercynian Wood the breadth thereof is from the River Necarus even to Manus and the length from the Mountainous way called Bergstras even to the River Tuberus But so much hitherto There were many Churches in the Palatinate and many Monasteries as the Monastery of Lorsch which was built by Charles the Great or as some suppose by Pepin Concerning the Library thereof Munster writeth thus There is not a place in all Germanie where there is a more ancient Library than in this Monasterie I saw there a Manuscript written with Virgills owne hand and in it Ammianus Marcellinus his last booke was found which is now published being written before in great capitall letters Iohn Dalberg Bishop of Wormes a learned man did take the best bookes from thence and put them in the Librarie at L●den●u●● There are foure Electors in Germanie the Palatine of Rhene the Arch●ishops of Mentz of Triers and Colen The free Citties are Men●z Colen T●●r and Gelenhausen The Princes and Lords are the Count Palatine Count Nassaw and Beilslaine H. Reiffersche●de and Rheineck T●utscb Ordens Hern in Coblentz the Abby of S. Maximinus neere Triers the Provost Seltz H. Nider Eisenburg But so much hitherto I come to the Dukedome of Wirtemberg THE DVKEDOME OF VVIRTEMBERG THe Dukedome of Wirtemberg commonly called Wurtembergerlant was so called from the auncient Castle Wirtemberg which standeth in the middle thereof on a high hill not farre from the Emperiall Cittie Essing This Country of Wirtemberg doth lye by the River Nicrus It hath on the East the Swevians Vindelicians and Noricians on the West the Palatinate and the Marquiship of Baden on the South it hath the Mountaines of Arbon and the Swevian Alpes for so the Inhabita●ants doe call the higher Mountaines of this Countrie on the North Franconia and not farre off the wood Otto The ayre of this Country is very wholsome and temperate both in Winter and Summer It is as fruitfull also as any part of Germanie both for Wheate Pulse Wine and other fruites But yet all the Country is not of one soyle for that part where the River Neccarus ariseth and confineth on Hercynia and that which lyeth by the Swevian Alpes betweene Danubius and Nicrus is rugged and unfit for tillage or planting of Vines On the Alpes it is a stony soyle but very fruitefull and also by the blacke Wood it hath a sandy red coloured earth which yeeldeth great store of Corne. But there where the River Neccarus floweth through the Champion ground it is very fertile and fruitfull for it hath every where hills crowned with Vines greene Meddowes fruitefull fields and great store of Wine Corne and Apples This Dukedome also hath Mines of Silver not farre from Wiltberg and it is sayd that the Towne P●●lathium is built on Mines of Brasse it hath also Iron and Brasse There are divers coloured stones found which for the most part are enameld and streakt with blew So that it seemes that Nature did endeavor to enrich this place with pretious stones There are divers kind●s of living C●eatures and in the Woods there are an inumerable sort to bee seene It was made a Dukedome in the yeere 1495 by the Emperour Maximilian in a meeting or Parliament held at Wormes and he made
which these are called to Councell first the Clergie as the Bishops of Bamberg of H●rbipolis of Wirtzburg Duke of Franconia of Eichstett der Teutsch Ordens Master the Provost of Camberg the Abbot of Saint Gilgen Secondly the secular Princes as the Marquesse of Brandenburg Burgervom Nurenberg the Countes of Hennonberg of Castel of Wertheim of Rhemecke of Hohenloe the Lords of Reichelsperg and Limpurg and the Countes of Horpach and Schwartzenburg Thirdly the free Citties as Norunberg Rottenburg Winshaim and Schweinfurt Many Rivers which be full of fish doe water this Country the chiefe whereof are Moenus and Sala accompanied with eight lesser Rivers also Sinna Rhadiantia A●stus Tubera and some other It hath these woods Speshart Ottoes wood and other parts of Hercinia which doe enclose it as it were round about with a growing wall It is a warlike Nation Noble witty and laborious Men and women doe both plant Vines so that none are suffered to be idle THE DVKEDOME OF BAVARIA The second Circle of the Empire WE come now to Bavaria which were so called by the addition of one letter from the Avarians the remainder of the Hunnes who having droven out the Noricians seated themselves in that Countrie and also Bojaria from the Bojans a people of Gallia Cis●lpina who sometime dwelt heere it is commonly called Beyeren It hath on the East A●stria on the West Sucvia on the South 〈◊〉 Rhetian A●pes and on the North Franconia The length is 29 Germane miles The breadth five and twentie The ayre is very wholesome and the Countrie very pleasant and generally very fruitefull but yet it hath no great store of Wine nor Corne but in some places it hath a ●●●●e of shar●e hedge Win. The richer Wines are brought thither out of Alsaia Franc●●to and Austria There is great store of Cor●e about Ra●ispon and Landshat Moreover it hath abundance of S●l● fruite Iron Cattle Fowle wil ●e beasts and all things necessarie to life It doth breede great store of Sw●●e which feede on ●cornes and crabbes so that as Hungarie fur●isheth other Countries with Oxen so this Countrie furnisheth most parts of Europe with Swine And besides Beares Boares and other kindes of wilde beasts it hath great heards of Deere which they cannot hunt without the Princes leave In the yeare 1562 on the 22 day of August there was a Hart taken in Bavaria of so large a body that it weighed 625 pound The Nariscians Vindelicians and Noritians were formerly seated here The Nariscians whom Aventinus calleth Nortgew and Melanchton Narcaw are divided from the rest by the River ●anubius The Vindelicians according to the auncients Description are situated betweene the Rhaetians and Noricians Rhaetia is twofold the one is larger containing the Vindelicians the Noricians and the Rhaetians the other is lesser The River Lycus doth separate the Vind●l●cian from the Rhaetians if we beleeve Ptolomie but if we follow Strabo they are separated by the Rhene and the Brigantine Lake which we have shewed in our description of Helvetia Danubius doth part them from Germ●nie and the Alpes f●om Italie Marcus Velserus hath rightly observed out of Ricardus the name of the Vindelicians Respicit lase fluvios Vindamque Lycumque Miscentes undas nomina littoris unde Antiquam gentem populumque urbemque vocarunt Vindelican● It sees the Rivers Vinda and Lycus flow Mingling their names and waters as they goe Whence the Countrie and the people it containd And Cittie too were Vindelicians nam'd It may be gathered out of Plinnie and Ptolomie that there were certaine Countries and Citties belonging to the Vindelicians Augustus sent to conquer them Tiberius Claudius Nero and Nero Claudius Drusus who were both the Emperours sonnes in Law who having quickly dispersed and dissipated the Barbarians forces did easily overcome them and reduc'd them to subjection See Paterculus Lib. 2. Dion Lib. 53. and Horace Lib. 5. Odar The Noricians do begin from the River Oenus and so bend South East even to Hungarie and Italie They were alwayes great souldiers and being accustomed to warre they did often invade the bordering Romanes As appeareth by the Norician sword which Horace celebrateth And also by an inscription which is found on this side Danubius to this effect and in these words DIS MANIBVS ET MEMORIAE LEGIONVM ET MEMORIAE MISERRIMORVM VINDELICIS PRAEFECTIS MOCENIANIS ET VICTORI ET AVRELIO FILIIS VINDELICIS SVRINVS INFELIX PATER F. C. THE DVKEDOME OF BAVARIA BAVARIA THE PALATINATE of the Lower BAVARIA Jn which is the Landgraviate of Lutchtenberg 33.27.49.35 It is in the second Circle of the Empire We doe not yet know the other Nobilitie The Meridians are distant according to the proportion of the Parallels 49 and 51 to the greatest Circle THE PALATINATE of the Lower BAVARIA Palatinat Bavariae In the yeare 1575 the Noribergians did institute an Academie of Vniversitie at Altorsium and drew thither with great stipends and pensions Professors of the tongues also of the Arts Philosophie and other faculties As appeares by an inscription at Altorsium Inventuti Religionis Christianae Doctrina Linguis Latina Graeca Optimis denique artibus ac disciplinis informandae Georgio Volkanfro Philippo Geudero Hieronymo Baumgartnero Oppido Praefecto Senatus Nortbergensis Scholam hanc nobilem Patriciam aperiri solemniter introduci voluit 3. Cal. Iul. Qui dies Petro Paulo Apostolis Sa●ra est Anno à nato Christo Salvatore 1575. That is George Voll●anfrus Phillip Geuderus Hierom Baumgartner being learned Praefects and Balthaz●r Baumgartner being Praefect of the Towne the Senate of Norinberg hath solemnely instituted and ordained this Noble free Schoole for the instructing of youth in the doctrine of Christian religion as also in the Latine and Greeke tongues and lastly in all good Arts and Sciences on the third of the Kall Iul. which day is sacred to the Apostles Peter and Paul and in the yeare from the birth of our Saviour Christ 1575. This tract of Land hath many other Townes besides this Metropolis as also divers monasteries and Villages one of the chiefest Townes is Amberg which was walled about in the yeare of Christ 1030 also Auwerback Sultback and the Monasterie of Castel where the Princes of Nortgow did formerly keepe their Court also the Townes Eger Beierut E●stet Napurg Newenstadt Ruwenkelm Kemnat Krusen Grewenwerdt and the Castell Gainum which is so called from wayling or Lamenting For heere Danubius passeth by dangerous fearefull places which make the Marriners cry out when they passe by it in the Germane Language it is called Die Strudel from the noyse and violence of the waters there are also the Townes Eschenback Weiden Parnaw Pleistein Herspruck Rurbaock Neumarkt Tursentur Elbagen Cham Schonsee Kunsperg Stauff and some others which for the most part belong to the Prince Palatines This Country also of Nortgow doth include one of the foure Landgraviates which were heretofore instituted by the Emperours namely Lutchtenberg in the second Circle
enlarge their Empire and very constant in adversity There are many other Magistrates besides the Duke which here for brevity sake I omit This Citty is held to bee the fairest and most flourishing Citty of all others the Theater of the World and the common Mart for the whole Universe the Mistresse and Conquerour over so many Enemies the Queene of the Hadriatick Sea and the glory and honour of Italie Although it hath waged many warres and tryed the varieties of fortune for the space of a thousand yeeres yet it was never subdued by any forraine Enemy I passe by the other Citties and lesser Townes The most famous Rivers of this Country are Plavis commonly call'd Piave also Brenta Bachilio and Athesis which is the greatest of them all There are Mountaines in this Patavine Country which neither belong to the Alpes nor to the Apennine so that in this respect there is no Country like it in Italie One of these Mountaines is Gemula the other Venda and the Euganean Hills so famoused by Poets There are subject to the Patriarch of Aquilegium the Bishopricks of Mantua of Cuman of Tridentum of Verona of Maravia of Padua of Vicentium of Trevisium of Ceneda of Feltre of Bellun And so much briefely concerning the County of Tirolis and Marca Tarvisina THE THIRD TABLE OF LOMBARDY IN VVHICH ARE DESCRIBED Pedemontana the Marquiship of Montisferrat and the Dukedome of GENOA THe third Table of Lombardy followeth in which Pedemontium the Marquiship of Montisferrat and the Dukedome of Genoa are describ'd and delineated Ped●montium is the first which is so called quod ad pedem sit montium because it is at the foote of the Mountaines or the Alpes which doe devide France and Sabaudia from Italie it is commonly call'd Piamonte It is bounderd on the East with Padus on the South with the Ligurian Alpes on the West with the Alpes of France on the North with Duria and Riparia This Country is full of fruitfull pleasant Hills which doe yeeld excellent Corne Wine and other fruits And it hath Mines of Iron neere Turinum and of Marble neere ●aisana Here the Turinians dwelt heretofore who were well knowne to Polybius Livy and Plutarch and also Strabo Pliny and Ptolemy doe place them in the ninth Country of Italy and doe make them to be of the stock of the Ligurians Afterward this Country began to be called the Taurinian Dukedome under the Langbardians who having reduced it into a Province made it a Dukedome After them it came to be under the government of the Kings of Italie and afterward of divers other Princes especially of Sabaudia and the Country of France it was much wasted in the time of the warres betweene the Emperour Charles the fifth and Francis King of France The chiefe Citty of this Country is the ancient Citty Taurinum which Ta●itus Pliny and Ptolomy doe call Augusta Taurinorum Antonius saith in many places that this Citty was called Taurinorum from the people it is commonly called Turino Stephanus the Gramarian would have it so called from a Bull which was the armes of the Massilians whose Colonie it was it lyeth at the mouth of Duria on Padus in a foure square figure and hath foure Gates and many faire Aedifices or buildings and it hath plenty of all things The chiefe Church is consecrated to Saint Iohn Baptist besides which there are some 20. other Churches or thereabouts also there is the Dukes Palace and a famous University in which Erasmus Roterodamus was made Doctor of Divinity This was one of the first Citties in Italy which had a Printing house it is THE THIRD TABLE LOMBARDY PEDEMONTANA regio cum GENVENSIVM territorio MONTISFERNATI Marchionatu also a Bishoprick Neere the Hill there is Rivoli a populous Towne and a little farther neere the River Po there is the Towne Carignano A little higher betweene the Rivulets and Aviliana there is the faire Monastery of Saint Antonius Ravisinus and a little from thence neere the Monastery of Saint Ambrose there is Susa which the most doe reckon to be in Saubaudia Neere to Po sixe miles from the mouth of Sangonus there is a Towne which they call in their Country speech Pinarolo which is very rich and hath a sumptuous Monastery a little above there is Petrosa and on the left side of the Fountaine Sangonus there is Pagellato and Bricasse on the right side of the Mountaine Bobius Not farre from the River Pelice which runneth into Po there is Villa Franca where a Bridge doth joyne both the Bankes of the River Po. There are also by the Springhead or Fountaine of Padus Revello and Paisana and a little farther Critio and a little farther Mambrin● where the Valley of Po beginneth The Inhabitants doe call it Valle di Lucerna from a Castle which is there of the same name The Marquiship of MONTIS-FERRAT NOw the pleasant and fruitfull Country Montis-ferrat is to bee unfolded which is so called as Lea●der thinketh as it were M●ns Ferax the fruitfull Mountaine in regard of the fertility of the little Hills which are in it or from Ferro that is from Iron by comparison because as Iron doth excell all other Mettals both for strength and hardnesse so this Country doth excell all other Countries for plenty of sweet and pleasant fruit as also for Wine Merula Lib. 6. Antiqu. V●cecom doth describe Montis-ferrat in this manner Mons est perpet●is expansus jugis totus amaenus fructifer omniumque rerum ad vitam utilium fertilis est colonis admodum frequens Incipit diu●no fere itinere ab Alpibus planitieque seperatur quae inter hos colles Alpes intercedit Nihil his incultum quidquam propter summam soli bonitatem oportunitatemque Lavam Tanarus dextram Padus alluit nec ullius alveum Regio egreditur Quanto magis autem ab amnibus abscedunt Colles tanto majores amoenioresque Campi inter eos panduntur quos haud malè Mesopotamiam queas dicere quippe quod amnibus utrinque sint inclusi That is it is one continued Mountaine pleasant and fruitfull and yeelding abundance of all things necessary and it is full of Husbandmen It beginneth almost a dayes journey from the Alpes and it is separated from them with a Plaine which lyeth betweene these Hills and the Alpes It is all tilled in regard of the goodnesse of the soyle This River Tanarus watereth the left side and Po the right side neither doe their Channels reach further than this Country But where the Hills lye farthest from the Rivers there are fairer and pleasanter Fields which may be well called Mesopotamia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because they lye in the middle betweene Rivers The Of-spring of Palaeologa did first possesse the Marquiship of Montis-ferrat even to the yeere 1534. when after the decease of George the last of the Palaeologians the Emperour Charles the fifth declared the Duke of Mantua to be lawfull Heir of Montis-ferrat The Marquiship was made a Dukedome in the yeere
Towres on the walls and heretofore 750. There are the 14. Quarters and Regions of the Citty but their names are changed It is watered with the River Tiber and Almo There are also in many places the ruines of Fountaines and Aqua ducts or Conduites There are divers Market-places and seven Hills within the walls Whence some doe call Roma Septicollis because it is seated seven Hills Varro calls it Septimontium and Statius Sc●●mgemina Moreover there are in this Citty above 300. Churches There are foure Vaults under earth where when the Emperours did persecute the Christians they hid themselves There were and are 28. Churchyards or burying places There are five publike Hospitals for Strangers of all Nations and 20. severall Hospitals for severall Nations besides an University And there are Seminaries and Colledges of all Nations instituted by Pope Gregory the third There are many publike Libraries three in the Vatican one of choise Bookes which is shut and another which is not kept so close and a third which on Holy-dayes is open two houres for all commers There are also other Libraries in S. Maries Church and the Church of the Altar of Heaven S. Martins S. Augustines and other wheres There are also divers Gardens and Palaces in this Citty which belong to the Pope and the Cardinals There are both publicke and private Conduites Bathes Triumphant Arches Amphitheaters Theaters Cirques Galleries Pillars Spires Colosses or great Images Pyramisses Horses Statues and many other such like antiquites which our intended brevitie will not permit us to number or describe He that beholdeth these things and compareth them with ancient Rome may worthily say Qui miseranda videt veteris vestigia Rom● Ille potest merito dicere Roma fuit Hee that the ruines doth of Rome behold May justly say that this was Rome of old And so much concerning Rome from whence as you goe Southward the Towne which the Latines and Greekes call Ostia doth offer it selfe which hath an unwholesome pestilent ayre but the soyle beareth great store of Melons So leaving Ostia I will take a view of the other chiefe Townes of Latium which are seated by the Sea Neptunium is situate on a more fruitfull soyle where the Citizens have leisure to Hawke and Fish There is also As●ura which is a memorable place both by the vnworthy death of M. Tullius Cicero who was slaine there as he fled from Antony and also by the fatall death of Corradinus the sonne of the Emperour Frederick the second whom Charles Eculismensis put to death There is also Taracina or Tarracina which Strabo calls Taracina Ptolemy Tarraecina Stephanus Tarracine and Antoninus Tarracina In the Volscian language it was called Auxur It is a small Towne but neat and populous The walls are made of square stone without Mortar or Cemont the soyle round about is fruitfull and pleasant abounding with Oranges Citternes Lemmons and such like fruit Cajeta which Strabo calls Cajatta and now Gajetta is a well fortified Citty having an impregnable Castle on the top of a Mountaine which in former time the Frenchmen being expulsed Ferdinand King of Arragon and Naples did wall it about Spartianus reports that there was a famous Haven here which was much renewed and re-edified by Anton. Pius But now there is none The next is Velitra which Strabo calleth Belitra and Stephanus Belitre or as some doe write Belletri it is an ancient Towne of the Volscians faire and populous and it is a Bishoprick it hath a delightfull Situation and a pleasant Prospect and it is walled about That which the Latines and Graecians doe call Alba the ancient Writers doe surname it longa Alba or long Alba in regard of the Situation It is now called Savello if we may credit Leander others doe call it Gandolffi or S. Gandolffo It was built by Ascanius the Sonne of Aeneas 30. yeeres after Lavinium CAMPAGNA DI ROMA OR LATIVM· LATIUM nim Campagna di Roma was built but now it is desolate Now let us describe the more Northerne parts of Latium by the way Valeria Tiburtina Here the first is that which Ptolemy calls Tiber Strabo Tibura and now Tivola It is a Citty by the River Aniene being 150. Furlongs distant from Rome having a temperate ayre and a wholesome situation in regard it hath great store of Waters and Springs and it is a Bishoprick Maruvium by the Lake Fucinum was heretofore the chiefe Citty of the Marsians now there are some ruines onely remaining which are commonly called Marvo The Latines and Strabo doe call it Alba. And Strabo reporteth that the Romanes were wont to assigne Alba because it was situate in the innermost parts of the Country and was well fortified as a Prison for those which were to be kept in custody but now it is fallen downe and ruinate Praeneste which Strabo calls Praenestus Ptolemy Praenestum and now Pilastrina had heretofore a very pleasant and delightfull situation on a bending Mountaine by the River Venest●is in so much that when the Romane Empire flourished the Emperours did often make it their place of retirement and recreation There is a Castle on the top of the Mountaine and it is now a Bishoprick Tusculum was famous heretofore which they suppose by the ruines yet remaining was not farre from Frasca●a There are more Townes in this noble part of Italy which for brevity sake wee omit There are also Lakes in Latium as the Lake Hostia which is commonly called Stagro Betweene Marinus and long Alba there is the Alban Lake which Livy mentions Lib. 5. it is now called Lago di Castel Gangolfo there is also the Nemorensian Lake which is now called Lago di Nemo the Lake Iuturna or Regillus now called Lago de S. Prassode the Lake Fucinus now called Lago di Marsos Pliny also describeth the Pontine or Pomptine Lake in Latium which is now called the Lake Aufente There is also the Fundane Lake the Tiburrine the Coecubian and the Simbruine Lakes The Rivers are Tiber which I have delineated in the generall description and divers other Rivers which having lost their names doe runne into the Sea with it The other Rivers of Latium as they were anciently call'd are Numicius Loracina Stura Nymphaeus and Vfens Moreover besides the 7. Hills aforesaid whereon Rome is seated Albanus is most famous in all Greeke and Latine Writers The Mountaine Caecubus which reacheth to the Cajetan Bay is noted for bearing excellent rich Wines There are also the Mountaines Vestinus Algidus Aventinus Lepinus Catillus Halicarnassaeus doth mention the Ceraunian Mountaines of Latium The Woods are Feronia Iupiters Wood Diana's Wood the Wood Naevia the Muses Wood the cold Wood the Wood Albuna the Wood Angitia and the Wood Furina The people of this Country even untill these times except it be in the Cities are rude rustick stout and strong of body Mercator doth thus describe the Ecclesiastick government Rome is the Mother Church in which the Pope resideth and hath under him within the Citty 5.
remaineth that wee should speake somewhat of Dalmatia a part whereof is described in this Table It was so caled from Deliminium the Metropolis of this Country Heretofore Dalmatia was a potent Kingdome and the Dalmatians were heretofore strong and rich and confident in the situation of their Country They lived for the most part in Woods and so were much given to robbing The Citties are Salanum and not far from the borders of this Country the Citty Apollonia is situated by the Sea side neere unto which there is a Rocke which sendeth forth flashes of fire and beneath it hot water and Brimstone doth boyle forth especially when the Rocke blazeth and burneth The Ecclesiasticall government according to Mercator is in this manner There is the Archbishop Iadra who they now call Zara. Under whom are Anzara Vegla Arbe also the Archbishop of Spalato nuder whom are the Bishops Tragurium of Teniensis Tina Sardona Temnensis Nenensis Nonensis Almisa Sibinicensis Farensis The Archbishop of Ragusine under whom are Stagnensis Rossonensis Tribuniensis Bacensis Rosensis Bidnanensis Budva The Archbishop Antiberensis under whom are the Bishops of Dulcinium Suacinensis Drinastensis Polastrensis Scodrensis Sardensis Surtanensis or Acutarensis Arbensis VVALACHIA SERVIA BVLGARIA ROMANIA VALACHIA was so called from the Flaccians a Nation of the Romanes For the Romanes having overcome the Getes brought thither a Colonie under the conduct of one Flaccus whence it was first called Flaccia and afterward Valachia The Alpes and a continued ridge of Mountaines doe devide it from Hungary and Transilvania It hath on the East a Lake full of Fish which the River Pruth maketh on the South it is bounded with Danubius and on the West it toucheth upon Transilvania by the Towne Severine where there is Trajans Bridge which had 34. Piles On the North it is bounderd with the small River Hoina and Ister and so the Country bendeth over against the Iland Pauce well knowne to Writers which they now call Barillana But Valachia although it be encompassed with high Mountaines yet it yeeldeth all things necessary Moreover it is rich in Mines of Gold Silver Iron and Salt Neither doth it want Vineyards but it hath divers kindes of Cattle especially excellent Horses and Ginnets Here is the Towne Teniovizza where the Vaivode resideth There are also other Townes as Braila and Trescortum not farre from which there is Brimstone digged of which they make Candels as of waxe The other parts of this County doe consist of Villages the Rivers Hierasus which the Inhabitants call Pruth Hoyne Danubius and others SERVIA· SERVIA which Lazius calls the higher Maesia is a Country betweene Bosnia and Bulgaria Some suppose that this was the Triballians Country and that these people came hither at the declining of the Graecian and Romane Empire Cuspianus and Volaterranus doe write that the Trojans did inhabit Servia and Rasica The chiefe Citty of Servia was Sinderovia which some doe call Spenderoben and other Simandria or Semendria the Turkes doe call it Semender and the Hungarians Zendrow which lyeth not farre from Belgradus by the bankes of Danubius and it was taken by the Turkish Emperour Amurath in the yeere 1428. and reduced into a Sangiacate under the Beglerbeg of Buda There are also the Townes Vidina which the Turkes call Kiratovum which is seated by the Mountaine Argentarus Also Novogradum on the borders of Servia which some do call the new Mountaine it hath an impregnable Castle There is also the black Mountaine in which there are Silver Mines There are also Samandria and Prisdena where the Emperour Iustinian was borne Also Stonibrigadum and Belgradum heretofore called Taurunum VVALACHIA· WALACHIA SERVIA BULGARIA Roman BVLGARIA· BULGARIA is so called as it were Volgaria because certaine people comming from Volga about the yeere of our Lord 566. did possesse this Country Some thinke that this Country is the lower Maesia It lyeth betweene Servia Romania and Danubius This Country for the most part is Mountainous and it runneth out on the back side of the Mountaine Haemus toward Danubius and Romania whence the middle part of the Country is ragged the steepe parts of it are ful of solitary Woods The Metropolis of this Country is Sophia which Niger thinketh to be that Towne which Ptolemy calls Vibiscum Here the Beglerbeg of Greece resideth whom the Turkes call Rumelt Beglerbeg who hath 21. Sangiacates under him There is also Serrajum a famous Citty of Bulgaria And Nicupolis which is governed by Sangiacks Neere this Citty there are some ruines of an admirable Bridge which the Emperour Irajan built over Danubius when he warr'd against the Getes ROMANIA· ROMANIA is next to Bulgaria which was so called from the chiefe Citty Constantinople which was called also Roma ●●va or new Rome It was heretofore called Thrace either from Thra●es the Sonne of Mars or from the Nimph Thrara or rather a feritate seu temeritate from their wildnesse or rashnesse It is parted from Macedon by the River Strymon on the North is the River Haemus on the other sides the Sea washeth it This Country hath neither good ayre nor soyle and except it bee that part which lyeth toward the Sea it is cold and unfruitfull But by the ●ea it hath fruit and Corne. It hath few Apple trees and but few Vines which unlesse they be defended from the cold the Grapes of them doe seldome come to maturity or ripenesse It hath these Citties Abdera where Democritus was borne also Nicopolis Philippop●lis Hadrianopolis Trajanopolis Selymbria Perinthus and many others The Metropolis or Mother Citty is Bizantium which was built by Pausanias now they call it Constantin●ple from Constantine who made it the seate of his Empire The Turkes call it Stampolda as it were a large Citty It is seated by an arme of the Sea and it hath Pera over against it which they call Galata which was an ancient Colony of the Genuensians There are divers Monuments of Antiquity in this Citty some of which were brought thither from Rome The chiefe are the Church of Sophia which was built by the Emperour Iustinian The Palace of Constantine St. Lukes Church A new Castle a Colossus a place to ride Horses and many old Steeples Two Rivers doe water it Cydrus commonly called Machl●vam and Barbises also Chartaricon The compasse of this Citty is 13. miles And there are in it 700. thousand Inhabitants This Country hath but few Rivers but those very famous as Hebrus Melanes 〈◊〉 Arsas B●●●n●● and N●sla It hath these Mountaines Haemus Rhodope Orbelus Pa●geus and Messapus these Countries are now subject to the Turke who hath a Palace at Constantinople Of whose power and government I will speake briefly There are about 200. whom the Turke every 4. yeeres doth command to gather thorow Greece Walachia Bosnia and Anatolia and his other Territories all the Christian Male Children out of every Family as a tenth due unto him which they bring to Constantinopolis Pera and Adrianopolis and deliver them to Citizens
Archbishop Thebanensis Iorocemensis Castoriensis The Archbishop Athenensis under whom are Thermopylensis Davaliensis Salonensis Nigropontensis Molgarensis Roonensis Eginnensis The Archbishops Corcyrensis and Duracensis MOREA HEERETOFORE CALLED PELOPONNESVS SO much concerning the chief Countries of Greece which are in the Continent Morea and Candia are next to be unfolded The former Ptolemy Strabo and Steph. doe call Peloponnesus it is a Peninsula but now it is happily called Morea from the incursions of the Moores Heretofore as Apolloderus and Pliny doe witnesse it was called Apia and Pelasgia Strabo delivers that it was Argos and afterward Argos Achaicum and Orosius Lib. 1. cap. 11. saith that it was called Achaja And also Apulejus in his 6. Booke of the golden Asse Eustathius did also call it Pelopia and Stephanus Inachia And in Eusebius Chronicle it is called Aegialia It was called Pelopon●esus from Pelops a barbarous man who comming out of Asia raigned here For Pelopis signifies an Iland whereas it is not an Iland but a Peninsula and as Mela writeth it is most like to a Plantine leafe being as broad as long The Perimeter or compasse of it is 4000. Furlongs unto which Artemedorus addeth 400. It is joyned to the continent by an Isthmus or necke of Land the breadth whereof is 40. Furlongs Many have vainely attempted to cut thorow this narrow tongue of ground as Demetrius C. Caesar Caligula Nero and others but being frustrated of their purpose they made a wall there which they called Hexamilium Amurath the Turke threw it downe and the Venetians re-edified it in the yeere 1453. in 15. dayes space but the Turkes afterward did raze it downe to the ground In this Isthmus there was heretofore the Temple of Neptune where the Isthmian sports and Playes were celebrated Pel ponnesus hath on the East the Cretian Sea on the West the Jonian or Hadriatick Sea on the North it hath the Corinthian and Saronick Bay betweene which is the Isthmus on the South it hath the Mediterranean Sea This Peninsula is the Castle and chiefe part of all Greece and Pliny saith that it is not inferiour to any Country For it hath plenty and abundance of all things which serve rather for pleasure or necessity It hath fruitful Plaines and Hills and it is full of Bayes and Havens which doe make many Promontories The Elians the Messenians the Achivi the Sicyonians the Corinthians the Laconians the Argives and the Arcadians did heretofore inhabite Pel●ponnesus And this part of Greece was famous heretofore thorow the whole world for the Common-wealths of the Myceneans Argives Lacedemonians Si●vonians Eliensians Arcadians Pylions and Messenions out of which there came many famous Princes as Agamemnon Menelaus Ajax and others For this Country in regard of the situation and Maiesty thereof did governe all the other parts of Gree●e But now all Pel●ponnesus is under MOREA· MOREA the Turkes Dominion as also the rest of Greece although it were valiantly defended by some Earles of Greece whom they call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Lords and also by the Venetians But now a Sangiack doth governe 〈◊〉 ●rea under the Turke who is more potent than all the rest who ●●●deth at Modonum and at the Beglerbeys of all Greeces command hee i● to bring a thousand Horse into the Field at his owne cost and charges This Sangiack is called by the Barbarians Morabegi whose yeerely revenewes in this Province 700000. Aspers that is 14. thousand Crownes But it appeareth in Ptolemy and other Authors that all this Country was devided into 8. Provinces which are Corinth Argia Lacon●a Messenia Elis Achaja Sicyonis and Arcadia Corinth is seated in the Isthmus it was so denominate from the chiefe Citty which was first called Ephyre Cicero doth worthily call it the light of Greece It hath a Haven on either side the one whereof looketh toward Asia the other toward Italy so that the convenient situation made it soone grow famous and the Isthmian Playes which were celebrated here Acrocorinthe was seated on a Mountaine 3. Furlongs and a halfe high and under it was Corinth 40. Furlongs in compasse On the top of the Mountaine there was a temple dedicated to Venus neere which was the Fountaine Pyrene which did first spring up as the Poets report from a stroke of Pegasus his hoofe who was the winged Horse of the Muses This Citty was raz'd by L. Mummius because they had discourteously entertained the Romane Embassadours after it had beene builded 952. yeeres by Aletes the Sonne of Hippotes as you may finde it in Pater●u●us Argia followeth which Ortelius calleth Romania The Citties of this Country are Mycenae where Agamemnon had his Palace whence Ovid calleth it Agamemnons Mycenae it was famous for the ancient temple of Iuno whence Iuno was called Argiva They report that the Cyclops did wall it about Not farre from hence was the Lake Lerna where Hercules kild the Lernaean Hydra or rather did scatter and kill the Theeves that did rob in those parts The Citty Argo● was built as some report by Argus Nauplia now called Neapolis is a strong Citty of Romania Epidaurus is in the innermost part of the Saronian Bay a Citty famous for Esculapius temple Next to Argia is Laconia The Metropolis or Mother Citty whereof is Sparta which was also called Lacedaemon and now Misithra it was heretofore a great potent Citty being not fortified with walls but by the valour of the Cittizens neither doth Pomponius praise it for magnificent Buildings but for Licurgus his Lawes and Discipline in which it contended with Athens as Thucidides noteth in his 8. Booke Leuctra may be knowne out of Plutarch by that sad and tragicall History of Scedasus Daughters There is also Epidaurus which is now called Malvasia Messenia reacheth from the Mountaine Taygetus and the River Panijsus even to Alpheus The chiefe Citty of it is Messene situate by the Sea it is now called Mattegia Aristomenis was the Country where renowned Messenius was borne who as Pausanias reporteth being ripped open after he was dead had a hairy Heart There is also Methone now called Modon where the Turkish Sangiack did sometimes keepe his residence Corone is now called Coron Pilus was the Country where Homers eloquent Nestor who lived three ages was borne And Ciparissi is now called Arcadia Elis is situate betweene Messenia Achaja and Arcadia The Citties are Elis thorow the middle whereof Peneus and Alpheus did runne famous for Iupiters temple Olympia was famous for the solemne Graecian Playes which were called Olympian games and for the sumptuous Temple of Iupiter Olympius which by the offrings and gifts of potent Princes and other men grew so great and beautifull that there was no Church in all Greece that could compare with it for magnificence and riches for Iupiter was religiously reverenced here Cipselus the Tyrant of Corinth did consecrate and sett up a golden Iupiter at Olympia of massie gold Afterward Phidius the Athenian did sett up a great Image of Iupiter of Gold
●dumaea It was so called from Iudah which was the chiefe Tribe in which there were many Citties and Townes but the fairest of them all was Hierusalem the Metropolis of Iudaea and the most famous Citty in the World In Ptolemies time it was called Ae●ia Capatolia and now the barbarous Inhabitants doe call it Coz or Godz or Chutz There are also other Townes and famous places in Iudaea beside Hierusalem as Iericho Ioppe which is now called I●ffa Stratoes Towre afterward call Caesars Towre also Bethlehem Chebron or Hebron before called Arbee and Mambre and Cariatharbe that is the Citty of foure men And the Towne Macherus with a strong Castle beyond Iordane ●ere were also Sodom and Gomorrah which were destroyed for their abominable wickednesse Samaria followeth which is situate in the middle betweene Iudaea and Galile It was so called from the Metropolis of the same name which Amri King of Israel built it is now called Sebaste here are these Townes Sichem afterward called Neapolis also Capernaum Bethsaida and Chorazin Galiley is situate beweene the Mountaine Liba●us and Samaria and it is devided into the higher and the lower the higher is otherwise call'd the Galiley of the Gentiles neere to Tyre The lower is situate by the Sea of Tiberias or Genezareth The Citties in it are Naim Cana Nazareth and Gadara Butthe whole Country is situate betweene two Seas and the River Iordane It hath many Lakes which are Navigable and have great store of good Fish But the Riuer Iordane which the Hebrewes call Iarden runneth thorow all the length of this Country This River as Hierome writeth issueth from two Fountaines not farre distant one from another namely ●or and Dan and afterward these two forked streames joyning together doe make the River Iordan It hath two chiefe Mountaines Hermon on the East and Tabor on the West which are very high and all the other Mountaines are but armes and parts of them For Ebal Bethoron and Misha or Maspha and Be●el by Hermon Gelboe Gerizim Sarona and lastly Carmel neere to the Sea are but part of the Mountaine Tabor There are also these Mountaines Mount Sion Mount Moriah Mount Olivet Mount Calvary and others It hath also many Woods Wildernesses and Groves Here are many faire buildings and especially at Hierusalem But of all those workes which were famous in ancient time the chiefe is Mons Domus and the Jebusians Tower into which King David carried the Arke of the Lord and there is continued untill Salomons Temple was built and consecrated of which there are some ruines yet remaining where it is thought that Christ supped at the time of the Passeover There are also some Monuments of David and the Kingdome of Iudah There was also Davids House which is still preserved and called by the name of Davids Tower Here also some ruines of Mello at the farthest part of the Mountaine Moriah Here was Salomons famous Temple which was 7. yeeres building and had 50000. men working daily at it Concerning the magnificence and statelinesse whereof you may reade in Lib. 1. of the Kings Cap. 6.7 Chron. Lib. 2. Cap. 3. 4. Concerning their Lawes and Customes for brevity sake I will adde nothing but referre the Reader to the Bookes of Moyses Exodus Leviticus Numbers and Deuteronomy ASIA THE LESSE VVHICH IS NOVV CALLED NATOLIA ASIA the lesse so called to distinguish it from the greater is now to be described for so the Romanes when they made a Province did call it after the name of the Continent The Turkes doe call it now Natolia or A●atolia as if you should say the East Country from the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies the East which Peter Bellonius sheweth in his learned observations of his travels And it is called of late the greater Turky Marius Niger delivers that the Low-Country-men call it new Turky and the Barbarians Rom namely the Northerne part which containeth Bithynia Galatia and Cappadocia But they call the Southerne Country in which are Licia Cicilie and Pamphilia Cottomanid●a The bounds of this Country on the East is the River Euphrates on the South the Mediterranean Sea on the West the Aegean Sea or the Archipelagus of Greece on the North it is washed with the Euxine Sea and the greater Sea It containeth therefore all that Chersonesus which lyeth betweene the Euxine the Cilician and Pamphilian Sea The breadth of it according to Pliny is about 200. miles namely from the Isacan Bay now called Golfo de Lajazzo and the Amanian Haven even to Trapezuntes which is on the Sea Coast in which he consenteth with Herodotus who saith that the Isthmus of the lesser Asia is 5. dayes journey This Country is not inferiour to any other both for the gentle temperatenesse of the ayre and the fertility and goodnesse of the soyle Which Cicero witnesseth in these words The Custome and Revenues of other Provinces O Citizens are so small that we are not content to undertake the defence of the Provinces for them But Asia is so fat and fruitfull that it excelleth all other Countries both for the fertility of the Fields the variety of Fruits faire Pastures and divers commodities which are exported from thence So that it was heretofore enriched with fruitfull Fields fatt Pastures and Gold-bearing Rivers Besides it hath all things that can be desired wanting nothing but is content with her owne commodities It hath great store of Wine and Oyle But it hath one shrewd inconvenience which is that it is often troubled with Earth-quakes so that Citties are over-throwne by them as in the raigne of Tiberius Caesar 12. Citties in Asia fell downe in one night as Pliny reporteth Lib. 2. In this Asia there were heretofore the great Kingdomes of the Trajans of Craesus Mithridates Antiochus of the Paphlagonians Galatians Cappadocians and others It was first governed by Cyrus King of Persia afterward the Macedons and Alexanders Captaines together with Syria Aegypt and Babylon did devide it amongst themselves afterwards it was wasted by the Romanes and then by the Turkes so that it hath now nothing memorable in it and it is all subject to the Turkish Emperour Here are no Nobility THE LESSER ASIA· PEREGRINATIO PAULI In qua omnis loca querit●● fit 〈◊〉 in actis et epistolis Apostolorum et Apocal●psi describunt●● by blood or descent but all are equall and the great Turke uses them as slaves who hath here his Beglerbeys and Sangiacks in divers Countries and Provinces Natolia containeth these Countries Pontus Bithynia Asia properly so called Lycia Galatia Pamphilia Cappadocia Cil●cia and the lesser Armenia Pontus and Bithynia were heretofore devided and parted by the little River Sagaris flowing between them afterward they were reduced into one Province which is now called Birsia or Be●sangial It was heretofore Mithridates his Kingdome The chiefe Citties are Chalcedon Ni●●media Cerasus Prusa by the Mountaine Olympus where the great Turke kept his residence before he tooke
namely India on this side Ganges and India beyond Ganges It is thought that the latter is called in the sacred Scriptures Hevila or as some write Havilah or Evilath and the former Seria But wee reade in Marius that the Inhabitants doe call it Macyn or Magin others that follow Mercator doe call it Mangi and China Iohn Barrius affirmeth that the Inhabitants doe call the former ●ndostan It is the largest Country of all the world Pomponius writeth that a ship may sayle 60. dayes and nights along the coast of it But it is bounderd according to Pliny and Strabo on the West with the River Indus which divideth Persia from India on the North is the Mountaine Taurus on the East it is encompassed with the Easterne Ocean on the South with the Indian Ocean The Country hath a wholsome gentle ayre yet it is so great that it hath a different climate in many places for in some places it is hott namely toward the Aequator and in other places temperate enough and rather cold towards the North. But the Countrey it selfe in generall both for the Situation the ayre and the fertility of the Soyle doth farre exceede other parts of the world Here new Starres doe rise and set and here are two Harvests in a yeare and two Summers and the Winter is in the middle betweene them and the Estesian or East windes doe coole and qualifie the heate Although this Countrey for the most part hath no Wheate yet it yeeldeth plenty of Pulse and other graines and especially of Barley and Rice It doth also bring forth divers other fruits as Pepper Franckincense Myrrhe Ginger and in the most Southerne parts Cinnamon Spicknard and other Aromaticks and sweet spices as Arabia and AEthiopia There are also Honey or Sugar Canes Besides it hath many Druggs and rootes of trees some of which are wholsome and some hurtfull What should I speake of their Mettalls stones and Mineralls For there is great store of gold and silver in the Countrey as also of Brasse Iron and Copper as Diadorus witnesseth But Plinny saith that it hath neither Brasse nor Leade but instead thereof Precious stones and Pearles which the Sea casteth up upon the shoare For it hath abundance of Berills Adamants Carbuncles and Pearles Here is silke enough to furnish all the world Here are greater beasts than in others parts of the world as Oxen Cammels Lions Dogs and Elephants There are great store of Elephants And great Dragons in the Wildernesse that are as bigge as Elephants and doe fight continually with them And Dogs as fierce as Lions And great store of Serpents which the Inhabitants doe roast and eate and a kind of THE EAST INDIES· INDIA Orientalis Ants which they eate with Pepper as we doe Crabfishes Here are white Apes and Cameleons which were heretofore thought to live by aire Moreover there are divers sorts of Birds not knowne to other Nations besides great store of Hens Pheasants and Partridges and also Parrets of divers colours Plinny writeth thus of the Indies The Indians alone of all nations were never droven out of their Countrey they had from Bacchus to Alexander the great 153. Kings in 6402. yeares and 3. monethes And Strabo writeth that never any but Bacchus Hercules and Alexander got the victory against them although Cirus and S●mirami● assailed them often But leaving these matters let us passe to the Citties The companions of Alexander the great doe write that there were 5000. Townes in that part of India which they conquer'd and every one as bigge as Co whence you may easily collect the vast largenesse of this Countrey The chiefe Citty is Calechut which is the famous Mart of all the East There are also other Citttes as Cambaja Dec●n Batticalla Canonor and many others There are also many great Lakes In the history of Alexander there is a mention made of a Lake which hath great old wood in it here Alexanders army was like to perish for thirst But the greatest Lake of all is Chiamy which is 400. Miles in compasse and is 600 Miles distant from the Sea Hence many chiefe Rivers doe issue the next unto this Lake is ●incuthay and others Here are many great Rivers It is reported that Alexander the great did sayle every day 600. Furlongs in the River Indus yet he could but sayle over it in 5. moneths and odde dayes and yet it is lesser than Ganges It riseth out of the Mountaine Ca●sasus which is called Paropamissus and now Naugocrot and so having runne 900. miles it dischargeth it selfe into the Southerne or Indian Ocean In which compasse of ground it receiveth 20. Rivers but the famousest are Hydaspes which bringeth 4. others with it and Cantabra which bringeth three with it Some say that the Rivers Ganges doe issue from unknowne Springs as Nilus and that it watereth the Country round about as Nilus doth some say that it riseth out of the Scythian Mountaines and that 19. Rivers doe runne into it Some say that the Springs thereof doe breake forth with great violence and so rowling down thorow the Rocks it runneth first thorow the Plaines and from thence glideth gently forward and that it is 8. miles broad in the narrowest part of it and in other places 100. Furlongs broad and is no where lesse then 20. yards deepe This River in the Scriptures is called Phison But now Geographers doe seeke for it For some suppose it is that River which floweth into the Bay of Bengala perhaps in regard of the affinity betweene their names for the Inhabitants doe call it Guengua But our Mercator sheweth by good probable reasons that Ganges is that River which is called Rio de Cantaon Next to these Rivers there are the Rivers Mandona Chaberis Ava Campumo Menam Menon and many others Megasthenes reporteth that there are 60. Rivers in the Indies many of which doe overflow their bankes in the Summer like Nilus which is the chiefe cause of the fruitfulnesse and fertility of this Country It is said that Ganges hath Crocodiles as well as Nilus also Dolphins and Eeles 30. foote long as Pliny witnesseth Moreover the chiefest part of the East-Indies lieth over against the Southerne or Indian Ocean by the Shore or Sea Coast which although for the most part it hath Havens yet in many places it is so environd with Ilands Rocks and Sands that it is dangerous sayling that way Solinus saith that the Indian Seas have Whales as bigge as 4. Acres of ground There is also a kinde of Fish called a Whirle-poole which are very great and will lift themselves above the Hatches of a Ship and will so spout Sea-water out of their spouts that the waight of it falling downe againe is ready to overset Ships Here are many Mountaines so that it would bee troublesome to reckon them many of which have no greene things on them Imaus Emodus Par●pamissus doe joyne together being parts of Caucasus The Woods in the Indies as Solinus
Mulberries And it hath many other fruits which are unknowne to us especially a kinde of Graine call'd Maiz which is like Pepper of which they make Bread It yeeldeth also divers living Creatures as Sheep Kine Goates Hogges Horses Asses Dogs Cats and other Beasts all which are found in the West-Indies Also Lions Beares Tigers Boares Foxes and other wilde Beasts also Harts Hares and Connies Besides these there is a kinde of Beast called Sainos which is like a little Hogge● which have their Navells on the top of their back There are great store of them in the Woods and also of other Beasts which for brevity sake I omit There is also great variety of Fowle as Geese Ducks Starlings and Hens which are bigger than ours and divers other The Spaniards first tooke possession of this Country under the conduct of their Captaine Ferdinando Cortes with a great losse and slaughter of their own men and of the Inhabitants in consideration whereof the Emperour Charles the fifth gave them New Spaine is situate by Mare del Nort or the Northerne Sea The Spaniards have here two Colonies namely Panuca and S. Iames of the Valleyes Colonie Lastly there is in new Spaine the Citty Tlascalan which is second to Mexico which is very populous and rich and hath a fruitfull soyle round about it it is governd like a Common-wealth but it is under the possession of the King of Spaine There are in new Spaine many Lakes which are for the most part so salt that Salt is made out of them The chiefe Lake is that which in regard of the bignesse thereof is call'd the Chapalican Sea There is also the Lake of the Citty Mexico There are also many Rivers in it full of Fish some of which have golden Sands There are also Crocodiles in them which the Inhabitants doe eate The Country also is full of Mountaines and rugged Rocks In the Province of Mexico there is a flaming Mountaine which the Inhabitants call Popocampeche There is also a Mountaine in the Country Guastecan in which there are two Fountaines the one of black Pitch the other of hot red Pitch Moreover this Country is full of Woods and generally it hath great store of Trees especially of that Tree of which they make Boates or Canoas of one bough It hath also Cedars which are so tall and thicke that they cut square timber out of them which is 120. foote long and 12. broad and such great store of it that you may say that Ceders doe grow as commonly on their Mountaines as Oakes doe on ours I come to the publike workes There were in these parts of the Indies many faire and magnificent Temples consecrated to Idols and ordained for the worship of the Divell which the Spaniards heretofore called Cu. First there was in the Citty Mexico the famous Temple Vitziliputzli being very large within But the care which the Mexicans shew in educating and bringing up their children is very strange for they know assuredly that there is nothing which availeth more to the right ordering of publike or private matters than the instruction of children The Indians are cunning Artificers in Mechanick Arts especially in weaving of divers sorts of Birds feathers and Beasts skins and they are so painefull and laborious that oftentimes they doe not eate in a whole day untill they have coyned and neately filled some one feather and then they view it on every side both in the Sunne and in the shade that they may see whether it will become them to weare it with their haire standing on end or lying on either side So that they will presently make any kinde of Beast or Flower or Hearbe and set it forth to the life The Goldsmiths are the chiefe Artificers and are more cunning than the rest so that they will expresse a thing to the life and they are excellent casters of mettall so that they will cast either any Hearbe or the smallest thing so lively that you shall thinke it to be naturall The Citty of Mexico hath the best government and policy of all new Spaine For it being the Metropolis of the whole Empire divers Nations of the same Country did flock thither to trade and traffique so that severall Nations kept their severall places and every 5. dayes they kept markets which were well furnished with all commodities So that severall Manufactures and kindes of Merchandise had a severall place appointed them which none could forestall or take up which was a great point of Policy Neither as Zenophon witnesseth in his Oeconomicks can any Citty or House bee governd more conveniently then by assigning every thing a certaine place which the Indians did observe THE DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRME LAND OR OF THE NEVV KINGDOME OF GRANADA THIS new Kingdome of Granada beginneth on the South neere the Mountaines of Opon the Country is is plaine and fruitfull and well inhabited especially in the Vales here Anthropophagi or Canibals doe live who are called Pancho● but they which dwell on the Firme Land doe hate their barbarousnesse in eating of mans flesh It is 130. leagues in length and 30. broad and it lyeth in 3.4 or 5. degrees of height It is devided into two speciall Provinces Bogata and Tunea it hath abundance of Gold and Emraulds The Inhabitants have comely bodies especially the Women who are better shaped and fairer colourd than their neighbours They weare Mantles dy'd black and white which they make fast beneath their breasts and so let them hang downe to their feete they adorne their heads with Flowers and Cotton Crownes of divers colours They are not troubled with cold for there is no great difference betweene their Summer and Winter The ayre also is good and wholesome and they make their Houses and Cottages of woodden boords which they cover with straw Their food is Maiz which is a kind of Corne and they eate also the flesh of wilde Beasts and they have store of Conies They delight much in Songs and Dancing and they are vaine lyars as more people are in this Country The soyle is fitt either for Pasturage or Tillage And in some parts there are Mines of Gold Copper and Latine Mettall The Metropolis of this Province is called S. Fidei de Bigota it is situate 4. degrees Northward from the Aequinoctiall Line neere the foote of the Mountaine in which there are 600. Inhabitants and there the royall Senate is held and the Kings Officers doe dwell This Citty is also adornd with a Cathedrall Church and two Monasteries the one of Dominicans the other Franciscans Five thousand men are ceased by this Senate and doe pay tribute It hath a cleare wholesome ayre The Citty Toycama is seated by the banke of the great River Patus it hath a cleare drie ayre and wholesome except it be when the heate is too immoderate The Inhabitants are couragious having small foreheads and heretofore they were all Anthropophagi or Men-eaters but now by conversing with the Spaniards they have left of that
over-against the Easterne Promontory of the greatest Iland Neere which there are many other Ilands to which the English have given severall names And that they might not want fresh water they have digged Wells not farre from the Sea shoare for the Sea doth not flow above a foote high The ayre in these Ilands is cleere and temperate and not too hot so that fruits brought from other places doe grow and thrive here very well but yet for want of heate they doe seldome come to maturity or ripenes they reape two Harvests in a yeere and their Wheate is bigger than ours Two graines of Maiz will grow to a pound waight Neither are they much troubled with cold or raine by reason of the divers windes which come from the Sea which doe also mittigate the heate they have thunder often but it doth no harme There are no venamous creatures in these Ilands neither doth the earth bring forth any venemous thing except one Plant. So that the English doe live here peaceably and commodiously and have abundance of all things necessary A DESCRIPTION OF THE SVMMER ILANDS Mappa AESTIVARVM Insularum alias Bermudas dictarum ad Ostia Mexicane SOVTHERNE AMERICA· SOutherne America or Pervana followeth betweene which and new Spaine there is a Neck of Land or Isthmus which is 18. miles broad Which keepeth the Country Pervana from being an Iland and it is called the Province Dariena from the great River Dariene Moreover all Southerne America hath the forme of a Pyramis being broad beneath and sharp toward the top the Base whereof is neere the Isthmus Northward the top thereof doth lesson by degrees like a Wedge even to the Straits of Magellan toward the Southerne Pole and so endeth in a sharp point The parts of it are many but these 5. are the chiefe Castella aurea Popajana Peruvia Chile and Brasilia Castell aurea or Castiglia del oro was so called from the great store of Gold which it hath It is situated by the Isthmus which joyneth the Southerne part of America to the Northerne The breadth of the Isthmus is 73. miles But this part of Land is but little inhabited in regard of the intemperatenesse of the ayre and Marshes or standing waters And it hath no Corne but they gather their Maiz twice or thrice a yeere It hath two Citties Nombre de dios by Mare dael Nort or the North Sea and Panama by Mare del Sur or the South Sea It hath Gold-bearing Rivers and Mines of Gold whence great store of Gold is gotten The Country Popayana beginneth from the North side at the Citty Antioch and endeth on the South side at the Citty Quinto Therefore it is bounderd on the North with Castella aurea from which it is separate by the Citty Antioch On the South it bordereth on the Country Pervana and is parted from thence by the Citty Quinto on the East it is bounderd with the Kingdome of New Granada and the Country Pervana which beginneuh from thence Eastward On the West it hath the Southerne Sea This Country is full of high rugged Mountaines SOVTHERNE AMERICA AMERICA MERIDIONALIS The Kingdome of Chili is situate beyond the Tropick of Capricorne betweene Peruvia and the Country of the Patagons the latter on the North side the former on the South side on the West it hath Mare Pacificum or the peaceable Sea It was so called from the cold in these parts which is so vehement that it will freeze Horses and their Riders untill they be hard as Ice It hath raine and thunder and severall seasons according to the time of the yeere as in Europe but that it is Summer with them when it is Winter with us All the Country is partly Maritine and partly Mountainous the Maritine part which lyeth neere unto the Sea is the hotter The soyle is naturally fruitfull and hath abundance of all things necessary as Honey and Woad for Diers c. It hath also long Pepper and the Vines which were brought thither out of Spaine and planted there doe yeeld good Wine It hath also geeat store of pure Gold And the fruits which are brought out of Spaine and planted here doe easily grow here are great store of Cattell and Ostriches The Metropolis is S. Iames his Citty which is a Colony of Spaniards That part which lyeth neere the Sea is watered with many Rivers which together with the Snow which melteth with the dayes heate doe fall downe from the tops of the Mountaines and so runne into the Pacifique or Magellanick Sea but for the most part the vehemency of the cold doth freeze them by night but in the day time they runne when the Ice is thawed The Mountaines in these Countries doe exceed all the other Mountaines in the Indies The more Easterne Country Brasill remaineth which was so called from the great store of red wood growing there which is called Brasill wood It is situate betweene the two Rivers Maragnon and Della Plata Maffejus describeth it thus Brasil runneth forth from 2. degrees from the Aequator to 45. degrees Southward it lyeth in a triangular or three cornerd figure the Basis whereof is turned against the North and so runneth straite forward from the East unto the West The farthest corner or point doth reach to unknowne Countries Southward The East side hath the Ocean betweene it and Aethiopia A high ridge of Mountaines doth part the other side of it from the Province of Peruana which are so high that Birdes are tyred with flying to the top of them All the Country is pleasant and hath a delightfull wholesome ayre by reason that the gentle Breezes of winde which come from the Sea doe dispell the morning vapours and clouds and doe purifie the ayre This Country openeth partly into Plaines and riseth gently into Hills having a fat Glebe and a fruitfull soyle alwaies greene and for the seed which is sowne it returneth a great interest of increase and especially it hath great store of Sugar It hath many wilde Beasts which are partly knowne and partly unknowne and Birds of an excellent colour Here are many Colonies of Portugals who having built many Houses to boyle Sugar in namely Pernambicum Caput St. Augustini Portus Omnium Sanctorum where the Bishop and the President of the Province are resident This part of the Country is full of Fountaines Woods and Rivers as the Silver River which runneth into the Sea 40. leagues with such violence that the Marriners can take in fresh water from thence before they discover Land The Brasilians doe worship no Gods at all yet they adore the rising Sunne and they beleeve the immortality of the Soule THE STRAITES OF MAGELLANA· ANd so much concerning Southerne America Fretum Magellanicum or the Straites of Magellan are now briefely to be unfolded and described It was so called from Magellan who discoverd this narrow Sea Of whose skill and experience which hee shewed in finding out the Molucco Ilands by a
or of any rare and unusuall Creature or of the continuall burning of the Mountaine Aetna also of divers Islands lying here and there in the great Ocean and also of Salvage Nations some whereof goe naked without cloathes others feede on mans flesh and the like matters or doe reade the wonderfull histories of the East and West Indies in which there are many things which doe rather seeme fabulous than true doe apprehend them with such great admiration and give such earnest attention thereunto out of the desire which they have to heare such novelties how much more may the curious Readers delight in this worke which as we said before doth containe and represent the whole Globe of the Earth with all the Countries Kingdomes Dominions Woods Mountaines Valleys Rivers Lakes People Citties and innumerable Townes thereof with the Seas flowing about it all which any one may here view on dry land without endangering his body or goods and in this travell his friends shall not be sollicitous or take care for him in his absence or earnestly desire his returne Besides in this peregrination or travell he shall want no delight that may drive away the tediousnesse of the journey for while he fixeth his eyes on severall Countries and places he shall straight way behold the speciall gifts and peculiar excellencie of every Country and observe a wonderfull variety therein which are very delightfull to the mind for as the Proverbe saith A good merry companion is as a Coach upon the way But they shall chiefely discerne the great and manifold benefits of this Art of Geography who in their eye-travell and viewing of severall Countryes shall consider the scituation and disposition of Countries the Customes observations lawes and manners of the Inhabitants and shall afterwards traffique and send commodities to severall places or resolve to study the liberall Arts seeing no Poet nor Historian can be well read with profit nor be conveniently expounded or declared by any Interpreter or Commentator without the helpe and knowledge of this most Noble Science I omit here to mention how absurd and unfit it is that he who hath no skill nor knowledge in these matters should give his opinion and judgement in the publicke assembly or councell of the Common-wealth when consultation is held about the discovery of some unknowne Country or in time of warre concerning the bounds and confines of any Province But Princes and Noble men ought chiefely to bestow great paines in studdying this most excellent Art in regard it may be very usefull unto them in undertaking journies and voyages when occasion requireth as also at home for fortifying the Frontiers of their owne Territories or the directing and conducting of any warlike expedition For that irrecoverable dangers have ensued when an army hath beene led through places unknowne both to the souldiers and Captaine both Livy and many other Historiographers have abundantly testified by cleere and manifest examples And moreover as it is very necessary profitable and pleasant to know all Countries Kingdomes Dominions and Provinces with their scituation disposition and qualities so in like manner the severall Seas Rivers Lakes and memorable waters thereof ought to be considered exactly in these times when voyages are so frequently made unto knowne and unknowne Countries so that not any one will continually reside at home and abstaine from making discoveries both by Sea and Land So that Polidore Virgils complaint is now vaine who in the fifteenth chapter of the third Booke concerning the Invention of Matters doth condemne mankind of too much rashnesse and madnesse in regard he cannot bridle his affections and desires with reason and though God hath given him the Earth being a firme and immovable element abundantly producing all things necessary and convenient for mans life yet he being not content therewith hath made a Scrutiny and search into the starres the heavens and the vaste Seas To the same purpose Horace sung formerly in his first Booke and third Ode He had a heart of Oake or Brasse Who did lanch forth a brittle ship to passe At first through the rough Seas And did not feare when he set forth The Affrick wind striving with the North wind c. And a little after in the same place No sort of death he sure did feare That saw the Monsters swimming there And could behold them with drye eyes With the swelling Sea and rockes which in it lyes And afterward he addeth In vaine did God divide the land from the unsociable Seas If impious ships can sayle unto forbidden Ports when they doe please But mankind bold still to adventure doth on forbidden mischiefe enter c. And hereunto Propertius in his third Booke doth allude in that Elegie wherein he be wayleth Petus his Shipwracke where he singeth thus Goe crooked shippes of death the fatall cause Which on himselfe man with his owne hand drawes Vnto the earth wee added have the Seas That the miseries of misfortunes may increase And a little after Nature to ensnare the covetous man Doth let him sayle upon the Ocean But these reasons are not able to discourage any one but rather to quicken their industry greedily to take any occasion to know view and discover divers Countries both neerehand and remote partly by undertaking long voyages and those that cannot conveniently travell may gather the knowledge of all Countries out of Bookes and exact descriptions And truely that studdy is irreproveable so that it ought rather to be accounted laudible profitable pleasant and necessary For Strabo in the first Book of his Geography saith rightly that man ought to live on the Sea as well as on the land and that God made him equally an Inhabitant and Lord thereof Therefore they deserve great praise who have laboured in this Art as Abraham Or●elius Daniel Cellarius Anthony Maginus Paul Merula Peter Bertius and others but especially that most learned Mathematician Gerard Mercator although he were prevented by death so that he could not finish his Geographicall worke intituled Atlas But Iodocus Hondy did supply this defect adding not onely those Tables which were wanting to make the worke perfect but also accurate descriptions thereof by the labour and studdy of Peter Montane This worke we doe publish againe in this new Edition being accurately reuised and purged from many grosse errours and the studious Reader shall finde that the enlargement of this Booke is not to be contemn'd being set forth with divers additions and some new Tables added as he may see in the descriptions of England Ireland Spaine Friesland Groonland Vltrajectum and other Countries that shall compare this Edition with the former Therefore Curteous Reader enjoy these our new labours favour them and Farewell TO The vertuous and learned Gentlemen of Innes of Court Mercator dedicateth his Atlas or Cosmographicall Meditations TO you that are the Ornament of the Temples And by your actions give such faire Examples Vnto the Vulgar that their Iudgements can Discerne that Vertue makes a Gentleman
that for the fourth part Our Mercator doth distinguish this Globe of the Earth into three Continents hee calleth that the first which the Ancients divided into three parts the second that which we now call America the third the Southerne or Magellanicke land But we will divide the whole Globe into five patts Europe Africke Asia America and the Southerne Land EVROPE EUROPE though it be least of all yet with the chiefe Delineators of the terrestriall Globe we will describe it in the first place either for the excellencie of the soyle or the company of the inhabitants or in regard of their famous acts who have hitherto possessed it Pliny calleth it the Nurse of a People conquering all Nations and the most beautifull part of the Earth besides though other parts be greater and larger yet they are lesse inhabited and therefore for these and other causes wee may justly begin first with Europe which was the most noble inheritance of Iaphet who being Noahs eldest sonne enlarged his Territories even to the Land of his brethren Sem and Cham so much concerning the order in the next place we must shew the Etymologie of the name Herodotus noteth that the originall of this name was not knowne some say it was called so from one Europa a Tyrian the daughter of Agenor King of the Phoenicians of whom it is an ancient fable that Jupiter having transformed himselfe into a Bull and having set her on his backe carried her from Sydon into Creete or Cyprus Others rejecting fables do thinke she was carried away in a ship built in the forme of a Bull Others say it was a ship which had the protection of Iupiter and the image of a Bull upon it Palephatus of Creete writeth that it was a ship called the Bull which brought away from the Tyrian Countrie Europa the Kings daughter as captive with other maids Some do suppose that it was a militarie Legion which among other Ensignes had one Standard with the figure of a Bull in it Some say it was so called in regard of the beautie of this Region which may be compar'd to a Virgine carried away for the love of her beautie And some not unlikely have said that it was called so from Europus who as it is left to memory had heretofore a Kingdome in this part of the World Becanus beeing unwilling to be persuaded that Europe hath a Greeke name seeing the Cimmerians did inhabit it before the Greekes the former had a different Language from the latter thinketh that it was so called from the excellencie of the people For the monasyllable VER being pronoūced by the dipthong signifies some great and excellent thing and HOP doth denote a multitude of men The Asiaticans do generally at this day call the Europeans Frankimen the Turkes call those of the Romish Religion Franki and those Romei who are addicted to the Greeke Religion The Abyssines in Africke which divers Records do testifie do call us Alfrangues and the Christians Countrie Frankia So much for the Name the Situation and Quantitie followes concerning which it is to be held that Ptolomy and other Ancient Writers did place Europe betweene the 4. 9. Climes between the 11. and 21. Parallels betweene the Degrees of Latitude 36. and 54. and of Longitude 17. and 61. but in our age seeing the Declination of the Sunne as it is observed is changed and many places are added to this our Europe for they have now discovered to the 72. Degrees of Latitude EVROPE EUROPA toward the North a further description of Climes and Parallels hath beene devised so that Europe is situated betweene the 4 th and 18 th Climats and betweene the Parallels 11. and 36. Lastly betweene the degrees of Latitude 36. and 72. but almost betweene the degrees of Longitude 17. 71. If it be considered from the Promontorie of Spaine which is called at this day Cabo S. Vincentij even to a right line drawne from the head of the River Tanais to the Northerne Ocean but the shortest Longitude is betweene the 17 th and 58. degrees counting it from the same Promontorie of Spaine even to Malea a Promontorie of Peloponesus and excluding the Islands of the Aegean Sea which may bee reckoned as part of Europe so that the most Southerne parts of Europe are in the 36. degree of Latitude as the Mountaine Calpe in Spaine one of Hercules Pillars the Southerne Promontory of Sicilie heretofore called Odyssia and the head of Peloponnesus or Morea anciently Taenaria and now Cabo Maini in which places the longest day is 14. houres and 30. minutes But the most Northerne limits of it are in the 71 degree and a halfe as the Promontory of Scandia the farthest Land Northward now called Wardhuys where the longest day is 2. moneths 22. dayes and 7. houres Moreover we make account that a line drawne straight forward from the head of Tanais to the Northerne Ocean is the Easterne limite of Europe following the common account For ancient Writers doe not agree concerning the Easterne boundes of Europe Aristotle Plato Herodotus and others who are of their opinion doe divide Europe from Asia by the River or Isthmus of Phasis which is betweene the Euxine and Caspian Sea Dionysius Arrianus Diodorus Polybius Iornandes doe divide it by the River Tanais Abraham Ortelius makes the bounds of Europe toward the East to bee the Aegean Sea the Euxine Sea the Maeoticke Lake the River Tanais and the Isthmus which lyeth straight forward from the head Springs thereof towards the North and others make other bounds Ptolomaeus doth part Europe from Asia by the same River of Tanais and a line drawne from the head thereof toward the Northerne Sea Now wee subscribing unto him with other most skilfull Geographers and descending from the Line and River of Tanais towards the South let us with others place the Easterne bounds thereof in the Maeoticke Lake the Cimmerian Bosphorus the Euxine Sea the Thracian Bosphorus the Propontis and the Aegean Sea even to the Mediterranean Sea which parts it from Africke Southward on the West the great and wide Ocean beates upon it Lastly on the North it is encompassed with the Northerne Sea Strabo doth attribute to it the forme of a Dragon of which Spaine doth represent the head France the necke Germany the body Italie and the Cimbrian Chersonesus the right and left winges For the most part it enjoyes a temperate Aire and milde Weather Whence Europe is every where inhabited although very incommodiously and hardly in those places which are beyond the 60 th degree of Latitude in regard of cold And it doth not onely farre excell the other parts of the World in the wonderfull temperatenesse of the Climate temper pleasantnesse and great company of the inhabitants but also in the abundance of Fruits Trees Plants all kinde of living Creatures Mettals and in the plentie of all other things which are necessarie to sustaine
mans life Yet it hath not vines everywhere but where wine is wanting it supplies the defect thereof with drinke made of fruits This for here I cannot refraine from praising it is the mother of the Conquerours of the World Here Macedon did heretofore bring forth Alexander Italie the Romanes who in a certaine succession God in his Eternall Providence so decreeing did conquer the whole World so farre as it was knowne and Germany doth at this day bring forth Princes of great Prowes Have not here beene borne many noble Heroes which have added to their Empire America unknowne as the most do suppose to the Ancients and the better and stronger parts of Asia and Africke Is it not the onely mother of many Kings and Princes fighting in Christs cause This our Europe besides the Romane Empire hath above eight and twentie Kingdomes instructed in Christian Religion if we adde the foureteene which Damianus à Goes reckons to be in Spaine whence wee may estimate the dignitie of this Countrie what shall I speake of the populousnesse and renowne of the cities thereof Heretofore Africa hath beene proud of her Carthage Asia hath beene puffed up with her three Cities Babilon Ninivie and Hierusalem America doth glory at this day in Cusco and new Spaine in Mexico but who seeth not in these times the like and greater almost in every Countrie of Europe Let any one in his minde onely walke over Italy for this doth afford an example of all the rest the sumptuous magnificence of Rome the Royall wealth of Venice the honourable Nobilitie of Naples the continuall commerce and traffique of Genoa the happie and fertile pleasantnesse of Millaine and the famous wonders and commodities of other places So that the other parts of the World may be silent for none are equall to Europe The Countries in it as they are now called are Spaine France Germanie Italie Hungarie Transilvania Dalmatia Greece Poland Lithuania Moscovie Russia Denmarke Swethland Norway besides the Isles in the Northerne Ocean which are England Scotland Ireland Island Frisland and others in other places and those in the Mediterranean Sea as the Baleares which are two Isles in the Spanish Sea called Majorica and Minorica also Corsica Sardinia Sicilia with the Isles of Malta Corfu Creete and many others And as for the Lakes standing Pooles Rivers and Waters having diverse vertues in them which beside their fish whereof they yeeld an incredible company are as it were a wall unto Countries who can number them What should I mention the Seas it would be tedious in this place to reckon up their commodities profits and delights these things shall therfore be unfolded in their proper places Europe doth not want Mountaines among which the Pirenean hills and the Alpes are alwaies white with continuall snow and it hath many woods and forrests which afford pasturage for cattell and have few harmefull beasts in them What should I speake of the private or publique workes both sacred and profane that are in this part of the World Here are innumerable magnificent Temples innumerable Abbies many famous Pallaces of Kings innumerable faire and magnificent houses belonging to Noble-men and Princes and many rare buildings both publique and private We have here Justice and Lawes we have the dignitie of Christian Religion we have all the delights of mankinde we have the strength of Armes innumerable Senators Men venerable both for Wisedome and Learning and if you please to compare famous men together there was never so great a company of Heroes and Noble men in other parts of the World as in any one part of Europe Besides this part of the World is so studious of Arts and Sciences that for the invention and preservation of many things it may worthily be called the Mother and Nurse of Wisedome In this are many excellent and flourishing Universities but in other Countries there is nothing but meere Barbarisme It would be too much to reckon up the vertues of the Inhabitants but as for the vices as who is without some they are noted in some short sayings which I will here adde The people of Franconia are foolish rude and vehement The Bavarians are prodigall gluttons and railers The Grisons are light talkative and braggers The Turingi are distrustfull and contentious The Saxons dissemblers craftie selfe-willed The Low-country-men are horsemen delicate and tender The Italians proud desirous of revenge and wittie The Spaniards haughtie wise covetous The French eloquent intemperate and rash The People of Denmarke and Holsteine are great of stature seditious and dreadfull The Sarmatians great eaters proud and stealers The Bohemians inhumane new-fangled and robbers The Illyrians unconstant envious seditious The Pannonians cruell and superstitious The Greekes miserable And there is another saying no lesse pleasant A Bridge in Poland a Monke of Bohemia a Knight of the South a Nunne of Suevia the Devotion of Italie the Religion of Prutenicks the Fasts of Germans and the Constancie of Frenchmen are nothing worth AFRICKE AFRICKE followes which was so called if we beleeve Nisias from Afer a companion of Hercules who accompanied him even as faire as Calis But if we trust Iosephus and Isidorus from one of the posteritie of Abraham whose name was Afer or as Festus doth suppose from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies cold for it is free from cold because the most part of it is situated betweene the Tropicks The Arabians doe call it Fricchia from the word Farruca which with them signifies to divide for Africke is almost divided from the other parts of the Earth Or else it was so called from Ifricus a King of Arabia Foelix who they report did first inhabite this Country The Greekes call it Libya either from Libya the daughter of Epathus or from the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies stonie or because Libs or the Southwest-wind bloweth from thence In the Scriptures it is called Chamesia the Arabians and Aethiopians doe call it Alkebula and the Indians Besechath The Aequinoctiall Circle doth almost cut the middle part of Africke The AFRICKE AFRICAE DESCRIPTIO Tropicks passe not beyond it either Northward or Southward but it is stretched out beyond either of them ten degrees and more It is bounded towards the North with the Mediterranean Sea and the Streights of Hercules towards the East with the Arabian Bay or the Erythraean Sea and with the Isthmus which is betweene the Mediterranean Sea and the Arabian Bay to the South it is washed with the Aethiopian Ocean and on the West with the Atlanticke It hath the forme of a Peninsula which is joyned to Asia by the Isthmus above mentioned And though the length thereof which lyeth from West to East is shorter then the length of Europe yet the length thereof from the North toward the South is such as Europe can hardly be compared with it for it taketh
not make wine of them There are in this Country Trees bearing Olives but such as are of an unpleasant smell and of a worse taste and diverse other kindes of fruits in great abundance as those which they call Hovi Platani Pineae Guiavae Mamei and Guanavanae it bringeth forth Sugar Cotton-wooll Hempe and other things as with us beside divers sorts of strange Trees and Herbes It hath sweet Spices Pearles and pretious stones it aboundeth with incredible plenty of Gold and Silver and with other Mettalls and Mineralls But it had not when it was discovered either Oxen Horses Mules Asses Sheep Goates or Dogges Wherefore it is no wonder if the inhabitants were strucken with amazement at the first sight of a Horse Mice were first brought thither by a Ship of Antwerpe which sayled very farre through the Straight of Magellane Since which time either by the fruitfulnesse of the Country or of the Creatures themselves they are multiplyed and increased in so exceeding a manner that they spoyle the fruits of their harvest by knawing the hearbes and trees It doth bring to us divers living Creatures partly knowne to us and partly unknowne Among other things there is found a prodigious Beast which hath on her belly another belly placed in the likenesse of a purse and as often as she changeth her denne she hides and carries her young ones in that bagge This Creature hath the body and snowte of a Foxe the feete and hands of a Monkey and the eares of a Batte There is also another kinde of Creature which the inhabitants doe call Cascuij like a blacke Hogge hairy hard skinned having little eyes broade eares cloven hoofes armed with a short trunke or snowte like an Elephant and having so terrible a cry or braying that he makes men deafe but his flesh is sweet to eate Here is found a great company of wilde Boares and fierce Tigers and Lyons also but those very fearefull and such as will runne away at the sight of a man Here are also Peacocks Phesants Partridges and divers other kindes of Birdes but farre differing from ours But of these wee will speake more largely in our particular descriptions All America is divided as wee said before into two great Peninsulaes whereof the one which lyeth on this side of the Aequinoctiall is called the Northerne America the other the Southerne because the greatest part of it is stretched out beyond the Aequinoctiall although some Countries of it are neare unto the Aequinoctiall The Northerne America is divided into many Regions as namely Quivira Nova Hispania Nicaragua Iucatan Florida Apalchen Norumbega Nova Francia Terra Laboratoris and Estotilandia There are many parts of the Southerne America but these are the chiefest which have already been gotten and taken from the Savages as Castella aurea Plopaiana Peruvia Chile and Brasilia It doth glory especially in two Cities Cusco and Mexico Cusco is the Metropolis or chiefe Citie of Southerne America which both for bignesse strength and magnificence for the invincible fortification of the Castle and the great company of nobility for the order and placing of the houses and for pleasantnesse of situation may worthily compare with the fairest Cities of France or Spaine No common people are admitted into it but it is the seate of Noble men and great Princes who in that Country doe live in great numbers partly within the walls of the Citie and partly in Villages neare the Citie Here are foure especiall Pallaces of Noble men who doe governe the Common-wealth which are stately and with great cost built with square carved Marble stone And all the streets being straight in many places make the forme of a Crosse and through every one a pleasant River runneth in a channell walled on each side with stone The forme of the Citie is foure square lying sweetly on the side of a hill on the steepe ascent of a Mountaine a wonderfull faire Tower doth adorne the Citie whose beauty or largenesse if you consider those which have viewed many Countries have seene few in all Europe like unto it Mexico or Temistitan is a rich and famous Citie in Nova Hispania whereof wee will treate hereafter in the description of Nova Hispania now we proceed to other things This part of the World is watered with many famous Rivers the most whereof doe bring downe gold and it is full of Lakes and Springs In the Lakes and Rivers there are great plenty of fish among which there is one kinde of them of chiefe note which by the inhabitants of Hispaniola are called Manati This Fish is somewhat like a Trout he is five and twenty foot long and twelve foote thicke in his head and tayle hee resembles an Oxe he hath small eyes a hard and hairy skinne of a light blew colour and two feete like an Elephant The femalls of this kinde of fish doe bring forth their young ones as Cowes doe and doe let them sucke at their two dugges Here are also very many Mountaines among which as Benso witnesseth is a fire-vomiting Mountaine which out of its hollow mouth doth send forth such great flakes of fire that the blazing of it in the night doth cast forth a light which may bee seene above an hundred miles Some have supposed that the gold melting within doth afford continuall matter to the fire For a certaine Dominican Frier when he would make tryall thereof caused a vessell of gold to bee made with an iron chaine and afterward going to the Mountaine with foure other Spaniards he let downe the vessell with the chaine into the hole of the hill and there by the heate of the fire the vessell with part of the chaine was melted and having tryed it againe with a bigger chaine it hapned to melt againe in the same manner Here the Cities generally are stately built the wayes paved and the houses very faire and beautifull It is reported that here was a Kings garden wherein herbes and trees with their bodie boughs and fruits did stand of solid gold and as bigge as those which grow in Orchards And it is reported that here was a Kings Conclave in which there were all kindes of living Creatures made of precious stones partly painted and partly inlaid and engraven That which is reported concerning the two wayes in this Country is worthy of memory the one whereof lyeth through the rough Mountaines the other stretcheth through the plaine fields from Quito a Citie of Peru to the Citie Cusco for the space of five hundred miles The beauty of this worke is encreased by many wonderfull heapes of stones which were not brought thither by the strength of Horses or Oxen both which the inhabitants wanted but by the hands of men The field way is defended on both sides with walls and it is five and twenty foote broade within which little streames doe runne having their bankes planted with shrubby trees which they call Molli The other being hewed out of stones and rockes passeth through the
Iohn Major doth also call one of these Zeland being fiftie miles in length Moreover the Inhabitants of these Iles doe make a very strong drinke by putting store of Barley in it and are the greatest drinkers of all others yet Boetius witnesseth that he never saw any of them drunke or deprived of sense The next to these are the Ilands called the Hebrides in number foure and forty which Beda calleth Maevaniae Ethicus Betoricae Insulae Giraldus calls them the Incades and Leucades the Scots the Westerne Iles Ptolomie with Pliny and Solinus calleth them Ebudae Pliny writeth that there are thirty of them but Ptolomie reckons onely five The first is Ricina which Pliny calles Rinea and Antoninus Ridunas but now it is called Racline which is a little Iland just against Ireland The next is Epedium now called Ila an I le as Camden witnesseth very large and having very fruitfull plaines betweene this and Scotland lyeth Iona which Beda calleth Hy and Hu being plaine ground in which there is an Episcopall See in the Towne Sodore whence all the Ilands were called Sodorenses it is famous because here lie buried many Kings of Scotland Then there is another which Ptolomie calleth Maleos now Mula which Pliny mentioneth when he saith that Mella of all the rest is more then 25 miles over The Easterne Hebuda now called Skie is stretched along by the Scotch shoare and the Westerne Hebuda lying more towards the West is now called Lewes of which Maccloyd is Governour and in the ancient book of Mannia it is called Lodhuys being mountainous stony little manured but yet the greatest from which Eust is parted by a little Euripus or flowing Sea betweene them The test except Hyrrha are of no note as being rockie unpassable and having no greene things growing in them The Ilands of Man and Wight doe follow of which see those things that are spoken in the seaventh Table of England THE KINGDOME OF IRELAND THE Island of Ireland followeth which Orpheus Aristotle and Claudi●n doe call Ierna Iuvenal and Mela Iuvernia Diodorus Siculus Iris Eustatius Vernia and Bernia the Inhabitants Erin the Brittains Yverdhon and the English call it Ireland Divers opinions as in obscure matters doe arise concerning the originall of these names Some would have it called Hibernia from Hiberus a Spanish Captaine who first possessed it and peopled it some say from the River Iberus because the Inhabitants thereof did first inhabite this Island some ab hiberno tempore from the winter season because it enclines towards the West the Author of the Eulogue from Irnalphus a Captaine It was called without doubt Hibernia and Iuverna from Ierna which Orpheus and Aristotle mention but that Ierna together with Iris Yverdhon and Ireland did proceede from the word Erin used by the Inhabitants therefore the Etymologie is to bee drawne from the word Erin Here Camden affirmes that hee knowes not what to conjecture unlesse saith hee it bee derived from Hiere an Irish word which with them signifies the West whence Erin seemes to bee drawne being as much to say as the Westerne Countrie This Island is stretched forth from the South Northward in an ovall forme not twenty dayes sayle as Philemon in Ptolemie delivers but onely 400. miles and is scarce 200. miles broad On the East it hath Brittaine from which it is parted by the Irish Sea which is one dayes sayle On the North where the Deucaledon Ocean which Ptolemie cals the Northern breakes in it hath Iseland On the South it looketh towards Spaine The Ayre of this Island is very wholsome the Climate very gentle warme and temperate for the Inhabitants neither by the heate of Summer are enforced to seeke shadie places nor yet by cold to sit by the fire yet the seedes in regard of the moistnesse of Autumne doe seldome come to maturitie and ripenesse Hence Mela writeth that it hath no good Ayre for ripening of seedes yet in the wholsomnesse and cleernesse of the Ayre it doth farre exceede Brittaine Here are never any Earthquakes and you shall scarce heare thunder once in a yeare The Countrie is a fat soyle and hath great plentie of fruits yet it hath greater plenty of pasturage than fruits and of grasse than graine For here their wheate is very small so that it can hardly bee winnowed or cleansed with a fanne What the Spring produceth the Summer cherisheth but it can hardly bee gathered in regard they have too much raine in Harvest time for this Island hath windes and raine very often But as Mela saith it is so full of pleasant sweete grasse that when the Cattell have fed some part of the day if they bee not restrained and kept from grazing they will endanger the bursting of themselves Which also Solinus witnesseth concerning this Island Hence it proceedes that there are infinite numbers of Cattell which are the Inhabitants chiefe riches and many flocks of Sheepe which they sheare twice a yeare They have excellent Horses called Hobbies which are not pac'd like others but doe amble very gently No creeping thing nor Serpent liveth here nor also in Crete and Serpents being often brought hither out of Brittaine as soone as they came neere the Land and smell'd the Ayre they died Beda witnesseth that he hath seene some who have beene stung with Serpents that have drunk the leaves of Bookes brought out of Ireland in a Potion and straight-way the force of the poyson was allayde and the swelling of the body went downe againe Ireland hath greater store of Faulcons and Hawkes than other Countries And here Eagles are as common as Kites in some places Besides here is so great a number of Cranes that you shall often see a hundred in a company together In the North part also there are abundance of Swannes but there are few Storkes through the whole Island and those black There are few Partriges and Pheasants but no Pies nor Nightingales Here is such great store of Bees that they doe not onely breede in hives but also in hollow trees and in the cavernes of the earth Giraldus also writeth a strange thing concerning a kinde of Birde commonly called a Barnacle that out of certain pieces of wood floating up and down in the Sea there comes out first a kinde of Gumme which afterward growes into a hard substance within which little Creatures are generated which first have life and afterward have bils feathers and wings with which they doe flye in the Ayre or swim in the water and in this manner and no other this Creature is generated This Giraldus doth testifie that hee hath seene some of them halfe formed which as soone as they came to perfection did flie as well as the rest There are also many birds of a twofold shape as he witnesseth which they call Aurifrisij lesser than an Eagle and bigger than a Hawke whom Nature to delight her selfe hath framed with one foote armed with tallents sharpe and open
hath his Seat at Armach hath these Suffraganes and substitutes under him with the Bishop of Maeth and Deren Ardach or Apde Kilmore Clogher Doune Coner Klancknos Raboo or Ropo and Dromoore For the keeping of the Inhabitants of this Country and Province in order it was fortified with six and fiftie Castles there are also nine Market Townes in it And it is divided into the Hithermost and Furthermost The Hithermost hath three Counties Louth Downe and Antrimme The Farthermost hath seven Monahon Tiroen Armack Colrane Donergall Fermanagh and Cavon Connacia is the second part of Ireland some call it Connachtia the English call it Connagh and the Irish Connaghti it is bounded on the East with part of Lagenia on the North with part of Vltonia on the West it is beaten with the Westerne Ocean and on the South it is environed with part of Momonia or Munster which is inclosed with the River Sineo or Shennin and lyeth over against the Kingdome of Spaine The Figure of it is long and at either end both Northward and Southward it is very narrow but towards the middle it growes longer on either side It is an hundred and sixe and twentie miles long from the River Shennin in the South to Engi Kelling in the North the greatest breadth is about foure-score miles from Tromer the Easterne bound to Barrag-Bay the Westerne limit The whole circuit and compasse of it is about foure hundred miles The Aire in this Region is not so pure and cleare as in the other Provinces of Ireland by reason of some wet places bearing grasse which are called in regard of their softnesse Bogges being dangerous and sending out many thicke vapours The chiefe Citie of this Province being the third Citie of note in Ireland is Galway in Irish Gallive Built in the forme of a Towre having a Bishops See in it and being famous for the frequent resort of merchants thither and also profitable to the Inhabitants by the conveniencie of the Haven which is beneath it and by the easie exportation of Merchandise not far from hence on the Westerne sidely the Islands which are called Arran of which many things are fabled as if they were the Isles of the living in which no man could either die or be subject to death The Province of Connaught at this time is fortified with foureteen Castles it hath nine Market Towns it is divided into sixe Counties or Shires in this manner the Countie of Clare of Galway of Mago of Slego of Letrimme and of Roscomen Media is the third part of Ireland which in their Countrie speech they call Mijh the English Methe Giraldus Midia and Media perhaps because it is in the very middle of the Island For the Castle Killaire in these parts which Ptolemie seemes to call Laberus is in the middle of Ireland as the name Killair doth denote The Countrie reacheth from the Irish Sea even to the River Shennin which river parts it from Connacia It hath a wholsome and delightfull aire It is fruitfull in corne pasturage and flocks abounding with Flesh-meate Butter Cheese Milke and the like and in regard of the multitude of people the strength of faire Castles and Townes and the peace arising from thence it is commonly called the Chamber of Ireland Here is the Towne Pontana which is commonly called Drogheda a faire Town and having a convenient Haven for Ships to ride in But there are some who thinke that the middle part of this Towne on the other side the River is in Vltonia There are also these Townes in Media Molingar Four Delvyn Trimme Kelle● Navan Aboy Dulek and Scrin THE THIRD TABLE OF IRELAND IN WHICH ARE MOMONJA AND THE REMAINDER OF LAGENIA AND CONNACH CONNACIA is the second part of Ireland some call it Connachtia the English Connach and the Irish Connachty It lyeth toward the West and is bounded with the River Sen the River Banna and the Ocean This the Auteri and Nagnatae in the time of Ptolomie did inhabite But there is so neare an affinitie betweene these two wordes Nagnatae and Connaghty that they seeme one to bee derived from the other unlesse we suppose that the word Connaghty did arise from the Haven Nagnatae which Ptolomy mentions and from thence the Country got this name For a Haven is called in their native speech Cuon to which if you adde Nagnata it will not bee much different in sound from Connaghty The Country as it is in some places fruitfull and pleasant so in some wet places covered o're with grasse and by reason of their softnesse called Bogs it is very dangerous as other parts of the Island are and full of darke and thicke woods But the Coasts having many Bayes and navigable in-lets doth as it were invite and stirre up the inhabitants to imploy themselves in navigation yet sloath is so sweet unto them that they had rather begge from doore to doore then seeke to keepe themselves from Poverty by honest labour It is reported in the Irish Histories that Turlogus O-mor O-conor was sole Governour of this Country and that hee divided it betweene his two sonnes Cabelus and Brienus But when the English came into Ireland Rodericke did governe it and called himselfe King of Ireland but he being afraid of the English warres not trying the chance or fortune of the field put himselfe under obedience to Henry the Second King of England Who after revolting from his faith given Miles Cogane was the first English-man who did attempt but in vaine to get Connachtia Afterward William the sonne of Adelme whose posterity were called in Irish Bourki Gilbert de Clare Earle of Glocester and William de Bermingham chiefe men in England did subject this Country and brought it to civilitie But Bourke or de Burgo and his Posterity were a long time stiled and called Lords of Connach governing this Province together with Vltonia in great peace and tranquillitie and did receive great revenewes out of it untill the onely daughter of Richard de Burgo being sole inheretrix of Connachtia and Vltonia was married to Lionell Duke of Clarence the sonne of King Edward the third But he living for the most part in England and his successors the Mortimers did neglect their Patrimonie the Bourks being their kinsemen to whom they had committed the overseeing of those Lands making use of the absence of the Lords and the troublesome times in England contemned the authority of the Lawes entring into league with the Irish and making marriages with them and got all Connachtia to themselves and by degrees degenerating having left off the English habit they followed the Irish manners It is at this day divided into sixe Counties Clare Letrimme Galwey Resecomin Maio and Sligo There are in it the Baron of Atterith the Baron of Clare and others Here is also Galloway a Towne much frequented by forrain Merchants It is reported that an Outlandish Merchant who
Country I leave it to those who admire fabulous antiquities for I would not willingly doate too much on fables Beyond the Cauci liv'd the Eblani where is now the Countrie of Dublin and Meth being one of the five parts of Ireland The County of Dublin towards the Sea is of a fertile soyle having pleasant Meddowes but so bare of Wood that for the most part they use Turfe and Coale digged in England It is full of Townes and People where the River Liffe hideth it selfe in the Sea Houth is almost environed therewith from whence the Family of the Laurences are called Barons of Houth On the North side of Dublin lyes Fingall a faire Country well tilled and is as it were the store-house or Barne of the Kingdome in regard it yeeldeth yearely so great a quantitie of corne that in a manner the earth doth strive with the labour of the husbandmen which lying in other parts of the Island neglected and untill'd doth seeme to complaine of their ignorant sloath These things being unfolded let us now passe to the Cities and Townes Here Kilkenny meetes us in the first place being neare to the River Neorus Kilkenny signifies the Cell or Chappell of Canicus who formerly in this Country was famous for his Religious solitary life It is a neate fine Towne abounding with all things and the chiefe of the innermost Townes of this Island The Towne is divided into the English and Irish part the Irish part is as it were the Suburbs wherein is the Temple of Canicus who gave the name to it and it is the Seat of a Bishop The English Towne is newer being built by Ralph the third Earle of Chester it was fortified as some doe suppose with walls on the West side by Robert Talbot a Noble man and strengthned with a Castle by the Butlers Below this upon the same River of Neorus a walled Towne is seated called in English Thomas Towne in Irish Bala mac-Andan that is the Towne of Antonius his sonne both names were given unto it by the builder Thomas Fitz Antonius an Englishman whose heires are still acknowledged the Lords thereof There stood in this Country that ancient City Rheba mentioned by Ptolemy which was also called Rheban but instead of a Citie it is even 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Citie and no Citie as he himselfe saith being a few Cottages with a Forte It honoureth the Saint-michaells with the title of Baronet There is Lechlinia in Irish Leiglyn a royall Towne fortified with a Castle by that Noble Deputie Bellingham The great Citie of Rosse hath likewise here flourished in times past as having beene full of Inhabitants and Merchandise and fortified with a wall of great circuit by Isabell the daugher of Richard Strongbow Earle which walls doe now onely remaine For discord arising among the Citizens concerning Religion the Towne is ruinated and fallen to nothing but enough of these things I passe to the Mountaines and Rivers Beneath Ormund the hills Bliew Blemi which Giraldus calleth the Mountaines of Bladina doe lift up their heads with their convex tops out of whose bowels as it were the Rivers Suirus Neorus and Birgus doe arise and running in severall channels before they come to the Ocean they joyne all in one stream whence the Ancients did call them Tres Sorores the three Sisters Neorus hemmeth in many Castles and Townes Birgus now called Barrow flowing out of the Mountaine Bladina and running along by it selfe with many windings at last passeth Rheba and other Townes Afterward Neorus and Birgus do mingle their Waters and having for some miles runne in one channell they resigne their name and waters to their elder sister Suirus which by a rocky mouth dischargeth her selfe into the Ocean where on the left hand there runneth forth a little Promontorie with a straight necke which beares a little Tower as a defence or marke for Shippes built by the Rosses when they flourished that they might safely enter into the Haven In this part Ptolemie placed the River Modanus aforesaid and Ovoca neare the Sea on the back whereof the Castle Arcklo is seated which River as Giraldus saith both in the flowing and ebbing of the Sea water doth still retaine its native sweetnesse and doth preserve its waters unstained or unmingled with saltnesse a great way in the Sea Here is the River Liffie which slideth by Dublin it is not carried with any violence except after a great storme of raine but floweth very gently This River without doubt is mentioned by Ptolemie but by the carelesnesse of Bookemen it is banished out of its place For the River Liffie is placed in Ptolemies Tables in the same Latitude toward the other part of the Island where there is no such River But let us call it backe again to Eblana its proper place and give these verses of Necham concerning it Visere Castle-cnock non dedignatur Aven-liff Istum Dublini suscipit unda Maris Aven-liff to see Castle-cnock doth not disdaine Which the Sea neare Dublin doth receive againe I will also adde that which Giraldus hath concerning Wiclo a Porte or Haven neare to Ovoca which he calleth Winchiligello There is a Haven at Winchiligello on that side of Ireland which looketh toward Wales whose waters doe flow in when the Sea doth ebbe and when the Sea floweth it ebbeth There is also another very notable one which when the Sea ebbeth yet still continues salt and brackish in every part and creeke thereof There is one Archbishop in Lagenia which hath his seate at Dublin and Clandelachy hee is called Glandeloylong and Primate of Ireland having these following Suffragan Bishops under him the Bishop of Elphine or Bishop Helphen of Kildare of Fernes Ossorie and of Leighlyn called by some Laghlyn THE FIFT TABLE OF IRELAND CONTAINING THE BARONIE OF Vdrone part of the Queenes Countrie and the Lord Fortonesy in the middle of Vdrone lyeth the Citie Laglyn otherwise Leighlin adorned with a Bishops Seat MOMONIA MOMONIA followes in our propounded method in Irish called Mown in English Munster the fift and last part of Ireland it lyeth on the South upon the Vergivian Sea being divided in some places from Connacia by the River Shennin and from Lagenia by the River Neorus it was formerly divided into two parts the Westerne and the Southerne The Westerne part the Gangani Luceni Velabri and Vterim did anciently inhabit the Vdiae or Vodiae the Southerne part Now it is divided into seven Counties namely Kerry Limrick Corck Tripperary the Countie of the Holy Crosse the Countie of Waterford and Desmond Wee purpose to runne briefly over these Counties with Cambden according to the severall people which the Cosmographer attributeth to them The Gangani whom we formerly mentioned in the first place do seeme by the affinitie of their name to be the same with the Concani of Spaine whose originall was from the Scythians and Silius witnesseth that they dranke horses blood which heretofore the Wild
which the most renowned for the studie of good Arts is Fanum Andraeae or Andrews Chappell which the ancient Scots did call Fanum Reguli and the Picts Rigmud In the middle of the Countrie is Cuprum or Cuper whither those of Fife do come to have their causes tryed on that side where it toucheth Iernia there stands Abreneth the ancient Pallace of the Picts Here Ierna runneth into Taus But Taus runneth foure and twentie miles having broken out of the Lake Taus which is in Braid Albin and is the greatest River in Scotland This River bending toward the mountaine Grampius doth touch Atholia a fertile Region placed in the wooddie Countrie of Grampius Beneath Atholia Caledon is seated on the right-hand bank of the River Taus an old Towne which onely retaineth a name common-called Duncaldene that is Hasell-trees For the Hasell trees spreading themselves all over and covering the fields thereabout with their shadie boughs gave occasion of that name both to the Towne and people These Caledones or people of Caledon being once reckoned among the chief Brittaines did make up one part of the Kingdome of the Picts For Ammianus Marcellinus divideth them into the Caledones and Vecturiones but of their names there is scarce any memorie left at this day Twelve miles beneath Caledon lyes the Countrie of Perth on the same right-hand banke On the left-hand banke beneath Atholia is Gour looking toward the East renowned for corne-fields and beneath this againe is Angusia stretched out betweene Taus and Eske this the ancient Scots did call Aeneia Some suppose it to be called Horestia or according to the English speech Forrest In it is the Citie Cuprum which Boethius to gratifie his Country ambitiously calleth Dei Donum the gift of God but I suppose the ancient name was Taodunum from Dunus that is an Hill situate by Taus at the foot whereof there is a Towne Beyond Taus the next foureteene miles off on the same banke is Abreneth otherwise called Obrinca After this Countrie is the Red Promontorie very conspicuous The River Eske called the Southerne cutting through the midst thereof the other Northerne Eske divideth it from Mernia It is for the most part a THE THIRD TABLE OF SCOTLAND SCOTIAE tabula III. plaine field countrie untill Grampius meeting with it beneath Fordune and Dunotrum the Earle Marshalls castle it somewhat remitteth its height and soe bendeth downe into the Sea Beyond it towards the North is the mouth of the River Deva commonly called Dea or Dee and about a mile distant from it the River Don by the one is Aberdon famous for the Salmon-fishing by the other another Aberdon which hath a Bishops Seat and Publike Schooles flourishing by the studies of all Liberall Arts. I finde in ancient monuments that the Hithermost was called Aberdea but now these Townes are called the old and new Aberdon From this strait Foreland betweene these two Rivers beginneth Marria which by little and little enlarging it selfe runneth 60. miles in length even to Badenacke or Badgenoth This Countrie extends it selfe in one continued ●●dge and doth send forth divers great Rivers into either Sea ●●●bria doth border on Badenacke being somewhat enclined toward the Deucalidon Sea and is as plentifull as any Countrie in Scotland with all Sea and Land-commoditie For it hath good corne and pasturage and is pleasant as well in regard of the shadie woods as coole streames and fountaines It hath so great plentie of fish that it is not inferiour to any part of the whole Kingdome For beside the plentie of river fish the Sea storeth it for breaking in upon the plaine ground and there being kept in with high bankes it spreads it selfe abroad in manner of a great Lake whence it is called in their countrie speech Abria that is a standing water They give also the same name to the neighbour Countrie Northward next to Marria is Buchania or Buguhan divided from it by the river Don. This of all the Countries of Scotland doth stretch it selfe farthest into the Germane Sea It is happie in pasturage and the increase of sheepe and is sufficiently furnished with all things necessarie for mans life The rivers thereof do abound with Salmons Yet that kinde of fish is not found in the river Raira There is on the bankes of this river a Cave the nature whereof is not to be omitted which is that water distilling drop by drop out of the hollow arch thereof these drops are straightway turned into little Pyramides of stone and if it should not be clensed by the industrie of men it would quickly fill up the cave even to the top Beyond Buchania towards the North are two small Countries Boina and Ainia which lye by the river Spaea or Spey that separateth them from Moravia Spaea riseth on the back-side of Badenach aforesaid and a good way distant from its fountaine is that Lake whence Iutea breaketh forth and ●owleth it selfe into the Westerne Sea They report that at the mouth thereof there was a famous Towne named from the river Emmorluteum the truth is whether you consider the nature of the Countrie round about it or the conveniencie of Navigation and transportation it is a place very fit to be a Towne of traffique And the ancient Kings induced thereunto by the opportunitie of the seat for many ages dwelt in the Castle Evon which now many are falsly persuaded was Stephanodunum For the ruines of that Castle are yet seene in Lorna Moravia followes from beyond Spaea even to Nessus heretofore it is thought it was called Varar Betweene those two rivers the German Ocean as it were driving backe the Land into the West floweth in by a great Bay and straightneth the largenesse of it The whole Countrie round about doth abound with Corne and Hay and is one of the chiefe of the whole Kingdome both for pleasantnesse and encrease of fruits It hath two memorable Townes F●gina neare the River L●x which yet retaineth its ancient name and Nessus neare the River Ne●●us This River floweth foure and twentie miles in length from the Lake Nessus The water is almost alwaies warme it is never so cold that it ●●ee●eth And in the extremitie of winter pieces of ice carried into it are quickly dissolved by the warmth of the water Beyond the Lake Nessus toward the West the Continent is stretched forth but eight miles in length ●o that the Seas are readie to meete and to make an Island of the remainder of Scotland That part of Scotland which lyeth beyond Nessus and this strait of Land North and West is wont to be divided into foure Provinces First beyond the mouth of Nessus where it drowneth it selfe in the German Ocean is the Countrie Rossia running out with high Promontories into the Sea which the name it selfe sheweth For Ro● signifies in the Scottish speech a Promontorie It is longer then broad For it is extended from the German Sea to the Pe●●alidon where it
which there are the Mountaines called Derwentfels in which neere to Newland are found rich veines of Brasse not without Gold and Silver Heere also is found that minerall-earth or hard and shining stone called by the English Black-lead which the Painters use to draw their lines and proportions withall That famous Wall which was the limit or bound of the Roman Empire being 122 miles in length doth divide and cut through the higher part of this Country it was built by Severus who as Orosius saith tooke care that this part of the Island should be seperated by a trench from the other wilde and untamed people Beda writeth that it was eight foote broad and twelve foote high standing in a right line from East to West some ruines and pieces whereof standing for a good way together but without Battlements may be seene at this day as Camden witnesseth The Bishoprick of Durham or Duresme bordereth upon Yorkeshire Northward and lyeth in a triangular or three cornered forme the top whereof is made by the meeting of the Northerne bound and the Fountaines of Teisis On the Southerne part almost where the River retreateth back againe the Cathedrall Church is seene being beautified with an high Steeple and many Pinnacles on the top of a great Hill the Castle is seated in the middle of two Bridges made of stone by which the two streames of the River Vedra the one on the East side the other on the West side are joyned together On the North side from the Castle lyes the Market place and S. Nicholas Church Here are also these Market Townes Standrove or Stanthorpe Derlington Hartlepole or Heorteu Binchester or Binovium and Chester upon the streete which the Saxons called Concester with many Villages and Castles In this Shire and Northumberland there are an hundred and eighteene Parishes besides many Chappels Heere are many Rivers of which the chiefe is Tees called in Latine Tesis and Teisa Polidorus cals it Athesis Camden thinkes it was called by Ptolemie Tuesis though this name be not found in him by reason of the carelesnesse of the Transcribers of his Booke This River breaking out of the Quarri-pit of Stanemore and having gathered into it selfe many torrents running by the Marble Rocks neere Egleston and afterward washing many places at last by a great inlet it casts it selfe into the Ocean whence the basis of the Triangle beginneth There is also the Rivers Vedra or Weare Gaunlesse Derwent c. THE THIRD TABLE OF ENGLAND CONTAING THESE FOLLOWING Shires Westmorland Lancashire Cheshire Caernarvanshire Denbigh-shire Flint-shire Merionedh-shire Montgomerie-shire and Shropshire with the Islands of Mann and Anglesey I Come unto the third Table wherein Westmorland first offers it selfe being bounded on the West and North with Cumberland and on the East with Yorke-shire and Durham It is so called because for the most part it is unfit for tillage for such places as cannot be till'd the English call Moores so that Westmoreland signifies in English nothing but a Morish and for the most part untillable Country towards the West The Southerne part being narrowly inclosed betweene the River Lone and Winander Mere is fruitfull enough in the Valleyes although it hath many ruffe and bare cliffes and is called the Baronie of Kendale or Kandale Afterward above the spring heads of Lone the Country groweth larger and the Mountaines runne out with many crooked windings In some places there are deepe Vales betweene them which by reason of the steepnes of the Hills on both sides seeme like Caves The chiefe Towne here is Aballaba now called Apelby The antiquity and situation whereof is onely worth regard for it is so farre from elegant and neate building or structure that if the antiquity thereof did not give it the prioritie to be the chiefe Towne of the Country and the Assises held in the Castle it would not differ much from a Village There is also a Towne of great resort called Kendale famous for Cloath-making and in this Shire there are sixe and twenty Parishes The Rivers are Lone Ituna or Eden and Eimot Lancastria is commonly called Lancashire and the County Palatine of Lancaster because it is a County adorned with the title of a Palatine It lyeth Westward under the Mountaines which doe runne through the middle of England and is so enclosed betweene Yorke shire on the East and the Irish Sea on the West that on the Southerne side where it looketh toward Cheshire from which it is divided by the River Mersey it is broader and so by degrees as it goeth Northward there where it boundeth on Westmoreland it groweth straighter and narrower and there it is broken off with a Bay of the Sea yet so as a great part of it is beyond the Bay and joyneth to Cumberland Where it hath a levell of field ground it hath sufficient store of Barley and Wheate but at the foote of the Mountaines it beareth most Oates The Soyle is tolerable unlesse it be in some moorish and unwholesome THE THIRD TABLE OF ENGLAND WEST MORLAND CASTRIA CESTRIA etc. places which yet doe requite these inconveniences with greater commodities For the upper grasse being pared off they afford Turfes for fuell in digging of which trees are often found which have laid a long time buried in the earth digging a little lower they furnish thēselves with Marle or Marmure to dung their fields In this Country the Oxen excell all other both for the largenesse of their hornes and fairenesse of their bodies I passe now to the Cities among which wee meete first with the ancient Towne of Manchester which Antoninus calleth Mancunium Mannucia this doth exceed the neighbour Towns for beautie populousnes the trade of Cloathing and for the Market-place Church and Colledge There is also Ormeskirke a Towne of traffique famous by being the burying place of the Stanleyes Earles of Derby There is also Lancaster the chiefe Towne of the Country which the Inhabitants doe more truly call Loncaster the Scots Loncastle because it took that name from the River Lone vulgarly called Lune Camden supposeth this Citie to be that which the Romans did call Alona insteed of Arlone which signifies in the Brittish language at or upon Lone In this Shire are but 36. Parishes but those very populous Here are many Lakes and Moores among which is the Moore Merton and the greatest Lake of all England called Winander Mere which hath abundance of one sort of Fish peculiar unto it self Huls which the Inhabitants call Charre The Rivers are Mersey Idwell Duglesse Ribell Wyre Lack and Lone which flowing out of the Mountaines of Westmoreland toward the South with narrow bankes and an unequall channell enricheth the Inhabitants in the Summer season with Salmon-fish Here are many Mountaines and those very high among which is that which is called Ingleborrow Hill which as Camden saith we have admired rising by degrees with
r Francis Drake Knight who for matters of Navigation was the most excellent of late times Here are also the Townes of Lidston or Lidford Plimpton Modbery or Champernouns Dartmoth Exminster and many other This Countie containeth 394. Parishes The Rivers here are Lid Teave Plim Dert Totnes Teigne Isca Creden Columb Otterey Ax Towridge Taw O●k and North Ewe Somerset-shire followes the bounds whereof on the East are Wiltshire on the South Dorcetshire on the West Devonshire on the North the Bay of Severne and Glocester-shire This is a verie rich soile being in every place exceedingly fertile in fruits and Pasturage in some places affording many Diamonds which do exceed those of India for beautie though they are not so hard The chiefe Citie of this shire is Bristoll called anciently by the Brittaines Caer Brito and by the Saxons Britstow a pleasant place which is beautified with many faire houses a double River and wall a faire Haven much traffique and the populousnesse of Citizens It hath also the towne of Theodorudunum now called Welles from the many wells or springs that there breake forth and Bathonia stiled anciently by the Brittaines Caer Badon by Stephanus Badiza but commonly called Bathe And in this countrie are 385. Parishes The Rivers are Ivell Erome Pedred Thon Avon Somer Brui and Welwe In the next place Dorcetshire which is bounded on the East with Hampshire on the VVest with Devonshire on the South with the Brittish Ocean and on the North with VViltshire and Somersetshire It is of a fertile soile and the North part full of many woods and forrests from whence even to the Sea coast it descendeth with many grassie hills on which feed innumerable flocks of sheepe Durnovaria which Ptolemie according to divers copies calls Durnium and Duneum now is called Dorchester is the chiefe towne of this Shire yet it is neither very great nor faire her walls being ruined long since by the fury of the Danes There are also other towns as Birt-port or Burt-port Lime Weymouth Poole Warham so called because it stands by the River Varia Shirburne Sturminster Winburne called by Antoninus Vindogladia from the Brittish word Windugledy because it stands betweene two Rivers Here are in this Shire 248. Parishes The Rivers are Lim Trent now called Piddle Carr Ivell Wey Sturn Alen Varia so called by the Latines but Fraw or Frome in the Saxon tongue Wiltonia so called by the Latines from Wilton once its chiefe Towne but commonly called VVilshire is an inland Countrie having Oxfordshire and South-hamptonshire to bound it on the East on the West Somersetshire on the North Glocestershire and on the South Dorcetshire and South-hamptonshire The Countrie is every where full of pasturage and fruits The Townes are first VVilton anciently called Ellandunum which was heretofore the head Towne of the Shire Secondly Sarisbury or new Sarum now the chiefe citie and famous for its Cathedrall Church and for that a streame of water runneth through every street thereof Here are also the Townes of Malmesburie Chippenham Trubridge Calne Marleburrow c. And this Shire containeth 304. Parishes The rivers are Isis Avon VVilleybourne Adderburne Ellan and Kennet Glocestria commonly called Glocestershire hath on the West VVales on the North VVorcestershire on the East Oxfordshire on THE FOVRTH TABLE OF ENGLAND Cornub. Devonia Somerset etc. the South VViltshire it is a pleasant and fertile Countrie lying East and West and hath in it many other mines The chiefe Citie of this Countie is Glocester which Antoninus calleth Cleve and Gleve the Latines Glovernia and some Claudiocestria it is an ancient Citie built by the Romans and is seated by the River Severne having a strong wall in those places where the River doth not wash it There are also other Townes as Teukesburie anciently called Theocsburie Deohirst Campden or Camden VVincelscombe Cirencester or Circester Tetburie Barkley c. and 280. Parishes contained in this Countie The Rivers which water it are Severne Avon and Isis commonly called Ouse which afterward by the marriage of Thame unto it is called by a compounded name Thamisis or Thames The Countie of Monmouth called anciently VVentset and VVentsland and by the Brittaines Guent is enclosed on the North with the River Munow which doth part it from Herefordshire on the East with the river Vaga or VVye which divides it from Glocestershire on the West with Remney which disjoynes it from Glamorganshire and on the South it is bounded with the Severne Bay into which those former Rivers together with the River Isc which runneth through the middle of the Countrie do rowle themselves It hath not onely sufficient provision of things necessary for life for it but also furnishes other Countries The chiefe Towne thereof is Monmouth called by the Inhabitants Mongwy towards the North where the River doth not fence it it was encompassed with a wall and a ditch In the middle neare the Market-place is a Castle There are also the Townes of Chepstow called Castlewent Abergevenny or contractly Abergenny which Antoninus calls Gobanneum New-port or Brunepegie and the Citie which Antoninus called Ifa where the second Legion named Augusta lay now stiled by the Brittaines Caerleon and Caer Leonar Vsk. Here the Saxon Heptarchie obeyed the Welch Mountainers who notwitstanding as we may discerne by the auncient Lawes were under the government of the West Saxons But at the comming in of the Normans the Captaines of the Marches did grievously afflict them especially Hamelin Balun Hugh Lacy Gualter and Gilbert de Clare called Earles of Strigulia and Brian of Wallingford to whom when the King had granted whatsoever they could get in that Countrie by conquering the Welchmen some of them reduced the Higher part of the Countrie into their power and others the Lower part which they called Netherwent Glamorganshire lyeth wholy by the Sea side it is longer than broad and is beaten on the South side with the Bay of Severne But on the East side it hath Monmouthshire on the Norrh Brecnock-shire and on the West Caermardenshire The Northerne part swelleth with mountaines which descending toward the South remit somewhat of their height and at the foot of them the Countrie lyeth plaine toward the South In this countrie is the litle Citie of Landaffe that is the Chappell at Taff under which there are 156. Parishes Also Caerdiffe or as the Britons call it Caerdid Cowbridge called by the Brittaines Poratuan from the stonebridge which is there Neath Sweinsey and Loghor which Antoninus calleth Leucarum The Rivers that wash it are Ramney Taff Nide and Loghor The Earles of this Province from the first vanquishing were the Earles of Glocester descending in a right line from the Fitz-hamons the Clares the Spencers and after them the Beauchamps and the two Nevils and by a daughter of a Nevill Richard the third King of
all rockie and full of craggie barren Mountaines though they be rich in Mynes of Lead and are commodious for to feede sheepe The head Towne of the Shire is Darbie famous for the best Ale in England which is brewed there There are also the Townes of Saint Diacre Workesworth so called from the Lead-workes there and Bakewel And this Shire doth containe an hundred and sixe Parishes The Rivers that water it are Trent Dove and Derwent The Westerne part of this Shire which is mountainous is called the Peake and is very full of Lead for in these Mountaines Lead-stones as the Mettallists call them are daily digged forth which when the winde is Westward they dissolve with a wood fire and having made trenches for the mettall to runne in melt into pieces which they call Sowes Moreover not onely Lead but also veines of Antimonie which the Grecian women were wont to use in dying are found in these Hils Heere also Mill-stones are cut forth as also whet-stones and somtimes a white substance is found in the Mynes like to Chrystall But of this enough I passe to Stafford-shire which is encompassed on the East side with Warwick-shire and Darby-shire on the South with Glocester-shire on the West with Shropshire and on the North with Cheshire It beareth the shape of a Rhombus running from South to North and being broadest in the middle and narrowest toward the two ends The Northern part is mountainous and lesse pleasant the middle part is more delightfull as being watered with the River Trent cloathed with green woods and diversified with variety of fields and meddowes The Southerne part is rich in Pit-coales and veines of Iron The head Towne hereof is Stafford or Stratford anciently called Betheney and is much graced by the Castle called Stafford adjoyning to it which the Barons of Stafford built for their owne dwelling Heere are also the Townes of Lichfield or Licidfield Burton Vtcester anciently called Etocetum Stone Drayton Basset Tameworth Wolverhampton or Vulfrunshampton Theotenhall or Tetnall and Weadesbrig or Wedsborow And in this Shire are reckoned 130 Parishes The chiefe Rivers which glide through this Countrie are Dove Hanse Churnet Tayn Blith and Trent which arising from two spring-heads is the third chiefe River of Brittaine There are also Sous Tam and Penke The Northerne part is somewhat mountainous and full of hils which beginning heere doe runne like the Apennine Hils of Italie with a continued ridge through the middle of England even to Scotland yet often changing their name In the midst of this Shire is Needwood a spatious wood in which the Nobilitie and Gentrie of the Countrie doe THE FIFTH TABLE OF ENGLAND EBORACUM Lincolnia Derbia Stafford etc daily recreate themselves with hunting Nottinghamshire is bounded on the East with Lincolnshire on the North with Yorkeshire on the West with Darbyshire and on the South with Leicestershire The Southerne Easterne part of the Countie is fructified by the famous River of Trent and other Rivulets that flow into it The Forrest of Shirwood taketh up the whole Westerne side this because it is sandie the Inhabitants call the Sand the other by reason the soyle consisteth of Clay they call the Clay and they divide their Countrie into these two parts The chiefe Towne which gives a denomination to the Shire is Nottingham being pleasantly seated for on one side faire Meddowes lye along the River side and on an other little Hils doe raise themselves to adde a grace thereunto It is a Towne abounding with all things necessary to life For besides other conveniences it hath Shirewood which doth furnish it with store of fuell and the River Trent doth yeeld it plenty of Fish The Streetes are large having faire buildings and two great Churches with a spacious Market-place and a strong Castle Besides heere are other great Townes namely Suthwel Newarke Mansfield Blith Scroby and Workensop And in this Shire there are 168 Parishes The Rivers are Trent Lin Snite and Idle Leicester-shire anciently called Ledecester-shire bordereth upon the South with Northampton-shire on the East with Rutland shire and Lincoln-shire on the North with Nottingham shire and Darby-shire and on the West with Warwick-shire It is all field-ground and very fruitfull but for the most part it wanteth wood The chiefe Citie is Leicester called heretofore Legecestria Leogara and Legeocester more ancient than beautifull There are also the Townes of Longburrow Lutterworth Hinckly and Bosworth neere which Richard the third was slaine and in this Shire there are 200 Parish Churches The River Soar running toward Trent waters the middle of it and the little River Wrek which at last mingleth his waters with Soar doth gently winde about through the Easterne part Rutland-shire which was anciently called Rudland and Roteland that is red land is as it were emcompassed with Leicestershire except on the South side where it lyeth by the River Welland and on the East where it joyneth to Lincolne-shire It is the least Shire in England for it lyeth in a round circular forme so that a man may ride quite round about it in one day This Countrie is no lesse pleasant and fruitfull than others although it bee not so spacious The chiefe Towne in it is Vppingham so called because it stands on the ascent of an hill it hath a faire free Schoole in it which was built for the nurture and bringing up of children to learning by R. Iohnson Minister of Gods word who also built an other at the towne of Okeham so called because it is situated in a vale which once was very woody and full of Oakes This Shire can reckon 47 Parish Churches The little River Wash or Gwash gliding through the middle of it from East to West doth divide it into two parts Northfolke remaines yet to be described that is to say the Northerne people The bounds thereof on the South are Suffolke on the East and North the German Ocean and on the West the River Ouse The Countrie is large for the most part field-ground unlesse it bee where there are some smaller hils it is very rich full of flocks of sheepe and especially of Cunnies it is watered with pleasant Rivers and is sufficiently stored with wood The soyle differs according to the diversitie of places for in some parts it is fat and rich in other parts light and sandie and in other clayie and chalkie Amongst the chiefe townes in this Shire old Thetford is the first which Antoninus calleth Sitomagus that is a towne situate by the river Sit. It hath now but few dwelling-houses though heretofore it were faire and very populous There is also in this Shire the famous Citie of Norwich called by the Saxons North that is the North Castle and Yarmouth or Garmouth a faire Haven Towne fortified by its situation and mans industrie for
Thamisis Northward On the South it looketh towards Berk-shire being parted from it by Thamisis on the West toward Oxford-shire on the North toward Northampton-shire and on the East it looketh first toward Bedford-shire afterward toward Hartford-shire and last of all toward Middlesex It hath a plentifull soyle and the fruitfull meddowes thereof doe feed innumerable flockes of sheepe The head Towne is Buckingham besides which it hath also the Townes of Marlow Colbroke Amersham Crendon or Credendon so called from the Chalke or Marle by which the Inhabitants thereof manure their Land High-Wickam Stony-Stratford Oulney Newport-Pannell c. and in this Shire are reckoned 185 Parishes the Rivers are Thame Colne and Ouse Bedford-shire followes being joyned on the East to Cambridg-shire on the South to Hartford-shire on the West to Buckingham-shire and on the North to Northampton-shire and Huntingdon-shire it is divided into two parts by the River Ouse That part which is Northward is more fruitfull and woody the other part toward the South which is larger is of a meaner soyle but yet not barren for it hath great store of very excellent Barley In the middle of it there are thicke Woods but Eastward it is more bare and naked of trees The chiefe Towne is Lactodorum now called Bedford which communicates its name to the Shire It hath also other Townes as Odill Bletnesho or Bletso Eaton Dunstable built by Henry the first for suppressing of the robberies of the rebell Dun and his companions it containeth 116 Parishes and is watered with the River Ouse Next to Bedford-shire on the South side lyeth Hartford-shire the West side thereof is enclosed with Buckingham-shire the Northerne side with Middlesex and the East side with Essex and partly with Cambridge-shire It is very rich in corne-fields pastures meddowes and woods The chiefe Towne in the Country is Herudford now called Hertford which doth impart its name to the whole Shire There are also the Townes of Watling-street Fane S. Albane or Verulamium Roiston called anciently Crux Roisiae Ashwell Bishops-Stortford and many others and this Shire hath an 120. Parishes The Rivers are Lea or Ley Stort Mimer and Benefice Now come we to Essex which the River Stour on the North divideth from South-folke on the East the Ocean beateth it on the South the River Thames now growne very wide doth part it from Kent on the West the River Lea divideth it from Middlesex and the little River Stour or Stort from Hertford-shire It is a large Country fruitfull abounding with Saffron being full of woods and very rich here is Camalodunum now called Maldon Also Colchester which the Brittaines call Caer Colin Leyton Bemflot Leegh Rochford Angre Ralegh anciently called Raganeia Dunmow Plaissy or Plessy called anciently Estre Chelmesford now called Chensford Ithancester Earles Colne Barlow Walden called likewise Saffron Walden c. the Parishes are 415. the Rivers are Ley Thames Chelmer Froshwell anciently called Pante and Colne In the next place followes Berroc-shire now called Berk-shire the Northerne part whereof Isis which is afterward called Tamisis doth compasse with a winding pleasant streame and doth divide it from Oxford-shire and Buckingham-shire the Southerne part the River Kennet doth seperate from Hampshire the Westerne part is held in by Wiltshire and Glocester-shire and the Easterne part is confined with Surrey This County on the West side where it is broadest and in the middle thereof is very rich and full of corne especially in the Vale of White Horse and on the Easterne side which is lesse fruitfull there are many long and spacious woods The Townes are Farendon Abington called anciently Abandune and by the Saxons Sheoverham Wantage Wallingford Hungerford Widehay anciently called Gallena Newbery Reading Bistleham or Bisham Southealington now called Maidenhead and Windsore called by the Saxons Windlesora This Country hath 140 Parishes the Rivers which water it are Isis Thames Ocke Cunetio or Kenet and Lambo● Middlesex is divided on the West side from Buckingham-shire with the River Colne on the North side from Hertford-shire with the knowne bounds on the East side from Essex with the River Lea and on the South side from Surrey and Kent with the River Thames It is every where very pleasant by reason of the temperatenesse of the Ayre and goodnesse of the Soyle besides the faire Townes and buildings The Townes here are Vxbridge Draiton Stanes Radclisse and others but above all London called also Londinium Longidinium Augusta and by Stephanus Lindonion which is an Epitomy of all Brittaine It is seated by the River of Thames having a fertile Soyle and temperate Ayre it is distant from the Sea threescore miles it hath a stone Bridge over the River being three hundred and thirty paces long adorned on both sides with magnificent and faire buildings It hath also a strong Tower which is the chiefe Armory of England and in this the Mint is kept Neare to London is Westminster anciently called Thorney famous for the Abby the Courts of Justice and the Kings Pallace The Abbey is most renowned by reason of the Coronation and buriall of the Kings of England and in this Countie are 73 Parishes besides those in the Citie The Rivers that water it are Lea Colne and Thames Hampshire or Hantshire toucheth on the West Dorsetshire and Wiltshire on the South the Ocean on the East Sussex and Surrey and on the North Berk-shire It is fruitfull having pleasant thicke woods and flourishing pastures it hath two Cities the one Southampton so called because it stands on the River Test anciently called Ant or Hant the other Winchester called heretofore Venta Belgarum There are also these Townes Regnwood or Ringwood Christ-church Whorwell Andover Rumsey Portsmouth Kings-cleare Odiam Silcester called anciently by the Brittaines Caer Segente and others and it hath 253 Parishes the Rivers are Avon Stour Test and Hamble Surrey called by Bede Suthriona joyneth on the West partly to Berk-shire and partly to Southampton-shire on the South to Sussex on the East to Kent and on the North it is watered by the River Thames and divided by it from Middlesex It is a Countrie not very large yet very rich The Townes are Godelminge Aclea or Ockley Effingham Kingstone Merton Cradiden or Croydon Beddington Wimbandune or Wimbledon Wandlesworth and the Borrough of Southworke called by the Saxons South werke and this Country hath 140 Parishes The rivers are VVey Mole so called because for a certaine space it runneth under ground like a Mole Wandale and Thames aforesaid Now followeth Cantium or Kent a Country so called from the situation for it looketh toward France with a great corner which the word Canton in the French signifies environed round about with the mouth of Thames and the Sea unlesse on the West side where it joyneth to Surrey and on the South side to part of
or Northerne Countrey It hath on the South Denmarke on the West the Sea on the East Sweth-land and it is bounded on the North with Lapland from which it is parted with high and rugged Mountaines covered over with continuall snow All the Countrie toward the West is unpassable by reason of rocks and sharpe cliffes and it is also stony toward the South especially in that part which lyeth against the Cimbrick Chersonesus from whence it is 250 miles distant But all the Countrie both toward the West and South hath a gentle Ayre for the Sea is not frozen neither doe the Snowes lye long And though the Countrie it selfe bee not so fertile that it is able to furnish the Inhabitants with foode yet it aboundeth with cattell and wilde beasts as white Beares of an unusuall bignesse Beavers and innumerable other Norwey was somtime a very flourishing Kingdome under the jurisdiction whereof were Denmarke and the Isles of the Sea untill it came to be govern'd by hereditarie succession Afterward in the Interregnum it was agreed upon by the consent of the Nobles that the Kings should bee chosen by election From Suthdager the second to Christierne the last there were 45 Kings Now it is under the command of Denmarke There are at this time in it five royall Castles and so many speciall Provinces whereof the first and farthest toward the South is Bahusia or Bay The Townes subject unto it are Marstand seated on a rocky Peninsula and famous for herring-fishing and the Townes of lesser note are Koengeef or Congel neere Bahus and Oddewold otherwise called Odwad The second Castle is Aggerhusia out of the Province whereof high Masts of ships oaken and maple plankes and wood fit for building houses is yearely carried into Spaine and other Countries The Townes subject unto it are Astoia the Seat of a Bishop to which strangers doe chiefly resort because there is held the Court whither causes are brought for triall out of all parts of Norwey Also Tonsberg or Konningsberg Fridrichstad Saltzburgh and Schin or Schon where there are Mynes of Coppresse and Iron also Hammaria the Greater and the Lesser heretofore being Bishopricks but now committed to the care of the Asloian Bishop and divided by the Bay of Mosian gliding betweene them The third is the Castle Bergerhusia under which are the Cities of Bergen or Berga and Staffanger But Berga is the most famous Citie of all Norwey for traffique and as it were the Barne thereof heere resideth the Kings Lievtenant and a Bishop and heere that delicate fish is sold which being taken neere the shore of Norwey is called the fish of Bergen being transported from hence by Merchants into divers Countries Heere lye the Factors of the Vandals the Sea Townes who continuing heere all the yeare for traffique sake doe take up one part of the Citie which the Inhabitants call the Bridge Heere is also an excellent and safe Haven The Citie Staffanger although it have the same Governour with Bergen yet it hath a Bishop peculiar to it selfe and living therein The fourth Castle is Nidrosia called so from the River Nideros Rosa which is the name of a Temple commonly called Trundtheim and heretofore Trondon it is the Metropolis of all Norwey and now reduced into the forme of a Towne It was the chiefe seat heretofore of the Archbishop and of the whole Kingdome It hath a large Jurisdiction in which much fish and pretious skins are gotten and afterward carried to Bergen to be sold And heere is at this day a Cathedrall Church and such a one as there is scarce an other like it in the Christian world both for the largenesse of the stones and for the carved worke The Border and ground-worke about the Altar in this Church was burnt with fire in the yeare 1530 and the losse redounding thereby was valued at seven thousand Crownes The fifth and last Towre toward the North of Norwey is Wardbuise standing on the little Island Ward it is now very small and almost decayed having neither castle nor munition yet hath it a little Towne adjoyning unto it which consists all of fisher-mens houses In this Towre or rather Cottage the Kings Praefect liveth in Summer and governeth this cold Northerne part of Norwey even to the borders of Russia Moreover the Westerne shore of Norwey because it is of an unsearchable depth in the Spring time is much troubled with Whales to prevent whose violence the ship-men use a kinde of Oyle made of Beavers stone which is a present remedie for assoone as it is cast into the Sea and mingled with the water straight-way that great Sea-monster maketh away and hideth himselfe in the deepe Heere is good fishing in the neighbouring seas especially of Stock-fish which being dried and hardened in the cold and hung up upon poles they send into other Kingdomes of Europe The best taking of them is in the Moneth of Ianuary for as then in regard of the cold they are more easily dried so the sea doth yeeld more plenty of them and fatter The commodities of this countrie in generall are pretious Skins Tallow Butter Hides the fat of Whales Tarre Oake timber Masts and Planks and Boards of all sort to the great commoditie of those who sell them The Inhabitants are honest loving and hospitable to strangers neither NORWEY AND SWETHLAND SVECIA ET Norwegia etc have they robbers theeves or Pirates among them The Kingdome of Swethland is an ancient Kingdome as Pliny witnesseth It hath on the West Norwey on the North Lapland and Botnia on the East ●●●land seperated from it by the Botnian Bay or Finnish Sea L●●onia 〈◊〉 L●sland disjoyned from it by the Baltick Sea called by Ta●●●us Mar● p●grum by the Suc●ians Mare Su●vicum and on the South Gothia It is a com●●● the most fruitfull of all the North parts it hath a plentifull soyle and seas lakes and rivers abounding with fish of divers ●●ndes it hath also Mettals as Lead Iron Brasse and Silver which is digged up in very p●●e oa●e neere Sl●burg and likewise woods full of wilde beasts and honey It is thought that it doth doubly exceede Norwey both in largenesse fruitfulnesse and goodnesse of soyle yet in some places it is ●ugged and moorish This Countrie being for some ages valiantly and happily defended enlarged by the native Kings thereof afterward came to the Kings of Denmarke and having beene subject to them more than an hundred yeares at last did shake them off under colour that the Lawes wh\ich they were sworne unto at their Coronation were not observ'd and hence it stood a while in a very uncertaine condition But now it is returned againe to the natives out of which it chooseth it selfe a King There are divers Provinces of this ●ingdome some belonging to the Gothes as Ostgothia whereof Lincop is the Metropolis Westgothia seperated with an ancient Lake from Ostgothia whereof Scara
the Royall Familie because the Fathers Inheritance is alwayes divided betweene the Sonnes and Daughters Thus the Kings of Denmarke have a flourishing Common-wealth which may easily bee defended from forraine enemies whom their Subjects living in unanimity and concord with them as their naturall Lords are able to resist both by sea and land THE KINGDOME OF DENMARKE BEING THE THIRD KINGDOME OF THE NORTH DENMARKE is joyned only in two places to the Continent on the West the Ocean beateth on it on the East the Balticke Sea on the North lyeth Norwey and Swethland and on the South Holsatia Megalopolis and Pomerama It hath many severall Islands lying by it The temper of the Climate together with the wholsomnesse of the Aire that I may use Ioh. Coldingensis his words doth make the Danes fresh complexioned The fruitfulnesse of the Earth doth nourish them the sweete harmony of Birds doth recreate them their Woods and Groves in which great numbers of Hogges do feed and fat themselves with Akornes and Beech-maste do refresh them and the divers sorts of Cattle and flourishing Medowes do yeeld them much delight The Sea doth afford them such plentie of provision that the Danes thereby not onely furnish themselves but also many other parts of Europe In a word they want nothing that is necessarie to life so loving hath Nature shewed her selfe to this Countrie Concerning the ancient Government thereof Munster writeth that one Danus many ages before Christ was the first King of Denmarke from whom the other Kings of Denmarke did descend in a faire and orderly succession therefore concerning the names of his successours and the other Kings of Denmarke read Munster largely discoursing All the Countrie of Denmarke having many armes of the Sea reaching farre into the Land doth consist of many parts the chiefe whereof are these Iutia Fionia Zelandia and Scania besides the Islands lying neare to severall parts thereof Iutia which some would have called Got●a being heretofore the Seat of the Cimbri is called by Historians and Geographers the Cimbrian Chersonesus and is divided into the Southerne and Northerne Iutia The Description of this Northerne Iutia you may behold in the second Table of Denmarke Southerne Iutia heretofore called Nordalbingia doth containe the famous Dukedome of Sleswick to which the Dukedome of Holsatia may now be added whereof you shall finde a more ample declaration in the third Table of Denmarke Also there followeth a more particular Description of Fionia in the fourth Table of Denmarke THE KINGDOME OF DENMARKE DANIAE REGNŪ THE SECOND TABLE OF DENMARKE WHICH CONTEINETH PART OF THE NORTHERNE IVTIA THE Westerne and speciall part of Denmarke is Iutia commonly called Iutland which Ptolemy calleth the Cimbrian Chersonesus and Pliny Cartrin This runneth forth Northward in manner of a Peninsula betweene the Brittish and Germane Seas as Italy doth toward the South The Southerne bound thereof is the River Eydera and it lyeth many miles in length from the River Albis or Elve toward the North The greatest breadth of it is not much This Country is divided into the Northerne and Southerne part as we have already spoken The Northerne Iutia called the Northerne Cimbrica which is described in this Table extending it selfe toward Norwey doth over against Saga a Towne famous in regard of the quick-sands and shallow Sea neare it end in a straite and narrow forme like a wedge This Country is broadest about the Market Towne of Aleburg where Lymford winding it selfe into it and passing almost through all Iutia Westward parteth the Country Wensussel from the rest except it be for a very little space and so maketh it as it were an Island This River being carried in a great channell maketh many famous Islands by encompassing them about and having many Bayes as it were and severall branches it doth divide and give limits to divers Provinces Northerne Iutia is fertile in producing and bearing Fruits Corne Barley and the like It hath also in some places very fruitfull pastures It aboundeth with so many heards of Oxen and bringeth up so many Cowes that it sendeth an incredible number of cattle into forreine Countries and especially into Germany whither there are yearely brought almost 150 thousand Oxen besides Cheese Butter Tallow and Hides It doth bring forth an excellent breede of Horses of which a great number are transported to other places Iutia heretofore was subject to the Saxons but not the other Northerne Countries Out of this Country the Cimbri 150 yeares before Christs birth came and fell upon Italie like an impetuous storme to the great terrour thereof For they having joyned to themselves the Tentons the Tigurines and Ambrones conspired utterly to extinguish the Roman Empire Syllanus could not resist the violence of their first approach nor Manilius their second on-set nor Caepio the third All of them were put to slight and beaten out of their Tents insomuch as Florus thinketh they had beene quite undone and overthrowne if Marius had not lived in that age This Cimbrian warre continued eight yeares after the Consulship of Syllanus even to the fift Consulship of Marius who at the R●ver Athesis called by the Germanes Ets●h and by the Italians ●adica did quite cut off their Army consisting of Cimbrians Teut●us and and Ambrones But because in this place wee have by chance made mention of the Cimbrians whose name is famous in Histories we will speake somewhat more of them and because Iunius a learned ●an doth discourse most learnedly of them I will not thinke it much to set downe his owne or other words to the same effect It appeares in Moses Bookes saith he that Iaphet had a sonne called Gomer or by changing of a letter Gomer which word signifies with the Hebrewes one perfecting a circle But the genuine sense of the word hitherto unknowne to Writers unskilfull in the Cimmerian language because none hath declared the obscuritie will bee as manifest and cleare as the Meridian Sunne if you gently breake the word in pieces For what other thing does Goom her being disjoyned signifie in that language or if you pronounce it Gomer than I goe about in a circle or I finish a perfect course Hence also is that orbicular order of Artes which the Grecian Writers call Encyclopedia and Fabius the circle of learning because it is endlesse as a ring called Gomera Rightly therefore that auspicious name hapned unto the offspring of Iaphet which spread themselves over the World and as the name doth signifie did finish that course that was given and prescribed to them by lot having travell'd over all Countries from the rising of the Sunne to the setting thereof For no man is so rude and ignorant in the knowledge of Historie that knoweth not that the Gothes and Vandales who were the ofspring of the Cimmerians or Cimbri did possesse both the Hesperiaes Wherefore since by the consent of all men the Cimmerians did descend from Gomer who at first
Foborch Assens Bowens Middlefart or Milvart and Kettemynde or Cortemund The chiefe royall castles are Newburg Hagenschow Hinsgagel Eschburg and the Court of Rugard Here are many Villages and not a few Noble-mens houses For this Island in regard of the pleasantnesse of the Climate and fertilitie of the soyle is much esteemed by the Nobles The sea doth yeeld great plentie of fish and every Bay is so full thereof that ships or boats being over set with them can hardly saile or row against them which yet they do not take with any fishing engines but with their hands Those who dwell by the Sea side besides tillage and husbandrie doe use fishing both which do furnish thē with all things necessarie for house-keeping There are some places in this Island famous for warlike atchievements done not many yeares past For there is a certaine mountaine called Ochenberg not farre from the Castle Hagenschow in which Iohn Rantzovius Knight and Generall of the field for King Christian the third in a great battle did overthrow Christopher Count of Oldenburg in the yeare of Christ 1530 on the eleventh day of June in which conflict were slaine two Counts the one being the Count of Hage the other of Tecklenburg whose bodies being afterward taken up out of the field were brought to Ottonia and buried in Canutus his Church about the same time also on the Mountaine Fauchburg which is 4 mile distant from the Towne Ascens some thousands of the Rebels were slaine and put to slight This Countrie is adorned with many woods in which are great store of wild beasts In the citie of Ottonium there are two famous Temples or Churches one consecrated to Canutus the other to Saint Francis In this latter Iohn King of Denmarke and his sonne Christierne when they had spent 37 yeares in banishment and captivitie were buried in the yeare 1559 about the other is a large and spacious court-yard in which the King of Denmarke did renew his ancient league of friendship with the Dukes of Holsatia and Sleswicke An. 1580 they report also that the mother of King Christian the second did place up a certaine Altar here belonging to the Minorite Friars a wonderfull curious piece of worke carved in wood the like whereof is not to be found in Europe Out of this Island from the Towne Ascen● it is eight miles into Iuitland or Iutia and from Nyburge into Zeland is a passage of sixteene miles long through the Baltieke Sea which is very dangerous especially if the Sea be rough for when the East Sea being increased by the receit of many rivers is thrust forward with a violent course it often happens that contrarie windes do raise such mightie waves make the sea so unquiet that Mariners are many times to great danger drawne in with these gulphlike windings of the waters sometimes swallowed up by them And so much concerning Fionia now let us passe to the other Islands Under Fionia are contained ninety Islands situated toward the South and the most of them habitable the chiefe whereof are these Langeland Lawland Falstre Aria or Arr Alsen Tosing and Aroe Langeland is 28 miles in length In it there is a Towne called Rudkeping and Traneker a royall Castle beside many villages Parishes and Noble-mens houses Lawland is separated by the strait of Gronesand from Zeland and by a small arme of the Sea from Falstre It is so fruitfull in corne and filberd Nuts that ship-loads are brought from thence into other Countries It hath five townes which are these Nistadt Nasco Togrop Roth and Marib besides royall Castles Noble-mens houses many Parishes and Villages Falstre is 16 miles long and hath these two Cities THE FOVRTH TABLE OF DENMARKE FIONIA Stubecopen and Nicopen which in regard of the pleasantlesse and beautie thereof is called the Naples of Denmarke Out of this Island neare a royall Pallace there is a frequent passage into Germany namely to Warnemund which is 28 miles long It furnishes neighbour countries every yeare with much corn Arta being distant 6 miles frō Elysia is cloathed with woods and therefore assordeth much recreation for hunters it hath three Parishes and some Noble-mens houses with the Towne Castle of Coping It belongs together with Elysia to the Dukedome of Sleswi●ke and is under the government of the Duke thereof Elisia or Alsa commonly called Alsen is an Island of a reasonable bignesse for it is 16 miles in length and 8 in breadth being not farre distant from the Dukedome of Sleswicke and looking toward the Bay die Flensburger Wick it is parted by it from the first seat of the English The Rantzovian Musaeum tells us that the Romans did call these Islanders Elisians As also those who inhabit the next Island Arians which appellation or name they still retaine to this day Ptolomie relateth that the English were the ancient inhabitants of the Northerne Countries by the Sea side to which Tacitus addeth the Elisit Arit and the Mommy whose names also are still used in the Islands Alsen Arr and Moen There is a Towne in Alsen or Elisia called Sunderburg and a Castle of the same name with other Townes as Norborch Osternholm Die Holle and Gammelgard It hath thirteene populous Parishes whence it can set forth many thousands of Souldiers It is very wooddy by reason whereof it affordeth Harts and many kindes of wild beasts for hunting It hath great store of Sea-fish and fresh-fish and much wheat and it is every where fit for feeding and pasturing of cattle Tussing or Tosinga being the chiefe Isle among all the other Islands lyeth neare unto a towne of Fionia called Swineburg and is foure miles in length In this Island besides Parishes there is the Pallace of Kettrop belonging to the Rosenkransians and Rantzovians Aroe is situated neare the Dukedome of Sleswicke where they passe to the Towne Alcens in Fionia by the Arsensian Bay and hath foure Villages There are also these Islands Ramso Endelo Ebilo Fenno Boko Brando Toroe Aggerins Hellenis Iordo Birkholm c. Let so much suffice to have beene spoken concerning Fionia and the Islands lying round about it And now to conclude I will here rather then no where adde unto the rest a Description of Huena or Ween seated in the Sound in which is the Castle of Vraniburg filled with many accurate and elaborate Astronomicall instruments The middle of this Island where this Castle standeth hath the Pole elevated about 56 Degrees and 55 and is situate from the West 55 Degrees It is in compasse 8160 paces every pace being 5 foote so that the whole circuit of it is equall unto two common German 18 English miles This Island being placed in the most famous strait of the whole Kingdome through which many ships saile out of the Easterne into the Westerne Sea and on the contrarie with a gooly prospect hath in view many chiefe Townes of this Kingdome which stands as it were round about it
with Dogges and Nets and with Haukes which the Countrie of Pecerra doth plentifully yeeld they kill not onely Pheasants and Ducks with them but also Swannes and Cranes The Countries of Russia or Moscovia are very large All the Cities Townes Castles Villages Woods fields Lakes and Rivers are under the command and government of one Prince whom RVSSIA OR MVSCOVIA Russia cum Confinijs the Inhabitants do call the great Czar that is King or Emperour and all the revenues that arise from them are brought into the Princes exchequer There are no Dukes or Counts which can possesse any thing by a Tenure of Freehold or can passe the same unto their heires Hee doth bestow some villages and Townes upon some but yet hee useth the labour of the husbandman and when he list taketh them away againe So that hee hath absolute command over his Subjects and againe his Subjects honour and reverence him as a God and do shew obedience to him in all things without any refusall The chiefe Metropolis or mother Citie of the whole Kingdome is Moscovia commonly called Moschwa being conveniently situated as it is thought in the middle of the Countrie It is a famous Citie as for the many Rivers which meete there so for the largenesse and number of the houses and for the strength of the Castle For it lyeth neere the River Moschus with a long row of houses The houses are all of wood and divided into Parlers Kitchings and Bed-chambers all of them have private gardens both for profit and for pleasure The severall parts of the Citie have severall Churches It hath two Castles one called Kataigorod the other Bolsigorod both which are washed with the Rivers Moschus and Neglinna Moreover in Russia there are many Countries as first the Dukedome of Volodimiria which title the Great Duke doth assume to himselfe it is named fom the chiefe citie Volodomire being seated on the bankes of the River Desma which runneth into Volga This Province is of so fruitfull a soile that the increase of one bushell of wheat being sowne is oftentimes twentie bushells Secondly Novogrodia which though it be inferiour unto the aforenamed Countrie in pasturage yet not in the fruitfulnes of the soile It hath a woodden citie called by the same name with the whole Dukedome Novogrod being seated where the Rivers Volga and Occa do flow one into another This citie had alwaies the chiefe preheminence in regard of the incredible number of houses for the commoditie of a broad and fishie Lake and in regard of an ancient Temple much reverenced by that Nation which about five hundred yeares agoe was dedicated to S. Sophia Here is a memorable Castle built of stone upon a rocke at the great Charge of the Duke Basilius This Citie is distant from the Citie Moscovia an hundred Polish miles and from Riga the next haven towne it is little lesse than five hundred Thirdly Rhezan which is a Province betweene the River Occa and Tanais having store of Corne Honey Fish and Fowle it hath these Cities built of wood Rhezan seated on the banke of Occa Corsira Colluga and Tulla neare to which are the Spring-heads of the River Tanais Fourthly the Dukedome of Worotinia which hath a Citie and a Castle of the same name Fifthly Severia which is a great Dukedome abounding with all things it hath great desart fields and many Towns among which the chiefe are these Starodub Stewiarkser and Czernigow The bees in the woods do yeeld them great store of honey The Nation in regard of their continuall warres with the Tartarians is accustowed to armes and ready of hands Sixthly the Dukedome of Smolen●●o which being seated neare the River Borysthenes hath a Citie of the same name watered on the one side with Borysthenes and on the other side environed with deepe ditches and rampiers armed A MORE PARTICVLAR DESCRIPTION OF SOME PROVINCES OF MOSCOVIA MOSCOVIA with sharpe stakes There are also these Dukedomes and Provinces Mosat●kia B●elskia Rescovia Tweria Pleskovia Vodzka Correllia Biele●zioro Wolochda Vstiuga Iaros●avia Rostow Dwina Susdali Wrathka Permia Sibior Iugra Petzora and Novogrodia the Greater which they call Novogrod Wi●lki in which is a very great Citie of the same name bigger than Rome it selfe Petzora taketh its name from the River which the mountaines and rockes do hemme in on both sides There are spacious countries which pay Tribute to the great Duke lying northward in a great space of Land as Obdora in which is the Idoll called Zolota Baba that 〈…〉 Golden old woman also Condora Lucomoria and Lappia There are many great Lakes in Moscovia as Ilmen or Ilmer also Ladoga and the White Lake which the Inhabitants call Biele●ezioro There are also many lane Rivers as first Bor●sthenes or Pripetus commonly called Nioper and Nest●r o● by the addition of a letter Dnieper Dnester Secondly Tu●●●t●● which is that same with Ptolemie which Herbersterntus calleth Rubo but the Inhabitants Duina and Oby Thirdly the River Rha which Ptolemie mentions and is now called Volga and Edel. There is in this countrie the River Ianais which the Italians call Tana the Inhabitants Don. Beside the river Occa and the lesser Duina called likewise Onega c. Here are the Moates Hyperboret or Riphaean mountaines mentioned by Pliny in his 4 Booke Chap. 12. and by Mela in his 3 Booke which are impassable because they are cover'd over with continuall snow and ice The wood Hercyma which Isidorus calleth the Riphaean wood taketh up a great part of Moscovia it is inhabited having some few scattering houses in it now by long labour is made so thinne that it cannot as most suppose shew such thick woods impenetrable forrests as heretofore Moscovia hath innumerable costly Temples or Churches and very many Monasteries The Duke lookes to matters of government and administration of Justice by the helpe and assistance of twelve Counsellors who are daily present in the Court. Among them the Pre●ec●u●e ships of all the Castles and Cities are distributed and they receive the letters and Petitions which are directed to the Prince and do answer them in his name For the Prince himselfe receiveth no letters neither doth hee set his hand to any that are written to his Subjects or any forraine Prince The Bishops are chosen out of the Friars as men of a sanctimonious and holy life There are many Monasteries of these Friars in the Kingdome of Moscovia and yet all of the same habit and Order of which they say that S. Basil was the first founder There are in the whole Kingdome of Moscovia eleven Bishops which they call Wladdicks that is in their language Stewards or Dispensers They call their Priests Poppes or A●●hipoppes The Metropolitan Bishop liveth in Moscovia who was heretofore confirmed by the Patriarch of Constantinople but now being chosen by the great Duke onely he is consecrated by two or three Bishops and is displaced at the Kings pleasure Under
this Metropolitan are two Archbishops the one at N●vogarais the Greater neare the River Low●a the other at Rodovia There are no Universities or Colledges in all the Empire of M●●●otia The Moscovi●es are of the Greek religion which they received in the yeare of our Lord 987. They suppose that the Holy Spirit being the third person in the Trinitie doth proceed from the Father alone They tooke the Sacrament of the Eucharist with leavened bread and permit the people to use the Cuppe They beleeve not that Priests Dirges or the pietie or godlinesse of kindred or friends can be avaleable to the dead and they beleeve that there is no Purgatorie They read the Scripture in their owne language and do not deny the people the use thereof They have Saint Ambrose Augustine Hierome and Gregorie translated into the Illyrian tongue and out of these as also out of Chrysostome Basil and Nazianzenus the Priests do publikely read Homilies instead of Sermons for they hold it not convenient as Iovius saith to admit of those hooded Orators who are wont to Preach too curiously subtlely to the people concerning divine matters because they thinke that the rude mindes of the ignorant may sooner attaine to holinesse and sanctitie of life by plaine Doctrine than by deepe interpretations and disputations of things secret They make matrimoniall contracts and do permit Bigamie but they scarcely suppose it to be lawfull marriage They do not call it adulterie unlesse one take and keepe another mans wife They are a craftie and deceitfull Nation and delighting more in servitude than libertie For all do professe themselves to be the Dukes servants The Moscovite line rather prodigally than bountifully for their tables are furnished with all kinde of luxurious meats that can be desired and yet not costly For they sell a Cocke and a Duck oftentimes for one little single piece of silver Their more delicate provision is gotten by hunting and hawking as with us They have no wine made in the Countrie and therefore they drinke that which is brought thither and that onely at Feasts and Bankets They have also a kinde of Beere which they coole in Summer by casting in pieces of ice And some delight in the juice prest out of sowre cherries which hath as cleare and pure a colour and as pleasant a tast as any wine The Moscovites do send into all parts of Europe excellent Hempe and Flaxe for rope-making many Oxe-hides and great store of Waxe THE DVKEDOME OF LITHVANIA Samogitia Blacke-Russia and Volhinia SOME would have Lithuania so called from the Latine word Lituus that is a Hunters horne because that Country doth use much hanting Which opinion Mathias a Michou rejecteth and delivers another concerning the Etymologie thereof for he saith that certaine Italians forsaking Italy in regard of the Roman dissentions entred into Lithuania calling the Country Italie and the Nation Italians and that the sheepheards began first to call it Litalia and the Nation Litalians by prefixing one letter But the Ruthenians or Russians and the Polonians their neighbours changing the word more at this day doe call the Country Lithuania and the people Lithuanians It is a very large Country and next to Moschovia It hath on the East that part of Russia which is subject to the great Duke of Moscovy on the West it hath Podlassia Masovia Poland and somewhat towards the North it bounds on Borussia but full North it looketh toward Livonia and Samogitia and on the South toward Podolia and Vol●●nia The aire here is cold and the winter sharpe Here is much waxe and honey which the wilde Bees doe make in the Woods and also much Pitch This Country also affordeth abundance of corne but the harvest seldome comes to maturity and ripenesse It hath no wine but that which is brought hither from forraine Countries nor salt but such as they buy and fetch out of Brittaine It bringeth forth living creatures of all kindes but small of growth In the Woods of this Country there are Beastes called by the Latines Vri and others called Alces besides Buffes wilde Horses wilde Asses Hartes Does Goates Boares Beares and a great number of such other Here is great plenty of Birds and especially of Linnets Besides in this Country and Moscovia there is a ravenous devouring beast called Rossemaka of the bignesse of a Dogge in face like a Cat in the body and tayle resembling a Foxe and being of a black colour The Nation of the Lithuanians in former yeares was so unknowne and despised by the Russians that the Princes of Kiovia did require nothing from them but Corke-trees and certaine garments as a signe of their subjection in regard of their poverty and the barrennesse of their soyle untill Vithenes Captaine of the Lithuanians growing strong did not onely deny tribute but having brought the Princes of Russia into subjection compelled them to pay tribute His successors did invade the neighbour Nations and by hostile and suddaine incursions did spoyle them untill the Teutonick order of the Crosse began to warre against them and to oppresse them which THE DVKEDOME OF LITHVANIA LITHUANIA they did even to the dayes of Olgerdus and Keystutus Captains of the Lithuanians But at last ●agello who afterward was called Vla●●slaus was made great Duke of Lithuania This man being oftentimes oppressed by those of the order of the Crosse and by Christian Armies did at last encline to the Polanders and having embraced the Christian Religion and married Hedingi● the Queene of Polonia hee was made King of Polonia committing the government of the Country of Lithuania to his Cozen German Skirgellon as to the supreame Duke of Lithuania The great Dukedome of Lithuania is now divided into ten speciall Palatinates or Provinces the first whereof is the Palatinate of the Metropolis or chiefe Citie Vilna which the Inhabitants call Vilenski but the Germans commonly Die Wilde it was built at the confluence or meeting of Vilia and Vilna by Duke Gediminus in the yeare 1305 and is the Seat of a Bishop subject to the Archbishop of Leopolis and also of the Metropolitan of Russia who hath seven Bishops under him that bee of the Greeke Religion as the Bishop of Polocia Volodomiria Luca in Volhinia Luckzo Pinsca neare to the River Pripetus Kiovia Praemislia and Lepolus Vilna or Wilna is a populous large and famous Citie being encompassed with a wall and gates which are never shut The Churches thereof for the most part are built of stone and some of wood there is in it a curious Monasterie of the Bernardines being a famous structure of squared stone as also the Hall of the Ruthenians in which they sell their commodities which are brought out of Moscovia The second Palatinate is the Procensian the Townes whereof are Grodna by the River Cronus where Stephen King of Poland dyed And Lawna at the confluence of Cronus and Villia or Willia also Kowno Iada and Vpita The
of Polonia It hath three divisions the Lucensian Wolodomiriensian and Cremenecensian and there are three Provinciall Cities Lucko Wolodomiria and Kerzemenec which have many Townes and places of Defence under them Here are many Lakes and standing waters full of fish and woods full of wilde beasts There is also in this Table Podolia situated by the River Tyras It is a most fertile Country being sowed once and reaped thrice the meddowes are so proud and ranke that the Oxens hornes as they graze can scarce bee seene above the grasse The chiefe Cities are Camienies Bar Medziboz Brezania and Braslaw But let these things which have beene spoken hitherto suffice concerning this table we passe now to Transylvania TRANSYLVANIA OR SIEBENBVRGEN TRANSYLVANIA is the mediterranean part of ancient Dacia which the Romans called Dacia Ripensis and it taketh its name from the woods and mountaines wherewith it is encompassed as the Hercynian woods and the Carpathian hils It is called commonly Septem castra by a name borrowed from the German word Siebenburgen and the Hungarians call it Herdel On the West it is bounded with Pannonia on the North with Polonia on the South with Walachia and on the East with Moldavia Transylvania is very fruitfull hath great plenty of corne through the whole Countrie which besides daily experience that coyne of Trajans doth witnesse in which Ceres stood holding in her right hand the horne of the goate Amalthaea which signifieth plenty and in her left hand a Table with this inscription or motto Abundantia Daciae i. the abundance of Dacia It bringeth forth excellent wine about Alba Iulia Deva Egmedine Birthilbine and Fenuscine It hath also great store of fruite among which to omit the rest it hath most excellent Damaske Prunes Quinces sweet Cherries which may be compar'd with those that grow in Italie and Mellons Heere are also excellent choyse hearbs which grow in every place as Rhubarbe the greater Centory Gentiana with a yellow and purple flowre Sea-wormewood the herbe called Libanotis saffron and many others There are many famous Mynes of Mettall in this Country as Mynes of Gold at Sculattin which the Hungarians call Zalakna and at Rimili Dominurdz which signifies the River or Rivulet of Lords In these places great wedges or pieces of gold are cut forth which as soone as they are digged out they can presently make use of without any accurate refining The Roman pieces of golden coyne which are oft digged up in these places doe witnesse this plentie for they have on the one side the image of a man with a broade hat and with this inscription on it C. Cato and on the other side Dacia in the forme of a Goddesse holding a Booke in her right hand with this inscription AVR PVR. Moreover there are silver Mynes at Offera and Radna Copper is digged out of the same Mountaines out of which the gold and silver commeth Steele is digged and found at Cyk Iron at Thorosco and Vaidahuntada and lastly Sulphure and Antimonie are found in the Copper Mynes There is such great store of salt-pits in Transylvania that it sendeth abundance of salt to other Countries And there is such a great company of Oxen in it that the largest and fairest ones are often sold for a Floren. What shall I speake of the excellent metall'd horses which it breedeth which amble and pace naturally What should I mention the divers kindes of Birdes as Eagles Faulcones Pheasants Partridges Peacocks Woodcocks Snipes And what should I reckon the water-fowle as Swans Bustards and Bitternes c. I passe from these to the wilde beasts for this Countrie hath great Forrests and spacious woods in which are Beares Buffes or wilde Oxen Elkes Harts of a large stature Leopards Martins Does and white Hares Divers Nations heretofore inhabited this Countrie of whom there is yet a remnant in Hungaria as the ●azyges called by Pliny Metanastae beside the Getes Bastarnians Sarmatians Grecians Romans Scythians Saxons and Hungarians The Romans did conquer it when the Emperour Trajan overcame Decebalus King of Dacia and reduced it into the forme of a Province calling the Citie Zarmizegethusa after his owne name Vlpia Trajana but Galienus lost it two hundred yeares after and from that time the Inhabitants having laid aside the Roman humanitie speech and eloquence began to resume their former wildenesse and barbarisme calling themselves Walachians After the Romans the Scythians under the conduct of their Captaine Artilas seated themselves in this place and built seven free Townes The Saxons succeeded the Scythians in the time of Charles the great who forsaking their Countrie seated themselves likewise in these parts built themselves seven free Cities following the example of the Scythians The Hungarians came last who partly allured with the vicinity and neernesse of the place mingled themselves with the Dacians and afterward being provoked by injuries they conquered the whole countrey in the reigne of Stephen King of Pannonia whom they stiled the holy By them some Townes were also built The mountainous part of Transylvania was lately subdued by Matthias Huniades whose surname was Corvinus and afterward by Stephen King of Hungary This Matthias tooke alive one Dracula a Vaivode or Prince of the mountainous Transylvania a man of unheard of cruelty and after ten yeares imprisonment restored him to his former place Transylvania is now divided into three Nations differing both in manners and lawes and inhabiting severall parts of the Countrie namely into the Saxons the Ciculi and Hungarians The Saxon Transylvanians as all other German Nations have a peculiar dialect or language unto themselves they inhabite the strongest cities and castles and doe excell the other Nations They have seven Seates namely Zarwaria Zabesia Millenbach Rensmarke Segesburg or S●hesburg Ollezna Schenkerstall and Reps all which have some villages under them The Ciculi neere to Moldavia being descended from the Scythians doe live after their owne lawes and customes and doe distribute their offices by lot They are divided into seven Regions which they call Seates the names whereof are Sepsi Orbai Kysdi Czyk Gyrgio Marcus Zeek and Aranyas Zeek The Hungarians and Transylvanian Nobles being mingled with the Saxons and the Ciculi doe for the most part agree with them both in speech habite and armour All Transylvania is able to set forth ninety thousand armed men and more There are seven chief Cities in Transylvania having a reasonable distance one from an other among which Cibinium is the Metropolis or Mother-citie is now called Hermanstat It is seated on a plaine not shut up with mountaines but spread into a great breadth It is not much lesse than Vienna in Austria but it is farre stronger both by Art and Nature for in regard of the many Fish-ponds and Lakes round about it no Armie TRANSYLVANIA OR SIEBENBVRGEN TRANS SYLVANIA can come unto it 2 Brasso or Corona which the Germans call Cronstat and
is somtimes called Stephanopolis being seated amongst pleasant mountaines and fortified with Wals Ditches and Rampiers Heere is a famous Universitie and Librarie 3 Bistricia or Noesenstat which is seated on the plaine of a large valley and hath on either side hils full of Vines 4 Segoswar o● S●hespurg which is partly situated on a hill and partly at the foote thereof 5 Megies or M●dwisch which is situated in the midst of Transylvania being fruitfull in wine and stored with all commodities that are either gainefull or necessary for food 6 Zabesium or Zaaz which lyeth in a plaine and deepe valley encompassed with waters full of fish They say that this was the first seate of the Saxons 7 Coloswar or Clausenburg which is likewise sweetly seated in a plaine and is beautified not onely with faire wals without but with stately buildings within Heere is also Alba Iulia or We●senberg an ancient city a Bishops Seate it is situated on a steep hill which hath a large plaine spreading it selfe round about it It hath on the East the River M●●● and on the other side the River called in the Hungarian language ●●●ay which descendeth from the Alpes Heeretofore it was called T●●● and in Trajans time it was the Pallace of King Decebalus As tou●ching the payments of taxes and tributes there are in Transylvania eight principall circles or divisions of ground called Chapters all which together they call the Universitie as first the Bist●●ensian Chapter which hath in it Bistricia with 23 royall Townes 2 The Regne●sian Chapter which hath more than 30 Townes 3 The Bar●ensian Chapter which hath the citie Corona with thirteene royall Townes 4 The Kisde●sian Chapter which hath Segesburg and eight and fortie townes 5 The Chapter called the chapter of two Seates which doth containe the city of M●●ie● with sixe and thirtie townes There are two Chapters of the Cibinian● one of which containeth Cibinium and three and twenty townes and the other which they call Surrogative containe about 22 Villages Last of all the Zabesensian Chapter which hath Zabesium with seventeene Villages This Countrie hath many Lakes and standing waters which are full of excellent fish There are in it three navigable Rivers Aluta Morus called also Marus and Marisus and Samu● the two former arising out of the Scythian Mountaines the last of them falleth into Tibiscus the other runneth straight forward into Danubius Samus which the Germans and Hungarians call Thimes ariseth out of the Alpes called Colota and likewise slideth into Tibiscus There are also ●ther Rivers as Kockel the Greater and the Lesse Sabesus Chrysus Chry●●●●os and Strygius c. the three last whereof have little graines or land of gold in them and doe somtimes bring downe pieces of gold of halfe a pound weight Divers kindes of excellent fish are found in them and the aforesaid Rivers as namely the greater and lesser Sturgeon three kindes of Carpes the Salmon the River and Lake-Lamprey the fish called Silurus the Mullet an other rare kind of Lamprey the white and black Trout the scaly Gudgeons and those that have no scales unknowne to other places besides Pikes Perches Tenches and the common Lamprey all which are found there and of a great size There are Mountaines neere unto Walachia Cisalpina and Moldavia which doe produce Agarick and Turpentine Trees There are many woods in Transylvania and amongst the rest Hercynia in which besides the wilde beasts above-mentioned there are wilde Oxen and Horses whose manes doe reach even to the ground There are also in this Countrie many Castles well fortified among which the chiefe is called the Red Castle being a strong defence and seated on the Alpes neere to a running streame where there is a straight passage betweene the Mountaines into the Countrie and it is as it were the fortresse thereof so that no one can enter into it on that side if the Governour of the castle barre up the way There is also an other fortified castle beneath the Towne Millenbach neere unto the Towne Bros where also neere unto the River there is a way leading into Transylvania betweene the vales and snowie Alpes Now it followeth that wee should adde somthing concerning their manners which are divers and various because as we said before it was formerly possessed by divers Nations and is still at this day The people of Walachia are rude and ignorant of good Arts and Disciplines they are of the Greeke Religion but their manners and customes savour of Paganisme in regard that they much esteeme of Oracles sweare by Iupiter and Venus whom they call Holy and in many other things come neere unto the customes of the Gentiles They have no Townes or brick-houses but doe live in the woods and forrests having no defence against the violence of the weather but a few reedes or cottages of reedes The other part of Transylvania in most places is of a more fruitfull soyle and the people are more civiliz'd and of a better behaviour The Scythians speech in Transylvania differs little from the Hungarian speech at this day though heretofore they differr'd much both in speech and writing for they like the Hebrewes did begin to write from the right hand to the left The Ciculi are a fierie and warlike kinde of people among whom there are no Nobles or Rusticks but all of them are of one ranke The Hungarians have great power and authoritie above all the rest And let so much suffice to have beene spoken briefly concerning Transylvania TAVRICA CHERSONESVS THis CHERSONESVS was so called by Ptolemie from the Tauri a certaine people of Scythia in Europe Strabo calls it the Scythian Chersonesus Pliny in his 2 Booke and 96 chapter calleth it after the Latines the Peninsula of the Taurians Appianus calleth it the Pontick Chersonesus and Paulus Diaconus calleth it Chersenesa At this day it is called Precopska and Gesara by Antonius Pineti● It is a large Peninsula stretched out toward the East betweene the Euxine Sea and the Maeotick Lake even to the Cimmerian Bosporus which divides Europe from Asia It hath a gentle winter and most temperate Aire For at the end of December winter beginneth and is at the sharpest or coldest in the middle of February as having then most snow which yet lyeth not above three daies vvhen the cold and frost is most constant The Winter never lasteth longer than the beginning of March All the whole Countrie is very fruitfull and very fit for feeding flocks of cattell Yet albeit the Inhabitants have a fertile soile many of them do not till their fields nor Sow them They have abundance of Horses Camels Oxen Kine and Sheep on which they live There are also great store of daintie fowle which oftentimes the Christians and Turkes and sometimes the Polanders that come thither as strangers are wont to take There is much hunting of Harts Goates Boares and Hares both in the Tartarian and Turkish
Dominions neare the Sea This Chersonesus hath hard and rugged mountaines that running through the middle of it do divide it into the Northerne and Southerne part as the Apennine Mountaine doth divide Italie Mahomet in the yeare 1475 did possesse the Southerne part and made it tributarie to himselfe But in the Northerne part the Tartars wandering in the broad fields betweene Borysthenes and Tanais and continually changing their places of feeding their cattell possessed the Towne called Crim as a royall Seat and from thence they were called Crim Tartars Afterward having cut through the Isthmus of the Taurick Chersonesus when neare unto the Ditch which they call Praecop they built a Citie a royall Seat of the same name they were from thence called Praecopenses The King of these Tartars when being joyned in league and societie with the Turkes hee had at their request banisht his owne brother who made warre against him and had besieged Capha at last both himselfe and his two yong sonnes were cut in pieces by his Counsellers whom hee had with large gifts corrupted for the aforesaid purpose and so gave an unhappie example of the Ottoman friendship For hee being slaine the Tartarians who were hitherto free untamed and companions and brethren to Ottoman were now made servants and after the manner of the other Turkish Provinces were compelled to receive and acknowledge not a King but a Beglerbeg that is a Vice-Roy to governe TAVRICA CHERSONESVS Taurica Chersonesus them But the Turkish Empire may be easily known by the Descriptions of Wallachia Greece and the Turkish Empire and therefore for brevities sake wee referre the Reader thither Besides Cazan and Astrachan which are Kingdomes belonging to the Tartarians who do till fields dwell in houses and at this day are subject to the Moscovite and besides the aforesaid Praecopenses there are other Field Tartars who live in the fields in great companies obseruing no limits and of these we will speake in their proper place to wit in the Tables of Asia In the Southerne part of this Chersonesus is the Metropolis Capha heretofore called Theodosia a famous Mart-towne being the ancient Colonie of the Genois It is situate neare the Sea And hath a faire Haven It seemes that in the time of the Genois it was very populous But when the Turkes almost two hundred yeares since in the time of Mahomet the Great tooke it from them the Italians were reduced to such a strait that there are few tokens remaining of their being there for the Citie hath for the most part lost her former beautie The Italian Churches are throwne downe the houses decayed and the walls and Towers on which the Genois colours and ensignes were placed with Latine Inscriptions are fallen to ruine It is now inhabited by Turkes Armenians Iewes Italians and a few Grecian Christians It is famous for traffique as being the chiefe Haven of the Chersonesus and hath an infinite companie of Vine-yards Orchards and Gardens Besides this towne there is Perecopia called by the ancient Greekes Eupatoria Pompeiopolis Sacer Lucus Dromon Achillis Graecida Heraclium or Heraclia Also Cos●ovia a famous Mart-towne and I●germenum having a stone Castle beneath which is a Church and many Caves that with great labour and paines are cut and hewed out of a rocke for this towne is seated on a great high Mountaine and taketh its name from those Turkish Caves It was heretofore a faire Towne and full of wealth and riches Here is Chersonesus Corsunum or Cherso which is the ancientest citie of Taurica This the Turkes called Saci Germenum as it were the Yellow Castle for this Countrie hath a kinde of yellow soyle The admirable and wondrous mines of this place do testifie that it was heretofore a proud rich delicate and famous Colonie of the Grecians and the most ancient citie of the whole Peninsula being much frequented magnificent and having a faire Haven Here is the Castle and Towne of Iamboli or Balachium Mancopia or Mangutum as the Turkes call it and the Towne of Cercum with a Castle Here is the citie and castle of Cremum which the Tartars call Crim having an ancient wall very strong high and in regard of its largenesse it is farre unlike the other cities of the Taurick Chersonesus And in the utmost part of this Countrie is the citie Tanas neare the mouth of the River Tanais the Russians call it Azac It is a famous Mart-towne unto which Merchants do come out of divers parts of the world for that every one hath here free accesse and free power to buy or sell There are many great Rivers in this Countrie running downe out of the Mountaines The chiefest whereof is Borysthenes commonly called Nieper a deepe and swift River which runneth from the North into the river Carcinites or Hypaciris now called Desna and so into the Euxine Sea neare the Towne Oczacow Also Don or Tanais Ariel Samar that runneth into Don with many others The Cimmerian Bosphorus to which this Chersonesus as we said before is extended It is a narrow Sea two miles broad which divideth Europe from Asia and by which the Maeoticke Lake doth ●low into the Euxine Sea It is called from the Cimmerians who dwell upon the coldest part thereof or frō the towne Cimmerium as Volaterranus would have it The Maeotick Lake is neare the mouth of Phasis commonly called Fasso and by the Scythians Phazzeth receiving Tanais into it The Scythians call it Temerenda that is the mother of the Sea as Dionysius witnesseth because much water floweth from thence through the Cimmerian Bosphorus into it as also much from other places which doth so replenish and fill the Lake that the bankes thereof can hardly containe it This Lake in regard it receiveth many rivers aboundeth with fish There is also the Euxine Sea the upper part of whose water is sweete and the nether part salt This being heretofore called the Axine and according to Sophocles the Apoxine Sea because no Ships could arrive here or in regard of the barbarous Scythian borderers who killed strangers they afterward called the Euxine by the figure which they call Euphemismus But they called it Pontus as if it were another Ocean for they supposed that those who sailed on it did performe some great and memorable act And therefore saith Strabo they called it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pontus as they called Homer the Poet. There are many rugged and steepe mountaines in this Chersonesus especially those which runne through the middle thereof The greatest and highest of them hath a great Lake on the toppe of it But so much hitherto concerning these things Now let us proceed to other matters Justice is administred among the Tartarians by the Law of Mahomet in the Cities and Townes of the Chan and the other Sultanes They have their Priests their Judges in their Townes and their Begi or Praefects who do heare and decide private injuries But the Chan himselfe with his
Pretors sent into them C. Sempronius Tuditanus into the hither Spaine and M. Helvetius Blasio into the farther Two yeares being scarcely past so great a warre began in Spaine that it was necessarie that a Consul should be sent out with an Army Marcus Portius Cato Consul being allotted to goe into the hither part did so appease and quiet rebellion that the Proconsul in regard thereof triumphed This is that Cato who as Livie writeth and others by a wonderfull stratagem did throw downe the wals of many Spanish Cities in one day After Cato's victorie Spaine was diversly possessed and many times lost and regained againe so that there were above 30 triumphs for victories obtained heere They did not begin to pay any taxe before the time of Augustus Caesar who having by long continuance of warres tamed all Spaine and overthrowne the Cantabrians and Asturians that had longest of all made resistance divided the whole Countrie into three Provinces Baetica so called from the River Batis Lusitania and Tarraconensis so called from its citie Tarracon and every one of these have their Diocesses or Circles of jurisdiction In Baetica there are foure Diocesses Gaditana Cordubensis Astigitana and Hispalensis Lusitania hath three Diocesses Emeritensis Pacensis and Scalibitana Lastly Tarraconensis hath seven Carthaginensis Tarraconensis Caesar Augustana Cluniensis Astura Lucensis and Bracarensis See Pliny lib. 3. Strab. lib. 3. and others Thus things by degrees being changed the chiefest Provinces were under the Romans command even untill the Consulship of Honorius the third and Theodosius the third At which time the Vandals Suevi and Alani being called into France by Stilico when once having passed the Rhene they had set foote in France being in a barbarous manner spoyled by the Gothes and the Kings Adolphus and Vallia whom the Emperour Honorius had sent to ayde and set France at libertie they passed at last over the Pyrenaean Hils Afterward the Gothes inhabiting France for many yeares possessed Spaine having taken it from the Romans for being assailed by the Frankes they againe made warre upon the Vandals The Frankes drove the Gothes out of France and the Gothes drove the Vandals and Alani out of Spaine At which time the Vandals and Alani being called by Boniface into Africk which hee governed for the Emperour left Spaine to the possession of the Gothes When the Gothes having driven out the Roman Garrisons had made Spaine their owne and had a long time Kings of their owne who ruled in it at length they were overthrowne in a great battell by the Arabian Saracens and King Roderick being kill'd they lost almost all Spaine Those that survived after the battell when they had fortified themselves in the Mountaines of the Astures Cantabrians and Galicians by litle and litle they began to recover the Countries Cities and Castles which they had lost At last the Saracens partie growing weake in Baetica Hispania and the Gothes having recovered all Spaine they againe were overcome by Ferdinand Catholick King of Aragon and thrust out of Spaine so that the whole Countrie returned and came againe into the hands of the ancient Lords thereof But whereas in the times of the Moores five Kings namely of Castile of Aragon of Portugall of Granada Navarre did possesse Spaine at this day Philip the fourth sonne unto Philip the third who was Nephew unto the Emperour Charles the fifth is sole King thereof It was heretofore diversly divided The Romans first divided it into the Hither and Farther Spaine They called that the Hither part which was neerest unto the chiefe Citie and the principall Countries of the Empire being situated betweene the River Iberus and the Pyrenaean Mountaines they called that the Farther part which lay more remote being stretched out beyond Iberus even to the Ocean In following times wee reade that Spaine was divided into sixe parts Tarraconensis Carthaginensis Lusitania Galicia Baetica and Tingitana beyond the narrow Sea in Africk In the time of the Moores there were many Kingdomes in Spaine which were afterward divided into five as the Kingdome of Castile of Aragon of Portugall of Granada and Navarre But now by a new distribution the whole Empire is divided into three Kingdomes namely of Aragon Castile and Portugall Under the Kingdome of Aragon is contained besides Aragon Catalonia Valentia Majorica Under the Kingdome of Castile are comprehended Biscay Leon Asturia Galicia Estremadura Andalusia Granada Murcia and both the Castiles with the Canarie-Ilands Under the Kingdome of Portugall is comprehended besides Portugall Algarbia The Cities which are in the whole Kingdome are almost innumerable The chiefe of them are Hispalis Madrid Tarraco Lisbon Granada Pampilona Valentia Barcino commonly called Barzelona The seventh German Legion now called Leon S. Lucar Corduba Nebrissa Compostella Toledo Salamanca Complutum Pintia Caesar-Augusta now Saragossa Asturica Augusta and many others Heere are admirable Lakes neere the towne Beiara is a commodious and wonderfull Lake which breedeth Turtles being a black kinde of Fish but excellent in taste and as Marineus Siculus witnesseth prognosticating and foretelling of raine and stormes to come by the great noyse which they make so that the sound thereof is heard like the roaring of a Bull eighteene miles thence There is a certaine Lake on the very top of the Mountain Stella as Vasaeus writeth in which fragments and pieces of Ships are found when notwithstanding it is more than 12 leagues distant from the Sea and the same Author noteth that the Inhabitants doe affirme that it boyleth and is tempestuous as often as the Sea is rough or unquiet The most diligent Writer Suetonius saith in his Description of the life of Galba that thunder fell downe into the Lake of Cantabria and that afterward twelve axes were found therein There is also the pleasant Lake which Pliny mentioneth lib. 3. Natur. histor cap. 3. not farre from Valentia at this day it is called Albu●era The Rivers follow Spaine is watered every where with many Rivers there are some who reckon an hundred and fiftie and over them 700 Bridges the chiefe whereof is the Bridge of Segovia and Alcantara There is in this Kingdome the River which Ptolemie cals Iberus and now is called Ebro it breaketh forth in Cantabria out of the Mountaine Idubeda with two fountaines or spring-heads that on the right hand in the Aucensian wood called Monte d'Oca the other on the left hand neere a Towne which the Inhabitants call Fuentibre and so increasing with the receit of great Rivers being first entertained in the fields of Calaguris it runneth unto and visiteth Iuliobriga and Tudella two Townes of Navarre and then it watereth Iulia Bolsa and Caesar-Augusta Departing thence it glideth Southward and by and by Northeastward by the people of Laletania now called Galetani and the rich Citie Toriosa At last being enlarged with many Rivers flowing into it and having runne almost foure hundred miles forward in length it entreth so violently with two mouthes into the Mediterranean Sea
for Philosophers we shall meete with L. Anneius Seneca and his sonnes Seneca Nonatus and Mela Lucius Iunius Moderatus Columella C. Iulius Hyginus Sotion and Iohannes Vives Valentinus If wee search for Mathematicians behold Pomponius Mela Abrahamus Cacutius Alphonsus King of Castile Henricus the Infanta of Portugall Henricus Marquesse of Villena Arnoldus Villanovanus and his Scholler Raimundus Lullius If we enquire for Orators we shall finde beside Seneca Portius Latro and M. Fabius Quintilianus Lastly if we would reckon up some Poets borne here we may make account of Sextilius Hena L. Annaeus Seneca and Lucan who were Cosins M. Valerius Martialis Rufus Festus Avienus Aurelius Prudentius Pope Damasus Caelius Sedulius and many others I omit for brevities sake the later moderne Poets The Spaniards are by nature hot and drie swarthe-coloured to helpe which the women use a kinde of painting they are well limb'd and strong set They are the most superstitious of all people so that other people doe learne from them both ceremonies complements and large titles They have a great dexteritie in concealing their thoughts both by silence and dissimulation They have a kinde of an affected gravitie which maketh them incurre the hatred of all other Nations which as Marianus sheweth is an individuall concomitant or companion to great Kingdomes The women are not very fruitfull in bearing children they abstaine much from wine and are seldome seene abroade as imitating therein the Roman Matrons They use strangers discurteously and in forraine Countries they will reverence prayse and extoll one another They are great observers of Justice so that Justice is administred to all even from the highest to the lowest and so great is the painfull industrie of Magistrates that there are few or no robberies committed Beside they keepe their hands free from bloud and other wicked acts and whosoever offendeth the Lawes or doth trespasse against any one though never so meane is punished for it They are still attempting some greate matter for having supprest their enemies at home and overthrowne the Saracens they seeke for to discover and get for their King the most potent parts of the world When two or three meete together of what place or condition soever they alwayes discourse of the Common-wealth and serious affaires they seeke wayes how to weaken their enemies force they devise stratagems and invent a thousand engines which they open and make knowne to the Captaines In the field they can endure both hunger thirst and labour In battle and matters of warre they are more politick than stout they are of a light body and being lightly armed they not onely easily pursue their enemies but when they are put to it they can easily save themselves by flight alwayes meditating on some militarie or warlike designe In their feastes and banquets at home they are frugall sober and content with a little but abroade they have more delicate fare They use handsome convenient garments well made fashioned Spaine doth affoord to the neighbour Countries and also to remote Nations Silke-wooll Cloath of all kindes Salt Sugar Honey Orenges Pome-Granats Lemmons pickled Olives Capers Grapes Figges Pruines Almonds Chesnuts Anny-seed Cumming-seed Coriander-seed Rice Saffron Oyle Waxe Alume Vermilion Purple Saltfish Bay-berries preserv'd Fruits of all sorts Alablaster Corall Gold Silver Iron Steele Tinne Copper Leade Dying Oade Quick-silver Gotten pretious stones Aromatickes and sweet Spices which are brought from the Indies and other places And in exchange for these the Europaeans the Africans the Asiatians and the Americans doe give the Spaniards such commodities as their owne Country doth not affoord PORTVGALL AND ALGARBIA HItherto wee have described Spaine in generall now our Method requireth that wee should decipher it in particular and by parts Wee said in our generall Description that it was diversly divided But wee will make a faithfull Description of the parts of Spaine in such order as it is delineated by Hondius Hee describeth it in sixe Tables in this order In the first Portugall is described in the second Biscay Guipuscoa and Legio in the third the New and Old Castiles in the fourth Andalusia in which is the Countrey of Hispalis and Gades in the fifth is Valentia and in the sixth is Aragon and Catalonia Portugall which offers it selfe in the first place was anciently called Lusitania and M. Varro and Plinte doe affirme that it received this name from Lusus the Sonne of Liber and Lysa who was drunke with him for it was called Lusitania as it were the Countrey of Lusus Marcianus thinketh it was called Lusitania from a River which is now called Tagus Some suppose it was called Portugall à Portu Gallorum which is as much to say as the Frenchmens Haven But Andraeas Resendius whose opinion other learned men doe follow doth observe that the name of Portugall is derived â Portu Cale This Countrie if wee consider the breadth thereof from the South Northward is greater than Old Lusitania but if wee consider the length from the West Eastward it is lesser Portugall at this day runneth forth Northward beyond the meeting of the two Rivers Minius and Avia even to the Towne Ribadania seated on that banke of Avia which looketh toward Gallicia and a straight line being drawne from thence Eastward it reacheth even to Miranda seated upon the River Durius and from thence toward the South to the Mouth of the River Ana on that side where it bordereth on Castile Estremadura and Andaluzia on the Northwest it looketh toward the Atlantick Ocean so that the whole compasse thereof is thought to bee 879 miles This countrie hath an excellent sweete and temperate Ayre and a cleere and fruitfull Climate It aboundeth with Wine Oyle Oranges Pome-citernes Almonds Honey and Waxe The fruite of this Countrie doth excell that which growes in others neere unto it And though the Inhabitants have not out of their fields sufficient store of corne to sustaine them with foode yet there is much transported thither out of France and Germanie This Countrie doth breede many living creatures especially great store of Horses and those so swift of foote that they imagin'd them to bee begotten by the winde The Kingdome of Portugall began about the yeare 1100 for at that time it became a part of Spaine Chronicles doe mention that the first of the Line of the Kings of Portugall was Henry Duke of Lotharingia Earle of Limburg a man of a great courage and ready of hand who removing into Spaine married Tyresia the Daughter of Alphonsus the sixth King of Castile and Legio and tooke for a Dowrie that part of Gallicia and Lusitania which is now called Portugall and which not long before by his owne valour hee recovered and got from the Saracens and Moores Hee dying about the yeare 1112 there succeeded him his Sonne Alphonsus who calling himselfe Dake of Portugall was enstiled King thereof by his whole Armie in the yeare 1139 having obtained a victory against Ismarius and
foure other Kings of the Siracens and Moores leaving to posteritie five Scutcheons for their Armes in remembrance of that atchievement There succeeded him almost in a right line Sanctius Alphonsus the 2 Sanctius the 3 Alphonsus the 3 Dionysius who first began to usurpe the title of the King of the Algarbians also Alphonsus the fourth Peter Ferdinand Iohn Edward Alphonsus the fifth surnamed Africanus Iohn the 2 Emanuel Iohn the 3 Sebastian slaine in Africk Henry the Cardinall and Antonius who because hee was a Bastard was expell'd Philip the second King of Spaine Nephew to Emanuel by Isabel his eldest Daughter and Father to Philip the 3 whose Sonne Philip the 4 doth now reigne The Metropolis of Portugall is Olisippo as it is called in the ancient faithfull copies of M. Varro Pliny Antoninus and Mela. For in vulgar writings it is written sometimes Olysippo and sometimes Vlysippo and divers other wayes now it is called Lisbone or as the Inhabitants doe pronounce it Lisboa It is a great Towne of traffique abounding with riches and it is a famous store-house of forraine commodities which are brought thither out of Asia Africk and America It hath a pleasant and commodious situation almost at the mouth of the River Tagus it is now very large being built on five Hils and as many Vales or descents but heretofore it was lesse being seated onely on one hill as some doe report On that side which is toward the Sea it hath two and twentie Gates and on that side which is toward the Continent it hath sixteene It hath threescore and seventeene watch-Towres upon the wals The Parish-churches are twenty five besides many Chappels and Churches belonging to the Monkes the Anachorets and the Nunnes The Cities beyond Tagus doe acknowledge Lisbone to be the Mother-citie as Ebora called by Ptolemie Ebura and now commonly Evora Begia commonly called Bega or Beia and heretofore Pax Iulia by Antoninus and Ptolemie Setubal heretofore named as Clusius supposeth Salacia Also Alcasar de sal in the Countrie of Algarbia and Almada which Ptolemie cals Caetobrix and Antoninus Caetobriga Beyond Tagus not farre from Lisbone Northward the Towne of Cascala is seated and as you come a litle neerer to the Citie you meete with a litle Towne called Bethleem There are also Leria Tomar and Guarda all Townes of note Not farre from Tomar lyeth Ceice which Antoninus calleth Celium Also Alanguera by the River Tagus which Damianus à Goes being his owne native Towne thinketh to be so called quasi Alankerke that is the Temple of the Alanes It was heretofore called Ierabrica but now Coimbra and it was heretofore the head Citie of the Kingdome of Portugall There is also the Towne Viseum commonly called Viseo Plinie calleth it Vacca but now it is called Ponte Fouga The third Councell of Toledo doth PORTVGALL AND ALGARBIA PORTUGALLIA OLIM LUSITANIA mention Lameca commonly called Lamego Lastly Braga which lyeth betweene the Rivers Durius and Minius it is now so called though Ptolemie calleth it Bracar Augusta Antoninus Braccara Augusta and Plinie Augusta Bracarum It is reported that it was built by the Gaules surnamed Braccati in the yeare before Christs birth 290 and the Romans having conquered it gave it the surname of Augusta It was heretofore so famous that here were the seven great Assemblies or Parliaments which were kept and held in the hithermost Spaine so that foure and twentie Cities as Plinie reporteth did bring their suits and causes hither to have them tried The Rivers of this Countrie are Anas and Guadiana Tagus or Taio Mondego or Monda Durius or Duero and Minius or Mino two of these being famous to wit Tagus and Durius Portugall on the West and South looketh toward the Atlantick Ocean which besides fish which it yeeldeth in great abundance doth afford many other commodities This Countrey is indebted unto and receiveth all her plenty from the Sea which she acknowledgeth in so much that it may more worthily be called the golden Sea than golden flowing Nilus because by the helpe hereof they have commodities imported and brought in from all parts of the earth so that it standeth in need of nothing and againe those commodities wherewith it aboundeth it exporteth by shipping to traffique with forraine Countries There is also besides the Havens which wee mentioned before the Haven of Setubal Dubal or Tubal which lieth Southward from Olisippo or Lisbone Heere are few Mountaines and those not very great as namely those which the Inhabitants call Sierra de Monchiquo de Chaldecatao de Sordedas called heretofore the Mountaines of the Moone c. And these for the most part are full of woods and thickets There are also very great and thick woods in which the Princes of Spaine are wont to hunt In the litle Towne of Bethleëm there is a Temple dedicated to the holy Virgin Mary and built very costly also the Monument of Emanuel King of Portugall whiche hee appointed to bee built in his owne life-time yet was it afterward enriched and beautified by Iohn the third the Sonne of Emanuel There are moreover in that part of Portugall which lyeth betweene Tagus Durius as Vasaeus writeth besides the Metropolitan Church of Bracara the Cathedrall Church in Portugall and five other Collegiate Churches more than an hundred and thirty Monasteries the most of which have most large revenues and about 1460 Parish-Churches In that part which belongeth to the Church of Bracara there are reckoned eight hundred Parish-Curches whereby you may easily collect and know the fertility of this Countrie I doe not mention the Hospitals for strangers for the diseased and for Orphanes the Towre the faire houses the pleasant gardens and Universities which are in this Kingdome as namely Ebora and Coimbra or Conimbrica the first was lately instituted by Henry Cardinall of Portugall and President of the same Citie the other also was lately instituted by Iohn the second King of Portugall The Portugals are the strongest of all the Spaniards the quickest the most nimble and light of body so that they can easily pursue or retire from the enemie Their disposition is to be proud and selfe-conceited of themselves and their owne affaires and they say themselves that they live by opinion and conceit that is they sustaine themselves more with that which they thinke themselves to be than with that which they truly are They are skilfull in sea-matters and are famous for their Navigations to unkowne parts of the world where they grow rich by trading and merchandizing Under Portugall at this time is the Kingdome of Algarbia It taketh its name from the Arabick tongue and doth signifie a happie and plentifull Field or Medow in which are all things necessarie for traffique A straight line drawne from the River Anas betweene the Rivers which are commonly called Vataon and Carei-vas to the litle Towne Odeseiza that is from the East Westward doth separate from
Portugall this Kingdome of Algarbia which is the least and unnoted'st Kingdome of all Spaine There are carried hither out of divers parts of Spaine downe the River Anas all sorts of Wines Sacks Bastards Roman Wine and others of the like sorts which being shipped are transported into France the Low-Countries and other parts It hath in it the Townes of Balsa so called by Ptolemie Plinie Antoninus and Pomponius Mela but now Tavila as Coquus supposeth and Ossonoba so called by Plinie Antoninus it is called also by Pliny Lusturia by Ptolemy Ossonaba by Pinetus Gibraleon by Clusius Exuba by Varrerius Estombar as also by Moralis and it is thought to bee the same which is now called Silvis or Selves There was also in the same place neere the Holy Promontory the Citie which Pomponius calleth Lacobriga the ruines whereof are yet to be seene neere the Sea-Towne Lagos at a Village which is called in the Portugall language Lagoa as Vasaeus writeth Algarbia at the first was given in dowry by Alphonsus the 10 King of Legio or Leon as ancient Annals doe report unto Alphonsus the third King of Portugall when hee married his daughter Beatrice which hee begate on a whore Dionysius was derived from this marriage who first of all began to usurpe the title of King of Algarbia But thus much shall suffice concerning Portugall Algarbia I passe to the other parts of Spaine GALLICIA LEON AND ASTVRIA DE OVIEDO GALLICIA which is also written Galecia or Gallaecia and taketh its name from an ancient people called Calla●●i hath on the North and West the Ocean on the South Portugall with the River Durius flowing betweene them and on the East Asturia This Countrie in regard it hath many rugged mountaines and wanteth water is but thinly inhabited It aboundeth so with Horses that they are supposed to be begotten by the winde Pliny noteth that here are rich mines of Gold Niger writeth that the rivers hereof do bring downe earth mingled with gold silver and tinne and that the soyle it selfe is full of gold brasse and lead so that golden clods are oftentimes ploughed up The mountaines afford great store of wood for building of ships Gallicia doth exceedingly abound with fish especially with Salmons Congers a kinde of fish which they call Pescades and many other daintie fishes which being salted are carried into divers parts of Spaine In the moneth of November and December a great number of those fish are taken which they commonly call Vesugos being two or three pound weight they are carried fresh and sweete into Castile and are sold there for the cold doth easily preserve them they have an excellent taste yet those are best tasted which are taken in the Ocean and not in the Meditterranean Sea For the coldnes of the Ocean doth fatten the fish and therefore those which are taken most Northward are the best The most part of the Inhabitants doe live in mountaines on which they build convenient houses Concerning the name and originall of the Callaicians let the Reader have recourse to Iohannes Bishop of Gerunda Lib. 2 Paralipomenorum Hispaniae Roderieus Toletanus Lib. 10. de rebus Hispanicis cap. 4. and others The Metropolis of Gallicia is Compostella where is worshipped S. Iames the Apostle who together with the Universitie making the Citie famous giveth unto it the name of S. Iago it was heretofore called Briantia as Franciscus ●arapha Ambrosius Moralis and Villanovanus do thinke Orosius calleth it Brigantia who saith that there is in it a very high watch-towre Ptolemie calleth it Flavium Brigantum Beuterus C●q●us and Iohannes Mariana do call it Betancos Florianus and Gomectus call it Coruna and Iohannes Bishop of Gerunda Lib. 1. calleth it Compostella saying it was so called quasi Compos Stella for so the evening starre was called which maketh these countries wholsome There is extant at Salamantica in the Library of the Colledge of our Saviour the Historie of Compostella the growth and increase of the Church of Compostella described in two volumes written by the command of Didacus the first Archbishop thereof concerning which you may also read Lucius Marineus Siculus in his fift Booke and in GALLICIA LEGIO GALLICIA Chapter concerning religious houses in Spaine and the wonderfull miracles done therein The Lesser Townes are Orensium a Citie neare the River Minius and called by Ptolemie Thermae Calidae as Gomecius thinketh in the life of Franciscus Zimenius where hee addeth that the Swedish people of Germany who heretofore did subdue these parts in their native language did call it Warense though Ortelius saith it should rather be written Warmsee which signifies the Warme Lake Also a Town called in Latine Lucus and by the Inhabitants Lugo Pomponius calleth it Turris Augusti Pliny Aresti and Arae Sextianae and Ptolemie Promontonum Arae Sestii neare to the Cantabricke Ocean in Artabria Also Pons vetus Ponte Vedra and Ribalaeum commonly called Ribadeo Other towns Marinaeus Siculus mentions in the beginning of his third Booke Gallicia got the title of a Kingdome a thousand and sixtie yeares after Christ For that yeare Ferdinand the sonne of Sanctius Major King of Navarre being King of Castile when hee had married Sanctia the daughter of Alphonsus the fift and so united the Kingdome of Castile and Legio having three sonnes hee made by his will Sanctius King of Castile Alphonsus King of Legion and Asturia and Garcia King of Gallicia which hee enjoying in the right of his wife was till then but an Earledome and Portugall Sanctius being not content with this division which his father made thrust his brother Alphonsus out of his Kingdome and slew Garcia his other brother Now when Sanctius had ruled about sixe yeares and was at last beheaded by Vellidus through trecherie Alphonsus who lived as a banisht man with the King of the Moores at Toledo did not onely recover the Kingdome of Legio which his father gave him by Will but also got the Kingdome of Castile Gallicia and Portugall Alphonsus had three children lawfully begot on three wives by Isabell Queen of France hee had Sanctia who was married to the Earle Rodoricke who brought new Colonies into the Citie which is commonly called Ciudad-Rodrigo by Zaida a Moore daughter to the King of Sevill he had Sanctius who was slaine in a battell against the Saracens and lastly by Constantia he had Vrraca who out living Sanctius and Sanctia who dyed without issue after shee had beene wife to Raimundus Berengarius Earle of Tolosa married Alphonsus King of Aragon and had an heire by him who was afterward Alphonsus the seventh the most powerfull King of all his predecessours and one that deserved to be called Emperour of Spaine From that time Gallicia Castile and Legio have alwaies but one King Neare to Legio bounding thereon on the North is Asturia on the West Gallicia and on the South and East old Castile It taketh its name from the seventh German Legion which was seated
others call Asta Antoninus with an asperation calleth it Hasta Moralis writeth that it doth still retaine the name of Asta and thinketh it to be that place neare the river Guadalet which is commonly called Masa de Asta But Ortelius supposeth that it was drowned with the Island Tartessus in the mouth of Baetis An hundred furlongs from the mouth of Baetis standeth the Towne Chipiona which Strabo lib. 3. calleth Capionis Turris At the mouth of the River Lethes which is now called Guadelet or in the Arabian language Bedalac there is a Towne which is called Portus S. Mariae and commonly El puerto de S. Maria. Having passed over Lethes the next towne you shall meet withall is Medina Sidonia and somewhat more Southward toward the Sea-shoare is Conilium a famous towne of Spaine sixe leagues distant from the Citie Gadiz and subject to the Duke of S. Lucar and Medina Sidonia There is also Carteja called commonly Tariffa and not far from thence is the Towne Vegelium commonly called Vegel It is indeed a litle Towne but yet famous for the situation and beautie of it for it is seated on a hill which is environed round about with a large plaine so that it hath a faire prospect as farre as the eye can reach not onely upon the plaines and greene medowes toward the East as also the Mountaines of Africke and the Southerne coast but likewise upon the great troublesome Ocean toward the North and West Lastly from hence toward the Northwest lyeth the towne Munda for so Pliny nameth this towne which now is called Monda though some do thinke that to be old Munda which now is called Ronda veja There are in the Diocese of Hispalis an innumerable company of Monasteries and Nunneries It would be a tedious thing to reckon up the Hospitalls for strangers that are in this country seing there are in Hispalis it selfe an hundred and twenty which are richly endowed some of them having eight thousand Crownes and some fifteene thousand Crownes yearely revenue Hispalis is the most beautifull of all the Cities of Spaine in regard of the Religious houses and Churches which are therein among many Churches the chiefest is the Church dedicated to Saint Mary than which the Christian world cannot shew a better if you consider either the greatnesse and majestie of the worke which carrieth with it an excellent beauty or if you behold the heigth of the Towre wrought with admirable workmanship from whence there is a pleasant prospect over all the City and the fields that lye round about it What shall I describe the royall furniture of the Kings Castle in this Citie than which the Kings of Spaine have none more fairely or curiously built What should I mention the Pallaces here belonging to Dukes Earles and other Nobles Or why should I speake of the Citizens houses adorned with pleasant Fountaines and Gardens I passe by the ancient Aquaeducts by which water is convey'd into severall parts of the Citie and those later which were brought with great cost and labour to the Pillars commonly called Hercules Pillars and dedicated to publick delight besides many other ornaments of this Citie since I feare lest I be tedious VALENTIA AND MVRCIA VALENTIA taketh its name from the Metropolis thereof being a faire Mart-Towne and of great antiquitie On the South it looketh toward Murcia on the West toward both the Castiles on the North toward Aragon and on the East the Sea beateth on it It hath a more temperate Ayre and a more pleasant Climate than any other part of Spaine yea the Kingdome of Valentia hath such a gentle Climate the warme Westerne windes breathing upon it that at any time even at Christmas and in the Moneth of Ianuarie the Inhabitants may carrie Posies of flowres in their hands as they doe in other places in April and May. It is an excellent Country having plenty of all things as Sugar Wine Oyle Corne and divers other fruites It hath Mynes of Silver in a place which they call Buriel betweene Valentia and Dertosa And there are stones found which have as it were golden veines and lines running through them in a place which is called Aioder At the Promontorie Finistratum there are Iron Mynes and neere to Segorbia there are some signes remaining of a Quarrie out of which Marble was heretofore digged and carried to Rome In some places Alablaster is digged up but Alume Tinne Marking-stone and Chalke is found every where The Moores by a long succession of Dukes held the Citie of Valentia for a long time though it had beene often besieged by the Kings of Aragon untill Iames the first King of Aragon by a long siege obtained it and enforced their Captaine Zaen Maure together with fiftie thousand Moores to depart the Citie and to flie unto Denia carrying with them their Gold Silver Armour and Houshold-stuffe Valentia being thus forsaken King Iames sent a Colonie to replenish it againe The Colony consisted of Catalonians and Aragonians their Captaine being Berengarius Palatiol Bishop of Barcelona Vidalus Cavelia Bishop of Ossa Peter Ferdinandes d' Acagra and Simon de Vrrea Knights they distributed the whole Citie among the new Inhabitants which were 384 families according to their severall dignities and adorn'd the Common-wealth with new Lawes This Countrie obtained the title of a Kingdome in the yeare of Christ 788 as Ortelius writeth out of Petrus Metinensis Petrus Antoninus Beuterus The Historie hath it thus Hisen King of Corduba being dead there succeeded him in the yeare of Christ 788 his sonne Alca whose uncle Aodala Lord of Valentia called to him his Brother whose name was Culema and had beene disinherited out of Taviar these two Brethren uniting their forces came to Corduba and endeavouring to expell their Nephew out of his Kingdome were overcome in battell so that Aodala fled for his safety and returned to Valentia VALENTIA AND MVRCIA REGNI VALENTIAE TYPUS But the chiefe of the Moores interposing themselves betweene the Uncles and the Nephew they brought them to that agreement that Aodala should write himselfe King of Valentia and that Culema should receive every moneth out of the revenues of Valentia a thousand of Moradines which was a kinde of money for the maintenance of his table and five thousand Moradines more for the provision of other necessaries To which agreement when Aodala had consented hee first stiled himselfe the King of Valentia The ancient Inhabitants of Valentia were the Hedetani which as Ptolemie thinketh were the same with the Sedentani Secondly the Biscargitani whose Metropolis was Biscargis whereof there is some mention made in the Inscription of Caesars coyne as Hub. Goltzius witnesseth and these seeme to have beene of the Heditanians seeing Ptolemie names Biscargis to be amongst them Thirdly the Leonicenses whose Metropolis Ptolemie cals Leonica and placeth it also among the Heditanians Fourthly the Co●●stani from whom Pliny nameth the Countrie of Contestania in Tarraconia
cold but is seated in the temperate Climate and by the witty diligence of Nature it is as it were an other world as being enclosed on one side with the Pyrenaean Mountaines heere with the Ocean and there with the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea Besides adde to this the many famous Cities which are therein the whole Countries being either tilled or full of fruites and flocks the gold-bearing Rivers that water it and the sparkling pretious stones that enrich it I know that Poets in their Fables which they have invented to please the eare have attributed miraculous things to some Nations which whether they are true or not yet are very strange neither doe I now seeke out the truth Let Gargara as it is written yeeld a great increase of corne let Menavia be praysed for her flocks Campania for the Mountaine Gaurano Lydia for the River Pactolus Spaine hath every thing that is praise-worthy It bringeth forth hardie Souldies expert Captaines eloquent Oratours and famous Poets This Country is the Mother of Judges and Princes this Countrie yeelded the Emperours Trajan and Adrian and the Empire is beholding to this Countrie for thee Let Crete which boasteth of Iupiters being nursed in it when hee was a childe give place to this Countrie let Delos honoured by the birth of two Gods and noble Thebes of Hercules who was brought up there yeeld unto it We know not whether you beleeve what you have heard but Spaine hath lent us this God-like Emperour who is now present whom we see Hee that desires to know more concerning Spaine let him consult and have recourse to Iohannes Vasaeus Marinaeus Siculus Marius Aretius Damianus â Goes Franciscus Tarapha the Bishop of Gerunda Annius Viterbiensis Florianus à Campo in Spanish Ambrosius Moralis and others Amongst the Ancients also wee may consult and have recourse to Caesar Strabo and others whom Damianus à Goes sheweth in his Booke entituled Hispania CATALONIA MORE PARTICVLARLY DESCRIBED CATALONIA was heretofore called Marcha Hispanica Comitatus Barcinonae and Hispaniarum Marchionatus This Countrie of Spaine lyeth farthest Eastward of all the rest It hath on the West the Valentinians Aragonians neere unto it from the former it is separated by the River Alcanar or Cenia from the later in some places by the River Arnesius in other parts by the Rivers Iberus Sicoris and Nogvera On the South it stretcheth it selfe lengthward toward the Mediterranean Sea On the East neere to the Lake Salsulae or Salsas and a Castle of the same name built there by the Emperour Charles the fifth over against the impregnable Castle of Leocata which is upon the Frontiers or entrance into France it toucheth Aquitania Lastly on the North it is bounded with the Pyrenaean Hils It is more than eight hundred Italian miles in compasse It is in length from the Lake Salsulae to Valentia two hundred and fiftie miles and in breadth from the Vale of Caralis or Calaris to the shore of Barcinon ninety foure miles In Summer it hath every where a good wholsome Ayre and is temperate in Winter especially toward the Sea shore which lyeth Southward For that part which is Northward is cold and hath many snowes The whole Countrie unlesse it bee in some parts is very mountainous and yet it hath many greene Medowes flourishing Pastures and very fruitfull Valleyes The Countrie in generall hath such store of Corne and Pulse but especially Apples Wine and Oyle that it is inferiour unto none Neither doth it want Mynes of Gold Silver and other mettals which the River Sicoris declareth by those fragments or sands of gold and silver which it casteth up when it overfloweth as also some other Rivers of Catalonia The best Iron is digged forth heere in great plenty besides Brasse Steele and Lead Of late there was found neere Signimont a fruitfull veine of shining pretious Stones which are of a blew or Violet-colour called Amethysts There is also found neere unto the Towne of Tivica the Onix which resembleth a mans nayle in whitenesse having some veines which runne through it which are in colour like the Sardonix or Iasper Blood-stones also which have a great vertue to stay blood are found on the East side of Rubricatum or Lobregat The Dertosians have many Quarries of Iasper which shineth is of many colours as purple greene pale Rose-colour white and duskish At Tarraconia and Benda divers kindes of Marble are digged up out of the bowels of the Earth and in some places shining and translucent Alablaster is digged forth of which they make windowes to let in the light and to keepe out the winde these are the stones with which Plinie confesseth that the higher Spaine doth abound Many places in Catalonia doe yeeld Alume and Coblers Inke or Blacking also Hempe for Rope-making which as Plinie witnesseth is as white and fine as any flaxe by reason of the nature of the water wherein it is steeped And seeing I am fallen into this matter I cannot but in praise of the plenty of all things which Catalonia hath make mention how that this Countrie doth build Ships of great burthen even from the Keele to the highest Sayles but especially Galleys and having furnished them with all warlike provision they lanch them forth into the Sea neere to Barcinona Besides innumerable wilde Beasts doe wander through the Forrests of this Countrie great store of Cattell every where The Ancients did place divers sorts of people in this part of Spaine as first the Castellani whom Ptolemie cals 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Villanovanus and Verrerius doe call them Ducatus Cardone 2 Those whom Avienus cals Indigeti Ptolom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Stephanus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3 Those whom Livie and Ptolemie call Ilergetes and Polybius lib. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fourthly those whom Martial cals Laletani Ptolemie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Strabo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fifthly those which Aimonius cals Cempsi and Dionysius and Eusthathius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sixthly those whom Plinte calleth Cerretani Iuliani and Augustini Ptolemie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Strabo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Silius Ceretani Avienus Ceretes and Stephanus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of whom there appeares and are yet remaining some tokens in Cerveira Puigcerda and Condado de Cerdania Seventhly those whom Xilander calleth Vetteres an ancient people in Tarraconia dwelling betweene the River Iberus and the Pyrenaean Hils neere to the Sea and called by Strabo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 though Causabone would have them called Secerrae whom Antoninus maketh mention of Eigthly the Ligyes whom Thucidides lib. 6. and Halicarnassus lib. 1. doe call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who dwelt neere to the River Sicanis and are those perhaps whom Avienus cals Ligures Ninthly those whom Livie and Pliny call Ansetani and Ptolemie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 10 Those whom Plinie cals Larnenses neere to the River Larnus at the rootes of the
noteth that the French-men when any matter of note happeneth are wont by a speedie way to notifie it unto the Countries round about and that is by acclamations and shouting with the voyce for from them the others receive it and they againe by the same meanes make it knowne to their neighbours They doe not suffer their Children saith Caesar when they are growne to ripenesse of yeares to come unto them openly because they should not neglect the service of the warres and they thinke it an unseemely thing for the Sonne in his Childehood to sit in publick in the sight of his Father The men doe make their wives a dowrie according to the portion which they receive with them both which are put into one stock so as that which ariseth from it is kept to their use and which soever of the parties doth out-live the other he or shee hath both parts with the use and profit which hath arisen from thence The French women are beautifull and like men for strength and stature as Diodorus saith they are fruitfull and when they bring forth children they give them good education Servitude was usuall in France according to the manner of other Nations And Caesar saith lib. 6. that the most of them when they are oppressed either with debt or by great taxes or by the power of great men they betake themselves to the service of Noble-men who have as much power over them as Masters have over their Servants yet they use them with more humanity and curtesie than the Romans did For the French Lords had these Servants or as Caesar calleth them by a French word Ambacti who attended on them to increase their traine and they us'd them in service of warre Moreover they commonly used as Diodorus witnesseth thicke earthen Cups and wrought with flowres on them They did all suppe sitting not on seates but on the ground upon the skins of wolves and dogges spread thereon the younger youths serving them at meate And neere unto them there was a fire made and pots of flesh set thereon especially with Swines flesh both fresh and salt But for the most part as Strabo writeth their meate was Milke Athenaeus thus delivereth his minde out of Posidonius concerning this Nation The French use to drinke upon a litle hay spread under them having litle woodden Tables before them Bread which as Plinie noteth they make light with leaven is there a common foode They use much rosted and broyled flesh and they take up whole joynts in both hands like Lions tearing them in pieces with their teeth and that which they cannot pull in pieces they cut it with a litle knife Those that live neere Rivers or the Sea-coasts have fish as a common service at their Table which they broyle on fire with salt vineger and cummin which they put also in the drinke And a litle afterward he saith The rich and wealthy men doe drinke wine which is brought out of Italie or out of Massilia and that either pure by it selfe or sometimes mingled with a litle water But Plinie reporteth lib. 22. cap. ult that they make a kinde of drunken drinke of fruite Diodorus saith that they made a drinke of Barley which they called Zythum and an other of water and honey Concerning their habit they wore a kinde of Cassock as Strabo noteth woven of thick wooll this Garment they called Laena by which is meant as Ioseph Scaliger doth note those garments which the French-men doe now call Lansanguies quasi Laurangiae from the figure of a Laurell or Bay-leafe which is like unto a Rhombus The French did use loose or straite Breeches which Tacitus cals a barbarous covering Strabo saith that the French in stead of Cloakes used to weare short Coates that reached downe but to the buttocks the shape of which Garment may be seene in that which Germans commonly call Pallatrock or by contraction Palt rock Diodorus saith that they use to weare Rings on all their fingers and without distinction Plinie in his naturall Historie lib. 33. cap. 1. saith that they wore them onely on their middle finger But of these things enough I come to the particular parts of France BRITANY NORMANDIE and BELSIA BRITANNIA commonly called Bretaigne did receive both name Lawes and Inhabitants from the Brittaines who being driven out of their Countrie by the Saxons seated themselves there in the reigne of Vortigerne by whom they were called from thence to ayde him against the Scots It may bee that before this time there were some Colonies of Brittaines in this part of France which being then increased by the exiles banished men of Brittaine they used the same violence to the Aremoricans which they had suffered at home and expulsed them as Scaliger saith in his Description of Cities Vicit Aremoricas animosa Britannia Gentes Et dedit imposito nomina prisca jugo The Brittaines the Aremoricans or●came And gave unto the Countrie their owne name From these Armoricans the Countrie was heretofore called Armorica especially that part of it which lyeth toward the Sea and is now called Lower-Brittany For as Camden witnesseth Armor doth signifie in the ancient Brittish Speech that which lyeth neere or upon the Sea On the East it hath Normandie and the Cenomani Inhabitants of Le Maine the Andegavenses Inhabitants of Aniou and on the South it hath Poicton the other sides are enclosed with the Brittish Sea It runneth forth into the Sea farre beyond all the other Provinces like a Peninsula whence it is not unfitly called the Horne of France and doth resemble the shape of a shooe-sole the exterior part whereof being round looketh toward the Sea the inward part toward the Mediterranean The length thereof is sixe dayes journey and the breadth thereof three It is a pleasant and fruitfull Countrie It hath many faire medowes and Pastures for Cattell to graze in and also veines of Silver Iron and Lead The Brittaines grew on a suddaine so powerfull that they opposed the Gothes and hindered them from taking possession of all France for their King Riothimus brought 12 thousand Brittaines to ayde the Romans against the Gothes as Iornandes reporteth Callimachus also witnesseth that they were at the Battell against Attila And a weighty argument to prove the power of the Brittaines is that the Kings of France granted this Countrie of the conquest whereof they despaired to the Normans as being more accustomed to warre to subdue and conquer it Neither did this counsell want good successe for the fiercenesse of the Brittaines was taken off by the Normans sword and so it became to bee obedient to them whereas it was subject before to the Kings of France Afterwards it had Dukes of its owne the last of them was Duke Francis who dying in the yeare 1490 left one onely Daughter to bee the inheritrix thereof Shee being betroathed to Maximilian Archduke of Austria and King of the Romans passing through France was taken away by
while in France This is peculiar to this Province onely of all France that whereas Writers doe onely name other Provinces of France and doe not mention from whence the people of the Cities were so called heere the contrary happeneth for Caesar maketh mention of the Lemovicians and their Citie and writeth that they were the first that yeelded unto him for they were lovers of peace and haters of discord But after that the Lemovicians had made a league with Caesar they obeyed a Prince who was joyned in confederacie with the Romans to whom they were subject untill the Gothes did repell them and possessed all Aquitania They write that the French-men afterward having driven out the Gothes did governe the Lemovicians and did set Earles and Dukes to rule over them the one to manage their Battels the other to administer Justice The most doe divide Lemovicium into two parts the Higher and the Lower Le Haut bas Limosin The Higher which is properly called Limosin is plainer than the lower part and the Metropolis thereof is Lemovicum So many doe thinke that A. Hirtius did call it lib. 8. de Bello Gallico but now it is called Limoges Fulvius Vrsinus calleth it Limonum by the authoritie of ancient Bookes Ptolemie cals it Ratiaston in Aquitania as Ioseph Scaliger writing to Merula supposeth Villonovanus also assenting to him But Bertrandus thinketh that it is called Rahastum in stead of Raiz by the affinitie LEMOVICIVM TOTIUS Lemouici ct and likenesse of names This Citie is seated partly in a Vale and partly on the top of a litle Hill being well fortified with a Castle and strong Wals it hath abundance of water which springeth from a cleare Fountaine in the higher part of the Citie This Citie is the Nurserie of diligence and industrie and the prison-house of sloth and idlenesse The women doe honour and much esteeme of chastitie and mercifulnesse It is the Seate of a Bishop Heere are also other Townes which in the Language of the Inhabitants are called La Soubsterraine Le B●●sson Barat Dorat Consolat and others which for brevities sake I omit Amongst them Chassusio is not to be forgotten as being famous for the yearely Faires of Cattell and horses which are kept there on Saint Georges day There are also Abbies in this hither part of the Countrie amongst the which are the Abbies of Grandimont and S. Leonard The lower part of Lemosin being more mountainous than the higher is properly called La Marche de Limosin limited with Avernia and Perigort The chiefe Citie thereof is Tutela or Tulla commonly called Tulle being situated in a rugged mountainous place and being the Seate not onely of a Bailiffe but of a new Bishop built out of the ruines of an old Monasterie In Latine hee is called Tutelensis Episcopus There is also Vsarcha or Vsarche a pleasant Towne having a sweete Ayre and seated neere the River Vezer Fame boasteth that this Towne is impregnable and that it cannot be taken whence there is a Proverbe Cui Vsarchae est domus arcem eum possidere in Lemovicum ditione i. Hee that hath an house in Vsarcha hath as it were a Castle in the Countrie of Lemosin Histories doe speake much of the vertue of the Citizens and doe report that they resisted the English even when they conquered all Aquitania and that they remained constant and faithfull to their Prince the King of France There is the Towne Briva seated on the pleasant and fertile Plaine environed with woods and having many Vineyards It is the Seate of a Chancellour Heretofore it is thought it belonged to the Countrie of Perigort and that Charles the sixth King of France did joyne it to Limosin There are also other Townes as Treignac Donzenac Alassac Bellus-locus Meissac Vsset and Bello-mon There are many illustrious Families in this Countrie in the Higher there are the Families of Pierre-Bussire Chasteau-neuf and Carsic which are honoured with Vicountships also Roche-Covart which is one of the ancientest Families in Aquitania Maygnac and others In the lower part is Pampadoura Aumont Roffignac San-Iala Gemma and infinite others The Inhabitants of Lemovicium are very sparing in their meate drinke being content with a litle they hate dainty meates but are great eaters of bread so that the Proverb saith A Lemovician is a Bread-devourer In the Villages they doe not use to drinke Wine They are industrious ingenious and warie as being very provident in all things The Common-people are covetous and sluttish in their houses the Nobility are magnificent of a high spirit and liberall The most of them doe live untill they be very old for there are those which doe see their Grandchildrens Children They say that heere neere Cousins without any dispensation from the Pope doe marry amongst themselves and do not part their goods Belleforestius writeth that hee saw Families in which a hundred linkt together by the affinity of marriage did live together so that they seemed to be like Colledges I will heere adde for conclusion that which Iohannes Puncteius writeth concerning the originall of the Lemovicians Ecce Lemoviculae sedes gratissima genti c. Behold the Lemovicians pleasant Seate In fortie five degrees and halfe compleate Of Latitude which doth it selfe stretch forth To take a view of the cold frozen North. The Longitude even from the setting Sunne Stretching it selfe toward the East doth runne As farre as the Avernian Mountaines and Toucheth beside the Biturigian Land But where that Phoebus dips his horses in The Sea till they to plunge therein begin Angolmum it doth view and doth behold Part of Pictavia as towards the cold North on the Biturigians it confines And Southward to the Petragorians joynes With whom in manners they doe more agree Than with the others that their neighbours bee Faire Aquitania doth containe this Land Which for good manners comes behinde none and Vienna that doth from the Mountaines flowe Watereth the upper grounds as it doth goe With winding streames which runne out many wayes While thousands of faire kine doe by them graze This the Inhabitants in their speech doe call Vigana which from thence doth headlong fall By Lemovicium's Citie which doth lye Part in a Vale part on a Hill so high Where Saints doe glorie in its Churches state Which unto holy Stephen's consecrate Fame doth report that French-men of the line Of Gomer held this Countrey at that time Nohemus off●spring troupes of men did leade Which into divers Countries they did spread From thence the true originall then came Of Lemovicians who ne're chang'd their name Vnlesse you 'le have the Phrygians for to change Their Seates while they did with Alvernus range And Limovices for to finde new land And ease their griefe which they at home sustain'd The Soyle is barren whence no fruite doth grow And no faire swelling Rivers in it flow It flourisheth with men that in it are And is enrich't with many kindes of ware The Land is strong in
Armes and heretofore The valiant English could not passe it o're But were enforced on the mountaines high The French-mens quick resisting force to trie Yea this same Citie valiantly sustain'd The Visigothian siege and honour gain'd Nor could the English furious attempt Oppresse it when to take it they were bent And after threescore yeares were past the Towne And wals thereof decayed there were showne Many strange Reliques which most ancient were For some the face of Senatours did beare And quick-silver even by the Pensils Art Or by Perillus skill did there impart Much grace unto the halfe-consumed eyes Of the dead statue which unmoved lyes Moreover for the wals on Southerne side A Lionesse in shape may bee espi'd Who folding two whelps with her crooked feete Hath these three Verses underneath her writ The Lionesse doth cruell Dukes bring forth and also crowne The madde and wilie off-spring doth this nurse oppressing frowne But suffers underneath the weight wherewith hee 's pressed downe SANTONIA OR LE PAIS DE XAINGTONGE THE ECCLESIASTIC ALL STATE Santonia hath a Bishoprick namely of XAINTOGNE SANTONIA called commonly Le Pays de Xaintogne or Xaintongeois and by the ancient Inhabitants the Santones the Marshalship of Guienna hath on the North Poictou on the East Limosin and Perigort on the South the River Garumna and on the West the Ocean where are the Islands commonly called Les Isles d' Oleron in which there are great store of Cunnies and Hares Heretofore the boundes of Santonia were larger which wee may collect out of the Author of the Ephemerides concerning the French warre who writeth that it reached almost to the borders of Tholous and that in the great warre against Caesar the Councell of the Princes of France did command that twelve thousand men should bee levied out of it when eight thousand onely were levyed out of Poictou and ten thousand out of Lemosin The Countrey of Santonia doth abound with Corne and Wine and it is counted one of the best Countries in France as sending forth many commodities into Spaine England and other Countries The Santones were formerly seated heere for Caesar with others mentioneth them lib. 1. de Bello Gallic In some of his Bookes they are called Xantones In his second Booke hee cals them Santoni and lib. 3. de Bell. Civili Santonae Strabo calleth them Santonoi and Ptolemie Santoones as Stephanus writeth The chiefe Citie of this Countrie is Santonum which in the native Language is called Saintes by a plurall termination as all the other French Townes which end in S namely Paris Rheims and others It was built by the ancient French-men and no doubt but that Towne which was anciently called Mediolanum is this Xantonum or Santonum for Antoninus cals it Mediolanum Santonum the Itinerarie Table corruptly cals it Mediolanum Saneon and Strabo and Ptolemie call it Mediolanon Besides there are divers things which shew the antiquity thereof as first many pieces of ancient wals standing heere and there also famous Amphitheaters without the wals toward the West thirdly in the Bridge over the River Caroutonum or Charente which floweth by the Citie there is an old arch with a double inscription on one side whereof there are these words Caesari Nep. Divi Iulii Pontifici Auguri on the other are some letters which are almost worne out so that nothing can be gathered from them Lastly there are many ruines of an Aquaeduct in the high way from Mediolanum to Angeriacum This Citie is called Santonus by Ausonius in his 23 Epistle as also by Lucan if I bee not mistaken lib. 1. And the same Ausonius calleth the people Santones Epist 14. and 18 as also Tacitus lib. 5. hist August and Sidonius Apollinaris lib. 7. Epist 6. It was called Mediolanum for that the French-men as T. Livius doth witnesse did build it in the Countrie of the Insubres or Mediolanenses which is very likely that I may not say certaine with Causabone If Strabo had more diligently considered and beheld the Countrie lying round about this Citie hee would not have said that it is sandie and barren but that it is rich and fruitfull The Citie is situated by the fertile River Carantonum which riseth in a place commonly called Charemac betweene the Townes Limoges and Angoulesme It is an Episcopall Citie whereof Belleforrestius numbreth 63 Prelates S. Eutropius was the first being sent thither by S. Clement And hee after hee had converted this people to the Ecclesiasticall Faith suffered Martyrdome under the Emperour Domitian The last is called by Belleforestius Tristamus Bisetus or Tristand de Biset There is in this Citie the Monasterie of the Friars of the blessed Virgin founded by Godfry Earle of Santonia and his wife Agnes Anno 1047. The thirtieth Bishop of Santonum being called Petrus Confoulanti did build and reedifie the Bishops house in the yeare 1102 and caused the wals of the Cathedrall Church to bee repaired After Mediolanum or as some Latine Writers doe call it Santonia followes Rupella called in their Language la Rochelle This seemeth by the description of Ptolemie to be called Zantonoon akron or Promontorium Santonum but it is called by Villanovanus Blaye which is interpreted Santonum Portus This Citie is seated in the most fertile part of all France neere the Bay of the Sea which hath twice a day the Sea ebbing and flowing in it It is not ancient but lately built by the Kings of France in regard of the commoditie of the Haven and to represse the invasions of Pirates who did waste the whole coast of Armorica The conveniencie of the Haven here is so great that the Citizens may have commerce with all Nations of Europe and wage warre both by Sea and Land against their enemies for it is capable of many ships it hath a great conveniencie for their going in and comming out and is a safe and excellent harbour for them This Citie is thought to be impregnable by the strength of man for a great Bay of the Ocean doth fortifie the South side thereof the North side the marishes and boggie places commonly called Salantes doe strengthen and the other parts are fortified with wals ditches towres and strong Forts which have severall names so that no Ordnance or Cannon can make a breach into it It is a free Citie which former Princes and others have adorned with many and great immunities and priviledges and especially those which belong to Sea affaires for the Citizens chuse a Maior and Aldermen out of their owne Corporation which governe the Citie and they are not compell'd to admit of any forreine government neither are they kept in awe by any Garrison of SANTONIA XAINTONGE Souldiers Rochelle did sustaine a grievous seige in the 1573 by Henry of Valois Duke of Anjou and afterward King of Poland and France of whom all Historiographers doe make mention In this siege he did use the thunder and lightning of Ordnance both by Sea and Land as also furious assaults stormes
the Faire and afterward Philip the sixth being the Kings Sonne did by propagation adde many branches to the Stocke of the Valesia● Earles The Dukedome of Valois doth extend it selfe even to Picardy The chiefe Towne besides Crespy is Sentis called by the FRANCE L'Isle de Frāce Parisiensis Aget 〈◊〉 as some suppose Silvan●●tum because it is joyned to a Wood. 〈◊〉 an ancient Towne having besides a Bishop a Provost and a Baily 〈◊〉 The Pr●fectureship of ●i●van●●tum hath enriched the Dukedome of Valois with the Lordships which are commonly called ●ierr●sens Bethisi and V●●b●●ie and the Townes Arg● l● Pent. S. Maxen●● which is encompast with Ma●●sh●s and is the bounds betweene France and Picardie 〈◊〉 B●nville c. The same Praefectureship doth also con●aine 〈…〉 a Princes S● some call it Car●l●p● 〈…〉 who enlarged the Pr●●in●ts thereof and fortified it 〈…〉 are the Townes Mag● Thor●●●e and Cre●l 〈◊〉 doth also containe the ●wick● ●ureship and Vicounty of 〈…〉 commonly call'd 〈◊〉 and by some Per●●s●ur● under which 〈…〉 Beside 〈…〉 is under Silvan● being an ancient Provostship under which are Pe●●●ng and Metu Lastly under Si●●an●ctum and the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 there is the County of Bellova●um which the 〈…〉 or Beau●●sin The Metropolis thereof 〈…〉 commonly called Beau● Caesa● as 〈…〉 to 〈…〉 and the same 〈◊〉 faith that the 〈◊〉 did nominat●● and call i● ●●●aromagrum But 〈◊〉 to speak the truth 〈…〉 thinketh to bee the Towne which is now called Gra●vi●l●● or G●a●●●●●n●e ● some call it 〈◊〉 and Vigen●●● Beaum●n●●n O●se The City of 〈…〉 pleasant situation and fruitfull Mountaine● adioyning to it which are no● very high but fit for Tillage It hath also good 〈◊〉 of Wines 〈…〉 King of ●●an in the yeer ●4●● 〈◊〉 great priviledges to the Inhabitants thereof special 〈…〉 men becau●● they 〈…〉 Duke of 〈…〉 without doing any thing No● 〈…〉 Towne 〈…〉 ●ortifi●● with a 〈◊〉 So 〈…〉 third part of 〈◊〉 followes called 〈…〉 and ●o 〈◊〉 the little Bridge of 〈…〉 River to 〈…〉 and 〈◊〉 where the River 〈◊〉 do ●●parate it from Ga●●in●●● It cleaveth to ●ay● toward 〈…〉 the Melo●●●ersian Vi●●ounty and Bayliwick 〈◊〉 Metropolis thereof is Me●●dunum called 〈…〉 of the Commentari●s of the French we●● Meti●scaum but 〈…〉 The Towne is ●eated 〈◊〉 an Iland in S●●● like Paris and 〈…〉 strong Castle The Towne ●ow commonly called Corbu● and 〈◊〉 the life of S. Pep●s Taran●asius Corb●lium a place famous for Fish but ●●●●ciall for sweete Crabs and hath a strong Castle There is in Heu● Towne called Pon● Bellae-Aquae in French Fountaine Bellea● wh●●● the King hath a pleasant Palace Heretofore it was the Mans● 〈◊〉 Ludovi●us afterward of Philip and lastly of Francis o● 〈…〉 are many varieties in it I have given the fourth place 〈…〉 Country of the Gasti●ensians commonly called ●as●●n● 〈…〉 from Heure●●● by the River Verina I● on 〈…〉 the Dukedome● of ●●siampes and Nemous● the Cou●ty 〈…〉 and others The Towne of Stampae commonly cal●led 〈◊〉 in the mid-war betweene Paris and ●●rc●●an●nsium or 〈…〉 the River Iunna or Iu●●● which as C●r●o●●um dischargeth 〈…〉 was heretofore a County but now a Dukedome The Towne N●m● is seated neere the River ●●niu● which ranneth into Seane little below M●●ctum It is one of the chiefe Dukedomes of Fra●ce Rup●S ●ertis called by the French Robe●●e●● hath the 〈◊〉 of a County In the Territory of Gastin● besides Milly and M●●er which is the bounds betweene Gastin● and Heurep●● there is M●n●●gium so called quasi Mens ag●● that is the Mountaine of the Field as some doe argue because it hath a faire prospect round about it It was wasted by fire 1518. and afterward as re-edified There are Castles in the two former Townes and there is also in this in which there is painted a Story concerning a Hound that revenged his Masters death by killing him that had slaine him PICARDIE THE ECCLESIASTICALL STATE That part of Picardie which is subject to the King of France hath 7. Bishopricks under the Archbishoprick of Rhemes the Bishops of Suesson Silvanectum Beavais which is in France Noyon Laon Amiens and the Bishoprick of Bouloygne This Bishoprick was formerly at Ternaen but being suppressed it was agreed that the Bishops Seate should be translated to Bouloygne Anno 1559. PICARDIE PICARDIE as I said before some thinke to be so called because the Inhabitants thereof were the first that used Lances which is not probable Some say Picardy was so called from the Towne Pequigny or from a famous Souldier called Pignon the first Founder of the Pequignians and Ambianians who after the death of Alexander being made Captaine of the Warre after he had conquerd many Nations arrived with a Fleete of Ships at Neustria now called Normandies and harrasing those places hee gave them afterward his owne name On the West lyeth the Brittish Ocean with some part of Normandy on the North lye the Countries of ancient Belgia Artesia and Hannonia on the East Luxenburg and Lotharingia and on the South Campania and that Country which is called by a more speciall name France Picardie as I have said also before is devided into three parts The true Picardy the lower and the higher The true Picardy doth containe Vidamates of Ambianum Corbie and Pequigny the County of Veromandois and the Dukedomes of Tirasche and Retelois Ambianum hath its name from a Towne so called situate at the River Samona This Towne hath a very faire Church built with great Art graced and adorned with Images farre exceeding all the curious pieces of Europe and in it as they fabulously report S. Iohn Baptists head is kept whole It hath a PICARDIE· PICARDIA title of a Bayliwick but yet the Civill government as the ordering of the municipall Court and the power to appoint watches which 〈◊〉 to be chosen out of the Citizens belongeth to a Consul appointed for that purpose The first Bishop thereof was F●●minus the 〈◊〉 after whom 〈◊〉 Bishops succeeded orderly the last of which was Iohn Cre●itus of the Canaplensian Family The Inhabitants are repured to b● very honest and faithfull and therefore have many priviledges and immunities as being exempted from serving in Forraigne warres and from paying of Subsidies Here the most learned Phisitians Silvius and Fe●nelius were borne and also the excellent Orator Silvius who with gr●at commendations imitated many Bookes of C●●e●o●● This City as we have said before 〈◊〉 built by Pig● a Souldier of Alexanders the great if wee will beleeve many Writers In the yeere 1597. the Spaniards treacherously invading it made it their owne but Henry the 4. King of France by siege and force of Armes compell'd them to render it up againe The Vidama●●e of Corbie is so called from Corbia which is a Towne 〈…〉 the River ●omona 〈…〉 The Vidamate of Pequigny is so call●d from Pequigny built as I have before expressed by one Pigne● a Souldier of ●l●xander the great French Writers doe testifie that those of the English which surviv'd
and fruitfull Rivers The Cities of Brye are Castellum Theodorici Iatinum Medorum or Meldarum now called Meaulx Provinse and others Castellum Theoderick commonly called Chasteau Thierry is the Metropolis of the Country of Brye having a Baily and President in it It hath also a Bishops Seate of which Belleforrestius reckoneth 101. Bishops the last of which number was Ludovicus Bresius Provinsy a Towne famous for the sweete red Roses that are in it and for the Rose-cakes and Rose-water which are made of them in the Summer time Here are some ruinous Monuments of Antiquity And so much shall suffice concerning Campania THE COVNTRY OF BELLOVACVM COMMONLY CALLED BEAVVAIS OR BEAVVOISIN The State Ecclesiastick THE BISHOP OF BELLOVACVM IS A SPIRITVAL and temporall Lord an Earle and Peere of FRANCE The Country of BELLOVACUM THE Country or County of Bellovacum called in French Con té de Beanvais or Beauvoisin did receive that appellation by name from the Metropolis or chiefe City Bellovacum It is a pleasant Country having Hills and Mountaines round about it not very high planted with Vines here also Meddowes and there Pastures and Fields fitt for tillage Beauvois hath a thinne subtile kinde of earth found in it of which divers kindes of vessels are made and transported into many Countries and it is famous for the Flax which groweth at a little Towne commonly called Rule For those of Flanders and Hannonia or Henegou doe buy it and doe make fine webs of cloth of it which they sell at home and transporte abroad both by Sea and Land The ancient Inhabitants of this part of France were the Bellovaci whom Caesar and Pliny doe often mention called by Strabo Bellolakoi and by Ptolemy Belluakoi Caesar witnesseth that these Bellovacians where the chiefest of the Belgians both for prowesse authority and number of men as being able to bring 100000. men into the Field The Author of the 8. Booke de Bello Gallico writeth that the Bellovacians did exceed all Frenchmen and Belgians for matters of warre And Strabo in his 4. Booke saith that the Bellovacians are the best of the Belgians and after them the Suessones Caesar doth in some manner paint out the Common-wealth of the Bellovacians when hee sheweth that they were wont to elect their Princes out of themselves as amongst the rest they did that Corbeus who albeit his Army of Citizens was overcome yet no calamity could make him leave the Field retire to the Woods or yeeld himselfe upon any conditions offerd to him by the Romanes but sighting valiantly and wounding many he did enforce the enraged conquerers to cast their Darts at him Caesar also doth mention the Senate of the Bellovacians and the authority of the common people whence that excuse of the Bellovacian Senate to Caesar That while Corbaeus lived the Senate could not doe so much in the City as the unskilfull multitude But although the Bellovacians in Caesars time had a great opinion for their courage and fortitude yet at length being overcome they yeelded to the Romanes and were subject to them untill the Frenchmen passing over the Rhene possessed France The Husbandmen of this Country in King Iohn time did stirre up a sedition which was commonly called laquerte And they especially aymed at the Nobles of whom they slew many and pulled downe their Houses At length Charles the Dolphin of France who was afterward King and surnamed the Wise The King of Navarre the Duke of Bourbon and other Princes and Nobles of the blood Royall did quiet this sedition as knowing what would be the event of it and what troubles would spring there from if it were not extinguisht in time The Metropolis or Mother City of this Country is Bellovacum commonly called Beauvois Guicciardine endeavoreth to prove by many reasons that this Bellovacum is that Belgium which Caesar mentioneth in his Commentaries when he saith that he wintered part of his Army in Belgium and addeth withall that it is the Seate of the most valiant Bellovacians for hee saith that Caesar meant by this name Belgium not a whole Province but a City or some other particular place They faboulously report that Belgius a King of France the Sonne of Lugdus did lay the foundation of this City and of the City Lugdurum a long time before the building of Troy and called it Belgium whence Gallia Belgica hath its denomination It is an ancient famous City as having besides a Bishoprick an Earle who is one of the twelve Peeres of France and there are also divers Monuments found in it which doe witnesse that it was once a great rich and populous City It hath an excellent situation and is fortified with Walls and Towers entrenched with broad deepe Ditches well furnished with Ordnance as also adorned with faire Churches The chiefe Church whereof is the Cathedrall Church consecrated to S. Peter which is one of the fairest Churches in France and in which they report that the bones of Iustin Martyr Eurotus and Germerus are kept The Bishops of Bellovacum doe write themselves Earles and Peeres of France The first of them was S. Lucian after whom succeeded 84. Bishops whom Belleforrestius doth reckon up and maketh Charles of Bourbon the last of them Bellovacum is governed by a Maior in like manner as the Merchants of Paris by a Proefect and also by twelve Peeres who are as so many Consuls being annuall Magistrates and elected by the people as the Magistrates of Rome were usually chosen This City is rich by clothing and gaines this honour to it selfe that the fairest and best Carpets in all France are made therein A Nation Counsell was here held and kept in the yeere 1114. Here was borne the great Historian Vincentius a Doctor and Governour of the Monastery of the Dominicans who lived in the yeere 840. In this City was also borne Guilielmus Durandus who was THE COVNTRY OF BELLOVACVM BELoVACIUM Comitatus first here a Canon afterward Deane of Chartes and last of all Bishop of Mande He lived in the yeere 1286. There was the place of Iohannes Choletus his nativity who founded a Colledge at Paris commonly called le College des Cholets and was a Cardinall though of meane birth and lastly here was borne Iohann●s Michael Bishop of Angiers whom in Anjou they esteeme as a Saint This is an argument of the riches of this Territory of Beavais that 11. or 12 miles round about this City there are so many Townes and Villages and those so neere one to another that none of them are above a mile distant This City was exchanged for the County of Sancerrane which Roger Bishop of Bellava●nm surrenderd up to Eudon Earle of Campania for the County of Bellovacum the Goods Lands and Dominion whereof he joyned to his Bishoprick The Country of Bellovacum containeth Clermont not farre from Bellovacum which is a County and appertaineth to the Royall house of Burbon Charles Duke of Burbon had by his wife Agres Daughter to Iohn Duke of
Ludovick the ninth yet with this caution that it should be called after his wives name and the house of the Burbons that so the title thereof might remaine to posteritie Which being done Robert the sonne of Ludorick the ninth who was canonized for a Saint did propagate and enlarge the name of the Borbons For his sonnes were Ludorick surnamed the greate who succeeded his Father Iohn Clar●m●nt Lord of the Towne of the Fane of Iustine in Campania Peter Archdeacon of Paris and two daughters This Ludorick Philip Valesius the sixt created the first Duke of Burbon in the yeare 1339. or thereabout who had by his wife Mary the daughter of Iohn Earle of Hannonia Peter the first who succeeded him and Iames the Father of the Earles of March and Vendosme Philip Lord of Bello●●● Mary and Beatrix This Peter was created the second Duke of Burbon and Lord of Molin Hee was slaine in a Battell fought betweene the Picts and the English Hee had by Isabell the daughter of Charles Earle of Valence Ludorick the 2. who succeeded his Father Iames the Lord of March and seven daughters Ludorick surnamed the good married Anna. the daughter of Peral●us the Dolphine of Avercia who was called Duke S●mus and of Ione Forres●aria who brought him Iohn who succeeded his Father Ludovick and Iames Lord of Pransium Iohn the first of that name marrying Mary the daughter of Iohn Duke of the Biturigians was Duke of Burbon and Avernia Earle of Claromont M●mpensper Forrest and Lord of Bellyocum and the Castle of Chinon From him issued Charles who succeeded his Father Iudorick Earle of Montpenser from whom the Dukes came of Montpenser and Iames. Charles tooke the part of King Charles the 7. and Philip the good Duke of Burgundie with whome at last by the meditation and perswasion of his wife Agnes a Burgundian sister to Philip hee made a peace with him Agnes brought him Iohn who succeeded after him Ludovick Peter who was afterward a Duke Charles a Cardinall and Archbishop of Lions Lud●●ick Bishop of Le●dium Iames and five daughters Iohn the second was Duke of Borbon and Avernia Earle of Claromont of Forrest the Iland and March Lord of Belliocum and of the Castell of Chinon a ●eere and Constable of the Kingdome of France Hee marryed thrice but dyed without issue Peter the 2. succeeded his brother John who was high Chamberlaine of the Kingdome of France and hee had by Anne daughter of King Ludorick the 11. one onely daughter called Susan who succeeded her Father Shee marrying Charles Burbon Earle of Montpenser the sonne of Gilbert Burbon Nephew to Iohn Ludorick the first aforesaid Duke of Burbon Earle of Montpenser and Dolphine of Avernia by her marriage made her Husband Duke of Burbon This was that Charles who being Constable of France revolting from his Prince Francis King of France tooke part and sided with the Emperour Charles the fifth and besieged Rome where being shot with a bullet in the yeare 1527. the day before the Nones of May he dyed having obtained no victorie nor left no children After the death of his wife Susan the King getting Burbon to himselfe the Dukes of Vend●sme kept onely their armes and their bare title by the right of affinitie The Earles of Flanders did first lineally descend from the familie of the Burbons and many great Kings and Princes have sought to bee linkt in affinitie with this royall and Princely house Moreover the French Geogrophars doe make two parts of the Dukedome of Burbon the lower and the higher The lower containeth divers Cities and two Countries Concerning the Cities The Metropolis of the whole Dukedome is Molirum or Malins a Towne by the River which Caesar calls Elaver now Al●ie● it was the ancient Seate of Dukes afterward it was a house of pleasure and a pleasant retyring place for the Kings of France Some thinke that that which Caesar calls Gergobina was a Towne among the Celta whom Caesar in the Helvetian Warre placed there The Marshall of Burbon hath his Presidiall Seate here which was erected by King Francis the first of that name Molins hath a very faire Castle and a curious Garden adjoyning to it in which there are great store of Oranges and Citernes In the Castle Xystum you may see the lively Pictures of the Dukes of Burbon and their Genealogies Here is also a faire Fountaine THE DVKEDOME OF BVRBON BORBONIUM Ducatus The other Cities and Townes are Burbon famous for antiquity and which heretofore did name the whole Province Caesar in his 7. Booke calleth it Boia This City is situated betweene the Rivers Elaveres and Caris commonly called Cher well knowne and famous in the time of Charles the great It hath a strong Castle and Baths also L'Archimont Montmerant And Cosne surnamed en Burbonnois neere the River Lotre having a Castle and in regard that the Territory is fitt for Pasturage it exceedeth other parts also Montlusson and S. Porcin whose Fields doe bring forth excellent Wines yet some doe ascribe it to ●vernia also Cusset Chancelle Charroux Vernueil famous for Wines also Varennes a famous Towne by the River Elaveres Gannat confining upon Avernia also Le Mont aux Moines Souvigni le Comte ou aux M●ines la Palisse having a stately Castle also Erisson Sancoings the Fane of S. Peter commonly called S. Pierre le Monstier which is not very ancient It hath a President under whom are the Baylies of the same Towne and the Townes which are commonly called Douziois Xainco●●usset and others one part whereof are seated in Avernia and anoth●● 〈◊〉 Nervernesium there is also Ainayla Chasteau so named from the Ca● S. Amand and others So much concerning the Cities and Townes The Counties are two which are commonly called Beaujolois and F●●est The former Bello Iolesius containeth all that lyeth betweene the River Ligeris and Araris being situated towards the East betweene the Forestians and Burgundians being the Patrimony of the ancient Burbons The chiefe City is called in French Beau-jea The other is named not from the Woods and Forrests as the word doth seeme to intimate but from the Forensians for so I name those people on the North lyeth Burbon on the West Avernia on the South the Lugdunians confine upon it on the East the Bello-Jolesians Heretofore it had Earles from whose Stock did arise the noble of Bello-Iolesius A certaine Earle of Forrest and Bello-Iolesius is celebrated by French Historians who had three Sonnes Arthauldus Earle of Lugdunum Stephen Earle of Forrest and Emfrid Earle of Bello-Iolesius When thus the Counties of Forrest and Bello-Iolesius had beene for a long time distracted they were united againe by the death of Guica●d Earle of Bello-Iolesius who was Master of the horse in the time of Philip the 2. King of France for his Sister Isabel Countesse of Bello-Iolesius was married to Reginaldus Earle of Fortest who was discended of the stocke of Arthauld aforesaid as shee from the ofspring of Stephan who was
brother to Arthauld as is mentioned before From this marriage there proceeded Guido who was heyre to the County of Forrest and Lugovick who was Lord of Bello-Iolesius After whome there is no certainety delivered Henry the third King of France before hee came to the Monarchie of France possessed the Dukedomes of Burbon and Avernia the County of Forrest together with the Dukedome of Andigavia It containeth fortie walled Townes and about as many faire Villages The chiefe Towne of the Forrensians Roana or Roanne neere the River Ligeris which hath a Bridge over it which standeth in the way to Lions and also a Castle The second Towne of note is Forum Segusian rum for so it was heretofore called which is now commonly calld Feurs Ptolomy calls it Phoros of the Segusians and the Itinerary Tables corruptly call it Forum Segustivarum And from this Forum the Country corruptly is commonly called Le Layis de Forest when it should bee rather called de Fores. This is now a Towne of commerce and traffique for the whole Province The other Townes are Mombrisonium or Montbrison being a Bayliwicke and subject to the Lugdunians also the Fane of S. Stephan and S. Estierne de Furan where armor and Iron barres are made which are transported from thence into all parts of France The artificers Arte is much furthered by nature of the water which doth give an excellent temper to Iron and also the coales which are digged there there is also the Fane of S. Galmarus or S. Galmier or Guermier in the Suburbs whereof there is an Alome Fountaine which is commonly called Font-Foule also the Fane of S. Germane or S. Germain Laval which hath abundance of wine growing about it also the Fane of D. Bovet or S. Bovet le Castell in which the best tongs are made also the Fane of D. Rembertus or S. Rembert having the first Bridge that is over Ligeris The Country of Burbon is watered with two great Rivers namely Ligeris and Elavera being a River of Arvernia Ligeris commonly called Loire riseth up in Avernia in a place which in French is called La Fort de Loire Elaver commonly called Allie● riseth foure Miles above the Towne Clarumont beneath Brionda neere Gergovia and floweth not farre from a place which in French is called Vsco where there is a famous mine of gold and of the stone Lazulus It is as bigge as the River Liguris and by so much more full of fish Concerning the Manners of the Burbons those which border on Avernia are of the same disposition with them namely wittie and craftie very laborious carefull to get and for the most part they are litigious and violent men and ill to be dealt withall Those that dwell farther off are courteous and affable subtile and well experienced frugall and carefull housekeepers greedy of gaine and yet very bountifull and kind toward strangers The Forensians also are subtile acute and witty wisely provident and carefull in their owne affaires loving gaine and to that end they travell into remote and farre distant Countries to Merchandise and traffique with them But they are mercifull and kinde to their owne Countrymen if they come to necessity and want in forraine Countries Much warinesse and wisedome is to be vs'd in despatching any businesse with a Forensian Forrest doth send her workes in Iron and Brasse thorow the whole world especially the Fane of S. Stephen where there are very many Artificers and as good as any in France And there are many Merchants of this Country very rich having great estates in other parts out of France THE DESCRIPTION OF THE ARCHBISHOPRICK AND COVNTY OF BVRDEGALIA BURDIGALIA having an Archbishoprick and County belonging to it and the head and Metropolis of Gutenna is an ancient and famous City which Strabo and Pliny have mentioned and Strabo Lib. 4. Geogr. writeth thus Garumna being enlarged with the receit of three Rivers doth flow by the Biturigians whom they call the Viviscians and Santones being both Countries of France It hath Burdigalia a Towne of Traffique seated by a certaine great Lake which is made by the eruptions and breaking out of the River Concerning the name there are divers opinions For some say it was called Aquita from the abundance of waters whence also others doe derive the name of the Province of Aquitane from Bourda and Iala two Rivulets the one whereof is neere to Burdigala the other 4000. miles off others bring other dertvations But I beleeve that the name was derived from Burgo and Isidorus Originum lib. 15. cap. 1. seemeth to be of the same opinion when he saith That Burdigala was so called because it contained a Colony of the French Burgians others read it the French Biturigians And Syncerus is of the same minde in his Burdigala And these people as it is aforesaid were called Viviscians to distinguish them from the Cubian Biturigians neere the River Ligeris which Ausonius a Poet of Burdeaux testifies in his Verses wherein he sings thus Haec ego Vivisca ducens ab origine gentem These things I who by my Country am Descended from the old Viviscian And this ancient Inscription doth confirme it AVGUSTO SACRUM ET GENIO CIVITATIS BIT. VIV THE ARCHBISHOPRICK AND COVNTY OF BVRDIGALA BOVRDELOIS PAIS DE MEDOC ET LA PREVOSTE DE BORN The Walls are square having Towres thereon so high That the tops thereof doe reach unto the skie After those times it suffered many calamities being first washed by the Gothe and then burnt by the Sarazens and Normans But afterward it was re-edified and enlarged so that now it containeth 450. Acres of ground so that it is as bigge as a third part of Paris For the Romane Empire declining the Gothes obtained it in the 400. yeere from the building of the City who being expelled and Alari●us being slaine in Picaady and those which remained cut off in the Arrian Fields which were so named from that slaughter neere to Burdig●●●a it returned againe to the Frenchmen But when the Frenchmen grew slothfull and carelesse the Aquitanians about the yeere 727. shaking off their subjection to the French did create Eud● Duke thereof The Sonne of this Eudo was Carfrus who being forsaken by his owne men was slaine in the yeere 767. and was buried without the City in a Moorish place neere the Castle Farus where now the Capuchines have built themselves a Religious house Afterward Hunold whom the Aquitanians had made Duke being vanquished and droven out by Charles the Great this Province was restored to the French and to keepe it the better in obedience there were Earles placed in divers parts of Aquitaine and especially at Bourdeaus there was left Sigumus the Father of Huon of Bourdeaus and after these other Earles and Dukes did governe the people under the King of France D. Martiall● was the first that converted those of Bourdeaus to the Christian faith who as it is reported built a Temple there and dedicated it to S. Andrew the Apostle
afterward it became the Seate of an Archbishop on which these Bishopricks doe depend Santonensis Pictaviensis Lussonensis Mallacensis Petragoricensis Serlacensit Condomiensis Agimensis And as this City is large so it is beautified with divers Churches for there are two Collegiate Churches one of which is Metropolitan 12. Parish Churches 8. Frieries one Nunnery and a Colledge of Jesuites There is a faire Church-yard of S. Severine without Iupiters Gate neere the Amphitheater which is worthy to bee seene both because it is more ancient then the rest in which S. Amandus and S Severinus were buried and divers other Monuments are shewed and also because there hollow stones laide on Sepulchers which are full of water or empty according to the increase or decrease of the Moone Many Knights are here interr'd who were slaine in the time of Charles the great by the treachery of Ganelen The University is an Ornament unto it the Professors whereof doe instruct Youth in all Arts and Sciences In which both heretofore and of late Tiberius Victor and Minervius a Rhetorician whom D. Ieromimus mentioneth in his Chronicle and maketh another Quintilian And Attius Celphidius whom Ammianus Marcellinus calleth a vehement Orator were Latine and Greeke Professors And also Pomponius Maximus Hirculanus and many others of whom Ausonius maketh a Catalogue with severall Eulogies The most noted in our age were Andr. Goveanus Ioannes Gel●da M. Ant. Muretus Ioannes Costanus Georg. Buchanan Nicolaus Grachius Withelmus Guerentaeus and of late Elias Vinetus a learned man and a light to his Country This University had many priviledges honors and liberties granted unto it by the Princes of Aquitaine the Kings of France and the Popes of Rome and at last it was beautified by the Aquitaine Colledge from whence many learned men as Lights of France have successively come forth But let vs speake somewhat of the Parliament which is the ancientest seate of Justice in France whither the Burdigalians the Valatensians the Aginnensians the Condomiensians the Armeniacensians the Cardurcians the Len●ovicensians the Petrocorensians the Angelismensians the Santons and Ruxellensians have recourse by way of suite But afterward the Provinces of Armenium of Santome of Ruxelles and the greatest part of Cadurcium did withdraw themselves and came to the Parliament of Paris and Tolouse But when King Ludovick had granted Aquitania which was now circumscribed with new bounds to his Brother Charles to hold of him by Fealty the Parliament was translated to the Picts but after Charles his decease in the yeere 1472. and all Aquitaine returning to Ludovick it was brought back againe and not long after Charles the 8. by his Edict dared in the 〈…〉 it to consist of three Pre●●dents and ●● Counsellors 〈…〉 in the yeere 1519. in the moneth of o● May added to the 〈◊〉 D. ●ie of new Counsellors to judge of criminall matters which they call ●ornell But when by sedition the Parliament in the yeere 1●4● was cha●g●d againe King Henry the 2. restored the former ample dignity of the Senate to Bu●digala and received the Citizens i● to ●avour Here the Prefect of the Province of Aqui●aine hath his 〈◊〉 who is called the Marshall and also the Admirall There is also in the same City a Colledge of Q●estors or Auditors of accounts The gov●rnment of the Common-wealth of Burdeaux as it is at this day began in the raigne of Henry King of England who in the yeere 117● granted that the Citizens should freely decree a Prince of the Senate whom they call the Maior of the City but at first the Maior● held th●ir office continually and ●id yeerely chuse a Substitute out of the sworne men whom in his absence was to be Governour of the Colledge of sworne men Henry the 2. did change this custome so that the Maiors office should not be perpetuall but for two yeeres After him the sworne men as they call them should succeede Who being fifty at the beginning were reduced to 24 and in the yeare 1378. they were contracted to 12. according to the number of the parts of the Citie But at last they came to be sixe and those to rule two yeares so that three were changed every yeare and they continued in their Mairoalty for two whole yeares To this Colledge of the Maior and the swornemen there were added 30. chosened Citizens to assist them in counsell above three hundred more were added if a matter of consequence were handled It hath a fruitfull Soile for Wines which is transported from thence into other parrs of Europe the praise whereof is celebrated by the ancients as also Pliny and Colum●lla and it hath abundance of all other necessaries Besides it hath convenient Rivers the greatest whereof are Garumna and Dordona There are many Townes subject to Burdeaus as these neere to the Sea Espar●um or Caput S. Mariae in which place Ptolemy seateth Nevioparrum which is now not to be knowne also the Fane of Ma●arium La●m●nt Carbonaria also Liburrium which is a pretty small Towne s●arc●la● the mouth of D●rdona and others But it is most famous because Iu●●nius was borne here who celebrateth the praise of his Country in these verses My too long silence I doe now condemne That thee O Countrie fam'd for witty men And for thy pleasant Rivers and thy Wine And Senate art not here amongst the prime Mentiond by mee as if thou wert a small Citie and didst deserve no praise at all Burdigala is my native Country where The mild ayre makes the earth much fruite to beare The Spring is long the Winter short belowe The leavy Mountaines shadowed Rivers flowe Whose hasty course doe imitate the Seas Then the wayes within and houses you may please To admire and that the streetes doe still retaine Though they are large and broade their former name And yet through the Citie a fresh streame doth glide Which when the Ocean filleth with his tide You shall behold when as the Sea doth come How by the Ships which ride there it doth runne THE COVNTY OF PERTICA THE Country of Pertica confineth on the Carnutensians and dependeth also on their diocesse and hath beene a long time a famous County First it came by marriage to the familie of the Druides and afterward to the Alenconians For Robert a Frensh man Earle of the Druides marryed the widdow of Rotrocus Earle of Pertica who was slaine at the seige of the Castle of Rotomagum After him Robert Alenconius the sonne of Charles and brother to Phillip Valesius who died without issue being slaine in the Battell of Cr●ssy in the yeare 1346. was Earle of Per●●ca It is divided into two parts the lower which is called Pe●●tica Goveti is as it were inserted into Carnutum the head Towne whereof is Nog●ntum of Rotrocus which in the yeare 1428. was taken by the Earle rf Salisbury an Englsh man and all that were found in it were hangd But afterward in the yeare 1449. Charles the 7. recoverd it againe This Towne is called N●gentum
of Rot●o● from the Earle thereof above mentioned who marched in the yeare 1120. with his English troupes into Syria against ●ulco Earle of the Andians and King of Hierusalem and Yvo Carnutensis doth name it in his Epistle to Pope Pascall thereby to difference it from the other No●entum Sigebert about the yeare 1170. doth mention Godefride Earle of Pert●ce who by rebellion lost his Earledome There are also other Townes besides Nogentum as Basochium Govetum Alugium m●ns Mirallij Brevium Anthovium Maulbesium the Towne of red Maillard and Condatum seated by the River Huis●e The higher part of Perti●a is called the County and it hath the Towne Mortenium with a Castle seated on a Hill in which the Praefect whom they call the Bayly hath his residence also the Townes Peniletum and Belesmia a Towne with a Castle Whence the ancient and famous families of the Belemies is descended out of which came Robert ●elemy who sided with Robertus intending to make warre against his brother King of England concerning whom see Thomas Walsingam in his description or patterne of Neustriae on the frontiers thereof toward Normandy are Vernolium and Memertium towards Cen●mania Some would seate the Vnelly here a people once of France whom Caesar mentioneth Lib. 3. de bello Gallico in these words While these things were done at Venice Q. Titurius Sapinus came with his army which Caesar had given him into the Country of thf Vnelly Viridovix was Captaine thereof and did governe all those Cities which had revolted out of which he levyed a great army And a little before at the end of the second Booke at the same time came P. Crassus whom hee had sent with one Legion to the Venetians the Vnelli the Osismi the Curiosilitae the S●suriij the Aulerij the THE COVNTIE of PERTICA PERCHENSIS Comitatus LA PERCHE COMTE Rhedones which are maritine Cities neere to the Oc●●● c. Bla●●us Vignerius in his Frensh translation for Vnelli doth put 〈◊〉 the ●uparche and Renal Chopinus Concerning the Municipiall Lawes of the Audians doth in like manner calling them ceux de per●he which hee ranslateth the Vn●li But when Caesar maketh them to be neere unto the Armorican Cities which is a Maritaine Nation some thinke that this name belongeth to the Lavallij but I leave these things to more curious inquisiters In this Country the learned and Noble Poet Ana●reon was borne who was worthily called the Remigium Bellaqutum of his age who in his Pastoralls did lively expresse and paint forth that elegant fiction of the Arcadia of Zamazaus which exceedeth all the rest His Poeme concerning Gemmes and pretious stones doth deserve the lawreth wreath to which ●onsa●d the Prince of French Poets hath alluded in an Epitaph which bee made on him which is to be read at Paris which I have rudely heere translated into Latine BEILAQUIO artifices quid splendida saxa paratis Ex gemmu tutulum condidit ipse sibi Artificers why doe you now provide Faire shining stones that may Anacreon hide For hee a Tombe of pretious stones compos'd Wherein his pretious body is enclos'd THE DVKEDOME OF TVRONE THE Province of Turene in regard of the incomparable pleasantnesse of the place and the abundance of all kind of fruites is worthily called the Garden of France Which the Princes thereof have alwayes much delighted in and honoured it both as I said for the conveniency of the situation and for the overflowing plenty of all things necessary The Country is large and hath round about it the Bellovacians the Andegavians the Pictavians and the Biturigians it hath many faire Cities and Townes it maketh also a part of the Parliament of Paris as they call it and it is honoured with a Seate of Judgement The Metropolis and Mother City thereof is Turon commonly called Tours being seated at the confluence and meeting of the Rivers Ligeris and Carus Ptolemy calls it Caes●rodunum concerning the name and antiquity whereof there are many reports but not credible and therefore we omit them Let it suffice that the great Romane Emperour ●ulius ●aesar doth reckon the Turones among the chiefe people of France who joyned themselves to the Romanes and in his 2. Booke de bello Gallico about the end thereof are these words He having brought his Legions to Winter at Carnutes Andes and Turones which were Cities neere unto these places where hee waged warre went into Italy as also Lib. 7. Hee speedily joyneth to himselfe the Senous the Parisians the Pictones the Cadurcians the Turones the Aulercians and others which dwell neere the Sea Also Lucan mentioneth them in this Verse Iustabiles Turones circumsita costra coercent Round pitched Tents doe keepe in there The Turones who unconstant were It is a neate City having long cleane streets and very faire houses It had heretofore divers Bishops famous for Sanctitie and Learning as Ma●tinus Bricius Perpetuus Volusianas and others and almost all the Bishops of Brittaine of the Andians and Cemonians noted by others are Suffragans unto him The chiefe Seate of Justice when the Parisians rebelled was translated hither by King Henry the third Traffique in Silkes and also Cloth is much used in Toures both which doe enrich the Merchants And the Inhabitants have revenues out of their Lands on which they live gallantly The City 〈◊〉 adorned with faire magnificent Temples among which is that which was dedicated to D. Gratian built by the English with a Clock-dyall on it And another consecrated to D. Martinus in which his bones and ashes doe rest which the By-dwellers doe honour with religions worship Here Gregory who from his Country was called Iu●orersis was borne who flourished about the yeere of Christ 600. whose Writings for the History of those times are much esteemed by posterity It containeth the ashes of that great Poet P. Ronsard who they call the French Homer and ●inaa● It was sometimes governed by Fa●les afterward by the Dukes of Brittaine but when Iohn his Nephew Arthu● being slaine possessed the County the Province was confiscate to the King by the sentence of the highest Senate of France After which the Kings of France did make it a Dukedome and gave it for a time to the Minorite Friers Here foure chiefe French Counsels were kept Here is also a Money Mint famous for the antiquity thereof It is governed by an ordinary Magistrate and hath two Prefects besides a Maior and Auditors to maintaine the rights privildges and liberties of the Inhabitants There is also a Court of the Quaestors Auditors and Receivers of the publike customes and impositions But to conclude we will set downe an elegant description of this place being taken out of Brittons Philipeides Thence to the City of Turone they goe Round about which two shining streames doe flowe Here the River Ligaris there Caurus and It in the middle betweene both doth stand Well seated and faire streames doe it adorne Being full of Trees and having store of Corne Proud of her
in the middle is called the Iland which words may seeme to be translated out of a credible Writer who lived about the same time and was familiarly acquainted with Scipio but that he addeth that this Iland being populous and abounding with all things necessary was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is abounding with people and well stored with food Plutarch in the life of Ainnbal doth deliver the like but more plainely and calleth it Li●ns whose words according to the Translation of Acciarolus He remov'd his Tents and marching by the banke of Rhodanus up against the streame in few dayes he came to that place which the French men call the Iland which the Rivers Rhodanus and A●ar flowing out of diver Mountaines doe encircle where there is the City of Lions the most famous City of all France which long time afterward was built by Plancus Mu●●atius Some call it the City of Sequanians and Maxima Sequanorum which appeareth by an ancient Inscription on S. Peters Church which is this JOVI OPT. MAX. Q. ADGINNIUS URBICI FIL. MARTINUS SEQ. SACERDOS ROMAE ET AUG AD ARAM AD CONFLUENTES ARARIS ET RHODANI FLAMEN II. VIR IN CIVITATE SEQUANORUM And Seneca doth celebrate the praise of this place in his Verses concerning the death of Claudian I sawe a Hill that hangeth or'e two streames Which Phaebus rising glideth wi●h his beames Where the great River Rhodanus doth flowe And Arar doubtfull whether he should goe Thorow quiet Foords his course along doth guide Washing the Bankes as he along doth glide THE PROVINCE AND CITIE OF LIONS LYONNOIS Forest et Beaujolois LANGVEDOC A PART OF AQVITAINE THE Occitane Country of France commonly called Languedec is a part of Aquitane and is so named as some conceive from the Gothes the Possessions thereof as if you should say Land-Got That is the Gothes Province Some derive it from the word Lingua a tongue and the word O● I suppose that these conjectures are more vaine than Sicilian toyes and are but meere vulgar trifles The ancients tooke it for the Province of Narbon neere the Pyrenaean Mountaines Strabo calleth it Tectosages the Metropolis whereof Tolouse is accounted one of the chiefe Cities of France having an Archprelate a Senate and a University Some derive the name thereof from those which fled from T●oy Caesa mentioneth it in his first Booke of Commentaries where he speaketh thus It was told Caesar that the Helvetians purposed to travell thorow the Sequans and Aeduans Country unto the borders of the Santones which are not farre from Tolouse which is a City in Province and also Lib. 3. concerning P. Crassus Moreover valiant men being levied out of Tolouse Carcasson and Narbon which are Cities of France neere to Province c. Ammianus Marcellinus giveth it the prerogative above all the neighbour Cities Neither can we omit that worthy Elogie of the ancient magnificence and power thereof written by Aus●nius a most famous Poet and a Consull of Rome in praise of his Nurse and Foster-mother in these Verses Non unquam altricem nostri reticebo TOLOSAM Coctilibus muris quam circuit ambitus ingens Perque latus pul●ro perlabitur amne Garumna Innumeris cultam populis cenfinia propter Nirgida Pyrenes Pinea Gabennarum Inter AQUITANAS gentes nomen Iberum Quae modo quadruplices ex se cum effuderit urbes Non ulla exhaustae sentit dispendia plebis Quos genuit cunctos gremio complexa colonas My Nurse Tolasaes praises I will sound Which with a Brick wall is encompas'd round And faire Garumna runneth by her side And many people doe in her reside Cause the Pyrenean Ningide confines Upon it and the Pinean Gabinines Betweene the Country of faire AQUITAINE And Iberus which now is called SPAINE· LANGVEDOC A ●T OF AQVITAINE LA PARTIE Septentrionale du LANGUEDOC And having yeelded people unto four Large Cities out of her abundant score Yet in her no want of people doth appeare Which done within her bosome nourisht were Whence the Vi●i-G●th● having drove● out the Romane● from thence did make this City the royall Seate of the Kingdome untill they were quite expulsed by the French in the raigne of 〈◊〉 the first Christian King at what time all that Province was subjected to France Concerning the State Ecclesiastick the Tolousians were instructed in the Christian faith by Ma●tiall who was their first Prelate after whom succeeded Saturninus Honoratus Silvius Hilarius Ex●per●u● and many others even to Lud●v●● St●ulus the Sonne of Charles 〈◊〉 King of Sicily in whose time this Bishoprick was translated 〈◊〉 to an Archbishoprick under whom are these Suffragan Bishop●● the bishop of M●nta ban 〈…〉 of S. 〈…〉 created by Pope 〈◊〉 the ●2 An has this City is larg● and popul●u● to it hath many 〈◊〉 built Churches and also Colled●●s 〈◊〉 Mo●●●●●ries The chiefe Church belonging to the Bishop 〈…〉 cr●ted to S. 〈◊〉 It hath also an University famous for 〈…〉 and for the great number of Students which study there Here ●omerly Playe● i● ho●our of 〈◊〉 the Goddesse o● Flowers were ●●brated of which there doe yet remaine some to●●●s But the Fami●● of the E●●●●ingling with the Royall Stock this Cou●try wa●●●ted to the Kingdome of 〈◊〉 It will be h●●● convenient to nominate some of them a● namely 〈…〉 others ●●metus reckon●t● the Earles of 〈…〉 the 〈…〉 France who enjoyed that dignity u●to 〈…〉 The●●●ly who after the decease of his Brother ●●phonsus did unite 〈◊〉 County unto his Kingdome There are also among others these Townes in Languedoc Narbon Mons ●essusanus Carcassona Nemansus Vzes THE DELPHINATE OF FRANCE ON the South Province is neere to the Delphinate and on the North it hath the Bressians who are parted from it by the River Rhodanus flowing betweene them on the West is the County of Venusinum and lastly on the East the Pedemontian and Sabaudians doe encompasse it Caesar by one common name calleth those of the Delphinate and the Sabaudians Allobrogians who were then confederate with the Romanes The Country is now devided into the higher part the chiefe City whereof is Ebrodunum and the lower part in which the prime Cities are Gratian●polis and Vienna Those of the Delphinate who dwelt beyond Rhodanus were hertofore a part of the Kingdome of Burgundy and then of Orleans and afterward of Burgundy the head City whereof was then Arelate which afterward from that City was called the Kingdome of Arelatum but when that Kingdome came to the Emperour Conradus the 2. after the decease of Rodolfus the first the last King thereof there arose one Guigno a man of base birth who was called afterward the fat Earle Grinmand hee through his owne industry and the confusion of the times obtained most of the chiefest Cities of this Country so that at last he possessed Gratianopolis and made himselfe Lord of the whole Province which to honour his Sonne who had married Delphina the Daughter of the Earle of Albon and Vienna he called it
Will and Testament After him succeeded his Sonne Robert and after Robert Hugo his Nephew After him followed Otho and after Otho Hugo the third And after Hugo the ●● Odo the Sonne After whom there followed in order Odo the thi●● Hugo the fourth Robert the third Hugo the fifth Eudo and Philip who THE DVKEDOM OF BVRGVNDIE BURGUNDIAE Duca dying without Issue Iohn King of France followed after him after whom succeeded Philip his Sonne surnamed the Bold to whom his Father gave the Dukedome of Burgundie Iohn surnamed the Stout succeeded his Father Philip and after him Philip the Good or Gentle his Sonne And after succeeded Charles who in regard of his service in divers Warres was surnamed The Warriour After whose decease Ludovick the 11. possessed all this Country The Metropolis or chiefe City of the Dukedome is Divienum which Gregory Turorensis calleth Divionum and the French Dijon Divionis is thought to be the Builder there but we rather suppose that Aurelianus the Emperour was the re-edifier thereof and the enlarger of the Precincts Some think it was so called ab Divis or from the Gods who were much reverenced there It is the fairest City in Burgundy It is situate on a most pleasant Plaine and the two Rivers Suzione and Os●ara called in French Suson and l'Ou he doe wash the walls on either side the former 〈◊〉 usually overflow the City making dangerous exundations the la● is very full of fish and floweth in a quieter Channell and yeelde many commodities The walls are built as high as is convenient to defence being lately fortified with Towers and Bulwarkes There is a Seate of Justice there and a Parliament out of who●e bosome the Lawes of the Country are as it were fetched Hee that ●s chose● to be Maior of this Towne is compeld though against his will to take a burden on him rather than an honour and to ●ake his oath in the Temple of the blessed Virgin which the Kings Proctor repeateth unto him namely that he will be faithfull unto the King and that hee will defend the Lawes Liberties and Priviledges of the City against the King himselfe and all others as often as occasion shall require On the Mountaines neere the City there doe grow excellent Vines Moreover the Episcopall Cityes are Augustodunum and Cabillinum both venerable for antiquity The former was called Augustodunum from Augustus whether Octavianus or some other it is not greatly to be stood upon for those that derive it from Auge the wife of Ap●ll● doe but relate Fables who re-edified it when it was ruinated by the warres which Caesar maintained against France It is now called ●ustu● It was heretofore a very faire City but now it is not so beautif●● Here are many ruines of Theaters Aqueducts Pillars and Pyrani●●● to be seene and there are daily old Coynes and other ancient 2Monuments digged up it hath also now many faire Churches and p●● like Structures in it It is seated at the foote of those Mountaines which are commonly called les Monts de Civis neere the River Arro●sius So much concerning Augustodunum there followeth Caball●num or Caballtonum Aeduorum commonly called Challon sur Saone It is not knowne who built it This City is situate on the right hand banke of Araris the Fields are fruitfull and the ayre wholesome It is very commodious for transporting Merchandise downe the River Araris whence Caesar chose this place to make provisionin and to convey it from hence to his Army which lay in divers parts This sometime was the royall Seate of Guntchrannus Afterward Lotartus the Sonne of Ludovicus Pius did burne it all downe so that there remayned no appearance of a City But in regard of the conveniency of the place it was afterward reedified and at this time it is a rich Towne of trading So much concerning the Metropolis and the Episcopall Citties there followes now some Townes of lesse● noate which are in this Dukedome In the midde way betweene C●hallimon and Ma●s●●n there is a Towne commonly called To●nu● S●a●tia●us and Antoninus call it Tinurtium It is situate in a fertile soyle being every where encompas'd with the River Ara●●s The Hills in the Country of Suburbicarta doe bring forth excellent Wine And in the mid-way betweene the City ●atisc●n and Carbillo● is the Towne Cursellum which belongeth to the King as 〈◊〉 thinketh which Ammianus calleth Se●usium Being situate at the foote of the Mountaine Iura and though it be now very ruinous yet it is venerable for antiquity On the East it hath high Mountaines and cleare Rivers whose waters are very sweet to drink from whence a wholesome Fountaine springing out of the high sandy Rocke is convey'd into the Towne by woodden Pipes On the West a Plaine spreadeth sorth it selfe Three leagues from the City ●abello● Northward is Belna commonly called Beaulne neere the River which the Inhabitants call ●eu●-sotze Some would have it to be that which Caesar and Strabo call Bibract●● Others are of another opinion This Towne is situated in a Fennish place which as Paradine writeth can easily make a Lake about the City for a mile round about to keepe off the enemies All the City is encompassed with strong walls and hath Bulwarks which can resist the force of Ordnance The Country of Belnia is rich and of a good soyle It hath the best Vines in all the world which make the best Wine In the same Country is Cistertium called so from the Cisternes built at Duke Odoes charge in a great Wood under the Priory whereof there are above a thousand and eighty Frieries and as many Nunneries of the same Order which from hence is called the Cistertian Order Semurium commonly called in French Semur is situate in the middle of the Territory which is commonly call'd Auxo●s a faire Towne In the mid-way betweene Divion and Beln●● is Nuithen●um commonly call'd Nuys This Towne was alwaies famous for making of good Swords That Towne which is now call'd Aval●n Antoninus calls Aballon where he calleth it also the 16. Legi●n That which in French is called Sanl●●n Antoninus calleth Sid●lu●um who placeth there the 18. Legion That which is called Flavigni halfe a League Eastward from Semurin it is thought was formerly called Fl●via ●●u●rum There are also other Townes of Burgundie which for brevity sake I omit to describe as are Ausone having a Castle which is the Easterne Key of the Dukedome the River Araris gliding by the walls thereof also the Townes Noiers Ravieres 〈…〉 Chastillon S. ●eigne Seloigne Crev●ut Viteau Verdun Ar●●● 〈…〉 which Antoninus calls ●ronoderun There are three o● Episcopall Cities accounted to be in the Dukedome of Burgundie 〈◊〉 ●usser●e and M●s●on The first whereof is a Dukedome 〈…〉 hereof called Du●hé de Nive●nois is very large and is 〈…〉 Navigable Rivers ●●auna Elavere L●geris There are 12. walled Townes therein the Metropolis where of is Niversium having Jurisdiction over thirty Castelships as they call them That which Caesar calls Noviodunum is
a Towne strongly walled and well fortified with Townes and deepe Ditches Among the chiefe Townes of the Dukedome of Nevers are Dezisa which Antoninus calls Decisa and Decetia also Clamecyum Dousyum Milinium Angilbertsum Corbignium St. Leonards Church Luyzium Premecyum and others Anserre followes which Antoninus calls Antissiodorum and placeth here the 22. Legion Ammianus calls it Antosiodorum or l'Evesche d'Auxerre The Territory of this City commonly called le Pays d'Auxerrois is famous for wine called after the name thereof The City which is now called Mascon Caesar calleth Matiscona and the Itinerarie Tables Matisco and the Register Bookes of the Province of France and Antoninus doe call it Matisconense Castrum who placeth there the 10. Legion and in an ancient Roll it is called Mastico as Philip Bug●onius noteth who writ a History of this City Paul Diaconus calleth it Machaon Villa Gregory Turonensis and others doe call it Matissana being like to Caballinum both for situation manners and Arts. It lyeth by the River Araris which hath a faire Bridge over it lying strait forward and Eastward and the other side are like unto a Bow In Burgundy and the Counties thereof are these Counties Dijon Austun Tonnerre Chalon sur Saone Masco● S. Martin Nevers Langres Ausserre S. Iangou Charolois Cha●gut or Chagni Monliet or Montit Auxone Rogeniont Mussy Brestemont Sees M●m●●s Seregnon Gilly Valenion Tirecourt Chevigni Aine-ville Espirey or 〈◊〉 Tarvant Brasey or Brasse Rochefort A●ncourt or Agincourt Vitean To which also are added Arley Rigny Chiligny Mommartiu Laugey Beauchamp C●u●hes There are the Bishopricks of Augustodunum or Heduensis of Austum of Mascon of Chalon and of Langres which are subject to the Archbishop of Lions This Dukedome hath these Rivers Suzi●n Oscarus Araris Icauna Ligeris Elaveres and others THE COVNTIE OF BVRGVNDIE THE Countie of Burgundie followes or Burgundie the higher in French it is called Franché Gonté that is the free County for the Province is governed by the Earle thereof and is free as they say from all tributes and exactions It belongeth to the Emperour and is under the protection of the Burnensian Heluetians On the North Lotaringia and high Germanie doe confine upon it on the West the Dukedome of Burgundi on the East the Helvetians on the South the Allobrogians and Segusians The length is 90. Miles the breadth 60. It is a very fruitfull Countrie replenished with all things necessarie for mans life and the soile is fit for tillage for planting of Trees and Vineyards and for feeding of Cattell There is every where great store of Wheate Rye Barley Oates Beanes and other Pulse And no lesse abundance of Trees The Contrie especially the middle part hath hills which doe bring forth and yeeld most excellent Wines The Arbosians the Vadamians have Winevessells so great that they seeme to be as bigge as a house Neere the Palace of the ancient Kings of Burgundie which the Inhabitants call now Chambrette au Roy they digge out of the earth a kind of plaister like Lime There is also in the Countrie of Dolania Marble digged forth which the Greekes did call Alablaster of which they made Tombes and Monuments for great men and another black kind of Marble enameld with purple spots There are also divers kindes of living creatures and great store of Oxen and Cattell All doe approve of the travelling Horses of G●a●nell and the fierce Dogs that are in this Country Many things are delivered concerning the ancient Earles of Burgundie Eudo was the first Earle and Palatine of Burgundie after whom succeeded his Nephew Philip who dying without issue Iohn King of France gave the Dukedome of Burgundie to his sonne Philip who was surnamed the bold but Margaret his Nephew succeeding after Philip got the Dukedome of Burgundie after whom succeeded Ludovick Malanus her Son and after him Margaret Malwa her Daughter whom Philip Duke of Burgundie surnamed the bold married After him there succeeded in order Iohn his sonne surnamed the stout Philip Bonus or the good Charles the Warriour and Mary marryed to Maximilian of Austria Philip of Austria the Emperour Charles the 5. c. Philip King of Spaine This Countie is divided into 3. Diaeceses or Praefectureships which are commonly call'd Bayliwicks the higher and the lower and Dal●n● The first is ●●●ulium the second Polichum the third Dola But D●●a hath a strong Cas●ell and is the Metropolis or chiefe Citie of the whole Countie and the fairest of all the other Cities it is situated by the River Dubis which devideth it selfe here into two armes Some suppose it to bee that which Ptolemie calls Ded●●tion Lib. 11. Cap. 9. a Citie of the Sequanes very faire and beautifull Here is a neate spatious Market place almost foure square but that it is a little longer than broad On the West side is the Court and the Prison The chiefe Church which is very faire and admirably carved is consecrated to the Virgin Mary There are also many other Cities as Vesontio commonly called Besancon an Imperiall Citie called heretofore Chrysopolis it is seated in a commodious and fertile Territorie The River Alduasdabis doth runne through most part of it and doth encircle most of it but the River doth not wash the other part neere the Gate in the way to Dola There is also Nozerethum or Noseroy which was formerly called Nuccillum from the Nut trees growing there but Ludovick Cabillonensis returning from the warres of Ierusalem did wall it about and call'd it Nazarethum This Earle hath a Castle which is called the leaden Castle because it is cover'd with leade There is also Sali●a a faire Citie and famous through the whole world denominated and so called from the salt Fountaines and the salt which is usually made there which being very white is transported into other Countries and the Countie hath a great revenneue out of it We omit for brevitie sake the description of other Countries Burgundy hath great and wonderfull Lakes One of the chiefest whereof is that which is called the Wherlepoole which is a wonderfull worke of nature For there is mud above the water which is so hardened that it seemeth firme land yet Horses and Cartes cannot passe over it but onely footemen In raynie cloudy weather it doth not rise except it be against faire Weather and then it swelleth up presently and watereth the Columban Plaine Moreover between Nozer●thum and Ripar●a there is another Lake in Bonualli which is full of Pikes Pearches and other fish which every 7. yeare for some weekes hideth it selfe and after riseth up againe which is very miraculous and most incredible The Southerne part of this Countie hath many Lakes There is the Lake called in French Malete●● both the greater and the lesser also Narlay of an incredible depth also V●rn●● the two Chamblici Frogeay Ro●chault and others Many Rivers doe divide it as Dubis Longnonius Danus Lpuus all Dub●● doth appertaine to this Countie Ptolomie calls
it Doubis and Caesar Al●uab●● if ●●l●ius Vrsinus conjecture rightly in other Bookes it is corruptly read Alduasdubis and Alduasdolis commonly Doux It riseth out of the Mountaine Iura a little above the pleasant Villago Mota Moreover Dubis taking his course from the South Northward glideth by the Lake Pontium and so with many windings runneth by Pontarlum M●●tua and Vafrum and so to the Church of S. Hyppolitus and from thence bending Westward it goeth to the Towne Chastelot and so flowing by Vesuntio and making an Iland neere Dola after many winding turnings and having received many Rivers it mingleth his waters with Aratis neere Virdurum Longronius also wholly belongeth to the higher Burgundie commonly call'd Lougnon Davum springeth out of the high Monntaine which hangeth over a great and famous THE COVNTIE OF BVRGVNDIE BURGUNDIA COMITATUS Towne called Syrodu● there are also Lupus or ●upa commonly called Love Araru and others Concerning the Politicke state of this free Countrie when the Provinciall assemblies are held the three states doe meete being summon'd in th● Earles name by the Prince of the Arausians and the Lords of Noz●reth and Arbe The three States doe consist of the Nobles the Clergie and the Citizens The Earles of the higher Diaecese are the Earle of M●nt●ellia●t the Earle of Roche and Varax of Montrivel or Thalamer and Vaulgrenans of Vergey of Rey Liston●is The Abbates are of Croissant of Charité of Bitaine of Corneul of Tulley of Clarfont of Lux●ul of Bellevoulx of Grace-Dieu of Charleu of three Kings or Trium Regum The Priors are of Vau●luse of Lantenans of Cusance of Marteret of Iussey of Portsus Sa●sne of M●ntreul neere Sagona of S. Marcelli The Canonici are of Calem st●er and others of other places The Cities are Gray Vesoul Montho●son ●ussey Palma Portsus Saone Cromary Mont-Iustin Faul●ogney The Lords are of M●mmorot and S. Loup of S. Martin of Taulens of Villeneufoe of Rupi of Montgevelle Chastillon and Belv●we of Conflandey of Monb●llon of Velleson of Dicey of Vgny and Chemyly of Oizelet of Cic●n of Tra●ves of Rainconnieres of Costeb●une of Sombern●m of Vallefaut of Bermont of Av●lley of Mugnay of Vereur of Toura●ze of Cite● of Provanchieres of Grand-mont of Velle Chev●elous of Vosey of Dampie●re of Frotey of Breutal of Matey of Noironde of Tromarey of Mill●●●● of Mailler●n●ourt of Myon of Benaenge of Vellerot le boz of Clere of Betoncourt of Mortaillotte of Amondans of Fraisne of Chavirey of Mon●● of Mons S. Legier of Cuvry of Montereul of Sorans and Lambry and many others The Earles of lower Burgundy are of Ruffey of S. A●bin and the Barron of Chevreaulx The Abbots are of S. Eug●ndi of ●●aume of Calerne of M●nt S. Marie of Mont-Benoist of Bayllen of Rau●res the Priors are of Mainnaul of Vaucluse of Bonlieu of Mente of L●slesaulnier of Arbois of Mote of Syredus of Vallis supra Polichinum of Mortan The Canons are of S. Mauritius of S. Anatolius of S. Mi●●el all in Salina also of Arbosium of Polichnium of Nozeret and of other Cities The Cities are Salina Arbois Poligny Pontarlien Noze●● Castrum Caroli Monmoro●t Orgelot The Lords are of Conlongni● and Andelest of Courla●u and le Pin of S. Amour of Argento of Laub●●●● of Poupet of S. Sorlin of Darna and Tramelay of Borsia of Cressia of P●tigny of Chambery of Montena of Vecles of Rosait of Marigna of B●a●fort of Nasey of Aigle of Courboson of Vertamboz of Largilla of Mau●●● of Estoille of Chasnet of Aresche of Coges of Bar and Iousseaul of Aug● of Muy●e of Charrin of Charlin of Chaumes of Bretterieres of Fomen● of Cogna of Chaulx of Montnet of Vadans Villette of Arbois of Aig●●●erre of Chastelvillaine of S. Iulian of Descrilles of Verges of Champ●g● of Beaulchemin of Villeneusve les Orgellet of Chastres of Ioulx of Vin●●● of Vismeaulx and many others In the Diecesse of Dola there are the Lords of Givrey of Longepierre and Rahon and of Clervaulx The V●●bo●s of Billon of S. Vin●ius of S. Paulus Bisantius of Acey. The Prior● are of Loye of Leval of D●mparis of Iouhe of Monterot of Mote of 〈◊〉 of M●stier in Se●u●●a The Cannons are of Dola of Bisantinum and ●●thers in other places The Citties are Dola Quirgeium 〈◊〉 Losa Ro●●eford Vercelle The Lords are of Vaul●●ey of Rainnes of 〈◊〉 of M●n●fori of Mont-Ri●hard of Fertaus of Maillet of Bermont of ●●ron of Ver●hamps of D●ssans of P●rt of Chasteau of Roillault of Abbaus and Marchault of Reculet of Chartraus of Mont-gros-pain of Mutigney of Chassey of Paressey of Choisey of S. Iley of Faye of Parrel of Chemin of ●alus of ●hampdivers and Rastonnie●es of Rainche-court of Paintre of Montrambart of Salans of Goussans of Chavirey of Ancier and others There is greate store of Nobilitie as wee see in this Countrie And there are foure families which are either descended from the Kings and Princes of Burgundie or are allyed to them by affinitie namely the Noble Lord of Vienna of Vergy who is called the stout of Chalon who is called the rich and Prince of the Arausians and of Neuf Chastel who hath a greate estate of Lands But all appeales are brought out of the three Dieceses or Bayliwicks to Dola to the high Parliament of this Countie Concerning the state Ecclesiasticke the Archbishop of Bisuntine under whom are three Bishops the Bishops of Basil in Germanie of Lausanum in Helvetia and of Bellicensis in Sabaudia is the chiefe for Ecclesiasticall government and the Prince of the Empire The Archbishop of Bisuntium and the Citie Besoncon which is a free imperiall Citie and heretofore the greatest Towne of the Province of the Sequans and the Presidents seate are parts of the Empire of the fifth circle The thenth Circle of the Empire is the Burgundian because it consisteth of the house of Burgundie and doth containe the chiefe Princes of the Lowe Countries which are the Duke of Burgundie H. Bergen and Waelhem Count Egmond and Iselstein Count Nassau in Breda and Count Bergen THE DVKEDOME OF SABAVDIA THE DVKEDOME OF SABAVDIA SABAUDIA DUCATUS LA SAVOIE The Metropolis of Sabaudia is Chamberiacum commonly called Chamberi which the Ancients did call Camerinum as Paradine noteth in his Sabaudia Pinetus thinketh that the Ancients did call it Forum Voconij which Pliny mentioneth lib. 3. cap. 4. and Antoninus in his Itinerarie So that it cannot be that they should count Forum Vocorium among those Townes which are in the Province neere unto the Mediterranian Sea Also Peutingers Itinerarie Table doth place there Forum Voconij not farre from the French shore betweene Forum Iu●ij now called Fricul and Mataron Varerius vainely trifleth in his Chorographie of Portugal who maketh Forum Voconij to be Forum Vocontij as if it were the Metropolis of the Vocontians when the chiefe City of that Country is Augusta Dia Vocentiorum now called Die Caenalis also and Castilion doe thinke that Chamberry is Cinarum which Cicero mentioneth
quantitie Besides there are fat Meddowes in which many flockes and heards doe graze to the great commoditie of the Inhabitants This Countrey also do●● breed great store of wild Beasts as Beares Harts Does Goates L●●●ards ●oares and others so that the Inhabitants have great 〈◊〉 of ●ame to Hunt there are also Fowle which they take in great ab●●dance Helvetia is a free Anarchie and subject to no Prince since 〈…〉 that the Helvetians being encited and stirred up by the un●●● 〈◊〉 and u●just government of the Rulers there did enter into 〈…〉 with the V●rian Nobilitie and so shaked off the yoke of 〈…〉 and ●ot their owne libertie The first that began this confederacie were the Urians the Silvanians and the Suitensians in their owne Townes By whose example not long after the other Cities being still provoked by the great men their neighbours did the like and entring into League with them they grew as strong as their neighbour and being strengthened with auxilian forces they became a terrour to their enemies The Country of Helvetia is divided into foure parts which by a Germaine word they call Gon which signifieth a Country or Village and they are these Zuri●hgow Wiffispurgerg●w Argow and Turgow but the Common-wealth of Helvetia doth consist of thee parts In the first part there are 13. Villages which the Italians call Cantones and the Germanes Ort. These Cantones have this priviledge above the other confederates that they in publike meetings doe deliberate and consult of all matters appertaining to the Commonwealth of Helvetia and doe give their voices and are sharers in all commodities or losses belonging to the Citie and doe equally governe the Prefectureships which they have gotten and have an equall part in any publike bootie namely ●igu●um joyned it selfe with the 3. confederate Townes Anno 1351. And Berna in the yeare 1355. Lucerna was joyned to the 3. first Townes by a perpetuall league in the yeare 13.2 Vria Vren Suitia Switz Vnder-Walden did first enter into confederacy among themselves Anno 1308. Tugium and Zug were added to the 6. Townes in the yeare 1362. Glarona also and ●ugtum entered into the same league Basiles Anno 1301. enter'd it to confederacy with the 10. Townes Also Frubu gum and Salodu●um by common consent were received into the number of the Cantones in the yeare 1481. and so the Citie of Helvetia did consist of 10. Vi●ages or Contones Schasshusen in the yeare 1600. was received into the number of the Cantones or Villages And Abbatiscella in the yeare 1502. The Countrie belonging to this Towne is divided unto 12. parts which they call there Roden 6. whereof are joyned to the Canton which are called the innermost parts and 6. are called the outward parts And there are 12 Senators chosen out of every one of these severall parts who are to consult of all affaires of the Country and they are in all 144. Senators The second part of the confederates are Abbas and the Towne S. Galli which was joyned in league with the 4. Townes of the Helvetians in the yeare 1455. And afterward Anno 1455. they were joyned in pepetuall league with the 6. Townes Tigurum Ber●a Lucerna Suitia Tugio and Glorona The People Granbondter of the Rhetorians made a perpetuall league with the 7. old Townes in the yeare 1497. And the Curiensians whose societie was called the house of God did joyne in confederacy with them Anno 1418. The 3. Societie which was called the Societie of the 10. Iudgements did not joyne themselves with the Helvetians but because it is confederate with the 11. former Cantons therefore it continues in amitie and faithfull societie with the Helvetians Sedunum and Valetia did enter into perpetuall league with the Bernatians Anno 1475. And afterward when there arose a controversie concerning Religion Hadrian Bishop of Sedunum and 70. Townes of the Valesians entred into confederacy Anno 1533. at Friburg with HELVETIA· HELVETIA these 7. Townes of Friburg Vria Lucerna Suitia V●der●aldia ●ugium Friburgum Saladorum all adhering to the Church of Rome Rotweil first entered into confederacie with the Helvetians Anno 1463. for 15. yeares which being many times renew'd at last in the yeare 1519. it was perpetually established betweene them Mulhusen was joyned in confederacy with the Helvetians Anno 1468. Bienna Biel joyned it selfe in confederacy with the Bernatians in the yeares 1303. 1306. 1352. and 1367. Geneva did bargaine for the right of a Citie with the Bernatians Anno 1536. but yet it was joyned to the Common Citie of the Cantons The 3. are the Prefectureships gotten by force of armes or voluntarie yeelding Turgea or Turgow was subjected to the Helvetians in the yeare 1460. which is governed by 7. ancient Townes Aquensis Baden was subdued in the yeare 1415. and is governed by 8. of the chiefe Townes Rhegusti which was gotten Anno 1491. was governed by 20. of the chiefe Townes Saru●ctum or Sarunga●s Anno 1483. was sold by George Earle or Werenberg to the 7. chiefe Townes by which it is also govern'd The free Provinces taken Anno 1415. are governed by these 5. ancient Cantons or Townes Lugan●m Lucarnum Mendresium and Vallis Madia these 4. Prefectureships were given by Maxamilian Sforza Duke of Mediolanum to the Helvetians Anno 1513. and are governed by all the Cantones except Abbatisella Biltionum and Bellizona the goverment hereof was afterward granted unto 3. chiefe Cantons Anno 1513. Valesia which is contained also in this Chart doth containe 3. people and 3. confederacies The two former are the Viberians and Sedunians who are called by one generall name the free higher Valesians and they are divided into 10. tythings which they call Decimas or Desenas the Veragrians who are called the lower Valesians are governed by the higher yet the chiefe of them all is the Bishop of Sedunum who hath the chiefe authoritie both in Ecclesiasticall and civill matters and is called the Earle or Prefect of Valesia Here is the County of Werdenberg and the Barrony af Saxony This Province hath many great Lakes the chiefe whereof are the Lakes of Luc●rnerze of Zuricherzee of Walenzee of Nuwenburgerzee and the greatest of al is the Lake of Bodenzee which Solinus and Pliny call Brigantium Ammianus Marcellinus calleth it Brigantium from Brigcontium a little ancient Towne The length thereof is 24. Miles and the breadth at least 12. Miles We have here set down Ammianus his words because they containe a lively description of this Lake and of the Cataracts of Rhene The River Rhene runneth with a violent course through the windings of the high Mountaines which nere the Alepontius doth fall downe like the Cataracts of Nilus the torrent at his first arising doth rush downe and keepe his course with the supply onely of his owne proper waters but now being strengthened with the melted snow it weareth his bankes wider it runneth into the round great Lake which the Inhabitants of Rhene doe call Brigantium it is inaccessible by reason of the
they should be free from the oath which they had taken to the Helvetians and might yeeld themselves up unto him But when they saw there was no hope of the Duke of Austria's comming they joyned themselves in confederacy with the Helvetians The Canton of Tugium hath two parts and foure hundreds in them out of every hundred eleaven Senators are chosen to governe the Country The Towne it selfe standeth for two hundreds the Countrie next unto it hath three as Montanus Vallis Eg●ria or Aquae Regiae and the Parish of Bara But the Townes of Tugi●●um by Prefects resident in the City doth governe these places the Town Cham Andrewes Village Hunelbergo Wa●●h●ville Steinhuse S. Wolfargo So much concerning the first Province of this Card the other followes namely Basil so called from the famous City Basilea It is called also ●ung●nia which name we may easily conjecture was derived from the Seqnanes which Rhenanus also approveth in his third Book of Germany The Country is fruitfull and bringeth forth good Wine and Corne so that it supplieth the Neighbour Countries that want Corne. There are also faire Pastures for Cattell Those whom Ptolemy calls Rauricians and Caesar Rauracians as Scudus witnesseth did heretofore inhabit this Country who as he reporteth taking example by the Helvetians did burne up all their Townes Villages and Houses Basil is now the chiefe City of the Country Some would have it so called from a Basilisk found here but their opinion is absurd Others from Basilema the Mother of Iulian the Emperour Rhenanus would have it call'd Basilea because it was a royall passage And he addeth it is likely that there was a passage in this place while Augusta was yet standing because here in regard of the Valley through which the Torrent floweth out of the Lake Byrsa the banke is lower and thereby more easily to passe but neere Augusta it is more steepe But Munsterus doth reject this conjecture by the authority of Marcellinus who calleth that City by a Greeke word Basileian that is a Kingdome as it were Regnopolis or the Royall City This City is watered with the River Rhene which devides it about the middle of it where it is united and joyned together againe with a Bridge The River Rhene is very commodious to the City because it is Navigable and bringeth up many great Vessels to it Two hundred yeeres since it was much shaken with Earthquakes but it was afterward re-edified and Pope Pius in the yeere 1460. did adorne it with an University which he endowed with all the Priviledges Statutes and Immunities which the Universities of Bononia Coline Heidelberg Erdford Lipsick and Vienna doe enjoy Basil hath these Prefectureships Faren-Sperg Castle Rinfeld seated on a high Mountaine the Towne Wallenburg H●mburg Munchenslei● ●amstein the County of Toggius where I suppose is Tognyl which is subject to the Abbot of S. Gallus when the Citizens of Toggius belong to Suitia and Glaronia also the County of Rapperswijl which I suppose should be the County of Straesberg and the Barony of Kil●h●erg The other Townes of Tuginum and Tigurinum are in the Table of Argow The Townes in the Country of Abbatium which are neither mentioned in Suevia nor in all Germany are these Reichenouw Schaffusen Kreutslinge Pfeffers or as I suppose Pfefficon This Country is watered with many Rivers and little streames all which the River Rhene at last receiveth Among which are the Rivers Rhene Byrsa and Wiesa Byrsa floweth out of the Mountaine Iura thorow many Valleyes even to Basil●a carrying downe with it many Boat-loads of Wood. On the other side the River Wiesa doth part it from the Black wood and much Timber for Building is brought downe this River and afterward it filleth many Cisternes and serveth many Houses in the lesser Basil with water For it driveth a Mill which saweth Trees into Bards and square Studdes it grindeth Corne and Grindstones to sharpen Carpenters tooles it serveth to draw Iron into thin Plates and for many other uses besides it hath excellent fish especially Trouts And though it be lesse than the River Byrsa over against it yet it is fuller of Fish than it serveth for more uses although Byrsa doth drive many Mills and is very commodious for ●●ner-men who have Houses by this River or rather neere the little 〈◊〉 which parteth from it and runneth even to the walls of the greater Basil There are also here Tolde●us Largus and other Rivers 〈◊〉 of this enough It remaineth that wee should adde something ●●ncerning the government of the Common-wealth in these Provi●●●s All that are admitted to publike Counsell are chosen equally ●ut of the severall Cantons as well out of the Tugurians as Basilians But there are two publike Counsels which have chiefest authority in these Cities The greater when many meete together in behalfe of the Commons and this for the most part is called when there are some serious waighty affaires which appertaine to the Common-wealth the lesser is that which looketh daily to the government of the Common-wealth and determines matters of controversie between the Citizens The greater Counsell of Tigurum doth consist of 200. men that of Basil of 244. The lesse Counsell of Tigurum hath 50. men chosen out of every Tribe and Basil it hath 60. For 12. are elected out of every Tribe to make up the greater Counsell besides at Tigurum there are 18. chosen out of the Nobles To the lesser Counsell of Tiguri the severall Tribes doe send three men at Basil foure men and to these are added two Counsels in every City who are the chiefe Heads of the City and moreover at Basil there are so many Tribunes whom they call the Heads of the Counsell in like manner as they doe the Consuls besides at Tigurum there are 6. chosen out of the Nobility to make up the lesser Counsell when there are but 3. chosen out of the other Tribes and moreover 6. others are chosen by free Suffrages out of any Tribe which the Magistrate shall thinke fitt The lesser Counsell is devided into the old and the new they call those the old Senate who have borne office halfe a yeere the other although they are called when the Senate is held yet they are not alwaies called and there are some matters which the new Senate doth onely dispatch The greater Counsell also at Basil is devided in the same manner and of 12. men chosen out of the Tribes 6. are joyned or added to the new Senate and so many to the old The lesser Counsell doth meete for the most part thrice and sometimes 4. times every weeke There is one Consull belonging to the Senates whom in their speech they call Burgermeister that is the Master of the Citizens and the greater Counsell doth choose him The Tribunes are next to the Consuls in power whom the Tigurinians call Oberistemeister and those of Basil call Zunff●meister there are 3. of them at Tigurum and two onely at Basil who together with the two Consuls are
called the foure Heads of the City But thus much shall suffice He that desireth to know more let him have recourse to Iosias Simler who discourseth copiously and learnedly concerning these matters out of whom we have taken that which we have written here VVIFLISPVRGERGOVV THERE followes in our Author the Aventian Canton● commonly called Wiflispurgergow It is so named from the Towne Wiflispurg which heretofore in ●ulius Caesars time was the head Citie of Helvetia and was called Aventi●um The Countrie is contained within the bounds of abaudia although it be subject to the Bernatians and Friburgensians as also the Countrie seated over against it and beyond the Lake of B●el or Neoburg It is sufficiently stored with Wine and Corne. But in this Table the whole Cantons of Berne and Friburg are contained In the former the chiefe Citie is Berna It is not verie ancient but if you consider the excellent Situation the manners and civilitie the Lawes and Statu●es and the power and vertue thereof it is not inferiour unto any Citie Concerning the building whereof we reade thus Berchtaldus Duke of Zert●gia the 4. of that name built in his time 2. Friburgis that is free Castells namely one in Brisgoi● and the other in Vchtlandia And to the end that his subjects might dwell more safely in Vchtland he purposed to build another Citie neere his Castle which was called Nide●k in a Peninsula which was called Saccus which was at that time a Wood of Oakes And upon a certaine time when the same Berchtoldus was Hunting he said to his fellowes we will call this Citie which we purpose to build in this convenient place after the name of that beast which we shall first meete and after take And so it happened that they tooke a Beare which the Germaines call Bern. And where as we said there grew many Oakes in that place in which the Citie was to be builded yet all the trees were cut downe to build houses whence the workemen would commonly say when they cut downe the trees Holtz lassdich hauwen gern die stat muss he●ssen Bern i. e Arbores sinite ut secemini libenter Quon●●m Cevitas ista vocabitur Bern that is yee Trees suffer your selves to be cut downe willingly Because this Citie shall be called Bern. This Citie is situated as it were in a Peninsula which the navigable River Arola maketh For on the South side of the Citie this River floweth in a low place from the West Eastward and then winding back againe it runneth Westward as far a as Cannon can shoote which is the whole length of the Citie so that the River is to the Citie as it were a ditch flowing with fresh water but that on the West for the length of a Crosse-Bow shot the foundation of the Citie joyneth to the Continent which Isthmus if it were digged through the Citie Bern would be an Iland On the South and North it hath the water running beneath it for a prospect on the East there is a gentle ascent unto the highest part of the Citie The adjacent soile lying round about it ●●●●ry fruitfull but hath no Wine yet not farre of the Bernatians doe make very good Wine out of their owne Vineyards There doe grow also Vines on one side of the Citie but they are of no account and doe yeeld but little Wine But Berchtoldus the 4. the builder of this Citie yed before he had finish'd it leaving the perfecting of this worke to his sonne Berchtoldus the 5. and the last Duke of Zeringia He had by his wife the daughter of the Earle of Kiburg two sonnes whom the Nobles of the Country made away by poison for this cause chiefely because they supposed that Berchtoldus out of hatred and emulation towards them had finished the building of the City that so he might keep them under the yoke of servitude Berna hath under it both Germane and French Prefectureships among which is Lausanna an Episcopall City It hath a strange situation being seated on two opposite Hills and a Vale lying betweene them The Cathedrall Church and the Canons houses doe stand on the North Hill and from the Southerne Hil over against it there is a great descent even to the Lake The Court of Judgement is in the Vale. After the death of ●harles Duke of Burgundie Lausanna being redeemed by the Princes of S. ●audia the Citizens of Lausanna in the meane time did enter into great familiarity with the Bernatians even to the yere one thousand five hundred 36 at what time Lausanna came to be under the Dominion of the Bernatians But yet the Citizens do enjoy all their former Rights and Priviledges There are 31. Germane Townes 4. whereof belong to the City which as many Standard-bearers of the City doe governe and under their Colours all the Prefectureships doe march to Battell in the warres Namely Haselis Vallis Has●i the Towne Onders●a or Vinderseu●en Simmia Vallis superior Simia vallis inferior ●rutingen Sana Aelen Thun Louppen Signow Drachselwald the Vale of the River Emm Sicon●swald Burgdorff B●ereneck Landshu●t Arberg Nidow E●lach Bippium Wangen Arwargen Arburg Biberstein Schen●kenbergh Lentzburg Also three free Townes in the Verbigenian Canton are subject to the Bermans Zof fingen Araw and Bru●k Also there are 9. Monasterie● endowed with Lands 6. whereof are under a civill Jurisdiction There are also 8. French Cantons and Townes as Aventicum W●flispurg Minnidunum Mouilden Yuerden Morges Novidunum Ny●● Oron Zilia with Vibiscum or Viv●y also Mercator reckoneth up three Monasteries belonging to the Bernatians which are M●rten Schwartzenburg Granson Chalan or Cherlin over which the Bernatians and Friburgians in their severall courses doe appoint and constitute Governours for 5. yeere so that if the Governour be chosen out of one City they may appeale to the other which may examine and take account of their government Friburg is a Towne of the Nicetonians situate in Vchtland by the River Sana it was built by Berchtoldus the fourth Duke of Zeringia some yeeres before Berne For in the raigne of Lotharius in the yeere 1527. William Earle of Vchtland dyed as Nauclerus writeth at what time the Emperour gave Vchtland to the Prince of Zeringia who dying in the yeere 1552. his Sonne Berchtoldus Duke of Zeringia the fifth of that name succeeded after him He founded and built both the Friburgs Brisgoia and Vchtland as we said before in the yeere after Christs birth 1252. and endowed them VVIFLISPVRGERGOVV DAS WIFLISPURGERGOU with large Priviledges As also the succeeding Emperours did shew no lesse favour to both those Townes than if they had beene Parts and Members of their Empire Afterward in the yeere of our Lord 1218. Berchtoldus Duke of Zeringia dying Friburg in Vchtland with all the priviledges thereof came into the hands of the Earles of Kibu●g in the yeere of Christ 1260. Eburhardus Earle of Hasburg governed this City He in the yeere 1270. sold his right to this City for a great summe of money to
King Rudolphus Hence Aeneas Sylvius calleth Fribu●g the noble House of Austria At last the Inhabitants being wearied with these frequent changes for a great summe of money bought their liberty of the House of Austria So that it is now under the Jurisdiction of Helvetia And on the wall of Friburg there is such an Epitaph found Dum bis sexce●tis ter senis jungitur annus In Friburg moritur Berchtoldus Dux Alemannus Unto sixe hundred and eighteene If thou doe adde a yeere Then Berchtold Duke of Almaine In Friburg dyed here The Towne it selfe is wonderfully well seated for part of it standeth on a Mountaine and part of it in a Vale and the River ●an● doth flow about the Mountaine at the bottome of the Citie The Iudgement Hall is situated on a high Rock where there was formerly a Castle from wh●ch in processe of time the Citie grew large both above a●d beneath Two opposite Mountaines doe beare the Walls although on the Easterne Mountaine there are almost no houses but Munition and fortifications Wheresoever you goe in the Citie you must either ascend or descend The Country round about it bringeth for●h all things necessary except Wine of which they have none but that which is imported and brought in And so much concerning the Cities of this tract now we will adde something concerning the Civill government of these Cities The manner of the Common wealth in these Cities is the same with that which is in the Cities of Helvetia which are not divided into certaine Tribes out of which the Magistrates are equally chosen But in these Cities they cal the chiefe Magistrate and Head of the publike Counsell Ein Schuldthessen This Germane word is used in the Lawes of the Longobardians and it is written Schuldahis but the Etymologie of the word seemeth to be derived from Debito a debt for so Schuld signifies and from commanding because the Schuldahis doth command the Debtors to satisfie his Creditors This Schuldahis hath great authority and power in these Cities Here are also two publike Counsels the greater and the lesse The greater Counsell of Berne and ●igurum is called the Counsell of two hundred men although there are more than two hundred in it But the lesser Counsell of Berne consisteth of sixe and twenty men The manner of chusing the Senate at Berne is thus The foure Standard-bearer of the City doe chuse out of the Citizens sixteene honest sufficient men to joyne with themselves and those twenty men together with the Consull doe chuse the greater Senate and afterward also the lesse But the Consuls who have the chiefe dignity are chosen out of either Counsell by common Suffrages and voices In like manner the greater Counsell at Friburg consisteth of two hundred men and the lesse of foure and twenty The lesser Senate doth looke to the affaires of the City and doth heare the Subjects appeales except it bee those Sabaudian Countries which were last taken in warre but those matters which appertaine to the whole Common-wealth and are of greatest moment are referred to the two hundred men or the greater Counsell The Consul who is President in both Counsels is chosen by the people The Earles in this part are Nuenberg Ni●dow Arberg and the Barony of Balm THE CHOROGRAPHICALL DEscription of the Lake Lemann and the adjacent places By James Goulart IN this Table you may at the first view behold the Lake Lemann in the confines of the Dukedome of Sabaudia the County of Burgundie the Baronnie or Lordship of Helvetia and the Bishopricke of Valesia About the Lake there are many Regions Praefectureships Baronnies Iurisdictions High-wayes Rivers Mountaines Citties Townes Castells and Fortresses The People on this side the Alpes which inhabite Sabaudia doe speake French who heretofore as Iulius Caesar witnesseth in the beginning of his Commentaries were called Allobrogians from Allobroges a King of France who flourished about the yere 2433. And afterward as the most famous Prelate Fauchetis witnesseth they were called Bagaudae and at length Sabaudians in French Savoysiens in the Sabaudian speech Savoyarde Earles have hitherto governed this Country from the yere of our Lord 1126. and from the yere 420 to this time it hath bin under the government of Dukes It is reported that this Country was at first a long time inhabited by a company of theeves But now intimes of peace the wayes there are safe and secure The inhabitants doe complaine of the temper of the ayre sometimes for cold and sometimes for heate And yet the Lake and the River Rhodanus are almost never frozen over Moreover the heate is not so violent as in the Delphinate nor the cold so sharpe as in the low Countries where Rivers are usually frozen over The soile is fit for tillage and fruitfull for it hath abundance of Grapes Wheate Pease Rapes Cauly-flowres French-beanes Melons Leekes Onions Lentills Also Barley Hay Oates and other graines These fruites are common heere Nuttes Apples Peares of divers sorts sweete and sowre cherries blacke and white Mulberries Chesnuts Almonds but Figs are more rare There is also great variety of Fowle Fish Beasts The Vvandalian Helvetians who inhabite Lausanna and other places nere unto are under the governement of the most illustrious Lords of Berne Vnder whom certaine praefects for five yeares space doe hold the Helme of the Commonwealth According to ancient Chronicles Arpentinus Hercules Centenarius layd the foundation of Lausanna in the yeare of the world 2790 from whom Carprentres the auncient name thereof was derived which was changed when the Cittie was translated unto the Mountaine in the time of Martin Bishop of Lausanna in the yeare of our Lord 593. The Citie of Nevidunum heretofore commonly called Benevis being desolate and ruinate before the comming of Iulius Caesar was restored and reëdified in the time of the Emperour Flavius Vespasian by a Centurion of his dwelling in it called Nyon Cassonex was built in the yeare of our Lord 442. And Abona was built in the yeare 456 and some yeares afterward Geneva a free Imperiall Cittie in which white and blacke money is coyned was at first called Geneura as some suppose because it is seated on a hill amongst Iuniper trees which seate Lemannus gave it the Father of the Almaines or Germaines the Nephew of Priam the sonne of Paris in the yeare of the world 2994. Afterward it was called Aurelia by Aurelianus the Emperour because he was the repairer of this Cittie which in the time of Heliogabalus was burnt downe to the ground Iulius Caesar and the Latines call it Geneva and the Poets for their verse sake call it Gebenna and also by the Registers The Germaines call it Genf the Frenchmen Geneve to which Vengee is a fit Anagram for it hath beene oftentimes miraculously preserved from enemies and Traitors and especially on the 12 or 22 of December in the yeere 1602. The Castell Morgiarum was built by the Emperor Clottarius in the yeare of our Lord 1135. Aquianum commonly called
Ev●●n was built by Peter brother and Deputy to Amades Earle of Sabaudia in the yeare 1237. But this Lake of Geneva on that side which lyeth toward Helvetia is sixteene miles long and on that side which lyeth toward Sabaudia it is 12 miles long and it is foure miles broad It hath at least sixteene Ports or Havens Out of the Port Morgiensis and Rotulensis commonly called Rolle the best wine is brought to Geneva and out of the Port of the Promontory commonly called Pormentou and the Port of Nero commonly called Nerny great store of wood and coale is brought to Geneva The River Rhodanus flowing into L●mann from the first rising thereof even to his entrance into the Lake is not navigable for ships neither from the Helvetian bridge in the Suburbs of Geneva even to the next towne called S●ssel which is seaven miles distant from the Cittie The same River in a certaine place five miles distant from the Cittie falleth into a deepe pit under ground Iurassus is such a long Mountaine that the Germaines did heretofore call the inhabitants thereof Longimans For from the top of them you may behold the Churches of Geneva and Basil being foure or five dayes journey distant one from another Also there is a wonderfull rocke full of holes which Sebastian Munster describeth in his Cosmographie Also the virgins Castles built by Iulius Caesar Also the Towne of Saint Claudus because lame people came thither from remote parts for religion sake Also a snowie fountaine in Summer time also a naturall Pit that is as broad as any Theater and as deepe as a Church and as darke as a Cave being continually full of snow Ice and Crystall Not farre from the Lake Lemann on that part which lyeth toward Sabaudia there are Mountaines which in the midst of Summer are covered with snow There is a certaine Mountaine a mile distant from the Citty Geneva upon which some THE LAKE LEMANN Lacus Lemānus Lac de Geneve not without horrour ascend by steps cut out of the rocke which are very narrow and almost innumerable And some setting their foote upon the last step when they beheld the deepe praecipice beneath them have gone backe againe There is also another Mountaine not farre from Aquila a towne towards Valesia of whose wonderfull effects we may reade the whole story in the memorable Histories of our time in the Chapter of Earthquakes lately set forth in French at Paris The Mountaine of S. Sergius is the most fruitefull of all the Chablacian Mountaines among which there is one other very fruitefull The other doe beare nothing but wood and shrubbes and pasturage for Kine which in the Summer time doe fatt themselves on the plaines of the Mountaines and doe give good store of milke But who can reckon the memorable chances or events happening there in the time of Warres Or how great and fearefull is the Praecipice of the Mountaine Mustracensis from which every yeare many horses loaden and Merchants doe fall headlong Concerning the rockes which are sharpe like teeth or swords we must write in a more accurate stile or else be silent Concerning the foote of the Mountaines of Aquiane it is knowne that they are unknowne by reason of the depth of the Lake from the bottome whereof they doe arise The most of the woods they doe yeeld Chesnuts both to the poore and rich and Acornes for Hogges and Swine also fire-wood and cart-timber and plough-timber for husbandmen In these places there are few or no Churches which have reliques of Saints in them because Idolatrie is banisht from hence But there are many sumptuous and magnificent Temples especially that at Lausanna being built within of black Marble and the auncient Temple at Geneva being full of Iron worke being twice or thrice endangered by thunder so that the leaden crosse of it was burnt and the high Tower fell down which was built before the cōming of Charles the great Adde to these the Temple of V●viacum seated among the Vineyards out of the walls of the Citty and the Temple of Morgium lately beutified But all the Images are defac'd Geneva hath an hospitall for Orphans and for the sicke but both of them are included in the Hospitall for strangers in which there dwelleth a Catechizer and a Schoole-master who doe take paines in comforting the sicke and reading prayers to them it hath also a Physician and an Apothecary belonging thereto The Municipall Court in Geneva in which every day five and twenty wise and pious Senators doe meete together to consult of affaires belonging to the Common wealth and in which also the written records and bookes are kept is watched every night by the Cittizens On one side of the Gate there is placed a magnificent seate of judgement commonly called the Tribunall On the other side of the Gate there is a notable monument of time occasion the means of the renovation of this state And neere the Court there is an Armory well furnished There are also in and about this Cittie many high bulwarkes fortified with shot There have beene and are many Castels in this Country one of which is called S. Catherines Castell in which those warlike engines or instruments were layd up which were provided for the seige of Geneva and brought thither in the yeare 1590. It was taken by King Henry the fourth who commanded it to be rac'd Anno. Dom. 1601. The other Castle which the Genevians built over against it for peace sake and for sparing of charges they suffered to fall to ruine The third Castle commonly called Ripa●lle by the ayde of the French Cohorts came to be under the power of the Genevians Anno 1589 and is now desolate as also the fourth which belonged to Versonius when the Genevians tooke it There are some Towers cunningly and ingeniously raised one of which is called Turris Magistra or the Mistris Tower which defends Geneva on that side which is next the Lake and Sabaudia the other is called the Towre of the Island or Caesars Tower which is seated on a high Island for the defence of the Bridg which heretofore appertained to the Heluetians as it is reported it was built by the same Emperor The Statutes and Laws of the Common wealth and Colledge of Geneva may be read in a printed book Here is a great number of noble families As concerning men famous for wit and the profession of Arts and sciences there have beene many who have gotten much same by their divine and Philosophicall workes As Peter Viretus Verbigenensis Gulielmus Farellus Ioannes Calvinus Antonius Sadeel Petrus Cevalerius Nicolas Colladonus Cornelius Bertramus Alberius Alizetus Sequierius Bucanus all of which in the former age were a long time diligent Preachers and professors at Geneva Lausanna Morgium and Albona after whom there succeeded these famous writers Theodorus Beza Veselius Simon Goulartius Silvanectinus Antonius Faius Ioannes Lacomotus Iames Lectius a Senator Ioannes Deodatis
of Geneva professor of Divinitie and the Hebrew tongue Isaac Casaabon the Kings Professor for the Greeke tongue and Gasparus Laurentius professor of the same Language Moreover the publike Librarie at Geneva is adorned with many excellent manuscripts And that at Lausanna is furnished with many excellent workes of the Fathers and other Divines Concerning the common people they are full of Civilitie and they receive and entertaine strangers very lovingly and honourably and it transporteth and sends into other Countries great Troutes fat Capons good Cheese gold wire and fishing lines besides other commodities ARGOW. ARgonia commonly called Argow was a part of the Kingdome of Transtura which comprehended all the Countries lying from the Mountaine Iura even to the Alpes of which heretofore the Heluetians the Ranracians and part of the Allobrogians and now the Dukedome of Sa●aud●a V●landia 〈◊〉 Suntgovia Cremerlandia and the Praefectureship of 〈◊〉 or the Cantons of Heluetia doe now hold But in this Table the Townes Lucerna Vren Switz Vnder●ald and Glarona are contained Lucerna is a Citty of Helvetia which M●y●rus calleth Lacocerna it is situated upon the River Rusa where it breaketh out of a great Lake by which there is a passage by 〈◊〉 to three Townes unto the foote of the high Mountaine which they commonly call Fractum Pilati Montera that is the broken Mountaine or Pilats Mountaine The Lake is very convenient for the Citty because there is a way by it into Italy by the Lepe●●●● Al●e● which they call now the Mountaine of Saint Goth●rd from hence commodities are carried to the Alpes and from thence by Packe-horses into Italy and againe Italian commodities are brought downe the Lake and the River ●asa to the Rh●n● and so unto the Ocean Besides the Lucernatians doe make more profit by the Lake than of the adjacent soyle lying about it although they have excellent Meddowes for the pasturing and feeding of Cattell It is a very pleasant Citty and rich being the common Mart Towne of the Su●t●nsians the Vrantans and the Transiluanians The originall of this City is uncertaine it is reported that there were Castles on both sides of the River which were built by the Almaines but there are Cittizens houses in their places It was so called from a Lampe or light which was hung out there as a Sea marke for the direction of Marriners and it is credible and likely that the auncient Tower served for this purpose which at the higher bridge is now named from the waters The like is at Tigur●●n which is called from the Sea waves We●●nberga the auncients did call these kind of Towers Watch-towers Their owne Annalls doe report that the Lucernatians did go to warre with Charles the Great against the Narazins and that hee gave them some priviledges and taught them the use of Hornes with which in these times they doe sound a retreate in the warres The Colledge of the Cannonists had heretofore the greatest power which afterward came to bee under the authority of the Abbot of Murbacum by the donation and graunt of King Pipin Afterward A●bertus Emperour of Austria bought Lucerna of the Abbot of M●●bacum But not long after the Lucernatians oppressed by the heavie burdens layd upon them by the Aus●rian governours being desirous of peace and liberty made a league with them Anno 1323. There were two Praefectureships of Lucerna which Mercator reckoneth in ARGOW. ARGOU which the Praefects dwell in one place which are as I suppose Wiken Sempach But the latter Praefect hath no power over the towne but is onely overseeer of the Lake and the fishing therein the Senators in the City doe governe the other Townes which are Willisow Entlibuchia Vallis Rotenburg or Rott or some place neere unto it also Habspurg Berona with the neighbour Country called Chelamt that is the Praefectureship of Michael also Merischwanden Waggis Ebicona Krientz also the two Citties Surseium and Sempachium which are under the Lucernatians protection yet they have a Counsell of their own which doth judge both civill and criminall causes but the chiefe man of the Surscian Counsell is called Sculthes who giveth an oath to the Lucernatians but the chiefe of the Sempachian Counsell is chosen out of the Senate of Lucerna but yet out of the number of the Citizens of Semphachium The next is the Towne of the Vrians or Vrania In Iulius Caesars time the Romanes did call the inhabitants thereof Taurisci and the name of Vrians by which they are now called is thought to be derived from the Vranians whom the ancients did call Tauriscians as also they now call the Siebentalensians Taurians after the Germaine manner Moreover the armes of this Country is a black Bulls heads in a yellow field The Vrians Canton is divided into ten parts which they call Gnossaminem that is to shares or participations because those Senators onely which are elected out of them are capable of publicke offices are called to the annuall meetings The next is the Canton of the Suitians Suitia or Suicia is a Towne which communicateth his name to all Helvetia for they first built it who fled hither out of the Kingdome of Suecia to seeke themselves new habitations There is one of the three Cantons who joyned themselves in confederacie against the insolencie of the nobility and it brought forth many stout and able men for service who were often a terrour to their enemies All the Country doth live upon the fruites which the earth bringeth forth From this Towne or Canton strangers and forrainers doe call the Helvetians Suitzers because they fought first for liberty in their Country or because they contended long with the Eremitans and were the first of the 3 Towns of the Austrians that was inforced to breake into the Country and was the chiefest in power of al the three Cantons the other Cantons were comprehended under their name as being of most noate and from the name was afterward communicated to all the confederates or lastly because the Vrians Silvanians and Suitensians began the confederacy in their Towne The Country of the Suitzers is divided into five parts which they call Quartas retaining still the name of the new division in this new and sixtfold division There is also the Canton of lower Silvania which is commonly called Vnderwaldia This is a free Canton being mutually joyned in confederacy with Suitia and Vrania in the yeere of our Lord 1315. It is environd round about with the Alpes it hath pleasant pastures for breeding and feeding of Cattle by which the inhabitants of Syluania doe reape much profit But the Vrians the Suitensians the Silvanians or Vnderwaldians although by some covenants they were subject to the Abbies of certaine Monasteries yet they had liberties of their owne and received Praefects from the Empire which they call Vo●tos by a Greek word as heretofore the Praefects of the Romanes For their office was the same with the Burgraues in these Countries For
father in the yeare 1404 and obtayning by his brothers and Nephewes death many large possessions was miserably and unjustly put to death in the yeare 1419 by Charles the Dolphin for the Duke of Orleance with whom he alwayes lived in continual enmitie and hostilitie He left these children Philip Margaret Isabell and Catharine Philip surnamed the good or godly succeeded his Father in the three and twentyeth yeere of his age in the Dukedome of Burgundie the County of Flanders Burgundie Artesia in the Marquiship of the Empire of Salina and Mechlin He at Atrebatum made a league with Charles the 7 and with the Duke of Orleance and freed him out of prison having beene five and twenty yeares prisoner in England and payd his ransome and gave him his sister Mary to wife He after the death of Theodericke Earle of Murcium was made heyre of this Countie and after the death of Philip he had the Dukedome of Brabant Lotaringia and Limburg and after the death of Iacoba he had the Counties of Hannonia Holland Zeland and Friesland And also the Dukedome of Lutzenburg came to him by his wife Elizabeth the widdow of his Vncle Antonius so that it came to passe that the large and rich Provinces of both Burgundies of Brabant of Limburg of Lutzenburg of Flanders of Artesia of Hannonia of Holland of Zeland of Namurcium of Friesland of Mechlin and the Marquiship of the Empire were all subject to Phillip the good Hee had to wife Isabell daughter to the King of Portugall he lived seaventy two yeares and dyed in the yeare 1457 leaving one sonne called Charles the Bold to be heyre unto so many Provinces who did not onely keepe his fathers Empire but also enlarged it by joyning unto it Gelderland Zutphania and the Iuliacensian Dukedome And this is that Charles who was the Grandfather of Charles the fifth who was borne in the yeare 1500 of Ioane the daughter of Ferdinand King of Arragon the wife of Philip of Austria which Phillip was the sonne of Maximilian of Austria by his mother Mary the daughter of Charles the bold under whom these Provinces which before had many Lords being united grew to be one body and now they are commonly called the Low Countries Long since the Low Countrimen were accounted brave souldiers And Caesar Lib. 1. Commentaries concerning the French warre doth call them the valiantest of all the Gaulls For he writeth thus The valiantest of all the Gauls are the Low Countriemen because they care not for trimnesse of attire and merchants have not frequent recourse unto them and therefore those commodities are not brought to them which doe effeminate the minde and they are neere to the Germaines who live beyond the Rhene with whom they wage continuall warre by which reason also the Helvetians doe exceede the other French-men for valour because they have dayly skirmishes and fights with the Germaines when either they drive them forth out of their borders or they doe make inroades into their Territories And hence wee may collect their strength and courage in defending their liberties that in the time of C. Caesar they endeavoured to shake off the Romaine yoke of subjection And so they mustred joyned armies to contend with them The Bellovacians set forth 6000 souldiers the Suessones 5000 the Nervians who were then so wilde and uncivill that they would not suffer Merchants at that time to bring them wine or other commodities did set forth 5000. The Atrebatians and Ambianians did set forth 10000 the Morineans five and twentie thousand The Menapians 60 thousand The Caletians 10 thousand the Velocassians and Veromanduans did set forth 10 thousand a piece the Advaticians 18 thousand the Condrusians Eburonians and Caemanians 40 thousand So that the whole summe of choyse Souldiers was 273 thousand as Orosius witnesseth or as Caesar himselfe delivers their number was 368 thousand whereby it appeareth that the Low Countrie men were alwayes noble Souldiers And Caesar in the second of his Commentaries saith that it was they alone who in our fathers time did vexe all France and did keepe out the Teutomanes and Cimbrians out of their Territories whereby it came to passe that the memorie of their atchiuements did make them valiant and full of courage in Militarie affaires And forreine armies have found it in our age who being fresh souldiers and joyning battell with the old souldiers they found that the Citizens Countrymen and Sea-men were al stout of courage There are 17 Provinces in the low Countries all of which the Emperour Charles the fifth did possesse in which there are 4 Dukedomes the Dukedome of Brabant and Limburg which together with the Countie of Dale and the Lordships of Valckenburg and Rode le Duc is joyned to Brabant and it dependeth on the Chancerie of Brabant also the Dukedomes of Lutzenburg and Gelderland There are 7 Counties Flanders Artesia Hannonia Holland Zeland Namurcium and Zutphania also the Marquiship of the holy empire which hath foure principall Citties Nivella Lovanium Bruxelis and the Metropolis Antwerpe it is now a part of Brabant There are five Lordships or Signiories of West-Friesland of Mechlin of Vltrajectum of Trans-Isaliana and Groneland There are many Citties in the Low Countries which are well fortified the number whereof as also of the Townes and villages you may finde in Mercator But the chiefe Citties are Lovaine Bruxells Antuerpe Silva Ducis Gandavum Bruges Hipra Mechlinia Cameracum Atrebatum Tornacum Valencena Insulae Dort Harlem Amsterdam Lugdunum Battavorum Namurcum Neomagum Trajectum and others There is a great company of Lakes Pooles and Marshies in the Low Countries which doe not onely hold great store of fish but doe also fortifie those Countries against the invasion of enemies Few Rivers doe rise in this Country but many Rivers which have their spring head farther off doe glide through it and doe much enrich it The chiefest are Rhene Mosa Scaldis Amisis the lesser are Mosella Lisa Aa Sambra Dela and many others Wee will speake of Rhene and Amasis in Germany and wee have spoken of Mosella in Germanie now we will describe the rest Mosa doth flow out of the Mountaine Vogesus which is situate on the borders of the Lingonians not farre from the Fountaines of Araris and Matrona and so running Northward it glideth by the Church of Saint Theobald or Saint Tibaut where it beginnes to be navigable from thence it slideth to Virdunum and from thence bending towards Caecia it runnes straite forward to Mosa and Maseriacum From thence turning Northward it visiteth Carolomont Boviniacum Dinantum and Namurcum and there growing wider by the receipt of the River Sabis it turneth it selfe Westward and so having viewed Hoium and Leodium and glided by Trajectum and Stochemum it passeth by Ruremunda and Venloium where turning West-ward it warreth Cuicka Ravestienum and Megena afterward being received into the Rhene neere the Towne of Herwerd and so afterward mingleth it selfe with Vahalus and straiteway they part againe yet still
River La Seine as it seemeth was so named from the Senones a people of Brittaine when they came into these Countries to vexe and disturb the French It riseth neere the Towne Soigni in Hannonia and so runneth to Halla and having glided by Bruxells it floweth by Viluorda and afterward bending toward Caecia it leaveth Mechlin on the right hand and having gone a little further it powreth it selfe into the River Dela Diza riseth neere the little Towne called Per and so turning Northward it watereth Eindovia and so keeping his former course it commeth to Silva Ducis beneath which it powreth it selfe into Mosa Demera doth slow forth neere the Tungrians in the Dioecese of the Leodiensians and so running West-ward it watereth Bilsenum ' Hasselt and Diest and from thence gliding by Sichenum and Arschotum it powreth it selfe into Dela Netha riseth neere the Towne Rhetum and floweth by the Towne Herentalls and from thence keeping a direct course it runneth to the Signiorie of Grobendoncke and having received the little River Aade it passeth by Lira and so watreth Dusten and Walem and a little further it mingleth it selfe with Dela Rueur or Rhoer which Tacitus calleth Adrana as Ritheimerus writeth doth rise neere the Towne Bullinge and cutting through Caesia it glideth by Dura and Iuliacum and at length neere Ruremunda which it nameth it falleth into Mosa There are also other lesser Rivers which for brevitie sake I forbeare to describe And I passe over also the Torrents and greater Rivers least I should be tedious to the Reader which doe not onely yeeld great store of fish but are also an ornament and fortification to the Country and are very convenient for the passing of commodities to and fro And the Country people by the helpe of these Rivers making Sluces and Dams to stay the water doe afterward digge channells for some miles together and after letting the water into them doe make them navigable so that there is no Cittie which hath not great Barkes which come up unto it But this Countrie hath but few fountaines or Springs of water except in the Mountainous places And thus having shewed the Rivers that are in the Low Countries it remaineth that wee should speake somewhat concerning the Ocean seeing in regard it is so neere unto it it may be counted not only a member of this Province but the chiefe head thereof I say therefore that the Ocean is wide and large and in rough weather it is fearefull and terribly furious for some times when tempests happen the waves goe so high that it doth overflow and drowne whole Countries and especially it breaketh oftentimes in about the coast of Zeland but the inhabitants doe cast up trenches and bankes which do prevent the danger which might ensue thereby unlesse when a westerne winde doth contend and blow against the spring tide The windes which doe most trouble the sea and thereby doe endanger the Countrie are the Northwest the West and the South windes Also it is much troubled at the New Moone or Full-moone and the two Aequinoctialls at which time as Cornelius Tacitus witnesseth the Sea doth swell very much For every new Moone and full Moone wee see that there are still the greatest tides and greatest tempests These tides doe produce some good and some evill effects As for the former it purgeth the water as common experience doth teach us and will not suffer it to corrupt and also it maketh ships sayle more speedily For as Vegesius saith Lib. 4. concerning Military matters Cap. 42. Haec reciprocantis meatus ambiguitas cursum Navium secunda adjuvat retardat adversa that is Those tides if they be with a ship doe hasten her course but being against her doe foreslow and stay her course The other evill effects are the inundations and violent irruptions of the Sea For the Ocean doth sometimes come up into the land with such violence that it driveth backe great Rivers and doth overflow spacious fields as we sayd before Pomponius Mela doth write as much and the miserable experience of many ages doth confirme it But so much concerning these things And now having spoken of the Detriment and losse which some Countries of this Province doe receive by the Ocean when it is rough and troubled we must speake somewhat of the commodities which the whole Province doth reape by it when it is quiet and peaceable which commodities are so many and so great that if they should want them the Country could not sustaine the halfe part of the inhabitants And hence it comes to passe that this Province is as it were the Haven and Mart of all Europe so that there is an infinite multitude of Merchants and Factors and as it were a confused Chaos of inhabitants and forreiners Besides the Ocean bringeth many commodities to this Country as Herring fishing and other fishings which serve not onely to satisfie the voluptuous desires of the rich but also to sustaine the poore and the inhabitants doe not onely get their foode but all their wealth by it For the over-plus of that which they take doth furnish a great part of France Spaine Germany England and other Countries yea great store of barreld salt-fish is sent even into Italy especially Salmones and Herrings Now there are three kinds of fish which they salt namely Herrings Codfish and Salmones But first we will speake of their Herring fishing of which they make a great commodity Herrings are found in no River nor in the Mediterranean Sea nor the Spanish nor any other Sea but onely in this Northerne Ocean their bignesse forme and goodnesse is sufficiently knowne And when they goe out of the Northerne Sea which is alwayes in the Spring time as if they fleeted from their owne native quarters and went to seeke shady places they come in such great shoales that no Nets can hold them but that they breake through them and do even darken the face of the Sea And many broade bottom'd vessells which they call Busses are set out from Holland Friesland France Brittaine and Scotland and doe all to avoyd contention fish in severall parts and quarters either about England or the Coasts of Scotland and the Orcades These fishes are unbowelled alive if it may be for assoone as they are out of the Sea waters they are dead by one who hath good wages for doing it and then another salts them and so they are presently barrelled up and afterward sold afterward the Herring men and Coupers doe salt them anew and take out the Pilchers which have no Milts nor Rowes they are barrell'd up againe with new pickle afterward they are surveyed by men sworne for that purpose and so sealed up in like manner as Diana's Priest did seale up red Vermilion as Galen witnesseth And these are the first kind of Herrings which with Plautus we may call salt or pickled Herrings the other sort are those which are lightly salted and so dryed in the smoake being as yellow as gold whence
they call them Soretum because they call a red colour in their language Sorus This Herrng fishing is very commodious and advantagious to the Commonwealth of Holland and Zeland seeing not onely one Citty but many Citties doe wholy depend and live on it and the Citty and Country get their food by it pay their debts maintaine families and doe get wealth by it There is another speciall kind of fish which they use to salt called in Latine As●llus Major or Cod-fish thereby to difference it from that which is commonly ealled Caballian It is a great fish so that some of them are threescore pound weight It is taken at many times of the yeare but especially in Lent time and chiefely in the Friesland Sea and great store of it is usually salted up whereby the whole country reapeth yeerely great profit The third kind of salt fish is Salmon being very good when it is fresh as well as salted Holland and Zeland have store of this kind of fish in all moneths but most plentie in Aprill May and Iune of which there is such great store salted up that the gaine which is made of them amounteth to 200000 crownes But of these things enough let us proceede to the rest The Low Countries are plaine and levell there are few Hills in it and fewer Mountaines unlesse it be in Lutzenburg Namurcum and some parts of Hannonia where they are very thicke and there are many also in Leodium It is every where beautified with Forrests and Woods which both grace the Countrie and afford much pleasure in hunting The Forrest of Arden in Iulius Caesars time as he himselfe writeth was the greatest of all France running betweene the Treverians from the River Rhene to the Nervians and the Rhenicans being above fifty miles long And now at this time no wood in all France can be compared with it but now there is a great part of it converted into arrable ground so that it is farre lesser than it was and that part which remaineth hath many glades made in it which the husband men doe till and call it by another name but the greatest part of it is from Theonis Villa even to Leodium which is thirty miles in length In the middle of it is the Citty of S. Hubert which as Gemma Frisius witnesseth lyeth under 26 degrees of Longitude and forty minutes and 50 degrees of Latitude and 4. minutes This Wood hath all kindes of pleasant trees which are very high and broad-spreading which afford both pleasure and profit Strabo calleth it Arduenna the Inhabitants Arddenna Rhenanus Luitticherwald which signifies the Leodiensian Wood. Mormavia or Morman is a faire wood in Hannonia which beginneth neere to Quesnoy and so runneth out Southward toward the Veromanduans and hath many Townes in it and Villages and many cleare springs and pleasant Fountaines Here is great store of Charecoale made whence some supposed that it is a Part of the wood Carbonaria but some affirme that the wood Carboina did lye more Eastward betweene the Rivers Mosa and Sabis and that the pleasant wood Archia is a part of it in which there is a Towne of the same name fortified with a strong Castell and there the Lords of Berlaymont were wont to reside There is also in Hannonia the pleasant wood of Saint Amand which is also called the Ramensian wood because it is neere unto it It beginneth on the edge of Flanders neere the towne of Saint Amand whence it receiveth his name and so runneth forth Eastward toward the Valesians with a great breadth The Ramensian wood belongeth to the Lord of Emerie who is the chiefe ranger of Hannonia which title belongeth unto him onely Silva Faignensis or le bois de Faigne beginneth in Hannonia neere Avenna and reacheth even to Masieris which is sixteene miles though heretofore it were farre larger It seemeth that it was so called from the Fawnes and Satires whom perhaps the Poets did therefore faine to have hornes and Goates feete because the first inhabitants of this Wood were so rude and savage that they were like beasts The Soniensian wood is three or foure flight shots off from Bruxells and it runneth Southward toward Brenna even to Alleuda and the Castle of Brenna for three miles in length It is a great spacious Wood so that it is seaven miles compasse round about and there are very may Citties Towes Abbies and Monasteries in it so that in Summer time many of the Nobles and wealthier Cittizens doe goe thither with their whole families for recreation sake and tarry three or foure weekes Saventerloo is enclosed with Lovanium Bruxells and Vilvordia It is a pleasant wood and receiveth his name from Saventria a Towne lying neere unto it Also Grootenhout is a Wood in Brabant which standeth not farre from Turneholt in which the River Ada riseth which doth afterward discharge it self into the River Natha It is a great Wood in which Queene Mary to whom Turnholt did belong was wont to hunt much There is also Marlaigne a Wood in Namurcum which beginneth neere the Cittie Namurcum and runneth Southward toward Phillipolis and so reacheth even to Mosa Niepa is a chiefe Wood in Flanders not farre from the confines of Artesia it is two miles distant from the River Lisa from the Castell of the Morineans and Baliolum it is a pleasant spacious and ancient Wood having a strong Castle in it Also Nonnen is situate in Flanders and extending it selfe Northward in a great breadth it doth containe many Villages some Abbies Poodsbergia is a great wood between Flanders Hannonia not far from Gerardimontium and Lessina and is pleasant in regard of the roundnes of it Gulielmi Silva or Williams Wood is situate in Artesia nere Rentiacum where the Emperour joyned battell with the King of France in the yere 1554. Engelerwallia is a pleasant wood in Gelderland nere Arnhemum The 7 woods are 7 great woods which are nere unto the Transilanians from whence one part of Fiesland is denominated which is now called Sevenwolden that is to say 7 Woods every one of them is very spacious hath many faire towns in them But so much concerning the woods I come now to the publick works There are in these Countries innumerable magnificent Temples and Churches many Abbies infinite numbers of Monasteries Friaries many Hospitalls for strangers for the sick for the poore for Orphans Truly in Antwerp only there are 42 such like buildings the chiefe of which is the Cathedral Church of S. Mary which is very spacious having a Tower Steeple which is 400 20 foote high being built of white Marble from the top whereof you may view the Cittie the River covered with ships and the Countrie round about which is full of Townes and Citties What should I describe the other Temples Monasteries and such like places of which there are great store both heere and in other Citties and Townes What should I reckon up the sumptuous Pallaces belonging to
Dukes Earles and Noblemen Or what should I mention the other publicke or private buildings for if I should endeavour to reckon them up I should sooner want time than matter wherefore it is better to be silent than to speake too sparingly The politick state of these Countries both in generall and speciall is threefold the first is the Ecclesiastick state in which the Abbots are the chiefe the second is of the Nobility as the Duks Earles Marcgraves Princes Barrons and great Lords The third is of the Citties which the chiefe Citties of every Country doe represent These states the Prince calleth together when they are to consult concerning matters appertaining to the Prince or to the Principality or to the preservation or utility of the Countrie The Ecclesiasticke state is thus there are foure Bishops in the Low Countries the Camaracensian the Tornaycensian and the Atrebatensian these three are under the Arch-bishop of Rhemes and the Vltrajectine who is under the Arch-bishop of Colen I proceed to the Vniversities which are 4 the Vniversitie of Lovaine and Doway of Leyden and Flankford Lovaine is famous for the many Colledges Students and learned men the chiefe Colledges are Lilium Castrense the Colledge of Porus and Falcon in which Philosophie is read The Buslidian Colledge hath three languages taught in it namely Greeke Latine and Hebrew This Vniversitie at the request of the Nobles of Brabant was first instituted and adorned with Priviledges by Iohn the 4 Duke of Brabant in the yeare 1426. Martinus the fifth being Pope The other were erected in our memory Out of which as it were out of the Troian horse innumerable learned men have proceeded and doe dayly come from thence For in the Low Countries there are learned men skilfull in all faculties and sciences and as heretofore so now it produceth famous Schollers whom it would be too tedious to reckon up Here are divers Libraries in sundry places which are replenished with excellent rare Bookes Among which that at Leyden is the chiefe The inhabitants are faire quiet not cholericke nor ambitious nor proud not much given to venerie civill plaine curteous affable ingenious and ready witty and sometimes talkative laborious industrious faithfull gratefull towards those that have done them a curtesie capable of all Arts and Sciences stout in defending their liberties and Priviledges even to death And this may truely be spoken in the generall prayse of them that the Low Country men are frugall house keepers and thrifty husbands who following the example of the Ant do lay up before winter that which cannot then be gotten and doe buy fish and flesh which they either pickle up or doe dry it in the smoake For every house according to the number of their familie doth kill in Autumne an whole Oxe or provideth halfe an one beside a Hogge which they salt up and then it will serve them to spend a good part of the yeare untill the Spring returne againe Yet many of them are very covetous and desirous of wealth The Women are beautifull well behav'd and curteous For according to their Country fashion they are used from their childhood to converse familiarly with every one and therefore they are very ready both in action or speech or any matter neither doth this freedome or liberty make them lesse honest Neither doe they onely walke alone through the Cittie but they will goe for fellowship to the next Townes without any the least suspition of dishonestie They are very continent and apt and ready in their affaires And they are not onely carefull of houshold matters of which their husbands take no care but they also use Merchandise and dispatch and conferre of businesses belonging unto men and that with so great dexterity and diligence that in many of the Provinces as in Holland and Zeland the men do commit all their affaires unto them And by this manner of living joyned with the innate desire which women have to rule they become for the most part too Imperious and proud It is the fashion both among Princes and men of inferior ranke as also among other Nations on this side the Alpes to give the first born their Parents names althogh they be yet living And the Noble of what quality and condition soever they are doe more esteeme of their eldest daughter than the rest of the younger although they have all an equall dowry so that they marry the rest to those unto whom they denyed her in marriage reserving her for a better husband And they are to be praysed because they easily contract marriages with forrainers if occasion so require and are not bound to match them in their owne Country which is a matter very profitable and commodious for these alliances by marriage are very advantagious to themselves and the Commonwealth Moreover it is accounted undecent and absur'd for young men to marry old women or on the contrary for old men to marry young maydes as also for a noble personage to marry an ignoble person or a master to marry his Maide and a Mistresse her servant But the Low Country men are chiefely given to Mechanicke Arts but not of the base and servile sort but the more nobler as weaving clothing and making of hangings tapestry which serve not only for the use of their owne country but are also transported into France Spaine Germany and other parts of Europe and also into Asia and Affricke For Pictures there is no Nation that doth excell it nor none doth excell in Musicke or for variety of Languages Iohn Eickius a Lowcountryman did first shew the way how to mingle colours with oyle And every one in Flanders Brabant or Zeland can speake not onely their owne Country speech which is Low-Dutch but also French The Sea men Merchants and Schollers can speake also Italian Spanish and Greeke for the most part and some can understand Hebrew the Chaldean and Arabicke language The Lowcountrie men are also skilfull Seamen I come to their food the Lowcountrymen doe use Wheate Rye Oates and Barly they esteeme of no pulse but Beanes and Pease they have few Vetches and no Millet at all For the great strong windes doe lay it and spoyle it The Common people maintaine their families soberly and frugally Their drinke is for the most part Beere which is made of Malt into which they afterward put some ground Barly and Hops And this is a very good and wholesome drinke for those that are used to it they doe also drinke much milke The rich have wine They eate commonly Rye bread They are wont also upon Festivall dayes especially those which beare their owne name to make great feasts and to invite their Parents Kinsemen and friends unto them and to banquet sumptuously with them and to shew themselves generous and magnificent They keepe their houses very neate and cleane being furnished with all kinds of necessary houshold stuffe And truly it is a faire sight to see what store of housholdstuffe they have and
how well ordered it is and how cleane it is kept in which without doubt it doth excell all the Nations of the World But the Low Countriemen are too much given to the Vice of drinking in which they take great delight so that oftentimes they never give over drinking day nor night and thereby besides other inconveniences they do much wrong their bodyes and witts and without doubt it is oftentimes the cause of their untimely death according to that of Propertius Vino forma perit vino corrumpitur aetas Wine maketh beautie fade And strength by Wine is decay'd And they themselves doe know it and confesse it and condemne themselves for it but in vaine for the evill custome doth prevaile over them Albeit they may be partly excused For seeing the ayre is alwayes moyst and melancholy they have no other meanes whereby to cure their hatefull and unwholsome Melancholy which Horace seemeth to intimate saying Vino pellite curas that is With wine drive cares away Which haunt us every day But it were to be wished that they would observe that noble saying of Terence Ne quid nimis Doe nothing too much which now the civiller sort doe begin to observe The inhabitants doe goe in good apparrell and are well complexioned Lastly they use much trading and traffique in which they are very skilfull And all the Low Countries for the most part doth subsist by Merchandising and Maechanicke Arts. THE COVNTIE OF FLANDERS FLanders although it be not of any great antiquitie yet no reason can be given for the name of it Some derive it from a Cittie of that name situated there where Ardenburg is now Others derive it from Flandbertus the sonne of Blesinda who was sister to Clodion King of France Flandbertus lived in the yeare of Christ 445. Some suppose that this Countrey was so named from Flandrina the wife of Lydericke the first Earle thereof Some derive it a flatu and fluctibus that is from the winde and waves which in regard of the neere Vicinitie of the Ocean doe beate upon this Countrie So that even to the yeare 1340. it was a caution used in selling or conveying of land that if the Sea broake into it within ten yeares afterward the contract and bargaine should be then voyde and of none effect The bounds of it now are on the South Artesia with Hannonia part of Picardie on the East Hannonia Brabant on the North the Ocean with Honta or the mouth of Scaldis which parteth Flanders from Zeland on the West the Brittish Ocean or Germaine Sea It is three dayes journey in length namely from Scaldis on the other side of Antwerp even to the new ditch which is 30 miles The breadth of it is twenty miles The ayre of the Country is temperate the soyle fertile especially that part which is neere the Ocean and France There are faire Meddowes which may appeare from hence in regard that Horse-riders doe yearely bring Colts out of other neghbour Countries into Franders which through the goodnesse of the pasture and sweetnesse of the ayre being leane before doe quickely grow fat and plumpe It breedeth also diverse sorts of tame Cattell very pleasant and delicate in taste and also an incredible sort of wilde beasts There are also divers kindes of fowles as Pheasants Partridges Peacockes Hernes and Storkes The inhabitants of this Country were heretofore so addicted to warre that they never scarsely lived quietly or peaceably so that their armies have invaded Syria and the holy Land and Hierusalem There are 30 walled Citties in Flanders Gandauum Bruges Ypra Insula Duacum Tornacum Cortracum Aldenarda Alostum Hulsta Teneramunda Birsletum Newporte Sluse Dunkerck Graveling Burburg Dammum Dixmuda Furna Ardenburgum Ninova Berga Gerardmontium Cast●llum Donza Orchianum Lanoyum Axella and Ostend Besides these there are also free Townes which are not inferiour unto Citties neither for nobilitie or Priviledges nor magnificent structures or populousnesse as Bella Poperinga Hondtscota Eccloa Gistella Middleburrough and twenty others There are in all 1556 villages so that it is a usuall Proverbe that Flanders doth exceed all the Countries in the world and when the Spaniards came into this province with King Phillip they thought that all Flanders was but one Cittie It is now divided into three parts the Dutch the French and the Imperiall part The chiefe is Gandavum which was built by C. Iulius Caesar when he stayed in Morinium it is called in Dutch Gendt the Italians call it Guanto the French Gand. It is situate foure miles from the Sea and is watered with foure pleasant Rivers For Scaldis commeth to it out of Hannonia Lisa out of Artesia Livia out of the Haven or Sluce and Moero from the Ambactae It is ten miles distant from Antwerpe and as many from Bruxells Mechlin and Middleburrough The compasse of it within the walls is 45640 Romaine feete that is seaven Italian miles It hath 26. Islands and two hundred and eight Bridges and foure water mills And an infinite number of hand-mills And an hundred wind mills It hath five and fifty Churches and five Abbies The Citizens of this Citty are famous for Nobility wealth and courage Here the Emperour Charles the fifth was borne It also brought forth these learned men Iudocus Badius Iohannes Cornarius Laevinus Brechtus and the other Lavinus Torrentius Baldvinus Ronsaeus Vtenhovious and many others There are two and fiftie kindes of trades in this Cittie And seaven and twenty sorts of Weavers which were first instituted by the Earle Baldwin the sonne of Arnold the Great in the yeere 865. Brugae or Brugges taketh its name either from the many bridges belonging to it or from the bridge Brug-stocke neere Oldenburg and Ardenburg out of the ruines of which Cittie eight hundred yeeres before the Castell of Brugges was first built it is situated three miles from the Sea in a plaine place The compasse of it within the wall 26600 Romane feete that is foure Italian Miles and an halfe It is the pleasantest Cittie not onely in all Flanders but also in all the Low Countries it hath threescore Churches the chiefe and fairest whereof is Saint Domatians Church which was heretofore consecrated to the blessed Virgin it was built by Lidericke the first Earle of Flanders in the yeere 621. There are threescore and eight kindes of trades in it Ypra is so called from the little River Ypra that floweth by it commonly called Yperen it was built in the yeere 1060. The foundation of this Citty is sayd to be of Lead and that in regard of the many leaden pipes which doe convey water through the whole Cittie And these are the chiefe Citties The Havens follow Sluce is named from the Catarracts or falling of waters which the Flandrians doe call Sluys it is a Sea Towne it hath a great Haven wherein fifty ships may conveniently ride Over against it is the Isle Cadsant where George Cassander was borne Ostend is situated neere the
Ocean being famous for that grievous seige which the Arch Duke Albert layd against it which it valiantly sustained and held out three yeares and some monethes with great losse of men on both sides Nieuport is three miles from Ostend being a Sea Cittie where Iodocus Clichtoveus THE COVNTRIE OF FLANDERS FLANDRIA was borne neere unto which is the Abbey of S. Bernard in which heeretofore there was the most famous and best furnished Library in all the Low Countries Dunkerke was built it the yeere 1166. by Baldwin the sonne of Arnold and Earle of Flanders It hath a very short Haven which troubleth all the neighbouring Seas This Citty belongeth to the King of Navarre I passe over the other Citties of Dutch Flanders In French Flanders there is the Isle so called from the auncient seate thereof it was once invironed with Lakes and Marshes it is a famous Cittie both for populousnesse wealth and good lawes and strongest except Antwerpe and Amsterdam Douay is situated by the River Scarpia heere Robert Gaguinus was borne It hath an Vniversitie which was built not many yeares agoe by Philip the second King of Spaine Also Orchies is in this tract of ground and Lannoyum famous for the Lords thereof and by Francis Raphelengius Cittizen thereof there is also Espinoyum Armentiers and Tornacum or Tournay In the Emperiall part of Flanders there is Alostum which is a faire Cittie and well fortified by the River Tenera and adorned with the title of a Countie It hath 170 Villages under it 2 Principalities the Steenhusensian and the Gavarensian and many Baronies there is also the Territorie of Wassia in which there are foure Townes Hulsta Axela Bochoute and Assenede Rupelmonda is a Castell by the River Rupella which we cannot omit in this place in memory of our Gerard Mercator a most famous Mathematitian and Cosmographer and the Ptolemie of our age The Rivers are Scaldis Lisa Tenera Livia Ypra Aa Scarpa Rupela and others there are few Mountaines but there are many Woods and those very profitable the chiefe whereof are Niepensian and the Nonnensian The Politicke state of Flanders consisteth of three members The first are the Ecclesiasticall Prelates as namely seaven Abbots of the order of Saint Benedict as the Abbots of Saint Peter and Saint Ba●f● S. Winnocke in Bergen Saint Andries Saint Peter of Ename of Murchiemie Five Abbots of the order of Saint Bernard of Dunen of Boudeloo of Doest of Ciammerez of Marchiemie and the Prior of Waerchot Three Abbots of the order of the Praemonstratensians S. Nicolas in Vuerne of Drogon of S. Cornelis in Nienove Seaven Abbots of regular Cannons the Abbots of Eechoute of Soctendale Warneston Sunnebecke Cisoing Falempium Seaven Provosts of the same order of S. Marten in Ipera Wormesele of Watene of Loo of Eversa and Petendale The second member is of the Nobility in which are five Viccounts The Viecount Gendt of Yperen of Vuerne of Bergen of Haerlebecke Three Principalities of Steenhuse of Gavere of Eshinoy Foure Barons 2 in the Counties of Cysoing and Heyne 2 in the Lordship of Pamaele and Boelare The Military Tribunes are of Banderheereen in the Teutonicke Countie also the Lord of Nevele of Dixmunde of Beneren of Praet neere Brugges of Haerskerke of Watene of Hevergem of Wasteine of Cacct●n of Ingelmunster of Pouke of Gruithuse of Male of Maldegem of Ostcamp of Winendale of Colscamp of Ghistele of Sevecote of Roussclare of Waestene of Hondscote and also of Cassel of Norturie of Haveskerck of Halewyn In the French Countie are the Lords of Lille of Waurin and of Comene In the Lordshippe of Flanders there are the Lords of Rhode of Gavero of Sotteghem of Gontero of Scorisse of Poitz of Liekerck of Lumbeke of Rotselar in Meerbeke Also of Wedergraet in Neyghem and of Steenehuse The third member doth consist of the speciall Citties In the Dutch Flanders foure speciall Citties doe make up this member Gandavum after which Burgraviatus Gandensis Oudenarde and Biervliet In the Signiorie there are some certaine Fee Farmes of the Empire as Ambachten dat Landt vanWaes 't Graefschap van Aelst and other free Lordships as Bornhem Dendermonde Geerdsberge Bruges by whom are censt both for armes and Subsidies namely the whole Franconate 't Vrie and the walled and not walled Townes therein contained Ypra under which both for matters of arme and subsidies are Yperen-Ambacht Bellen-Ambacht and Cassel-Ambacht the Champion Franconate Het plat te Vrie under which Vuern-Ambacht Bergen-Ambacht and Brouchorg-Ambacht In the French part are three principall Citties Lille Ryssel Douay Orchies The Lordship of Tournay and the state adjoyned to Flanders doth consist of three members the Clergie the Nobility and sixe supreame Iustices Flanders hath one Bishop of Tournay who is subject to the Archbishop of Rhemes which is neverthelesse divided into 4 Episcopal Dioecesses Vnder the Bishop of Trajectum there are five townes that doe homage thereunto Hulst Axele Assenede Bochoute Vnder the Bishop of Tournay are Gandavum Cortracum Aldenarda with their Castells the territories of Waes Bruges the Franconate and the Island with their Castells The Atrebatensian Bishopricke doth comprehend Ducacum and Orchianum Vnder the Bishop of Cameracum is the Lordship of Flanders beyond Scaldis Southward The Tarvanensian Bishopricke hath these Castelships under it Ypra Cassel Vverne Bergen Brouchorg Belle. In Dutch Flanders there are 14 principall Courts Viesburg Gandaui Burgus Brugis Sala Yprae Castellum Cortraci Curia in Harlebeck in Tielt Domus in Diense Curia in Bergen in Bruchorg in Cassel and in Celle In French Flanders there are three Court Leetes Sala in Lille Castellum in Douay Curia in Orchies In the Lordship of Flanders there are five Court Leetes Tribunal in Aelst Dominus in Vendermonde Praetorium Wasiae and Castrum Beneren All these Courts and Iurisdictions aforesaid to appeale do the Princes Provinciall Councell which is at Gandavum and from thence to the Parliament at Mechlin But of this enough I passe to Brabant THE EASTERNE part of FLANDERS BEfore I come to Brabant I will briefly describe that which this table doth exhibite which the Printer pleased to insert for the benefit of the Reader In it that part of Flanders is described in which in our memory many worthy acts have beene atchieved as it shall appeare by that which followes But that we may orderly describe this Tract in the first place wee meete with Wassia commonly called 't Landt van Waes which is a rich fertile territorie having foure Townes which doe homage unto it two whereof are walled as Hulsta and Axella two unwalled as Bouchouten and Assenetum Hulsta or Hulustum is the chiefest of them being a neate Cittie and well fortified It endured a grievous seige for some moneths in the yeere 1595. But at length after many assaults and underminings and the losse of many thousand men it was yeelded up to the Archduke Albertus Axela is a pretty towne being foure miles and halfe from Hulsta and foure from Gandavum
free stone curiously carved and is foure hundred and twenty Antwerp feete that is two hundred Florentine Ells in height so that it is very beautifull to behold and yeeldeth a faire prospect for from it you may behold not onely all the Cittie and the pleasant fields and gardens lying round about it but also you may cleerely discerne some Citties that are afarre off as Mechlin Bruxells Lovaine Gandavum and moreover THE DVKDOME OF BRABANT BRABANTIA you may see to the end of the River and discover the Sea and the Zeland Islands In this Tower there are threescore and eight Bells some greater some lesser some of which like musicall Instruments will yeeld an harmonious sound of foure or five parts The greatest of them which is of a wonderfull great weight was named by the Emperour Charles the fifth which is not rung but upon some extraordinary occasion There are foure and twenty Cannons be-belonging to that Church over whom there is a Deane and a Bishop who was first instituted in the yeare 1567. This Church is kept very bravely the revenues belonging to it are great and the Priviledges immunities belonging to the Priests Buscoducum or Silva Ducis which is called in Dutch's Hertogenbosch and in French Bolduc is so called from the Woods it is a faire pleasant Cittie strongly fortified being seated by the River Disa being a mile from Mosa and twelve from Antwerpe And these are the foure chiefe Citties the first three whereof together with Nivella doe make the Marquiship of the sacred Empire Some reckon Mechlin to be in Brabant yet indeede it is parted from it being a faire and neate Cittie having an Archbishopricke and a faire Councell unto which the last appeale in Belgia may be made Moreover there are these Citties in Brabant Tra●ectum neere Mosa commonly called Maestricht Lira Vilvord● Gemblacum or Gemblours Ioudoigne Hannut Landen Halen Le●●wen Schienen Herentals Eindoven Helmont Grave There are also many free Townes unwalled as Oostenrije Oorschot Turnhout Duffel Waelem Merchtem Asche Vveren Duisburch Hulpen Waure Breine Genape Ghecle Arendone Dormal and Isca There are also 700 Villages There are refered to Brabant the Lordship of Ravestein the Dukedome of Limburg with the Lordship of Dale and Vacklenburg The Lakes and Rivers are very commodious and profitable to Brabant The chiefe Rivers are Mosa and Scaldis and there are also other lesser Rivers This Country hath many Woods the chiefe whereof are five Somensis Saventerloo Grootenhout Grootenheist and Meerdal Heere are many publicke workes both sacred and prophane The chiefe whereof is the Church at Lovaine consecrated to Saint Peter being very faire and sumptuous The Churches at Bruxells are very sumptuous being beautified with faire and rich ornaments Also Antwerpe hath many Churches of which S. Maries Church is the fairest and largest I passe by other Churches which are innumerable in other places There are also many prophane workes as Pallaces noblemens houses Castells Towers and the like Moreover the Politicke state of Brabant hath three members the Clergie which are the Abbots Afflighemensis Grimbergensis Tongerloo Grunendalensis of S. Gertrud at Lovaine of Saint Bernard of Vileer of Dielegem Parckensis neere Lovanium Vlierlikensis neere Lovanium The great Prior of the order of S. Augustine in Leeuwee the Prior of Gemblours The Nobles which are the Abbot of Gemblacum an Earle the Duke Arscotensis the Marquesse of Bergen neere the little River Some The Barons Diestensis of Braeda Boxtelensis Gaesbeeckensis of Wesemacl Petersem Perweys Hoochstratensis now an Earle of Renes the Lords Aschensis Merchtensis Vuerne Gheel Lummen Thurnout Oosterwi●e S. Oedenroy Walem Duffel The foure principall Citties are Lovaine Bruxells Antwerpe Buscoducum Concerning the state Ecclesiasticke it is partly under the Leodiensian Bishop and partly under the Camaracensian Bishop the Leodiensian keepeth his Ecclesiasticall Court at Lovaine The Camaracensian at Bruxells Lovaine hath a famous Academie or Vniuersitie of which wee will speake more largely in the generall description of the Low Countries The Babanters are merry jesting and full of comicall conceits as Lemnius witnesseth Besides Brabant there are conteined in this Table the Dukedome of Iuliacum and Cliveland The Politicke state whereof we will describe out of Mercator The politicke state of Iuliacum doth consist likewise of three members which are the Clergie as namely the Abbots the Colledges and Monasteries the Nobilitie the Cittizens There are 24 Lordships in this Countrie Caster Brugge Born Boisseler Euskirchen Munstereyfell Moniou Eschwiler Grevenbroich Wassinberg Geilenkirchen Hensbergh Durem Thonberg Berchem Heimbach Wilhemstein Gladbach Millen Rangenrayd Norvenich the Counties of Nuenar Iuliacum and Nideken In like manner Cliveland doth conteine three orders the Clergie the Nobility and the Citties But the governour of the Province of Cleveland hath these eight Cittties under him Cliva the Metropolis Calcaria Sonsbeke where he hath his residence also Santen Buric Vdem Griet Griethusen Here are 14 Lordships Cranenburg Duffel Gennep Goch Orsoy Huessen neere Arnhem Lymers Emmeric Hetter Aspel Ringenburg Bisselic Dinslaken in which are five Citties Dinslaken Wesel Duysburg Schermbeke Holte The Lordship of Ravesteyn is joyned and annexed to the Court of Cliveland THE COVNTIE OF HOLLAND SOme derive the name of Holland from the many Woods and Forrests therein for we cal a Wood Holt or Hout and Hollant signifies a woody Countrie for they report that heretofore all Holland was full of woods and bushes Some suppose it was so called from the hollownesse thereof as if it were Hol●landt For the whole Countrie is Moorish and loose under foote Some suppose it was called from the Hay made there in Hollandia as it were Hoylandia But learned Iunius is of another opinion that Holland and Zeland are Colonies of the Gothish and Danish Nations and that the Danes and Normanes forsaking the Island of Oland and Zeland did transmigrate into these places and named them after their owne Country Holland and Zeland as Virgill reporteth of Hellenus the sonne of Priame who built a little Towne in Epire called Troy with a Castle and made the resemblance of the gate Scaea and called the River Zanthus by a Troyan name as the Europaeans did erect and make a new Spaine and new France in the Indies The Brittish Sea doth encompasse it on the West on the North the Cimbrian Sea beateth on the shoares thereof on the East side it openeth a large Bay toward Friesland on the North-East lyeth Trans-Isalana and Velavia on the South is Trajectum The compasse of it is nine miles it is very narrow so that a man may travell over it from one side to another in foure houres space and in some places it is not above a mile over This Countrie hath fruitefull fields which doe yeeld excellent good Corne but in regard the Countrie is very small and populous therefore it cannot maintaine so great a multitude of inhabitants But there are very fertile meddowes in which infinite heards of Oxen doe graze and very
faire milch Kine It is certaine that in some parts of Holland the Kine in Summer time doe yeeld unto the Paile foure and forty quartes of milke Also Iohn Beningus a counseller of the Court of Holland as Guicciardine reporteth doth finde by certaine observation and computation that Assendelph only and foure neighbouring Townes have as much milke from their Kine as there is Rhenish wine sent out of high Germany to Dordretch Out of this great plenty of milke they make butter which is an excellent daintie dish not onely for barbarous Nations as Pliny would have it but also for Kings and Princes They make Cheeses also which are not inferiour unto those of Parma and Placentia The chiefe are the Tessalican and Gravesandican Cheeses the next to them are the Edammensian which are best when they are old It breedeth THE COVNTIE OF HOLLAND HOLLANDIA also excellent horses On the sandie hills there are an infinite number of Conies Also great store of Harts Does Hares and in the Hagiensian wood there are heards of Goates and great store of fowle especially Duckes Also Geese and in harvest time Woodcockes which we call Snipes There are excellent turfes which being digged out of the earth and drawne out of the water and so dryed in the wind and sunne doe make very good fuell There were heretofore Kings of Holland of which Suetonius maketh mention in Caligula cap. 44 But in the yeare of Christ 868 Charles the bald King of France reduced it into a Countie and Theodore being descended of the royall stocke was governour thereof After Theodore the father there succeeded Theodore the sonne and after him Arnold and after Arnold Theodoricke and others after him of whom you may have a Catalogue in Munster and others They were heretofore very famous for matters of warre so that the Batavians were joyned in fraternitie and amitie with the Romaine Empire And heereby they got the goodwill of other Princes Now wee are to describe the Citties which are Dordretch Harlem Delpth Leyden Amsterdam Gouda ●a●rd●●um Muda W●sopum Edamam Monachodamum Purmerenda ●lm●●●a Eu●huysa Horna c. Dordretch is the chiefe Cittie of Holland The figure of it is long like a Gallie it is very rich and plentiful● and a Granarie or Storehouse for corne and all other provision It hath outlandish commodities brought up the River unto it and there layd in warehouses untill they be solde and are carryed from thence againe in Hoyes This Priviledge of storing of goods they call a staple Harlem is a noble Towne both for the largenesse of the Cittie the fairenesse of the houses and the pleasantnesse of the situation It hath the fairest Church in all Holland being built on strong Pillars by the marketh place The River Sparnus glideth by the Cittie It is thought it was built by the Prisians about the yeare 506. In this Cittie the Art of Printing was invented Another honour of this Cittie was the taking of Pelusium by a new device which they call Damiata and in remembrance thereof they have two ●acring bells of brasse which they call aerae Damiatae Next followes Delpth which is famous not for Apollo●s Tripos or Trevet but for plenty of wine and corne For the best beere is brew'd in this Cittie except it be English beere It is so called from a Ditch which the Batavians call Delph which is brought from Mosa even to the Cittie In the yeere a thousand five hundred 36 on the Nones of May the beauty of it was much blemished by fire and the better part of the Cittie was burnt down but afterward it was built up againe more faire than before Leyden which Ptolomie calls Lugdunum Batavorum is a Cittie situate at the middle of the mouth of the River Rhene It sustain'd and held out in the yere 1574 a grievous seige but at last it was freed and the enemies were enforced by the overflowing of the waters to raise their seige Amsterdam is the noblest Mart Towne in all the world it is so named from the River Amstela as the learned Poet Nicolas Cannius hath noted being a Cittizen of Amsterdam in these verses Haec illa est Batavae non ultima gloria gentis Amnis cui nomen cui cataracta dedit Dicta prius Damum rarisque habitata colonis Cum contenta casis rustica vita fuit Hinc Amsterdamum jam facta celebrior atque Fortunae crevit tempore nomen item Vrbs benè not a propè atque procul distantibus oris Dotibus innumeris suspicienda bonis Dives agri dives pretiosae vestis auri Vt pleno cornu copia larga beet Quod Tagus atque Hermus vehit Pactolus in unum Verè huc congestum dixeris esse locum This Cittie Hollands glory whose name From the River and the falling waters came It was called Damum first and inhabited With Rurall Cottages which here were spred But growing famous t' was call'd Amsterdam And so increas'd in fortune and in name It is a Cittie knowne both farre and neere And is admir'd for many gifts are here T is rich in soyle in garments and in gold Plenty doth blesse her with guifts manifold What Pagus Hermus Pactolus doth beare You may truely say that it is stoard up heere It consisted at the first of a few fishermens houses and was under the jurisdiction of the Lords of Amstelium After Gilbert Amstelius about two hundred fourescore yeares since fortified this Cittie with Bulwarkes gates and Towers which being burnt by the envious neighbours it was walled about in the yeare 2482. And afterward it was still enlarged and belonged unto Holland But now it is a place of refuge not onely for Holland but all the neighbour countries even to the Sarmatians and Gothes and Cimbrians For there are in this Cittie not onely Italians Spaniards Portugalls Brittaines Scots French Sarmatians Cimbrians Suevians Norwegians Livonians and Germains but also East-Indians Americans Moores and others out of all parts of the world Gouda is so named from the Cimbricke word ●●w which signifies a Ditch and a Trench against it it is situate neere Isela being a plentifull Cittie and abounding with all things There are also some free Townes the chiefe whereof is the Hage in which the Councell of the States and Princes doe sit and there is Court for deciding of suites and controversies Concerning the Politicke state of this Countrie it doth consist of three orders the first are the Knights called Ridderheren the chiefe whereof are the Earles Egmond and Ligne under whom are these Dominions Wassenar Valkenborch and the Viccountship of the Cittie of Leyden I finde also these Counties in Holland Maeslant Texel Goylandt Kennemerlant Steenberge The Lords and Barons are Brederode under whom is the Lordship of Vianen and the Barony of Lijfelt I finde also in the Chronicle of Holland that these Lordships are reckoned among the Baronies Le●ke Sevenbergen Voorn Isselstein Stryen Teylingen Puttem Harlem Leerdam Asperen Arckel Altena Botterslo●● The
who was in such g●eat favour with the Emperour that at Frankfort in the yeare 1339 on the foureteenth day of Aprill Ludovicke Caesar Augustus did make him Duke of Gelderland Edvard after many battailes tooke his brother Reinald and kept him ten yeares in prison William succeeded after him and after him his brother Reinald and after Reinald William Arculanus he dyed without issue at Gorichem His Sister married Iohn Egmundan after many changes the matter came to that passe that in the yeare 1412. Charles the son of Adolphus being called by the States of Gelderland out of Holland did make William the sonne of Iohn Duke of Cleveland his heire who against the will of the Emperour Charles the fifth was for a time governour of Gelderland untill GELDERLAND GELDRIA et Transisularia in the yeare 1543. being put out of a great part of Iuliacum hee came as a suppliant and yeelded himselfe to the Emperour being then in his tent at Venlo● on this condition that hee should resigne up the possession of all Gelderland and release his subjects of their oath yet notwithstanding Caesar did give him backe all the Territorie of Iuliacum excepting onely two Townes Hensberg and Sittartum And thus the Gelderlanders who were free at the first lived afterward under Princes yet keeping their owne lawes and ordinances But now they are governed by the States and doe valiantly for their liberty against the Spaniards This Dukedome doth containe two and twenty Citties the chiefe whereof are Noviomagum Ruremunda Zutphania and Arenacum which they call now Arnheimum Noviomagum or Nymegen is an auncient Cittie situated on the left hand banke of the River Vahalis which is very deepe in that place it seemeth that it was heretofore the Countrie of Batto having the Castell of Battenburg neere it and within the Cittie the Mountaine Hessies which some suppose was so called from Hessus the sonne of Batto The Cittie is fortified by Art and Nature bing very rich and abounding with all things on that side which looketh toward Cleveland it is seated on a hills side with an old Castell which some suppose was built by Iulian on which side the Countrie openeth and layeth forth her beautie being full of woods and springing Fountaines the lower part of the Cittie lyeth toward the Marishes and the other part of the soyle is on continued hill Ruremunda is seated by the mouth of the River Rura where it dischargeth it selfe into Mosa it is a pleasant rich and potent Cittie in the old Countrie of the Menapians Zutphania on the right hand banke of Isala hath a Countie belonging to it of which we will speake hereafter That which Tacitus calls Arenacum Posterity did call Arnheimum or the Eagles house it is the chiefe Cittie of Gelderland where the Counsell is kept being neare plentifull and well fortified and situated neere the right hand mouth or outlet of the River Rhene There are also these lesser Citties Hattem Elburg Harderu●e Wageninga which Tacitus calleth Vada Tiela Bomelium Bronchorstum Doesburg Do●tecomium and many others Gelderland is watered with three famo●s Rivers namely Rhene Mosa and Vahalis And besides these there are some lesser Rivers that glide through it as Worm Roer Sua●m old Isala Berckel Niers Regge Aa and Vidrus On the North it looketh toward a Bay of the Sea which they call now Zu●derze● As we call that the Southerne Bay which looketh Southward where Holland layeth forth her selfe as having sufficient store to trade with all the world The ground is plaine and low and there are few Mountaines and those are full of Woods and Forrests Concerning the politicke state of this Dukedome it hath 3 members the Baronies of Veluwe of Beture of Bomielweert and Trielweert Also the Countie of Zutphania under which are the Counties of Bronchorst and Herebergensis Also the higher Gelderland in which are Ruremunda and Gelder The Nobles are the Earles of Bronchorst and Herenburg The Lords are of Batenborch of Groesbeeck Mountfort Wel Watchtendonck Grol Anholt Keppel Bredefort Buren is a Countie by it selfe within Gelderland There are also foure chiefe Citties as Neomagum which is a free Cittie and the Metropolis of the whole Dukedome of Gelderland which hath under it Batavium or de Beteuwe the Lower and the higher also Bomnerweert Tielweert and Ma●swael being a Territorie betweene Vahalis and Mosa Also Ruremunda which is the chiefe Cittie of higher Gelderland which hath under it Venlo Gelder Vagedie Strale Wachtendonck Erckelens Moutfort Echt Nieustat Kessel Midler Grieckenbecke Also Zutphania under which are Donsburg c. Arnheime under which are Wagheninge Hattem Harderwijck Elborch and all Velavia At Arnheime there is a Councell kept and the Praesident of all Gelderland resideth there before whom all tryalls are brought of the foure aforesayd Citties without any further appeale to be made and to them the tryalls are brought from other townes and places which are subject unto them The Ecclesiastick state in this manner Geldria was subject to foure Bishops Neomagum with the Territory belonging thereunto was subject to the Bishop of Colen Ruremunda to the Bishop of Leodium Zutphania and the Territories thereof to the Bishop of Munster and Arnheimum to the Bishop of Trajectum The inhabitants were warlike and wonderfully given to martiall affaires but now they are more addicted to studdies The most part doe busie themselves in Merchandising and trading the rest doe partly give themselves to Maechanick Arts and trades and partly to husbandry and in regard of the fruitfulnesse of the soyle they doe reape much profit thereby This Dukedome doth containe besides many other Counties and Barronies the Countie of Zutphania It was so named if we many credit Goropius Becanus from the condition of the soyle namely from the Marishes which they commonly call Venen The inhabitants of these Countries as likewise their neighbours doe still retaine their auncestors manners and disposition for they are valiant and very ready in warre Moreover many are of opinion that the S. Cambrians did heretofore possesse Gelderland and the chiefest part of the Countie of Zutphania who were more fierce and desirous of warre than any other of the Germaines whence it came to passe that they vexed France with continuall incursions For which cause when there was peace throughout all the world yet Octauian Augustus could not for a long time shut up the gates of Ianus his Temple which they used to doe in times of peace because he understood that the Sicambrians did still molest the Frenchmen But Otho Nassovius Duke of Gelderland beside his sonne Gerard who succeded him in the Dukedome of Gelderland had by Sophia Daughter to the Earle of Zutphania a sonne called Gerlacum who succeeded him in the Countie of Zutphania Who dying without issue the Countie of Zutphania was annexed to Gelderland and never afterward disjoyned from it It hath a Cittie of the same name which Iunius supposeth to be the Cittie Visepetum being populous plentifull well fortified
with water and seated on the right hand banke of the River Isala Also the River Berckel floweth by it and there mingles it selfe with Isala Moreover these Citties and Praefectureships following are in the Countie of Zutphania the Citties are Dousburg Do●tecomium Lochemum Grolla Bredevorda Broinkhorst and the Praefectureships are those which are named from the Citties And over these there is one chiefe praefect whom in their owne language they call the Drossart of the County of Zutphania Here is also the Citty Herebergensis having a Countie belonging to it It remaineth now that we should adde somewhat concerning Trans Isalania being so called in regard it is situate on the other side of Isala It looketh on the North toward West Friesland on the South toward Gelderland on the East is Westphalia on the West it hath a large bay which is now called Zuyderzee and the River Isala It is a plaine low Country the soyle being very fruitfull especially for corne and also it hath pleasant meddowes The Province of Trans Isalania for many ages was subject to the bishop of Vltrajectum untill in the yeare 1528 by the advice of Henry Palatine Bishop of Vltrajectum it did submit her selfe to Charles the 5. and his successors In this Province there are 8 walled Cittie namely Daventria Campen S●ella Steenw●●kum Vollenhova Hassela O●tmarsia Oldesecla Daventria or Deventer aboundeth with all things which is a rich and well fortified Cittie being seated on the right hand bancke of Isa●● I passe by the rest It hath also beside the River Isala the Rivelet Vidrum and other lesser Rivers also And many pleasant woods although they be small and of no noate The pol●ticke State of Trans Isalania doth consist of two orders the Prince offices and the Nobilitie as Alhemo Ghoer c. and that in three parts of the Countrie Is●lland Twent and Drent The chiefe Parliament is in Vollenhove from whence there is no appeale THE COVNTIE OF ZVTPHANIA SOme suppose that the Zutphanians were herefore called by the Romanes Vsipetes which Iunius conjectureth in his Batavia But Bertius thinketh that the posterity of the Tencterians did possesse that Countery but Cluverius doth alwayes joyne these two people the Tencterians and Vsipetians as Caesar witnesseth who being driven out of their Countrie by the Catt● after they had wandered three yeares together through many parts of Germanie afterward passing over the Rhene received a great over through by the Romanes the remainder of them being by Sigamber admitted within the confines of the Countrie they afterward lived there continually as he delivers Lib. 3. cap. 10. of his learned commentaries of auncient Germanie And also Becanus Franci●or doth affirme that the Tencterians did obtaine the seate of the auncient Sygambrians But it is likely that the limits thereof were heretofore farre larger seeing they write that it reached unto Friesland and to the sea But now they do possesse more Towns and Villages from the Drusian ditch that is Yssela even to the Westphalians The chiefe Cittie thereof is Zutphanium whence the Province is named which seemeth to be so called from the Marishes as if it were Zuitveen that is the Southerne Marsh being situate at the mouth of the River Berekel and on the right hand bancke of Yssela It hath beene a Countie from the yeare of Christ 1107 at what time the Counties of Gelderland and Zutphania were united by the marriage of Otto Nassovius with Sophia of Zutphania the daughter of Wichmann But now Zutphania with the Territorie thereof is one of the 17 Provinces of the Low Countries and albeit as Sandenus saith they were united together 500. yeares before yet they used their owne lawes and rights different and distinct from Gelderland This Cittie is populous plentiful being seated on a Low ground and fortified with waters It was alwayes governed by a learned Senate skilfull both in the Common law and their Countrie Law to which the Iudges of the neighbour Townes when they doubted of any matter which was brought before them were wont to referre the hearing and to desire their opinion of it which when they had received they esteemed as an Oracle so that the ordinarie could not reverse or change any thing There are foure lesser walled townes in this Countrie which have v●yce in the publicke assemblies Do●sbur● Do●ticum Lochemum Gre●●a But the free Territorie is distinguished into foure Praefectureships and as many Baronies The Praefectureships are Het Drosten Ampt Van Zutphen het Schotten Ampt Van Zutphen Richter Ampt Van Doesborch Drosten Ampt van Bredefort The Baronies are Bergha which is also a Countie Bronckhorst Bearwisch And there is at this day a controversie betweene those of Munster as Sandenus witnesseth and the Lords of Anholt whether Anholt doe belong to this Province But that I may come to a conclusion this Cittie endured much miserie in the last warres for it was taken and sackt by the Spaniards in the yeare of Christ 1572 and afterward it was taken by Iohn Bapt. Taxius in the yeare 1583. At length in the yeare of Christ 1591. Grave Maurice beseiged it for the States of the Low Countries and freed it from Spanish servitude and joyned it to the united Provinces THE COVNTIE OF ZVTPHANIA ZVTPHANIA COMITATVS THE BISHOPRICK OF VLTRAIECTVM THE BISHOPRICKE OF VLTRAIECTVM ULTRAIECTUM Dominium This Bishop Balderick who as these verss doe mention walled this Cittie was surnamed Clivensis and Charles the Bald King of France and Emperour of Germany gave him the Citties of Daventria and Tiela with all the Territories thereunto adjoyning both for repairing the Cathedrall Church and for his government in his Bishopricke It appeareth that this Cittie was heretofore called Antonia not onely by the aforesayd verses but also by the testimony of divers writings and by inscriptions upon coyne and auncient stones and monuments found heretofore Yet it is doubtfull whether this name were derived from Antoninus the Romane Senator for some do report that it was so called from Marcus Antonius who was at that time Caesars embassador in France who afterward together with Octavianus Augustus and Marcus Lepidus did assume unto themselves the whole government of the Romane Commonwealth Lastly others doe alleage that it was so called from the Emperour Marcus Antoninus Pius who did reëdifie it when it was decayed Vltrajectum is situate by the old channell of Rhene which River before that it broke into ●●●ca did runne that way and from thence did hasten onward to the Ocean And now the inhabitants by trenches and ditches have brought the two Rivers Wo●rda and L●yda unto the Cittie that way which the River Rhene came heretofore Moreover it is observeable that this Cittie is so seated that in one day you may goe on foote to which you please of fiftie Townes which stand round about it being no farther distant from it than wee sayd before as appeareth also by the Geographicall Table all of which before these troublesome times of warre did belong
in vaine they committed themselves in the yeare 1506 into the Protection of Edzard Earle of East Friesland and afterward dismissing Edzard because he was not able to resist the Saxon and the Emperour they tooke the oath of alleagiance to Charles Duke of Gelderland so at length George the sonne of Albert Saxon did surrender and yeeld up all Groninga and West Friesland to the Emperour Charles the fifth as to the chiefe Lord thereof This occasioned warres betweene the Austrians and the Gelderlanders whereby it came to passe that the Groningians being wearied with continuall warres did yeeld themselves in the yeare 1515 unto Caesar as Prince of Brabant and Holland It is a pleasant Countrie and full of faire pasture grounds except toward Druenttum where it is moorish The Cittie is strongly fortified with ditches and trenches being very wide and spacious adorned with many magnificent publicke and private buildings The suburbs whereof some few yeares agoe was much enlarged and the new Cittie was joyned to the old and so the Cittie was more strongly fortified against the invasion of enemies than before There are twelve Churches in it of which there are three Parish Curches as they call them five belonging to Monasteries and foure belonging to Guesthouses The fairest and auncientest of all the Parish Churches is S. Martines having a high steeple although the top thereof be somewhat decayed and heretofore it was devoted to heathen superstition It was made a Bishops seate in the yeare 1569 by Pope Paul the third which Iohn Carisius of Vliraj●●●um was the first and last that possessed it This Cittie is populous and rich and it hath a large jurisdiction Here Rodolphus Agricola the learnedest man in those times was borne whose bookes are still approved by the learned He dyed at Heidelberg in the yeare 1485 on whom Hermolaus Barbarus a noble man of Venice bestowed this Epitaph Invida ●lauserunt hoc marmore fata Rudolphum Agricolam Frisij spemque decusque soli Scilicet hoc vivo meruit Germania laudis Quicquid habet Latium Graecia quicquid habet The envious fates heere have shut Within this Marble Tombe Rudolphus Agricola by whose worth Friesland much honour wonne For while he lived Germany did inherrit All praise which Greece and Italy could merit Also this Cittie was the birth place of Wesselus Bassilius a most excellent Philosopher who dyed in the yeare 1584 also Reinerus Predinius Hieron Verutius and many others were borne here There is a great Free Towne in this Province called Damme which is but two miles distant from Groninga and it hath 145 villages some whereof are fairer and greater than the rest Concerning other matters you shall finde them accurately described by Vbbo Emmius THE LORDSHIP OF GRONINGA THE LORDSHIP OF TRANS-ISSELANIA THe Trans-Issilanians doe inhabite that part which was the Seate of the auncient Frenchmen which the most learned Hadrian Iunius doth largely and accurately declare And the name of Frenchmen signifies as much for the Low countrey men being wearie of servitude when they increased in wealth would needs be called Franci because they had gotten their liberty and enfranchised themselves whom Agathias a Greeke writer did place about Rhene in these words The Frenchmen doe dwell about Rhene and doe inhabite the adjacent Countries round about and they were next unto the Sicambrians which Claudianus and Sidonius Apollinaris doe expresly shew as also Gregorie Turonensis and Venantius Fortunatus It is now called Trans-Issulana because it is situate beyond the River Isela It was also the seate of the auncient Salians and also of the Tencterians which are now thought to be the Drentinians and the Tubantum which as Iunius writeth in his Batavia were the Tuentenians This Countrey is now divided into three parts that which is neere to Isala is called Salandia that which is beyond V●t●h●● is called Druenta that which is next to Westphalia is called Twenta But Druenta and Twenta were conferred on the Bishop of old Trajectum after the yeare of Christ 1046. Also Amelandia Gora Daventria and also all Trans-Issulana by the donation and guilt of the Emperour and so it continued for many yeares under his governmen even untill the yeare 1528 when being wearied with warre they yeelded themselves to the Emperour Charles the fifth on certaine conditions as Duke of Brabant and Earle of Holland Trans-Issula hath on the North West Friesland on the South the Countie of Zutphania on the East Westphalia and on the West the River Isela The Countrie is plaine and fruitfull and full of Corne. It containeth eight walled Citties which have their owne priviledges and immunities as Meppela Geelmuda Coevordia Hardenberga Omma Almeloa Gora Diepenhemium Delda and Enscheda The States doe consist of two members the first whereof are the officers and nobles the latter are the Magistrates of the three capitall Citties Daventria is seated by the River Issela which is the Metropolis of the Country which is a large Cittie and beautified with many publike and private buildings and fortified with walls Towers and Bulwarkes heretofore it was a famous place of studdie from whence came Gerardus surnamed the Great whose workes are much esteemed by Divines also Alexander Heggius who first revived the Greeke tongue in Belgia and may worthily boast of his scholler Erasmus In this Cittie also there were borne Iames of Daventria THE LORDSHIP OF TRANS-ISSALANIA Ditio TRANSISULANA an excellent Geographer Everard Bron●korst a Lawyer and Professor at Leiden also Ortui●us Gracius Ioannes Dorrius Iohn S●nthemius and Rodolphus Pythopaeus and others It is now the chiefe Cittie of the Ansuarians whom they commonly call A●se steden Campi is on the left hand bancke of the River Isela not farre from the mouth thereof being foure miles distant from Daventria This Cittie is also very large lying lengthwayes and hath faire houses in it here Albertus Pightus was bone also Iohn Campensis a Divine Harmanus Cruserus a Physitian and Theodore Peter were borne heere Heretofore it was more famous for merchandising in regard of the depth of the Haven than it is now Swolla is a pleasant Cittie and fortified with a double ditch It hath on one side the River Isela on the other Vetchta which are not farre from it There are also other lesser walled townes as Volenhovia by the Lake Fl●vum Steenvicum by the River Aa and Hasseletum by the River Vidrum or Ve●●ta Also Oetmersia and Oldensalia the last of which is an auncient Towne of the Salians which Baldericke of Vltrajectum walled about and did found there a Colledge of Cannons THE COVNTIE OF ARTESIA ARtesia containeth a great part of those people which Caesar calleth the Atrebatians from the chiefe Cittie which he calleth Atrebatum But Mar●us Niger doth place here the Ambianians And Ptolomie also doth place Atrebatium betweene the river S●an● and Phrudium which is now called la Somme But the new name of Artesia is derived from the Metropolis called Arras as it were Aratesia by the figure Syncope and it
is commonly called Artois The bounds thereof are on the North Flanders from which it is parted by the River Lisa and the New ditch on the South and West it is bounded with Picardie on the East with Flanders and Cam●racum The ayre is cleare and swee●e the Countrie fruitfull and especially of corne of which it hath not onely sufficient plentie for it self but also it furnisheth Flanders Brabant and other Countries It is the barne and Granarie for Antwerp and Mechlin It hath no wine rather by slothfulnesse of the inhabitants than the unfruitfulnesse of the soyle or climate This Countrie heeretofore belonged to Flanders for Charles the Bald gave it to Baldwin Arduennatus for a Dowry with his wife Iudith Afterward Philip Alsasius when he marryed his Nephew Isabella to Philip son of Ludovicke the seaventh King of France he gave her all West Flanders for her dowry that is all that tract of ground which lyeth from the new Ditch even to Picardie Afterward Philip in the yeare 1195 made it a County and gave it to his sonne Ludovicke who was first Earle of Artesia afterward King of France and the father of Ludovicke the holy But in the yeare 1382 Ludovicke Malanus Earle of Flanders after the decease of his Mother was made Earle of Artesia and so both the Counties were united againe But after the decease of Charles the Bold Duke of Burgundie Ludovick the eleventh King of France did regaine Artesia which afterward by an agreement and covenant made betweene Charles the eighth King Maximilian the Emperour was passed over Anno 1492 to Ph●lip of Austria the son of Maximilian the father of Charles the fifth The chiefe Citties are Atrebatum the Church of S. Audomare Bethunia Aria and Bapalma the others are lesse Atrebatum commonly called Arras or Atrecht is situated neere the River Scarpa it is a great Towne well fortified with ditches and Bulwarkes it doth resemble two Citties one of which they call la Cité which belongeth to the Bishop and the other la V●lle which belongeth to the Prince The former part is lesser but very pleasant and hath a Cathedrall Church dedicated to the Virgin Mary Heere a certaine kinde of Manna was religiously kept as a relique which Saint Hierome in his Epistles doth report did raine downe in his time in this Country This part is larger and hath faire houses and streetes and a great Market place besides it hath a Library in which are all kind of written manuscripts especially of Divine Heere Francis Baldvin a famous Lawyer was borne upon whose Monument at Paris there is this inscription Cujaci Balduinus hic jacet Hoc tecum reputa vale Mortuis nobis juris prudentiam gravis corripi sopor Franc. Bald Iurise ob anno aet 54. November 11. a partu Virgiuis 1563. Papirius Massonus Balduini auditor P that is Whose monument is this Baulduine lyeth here Thinke on that and so farewell Franc. Bald a Lawyer dyed in the yeare of his age 54. on the 11. of November and after the birth of Christ 1563. Papirius Massonus an hearer of Baldvini did place this monument In this Cittie the most learned and eloquent Charles Clusius was borne who after he had travelled through many Countries he spent his old yeares in this Athens and Batavia and there he finished those his famous workes which deserve immortall fame The Citty is populous enough because there are some merchants and some trades men The Church of S. Audomare was heretofore called Sithin as Meyerus witnesseth afterward it was called S. Omer from S. Audomar This Audomar was bishop of the Morineans about the yeare 1570 and built a Monasterie there neere the River Aa This Cittie excelleth both for beautie and populousnesse of the Cittizens Some thinke it to be Itius Portus as wee have sayd in the description of Bononia Three miles hence neere the River Lisa there was also the auncient Metropolis of the Morineans called Teroana concerning which I have spoken in the same description Bethunia also is a faire Towne in Atribatum being a Granarie for wheate It flourisheth with all kinde of commodities as corne and other things which are necessary to sustaine mans life and fit to be transported Aria is seated by the River Lisa which runneth through the middle of it it is two miles distant from Teroana being a faire Towne and well fortified It hath an auncient Castell and neate buldings There is also Hesdinunt which is a strong fortresse against France which Caesar after he had raced the Towne which was of the same name builded by occasion of the warre that was betweene the most powerfull Princes of Europe It is conveniently seated on the banke of the River Canchia one mile neerer towards France being foure miles distant from Monstrolium and 5 from S. Paul It is watered also with another River commonly called Blangis from the place where it springeth So that in regard of the convenient situation thereof it is accounted a strong Fortresse and in regard of the lawes and Priviledges which auncient Hesdinum did enjoy it was soone replenished with inhabitants Neere to S. Omers there is a Lake full of fish in which there are floating Islands which with a rope tyde to the trees growing thereon or with long poles may be shou'd and drawne up and down like those which Plinie mentioneth to be in Lycia called the Calaminae Neither are there small pieces of Land for Oxen other Cattle THE COVNTIE OF ARTESIA ARTESIA may feede and graze upon them Vnder these Islands in the Winter and Summer time great store of fish doe hide themselves to avoyde both the cold and heate The chiefe Rivers are Lisa Scarpa Aa Canchia and Anthia besides other navigable Rivers There is also not farre from Teroana a great Channell which they call the new ditch some thinke it was digd in the time of the Earle Baldwin either to hinder the enemies excursions or to distinguish and set limits betweene the confines of Flanders and Artesia others thinke it to be a bay of the Sea Virgill truely doth acknowledge that the Morians were neere unto the Sea when he calleth them the farthest inhabitants But now Teroana is eight miles from the Sea Besides out of the bottome of the new ditch there are oftentimes peeces of Anchors drawne up which is a certaine argument that the Sea was neere unto it It hath also some woods especially Westward and Southward The Politicke state of Artesia doth consist of three orders the Clergie the Nobles and the speciall Citties the first member is the clergie in which there are 2 Bishops the Bishop of Atrebatum and S. Omers 2 Provosts Bethuniensis and Ariensis 20 Abbots to whom belong these Monasteries of the order of S. Benedict 8 namely Atrebatense Aquicinctense Aus●in S. Omers Blang●acense Montense Hamense or Hames and Alsiacense Of the order of S. Augustine 7 as Auriacense S. Eloy of Choques of Hennin of Lietard of Rasell● v●lla of Mar●ul Aquicurtense
in Eaucourt Of the Cistertian order there are the Abbots of the Monasteries of Cherchamp and Clommeres Of the Praemonstratensian order Damartin Santandreanum Auguatianum There are 10 Colledges of Cannons Atreba●●●se Audomarense Bethuniense Arience Hesdinense Lensiense Sanpaulitanum ●alleriense Falkoburgense Douriense The second member is the Nobles among whom there is one Prince of Espinoy one Marquesse of Rentinium 7 Earles S. Pol Falquenberch Harliensis Busquetensis Henniensis Arquensis and lastly Blangiacensis But these two last Earledomes did fall of late to the Abbey of Saint Bertin and foure chiefe Earles are not called or summoned to this meeting as Atrebatensis Audomarensis Bapalmensis and Lensiensis The families of the Gentrie counting them by an Alphabeticall order are these Aussi Averdom Aubigni Aix Annequin Anvezin Aneroult Avion Allenes Anvin Bailleul Beaufort Beaumez Beauraines Beausart Bellone Berles Billy Bofles Boisleux Bonnieres Boncourt Boubers Bours Brias Buissi Caumont Conroy Contes Coupigny Croisilles Cunchy Divion Douvrin Enne Erin Esquerdes Estree Fosseux Frevin Fleshin Gomiecount Gouy Greboval Geulesin Habarcque Hachicourt Hamelaincourt Helfault Houchin Houdin la Viesville la Plancque Liguereul Licques Longastre Malanoy Maisnil Mammez Marles Mes en Contire Mingoual Moiry Nedoncelles Neufville Nojelle Noircarmes Ococh Olham Oignies Oresmaux Plancques Plovicke Pronville Querecques Ranchicourt Ransart Recouet Rebecque Regnauville Rely Rolancourt Rumenghien Sains S. Aldegonde S. Venant Sombrein Sovastre Tieuloie Tramerie Vaulx Villers Vrolant Wancourt Warluzelle Waurans Willerval The third member is the especiall Citties 7 Royall Citties as Atrebatum Saint Omers Bethunia Aria Hesdinum Lens and Bapalina private Lordships as S. Pol Perne Lillers and also these Townes which have the praerogative of Citties and called to the assembly of the States and there be 28 of them Arques Aubigny Avesnes Aussi Benurains Blangij en Ternois Busquoy Carwin Caumont Choques Dourier Franquenberghe Fressin Fleurbay Frevene Frages Gorgue Hennin Lietard Huchin Hosdaine Labroy Libourg Oisy Pas Richebourg Tornehem Ventie Vitry The Provinciall Counsell is held at Atrebatum from whence all appeales are brought to the Parlament at Mechlin But the Bishop of Atrebatum hath all power in spirituall matters and is subject to the Bishop of Rhemes This Table also containes true Picardie and the Dukedome of Cambresi which is a Principallitie of the Empire and is governed both in temporall and spirituall matters by the Bishop of Cambresi But yet sometimes in spirituall matters it is subject to the Bishop of Rhemes and in temporall matters it is under the protection of the King of Spaine And so much may suffice concerning Artesia Let us proceede to Hannonia THE COVNTIE OF HANNONIA unto which is joyned the Countie of NAMVRCIVM THE COVNTIE OF HANNONIA HĀNONIA The Politicke state of Hannonia doth consist of five members which are first the 12 Peeres namely Longueville Lens Filly Chievre Au●sne Chimay Levreux Barbanson Baudour Rebaux Walecourt 2. Ecclesiasticall Pr●lates namely the Abbot and Earle of S. Waldrut 26 Abbots S. Guislaine Marchennes Cambron Hasnon Marville Anein Haultmot ●●essy S. Denys Vicogne ●eullien Crespin B●nne Esperance S. Iean S. Aldegonde Geilenghien Spinleu At h Fontenelle Beaumont Denain Quesnoy Wat●●braine Lolive B●lliay Leture besides the Colledges of Cannons Thirdly Noble men and one principality of Chimay 10 Counties as La●ain Beaumont Ostervant the chiefe Cittie whereof is Bouchin also Barbanson Auesne Barlaymont Bossu Montigni Reux Terrache 22 Baronies as Engh●●n Leuze Havre L●agne A●●oing Vuerchin Fontaine Havaide Kinrain Barlaymont Ville Gomegnie S. Aldegonde Se●zelle Condet Haurdain Belleule Fagneille Bousie Roesin Frusne Harchies One Marshall one Steward one great Ranger one Chamberlaine And foure ordinary Officers The Countie of Namu●●●●m remaineth It is seated betweene Brabant Hannonia and the Dioecesse of Leodium it is a small mountainous Territorie but pleasant having a sweete and temperate ayre The soyle is fruitfull yeelding all things which are necessary for the sustentation of mans life It hath also Mines of Iron and Lead and stone Quarries out of which divers kinds of stones are cut and especially blacke Marble and stones like Iasper And not long since those stones were digged forth which were good to burne we may call them Iathantracas of which we spoke in the aforesayd description Moreover this Countrie at first was governed by a Marquesse and afterward it changed often her Lord. Philip the brother of Balduin Earle of Flanders was Marquesse hereof in the yeare 1200. And Theodorus was Earle of it after whose decease the whole Country came to Philip Bonus Duke of Burgundie as we have declared in the description of the Low Countries There are foure walled Citties in this Country Namurcum Bovina Carlomontium and Valen●our●ium And 182 Villages Namurcum or Namur is the chiefe Cittie whence the name thereof is derived is uncertaine some suppose from Nanus a God of the Heathens who being used formerly to deliver Oracles yet at Christs comming grew dombe and spake no more And therefore from this dumbe mute god Nanus it was called Namurcium some think it was so called from a new wall which was built there by the Roman●s The Cittie is situate betweene two Mountaines on the left hand bancke of the River Mosa where it receiveth Sambra It is eight miles distant from Lovanium 10 from Leodium and as many from Bruxells It is rich and hath many faire publicke and private buildings and it is fortified with a strong Castell Foure miles from Namurcium is Bouvinae a small towne which was often wasted by the warres and last of all it was for the most part ruinated by Henry the second King of France in the yeare 1555. Afterward the Cittizens did reedifie it Charlemont was built by Charles the fifth in the yeare 1555 against the French-men who then possessed Mar●enburg Valencourtium is a town of good noate being distant from Namurcium 7 miles This Country hath many Rivers which are full of fish the chiefe whereof are Mosa and Sambra it hath also faire fresh springs It hath also woods for pleasure and hunting which are full of wilde beasts There are many Churches in this Country famous Monasteries which were built heretofore at the costs and charges of the Earles of Namurcium and endowed with great revennewes Three miles from Namurcium there is the rich Towne Audennas in which there is an auncient Nunne●ie for noble women built by Begga daughter of Pepin from whom they were first called Baggine Vestalls The politicke state of the County of Namurcium doth consist of three members which are the Clergie the Nobility and the chiefe Citties The Clergie are the Abbots of Floref Granpre Anden Bonef Wassore Hastieis The Nobility are the Vicount Done c. The chiefe Citties are Namur Bovinae Charlemont Valencourt or Walencourt In the Cittie of Namurcum there is a Royall Counsell from whence appeales are brought to the Court of Mechlin There is also a Bishops seate whose Cathedrall Church is consecrate to S. Albine The Cittizens are used to armes and
aedifices and houses in it which yet the warres have somewhat defac'd and also a Church consecrate to S. Nicolas and a Monastery to S. Francis in which Iohn of Lutzenburg King of Bohemia the sonne of the Emperour Henry the seaventh and father of Charles the fourth was buryed This Citty hath beene often defaced by the fury of Mars who hath no agreement with the Muses who love peace and tranquility yet it hath bred many famous learned men And among many others Nicolas Navis a man so learned and skilfull in the civill law that he was Praesident of the Court at Lutzenburg untill he dyed but he left a sonne of his owne name who being equall to his father in vertue was in such savour with the Emperour Charles the fifth that he made him Vicechancellour of the whole Empire in which office he continued untill his death Arlunum which is called in their language is situate on the top of a hill being a very neate town where the Moone was worshipped after the manner of the heathens and from thence it is supposed to have beene so named Heere many Monuments of antiquitie are found which the Earle Peter Ernest caused to be brought home to his owne house which is in the suburbs of the Cittie of Lutzenburg Bartholmew Latemus a very learned man was borne in this country Which is watered with many rivers the chiefest of which is Mosella of which I have spoke in Lotaringia the others are Chier Mosa B●moy H●ul Lech Alsatus Atardus Sourus Prum●us M●neus Ghomeus Orto Albis and besides many little Rivuletts The Country is raised on every side with Mountaines and interlaced with thicke woods But all of them are but boughes in respect of the Forrest of Arden in France The politicke state as in the other Countries doth consist of three members first the Clergie secondly the Nobles in which are the Counts of V●anden of la Roch en Ardenne Salme Durby Marche S. Vit. S. Iansberg There are also many Baronies and Lordships The third member is the principall Citties as Lutzenburg Arlunum Theonis villa otherwise called Dietenhove and Rodemacher● The Court for the whole Province is kept in the Cittie of Lutzenburg and the pleadings are in French or Dutch according as the Plantiffes are of severall Countries For Lutzenburg Arlunum Theonis Villa and Rodemachera doe speake Dutch but Ivoys Mammedy Marville and Danvilliers doe speake French in regard whereof it is necessary that the Iudges and Advocates and the officers of the Court should understand both languages From this Court appeales may be brought to Mechlin where those things which are written in Dutch are faithfully translated into French This Dukedome hath two Marquiships under it seaven Counties many Baronies and Lordships and great store of Noble men so that no Province doth produce so many All of them doe live magnificently and are curteous vertuous constant and faithfull to their Prince Their exercise is Armes and hunting They live civilly and courteously together visiting one another in mutuall kindnesses They contract marriages with their neighbours and in their matches they doe more respect honour and dignity than portion If any one doe commit an enormity he loseth his credit and is not admittted to converse with the Nobles and is thought to be unworthy of any publicke office and his oath is not esteemed in publicke trialls If any controversie doe arise amongst them they referre it to certaine Arbitrators who are to compound and end the matter so that they have no great use of Lawyers and Proctors yet they are too much given to wine And the Country people doe complaine very much of their hard usage and servitude so that if a Country-man intend to put forth his children he cannot doe it without his Lords leave which is farre different from the libertie of the Low Countries Arlunum which we mentioned before is situate on the top of a Mountaine and is foure miles distant from Lutzenburg and sixe from Mommedy It was sometime a faire Towne but somewhat defaced by the violence of warres Rodemachera is three miles distant from Lutzenburg which though it be no great towne yet is very beautifull and fortified with a strong Castell Theodonis-villa which in Dutch is called Dietenhoue is very conveniently situated on the left hand bancke of the River Mosella it is foure miles from Lutzenburg having a faire bridge it is a pleasant strong Towne and well fortified against the invasions of enemies Regino affirmeth that Charles the Great was used to hunt very much neere unto this Cittie Gravemakerum and Koninckmakerum are small little Townes neere Mosella being a mile distant one from another and 5 miles from Lutzenburg Dieterichum is seated neere the little River Sure and is five miles distant from Lutzenburg Viretonum and Echternatum are little small townes and are both five miles distant from Lutzenburg Vianda standeth by the side of a little Riu●let seaven miles from Lutzenburg it hath a Countie belonging to it and is subject to the Prince of Orange Bastona●um is neere unto the Forrest of Arden being three miles from the new Castell and 17 from Lutzenburg It is a little Towne but so famous heretofore that it was called Paris en Ardenne in regard of the markets for Cattell and Corne which were usually kept there whither the Countrie round about did bring all sorts of commodities to the great enriching of the Towne Betweene this Cittie and Arlunum and S. Huberts Church there are some Villages in the middle of the wood in which the women after the Spanish fashion when their husbands are carryed forth to be buried and interred doe runne crying and weeping through the streetes tearing their hayre and scratching their faces with their nayles in a mad and furious manner which custome doth rather favour of Heatheanisme than Christianity M●mmedium is conveniently situated on a high mountaine at the foote whereof the River Chirsus glideth along it is nine miles distant from Lutzenburg and foure from Danvillieres being a faire fortified towne New-Castell is in Ardenne it is 5 Miles distant from Ivosium and nine from Lutzenburg it is now a small Towne and much decayed Danvillieres is twelve miles distant from Lutzenburg and foure from Verdunum being in Lotharingia Marville is divided into two parts the one whereof is subject to the Duke of Lutzenburg and the other to the Duke of Lotharingia and therefore it is called the common Towne it standeth by the River Chirsus and is 12 miles distant from Lutzenburg Roche en Ardenne or the Rocke in Ardenne and Durbium are twelve miles distant from Lutzenburg being both pleasantly seated S. Viti is a very pleasant small towne and is 12 miles distant from the Metropolis and belongeth to the Prince of Orange Salma is a rich and populous Cittie having a Countie appendant unto it Marcha is a very auncient Towne and is 14 miles from Lutzenburg We will not mention for brevitie sake the Castells
and famous Villages in this Province but will onely name three unwalled Citties First Ivosium which is 12 miles from Lutzenburg and foure from Mommedy being heretofore a good strong Town but at last Henry the second King of France begirt it round with an Armie in the yeare 1552. and tooke it but afterward a peace being made it was restored backe againe to Philip the second King of Spaine but the walls were ruinated as at Teroana and a law was made that it should not be walled in againe Chinium is 12. miles from Lutzenburg which is unwalled but by degrees it is reedified It hath a County belonging to it although it be subject to the Archdukes and hath a large jurisdiction over some townes and Villages neither is it subject to the Dukedome of Lutzenburg but is joyned unto it Twelve miles from Lutzenburg standeth the Towne la Ferte neere the River Chirsus being heretofore a pleasant Cittie and now also it flourisheth although it be unwalled and a great part of the Castell be fallen downe but so much concerning these things Let us passe to Limburg THE DVKEDOME OF LIMBVRG with the Appendances thereunto THe Dukedome of Limburg which this Table doth exhibit and present being so called from Limburg the Metropolis thereof is bounded on the West with Leodium and Trajectum which are two famous Citties by the River Mosa on the North with the Dukedome of Iul●acum on the East with the Emperiall Cittie Aquisgranum and the Monastery of S. Cornelius on the South with the Countries of Francimont and Aqua Spadana All this tract as it is pleasant in Summer so in winter it is unpleasant in regard it is covered all that time with snow which is so deepe that it lyeth in many places a great part of Summer The soyle is fruitfull and hath abundant stoare of all things except wine For it beareth excellent Barly and wheate of which they make very white bread There are good pastures for feeding of Cattell and for making of Cheese And it yeeldeth many wholesome Hearbes both for Sallets and Physicke There is also great stoare of Sulphure through the hollow crannyes whereof it is likely that the hot fountaines at Aqua Spadana so famous for many ages doe runne As of late there is found in those parts a Mine of Lead and Tinne and it is probable that a Veine of gold and silver may be found hereafter in those places Moreover betweene Walhormus and Montzius there is a Mine found of that ash colour stone of which brasse is made which is also medicinall which Plinye calls Cadmia and the brasen stone being not much unlike the stone Pyritos The words of Pliny Lib. 34. cap. 1. are these Fit aes è Lapide aeroso quem vocant Cadmiam That is And there is brasse made of a brasen stone which they call Cadmia The Germaines call it Covaltum and the Shops call it Climia and Cathimia It seemeth that the like stone was found in the I le of Cyprus but on this side the Alpes there is none sound but this in Limburg The Countrie of Limburg was heretofore a Countie but it was made a Dukedome in the yere 1172 by the Emperour Frederick surnamed Barbarossa the Princes of this Countrie were heretofore also Duks of Lotaringia At length Henry the last Duke of Limburg dying without issue Iohn the first of that name Duke of Brabant did succeede him in the yeare 1293. He albeit he had lawfully before bought this Dukedome yet he got and purchased it by the sword and overthrew Raymund Earle of Gelderland who then possessed it in which battell the Earle of Gelderland and the Bishop of Gelderland were taken There were slaine Henry Prince of Luxenburg and his three brothers who did ioyne themselves with the Earle of Gelderland Duke Iohn having gotten this Victory did race and demolish the Castell commonly called Woronc and leveld it with the ground and so from that time the Dukedome of Limburg came to be governed by the Dukes of Brabant Out of this Dukedome and from the Prince thereof which came of the Lotharingian family the first King of Portugall was descended namely Henry Duke of Lotharingia and Earle of Limburg a man of a great courage and ready in matter of armes as the Annalls of Spaine doe more fully and plainely deliver and we our selves have mentioned it before in the description of Portugall The Metropolis or mother Cittie of the whole Dukedome is Limburg being situated on a high rocke and fortified with a rugged deepe valley it is inaccessible rather by the naturall situation of the place than by humaine industrie unlesse it be on the South where the ground rising somewhat higher descendeth by degrees from the Cittie untill it openeth into a faire plaine In the lower part of this Cittie on the Northside there is a Castell built of pure Marble being a kind of Common Iasper of which this Country yeeldeth great store both neere the Towne of Hevermont and also in other places It is no wonder that the Cittie was seated on so high a rocke especially if you behold the suburbs thereof which were heretofore twice as bigge as the Cittie Whereby it came to passe that the Castell was built in the middle that so it might command the Cittie and the suburbs But Gastonius Spinola Earle of Bruacum is now governour of this Dukedome and of all the Country beyond Mosa and to prevent all violent attempts hath made two new Gates in this Citty to represse the violence and treacherie of enemies The Cittie is watered with the River Wesius which is full of excellent Trouts that are as bigge as any Salmons and great store of Crab-fishes which the aforesayd River or Rivulet for sometimes the Channell is very small doth feede fat while they live betweene stones and clefts of rockes Iohn Fleming a Cittizen of Antwerpe a learned man and a famous Poet was borne in this Citty and Remaclius Fuscht●● a great Scholler who published many books and divers workes was borne here also The Townsemen for the most part doe follow cloathing and doe make every yeare great store of cloath and doe transport it into divers parts of the Low Countries Neere the Cittie there is much Iron made in a fornace and worke-house ordained for the same purpose so that 6000 Caroli doe not defray the yearely charge thereof But the Cittie hath no beautifull buildings in it For it is but small and hath onely two Gates and the ascent unto it is very steepe It hath one Church consecrated to S. George which hath a provost This Cittie was yeelded to Iohn of Austria when he brought his armie thither a certaine Captaine having betrayed the Castell of Hende unto him before He that was governour of the place desired the States to furnish him with provision and munition assoone as he heard that Iohn of Austria was comming with an armie to beseige the Cittie and promised the States that
reverence the mother Earth which they call as Lipsius saith Aertha But Plutarch and Clemens Alexandrinus doe affirme that they had no Images in their Temples but certaine holy women which Tacitus calleth Soothsayers and Agathias and Polyoenus doe call them Prophetesses who did foretell future events by the sound and courses of Rivers Aemilianus doth note that they doe foretell things to come by the flight of birds by the inspection of entralls and all other signes But they did chiefely reverence Mercury or Teutates and offered humaine sacrifices thereunto as Tacitus witnesseth In the time of peace there was no common Magistrate but in the time of warre they did chuse Governours They spent all their life time in military affaires and to rob was accounted no disgrace as we may reade in Caesar Seneca saith that their chiefe delight was the warres in which they were both borne and bread If as Tacitus witnesseth they have peace any long time together at home in their owne Country then they goe to the warres in other Nations They cary about with them their mothers wives and children who doe carry their knapsackes and provision neither are they afraide of plagues They joyne battell with songs and warlike sounds They count it a great disgrace to lose their buckler in the field so that many after the battle for griefe thereof have hang'd themselves Dion and Herodotus do report that they will march over Rivers in regard they are lightly armed and of an high stature We reade in Appian that they doe contemne death being perswaded that they shall live againe hereafter They observe the rites of matrimony and are content with their owne wives so that few adulteries are committed for which they have this present punishment the woman that is taken in adulterie hath her haire cut off and then her husband thrusts her out of doores before her kindred and beates her along the Towne Thus Tacitus reporteth The Mothers doe nurse their owne childen and doe not put them forth to Nurses Caesar saith that they account it unlawfull to wrong a stranger which commeth unto them upon any occasion so that they are ready to protect them from all injuries their houses stand open and they eate one with another And here good manners prevaile more than good lawes in other places The greatest part of their food as Caesar mentioneth doth consist in milke cheese and flesh Plinny witnesseth that they live by no other graine but Oates and Mela addeth that in times of want they will eate raw flesh At dinners as Athenaeus witnesseth they have peeces of meate roasted and they drinke milke and wine Their fare is homely as the flesh of wilde beasts Crabbes or sowre milke their drinke is made of Barley and wheate neither is there any Nation more magnificent in entertainment or in feasting But as no man or Nation is without some vice so they count it no shame to drinke night and day Concerning their habit Tacitus saith that they all weare a kinde of Cloake button'd before which loosely hangeth over their shoulders the same Tacitus saith that the Germaines did not weare a loose garment but a straite bodyed garment such as Sidonius saith the French did use The women doe goe in apparell like the men Heretofore the Germaines were strong of body but rude and ignorant of Arts. But now they doe make all kinde of excellent manufactures and workes and most especially they are skilfull in casting of brasse and in the knowledge of mettalls In this Countrie brasse Ordinance and Printing were first invented and the making of Clockes was found out and lastly Germany is such a Nursery of all Arts that it doth perfect some and findeth out other Inventions Also it transporteth into Countries both neere and remote the best Wines Gold Silver Coppresse Tinne Lead Quicksilver Alume and divers painting colours also Corne and divers other commodities WEST-FRIESLAND SOme doe write that Frisia or Friesland was so called from Phrygia other doe derive the name thereof from the extreame coldnesse of the Country Abbas Spanheimus by the authoritie of Hunibald a great corrupter of Historicall truth doth fabulously report that it was so named from Frisus the sonne of Clodio the hairy King of France Hadrian Iunius thinketh that it was so called from the freedome and libertie which the people alwayes desired Moreover Friesland is an auncient Countrie of Germanie well knowne to the Romanes for their warlike virtue and Valour which never changed its name Tacitus maketh them twofold namely the greater and lesser Frieslanders The greater saith he and lesser Frieslanders are so called in regard of their strength The greater Tacitus properly calleth Oostfrieslanders not those Embdames who doe now usurpe that name for those are the lesser Chaucians but the Staverians Succians Franicians and the Townes of Harling and Leovardia Also the West-Frieslanders who being in the farthest part of Holland are called Northollanders and they doe confine on the Caninifatians as Plinny describeth them for these two Countries of Friesland doe stretch from the Rhene even to the Ocean Now the River Amisis divides it into West and East Friesland West-Friesland which is now so called from the situation whose description we doe heere exhibit and set forth to view is most properly and anciently called Friesland and was alwayes accounted the better part On the West and the North the Sea doth compasse it on the South it hath a large Bay commonly calle Zuyder-Zee and the Province of Trans-Isalana on the East it is encompassed with the River Amisis which divideth it from the Busactorians and Westphalia The aire is every where wholesome except where it is infected with the foggie exhalations of the Marshes which are purified againe by the windes The Country of West-Friesland is now for the most part Moorish being low and overflowed in many places with water which lye upon it not onely in the Spring but also in Sommer time and in regard heereof it hath little stoare of corne For these yeerely inundations which come betimes and goe away slowly doe either kill the seede or drive it up and downe Yet heere are excellent pastures for fatting of Cattell of which the Frieslanders may boast for they reape commodity and profit by them so that the inhabitants doe every yeere make an incredible gaine of Butter and Cheese which they transport abroad besides that which they dayly spend at home for it hath great heards of Oxen and breedeth also excellent horses It hath some woods but those so thinne of WEST-FRIESLAND FRISIA occidenta trees that they doe not yeeld wood enough to make a good great fire such as Martial and Horace doe desire Dissolve frigus lignum super focum largè reponens But provident nature hath given the Frieslanders and Hollander insteed of wood a certaine kind of turffe which being digged out of the earth and dryed in the winde and Sunne doth burne very well which is a better fuell than that which the Scythians used
who wanting wood did burne bones and kept fire with them And there is so great plenty of this turffe as that it doth not onely serve the inhabitants but also other neighbour Countries There are diverse kindes of it which doe differ in colour lightnesse and the whitenesse of their ashes There is one bad light and spongie kinde of turffe of a Mosse colour which is of no esteeme for use which in burning maketh those that stand by as pale as Lead and to looke like Ghosts the smell whereof doth cause many to swound but a little salt sprinkled on it taketh it away The other is thicker and fuller of seggs and waightier and serveth for divers uses The third kinde is as hand as a bricke and whereas the other swim in the water this sinketh it is hard to take fire but being once kindled it keepeth fire a long time it is of an ash colour and is digged on a Moorish ground In Zeland also there is a kinde of turffe made of Moorish earth which they call Daria Also the Countrie people of Friesland have a certaine kinde of turffe made of mud tempered and mingled with straw ●eedes and hay and afterward dryed in the Sunne but the smoale thereof is very trouble some for the eyes This Country of Friesland was heretofore a Kingdome even to the tune of Charles the Great after whose decease it was troubled although before it was subject to the government of Denmarke and Norway But at length it enjoyed some Halcyon dayes of quiet under the reigne of the Emperour Charles the fifth who was a peaceable prince There are 12 Citties in Friesland Leuwarden is the Metropolis of all Friesland and a rich Cittie which as it is adorned beautified with many private houses so it is strongly fortified with a Castle rampires against the assaults of enemies The Court of Iudgement and the Chancery for all Friesland is kept heere from whence there is no appeale Neere unto it is Zutchemum in the Country of Vichlijm Doccum is 2 mile distant having a fertile soile faire Meddowes It is distant from the Bay of the sea 1 mile was heretofore subject to Gelderland Sneca in the Country of Westergoyum is situated three miles from Leovardia in a low waterish soyle so that it beares no come but hath faire Meddowes It was a Cittie about 200 yeeres agoe but in processe of time it grew so great so that it is now equall to any Cittie in Friesland It hath produced many good wittes Ioachim Hopper was borne and bred in it who was not onely a light and Ornament to this Cittie but also to all Friesland and the Low Countries Also Peter of Fritema a Lawyer and Albertus Hero a Philosopher and Divine were borne here and many other learned men Staveren is situate on the shoare of the South Sea The Country neere unto it is plaine being full of ditches and Marshes This Cittie hath no magnificent building in it but a strong Castell which standeth over the haven which was founded by George Scheneke Governour of Friesland in Charles the fifth's name in the yeere 1522 that so the Burgundians might conveniently send thither souldies and provision for the warre out of the neighbour Citties of Holland Plinny Lib. 4. cap. 15. calleth the ●nhabitants Sturians Harlinga is situated by the jawes of the South Sea a mile distant from Franicum it hath a fertile soyle and a Castle well fortified against the invasions of Enemies and a convenient Haven for it affordeth a fit and necessary habitation for those which come out of North Friesland and East Germanie whereupon great stoare of people did flocke thither being allured with the convenience of the place so that by this confluence of people the Cittie was much enlarged Franicum is denominated from the Frenchmen heere Iohn Vlptus was borne who was most skilfull in the three languages It hath a publicke Vniversitie There are also these Citties Damna Bolswardum Ilsta Sloten Worchum and Hindclopen There are many Islands in Friesland the chiefe whereof is Schellingana which is famous for the taking of Dogfish with Netts Groening is usually joyned with West-Friesland which maketh a province together with the Territorie belonging to it called Ommelanden Here Rodolphus Agricola the most learned man of his time was borne Also Wesselus or Basilius and Reinerus Perdinius famous Divines and Philosophers were borne here Friesland hath abundance of Lakes and Marshes as we sayd before and it is watered with the Rivers Laubacum which some call Lavica and Labola now Lauwers and Amisis It hath on the South a very large Bay which is now called Zuyderzee as it were the Southerne straite The Politicke state of Friseland doth consist of three principall parts which are The County of Oestergow the Metropolis whereof is Leovardia and is divided into these Praefectureships Lowarderadeel in which is Leovardia Tietzericksterdeel in which is T●ettzarcke Ydardacel in which is Ydaert Rauwerdeahem in which is Rauwart Ferwerderadeel in which is Ferwert Dongerded in which is Wetzens Dantummedeel in which is Dantumna Wolt Acht Kerspelen in which is Suyrhusum● Colmerlandt in which is Collum Vesterlant in which is Be●tz Smalingerlandi in which was Smalingerlee an Abby of the order of Saint Benedict The Countie of Westergow in which are Grieteneyen Wonseradeel in which is Witmarssum Framckeradeel in which is Franiker Banadeel in which is Mimersgae Meynaldummadeel in which is Minaldum Baerderadeel in which is Baerdt Hennarderadeel in which is Hennaert Weynbritz eradeel in which is Gawe Gheesterlandt in which is Wickel The Countie of Sevenwolden in which are Grieteneyen Donyewerstal in which is Donigae Leemster Vijfgae in which is Lemmer A●nghevaert in which is Cathry band● Schottorelandt in which are Nye and Olde Schotten Wittingerdeel in which is Oldehorn Hasscher Vijfgae in which is Hasscherborn But all Friesland and Groeningland is subject to the Bishop of Trajectum THE COVNTIE OF EMBDANVM AND OLDENBVRG HItherto we have described Germanie in generall our Method now requireth that we should entreate of the severall parts This Table containeth two Counties the Countie of Embden and Oldenburg the Countie of Embdane is so called from the chiefe Cittie thereof and now it is called East Friesland because it confineth on Friseland For the Frieslanders did not heretofore possesse it but the Chaucians of which Plinny and Ptolomie make two sorts the greater and the lesser The greater are those that doe inhabit the Bishopricke of Bremes the lesser are the Embdanians and Oldenburgians Forasmuch as Ptolemie seateth them betweene the River Amisis and Visurgis his words are these They saw also in the North the Nation of the Chaucians who are called the greater and the lesser where the Sea floweth up every day and night so that it is doubtfull whether it be Land or Sea Where the miserable people do get upon high hils and their cottages do flote when the Sea commeth in and doe seeme like shipwrackes when it ebbeth
backe againe They have no Cattell nor milke as their neighbours have nor can they kill any wilde beasts because there is no shrubbes nor harbour for them They make thred of Bulrushes and reedes to weave fishing Netts and so making a fire with a little dryed mud they boyle their meate and warme themselves Their drinke is raine water which they keepe in trenches before their houses In this manner the Chaucians lived heretofore But now they are much changed for now the Countrie doth afford foode not onely for the inhabitants but also for the neighbour Countries But heretofore it was a rude unhabited place so that Plinnie never mentioneth that Corne or any other fruites did grow heere but now where is there greater plentie It had heretofore no fruittrees but now it beareth all kindes of trees They had heretofore no Cattell nor Milke but where is greater plenty now For nature hath given them a champion Country full of faire Meddowes being of a fat soyle and having many pleasant pastures which are well replenished and stoared with innumerable flockes and heards of Cattell Which appeareth by that wonderfull great plenty of excellent good Butter and Cheese which is made here which to the great gaine and benefit of the inhabitants is transported to divers Countries and through all Germanie Also the fertilitie of this Countrie appeareth by the fat and great Oxen which many thousands doe graze within the Meddowes and doe grow so fat that forraine Nations doe much esteeme of them Besides heere is excellent hunting So that this Countrie is now of so rich a soyle that it needeth no supply from neighbour Countries for it hath such stoare of horses Oxen Cattell Hogges Wooll Butter Cheese Barly Oates Wheate Beanes Pease and Salt so that it doth yeerely transport great plentie thereof to the Countries round about it and those which are more remote Moreover the Emperour Fredericke the third Anno 1465 when this province was governed by divers Praefects did make it a Countie and gave it to one Vdalrich Afterward it had Earles continually even untill our time There are two walled Citties in that Countie Embda and Arichum Embda or Embdena commonly called Embden is the chiefe Cittie of this Countrie and a famous Mart Towne seated by the mouth of the River Amisis having a convenient Haven the Channell whereof is so deepe that great ships may come in under sayle so that for wealth for the publicke and private building and for the multitude of Cittizens it is known not onely in Germanie but also in all parts of Europe One of the chiefest Ornaments is the Earles sumptuous pallace the great Church and the Praetors house Heere is wonderfull plenty of all things both for necessity and pleasure which the Haven and the conveniencie of importation of goods and also the naturall fertilitie of Friesland doth yeeld The Cittie is so called from the River Ems which Tacitus calleth Amisia The other Cittie is Aurichum which is a pleasant retiring place for the Nobilitie in regard of Woods and Forrests in which they doe freely recreate themselves with Hawking and hunting The Cittizens are rich and doe give themselves either to merchandise or some mechanicke trade There are an infinite many of Castells and Townes in this Countie And such a number of Villages that one doth even joyne upon another The most whereof both for faire houses large streets and populousnesse may compare with some Citties of Germanie Neither doe rusticke people or husbandmen onely live in them but also Merchants and divers kinds of artificers and some of the Nobility There are also two other Counties which are subject to the Earle of Embda Esensis and Ieverensis so called from their chiefe townes the Countrie Ieverensis is situated beyond the River Iada Westward and doth containe eighteene Villages On the North where the River Visurgis doth discharge it selfe into the Sea these two Islands doe lye against it Wangeroga and Spikeroga which are for the most part unhabited The Countie Esensis lyeth neere the Sea shoare and doth confine on I●veria on the West it is bounded with Berumna and Auriacum on the North with the Sea The Lord thereof Hajo ab Husecke in the yeare 1380 when he had vexed his neighbours and tooke the ships of the Bremensians in the River Visurgis and had filled the Sea with Pirates and the Land with theeves and robbers at length after some light skirmishes with the Bremensians in which hee had the worst he sled to Elsena and being there taken by the Bremensians he was delivered to Edo W●mmik● Captaine of Ieveria who first ●ackt him and afterward cut him in peeces because he had without any just cause repudiated his Sister whom he had marryed before There is also in this table the Countie of Delmenhorst and the Lordships Ezes Norden Auricke Iever Vredeburg Ouelgunne and Rheyde The Rivers here are Amisis Visurgis Iada and others The inhabitants of this Countrie doe speake the Germaine Language but in secret matters they use a peculiar speech of their owne which strangers doe not understand They either give themselves to trades or husbandry or merchandise their apparell is very decent so that the Countrymen goe habited like Cittizens The women have a farre different habit from others For they put all their haire into a Call or Huicke which being full of silver buttons and knots they let it hang downe upon their backes In Sommer time they weare their haire in a red silke Call or Net which is adorned and wrought with silver And in winter they put on a hood of greene cloath which covereth all their head so that you can see nothing but their eyes and they call this kind of vestment Hat Their gowne or outward garment is gathered and quilted in small foldes even from the head to the Anckles and is so stiffened with s●ver and gold plates that when it is put off it will stand an end It is sometimes made of red Cloth and sometimes of greene The Countie of Oldenburg SO much concerning the Countie of Embda the Countie of Oldenburg followeth which was so called from the chiefe Cittie Oldenburg This Tract heretofore the lesser Caucians did inhabit as also the County Embda as we said before But the county of Oldenburg which this Table here presents unto your view from the East to the bank of the River Visurgis contains the Provinces of Stegingia which is subject to the Castle of Delmenhorst and Stadland which is divided into five Parishes and Butidia into seaven and Ieveria which is subject to it being a part of Friesland which hath foure and twentie parishes on the West it hath Amerlangia which stretcheth toward the River Amisis in the middle of the Morineans On the North it is bounded with Friesland and the Ocean on the South with the Diocese of Munster Albertus Crantzius Lib. 3. cap. 15. writeth that this is the auncientest Country of them all For he reckneth Lib. 2. cap. 30. Windekindus Duke of
Saxonie who lived in the time of Charles the Great among the Earles of this Country Ierenicus delivers that the Cittie of Oldenburg was reëdified by Charles the Great and that the Bishop Agalgargus did there dedicate and consecrate a Church to Saint Iohn Baptist But I thinke in this matter Ortelius and he are both in one errour because he reckoneth this Cittie to be in Wandalia and doth place it neere the Sea For this is not the same Cittie with that which is in the Countrie of Holsatia THE COVNTIE OF EMBDANVM and OLDENBVRG EMDEN et Oldenborg The Wandalians call it Stargard the Danes Br●nnesia as the same Crantzius doth witnesse Lau●ent●us Michaelis doth thinke that the Ambronians had their originall from hence who as Plutarch reporteth did heretofore goe into Italy with the Cymbrians and were slaine by Caius Marius whose name doth yet continue in that Nation which they call Amerlander And hee is of the same opinion concerning the Ala●an Saxones who 〈◊〉 suppose● did in 〈◊〉 neere the Lake Alanum in this tract and on either side● the 〈◊〉 Alania even to the Castell Ororia and that they are now called L●gener that is the Alanians and Avergenla● that is to say the ●●●tralanians The Castle of Delmenhorst was built by the River 〈◊〉 in the yeare 1247 which belonged 65 yeares to the Bishop 〈◊〉 ●ster and Antonius Earle of Oldenburg on Palme Sunday i● the yeare 1547. early in the morning scaled the walls with a b●nd of 〈◊〉 and so tooke it and Hermann of Oer the governour of the Ca●ell was kept in custodie Concerning the Earles of this Countrie A●d●●as Hoppenr●d●us doth relate something but David Ch●rcus more excellently in his history of Saxonie But now by way of conclusion we will adde something concerning the manners of the Chaucians Tacitus a grave writer doth write thus of them There is a Noble people among the Germaines who are very just not covetous but quiet and secret and not apt to stirre uproares neither doe they liv● by rapine or Robbery And this is a chiefe argument of their vertu● that the great men doe not injure their inferiors yet they ●ne exp● in armes so that armes of footemen and horsemen is presently ●sed before there be any rumor or report of it THE FIRST TABLE OF WESTPHALIA WEstphalia followes in our method concerning the name whereof there are divers opinions Some suppose it was so called from the goddesse Vesta as it were Vestalia because heretofore she was reverenced here and so they would have the Westphalians to bee so called as it were Vestalians for they say that those which dwell Eastward beyond the River Visurgis are called Oostvalian Saxones from Oost the East-winde and Vadem which in the Saxon Language signifies a Coult which they bore in their military ensignes and Colours But now that name is worne out and it is generally called Saxonie So the Westphalians that dwell Eastward on this side Visurgis are so called from the Westerne winde Lastly others suppose that the Westphalians were so denominated from Veldt that is a field rather than from Valen. It hath on the East Visurgis on the South the Mountaines of Hassia which Ptolemie calls the Abnobij on the West the River Rhene on the North it looketh toward Friesland Holland Trajectum and Trans-Isalana The ayre is cold and sharpe but wholesome The Country is fruitfull but hath more pasturage than corne It hath divers kindes of fruites as Apples Nutts and Akornes with which Hogges are fatted It is more fruitfull about Susatum and Hammonia and most fertile neere Paderborne and Lippia but it is barren and desert ground in some places about Amisis The Dioecese of Munster confineth on it and that tract of land which lyeth neere the River Visurgis It is wooddy through all Surland and the Countie Bergensis it hath store of Mettall in the Countrie of Colen and and the Countrie of March and in some parts there are many Salt pits It breedeth an innumerable sort of Cattell and especially abundance of Hogges flesh which is esteemed a great dainty and is served up to Princes Tables There are also many wilde beasts in the Wood. Charles the Great did first conquer the Westphalians and converted them to the Christian religion He instituted these Bishoprickes the Bishopricke of Munster of Osnaburg of Paderborne and Minden But it is not found in the Annalls how Westphalia was governed after Charles the great or whether it was subject to the Pope Truely in East Saxonie there were secular Lords who did governe the Countrie at the first Kings that were descended from Charles the great under whom the Dukes of Saxonie did grow up by degrees even until Henry the first King of the Romains after whom there were three Ottoes who were afterward Marquesses of Saxonie being sons to Henry Duke of Bavaria brother to the first Otto But we doe not reade what Princes Westphalia which is West Saxonie had at that time joyned in governement with the Bishops But afterward Duke Leo and his grandfather before him Luder Duke of Saxonie and afterward Emperour did governe Westphalia For after the aforesayd Henry was displac'd by the decree of the Emperour Fredericke the first the Dukedome of Westphalia did assume the title of the Archbishoprick of Colen and the Dukes of lower Saxonie being descended from the Earles of Anholt did hold and possesse it And now the aforesayd Bishop doth hold a great part of this ●ountrey and especially Angria and the Westphalians are subject unto him and his Nobles being as it were slaves unto them Here formerly the Teutonians the Busasterians the Chamavians the Angrivarians the Longobardians the Dulhumnijans the Angilians the Chaucians and Cheruscians were seated Those whom Mela and other call the Teutonians Ptolomie calls Teutones they comming from the Balthicke shoare where Ptolomie placeth their auncient seate did give that appellation to Teutoburg which Tacitus placeth in Westphalia Those whom Ptolomie calls the lesser and the greater Busacterians Tacitus calleth them Bructerians Willichius writeth that they did inhabite Munster Those whom Tacitus calleth Chamavians Ptolomie doth name Camanians as Villenovanus thinketh From whom David Chitreus supposeth that the Towne Chamen in the Countie of March doth derive his name The Angrinarians were seated Eastward neere Visurgis The Longobarians or rather the Langobardians Ptolomie placeth on the Frontires of this Province on the farthest part whereof was Bardewick so also those whom Ptolomie calleth the Dulguminians Tacitus nameth the Dulgibinians from whom the Towne Dulmen in the Dioecese of Munster was denominated heere are also the Angilians who about the yeare 444 went over into Brittaine and gave their owne name to England as it appeareth by many histories as also by Saint Bedean English writer But the Chaucians whom Ptolomie calleth the Cauchians and Suetonius Lampridius and Strabo the Gaucians Dio the Chaucians and Claudian the Chaycians as Tacitus writeth doe spread themselves from Friesland even to
the Catti The same Tacitus doth place the Cheruscians hard by them whence the Situation of their Country may be easily gathered for Dion the historian doth witnesse that they dwelt beyond Visurgis which may be also collected out of Tacitus But this first Table or Chart of Westphalia doth containe the Counties of Oldenburg Hoya Diepholt and the neighbouring Lordships The Politicke state of Westphalia does consist of three orders 1. The Clergie 2. the Nobles 3. the free Citties In the first order are the Bishops of Paderborne Leodium Vltrajectum Munster Cameracum Osnaburg Ferdensis and Mindensis The Abbots Werdensis Strablonensis S. Cornelius Munster Echternaokensis Corbei and Hervordensis and the Abbatesle Essensis In the second order are the Princes Earles and Barons as the Duke of Cleueland and the Countie of March the Duke of Iulia and Bergen The Marquesse of Baden the Earle of East Friesland or Embda the Earle of Sein the Earle of Dillenburg the Earle of Vernenberg THE FIRST TABLE OF VVESTPHALIA Wesphalia cum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Earle of Manderscheid the Earle of Weida and Ringelberg the Earle M●ursensis the Lord of Brunchorst the Earles of Steinford Benthem Dortmund Oldenburg the Lord of Ridburg the Earles of Hoya and Diepholt and Scaumburg the Lords of Spiegelberg and Vanenberg the Earles of Arenberg of Lip and the Lord of Somerauss In the third order which is of the free Citties there are Colen Aquisgranum under Wesel Durun Cameracum Dortmund Susatum Duysburg Hervord Brukel Wartburg Lemgow and Werden But so much of this now our order requires that we should unfold the Cities and townes of Westphalia But seeing we are to speake of the Dioecese of Bremes we will leave off for a while the description of Westphalia and returne to it againe in the following Tables and so will passe to the Bishopricke of Bremes THE BISHOPRICK OF BREMES THe Bishopricke of Rhemes commonly called Stifi Bremen so called from the Cittie hath the shape and figure of a triangled Isosceles whose almost equall sides are the Rivers Visurgis and Albis which doe meete at the highest corner nere the Peninsula which is named after a Tower built there for the defence of ships that passe that way The Base of it is a line drawne from the river Esta through the borders of the Country of Luneburg and Verdensis a little beneath the mouth of the River Allera which doth there discharge it selfe into Visurges For the River Esta is the limmit of the Countrie of Bremes and Hamburg which the River Sevena which is small at first but afterward emptyeth it selfe into Albis with three Channells doth divide from the Dukedome of Luneburg This Countrie is not every where of one soyle For the two farthest parts of the Dioecese of Bremes neere the bankes of the River Albis and Visurgis are very fat and fruitfull But the middle tract betweene Stada and Bremes over which the Merchants doe usually travell is full of barren sands Marshes and Bryars So that the Dioecese of Bremes is commonly compared to a Cloak or Mantle the two former parts whereof begin from the confluence and meeting of the River Albis and Visurgis and so falling downe to the banckes of both those Rivers are embrodered as it were with fruitfull fields and Meddowes but the other part is woven of a courser threed Heere the auncient Chaucians were formerly seated who held all that tract of ground from Visurgis even to Albis and Hamburg The Metropolis is Brema which Ptolomie Plinnie Appianus Pencerus and Ireni●us doe call Phabiranum it is commonly called Bremen It is a Hanse Cittie neere the River Visugis well fortified both by Art and naturall situation having faire streetes and being full of Cittizens and rich by merchandising and traffique It hath a faire Market place where there are markets kept weekely for all kinde of provision On one side of the Market place the Cathedrall Church standeth and on the other side the Senate house which hath a publike Wine Cellar under it in which the Senate doth keepe their wine and sell it for a reasonable price Which is a common custome in many Citties of Wandalia and Westphalia that the Senate maketh that which is got by wine charges defray publicke charges Brema was at first a poore Towne but as the Christian religion did encrease so it did increase also for which it is beholding to the Bishops thereof who made it a Metropolitan Cittie and graced it with the title of the mother Church of al the North and walled it about See the Catalogue of Bishops in M. Adams his ecclesiasticall history There is the Citty Stada or Stadum which is in the Archbishoprick of Breams being situate nere Zuinga on the Southerne banck of the River Albis it is the greatest Cittie in Saxonie There is also the Towne Buxtchuda This Country is watered with these Rivers Visurge Albi Esta which are full of fish as Ecles Lampryes and Salmons which those of Breames doe salt up and dry in the smoake so that the Cittizens doe sell them for rarities and make a greate gaine of them The Bremensians are by nature warlike industrious and somewhat inclined to sedition They love learning and liberall Artes especially when they have gotten them abroad by studying in forraine Countries but otherwise they are more addicted to merchandising than learning for they get their wealth by traffique and trading and by making long voyages So that almost all the Cittizens are either skilfull Merchants or Tradesmen or Shipwrights THE SECOND TABLE OF WESTPHALIA IN our description of Westphalia the Citties are among which the first is Munster the Metropolis or Mother Cittie of all Westphalia Ptolemie calls it Mediolanum as Pyrchaimerus thinketh it is commonly called Munster It is a very faire strong Cittie in which both learning and the Romaine Language did flourish 60 yeare since The Cittie of Munster nameth the whole Bishopricke which was so called of a famous monastery built there See Munster Lib. 3. of his Cosmographie Heere began the faction of the Anabaptists in the yeere of our Lord 1533 so that all of that sect did repaire hither where they chose one Iohn Buckholdus a Cobler to bee the head and ringleader of this sedition a Vulgar fellow fit for any attempt and farre excelling all the rest both for wit boldnesse eloquence and cunning Hee did not feare to stile himselfe King of Munster Whereupon the Bishoppe thought it meete to suppresse this sect and so being ayded and helped by the Archbishop of Colen and also the Duke of Cleveland after foureteene moneths seige hee obtained his Cittie And then hee commanded that the King should have some of his flesh pull'd off with hot Pincers and then he should be hung out of the Tower in Iron chaines Susatum or Soest is the richest and fairest Cittie next to Munster having tenne great Parishes They report themselves that it whas but a Castell at the first but afterward by degrees it became a very
great Cittie And from thence it was there called Susatum because in regard of the convenient situation houses were built by the Castell so that from the dayly increase thereof it was called Sutatum as it were ein Zusatz It hath also many neighbouring Villages which are subject to it which they commonly call Die Burden This Cittie is now under the Duke of Clevelands protection but before it was subject to the Bishop of Colen Wesel is a faire rich Cittie famous for traffique and Merchandising It is called the lower Wesell to difference and distinguish it from the higher which is situate also on the left side of the Rhene The River L●● bringeth up many Commodities unto it which running by the left side thereof doth straightway associate and joyne it selfe with the Rhene There is at Wesell a memorable Altar of mercy which the auncestors of the most illustrious Lord Henry Oliserius surnamed Baers Lord Chancellor of Cleueland c. did place heere and consecrate being an hospitall for aged people where they have all things necessary provided for them and the sonne following his fathers example hath enlarged the yeerely revennewes of it Osnaburg or Ossenburg is a famous Cittie built by the Earles of Engerne as Hermannus testifieth Others doe suppose that this Cittie was begun by Iulius Caesar as the Saxons Annalls doe mention They report that it was so named from the Oxe-hides with which this Cittie was encompassed It is situated in a pleasant Valley and it is watered with the River Hasa they brew good fat drinke in it which they call Buse Charles the Great when after 30 yeares warres hee had conquered the Saxons and had tooke the Castell of Widekind which was neere unto this Cittie and had put a strong garrison in it hee instituted twelve Bishoprickes in Saxonie and made the Bishopricke of Osnaburg the chiefest For hee esteemed this Cittie above all the rest and granted them the priviledge of a free Schoole for the teaching of the Greeke and Latine tongues as Munster Hamelmann and the Chronicles of Argentine doe also mention Minda commonly called Minden is a pleasant strong Cittie and the River Visurgis yeeldeth it great store of fish and bringeth up many commodities unto it it breweth good drinke which is much esteemed and venteth great store of commodities by way of traffique Concerning the beginning hereof Munster writeth thus When Wildekindus the first Duke of Saxonie was converted to the Christian faith hee gave the Emperour Charles his Castell neere the River Wesera on condition that the Bishoppe should have part of it for it was able to receive them both so that the Bishop might say This Castle shall bee mine and thine for both of us have right unto it and from hence it was so called in the Saxon Language Myndyn But in the processe of time the letty ● was changed into an e and now that same Cittie is called Mynden THE SECOND TABLE OF VVESTPHALIA Westphaliae tabula II. THE BISHOPRICK OF MVNSTER THe Bishopricke of Munster is situated in a fertile soyle abounding with all kindes of fruites on the North it hath the Countie Benthemium on the East the Bishopricke of Padelbrum on the South the Counties of Zutphan and Marcan Charles the Great Emperour of Rome and King of France which conquered lower Saxonie which is now called Westphalia did institute this Bishopricke and called it Mimingerodensis or Mimingardevorensis Afterward hee called it Munster from a Monastery which he built there in the honour of the blessed Virgin Mary Hermannus was the first Bishop thereof The Cittie is strongly fortified both by nature and Art especially since the faction of the Anabaptists ceased it is situated on a plaine having five faire Canonicall Colledges and a schoole famous for learning and Arts. The inhabitants are laborious and industrious and doe transport their commodities into forraine Countries But after that the Spaniards had warres with the Low Countries they were prohibited and forbidden to trade and traffique with the united Provinces And after the reigne of Ferdinand the first all that were not of the Romaine religion were enforced to leave the Cittie to their great losse and dammage It was governed formerly and now also by Bishops their Catalogue followeth The first Bishop was Ludgerus Frisius brother to Hildegrine Bishop of Halberstadt who dyed in the yeere of Christ 809. after whom there followed Godfry Alfrid Lubbertus and Bertoldus in the reigne of the Emperour Arnulph and in the yeare 895 and afterward William Richard Reinolds Hildebald Dodo Suederus Theodore Sigefride and Hermann the first who built a Monastery beyond the water whence the Towne was called Munster in the yeare 1025 whose successors were called the Bishops of Munster namely Robert Fredericke the brother of the Marquesse of Misnia Erpo Theodoricke of Wintzenburg Henry Egbert Wernerus Henry Ludovicke Godescal a Saxon who dyed in the yeare 1200. Hermann the second Count of Catznelbogen Otto Count of B●nth●m Theodoricke Ludolphus Count of Holte Otto the second Count of Lippe William the second Baron of Holte Gerard Count of Marca Everhard Count of Deest Otto the third Count of Retberge Conradus Ludovicke Count of Hassia Adolphus Count of Marca in the yeere 13●5 Iohn Count of Virnenburch translated to Vltrajectum Florentius Count of Vevelichoven Paro Bohemus THE BISHOPRICKE OF MVNSTER MONASTERIENSIS Episcopatus Henry Wulf Otto the fourth Count of Hoya Henry Count of Mursium Walramus brother to Henry Iohn Bavarus Henry Bishop of Bremes Conrade Count of Retberg Eric elected Duke of Saxonie in the yeare 1508. Fredericke Count of Weda Eric Count of Grubenhager Franciscus Count of Waldeck in whose reigne the Anabaptists did make a great tumult or faction having one Iohn of Leiden for their Captaine who would needes bee called King of Israel After Waldeck there were William Ketler Bernard Raesvelt and Iohn Comes of Hoya who dyed in the yeare 1574. Iohn William Duke of Cleveland who resigned to Ernest Duke of Bavaria and Bishop of Colen after whose decease his Nephew Ferdinand succeeded THE THIRD TABLE OF WESTPHALIA THe third Table of Westphalia as the Title sheweth doth lively delineare describe three parts The Dukdome of Bergen the Countie of March and the Dioecese of Colen Which we will runne over in the same order as they are propounded The first is the Dukedome Bergen which is so called from the Towne Bergen it beginneth at low Wesel and so runneth up a great way toward Rhene But concerning the originall of this Dukedome Munster writeth thus In the time of Henry Auceps King of the Romaines namely in the yeare 724 there were two brothers unto whom for their former service King Henry gave a certaine part of Westphalia in which the elder namely Adolphus built a Castell neere the Countie of Arnsperg and called it Volvesheg and afterward he brought all the Countrie to Civilitie and adorned it with many Townes and Villages The other brother called Eberhard did also build a
there even to Bishop Huberts time whom the yeare 713 did translate it to Leodium where it now remaineth Moreover from Hubert the first Bishop of Leiden even untill our times Guicciardine reckoneth 62 Bishops Neither is this Praelate a Bishop onely but also a Prince of the Empire Duke of Bouillion Marquesse of Francimont Count of Loten and Hasbania The auncient inhabitants of this Bishopricke were the Eburonians the Tungrians Centronians and Ceraesians Now it taketh up a great part of the auncient Lotharingia for the Dioecese of Leden containeth the Dukedome of Bouillion the Marquiship of Francimont the Countie of Hasbania or Haspengaw and Loten and many Baronies And there are in this tract besides Trajectum the middle part whereof is subject to the Duke of Brabant 24 walled Citties and a thousand 700 Villages with spire Steepled Churches and many Abbyes and Lordships The names of the Citties are these Leden Bolonium Francimontium Loots Borchworm Tungri Hojum ●lasselt Dinantum Masacum Stochum Bils●num Saint Trudonis Visetum Tumum Varem Beringum Herck Bree Pera Harmontium Sinetum Fossa and Covinum as Guicciardine reckoneth them The Metropolis of them all is Leden which some call Augusta Eburonum the inhabitants doe call it Liege and the Teutonians Luyck and Luttich It is an auncient Cittie and Hubert Thomas a Ledener doth referre the originall thereof to Ambioriges a couragious King of the Eburonians under whose conduct the inhabitants by an Ambushment slew Co●a and Sabinus having cut off one Romaine Legion with 5 Cohorts as C. Caesar Lib. ● of his Commentaries concerning the French warre doth relate Others suppose that it is a new Cittie which was built by Hubert of Aquitaine but their opinion is manifestly proved to be erroneous by some auncient Monuments and buildings There doe flow into the Cittie some other Rivers besides Mosa and Legia as Vtes Veses and Ambluarus which arise out of the Wood Arden There are also very many cleare fountaines so that many private houses have two or three The Cittie is wide built and doth containe some Mountaines and Vallyes the compasse of it is foure Italian miles There are faire Aedifices and buildings and the Bishops Pallace for statelinesse and magnificence exceedeth all the rest which was built by cardinall Erard of Leiden But for faire Churches whether you consider their number or their curious building or their richnesse it doth farre exceede all the Citties not onely of France but of both Germanies There are eight Collegiate Churches in it in which there are very rich Cannons but the chiefe and fairest is Saint Lamberts Church It is a Cathedrall Church and the Bishop thereof is Prince of the whole Dioecese and Country but none are chosen to bee Cannons unlesse he bee descended of a Noble stocke or else a Doctor or Licentiate and it is lawfull for any Cannon unlesse he be chosen into the number of the Priests to resigne his benefice to marry a wife and to take upon him another calling In this Church there are very many pretious vessells and many ornaments of Gold and Silver among the rest there is Saint Georges statue of pure Gold which Charles Duke of Burgundie consecrated There are also foure very rich Abbyes adorned with well furnished Libraries There are 32 Parishes within the Citty as many Churches Whereby it appeareth that that which Petrarck writ was not undeserved Vid● Leodium insignem Clero locum that is I saw Leden famous for the Clergie men The Bishop hath the right and title of a Prince yet the Citty hath so many priviledges and liberties that it may be counted a free Cittie For it hath Consuls it was heretofore a great place of studdy so that it is observed that at one time 9 Kings sonnes foure and twentie Dukes sonnes and 29 Earles sonnes were students at Leden Besides many Barones sonnes and gereat mens children who were all for the most part Cannons of S. Lamberts Church Bolonium or Bouillon is a Castle foure mile from Iuoys and sixteene from Leden being built with rare workemanship on the toppe of a Mountaine it is the seate of the Dukes of Bouillon Godfrey Duke of Lotharingia was borne here who in the yeare 1016 at the generall councell held at Claremont in Avernia together with his brothers Eustatius and Balduine went to warre against the Infidels to recover the holy Land At what time this Noble Heroe to furnish himself for this warre sold this Dukedome to Spertus Bishop of Leden which was a greater glory to the seller than the buyer By his valour the Christians tooke Ierusalem in the yeare 1020 When the Army offered him for his brave atchievements the Kingdome of Ierusalem and a golden Crowne this Noble Christian Prince refused them saying that he would not be made a King nor weare a golden Crowne there where his Saviour had worne a Crowne of thones Francimontium was heretofore a walled Towne but now the walls are fallen downe Cardinall Erard whom I formerly mentioned built a ●●ort heere It is 4 Miles from Leden and it is honoured with the title of a Marquiship At Tuini which is a Village Towne neere Francimont there is the best Lead and in the Mountaines neere unto it there are Marble Quarries The Tungrians are three miles from Mosa and as many from Leden their Cittie is now called Tongeren being situated neere the River Iecher it was so called from the Tungrians a people of Germany who leaving their Country passed over the Rhene and seated themselves heere It is the Auncientest Cittie in all Brabant It is two hundred miles from this Cittie to Paris and all the way was once paved with stones as it is yet manifest by some part thereof Hercules his Church within the Cittie sheweth the antiquitie of it whose statue doth yet stand over the gate Hojum or Hoy is so called from a little swift running Rivulet which here casts it selfe headlong into Mos● it is five miles distant from Leden Foure miles from Leden neere the little Towne Dener is Eilsen and beyond that the Village Munster hilsten three miles from the Tungrians is the Cittie of Saint Truden which as some suppose was the seate of the Centronians whom Iulius Caesar doth often mention A mile from Leden is the Village Ebure which as it is supposed also was the seate of the Eburonians Flacencius writeth that I may adde this by the way that a part of Trajectum joyned to this Dioecese by the donation or gift of Porus Count of Lovania We omit the other Townes for brevitie sake This Countrie is every where watered with Rivers the most of which doe runne into Mosa as Legia or Legio Vtes Veses Ambluarus Ieckel Hoy Vesera Vl●Veer Vr● the others runne into Demera and so to Scaldis as Rath●ck Stimmer Herck and Hespe which are all faire cleare Rivers abounding with all kindes of fish Heere was a Fountaine concerning which learned men doe not agree Some doe affirme that it is yet within the Cittie
Guicciardine and others doe contend that it was out of the Cittie halfe a mile from Limburg 5 miles from Leden 8 miles from the Tungrians neere the Towne Spa in a pleasant and delightfull Wood being a part of the Wood Arden This Fountaine hath a great vertue in curing desperate diseases as the Gout Dropsie Fevers and the like And heere the Country beginneth to be full of Mountaines in which there are rich Mines It hath also many shadie Woods which are parts of the Forrest of Arden which is so celebrated by Iulius Caesar One small part of it which is neere unto the Countie of Namurcium is called the Forrest Marlignia And so much concerning the Dioecese of Leden now we proceeed to the rest THE COVNTIE OF MVERS with the adjacent Countries IN this Table in which the Countie of Muers is lively described and delineated together with the Countries Citties and Rivers which doe encompasse this Countie we will onely describe those Countries which we have not described otherwheres namely these First the Countie of Muers afterward the Dukedome of Cleveland and lastly the Dukedome of Iuliacum The Countie of Muers commonly called Graefschaft Muers was so called from a Towne of the same Name On the East it hath the Dukedome of Bergen and the Countie of Marck on the West Gelderland on the South the Dioecese of Colen and the Dukedome of Iuliacum on the North Cleveland The Country yeeldeth great store of corne and hath many pleasant Meddowes The chiefe Towne is Muers which doth name the Countrie it standeth over against Dutsburg not farre from the left banck of the Rhene And so much concerning the Countie of Muers I come to the Dukedome of Cleveland which was so called from the Cliffes and there is a small Towne of that name neere the bancke of the Rhene which is built on three Cliffy bills It is boundered on the East with the Dukedome of Bergen the Countie of Marck and Westphalia on the North with the Countie of Zutphania Trans-Isalania and Batavia on the West with Gelderland and Leden on the East with Colen and Aquisgranum The Countrie hath a good and wholesome ayre it yeeldeth great store of Corne and pleasant Meddowes Here are divers kindes of living creatures and in some parts divers wilde beasts as oares Foxes Hares Connies Harts wilde Cats and wilde horses they have great store of Partridges Thrushes and Stares An innumerable sort of Duckes and great plentie of all kindes of provision They report also that Pipin and Charles Martell did give A●lius Gracilis when he flourished in wealth and power that part of Batavia which is now called Cleueland There succeeded after him Theodoricke Rhemhold Rudolphus Iohn Robert Balduine and others even to Iohn who was the 27 from A●lius and here the line was extinct Yet Adulphus was adopted by the Emperour and the provinces into this familie and in the Councell at Constantia the Emperour Sigismund created him Duke of Cleveland This Dukedome hath these Townes on the confines of France Xantum or Santen a Towne on the left bancke of the Rhene which Pig●ius heretofore called Trajana Colonia and Pyramus and many others Vetera it seemeth to be very auncient and of great antiquitie by those stones which are called Duynsteen of which great stoare are gathered out of the ruines Burichum or Burich is a small Towne situate over against Wesel hahaving pleasant fields and Meddowes round about it Clivia or Cleve is the head Towne of the Province not farre from the bancke of Rhene not far from that place where it spreadeth forth his armes and beginneth to Inile Batavia It was heretofore a very great Cittie as we may collect by the ruines thereof It was called Cleve because it is situate on three cliffie rockes neere the Rhene On the highest part of the three hills there is seated a high broade foure-square Towre with a faire Castle which they report was builded by Caius Iulius Caesar in his French warres as a Fort of defence against the Germaines which may be seene in these words written in the great Court of the Pallace by the Princes commandement Anno ab vrbe D●XCIIX C Iulius Dictator Ilis Partibus Subactis Arcem Clivens●m fundavit That is in the yeare from the building of the Cittie D●XCIIX C Iulius the Dictator in these parts having subdued Arcem founded Cleve Now it is memorable because it is the seate of the most illustrious Dukes of Iuliacum Cleveland and also for the Collegiate Church and the curtesie of the inhabitants It is very conveniently situated and hath a faire prospect into a faire plaine which is cloathed with greene grasse and herbage but especially from a high Tower which from the weathercocke is called the Swanne Tower Calcaria is a Towne in the Island of Rhene which was built first by the Earles of Cleveland as a Fort and Tower of Garrison to prevent the incursions inroades of these of Colen and Gelria with whom they had often warres It was so named from the auncient Castell Calcer from whence there was passage from this Island to the farther bancke of the Rhene it grew rich and powerfull by cloathing and brewing of drincke which was transported from thence to other places Above Calcaria in that place which is called Ausden Baern it is thought that Caesar Germanicus did build a bridge over the Rhene when he marched from his old tents unto the Martians who are now called Twentanians but yet the little Towne Otma●rsen retaineth its auncient name Griet is situate on the left bancke of the River Rhene and below it on the same side is Griethusium on the confines of Batavia neere the auncient Castell Lobecum which signifies the corner of the course for Loop signifies a course and Eck a corner for Rhene divideth his course and runneth divers wayes On the bancke towards Germanie there are Vesalia of which we have spoken in the descripion of Westphalia also Duisburg or Teutoburg a Towne of auncient Germanie situated heretofore on the bancke of the River Rhene betweene the Rivers Rura and Angra Both histories and the faire buildings doe declare and demonstrate that it was alwayes a famous Towne And the writers concerning the affaires of Flanders doe shew that it was frequented THE COVNTIE OF MVERS CLEVE et MURS by Merchants for trading and famous Marts which were kept there Embrica is a very neate Towne well peopled having faire streetes and a well governed schoole the Commentators on Tacitus doe call it Asciburg but it is commonly called Emmericke And so much concerning Cleveland the Dukedome of Iuliacum remaineth commonly called Iuliers or Gulick It was so named from the Towne Iusiacum It is situated betweene the River Rhene and Mosa in the same manner as Cleveland is but that the latter lyeth Northward and the other Southward For otherwise they have the same Countries confining on them It hath a good wholsome ayre and the soyle yeeldeth abundance of Corne
which is very waightie It bringeth forth also good Woad which is very gainefull to the inhabitants and it hath many flourishing Meddowes but no Wine Heere are varietie of living creatures and especially excellent horses The Princes of Iuliacum are thought to be descend from Euslathius brother to Godfrey Bilioneus But the Country of Iuliacum was heretofore a Countie and the Emperour Ludovicke made it a Marquiship in the yeare 1329 30 yeares afterward the Emperour Charles the fourth made it a Dukedome But William the fourth was the Marquesse and Duke thereof His sonne William succeded after him in the Dukedome of Iuliacum and Gelria he dying without issue left Raynold his brother to succeede him And he dying without an heyre his wife maryed his kinsman Adolphus of Bergen who was created Duke of Iuliacum and Bergen They dying without issue William was made Duke of Iuliacum and Bergen and had a sonne named Gerard who succeeded his father William was sonne to Gerald who marryed his onely daughter to the onely sonne of Iohn Duke of Cleveland and so the three Dukedomes of Bergen Iuliacum and Cleveland were made one Country But this Iohn had a sonne named William who joyned the fourth Dukedome namely of Gelria to the three Dukedomes of Cleveland Iuliacum and Bergen but in the yeare 1543 he was conquered and subdued by Charles the fifth and spoyled of his Country and afterward upon new conditions hee received it againe with all Gelria by marrying the daughter of Ferdinand King of the Romaines The chiefe Cittie which nameth the Dukedome is Iuliacum commonly called Gulich which Antoninus mentioneth in his Itinerary it is situated neere the River Rura The other Townes besides Iuliacum are Marcodurum commonly called Duren a Towne famous for holding out against that fiery seige which Charles the fifth layd against it The Monastery of Eyphalia is a pleasant towne lying in a vale betweene two Mountaines not farre from the fountaines of the River Ervatis also Euskirchia Birchemum commonly called Caster from the magnificent Castle wherewith it is fortified also Grevenbrocck Sladbach Dalen and Wassenberch It hath many Castles belonging to Noble families as Palant Meroden Rensschenberg Nesselroden and Wachtendoncke There is also the Baronie of Wickraden having a strong Castell which was sometime the seate of the Quadians In this tract the Cittie Aquisgranum is situated which Ptolemie calls Vetera in which the thirtieth Legion was billited Lhuithprandus calleth it the Palatine Granum and Rheginus Thermas Grani and Aquis Palatium And the writers of those times doe often call Aquae Aken the Germaines call it Ach and the French Aix It is a faire Cittie and hath an wholesome ayre and a pleasant soyle although the buildings are not so beautifull as they have beene formerly It hath many hot bathes both within the walls and without which are soveraigne to cure many diseases This Cittie is famous in regard Charles the great made his residence here who both dyed and was buried here These Countries have besides the Rhene the River Rura or Rora which neere a little Towne of the Vbians called Roeroort which signifies the end of Rora is mingled with the Rhene where we may see a great difference betweene the two confluent Rivers the one whereof is greene the other white Moreover Rora hath many winding turnings and yet it runneth with so violent a streame that sometimes it breaketh into the Meddowes so that in a short time it will overflow three or foure Acres of ground and sometimes it filleth the ground full of shelles there are also Nersa Lupia Angria Duselium Erfatt Nirsi Vornium and others It hath also woods one of which is that which Tacitus calleth Saltus Teutoburgensis which is a very large Wood neere to Duisburg in which there are an innumerable sort of wilde beasts It hath many cleere Rivulets The Mountaines are steepe and cloathed every where with high trees But enough of these things THE COVNTIE OF WALDECK Iodocus Moers of Corbach who first described and set forth this Table doth reckon two degrees of Nobles under the Earle of Waldeck one free who alwayes resideth in the Countie the other holding of the Countie therefore seeing I have nothing else to insert I will here reckon up these orders and what houses are contained in this Table The stocke of the free Nobility within the County are Virmundt Meissenburg Gogreben Zertzen Tolmerichausen Dalwig Eppe Rodehausen Reen Sconstat Hertzinghausen Twist Hanxtelden Greismar Roman Dorfelt The stocke of those that hold of the County as well without as within the County are Witstein Reiteel Spiegal Calenberg Westfal Canstein Malspurg Lebenstein Mengersen Mescheden Beinenburg Papenheim Wulfft Volckenbergb Vrf. THE COVNTIE OF VVALDECK WALDEK Comit. I Returne to Mercator in whom the Countie of Waldeck followeth commonly called De Grafschaft Waldeche It is so called from the Cittie Waldeck and it is a great part of Hassia It hath on the East Hassia on the North the Bishopricke of Paderborne on the West the Dioecese of Colen The length and bredth of this Country is sixe miles It hath a fertile soyle faire spreading Hills and pleasant Rives It bringeth forth great store of Corne and Wine it produceth divers kindes of mettalls as Gold Silver Brasse Iron Lead Quicksilver Alum and Salt which are all digged forth of the bowels of the Earth neere the Cittie Wildunga and the Castle Eisenburg There are also Coalestones digged forth as in the Bishopricke of Leden which the Germanes call Stercolen which they burne in steed of coales It produceth divers kindes of living creatures and great store of wilde beasts which the inhabitants doe often hunt The Countie of Waldeck is originally derived from Widichindus Earle of Snalenburg whom Charles the Great made governour of Paderborne which right one Widichindus Earle of Waldeck being to goe with Fredericke Barbarossa into Asia did passe over to the Colledge in consideration of three hundred Markes of silver payd unto him Neither is there any continewed catalogue of the former Earles Therfore we must reckon from Henry Ferreus who first added Corbachia to the Earledome Henry Ferreus who built the castle of Laudoria did bring Corbachia under his obedience in the yere 1366 on the 11 day of March This Henry in the yere 1400 slew Frederick Duke of Brunswicke being chosen Emperour neere to Frissaria his wife was Elizabeth of Bergen Welrad yeeldeth himselfe into the protection of the Bishop of Moguntum Philip the second was his sonne whose wife was Anne the daughter of Iohn Duke of Cleveland Wolradus Pius the second was a learned man and Praesident of the Colledge of Ratisbone in the yeare 1556 he dyed in the yeare 1478. Iosias was borne in the yeare 1578 and dyed in the yeare 1558. Christian and Wolrad were the sonnes of the Earle Iosias But as concerning the Imperiall offices this Countie is the chiefe among the foure namely Waldecke H●●● Fulchen Arusperg and Rabnaw The
chiefe Cittie is Walde●●a commonly called Waldeck which nameth the Countrey having a Castle which the River Fidera watereth There are also the Townes Ast●●chausa and Dudinschausa and the Cittie Landavia with a Castle adjoyning threunto also the Cittie Mengerhusa with a Castle where the Earles keepe their residence being two miles distant from Wadecia Rodenum is an auncient Cittie with a Castle in the Territories whereof there is good hunting The Castle of Wetterberg hath a pleasant seate and prospect being situated betweene the Rivers Tw●sta and Ahra there is also the City Wildunga neere to which there are Mettall Mines from whence great store of gold Brasse and Iron is dayly digged forth Here are also certaine fountaines unto which the sicke persons did heretofore come out of divers Countries And here the best drinke is brewed There are also the Towns of Friage● Saxenhus●n Saxenberga and Furstenberga also the Castle of Isenburg neere unto which there are Mines of Gold and Iron as neere W●●lunga ●●lhusia a well seated Castle and divided from the Cittie by a River Corba●hia is a fortified Cittie Albertus Magnus maketh mention of gold Mines which were found neere unto it and he affirmeth that there is lesse waste of that gold in refining and purifying of it than of that in Bohemia or any other Neither are the veines thereof yet altogether exhausted for not farre from Corba●●●a there is gold found among the sands Newburg is a Towne with a Castle There are also the Castle Ither and the Monastery Werba This Country is watered with many Rivers the chiefe whereof is Edera which may compare with Tagus of Spaine Hebrus of Thrace and Pactolus of Asia and it hath golden sands being very full of fish and it cutteth through the middle of the Province of Waldecke and it floweth out of the Mountaines of Nassaw through the Countie of Witgenstein to Francoburg and watereth the Castle of Waldecke which is built on an high rocke standing in a low valley environed on every side with Mountaines and so gliding by Frisla●a a Towne of Hassia and having received the River Sualma it dischargeth it selfe into Fulda a little above Cassella and afterward into Visurgis The other River are Dimila Twista Vrba Abra and Ither There are also divers Mountaines as Grunebeckerbeg Winterberg and Den Astenberg and others which are described in Mercators Table There are also many woods in this tract as Aldewaldt W●terholt Geppenhage Plat. I omit the rest which are every where dispersed through this Countie And so much concerning the Countie of Waldecke I passe to the Palatinate of Rhene THE PALATINATE OF RHENE AFter Waldecia there followeth in my method the Palatinate of Rhene commonly called die Pfaltz Some suppose that this Noble part of Germanie was so called from the Pallace of Rhene some would have it so named from Charles the Great and others from the Pallace of Trevers Beatus Rhenanus endeavoureth to prove out of Ammianus Marcellinus that the Palatinate was so denominated from the Country Palas For Ammianus writeth in this manner A Bridge being built neere M●guntiacum the legions passed over the Rhene and pitched their Tents in the Country of Capellatium which was so called from Palas And in another place When they came to the Country which is called Cappellatium o● Palas they pitched their Tents there where the bounde● stone doth distinguish the confines of the Romans Burgundians Moreover Rhenanus addeth Heere we may observe that the Prince Palatine was not so called from the Pallace of Caesar or from that little a difice or building which is neere the Rhene but that he receiveth that appellation from the Country But seeing there are many Count Palatines of other places mentioned in Histories some doe reject this opinion concerning the Etymologie of a Palatine But most doe thinke that the title of Count Palatine is derived from a Pallace which was and is a title of great dignitie in the Romaine Empire So that those who did serve the Prince in the Countie of the Pallace were called Palatines The Country hath on the West the Dukedome of Zwe●bruck on the East Franconia and the Dukedome of ●●rtemberg on the North it is bounded partly with the River Moenus and partly with the Wood which they call Ottenia on the South it hath A●s●tia All this tract is not interior to any part of Germany both for pleas●●●nesse fruitfulnesse and plentie of all things The Mountaines forth most part doe beare Vi●●s which doe yeelde most excellent Wine which other Countries do● fetch from thence and these Mountaine on the ●●rthside are full o● Chesnuts The fields doe yeel● abundance of 〈◊〉 as Wheate Pul●e and Barley There are also many 〈◊〉 Gardens and Orchards which are planted with all kinde 〈◊〉 which bea●e great store of apples THE PALATINATE OF RHENE PALATINATUS Rheni It is called also Ardea quo ardua suo volatu petat that is because it flyeth high She buildeth her nest in the highest trees and doth naturally hate the Hawke as likewise the Hawke seeketh continually her destruction But when they fight in the ayre they both strive which should get uppermost if the Hawke be above her he comes downe upon her with great violence and kills her But to the matter There were alwayes Praefects of the Pallace especially in the Emperours Court which the Frenchmen did heretofore call the Majors of the house or Pallace But at what time the Countie Palatine of Rhene was instituted and where the Palatines of Rhene did keepe their residence foure hundred or five hundred yeares agoe I cannot determine seeing there are divers different conjectures Some say the first Palatines were onely Noble men untill the time of Otto the third at what time they were made Princes Electors for they had more dignity The first Elector Palatine was Henry who with the other Electors in the yeare 1003 did chuse the Emperour Henry But Munster saith that he doth not finde it mentioned in any writings either where he kept his Court or what Country he governed or what people were subject unto him but some doe suppose but without any certaine ground that the Princes Palatine did heretofore keepe their residence at Worma●●● and had great power in that Citie It is manifest that Conradus Duke of Fre●●●●● in the yeere 742 did reside at Wormes but not the Prince Palatine This was the seate heretofore of the Intuergians the Nemetians and the Vangionians as some doe suppose The I●trergians were a people of Germanie which Pencerus doth place in the Palatinate neere to Heydelberg which Country was also called Capellatium and 〈◊〉 as we sayd before Those whom Ptolomie and others call the Nemetian● were a people in Germanie neere the Rhene confining on the Met●nsians Ar●●n●●mentians and Wormacensians Rhenanus calleth it now the Episcopall Cittie of Sp●res and ●●thicus calleth it Augusta Nemetum Also those whom Ptolomie calleth V●ngiones are a people of Germanie neere the Rhene Rhenanus and
plaine and it is every where adorned with Woods and Forrests some of which are full of Chesnuts Almonds and Nutts The Country people lives very miserably for they spend their provision every yeare and doe keepe nothing for the future time so that in times of warre or when unseasonable weather does kill the fruites of the earth they live very penuriously Yet the poore are releeved out of publicke granaries This Countrie hath not many natiue inhabitants for the greatest part consists of strangers as Swethlanders Bavarians Burgundians Sabaudians and Lotharingians who having once entred into a Country doe not soone remove from thence The Swethlanders doe chiefely reside in it Moreover the fifth circle of the Empire is that of the Rhene It consists of three orders first the Clergie secondly the Princes and thirdly the free Citties In the first there are the Bishop of Wormes of Spier Straesburg Basel and Besancon in the Countie of Burgundie in the Province of Wallis whose Metropolis is Selton there are the Bishops of Geneve Losanna Metz Toul and Verdun The Abbots of Hiersfe●d Morbach S. Gregoris Munster In the second order are Princes Earles and secular Lords as the Dukes of Lotharingia and Saveye the Count of Spanhein the Marquesse of Baden the Duke of Sweibrucke the Count of Veldentz the Landgrave of Hessen the Prince of Calim the Count of Nassaw in Sarbrucke the Earles of Rhene the Lords of Rapoitzkirchen neere Rapoltstain the Earles of Bitsch Salm Hanaw Lichtenberg Lemingen and Falkenstain the Lords of Morspurg and Befo rt of Rapolslain of Hoen Rechpurg Blakenberg and Blammont in Lotharingia the Earles of We●baden and I●stain and Cuningstaine the Lord Van Eppenstam the Earles of Isenburg in higher Alsatia of Solms of Nassaw in Weilburg of Sienvigen of Havare the Lord of Muntzinburg the Earles of Westenburg of Witgenstam of Waldeck of Flesse The third order is of the free Citties which are Mulhusen in Sundtgow of higher Alfatia also Basel Colmar Kaisersperg Turckbam Saint Gregoris Munster Ober Ebenhaim Straesburg Rosenhaim Schletstat Hagenaw Weissenburg Landow Spier Wermes Francfort Fridberg in Wederaw Wetzlar Metz Toul Vedtn Kausmans Sarbruck the Castle Besano Fridberg and the Castle Gleichhausen THE LANTGRAVIATE of the higher ALSATIA vvith SVNTGOVIA and GRISGOIA THE HIGHER ALSATIA ALSATIA SUPERIOR Brisgo●a remaines which is to bee unfolded and described in this Table Brisgovja or Brisgoja is commonly called Brisgow which signifies in the Germaine Language a faire Towne And truly this Country doth deserve that title in regard of the fertility and fruitfulnesse thereof in which it is not inferiour to Alsatia which we have even now described But if we have recourse to auncient writers we shall finde that this Country was so named from the Metropolis Brisacum of which we shall speake by and by Brisgoja is ten miles long and eleven broade for it beginneth at Nortnaw and runneth out almost to Basil It is a fruitefull Country both for tillage and Vines And here is great store and plenty of Corne and Wine and of all things necessary for the sustenance of mans life The Archdukes of Austria and the Marquesses of Baden doe joyntly governe this Country The Metropolis of Brisgoja was heretofore Brisacum whence the Country is denominated and Antonius mentioneth it in his Itinerarie of the Mountaine Brisacum when as he maketh mention of no other Citties beyond the Rhene but those Provinciall Citties which are seated by the Rhene Luitprandus Ticinensis who lived in the time of Otto the first doth make the Mountaine Brisacum to be in Alsatia and sheweth that it was an Island of Rhene This Cittie is situated on a round Mountaine like a Castle and it hath the Rhene on the West It is a neate Towne well fortified and populous but in processe of time it exceeded Friburg it selfe for magnificence and riches This Cittie increased presently and grew famous in regard of the Minerall Mines which are neere unto it In Brisacum there is an auncient Castle which hath long beene ruinate yet now at length it hath beene reedified It hath a strong well fortified Tower which Bertholdus Ziringensis the third built as appeareth by these following verses graven on the stone walls Hanc Dux Bertholdus portam struxisse notatur A quo pro fraude Burgundia gens posulatur The Duke Bertholdus builded up this gate Which the Burgundians did ruinate This Cittie hath but one fountaine over which there is a Conduit built in which there is a wheele in which they goe and draw up water a great depth and the Cittizens do yerely pay for the drawing up of the water For it hath on every side a great steepe descent to the Rhene and the plaine from whence it is very hard to draw up water into the Mountaine Halfe a mile beneath Friburg there is a ruinate Castle situated on a high Mountaine which is called Zaringhen from which the Dukes of Zaringa had their title Friburg is a famous Towne in Brisgoja and now the Metropolis thereof it was built by Duke Ferthold the fourth the sonne of C●nradus the first in the reigne of the Emperour Henry the fifth being formerly but a Village It is a Cittie pleasantly seated among the Mountaines being adorned with many magnificent houses Churches and Monasteries There was an Vniversity erected there in the yeere 1459 wherein Vdalrick Zasius a famour Lawyer did teach and reade publickly It had heretofore a rich Veine of silver a mile distant from the Cittie There also is in Brisgoja Zering heeretofore a Dukedome the County of Friburg the Marquiship of He●●berg and the Lordships of Badenwille Staussen and Burcken THE LOWER SAXONIE SAxonie was so called from the Saxons Their originall as also of other Nations not only the Monkes ignorant in Antiquities but moderne judicious writers have wrapped up in fabulous inventions some suppose that they were so called from Saxo the sonne of Negno and the brother of Vandalus others à Saxca natura from their stony nature others from the remainder of the Macedonian Army some from their skeines or short swords as appeareth by these verses in Engelhusins Quippe brevis gladius apud illos Saxa vocatur Vnde sibi Saxo nomen traxisse putatur A cuttell or a short-sword they Saxon call Whence the name of Saxon takes originall THE LOWER SAXONIE SAXONIA INFERIO et Mekleburg The Dukedome of Meckelburg was heretofore a part of a Province belonging to the King of Vandalia lying neere unto the Baltick Sea but now it is one of the chiefe Dukedomes of Germanie and a member of the Empire it hath on the East Pomerania on the West the River commonly called de Elve on the South it hath the auncient Marca on the North the Balticke Sea It is a very fruitfull Country abounding with Wheate Apples Wood and Fish There are also divers sorts of living creatures and great store of Oxen and Cattell and wilde beasts Moreover Aritbert being descended of the royall stocke and having lived some
while in Charles the Greats Court marryed the Emperours sister by whom he had Billingus a man powerfull yet milde and mercifull whom the Sarmatians and Vandalls even from Vistula to Visurgis and from Odera to Holsatia did obey he had his Pallace at Meckelburg But his two sonnes Mizilaus and Mislevus degenerating from their fathers piety and goodnesse began to persecute the Christians But concerning these and other Princes of Meckelburg you may reade Munster The first inhabitants of this Country Authors doe call Herulians or Obotritians and by a generall word Vandalians It is a Country well replenished with citties townes castles and villages In this Dukedome there is the auncient cittie Surinum which was built before Lubecke Sundius and Wismaria The figure thereof is fouresquare and so as if it were foure citties it hath foure names The first is called Senerinus the second Neapolis the third is named from the Cataract the fourth from the Marshes The Village Fichela which standeth by the Lake Suerinus is but 5 miles distant from the Balticke Sea the vicinitie whereof made them bestow much labour in vaine to make a ditch out of the Lake into the Balticke sea as in like manner there was an attempt made to cut through the Peloponnesian Isthmus Rostochium commonly called Rostocke and heretofore Lacinium and corruptly Rhodopholis and Laciburg is a sea cittie it was first a castle after Godscall the sonne of Endo did change it into a cittie and afterward it was enlarged by Primislaus the second the sonne of Nicolottus It hath now a flourishing Vniversitie which the Princes of Meckelburg did erect and constitute in the yeere 1415. The ayre here is wholesome and there is great plenty of provision for food and very cheape There is also Wismaria which some imagine was so called from Wismarus King of the Vandalls in the flourishing reigne of Constantine the Great some doe affirme that a Colonie of the Gothes was brought thither out of Visbina the Metropolis of Gothland But Crantzius Antiquities and Charters of the commonwealth dated after the yeare 1250 doe shew that it was built before the yeare 1240 out of the ruines of the great auncient Cittie Mecklenburg which gave the name to the whole Countrie by Gunzelinus Earle of Suerinus But in a short time this Cittie did wonderfully encrease by the traffike and trading of other Nations having a convenient Haven on the Balticke shore to receive shippes of great burden where they may lye safely without letting fall any anchors whence it is likely that the Cittie was named from the safety and conveiance of the Haven It is compassed round about with small townes who doe bring plentie of provision thither and doe furnish themselves againe from thence Moreover this ninth circle of the Empire called Nider Saxon doth consist of three orders the first whereof is the Clergie the second are the Princes and Secular Lords the third are the free Citties In the first there are the Archbishops of Bremes and Magdeburg the Bishops of Hildesheim of Lubeck of Suerinus of Ratzenburg and Schleswick the second containeth the Princes and saecular Lords as the Dukes of Lauwenburg of Brunswicke of Luneburg of Mecklenburg and of Holstein the Earles of Roffain and Delmenhorst In the third there are the free Citties as Lubeck Hamburg Mulhausen in Duringen and Northhausen Goslaria and Gottinga THE DVKEDOME OF BRVNSWICK THe Dukedome of Brunswick was so called from the chièfe Cittie Brunswick And the Cittie it selfe was denominated from Bruno the Sonne of Ludolphus Duke of Saxonie For he left his name to the Towne which he had begun and so from him it was called Brunons Towne which in the Saxon Language they call Wyc but now it is called Brunsvicum or Brunsweich The Country of Brunswicke is very large for it reaches from the boarders of the Dioeceses of Magdeburg and Halberstad and from the wood Hercynia even to the River Albis But about the yeare of Christ 1230 the Emperour Frederick did change the Earldome of Brunswick into a Dukedome and made Otto Duke of Brunswicke and Luneburg who succeeded Henry Leon who was Lord of all Saxonie Frederick the second made Otto Nephew to Leon Duke of Brunswick and Luneburg and gave him those Armes which his Vncle had brought out of England namely two Lions Or for the Country of Brunswick and another Lion Azure with Ermines for the Countie of Luneburg which armes did heretofore belong to Duke Herman and his posteritie with the Dukedome of Saxonie Concerning the other Dukes see Munster Lib. 3. of his Cosmographie Brunswick is now not onely the Metropolis and mother Cittie of this Dukedome but also of all Saxonie which heeretofore from the builder thereof was called Brunopolis Ptolomie calls it Tubisurgium according to the opinion of Francis Irenicus It is a large Cittie being foure square and adorned with many faire and beatifull buildings very populous and well fortified with double rampires and ditches by which there are divers sorts of trees planted it hath fiue Praetorian Halls and as many Magistrates It was built by two brothers Bruno and Theodore otherwise called Theomar the sonnes of Ludolphus Duke of Saxonie in the yeare 961 as Hermann their owne Historian doth witnesse The River Onacra glideth by this cittie which rising in the Hartonican wood doth divide the Cittie into two parts and carrieth away all the filth of the Cittie with it having many bridges built over it and at last it joyneth with Visurgis This Cittie hath no good water to drinke and therefore they have a kind of made drinke but they have little or no wine This Cittie rising from small beginnings yet in processe of time encreased very much both in strength and wealth so that the Princes thereof were stiled Dukes of Brunswick I will heere briefely make mention of those words which are praefixt and written upon the Court of this Cittie in regard of the frequent suites in law which are commenc'd in this contentious age In controversijs causarum capitales inimicitiae oriuntur fit amissio expensarum corpus THE DVKEDOME OF BRVNSWICKE Braūswik et Meydburg cum 〈◊〉 quotidie defatigatur labor animi exercetur Multa inhonesta crimina consequuntur Bona utilia opera post ponuntur qui saepè credunt obtinere frequenter succumbunt Et si obtinent computatis laboribus expensis nihil acquirunt That is sutes in Law are the occasion of much enmitie they put men to much charges they weary the body and trouble the minde they learne craft by following them they neglect their owne callings and more profitable employments and those who are confident that they shall have the better are oftentimes overthrowne by oppression And if they get the better yet labour and charges being reckoned they get nothing Among other Citties of this Dukedome Gostaria is not the last being an Emperiall Cittie which Henry the first the father of Otto the great did build and found in the yeare 1051 and
is equall to the bredth being 12 miles over This Countrie hath aboundance of all kindes of fruites and pulse and hath more store of Corne than any other part of Germanie So that George Agricola calleth it the fatte of Germanie Heere is great stoare of that hearbe which Plinnie calleth Glastum is now called Guadum and Pastillum and commonly Weedt Pastell which maketh a blew colour which to the great benefit of the inhabitants is transported into other Countries so that a famous Poet writeth thus Herba Thuringorum celeberrima crescit in agris Hanc Isatim Graecus sermo vocare solet Ponderis haec magni est multo venditur are Hac etenim tingi lana parata solet A famous hearbe doth in Thuringia grow In Greeke call'd Isatis and named so It is weighty and much gaine is made thereby For with it they their wooll doe use to die THVRINGIA or the Landgraviate of DVRINGEN THURINGIA Hinc placet Hebraeo nobis hanc nomine dici Vt vetus a Iajin nomen Iena tenet Cur ita crediderim nisi mentem vocula fallit Certa hujus ratio nominis esse potest Quippe vocat Iajin Solimae pius incolaterrae Hoc quod nos Latio dicimus ore merum Quae caput in medijs urbs fertilis erigit vuis Hanc quisquam a vino nomen habere nega● Hence from an Hebrew word at first it came As we cold Iena doe from Iajin name And unlesse we b● deceived in the word We may some reason for this name afford For the holy inhabitant of Palestine Calleth that Iajin which we doe call wine So this Cittie standing in the midst of Vines May well be named from the fragrant Wines Thus much Stigellius It hath a publicke Schoole which was erected in the yeare 1558. G●tha was so called from the Gothes And hence Ritha●merus in his description o● the world writeth that the Turingians were originally de● from the Goathes because the Gothes builded a Cittie in this Co●●● which they called Gotha about the yeare 723. It had a wonderfull strong Castell called Grimmenstein which is now levell with the ground And this was the cause that it fell to ruine William Grunbach a nobleman rather by descent than vertue in regard of his many enormous attempts whereby he endeavoured to depose the Emperour and to introduce a new forme of Empire was declared and pronounced to be guilty of conspiracie with all his associates and was condemned and banished both by the Emperour Ferdinand and the Emperour Maximilian his son and the Emperour and the other States of the Empire with one consent did commit the execution of this sentence to the most illustrious Prince Elector of Saxonie Which banishment he contemned trusting to himselfe and his Protector Iohn Fredericke the second Duke of Saxonie Who after many admonitions from the Prince did still persist in defending the rebells so that the most illustrious Duke of Saxonie and Prince Elector enforced by necessitie beseiged the Cittie and tooke it by surrender And then Grunbachius with foure more of the conspirators for their treason against Caesar were put to death the Castle was razed to the ground and Duke I●hn Fredericke was brought prisoner to Vienna This Countrie is ●atered with many Rivers as Sala or Salza Werra Vnstrut Ilma Ge● Or Apselstet Helbe and Cling And Her testifieth that the Mountaines have mines which have rich Veines of gold and silver which ●d not far from Braitenborn and Schwartzenburg This Countrie also is here and there cloathed with woods which are part of the wood Hercynia also the Thuringian wood is well knowne commonly called Thuringer Waldt Caesar calleth it Baceins it is a wood in Germanie which divideth the Cheruscians from the Suevians there are also Hainich Hainset●e and Finne with divers others where there is good hunting of divers kindes of wilde beasts There are also in this Countrie many Churches and Monasteries among which is the Church of the blessed Virgin Marie at Erford which was built by Bo●●●e Bishop of Moguntium This Church hath a great Bell which is famous through all Germanie The people are fierce hardy couragio●s against their enemies the men are large of stature strong and well-set THE DVKEDOME OF FRANCONIA THuringia a Countrie of high Germanie being thus described there followeth next Franconia or East France Which was so called from the Frenchmen Some say that the originall of this name came from Francus whom others call Francio fabulously supposed to bee the sonne of Hector and the first founder of this Nation And Peter Ronsard the Poet writeth that the auncients did call him Astyanacta Francum as it were Hastigerum that is the speare-bearer Others as Gaguinus and Aeneus Pius doe affirme that the Emperour Valentine gave that name to Franconia because the Frenchmen in the Northerne Language where called fierce or from the remission of tribute and their freedome they were called Franci that is Free-men Albeit I doe more approve of a latter Etymologie that they were called Franci as it were Frioncy because they were free from taxes and impositions which ●y signifies or else they were so called as it were fryansi Fransi for Ansi being a word proper to the Gothish speech doth signifie those who excell others in fortune and riches And are next to Heroes or Semigods that are above the condition of mortalls whence they corruptly call Great Noble men Ansos and with an aspiration Hansos But to the matter the Frenchmen after they grew wealthy and weary of the Romane yoke of subjection encouraged by the desire of rule got their liberty and thereby gained the name of Franci insteed of the old name of Germaines Fronconia on the South is neere to Suevia and Bavaria on the West to the Rhene on the East it hath Bohemia on the North it hath Hassia and Thuringia The ayre of this Countrie is pure and wholesome The Country it selfe except it be that part which is called Norica and is neere unto the Rivers is not very sandy as Aeneas Silvius writeth nor yet very stony But it is generally very fruitefull and doth yeeld a great increase of Barly Wheate and all kinde of graine and pulse which is sowed there There are no where greater and better Turnips and Onions than heere in this Countrie And in many places there are hills planted with Vines of which excellent wine is made transported to other Countries The Country of Babenberg doth yeeld such great store of Liquerize that whole Cart loades of them are carried through Germanie This Country also hath many faire Orchards and pleasant meddowes it hath great store of tame Cattle and wilde beasts The Princes doe cherish the wilde beasts who have many Dens in the Woods where they live in the winter time and doe house themselves as it were from the stormie THE DVKEDOME OF FRANCONIA FRANCKENLAND weather It is not lawfull for any private man to take them or hunt them It is manifest that
Misnia or Meyssen is a Country of higher Saxonie lying betweene the River Sala and Albis which was so called either from the Lake M●sia neere which the inhabitants hereof did dwell or from the Cittie Misna to which opinion Rithamerus in his description of the world doth agree But it seemeth that this Country was lately so named seeing we may gather out of Tacitus that the Hermundurians were formerly seated here for he mentioneth that the River Albis did rise among the Hermundurians It is bounded on the North with the Marquiship of Brandenburg and the higher Saxonie on the East with Lusatia and Silesia on the South it looketh toward the Kingdome of Bohemia and the Sudetian Mountaines on the West it hath Turingia They say the ayre was heretofore very bad and insufferable in regard of moyst exhalations arising from the Mountaines and the Woods but now the Woods being cut downe the foggy clouds are vanished so that the ayre is now more wholesome This Country aboundeth with all kinde of fruites so that it furnishes other Countries It hath every where great store of Corne and also great plentie of wine honey and cattell except in the Valley of Ioachim where the soyle is harder and lesse fruitfull But the rich Mines of Silver doth recompence the barrennesse of the superficies or surface of the earth The Mountaines also have divers kinds of mettalls as Silver Brasse Steele Iron Lead and in some places Gold In the time of Otto the Great this Countrie together with that higher Saxonie was called the Marquiship of Saxonie before the higher Saxonie was made a Dukedome Afterward in processe of time these Countries were divided into more Lordships and afterward they were reduc'd into one Dominion and had one denomination or name which happened in the yeare 1241 when the Landgrave of Turingia dying without issue his Territories came to the Lords of Misnia who from that time got both titles and were called Marquesses THE DVKEDOME of the higher SAXONIE SAXONIAE Superioris Lusafiae Misniaeque des of Misnia and Landgraves of Thuringia And in the yeare of our Lord 1423 the Prince Elector of Saxonie having no issue male the Emperour Sigismund did give the Dukedome of Saxonie to the Princes of Misnia which they doe still possesse and after that as Munster writeth they usurped a triple or threefold title There are many Citties in Misnia the chiefe Cittie is Misena on the left hand bancke of the River Albis which was built by Otto the first The next is Dresdena very pleasantly seated and well fortified Heere the Duke of Saxonie hath an armorie and a magnificent Pallace and a curious stone bridge Lipsia is a famous Mart Towne situated by the River Pleissena which excelleth all the other Citties of Misnia for wealth and beautie heere is a Noble Schoole for learning and wisedome which in those troublesome times at Prague was translated thither in the yeare 1408. In the same tract there are Itenburg Antiquae cellae Lautenberg and other Townes This Countrie is watered with these Rivers Albis Sala Mulda and others and it hath many woods as Gabreta and others which are parts of Hercynia The inhabitants are strong valiant and well proportioned in body they are also merry and pleasant friendly modest and peaceable and are not like the auncient Germanes for rudenesse of behaviour Lusatia LVsatia also as Rithamerus doth witnesse is a great part of Saxonie which lyeth betweene the Rivers Albis and Odera and the Mountaines of Bohemia But the name of Lusatia is derived from the Elysians or Lygians who as Ioachim Carens saith were seated here This Country hath good store of Corne and is very fruitfull It was sometime joyned with Misnia at length the Bohemians who strived to enlarge their Kingdome tooke it to themselves Lusatia is twofold the Lower and the Higher In the latter there are these Citties Sprenberg Prybus and Cotbus in the former Gorlits and Zitaw Gorlitum commonly called Gorlitz is the chiefest and Noblest Cittie in the higher Lusatia having many faire houses and being well fortified with walls and ditches and by the mountainous situation thereof and also by the Vicinitie of the River which is very profitable and commodious to Millers Brewers Dyers and other Cittizens There is a stone Bridge to passe over it which is covered over head But of all the publicke and private costly aedifices S. Peters Church and the Pallace are the chiefe This Cittie was first founded and built in the yeare 1030 as the Annalls thereof doe witnesse But in the yeare 1301 it was burnt downe to the ground so that there was not one house left standing But like a Phoenix that riseth out of her owne ashes so eight yeares afterward out of these ruines it was built fairer and more curiously than before It is subject to the Kingdome of Bohemia as also Lusatia And Iohn Dubravius Lib. 21. concerning the affaires of Bohemia doth shew how it came to the Crowne of Bohemia The River Nissa doth water Lusatia and doth much enrich it But so much concerning Lusatia Now let us returne to Saxonie and speake briefely of it These Noble Rivers doe water Saxonie Albis Sala Visurgis also Lusimicius Multa●ia Misa Sala Fulda Leyna Allenius Odera Ola Nisa and others It hath also many woods as Lunenbergerheid Spondawerheid Rottenawerheid Galberheid Pomerischeid which are parts of Hercynia The Saxones were heretofore distinguished into foure ranckes or orders the Nobles Gentry Freemen and Servants And there was a Law made that every one should marry in their owne rancke or tribe So that a Noble man should marry a Noble woman a Gentleman should marry a Gentlewoman a Freeman should marry a Freewoman and a Servant should marry a Servant and it was death to breake or infriuge this statute They had also excellent lawes for punishing malefactors Moreover Ober Saxon which is the eight Circle of the Empire doth consist of three orders the first are the bishops of Misnia of Merspurg of Naumburg of Brandenburg of Havelburg of Lubecke of Caminum The Abbots of Salveldt of Rottershausen and Falckenreiten Also the Abbetesses of Quedelnburg and of Genrode the second are the Princes and saecular Lords as the Duke Elector of Saxonie the Marquesse of Brandenburg Elector the Dukes of Pomerania the Princes of Anhalt the Earles of Schwartzenburg Count Mansfelt Count Stolberg Counte Hohenstein Count Buchlingen Count Rappin Count Mullingen Count Gleiche Count Leisneck Count Widersfelt the Lords of Bernaw B. de Tautenberg Count Regenslein Russe de Plaw D. de Gratz D de Schonberg The third are the free Citties as Da●●iscum and Elbingen THE MARQVISHIP and Electorship of BRANDENBVRG THe Marquiship of Brandenburg which is represented in this Table was heretofore inhabited by the Vardals who spread themselves from the River Albis Eastward through the Countries of Mechelburg Brandenburg Pomerania Bohemia and Polonia It was so called from the Metropolis which at first was called Brenneburg as George Sabine saith
of the Iland also the Ilands Isthmusses Peninsula'es the Bayes turnings and windings of the shore shall finde that the circumference of this Iland is not much lesse then 70. miles And besides it is observable that there is no place in all this Iland that is above halfe a mile or three quarters of a mile distant from the Sea The Shores also are so well fortified so that the raging waves of the Sea cannot endammage it Moreover this Iland hath great store of Corne and is as it were the Granary of the Citty Stralesund as Sicilie was the Granary of Rome as Strabo witnesseth Here are pretty store of Horses Oxen and Sheepe but great store of great Geese This Iland hath no Wolfes nor Rats albeit in the Peninsula of Wittovia there were some seene which came either from some Ships which rode there at Anchor or were Shipwrackt against the shore The Inhabitants hereof were called heretofore the fierce Ranians or Ruthenians who could not be tamed or subdued by the power of neighbour Kings and Princes and they were so strongly addicted to Idolatry that they were the last of all the Inhabitants neere the Swethish Sea who did receive the Christian faith For the Princes of this Iland being heretofore very potent did not onely possesse many Citties and Countries out of this Iland as Birdus Grimma and Tribbesea but also they had continually warres with the King of Denmarke and the neighbouring Princes of Pomerania and wearied the I●becenstin RVGIA RUGIA with continuall warres and so begun to bee feared of their neighbours for their power and fiercenesse They used formerly the Slavonian or Vandalian language which the Pomeranians used also There is nothing recorded concerning their atchievements in regard they desired rather to excell in martiall matters then in learning and there were but few learned men at that time especially in those parts The first Prince of Rugia was Crito who lived in the time of Swantibarus Duke of Pomerania and married his Daughter Slavina about the yeere of Christ 1100. They report also that this Crito was Prince of Holsatia and Dithmarsia and did found Lubeck who after hee had made himselfe drunke at a Banquet as he stooped and put forth his head to goe forth at a low Gate a Dane that stood in a secret place cut of his head After whose death his Father Retze surviving after him was Prince of Rugia in the yeere 1106. whose Posterity did successively possesse the Principality of Rugia even to Wart●slaus in whom in the yeere 1352. the Royall Line of the Princes of Rugis was extinct and the Dukedome of Rugia came to the Princes of Pomerania and that by a certaine mutuall covenant and agreement whereby it was agreed that if they did not leave Sonnes to succeed them in their owne Dukedomes the Dukedome for want of a Prince should descend and come to the other Duke There were three Churches at Charantina and many Idols in them of the chiefe whereof is Rugae-viti which had seven faces on one head and seven swords buckled to it holding in its right hand a naked sword It was a long thicke and terrible Idoll which they called Mars or the God of warre The other had five faces on one head and without a sword which they called the God of peace The third had foure faces on one head and one in his breast holding his forehead with his left hand and laying his right hand on his knee which they called Porcuitum and the God of their Empire It would bee tedious to speake of their other monstrous gods Ar●ona was heretofore the strongest Citty of Rugia being situate on the highest Promontory of the Peninsula Wittoviae Northward on the North and East it is encompassed with the Sea on the other side with a low Valley there are some ruines of this Citty yet remaining The Valley was so deepe so that an Arrow shot upright out of a strong Bow could not reach to the top This Citty was besieged on Ascention day and it was taken on Saint Vitus day by Gods providence who punished their Idolatries even on Saint Vitus day which did first spring and arise from S. Vitus The Citizens of Arcona trusting at first to their Citty and Castle did valiantly resist the Enemy but at length on Saint Vitus day being wearied and tyred they were enforced to accept of conditions of Peace and to receive the Christian Religion and to yeeld unto the Conquerers the revenewes of the Swantovian Church and Idoll to maintaine Christian Ministers also to burne the Idoll Swanto with the Temple and to set the Christian Captaines at liberty without any ransome and to pay tribute every yeere to the King of Denmarke The strong Citty being taken the Citty Charentina did yeeld it selfe upon the same conditions Among all the three Princes of Rugia Tetzlaus Stouslaus and Iaromarus Stouslaus did first leave his Principality to his Brother Geromarus unto whom being a Christian Prince of Rugia Woldomarus King of Denmarke marryed his Brother Canutus his daughter And thus Arcona and Charentina being wearied with continuall warres were not yet quite extinguished or rased But yet not long after the Princes of Pomerania did rase it to the ground because the King of Denmarke had not requited the Pomeranians for that ayde which they lent them in subduing of Rugia But this Iland which had heretofore strong populous Citties and Castles hath now none at all but onely some few Townes the chiefe whereof is Berga in which there are not above 400. Citizens The other Townes as Sagart Vick ●ingst and many others are lesser But yet this Iland is well replenished with Inhabitants so that it can raise 7000. armed men on a sudden In the furthest part of the Peninsula Iasmunda Eastward there is a very high Promontory which being hollow underneath was formerly a safe harbour for Pirates and Robbers at Sea which they call De Stubben kamer Not farre from thence on a wooddy Mountaine there were some ruines of a strong Castell Neere unto this Castell is the deepe blacke Lake which albeit it hath great store of fish yet they superstitiously beleeve that it will not beare any Fisher-boats or suffer any Nets to bee drawne through it for some Fishermen having put a Boat into it the day before and the next day afterward going to fish the Lake with Nets they could not finde their Boat whereupon being much amazed and looking every where about for it straightway one of them espyed the Boat lying on the top of an high Beech tree whereupon hee cryed out in their owne language What Devill hath layd the Boat on the top of the Tree and by and by hee heard these words though he could see no body The Devils have not done this but onely I and my Brother Nicheli Here is great scarcity of Wood for building of Ships and Houses but many places and especially the Iland Iasmund in which there is a thicke
to pay the Emperour that tribute which hee had sometime paid to Lodovick King of Germany So that the King made warres upon him but hee drew up great forces to defend himselfe The Hungarians were as it were a bolt or barre which the King of Moravia had placed to shut up the passage that way The Emperour who purposed not to depart from Moravia without victory perceiving where they were ayded opened a passage to Hungaria and let in the Turkes amongst them who did grievously afflict this Province And so the Emperour using the Turkes Forces did suppresse the King of Moravia and having made a great slaughter and taken many prisoners he put him to flight Who by this meanes escaping betooke himselfe to a thicke Wood and having cast away his royall Robes and apparell hee went to a Hermit with whom hee liv'd a solitary Hermits life untill his death and then hee discovered who hee was and so slept in Christ After that the Princes of Bohemia Poleland and Silesia had every one Dukes of their owne yet they payd some tribute to the Emperour At the same time when Michael was Emperour of Greece there came Cirillus Doctor and Apostle of all Sclavonia together with Merodius who layd the foundation of the Christian faith in Moravia and erected an Episcopall Church in the Towne Vielagrad So that being called and summoned by the Pope to answer why they read Masse in the Sclavonian tongue they answered because it is writtten Omnes Spiritus laudet Dominum Let every spirit praise the Lord. But afterward Moravia was governed by Dukes and Marquisses and it is now devided so that the better part of it and almost all of it is subject to the Kings of Bohemia the other part is subject to Barons and Lords The chiefe head-Citty of this Marquiship is Brunna which the Germanes call Brin and the Bohemians Brino and some doe call it Olmuzium and Olomontium it is a Bishops Seate and heretofore it was called Volograd It hath also many other faire walled Citties as Zwoyma Radisch Iglavia Nova Civitas Niclosburg Mons Nicolai Weiskirchen Cremser Boserlitz heretofore a Marquiship and many others which may be found in the Table or Card. The chiefe Rivers in Moravia are Morava or Ma●ava●a Ptol●my calls it C●abrus it is commonly called die Marche which floweth by the chiefe Citty Olomuz●um and so running into ●a●rovia it falleth at last into Di●ubius It is thought that this River named the Country but it is more likely that the Country named the River The other chiefe Rivers are Iheya or Deins which Dubravius calls Tha●sa and some Thysia It floweth by Zuoyna which is memorable in regard that the Emperour Sigismund dyed here and it doth border Mo●avania and Austria The River Igla whence the Citty Iglavia is so called doth devide the Maravanians from the Bohemians and doth enter also into Marava●ia But the River Odera which riseth not farre from Olomuzium doth keepe his owne name untill hee falleth into the Ocean Some suppose that Ptolomy doth call it Viadrum They called Odera by a word borrowed from Fowlers who set down daring Glasses to catch and allure Birds to their Nets which they call Odri and the Fowlers doe now set downe such Glasses in Moravia by the Fountaine of Odera Neither can wee passe by Hama although it bee a small streame yet it watereth those Fields which are the fruitfullest in all Moravia so that the Husbandmen in regard of their great plenty of Corne which they yeeld doe call them the light or eye of Moravia And also Gold and Silver coynes of M. An●●●us and Commodus and some other of the Emperours are very often found in these parts which are manifest tokens of the warres which the Romanes had against the Marcomannians in Moravia There is also the River Nigra ●ommonly called Suarta and Suittaw which doth glide by the Citty Brunna and is next in esteeme to Olomuzium These Rivers have great store of divers kindes of Fish This Country is not so Mountainous as Bohemia neither is altogether plaine Ptolemy placeth here the Wood Orcynium and the Wood Gabreta The Inhabitants are very rude and doe use a mixt kinde of speech But they speake just the Bohemian language for the Germane speech is onely used in Citties and that among the Nobles and chiefe men In other matters Dubravius saith that they are like the Bohemians in their rites and manners In the Villages of this Country there doe dwell divers Anabaptists who professe that there ought to be a community of all things Mercator placeth these Counties in Mo●avia Huckenwaldt Schonberg and these Signiories or Lordships Lomnicz Dubrantiz Gemniez Walstain Pietnix Neuhauss Telesch Bozkowitz Trebits●h Dernowitz and Ragetz THE ARCHDVKEDOME OF AVSTRIA The third Circle of the Empire is AUSTRIA in which there are two Orders THe next that followeth in our method is Austria called heretofore Pannonia the higher The name of Austria as Wolfgangus Lazius witnesseth is but of late time being called so either from the South wind which is frequent in that Country or from the Germane word Oostreich for so the Frenchmen called the Easterne bounds of their Kingdome as they call'd the Westerne bounds Westretch But that which the Frenchmen called Oostreich was situated by the Rhene and called afterward Austrasia which name having lost they call'd it Pannonia as Lazius testifieth Lib. 1. Cap. 11. Comment Gent. Aust Moreover the Austrians are descended from the Frenchmen and Saxones who by the sword got this Country from the Hungarians Austria hath on the East Hungaria on the South the Mountaines of Styria which doe runne out with one continued Bridge from the Alpes into Hungary and other Countries beyond it it hath on the East Bavaria and on the North the Rivers Tejus and Moravia It hath a milde pleasant ayre and wholesome in regard that the East winde doth purifie it The soyle is very fruitfull and not chargable in tilling For the Husbandman in that part which is called Campus Transdanubianus or the Fields beyond Danubius will plough the ground with one poore leane Horse The Austrians doe not know what Marle is with which the barren leane Fields in Bavaria are manured All the Country hath excellent Wine which is purer then the Germane wine and weaker then the Spanish wine which it doth transport to Moravia Bohemia Silesia and Bavaria Besides it hath excellent good Saffron It hath also abundance of Silver but no Gold it hath Salt also which is partly made at home partly imported and brought in from other parts The Earles of Babenberg did sometime governe Austria the first was Lupold whom the Emperour Otto the second created Marquesse of Austria whose Line being extinct Rudolphus of Habspurg who was elected Emperour in the yeere 128● did governe it and made it a Dukedome And Frederick the second made it a Kingdome The armes of this Country were heretofore five golden Larkes painted in a Sky-colour Field but the Marquesse Lupold the V.
had new Armes given him by the Empire which were set forth in white and red colours because his Buckle● was so bloody in the Battaile against Ptolomies that it was all bloody even to the bend which went crosse the Scutchion Moreover THE ARCHDVKEDOME OF AVSTRIA· AUSTRIA archiduc Austria is devided into the higher and the lower the latter whereof is situate beyond Danubius and the former on this side It hath also the Dukedome of Styria which lyeth betweene the Rivers Danubius Muer and Mietz the Inhabitants whereof doe partly use the Germane speech and partly the Sclavonian It hath also the Dukedome of Carinthia which is situate betweene the Rivers Muer and Draicus and also Carmina Southward The chiefe Citty of Austria is Vienna which the Sarmatians and Windians did inhabit before the birth of our Saviour Christ after whom there succeeded the Boijans Senonians and others whom Tiberius Nero did reduce into a Province Antoninus calleth it in his Itinerarie Vindebona and Ptolemy calls it Iuliobona and both of them doe place the tenth Germane Legion there for many ancient Monuments both within and without the Citty doe witnesse that it was seated in that place To this Legion from the Colour or Ensigne belonging to it the name of a Larke was given whence it seemes that the Marquesse of Austria had their Armes at the first which are five Larkes And Otto of Frisingen Lib. 1. Histor Frid. cap. 32. calleth it Faviana For he saith Dux iunc demum terga hosti dare compellitur periculis belli exemptus in Vicinum opidum Viennis quod olim à Romanis inhabitatum Fabiana Dicebatur declinavit That is The Duke was put to flight by the enemy and was faine to retire to the Towne Vienna which when the Romanes did heretofore inhabit it was called Fabiana You may read the like in the History of Severinus Bishop of Vienna Lazius saith that Strabo calleth it Vendum Iornandes calleth it the Citty Pannonia and in the Sclavonian language it is called Wien Wydme Ortelius writeth that hee learned out of D. Carolus Rimius who was sometime Orator to Zelimus the great Turke that the Turkes doe call this Citty Betz Leunclavius calleth it Wetsch and Beetz It is a faire Citty situate by the River Danubius and encompassed with a strong wall so that Vienna is a well fortified and a strong Bulwarke against the Turkes The Suburbs are great and large The Citizens have faire magnificent Houses which are adorned with Pictures and strongly built There are many great faire Churches built of Free-stone and arched with divers Pillars Their Wine-cellers are so deepe and large that they have as much building under the ground as they have above ground Their streets are paved with hard stone so that Cart-wheeles cannot weare them It hath great store of Corne and Wine so that in the time of Vintage for 40. dayes together they doe use 1200. Horses to carry Corne and Wine in Carts It received the Christian Religion in the yeere 466. by the preaching and instruction of Severinus who built two Churches there The History of this Citty may be found in Lazius and Otto of Friburg Frederick the second did adorne and enlarge this Citty as also all the other following Dukes of Austria The Emperour Frederick did erect there an University for all Arts and Sciences which was afterward renewed by Albert Archduke of Austria in the yeere 1356. But afterward through sedition it was ruinated These were famous men in Vienna namely Wolfgangus Lazius Medius an Historian to the Emperour Ferdinand also Iulius Alexandrinus Mathias Farinator also Iohn Haselbach was Professor of Divinity in the University of Vienna who was so large in the explanation of that which hee propounded to his audience that he preached twenty yeeres out of the Prophet Esaiah and yet hee was not come to the end of the first Chapter This Citty is famous for the Citizens valiant holding out against the Turkes siege in the yeere 1529. in which 80000. Turkes were slaine There is also in higher Austria Gmunda which is no great Towne but yet very neat and pleasant situated by a Lake which is called from thence the Lake Gmunda out of which Dravus a River of Austria riseth At Gmunda there is great store of Salt which is digged out of the neighbouring Mountaines and so being brought to Gmunda in little Vessels which in their Country speech they call Kivelin it is transported by the River Dravus unto Danubius and so from Vienna it is transported to other Citties of Austria Hungaria Stiria and Carinthia to the great gaine and commodity of the Gmundians It is watered also with many Rivers the chiefe whereof is Danubius which was heretofore the limmiting bounds of the Country but now it cutteth thorow the middle of it The other Rivers are Athosinus Genus or Onasus Tranus Traunus and Erlaphus which ariseth out of a pleasant Lake by the River Cella famous for the Church of the Virgin Mother there are also the Rivers Traisius Ypsius Melicus Marchia and Tejus which devideth Moravia from Austria also Cambus which is full of divers kindes of Fish and Leytha also Suegadus in which there are excellent Crabs and others It hath many Mountaines the chiefe whereof are the Mountaine Cecius commonly called Calenberg which extendeth from Danubius even to the River Dravus the parts of it are Schneberg Semering Kemperg Hertperg Deusperg Heusterg Plaitz Also Cognanus now called der Haimburgerperg which reacheth from Danubius to Arabon It hath also some woods which are parts and pieces of the wood Hercinia and the Moones Wood And they are now called der Freyste●●er und Kon●gwiserwaldt But let us proceede to other matters In the Citie of Vienna twelve Magistrates doe dayly sit in Iudgement Of which foure are of the Clergie the Officiall of the Bishop of Patavia the Officiall of the Bishop of Vienna the Deane of the Cathedrall Church and the Rector or governour of the Vniversity There are also foure Citizens and foure out of the Citty The chiefe whereof are these whom they call Regimentum where all lower Austria doe bring their suits and causes to tryall and they call the Court the Exchequer whether all the accompts of the Province are brought The rest are subject unto them and causes are removed and brought from them to the higher the Senate of the Province does appeale to the ordinary of the Province the Senate of the Citie with the Consull doth appeale to the Citie Praetor the Iudgement of Custome and the Merchants Praetor which they call the Landgrave concerning which matter Wolfgangus Lazius of Vienna doth discourse at large in his Vienna Austria is the third Circle of the Empire in which there are two Orders In the first there are the Clergie as the Bishops of Trent of Brixen of Goricen of Segovia of Labachia of Vienna Teutsch Ordens Meister Ordens Maister in Eischtall In the second are the secular Princes as the Archduke of Austria Count Schaumberg
the Barren of Wolkenstain the Lord Senster the Lord Roggendorff Count Hardkeck And besides the Princes of the Empire there are in Austria the Counts of Thurn Crentz Ortenburg Perneck Garb Freyhern Landskron Wanberg Hohen Osterwitz Newberg Guetenhag Teuffe●bach Maiyhofen Awersperg Dorneck Saraw Hattenstain Schwartzenaw Tu●nstai● Wachanthall Hoffkirchen Eytzing The Lordships also are Aichelperg Liechtenstain Puchaim Luetkurt Porges Schonkirchen Shifftenberg Altensperg Hornstein and Seibersdorff THE BISHOPRICKE OF SALTZBVRG THe Bishopricke of Saltzburg is so called from the Metrapolitan Citty Saltzburg Francis Irenicus maketh this the chiefe of the five Bishopricks of Bavaria This Territory is enriched with all kinde of Mettals as Gold Silver Brasse and Iron Here is also Rozen Brimstone Allom and Antimony There are also Mines of Marble The plaine ground is fit for planting of Vines or Tillage The Mountaines doe afford great store of game for Hawking and Hunting Munster doth name 58. Bishops of Saltzburg the last was Ernest Count Palatine of Rhene Duke of Bavaria the Sonne of Albert and Kunegundis the Daughter of the Emperour Frederick Moreover in the time of Arno the tenth Bishop hereof it was made an Archbishop by Leo the third and it hath under it these Suffragan Bishops the Bishop of Trident of Patavia of Vienna of Gorcensa of Brixen of Frisingen of Seccovia of Lavintinium and the Chyenensiam The Metrapolis or Mother Citty is Saltzburgum or Salisburgum it is commonly call'd Saltzburg from the River Saltzach though some suppose that it is called Saltzburg from the Salt which is digged neere unto it There is also Iuvantia or Iuvavia or Iuvaviam which was so called à juvando from helping and in the Germane language Helffenberg because Iulius Caesar built a Castle there to be a defence and refuge to his Legions against the Germanes whom hee intended to conquer and subdue For it is reported that the Romanes slew 3400000. Germanes and tooke 1500000. Prisoners Some thinke that Iuvavia was so called from the River Iuvavius which runneth neere unto it It is called also the Iuvensian Castle as Pighius sheweth Aventinus affirmeth out of ancient writing and records that it was that which Ptolomy calls Paedicum and that there is a Village still remaining of that name But Francis Irenicus writeth that it is Ptolomies Gamanodurum or Badacum unto whom Volateranus doth also assent Antoninus his Itinerary maketh mention of Iuvaria But Gasper Bruschius doth thinke that the name Helffenberg is more ancient than Iuvavia and from thence it was called Iuvavia which signifies the same Pighius writeth that he read these Verses in a Church of this Citty Tunc Hadriana vetus quae post Iuvavia dicta Praesidialis erat Noricis Episcopo digna Ruberti sedes qui fidem contulit illis Christi quam retinet Saltzburgum sero vocata Then Hadrian which they did after call Iuvavia was a seate Praesidiall Of the Noricians and a Bishoprick it hath Where Rubert taught them first the Christian faith Which since that time the people doe retaine And now of late they doe it Saltzberg name THE BISHOPRICKE OF SALTZBVRG SALTZBURG CARINTHIA Qui mihi de celsis nuper fuit Alpibus actus Oenus ubi atque Athesis murmura ranca facit Argenti aeterno scaturit qua vena Metallo Et ditat totam patriam Alemanicam Hic halant liquido puro de fonte Salinae Ditantes Bavaros Austriacosque Duces Hic turba est tetrae nigraeque simillima morti Qui solvunt vastis ignibus aera suis Haud credas nostris decocta Metalla per ignem Sed Phlegetontaeis mundificata vadis Whom I did drive downe from the Alpes so high Where Oenus and Athesis runne by With a hollow murmour where Silver vaine Enricheth all the Country of Alemaine Here Salt doth boyle out of the pure spring Which to the Austrian Dukes much wealth doth bring And the Bavarians while a smooty crew Doe melt the Brasse as blacke as death in shew You cannot thinke that fire doth make it runne But that it is refin'd in Phlegeton This Bishoprick also hath many woods as the woods Hardio Hendard and Weyhard which lye on the North. But let so much suffice concerning the Bishoprick of Saltzburg it remaineth that we should speake something concerning the Dukedome of Carinthia which is contained in this Table The Dukedome of CARINTHIA CARINTHIA or Carnithia as Rithaimerus supposeth it should be written was so called from the Carnians who are the ancient Inhabitants thereof whom both Pliny and other Geographers doe mention But it is doubtfull whether they were so called from Carnuntum an ancient Towne often mentioned by Authors or whether the Towne was so denominated from them There is a place in Pannonia almost seven miles distant from Vienna where there are some ruines remaining of a famous Citty which is now called D. Petronell Moreover the Carniolians are called in the Germane language Karnten Krain Karst This Country hath on the East and North S●yria on the West and South the Alpes Carniola is a part of it there are many Valleyes and Hills in this Country which doe yeeld great store of wheat Solinus cap. 30. saith that the Country Noricia is cold and unfruitfull but that part which is more remote from the Alpes is very fertile The Metropolis of this Country is Santo-Vicus which is a faire Citty by the River Lana It hath a large Market-place and a cleare fountaine of water There is also the Towne Villacum where the forepart of the houses are curiously painted with Histories set forth in colours which are very pleasant to behold It is seated on a plaine by the River Dravus and environed with high Rockes and it hath a stone Bridge Clagenfurtum is a well fortified Citty which as Lazius witnesseth was anciently called Claudia Some doe write that the Citizens of this Citty are so severe and inexorable towards theeves insomuch that upon suspition of felony some have beene put to death without tryall three dayes after his execution they araigne him and if they finde that he was not guilty they bury him honourably but if they finde that hee was guilty they let him hang on the Crosse or Gallowes But Rithaymerus thinketh it to be a fabulous report there is also Wolspergum which lyeth by the River Lavandus also Santo Leonardus c. There are many Lakes in this Country as Mulsetterse O ssiachersee Werdsee Lavandtsee Iudenburgersee Weisee The chiefe River is Dravus which runneth thorow Stiria and Pannonia into Danubius The next unto it are Savo Glana Schleiniza and Lavand all which Dravus doth receive Mura also runneth into Dravus But most of the aforesaid Rivers have their Spring-heads and Fountaines in this Country which is every where full of Mountaines For the high Alpes as Strabo writeth doe runne hither in one continued ridge so that it seemeth one Mountaine which is sometimes lower and sometimes higher I doe thinke there are parts of the Mountaine Taurus which the Inhabitants
there are also many other small Rivers There are almost no Mountaines except Southward where it is parted from Hu●gary by the Sarmatian and Carpathian Mountaines which the inhabitants call Taury The Country is full of woods which are parts of the wood Hercinia But so much hitherto The Politick state of the Kingdome of Poland hath 2. Members The first are the Clergie in which are the two Archbishopricks of Gnesna and Leopolis The Bishops of Cracovia of Ploczko of Chelma Vladislavia Pomesania Varmia Culma and Sambiensis Posnonia Proemislia Cavenez Vilna Medincque Luceoria In Livonia the Bishops of Riga Dirpta Absel and Revalia Secondly the Nobles in which there are Castellanus Cracowvia the Palatine of Cracovia Posnania Sandomiria Kalischy Siradia Lancisa Brezeste Inowladislavia Russia Podalia Lublin Belze Plocense Mozavia Rava Also in Lithuania the Palatines of Vilna of Trochy Poletsho Novogrod and Vitellia Also in Prussia the Palitnes of Culma Marienbourg Pomerania The Counts are of P●snania Sand miria Kalische Voinice Gnesne Siradi● Lancise Brizeste Inowladeslavia Leopolis Camenezia Lublin Belze Plocense Geine Ravense Sandecia Myedzeris Vis●icie Biece Rogostia Radom Zawichost Land●nse Streme Zarnowe Mologost Vi●lune Premis●ia Haine Sa●●e Chelme Dobrine Polane●ce Premetense Criswinense Czecovia Nacle Rospirie Byechov●a Bydgostia Brezezine Crininice Osvecimense Camenetz Spicimirie Inowlodense Revalia Zavoloo Sachazonia Vasovia Gostine Visne Raciez Sieprecense Wisogrod Riprin Zabrochzinense Circhanouia Livense In Lithuania there are old Palatines of Vilna and Trochi In Prussia of Culma Elbingen and Pomerania There are many Captaines in the Kingdome of Poland And two Mars-halls of the Kingdome and the Court. The Ecclesiastick doth consist of these Archbishops Bishops aforesaid The Noble men are very sharpe witted and they doe travell into forraigne Countries to get knowledge and languages They are couragious and doe not feare the stoutest Enemie and if the Nobles doe wrong them all their kinsfolkes and friends doe joyne with them to revenge it and doe never cease untill they have revengd it or lost their owne lives Lastly they are not so liberal as Prodigall both in Banqueting and imoderate guifts and also in keeping a great retinew or number of Servants whom they cloth and feede SILESIA ANd so much concerning the Kingdome of Poland Silesia remaineth which I will briefely unfold It was so called from a River of the same name as Conradus Celtes witnesseth Others have other derivations It is bounderd on the North and East with Polonia on the South with Moravia and the Wood Hercynia on the West with part of Lusitia and Bohemia It is 200. Mile long and 80. broade Though the ayre be somewhat cold yet it is milde and gentle The Country in regard it is watered with many Brookes and Rivers is very fruitfull in most places and it hath in some parts Veines of Gold Silver Lead and Iron it yeeldeth also clothing for it selfe and many other Countries beside The Citties are well inhabited and adorned with Lawes and good Arts. The Metropolis thereof is Vratislavia some would have it to be that which Ptolomie cals Budorchis it is comonly call'd Breslaw Duglossus writeth that it was built by Mieslaus Duke of Polonia a little before the yeere of Christ 1000. And 40. yeeres afterward it was adorned with a Bishoprick by Casimirus King of Poland and it encreased so much that the Bishops of this Citty were called the golden Bishops in regard of their wealth and riches In the yeere 1341. it was burnt downe But the Emperour Charles the third made it in stead of Brick of Gold On the Steeple of St. Elizabeths Church there is this Inscription Mirabilis in altis Dominus The Situation the beauty of the Houses Towers and Churches the faire Bridges and large Streets doe much set forth this Citty Nissa is an Episcopall Citty There are besides in this Country 15. Dukes Lignicensis Bregensis Teschinensis Monsterbergensis Olsvicensis and Beoustadiensis and three ancient Families namely Ligvicensis Teschinensis and Monsterbergensis Tropaviensis Opeliensis Nissensis Vratislavensis or Breslauw Swidnisensis Hurensis Glagoviensis Ratibonensis and Sagonensis But these latter honours the Kings of Bohemia since the decease of their Lords have gotten There are three Baronyes namely of Trachenberg of Vertenberg and Plessensis The Kings high Court in Silesia is kept at Vratislavia where there is a Bishops seate as also at Kissa Viadrus runneth thorow this Country into which many Rivers and Streames doe flow as Elsa Ola Bobrus Barusins and others POLAND POLAND which is situate in the Europian Sarmatia is both long and wide and doth take up a great part of it it was so called from the Fields and plaine ground for Pole signifies as much as Plaine it is a very great Country having on the North Borussia and Pomerania on the East Massovia and Lithuania on the South Russia and the Mountaines of Hungaria on the West Lusatia Silesia and Moravia It is devided into the greater and lesser Poland The greater is more Northward and the River Varta runneth thorow the middle of it The lesser is Southward and the River Vistula glideth thorow it The Polanders are descended from the Sclavonians as Neugebaverus witnesseth Lib. Rer. Polonicar and their Kingdome was never so large as it is now because the great Dukedome of Lituania Livonia are joyned unto it albeit the King of Swethland hath lately gotten a great part of these Provinces It reacheth from the River Notes Obrá which doe devide it from Marchia and from the River Odera which doth part it from Silesia even to Beresaia and Borysthenes which seperateth it from Moscovia and so it extendeth West and East 120. Germane miles and as much from the farthest part of Livonia to the confines of Hungarie And so being of a round forme it is very wide and capacious There are in the greater Poland these principall Citties Posnavia built by the Rivers Varta and Prosna betweene the Hills with a double wall it hath faire slated Houses and great Suburbs by the farther banke of the River Varta being encompassed with a great Lake and Marshes and having two famous Faires every yeere it is a Bishops seate and hath many Townes under it Calisia is a walled Citty among the Marshes by which the River Prosna runneth It had sometime a strong well fortified Castle as the ruines doe testifie there are other Townes also subject unto it Gnesna is walled about being situate in a Plaine betweene Lakes and Hills and it is an Archbishops seate This Citty was first built by Lechus in which Boleslaus Chabri Prince of Polonia received the royall Diadem from the Emperor Otto the III. when before that time Poland was onely a Dukedome Siradia is a woodden Citty walled and seated on a Plaine it hath a strong Castle by the River Varta This Citty was honoured with the title of a Dukedome which dignity belonged to the Kings second Sonne It hath also many Townes under it among which is Petricovia which was heretofore of great
note where the Sessions for the whole Kingdome were wont to bee held which are now translated to Warsavia Lancicia is a pleasant Citty seated on a Plaine and walled about having a walled Castle on a Rocke by which the River Bísura glideth Cujavia or Vladislavia is a faire Citty being a Bishops seate Bidgostia is subject unto it which is seated by the navigable River Buda Brestia hath under it Radzieiow Crusphicia and Cowalow Crusphicia is the chiefe Citty of Poland next to Gnesna it is built of wood with a slated Castle by the Lake Golpo Rava is a wodden Citty situate by a River of the same name Ploczko is a pleasant Citty seated on a Hill by the River Vistula in which there was a Castle which the Crucigerians did demolish In the lesser Polonia the chiefe Citties are these Cracovia Sandomiria and Lublinum Cracovia is built on a Plaine neere the River Vistula being fortified with a double wall and a deep ditch It hath a Castle on a high Rock● which they call Vanel in this Citty the Kings of Poland keepe their residence and are buried It hath a famous Schoole for the study of Philosophie The Castellanus of Cracovia taketh place of the Palatine in the Senate but in other Provinces the Palatine is preferd before the Castellanus Moreover there are three Citties neere unto Cracovia Clepardia Stradomia and Cassimiria It hath two Dukedomes under it Zarocensis and Oswiecimensis It hath many Townes under it Sandomiria is a principall Citty walled about and situate on a Hill by the River Vistula being 22. miles distant from Cracovia It hath an ancient Castle well fortified under it there are Checiny in a Plaine which is famous for Mines of Blue in which there is Silver also found also Korezin Malogast and other Townes Lublinum is a Citty beyond Vistula being fortified with a Wall a Ditch a Lake and a Castle In which there are 3. Faires every yeere unto which both Turkes Armenians Grecians Germanes Muscovites and Lithuavians doe resort The Iewes doe ininhabite a great part of the Suburbs and have a Sinagogue there The River Bystizna doth runne by the Castle Poland as we said before is a plaine Country the most part of it is coverd with Woods and it yeeldeth good store of Barley Wheate and Pulse It hath abundance of Cattle It hath Lakes which are full of all kindes of Fish The chiefe Rivers are Vistula Viadrus commonly called Odera Tyres now Niester Hypanis which is called Bugh Vistula now called die Weixel was heretofore called Vandalus some call it Issula and Vissula This River riseth in the Carpathian Mountaines and before it commeth to Cracovia it is enlarged by the receit of many Rivers and afterward being growne very deepe and broad before it come to Dantiscum it dischargeth it selfe into the Codan Bay Boristhenes so well knowne of old is now called Nieper It hath a few Mountaines and those Southward where it looketh toward Hungaria The State of the Kingdome consisteth of the Clergie and Nobles The Ecclesiastick Order hath two Bishops the Bishop of Ghesnia who is Primate of the Kingdome who doth also crowne the King and the Bishop of Leopolis in blacke Russia The Bishops are of Cracovia in lesser Poland the Bishop of Posnia in the greater Poland and in other Provinces the Bishops Plocensis Chelmensis Vilnensis Kioviensis Lucensis Ianoucensis Samogitiensis Warmensis Culmensis Sambiensis Pomasaniensis Rigensis and others The Politick order of the Nobles hath 26. Palatines 60. Counts 4. Marshals a Chancellor and a Vicechancellor two Generals or Captaines in the lesser Poland there are forty common Captaines in the greater 30. in Massovia 12. So that the Kings when occasion requires can raise 200000. Nobles He that desires to know more concerning the state of this Kingdome let him have recourse to Stanislaus Kizistanowie his POLAND POLONIA description of the State of the Kingdome of Poland or to Guagninus or Boterus their description of Germany and Neugebaverus his Polonian History There are also in Poland Mines of Salt by Bochnia and Veliscus which doe exceed all others Veliscum is 8. miles distant from Cracovia Bochina is a faire Towne with a Castle where the Governour of rhe Saltpits dwels who is called Zupparius The Country round about is barren but this Country maketh a greater revenue out of these Mines then some Countries doe out of Gold and Silver Mines The people of Poland especially the Nobles doe now differ much from the Scythian barbarisme of the ancient Sarmatians They have no Robberies so that in Summer time they ride in Waggons and in Winter time in Coaches safely and without danger Most of the Nobility are very sharpe witted and doe get experience and languages by travelling into forraine Countries They are couragious and will not shun the stoutest enemy if any one bee wronged by the Nobles all their kindred and friends doe joyne together in revenging it and doe never cease untill they have revenged it or lost their owne lives Lastly they are not so liberall as prodigall both in their frequent Banquets and in the great retinue and number of Servants which they keepe and clothe THE KINGDOME OF HVNGARY HUNGARIA commonly called Hongeren which name it received from the Huns or Hungarians who came out of Scythia and did inhabit it doth containe Pannonia and the Countries of Iazigus and the Dacians beyond Danubius On the South it hath the River Savus which devideth it from Croatia and Servia which are a part of Illyrici over against the Adriatick Sea On the North it hath Poland and Russia which are disjoyned by the Mountaine Carpatus On the West it hath Austria which was heretofore the head of the higher Pannonia together with Moravia and Styria on the East Mysia which they now call Rhetiana It is an excellent Country both for the goodnesse of the soyle and the pleasantnesse of the Situation The Country is very fruitfull and fertill and yeeldeth Pearles Gold Silver Colours and Salt which are to be digged out of the Earth It hath abundance of Grasse Wheate Pulse and Fruit. That Country which is by Danubius doth yeeld excellent wine even from the Country of the five Churches to Taurunus or Belgrad But there is no Oyle and excepting that it is adorned with all the gifts of nature It hath divers kindes of living Creatures having such great plenty both of Oxen and Sheepe that great Droves are carried into other Countries especially into Italy and Germany It hath also abundance of wilde beasts as Hares Does Goats Harts Wolves Beares and the like And also great store of Birds especially Thrushes Partridges and Pheasants The Paeonians or Pannonians did first inhabit this Country afterward the Gothes who were expulsed by the Huns and the Huns by the Longobards who were seated here 13. yeeres But the Huns came in againe under the conduct of their Captaine Attila after whose death Charles the Great tooke it into his owne possession But in the yeere 700. the Huns
the Plantation doth continue thorow all the descent of Rhodanus untill you come to S. Ma●icius At Sedunum the red Wine is better than the white and it is so black and thick that you may write with it Neere Octodurum the white is better than the red And there is no better Wine in Germany than that which groweth at Sedunum and so is transported and carried into neighbour Countries Here as also in Siders and Gundes Saffron groweth in great abundance There are Oranges Almonds and Figges And thorow the whole Country you shall finde all kinde of Apples Peares Nuts Prunes Cheries Chesnuts Mulberies Peaches Apricocks and the like Moreover the Mountaines of this Country doe yeeld many sorts of Physicall Hearbes and Rootes which have speciall soveraigne vertues This Country also is very fruitfull of Mines and pure Christall is digged forth in Gums neere the Spring-head of Rhodanus It produceth also divers kindes of living creatures as Kine Oxen Horses Asses Mules Sheepe Hogges Goates and Cunnies also Geese Ducks Hens Peacocks and Doves It hath also abundance of Bees of which they make great profit Moreover the Mountaines have some beasts unknowne to us as the Aegocerots which are horned like Goates also wilde Oxen Alpine Mice and Hares unlike to ours also Pheasants Woodcocks and Birds which they call Parnifas also Partridges Vultures Ring-Doves Hernes Finches Magpies Stares and Thrushes They have also abundance of Beares Wolves Leopards Foxes Martines and Faulcons But they have no Harts Goates Boares Scorpions or Shelfrogs Yet they have such great store of Venison in this Country that it is sold in the Market like Oxe-flesh and sometime cheaper Moreover the Bishop of Sedunum is Prince and Lord of all Valesia both in spirituall and temporall matters and Charles the great about the yeere of Christ 805. gave this Country and Praefectorship to S. Theodolus Bishop of Sedunum and to his Successors And many other Emperours did confirme this donation and strengthen it even vntill this day Valesia is devided into the higher and the lower The higher doth speake the Germane language and beginneth at the Mountaine Furca and so runneth forth to Marca which is under Seduum neere the River Morsus and it containeth seven Tithings or Dioeceses which they call Zenden namely Sedunum Syder Leuck Raren Visp B●●gg and G●mbs In the lower Valesia they use the Sabaudian language it beginneth from the River Morsus and stretcheth even to the Bridge of S. Mauritius the Inhabitants whereof were formerly called Veragrians This lower Valesia hath sixe communities which they call Vexica or B●nnerat namely Condes Ardon Sallien Martinacht Intrem●nt and S. Mauritium The Metropolis of Valesia is Sedunum in the Germane language Sitten and in French Siun it is a neate Citty and groweth every day more faire and beautifull It is seated by a Mountaine which riseth Eastward in the middle of a Plaine betweene the high Mountaines which doe enclose the Valley and it hath two forked high Rockie tops But Sedunum a Bishoprick of Valesia is subject to Torentasia the Archbishoprick of Sabaudia and likewise Augusta There is no walled Citty in Valesia besides Sedunum although S. Mauritius or Agaunum may be counted a pretty Towne Moreover here are the Castles of Martinacht or Octodurum of Gradetsch and old Sider also the Townes Sider Leuc Raronia Vespia Brig Naters and Morall The Mountaines which doe encompasse Valesia have other names now than they had heretofore The Mountaine out of which Rhodanus riseth was heretofore called Subecus Coatius and Vrsellus it is now called Furca Neere unto this is the Mountaine Gothard neere to Briga is the Mountaine Sempronius now call'd Simpelberg Neere unto it are the Mountaines Sa●es and Matter On the other side of Rhodanus are the Mountaines Loetsch and Gemmi In the Poenine Valley is the Icie Mountaine Arolla Over against Sider Northward is the Mountaine S●lvius which is called Austalberg and on both sides the Mountaine of S. Bernbard The Wood Hercynia reacheth forth some of his armes hither which are called by divers names for in some places neere Arnes it is called the Wood Milebach and neere Perigrad it is called Persim Waldt and in other places it hath other names The people in Valesia are now very courteous and affable unto Strangers But they are somewhat more harsh and riged then it becommeth friends and neighbours to be THE SECOND TABLE OF LOMBARDY VVHICH THESE COVNtries are especially described the Country of Tirolis and Marca Tarvisina THe second Table of Lombardy containeth the County of Tirolis and Marca Tarvisina The Country of Tirolis is so named from the Towne Tirolus which was heretofore very faire It lyeth betweene the Rivers Athesis and Oenus and betweene the Alpine Rocks on the North it is enclosed with Bavaria on the South with Lombardy on the East with Marca Tarvisina and Forum Iulij on the West with Helvetia It was heretofore a part of Rhetium This Country although it be enclosed with Alpes and extendeth it selfe thorow the Rhaetian Rockes yet it is rich in fruits and all things necessary to life as also it hath great store of Gold Silver and all kindes of Mettals which are drawn out of the bowels of the Mountaines the tops whereof are crowned with vast Woods and full of great store of wilde beasts the Hills and Cliffes are full of fruits and Vines the Valleys are watered with Fountaines and Rivers and full of Heards and Flocks of Cattle And therefore this County may be equal'd and compared not onely to a Dukedome but also to a Kingdome It was joyned to the House of Austria in the yeere 1460. by Rodolph the Sonne of Albert Duke of Austria The Chiefe Citty is Oenipons commonly call'd Inspruck on the right hand banck of the River Oenus being the seate of the Prince and the Parliament of Austria is kept here There are also the Towne Ma●●●am by the Royall Castle and Bolzanum a Mart Towne of Tirolis Halla is a Town by the River Oenus famous for making of Salt B●ixia is an Episcopall Citty by the River Isacus where the River Rientius doth disburden it selfe into Isacus There is also the old Citty T●iden●●●● by the River Athesis which Pliny and Strabo doe place in the tenth Country of Italy some would have it built by the Frenchmen and so ●●●gus delivers It is supposed that it was so named from Neptunes Trident For as the Randenensians doe worship Saturne so the Tridentines did worship Neptune whose effigies and statue may be yet seene in the Church of B. Viglius on that side which lyeth toward the Market Theodorick King of the Ostrogoths did wall this Citty with faire freestone And hee fortified the Castle of Tridentum on the other banck of the River in Verrucā in like manner Afterward wh●● 〈◊〉 Ostrogothes were expelled out of Italy the Langbards did posse●●● as a Dukedome But Desiderius King of Langbards being overcome by Charles the great it came againe to bee under the Emperours Jurisdiction and the
Emperour did enlarge it by the accession and addition of the Towne Ripa neere Benacum with some Valleys and Villages After him Charles the Saxone gave to the Church the whole County of Tridentum together with a faire Valley and the Towne B●lzanius And the Earle of Tirolis was made Defender and Protector thereof And from that time the Bishop had Jurisdiction over both The Citizens doe speake partly the Germane language and partly the Italians and which is seldome seene in Frontiere Citties they speake as pure language as in the middle of Germany or in the middle of Italy In this Citty that famous Counsell was celebrated in the yeere 1546. under Pope Paul the third This Country is watered with two speciall Rivers Oenus and Athesis The other may rather be called Rivulets than Rivers Here are no particular Mountaines for they are all called by one generall name the Rhetian Alpes although they are afterward distinguished by their proper names Here are also many woods as Grinwald Hosgarten In der Aich Milrinald Forrest Vnser Frawen Holtz c. Marca Tarvisina I Have spoke of the County of Tirolis it remaineth now that wee should speake of Marca Tarvisina It was so named from the Citty Tarvisium where the Marquesses of Lombardy kept their residence who were Governours of this Country Cassiodorus and others doe call it Tarvisinum It is called also Venetia from the Venetian people But now in the Country speech it is called Marca Trevigiana Concerning the bounds thereof Leander writeth that Mincius Benacus and the River Sarca doe enclose it on the West on the North the Tarvisanian Mountaines which devide Italy from Germany on the East the mouth of the River Timavus and part of the Hadriatick Sea on the South the mouth of Athesis and the Melarianian and Brigantinian Marshes and the same Leander affirmeth that these were the bounds of ancient Venetia and not of Marca Tarvisina which was far straighter and lay lengthwaies betweene the Rivers Mincius and Alsa and that beyond Alsa they were joyned to Forum Iulium and besides that which is now called Marca Tarvisi●a did containe some places of the Cenomanians c. The Country is fruitfull the ayre wholsome pleasant and temperate It hath pleasant Fields which yeeld great store of Corne and Wine and other fruits It hath plenty of Mettals and good store of Cattell And it is adorned and enriched with so many gifts of nature that it is worthy to bee accounted one of the principall Countries of Italy Heretofore the Euganeans dwelt here the derivation of whose name if wee seeke it from the Greeke may THE SECOND TABLE OF LOMBARDY Tarvisina Marchia et Tirolis Comitatus be derived from their noble generous birth The Venetians as Livie noteth Lib. 1. did drive the Euganeans from home from whom the whole Country was called Venetia The Citties of Marca Tarvisina are Verona Vincentia Patavium Venetia Tarvisium Of the former of which namely Verona Vincentia and Patavium we will speake in their proper Table Venice is a Citty which containeth about 60. small Ilands it is seated in the innermost part of the Hadriatick Bay in the middest of the Lakes which the Tyde filleth every 6. houres the Sea floweth on the East side which that the violence and rage thereof may doe no harme some other Ilands doe lye before it to restraine the fury of the Sea And although it be not fortified with walls Bulwarks or Towers yet it is strong by the naturall situation It is devided with many Channels There are Rivers in all the streets which are joyned together by 450. stone and woodden Bridges The chiefest Channell is that which is called Canal grande three miles long which devideth the whole Citty into two parts So that you may either goe on foote or by Boate of which there are 8000. thorow the Citty they commonly call these Boates Gondelas The compasse of this Citty is about 8. miles which is famous for populousnesse wealth and store of Merchandise it hath produced excellent wits and most learned men and it is adorned with good Lawes and laudable Statutes It doth abound with Corne which is brought thither out of divers parts of the World as also with divers sorts of Wine among which is that generous sort of Wine which is commonly called Malmesy and with other things necessary to mans life so that it may be rightly call'd the Paradise of Delight There are in it 64. Parishes There are also magnificent and sumptuous publike and private buildings The chiefest Church is that which is dedicated to Saint Marke the Evangelist which is gilded in many places And to omit other matters there is an Armory within the Citty commonly call'd the Arsenale which is about two miles in compasse Here are made of Wood Iron Brasse Hempe and Flaxe all kindes of provision for Ships as Anchors Guns Cables Ropes Tackles and Sailes Here are also some Ensignes kept which were taken from the Turke or Pirates or Enemies and those Trophies which were taken at Naupactum in the yeere 1581. And also there are the Praetorian Barges and the Ship Bucentaurus in which the Prince accompanied with the Senate and chiefe men of the Citty is carryed every yeere to the entrance of the Sea where the Castle standeth and there after some Ceremonies performed by the Bishop he marrieth the Sea and puts a Ring upon it to shew his perpetuall dominion over it There is also a publike Library together with the Library of Bessarion Cardinall of Nicen which at his death he gave to the Common-wealth of Venice Venice is very populous so that there are thought to be in it about 300000. Citizens They are of three sorts or rankes the Patricians who governe the Empire and Common-wealth the Citizens who doe beare under Offices and the Artificers who use Mechanick Arts. And besides these there are great store of Merchants and Strangers which come thither in divers habits out of all parts of the World to trafficke as Turkes Aethiopians Slavonians Arabians Syrians Cretensians Cyprians Macedonians Germanes Hungarians Spaniards Frenchmen and others The Venetian Common-wealth was governed at the first by Consuls afterward by Tribunes for 252. yeeres afterward in the yeere 707. it began to be a Dukedome The Duke commonly call'd Doge is the head of the Common-wealth and the Prince of the Senate and he can doe nothing neither in time of peace or warre without the consent of the Senate for he consulteth with them The Senate make Decrees which yet are published in the Dukes name The Duke hath certaine stipends paid him out of the publike stock and after his decease another is chosen by suffrages and voyces out of the Senate The Senate which is commonly call'd Gran Co●siglio is the Basis and Foundation of the whole State the Members of it are all Nobles of 25. yeeres of age or above who have free liberty to speake very faithfull in Counsell and very carefull to preserve their liberty and
1575. by the Emperour Maximilian and the first Duke of Montis-ferrat was William the third Prince of Mantua In this Country the Duke of Mantua hath three famous Citties which are Casalis D. Evasij which was made a Citty by Sixtus the fourth in the yere 1474. it is a Bishops Se and the Seate of the Marquesse of Montis-ferrat It hath two Castles the old which was heretofore the Marquesses Palace and the new which Vincentius Gonzaga Duke of Mantua and Montis-ferrat built which is commonly called La Citadella Also Alba which Pliny calleth Pompeja and so calleth the Albensians Pompejanians It is farre bigger than Casalis D. Evasij but it hath not so good an ayre it was heretofore subject to the Marquesses of Montis-ferrat but now to the Dukes of Mantua That part of the Country is very fruitfull which is commonly call'd Laguvilla The third Citty is that which is commonly call'd Acqui Acquae Satyellorum which Pliny Lib. 3. Cap. 5. placeth in Liguria A●toninus call it Aquae from the hot and wholesome Waters and Fountaines which are here for there are in this Citty publike Bathes with stone Tables and steps to goe downe into them Beside the aforesaid Citties there are Bassimana Valentia S. Salvatore Moncalvo Alex●ndria Nicaea surnamed Palea Asta Pollentia Ceva and many others The Dukedome of GENOA THe Dukedome of the Genuensians or the Country of Genoa was heretofore called Liguria yet not all but that part which was beyond the Alpes There are divers opinions concerning the name of Liguria Some among whom is Paulus ●iaconus doe report that it was so called ab legendis Leguminibus from gathering of Pulse some from Ligo one of the fabulous Captaines of Iapetus and Berosus Caro Fabius Pictor and Semprocius suppose that it was so named from Ligures the Sonne of Aegiptian Phaeton Now it is commonly calld Riviera de Genoa from Genua a famous Cittie It is bounderd on the West with the Alpes which divide Gallia Narbonensis from Italie on the East with Etruria and Macra or Marga which floweth betweene them on the South it is beaten with the Ligurian Sea on the North it is enclosed with the Apennine This Country as Strionnius writeth was heretofore barren and had nothing in it worthy of memory but that it had great vast Trees fit for building of Ships But now it yeeldeth good store of Wine Oyle and other fruits The Country Dianus doth so abound with Oyle that sometimes it maketh 18. sometimes 20000. Jarres which they commonly call Barilas Genoa is now twofold the Easterne and the Westerne which from the Metropolis which standeth in the middle of them both is called Riviera di Genova di Ponente de Levante Livie and others call the chiefe Citty Genua Stephanus calleth it Genoa and Luitprandius Ticinensis and the Writers of his age Ianua it is now called Genoa and Genova concerning the situation It fronteth on Meridium and the Iland Cirnus the banke of it is opposite to the North and so it hath a gentle descent into a Plaine being seated at the foote of the Mountaines and behind a Trench or Bulwark doth keepe off the cold Northward having neither a Moutainous Situation nor a plaine but of a mixt kinde The Compasse of it is 35955. foote as the Bishop Nebianus reporteth So that if we allow 7. foote to a pace the measure of the whole Citty will be 5. miles but if wee allow 6. foote then neither the Bulwarke nor the Haven can come within this compasse or dimension It hath a faire Haven which lyeth to the South and Southwest which affoordeth safe harborage for Shipping But concerning Genoa there are these smooth Verses of Scaligers extent in English thus The Asian wealth and Easterne honours great And all that Land the Euxine Sea doth beate The Pisanian Armies and the youth of worth And the French Colours I alone drew forth The subdued Alpes I held and kept in awe And Affrick trembled when my Ships it sawe And the Venetian hath fled from the shot Which in my Haven he hath found too hot O France you are deceived much and Spaine In your attempts you take up armes in vaine I conquer being conquerd for if I obtaine Victory or lose it I am still the same Having viewed the Metropolis wee will shew some of the other Townes and Citties Not farre from Varus is that which Ptolemy calls Nicaea Antoninus Nicia and now Nizza It is a Sea Towne built heretofore by the Massilians and seated behinde the Alpes partly on the Cliffes and partly on plaine ground Now it is strong having a well-fortified Castle and it is subject to the Prince of Sabaudia A mile farther above the Port or Haven of Hercules Monaecus Torbis or Turbias is seated on the high Mountaines There are also the Townes of D. Remi or S. Remo seated in a pleasant fertile soyle and wonderfully terrified and adorned with Citterne-trees Palme-trees Lemmon-trees and others Castellum Tabia is but a little Towne but famous for good rich Appian Wines Albigaunum is an ancient Citty seated in a Plaine 500. paces from the Sea which hath an ill ayre but very rich and abounding with all things necessary Finarium also or Naulum Savona is an ancient Citty adorned with many magnificent buildings and the compasse of it is 1500. paces These Citties are on the Westerne side of Genoa on the East side there are Claverium Sestri di Levanto and others The Rivers here are Varus which devideth Province from Liguria the latter being a Country of Italy the former of France This River on the Westerne banke thereof which is toward France receiveth those Rivers which are commonly called in French Caremp Lavaire and Esteron on the Westerne banke toward Italy it receiveth the Rivers La Lince La Vesubie There are also by the Coasts of Liguria Paulon now called Pulion Rutuba now called R●tta There are also Merula Porzevera Ferisano Lavagna Maera now called Magra Concerning the Ecclesiastick government you may read in Mercators Table the Bishop of Taurinium under whom are the Bishops Casalensis Salutiarum Montis Regalis Novariensis Lodensis Vercellensis Ipporegiensis Actensis Aquensis Albensis Terdonensis Saonensis Albingaunensis Vintimeliensis Placentinus Papiensis are subject to the Archbishop of M●diolanum There are under the Archbishop of Genoa the Bishop Bobiensis Aprumacensis or Brumacensis Metenensis or Maranensis Acoiensis or Ampruniacensis Nubiensis in Corsica or Nebiensis Naulensis Albigaunensis or of Arbenga which is reckoned among the Suffragans to the Archbishop of Mediolanum THE DVKEDOME OF GENOA· THe Dukedome of Genoa which stretcheth forth to the Ligustick Sea belongeth properly to the Transalpine Liguria The Metropolis of it is the Citty Genoa the other part is devided into the Easterne and Westerne The bounds of the former is the Lunensian Haven of the latter the Haven of Monaecus This Country hath a rude stony soyle so that it bringeth forth nothing but that which is forced out of the Earth with
great paines It was heretofore cover'd over with woods having a few Husbandmen who did live rather by robberies than tillage Strabo the Geogr. Lib. 4. writeth thus concerning L●g●●a Qui Liguriam habitant ut plu●imum ex pecore victum agi●●●t 〈…〉 potione maritimis ex locis ac montanis pastum quae names That is those which inhabit Liguria live for the most part on Ca●tle their drinke is Milke and a kinde of drinke made of Barley they get their food on the Sea-shore and on the Mountaines These Mountaines afoord good Timber for building of Ships and great Trees which 〈◊〉 so thick that the Diameter of some of them is 8. foote The 〈◊〉 were heretofore a very warlike People who put the Romans to much trouble and at last could hardly be subdued Whence Liv●● calleth them Durum in armis genus a People hardy in the Warres and Virgil saith Assu●tumque malo Ligurem the Ligurian is inured to trouble Genua the Mistresse of Liguria is supposed to be the ancientest Citty of Italie and that it was built by Ianus whom some suppose to be Noah others conjecture that it was so named from Genuus the Sonne of King Saturne Paulus Perusinus delivers that Genuinus an Egyptian and one of Phaethons Companions who lay sicke here after he had recovered his health call'd it after his owne name Genua Others devise other Fables but it is the famousest Mart-towne of Liguria and it hath i●creased much within these 400. yeeres and now it is very strong much feared The Territories of this Citty did reach heretofore even to the River Tanais It had under it Theodosia a Citty of Taur●●a hers●nesus which is now called Caffa as also Cyprus Lesbus Chius which are Ilands in the Mediterranean Sea and Pera a Citty of Thrace It contended long time with the Venetians concerning the Dominion and Empire of the Sea In this Citty there are 28. Patrician Families out of which a Counsell of 400. men is chosen and the Duke is President thereof It began to be established at Gen●a in imitation of the Venetian Common-wealth about the yeere 1237. but afterward being much troubled with the factions and discords of the Citizens and being enforced to obey forraine Lords as the Mediolanians Frenchmen and Spaniards it lost much of her former power and authority THE DVKEDOME OF GENOA· GENOVESXIO and being now subject it enjoyeth rather an imaginary than a free Common-wealth But to conclude referring the Reader that desireth to know more to Bracelius Bizarus Aug. Iustinianus Fr. Leander Albertus I thinke it fitt to set downe Scaligers Verses The Asian wealth or Easterne honours great And all that Land the Euxine Sea doth beate The Pisanian Armies and the youth of worth And the French Colours I alone drew forth The subdued Alpes I held and kept in awe And Affrick trembled when my Ships it sawe And the Venetian hath fled from the shot Which in my Haven he hath found too hot O France you are deceived much and Spaine In your attempts you take up armes in vaine I conquer if conquerd for if I obtaine Victory or lose it I am still the same THE FOVRTH TABLE OF LOMBARDY IN VVHICH ARE THESE Countries Romandiola the Dukedomes of Parma and Feraria and the Marquiship of Mantua THE fourth and last Table of Lombardie doth present to your view Romandiola and the Dukedomes of Parma and Mantua The first is Romandiola or Romanula which was so called by the Pope and the Emperour Charles the great The bounds of Romanula on the North are the Moores or Marshes of Verona and Patavina even to the Mouth of the River Po together with a part of the Hadriatick Sea on the East Isaurus together with Picenum on the South the Apinnine with Etruria concerning the Western bounds there are different opinions Some goe no farther than the River Vatrinus on this side of Fo●●m Crrn●lij some passe over to Scultenna now Panarium and there they stay Wee will follow the latter and make the length thereof to bee 110. Miles or thereabouts betweene Folia and Panarium and the breadth almost 96. Miles betweene the Apennine and the Marshes before mentioned Concerning the qualitie of this Country Leander writeth that it hath a very good soile yeelding all kinds of fruites both for delight necessary use Here are large fields planted with al kinds of fruite bearing trees pleasant Hills full of Vines Olives and Figgs Woods full of fruite Meddowes full of grasse and Bushie thickets fit for hunting also many wholsome waters many Salt-pits both neere the Shoare side and within the Countrie also Mettalls Mines and innumerable other excellent guifts of nature which would be tedious to rehearse There are some famous Citties in this Country and many Townes The chiefe are that which Ptolemy and other call Arminum the Inhalitants doe now call it Rimini and the Germanes Rumelen It was so so called from the River which watereth it Others have other derivations It aboundeth with plenty The Haven was heretofore very faire large and capable of Shipping but now it receiveth onely small vessells being filled choaked up with sand There is also Cervia a Sea Cittie heretofore called Phicoles The Cernians for the most part are Salt-makers of which they make so great gaine that the Pope hath yearely from thence 60 thousand Crownes There is also Ces●na which Ptolemy calleth Caeseni Strabo Caesena and now the most doe call it Caesena and some Cesnadigo and lastly Cesna It is now a very populous Citty and in former time it was enlarged on the West and Noth sides by Bernardine Rubrius of Parma There is a strong Castle seated on a Hill on the South side of the Cittie which was built by the Emperour Frederick the second Sarsina is an ancient Cittie at the foote of the Apennine where Plautus was borne Ravenna which Strabo calleth Raovenna and Ptolomy Ravennai is an ancient Cittie Concerning the situation whereof Strabo writeth much Lib. 5. There are under the Archbishop hereof the Bishop Adriensis Comaclensis Cerviensis Foroliviensis Foropompiliensis Vellimensis or Fille Cesenatensis Saremensis or Sarsinatensis Faventinus Imolensis Mutinensis Bononiensis Reginensis Parmensis and Barcinensis There are very good Meddowes and Pastures by this Cittie which doe yeeld grrat stoare of Milke Butter and Cheese Forum-Livij is now called Forli It is a Citty that excelleth both for Situation and plenty being seated betweene the two Rivers Ron●us and Montonus and hath a good ayre Forum Cornelij commonly calld Imolais seated by the River Santernus the soyle round about it is fruitefull and yeeldeth great store of Corne Wine Oyle and other fruites Bononia is an ancient noble Cittie commonly calld Bologna it is seated at the foote of the Apennine by the River Rhene and the Torrent Aposa runneth through the middle of the Cittie it lyeth all against the East on the South side it hath Vine-bearing hills on the other sides faire fruitefull Meddowes The ayre is not very wholesome
3 keepe 4 and reverence 5 Wickednesse 1 peace 2 faults 3 lawes 4 and good mens 5 innocence There are many inscriptions upon Marble and many Elogies of Statues and divers Epitaphs both in the Churches the Bishops Palace and also in all parts of the Citty and the Territories thereof The Inhabitants are wealthy neate Noble subtile and witty It flourisheth now for riches so that it is usually called Vrbis Venetae Sponsa the Citty of Venice his Bride It received the Christian faith from D. Appollinaris Bishop of Ravenna And it is a Bishoprick Of which Scaliger thus Quae pingues scatebras specula despectat ab alta Postulat Imperij Brixia magna vices Caelum hilarum Frons laeta urbi gens nescia fraudis Atque modum ignorat divitis uber agri Si regeret patrias animas concordibus oras Tunc poterat Dominis ipsa jubere suis Great Brixia that from a Hill doth view Those fruitfull springs which doe the ground bedew Complaines of change of government the ayre Is pleasant and the Citty is most faire The people are ignorant in all deceit The richnesse of the soyle is very great And if dew concord could be here maintain'd Those who are now her Lords she might command There is also in this Territory the Towne Quintianum situate 20. miles from Brixia Southward neere the River Ollius Also Reggiate Bottesino Vtele Novalara with many others it hath also the Lake Be●acum so called from a Towne the ruines whereof are still remaining Catullus calls it Lydius from the Lydians that is the Tyrrhenians who as fame reporteth did sometime inhabit the Country neere unto it it is called in Italian Lago di Garda and in the Germane speech Gard-se from the Castle which is seated on the East banke thereof This Lake as Alexius Vgonius writeth to Cardinall Pole doth excell all others for good fish it is environd with pleasant Hills and Springs doe every where breake forth here there are woods and greene Medowes Vines Olives Maple-trees Bay-trees and Cedars and Townes full of all provision doe encompasse it round about so that it wanteth nothing either for delight and pleasure or for use and profit There is also another Lake called Sebinus or Sevinus now it is called Lago d'Iseo from the Castle Iseus which is on the banke thereof This receaveth the River Ollus on the North and casteth it forth againe on the South Lastly there is also betweene Sebinum and Benacum the Lake Idrinus commonly called Lago d'Idro or Idro Lago It was so named from the Castle Idrus Some suppose it was so called from the Hydra which Hercules slew here it hath abundance of fish It dischargeth it selfe into Idrinus by divers streames the lesser Lakes are those which are called in their Country speech Lago Cap. Lago Ru●cone and others The River Mella or Mela doth cut thorow the middle of this Territory It still retaineth the name of Mella even untill this day But yet it doth not runne by the Citty as we may see but by the Precincts thereof The little Rivulet which glideth by the Citty is now called Garza The Dukedome of MEDIOLANUM THe Dukedome of Mediolanum is 300. miles in compasse The soyle is very fertile and fruitfull Livie Florus and Polybius doe report that this Country with the most of the Transpadane Citties did yeeld themselves to the power of the Romanes and became a Province Marcellus and Cn. Scipio being Consuls And it is manifest that some of the latter Emperours allured by the conveniency of the place did make this Citty their seate of Residence as Nerva Trajane Hadri●n Maximinian Philip Constantine Constantius Iovianus Valentes Valentinian and Theodosius Trajane built a Palace here which still retaineth that name But when the power of the Caesars grew weake this Citty was wasted and spoyled by the incursions and inrodes of the Barbarians as the Gothes Hunnes and Langbards Whom when Charles the great had droven out of Italy this Country did put it safe under the protection of the Kings of France afterward of the Germane Em●●rours The most of which were yeerely crowned here with an Iron Crowne in the ancient and famous Church of Saint Ambrose as Le●nder proveth by severall examples At length under the raigne of the Emperours Frederick the first and the second against whom it continually rebelled it had new Lords which were the Vicounts Ga●●at●● who afterward in the yeere 1394. were created Dukes by the Emperour Wenceslaus Afterward they had the Dukes of Sfortia by the suffrage and consent of the Citizens and by the authority of the Romane Empire which the Galeatians could never obtaine But their Line being extinguished the Emperour Charles the fifth was their Successor who passed over this Principallity to the Kings of Spaine his Successours The chiefe Citty is called by all Latine Writers Mediolanum Polybius Strabo Ptolemy doe call it Mediolanium and Mediolana the Italians doe now call it Milano the Germanes Mey-landt Mediolanum was built by the French Insubrians as Livy Trogus and others doe report who comming into Italie under the conduct of their Captaine Bellovesus and having expulsed the Tuscians they founded a Citty here in the yeere as some doe reckon before the birth of Christ 339. and as others recken 380. Howsoever it is most ancient Isaac Causabone Lib. 4. and Strabo doe thinke that it was so named from Mediolanium a Citty of the Santones in France Some say that it is derived from a Germane word as it were May-landt from the greene fields which are as fresh and pleasant as the fields are in the Moneth of May or else it is called Midlandt because it is the middle and Navell as Iovius sheweth of Insubrit being enclosed with the River Ticinus or lastly it is called Maegde-landt or Meydel-landt that is the Virgin Country from Minerva who had a Temple there which was heretofore consecrate to our Saviour afterward to the blessed Virgin and now to Saint Tecla Mediolanum is situate betweene Ticinus and Abdua not farre from the Alpes having a temperate ayre and climate It is thought to be one of the greatest Citties of Europe and it flourisheth for wealth and merchandizing it hath faire buildings great Churches and wide large streets and it is well fortified with Walls Bulwarks and an Armory which doe take up a great space of ground It hath large Suburbs some of which may compare with great Citties being ditched and walled about as the Citty is next to the Church which is call Domus being fairely and magnificently built there is Saint Laurences great Church which was built upon the ruines of Hercules Temple There are also in it seven high channelled Pillars curiously wrought There is also the strongest Castle which is in this part of the world and it is called Porta Iovia it is impregnable and the fairest in all Europe There is in the Suburbs an Hospitall for Strangers or for the sicke by the way of Bernomatius the foundation whereof
containeth many Acres it was begun by the Sfortians but is not yet finished Also there is the Church of S. Gothard in which are the Tombes and Sepulchres of many noble Vicounts There are many ancient Inscriptions in the Citties and many other Monuments of Antiquity It hath an ancient University where it is thought that Virgil studied And Leander writeth that it hath a famous Library There are so many diversities of Tradesmen that it is a common Proverb Che chivolesse rassettare Italia siruma Milano which is to say Mediolanum scilicet destruendo Italiam instrui posse That is if Millan were destroyed all Italie might be furnished with all kinde of Tradesmen and Artificers It is said that the King of Spaine receiveth yeerely from hence 80. thousand crownes The ridding and determining of civill and criminall causes belongeth to the Senate of Millan in which there are 16. Doctors and some Prelates and Patritians of Millan Millan is an Archbishoprick the Archbishoprick whereof hath these Suffragans under him Bergomensis Brixiensis of ●remona Landensis Novaria Vercellensis Ipporegtensis Vigleviensis Astensis Aquensis Albensis Terdonensis Saonensis Albingaunensis Vintimeliensis Placentinum Papiensis and Ferrara are exempted THE DVKEDOME OF MILLAN THis is the greatest and most potent Dukedome of all Europe which heretofore the Insubrians inhabited betweene the Rivers Abdua and Ticinus The chiefe Citties in it are Millan Lauda Ticinum which is now called Papia and Novarra The soyle is every where fruitfull pleasant and watered with many Streames and Rivers the chiefe Citty hereof is Millan built by the Frenchmen for when Tarqumius Pristus raigned at Rome King Bellonesus having passed over the Alpes with a great band of Frenchmen and having expulsed the Hetruscians he built a Citty in that place which Leander saith was called Subria and he called this Citty Mediolanum or as some are perswaded Meydlandum as it were the Virgin Land perhaps from Minervas Temple who was worshipped in this place which is now consecrate to S. Tecla whence Alciat thus Quam Mediolanum sacram dixere puellae Terram nam vetus hoc gallica lingua sonat Culta Minerva fuit nunc est ubi numine Tecla Mutato Matris Virginis ante domum Mediolanum the Virgin Land they name For in the French it signifies the same 'T was sacred to Minerva now they adore Tecla and the Virgin Mother heretofore Some thinke it was so denominated from a Sow that was halfe cover'd with wooll which Alciat seemes to glance at thus in his Emblemes when he saith Laniger huic signum Sus est animalque biforme Acribus hinc setis lanitio inde Levi. Their armes a Sow a creature most uncouth Th' one side bristled 'tother woolly smooth So also Claudian in the marriage of Honorius and Maria. ad maenia Gallis Condita lanigerae suis ostendentia pellem The wall built by the French which yet doe show The skin and shape of their wooll-bearing Sow THE DVKEDOME OF MILLAN MEDIOLANVM Ducatus This Country was reduced to the form of a Province and was subject to the Romanes as Polybius and Livie report And many Emperours taking delight in the conveniency of the place did make the Citty of Millan their seate of residence and adorned it with many publike Aedifices and Buildings whence Ausonius Mediolani mira omnia copia rerum Innumerae cultaeque domus tum duplice muro Amplificata loci species populique voluptas Circus inclusimoles cuneata Theatri Templa Palatinaeque arces All things at Millan are most wonderfull There 's plenty and the houses beautifull A double wall the Citty doth augment The People in the Cirque take much content And in the Theaters they doe delight There are Temples and faire Palaces most bright But when the Emperour decayed it was oftentimes vexed by the Huns Gothes and Langbards It was taken and destroyed by Fred. Barbarossa It was a long time governed by Vicounts Iohn Galcatius was first created Duke by the Emperour Wenceslaus and from thence it descended to the Aurelians and Sfortians and at length Charles the fifth did bring it into his owne Family In this Citty there is the royall Castle of Porta Iovia the strongest in all Europe It is full of Artificers especially Smiths who forge out of Iron Swords Brest-plates Bucklers and other Military instruments Hence ariseth that saying Qui Italiam armis instruere totam velit eum destruere Mediolanum oportere That is Hee that would furnish all Italie with armes must destroy Millan But I conclude with this eloquent Elogie of a Divine Writer This Land a people did first entertaine From whom this Kingdome at the first began The French Italians both all'yd did grow And gave new lawes unto the ancient Po. Then Germany joyned in so great affaires And Fame her golden Trumpet now prepares Let one poore honour some poore Towne advance While threefold honour doth unto me chance THE PRINCIPALITIES OF VERONA VICENTIA AND PATAVIVM And the Territories of the chiefe Citties of MARCA TARVISINA are amplie described IN this Table the Territories of three chiefe Citties of Marca Tarvisina are delineated and described Verona Vicentia and Patavium The first is the Territory or Country of Verona The length of it from the Towne Bruchelius unto the River which cometh out of the Lake Bevacum is 65. Miles the bredth from the Castle on the Frontiers even to Rivoltella is forty Miles The soyle in some parts is stony and therefore untilled and some part of it is very good It hath abundance of Wheate Oyle Wine Cattell Wooll and other pretious commodities It hath also famous Quarries of Stone And many wholesome medicinall hearbes especially on the Mountaine Baldus whether Phisitians doe often resort to gather them The Tuscans are supposed to have built Verona others thinke that the French Cenomanians did build it who being expulsed it was a long time subject to the Romanes and Cn. Pompeius Strabo the father of Magnus brought thither a Colonie Afterward being wasted by Auila King of the Hunns it was afterward subject to many Tyrannies first to the Kings of the Gothes the Langbards did expel them and the Frechmen under the conduct of Charles the great did expell the Langbards after whom the Berengarians being droven out of Italy by the Emperour Otto the first it enjoyed some quiet and rest under the authority and Protection of the Romane Empire Actiolinus Romaninus having got it by force did change the Praefectorship into a Lordship having expulsed Azo Atestinus whom the Senate and People of Verona had made Praetor Hee dying obout the yeare 1259. the Saligerians by the suffrage and common consent of the Cittizens were entituled Princes of Verona almost 128. yeares who being droven out and partly made away by poison the Galleatians got possession of it and afterward the Cariensians whom the Venetians did drive out under whose jurisdiction it constantly and peceablely continueth The Citty which Ptol. calleth Verona and Overona doth still retaine that name The Germanes
call it Di●trichs Bern. It hath a thinne aire It is like the Citty Basit in Heluetia for situation having many faire buildings it is seated on a plaine levell both Southward Eastward and Westward but on one North side the ground riseth a little like a Romane Theater It is fortified and encompased round about with the River Athesis There are divers Monuments of antiquity which doe testifie the ancient magnificence and riches of this Citty It hath straite large streets paved with stone and about 35. Churches the chiefe whereof is the ancient Cathedrall Church and the Church of S. Anastasius it hath 10. Monasteries On the top of a rock there are two famous Castles of S. Peter and S. Faelix Also an ancient Castle which is commonly called Citadella There is also a great Amphitheater in the middle of the Citty This Citty is a Bishoprick The Inhabitants are magnificent beautifull comely very witty and prone to learning I cannot omit this one thing that when the Venetians did fortifie this Citty they found certaine hollow Caves and when they digged in the Mountaines they found Vrchins or hedghoggs of stone also Oisters Birds bills and starre fishes which were as hard as any Stones The Territory of VICENTIA THe Country of Vicentia followeth the soyle whereof as it is pleasant so it is fruitfull yeelding greate store of Wine and other fruites especially Mulberries on whose leaves Silke-wormes doe feede Not farre from the Citty there are two famous stone Quarries in the Mountaine which the Latines call Cornelius it is commonly called Covelo There are also Marble Mines in the Valdanian streete This Citty was built by the Tuscans or as Trogus writeth by the Frenchmen afterward it continued faithfull to the Romanes untill Attilas time who wasted it and afterward it was subject to the Goths the Langbards and lastly to the Kings of Italie They being expulsed it was subject to the Roman Empire untill the raigne of the Emperour Frederick the second by whom being sacked and burnt it had afterward divers Lords as the Carrasieni of Patavini the Scaligers of Verona and the Gal●atians of Millan and also the Venetians At length being infested and vexed by the forces of the Emperour Maximilian the 1. it was restored at last to the Venetians This Citty Trogus Pomponius Tacitus others doe call Vicentia Plin. and Antoninus doe call it Vicetia Aelianus Bisetia and Bitetia Ptol. calls it Ovikenta and it is commonly called Vicenza It is seated neere the foote of a Hill being divided into unequall partes by the two navigable Rivers Rerone and Bachilione It is not very faire or beautifull but populous and abounding with plenty There are foure things here worthy of noting the Praetors magnificent Pallace a Bridge of one Arch the greate Altar stone in S. Laurences Church which is of a wonderfull length and lastly the Theater which is commonly calld L. Academia There is also the Monasterie of St. Corona where there is also a famous Librarie The Inhabitants are of a lively disposition prone and apt to learning warfare or merchandising and Industrious they live bravely and goe decently in apparrell It is a Bishoprick Moreover in the Territory of Vicentia there are these Townes Morostica which is a famous rich Towne Also Brendulum which is rich and populous Also Le●cium both for wealth populousnesse and largenesse may compare with many Citties of Italie There is also six Miles about Vicentia toward THE PRINCIPALITY OF VERONA· VERONAE VICENTIAE ET PATAVIAE DIT the South the Towne and Castle Custodia which was so called because delinquents and loose persons were kept there at worke in greate Quarries of stone to digge stones for building of houses The Territory of PATAVIUM THe Territorie of Patavium followeth which wee are to describe in this Table which is thus bounderd by Bernardinus Scardeomus on the South the River Athesis runneth on the North the little River M●so glideth on the East the gulfe of Venice on the West the Euganian hills and the Country of Vicentia The compasse and circumference of this Country is 180. Miles in which there are six hundred and seaven and forty Villages Caelius Rhodiginus writeth that Constantinus Palaeologus was wont to say nisi secreta sanctissimis viris affirmari in Oriente Paradisum esse arbitrari se non alibi eum reperiri posse quam in persuavi Patavina amaenitate That is if holy men had not affirmed that Paradise was in the East hee should thinke that it could not be found any where else but in sweet and pleasant Patavium The soyle is fruitefull yeelding corne fruite and rich Wines whence Martiall Pictaque Pompineis Euganea arva jugis The Euganean fields which painted are With hills that purple Vines doe beare It affoordeth also great store of Hunting Fowling and Fishing The Inhabitants have a Proverb concerning the incredible Plenty of this Country Bologna la grassa Padova la Passa This Citty was alwayes joyned in friendship and amity with the Romanes as appeareth in Livie Lib. 41. and in M. Tullius his Phillippicks The Colonie brought hither was better conditioned than other Colonies For the Patavians had power to give their voice and suffrage as the Romane Cittizens It was taken and sackt with other Citties by Attila King of the Huns and an hundred yeeres afterward by the Langbards who burnt it when in the raigne of Charles the great it began to be partly under the Kings of Italy and the French King partly under the Berengarians but afterward it became free in the raigne of the Emperour Otho the first The forme of this Common-wealth lasted untill Frederick the second by whose command and authority Actiolinus Romaninus possessed this Citty after whom it had these Lords the Carrariensians the Scaligerians and the Galeatians and about the yeere of Christ 1404. the Venetians whom it still obeyeth and like a good Mother finding her selfe weake and infirme through age shee yeeldeth all her right to her Daughter for the Venetians were a Colonie of the Patavines not to bee governed but rather sustained and helped by her Patavium is a most ancient Citty the flower and honour of all the Citties in Italie Ptolemy calls it Patavium it is now called Padua Ptolemy also in another place calleth it Baetobium Some suppose it was so named in regard of the Vicinity and neerenesse thereof unto the River Po and the Marshes and so called as it were Padaveum some derive it a petendo or from hitting because Antenor the builder of this Citty Avem telo petiverit did there shoote a Bird with an Arrow But Antenor is reported to have built it as he came from Troy Thit Citty is situate in a fruitfull levell soyle and it hath a gentle temperate ayre it is happy both for the goodnesse of the soyle the pleasantnesse of the Euganian Mountaines and the vicinity of the Alpes and the Sea The River Brenta floweth by it The compasse of it is now twofold and heretofore threefold the
outward compasse or circumference doth containe 6200. paces with 6. magnificent Gates The inward circumference 3000. paces having a long walke round about it It is also faire and magnificent abounding with all things necessary it is also paved and well fortified with Ditches Trenches and Bulwarkes it hath magnificent and sumptuous Aedifices both sacred prophane publike and private There are 23. Friaries and 49. Nunneries There is a Palace which was built by the Emperour Henry which is now a Court of Iustice and the chiefest of note in all Italy which is not supported with any Pillars but covered with Lead Moreover there is the Court of publike counsell with a Porch it is supported with Marble Pillars built of stone and covered with Lead there are 5. great Market-places 38. Bridges arched with stone over the River Bronta There are large Porches spacious Courts three Hospitalls for the sicke and as many for strangers There is also an Hopitall for Orphanes It doth containe 4000. houses The Inhabitants are very witty apt and prone to warfare vertue and studies Titus Livius Cn. Valerius Flaccus L. Aruntius Stella and many others have graced Padua with their birth It hath the famous University of Padua which was founded and instituted by the Emperour Charles the great or as some thinke by Frederick the second which was much enlarged by Pope Vrbane the fourth and perfected and established by the most illustrious Common-wealth of Venice There are also many Libraries well furnished with Greeke and Latine Bookes one at S. Iohns in the Garden another at S. Iustines the third at S. Antonies This Country is so watered with Rivers that to the great commodities and profit of the Inhabitants there is no Country Towne which is above 5. miles distant from a River FRIVLI and ISTRIA KARSTIA CARNIOLA AND the Marquiship of the VVindorians and the County of CILIA THere followeth in Mercator Forum Iulij and Istria with other Countries This Country was at first so called from Forum Iulij the chiefe Citty or as some would have it from Iulius Caesar who brought hither some Legions against the Germanes The Italians call it new Friuli the Germanes Friaul the Venetians and others doe call it Patria It appeareth also in Histories that it was called Aquilejensis The bounds of this Country on the East are Istria on the North the Stony Mountaines on the West the Vindelician and Norician Alpes on the South the Hadriatick Bay This Country hath a temperate climate a wholesome ayre faire fields well watered and yeelding abundance of all kindes of fruits the Medowes and Pastures flourishing and full of Cattell it hath also Vines which yeeld excellent rich Wines Woods it hath which affoord good Timber and excellent Hunting and also Mountaines full of Mettals Marble and other Pretious Stones The Euganians did first inhabit this Country afterward in processe of time the Venetians afterward the Frenchmen afterward it was under the Romane Empire which declining it was subject to the Langbards After them succeeded the Emperours and after them the Berengarians who being destroyed and excirpated it returned to the obedience of the Romane Empire The Emperour Oth● gave a good part of it to the Church of Aquilejum and Conradus gave the other part with Istria The Venetians at length possessed it about the yeere 1420. who still doe governe it although the most part of it bee subject to peculiar Earles and Lords The Me●ropolis of this Country is Vtinum commonly call'd Vden● the Germanes call it Weiden Leander supposeth that it is an ancient Towne and that Pliny maketh mention of it Niger beleeveth that it is that which Ptolemy and others doe call Forum Iulium Howsoever it is a large Citty magnificent and abounding with plenty of all things The compasse of it is 5. miles The Venetians doe now governe the Common-wealth by Presidents sent thither which they call Locumtenentes or Substitutes There are in it 16000. Citizens There are also other Citties Aquileia commonly called Aquilegia the Germanes call it Agler It is situate by the River Natison The Citty was heretofore large and spacious and fortified with walls and also beautified with Churches a magnificent Theater and other publike and private Buildings It is now unfrequented which was heretofore very faire and populous It remained faithfull and constant to the Romane Empire untill the time of Attila King of the Huns by whom being besieged and much distressed for FRIVLI· FORVM IVLIVM KARSTIA CARNIOLA HISTRIA ET WINORVM MARCHIA want of Corne at length it was taken and sackt and 30000. men who lived in it were put to the Sword the ●est fled to the Iland Afterward it was re-edified by Narsetes and for a time it was under the power of the Langbards untill the comming of harles the great into Italy after which time it was subject to the Kings of Italy and afterward to the Romane Emperours Afterward it began to bee under the government of Patriarkes from them it came to the Venetians under whom it now continueth in peace and tranquility But these Bishops are subject to the Patriarch of Aquilegium the Bishop of ●encordia Pola Parentium Triestinensis or Tergestin●nsis Coma lensis or Petenensis Iustinopolitanus Madrientis of the New Citty or Emonians Seeke the rest in the second Table of Lombardy Under the Bishop of Gradensis are the Bishops of Castellanium or Venice also Terce●●nensis Equilensis or Eusulanus Caprulensis Clodiensis of the New Citty o● G●ritia according to Leander which Ptolemy and Antoninus call ●u●●um Carnicum Amasaeus Lib. of the bounds of Venice placeth G●ri●ia where No●eja was heretofore Candidus calleth it Noritia G●rilia hath his Princes which are subject to the Dukes of Austria It is a Towne famous for wealth and nobility There is also Portus Cru●●ius which Pliny calleth Portus Roma●inus or Spilim●ergum which is well fortified both by nature and Art also Maranum which is very populous and rich The Mount Falcon is a noble rich Towne There is also the Citty Palma and a round Castle built by the Venetians in the yeere 15●3 under the foundation whereof there was money laid with this Inscription on one side Pasalo Ciconta Duce Venetorum An●●●m 1●93 On the other side Fori Idlij Italiae Christianae side● pr●pugna ●●●m That is the Fortresse of Forum Iulium of Italy and the Christian faith lomit the other lesser Townes These Rivers doe appertaine to this Country Romantinum Tilaventum Sontius Frigidus Natis● A●a●●urus and others The Inhabitants are very prone and apt to humane Arts Merchandise and other honest studies ISTRIA· AFter Forum Iulium followeth Istria well knowne to Latine and Greeke writers which still retaineth that name the Germanes call it Hister-reich as it were the Kingdome of stria Plin●● sheweth that it was heretofore called Iapydia It resembleth a Peninsula and lyeth for the most part betweene the two Bayes ●ergestinum and Carna●ium it is encompassed with the Hadriatick Sea on the North it is bounderd with the Carnician
and Norician Alpes on the West before it runneth forth into the Sea it hath the River Formio and the River Arsia on the East The breadth of it is eleven Miles the compasse of it 122. Miles from Formio aforesaid even to the Fanatick Promontorie or the innermost corner of the Carnarian Bay The whole Country is rugged yet more hilly then Mountaines which hills doe yee●● great store of wine oyle and other fruites but little wheate or other grain● 〈◊〉 the fields P●s●in and Humagio There is a Mountaine commonlye calld Maj●● which is full of wholesome drugs and hearbes and P●●sitia is doe resort hither to gather them Istria doth yeeld abunda●ce of Salt There are also stone Quarries Marble is cut forth of the Rovinian fields which is calld Istrian Marble which is of greate esteeme through all Italy Moreover part of Istria belongeth to the Venetians and part to the Austrians Let us come to particulars The first Citty that wee meete withall is Iustinopolis which is a chiefe Citty of hersonesus For so the learned call it which is commonly call'd Cab● a' ●st●ia It was so named at first from the Emperour Iustine Afterward it was called by a latter name because it lyeth in the entrance of the Country as you come from Forum Iulium It possesseth a small Iland which is a Mile long and of a little breadth being divided from the Continent unto which it is joyned by Bridges which may bee drawen up It hath a Castle in the midst fortified with foure Towers It belongeth now to the Venetians Five Miles off there is another Castle which is joyned to the continent with a stone Bridge Afterward there followeth Vranum which the Italians call Castellatium and Castellerium commonly call'd Castelier Fiftie paces hence is S. Simon and Piranum is 5. Miles distant from thence and Salvorum as many and Vina●um From Vinacum it is two Miles to S. Peregrine and a Mile from thence to S. Iohn della Corne and as many to S. Laurence commonly calld de Daila a Mile off is Daila it selfe and three Miles off is the new Citty commonly called Aemonia From the River Quietius it is three Miles to Port Cerverius Foure Miles from thence is the Citty Par●nti●m which is now called Parenzo The Towne Orser followeth which in Latine is called Vrserium Lemus being passed by we come to Rovinium and afterward to that Towne which is commonly call'd Le Colorne also to Portesuol and Mutazzo and from thence it is three Miles to the Promontorie Cisanum Muratio and Phasiana and from thence it is two Miles to the Bandonian Valley and as many to Marcodainum and it is three Miles from thence to Port Pola Afterward there is the Episcopall Citty Pola seated on a high Mountaine which still retaineth his ancient name a hundred Miles from Tergeste and 220. Miles from Ancona being divided from it by the Hadriatick Sea The Rivers of Istria are Risanus Draconia Quietus Lemus and Arsia There are also woods which afforde very good Ship timber The Inhabitants are poore in regard the Venetians doe engrosse all traffique to themselves We will speake hereafter concerning the Marquiship of the Vindorians and therefore I will here omit it I have scarce any thing to write concerning Karstia and the County of Cilia but I will adde something concerning Carniola CARNIOLA· CArniola was so named from the Carnian people as also Carinthia Concerning whom Valaterranus writeth thus Lib. 2. of his Geographie The Carnians are beyond the Istrians the Country is broade beginning from Forum Iulium and reaching to the Mountaines The Country of Carniola although it bee Mountainous as the other Countries of this Province yet it hath plenty of Wine Oyle Fruite and Corne. But they make Carniola twofold the drye which wanteth water and the moist in which the River Sauus riseth and also Naup●●tus which is now called Labatus and many other Rivers It is adorned with the title of a Dukedome The chiefe Citty is Labacum which hath the same name with the River Some doe place Goritia in Carmola which we mentioned before in Forum Iulium On the left hand banck of Sontius upwards there are two Fortresses which the Venetians built heretofore to defend the River and to prevent the incursions and inroads of the Turkes Moreover there is a Lake in this Country which affordeth every yeare a harvest fishing and hunting The Inhabitants doe call it Zircknitzerzee from the Towne Zircknitz which is situated by it But I will make a more accurrate description of it out of George Wernherus it is enclosed every where with Mountaines for halfe a Mile together it is not very broade Out of the Mountaines there doe issue certaine small Rivers which are every one contayned in their owne Channells on the East side there are three on the South five The farther that they runne the more narrower they grow for their bankes are straite untill they are swallowed up in the stoany passages of the Cliffes which seeme as if they were cut out by humane Industry So that where they find an open place the waters doe spread abroade and make a Lake These waters doe as speedily runne back as they flowe forward not onely in those narrow channells but also through the earth which when the Inhabitants perceive they stopp the greater passages and Concavities and so goe to fishing which is both pleasant and profitable For the fish which they take here being salted is transported to other Countries Moreover when the Lake is drie they have a kind of harvest for they sowe it and mowe it before that it be overflow'd againe It beareth such abundance of grasse that in twenty dayes it will be ready to cut Who therefore cannot chuse but admire at these wonders of nature But so much cocerning these things I passe to the rest THE BISHOPRICKE OF TVSCIA TUSCIA followeth which ancient Writers doe celebrate by three speciall names Tyrrhenia Etruria and Tuscia the latter of these three names it still retaineth For it is commonly called Tuscany The bounds of it are on the South the Neather Sea or the Tyrrhene Sea on the North the Apennine Mountaine where there is a part of Vmbria and Gallia ●ogata on the West Liguria from which it is parted by the River Macra on the East Tiberis That part which is neerer to the Sea is plainer and pleasanter but the inward parts are more Mountainous but in generall it is as faire and delightfull as any Country in Italie It hath spacious flourishing fields very fruitfull pleasant Vales Mountaines and Hills which are adorned with faire houses and Orchards planted with Orange-trees and Cittorne-trees It hath abundance of Vineyards which yeeld excellent rich Wine The ancient Inhabitants were heretofore generally called Tyrrhenians Etruscians and Tuscians Afterward from Romulus time the Romanes began to warre against the Tuscians which warre they maintained a long time so that matters being brought to a dangerous estate they were faine to send out a
Dictator against them But in the yeere from the building of the Citty 474. the Vulsinensians and the Vulciensians the most flourishing people of the Etruscians be-being overcome by the Consul Ti. Coruncanius they were added to the Romane Empire and so the Empire was enlarged on that side even to Ar●us Neither had they afterward any just occasion to warre with the Tuscians So that being thus subjected they continued faithfull to the Romane People But when the Romane Empire began to 〈◊〉 they were oppressed with many calamities by the Gothes th● Langbards the Huns and others At length it came to passe that the greater part of Etruria is now subject to the great Duke of Etruria u●der whose government there are these noble Townes Florence Pisa Sena Pratum Pistorium Volatterra Mons Politianus Aretium Cortona Pescia Piertia Mons Alcinus Liburnum Plumbinum and many other Townes That which they call S. Peters Patrimony belongeth to the Pope It beginneth from the River Pescia and S. Quirie and so reacheth to the Castle Caparanum in new Latium not farre from the River Li●us Pontremulum neere the Fountaine of the River Marca belongeth to the King of Spaine which heretofore belonged to the Dukes of Millan also Pertus Herculis Orbetellum Mons Argentarius and Plumbini Arx also the Carfenianian or Grasinianian Valley which lyeth beneath the Apennine on both sides of the River Sercia in which there THE BISHOPRICKE OF TVSCIA TUSCIA is the new Grasinianian Castle with many other Castles and Townes are subject to the Duke of Ferrara Sarzan by the River Macra looketh toward Gen●a Massa and Carraria do belong to particular Marquesses who are adorned with their Titles There are also other Townes which were subject to the Romanes as Bracianum of which the Ursi●es are Dukes Moreover in Tuscia there are these chiefe Citties 〈◊〉 very curious Citty which Trogus and others call Pisae The Inhabitants have a very good memory because the Citty is seated in a thick ayre It lyeth betweene the Rivers Auseres and Arnus as Strabo and Pliny doe note Now Arnus runneth by it which hath three Havens Dionysius Halic Lib. 1. doth celebrate and praise the antiquity and nobility thereof Others doe deliver that it was usually accounted one of the 12. chiefe Citties of Etruria the Duke of Etruria is often stil'd Duke of Pisa and the Knights of S. Stephen who were instituted by this Duke have a house in this Citty The Pisanians did build the chiefe Temple which they call Domus or the House which is 540. paces in compasse and supported with 70. Pillars and also they built the Bishops house with the spoiles which they brought away after the conquest of the Sarazens at Panormus The soyle round about this Citty is fitt for tillage and so fruitfull that it feedeth all Etruria and sendeth Corne to other Countries The Wines are not very good but there are excellent Melons There is also Leuca of which Iulius Sealiger saith Tuscis delitium Tuscilaus incluta Coeli Luca is well known both to Latine and Greeke Writers Strabo and Ptolemy call it Leuca It is a faire Citty and populous seated on a Plaine and environed on every side with Hills strongly walled and well paved it is not very great but full of Citizens and hath continuall traffique and trading The Inhabitants are neat wise witty who have a long time kept their liberty albeit their neighbours have often assaulted them Pistorium now called Pistoja is walled about was much enlarged by Desiderius King of the Langbards At length the Florentines laid it to their own Territory Florence is the chiefe Citty and Metropolis of Etruria It is now commonly called Fiorenza or Firenza It is thought that Florence was so called ab Flore from a Flower in regard that the happy flourishing estate therof resembleth a Flower or else in regard of the flourishing excellent wits of the Inhabitants or lastly because it was derived from Rome the most flourishing Citty It is 6. miles in compasse and containeth above 90000. Inhabitants it is seated on a levell plaine by the River Arnus which cutteth it into two parts which are united again joyned together with faire Bridges it is paved adorned with faire streets and on the East North it is encompassed with pleasant Hills clothed with fruit-bearing trees and on the West side it hath a faire Plaine It lyeth in a middle Climate between Aretium Pisa the former of these Citties doth produce sharpe wits and the other men of a strong faithfull memory The armes of the Appennine doe fortifie it against the invasions or incursions of enemies it is very faire and beautifull insomuch that it is a common saying Florenza la bella totiusque slos Italiae that is Florence the faire and the flower of all Italy there are here many sacred and prophane publike Buildings which for brevity sake I omit The Inhabitants are witty grave eloquent and studious of good Arts. They love to get money to that end they trade into forraine Countries The Women are very beautifull and chaste and their habit as also that which the men weare is very decent and comely Volaterra which Ptolemy calleth Ovolaterrai and the Itinerary Tables Aquae Volaterrae is seated on a steepe rugged Rocke The walls are of Free square stone sixe foote broad which are neatly and cunningly built without Morter This Citty hath five Gates and at every one of them a Fountaine of pure water The walls doe shew the antiquity thereof as also the Sepulchers Epitaphs in Etrurian Letters and ancient Marble Statues and also carved stones which are digged forth daily and other things That which Ptolemy calls Saena and the Itinerarie Tables Saena Iulia is commonly called Siena being distant from Rome 800. Furlongs and seated on a high ground on this side Arbia having as it were three corners of which that which looketh Southward is broader than those which are Eastward and Westward it hath a good wholesome ayre but that it is troubled sometimes with blasting windes Many of the Poets doe call it delitias Italiae that is the delight and pleasure of Italie Saena is paved having strait long streets and high Towers and also many noblemens houses The Citizens are very courteous towards Strangers much adicted to gaine and worldly affaires That which Ptolemy calls Perusia and Eutropius and the Itinerarie Tables Perusium the Italians doe now call Perugia It is seated on a Hill of the Apennine and fortified by the naturall situation It hath many faire Buildings both publike and private Viterbium standeth in a faire spacious place and hath Cyminian Mountaines behind it it is built of square stone and hath many Towers Among the publike workes there is a famous Fountaine which springeth continually It hath a good fruitfull soyle which yeeldeth abundance of Wine and fruits There are also many Lakes in Etruria As that which Livie and others call Trasumenus and Silius Trasimenus and now it is called from the Citty
neere unto it Lago de Perugia that which Antoninus calleth Lacus Aprilis is now called Fangosa Palude the Sea-lake or the Salt-lake or Lago d'Orbitello is called in their language Lacus Vadimonis there are also the Ciminian Lake the Volsiniensian the Sabatian the Bientinian and the Cianian It hath many Rivers which are full of excellent Fish as namely Laventia Frigidus Anser Arnus Cecinna Cornia Alma Brunus Vmbro Osa Albengia Floris Martha Minio Eris Vacina Sanguinaria Aron and some others It hath also wholesome Bathes and other waters endued with wonderfull vertue Here are divers Mountaines as also the Mountaine Ciminus well knowne to Livie Vibius and Virgil. That which Pliny calls Soractis is now called Monte de S. Silvestro Orosius also placeth the Fessulanian Mountaines in Etruria The Cortonensians also are there on the North side of the Lake Transumenus The Woods are the Volsinian wood the Ciminian wood and Maesia It hath also divers Libraries as at Pisa by the Dominicans at Luca by the Franciscans sixe in the Citty of Florence and one at Saena and Perusia Moreover Livy and Diodorus doe report that the Etrurians are the strongest richest and best governed Nation of Italy It appeareth by ancient Writers that they were alwayes much adicted to ceremonies insomuch that they were the first that invented Sacrifices Divinations Southsayings and Auguries and so delivered them to the Romanes as Tully in his Booke of divination and others doe note Mercator doth reckon these Bishops in Tuscany Nepesinus Castellanensis Montis Falconis Viterbiensis Suavensis Castellanus Vulteranus the Archbishop Senensis Fesulanus Zarzanensis Sutri Ortanensis Cornetanensis Tuscanensis Clusinus Aretinas Pientinensis Pistoriensis Binensis Corthonensis Civitatensis Balneorigensis Vrbevetanus Castrensis Perusinus Grossetanus Lucanus Florentinus Arch Lunensis the Archbishop of Pisa under whom are Messanensis Civitanensis and other Bishops in Corsica THE MARQVISHIP OF ANCONITANA AND the Dukedome of SPOLETO THE Marquiship of Ancomitana was so called by the Langbards from Ancone a famous Mart Towne where the Marquesses of this Country had their seate of residence Livy and others doe call it Picenum There confineth on the Marquiship of Ancomitana on the South the Sabinians Vilumbrians and Vmbrians with the Apennine Mountaine on the West Gallia Cisalpina with the River Isaurus on the North the Adriatick Sea Concerning the Easterne bounds there are divers opinions Pliny maketh them to be the Rivers Ate●nus and Ancon and Ptolomy the River Matrinus with Ancon The moderne writers the chiefe whereof is Leander doth make the River True●tum to bee the bounds and limmits betweene them and the Preturiarians The Country of Picenum according to Livy is very fertill but yet it hath greater store of fruite than corne The best wine is made at the Towne called Sirolum which Plinny calleth Ancon●tanian Wine This Country is for the most part under the Popes Iurisdiction there are these Townes in it Ancona Recanatum Fanum D. Mariae Laureti Camerinum Fanum Fortunae Tolentinu●● ●●mum Macerata and some others Townes also Eugebium Coligum ●orum ●e●●rronij S. Leo Senogal●ia V●binum and some others The chiefe Citty is An●ona which Ptolomy calls Ancon It still retaineth that name which was first given to this Citty because the Country bendeth here like an Elbowe It is opposite to the Promontorie Cumeras and it is enclosed on the North with the Sea and the Haven moreover it is well fortified with Gates Bulwarks and Walls It hath a Port or Haven which is strong both by Art and nature and hath a convenient entrance into it and is able to receive many shipps which was built by the Emperour Traian The Citty hath twelve Fortes which are all well furnished with ordinance It is famous in regard that Graecians Illyriaus Pannonians and all Europe doe trade and traffique here it is very populous and the streets are long and straite The soile round about is fruitfull yeelding Wine and other commodities There are also Firmium now called Firmo an ancient Citty Ricenetum Reccanolo or Recunati which the Italians doe now call Ricanati is a famous Mart-towne in so much that Merchants out of all Europe and Asia doe come thither twice a yeere to Faires Some ruinous pieces of Helvia Ricina may be seene as you travell along among the rest there is a great brick Amphitheater on the banke of the River Potentia and other carkasses of great Buildings Auxinum is an ancient Episcopall Citty commonly called Osmo Livy calls it Oximum Many Epitaphs and Elogies which have beene found here of late do shew the antiquity thereof Fabrianum in Latine call'd Faberiana is a Towne THE MARQVISHIP OF ANCONITANA AND the Dukedome of SPOLETO MARCHA ANCONITANA cum SPOLETANO DUCATU very full of Shops which are so distributed that every street hath severall shops so that one street hath all Smiths and another all Shopmakers and another Papermen Sevogallia is an Episcopal Citty which as it appeareth by Polibius and others was first called Sena afterward Senogallia it is now called Sinigaglia or Sinegalia it hath a thick ayre Parvum is watered on the West with the River Misa being fortified with a thicke brick wall with a Ditch and Bulwarkes But yet in regard it is so neere unto the Sea it wanteth fresh water so that they are faine to use that which is brought thither Fanum is an Episcopall Towne not very great situated on a Mountaine commonly called Fano Tacitus and Ptolemy doe commonly call it Fanum Fortunae for there are still many ruines remaining of that sumptuous Church which was dedicated to Fortune Here is a Marble Arch of costly and curious workmanship which is thirty Cubits high and thirty broad On the top whereof which is fallen downe there was an Elegie engraven in praise of the Emperour Constantine The River Argilla runneth by it Forum Sempronium now called Fossumbrunum or Fossumbruno is an Episcopall Towne in which there are many tokens of antiquity for besides Aquaeducts paved wayes pillars and other things there are many marbles throwne downe with ancient inscriptions which have beene gathered by others Pisaurum is an Episcopall Citty now called Pesaro A famous Mart-towne of Italy rich in Merchandise beautifull and adorned with faire houses Vrbinum is situate on a high unlevell Mountaine betweene the same Rivers it is a neate Citty fairely built and hath a fruitfull soyle round about it and it is adorned with a faire Library which is furnished with many excellent Bookes In Picenum by the side of the Mountaine Victor there is a famous La●e which they call Nursinum The common people doe affirme that evill spirits doe swim in it because the water doe continually leape up and fall downe againe to the great admiration of those who are ignorant of the cause thereof These Rivers doe water it Truentus commonly called Tronto Castellanus Asonus Letus mortuus Tenna Chientus Flastra Letus Vivus Asinus Potentia Muson Esinus Misa Sontinus Cesanus Metaurus Cantianus Boasus Argila There are these
Mountaines Furcas Pescas and Auximus so called from the Citty Auximum and Corvus whence many Rivers together with Albula and Truento doe runne thorow the Marrucinians the Praecutianians and the Marsians But the Apennine Mount in this place where it hangeth over this Country is highest Here are these Bishopricks Asculanensis Firmianus Camerinensis Auximanensis Humanas Anconitanus Esinensis or Exinas Senogaliensis Fanensis Pisaurensis Forosemproniensis Calliensis Vibinas or S. Leonis Maceratensis Racanatensis The Dukedome of SPOLETO THe Dukedome of Spoleto commonly called Ducato di Spoleto is so called from the Citty Spoleto which was heretofore the Palace of the Dukes of Lombardy It was heretofore called Vmbria It may bee clearely collected out of Strabo that the bounds of Vmbria were heretofore very large who make the Apennine Mountaine and the Hadriatick Sea to be the bounds thereof Some doe make the length of it to be from Ravenna to Tiberis which is a 1650. Furlongs or 1128. Furlongs and an halfe The Country is here full of high rugged Mountaines and there garnished and trimmed with Hills which doe yeeld great store of Wine Oyle Figges and others fruits and then againe it openeth into fertile and fruitfull Plaines The Citties of the Dukedome of Spoleto are Eugubium which is seated at the foote of the Apennine and there lyeth a pleasant faire Plaine before it Some would have it to be that which Silius calls Inginium Cicero Iguvium Ptol. Is●vion It is an old Towne and of great Antiquity It is now a populous Towne and the Inhabitants doe live by dressing and spinning of Wooll The soyle is partly Mountainous partly Champion And it hath every where great store of Corne. Neuceria also cleaveth to the side of the Apennine the Itinerarie Tables doe call it Nucerium commonly Nocera and in their language Fulignum or Fuligno it is above an hundred and threescore Furlongs from Perusia Sibus Italicus calleth it Fulginia Timia is devided with a little poore streame In the Market place there are three Palaces in one of which there doe dwell the 7. men called Fulginates before whom all civill controversies are brought who beare that office for two yeeres in the other the Praetor who judgeth of more waighty causes and his office lasteth sixe moneths in the third is the governour who hath chiefe power under the Pope Assisum was so called from the Mountaine Asts neere unto it Ptolemy cals it Aesisium Strabo Aesium it is commonly called Ascesi and S●si it hath a Bishop Here S. Francis was borne who instituted the Order of Minorite Friers and it hath a sumptuous Church Here is also a well-furnished Library Mons Falco is a new Towne seated among pleasant Hills and very populous B. Clara who founded the Order of S. Clares Nunnes was borne here There is also Spoletum from whence Vmbria was called the Dukedome of Spoleto It is commonly called Spoleto Strabo and Ptolemy doe call it Spol tium It hath an unequall situation partly on a Plaine and partly on a Hill on which there is a strong Castle built out of the ruines of an Amphitheater It is now a faire Citty abounding with plenty of all things There is besides many other ancient Edifices as the foundation of an Amphitheater and the old Church of Concordia without the Citty and there are pieces of Aquaeducts which were cut out of the Apennine and partly conveyed to the Citty thorow bricke Vaults and Channels Ceretum is a new Towne but populous from whence the Ceretain are now called Errones or wanderers who travell thorow all Italy under the pretence and colour of sanctitie and religion and get their living by divers Arts. The Castellanian Bridge or Ponte Castello was built by the Ceretanians Here Iohn Pontanus was borne a famous learned man Conissa is a new Towne seated on a Mountaine but very populous That which Strabo calleth Interamna and Antoninus Interamnia and the Irinerarie Tables I●teramnium is commonly called Terni or Terani it aboundeth with all things necessary and is very populous The River maketh the soyle very fruitfull Vernaccia hath excellent Wine Tud●r is an ancient Citty situate on a pleasant Hill adorned and garnished with Figges Olives Vines and other fruits It hath these Lakes Floridum Velinum Cutiliensis And besides Inginium which Strabo mentioneth it hath these Mountaines Eugubinum Floridum and others There are also the Crustumenian Mountaines out of which the River Asia floweth with a deepe Channell There is all Fiscellus which Pliny calls the top of the Apennine whence the River Nar issueth from two Fountaines it is now called Monte Fiscello There is also a part of the Apennine which is called Mons Victor where it lifteth up his high top above the Castle Arquata and seemeth to exceed it selfe in height and thence it is called Mons Victor because it exceedeth the rest in height The Inhabitants are more warlike then the other people of Italy The Bishop Ariminensis is subject to the Archbishop of Ravenna There are these Bishopricks in the Dukedome of Spoleto Assisinas Fulginas Nucerinus Eugubinus Spoletinus Tudertinus Ameliensis Narniensis Interamniensis CAMPAGNA DI ROMA HERETOFORE CALLED LATIVM NExt Latium offers it selfe to be described which is a Country of Italy much celebrated and praised by all Authors It is thought that Latium was so callen from Saturnus who flying from his Country in his locis latebat hid himselfe in these parts Varro thinketh that this Country was so named because it lay hidden among the high steepe Rockes of the Alpes and the Apennine the Sea and Tiber. Others say that it was named Latium from King Latinus some derive it from the Latitude because there is no Country betweene the Mountaines and the Sea that hath a greater Latitude then this It is now called Territorio Roma●um or Campagna di Roma The most do make the boūds of Latium on the North the Apennine Mountaine the River Anio on the East Liris on the South the Tyrrhene Sea on the West the River Tiber which doth encompasse the Tuscians Sabinians Marsians Samnites Praegutianians and Campanians It is a very fertile Country except in some places neere the Borders where it is stony and mountainous and hath many Marshes which doe make the ayre thick and unwholsome The Sicilians the Aborginians the Pelasgians the Arcadians the Auruncians the Volscians the Oscians the Ausonians and others did first inhabit it So much briefly concerning Latium in generall now our method requireth that wee should describe it in particular beginning from that Citty which was heretofore the Compendium or Epitome of the whole world This Citty sheweth her selfe in ancient Latium as soone as you have passed out of Etruria over Tiberis It still keepeth her former name It is situated in a soyle not very fertile right against the South and hath an untemperate ayre and climate It was three miles in compasse which was the compasse of ancient Rome but now it is farre lesse It hath 360.
Patriarchall Churches which are these the Church of S. Iohn of Lateran S. Peters Monastery and S. Pauls Monastery within the walls of the Citty S. Maries Church and S. Laurences Monastery There are 8. Bishops assigned to governe these Churches the first and chiefest is the Pope the rest are under him as the Bishop Ostiensis who is Patriarke of Campania and doth consecrate the Pope unto whom is joyned Velletrensis or Valeriensis Portuensis Sabinensis Tusculanensis Praenestiensis and Albanensis There are also assigned for the government of the same Churches 28. Cardinals namely by the title of the holy Crosse of Ierusalem by the title of S. Iohn and Paul by the title of S. Stephen in Celio-Monte by the title of S. Susanna by the title of S. Peter by the title of S. Prisca by the title of S. Siriack by the title of S. Marcellus by the title of S. Balbina by the title of S. Grisogoni S. Marcellinus and Peter S. Anastasia S. Clem●nt S. Potentiana S. Martin on the Mountaines S. Praxedis S. Marcus S. Laurence S. Mary S. 4 or Coronatorum S. Sabina S. Nereus and Archileus S. Sixitus S. Eusebius S. Vitalis the 12. Apostles Church S. Laurentius and S. Cecilia unto which are adjoyned 18. Cardinals as Deacons Without the Citty there are in Campania the Bishops Agnaninus Alatrinensis Fundanus Tiburtinus Sagninus Terracinensis Verulanus Feretinus Soranus Aquinus Moreover the Pope hath under him in other parts of the world foure Patriarchall Churches unto which all other Churches in the same parts are subject as the Church of Constantinopole of Alexandria of Antioch of Hierusalem ABRVZZO AND TERRA DI LAVORO A PART of the Kingdome of NAPLES IN this Table two Countries of the Kingdome of Naples are to be described Aprutium and Terra Laboratoris The former or Aprutium the Italians doe now call Abruzzo The bounds thereof on the West are the Sabinians and Picentians with the River Truentum on the North the Hadriatick Sea on the South the Picentinians Campanians Martians Aequicolians dwelling on every side of the Apennine Mountaine The Country hath a very wholesome ayre and is very populous pleasant and commodious toward the Sea but the inward parts are Mountainous Besides other commodities it hath abundance of Saffron and it breedeth great store of Cattell The chiefe Citty of this Country is Aquila They report that the Langbards did build it and afterward Charles Martell or as some thinke the Emperour Frederick the second did wall it and fortifie it and did call it Aquila or Eagle because the Emperours Standard had an Eagle in it And this Citty in short time was so much enlarged that it is now the principall Citty in all this Country Moreover there are the Townes Guastum or Amontum in Italian Guasto di Amone which Pliny and Mela call Histon●um and Ptolemy Istodium without an aspiration Laucianum is a famous Mart-towne whether every yeere in the Moneths of May or August Italians Inluricians Sicilians Graecians Asians and Merchants from other parts of the world doe come to traffick Soulmoon which Ptolemy calleth Sulmo and Strabo Soulmon is now called Sulmona as Leander witnesseth and some doe call it Sermona It is a faire Citty both for beauty populousnesse and abundance of waters and famous because Ovid was borne here Chieti commonly called Civita Cheto is an Archiepiscopall Citty Asculum is an ancient Citty which Antoninus calleth Asculum and Pliny calleth it the noble Colonie of Picenum It standeth in a plaine open soyle being well fortified with strong walls On one side there is a high Mountaine with a Castle seated on it on the other side it is fortified with the River Truentus It is called now by a more fortunate and auspicious name Beneventum though at first it were called Maleventum from the rushes which it suffered a malo Vento or from evill fierce windes It is commonly called Beneventi This Citty hath a very convenient and pleasant situation and an excellent fruitfull soyle round about it Sora is neere unto the River Lirus being populous and adorned with the title of a Dukedome There is also the Towne which Ptolemy calls Aquinus where the great Philosopher Thomas Aquinas was borne It retaineth still that name but it is almost fallen downe yet the ruines doe shew the ancient largenesse thereof and it hath the title of a Country I omit the description of the other Townes for brevity sake The Rivers here are Phinternus ABRVZZO· ABRUZZO et Terra di LOVORO which devideth Samnium from Apulia commonly called Fortore The Fountaine whereof issueth out of the Mountaine Tifernus not farre from Bovianum And it dischargeth it selfe into the Hadriatick Sea neere the Lesinensian Lake There are also Trintus which Pliny noteth is full of Havens also Asinella Sentus Sangrus There are also the Rivers Morus Feltrinus Pescara Aternus Rafentus Orta Liberata Salmus Plumba Vomanus Turdin●s and others Moreover there are also among the Samnites Mountaines so high that they doe exceed the Apennine Mountaines Among which is the Virgins Mountaine famous for S. Maries Church which is built thereon Majella is a very great Mountaine having a very difficult ascent and full of rugged cliffes and Rockes The top of it is continually coverd with Snow yet it hath many greene Meddowes and it sendeth forth many Rivers and hath very spacious woods which are full of wilde beasts especially Beares and it hath many rugged cliffes There are also the tops of the Apennine which they call Montes Tremuli or the trembling Mountaines Terra di Lavoro THis Contry is now called Terra Laboris or Terra di Lavoro that is the Land of labour It was heretofore called Campania The bounds thereof as we may see in Strabo Ptolemy and others are on the west the River Lirus and Latium on the North the Samnitian Mountaines on the East the River Silarus which parteth it from Lucania and a part of the Samnitians Country on the South the Tyrrhene Sea Truely Campania is Campus or a Field into which nature hath powred forth of her owne bosome all the delights pleasures and delicacies which any place can affoord So that it may bee rightly called the Paradise of Italy for fertility and fruitfulnesse Divers people did heretofore governe this Country which Strabo mentioneth Lib. 5. and Pliny Lib. 3. Cap. 5. as namely the Opicians Ausonians Oscians Cumanians Tuscians and Samnites whom the Romanes last of all subdued So much briefely in generall concerning Campania now I come to a more particular description thereof and first of the Citties The Metropolis or mother Citty of Campania and the Kingdome of Naples is called in Coynes Neapolis or Naples Which name it still retaineth and is commonly called Neapolis It taketh up a great space of ground being magnificently built betweene the Sea and the foote of the pleasant Hills being fortified with Bulwarks Townes and Castles by Charles the fifth so that it is now impregnable It hath Ditches which are 80. feete deepe
8. Gates and spacious Market-places There are great store of common Condiutes out of which the water is conveied thorow an hundred Pipes The figure of it is long and it bendeth like an halfe Moone The compasse of it heretofore was 3. miles but now the Territories thereof being enlarged it is 5. miles about It hath a gentle pleasant ayre and scarce any Winter This Citty hath many faire Churches and private Buildings and a strong impregnable Castle with an University which was instituted by the Emperour Frederick the second unto which Students do come out of all parts of the Kingdome There are also some Libraries the chiefe whereof is S. Dominicks Library The Country round about it and the neighbouring Hills are pleasant and delightfull and doe yeeld good store of Corne Wine divers Fruits Hearbes Flowers and all delicacies both for necessity and pleasure I omit many things concerning this Citty for brevity sake There are also other Citties as the old and new Capua the ancient is knowne to all Latine Writers and the beauty fairenesse and magnificence thereof is praised by all men Great ruines thereof may be yet seene a mile from new Capua neere S. Maries Church New Capua was built out of the ruines of the old which standeth now on the left banke of Vulturnus 22. miles from the Sea on a plaine well inhabited but not much frequented it hath straite streets paved with stone and high buildings on the East and North the River Vulturnus doth water it and from thence it runneth Westward There is a faire stone bridge over the River There is also Teanum surnamed Sidicinum it is called in Italian Theano and it is a Bishoprick There is also the Towne Calvus which is a Bishoprick Virgil calleth it Cales Strabo and Ptolemy and other Grecians Cuma But now it is fallen downe and buried in ruines yet the foundations of some faire buildings may be discerned There are also Aversa Casert a Nola Summa Puteoli and other lesser Townes The chiefe Lakes of Campania are the Lucrenian and Avernian There are also in Campania the Lakes Linterna Popeja and Statina The Rivers are Lirus which receiveth on the right hand Fibernum Cosa Alabrum Trerus and others On the left hand Casinus Melfa and Omnes The next to Lirus is Vulturnus which receiveth many Rivers and Torrents among the rest on the right hand it receiveth Cusanum and Correctam on the left hand Freddus Pratellus Sabbatus Isclerus and others Also Glanis Sebetus Linternus Sarnus Furor Ebolis Silarus The Mountaines that belong to this Country are Gaurus Massicus Falernus and others as Vesuvius Pausilypus Misenus Culma Christs Mountaine Taburnus Tifata Planus Astrunus and Trifolinus Moreover in the Kingdome of Naples there are these Principalities and Dominions Namely 10. Principalities as Ascolt Besignano Evoli Melfi Mefetta Monchercole Squilaci Sligliano Sulmona Verosa And 23. Dukedomes namely Andri Amalphi Ariano Asu Boyano Castrovillari Gravina Martina Montalto Monteliano Nardo Nocera Popoli Rocca di Mondragone S. Petro in Galatina Seminara Sessa Somma Sora ●agliacozzo Termoli Terra Nova Trajetto There are 30. Marquiships 54. Counsellors of State 11. Lords 403. Titular Barons The Archbishops and their Suffragans in this Table are taken out of the Romane Province In Aprucina and Marcicana there are these Bishops Aquilensis Forcanensis Marsicanus Valvensis or Sulmonensis Theatinus Adriensis Pennensis Aprutinus or Teranus The Archbishop of Beneventum under whom are these Suffragans Telesinensis Agatha Alphiensis or Alepharensis Mons Marani Avellinensis Vicanensis Arianensis Bojanensis or Rojanensis Asculanensis Nucerinus Tertibulensis Traconensis Vulturanensis Alarinensis Ferentinensis or Florentinensis Civitacensis Termelensis Lesinensis Frequentinensis Triventinensis Biminensis Vadiensis or Gadiensis Musanensis S· Mariae The Archbishop of Naples under whom are Nolanus Puteolanus Cumacensis Acerranus Iscalanus The Archbishop of Capua under whom are Theanensis Calvensis Calmensis Suessanus Venefranus Aquitanensis or Aquinatensis Iserniensis Casertanensis The Archbishop Amalfitanus under whom are Capri●ane●sis Scalensis or Camensis Minorensis Siteranensis The Archbishop of Salerne under whom are Aquensis Palicastrensis Nusautanensis or Nuscanensis Sarnensis Acervensis or Acernensis Maricensis The Archbishop of Su●rentine under whom are Lobrensis Serpensis Aquensis or Equensis or Vtanus Castellimaris or Stabiensis And let so much suffice concerning this part of the Kingdome of Naples I passe to the other part PVGLIA PIANA TERRA DI BARRI TERRA DI Otranto Calabria and Basilicata The other part of the Kingdome of NAPLES NOw we must view the other part of the Kingdome of Naples in which the first Country is that which the Italians doe call Puglia Piana from the large spacious fields there of It was heretofore called Apulia Daunia It is bounded on the East with Apulia Peucetia and the River Aufidus on the South with the Apennine together with the Hirpenians and Samnites on the West with the Frentanians Caracenians now called Apru●ians and Phiternians on the North with the Hadriatick and Jonium Sea The soyle is very fruitfull yeelding abundance of Wheate and Corne. Here are both Citties and Townes as Manfredonia a faire and populous Citty being situated on the banke of the Bay which lyeth in the hollow winding of the Mountaine Garganus and it hath an invincible Castle by the Shore side Leuceria is an Episcopall Citty which Ptolemy and Suetonius call Neuceria the ruines yet remaining doe shew the spaciousnesse of it Troy is a rich Citty having a fruitfull Soyle about it Asculum is a Citty which is adorned with the Title of a Dukedome Appianus Alexandrinus calleth it Asculum it is commonly called Asculo and surnamed Sattriano There are also Salpe or Arpi which Pliny mentioneth which was sometime called Argos Hippium and afterward Agrippa and two Citties which became a Proverb Apina and Trica c. The Rivers are Aufidus now called l'Ofanto Also Candilaris and Cervaria So much concerning Apulia Daunia the next Country which is to be described is Peucetia now it is called in Italian Terra Ba●iana or Terra di Barri from the chiefe Citty Bario This Country for fertility of soyle and plenty of choise fruit may compare with other parts of Italy But yet there are some places which are full of Boggs and Waters The chiefe Citty is Barium which Pliny calleth Barion it is commonly called Barri It is an ancient Citty and so faire and populous that it is the chiefe Citty of the whole Country which is called from thence Terra ●ariana There are also Monopolis which is a new Citty adorned with the title of a Marquiship which is not very great but faire and beautifull and full of magnificent Buildings The soyle round about it yeeldeth great store of Oyle Polonianum or Polignano is an Episcopall Citty which although it bee seated on a high stony Rock yet it is faire and populous Mola hath many houses but inhabited with rustick people The Marquesse Polinianus built a Castle there for the defence of the Coast Iuvenatum or
Giuvenazzo is an Episcopall Citty seated in a fertile soyle Marfette or as some write it Morfitta or Melfatta flourisheth with the Title of a Principality Vigiliae commonly call'd Bisegli is an Episcopall Towne seated by the shore on high Rocks Tranum is an Archiepiscopall Citty commonly called ●ra●i It had faire Buildings but now for the most part it is desolate There are Woods of Olives and Almonds which do reach from this Towne even to Tarentum Barulum is commonly called B●l●ta Ostu●a is a populous Citty seated on a little Hill C●lium or 〈◊〉 which Pt●lomy calls Cilia and Horace Verusia or Venusium where 〈◊〉 was borne is now called Venesa There are also Canusium 〈◊〉 Biletum and other Townes Next to Apulia we must describe the Country of the Salenti●i●● which i● also called Iapygia Massapia and Calabria The Italian● doe now commonly call it ●erra d' Otranto This Country hath on the South ●arentum and the Sea even to the Salentinian Promontory on the Eas● the same Promontory with the Jonian Sea on the North it is watered with the River Hidruntes even to Brundusium on the West it hath Asalta Peucetia and a part of great Greece This Country hath a wholesome ayre and a cleere faire Climate except on that Co●●t which reacheth from the Hydruntine Lake to Brundisium where there are Marshes in those places which are neere the Sea The Country is fa●t and fruitfull and the chiefe Citty which nameth the Country is H●drun●um which Strabo Ptolemy and others doe call Iareus Mela calleth it Hydrus it it now call'd Otrante It is an ancient Citty having a sweet milde ayre a strong Castle built by Alph●nsus the second and a large spacious Haven The soyle is pleasant and fruitfull The other Citties are Gallipolis now called Callipolis Others call it Callipol● as it were the faire Citty It hath a strong situation for it is seated on a Rock or small Iland which is encompassed every where with the Sea and it is joyned to the Continent with a s●one Bridge Castrum is a Citty much frequented by Merchants who co●● thither to buy Oyle Brundusium or Brundisiam which Ptolemy call Breundesium Steph. Brentesium and Benjamin Barnedis is now called B●●disi It hath a gentle ayre It had heretofore a famous Haven 〈◊〉 of which the Romanes did formerly passe safely into Greece b●● now it is filled up so that a Galley can hardly come up into it The Citty is fortified with a strong Castle The Citty Oria is seated on 〈◊〉 looking toward ●arentum and hath a strong Castle That Town● which Ptolemy calls Aletium is now called Leze and Leccie It is the prime Citty of the Salentinians in regard that the Royall Coun●ell of Apulta is held here and because all the Nobility of this Country have houses here Vxent●m now called Vgento Vsenti or Ogento is a very small Citty PVGLIA PIANA· Puglia Piana Terra di Barri Otrāto etc There remaineth in this Table Lucania to bee described which is now called Basilicata but from whence it is uncertaine The bounds thereof on the West are the River Silarus which bounders Campania on the South the Tyrrhene See on the East Laus the Brutians and great Greece on the North the Peucetians in Apulia with a part of Hirpinia Livy sheweth that it is all Mountainous and rugged But now perhaps it is more inhabited than it was formerly yet in many places it is very desolate in regard of the hard uneven wayes and the dreadfull hideous woods in which many robberies are committed The Townes here by the Sea are Paeslum which Virgil mencioneth Lib. 4. Georg. Biferique Rosaria Paesti The Rose-Gardens of Paestum where Sweet Roses doe grow twice a yeere Servius maketh Paestum a Cittie of Calabria where Roses doe growe twice a yeare Acropolis is a Towne 12. Miles from the mouth of the River Silarius having an excellent ayre The name sheweth that it was built by the Graecians as the most of the other Townes in this Country There is also Pisciotta which Pliny Mela and Ptolemy doe call Buxentum Palicostrum is a Noble Citty and adorned with the title of a Dukedome In the middle of the Country there is the Towne Padula which is honoured with the title of a Marquiship The Citty Capacia was heretofore very populous and rich I omit the other Townes Moreover in the other part of the Kingdome of Naples there are these Archbishops the Archbishop of Regiensis under whom are Lucrensis Cotroniensis Cassanensis Cathacensis Neocastrensis Giracensis Tretetensis Vibonensis Squilacensis The Archbishop of Consentinus under whom is Maturanensis The Archbishop of Rosania hath no Suffragans The Archbishop of S. Severine under whom are Ebriacensis Strangulensis Gencocastrensis Gerentinensis S. Leonis The Archbishop of Larcatinus under whom are Mutulensis Castellanensis The Archbishop of Brundisinus under whom are Astrinensis The Archbishop of Hidrontinus under whom are Castrensis Gallipolitanus Liciensis Vgentinensis Lucensis Nerto●ensis is exempted The Archbishop of Barensis under whom are Betontinensis Calphajanus Invenacensis Rubentinensis Salpensis Cauriensis Baterensis Conversanus Minerviensis Polignercensis Cathericensis Lavellinensis The Archbishop of Tranensis under whom are Vigiliensis Andrensis and Penensis The Archbishop of Sipontinus under whom are Vescanensis excepted Trojanensis excepted Melphiensis Monopolitanensis and Rapolensis are excepted Cannosanus under whom are Auranensis Sarranensis Montisviridis Laquedonensis S. Angeli de Lombardis Bisaciensis The Archbishop of Acheronti under whom are Potentiensis Tricariensis Venusiensis Graviensis Angelensis THE ILANDS CORSICA AND SARDINIA· CORSICA was so called from Corsus who was Lord of this Country The Graecians called it Kurnon from Cyrnus the sonne of Hercules Ovid names it Teraphne as Villanovanus writeth On the West and North it hath the Ligustick Sea on the East the Tyrrhene Sea on the South Sardinia It is not above 120. Miles long although Strabo maketh the length thereof to be 160. Miles and Pliny 150. who also maketh the breadth thereof to be 60. Miles and Strabo maketh it 70. Miles which appeareth to bee true by measuring it with a paire of Compasses The compasse of it according to Pliny is 320. Miles but according to Maginus 325. which hee saith that hee found out by measuring it exactly This Iland is hard to come unto being enclosed on every side with inaccessible dangerous cliffes and Hills Within likewise it is for the most part Mountanous and therefore it yeeldeth no great store of Wheate and Pulse which grow but in some few places where the Country opens it selfe and is watered with Rivers which make it fruitfull That part which looketh toward Etruria is indifferent plaine having a fruitfull Soyle which beareth excellent sweet fruites This Iland hath excellent wines of chiefe note which the Romanes much esteemed they are called from the place Corsican Wines Here is great store of Honey Rosen Oyle and Figges But Servius noteth in his 4. Booke of Geogr. that the Corsian Honey is bitter which comes to passe by reason
that there are great store of Ewe trees from whence the Bees doe gather Honey And Ovid beleeved that it was venemous This Country onely doth produce the Precious stone Catochites which Democritus the Abderite used when hee contended against the Magitian Rhenus concerning Corsica saith thus Hanc solam perhibent Catochitem gignere terram Corporibus lapis hic sen glutine tactus adhaeret Pliny Lib. 37. Cap. 10. and Solinus Cap. 9. doe report the like But Pliny doubteth of the truth thereof Here is also Allom and there are Iron Mines neere the River Bivincum in the County Nebiensis There are also Saltpits commonly called della Roya not far from the Haven of S. Florence and neere Niolum there are deepe Valleys which are alwaies cover'd with Snow under which they say there is great store of Christall There is also as Pliny and Diodorus witnesse great plenty of Boxe and Eewe trees It breedeth divers kindes of living THE ILANDS CORSICA AND SARDINIA· CORSICA SARDINIA Creatures especially lusty Horses and great Hounds and also a kinde of beast called Mufmo which Pliny saith is a kinde of Ramme they call it now Mosoli which beast is not found in any part of Europe except in this Iland and Sardinia It hath a hide and haire like a Hart and Hornes like a Ramme which are not long but doe bend backward about his eares and are so hard that if hee should fall downe 50. foote high among the rocks and alight upon his head it would not hurt him it is as bigge as an Hart and feedes onely on grasse being very swift of foote and the flesh of it is very pleasant in tast Moreover this Iland is full of sheepe and Oxen It was heretofore inhabited by the Phocensians then by the Ligurians and afterward by the Romanes who brought thither two Colonies the Marian and the Alerian which doe still continew The Barbarians possessed the rest afterward when the Romanes invaded them they brought a great Company of Slaves from thence to Rome of which they made no great commodity for they were such bruitish people that albeit they were bought for a small price yet their Masters repented them of their bargaine After the Romanes the Sarazens succeeded and after them the Geonoa's then the Pisanians and now it belongeth to Genoa It is devided now into two parts they call the Easterne part the innermost side and the Westerne side the outermost side That part which is neerer to Italy is called Cismontana or on this side the Mountaines that which runneth out towards Sardina is called Vltramontana or beyond the Mountaines Pliny witnesseth that there are 33. Citties in it which also Martianus Capella doth note out of him But it apeareth by Strabo that they were rather Castles then Citties There is now the Towne Bastia in which the chiefe Governour liveth and hath a Garrison to defend him There is also the Citty Nebbium which Ptolemy calls Cersunum It is watered with the Rivers Gelone Tavignano Sagona Bavono Tegiamo and some others The Mountaines also are clothed with woods which doe yeeld Rosen The chiefe Mountaines are Illia Orba also the Mountaine Cheparteno the Mountaine Tenda the Mountaine Gualango and the Mountaine Russus In the Sea betweene Corsica Sardinia there is Corrall gathered This Iland hath two great Havens which are able to receive great Ships in S. Florences Bay There is also S. Bonifaces Haven which Ptolemy calls the Syracusan Haven The Inhabitants of Corsica both were and are accounted very poore men that live by stealing and robbing and altogether unletterd There are these Bishops in Corsica who are Suffragans to the Archbishop of Pisanum namely Aciensis Alariensis Sagonensis and Civitanensis and the Bishop Nubiensis or Nebiensis who is subject to the Archbishop Ianuensis SARDINIA SARDINIA was so named from Sardus the Sonne of Hercules Timaeus called it Sandaliotin because it resembleth the shape of a shooe-soale Mirsilus and Chrysippus called it Icha●sa because it is like the soale of the foote Which Manilius intimateth when hee saith Sardiniam in Lybico signant vestigia plantae It is now called Sardegna On the East the Tyrrhene Sea doth beate upon it on the South the Affricke on the West the Sardian on the North the Sea that floweth betweene it and Corsica This Iland hath an ungentle ayre and therefore Q. F. doth admonish M. Cicero to have a care of his health and to remember that although hee were now in health yet hee was in Sardinia and in his Epistles hee saith that one Tigellius a Sardinian was a man more pestilent and contagious than his Country All the Iland aboundeth with fruite Wheate Wine Mines of Silver Cattell and all things necessary There are such store of Horses that many runne wilde and have no owners they are lesser than ours but full of mettall strong and nimble It affoordeth much Hunting so that the Country people doe live onely by it For this Country hath abundance of Boares Harts Does and another kinde of Beast which they call Muflo which we have described before in the description of Corsica But Sardinia hath no Wolves nor any other harmefull beast nor Serpent and therefore Silius saith Serpentum tellus pura ac viduata Veneno Sed tristis coelo ac multa vitiata palude This Country is from poysond Serpents free But many noysome Marshes in it bee But the Soligunda in Sardinia is as offensive and hurtfull as Serpents are in other Countries It is a little creature like a Spider L.S. calleth it Solifuga because it shunneth the day-light It liveth much in the Silver Mines for this soyle is very rich in Silver Oare It creepeth closely along and if any one sitt upon it unawares it infecteth him There is also a strange Sardinian Hearb which Pausanias saith is like unto Parsly which if it bee eaten it doth contract and draw together the Visage and mouth so that they dye as it were laughing Strabo writeth that the Spaniards make poison of it which being drunke doth dispatch them without any paine and hence grew the Proverb Sardonius risus or the Sardinian laughter The chiefe Citty of Sardinia is Calaris commonly called Cagler It is situate on a Mountaine neere the Sea looking toward Affrick and it hath a faire Haven This Citty is adorned with many priviledges it createth Con●●l● who have power to punish delinquents without authority from the King and it hath power with the peoples consent to make new lawes In this Citty the reliuqes of S. Augustine were kept untill Heliprandus King of the Langbards did translate them to Papia In this Citty the viceroy of Sardinia resideth together with many Barons Earles and divers rich men Mela and Pliny doe make mention of the Citty Sulchitana There are now also the Citties Oristagnum which is a Metropolitan Citty situate on a Plaine not farre from the Sea It was heretofore called the Country of trees but now it is called the Marquiship of Oristagnum There is also the
inhabit by the Maeotick Lake Pliny calld it Illyricum from Illyricus the Sonne of Cadmus or as some thinke of Poliphemus Ptolemy calls it Illyis and Stephen Illyr●a Ptolemy doth stretch it forth from Istria even to the confines of Macedon by the Sea shore and doth make it extend to Pannonia and Maesia Pomponius Mela and Dionysius Alexandrinus doe describe it to be larger for hee maketh Illyria to containe all the coast of the Hadriatick Sea from Tergestus even to the Ceraunian Mountaines and placeth it beyond Danubius For Mela reckoneth Danubius among the Rivers of this Country But Pliny maketh the Rivers Arsia and Visius to be the bounds thereof And the most doe follow Ptolomies description who saith that Illyris where it looketh toward Macedon doth containe Dalmatia and Liburnia which Lazius doth call Crabates and others Croatia Pinctus calleth it Contado di Zara. The length of it from Arsa to Dranus is 380 Italian Miles In some parts it hath a pure wholesome ayre but in other places not so wholesome by reason of Moorish exhalations and vapours This Country as Strabo witnesseth is very pleasant it hath strong Havens a fertile Soyle and full of Vines unlesse it bee upon the stony rockie cliffes or on that side which lyeth toward Paennonia where it is cold and coverd with snow Florus in his booke of the first P●nicke warre writeth that the Illyrians grew so licentious that they slew the Romane Embassadors like sacrifices and burnt the Captaines of the Shipps and to disgrace them the more at the command of a woman who as he writeth was called Teuta Againe the Illyrians being hired by King Perses began to set upon the Romanes behind their back but Scorda which was the head Citty of the Nation being rased they straightway yeelded themselves Pliny writeth that the coast of Illyria was more frequented than the Ilands when on the contrary the coast of Italy over against it is very impetuous and stormy The chiefe Citties and Townes of Illyri● are Senia commonly calld Segna being seated on a Plaine by the Sea which is often troubled with the North wind Iadera is now the chiefe and strongest Metropolis of the Liburnians Also Zara commonly call'd Sebenicum Ptolomy calls it Sicum It is situate in the Bay Scardonicor neere the Sea at the foote of a Mountaine where there is a Castell It hath fruitefull fields but it is thinly inhabited by reason that the Turkes doe continually vexe it Spalatum and Salena is celebrated by Ptolomy and Strabo There is also Salona which is a Haven of the Dalmatians which hath few inhabitants because it is so neere unto the Turke Tragurtum now called ●ran is divided from the Continent by SCLAVONIA SLAVONIA croatia Bosnia Dalmat a small arme of the Sea Epidaurus is an ancient Citty by the ruines whereof there is Ragusium commonly call'd Ragusi the Turks call it Pobrovicha it is a small Citty with a strong Castell heere is a famous Mart for all Turkish commodities the Commonwealth is governed by good lawes the Cittizens are rich This Country is watered with two chiefe Rivers Savus and Dravus which doe runne into Danubius Beyond the Mountaines many lesser Rivers doe breake out into the Hadriatick Bay as Edanius Ticicus Naron Rhizon and Drinus The Illyrians or Sclavonians doe dwell in woodden houses thatched unlesse it be some Townes upon the Coast where they live civiller And so much concerning Illyricum or Sclavonia in generall But Sclavonia which our table doth exhibit is onely a part of that Illyricum unlesse we make it to be Plinyes Sclavonia It containeth the Marquiship of Windorum and the County of Zagabria CROATIA CRoatia is a part of Illyricum towards Hungarie which wee described in the beginng Rufus and Volaterranus call it Valeria others Liburnia It joyneth to Istria on the East by the Fanatick Bay and is situate betweene the Rivers Cuspa and Savus and the higher Maesia The Metropolis of this Country is now called Bigihon and sometime Fumlum It hath many other Citties at Zeng Wackat Turnaw Modrish But the Turk by his invasions made this Country knowne having broken the league with the Christians had a great desire to joyne this Country to his Kingdomes and Provinces that so he might more conveniently invade Italy and Germanie whereupon at the beginning of Summer in the yeare 1592. the great Turke sent an Army into Croatia under the conduct of his Bashawes and Captaines The Souldiers being terrified at the approaching of this army the Bashaw of Bosnia tooke the stronge Fort Hrastovitza by treachery And afterward the fury of his Souldiers being not appeas'd therewith hee laid siege to Wyhitz a strong walled Citty the Souldiers having neither munition nor victualls yeelded up the Towne by surrender and the Turke afterward contrary to his promise put them all to the Sword and many inconveniences follow'd after this surrender which I omit Moreover in the yeare following which was 1593. The Turke glorying in his many victories and Townes which hee had taken had a great desire to get the strong Citty Sissegkum and so raysing an army hee besieged it But the Germanes considering what great detriment and losse not onely Germanie but all Europe should sustaine if the Turkes should take it they levied an army and so passing over the River Savus they intended to relieve the Citty The Turkish horse-men who were 8000. or some say 10000. made haste to possesse themselves of the other Banck of the River Savus by the Bridge which was built before that so they might hinder the Christians approach where joyning battell with the Christians the Turkes were put to flight and fled to the Bridge which the Carolostadien Souldiers had first possessed The Turkes were at last all cut off and a great many drown'd in the Rivers Savus and Kulpa The other part of the Turkish Army fled the Bridge being cut downe so that they could not retire to the rest of their army And so on the 22. of Iune in the yeare 1593. this Citty was freed from this straite siege BOSNIA THe Easterne part of Liburnia they now call Liburnia from the Bessi a people of lower Moesia who afterward being expulsed by the Bulgarians did remove into higher Maesia and by changing the letter e for o they were called instead of Bossis Bossi or Bosni and afterward Bosna and Besnia There have beene the like changes in other names as Melita now called Malta Langones and Lingones Scandia and Schondia c. Iaitza is a Citty of Bosnia seated on a high hill and encompassed with two Rivers These Rivers doe flowe at the foote of the Mountaine and so having encircled the Citty doe joyne together and runne both into Savus It was the Metropolis of Bosnia and it hath a strong impregnable Castle This Country also hath other chiefe Citties especially Schwonica and Warbosayne which is now the Metropolis but not walled about The River Milliatzka doth devide it into two parts c. DALMATIA IT
lye on Fether-beds but on Flock-beds or Beds stuffed with Wooll or Toe They never mingle any wine with water and women are not present at their drinking feasts and meetings neither doe they sitt downe at Banquets But the Heathenish Greekes have an ancient custome in bewailing the dead The Greeke Christians doe differ in Religion from the Romanes and doe call themselves the Easterne Church They have foure Patriarks the Patriarches of Constantinople of Alexandria of Hierusalem and Annoch These are created by the Metropolitan Bishops as the Popes are by the Cardinals and they are famous for their sanctimonious holy modest and religious life Their yeerely revenue is 400. crownes which is begged in the Churches which are under their government For the Clergie men have no Inheritance They may marry one wife but no more they acknowledge onely two Sacraments Baptisme and the Lords Supper They communicate in both kindes both in Bread and Wine They hate Purgatory and detest graven Images and doe not shave their haire But the richer Graecians and men of Authority doe weare Princely apparell Those that are under the Venetians doe goe in habit like to Venetians Those that are under the Turkes doe goe like Turkes The Governour of Greece is called V●omeli Beglerbey that is King of the Romane Princes for hee governeth all those Countries which the Turke hath in Europe which are subject to Constantinople Hee hath 40. Sangiacks under him who are Captaines of the Horse troopes chosen out of the Spachoglans and they are Governours in the chiefe Citties of the Provinces to keepe them in peace and obedience and they have 150. Sobasci Cimmeriotae or more who are Vice-governours under them of lesser Townes Under these Sangiacks there are 30000. Spachi every one of which maintaineth 3. or 4. Horses for service And these Spachi are distributed thorow the Flamboler that is the bands which doe containe 200.300 400. or 500. Horsemen The chiefe of the Sangiacks is the Governour of Modena who is President also of all Morea who upon the Beglerbeys command is to bring forth a thousand Horse who are bound to serve him for wages Also the Governour of Bosna bringeth 900. Horse and the Governour of Thessalonia bringeth forth 500. Horse an hundred whereof he hath alwaies in a readinesse the rest hee sends when the Turke demands it There are also under this Beglerbey 20000. Horsemen who are subject to the Sangiacks who are called the Tymariots because they have stipends out of the Tymar which is the Emperours Exchequer And also 40000. Akengi or Acconti that is Scouts or light Horsemen who being free from any taxes or contributions doe serve without wages and are supplyd with victuals by the chiefe Citties thorow which they passe There are also many Feudataries who are called Mosselin out of which there are sometime raised 60000 Horsemen and a great number of Footemen It would be tedious to rehearse all matters neither doe we intend it wherefore we returne to the more speciall parts of Greece MACEDON EPIRE AND ACHAJA VVITH which ALBANIA is described SOME have divided Greece in another manner But wee will follow Mercator who doth accurately describe the parts thereof in three Tables But in this Table he setteth forth 3. Provinces of Greece Macedon Epire and Achaja afterward Morea and in the third and last place Candia The first is Macedon being a large Country and so called from King Macedon the sonne of Orsiis some say that it was so denominated from Iupiter and Thia or as Salinus thinketh from Ducalions Nephew It was heretofore called Emathia as Pliny and Trogus doe witnesse Livy writeth that it was first called Paeonia afterward Aemonia Solinus calls it Edonia and Pieria Trogus writeth that it was heretofore called Baeotia Stephanus and Hesychius doe write that a part of it was called Macetia and from thence Eustathius reporteth that the whole Country was so called It is also called in the Booke of Machabees Cethim where we reade that Alexander went out of the Land of Cethim It is situate in the middle of two great Seas the Jonian Sea on the West and the Aegaean on the East on the North it hath a part of Dalmatia and the higher Maesia on the South it toucheth Epirus and Achaja The Country is every where fruitfull and encompassed with great Mountaines and the borders thereof toward the Jonian Sea are plaine and woody for that part which is called Albania is well knowne to bee large fruitfull and pleasant Moreover it is very rich in Gold and Silver and as Aristotle witnesseth a kinde of strange Gold was heretofore found here there is also Brimstone digged out of the Earth Moreover Macedon doth produce a Precious stone called Paeantides which doth helpe women to conceive and bring forth children as Solinus writeth This is that Macedon saith Pliny which heretofore had the Empire of the whole World that is that Country which passed over Asia Armenia Iberia Albania Cappadocia Syria Aegypt Taurus and Causasus this Country had Dominion over the Bactrians Medes and Persians and possessed all the East this conquerd India following the steps of Bacchus and Hercules this is that Macedon in which ou● Emperour Paulus Aemilius in one day tooke 72. Citties and sold them Such was the change of Fortune Macedon containeth many Countries among the which Thessaly is the chiefe which Castaldus calleth Comenolitari There are also many faire Citties in Macedon The chiefe now are Thessalonia which was and is now frequented by divers Christian Nations and Jewes who have there 80. Synagogues The Sangiack of Macedon resideth here He at the command of the Beglerbeg as often as the Turke setteth forth any Army hath 500. Horsemen well appointed an hundred whereof he keepeth neere him to defend his owne borders Neere unto this Citty is Siderocapsa famous for Gold Mettall And Pella where the Kings Treasure is kept and 3000. of the Kings Mares are kept to breed as Pliny and Strabo doe witnesse Stagira was the Towne where Aristotle was borne Also Apollonia where Augustus Caesar learned the Greeke tongue Dyrrachium which was heretofore called Epidaurus is in the Country of Brundusium also Aulon Croja and Cavalla The Rivers of Macedon next to Strimon in the borders of Thrace are Axius Erigonus Aliacmon and Peleus It hath these Mountaines Pelion Ossa Pindus Nimphaeus and Athon Athos is a great steepe rugged Mountaine which casteth a shaddow even to the Iland Lemnos it is planted with Vines Olives Bay-trees Mirtle-trees and Apple-trees Now it is inhabited by the Colojerians who are so religious that even the Turkes doe abstaine from this part alone and doe often give the Monkes gifts and benevolences EPIRVS· EPIRUS is a Country of Greece as Ptolemy and others doe call it Martianus Capella writeth that it was heretofore called Chaonia Grabillius affirmeth out of Dionysius and Thrasibulus that it was called Oricia and Dodona Leander and Erythraus doe write that it is now called Albania Richerius and
Aeneas Silvius Larta Castaldus saith that it was called Ianna This Country is bounded on the East with the River Celydnus or Pepylychnus on the North it hath Macedon This Country in many places is Woody and barren but by the Sea Coast it fruitfull It produceth great store of living creatures except Asses but it is hath faire large Oxen and great Dogs and also Sheepe Virgil. 1. Georg. doth commend Epire for Horses India mittit Ebur molles sua thura Sabaei At Chalybes nudi ferrum virosaque pontus Castorea Eliadum palmas Epiros equarum India her whitest Ivory doth send The soft Sabaeans Frankincense doth lend The naked Chalybes digge Iron forth And Pontus hath that precious stone of worth Which usually is call'd the Bezars stone Epire hath the best Mares to breed upon The Molossians first possessed this Country as Trogus reporteth But in the Trojans time Vlisses govern'd it After whom it came to Achilles who much enlarged his Empire Afterward it came to the Romanes and afterward to the Emperours of Constantinople and by their grant and donation to the Despotians which were a family in Epire. But Amurath the Turke at last having droven out the Christians did subject it to himselfe Here are the Cittie 's Dodone famous for the Oracle of Iupiter Dodonaus Also Nicopolis built by Augustus in memory of MACEDON· MACEDONIA Epir. et Achaia that victory when in a Sea-fight he ouercame Marcus ●ntonius and Queene Cleopatra It was heretofore a great City and populous now it is called Prevesa Ambracia is now called Laria from a Riuer of that name Here was the Palace of Pyrrhus of Epire and the Countrey of Cleombrotus Ambraciota who as Cicero relateth having read Platoes Booke of the immortality of the Soule being wearie of the miseries of this life did case himselfe downe from a high place There is also Ac●●um which Gerbelius maketh to bee a famous Citty of Acarnania It was heretofore a Colony of Augustus now it is called ●apo Figul● Strabo and Virgil doe call Buthrotum Pliny calls it Colonia Sophianus calleth it now Butrinto There is also Leucas where Apollo hath a Chappell and a Grove which hath power to mittigate the flames of Love and Strabo doth report that the Poetesse Sappho did first come out of it full of poeticall inspirations as Ovid doth mention in one of his Epistles to Sappho The Rivers of Epire are Acheron which Livy calls Acheros Strabo Achelous Sophianus Aspri Niger Catochi Kyriacus Ancomtanus calleth it Geromlia The Ceraunian or Acroceraunian Mountaines are very high and fearefull to the Marriners For as soone as cloud● doe begin to arise from thence Tempests doe immediately follow There is also the Mountaine Stymphe out of which the River Arachtus followeth as Strabo witnesseth the Inhabitants as ●ell●nius relateth doe goe forth of their Country in troopes in the Summer time in regard of the barrennesse of the soyle and so doe remove to some other place namely into Macedon Romania and Nat●lia where they worke under the Turke for hire and wages sometimes they reape Corne and so after Harvest is done they returne againe in Autumne with their Wives and Children But they are Christians and have a peculiar speech different from the Greekes yet they are of the Greeke Religion and because they are neighbours to the Graecians therefore they understand the Greeke ACHAIA THere remaineth in this Table Achaja which is a Country of Greece Ptolemy calleth it Hellades Pliny in his Epistles calleth it Maera-Graecia or meere Greece It is bounderd on the North with Thessalia neere the River Sperchus the Maliacan Bay and the Mountaine Ceta on the West with the River Achelous beyond which the Country of ●pire beginneth on the East it bendeth somewhat Northward and is washed with the Aegean and Mirtoan Sea even to the Promontory Sunium which is now called Cape delle Colonne On the South it hath Peloponesus over against it which is joyned unto it by our Isthmus I finde in Writers that here are 9. Countries which are D●rus neere Parnassus Aetolia by the River Evenus This latter is plaine and fruitfull toward the North but r●gged and barren towards the South It hath many ancient Citties one of the chiefe whereof was Ca●●d●● which is now ruinated with the rest Ev●nus a most cleare transparent River doth flow thorow this Country which afterward runneth into the Sea The Country of the Locrians and Opuntians was rugged the chiefe Citty whereof is Amphissa There is also in this Country Naupactus which some doe place in Aetolia Phocis is by the Mountaine Pernassus The Citty thereof is Delphos where there was the sumptuous Church and famous Oracle of Apollo Beotia lyeth among the Mountaines in a moist moorish place but fat and very fruitfull There is also the Citty Asera at the foote of the Mountaine Helicon where Hes●d was borne And Orchomenus famous for Tiresias Oracle Also Thebes which as Pliny witnesseth was sometimes equall to Athens where many famous men were borne but now these Townes lye buried in their owne ruines There is also Cheronaea where Plutarch was borne Also Plataea memorable for a famous victory which the Graecians obtained under the conduct of Pausanias against Mardonius Tanagra was a most superstitious Citty And Aulis where the Greekes assembled themselves before their comming to Troy Attica is a barren wooddy Country The chiefe Citty is Athens which needs no commendation to make it famous Euripides calls it the Grace of Greece or the Compendium and Epitome of Greece Cicero doth much praise this Citty in his Oration for Lucius Flaccus Lib. 2. of Lawes and in his Dialogue de Partitione There was also Marathon well knowne by Miltiades his famous victory And Eleusis famous for Ceres sacrifices which were therefore called Eleusinian Stephanus calleth Megaris a rugged Country The chiefe Citty hereof is Megara seated by the Isthmus from whence the Country was so called The most famous Rivers of Achija are Ismenus a River of Baeotia which watereth the Citty of Thebes Also Cnopus which Strabo calls Asopus Homer surnames it flowry Cnopus Also Evenus which before as Apollodorus and Strabo doe witnes was called Lycormas It is a River of Aetolia The most famous Mountaines are Parnassus which Lucan Lib. 4. calleth Mons Phoebo Bromioque sacer A Mountaine sacred to Apollo and Bacchus Which Claudian and Lucretius doe situate in the middle of the World There is also Helicon which Pliny calleth Musis natale the Muses birth place The Mountaine Hymettus is famous for Honey Marble and all things medicinable There is also Citheron which Lactantius calleth so from Cithara a Harpe because this Instrument was often playd on in this place and Poets Verses were frequently sung here There are these Bishopricks in this Country The Archbishoprick Philippensis under whom are Citrensis and Veriensis Also the Archbishop Laricensis under whom are Dinutriensis Almurensis Cardicensis Stdoniensis Dinucensis The Archbishop Neopatensis under whom is Lariaetensis The
and Ivory being 60. foote high which worke was reprehended by other Artificers because the Image was not proportionable to the Temple For whereas this Iupiter sate in an Ivory Throne and yet touched the top of the Church with his head it must needs come to passe that if this Ivory god being weary of sitting would rise up at any time that hee must throw downe the top of the Church There is also Pisa Achaja which Ptolemy calleth Propria reacheth from the Promontory Araxus even to the Sicyonian from whom it is devided by the River Sus on the South it hath the Mountaine Stymphalus on the North the Corinthian Bay There are also the Citties Dyme which they now call Charenza whence they call the Araxean Promontory Capo di Chiarenza there is also the famous Citty Patrae which is now called Patras The Citty Aegium in former time was called Vostiza or Bostizan and it was raced by the Turkes Aegira was heretofore a chiefe Citty being seated on a rugged steepe Hill which is now ruinate and called Xilocastro And in the Crissaean Bay there are Helice Bura and Pellene Si●●nia is situate betweene Achaja and Asopus the chiefe Citty thereof is Sicion the ancientest of all the Greeke Citties and built in Abrahams time being full of Churches Altars Statues and Images There was also Phlius which happily is that which they now call Vasilicon There remaineth Arcadia which is a Mediterranian Country in Peloponnesus being every where encompas'd with the Sea In this Country there is the Citty Megalopolis where Polibius a grave and wise Writer was borne It is now called Leontari There is also Stimphalus whence the Stymphalian Lake and the Stymphalian Birds There are also Lilaea Mantinea and Psophis But the chiefe Citties of all Peloponnesus Ovid Lib. 6. Metamorph. hath thus briefly described and Epitomized Finitimi Proceres coeunt urbesque propinquae Oravere suos ire ad solatia reges Argosque Sparte Pelopejadesque Mycenae Et nondum torvae Calidon invisa Dianae Orchomenosque ferax nobilis aere Corinthus Messeneque ferox Patraeque humilesque Cleovae Et Melea Pilos nec adhuc Pitheia Tr●ezen Quaeque urbes aliae bimari clauduntur ab Isthmo The neighbouring Princes met the Citties neere Intreate their Kings the desolate to cheere Renown'd Mycenae Sparta the Argive State And Calydon not yet in Dian's hate Fertile Orchomenos Corinthus fam'd For high-priz'd Brasse Messene never tam'd Cleovae Patrae Pylos Nelius crowne And Throezen not as then Pitheus Towne With all that two-sea'd Isthmus Straites include And all without by two-sea'd Isthmus view'd The most famous Rivers are Asopus which Theverus calleth now Arbon also Penejus which Thevetus and Niger call Igliaco there is also Alpheus which the Inhabitants call Rophea and as Niger saith Orphoa the Italian Marriners call it Carbon and 140. streames and Rivulets doe runne into this River There is also Panisus which Niger calleth Stromio but Castaldus and Mercators tables call it Pirnaza which is the greatest River of all Peloponesus The water whereof doth heale as it is reported all diseases belonging to Children and Infants Eurotas is now called by Stephanus and others Basilopotamo but Niger calleth it Iris whose bankes are full of Bay-trees and Inachus which S●phianus and others doe now call Planizza but Niger calleth it Iris whose bankes have also great store of Bay-trees I omit the other Rivers The Mountaines are Stimphalus the highest Mountaine of Arcadia which Dominicus Niger calleth Poglici Xitias Niger calleth it Pholos Mela Cillenius Strabo Cyllene it is the highest Mountaine in all Arcadia There is also the Mountaine which Mela calls Menalius Ptolemy Cronium Also Grevenos which Niger calleth Zarex and Gemistus Zaraca That which Ptolemy and Strabo call Minthe Niger calleth Olonus Pausanias calleth it Evan from Evoe a noise which Bacchus his Priests did use because it is reported that Bacchus and those women that followed him did use this acclamation or cry That which Pliny Pausanias Vibius and Stephanus do call Taigotus is a Mountaine of Peloponesus in Laconia neere unto the River Eurota From the top whereof there is so faire a prospect that you may behold all the Peninsula and every famous Citty in it This Mountaine doth breed many wilde beasts being consecrate to Bacchus Apollo Diana and Ceres In Morea there are these Bishopricks the Archbishop of Corinth under whom is Argivensis The Archbishop Patracensis under whom are the Bishops Coloniensis Mothonensis Coronensis Amiclensis and Androvillensis CANDIA VVHICH POPE BONIFACE of MONTIS-FERRAT sold unto the VENETIANS WEE are come at length to the last Table of Europe in which Mercator doth delineate and paint foorth Candia with some small Ilands neere Greece Ptolemy calls it Crete which is an Iland in the Mediterranean Sea It is now commonly called Candy On the North the Aegean Sea doth beare upon it on the South the Lybian and Aegyptian Seas on the West the Hadriatick Sea on the East the Carpathian Sea The forme of it is long on the East the Promontory Samonium shooteth forth on the West there is the Promontory Criu Metopum on the North there is a third Promontory which Stra. lib. 10. calleth ●imarus now it is called Capo Chesis The length is 270. miles the breadth 5● The compasse of it 588. The Country is every where rugged and Mountainous but it yeeldeth good store of Corne and Grasse The soyle is very fruitfull and there are abundance of trees Pliny also witnesseth that whatsoever groweth in Creete is better than any of the same kinde that groweth otherwheres It beareth Vines Olives Oranges Figges Lemmons Cittrons Malmesie is made onely in this Country and so is transported from thence to Venice and other parts of the world This Wine as Bellonius witnesseth the ancients did call Pramium But Volaterranus thinketh that those wines which they called Arvisia are now called Malvisia or Malmesie by the addition of one letter and he addeth that those kindes of Vines were brought out of Arvisium a Promontory of the Iland Chios into Creete whence they were heretofore called Arvisian Wines It beareth also and produceth Honey Waxe Cheese Saffron store of Gum and Bitony peculiar onely to Creete In the whole Iland there is neither Wolfe Foxe Serpent or any harmefull creature except Spiders In regard whereof the Flockes and Heards of Cattell doe feede securely and safely in the Meddowes especially Sheepe which they call Striphoceri But it produceth divers living creatures And Authors doe report of Creete That it hath no Owles and that they dye if they bee brought into this Iland Iupiter did first governe this Iland then Radamarth afterward Minos and the Graecians The Romanes power over it began from Metellus who was therefore calld Creticus Afterward the Constantinopolitans did possesse it Baldwin Earle of Flanders and Emperour of Constanti●ople gave it to the Marquesse of Montis-ferrat who sold it to the Venetians in the yeere 1194. for a great summe of gold and so it
is still under their Empire Ancient Writers doe report that it had heretofore an hundred famous Citties and Pliny mentioneth a-about 40. The most noted City is Gnossos where Minos had his Palace whence came the Gnossian Bow and the Gnossian Dart● Cortina followeth whence came the Cortynian habit as Claudian saith in his Booke of the rape of Proserpine Crispatur gemino vestis Cortynia cinctu Her Cortynian Garment then With a double Girdle was girt in And also Phestos Proxima Gnossiaco jam quondam Phaestia regno Also Cidon whence the Cydonian Bow and Cydonian Horne Also Dictinna Ma●ne●hala Licastos Lictos Holopixos and others But now as Bellonius witnesseth it hath onely three Citties of any note which are Candy heretofore Matium the chiefe Citty of the whole Iland from whence the Iland is denominated The second Citty next to Candy is Canca heretofore Gidon The third is Rhetimo which the ancients called Rhetim●a This latter hath an inconvenient Haven but Canca and Candy have convenient Havens There are no Navigable Rivers in the whole Iland Yet there are many great Rivers in which Beanes doe grow of their owne accord On the Northerne shore there are M●●●●otamus S●asinus Cladilis Epicidanus Giffo Divotro on the West there is Na●●ul●ar on the South Limens Crete hath great store of a kinde of Fish as bigge as Mullets on the Coast which are called Sca●us being very rare in other Countries which ancient Writers doe often mention and the Romanes did account them great dainties and a very dainty Dish The chiefest Mountaines are three Ida which the Inhabitants call Psilori Leuci which Pliny calleth Cadissi now de Madara and Dicta which is now called Sethia They are so high that all the Winter time they are covered with Snow but yet Cypresse trees doe grow here and there among the Cliffes The Mountaine Ida is the highest of them all It beholdeth the Sunne before the Sunne riseth for as Lucretius saith Idaeis fama est è montibus altis Dispersos igneis orienti limine cerni They say the Idaean Mountaines are so high That ere Sunne rise the Sunne we may espie Whose scattered beames within the Easterne skies Are seene before the Sunne it selfe doe rise CANDIE· CANDIA Corfu Zante MILO NICSIA SCARPANTO C●rfu which Ptolemy calls Cor●ira is a faire Iland being strong both by Land and Sea It is 2. miles distant from Epi●us where the Sea is straitest but where it is broadest 20. miles It is 97. paces in length as Pliny witnesseth The Climate is very temperate and gentle so that there are whole woods of Citterne Trees Orange Trees and those kindes of fruits The soyle is fruitfull having abundance of Vines Olives Apples and other sorts of fruits here is also great store of Honey Put it hath no good Corne in regard of the Southerne windes which dryes it so much that it withers before it come to Maturity and ●●penes●e It is now subject to the Venetians who defended it valiantly against the fury of the Turkes It hath a Citty of the same name The Inhabitants are Graecians Z●●●●t●us commonly called Zante Pliny placeth it betweene Cephale●●a and A●ha●a It is 36. miles in compasse This Iland bringeth forth great store of Corne but especially Raisons Wine and Oyle out of which the Inhabitants doe yeerely make 15000● Crow●●● They are Graecians and subject to the Venetians It hath a Towne of the same name with a Castle seated on a Mountaine which hangeth over the Sea it is full of Woods and it is much commended for the wholesomnesse of the ayre the fruitfulnesse and the fertility of the soyle The Mountaine it selfe is called Elatos Milo is an Iland which was anciently called Melos which is in the Cretian Sea The compasse of it is 80. miles It hath fruitfull Fields which doe yeeld Corne and Oyle but little Wine In this Iland a Mine of Silver is also found and the Onix stone Naxus is an Iland which Sophianus and others call Nissia It is 80. miles in compasse And it is reckoned among the fruitfull Iles. It hath great store of Wine and there is a kinde of Marble found in it which the Graecians and Pliny doe call a Carbell having spots like a Serpent The stone also Smirillus wherewith Glasiers cut their Glasse which Pliny calls Smiris is found here Some thinke that there are veynes of Gold here which are not found out by reason of the Inhabitants sloth and idlenesse Here is also a kinde of Waspe which if it sting any one he dyeth presently afterward also here are great store of Bats It was heretofore subject to Iohn Quirinus a noble Venetian Afterward to Duke Iob Crispus whom Selinus the Turkish Emperour drove hence But now it is inhabited by Turkes and Iewes Santorini or Santorino or Therosia which is an Iland in the Aegean Sea according to Strabo and Ptolemy hath the figure and forme of an horned Moone although it had another shape before it was burned and that the Sea devided it into two parts betweene which some Rockes doe lye It is fruitfull and hath convenient Havens The Inhabitants live by fishing And it is subject to the Turke Scarpanto was heretofore called Carpathus or according to Homer Cra●●thus Hence the Carpathian Sea It is situate in the middle between Crete and Rhodes The compasse of it is 60. miles or as some will have it 70 miles It is rugged and full of Mountaines in which there are Mines of Marble It had heretofore foure Citties and therefore it was called Tetrapolis as Eustathius hath it upon Homer It hath many Havens which are not very great nor safe The Inhabitants speake Greeke and doe embrace the Graecian Religion but they are subject to the Venetians But let so much suffice concerning Europe Now we enter upon the other parts of the world and first of Affrick which in our devision is next to Europe BARBARY IN VVHICH ARE THE KINGDOMES OF TVNIS AND AEGYPT IN Affrick which with Ptolemy wee make to bee the second part of the World Barbary doth first present it selfe to view being a noble Country of Affrick It was so nominated either from the Inhabitants murmuring speech which the Arabians call Barbar because the Numidian speech 〈◊〉 such to the Arabians or from their frequent deserts for Bar sig●if● in their language a Desart It ●eacheth from Aegypt even to the Gaditane straite and doth containe both the Mauritania's namely Ting●t●na and Casariensis properly called Affrick also Cyrena●ca Marmarica with the farther Lybia Late Writers of Affrick doe make the bounds of it on the East to be the Desarts of Marmarica which is now called ●●cha which reacheth to a part of the Mountaine Atlas now called Mejes which part Strabo describeth under the name of Aspis on the South it hath the Mountaine Atlas which lyeth from the East to the West even to the Sea which from thence is called the Atlantick Sea on the West it hath the Atlantick Sea on the North the
Mediterranean Sea The Ayre and Climate of this Country is various and different In the Spring the ayre is gentle milde and cleare in Summer the heate is most vehement especially in the Moneths of June and July but in Autumne it is somewhat cooler in the Winter the cold is somewhat sharpe especially about December and January but it is but in the morning onely so that no man is compelled thorow cold to come to the fire The end of Autumne and all the Winter and a good part of the Spring hath great store of impetuo●s and violent windes and stormes And sometimes they are troubled with Hayle Lightning and fearefull Thunder and in some place● there is thick Snow This Country yeeldeth grea● store of Dares and Pomegrants but it hath but little Wheate so that the Inhabitants for the most part doe make Barley bread It hath also great store of other fruit as Cherries Figges Apples Peares Prunes Peaches Apricotts Quinces Olives and the like It hath abundance of Oyle Honey and Sugar and great store of Heards of Cattell and wilde beasts For this Country doth breed Dragons Elephants Goats Bulls or wild Oxen and the like also Lyons and Libbards it hath also Wesils which are as bigge as Cats but that they have not such great jawes and great store of Apes The Phaenicians and others who came out of Asia or Aegypt did first inhabit this Country afterward it was subject to the Romanes then to the Graecian Emperous and afterward to the Vandals Sarazens and Arabians now it is partly subject to the Turke and partly to a S●riti● of it● owne also the King of Spaine hath some Castles BARBARY· BARBARIA in it There are foure Kingdomes in Barbary the Kingdome of Morocco of Fesse of Teleusinum and Tunis unto which some doe adde Barca We will entreate of the two former namely Morocco and Fesse in the following Tables but of the other we will entreate here The Kingdome of Teleusinum which they call Tremisen is Mauritania Caesariensis The length of it from the West to the East is 380. miles The breadth of it is narrower being 25. miles namely from the Desarts of Numidia even to the Mediterranean Sea The most part of this Country is unhabited dry and rugged especially Southward But the Coasts by the Sea side are somewhat more fruitfull and fertile There are few Citties or Castles in it The Metropolis is Teleusina which was heretofore a great Citty but now it is for the most part ruinated In the same Country there is also Algiers a great Citty and well fortified This Citty did first revolt from the King of Telusia●um and paide tribute to the King of Bugia afterward it revolted from him and received Ferdinand King of Spaine to be their King And at last it was taken by Barbarossa and added to the Ottoman Empire it is famous for the Shipwrack of Charles the 5. for the sad captivity and slavery of the Christians and the excursions of the Turkish Pirates It is now so fortified that it is thought to be impregnable Castaldus supposeth that Ptolemy did call this Salden but Ortelius and our Mercator doe thinke that that which Ptolemy called Salden is now called Tadelis ●ovius thinketh it to be Iulia Caesarea and others Crita There are also the Citties Mersalcabir Messagran Mustaganin and others This Kingdome hath two famous Havens the one the Haven of Horamus or Orania with a strong Castle the other of Marsa Eltabirus whether great store of Merchants Ships doe resort especially from Italy both which the King of Spaine got some yeeres agoe to the great detriment and losse of this Kingdome The Kingdome Tunitanum doth containe Affrick the lesse and a great part of Numidia For it reacheth from the River Major which Maginus supposeth to be that which Ptolemy calls Audum even to the River of the Country of Mesrata AEGYPT· AEGYPT is a noble ancient Country which was first inhabited by Misraim the Sonne of Chus Nephew to Cham and Nephew once remoov'd to Noah Wherefore in Osiris sacred rights it was called from Cham Chemia in stead of Chamia as from the other Misraim for the Arabians doe still call it Mesre The Turkes call it Elquibet or Elchebit The bounds of it on the West beyond Nilus are the Desarts of Barch Libya and Numidia with the Kingdome of Nubia On the South it is enclosed with the Bugiensian Country and Nilus where Nilus bendeth his course from the West Eastward Pliny doth bounder it with the Citty Syene which is now called Asna On the East it hath the Desarts of Arabia which lye betweene Aegypt and the red Sea On the North it is enclosed with the Mediterranean Sea which is there called the Aegyptian Sea It seldome raineth in Aegypt and Plato saith that it was never seene to raine in Aegypt so that the ayre is continually serene and cleare whence happily it was formerly called A●ria The Country is wonderfull fruitfull being full of men and all kinde of creatures The River Nilus which runneth thorow the middle of it and doth overflow it every yeere doth so moisten and fatten it so that it is wonderfull fertile and fruitfull Writers have left many Elogies in praise of the fruitfulnesse of this Country Iustine affirmeth that there is no Country more fruitfull than it For saith he there is in Aegypt great store of Wheate Pulse Barly Oates Beanes and other kinde of Graine and also excellent Wine It hath also pleasant Pastures but hath but little Oyle and Wood. Besides wilde beasts of which this Country hath abundance it doth breed great store of tame Cattell as Buffes Oxen Camels Horses Asses Rammes and Goates all which are of a great size as B●l●●i●s witnesseth in regard of the temper of the ayre the abundance of Fother and the sweet Grasse which groweth there by the overflowing of Nilus among the rest there are very fatt great Rams which have a great thick taile that hangeth downe to the very ground and dewe lappes hanging downe under their neck as Oxen have and their wooll is black Moreover all Aegypt did heretofore flourish under divers Kings of divers names even to the Ptolemies for there were few Pha●●es But the Ptolemies raigned a long time even to the Romane Empire which declining Aegypt was governd by the Agarenes of Arab a felix the Prince whereof was called the Sultan and those that followed him were also called Sultanes being all Mahometans they raigned many yeeres untill they were expulsed by the Turkes But now Soliman the great Turke doth possesse all Aegypt and leaveth there a President who is called the B●xa of Aegypt Alexander of Macedon did devide it into Praefectureships of Townes whereof Herod●tus reckoneth 18. Strabo one more and Ptolemy 46. Pliny 50. who also addeth that some of them had changed their names so that it is not to be imagined that there were heretofore so many Praefectureships of Aegypt as are nominated in Historians seeing there might
bee many names of one and the same Praefectureship Leo Africanus saith that the Mahometans did devide it into three Provinces Sahid the higher or Theb●●s from the borders of Bugia even to Cairus Errifia which is the Westerne part from Cairus to Rosettus and Maremina which i● the Easterne part It is supposed that there were 20000. Citties of Aegypt under Amasides Diadorus witnesseth that in his time there were ●000 The most famous were Syene Thebes which was also called D●●p●lis Ten●yra Heliopolis Memphis Babylon Alexandria Pelusium and 〈◊〉 which is now called Asna Thebes was built by King Busiris being in compasse 140. Furlongs as Herodotus reporteth it had 100. Gates with o●her publike and private Buildings but now it is ruinated 〈◊〉 was so called and denominated from the Iland of Nilus the Inhabitants are called ●entiritae who by nature are enemies to the Crocodile concerning which you may see more in Strabo and Pliny Heliopolis was heretofore the Citty where the Priests dwelt and the place where Strabo the great Astronomer and Philosopher lived Memphis heretofore called Arsinoe was a royall Citty where Nilus first devideth it selfe into two parts and maketh the forme of the Greeke letter Delta They call it now Cairum or Alcair This Citty is built in a triangular or three-cornerd forme being above 8. miles in compasse The Turkes the Aegyptians the Arabians the Hebrewes and others doe inhabit it Bellonius placeth Babylon a little above Cairus and the ruine of many famous Buildings are yet remaining It is now a little Towne of the Christians Alexandria was heretofore a noble faire Citty built by Alexander the great upon the Mediterranean Sea-coast and seated pleasantly The Turkes doe call it Scanderia Pelusium is called now Damiatum which is a potent rich Citty famous for the conveniency of the Haven wherein many Ships may ride being at the Pelusiacian mouth of the River Nilus This Country is devided watered and made fruitfull by the River Nilus which is the fairest River in all the world AEGYPTUS THE KINGDOMES OF MAROCCO FESSE· THat part of Barbary which was heretofore called Mauritania Tingitana doth now containe two Kingdomes namely of Marocco and Fesse of which we will now speake in order The Kingdome of Marocco was so called from the chiefe Citty thereof Marocco It lyeth betweene the Mountaine Atlas and the Atlantick Ocean in a triangular or three cornerd forme It is a pleasant Country abounding with all kinde of Fruit and Graine as Oyle Honey Sugar and other fruits as also Dates Grapes Figges Apples and divers sorts of Peares It hath also great Flockes and Heards of Cattell and many Goates whose hides are called Marocchini and the haire of them are good to weave a kinde of cloth which they call Camelottes Lastly this Country produceth all things which are necessary for food or to delight the smell or recreate the sight The Provinces hereof are Hea which on the East is enclosed with the River Essivalus on the South with the Mountaine Atlas on the West and North with the Ocean it is a rugged Country Mountainous Wooddy rich and populous It hath not such plenty of Wheate as of Barley and Millet But there is very little fruit which ariseth rather from the slothfull idlenesse of the Inhabitants than the indisposition of the Climate or Soyle But there is great store of Honey on which they live for the most part but they cast away their Waxe not knowing how to use it here are few Citties but many strong Townes Villages and Castles Susa hath on the North the Mountaine Atlas and the Towne Hea on the East the River Sus it is a fruitfull pleasant and rich Country It hath abundance of Wheate Barley and Pulse and in some parts great store of Sugar although the Inhabitants know not how to boyle it or use it in other parts it hath divers fruits as Egges Grapes Peaches and Dates it hath no Oyle which is yet brought hither from other places There is Gold in the Mountaine Ilalemus The chiefe Towne in this Country is Taredantum which the Mores doe call Taurent a faire Towne built by the ancient Affricans It containeth about 3000. houses and the Inhabitants are of a more civell behaviour Here the English and French Merchants doe live and doe exchange Iron Tinne and Lead for Sugar There is also Messa under which three lesser Townes are contained which are distant a mile one from another it was built neere the Sea Coast by the ancient Affricans Teijeut is a Citty built heretofore by the Affricans on a faire Plaine by the one side whereof the River Sus runneth It is devided into three parts which are about a mile distant one from another and being conjoyned they doe make a triangular or three cornerd figure Tedsi is a great Citty founded heretofore by the Affricans and seated in a pleasant soyle and Tagavost the greatest Citty of all this Country The Country of Morocco hath a triangular or three cornerd forme the bounds thereof on the West are the Mountaine Netisa on the East the Mountaine Hadimeus on the North it is extended even to the confluence and meeting of the River ●ensi●t and Asifinual This Country as Leo reporteth is well inhabited and aboundeth with Heards of Cattell and wilde beasts It is a continued Plaine not much unlike to Lombardy those Mountaines which it hath are cold and barren so that they beare nothing but Barley In this Country there is the Citty Marocco which some think to be that which Ptolemy calls Bocanum Hemerum It is accounted one of the greatest Citties of the world For it is so great that in the raigne of Prince Halis the Sonne of Iosephus it contained above 100000. houses and it had 24. Gates But this great famous Citty hath beene so harassed and wasted by the Arabians frequent inrodes and excursions so that now there is scarce a third part of the Citty standing There are also in this Country other lesser Townes as Elgiumuha a little Towne seated on a Plaine neere the River Sesseva and built by the Affricans Tenezz● is a strong Citty built heretofore by the Affricans on that side of the Mountaine Atlas which is called Ghedmina Delgumuha is a new Citty seated on a high Mountaine with a strong Castle Imizmizi is a faire Citty seated on a Rocke Tesrast is a small Towne seated on the banke of the River Asiselmel also Agn●et and Hanimmei Guzzula is seated on the North side of the Mountaine Atlas and on the East it joyneth to Hea. This Country doth yeeld great store of Barley and Cattell and it hath Mines of Brasse and Iron The Townes here and Castles have no Trenches or Ditches the Villages are faire populous and rich and all the Country is well inhabited Duccala is a Country which beginneth on the West from the River Tensiftum it is bounderd on the North with the Ocean on the South it is enclos'd with the River Habiel and on the
West with the River Hammirabith There are few walled Citties in this Country Among which is the Citty Azaefi situate on the Ocean shore The Affricans built it there is also Conte which was built by the Gothes and T it built by the Affricans Elmedina is the head Citty of all this Country Centopozzi is a small Towne There are also Subeit Temaracost Terga Bulativan Azamur and Meramer The Country of Hascora confineth on the North on Duccala it is bounderd on the West with the River Tensiftus and on the East it is devided with the River Quadelhabit from the Country of Tedeletes There are many rich populous Townes which belong to this Country as the Citty Alemdin which is built in a Valley encompassed with foure high Mountaines in which there dwell both Noblemen Merchants and Artificers Tagodast is seated on the top of a Mountaine and environd with foure other Mountaines Elgumuha is built on a high Mountaine betweene two other Mountaines which are as high and Bzo is an ancient Citty seated on a very high Mountaine about 20. miles from Elgiumuha VVestward Tedles is a Country not very MOROCCO· MARACCHI REGNUM large it is bounded on the West with the Rivers Servi and Omirabih on the South it joyneth to the Mountaine Atlas on the North it is bounderd with the confluence and meeting of the Rivers Servi and Omirabih so that the Country lyeth in a triangular or three cornerd figure There are some Townes in it the chiefe whereof is Tesza built by the Affricans and well inhabited There are also Esza Githiteb and others The chiefe Rivers of this Kingdome are Tensift and Omirabih which issuing out of the Mountaine Atlas doe runne into the Ocean But Tensift riseth in the Country of Morocco and is enlarged by the receit of many Rivers the greatest whereof are Sifelmel and Niffis But Omirabih doth breake forth among the Mountaines where the Province of Tedles confineth on the Kingdome of ●esse On the shore side in some places there is found great store of Amber which is very cheape there so that the Portugals and other forraigne Nations doe transport it into other Countries Here are many Mountaines as Nisipha Semede Sensana and others The most whereof are cold and barren so that they beare nothing but Barley In this Kingdome there are no great store of Churches Colledges nor Hospitals In the Citty of Morocco there are many Churches and one of the most curious and magnificent is that which standeth in the middle of the Citty and was built by the aforesaid Halis There is also another built by his successor Abdul Miomem and enlarged by his Nephew Monsor and enriched which many Pillars brought thither out of Spaine He made a Cisterne under this Church which is as bigge as the Church he coverd the Church with Lead and made leaden Pipes at every corner to receive and convay the raine water into the aforesaid Cisterne The Tower or Steeple of stone like unto Vespasians Romane Amphitheater is higher than the Steeple of Bononia in Italy the steps which goe up into it are very broad and the walls thick This Tower hath three Belfries or Turrets on which there is another little arched Tower built And this hath three Turrets one over another and they goe from one to another by a wodden Ladder If any one looke downe from the highest Tower he will thinke that men of great stature are no bigger than children of a yeere old And this Tower hath a golden Moone for a Weathercock and three golden Globes so fastned upon Iron that the greatest is placed lowest and the lesser highest There is also a strong Castle in this Citty so that if you beheld the spaciousnesse thereof the Walls Towers and Gates built of Tiburtine Marble you would thinke it a Citty It hath a Church with a high Steeple on the top whereof there is a Moone for a Weathercock and under it three golden Globes or Balls one bigger then another which doe weigh in all 130000. Crownes Within the Walls of this Citty there are Vineyards Date-trees spacious Gardens and Corne-fields For the Arabians frequent incursions and in rodes doe hinder them from ploughing the ground without the walls The Inhabitants of this Kingdome are in some parts more civill and in some parts ruder and voide of civility They eate Barley bread not leavened nor baked in an Oven and sometimes they make meate of Barley meale Milke and Oyle or Butter Many of them doe use no Tables nor Table-cloathes They are clothed with a kinde of cloth made of Wooll like Carpeting stuffe they weare a great deale of fine cloth about their heads yet the forepart of their head is bare none weare Hats or Caps but old men and learned men they weare no Smocks and in stead of Beds they have haire Blankets in which they wrap themselves They shave their beards before they are married but afterward they weare them long THE KINGDOMES OF THE ABISSINES AND CONGVS THE Kingdome of the Abissines is called Aethiopia which Ptolemy placeth beneath Aegypt The Moores doe call the Prince thereof Asiela Bassi and in the Aethiopian language he is called Iohn Belul that is High and Precious not Presbyter as some are of opinion Hee glorieth that he is descended from the stocke of David and this is his Title N. N. The supreme Governour of my Kingdomes the onely beloved of God the Pillar of Faith descended of the stock of Judah the Sonne of David the Sonne of Salomon the Sonne of the Pillar of Sion the Sonne of the seed of Jacob the Sonne of Mary the Sonne of Nahu according to the flesh the Sonne of the Saints Peter and Paul according to Grace the Emperour of the higher and lower Aethiopia and of my large Kingdomes Iurisdictions and Territories King of Noa Caffares Fatiger Angola Baru Balignaca Adea Vangua and Goyama where there are the Spring-heads of Nilus c. Hee is without doubt one of the greatest Monarchs of the world whose Territories doe lye betweene the two Tropickes even from the red Sea to the Aethiopian Ocean And that we may describe the bounds of his Empire more accurately on the North it hath Aegypt which is subject to the Turkes on the East the red Sea and the Bay of Barbery on the South it is encompassed with the Mountaines of the Moone on the West it is bounderd with the Kingdome of Congus the River Niger the Kingdome of Nubia and the River Nilus In which bounds are contained ancient Aethiopia below Aegypt Troglodite and the Cinnamon-bearing Country and part of the innermost Libya The Country in general as appeareth by those who have taken a late view of it is most fruitfull There is a double Summer which almost lasteth all the yeere so that in some Fields they are sowing and in others they are mowing at one and the same time And in some parts Corne and Pulse is sowed every moneth This Country hath but little Wheate but plenty
and Barley and great plenty of Lettice Colworts Cabbages Rape-rootes Beete Parsley or wilde Alexander and other Garden hearbs And besides it hath a roote which groweth in the West-Indies in the Iland Hispaniola which is there called Bata The Negroes of this Iland doe call it Ignama and doe plant it as a very choise and speciall hearbe The outermost barke is black the innermost white and it is long like a Rape-roote and hath many branches spreading from the roote It tasteth like Chesnuts but more pleasant and sweete They commonly rost them in the ashes and sometimes they eate them raw The Spaniards have brought hither Olive-trees Peach-trees Almond-trees and other kindes of Trees which being planted were faire and pleasant to behold but they never beare any fruit There is in this Iland a strange kinde of Crab which liveth in the Earth like a Mole of a Sea-water colour which casteth up the Earth and doth gnaw and consume all things neere it There are also in this Iland great store of Birds as Partridges Starlings Blackbirds greene singing Sparrowes and Parrots The Portugals built a Citty in it which they called Pavosa by the River in which it is thought that there 700. Families besides the Bishop and other Clergie men It hath a good Haven and a wholesome River and the Sea affoordeth good fishing And which is wonderfull there are great store of Whales which are sometimes found on this shore and on other shores of Affrick In the middle of the Iland there is a wooddy Mountaine which is alwaies coverd with such thick Clouds in so much that water doth runne out of the woods and water the Sugar-canes and the higher the Sunne is the Skie round about that Mountaine is the more cloudy The Inhabitants are partly white and partly black And it is very strange that the black people are very much troubled with Gnats Lice and Fleas but the white people have neither Lice nor Gnats nor Fleas in their Beds The Princes Iland NOt farre from hence 3. degrees beyond the Aequinoctiall is the Princes Iland Which is so named because the Prince of Portugal hath the revenues of this Iland It is well inhabited and yeeldeth great store of Sugar And there growes in it a kinde of Date-tree which wee mentioned before out of which there commeth a juyce which they drinke The Iland of the Good-yeere THE Iland of the Good-yeere or de Annobon was so called because it was discoverd at the beginning of the New-yeere It is situate 3. degrees Southward beyond the Aequinoctiall and it is inhabited there is good fishing by the shore side and flying fishes are sometimes seene here Here are also great store of Crocodiles and venemous Creatures And let so much suffice to have beene spoken concerning Guinea and these Ilands together with Affrick And now to conclude I thinke it meete to set downe that which Aeneas Gazaeus a Greeke Writer doth report in his Theophrastus or Booke of the immortality of the Soule or Resurrection of the dead who affirmeth that to his great amazement hee beheld the Martyrs and Priests of great Libya when their tongues were puld and cut out by the Tyrants command yet they spoke aloud and with a cheerefull couragious heart declared the wonderfull workes of God Hee that desireth to know more let him have recourse to Salust in his Jugurthine Warre and the Voyage of Hanno an Affrican which he shall finde in Arrianus and Iambolus his Voyage in Diadorus Siculus Also Herodotus his Melpomene Of the Moderne Writers let him consult with Aloysius Cadamustus Vascus de Gama Francis Alvares who viewed Aethiopia Iohn Leo who describeth it the most acurately of them all and Ludovick Marmolius also Livy Sanutus and others Concerning the River Nilus the greatest in all the world you may read the Letters of Iohn Biptista Rhamusus and Ierome Fracastorius We come now to Asia the third part of the World THE TVRKISH EMPIRE IN Asia unto which we now are come the Turkish Empire hath the first place Mela in his first Booke maketh mention of the Turkes and so doth Pliny Lib. 6. Cap. 7. And it is not to bee doubted but that Nation which is now growne so great by our sloth and dissention was both named and originally descended from them Postellus thinketh that the Hebrewes did call them Togarma They doe call themselves Musulmanni that is the Circumcised or as some doe interpret it the Right Beleevers But they will not be called Turkes for they account that name very reprochfull which in the Hebrew language signifies Banisht men or as some doe interpret it Spoilers or Wasters The Empire of the Ottoman Family which is very large and potent doth containe many Provinces and Countries of Europe Affrick and Asia In Europe it extendeth and stretcheth it selfe neere the Sea shore of the Hadriatick Bay from the borders of Epidaurus now called Ragusus and so encompassing all the Aegean Sea and also Propontis and a great part of the Euxine Sea it is bounderd with the Citty Theodosia situate in the Taurican Chersonesus which they now call Caffa which space of ground containeth 8000. miles In the Mediterranean parts it reacheth from Iavarinus a Towne of Hungary which the Inhabitants call Rab even to Constantinople which is seated in the borders of Europe In Affrick Turky doth containe all the Sea Coast from the Towne Bellis de Gomera even to the Arabian Bay or the red Sea except some few places which are subject to the King of Spaine It doth also extend it selfe very farre into Asia The Country for the most part is fruitfull and yeeldeth great store of Wheate Barley Oates Rye Beanes Millet and other kindes of Pulse It hath abundance of Rice Hempe and Cotton It hath also Vineyards It yeeldeth also great store of Pompions Mellons Cowcumbers Nuts Apples Peares Pomegranats Oranges Chestnuts Figges Cherries and other fruits but not in every Kingdome For there are some places as in Cappadocia and Armenia the lesse where none of these fruits doe grow by reason of the intensive and excessive cold It hath also veines of Gold Silver Iron Brasse and Allom. It doth breed divers kindes of living creatures and great store of Cammels Mules and other Cattell The Turkish Horses and Mastiffes are much esteem'd The Turkish Empire began thus Ottoman their first Emperour was a Tartarian and a Souldier to the great Cham a stout man and strong of body He leaving the Tartarians under the colour of some injury began to lye in THE TVRKISH EMPIRE· TURCICUM IMPERIUM waight about the Mountaines of Cappadocia At first he had but 40. Horsemen with him but afterward many guilty persons allor●d with the hope of booty and the consciousnesse of their wicked deeds flocked unto him by whose ayde and assistance he began to attempt openly what he formerly intended and so possessed himselfe of Cappid●●ia P●ontus Bithyma Pamphilia and Cilecia all rich Countries This was done about the
that Priviledge THE HOLY LAND· THis famous Province of Syria was heretofore called the Land of Chanaan the Sonne of Cham who possessed it It was called also the Land of Promise or the promised Land because God promised it to our Fathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob This Country when the ancient Inhabitants were beaten out and the Israelites came in their place began to be called Israel and Iudaea Ptolemy and others doe call it Palaestina from the Palaestines a people of great note who in the sacred Scriptures are called Philistins the Christians doe call it the Holy Land This Country is situate in the middle of the world betweene the Mediterranean Sea and Arabia on which side beyond the River Iordan it is encompassed with a continued ridge of Mountaines and so it reacheth from Aegypt as Herodotus will have it or as others from the Lake Sirbon even to Phaenitia The bounds thereof are these it hath on the East Syria and Arabia on the South the Desert of Pharan and Aegypt on the West the Mediterranean Sea on the North the Mountaine libanon The length of it reacheth on the North to the Citty of Dan seated at the foot of the Mountaine Libanon which was afterward called Caesarea Philippi and Paneas so on the South to the Citty Bearsebach situate in the Tribe of Simeon over against the great Desert which is about 67. miles every mile being an houres journey But the breadth which is to be taken from the Mediterranean Sea on the West to Iordan on the East side doth containe in some places 16. and in other places 18. miles Of all Countries it is chiefly commended for the wholesomnesse of the Ayre and temperature of the Climate for the Winter is not too cold nor the Summer too hot And all Writers both sacred and prophane doe praise it for the fruitfulnesse of the Soyle the abundance of all kindes of fruits and the plenty of all things necessary for the sustentation and delectation of mans life Moyses concerning this Country prophesi'd thus to the Israelites Deut. Cap. 8. Vers 7. For the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good Land a Land of Brookes of Water of Fountaines and depths that spring out of Valleys and Hills a Land of Wheate and Barley and Vines and Fig-trees and Pomegranates a Land of Oyle Olive and Hony a Land wherein thou shalt eate Bread without scarcenesse thou shalt not lack any thing in it a Land whose Stones are Iron and out of whose Hills thou mayest digge Brasse a Land flowing with Milke and Honey Iosephus also and Pliny doe praise the fertility of this Country But of all those things which serve either for delight or medicinable use the Balsame is especially commended which God heretofore gave to this part of the World but now it wanteth it also the Aromatick sweet Spices and Mastix and two kindes of Nuts the one called Almonds and the other Pistack Nuts In the Mountaines also there is Iron and Brasse It hath abundance of sweet Springs and pleasant Meddowes which are cloathed with Flocks and Heards of Cattell which doe yeeld great store of Milke And here is good hunting of Boares Goates Hares and Hawking after Partridges Stares and other Birds Moreover the Land of Chanaan had 31. Kings which were Philistins but after Israelites entred into this Country the most part of the Philistins and ancient Kings were slaine and droven out And the Children of Israel were governd by Captaines about 450. yeeres untill the Prophet Samuel Neither did they rule by Succession or Election but it was a kinde of Aristocracy where the Seniors in every Tribe did governe but afterward at the request of the people God changed this forme of government into a Kingdome and this government continued many yeeres For in processe of time the Israelites suffered many calamities untill at length they lost their Kingdome For both sacred and prophane Histories doe witnesse that this Nation had beene subject to divers changes and had beene vexed continually with warres either through the disposition of the people who could neither endure their own nor others government or through their sinnes which provoked Gods anger toward them or through the felicity and happinesse of this Country which tempted Strangers to invade them Sometimes they were overcome sometime carried away into captivity so that they were unfit to live either in prosperity or adversity Sometimes they were under the yoke of servitude and in bondage to their neighbours and sometimes to remote people farre off as the Aegyptians Chaldaeans Medes Persians Macedons and Romanes and they never ceased to tread downe and overthrow themselves and their Common-wealth by their evill counsell untill at length they fastned and nayled the Sonne of God and the Saviour of mankinde with their wicked hands to the Crosse than which there could bee no greater sinne or impiety After that there ensued new calamities and miseries For Titus Vespasian having conquerd Iudaea tooke Ierusalem and carried away many thousand Jewes into Captivity and many of them being slaine by famine pestilence fire and sword he wasted and destroyed the Temple and all the sacred and prophane buildings in the yeere from the birth of Christ 73. which Christ himselfe while hee lived here on Earth had foretold Aelius Adrianus did re-edifie the Citty but hee changed the Situation thereof And the old Temple of Salomon lay ruinate and wasted even untill the yeere 363. when Iulian the Apostata gave the Jewes leave to re-edifie it who being dismaid by a miracle desisted from their enterprise and left it off againe In the yeere 615. Chosr●es King of Persia tooke the Citty and put 90000. men to the sword but he being overcome and taken by Heraclius was punisht for his cruelty In the yeere 636. Haumer Prince of the Sarazens subdued all Iudaea THE HOLY LAND· PEREGRINATIO ISRAELITARŪ IN DESERTO and it continued 450. yeeres under the power and dominion of the Sarazens But in the yeere 1097. when it was decreed in the Counsell of Clarimont in the time of Pope Vrban the second that a Voyage should be made to recover the Holy Land Godfr●y of Boloyne having raised a great Army of Christians which consisted of 300000. Foote and 100000. Horse did beat out the Sarazens In the yeere 1185. Saladine King of Persia did restore the Sarazens to their first estate But not long after the Christians invaded them againe And the Sarazens invaded them againe in the yeere 1217. untill at length after divers mu●ations and changes the Turkes got possession of it in the yeere 1517. This Country containeth Idumaea Iudaea Samaria and Galiley Idumaea beginneth from the Mountaine Cassius or according to others from the Lake Sirbon and stretche●h Eastward even to Iudaea There are these Citties in it Maresa Rhinocorur● Raphia Anthedon Ascalon Asotus and Gaza Iudaea is the most famous part of Palestine being situate betweene the Mediterranean Seas and the Lake Asphaltites and betweene Samaria and
Constantinople There is also Nicaea and He●a●lea in Pontus Asi● properly so called is now called Sabrum or Sacrum it is bounderd on the East with Galatia on the North with Pontus and Bithynia the other parts are washed with the Sea It containeth also within it selfe Phrygia Lydia both the Mysia●s Caria Aeolides Ionia and Dorides Phrygia is twofold the greater and the lesser the greater lyeth Eastward in which there are few Citties but more Villages There is also the Citty M●da●um neere Sangarius which was so called from Midas his Palace There is also Apamaea the greatest Citty in Phrygia not farre from the River Maeander Also the Towne Docymeum and the Citty Synnada There is also Pessinus In the lesser Phrygia or Troad●s there were Iliam or Troy which is so often mentioned in Homer and Virgil. Also Pergamus which King Attalus from a Castle did enlarge and change into a Citty here Apollodorus the Rhetorician and Galen were borne Bellonius reporteth that among the ruines of Troy there are fragments and pieces of Marble Sepulchers foundations of Walls old Towers and Colossusses yet remaining There are also in this same Country the Promontory and Towne Sigaum in which there is Achilles Tombe Lydia or Meonia hath the Citty Sardeis where Craesus his Palace was Mysia neere the Hellespont bordereth on Troas In this Country there is Lampsacus a Colony of the Patians and Abydus of the Melesians Caria is situate betweene Ionia and Lydia the Metropolis hereof was heretofore Miletus which now they falsely thinke is called Malaxo for the ancients did call it Mylassa which Pliny calleth the free Citty Lib. 5. Cap. 21. There is also Magnesa neere the River Maeander On the shore was Ionia neere the Iland Chius in which heretofore was that famous Citty Ephesus Aeolis is betweene this and L●sbu● whose Citties by the Coast side are Myrina Cuma now Castri and Phocaea now called Foglia Vecchia Dorus is by the Carpathian Sea in the Chersonesus the chiefe Citty whereof is Halicarnassus here the Historians Herodotus and Dionysius were borne and Mausolus had his Palace here Galatia which is also called Gollogreece is so called from the Frenchmen who mingling themselves with the Graecians did heretofore possesse those parts which lye by the Euxine Sea betweene Pontus and Cappadocia The Citties in it are Ancyra now called Anguri famous for waterd Chamlot which is made there of Goates-haire Sinope was Mithridates his Country Amisus now called Simiso In this Country is Paphlagonia which is now called Roni Cappadocia which is now call'd Amasia and it reacheth from Galatia to Antitaurus on the South is Ciliciae on the North the Euxine Sea The length of it is more than 300000. miles Here was sometimes the flourishing Kingdom of the Amazons whom Titianus as Isid●●●s witnesseth doth elegantly call One-breasted Amazons The Citties and Townes herein are Trapezus Themis●yra Amas●a where Strabo was borne Iconium and Maza Lycia is next to Caria It hath these chiefe Citties Pa●ara and Telmessum Pamphilia followes which is parted by the River Cataractes from Lycia In it there were these Citties Sida Attalia and Aspendum It is now together with Cilicia called Caramania The Metropolis of Cilicia is now called Hama the ancients called it Tarsus here S. Paul was borne being an ancient University by the River Cydnus Strabo doth much commend it There is also the Towne Adena and Heraclea by the Mountaine Taurus Armenia the lesser reacheth even to Eu●hrates but on the West it is bounderd with Cappadocia The Rivers are Iris which is now called Casalma●h also Halis Ottom●ngiu●h Parthenius Dolap Sangaris Sangri which doe all runne into the Euxine Sea Into the Propontick Sea these Rivers doe runne namely Ascanius Rhindacus Aesopus and Granicus and into the Hellespont these Rivers Simois and Scamander which is also called Xanthus Into the Agaean Sea these Rivers doe runne Ca●●us Hermus Caistrus Maeander which as Pruseus reporteth maketh a hundred windings and turnings Lastly there doe runne into the Mediterranean Sea these Rivers Calbis Xanthus Limyrus Cataractes and others The Seas are the Euxine Sea the Aegaean Sea and Pamphylian the Propontis the Hellespont the Icarian the Myrtoan and Rhodiensian Seas And these Seas are very convenient both for importing and bringing in all kinde of Merchandise and also for fishing by which they reape much profit The chiefe Mountaines are Horminium in Pontus and Mysium which is also called Olympus The Synnadican Mountaines are famous for Stone-Quarries there is also Ida in Phrygia which is memorable for the ancient contention of the Goddesses for the Golden Ball and Paris his judgement which hee gave there also Gold-bearing Tmolus in Lydia Argaeum in Caeppadocia Amanum now called Monte Negro in Cilicia on which there doe grow high Cedars and and Juniper also the Mountaine Sabina which hath great store of Plants There are also Dindyma and the Mountaine Chimaera which flameth like Aetna and the flame thereof as Pliny witnesseth is encreased by casting on water and extinguished or quenched with dunge There is also the Mountaine Taurus which beginneth here on the top whereof there are Lions in the middle of it which hath pleasant pastures there are Goates and at the bottome Serpents Whence the Poets doe faine that it is a Monster which vomiteth and spitteth fire having a head and breast like a Lion a belly like a Goate and the tayle of a Dragon and that Bellerophon was sent to kill this Chimera There are also other Mountaines as Antitaurus and Scordiscus which for brevity sakes we omit I come to the publike workes There was heretofore in Ionia in the Citty of Ephesus the Temple of Diana the most famous and most magnificent Temple in the World and accounted one of the 7. wonders of the World Here were also many Hospitals for Strangers and for the sicke which they called Carbachara Moreover there are no Innes or places of Receit for Travellers in all those Provinces of which are subject to the Turke except it be those publike Houses which were built by divers meanes but this was the most usuall The Turkish Nobles when they were growne rich being willing to doe some pious worke in their life time did out of their Zeale build such Houses for they had no kinne to bestow it on and therefore thinking that should doe a good worke for the publike good by raising such Structures and Buildings they did therefore build either some bridge or an Hospitall called Carbachara unto which there was a Temple adjoyning and next to it a Bath THE ILAND OF CYPRVS VVITH THE ILANDS STALIMENE CHIVS MITYLENE NEGROPONTE CERIGO AND RHODES CYPRUS is one of the greater Ilands of the Mediterranean Sea which was so called either from Cyprus the Daughter of Cynica or from the Cyprus tree which is proper to this Iland It lyeth in the middle of the Issican Bay betweene Silicia and Syria on the East it hath the Syrian Sea and the Issican Bay which is commonly called Golfo de Lajazzo
on the West the Pamphilian Sea on the South the Aegyptian Sea on the North it looketh toward Cylicia which is now called Turcomannia according to others Caramania The compasse of it is 427. miles the length of it 200. as Bordonius witnesseth It hath for the most part an unpleasant and unwholesome ayre in regard of the exhalations and uprores which arise from the Lakes Yet the whole Iland is very fruitfull For it produceth all things necessary both for necessity and delicacies as Wheate Barley and other kindes of Graine also excellent Wine that may compare with Crete Wine also Oyle Sugar Honey Salt Oranges Citrions Lemmons Dates and other excellent fruit Also Gold Cotton Wooll Saffron Coriander seed Silke and what not also Emralds Chrystall Iron and Allome and especially such great store of Brasse which it is thought was first found there so that it was called Brazen Cyprus There is also a kinde of stuffe made of Goates haire which is called Chamlot Diodorus Siculus Lib. 16. writeth that 9. Kings did governe this Iland which were all subject to the King of Persia It had also Greeke Tyrants We read that heretofore it had 15. famous Citties which are now for the most part decayd and ruinated The chiefest of them were Paphos now called Bapho also Palae Paphos where the Inhabitants doe affirme that Venus came first out of the Sea there is also Sali●i●● which is seated in a pleasant Bay of the East shore from whence there is a convenient passage to Syria It was afterward called Const●n●●● and Epiphanius was Bishop thereof There were also the Citties Amathus and Ceraun●a But now the chiefest are Nicotia and Famag●●● But out of the Mountaine Olympus there doe runne two great Rive●s Ly●us and L●pethus the former runneth Southward the latter Northward The other streames may be rather called Torrents than Rivers because they are sometimes dry and then the Inhabitants doe want water extremely There are divers Mountaines in this Iland but the highest of them all is Olympus which they call Trohodon which is beautified with all kinde of trees and hath many Monasteries on it in which the Calojerians dwell The compasse of it is 54. miles STALIMENE LEMNOS is an Iland of the Aegaean Sea which the Turkes and Italians do now call Stalimene it is over against Thrace between the Chersonesus of Thrace and Ath●n a Mountaine of Macedon the compasse of it is 100. miles On the East side it is dry and barre● but betweene the South and the West the Fields are very fruitfull and doe bring forth Wheate Pulse Pease Beanes Wine Flaxe and Hempe The Lemnian Earth is digged foorth now as heretofore with many superstitious Ceremonies and that every yeere on the 6. day of August but not at other times For it is forbidden upon paine of death that none come to digge of it either secretly or openly The place out of which it is digged is called Vulcanes Mountaine This Iland hath abundance of Bay-horses which goe softly and doe neither pace nor trot It hath also Serpents Here were heretofore the Citties Myriva and Ephestias But now the latter is ruinate and desolate and called Cochino The other is a small Towne seated on a Peninsula which is joyned to the Iland by a small Isthmus or tongue of Land it is now called Lemnos CHIOS· THe Iland Chios was so named either from the Snow or from the Nymph Chion Heretofore it was called Aetolia as Ephorus reporteth It is situate betweene Samos and Lesbus over against Erythra The compasse of it is above a hundred miles Chios hath excellent good Wine so that as Strabo reporteth there are Clusters of Grapes which doe weigh 6. pound It hath also good Figges and a kinde of Marble which was much esteemed at Rome And it alone of all the rest beareth Mastick And heretofore it was so fertile and fruitfull that it was called the Store-house or Barne of Rome It hath also great store of tame Partridges which runne up and downe the Fields and the Streets Here are 36. Townes The chiefe Citty is ●hia which hath a convenient Haven for Ships to ride in It is all Mountainous It hath these Promontaries Posidium Phanaeum Arvisium from whence come Arvisian Wines which are now called Malmesies In this Country THE ILAND OF CYPRVS CYPRUS Stalimini Chios Mitilene Negroponte Cerigo Rhodus ton the Tragedian Theopompus the Historian and Theocritus the Sophister was borne And some suppose that Homer was borne here Cicero in his Oration for Archias saith The Colophonians doe say that Homer was their Citizen the Chians doe challenge him to bee theirs the Salaminians doe account him theirs and the Smyrnians reckon him their Citizen And therefore they dedicated a Chappell to him in their Towne And many others doe contend and strive for him MITYLENE LESBUS or Mitylena which is now called Metelin from the chiefe Citty lyeth over against Phrygia and is distant from the Continent 7. miles and an halfe Some report that the compasse of it is 168. miles And others say 130. miles It hath a wholesome ayre fruitfull fields and good fruits Here it the best Corne. It yeeldeth the best Wine which is more esteemed at Constantinople than other wines and for the most part it is of a pale colour betweene red and white Here is also Marble which is bluer than a Touchstone here is also the Pretious stone call'd Achates which being worne cheareth the heart and driveth away care and sorrow It doth breed strong lusty Horses but of low stature Heretofore there were 5. Towns in it Ant●ssa Pyrrha Eress●s C●ravi Muyl●n● now Metelino being the Prince-Towne of the whole Iland which hath a Castle and a pleasant fruitfull soyle but now it is for the most part ruinated and fallen downe This Iland hath two convenient Havens NEGROPONTE EUBOEA now called Nigropontus or Nigroporte on the South thrusteth forth the Promontory Geresto and Capha●eum on the North Caeneum it is no where broad and yet the narrowest place is two miles over but it is long and lyeth over against ●ae●tia and is separated from the shore by a narrow strait Heretofore it was joyned to Bae●tia The compasse of it is 365. miles This Iland hath abundance of Corne Pulse Wine Oyle and Trees fitt for Building of Shops The Metropolis was heretofore ●hal●is now it is called Nigr●p●n●e after the name of the Iland It is famous for the death of A●ist●th who dyed here for griefe when hee could not finde out the cause of the flowing and ebbing of the Sea 7. times by day and seven times b● night Although Suia●s reporteth that he dyed not for grief● but that he was poyson'd and L●ert●us saith that he dy'd by sicknesse There are also the Citty Eretria where Simonides the Lvrick Poet wa● borne there is also Cha●istu● which Stephanus calleth Chironia and Aegea now it is called Garisto which was famous heretofore for Marble there are also Heliaea ●irrha Nesos O●●halia Strabo writeth
heretofore these Provinces Arrapach●tes Adiabena and Sittacena the Citty Ninive is by Tigris which is 60. miles in compasse Susiana is now called Chus or Cusistan it was so named from Susis a chiefe Citty which is 15. miles in compasse and was so called from the Lillies which grew there as Atheneus noteth for Susum in the Persian language signifies a Lilly Mesopotamia which in Scripture is called Padan Aram is now called D●arbecha it is situate betweene the Rivers Euphrates and Tigris whence it was so named because it lyeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or in the middle betweene two Rivers this Country hath a divers situation part of it the Rivers doe fertilize or make fatt part of it is dry and barren and without Grasse or Trees The chiefe Citties are O●pha which is 7. miles in compasse and Ca●amil which is farre greater than it being the Metropolis of Mesopotamia which Selimus the Turkish Emperour tooke from the Sophi Merdin is the seate of the Patriarke of Chaldaea and Mosus of the Patriarke of the Nertorianians whose authority reacheth even to the Indies and Cathaja In Persidis which they call now Farsi or Parsitum there is the chiefe Citty Siras which was heretofore called Pers●polis which was the Seate of the Magi. Pliny calls it the head Citty of the Persian Kingdome and Q. Curtius the royall Palace of the East Hyrcania which is now called Grigta or Cor●a or Dargame●t is next unto the Caspian Sea which is therefore called the Hyrcanian Sea It hath these Citties Hyrcana which the Scythians call THE KINGDOME OF PERSIA· PERSICUM REGNUM Carizath also Besta and Mesandra Margiana which is now called Iselbas is bounderd on the North with the River Oxus The chiefe Citty is Iodion which was anciently called Antiochia Bactrina now called Batter or Charassa is a part of Tartaria The Citties are Bactra which is now called Bochara and also Istigias Paropamissus is a part of Bactriana by the Mountaine Paropamissus it is now called Candahar or Amblestam The chiefe Citty is Candabar which is a famous Mart Towne Aria is so called from the Metropolis thereof Eri which is 13. miles in compasse Carmania which is called Circa or Chermaine reacheth to the Indian Sea even to Gedrosia having many Citties and Havens The Metropolis is Chirmain There are also in Carmania these Kingdomes Ma●ram Era●a Guadel and Paran Some doe falsely suppose Gesia to be Guzarate seeing Guzarate is the Kingdome of Cambaja Babylon is situate betweene the Persian Bay and Mesopotamia and on the right and left hand it is enclosed with the Desarts of Susia and Arabia is was so named from Babylon the chiefe Citty thereof Chaldaea ioyneth to it In Chaldaea was the Citty Vr which Iosephus calleth Vra from whence Abraham being admonished by God removed and went to Haran in Mesopotamia This Kingdome hath many Rivers as Canac Araxes and ●i●us which doe water the Southerne part of Media In Assyria is the River Tigris In Susania the River Enelaeus Mesopotamia hath the River Euphrates In Margiana Oxus Arius and Margis Bactria hath the Navigable River Ochus and others in Aria are the Rivers Arius Toncletus Arapenes and others It hath also divers Mountaines as Orontes in Media and the Mountaine Coronus in Hyrcania Also the Mountaine Taurus which cutteth thorow the middle of Persia which hath divers names given it by the people that dwell neere it It hath also many woods especially Parthia is very wooddy and the Northerne part of Hyrcania which hath great woods which have store of Oakes Pinetrees and Firre-trees and are full of wilde Beasts as Tigers Panthers and Libards Also Aria is full of Woods and Mountaines as also all Persia Concerning the publike works there are many stately and magnificent Buildings in this Kingdome and especially in Babylon As that magnificent Bridge in the Citty of Babylon which the Queene Semiramis built over Euphrates concerning which see Munster Lib. 5. who also in the same Booke describeth a strange Garden which Semiramis caused to be planted In the Citty Susia was the Castle Susa in which the Kings of Media dwelt which as Cassiodorus reporteth Memnon built with stones laid in Gold in stead of morter this is one of the 7. wonders of the world But of these things enough I come to their manners They created their Kings out of one Family He that did not obey the King had his head and armes cut off and his Carkasse was afterward left unburied They had all of them many Wives and many Concubines which they kept for Of-spring sake that they might have Children by them They never consulted of waighty matters but when they had their Cups about them for they supposed that they could then determine better of matters than when they were sober Acquaintance and equalls did salute one another with a kiss● The 〈◊〉 ●●rious did shew reverence by outward gestures They buried their dead bodies in the ground and anoynted them with waxe It was counted a hainous offence to laugh or spet before the King Concerning the burying of their dead others doe write the cleane contrary namely that the Persians did bring forth the bodies of their dead without the Citty into the Fields and there cast them forth naked to be devourd by Dogs and ravenous Fowles And moreover that they would not suffer the bones of the dead to be buried or interr'd And when any Carkasse was not presently devoured by the Fowles and the wild Beasts they accounted it an unlucky signe superstitiously beleeving that that man had a wicked impure soule and therefore worthy of Hell and his neighbours did lament him as a man who after this life had no hope of Felicity But if he were soone devoured by the Beasts they judged him happy But now the Persians are more soft and gentle in their manners and behaviour then either the Turkes the Tartarians or the Sarazens They are by nature liberall and doe love civility and they reverence Learning and Arts but especially Astrologie Phisick and Poesie They use Parents and Brethren with much respect and Nobility of blood is greatly esteemed wherein they differ from the Turkes which make no differences of blood or dissent Moreover they doe entertaine and use strangers curteously but yet they are very jealous So that they suffer not their Wives to come in a strangers sight though in other matters they use them with great respect contrary to the maner of the Turkes who use their Wives like slaves The Persian women are very faire They doe addict themselves to Mechanick Arts and especially weaving of Silke stuffes which are transported thorow all Syria and other Easterne Countries They did feed heretofore on the fruit of the Turpentine Tree and on Acornes and wilde Peares their daily food after running or other exercises of the body was hard bread their drinke was water They get much by buying and selling of Pearles and sweet Spices but especially of Silke of which here is great store
in the Citty Ciandu And there is another in the same Citty and another in the Citty Cambalu built very curiously and it is about 4. miles in compasse every Quadrangle containing a mile It hath a very thick wall which is 10. paces high The outward superficies of it is white and red In the foure corners of the wall there is a faire great Palace which is in stead of a Castle And so likewise in the middle of the fore walls there is a faire Palace built so that there are 8. Palaces in all In these they keepe their Armour their warlike Furniture their Ordnance their Bowes Arrowes Quivers Spurres Bridles Launces Bowstrings and other things necessary in warre and every severall kinde of Armour is laid up and kept in severall Palaces But in the middle of them or the innermost Court is the Kings Palace in which the King dwelleth This Palace hath no Chambers but the lower Pavement thereof is raised 10. hand breadths from the ground The roofe is very high and adorned with Pictures the walls of the Court yards and dining-roomes doe glister with Gold and Silver At the first entrance there are faire Pictures to entertaine the eye and warlike Histories drawne foorth with gold and lively colours The great Cham hath twelve Barons in his Court who are Governours of his 34. Provinces and it is their Office to appoint two Rectors or Governours in every Province and they are to provide things necessary for the Kings Army wheresoever it be and they acquaint the King with their purposes who by his authority confirmeth their determinations Malefactors are punisht in Tartary after this manner If any one hath stolne some small matter which doth not deserve death he is beaten 7. times with a Staffe or Cudgell and hath 17. blowes or strokes given him at a time or 27. blowes or 47. according to the quality of his offence untill at last they come to an hundred and 10. stripes or strokes And some doe die upon this beating But if any one have stolne a Horse or any other thing that deserveth death hee hath a Sword thrust thorow him But hee that will buy out his life hee must restore nine times as much as that which he stole was worth If any man or woman be taken in adultery they are put to death by the Law The Tartarians are devided into Hordes which words signifies amongst them a Tribe or Company And as they live in severall Provinces farre distant one from another so they are as farre distant and different one from another in their manners and kinde of life The men are of a strong square set stature having broad fat faces darke hollow eyes having great rough Beards but the rest of their haire is shaven they are strong of body and bold in courage and can endure want and labour when they are on Horseback if they chance to bee hungry or thirsty they cut their Horses veines and so drinke his blood It is a prophane ard barbarous Nation who make warre their right and strength and power their law Many of them have no houses but doe live in Carts And because they wander from place to place they doe usually direct their course by the Starres and especially by the North Pole They doe not tarry long in one place for they thinke it a great unhappinesse to continue long in the same place They have on use of money and therefore they exchange one thing for another They say that they are Ismaelites and received the law of Mahomet in the yeere 1246. The Tartars doe feed on grosse meat and especially on flesh and that raw or halfe sod and on Milke and Cheese but they abstaine from Hogs-flesh They drinke Mares Milke which they doe so temper that it is like white wine and is a savory well-tasted drinke They feed very sluttishly for they neither use Table-clothes or Napkins neither doe they wash their hands bodies or Garments They drinke also Water and Milke and a kinde of Beere made of Millet THE KINGDOME OF CHINA· CHINA is a large and potent Kingdome The Inhabitants doe call it Tame and themselves Tangis Ptolomy calleth them Sinas which Ortelius liketh of whom the most doe follow or their neighbours the Cathajans which Mercator doth more approve of All this Country is situate by the Easterne Ocean and it is thought to bee the farthest Country Eastward The bounds thereof on the East are the Easterne Sea on the South the Province of Cauchinchina on the West Brachmana on the North the Tartarians a warlike Nation from whom they are devided by the Mountaines and a long Wall which doe reach 500. miles The Historians of China doe report that this Wall was built long since by a King whose name was Tzinzous after that by his wisedome he had freed the Inhabitants of this Country from the Tyranny of the Tartars which they had endured 93. yeeres This Country by reason of the goodnesse of the ayre and soyle and the industry of the people is very fruitfull For the men are not slothfull but laborious so that they scorne to live idlely Whence it comes to passe that every corner of this Country doth produce and bring forth something They sow the dry ground with Wheate and Barley The plaine wet moorish places with Rice which they sow foure times every yeere The Hills and Mountaines have abundance of Pine-trees betweene which they sow Millet and Pulse So that every place and field beareth some fruit and there are every where Gardens full of Roses and divers kindes of flowers and fruits They have great store of Hempe and Flaxe and Woods of Mulberry Trees for keeping of Silke-wormes Moreover there is great store of Gold Silver Brasse Iron and other Mettals also Pretious Stones Pearles Muske Sugar and Rheubarb and that is thought to bee the best which is brought from thence thorow Persia by Land for some think that the Sea doth take away much vertue from it This Kingdome also doth produce and yeeld a medicinable kinde of wood which the people of China doe call Lampala and we Radix Chinae or the China Roote and it is commonly us'd thorow all the Indies against Impostumes the Palsie and the French disease The Roote of it is hard and heavy and of a white colour There are infinite store of Cattell on the Mountaines and in the Medowes The Woods are full of Boares Foxes Hares Cunnies Sables Martines and other beasts of the same kinde whose skins are much used for lining of Garments So that it is both pleasant and profitable hunting of them There are also great plenty of Birds especially water Fowle and such great store of Ducks that in Canton which is one of the least Citties of this Kingdome 10. or 12. thousand Duckes are spent in one day And though this Country have great store of Fowle yet they make them increase by this meanes In the Spring time they lay two or three thousand Egges in the Sand by
the heate and warmth whereof young Duckes are hatched And they doe the same in the Winter time but then they doe not lay their Egges in the Sand but under a Wicker Basket or Pannier on which they strew warme ashes the heate whereof in some few dayes doth hatch the Egges This Country is under one King and Monarch whom the people call Lord of the World and sonne of Heaven There are in it 250. chiefe Citties whose names doe end in Fu which signifies a Citty as Cotonfu Panquinfu And their Townes which are many doe end in Cheu There are innumerable sort of Villages which are inhabited by reason of their continuall tillage and Husbandry All the Citties are situate by the banke of some Navigable River fortified with strong walls and deepe ditches There are many pleasant Lakes as the round Lake in the Province of Sancius which was made by an Inundation in the yeere 1557. which is memorable in regard that 7. Citties besides Townes and Villages and a great number of people were drowned in it onely one Boy saved in the body of a Tree The Rivers and the Seas are full of Fish And this Country because it bordereth on the Sea and hath many Navigable Rivers is very populous both by Sea and Land The Gates of their Citties are very magnificent and stately built The streetes are as strait as if they were made by a line and so broad that 10. or 15. men may ride together in a ranke and these are distinguisht and severd one from another with triumphall Arches which doe grace the Citty very much The Portugals doe report that they saw in the Citty Fuchus a Towre which was built on 14. Marble Pillars which were 40. hand breadth high and 12. broade This is such a curious beautifull and costly worke that it farre exceedeth all the proud and magnificent structures in Europe They have faire Temples both in their Citties and in the Countrey The King of China hath a Governour under him who is as it were a Viceroy whom they call Tutan Hee judges and determines all suites and controversies within the Kingdome and is very severe in administring Justice Theeves and murtherers are kept continually in prison untill they dye with whipping and with hunger and cold For though they are condemned to dye which is for the most part by whipping yet the execution is so long delayd after the sentence is given that the most part of those which are condemned doe die in prison Hence it comes to passe that there are so many prisoners in every Citty So that there are sometimes a thousand Prisoners in the Citty Canton Theft than which no crime is more hatefull in these parts is punisht with whipping and cruell stripes And this is the manner of their whipping They set a man with his face bending downeward with his hands bound behind him and then they whipp him on the THE KINGDOME OF CHINA· CHINA thighs with a whipp made of Reedes and Canes which giveth such a vehement stroke that the first blow will make the blood spring forth and the second blow will so torment the malefactor that he cannot stand upon his feete Two Beadles doe whipp him on both his thighs with such vehemency that the most of them do dye at the 50. or 60. stroke for al their sinewes are broken The Portugals report that every yeere above 2000. men are put to death in this manner Their whipp is 5. fingers thick and one broade which they wet continually with water that it may be more flexible and may give the stronger blow It is lawfull for the men to have many wives one of which they keepe at home and the rest in other places They punish adultery with death In the Citties there are no Brothells for all the whores are banisht into the Suburbs They celebrate their Nuptiall Feasts and weddings at the time of the new Moone and commonly in the Moneth of March which is the first day of their new yeare And they doe keepe these Festivalls with great solemnity and for many dayes together with Organs Musick and Comicall Playes The Chinoans have for the most part broad faces thin beards flat Noses and little Eyes yet some of them are well favoured enough Their colour and complexion is like the Europeans but they are somewhat browne and swarfie that dwell about Canton They seldome or never goe out of their owne Countrey neither doe they admit any stranger to come into the innermost parts of their Countrey unlesse the King give him leave They are as stout drinkers as the Germaines and Dutchmen Concerning the Religion of this Countrey they beleeve that all things were created that all things here below are governd from above and from the Heaven which they beleeve to be the greatest of al the Gods whom they expresse by the first Character of their Alphabet They doe worship the Sunne the Moone and the starres and the Divell whom they painte in the same manner as the Europaeans doe least hee should doe them harme as they say The Chinoans are so neate in making all kind of household stuffe that they seeme rather the workes of nature then of Art The use of Ordinance and the Art of Printing is here of such antiquity that they know not the first Inventor thereof The Portugalls doe write much concerning their sagacitie and craftinesse and that they have Coaches which will goe with Sayles which they know so well how to guide that they will make them in a short time carry them by Land whither the list Neither can I omit their cleare white kind of Potters ware which wee call China ware which they make in this manner They mingle Sea snales or Periwinkles with egge-shells and putting some other things to them they beate them till they become one substance Then they lay it under the ground and there they let it lye to season and ripen 80. or 100. yeare and they leave it to their heyres as a precious treasure so that they commonly do come to use that which their Grandfathers first laid to ripen And it is an ancient custome observd amongst them that he that takes away the old must lay new in the place Here is much commerce and trading especially for sweete spices and ●ilkes For out of Malacca Bengala and other places Pepper Saffron Muske Nutts Cassia and other kindes of sweete Spices are brought into China But their chiefest trading is in Silke For Iohn Barrius in his Decads of Asia doth write that at the Citty Nimpo which some doe call Liampo that hee saw some Portugals in three moneths space that carried away by Shippin 166000. pound waight of silke Also Antonius Pigiafetta doth afirme that Muske is brought from hence into other parts of the World and Andreas Corsalis saith that Rheubarb and Pearles are brought from hence THE EAST INDIES THE Indies is the greatest Country in Asia it is so called from the River Indus Ptolemie devideth it into two parts
Virginia you may see more which Iohn Wytts Description and Thomas Harriotts Relation Theodore Brius hath written of them in a particular Booke and hath cut them forth in Brasse Figures FLORIDA FLORIDA that I may by the way speake of the Etimologie of the name was so called because it was found to bee full of Da●e trees which the Spaniards call in their language Pascua de Flores This name was given to it by Iohn Pontius of Legion Others as Thenatus have another originall of the name namely because it is greene and flourishing and the River spread and deckt with greene Flowers but the Reader may approve of which derivation hee shall please The Inhabitants doe call it Iaquasa This Province hath large bounds on the East Ba●●ma and the Leucajan Iles on the West it toucheth the bounds of the Province of Mexico on the South it looketh towards Cuba running out in manner of an Isthmusa 100. miles and where it is narrowest it is 30. miles broad Above Florida Northward are Canada Virginia Avanares and New France It is a very pleasant and fruitfull Country And the Inhabitants are very carefull of their Corne for they sowe Maize in March and June and 3. moneths afterward they reape it and gather it into their Barnes and afterward every one hath a share according to their necessity and dignity It hath also divers other kindes of Fruit as Mulberries Cherries Chesnuts Grapes Medlars and Prunes which are faire to sight but ill tasted They have also Rootes call'd Harte of which when they want Corne they make bread It hath divers kinds of living creatures as Harts Hines Goates Beares Leopards Woolves wild Dogs Hares and Connies Neither doth it want Fowle as Peacocks Partridges Parrets Doves Wood-Pigeons Turtles Black birds Starling and others There are also divers kinds of serpents and a kind of beast like an Affrican Lion And it hath a strange kind of beast like a Foxe which hath a kind of a Sacke or Satchell under his belly which hee can open and shut so that hee puts his young ones into it and runnes away with them when hee sees any danger This Countrey after Iohn Pontius had discovered it lay a while untouched and no man lookt after it in regard of the fiercenesse of the Inhabitants untill in Processe of time Ferdinand Sottus obtained this Province of the Emperour Charles and so sayled thither with a great company of Souldiers in the yeare 1534. but hee having no care to make a Plantation wandered up and downe to seeke out veynes of gold which hee beleeved hee should doe but being deceived therein hee dyed for griefe and all his Souldiers and company were all slaine and killed by the Indians Afterward the Frenchmen in the time of Charles Nononus with their Captaine Iohn Rhibaldus sayled towards Florida but they had an improsperous voyage Another as unfortunate voyage the Frenchmen undertook with Captaine Landonier in the yeere 1562. and built there Charles his Fort which shortly after the Spaniards tooke Two yeeres afterward Dominicus Gourgnesius with a Fleete of 3. Ships and 150. Souldiers and 80. Saylers did revenge the Frenchmen tooke Charles his Forte and leveld it with the ground But in his returne understanding that the King was angry at that which hee had done he attempted nothing more neither is there any mention of any voyage which the Frenchmen afterward made in Florida and so the Spaniards had free possession of those Countries The more famous Provinces of Florida which were discoverd by the Spaniards are the Country Panuca which confineth on New Spaine the Inhabitants whereof are warlike people and cruell in Warre they sacrifice their captives to Idols and doe eate them The men doe pluck of their Beards that they may seeme more beautifull and they have holes bored thorow their Noses and Eares neither are they married before they are 40. yeeres old Next to this is the Country Avanares and the Province of Albardaosia the Inhabitants whereof are most crafty and doe differ in manners from the other Indians There is also in Florida the Country Iaguazia the Inhabitants whereof are so swift of foote that they will out-runne and catch Deare and they will runne a whole day and never be weary There are also other Countries and Provinces of Florida as Apulchia Anthia Samovia and others All the Country is watered with divers Rivers and Streames and therewith moystned and in the Mountaine Apolchicis there doe great Rivers rise which have Gold and Silver sands which the Inhabitants doe gather and bring it downe the River to the Sea Coast to sell it The chiefe Rivers are Porto Real which signifies the Royall Porte The mouth of this River is 3. miles over and hath two Promontories the one whereof looketh Westward the other Northward also Rioseco Fl. Magnus or Grandis Garumna Charenta Ligeris Anona Sequana Ay Serravahi Majus and others The Country is plaine and it hath few Mountaines among which the Apalchician are the chiefe About the River Porto Real there are many woods full of Oakes and Cedars in which there are many Harts and wilde Beasts and also many Indian Peacocks are found The Inhabitants are of a crafty cunning disposition and prone to warre and seeking revenge THE DESCRIPTION OF NEVV VIRGINIA· IT is wonderfull how much this Province and the Colony therein encreased from the time that the Englishmen began first to inhabit it so that almost all parts of it are found out and discovered And that these things may appeare more clearely wee thinke it fit to joyne to this Description Captaine Smiths last Voyage into this Country These Provinces therefore expressed in this present Card have on the North a high Mountaine at the foote whereof there dwell a people called Sasquesahanoug On the North-west it hath the Massawonecks on the West the Manahoacks on the South-west the Monacans on the South the Mongoags and Chanons betweene Affrick and the North the Virginian Sea and on the West certaine high Mountaines doe shew themselves on which certaine rude barbarous people doe live call'd ●uskarawaocks Tockwoghs and Aquanachukes The River Pouhatan watereth this Country which riseth in the Country of the Monacans and so running towards Affrick it falleth into the Ocean Neere the Promontory Wiffins another lesser River doth empty it selfe into the Sea as also the Rivers Payaunkata Cappahonock and Parwomeck which are full of Fish and are inhabited round about There are also other Nations toward the North but not knowne These Countries Captaine Smith in the yeere 1608. did discover with one Brigantine or Galloone who met two Indians who brought him from Capo Charles to Acc●umack whence he sayled to the great Bay Chesapeack about which there dwelt divers people who warred one with another who entertaind him in severall manners But his chiefe desire was to finde out the veines of mettall which he attempted in vaine Ponuhatan is a little Village consisting of 12. Houses or rather
Cottages being situate on a pleasant Hill the Lords of which place were called by the same name as also the neighbour Nation who entertained him well without any shew of Hostility Wherefore when Captaine Newport came thither with a new supply he would needs goe visit Po●hatan at his house at Weromoco who being courteously entertain'd he found him sitting on a Straw Mart and resting his head after his Country manner on a faire Pillow and Maydes as faire as the place could afford did sitt at his head and feete and 20. Concubines did watch at each side of the Palace But hee himselfe having his head and breast painted red wore a chaire of white Corrall And when the Captaine had given him one of his Boyes hee gave him back in exchange one of his Servants call'd Wamotack with Corall and some Corne which served well for the reliefe of his men and afterward he furnished the Captaine with all things necessary Hee as also Captaine Smith had a great desire to finde out veines of Gold and Silver but both he and those that came after him were frustrated in their desire Yet he sent a Ship loaden with Cedar to England In the meane time Ponuhatan labourd to get some armes and munition from the English which the Governours did very much suspect as if the King with those armes intended to kill the English or drive them out of the Country But Captaine Smiths vigilance and watchfulnesse prevented him so that he could effect nothing and the English Colonie living here are now in a good estate increased to many thousands and Kine and Hogs and Turkies aboundance and all things plentifull and no want but of good women thick sowne but thin come up NEVV SPAINE HISPANIA NOVA Tecoanteper a Country of new Spaine There raigned in the Citty of Mexico 9. Kings in a 130. yeeres being 619. yeeres after that the Chichimeicians did possesse the Country of Mexico The last of these was Motezun●a who was slaine in a certaine sedition and in him the family of the Mexican Kings was extinct Moreover this part is inhabited by the Spaniards who have many Colonies in it namely Comp●stella Colima Purificatio Guadalajara Mechoaca Cacatula Mexico and others There are also in New Spaine divers famous Countries namely new Galitia Mechawcan Mexico and Guastecan Nova Galitia was first called by the Inhabitants Xalisce which Nunus Gusmannus first sought out and discoverd who built some Citties in it namely Compostella where there is a Bishops Seate and a Royall Counsell also Spiritus S. Conceptionis S. Michaels and Gaudalajara which is the chiefe Citty of the whole Kingdome There belongeth to Nova Galitia that Country which is called Culicana from a Citty of that name It lyeth betweene the River Piasala and the River S. Sebastian which runneth under ground before it discharge it selfe into the Sea The Metropolis is the Citty Culiacan where the Spaniards planted the Colony of Michaels House The Country Methaucan is 40. leagues in compasse and it is one of the richest and fruitfullest Kingdomes of new Spaine for it hath ripe Maiz three times a yeere and also other fruits This Country doth containe two principall Citties in which the Spaniards live call'd Pas●uar and Valadolid which is a Bishops Seate besides other Townes of lesse note The Country of Mexico doth not onely exceed the other Countries of New Spaine but of all America It was so named from the Citty Mexico which is called also Temistitan It is the Metropolis of the Province of Mexico It was seated in the middle of a great Lake before Cortes did possesse it who remov'd it to the banke of the same Lake it is now well built and it is 6. Italian miles in compasse one part whereof the Spaniards doe inhabit the other part the Indians Mexico signifies a Fountaine and it was so called by the first Founders in regard of the many Springs and Fountaines which doe encompasse this Citty This was the fairest and chiefest Citty of the Indies yea of the whole World when Ferdinand Cortesius tooke it and wonne it by assault in the yeere 1521. For this being the chiefe Citty of the whole Kingdome of Mexico contained 70000. Houses The Kings and Noblemens Houses were very large and conveniently built but the Common peoples Houses were meaner and lower There are in this Citty a Bishop a Vice-roy and the high Tribunall or Court of New Spaine There is also a Mount in it for coyning of money Moreover there are in the Mexican Lakes and about their bankes 50. Townes every one of which doth containe about 10000. Houses Next after Mexico is the Citty Tescura by the banke of the same Lake which is as bigge as Mexico There is also in this Province the Citty Angelorum which was first called V●●sita●● that is the Land Serpents which is famous for dressing of W●o●● which hath Vales and Plaines round about it in which great Flocks and Heards of Cattell doe graze and great store of Corne and 〈◊〉 are gotten and gathered here The Country of Guastecan in THE DESCRIPTION OF NEVV SPAINE HISPANIA NOVA NEW SPAINE NEW Spaine is the greatest Province of America being more inhabited more populous and more pleasant than the rest It is a great tract of Land reaching from Tavascus or the River Grialvus Westward to the Land of Saint Michael and the Culiacans Country On the North it is bounderd with new Granada and other Countries of the Kingdome of new Mexico The South shoare is washed with the Pacifque Sea It lyeth betweene the Aequinoctiall Linē and the Tropick of Cancer so that there is little difference betweene the length of the dayes and nights and it is almost alwaies Spring In the moneths of June July August and September the daily raine and the gentle breeses of winde that come from the Sea doe temper and mittigate the heate of the day which is the true reason why it is convenient living under the Summer Tropick contrary to the opinion of ancient Philosophers Therefore it hath a temperate ayre although it lye under the Torrid Zone This Country hath abundance of rich Mines of Gold Silver Iron and Brasse it hath also Cassia and a certaine kind of fruit which the Inhabitants call Cacao which is like Almonds of which they make a drinke which is very much desired It hath abundance of Cotton and all other kindes of fruits which we have in Europe as Wheate Barley and all kinde of Pulse also Sallets Lettice Colworts Cabbages Radishes Onions Leekes wilde Alexander Rape Rootes Parsnips and Carrets Turnips Beete Spinnage Pease Beanes Lentills and the like There are also great store of Oranges Lemmons Citrons Pomegranats Here are also Apples and Peares but not very bigge Prunes are rare but there are abundance of Figs. But there are great store of Cotton Apples but Cherries doe not yet thrive there There are Vines also that beare Grapes but no Wine is made of them Moreover it hath Oyle Sugar and
barbarous use They esteeme not of Gold but goe naked for the most part they are much addicted to Hunting and doe make their Bread of Maiz. The toppes of the Mountaines for the most part of the yeere are white with Snow but yet they are full of Gold Brasse and Lead This Country also hath Cattell and divers wilde beasts as Tigers Lions and the like it hath abundance also of Citterus and Mellons The Province Popajana is annexed and joyned to this which from the North to the South is 220. leagues in length but the most part of it is barren and unhabited and therefore it bringeth forth little Corne but yet it is rich in Gold It hath no peculiar Governour but the Vice-roy of the Kingdome because the most of the Courts of this Citty are subject to the Quito The chiefe Citty is called after the name of the Province being situate two degrees from the Line it hath a temperate constant climate the day and nights are all the yeere equall it hath seldome any raine but it is often troubled with Lightning and Thunder The soyle affordeth two Harvests of Corne every yeere and this Country breedeth great store of Cattell The Inhabitants are courteous the Citty is adorned with a Cathedrall Church and a Monastery of Friers It hath a great Jurisdiction and many Townes round about are subject unto it The Gold which is gotten here is accounted purer than other Gold Not farre from hence the most famous Rivers in this Country doe rise which are called la Magdalena and la Martha which doe water all the Country THE DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRME LAND TERRA FIRMA et NOVUM REGNUM GRANATENSE et POPAIAN THE DESCRIPTION OF PERVVIA PERUVIA is the noblest Country of all the New World it is now devided into three parts namely the Plaine the Mountaines and the Andes The Plaine of Peruvia reacheth 500. leagues by the Sea-coast and is 10. or 15. leagues broad but this part is sandy and full of desarts and for the most part barren for it hath no Springs nor Lakes neither is it watered with any showers but as it is moistned with a kinde of humour or dew which the Inhabitants call Garva But yet there are greene fruitfull meddowes which lye by the bankes of the Rivers which in the Winter time doe overflow them which maketh them yeeld both store of Cotton and all kinde of Corne. The Inhabitants of this Country are poore living under Trees and among Reedes and doe feed on Fish and raw flesh The mountainous is extended in a long space of ground some hundred leagues from the North to the South These Mountaines are very cold neither doe they beare any Trees so that the Inhabitants are faine to burne a kinde of pitchie Turfe Here are Lions Wolves black Beares Goates and a kinde of beast like a Cammell of the Wooll whereof they make Cotton Garments in the Valleys of these Mountaines there liveth a populous Nation who are more witty and civill than the former The Andes also are Mountaines which runne along with a continued ridge without any Valleys and they are chiefly two commonly call'd Cordeleras which are almost 1000. leagues long and equally distant one from another in which there are great store of Goates wilde Sheepe Apes and Parrots the soyle also is very fruitfull and doth yeeld all kinde of Pulse and divers Sallet hearbs And especially there is the hearbe Coca of which there are many fabulous reports whose leaves are like a Shrub which the Graecians call Rhus the Latines call it Tanners hearb which as it is found by experience if it be carryed in ones mouth it takes away the appetite from meate and drinke but it encreaseth valour and strength There is a Vice-roy that governeth all this Province under whose jurisdiction are the Chilenses also Salomons Ilands and toward the West the Country of the Silver River It hath three Seats of Judgement Quito Limam and Las Charcas The first whereof Quito doth containe more Countries as Pogaya Quixos Cavelas Iuan de Salinas Pocomoros and it is 24. leagues in length neere the Aequinoctiall Line even to the Seate of Justice at Lima. Many poisonous hearbes THE DESCRIPTION OF PERVVIA· PERV doe grow in this Country and they doe get Gold out of the Cordillerian Mountaines but afterward it was prohibited they doe also digge Salt-peter from thence The second Seate of Judgement is at Lima which reacheth from the North Southward from the 6. degree of Altitude to the 16. or 17. and so runneth forward 120. leagues The chiefe Citty hereof is Lima built in a Plaine 2. leagues from the Southerne Sea by a River which is a small streame in Summer but in Winter it hath store of water The third Provinciall Seate of Judgement is at a place call'd Charcas it is situate in 17. degrees of latitude by the River Lambopulla and it containeth many Regions and Countries which are amply describ'd in Authors A DESCRIPTION OF THE SVMMER ILANDS VVHICH THEY CALL BERMVDAS WEE have mentioned these Ilands in our former descriptions but now seeing they have gotten a peculiar table of their owne it will not be impertinent to adde this narration thereunto Authors doe report that the chiefest of these Ilands is small and lowe but that it groweth somewhat bigger in the middle There are great store of Birds in it but it is subject to stormes and tempests and it hath great store of Cedar Trees and Hogges Some Englishmen suffring shipwrack neere unto it planted a Colony there in a Semicircular forme and called it after their Captaines name Summers Colony But afterward when the English had got the Kings Letters Patents to erect a Company for the governing these Ilands they sent in the yeere 1612. to the aforesaid Ilands 60. men with Captaine Richard Mone and so the Colony or Plantation began to encrease The Captaine lived in these parts three yeeres and raised every where many Forts and Defences and furnisht them with Ordnance that the Colony might the better defend it selfe from any invasion of the enemy After Captaine Mone there succeeded Captaine Tuckher who caused many Trees which were brought out of the West-Indies to be planted there and the Country to be devided among the Colony that every one might have a greater care of his owne part After whom Captaine Butler with 4. Ships and 5. hundred men sayled thither and so all the Country was replenisht with Inhabitants On the East side Warwicks Forte was built on the North-West Sands Fort on the Prormontory toward Affrick Danes-fort Also two Fortresses were raised in a small Iland the one called Cavendish Fort the other Pagets Fort. There is also an Iland which lyeth to the South which is called Coupers I le At the Promontory call'd Gurnets head there is Pembrooks Fort. A little farther Westward there is Nonsuch a little Iland and Moores Iland with a Fort. The next is Charles his Fort and more to the North is Kings Castle
795 Arcadia 806 Argia 806 Barbarie Bosnia 786 Corinth 806 Croatia 786 Dalmatia 786 Elis 806 Epire 795 Greeco 795 Laconia 806 Lebnaw 782 Macedon 795 Messenia 806 Morea 804 Peloponesus 804 Sicyonis 806 Slavonia 786 Stirmarck 782 Thessaly 799 Warasden 782 Islands Candy or Create 809 Corfu 812 Milo 813 Naxus or Nissia 813 Santorino or Therosia 813 Zanto 812 Peninsula'es Ploeponesus or Morea 804 Promontories Capo di Chiaronza 807 Arvisium 809 Cities Abdera 792 Aegira 807 Alexandria 787 Antioch 787 Argos 795 806 Athens 795 Aulis 803 Bruga 784 Calydon 802 Canea 810 Candy 810 Charenza 807 Constantinople 792 Corinth 795 Cortina 810 Delphos 795 803 Dodone 880 Elis 807 Guossos 810 Hadrianopolis 792 Jaitza 789 Lacedemon 795 Libaea 807 Mantinea 807 Marchpurg 785 Megalopolis 807 Megara 803 Mycenis 795 806 Mytenes Nicopolis 792 801 Olympia 807 Patras 807 Perinthus 792 Phestos 810 Philipolis 792 Platea 803 Psophis 807 Rhetimo 810 Selimbria 792 Sissegkum 788 Sparta 806 Stimphalus 807 Tanagra 803 Thebes 803 Thessalonia 799 Tra●anopolis 792 Voytsperg 784 Townes Actium 802 Apollonia 789 Azamur Bigihon 788 Braila 790 Bulatinan Cavalla 800 Cheronaea 803 Cilia 785 Cor●ne 806 Dictinna 810 Dyrrachium 800 Eleusis 803 Epidaurus 786 Helice 807 Judera 786 Leucas 802 Leuctra 806 Marathon 803 Modrish 788 Novograd 790 Naupactum 803 Pella 792 Phocis 803 Prisdena 790 Rachelspurg 785 Rhegium 777 Salena 786 Samandria 790 Sebinium Segna 786 Serratum 792 Spalatum Stagira 800 Stimbrigrad 790 Teniovizza 790 Tran 786 Trescorium 790 Turna● 788 Warboseyne 789 Rivers Achelous 796 Acheron 796 Alpheius 796 Arrabone 785 Axius 795 800 Cephisus 796 Cnopus 803 Danubius 790 Dravo 785 Drinus 788 Echedorus 795 Errigon 795 Hebrus 793 Hoyne 790 Inachus 796 Ismenus 796 Lydius 795 Melipotamus 810 Peneus 796 Rhizon 788 Spenchius 796 Styrmon 795 Ticicus 788 Lakes Lema 806 Stymphalian Lake 807 Mountaines Argentarus 790 Arocerannij 796 Athos 796 800 Bertiscus 796 Calidromus 796 Carax 796 Citerius 796 Cithoron 796 Claudius 785 Cronius 796 Elatos 813 Evan 808 Gesacus 785 Haemus 793 Helicon 796 Himettus 796 Ida 810 Madara 810 Messapus 743 Minthe 796 Nimphaeus 800 Oeta 796 Olimpus 796 Orbelus 793 Ossa 796 Othris 796 Pangaus 793 Parnassus 796 Pelion 796 Pindus 796 Pholoe 796 Psilori 810 Radel 795 Rh●dope 793 Sothia 810 Stimphe 796 Stimpalus 796 Taigetus 796 808 Taurus 785 Zarex 796 Observations Aristotle was borne at Stagira in Macedon 800 Democritus was borne at Abdera a Citie in Romania 792 The Emperour Justinian borne at Prisdena in Servia 790 The Labirynth of Creete 810 The Dodonian Oracle vid. 880 A TABLE OF AFFRICK From Fol. 813. to 833. Countries A Aethiopia 824 Angote 827 Barbarie 814 Barca 816 Duccala 820 Egypt 814 Errifea 817 Fesse 816 819 Guinea 829 Hascora 820 Hea 819 Maremma 817 Morocco 816 819 Susa 819 Tedles 820 Tunis 816 Ilands Princes Isle 829 Isle of the Good-yeere 829 S. Thomas Isle 829 Havens and Bayes Marsa Eltabrius 816 Horamus or Orama 816 Cities Alcair 818 Alexandria 817 Alemandin 820 Algie●s 816 Azaesi 820 Babylon 817 Beroe or Barne 826 Caxumo or Cassume 827 Damiatum 818 Delgumuha 820 Diospolis 817 Heliopolis 817 Imitzmazi 820 Memphis 817 Mersalcabar 816 Morocco 820 Mustagamn 816 Pelusium 817 Scanderoon 818 Syene 817 Tentyra 817 Thebes 817 Tigremaon 826 Townes Agmet 820 Amara 827 Asiselmel 820 Azamur 820 Bulatiuan 820 Contopozzi 820 Conte 820 Elmadina 820 Esza 822 Githiteb 822 Guzzula 820 Haninimer 820 Meramer 820 Mosca 819 Tagodast 820 Taurent 819 Temeracost 820 Tenezza 820 Terga 820 Treijut 819 Tesza 822 Rivers Abanhi 827 Major 816 Niger 829 Niffis 822 Nilus 818 Omirabih 822 Sifelmel 822 Tagarost 820 Tacassi 827 Tedsi 826 Teawsift 822 Lakes Barcena 827 Woods Deserts of Arabia 816 Mountaines Atlas 819 Hadimeus 820 Italemus 819 Netisa 820 Nisipha 822 Semete 822 Sensana 822 A TABLE OF ASIA From Fol. 834. to 889. Countries A Aeolides 844 Alexandria 837 Anatolia 844 Ari● 856 Armenia 844 Asia properly so called 844 Asia the Lesse 844 Assyria 856 Atti●a 836 Bactriana 856 Bithinia 836 Bulgaria 837 Cappadocia 844 Caria 844 Carmania 856 Cathaio Chaldea Chanaan 819 China Cilicia 844 Dalmatia 837 Drangiana 856 Dorides 844 East-Indies 854 Erraca Eubaea 837 Galatia 844 Galilee 842 Gedresia 856 Holy Land 839 Hyrcania 856 Idumaea 842 Illiria 836 Jo●ia 844 Israel 839 Judea 839 Lycania 836 Lycia 844 Lydia 844 Macedon 836 Macran 836 Media 856 Mesopotamia 856 Mysia 844 Natolia 844 Nicaea 836 Padan Aram 856 Palestine 839 Pamphilia 844 Parepamissus 856 Parthia 856 Persia 855 Persis 856 Phocides 836 Phrygia 844 Pontus 836 Russia 837 Samaria 842 Sarmaria Servia 836 Susiana 856 Tangut 856 Tartarie 857 Theodosia 837 Thessalie 830 Thrace 836 Turkish Empire 834 Valachia 637 Islands Ambon 878 Celibes 875 Corigo 849 Chios 849 Cyprus 849 Delmore 878 Gil●lo 875 Japan 880 Lemnos 850 Mitylene 849 Molucco Ilands 875 Negroponte 849 Rhodes 849 Stalimene 849 Taprobana 885 Ternate 876 Zeilan 885 Promontories Arvisium 850 Geresto 852 Phanaeum 850 Posideum 850 Cities Aleppo 857 Amasia 847 Anguri 848 Antioch 858 Ascalon 879 Babilon 858 Bactra 858 Caindo 862 Calcedon 848 Chalechut 872 Camuchi 888 Cambaia 872 Cambalu 862 Cana 839 Canton 866 Caramil 856 Carizeth 856 Cerasus 848 Ephesus 848 Eretria 852 Famagosta 849 Fiongo 882 Gadara 839 Gaza 839 Halicarnassus 848 Heraclia 848 Hierusalem 879 Ilium 848 Liampo 869 Meacum 882 Merdin 856 Naim 839 Nazareth 834 Nicae 848 Nicomedia 848 Nicotia 849 Nineve 856 Peroamu● 848 Persepolis 856 Prusa 848 Scandaroon 862 Sardis 848 Tarsus 847 Troy 848 Vr 858 Townes Arbe 842 Bethlehem 842 Bethsaida 842 Candabur 858 Capernaum 842 Cariatharbe 842 Chorazin 842 Cochino 850 Gomorrah 842 Jericho 842 Joppe 842 Lemnos 850 Macherus 842 Mambre 842 Marant 856 Metelino 852 Sichem 842 Sigaum 842 Smachia 856 Sodom 842 Tauris 856 Turconian 856 Rivers Aesopus 847 Araxes Ascanius 847 Caicus 147 Caistrus 147 Calbis 147 Cataractes 847 Euphrates 847 Granicus 147 Ganges 847 Helis 847 Hermus 147 Hydaspes Indus Jordan 842 Limymus 147 Maeander 147 Phison 147 Rhindacus 847 Sangri 847 Scamander 147 Simois 147 Tigris Xanthus 147 Seas Aegean Sea 847 Euxine 847 Hellespont 847 Icarian Sea 847 Myrtaean 847 Phamphylian 847 Propontis 847 Rhodiensian 847 Mountaines Argaeum 847 Athon 850 Calvary 842 Caphareus 853 Carmel 842 Caucasus 872 Chimaera 847 Coronus 858 Dindyma 847 Hermon 842 Ida Mount 847 Monte Negro 847 Moriali 842 Olimpus M. 846 Olivet 842 Orontes 858 Pico de Adam 888 Sabina 847 Sion Mount 842 Tabor M. 842 Taurus 847 Tmolus 847 Vulcans M. 850 Observations Achilles Tombe 848 A strange Story of an Elephant 886 A strange Plant in Tartarie 860 A Fish call'd a Whirlpoole strange woods Figge-trees and Reedes 873 Godfrey of Bologne did beate the Sarazens out of the Holy Land 842 Herodotus and Dionysius born at Halicarnassus 848 Simonides the Lyrick Poet borne at Eretria a Citie in the I le Negroponte 852 Strabo borne at the Towne Amasia in the lesser Asia The great Brazen Colossus
Evesche de Langres Those which Caesar calleth R●mi Ptolemy calleth Rhem●i Pliny Faederati and the Country in which is their City of Rhemes is called Duché Pairie and Archenesché de R●ims as wee have before mentioned The Learned doe thinke that the Cathelaum mentioned in Amianus Marcellinus should bee written Catalauni And so they are nominated CAMPANIA CHAMPAGNE comitatus CAMPANIA in Eutropius his Bookes Their City is now called la Evesché de Challon In the Catalannian Fields Atilla King of the Hunnes in the yeere from the building of the City of Rome 1203. and after the birth of Christ 450. was overcome by the Romanes Gothes and Frenchmen under the conduct of their Captaines Actius Patricius Theodoricus and Merovaeus there being slaine on both sides 162000. except 90000. Gepidaans and Frenchmen who were slaine before Iornandes cap. 36. doth delmeate and set forth these Fields and the place of the Battell The Meldae Pliny calleth Liberi Strabo Meldoi Ptolemie Meldai and an Inscription engraven on an ancient Stone Meldi Strabo precisely maketh them and the Leuxovians to bee the Parokeanitae which are in the middle of the Country where there is now the Towne Meaulx neere the River Matrona The Senones which are celebrated by Caesar Pliny and others Ptolemy calleth by the same name and placeth them in Gallia Lugdunensis Strabo thinketh that there are other Senones neere to the Nerviais towards the West The former of them did make those horrible incursions into Italy so much spoke of and they did moreover wage a most fierce warre against the Romanes in the yeere from the building of the City 364. which they called The Senonick French warre Their Captaine was Brannus an Nobleman of France After the Fight or Battell they entred the City of Allia and there having slaine all they met and wasted all with fire they besieged for many moneths the Capitall into which the Romane youth had fled for their safegard but at last having made a peace with them for a certaine summe of money contrary to faith and promise they were partly slaine and partly put to flight by M. Furius Camillus the Dictator who entred the City with an Army All these things Livie Lib. 5. Florus Lib. 1. cap 13. and many other Writers doe delineate in their proper colours Campania is honoured with the title of a County and was once the Inheritance of Eudo Nephew to Gerlo the Norman by his Sonne Theobaldus This Gerlo was he that accompanied into France Rudulphus or Rollo the Norman to whom Charles the Simple granted Neustria which was afterward called Normandie After Eudo there succeeded in a right Line Stephen Theobaldus the 2. whose sonne Theobaldus the third dying without issue there succeeded him his Cosin germane Henry surnamed the large the sonne of Stephen King of England who was Brother to Theobaldus the second Henry had a sonne who was Earle of Campania and the other Territories but he dying without issue his Brother Theobaldus invaded the County and writ himselfe Count Palatine of Campania This Theobaldus being afterward made King of Navarre upon the death of Grandfather by the Mothers side brought the County to belong to the Crowne and left Henry his Successor both in Campania and in that Kingdome Lastly Ioane Daughter and Heir to this Henry being married to Philip the Faire King of France Campania and the other Provinces were united to the Crowne of France from which they were never after separated Campania as I have already spoken is usually now describ'd both by it selfe and with the Principalities adjacent and lying round about it As it is considered properly and by it selfe it is twofold the Lower and the Higher In the Lower is Tricassium and the Territories which are commonly called Ivigny ●assg●y and Vallage Moderne Writers doe call that Tricassium which is now called 〈◊〉 Th●se who were heretofore Earles of Campania from this City were called Earl●s of Tricassium It is one of the greatest and fairest Cities in this Kingdome The Latitude thereof is 47. degrees and some few minutes towards the North. It is a Bishops Seate and Belles●●rr●tius reckons 83. Bishops thereof Among these was that famous Lu●●● whom Sidonius Apollinaris praiseth for his vertues Lib. 6. Ep. 1.4 〈◊〉 9. as also Paulus Diaconus in Marciano Bede Lib. 1. Histor cap. 17. and others This City hath a large Jurisdiction and it is the seate of a President of Counsellors of Judges and others of the Kings Officers The Townes have reference to it namely Bar Sur Seine Mussil ●●●tique La ferté Sur Auge N●gent Pent Sur Seine Fruille Chastel and S. Florentin being all Townes of Campania The Territory of Ivigny separateth ●ampania from Burgundie The chiefe Towne thereof is Ivigny which is under the Jurisdiction of the Bayliwick of Tricassium Bassigny is so named because it is the better part of Lower Campania as we have before declared The Metropolis thereof is named from the bald Mountaine which Ivonus mentioneth Ep. 105 commonly call'd Chaum●nt on Bass●gny It hath an ancient Castle seated on a Rock and well fortified the Tower on the West side whereof is called in French Donyon and La haulte fueille This Castle the Earles of Campania did heretofore make their Palace No River runneth by it nor affordeth water unto it but that which Cesternes doe yeeld and a Fountaine at the foote of the Tower There are also in Bassigny the Townes of Montigny Go●ssy N●gent le Roy Monteclar Andelot Bisnay Ch●iseul Visnorry and Clismont being all strong Townes and the most of them well fortified with Castles besides Andomatunum Lingonum commonly called Langres of which we shall speake in an other place The Territory of Vallage is supposed to be so called from the Valleys in it which are both faire and fruitfull The Townes of chiefest note in Vallage are first Vasscium or Vassy neere Blois in the Country of Guise Francis Duke of Guise comming hither in the yeere 1562. was the Author of that Vasseian Massacre mentioned by the French Historiagraphers wherein many that professed the reformed Religion were slaine on the Kalends of March Not farre from thence there is a kind of earth found of which B●le Armenack is made The second Towne of not is S. D●●●re or Dedu●● which was taken by the Emperour Charles the fifth and afterward a peace being concluded was restored againe to the French It hath a strong Castle The third is the Towne of Ian●●●ille or as some write is ●o●●t ville which some doe fabulously report was so called from Ianus It belongeth to the Families of the Guises Prye so called from a Towne commonly named Brye or Bray Counte Robert is reckoned by some with Campania The Country of Brye although it were heretofore and also now is very wooddy yet in fertility and fruitfulnesse it is not inferior to any part of Campania For it hath a cleare skie and a sweete and temperate ayre It is watered with great wholesome