a temple of death In these temples alters were erected to the Gods of the yeare to monethly Gods to Arte pouertie The inhabitants of this prouince did in tymes past excel in nauigation they do not now degenerate from their anceters Their chief comodities rise of salt fish This was the last I le knowne in the world as antiquitie belieued And there they said the Sunne beeing weeried with running his dayly race descended into the Ocean sea tooke rest therefore this I le is of Statius called the Sunnes bed GADES FRANCE THe realme of France as now it is limitted hath on the north syde the narrow seas that deuyde it from England westward it hath the west Ocean in the southwest it ioyneth to Spaine directly south it bordereth vpon the Mediterraneum sea On the Eastsyde to begin from the south downward vnto the north it bordereth first vpon Sauoy then on the Countie of Burgundie otherwise called La Franche Countè so along by Lorraine vpon Luxembourg Heualt Ã…rtois This goodly kingdome is aboundant in corne and wyne al sortes of frutes hauing plenty of cattel and foule wanteth not all other necessarie thinges mynes it is not renowmed to haue yet is it moste ritch opulent beeing situate in the middest of the chief countries of Europe hauing trafike on all sydes It shal not be needful to shew the three parts wherein Ceasar recounteth it to haue bene deuyded of oldtyme seeing both the limitts and inhabitants are since altered At this present it is deuyded into eight prouinces which are vnder eight continual courtes of Parlament The first is the prouince of France otherwise called the I le of France wherein the citie of Paris is situate In which citie the first courte of parlament resideth The second prouince is Languedoc the parlament whereof is in Tholouse The third Guienne whose parlament is in Bourdeaux The fowrth is Normandie whose parlament is in Roan The fist is Burgundie whose parlament is Dijeon The sixt is Dauphinè whose parlament is in Grenoble The seauenth is Prouence whose parlament is in Aix The eight is Britannie whose parlament is in Renes and vnder these eight prouinces all France is conteyned limitted for recours of iustice vnto these parlaments FRANCE GASCONIE THis prouince of Gasconie is situate on the southwest syde of France reatching on thesaid syde vnto the Pireney mountaines by the which France Spaine are deuyded On the east syde it hath Languedoc and on the north Guienne and Arminac The people are valiant warlyk The country is very plentiful of all thinges but it chiefly aboundeth in wyne where with it not only serueth it self but sundry other countryes in Europe besydes In the tyme of Carolus Magnus it was called the kingdome of Gascony In this country thesaid Charles the great marching against the Saracins of Spaine did lose in a battaile forty thowsand men in which battaile his noble nephew the Earle Roland was slaine This country was first subdued vnto France by Dagobert the first of that name In the yeare of our lord 1155 both it and all Aquitaine came to bee subiect vnto the crowne of England through the mariage of King Henry the second of that name with Elinor daughter and heyr vnto VVilliam Duke of Aquitaine And it was lost in the yeare of our lord 1453. in the 31 yeare of the raigne of King Henry the sixt so as it remayned vnder the obeisanâ—e of England about 300 yeares GASCONIE POICTOV THis prouince of Poitou called in Latin Pictauia is detryded into two partes to wit the Superior Inferior The vpper Poitou is that which stretcheth east-ward towards the countries of Towrs Berry the nether Poitou is that parte which westward extendeth it self to the Ocean sea It is a country frutefull in Corne Cattel rich in wynes furnished with great store of fish And the great aboundance of wyld beastes fowle doth cause the delightfull sportes of hunting hauking to bee here much vsed The chief citie of this prouince is called Poitiers having a notable vniuersitie chiefly for study of the Ciuil law this citie is of great antiquitie as appeereth by the Theatre Aquaduct monuments which are there yet remaining POICTOV BRITANNIE BRitannie called in tyme past Armorica bordereth eastward vpon the country of Maine and a parte of Aniou towards the north it hath the narrow sea a parte of the country of Constantin towards the west the maine Ocean towards the south the country of Poitou It is reconed in two partes to wit the higher the lower Britany There are in it nyne Bishoprykes which are deuided into three distinckt quarters Three of these which are Cornuaille S. Paul Treguiers do speake the British tongue the inhabitants are called Cornubians Other three to wit those of Dol Renes S. Malo do speake the French tongue The third beeing those of Nantes Vannes and S. Brieu do speak both French and British The principall townes in Britannie are Nantes and Renes but in Renes resydeth the courte of Parlament for the whole prouince The chief hauen of all Britany is that of Brest It is not to bee omitted that the hauen of S. Malo is garded with mastiues which beeing thereto trayned do there kepe diligent night watch It is generally a pleasant fertile country the earable land beeing as good as can be desyred hauing also plenty of wood pasture exceeding great store of medow ground There are in it mynes of Iron lead in some places siluer fyne salt is there boyled through the heat of the Sun And the country through the many comodities thereof the sea trafike is very welthy BRITANNIE NORMANDIE NOrmandie hath on the north syde thereof the narrow seas that seperate England France on all sydes els ir is enuyrond with seuerall countries prouinces of France From whence this Duchie taketh name the name it self of Normandie doth declare to wit North-mandie that is the dwelling or region of the men of the North for from Norvvay othewise North-vvay came Rolo afterward called Robert with his Northmen and of Charles the simple King of France hee and his people obtayned heere there habitation about the yeare of our Lord. 9 12. This prouince of Normandie is a moste pleasant fertil soile so wel furnished of all necessaries as sildome any place better It hath great store of flesh and fish of corne and vvood much wyne it hath not there growing but is furnished with great store by the riuer of Scine which coming through Paris passeth by Roan the chief citie of this prouince All the corne feilds as also the high wayes passages are set planted about with frute-trees espitially aples peares which yeildeth great aboundance of tider perry The riuer of Seine as a foresaid passing by Roan falleth into the sea at Haure de grace or nevvhauen where ships arryuing do
for his soldiers in those partes In this territorie was by a gentleman of the cittie discouered in our tyme the very lyke earth both in cooler kynde which is found in the I le of Lemnos the which phisitians do call Terram Lemniam of the Turk is so greatly esteemed that it is not permitted for any man to take thereof but licence of those that haue farmed it THE TERRITORIE of BLOIS MAINE THe countrie of Mans or Maine hath on the south syde Aniovv on the west Britannie on the north Normandie on the east Vendome It is a countrie hauing therein many woodes forests therefore more apt for chase nouris hing of beastes then for corne or pasturage yet is it not vnfurnished of corne feildes faire vineyardes The cittie of Mans is the chief of all the townes of this duchie It is faire populous seated pleasantly the soile about it beeing made the more fertile through the riuers of Haygne Orne and Satre which ioyning together neere this cittie do all in one enter afterward into the riuer of Loire In the chief churche of this cittie of Mans was christened in the yeare of our lord 1133. Henry sonne vnto Geoffrey suruamed the faire earle of Anion and of Maine the which Henrie as heyre vnto Maude his mother daughter vnto Henry the first King of England came after to enioy thesaid kingdome by the name of K. Henry the second MAINE LANGVEDOC BY this Map is described the maritime parte of the countrie of Languedoc as also a parte of the maritime syde of Prouence The prouince of Languedoc is in that parte of France that of old tyme was called Galia Narbonensis It hath on the east syde thereof the riuer of Rhone on the west syde Gasconie on the south the mountaines that denyde it from Arragon a parte of the midland sea on the north the countrie of Quercie In fertillitie it aprocheth vnto that of Prouence according to the neernesse of the place lying on the west syde thereof beeing seperated from it by the riuer of Rhone Tholouse is the chief cittie of all this countrie therin is kept the parlamental court which is accompted the second of all France consequently the next after that of Paris Montpellier is also of fame for the renowmed vniuersitie espetially in the study of phisick There is also the citties of Nimes Narbone sundry others both of importance antiquitie as the ruynes or remainder of diuers moste ancient edifices do declare LANGVEDOC THE I LE of FRANCE THe french do properly call this the I le of France wherein the citrie of Paris the towne of S. Denis c. are situate It is not properly an I le but somwhat compassed about with the riuers of Marne Seâ—ne and Oyse It taketh the name of France as Andrew Thenet telleth vs because the Frankes or Franch-men that came out of Germany when France had the name of Galia the inhabitants were called Gaulos did here make their first setled abode their chiefs did heer begin to take vpon them the tytles of kinges The countrie is aboundant in graine yeildeth exceeding store of poultrie other comodities About the cittie of Paris espetialy towards Mount martyr that kynde of morter for building called plaster of Paris is found This exceeding great moste famous cittie also called Lutetia took the name of Paris after Paris a King of the Celtes though some haue fabulously affirmed it to come of Paris the Troyan It is deuyded into partes Cittie Towne Vniuersitie the cittie is in an I le of the riuer of Seine people do pas by bridge to the towne on the one syde to the vniuersitie on the other This vniuersitie was erected by Charles the great at the solicitation of Alcuinus who was scholer vnto Venerable Bede and afterward preceptor vnto this Emperor and with other learned men came out of England vnto Paris and there in the streetes demaunded yf any would buy wisdome offring to sel it them for the giuing of them a place wherein to vtter it This cittie is the chief seat residence of the kinges of France the court of Parlament About 2 leagues from hence is the towne of S. Denis where in a goodly monasterie the sepulchres and monuments of the ancient kinges of France are to bee seene THE I LE of FRANCE DAVPHINEY THis prouince long since a parte of the kingdome of the Allobroges hath on the northsyde thereof the territorie of Lions on which syde lieth the base or low parte of Dauphiney whereof the cittie of Vienna is the chief on the west syde it is bordered with the Rhosne on the east it ioyneth to Sauoy on the south vnto Prouence this parte is called high Dauphiney the metropolitane cittie thereof is Embrun howbeit Grenoble is the parlamental capitall cittie of the whole countrie It is said that neere vnto this cittie is a fountaine out of the which their issueth both fyre water the which is a moste wonderful woork of nature incomprehensible to all philosophers In the Mountaines not far from this aforesaid cittie is the great chief how 's of the Carthusians who take their name of those cold snowie mountaines of Carthusia The people of Dauphiney beeing annexed vnto the crowne of France not by war or conquest but by amitie haue obtayned to accept no gouernour but of the blood royal of that realme The country in some places is very fertil yeilding store of corne wyne the moste infertil places do yeild great aboundance of chest-nuts with the which both cattel people are nourished so aboundant they are in cattel that they are able to furnish therewith other aioyning prouinces DAVPHINEY THE SIGNIORIE of FLORENCE THis Signiorie of Florence the chief parte of Tuscane is in the hart of Italy in the middest thereof is the ritche beautiful cittie of Florence In this cittie in the yeare 1464 died Cosmo de Medicis a woorshipful citizen thereof from whome the Duke that now possesseth both the cittie countrie and his predecessors are descended This Cosmo for his great wisdome welth credit was such that it may be thought there was neuer any priuate man to wit without some tytle of honor to be vnto him compared The cittie of Florence by the goodly edifices which therin he erected hath bin greatly beautified The moste faire sumptuous Church of S. Laurence he there builded as also the Church of S. Mark the monasterie of S. Verdiana He built for himself so faire a dwelling how 's that the best masters in Architecture do admyre it In the Fesulian hilles hee built the monasterie of S. Hierome and another called the Abbadia In Mugelo he built a monasterie of S. Francis In Fresoli Carregi Cafayolo Tribio places in the country there abouts he built 4 magnifical palaces and in Ierusalem he built an hospital for pilgrims
tempestes is free from foule contagious mistes According to a vulgar saying three thinges in Spaine are for the rarety of them very memorable to wit A bridge ouer the which water runneth which vsually runneth vnder bridges entending thereby the aquaduct of Segouia A towne enuyroned with fyre meaning Madrid the walles whereof are of flint And a bridge whereon ten thowsand beastes are continualy pastured which is vnderstood by the riuer Guadiana which running into the earth hydeth it self the length of seauen leagues then coming foorth againe holdeth his course as before SPAINE PORTVGAL THis country of Portugal is enuyroned about with other countreys of Spaine except on the west syde for their it bordereth vpon the great westerne Ocean It is in Latin called Lusitania taking this name as is said from Lusus sonne vnto the nynteenth King of Spaine Sundry faire riuers do take their courses through this region of which the riuer Tagus now called Tâ—lo is the principal was of old tyme more famous for that his sandes along by the banck sydes were mingled with gold The whole country is wel inhabited and albeit Portugal hath litle or no wyne yet Algarbe which is ioyned reconed with it yeildeth very good wynes Mountanous it is not neither reported to haue mynes This kingdome began about the yeare of our Lord 1100 in this sorte Henry an Earle of Loraine coming into Spaine shewed himself very valiant had many victories against the Saracins for the which Alfonsus the sixt King of Castilia gaue him his base daughter Tyresia in mariage bestowed with her this country vpon him Of these twaine came Alfonsus the first King of Portugal the first that gat out of the handes of the Saracins the citie of Lisboa He also ouercame in one battaile fyue Kinges in memorie whereof he bore in his armes fyue shieldes as in the armes of Portugal do yet appere This kingdome albeit but litle yet hath it enlarged it self in glory fame euen to the farthest boundes of the world by the great trade of spices other pretious wares from the east Indies hath bin moste mightely enriched This trade began in the raigne of King Iohn he second and hath continued with exceeding comodite the augmentation of sundry tytles of other crownes kingdomes This realme of Portugal after the death of Henry first Cardinal lastly King who succeeded Sebastian that was slaine in Africa became with whatsoeuer belonged vnto it to bee vnder the obeysance of Philip the second King of Spaine so remaineth ioyned with the other kingdomes of Spaine in one entyre monarchie PORTVGAL ANDALVZIA THis countrie hath on the east syde Granada on the west Algarbe on the north the prouince called Magistratus S. Iacobi on the south the straight begining of the Mediteraneum sea comonly called the straight of Gibraltar On either syde this straight are two moste high mountaines to wit Gibraltar in Andaluzia whereof that straight taketh name and Abyla in Mauritania These two mountaines are of many called the columnes of Hercules yet there are that affirme the columnes of Hercules to haue bin two pillers of brasse in the temple of Hercules which was in the I le of Gades now called Cadiz or Cales in which they say was grauen the charges which the building of the said temple did coste howbeit the certainty is altogether vncertaine whether the two pillers of Hercules were these two mountaines or two artificial pillers of brasse This countrie of Andazulia is the moste fertil parte of all Spaine for aboundance of all sortes of fruits great plenty of other necessary thinges The inhabitants are courteous ciuil very opulent It is replenished with almoste 200 syne townes but the great ritch citie of Siuil is the Chiefest citie of all this prouince The name it hath of Andazulia is growne but by corruption for the right name is Vandazulia of the Vandules that heere made there habitation when by the Gothes they were chased out of other partes ANDALVZIA VALENCIA THe Kingdome of Valencia bordereth on the east syde vpon the Mediterraneum sea is on all other sydes enuyroned with other countries of Spaine The chief citie of this realme is also called Valencia of this citie the whole country taketh name Some authors do witnes it receaued the name of a Kingdome in the yeare of our Lord 162. There are two principal mountaines in this country the one called Mariola the other Penna Gâ—lofa which do produce many sortes of medicinal herbes for which cause diuers phisitions apothecaries repaire thether for simples There is in this country at a place called in the spanish tongue â—uriol a myne of siluer And in a place called Aioder there are stones found stryped with golden vaines At the promontorie of Finistrat are certaine mynes of Iron though of no aboundance About Segorbia is a quarry out of which marble in tymes past was taken sent to Rome In Piacent Alablaster is found in sundry places great store of Allum Red-Oker Lyme Chalk This country yeildeth fyne wool which as is said cometh of the race of cotsold sheepe transported out of England into Spaine by licence of King Edvvard the fowrth in the fift yeare of his raigne There is great comoditie made in this country by the making of certaine earthen vessels which the Spagniards call Procellana This country was long inhabited of the Moores vntil at last King Iames after a long siege constrayned them to leaue the citie of Valencia out of the which there departed at once more then fyfty thowsand in number who caried with them all their riches left the citie voyd both of people and welth There is not as is thought any corner of the world so replenished with goodly gardens abounding with such rare excellent flowres herbes as is this countrie of Valencia VALENCIA GADES THe Spagniards call at this present this Ile Cadiz corruptly it is called Caliz It is as deuyded into two partes so seemeth two Iles. In the lesser is now the Citie of Cales in the greater was Iulia Gaditana Augusta which as Strabo saith was called Naples The Citie of Cales is now a Bishops sea By moste auncient authors it appeereth that this I le was found out by the Phenitians others hold that after them the Geryons inhabited heere whose cattel was taken away by Hercules In this I le was a temple of this Hercules which for the founder for Antiquitie religion riches was very famous This Church saith Mela is become holy because the bones of Hercules are here buried In the Temple of Hercules Ceasar did behold the picture of Alexander the great as Sueton telleth vs. There was a well which at ful sea yeilded salt water and at the ebbe fresh Sundry temples the pagans buylded in this I le as a temple of Iupiter a temple of Iuno a temple of Saturne a temple of old age
Germaine whose ofspring doth stil possesse the same vnder their owne King It contayneth together with the country of wales 52 Shyres 29 Cities and 25 Bishoprykes On the east syde it hath the Germaine Ocean On the west the Irish sea On the south the narrow seas which deuyde it from France And on the north it is seperated from Scotland by the riuer of Tvvede the Cheuiot hilles It aboundeth chiefly in cattel for which cause the inhabitants are more giuen to grafing then to tillage of the ground desyring rather pasture then corne land This region is very temperate and without great extremitie of cold The soile is exceeding frutefull howbeit it yeildeth not wyne There are many hilles which beeing without trees do yeild a kynde of shorte and sweete gras for the best nowrishing of sheepe which are heere in all aboundance and whose fyne fleeces do excel those of other countries which is caused either by the temperature of the ayre or the goodnes of the pasture This fyne english wooll may wel be calleth the Golden fleece for that thereby so great plenty of gold siluer from so many so remote regions of the world is brought into this Realme Here are also great store of mynes of Tinne Lead Iron as also of Copper neither are the mynes voyd of Gold and Siluer In brief England aboundeth with plenty of all sortes of victuals is furnished with all store of thinges necessary for the vse of man ENGLAND SCOTLAND THe realme of Scotland hath England on the south syde therof on all other sydes els it is enuyroned with the maine Ocean on the north syde it hath the Iles called the Orcades on the west the Hibrides all subiect vnto Scotland And albeit it bee not so frute full as England yet is the land aboundantly furnished with cattel the sea with fish in it are many thinges very strange wounderfull In Glasco is a lake one parte whereof frieseth in winter but the other parte doth neuer frise In Carik are Oxen whose far is neuer hard but alwayes soft oily In the prouince of Coyl or Kyle about ten myles from the towne of Aer here is a stone 12 foote in height 30 in length called the deaf stone for albeit neuer so great noise bee made on the one syde on the other syde it cannot bee heard vnlesse a man stand farr of for so may it bee descerned or els not In Lennox is a lake called Lowmond beeing about 24 myles in length 8 in bredth having in it thirty Iles in this lake are three thinges woorthy of note There are finlesse fishes of a good taste There are fleeting Iles that with thee wynde are moued driuen to fro And somtymes no wynde blowing the water becometh so rough that the passengers are in great danger to bee drowned yf they cannot speedely get to land In Argadia as is reported groweth a stone which beeing put to straw or stubble wil kindle set the same on fyre In Burquham is a cane wherein water falling it turneth into whyte stones in this prouince no rattes are found In the sea at the mouth of the riuer of Forth is a high rock out of the top whereof issueth a fountaine of fresh water About 10 myles from Edenbourgh is a fountaine on the water whereof drops of oyle are found the which oile is medicinable In Clidisdale is a myne of Gold another of azure and in the muscles and shelfish on the shore of Scotland pearles are found SCOTLAND IRELAND IReland is a soile vneuen hilly and the highest hilles haue standing lakes on the tops It hath also many bogges and quagmyres is generally watry woodie moorish yet hath it notwithstanding in diuers places moste faire plaines which yet are but few in respect of the woodes It is a fat soile apt to bring foorth corne The hilles abound with cattel and the woodes with wyld beastes This I le is more plentiful of pasture then of corne of gras then of graine yea the wheat-corne is small withered and not easy to bee wynoed with a fan In tyme of haruest the raine scarsly permitteth the corne to bee gotten into the barne somuch is this I le subiect vnto raine It is plentifull of milk hony Solinus and Isidorus affirme it to haue no bees but they might more truly haue written the contrary No toade adder spider or venemous beast is nowrished in this countrie nor can liue therein beeing brought thether from any other place IRELAND TERCERA THis I le is called Tercera because that of the Iles called Acores it is the third as the ly in order to such as come out of Spaine to saile westward It is plentifull of corne and frute and not without wyne Madder which diers vse for the dying of cloth red doth yeild great comoditie to the inhabitants of this I le for that it groweth heere aboundantly The Oxen of this I le excede in fairnesse largenesse all others in Europe Ceder groweth here in such aboundance that it serueth for fuel The chief towne of this I le is called Angra which hath a promontorie whereon lieth a strong forte called Brazil The Spagniards do also call this Ile Isola del buen Iesu The ships coming from the west Indies are accustomed heere to take harbor in their retourne to Spaine Of these Iles of Acores there are seauen in number to wit Tercera S. Mighel S. Marie S. George Gratiosa Pico and Fayal but the chiefest of name is Tercera TERCERA SPAINE SPaine beeing greater then France lesser then Germanie is enuironed with the great Ocean and the Mediteraneum sea except on the north-east syde for there it is continent with France from the which it is deuyded by the mountaines called the Pirenes It is now one entire monarchie but in former tyme hath bene deuyded into fourteene Kingdomes By authors thus recounted vid. The old and new Castilia Leon Arragon Catalonia Nauarre Asturia Granada Valentia Toledo Galicia Murcia Cordoua Portugal Algarbe Spaine albeit it bee not in all places manured because of the stonynesse of sundry partes thereof yet is it far more fertil then Africa in very many places it yeildeth aboundantly whatsoeuer is necessary for the vse of man As very faire VVheat Rice VVyne Oyle Hony Saffran Suger Limons Capers Citrons Orenges Pomgranades other fruytes Rosmary groweth there in the fieldes in such plenty that it serueth for fuel It hath also great store of beastes both wild tame yeildeth horses of such swiftnes that it was said of them in old tyme as a prouerb that they were engendred of the wynde It hath also diuers mynes as of Gold Siluer Copper Tin Iron and Lead gold is not only found in mynes but euen in sand on the sydes of the riuer Tayo In sundry maritime places it yeildeth great store of Salt The ayre is pure and helthfull it is litle subiect vnto
haue made their residences This citie of Auignion among other rareties hath seauen thinges of note seauen againe of each of them to wit seauen Pallaces seauen Parishes seauen Hospitales seauen Monasteries of women seauen Colleges seauen Couents seauen Gates PROVENCE THE COVNTIE OF BVRGVNDY THe countie of Burgundy the frenchmen call La franche Conté that is to say a free earldome the limits of this earldome northward are Lorraine Germany southward Sauoy westward the Duchy of Burgundy eastward Svvitserland Besançon Dole are the two chief cities of this country The former of these beeing very auncient is the principall of all It hath as good pleasant a situation as any citie els beeing enuyroned with ritch mountaines plentiful vineyards forests of goodly Oakes the riuer of Doux which passeth through the middest thereof doth yeild vnto it very good fish Dole standeth also vpon the same riuer and hath a flourishing vniuersitie in all faculties of learning In a parte of this country there are salt pittes which do yeild moste excellent pure whyte salt In that parte called Arbois groweth the excellent wyne called vin d'Arbois The whole country although but litle is both fruteful wel inhabited albeit it bee said of Orgelet a place where very industrious people dwel that liue by clothmaking that by reason of the rocks mountaynes the fields are without gras the riuers without fish the hilles without wood THE COVNTIE OF BVRGVNDY THE DVCHIE OF BVRGVNDIE THis second or lower Burgundie now a Dukedome was in former ages a kingdome the kinges where of did for the moste parte make their residences in the citie of Arles so as the boundes of this kingdome stretched much farther then this Duchie now doth the which paleth with Campaigne on the north syde with Niuernois Bourbonnoys on the west with the country of Lions on the south the countie of Burgundie on the east Of this Duchie Dijeon is the chief citie it lieth vpon the riuer of Ouche here is held the tribunall or courte of Parlament for Burgundie c. The riuer whereon this citie standeth is full of fish The country is very frutefuul yeildeth very good wyne The Dukes of Burgundie haue heretofore bene very famous of great power opulence and the people valiant The country taketh name as Saniulianus saith of a Burg or castle in the vally of Ogue therefore called Burgogue It hath besydes Dijeon diuers fair cities as Beaunle Chalon Mascon sundry others among which Autun sheweth it self to bee of great antiquitie where the ruynes of a great Theatre are yet to bee seene The cronicles of Aemylius do shew how about the yeare 1044 the whole country of Burgundie was deuyded into two partes to wit into a Dukedome and an Earldome THE DVCHIE of BVRGVNDIE LORRAINE THis Dukedome accompted to bee of Germanie hath on the east syde the country of Alsatia in the south the countie of Burgundy in the west Champaigne on the north the forest of Arden It was heretofore a kingdome and called Austrasia but then extending it self much farther then it now doth It tooke the name of Lorraine of Lotbarius nephew vnto Charles the great was annexed vnto the Empyre vnder Otho the first The country is hilly but wanteth nothing necessary for mannes vse It is furnished with cattel hath very good medowes pasture groundes it yeildeth corne wyne It hath mynes of Siluer Tin Copper Iron Lead Pearles are found in some waters in the valley of vaguy The pretious stone called the Calcedony with sundry other stones of woorth are here fomid as also azure More-ouer here is exceeding pure whyte salt which is said to yeild yearly vnto the Duke all charges borne 100000 Franckes There is a lake about 14 leagues in compas wherein amonge other sortes of fish are carpes of exceeding sweet taste comonly of three foote long one foote large this Lake beeing fished euery three yeares doth yeild somuch that it maketh in yearly value vnto the Duke 16000 Franks Lorraine hath many fyne riuers the holesome warm bath of Plombiers The chief citie is Nancy there the Duke moste comonly resydeth LORRAINE CALIS and BVLLEN OF all partes of the maine continent this only parte is in the view of England England thereof is viewed These two townes with their territories are paled on the east syde with west Flaunders on the west syde with the English or narrow seas northward with the Germaine Ocean southward with Artois Picardie The country aboute Bullen is good pleasant inward into the land are hilles some woods which are accompted portions or partes of the great forest of Arden which the french call Boys de morman The country about Calis is vnpleasant low warrish Calis of sundry authors is called Iccius Portus but others atribute that name vnto Bullen At Bullen is yet beheld a strong tower built by Iulius Ceasar of Englishmen called the old man The towne territory of Calis was subiect to the crowne of England from the yeare 1346 what tyme through force of armes it was by Edvvard the third taken from the french vnto the yeare 1557 when the Lord vventvvorth beeing gouernour thereof for Queene Marie it was taken againe by the French so that it remayned in the possession of the English 210 yeares and the towne of Calis became famous through the Staple of wool by them there holden In tymes past the towne of Calis belonged vnto Flaunders after vnto France then to England so to France agame as hath bin said in the yeare 1596 It was taken from the French through force by the Archduke then Cardinal Albertus of Austria gouernour of the Netherlands at that tyme for the King of Spaine in the yeare 1598 vpon a peace concluded betwene France Spaine it was rendred againe to the French CALIS and BVLLEN VERMANDOIS VErmandois is almost enuyroned with Picardy saue that on the one syde thereof it ioyneth vpon Artois and Cambresy It is a litle prouince but the name is of antiquitie the people thereof were of old called Veromandui The chief towne hereof is called S. Quintins which was long since called Augusta Veromanduorum howbeit one author saith that thesaid Augusta was two myles from the towne of S. Quintines and was since called the Abbey of Vermond This was wont to bee a Bishopryke but S. Medard the fourteenth Bishop of Vermandois translated that seat vnto Noyon in the yeare 524 when the Vandales came into France Phillip the second King of Spaine tooke this towne by force of armes in the yeare 1557 with great discomfiture losse of the French men In this country of Vermandois two notable riuers haue there begining the one not far from the other The one is the riuer of Somme which passing through Picardie falleth into the sea at S. Valeries The other is the riuer of Skeld which passing
through Cambressi Tournay into Flannders cometh vnto Antwerp so downe into Zealand is there receaued into the sea VERMANDOIS PICARDIE PIcardie accompted of old a parte of Galia Belgica hath on the east syde Vermandois on the west Normandie a parte of the narrow sea on the north it hath Artois and on the south Champagne The riuer of Somme which of Ptolomey seemeth to bee called Phrudis watreth this country maketh it frutefull and the townes to bee furnished with all necessary prouision The soile yeildeth great aboundance of corne albeit it hath no wyne it is rather thought to procede of the negligence of the inhabitants in not planting vineyards then through the vnfitnes of the soile to nourish them The principall citie of this country is Amiens which is a Bishops sea ancient very famous and aswel fortified as any citie in France Next vnto this is Abbeuile then haue ye Peronne as also the towne of Guyse whereof the how 's family of Guyse taketh name From whence the name of Picardie is deryued there are diuers opinions Some think that the Begardi should be changed into Picardos which Caenalis wil not affirme of certainty Others do say that these people haue the name of Picardes consequently their country the name of Picardie for hauing in warr first taken vp the vse of pykes PICARDIE GERMANIA THis great spatious country hath on the northsyde thereof the Germaine Baltish sea southward it confyneth with Italy westward it reatcheth vnto France eastward northerly it ioyneth on Polonia southerly vpon Hungaria within it lieth the Kingdome of Bohemia It is a country mightely replenished with goodly cities townes and villages exceeding populus hauing therein many goodly riuers whereof the Rhene the Danubie the Elbe are the chief It is deuyded into sundry Dukdomes Earldomes other gouernments yet all in some sorte depending on the Empyre for here in Germany the Emperor hath his seat residence for whose election Pope Gregory the fyft beeing of the how 's of Saxony ordayned seauen Princes electors to wit three spiritual 4 temporal the spiritual are the Bishops of Magunce Cullin Treuers The 4 temporal are the Dukes of Saxon and Bohemia for Bohemia now a kingdome was then a dukdome The Palsgraue of the Rhene the Marquis of Brandenbourg The earth ayre as also the people of Germanie seeme much altered since the tyme of C. Tacitus who described the soyle to be barren the ayre not very good the country woodie watrish the people very rude vnciuil for now wee fynde the ayre to be helthsome good the country fruteful the inhabitants courteous ciuil It hath now good wyne growing in it such aboundance of corne in the east partes thereof that it sustayneth sundry other countryes neither is it vnfurnished of all other necessaries It hath also mynes of Gold Siluer Copper Iron other metalles The people are warlyke very industrious many rare inuentions haue bene by them found out GERMANIA INFERIOR GERMANIE INferior Germany conteyning the seauenteene prouinces which the Emperor Charles the fift left vnto his sonne King Philip the second of Spaine Is corruptly of some strangers called Flaunders the inhabitants Flemings whereas Flaunders is but one of these prouinces the inhabitants thereof properly Flemings The names of the prouinces are these The Dukedomes of Brabant Geldres Limbourg and Lutzembourg The Earldomes of Flanders Artois Henalt Holland Zeland Namure and Zutphen The Marquesat of the holy Empire The Signories of Friseland Macklin Vtreck Ouerysel and Grooning The prouinces are generally by the inhabitants called by the name of Nederlant which in English is Netherland and the people generally call themselues Netherlanders There are in it as Levvis Guicciardyne affirmeth the number of 226 walled townes diched about and more then 6300 villages each village hauing a parish Church then are there Castles fortresses noble mennes howses a great number Some parte of this country is very euen flat lyke vnto Lombardy other partes are more high hilly It is very frutefull having plenty of corne of flesh and fish some of which comodities are in some prouinces more or lesse abounding then the others according to the nature situation of the place The people are maruelous industrious and do excell in all artes and sciences whereby as also by their great trade of marchandise this country may wel bee said to bee one of the moste pecuniary countryes of the world INFERIOR GERMANIE LIEGE THis Bishopryk ioyneth on the north west syde unto Brabant on the east on the duchie of Limbourg southward it extendeth vnto Lutzembourg partly vnto France The ayre is sweet the country exceding frutefull in corne and other graine it hath wyne albeit but smalle it hath store of beastes both wyld tame It hath exceeding good Iron it hath lead also gold Alablaster very faire marble is digged out of the hilles with great labor and arte of vndermyning Stone-coles are digged out of deepe pittes which kynde of cole was first discouered to be there in the yeare 1198 whereof besydes those there spent there is transported yearely to other prouinces to the value of more then 100000 ducates Sr Iohn Mandeuill knight doctor of phisick beeing borne in England having trauailed so farr through somany countries kingdomes did not fynde a place that for the sweetnes of the ayre the frutefulnes of the earth accompagned with a very great freedome that better pleased him then did this country of Liege where he chose to end the rest of his dayes there died in the yeare 1272. The citie of Liege is the chief of all the townes in this country wherein are 8 collegiat Churches with ritch Canonries Tungres for the antiquitie thereof is reconed next vnto Liege the ruynes without and within the towne do aswel as old bookes declare the oldnes of this citie there apeereth yet the paued high way that reatched from thence vnto Paris Some thinke the fountaines to bee about Tungres whose vertues Pliny somuch comendeth but experience sheweth them to bee at the Spaw LIEGE LVTZEMBOVRG THis Duchie is bordered on the northsyde with the Bishopryk of Liege the Earldome of Namure on the south Lorraine on the east the Mosel the Bishopryk of Treuers westward partly with the Mose partly with the forest of Arden The country is altogether hilly woody much of the wood of late yeares is turned to corne land The chief cirie is of the same name that the whole Duchie beareth but was by Ptolomey called Augusta Romanduorum It lieth parte on a hil parte on low ground The inhabitants do speake the high duitsch for the more parte except those which dwel on the syde towards France for they vse the french tongue By reason of the situation of this country beeing frontyred with so many seueral iurisdictions it hath
Sigismond the first so annexed vnto Polonia OZVVICZIN and ZATOR TRANSSILVANIA THis country called in latin Transsiluania is of the Germaines called Seuenbergher-Lant that is the Seuen-hily country of seauen principall hilles where with among other that bee lesser this country is enuyroned It confyneth on the west syde with Hungary hath Moldauia VValachia ioyning to it on the northeast southeast The country albeit mountainous is very good yeilding both corne wyne cattel very aboundantly There are in it wyld oxen which haue beardes vnder their chinnes and wyld horses whose manes do hang downe to the ground Mynes there are also both of gold siluer The chief cittie is called Hermenstat but Alba-Iulia is the oldest The people are very valiant haue bene very victorious against their cruel easterne neighbours the Turcks from whose inuasions they are much defended through the mountaines that enuiron the whole countrie euen as a cittie is enuyroned with a walle The Ceculiernes are esteemed moste valiant these haue among them no difference betwene gentlemen boores but liue all in an ordinary state Parte of the Transsiluanians do speak the Germaine tongue but these the Hungarian The Prince of this country is called the Vayuode these vayuodes were wont to bee placed there by the kinges of Hungara TRANSSILVANIA PRVSSIA THis country bordereth eastward on Lituania southward with Polonia northward with Liuonia westward with Pomerania The Knights of the Teutonic or Duitsche order haue here borne great anthoritie the which at last by the King of Polonia was abridged Albert Marck-graue of Brandenbeurg was the last great-master who by an agreement with k. Sigismond of Polonia left his habit held this country in see of the King and so became duke thereof It is now denyded into 2 partes the one belonging vnto the King of Polonia the other vnto the duke of Prusia who keepeth his residence in the cittie of Coningsperg The sea shore of this country doth yeild the fairest sorte of amber the which is aswel drawne vp out of the sea with nets as gathered on the sea syde The country is maruelous aboundant in corne cattel wel furnished with fish it hath great store of woods wildernesses There are many Beares stagges wyld swyne wyld horses a greater kynd of buffulaes then are in Italy or other partes the wyld horses are neuer tamed beeing found not seruiceable through their weaknes of back The beast Alces is heerfound who resembleth the horse in proportion the hert in hornes sauing that the hornes bee more broder are yearly cast new grow againe In the woodes wildernesses are great store of bees which yeild aboundance of hony wax PRVSSIA POLONIA VVestward is this kingdome aioyning vnto Germany northward vnto the Baltish sea Prusia eastward vnto Lituania southward vnto Hungarie It is deuyded into 2 partes the greater the lesser the greater lieth toward the north the lesser towardes the south Cracouia is the chief citie there the King keepeth his court it is also an vniuersitie Danske which lieth on the Baltish sea is a cittieof great trafike of marchandise espetialy of corne the other citties are but meanly builded of no great same The whole country is plaine vnhilly therefore of the inhabitants called Pole which in their tongue signifieth plat or plaine The people of Polania Lituania Samogithia Masouia Volhini Podolia Russia Moldauia are those which of old authors were called Sarmates Lituania is great but not greatly inhabited a beast is there found called Rosomacka of the ordinarie bignes of a dog hauing a face lyk a cat a taile lyk a fox it feedeth on carren beeing ful it forceth it felf to pas betwene the narrownes of 2 trees thereby voydeth all that it hath eaten then goeth to eat againe returneth to voyd it as before continueth so long as the carren that it feedes vpon lasteth Samogithia ioyneth to Lituania the country is cold the people are strong helthful do fare hard Massonia yeildeth much hony the inhabitants mak their drinck therewith Volhinia is very fertile full of townes vilages Podolia is of corne gras so aboundant that the lyk is not knowne Russia aboundeth in horses oxen sheep In this countrie in somer are certaine woormes called Ephimere which beeing newly bred do in the morning run vpon the water at none they haue winges fly aboue the water they die before the Son setting of these woormes Aristotle speaketh in his first book of beastes Moldauia is a parte of walachia the chief cittie is Sotschen the people are good soldiers is it said that the regents of this country do cause their yong children to be marcked with hot irons that thereby their descent may the more certainly bee knowne POLONIA LIVONIA LIuonia called in the Germaine tongue Lysland lieth on the eastsyde on Russia on the westsyde on the Baltish sea northward an arme of the sea seperateth it from Eniland southward it bordereth vpon Prussia The chief cittie of this country is Riga which is a place of great trafike as are the other principall places of Reuel Narua The country is somwhat sandie not mountanous Great woods there are store of wyld beastes as foxes Martres Sables Ermynes hares It yeildeth wax hony wheat rie and furres The people are not greatly industrious nor wholy ciuil The faith of Christ was preached vnto them about the yeare 1270 diuers of the rude people are yet heathenish nor letting to pray vnto the Sun to the Moone or to some great tree or to one thing or other according as their blynd folly leades them VVhen one of them is dead they put with him into his graue an ax bread wyne meat some peece of mony bid him go his wayes into the other woorld where he shall raigne ouer the Duitschmen as they haue raigned ouer him in this They are subiect vnto a certaine order of Germane knights that do rule gouerne them The great master of which order keepeth his court residence at VVenden a towne situate in the middest of the country LIVONIA THE NORTHERNE REGIONS THe Septentrional regions of Europe that hetherto are knowne are first that which is called the I le of Scandia which conteyneth the kingdomes of Sweden Norwey a parte of Denmarck then the famous I le of Albion conteyning England Scotland VVales then are there the Iles of Ireland Friesland Island Groeneland Grecland c. the rest yet vndiscouered Of all which regions the realme of England is the principal best parte by reason of the goodnes of the soile and myldnes of the ayre in that it lieth more to the south then any of the other Sweden is a country very mountanous ful of lakes riuers aboundant in cattel fish hauing also mynes of siluer copper lead Iron The chief
the habitation of sundry sortes of wyld beastes And albeit no great store of corne groweth heere yet hath is barley rice the Indians by rice cheese milk flesh fish delicate frutes are nowrished besydes their store of frutebearing trees they haue great reedes or canes whereout whyte hony lyke vnto gum is pressed Silk is heer in great aboundance beastes both wyld tame are in infynit numbers greater then in other places of the world as Kyen Camels Lions Dogges Elephants there are also dragons serpents whyte apes camelions that liue by the ayre all sortes of the best kynde of foule The spyces of India are knowne to all the world Heben wood groweth heer the trees that yeild frankensence the shores or sydes of the riuers do deliuer gold the sea faire pearles Diamonds Rubies Saphires Amatistes Agates sundry other sortes of pretious stones are found in this noble country The inhabitants of India are of different languages different in apparel of different religions some beeing Christians some Mahometaines some Iewes some Pagans The people are generally talle of stature strong of a tawny or browne colour many do liue to 130 yeares or thereabouts INDIA PERSIA THe name of Persia is very ancient but the country was in tymes heretofore far lesse then it now is It hath on the eastsyde of it parte of Tartarie parte of East India on the south syde Sinus Persicus parte of the Indian sea on the west syde it confyneth with the dominions which the Turk now occupieth in Asia on the north it hath the Caspium sea c. The beginning of the greatnes of this kingdome was in the yeare 1269 when a noble persian of the cittie Ardenelim named Sophi being also a Mahometain reuolted from the Turk beganby war to conquer countries and his successors haue since both augmented their possessions continued the great quarrel about the right successor of Mahomet The Persians are a more humane people then the Turkes not beeing so rigorous against the Christians which liue among them hauing among them noble gentlemen which the Turkes haue not The countrie is very fruteful except in the mountanous desert partes It yeildeth aboundance of fyne silke the best Iron for armour steele for armes of the whole world is here found It hath also ritch mynes pretious stones pearles and the fertillitie thereof in many places may bee compared vnto that of the neighbouring India PERSIA TVRKIE THe Turkish Empyre conteyneth the foutheast parte of Europe the northeast of Africa the southwest of Asia so as it lieth where these 3 partes of the world do meet taketh a parte of each of them howbeit the fargreater parte is in Asia which far exceedeth the partes both in Africa Europe At Constantinople which is in Europe the great Turk keepeth his residence This cittie was taken by force of Mahomet the eight Turkish Emperor vpon the last day of May in the yeare 1453. after it had bene besieged 54 dayes after sundry other victories this Mahomet died on the first day of May in the yeare 481 was buried in the said cittie of Constantinople In Europe is subiect vnto the Turk the greater parte of Hungarie all Bulgarie Greece Macedonia Romania Morea sundry other prouinces In Africa Barcha Egipt besydes the kinges kingdomes there tributarie vnto him In Asia hee hath Natolia the two Arabiaes to the great grief of Christians the countrie of Palestyne where Christ our sauiour liued died many other prouinces to long heer to describe Both Christians jewes are suffred to liue in this Turkish Empyre vnder tribute albeit the Turkes do carry somwhat a better opinion of Christians then of jewes yet are the Christian inhabitants subiect to very great inconueniences The Turkes according to the law of their great reputed prophet Mahomet are circumsised they are forbidden to drink wyne to eat swynes flesh allowed to haue many wyues TVRKIE PALESTYNE THe old pagan authors called this country Palestyne the Iewes called it The land of prontis Christians haue termed it the Holyland It hath al along on the west syde the Mediteraneum sea on the east syde Arabia northward it hath Mount Libanus southward it reatcheth downe towards Egipt the Red sea This countrie was denyded among the 12 trybes of Israel but after the tyme of King Salomon it was denyded into a kingdomes In this moste noble country liued the holy prophets And the Sonne of God did heer receaue humaine flesh It was in former tymes so excellent aboue other countries that it was called the land that flowed with milk hony but it is now greatly altered the sinnes of the inhabitants hauing deserued no better Burcardus saith that it yet excelleth in yeilding aboundance of pure wheat that with litle laboring of the ground Roses Sage fenel other flowers herbes do without the industrie of man grow in the feilds The riuer of Iordan hauing his issue vnder Libanus runneth through the lake of Genazareth into the dead sea the country half a dayes iorney euery way from this sea is barren by reason of the euil vapors sauouis thereof It seemeth to haue the name of Mare Mortuum because there is in it no liuing thing The ancient famous cittie of Ierusalem is situate in a hilly place Mount Syon lieth on the southsyde Mount Gyon on the west By the encreased greatnes of this cittie the holy sepulchre wherein Christ was buried hauing a church built ouer it is now within the walles The mount of Caluarie whereon our Lord was crucified is 108 foot from the graue there is a pauement to pas from the Chruch to the place where the crosse did stand which riseth in height to 28 foote on the same rock the clifts rentings do yet appeere which hapened at the death of our deere lord and sauiour PALESTYNE NATOLIA NAtolia extendeth it self from Asia where vnto on the eastsyde it is aioyned and lieth in length westward towards Europe hauing on the northsyde Mare Maggiore and on the south the Midland sea and at the west end the sea called Archipelago The Turkes who now possesse it do call it Litle Asia It conteyneth Phrygia Galathia Bithinia Pontus Lydia Caria Paphlagonia Lycia Magnisia Capadocia and Comagena all goodly countries ancient renowmed prouinces some of them Kingdomes yea a perticular Empyre of Trehizonde whereof Nicomedia heretofore a moste noble cittie appeereth now but in the ruynes thereof Nyce is also here to bee seene where the famous great Councel heertofore was holden Amasia is the chief cittie of Capadocia was the birth-place of Strabo the wel-knowne Cosmographer And the renowmed martyr and Patron of England S. George was also of this country of Capadocia In Natolia are gotes which haue that fyne heare or rather wolle whereof the thamlets are made There are
England Scotland is the chiefest next vnto it haue ye Ireland then more northerly is Island Frisland lastly Groonland all in the Ocean sea In the Mediteraneum sea it hath Sicilia Sardinia Corsica Candie Maiorica Minorica Corphum Nigropont and others of lesse fame whose seueral names and situations do appeere in the Mappe This our Europe besides for the Romaine Empier honorable throughout all the world hath aboue 28 Christian Kingdoms yf you adde the 14 which some recon only in Spaine It is passing fertil naturally temperate and of a milde aier And inferior to no other parte in plentie of all kinde of fruit wyne and plants but to be compared with the most exellent beeing made pleasant with most faire Citties Villages and Throughfares And although it be in compas lesser then the other yet for the woorthinesse of the people it is preferred before all other partes of the world euer hath bin by all auncient writers hauing both for the Empier of the Macedonians and mightynesse of the Romaines bin moste renowmed EVROPA ASIA ASIA being the second parte of the world hath on the west syde to deuyde it from Europe the riuer Tanais from the head whereof the deuision is made as it vvere by a lyne extended vnto Sinus granduicus It is moreouer denyded by Mare Magiore a pece of the Mediteraneum sea On the south syde it hath the sea of India On the east the Ocean called Eous otherwise the east sea And on the north the icy sea of Sithia Asia by estimation seemeth as great as Europe and Affrica yet is it not taken to bee so populus as Europe having many wonderfull great deserts huge mountaines spatious sandy regions the mount Taurus stretcheth it self very farr through the middest thereof Some haue deuyded this parte of the earth into fyue portions The first is that which ioy neth vnto Europe obeyeth vnto the great Duke of Muscouy The second that which is vnder the great Cham Emperor of the Tartars The third that which is occupied by the race of the Ottomans vnder the fowrth is comprehended the kingdome of Persia gouerned by the Sophie And the fift last parte is that which as of old so yet at this present it retayneth the name of India beeing denyded vnder the comaund of many pety Kinges whereof diuers are tributaries to the great Cham. And in this parte is also conteyned the great mighty kingdome of China This parte of the earth is not only famous among prophane authors for the first monarchies of the world as of the Assyrians Persians Babilonians Medes but it is more illustred aboue other partes in sacred scripture wherein not only appeereth that in the same mankynde was first created by Almighty God but our Lord sauiour Iesus Christ coming into this world for the redemption of man did choose to make herein his birth place It is also to bee considered that the most pretious thinges that the world doth yeild are fonnd in this noble parte thereof as besydes great varietie diuers kyndes of beastes birds excelent sortes of spices frutes medicinall herbes rootes other thinges As also the moste pretious metalles pretious stones and pearles ASIA AFRICA THis third parte of the vvorld the auncient writers haue diuersty deuided But as Ioannes Leo vvitnesseth it is now deuyded into fowre partes to vvitt Barbaria Numedia Libia and the country of the Negroes or moores The first of these beeing Barbarie is the best and moste frutefull enclosed with the Atlantike and Mediterraneum seas the mount Atlas and the region called Barcha which confyneth on Egipt Numedia which yeildeth dates is of the Arabies called the date countrie is otherwise called Biledulgerid this beeing the second parte bordereth on the Atlantike sea in the west and the mount Atlas in the north in the east it reatcheth vnto the citie Eloacat and southward vnto the sandie deserts of Libia Libia the third parte is in the Arabeck tongue called Saâ—ra which signifieth wildernesse it beginneth at the riuer Nilus and reatcheth to the Atlantyke sea having on the south the Negroes or Moores and on the north Numedia The fourth and last parte is that which is called the country of the Negroes or Moores for that they are black people it hath Libia on the north The AEthiopian sea towardes the south the Gualates towardes the west and on the east syde the kingdome of Goaga It is further to be considered that all Africa is enuyroned with the Mediteraneum Atlantyke and Aethiophian seas and the riuer Nilus Some haue accompted Aegipt and Aethivpia to bee of Asia but with more reason all moderne Cosmographers do recon them to belong to Africa The south parte or coaste of Africa was vndiscouered vnto the yeare of our Lord 1497 that Vasca de Gama passed the promontorie or cape de Bona speranza and sailing round about all the south coast of this parte of the world arryued at Calecut in the east Indies Africa hath great and dry deserts wherein many strange beastes and serpents are nowrished and in some partes there of as about the riuer Nilus sundry new creatures or monsters are often produced AFRICA AMERICA THis fowrth parte of the world for the exceeding largenesse thereof is called the new-world altogether vnknowne vnto all Consmographers vntil the yeare of our Lord 1492 in which it was discouered by Christopher Columba of Genua who for that discouery was employed by Ferdinand King of Castille Queene Isabel his wyf It seemeth moste strange that so great a parte of the world should so long remaine vnknowne considering the dilligent search of Geographers to describe the whole earthe the oportunitie to search out countries the insatiable desyre that man hath of gold siluer wherewith this America aboundeth yet could neuer before bee found out Some think it was decyphered by Plato vnder the name of Atlas others affirme a pece of coyne to bee found there having on it the Image of Augustus the Emperor about the which there are diuers opinions and disputes This parte of the world hath bene all sailed about except on the north syde which coast is yet vndiscouered It seemeth to forme it self into two peninsulaes whereof the one which is northerly conteyneth new Spaine the prouince of Mexico the landes of Florida Terra noua etc. That which is southward called Terra firma conteyneth the regions of Peru Bresilia and others America had not in tymes past either wheat or wyne kyne shepe gotes asses or dogges but it hath since the discouery there of bene enriched from Europe with all these and sundry other comodities AMERICA ENGLAND THe whole I le of Albion called also Britannie beeing the greatest Ile of this parte of the world is at this day by two seueral names called England and Scotland because it contayneth those two kingdomes The Meridional greatest best parte thereof is called England of Englishmen somtyme a people of