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A07266 The heroyk life and deplorable death of the most Christian King Henry the fourth Addressed to his immortall memory; by P: Mathieu, counceller and historiographer of France. Translated by Ed: Grimeston, Esquire.; Histoire de la mort déplorable de Henry IIII. English Matthieu, Pierre, 1563-1621.; Grimeston, Edward.; Sylvester, Josuah, 1563-1618. 1612 (1612) STC 17661; ESTC S112465 671,896 410

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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 An● Camde● G●rigon●u● because there is a Towne situate called ●●●geny Rivers Lakes f Called also Argile and Argadia 〈…〉 i This is also called Allectum k 〈◊〉 mouth of the River Don. this Town is called by 〈◊〉 De●●●● for De●●●● because a 〈…〉 River Don 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 l 〈◊〉 called ●●unstphage 〈◊〉 Navernia 〈◊〉 Mountaines Cathanesia n So called frō Eb. rid which signifies in the Bruttish tongue 〈…〉 without 〈◊〉 as Camden thin●●th pag. 6●● The name by who●● it was given o Because it 〈◊〉 of an ●ngular forme for Eng in the Saxon tongue signifieth a corner or nooke p Fiftie yeares before the birth of Christ q Which was An. Dom. 446. according to Bede The Citie The Rivers The Sea Ports The manner of Government r Shires were first made by King Alfred for the better administration of Justice Northumberland The Situation The quality of the Soyle The Cities The Rivers Cumberland The Situation The quality of the Soyle The Cities Lakes Rivers The Mountaines The Wall of the Picts The Bishoprick of Durham y The Citie of Durham was called by the Saxons Dunholme Dun signifieth a hill and Holme a peece of land compassed with a River like an Island in the Saxon tongue and this name agreeth with the situation of the place The Cities or Townes Westmoreland The situation The qualitie of the Soyle d So called because the River Kan runneth through it The Townes The Rivers Lancashire The Situation The fertilitie of the Soyle The ancient government The Lakes Rivers The Mountaines Cheshire The Situation The qualitie of the Soyle The Cities The Rivers Caernarvanshire Th● S●● The 〈◊〉 of the Soyle The Townes The Mountaines Denbigh-shire The Si●uation The qualitie of the Soyle The Townes Flint-shire The Situation The qualitie of the Soyle Merionethshire The Situation The Townes The Mountaines Mongomery-shire The Site The fruitfulnes of the Soyle The Townes The Isle of Man The names The Situation The Townes The Mountaines The manner of government The manners of the people Cornewall The Situation The qualitie of the Soile The Townes Havens Devonshire The Situation The Cities and Townes The Rivers Somersetshire The Situation The temper of the A●●e The f●rtilitie of the Soyle The Cities and Townes The Rivers Dorcetshire The Townes The Rivers VViltshire The Situation The qualitie of the Soyle Townes Glocester The Townes Rivers Monmouthshire The Situation The qualitie of the Soyle The Townes The Government Glamorganshire The Situation The quality of the Soyle The Cities and Townes The Rivers Caermarden-shire The Townes Pembrokeshire The Situation The temperature of the Aire The Townes The Government Brecnock-shire The Situation The fruitfulnesse of the Soyle The Townes The Rivers Hereford-shire The Situation The Rivers Yorkeshire The Situation The qualitie of the Soyle The Townes The Rivers Lincolnshire The qualitie of the Soyle The Townes T●● Rivers Darbyshire The Situation The Townes The Riv●rs Stafford shire The Site T●e ●●●●il●ty of the Soy●e The Townes The Rivers The Mountaines The Woods Nottinghamshire The Situation The quality of the Soyle The Townes The R●●●●s Leicester●shire The Situation The ●●●●●fulnesse of the So●● The Townes Rutland-shire The Situation The 〈◊〉 of the S●●l● The Towne● Northfolke The Situation The quality of the Soyle The Townes h This Towne the Saxons called Garmouth because it is situated ad Gar●●●● os●●um●s the mouth of Gerne The Rivers The commodities of the Sea The manners of the Inhabitants Warwick shire The Situation The qualitie of the So●●● The Townes Northampton-shire The Situation Th● 〈…〉 of the S●●l● The C●ties 〈◊〉 Towne● The Rivers Huntingdon shire The Situation The fertilitie o● the Soyle The Rivers Cambridg-shire The Situation The qualitie of the Soile The Townes The Universitie Suffolke The Situation The fertilitie of the Soyle The Townes Rivers Oxford-shire The Situation The fertilitie of the Soyle The University The Townes Buckingham-shire The Situation The fertilitie of the Soyle The Townes Bedford shire The Situation The quality of the Soyle The Townes Hertford-shire The Situation The fertilitie of the Soyle The Townes Essex The Situation The fertilitie of the Soyle The Townes Berk-shire The Situation The Townes Middlesex The Situation The temperature of the Aire The Townes The Rivers Ham●shire The Situation The Townes Surrey The qualitie of the Soyle The Townes The Rivers Kent The Situation The qualitie of the Soile The Townes Rivers Sussex The Situation The Townes The Isle of Anglesey The names The Situation The fruitfulnesse of the Soyle The Government The Townes The Isle of Wight The names The Situation The fruitfulnesse of the
Soyle The varietie of the living Creatures The Sea p ●n Vespasian●●ap 4. The ancient government The nature of the Inhabitants The Townes Gersey The names The Situation The fertilitie of the Soyle Garnsey The qualitie of the Soyle The Haven S. Peters Town The ancient Government Norwey Whence so called The qualitie of the Soyle The variety of Creatures The Cities and Townes The Sea The Commodities The Merchandise The manners of the people 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 z So called from the sliding leaping gate of the F●nn● which are the Inhabitants thereof a So called from the blockishnesse of the Inhabitants ●o● L●●p●n signifieth F●olish b Which with Biarmia aforesaid belongeth to the Duke of Rus●●a The Rivers Mountaines Woods The Senators The Manners g To these may bee added the late King of Swedens prosperous victories in Germany The Situation h This Citie is called by the Germans Cope●hagen that is the Merchants Haven The Situation The temperature of the Aire The fruitfulnes of the Soyle The varietie of living creatures The Ancient Government The name The Situation Iutia The Situation ſ Now called Ma●delle 〈◊〉 t O● Northerne Sea ●alled now Mare Crani●m 〈◊〉 Mar● S. 〈…〉 The Townes The Sea The commodities The manners of the people The Dukedome of Sleswick d Called by the Germans Elve which signifieth in their tongue eleven because it hath so many fountaines whence so called The ancient Government The Townes The Senators Holsatia whence so called The Situation The qualitie of the Soyle The varietie of living Creatures The ancient government Th●● Town was 〈…〉 C●stle ●nd called H●●b●rg The Woods The Senators The Lawes Institutions The Noble Families Fionia whence so called The Situation The fruitfulnes of the Soyle The varietie of living creatures The Cities The commodities of the Sea The 〈◊〉 buildings The Islands Langeland Lawland The fertilitie of the Soyle The Townes Falstre The fruitfulnesse of the Soyle The 〈◊〉 living Creatures The nam● and whence s● called n Rath 〈◊〉 the 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 ●●●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
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 England who being killed Henry the seventh enlarged the
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 Sussex It is unlevell yet plainest toward the West and
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 West Algarbia on the North it cleaveth to that part of Portugall
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 10ly 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 cold but is seated in the temperate Climate and by the witty diligence of
five Bishops the Bishop of Aps of Fre●ul of Sesteron of Ere 's and of Vapinte Fifthly the Archbishop of Arclatum or Arles under whom are the Bishops of Massilia of Vasison of Tricaste of Cavallion of Avignon of Orange of Carpentras and of Tollon The Archbishop of Lyons and Primate of all France hath his residence in the Citie of Lions and hath foure suffragan Bishops under him as the Bishop of Autun of Mascon of Chalon by the River Saone and of Langres PROVINCIA OR PROVENCE HItherto wee have described Aquitania and the Kingdome of Arelatum Provincia followeth This most excellent part of France from beyond Rhodanus even to the River Garumna was called Provincia because the Romans many yeares before the Nativitie of Christ did reduce it into the forme of a Province which name it still retaineth in a small portion thereof wherein is Massilia and Aquae Sextiae by way of excellencie to declare that it had preheminence both in order and dignitie above all the Provinces of the Roman Empire Daulphine lyeth neere to Provincia on the North side being parted from it with the Mountaines commonly called the Mountaines of Velay and by a great part of the River Drue●●ius or Durance running betweene It is enclosed on the East side by the Alpes and the River Varus on the left hand banke whereof stands the Towne Nicaea where Italie beginneth on the South the French Sea beateth on it and the Westerne bounds of it are partly the Principalitie of Arausio or Orange and the Countie of Avenio or Avignon which did formerly belong unto it though now they appertaine to other Princes and partly the whole River Rhodanus as farre as Lions and Arclatum belonging to the Jurisdiction of the Parliament of Languedock The Ayre here is gentle milde and very pure The Countrie doth produce not onely excellent Corne but also Fruites with litle labour or tillage and heere is as great plenty of Rasons and Figges as may furnish the greatest part of Europe Heere is such great store of Rosemarie Juniper-berries Chesse nuts Pome-Citternes Lemmons Oranges Saffron Rice and the like as if the horne of plenty were poured forth upon this Countrie The Vines yeeld excellent rich Wines heere and the Soyle is every where very good and fruitfull Concerning the ancient Earles of Provincia some things are to be noted Wee reade in ancient Annals that in the time of Ludovicus the eigth King of France Raymundus Berengarius was Earle of Provence and that Charles Earle of Anjou and Sonne to the afterward King Ludovicus did marrie Beatrice his onely Daughter and Heire by that meanes got this Country After him succeeded Charles surnamed the Lame being Prince of Salernum and King of Naples After him his Sonne Robert succeeded being Duke of Calabria and King of Naples and after him his Grand-childe Ioane whose Father Charles Duke of Calabria was dead before for by the last Will of this Robert she was made Queene of Naples and Countesse of Provence This woman that shee might be revenged on her Adversaries did adopt Ludovicus of Anjou Sonne to Iohn King of France and left him her successor both in other Principalities and also in this Countie After this Ludovicus his Sonne Ludovicus the second was made Earle and next after him his Son Ludovicus the third who was also adopted by Ioane the second Queene of Naples to be King of Sicily and Duke of Calabria This Ludovicus having no issue by the consent of the aforesaid Ioane instituted his brother Renatus to bee successor in those Principalities And he being unwilling to resigne his right in the Kingdome of Naples and the Countie of Provence to Renatus Duke of Lotharingia his Nephew did passe it over unto his brother Charles Earle of Maine who made his sonne Charles dying Ludovicus the eleventh King of France his heire Some would have it that Renatus made him heire after Charles by his last will although Renatus Duke of Lotharingia did justly expostulate with him concerning the same Heere dwelled heretofore the Salyi the Aquenses the Arelatenses the Sextani the Sentij the Ebroduntij the Dinienses the Vesdiantij the Sanicienses the Nerucij the Vencienses the Vulgientes the Aptenses the Reienses the Ostaviani the Commoni the Foro-Iulienses the Segestorij the Albici the Oxubij the Deciates and others There are in Provence under the Aquensian Parliament besides many Townes of no small note two Cities which have Archbishops and eleven that have Bishops in them The Archiepiscopall Cities are Aquae Sextiae and Arelatum The Latines Paterculus Solinus and others doe call the first Aquae Sextiae Colonia Plutarch in the life of C. Marius Sextilia the Itinerarie tables Aquae Sestiae The inscription of a stone at Lyons neare to S. Benedicts Church Colonia Iulia Aquae Lastly a certaine ancient inscription and Vespasians coyne Colonia Iulia Aquae Sexiae Legio 25. It was called Aquae because there are bathes of hot water whence also it is now called Aix and it was called Sextiae from C. Sextius who was Consul in the yeare from the building of the Citie of Rome 630. For he having subdued the Nation of the Salyi built this Citie to the end that hee might place a Roman garrison therein and that hee might drive the Barbarians from those coasts which open a way from Massilia into Italy seeing the Massilians were not able to suppresse them you may reade Livy lib. 61. from the 10. cap. But concerning the same it was called Iulia Augusta from C. Iulius Caesar Augustus who did enlarge it with colonies bringing thither the old Souldiers of the 25 Legion The Parliament of Provence is held here which therefore is called Parliamentum Aquense Partly at this Citie and partly in Italie did C. Marius overcome the Cimbrians a people of Germanie and the Tigurini and Abrones French Nations that banded themselves with them of which Historie elsewhere The second Citie Orosius and Ausonius Lib. de urbibus in Epigraphe ipso carmine 7º do call Arelas the same Ausonius elsewhere doth call it Arelatus Caesar calls it Arelate as also Suetonius in the life of Tiberius Mela and others Strabo calls it Areletae Ptolemie Arelaton Salyorum Colonia and Pliny Arelate Sextanorum but now by a word of the plurall number it is called Arles Festus Avienus doth report that the Graecians heretofore inhabiting it did call it T●elinis Iulius Scaliger witnesseth that in a faire inscription on a pillar which hee had seene it is called Mamiliaria but the reason why is unknowne Fl. Constantinus the Emperour did enact and ordaine that it should be called Constantia and that the assemblies and conventions of seaven Provinces namely of Vienne of both the Narbons of both the Aquitanes of PROVENCE PROVINCIA Novem-Populana and the Maritime Alpes should be held and kept there and Ausonius calleth it Gallula Roma in those verses which I mentioned before It is a Citie seated neare Rhodanus on the left hand banke thereof The Itinerarie table
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 Brionenses is usually described with Campania being an ancient Country and now called la Brye It
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
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 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
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 if he were furnished with the aforesayd munition he would easily suppresse the enemies violence All things were sent which hee desired but he did not performe that which
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
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
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
have also tythe Cattell and tythe Corne. There are great store of Nobility in this Country who are discended from ancient Families of which some are more hospitalious and bountifull and some more sparing some doe addict themselves to the warres and some to study and most of them doe travell to forraine Princes and Kings Courts and doe goe to Universities and to the Warres And so are chosen to be Governours both in forraine Countries and Provinces and also in their owne Country in times of parre and weace not onely in Politick but also in Ecclesiastick affaires The Country people also doe live well in this Principality who doe onely pay the Magistrates a certaine summe of money and doe certaine services and some of them doe none at all And let so much suffice concerning the Iland and Principality of Rugia THE KINGDOME AND ELECTORSHIP OF BOHEMIA BOHEMIA Boemia or Bojemia as some would have it was so called from the Wood Hercynia For in the Germane language Baum and in Dutch Boom signifies a tree the Graecians call it Baemia and Ptolomy calls the Inhabitants Baemi and Strabo Lib. 7. calleth them Kolduli Some would have it so named from the Bojans who fled and transmigrated thither which seeme to bee so called from Bois that is from Wood. Ptol. lib. 2. cap. 11. in his description of Germany doth place the Baemians under the Wood Harcynia being a great Nation spreading even to Danubius Strabo calleth it Bubiemium for so Rhenanus Aventine and others doe read it but yet in the Graecian printed Copies it is called Boviasmon but Rhenanus thinketh this to be a corrupt reading of it and Causabon noteth that in ancient Bookes it is called Bovia●mon Tacitus calleth it Bojemum On the East it hath the Marcomannians and Quadians on the West the Noricians on the South the higher Pamonia now called Austria and on the North it is bounded with Saxonie and Misnia The Wood Hercynia doth encompasse it round about and encloseth it in manner of a Romane Amphitheater So that the length and breadth is all one being above two hundred mile broad and as many long The ayre in regard the Country standeth Northward is cold and sharpe but yet wholesome But the soyle yeeldeth such great store of Barly and Wheate so that it furnishes and supplies other Countries But it hath but little Wine and that which growes there is very tart and sharpe It hath excellent Saffron both for colour and sent This Country also yeeldeth very rich Drugs yet it hath no Oyle nor any other parts of Germany It hath many rich mines the chiefe whereof are in the Countries of Cromelaw Budeveisz and Kuttenberg Also neere the Towne Beraun there are Iron Mines And in other parts it hath Tinne Leade and Brasse And moreover it hath Carbuncles and Amethists which are taken out of the Oare Moreover there are great store of wilde Beasts for hunting as Foxes Beares Harts and wilde Oxen which they call in their language Lomi And they report that this wilde Beast Lomi when hee is hunted filleth a Bladder which hee hath beneath his necke with hot water and therewithall hee sprinckles the Dogs that follow him which burneth whatsoever it toucheth like scalding water so that it will make the hayre and skin come of This Country was governed at first by a Duke The first Duke was Zechus who comming out of Crotia did first establish this Country of Bohemia After him succeeded Crocus and his Daughter Labussa with her Husband Primislaus after him Nimislaus and his Nephew Mnato and Vrislaus the Sonne of Mnato also Necla Noctericus and Borsinous In whose time Bohemia received the Christian faith in the yeere 900. in the time of THE KINGDOME AND ELECTORSHIP OF BOHEMIA BOHEMIA the Emperour Arnulph but in the yeere of our Lord 1086. Bohemia was made a Kingdome and in the Counsell at Moguntine Vratisslaus the first was created King by the Emperour Henry the fourth and Gilbert Bishop of Trevers was sent to Prague to annoynt the King in the presence of the people and to invest him with the Royall ornaments his wife also Swatana was crowned Queene But afterward it fell to bee a Dukedome againe when it came to Vratislaus the fourth who for his service in the Mediolanian expedition was created by the Emperour Frederick King of Bohemia and an associate in the Empire and had given him for his armes a red Lyon with a forked tayle in a white Field from whom some Emperours discended after that Bis●tislaus had carried away Iutha the Daughter of the Emperour Otho the II. whence they began to bee a kinne to the Emperours The King of Bohemia is one of the seven Electors Bohemia hath some Citties which are subject to the King and some to the Lords and Nobles The chiefe Citty is Prague which was walled about by Primistaus the third Duke of Bohemia and his wife Libusla It hath the Castle V●segradum or Herschin which is seated on a Mountaine The whole Citty is divided into three Citties the Higher the New and the Lesse The River Muldavia doth seperate old Prague from the new in which there is a Castle and the Cathedrall Church of Saint Vitus and these two parts of the Citty are joyned together with a stone Bridge of 24. Arches which was built by King Vladislaus The Emperour ●harles the IV. and the King of Bohemia did much adorne and enlarge this Citty The Castle standeth on a very steepe Hill In the Church of the Castle there is an Alablaster Monument wrought with curious workmanship in which divers Princes and Emperours have beene buryed Ptolomy would have it call'd Casurges Aventinus Ma●●budum and Strabo Bubienum In the yeere 1370. King Charles erected here an Academy or Vniversity which continued untill the yeere 1308. And afterward by reason of a faction which arose it was translated to Lapsia The Citty Egra is situated in the first entrance into Bohemia which was so named from the River Egra by which it was seated It was heretofore subject to the Romane Empire but now to the Kingdome of Bohemia It is faire and beautifull within it hath faire houses and civill courteous and magnificent Citizens And without it hath pleasant Orchards and fruitfull Fields and a River full of Fish This Citty is famous for a kinde of drinke called Mede which is made of Honey The chiefe Townes of Bohemia towards Moravia are Mutha Chrudima Hradecium Pardubitium Litomossium and from thence toward Noricia there are Glatovia Dornazlicium Misa and Tacovia On the South side the chiefe Townes are Budvicium Crum●●via Trebonia Hadrecium Hencici and on that side which is toward Misma it hath these Townes Pons Cadana Chomutavia and Austio And these Townes are neere the confines of Sl●●ia Hiaromirium Gla●●um Curta and some others The Inland Townes are Cuthna Colen Belsina Verena Zate●●um Launa Slana ●●tomericum Tabortum The chiefe Rivers are 〈◊〉 which they call Labe it breaketh forth of the
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 comming out of Scythia in the Raigne of the Emperour Arnulph possessed those parts being Pagans untill King Stephen whom they called the holy was inaugurated and made King And after
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 ●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
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 writeth are so thick that you cannot shoote an Arrow into them their Orchards have Figge-trees which are 60. yards about And the shadow of their boughs doe reach two Furlongs Their
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 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
To you Mercator offers by my hand The Worlds Portraicture wherein Sea and Land Which make one Globe are drawn forth in each Part In Plano with such Iudgement Truth and Art That Pictures of all mortall beauties are Weake shaddowes of fraile dust nor can compare With these sweete Picces for who would not be A Lover when he sees Geographie Drawne forth in such fresh colours that invite The eye to gaze with wonder and delight And while it gazes doth such pleasure finde That it convayes loves flame into the minde I know your Iudgements let none henceforth be Your Mistresses but faire Geographie W. S. Reverendae Eruditae Matris Academiae Oxoniae in Albo Mercatoris Famae Inscriptio QVis ille Mundum cogit in leges suas Potentis artis machinâ Non illubenti quis jugum victor dedit Vt serviat feliciùs Angustijsque clausit insuetum novis Vt major inde prodeat Et quae lacerent membra magni corporis Dedit videre singula Per quicquid usquam est sparsa nec lacera tamen Integriora reddidit Non hunc vetustis edidere saeculis seu Roma sive Graecia Aevo priores labore praevios At post-futuris impares Dicemus istos orbis incunabulis Quos admoveri fas erat Quos minores expedire fascias Debebat ut mundo rudi Adultus at jam crevit cingi petit Quod repperit solutius Quin Britanno quod Britanni gaudeant Cinctu decorus visitur N. S. Oxonia Aeque Eruditae Almae Matris Cantabrigiae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 R. B. Cantabriglae In Praise of Mercators Workes INdustrious Camden Englands brightest starre By 's Art gave light to us and after Times Mercators Sunne shines more resplendent farre By 's History describing all the Climes And uncouth Contnents strange for us to view The Rockes the Isles the Rivers and their falles Gods greatest Workes and Natures rarest shew Which here lies ope with Mountaines Hills and dales And in these Mappes thou mayest at home descry What some have sought with Travaile farre and neere At easie rate they all heere open lie To feast thy Iudgement with delicious cheare Then crowne his Temples with deserving Bayes That such a Trophee to thy use could raise W. D. Exoniae To the worthy Translator IF what that famous Lyrick-Poet writ In praise of Poetrie so full did fit That He of All deserves the prize and praise Which mixeth Profit with his Pleasant-Layes Then sure the same of Historie is true And of all Histories to This most due To this I say This Atlas of Earths frame This Geographick-Structure of much fame This Worlds bright Light Delight and Sunne most faire Discovering all Earths specious Countries rare In such a Cosmographicall display In such a faithfull and exact Survey That Now at least Eleven faire Languages Themselves with Its Translation sweetly please What thankes Me thinkes then unto Thee remaines Praise-worthy Saltonstall for thy great paines In thus Translating on our English-Soyle So choyce a Peece Wherein without much toyle Yet with much Pleasure and Vtilitie The Minde all-bent on Forraine Noveltie May heere at home even in his Chamber view Each Country in his state and station true In figures faire lively delineated And in exact descriptions demonstrated For which let Belgia give her Hondy praise And we our Saltonstall deserved Bayes I. V. In due commendation of the Author with an Allusion of Atlas his supportation of the World 1. An Acrosticke on Mercators Atlas Mercators Atlas Mirror of all storie Expresse in Tropes of deepe Cosmographie Reader admire in reading for It 's Glorie Claimes a precedence past equalitie All that Laborious Artists can compose Triangles Circles Lines and Parallels Only deare Hondius these thy Maps disclose Raising to life a Worke that all excels Atlas by fiction do's the World uphold Thou more by Art dost all the Orbe containe Let Poets pencill forth thy praise in Gold And all that reape the Harvest of thy paine So shall thy fame to every Age remaine Heere mayst thou reade what ere thou wouldst desire The manners of thine owne and foraigne Nations And in thy Study onely but retire To view their customes strengths and Scituations Then praise his Name such gifts to Man that gave Whereby thou maist much cost and labour save M. R. De Mercatoris Atlante in Anglorum sermone edito ATlas Latine fortis in laudes tuas Graeco politus carmine Heinsius fuit At Nostrum Atlantem qui novus prodit modò Laudare non audere laus post Heinsium R. B. S. S. M. Ad Anglum Lectorem SCire cupis mores hominum lustrareque terras hic depicta tibi cuncta videre licet Ne Linguae ignotae exaniment hunc consule nostrum Atlantem notus sic tibi mundus erit Orbem fuloit Atlas opus hoc intellige Atlantem Lector Atlant is non leve fulcis onus R. B. S. Hosp On this Translation an HEXASTICHON MErcator sure thy Merchandize is good Having so current for so long time stood In forreine Countries but in British soyle Vnkenn'd unkiss'd till Saltonstall with toyle And study rich in thee his natives made Teaching thee with our English now to-trade THOM. VICARS olim Reginensis Oxon. NIli diluvium steriles faecundat agellos Floscula sparsa iuvant stercora lucra ferunt Inde decus Solis late quia lumina spargit Rivi fama patet flumina longa trahens Sic linguis varijs doctum lucrantur opellae Laudem diffusae nos tamen omne bonum Hebrae● Graeci exonerant gens undique docta Alueum in Brittanicum qui scatet arte nova Olim non notus noto divisus ab orbe Huc tendi petijt navita nullus iter Olim tendebat cla●us mercator ad Indos Iam oras Angligenúm curva carina petit Ast hic Mercator non est omninò viator Musaeo merces littus aequor eme Pet. Vowel To his learned though unknowne friend the Author of this Translation SOmewhat amongst the rest of those that presse To honour this thy Worke would I addresse Vnto thy praise and therein strive to be As breife and sweete as this Epitomee The World is here contracted and in this Thou shewest us what the lesser world Man is And therein work'st a wonder that the lesse Should comprehend the greaters spaciousnesse As thou hast thus reduc'd both to a span So shall my lynes thy worth and in this one Expresse thy world of that Coelestiall fire Whose beames we love not more than we admire I. G. Verses in Commendation of this description of the terrestriall Globe by G. W. WIth cost and perill some adventure farre Yet ne're the richer nor the wiser are But giddily through many Climates rome And come lesse honor'd and worse manner'd home Some
same bredth Moreover the way in the uneven and lower part of the Valleyes is fortified with fences as the nature of the Country requires These wayes King Gninacava who lived not long since caused to to be clensed and the ruinous walls to be repaired and adorned otherwise the worke is more ancient and there were placed all along by the way side Innes both faire and pleasant they call them Tambi in which all the Kings traine were received And let this suffice concerning the foure parts of the World in generall now our method doth require that we should describe particularly the partes of Europe which was set before in the first place THE NORHTH-POLE AND A DESCRIPTION OF THE COVNTRIES SITVATE ROUND ABOUT IT HAving made courteous Reader a Generall Description of the whole Globe and the foure parts thereof methodically and according to the order of nature I purpose in Imitation of Ptolomie the Prince of Cosmographers to begin the Geographie of particular Countries from the Pole it selfe and the Countries lying round about it that so descending from the higher to the lower parts and proceeding from the left hand to the right hand I may by degrees joyne the North with the South and the West with the East which I pray God may be profitable to the Common-wealth The Pole is the extremitie or end of the Axis which is a Line drawne through the Center of the Globe the Latines call it vertex There are two Poles the Northerne and the Southerne The Northerne is that which is alwaies beheld towards the North and therefore also it is called the Northerne and Articke Pole The Southerne is that which appeareth to those onely which dwell toward the South and therefore it is called the Meridionall Southerne and Antarticke Pole And thus much in this place shall suffice concerning the Poles I come to the Countries situate round about the Articke Pole which are Groenlandia or Greeneland Frizlandia or Freesland Nova Zembla with some others of which wee will entreat briefely as farre as they are knowne Groenlandia or Greeneland is so called from the greennesse thereof is an Island for the most part yet unknown it is situate betweene the Northerne Circle the Pole the farthest paralels therof towards the South are the Degrees of 65 and towards the North the Degrees of 78. In this Island if wee beleeve Nicolas Zenetus who in the yeare 1480. endured much hard weather in the bordering Sea there is continuall winter for nine Moneths all which time it doth never raine there neither doth the snow which falleth at the beginning thereof melt untill the end yet is not this harmefull to the grasse for here is a great increase both of grasse and fodder Therefore here is great store of milke-beasts in regard of the great plentie thereof so that they make store of Butter and Cheese which they sell to those they traffique withall There are onely two inhabited places knowne unto us in Groenland Alba and the Monasterie of Saint Thomas of which wee will speake by and by The Slow Sea which is also called the frozen Icie Sea doth touch upon Greeneland There is in Greeneland a Monasterie of the Preaching Order and not farre from it a fire-vomiting Mountaine like Aetna at the foot whereof there is a fountaine of running waters by whose great heat THE NORTH-POLE POLUS ARCTICUS cum vicinis regionibus they do not onely make hot all the roomes of the Monasterie like a hot-house but also they bake their bread and dresse their meat without the helpe of fire The whole fabricke of the Monasterie doth consist of brittle sandie stones which the Mountaine doth cast forth in the midst of the flames This fountaine doth warme the neighbour gardens so that they continually flourish with divers kindes of flowers and herbes And the Sea neare unto it by the vertue of these waters is never frozen but lyes continually open both for the fish and the use of man which makes so great a concurse of fish to resort hither from colder places that not onely these Monkes but also the Inhabitants round about do live plentifully Frislandia or Freezland was an Island altogether unknowne to the Auncients being greater than Ireland The Climate is very intemperate The Inhabitants have no fruits but live for the most part upon fish The chiefe Towne thereof hath the same name with the Island and it belongeth to the King of Norway The Inhabitants for the most part live by fishing For in the Haven thereof so great a plentie of all kind of fish is taken that many ships are loaded with them and so carried to the Islands lying neare it as Zieglerus writeth The same man writeth that the Sea next to the Island on the West being full of rockes and sands is called the Icarean Sea and the Island in it is called by the Inhabitants Icaria This Island in our time beginneth to be known again that by the Discoverie of the English Nova Zembla is an Island situated under the 76 Degree Here the aire is very sharpe and the cold most vehement and intolerable It is a wild woodie and rugged Country where neither leaves nor grasse grow nor any living creatures but those which live by flesh as Foxes and Beares whereof there is great store not onely in this Island but in most of the Northerne Countries There are Sea-monsters here whose bodies does exceede the bignesse of an Oxe and are commonly called Walruschen they are headed like a Lyon their skin hairy they having foure feete and two teeth sticking forth of the upper part of their mouth beeing smooth hard and white and are worth as much as Elephants teeth The Bayes here are called Weggates Bay Forbishers Bay and Davises Bay Weigates Bay is streitched out towards the East even to the place called Crucis Angulus toward the Aerctapelietes to the place called Dissidit Angulus a a little enclining to the East On the Southerne side of the Continent of Weggats Bay William Barendson found some wild men called Samiutae The shape of their cloathes which they use is like that which our Painters do bestow on woodmen or Satyres but yet they are not wild men but endued with a good understanding They are cloathed frō head to foot with the skins of beasts called Rangiferi for the most part are of low stature broad faced small eyed short and splay-footed and very nimble both to runne and leape They have coaches unto which they put one or two of these Rangiferi which will draw it with one or two men in it with more speede then any of our Horses can do Forbishers Bay was so called from Martine Forbisher an English man who in the yeare 1577. seeking a passage to Cathaia by the North arrived at this Bay in which hee found both Islands and many men concerning which wee will adde some things The men thereof being strangers to all civilitie do eate
doe write that the Islanders for the most part doe dwell in Caves which they digge in the sides of the Mountaines especially in the Winter time But Ionas on the contrary saith that there are many Temples and houses built of wood very faire and costly The Island hath two Cathedrall Bishopricks as Holar or Hallen under which are the Monasteries Pingora Remested Modur Munkeniere and Scalholt under which are those Monasteries Videy Pyrnebar Kirckebar and Shieda Yet wee understand by the writings of Velletus the Authour of this Table that there are nine Monasteries in it and three hundred and nine and twenty Churches The Bishops are sent thither out of the Universitie of Hassnia the only University in Denmarke one of them governeth the Northerne part of the Island the other the Southerne And each of them hath a free Schoole joyned to his house in which hee is bound to be at the cost of the bringing up and teaching of foure and twentie Children The Inhabitants live eate and lodge in the same houses with their Cattell They live in a holy simplicity seeking nothing more than what Nature grants them for the Mountaines are their Townes and the Fountaines their delight A happie Nation not envied by reason of their poverty and so much the happier because it hath received the Christian Religion Yet the English and Danish Merchants doe trouble their quiet not suffering them to be content with their owne for they frequenting this Island to bring away fish from thence have brought among them their vices together with their wares The memorable acts of their Ancestours they doe celebrate in Verse and doe keepe them from oblivion by engraving them on Rocks They live for the most part by Fish which being dryed and beaten and so made into a kinde of meate they use at their Table instead of bread But the wealthier doe eate bread twice baked Heretofore they dranke water and the richer milke but now they have learned to mingle corne with it which is brought hither from other places and they scorne to drinke water since strangers have begun to traffick with them For those of Lubeck Hamburrough and Rostoch comming every yeare with their ships to this Island doe bring thither corne bread beere wine honey English cloathes linnen cloth iron steele gold silver womens coyfs and wood for building houses and ships and they doe expect for these Iselandish cloth commonly called Watman great store of Brimstone dried fish butter tallow hides skins of wilde beasts foxes white faulcons horses and the like Here is so great plenty of fish that they lay them in great heapes out of doores and so sell them the heapes being higher than the tops of their houses There is also so great store of salt butter that they put it up in sweet chests of fortie foot long and five foote deepe besides that which they barrell up And here we will adde Michael's Verses concerning Iseland as hee hath them in his third Booke Of Sea matters Vltima Parrhasias Islandia spectat in Arctos c. The farthest part of Iseland looketh North And Westward some Degrees it is streight forth Which hath not onely a rich pleasant soyle While as it doth the yellow Brimstone boyle Within its cavernes blinde which at the last All mingled with sand it forth doth cast Or when the Meddowes bring forth fodder store And all the vales with grasse are clothed o're But when upon the shore it fish doth heape Whose number can't be told it is so great Or he distinguisht every severall sort Which it by shipping doth abroad transport For though here plenty of all things is found Yet most of all in fish it doth abound 'T is rich the Inhabitants are stout of minde And where it lyes against the Southerne winde Hecla still burneth with continuall flame Which it at open holes sends forth againe It casts forth ashes with a fearfull sound While pitchie flames doe to the Starres rebound THE ILES OF BRITTAINE ENGLAND SCOTLAND AND IRELAND WITH THE ILANDS LYING ROVND ABOVT THEM BRITTAINE containeth all those Ilands which lying betweene Spaine and Germany are stretched forth in a great quantitie of Land toward France Lhuyddus saith that not long agoe it was called Prydanium Sr Thomas Eliott would have it called Prytania being incited thereunto through the love of contention rather then truth against the authority of Aristotle Lucretius Iulius Caesar and other ancient Writers But because heretofore all the Brittaines did paint themselves with woade which gave them a blewish colour that so their faces might be more terrible against their enemies in war and in regard that in their ancient Language they did call any thing that was painted and coloured Brit some doe rightly suppose that the Graecians understanding that the inhabitants were called Brith and Briton did adde to Brith Tania which signifies a Country and therefore Brittaine was called the Country of Brittaines that is the Country of painted and coloured men like as Mauritania is called so of the Moores Lusitania from Lusus and Aquitania the Region of Waters Brittaine is endowed by Nature with all guifts both of Aire and Soyle in which neither the cold of winter is too violent as the Oratour hath it speaking to Constantine nor the heate of Summer and it is so fruitfull in bearing corne that it is sufficiently stored with Bread and Drink Here the woods are without wilde beasts and the earth without harmefull Serpents On the contrary innumerable flockes and heards of tame cattell full of milke and loaden with their fleece yea whatsoever is necessary to life is here the dayes are very long so that the nights are not without some light and the Sunne which seemeth in other Countries to goe downe and set doth seeme here only to passe by Among all the Iles of Brittaine two do exceed the rest in greatnesse Albion under which are contained England and Scotland and Ireland The greatest of these is Albion now alone called Brittaine which was a name formerly common to them all and this name is rather deduced out of Books than used in common speech only the Scots doe yet call themselves Albinich and their Country Albin Concerning the name of Albion the Grecians first gave it to this I le for distinction sake seeing all the neighbour Ilands were called the Iles of Brittaine so that it did first arise from the vaine and fabulous lightnesse of the Grecians in faigning names For seeing they called Italy from Hesperus the sonne of Atlas Hesperia France from the sonne of Poliphemus Gallatia c. It is not unlikely that they fabulously named this Iland Albion from Albion the sonne of Neptune which Perottus and Lilius Giraldus THE ISLES OF BRITTAINE ANGLIA SCOTIA et HIBERNIA doe confirme Others would derive it from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which as Festus witnesseth in Greeke signifies white whence also the Alpes are so called The figure of it is Triangular or three
cornerd and it runneth forth into three severall Angles The first Promontorie towards the West the Englishmen doe call the Cape of Cornewall The second in Kent which looketh towards the East the English call it North-forland The third is Orcas or Tarvisium which lyeth farre North the Scots call it D●ngisbehead Livius and Fabius Rusticus have likened it to a Cheesell On the West side whereon Ireland lyeth the Vergivian Sea breaketh in on the North it is beaten with the wide and great Northerne Ocean on the East where it lyeth against Germany with the Germane Sea on the South where it butteth upon France it is beaten with the Brittish Sea Diodorus in his sixt booke writeth that the compasse of it is two and forty thousand furlongs Martian saith that Brittaine is eight hundred miles long and three hundred broad and in compasse 6000. miles The learned and accurate Writer Camden doth thus account it from the Promontorie Tarvisium to Belerium following the winding of the shoare is eight hundred and twelve miles from thence to Kent 320. miles Lastly from Kent to Tarvisium seaven hundred and foure miles the whole summe is 1836. miles This Iland formerly was divided into two parts as Ptolomie witnesseth in his second Booke where he parts the whole Iland into Great Brittaine and Little Brittaine The Great he calls the Hither part towards the South the Lesser the Farther toward the North. But the Romans neglecting the farther part because as Appian saith it could not be commodious to them the hither part being reduced into a Province they at first divided into the Lower and Higher as it is gathered out of Dion For the hither part of England with Wales he calleth the Higher the farther and Northerne he calleth the Lower Afterward they divided it into three parts as appeares by Sextus Rufus into Maxima Caesariensis Brittania Prima and Brittania Secunda Afterward when the forme of the Common-wealth was daily changed they divided Brittaine in five parts the First Second Maxima Caesariensis Valentia and Flavia Caesariensis And these were divisions of Brittaine when it was under the Romans Some have written that the whole Iland was heretofore divided into three parts Leogria Cambria and Albania but Camden beleeveth that this was a later division which seemeth to arise from those three People the Englishmen Welch and Scots who last of all divided this Iland among themselves Afterward the Iland was divided into two Kingdomes namely England and Scotland but at last under the happy raigne of Iames the sixt King of Scotland these two Kingdomes were united and the whole Iland called Great Brittaine Brittaine as we said before is every where environed with the great and wide Ocean which S. Basil saith is a great Sea and very terrible for those that sayle on it Now it floweth farre into the Land and then it returneth backe againe and leaveth the Sands naked it feeleth the efficacy of the encreasing Moone very powerfully and doth flow in with so great a force that it doth not only drive backe Rivers but it sometimes sweepes off cattle from the Land casts forth the fishes on the shoare and at the ebbe leaveth them there In a word so great a matter it was held to sayle upon this Sea that Iulius Firmicus in his Booke concerning the errours of prophane Religions cryeth out thus to Constantine the Emperour In Winter which was never heretofore done nor shall bee done you have passed over the swelling raging waters of the Brittish Ocean the waves of a Sea almost unknowne to us have trembled under our Oares and the Brittaines have beene afraid at the unlookt-for presence of the Emperour What would you more The Elements themselves were conquered by your valour It doth not belong unto us to speake here of the commodities which this Sea yeeldeth of the time when it cherishes the Earth of the vapours with which it nourishes the Aire and bedewes the fields of the divers kindes of Fish as Salmons Playces Crabfishes Codfishes Herrings c. of which it bringeth forth infinite numbers Yet the Pearles are not to bee passed over in silence which in a round shape doe swimme in great shoales as it were following one Leader like Bees so that Iubas calleth it the Sea of Bees and also Marcellus makes mention of it Suetonius doth report that Caesar did first attempt Brittaine in hope of getting these Pearles and so much concerning Albion or England now let us passe over to the rost Among all of them Ireland doth farre excell of which wee will speake nothing here intending to speake of it in particular Tables The Orcades doe follow now called the Iles of Orkney which are about thirty in number and doe lie a little way distant one from another which a certaine ancient record doth so call as if it were Argath which is there expounded as much as supra Getas above the Getes Camden would rather have it above Cath for it lyeth over against Cath a Country of Scotland which in regard of the Promontorie they now call Cathnesse whose Inhabitants Ptolomy though wrongfully doth call Carini instead of Cathini In the time of Solinus they were not inhabited being overgrowne with Reedes and Bullrushes but now they are tilled and bring forth Barley enough though they want both wheat and trees there is no Serpent or poysonous Creature in them They have great numbers of living Creatures in them as Hares Cunnies Cranes and many Swans There is good fishing in them of which the inhabitants make great profit Iulius Agricola first sayling in a Shippe round about Brittaine did finde out and conquer the Orcades at that time unknowne and therefore it is unlikely that Claudius did first overcome them as Hierom affirmeth in his Chronicle Afterward when the Romans were Commanders over Brittaine they were the seats of the Picts and after that they came under the power of the Norwegians and Danes whence the Inhabitants doe speake the Gothicke tongue Last of all Christiernus King of Denmarke in consideration of a summe of money in the yeare 1474. did passe over all his right unto the King of Scotland The chiefe of these is Pomonia famous in regard it is the seate of a Bishop which was called by Solinus for the continuall length of the day Pomona diutina now it is called by the Inhabitants Mainland as if it were a Continent It hath abundance of Tinne and Lead and is adorned with a Bishops See in the Towne Kirkwale and with two Castles Among these Ptolomie also reckoneth Ocetis which Camden supposes should now be called Hethy And saith the same Camden I am not yet resolved whether I should call Hey which is among these Plinies Dumna If it bee not so I had rather thinke Faire I le which hath onely one Towne called Dume to bee that Dumna than with Becanus to thinke that it is Wardhuys in Lappland 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 the other smoothe with a plaine webbe There are
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 did traffique with the Townesmen did once aske an
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 Irish did often use to doe Kerri as it
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 the East side of the Citie is the Kings
like oyle Coila followeth which Galloway doth bound on the South on the East it toucheth Clidesdale on the West it is divided from Cunningam by the River Vrwyn the River Aire THE SECOND TABLE OF SCOTLAND Scotiae tabula II. runnes through the middle hereof on which is seated Ayr a faire Market Towne For the generall this Country hath greater plenty of valiant men then of fruit or cattle for it is altogether of a light sandie soyle which doth sharpen the industrie of the Inhabitants and their sparing life doth confirme the strength of their mindes and bodies In this Country about ten miles from the Towne Ayr there is a stone almost twelve foot high and thirty Cubits thicke which is called the deafe stone for if you hollow or shoot off a Musket on the one side hee that standeth on the other side next to the stone cannot heare it he that stands farther off shall heare it better and he that stands farthest off shall heare it best After this Cunningam runneth to the North and straightneth Glotta untill it become a small River It is manifest that the name of this Country came from the Danes and in their language signifies a Kings house which is a signe that the Danes sometimes possessed it Next on the East side is situated Renfroan so called from a Towne in which the Inhabitants kept their publike meetings it is commonly called Baronia Two Rivers doe cut through the middle of it which are both called Carth. After this Country is Clidesdale aforenamed stretched forth to either banke of Glotta and poureth forth many Noble Rivers on the left hand Aven and Duglasse which doe runne into Glotta on the right hand another Aven which seperates Sterling on the South from Lothiana and on the East from the Fyrth untill at last growing lesser it hath a Bridge over it neare Sterling There is one River that cutteth through this Country which is worthy of memory called Carron neare to which are some ancient Monuments On the left side of Carron there are two little hills built by the industrie of men which are commonly called Duni pacis On the right side of Carron there is a plaine field that at last riseth into a little hill being in the middle betweene Duni pacis and a little Chappell On the side of this hill there appeareth yet the ruines or remainder of a small Citie But the foundation of the Walls and the description of the streetes partly by tillage and partly by digging forth squared stones for the building of rich mens houses cannot be distinctly knowne This place Beda doth call Guidi and doth place it in a corner of the trench made by Severus the Emperour Many famous Roman Writers have made mention of this Trench and Bulwarke Here many tokens doe remaine and many stones are digged up with inscriptions which are either testimonies of ayde formerly received by the Tribunes and Centurions or of their Sepulchers in those places Beyond Sterling is Levinis or Lennox divided from Renfroan by Glotta from Glasco by the River Keluin It is parted from Sterling or Striveling with the Mountaines from Taichia by the Forth at length it endeth at the Mountaine Grampius at the foot thereof the Lake Lomund through a hollow Vale extendeth it selfe 24. miles in length and 8. in breadth which containeth above 24. Islands Besides a multitude of other fishes it hath some particular unto it selfe which are pleasant in taste called Pollacks There are three things reported of this Lake very memorable First the Fish have no Finnes but otherwise are of an excellent taste Secondly the water when there is no winde is sometime so rough that it would affright the boldest Marriner from weighing Anker Lastly there is a certaine Island fit to feed flocks of cattle which moveth up and downe and is driven to and fro with every tempest But I returne to the Lake which at last breaking forth toward the South doth send forth the River Levin which giveth its owne name to the Country This River neare to the Castle Brittanodun or Dun brittan and a Towne of the same name entreth into Glotta The farthest Hills of the Mountaine Grampius doe somewhat raise the farthest part of Levinia being cut through with a little Bay of the Sea which for the shortnesse of it they call Gerloch Beyond this is a farre larger Bay which they call Longus from the River Long that falleth into it This is the bound betweene Levinia and Covalia Covalia it selfe Argathel or rather Ergathel and Cnapdale are divided into many parts by many straight Bayes made by the estuarie of Glotta or Dun-Brittan Fryth There is one famous Lake amongst the rest they call it Finis from the River Fin which it receiveth it is 60 miles long There is in Knapdale the Lake Avus in which there is a small Island with a fortified Castle From hence the River Avus runneth forth which alone in these Countries emptieth it selfe into the Deucalidon Sea Beyond Knapdale towards the West Cantiera or Cantyre runneth out that is the head of the Country over against Ireland from which it is parted by a small narrow Sea being longer than broad and joyned so straightly and in such a narrow manner to Cnapdale that it is scarce a mile over and even that is nothing else but sand On Cantyre Lauria toucheth lying neare to Argathel and reaching neare to Abry it is a plaine Country and not unfruitfull In that place where the Mountaine Grampius is somewhat lower and more passable the Country is called Braid Albin that is to say the highest part of Scotland and where it is highest it is called Drum Albin that is the backe of Scotland and not without reason For out of the backe Rivers doe runne into either Sea some into the North some into the South out of the Lake Iernus it sendeth forth the River Ierna into the East which having runne three miles falls into Taus beneath Perth From this River Strathierna or Stathierna extended to either banke thereof tooke its name For the Scots are wont to call a Countrie which lyeth on a River Stat. THE THIRD TABLE OF SCOTLAND THe Mountains of Ocellum do border upon Tachia which for the most part together with the Country at the foot thereof are thought to bee in the Country of Iernia but the rest of the Countrie even to the Forth ambition hath divided into many parts as Clacman Colrosse and Kinrosse From these and the Mountaines of Ocellum all the Countrie which is bounded by the Forth and Tay groweth straight in the forme of a wedge Eastward toward the Sea And by one name is called Fife having sufficiencie of all things necessarie to life it is broadest where the Lake Levinus cutteth it and thence gathereth it selfe into a narrow forme even to the Towne Caralia It sendeth forth one notable River to wit Levinus whose bankes are beautified with many Townes of which the most renowned for the studie of
are not inferiour to any part of Scotland in fertilitie and fruitfulnesse It hath pleasant vallies watered with Rivers full of fish and many Lakes that have fish in abundance but the greatest of them all is ●abrus From the Deucalidon Sea the Shoare by degrees bendeth in and inclineth toward the East From the other Shoare the German Sea making a way for it selfe between the rocks and flowing into a great Bay maketh a safe sure Haven against all tempest Secondly next to the farthest part of Rosse toward the North is Navernia so called from the River Navernus and this Countrie commonly following their Countrie speech they call Strathnaverne Rosse bounds it on the South on the West and North the Deucaledon Sea washeth it on the East it toucheth Cathanesia In the third place Sutherland is neare unto all these and toucheth them on one side or another for on the West it hath Strathnaverme on the South and East Rosse and on the North Cathanesia The Inhabitants of this Countrie by reason of the condition of the soile are rather given to pasturage than tillage There is nothing that I know singular in it but that it hath Mountaines of white marble a● a●e miracle in cold Countries which is not gotten for any use because wantonnesse hath not yet invaded those parts Lastly Cathanesia or Cathanes is the farthest Countrie of Scotland toward the North where Navernia meetes it and these two Countries of Scotland do contract the bredth of it into a strait and narrow front In this front of Land three Promontories do raise themselves The highest was Navernia which Ptolemie calleth Orcas Tavedrum and Tarvisium the two other being nothing so high are in Cathanesia namely Vervedrum now Hoya and Betubium called though not rightly by Hector Boethius Dame now it is commonly called Dunis Bey others call it Duncans Bey Out of this name by taking away some letters the word Dunis Bey seemeth to be derived In this Countrie Ptolemie placeth the Cornavis of whose name there do still remaine some tokens As they commonly call the Castles of the Earles of Cathanesia Gernico or Kernico and those who seeme to Ptolemie and others to be the Cornavii the Brittaines thinke to be the Kernes For sith not onely in this Countrie but in a divers part of this Island they place the Cornavii namely in Cornewall they call those who do still retaine the ancient Brittish speech Kernes Now it remaines that wee should speake somewhat of the Islands The later Writers have made three sorts of all the Islands which do as it were crowne Scotland the Westerne the Orcades and the Zealand Islands Those are called the Westerne Islands which are stretched from Ireland almost to the Orcades in the Deucalidon Sea on the Westerne side These some call the Hebrides others the Aebudae others the Mevaniae others the Beteoricae The Orcades now called Orkney are partly in the Deucalidon Sea and partly in the German and are scattered toward the Notherne part of Scotland Concerning their names Ancient and Moderne Writers do agree but it doth not appeare who first possessed them Some say they had their originall from the Germans But out of what Countrie these Germans came it is not delivered If wee may conjecture by their speech they used formerly as at this day the ancient Gothicke tongue Some suppose them to have beene the Picts enduced thereunto chiefly because the narrow Sea dividing them from Cathanesia is called from the Picts Fretum Picticum And they thinke that the Picts themselves were of the Saxon race which they conjecture by a verse of Claudians Maduerunt Saxone fuso Orcades incaluit Pictorum sanguine Thule Scotorum tumulos flevit glacialis Ierne The Orcades with blood of men grew wet When as the Saxon did the worser get Thule even with the blood of Picts grew hot Ierne wail'd the death of many a Scot. But seeing we have intreated of these things formerly in the Description of the Brittish Isles thus much shall suffice concerning Scotland ENGLANG THE Southerne and greatest part of the Isle of Albion is called in Latine Anglia from Angria a Countrie of Westphalia commonly called Engern as some would have it Some suppose it was so called from angulus a corner because it is a corner of the World Others from Angloen a Towne of Pomerania Goropius deriveth the word Angli or Englishmen from the word Angle that is from a fishing-hooke because as he saith they hooked all things to themselves and were as wee say in England good Anglers but this conjecture rather deserveth laughter than beleefe Some suppose it was so called from Anglia a little Country of the Cimbrick Chersonesus which was named Engelond that is the Land of English-men by Egbert King of the West Saxons or else as it were Engistland that is the Land of Engist who was Captaine over the Saxons But hee that shall note the Etymologie of the words Engelbert Engelhard and the like German names may easily see that thereby is denoted the English-men These are people of Germany that possessed Brittaine and as Camden sheweth were one Nation which now by a common name are called English Saxons This part of the Isle of Albion is diversly called by the Inhabitants for they divide it into two Countries That part which looketh to the East and the German Sea the natives of England being people of Saxonie call in their Language England And the Westerne part which is divided from the other by the Rivers Sabrine or Severne and d ee Wales The Northerne bounds of it toward Scotland are the Rivers Tweede and Solway on the South lies France and the Brittish Ocean on the West Ireland and the Irish Ocean on the East the German Ocean It is 302 English miles long and 300 broad that is from the Cape of Cornwall to the Promontorie of Kent The Ayre here at any time of the yeare is temperate and milde for the skie is thick in which cloudes showres and windes are easily generated by reason wereof it hath lesse cold and heate It hath a fertile and fruitfull Soyle and so furnished with all kinde of fruits that Orpheus saith it was the seate of Ceres With whom agreeth Mamertinus who speaking a Panegyrick Oration to Constantine said that in this Countrie was such great plenty as that it was sufficiently furnished with the gifts both of Ceres and Bacchus It hath fields not onely abounding with ranke and flourishing Corne but it produceth all kinde of commodities Heere groweth the Maple and the Beech-tree in abundance and as for Laurels or Bay trees it surpasseth Thessalie it selfe Here is such plenty of Rosemary that in some places they make hedges with it Here is Gold Silver Copresse though but little store of it yet here is great store of Iron Heere is digged abundance of the best black Lead and white Lead or Tinne and so transported to other Nations Heere are many
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 which there are the Mountaines called Derwentfels in
farthest part of it being hightned with another Hill as it were set upon it The next is Penigent so called perhaps from the white and snowie head which is raised to a great height Lastly Pendle Hill which is raised with a high toppe in manner of a race marke famous for the dammage which it doth to the neighbour grounds under it by sending downe great streames of water and by the certaine foreshewing of raine as often as the toppe of it is hidden with clouds Cestria followes commonly called Cheshire and the Countie Palatine of Chester because the Earles of it have the rights and priviledges of a Palatine It is bounded on the South with Shropshire on the East with Staffordshire Derbyshire on the North with Lancashire and on the West with Denbighshire and Flint-shire neare Chester it runneth farre out into the Sea with a Chersonesus which being included betweene two Bayes doth admit the Ocean to breake in on either side and into these Bayes all the Rivers of this Country doe runne The Country is barren of Corne and especially Wheate but abounding with cattle and fish Here is a faire Citie which Ptolemie calleth Deunana Antoninus calleth it Deva from the River Dee on which it standeth the English call it Chester and Westchester This Citie standeth foure square having walls two miles in compasse toward the Northwest is seated a Castle built neare the River by the Earles of Cheshire where the Courts for the Palatinate are held twice every yeare The houses are very faire and there are as it were cloysters to goe in on both sides of the chiefe streetes There are also the Townes of Finborrow and Condate now the Congleton and this Shire hath about 68. Parishes The Rivers which water this Citie are Deuca in English Dee having great store of Salmons and riseth out of two Fountaines in Wales Whence it is denominated in the Brittish tongue Dyffyr Dwy i. the Water of Dwy which word Dwy signifies two Besides there are the Rivers Wever Mersey and Dane Caernarvanshire called before Wales was divided into Shires Snodon Forrest in Latine Histories Snaudonia and Arvonia hath the Sea on the North and West side Merioneth-shire boundeth the South side and Denbigh-shire the East side the River Conovius gliding betweene Toward the Sea the Soyle is fertile enough and full of little Townes among which is the Towne of Bangor the Seat of a Bishop which hath 90. Parishes under it and is situated neare the jawes of the narrow Sea There is also the River Conovius commonly called Conway which bounds this Country on the East and bringeth forth shell-fishes which filling themselves with the dew of Heaven doe bring forth Pearles The Inland Parts of this Country are Mountainous rugged and cliffie Camden saith that you may worthily call these Mountaines the Brittish Alpes Denbigh-shire is more inward from the Sea and runneth out toward the East even to the River Deva On the North side the Sea for a while doth encompasse it and afterward Flint-shire on the West Merioneth and Montgomery-shire on the East Cheshire and Shropshire are the bounds of it The Westerne part is barren the middle part where it lyeth in a Vale is the most fruitfull a little beyond the Vale Eastward Nature is more sparing in her benefits but neare Deva much more liberall In this Country is the Vale of Cluide very happie in pleasantnesse fertilitie of Soyle and wholesomnesse of Aire of which Ruthun or Ruthin is the greatest Market Towne After this is the Territorie called in Welch Mailor Gimraig in English Bromfield very fruitfull and full of Lead The chiefe Towne in this Country is Denbigia commonly called Denbigh and anciently by the Brittaines Clad Frynyn Beyond Denbigh-shire more Northward is Flint-shire It is beaten with the Irish Sea and the Bay of Deva on the North on the East it is bounded with Cheshire and in other parts with Denbigh-shire This shire is not Mountanous but somewhat rising with swelling Hills which are gently level'd into pleasant fields especially those toward the Sea which every first yeare in some places doe beare Barley in other places Wheate which being reaped doth yeeld a twenty fold encrease and afterward they beare Oates foure or five yeares together There is a Towne here which the English call S. Asaph and the Brittaines Llanelwy because it stands upon the River Elwy where there is a Bishops Seat under which are many Parishes and Ruthlan a Towne beautified with an excellent Castle Here is also the River Alen neare which in a hill at a place called Kilken is a Fountaine which in emulation of the Sea at set times doth ebbe and slow Merioneth-shire in Latine called Mervinia and in the Brittish language Sir Verioneth doth reach from the Towne Montgomery even to the Irish Ocean with which it is so beaten on the West that some part thereof is supposed to have beene washt away with the violence of the waves Toward the South it is bounded with the River Dee toward the North it joyneth to Caernarvan and Denbigh-shire By reason of the frequencie of the Mountaines it is the ruggedst and hardest Country of all the Shires in Wales Townes of any note here are very scarce yet here is the Towne of Harlech well fortified with a Castle being the chiefe in the whole Country And here are two famous Bayes Traith-Maur and Traith-Bochum that is the greater and the lesser Bay It hath very high Mountaines narrow and sharpe pointed like Towers and so many of them joyned together by equalitie of distance that as Giraldus reporteth sheepheards either conferring or brawling one with another on the toppes thereof if they both intended to fight yet could they hardly meet together though they should endeavour so to doe by going from morning till evening Great flocks of sheepe doe wander on these Mountaines which feed not in danger of Wolves Montgomery-shire is circumscribed on the South with Cardigan-shire and Radnor-shire on the East with Shropshire on the North with Denbigh-shire and on the West with Merioneth-shire and although it be raised with many Mountaines yet it is happie in the fruitfulnesse of the Valleyes Fields and Pastures and in times past famous for breeding of an excellent sort of Horses which as Giraldus saith were as it were Pictures of Natures workemanship and were commended both for their excellent shape and incomparable speed The chiefe Towne in this Country is Mongomery situate upon an easie ascent of a Hill and built by one Baldwine President of the Marshes of Wales in the time of William the Conquerour whence the Brittaines call it Trefaldwin at this day secondly Lanuethlin a market Towne Salopia commonly called Shropshire as it is a Countie no lesse pleasant fruitfull then the rest so it is much bigger It is enclosed on the East with Stafford-shire on the West with Montgomery-shire on the South with
Yorke-shire and on the North with Cheshire It is a Country fortified with many Castles and Townes as bordering upon the Welch who a long time rebelled against the English and therefore the Saxons called it the Marches It is divided into two parts by the River Severne The chiefe Townes thereof are Shrewsbury anciently called Sloppesbury and by the Brittaines Pengwerne Ludlow called by the Brittish Dinan Bridgmorse or Bridgnorth Vriconium or Viriconium called by Nennius Caer Vrvach but commonly by the English Wreckceter or Wroxceter Draiton and Bewdley The cheife Rivers that water this shire are Sabrine or Severne Temdus called by the Welch Tefidianc Colunwy or Clun Corve and Terne and there are in it 170 Parish Churches for Gods sacred and divine service The Isle of Man Caesar calleth Mona Ptolemie Monaeda as it were Moneitha i. the farther Mona to difference it from another Mona Plinie calls it Monabia Orosius and Beda Menavia Gilda calls it Eubonia the Brittaines Menaw the Inhabitants Maning and the English the Isle of Man It lyeth in the middle betweene the Northerne parts of Ireland and Brittaine and is from the North toward the South about thirty Italian miles long but the bredth thereof where it is broadest is scarce 15. miles and where it is narrowest it is but 8. This Island bringeth forth Flaxe and Hempe in great abundance it hath very faire meddowes and plowed PARTICVLAR DESCRIPTION OF VVALES· CAMBRIA seu WALLIA fields it is fruitfull in bringing forth Barley and Wheat but especially Oates whence the Inhabitants doe for the most part live upon Oaten Bread Here are great store of cattle and great flocks of sheep but both sheepe and cattle are of a lesser stature then those that are in England The Inhabitants here wanting wood use a pitchie kinde of Turfe for fireing which while they digge up they doe sometimes finde trees hid in the earth and these they convert to the same use It is evident that the Brittaines did possesse this Island as they did Brittaine but when the Northerne People like a furious storme fell upon the Southerne parts it came into the hands of the Scots The chiefe Towne of this Island is thought to be Russin situated on the Southerne side thereof which from the Castle and Garrison kept therein is commonly called Castletowne but the most populous is Duglasse because it hath an excellent Haven and easie to come into by reason of which the Frenchmen and other Forrainers come with Salt and other commodities to traffique with the Islanders for hides raw wooll barrell'd beefe c. On the West side of the Island stands Balacuri where the Bishop liveth who is subject to the Archbishop of Yorke and the Pyle being a forte placed on a small Island in which there are many Garrison Souldiers Over against the Southerne Promontorie of the Isle there lyeth a small Island called the Calfe of Man which is full of those Sea-foule which they call Puffins of those Geese that are generated of putrified wood which the English call Barnacles and the Scots doe call Clakes and Soland Geese Toward the middle Mannia swells into Mountaines the highest whereof is Sceafell from whence on a cleare day both Scotland England and Ireland may be discerned The Judges being called Deemsters which the Inhabitants of this Isle have amongst them doe decide all controversies without writings or other charges For any complaint being made the Magistrate taketh a stone and having marked it delivers it to the plaintiffe by which he summons his adversary and witnesses And if the matter in controversie be doubtfull and of great consequence it is referred to twelve men whom they call the Keyes of the Island Here also Coroners supply the office of Undersheriffes The Ecclesiasticall Judge when he cites a man to make appearance at a definite time if hee obey not the summons within eight dayes hee is cast into prison but neither Plaintiffe nor Defendant pay a penny either to him or his officers The Inhabitants doe hate both lying and stealing they are wondrous Religious and all conformable to the English Church They hate the Civill and Ecclesiasticall disorder of their neighbours and whereas the Iland is divided into the Southerne and Northerne part the former speaketh like the Scots the latter like the Irish Now remaines the Isle of Anglesey of which we will entreat in the fourth Table of England THE FOVRTH TABLE OF ENGLAND IN WHICH ARE THESE SHIRES CORNEwall Devon-shire Sommerset-shire Dorcet-shire VVilt-shire Glocester-shire Monmouth-shire Glamorgan-shire Caermarden-shire Penbrock-shire Brecnock-shire and Hereford-shire CORNWALL which is also called Cornubia and in the Brittish language Kernaw is enclosed on the South with the Brittish Ocean on the North with the Irish on the West with Penwith called by Ptolemie Bolerium and the French Ocean and on the East it is parted from Devonshire with the River Tamar It is a Countrie having a fruitfull soile and abounding with mettall-Mines It hath also store of fruits which yet will not grow without the industrie of the husbandman This Countrie is full of Towns especially the Sea Coasts as namely Heuston called by the natives Hellas a towne famous for the priviledge of sealing of Tinne as also Peryn a faire market Towne together with Arwenak Truro which the Cornish call Truscu Granpound Fowy by the Brittaines called Foath Lestuthiell called by Ptolemie Vzella Leskerd Bodman S. Iies S. Colombs Padstow anciently called Loderick and Laffenac Stow Stratton Tamerton or Tamerworth Lanstuphadon vulgarly called Leuston and anciently Dunevet and Saltash anciently called Esse And there are in this Countrie 161 Parishes The Rivers are Vale Fawey Loo Liver Haile Alan or Camel and Tamar One of the famousest Havens in the Countrie is Volemouth or Falemouth which Ptolemie calls the Bay of Cenio being equall to Brundusium in Italie as being capable of as many ships and as safe an harbour Devonia commonly called Denshire and by the natives Deunan followeth The bounds hereof are on the West the River Tamar on the South the Ocean on the East Dorcet-shire and Somerset-shire and on the North the Bay of Severne This Countrie as it is stretched out broader on both sides than Cornewall so it is encompassed with more commodious Havens and is no lesse rich in Mines of Tinne besides it is diapred with more pleasant meadowes and cloathed with more frequent woods yet the soile in some places is very barren The chiefe Citie here the English at this day do call Excester The Latines Exonia Ptolemie calls it Isca Antoninus Isa of the Damnonians and the Brittaines call it Caeruth and Pencaer that is the chiefe citie There are also many other Townes as Plimmouth anciently called Sutton which of late daies from a little fisher-towne is become a faire Towne and for populousnesse it may compare with some Cities Here was borne Sr Francis Drake Knight who for matters of
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 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 it is almost entrenched with water on the West
with the River over which there is a draw Bridge on other sides with the Ocean except it be on the North side toward the Land and there it is encompassed with strong wals which with the River doe lye in a long square-sided-figure There are also these Townes Ashelwel-thorp Dis or Disce Shelton Skulton or Burdos Attleburgh Wauburne Lynne Swaff ham North Elmeham Dereham Windham Icborow and others For this Countrie hath 27 Market Townes and 525 Villages and about 660 Parish Churches The rivers that doe water it are Ouse Thet anciently called Sit Wauency Gerne or Yere and Wents anciently Wentfare There is not in the world any towne which getteth so much by taking and catching of Herrings as the towne of Yarmouth in this Shire For it is incredible to thinke what great Faires and Markets they have here at Michael-tide and what a number of Herrings and other fish are carried from hence into other parts Besides from hence as Varro adviseth thou maist collect the goodnesse of the shire the Inhabitants being well coloured craftie witted and sharpely insighted into the Lawes of England But of these Counties wee have entreated largely enough I passe now to the sixth Table THE SIXT TABLE OF ENGLAND IN WHICH ARE THESE Shires Warwick-shire Northampton-shire Huntingdon Cambridge Suffolke Oxford-shire Buckingam Bedford Hartford Essex Bark-shire Middlesex Hampshire Surrey Kent and Sussex IN the Sixt Table of England is first Warwick shire being bounded on the East with Leicester●shire and Watling-street way on the South with Oxford shire and Glocester-shire on the West with Wiltshire and on the North with Stafford-shire This Country is divided into two parts Feldon and Woodland heretofore called Arden that is into the Field and Wood-Country The chiefe Towne hereof is Warwicke called by the Brittaines ●aer-Leon besides the Townes of Leamington called so from the River Leame by which it standeth V●hindon now called Long Ichingdon Harbury Mancester called anciently Manduessedum Coventry called heretofore Conventria Stratford upon Avon and others and there are in this County 158 Parish Churches The Rivers are Avon Leam Arrow and Allen commonly called Aln● The next that followes is Northampton-shire which from the East where it is broadest lesseneth by degrees and is extended Eastward The County is bounded on the East with Redford-shire and Huntingdon-shire on the South with Bucking●am shire and Oxford shire on the West with Warwick-shire and on the North with Leicester-shire Rutland-shire and La●colne-shire which are parted from it by the River Welland It is a field Country of a very rich soyle both in upland grounds and meddowes The shire Towne hereof is Northampton the other Townes are Frakley Torcester anciently called Tripontium Grafton Daventr● W●d●n Higham Oundale rightly Avondale Peterborow called anciently Pe●●●●urg●● Welledone c. A● to this Shire there appertaines 326 Parishes the Rivers are Ouse Avon and Welland In the third place is Huntingdon-shire being so situated that on the South it looketh toward Bedford shire on the West toward Northampton-shire on the North where it is parted with the River Avon and on the East toward Cambridge-shire It is a Country fit for tillage and feeding of cattle and toward the East where it is low ground it is very fruitfull having every where pleasant hills and shadie woods The chiefe Towne of this Country is Huntingdon called heretofore Huntesdune to which it gives the name of Huntingdon-shire Here are THE SIXTH TABLE OF ENGLAND Warwicum Northampton Huntingdon Cantabr etc. also the Townes of S. Ives which the Saxons anciently called Slepe Saint Needes or Saint Neotifanum and Cunnington here are 78. Parishes The two Rivers Ouse and Avon doe water the Country In the fourth place is Cambridge-shire which lying toward the East doth butte upon North-folke and Suffolke on the South on Essex and Harford-shire on the West on Huntingdon-shire and on the North on Lincolne-shire and the River Ouse which running through it from East to West doth divide it into two parts The Lower and Southerne part is more tilled and planted then the rest and therefore more pleasant it lyeth in the manner of a bending plaine being a Champion Country and yeelding excellent Barley except where it beareth Saffron the farther and Northerne part flourishes more with greene Meddowes The chiefe Towne in this Shire is Cambridge anciently called Camboritum and by the Saxons Grantcester this is one of the Universities of England yea the Sunne and Eye thereof and a famous Nurserie of good learning and pietie it is seated upon the River Cam. Besides here are these Townes Roiston Rech Burwell Ely and here are 163 Parishes in this Countie and the Rivers are Cam and Stour Suffolke followes in the next place having on the West Cambridge-shire and on the South the River Stour which divides it from Essex on the East the Germane Ocean and on the North the two little Rivulets Ouse the lesse and Waveney which arising as it were from one spring head and running a diverse course doe part it from North-folke The Country is large and of a fat soyle except it be toward the East for it is compounded of clay and marle so that the fields doe flourish every where here is fruitfull pasturage for fatting of cattle and great store of cheese made The Townes in this County are Sudbury that is the South-Towne Ixning Saint Edmunds-bury called anciently Villa Faustini Bretenham Hadley Ipswich called anciently Gippwic Debenham Oreford and many others The Rivers are Stour Breton Gipping Deben Ore Ouse Waveney and Gerne or Yere Oxford-shire which commeth next to be spoken of on the West is joyned to Glocester-shire and on the South it is parted from Barke-shire by the River Isis or Ouse on the East it is bounded with Buckingham-shire and on the North with Northampton-shire and Warwick-shire It is a fertile and rich Country the plaines thereof being adorned with faire fields and meddowes and the hills crowned with many woods filled with fruits and all sorts of cattle which graze thereon In this Shire the Citie of Oxford anciently called Ousford from the River Ouse lifteth up her head being the other Universitie of England the other Sunne Eye and Soule thereof and a most famous Nurserie of Learning and Wisedome from whence Religion Humanitie and Learning are plentifully diffused and dispersed into other parts of the Kingdome Here are also the Townes of Bablac Burford which the Saxons called Beorford Minster Lovell Whitney Woodstocke Banbury Burcester or Burencester Tame Dorchester called by Bede Civitas Dorcinia and by Lelandus Hydropolis Watlington and 280. Parishes in it the rivers here are Isis Cherwell Windrush and Evenlode Buckingham-shire so called because it is full of Beech-trees commeth to be viewed in the seaventh place which being but narrow doth runne length-wayes from Thamisis Northward On the South it looketh towards Berk-shire
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 is the Bishops seate Also Southerne Gothia or S●●alandia
of a Kingdome in Italie the Normans seating themselves in France the erecting of the Kingdome of Naples and Sicilie and the attempt of Godfride upon Freseland against Charles the Great Canutus the Great his holding five Kingdomes a long time For he was King of Denmarke Swethland Norwey England and Normandy and sonne in law to Henry the third Emperour of whom these verses are yet extant Desine mirari quos garrula laudibus effert Graecia quos jactat Roma superba duces c. Cease thou to wonder at those Captaines bold Of which both Greece and Rome did boast of old For now the Danish Land hath brought forth one That is in vertue second unto none By my atchievements I much fame attain'd Five Kingdomes subject were to my command And me he chose his sonne in Law to be Who was third Emperour of Germanie My Iustice famous was I shew'd the way How powerfull Kings should their owne Lawes obey By which it appeares as also by the following warres which divers Kings of the Familie of the Oldenburgs happily waged that it is a warlike Nation and fortunate in vanquishing their enemies both by Land and Sea The Noble men and Senatours of the Kingdome have a free power to elect the Kings but for the most part they chuse the Kings eldest sonne unlesse there be some sufficient cause for the contrary However they alwayes chuse one of the Royall bloud and they doe not suffer the Kingdome to be divided unlesse they be compelled thereunto by civill warres They send the younger sonnes or brothers into other Countries seeing they cannot participate in the government of the Kingdome and hence it is that so many expeditions are undertaken by them Moreover seeing all the Nobles and Common-people cannot live conveniently in their owne Countrie therefore they seeke out to get themselves a more fit seate For the Northerne people have abundance of children in regard of their abundance of bloud and heate they are quarrellers and fighters they drinke and eate much for the cold Ayre excites their appetite and yet digest it well whence it is that they live long they are faire complexioned of great stature crafty and faithfull And an argument that they are long liv'd is that their Kings have raigned very long many of them thirty yeares some forty and some longer The Politicall government THere are five States or Orders in the Common-wealth of Denmarke The first is of the Kings Familie the second of the Nobles among which there are neither Earles nor Barons yet all of them can shew how their Nobilitie descended to them by a long pedigree of Ancestours They carry Bucklers which they will not change nor alter because they anciently used them There are some Families yet living whose Ancestors were present at the Parley between Charles the Great Hemmingus King of Denmarke upon the River Egidora or Eider as the Familie of Vren and others These hold their goods and lands in Capite and they have free liberty to hawke and hunt in their owne lands as the Counts have in Germany Their goods are not feudatory but hereditary All the Castles lands and goods as well moveable as immoveable left them by their parents are equally divided among the brethren and the sisters by a speciall priviledge have a share also yet so that the brother hath two parts with the Castles and places of strength and the sister but one By this meanes the eldest sonnes have not much lands yet some of them comming of a good Familie and being endued with vertue through the Kings favour doe advance themselves to great possessions by marriage Out of this order the Senatours of the Kingdome are chosen who are seldome more then 28. These Senatours have a certain allowance from the King and Kingdome for they have Castles so long as they bee Senatours for which they pay no rent to the King but are charged to keepe certaine horses both in peace and warre and whensoever the King calls them they are to be ready at the proper charge of the Kingdome If they be sent on any Embassage out of the Kingdome they have allowance out of the Exchequer that they may performe their journey in a Princely manner as becommeth a Kings Embassadours The other Nobles also have sufficient maintenance from the King whether they live at Court or not For the King hath lands which in the Danish speech are called Verleghninge or Benefices and out of these hee giveth maintenance either for terme of life or for yeares to those who have done him or the Kingdome any service And those who hold these Benefices of the King are charged to keepe certaine horses and to pay yearely a certaine summe of money into the Exchequer yet so as they may gaine something in reward of their labour and service There is also a good Law Institution in the Kingdome of Denmarke whereby the King is prohibited and restrained from buying any immoveable goods of the Nobles least any dissention should arise betweene the King and them For otherwise the King might by violence take into his hands those lands which the Nobles would not sell yet the King may change any immoveable goods with the Nobles though on the contrary the Nobles cannot buy any of them of the Kings Farmers many of which have hereditarie and as it were free lands Here followes the names of the speciall Families of the Nobility in the Kingdome of DENMARKE THe Lords of Kaas the L. Guldensteen the Lords of Munc of Rosencrantz of Grubbe of VValkendorp of Brahe of Schram of Pasberg of Hardenberg of Vlstant of Bing of Below of VVepfert of Goce of Schefeldt of Ranzow of Schelen of Frese of Iul of Bilde of Dresselberg of Green of Brockenhusen of Holke of Trolle of Knutzen of Biorn Schested of Iensen of Steuge of Mattiesse of Lunge of Banner of Luc of Rastorp of Krusen of Fassi of Lindeman of Suvon of Stantbeke of Quitrowe of Lange of Gelschut of Glambeke of Krabbe of Marizer of Kragge of Achsel of Be● of Ruthede of Negel of VVirfelt of Split of Ofren of Appelgard of Iuenam of Poldessen of Reuter of Podebussen who were all in times past Barons in the Dukedome of Pomerania and some of whose Familie are still remaining there Also the Lords of Vren who lived in the time of Charles the great Also the Lords of Bli● of Galle of VVogersen of Bassi of Solle of Daac of Bax of Basclich of VVensterman of Hoken of Lindow of Bille of Reutem of Hundertmar● of Heiderstorper of VVolde of Papenhaimb of Spar of Falster of Narbu of VVorm of Bilde of Bocholt of Budde of Swaben of Santbarch of Gram of Lutken of Vhrup of Spegel of Bammelberg of Rosenspart of Duve of Hube of Schaungard of Must of Gris of Falcke of Brune of Laxman of Duram of Baggen of Norman of Goss of Matre of Rosengard of Tollen of Ronnoun of Krimpen Out of this Nobilitie is chosen the Praefect
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 did possesse the inward part of Asia and being
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 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 third Palatinate is the Minscensian wherein is the Citie
Minsko and the Castle ●●●lanaw also Radoscowice Borissow Lawisko or Liwsko Swislo●z Bobreisko and Odruck The fourth Palatinate is the Novogrodian in which is Novogrodeck a large Citie and built of wood also Slonim Wolkowi●z and many other Townes The fift Palatinate is the Briestian so called from the Citie Briesti being large and built of wood and here is the Citie of Pinsko The sixt is the Palatinate of Volhinia in which is Luezko the Seate of a Bishop also Voladamire and Kerzemenesia The seventh Palatinate is Kiovia in which there was heretofore a large and ancient Citie of the same name seated by the River Boristhenes as the ruines which lie sixe miles in length doe easily demonstrate There are also the Townes Circasia or Kerkew Kamova and Moser The eighth is the Palatinate of Miceslow neare to the Rivers Sosa and Borysthenes in the borders of Moscovie wherein are the Townes of Miceslaw Dubrowna 〈◊〉 and Sklow beside Mohilow By●how ●●czycza and Strissin with their Castles The ninth Palatinate is the Witebscian in which is the Citie Witebsk situated by the River Duna and Orsa neare Borysthenes The tenth Palatinate is the Polocensian which is so called from Poloteska a Citie lying neare to the confluence of the River Polota and Duna betweene Witsbek and Livonia There are also the Townes Disna Drissa and Dr●●●a with their Castles These things being explained let us speake something of the Rivers of Lithuania On the East side Lithuania is bounded with the Rivers Oscol Ingra and the lesser Tanais all which with many others doe runne into great Tanais There is also in Lithuania the River Borysthenes which arising out of a plaine marish ground and running through Russia doth vent it selfe at last into the Euxine Sea and the Rivers Wilia and Niemen the latter whereof runneth a great way with a very crooked winding streame and at last disburthens it selfe into the Prutenick or Finnish Sea also Duina and other Rivers beside Lakes and standing waters of which the Country is full and all these do afford great plenty of fish which are very delectable pleasant in taste Moreover the Country is covered with very great and spacious woods Sigismund that happie and auspicious King of Poland did unite the Palatines and Castellans of the Provinces of Lithuania into one body of a Common-wealth with the Polanders and did designe a certaine place and order in the Senate of the Kingdome to all the Noble men Bishops and Palatines of this Country so that out of the Kingdome of Poland and the Provinces united unto it there are in the Senate fifteene Bishops one and thirty Palatines thirty of the greater Castellans or governours of Castles and fiftie of the lesse beside those who are called the Officials of the Kingdome as the Marshalls the Chancellours the Vicechancellors and the Treasurers of which wee will speake more largely in the description of Poland Marriages amongst the Lithuanians are easily dissolved by mutuall consent and they marry againe and againe The wives have openly men-concubines by their husbands permission whom they call connubij adjutores i. helpers in marriage but on the contrary for men to follow whores is counted a reproach When any one is condemned to die he is commanded to punish himselfe and to hang himselfe with his owne hands which if he refuse to doe hee is threatned and beaten with stripes untill he kill himselfe Their flockes doe afford them great store of milke for their food The common bread which they use is very blacke being made of Rye or Barley together with the branne but the rich mens bread is very white being baked and made of pure Wheat They seldome use any wine for the common people drinke water and such as are of abilitie drinke Ale which they brew of divers sorts of corne as Wheat Rye Barley Oates and Millet but such as is unsavory They have abundance of thicke and thinne Mede boyled in divers manners and with it they make themselves merrie and oftentimes drunke Lithuania seemeth almost to be inaccessible as being almost all overflowne with waters but in Winter there is more convenient trafficking with the Inhabitants and the wayes are made passable for Merchants the Lakes and standing waters being frozen over with yee and spread over with snow Their chiefe wealth is the skins of beasts as of Weesills Foxes and those which are more precious as Martens and Scythian Weesills Of these they make a great profit as also of their Waxe Honey Ashes and Pitch The best Wainscot is cut here and brought into Germany through the Balthick and Germane Sea and out of this Country all woodden Architecture both publique and private through all Germany and the Low countries is made as also for the most part such woodden housholdstuffe as belongeth to houses but enough of Luthuania we will now adde something concerning the rest There followes in our Title Samogitia which in their language signifies the Lower land the Russians call it Samotzekasemla it is a Northerne Country and very large being next to Lithuania and environed with Woods and Rivers On the North it hath Livonia on the West it is washed with the Balthick or Germane Sea which is properly called the Balthick Bay and towards the Northwest Borussia joyneth unto it It aboundeth with the best whitest and purest Honey which is found in every hollow tree It hath no Towne nor Castle the Nobles live in Lodges the Country people in Cottages The people of this Country are of a great and large stature rude in behaviour living sparingly drinking water and seldome any drinke or Mede they knew not untill of late the use of Gold Brasse Iron or Wine It was lawfull with them for one man to have many wives and their father being dead to marrie their step-mother or the brother being dead to marrie his wife The Nation is much enclined to Fortune telling and Southsaying The God which they chiefly adored in Samogitia was the fire which they thought to be holy and everlasting and therefore on the top of some high mountaine the Priest did continually cherish and keepe it in by putting wood unto it In the third place is Russia by which name in this place wee understand the Southerne or Blacke-Russia whose chiefe Country is Leopolis or Lemburg built by Leo a Moscovite it is famous by reason of the Mart kept there and the Bishops Seat Beside the Country of Leopolis there are three other in this Russia to wit the Country of Halycz Belz and Praemislia In the fourth place is Volhinia which is situate betweene Lithuania Podolia and Russia it aboundeth with fruits in regard of the fertility of the soile The Inhabitants are strong and warlike and doe use the Ruthenian language This Country did pertaine once to the great Duke of Lithuania but now it is joyned to the Kingdome 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 Counsellers doth judge of capitall matters as murder and
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
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
which is called Magistratus S. Iacobi And the other part toward the South is enclosed with Gades and the Mediterranean Sea It is in a temperate and flourishing Climate and is miraculously fertile in bringing forth Corne Wine Oyle and all kindes of fruits with which it replenishes forraine Countries Spaine in these parts that are encompassed with the Sea as Pliny saith may be compared with Italy which commendations wee suppose may be chiefly understood of that part which looketh toward Hispalis as being exposed to the Sea and the gentle Westerne gales of winde And indeed this Countrie so aboundeth with all kind of things therein so farre excells all the Provinces of the World that Pliny had worthily preferred it before Italie but that he being an Italian would not disgrace his owne Countrie Here is great store of all kindes of Cattell and especially of Cunnies Wee said before that Andaluzia tooke that name from the Vandalls because they being driven out by the Gothes seated themselves in this place though afterward being thrust out from hence they went into Africke Thus it was Rodericke the 25 King of the Gothes in whom the line of the Kings of the Gothes was extinguisht did send one Iulianus an Earle to Mauritania Tingitana as Governour thereof and in his absence did violate his daughters chastitie making a whore of her which when her father heard he called the Saracens out of Africke thinking thereby to ease his just sorrow by revenging it on the King who was the cause thereof These Saracens comming in by the Straits of Hercules in the yeare of Christ 714. under the conduct of their Captaine Muzamissus in two yeares space got possession of all Spaine except Asturia which was fortified by the naturall situation of the place In this little time there were slaine on both sides 700000 men The Saracens having gotten the Empire and having rooted out the Christian Religion as much as they could they divided the Kingdomes among themselves The first Kingdome that they instituted was at Corduba which they called Abenalibeticum The other was at Hispalis and the third at New Carthage But at last being driven out of these parts by Ferdinand the third they went unto Granada in the yeare 1216. and afterward by Ferdinand the sixt were quite thrust out of Spaine in the yeare 1494. The Metropolis of this Countrie is that which Pliny calls Hispalis Ptolemie Ispalis Silius Hispal Gratianus Spalis and which now is called Sevill Arius Montanus thinketh that Hispalis is a Carthaginian name derived from Spila or Spala which signifies a plain or greene country Some among whom is F. Tarapha do referre the name thereof to Hispalis the son of Lybian Hercules but Isidorus as in many other things is ridiculous in this matter for when he had noted that this Citie was built by Iulius Caesar and so called from his name and the Citie of Rome Iulia Romula he saith that it was so named Hispalis from Piles or Stakes upon which hee supposed either all or part of the Citie to be built as being situate in a moorish place It is a Citie neare Baetis pleasantly seated great in compasse round in forme beautifull and adorned with Temples and many houses So many things may be declared concerning it that there is an ancient Proverbe of it Quien no ha Visto Sevilla no ha visto Maravilla It hath beene the mother and fosterer of many happie wits among which was Benedictus Arias Montanus a great Divine and very skilfull in divers languages as his workes set forth by him do witnesse Having spoken something of the Metropolis I will describe some of the other Cities not keeping any certaine order yet so as that which is nearest to the Metropolis shall be placed first Five leagves from Hispalis is Palatium or Palantia which is commonly called Palacios from an ancient Castle that standeth on one side of it It is seated in the way which leadeth to S. Lucar and the Gaditane Straits Next unto this is Cabaca a little Town seated in the entrance of the mountaines which do extend themselves Southward toward Malaga and Cabecis three leagves off toward the North-East commonly called Lebrixa by Ptolemie Nebrissa and by Pliny Veneria The builder thereof is supposed to be Liber Pater It is a pleasant and a prettie little Towne with an ancient Castle encompassed round about with pleasant fields and is famous by reason of Aelius Antonius once a citizen thereof and an ornament and honour to all Spaine Moreover the Towne which is commonly called Carmona by Strabo Carmon by Antoninus Carme and by Ptolemie Chermenia and Marchena heretofore as saith Onuphrius called Martia this Towne is seated on a little hill which hath a plaine on every side for its prospect There are also these townes Loja on the right hand banke of Baetis Axalita built of old stone as Clusius witnesseth and called Flavium Axalitanum as appeareth by an ancient inscription Moron heretofore called by Clusius Arucci Ossuna called by Appianus Orsona by Strabo Orson by Pliny Vrso and Genua or Gemina Vrbanorum by ancient Inscriptions Vrsaon and by Hirtius V●sao The towne Eceja by the river Singulis Xenil or Chenil called by Ptolemie Astygis and by Pliny Augusta Firma is a little Towne 13 leagues from Hispalis Penastor in the mid way betweene Hispalis and Corduba on the right hand banke of Baetis which Ptolemie thinketh to be Illipula magna but Pliny Ilpa Italica in the Iurisdiction of Hispalis and not ANDALVZIA ANDALUZIA many miles hence on the banke of the same River Corduba commonly called Cordova Pliny saith it was named Colonia Patricia and Moralis doth also prove the same by inscription on an ancient marble Iohannes Gerundensis saith that it was called Corduba quasi Cor Batis that is the heart of Baetis It hath bred famous Souldiers and great Schollers And it is happie in her fruitfull fields pleasant gardens and beside many other gifts in her wholesome waters Silius the Italian Poët lib. 3. calleth the soile of Corduba a golden soile when he saith Nec decus auriferae cessavit Corduba terrae Corduba's soile is of so rich a mould It will not yeeld to that which beareth gold Five leagues from Corduba Southward is Mons Major commonly called Monte Major Ptolemie thinketh it to be Vlia a Citie in Hispania Baetica and so doth Antoninus Some few leagues from Corduba is Montoro Antoninus supposeth it to be Epora Ptolemie erroneously calleth it Ebura instead of Epora when notwithstanding the former is not a Towne of Baetica but of Lusitania but worst of all Pliny who nameth it Ripepora Foederatorum Not farre from Lucar is the Towne which the Spaniards call Xeres de la Frontera as though it were the beginning and bound of Spaine on that side where it standeth This towne Navagierus thinketh to be the same with that which Livie and 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 Their memory is preserved by the Towne Contayna or as some pronounce it
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 Pyrenaean Mountaines And lastly those whom Ptolemy cals 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
exceede all other honours belonging to Catalonia the Countie of Gerunda of Vrgella of Ceretania of Bisuldinum of Rossellion of Emporia of Ausonia of Minorisa of Prata of Palmosium of Petraelata of S. Columba à Queralto of S. Columba à Scintilliis of Savallanium of Vallisfogona of Guimeranum and and Mont acuto It would bee too tedious to the Reader to reckon heere the number of the Vicounties and Baronies It hath sixe Universities famous for all Arts and Sciences It subsisteth for the most part by wool-dressing and handy-craft-trades by which the Inhabitants doe live pay their debts sustaine their Families get that estate which they have and keepe that which they have gotten But let so much suffice concerning Catalonia let us passe to other Countries THE DESCRIPTION OF FRANCE To the studious and curteous READER SEeing wee are not borne for our selves alone but as much as every one can doe for the common good so much the benificent Framer and Maker of mankinde doth require of him I thought it meete to accommodate and fit this Geographicall Worke part whereof wee heere present as much as I could to the utility benefit of the Common-wealth The use and utility of Geographie in reading Histories and retaining them is greater than that I neede to make any admonition or description of but there is an other greater dignitie belonging unto it if it be directed to its proper end and rightly used and that is it doth much availe to the knowledge of Politick Government when the situation of a place is not onely described but also the nature and condition thereof which is sometimes the office of a Geographer to doe And as that Painter doth not satisfie himselfe in his profession which delineates a man according to the proportion of his limbes but doth not with colours and physiognomicall shadowes expresse his nature and affections so hee shall but figure out an unpleasing and as it were a dead Geographicall body or carcasse who having set downe places according to their symmetrie and proportion shall not shew their Politicall respect which they beare one to an other Wherefore I esteem'd it as a thing chiefly to be respected that in every severall Countrie the nature and order of Government appendant thereunto should be prefixed before the Tables themselves whereby I might somewhat benefit those who are studious of politicall and publick affaires If our writing be in many places imperfect defective or erronious the Reader needes not wonder for the formes of things throughout all Nations are not extant neither have I found all that are purposely described by any Author yet even as I could gather them out of Histories I have collected them whereby thou maist partly understand the order and manner of every government and so maist supply and correct that which is wanting in thy owne Countrie which if every one would doe how profitable would Geographie be to Students There are three heads especially to be considered in the administration of Kingdomes Principalities and Provinces namely the Ecclesiasticall State the Politicall State and the Administration of Iustice first therefore according to the title of the Countrie described in the Table I will reckon up how many members or parts there are of the Politicall State thereof according to the order of dignitie as they are observed there Secondly in distinguishing Noble-mens places sith the whole government is in the hands of the Nobilitie I will in the first place reckon those who are Feudals to the Prince and afterward those that are free descending still in order from the highest degree of Nobilitie as Dukes Earles Barons and Lords Thirdly I will shew into what Prefectures the Countrie is divided and I suppose that by these three things the Politicall State will be sufficiently declared In the administration of Iustice the juridicall Diocesses shall be noted and the higher Senates to which appeale may be made Lastly in the Ecclesiasticall State the Archbishops if there be any shall bee placed first and then the suffragan Bishops which are under them as also those which are suffragans to others To reckon up all these things requires much stud●e but seeing for want of matter it may be briefly delivered I will performe what I may that so I may stirre up lovers of their countrie to emulate a greater perfection in their writings The severall places shall be noted with numbers that they may be straight-way found out in the following Table the first number shall containe the degrees and minutes of Longitude which shall be sought out in the Northerne or Southerne side of the Table the later shall have the numbers of Latitude which are to be sought on the Westerne or Easterne side From these bounds heere by the direction of the Meridian and there of the Parallel of Latitude you shall come at last to their intersection and so finde out the place propounded The situation of those places which are in the description of the generall Tables ought to be sought from thence But if so be that some names are not found in the table following it was the fault of the Chorographer who delineated it for the right designing and placing of principalities and dominions is not to be omitted The rule and government of Countries is in the power of the Nobilitie and therefore it is both profitable and delightfull to know and distinguish their severall degrees and the proper conditions of them The highest degree is that of Emperour or King whom in order doe follow the degrees of Duke Earle Baron the militarie Tribune whom the Low-country-men call Banderheer quasi Bendae that is Lord of the Troupes which he leadeth under his Banner After him is the Knight or hee that hath attained to be of the Horsemans Order whom the French-men doe call Chevalier and the Low-country-men Ridder In the last place is vn Escuyer who beareth Armes but hath attained to no publick dignitie There are three degrees of Earles the first whereof the French-men call Viconte who excelleth the rest in dignity priviledges Ludovic Guic. would have him now called a Burgrave And though this Order of Earles in time hath remitted something of its honour yet in the beginning it was of more excellent dignitie as the description thereof shall by and by declare In the second degree is the Earle Provinciall who is called in Dutch Landgrave In the third degree is the Marquesse or Marckgrave These are the speciall degrees and orders of Nobilitie among which the government of every Countrie is divided There are also some differences in these degrees which might occasion a subdivision but such as are distinguisht rather by priviledges than by forme of government Yet moreover I will deliver the lawfull differences and conditions of every order which I have mentioned as I have found them in a certaine French Booke entituled La division du monde deducing their creation from the lowest degree of Nobility whence their proprieties and order of government
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 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 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 of shot scaling Ladders underminings and all manner of engines which could
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 2ly 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 of Grenoble and of Romans Fourthly the Archbishop of Aix under whom there are
placeth it on the right hand where now stands Languedocke Ausonius affirmeth that Arelatum is divided with the River Rhodanus flowing betweene Whence hee maketh it twofold in his booke of Cities because Rhodanus divideth and cutteth it into two parts But now the forme and face thereof being changed it standeth wholly upon that banke of Rhodanus which lyeth towards Italie and is environed on all sides with Marishes in which fierce Oxen are bred Hence it is thought that it was once farre greater some beleeve that the other part of the Citie which flourished heretofore was wasted by the Gothes It appeares in Ausonius that it was a Towne of traffique And wee reade that the Kings of Burgundy did formerly keepe their residence therein and afterward the Earles of Provence D. Trophinus was the first Bishop thereof who was the Apostle Pauls Disciple and in the second yeare of Neroes raigne came into France From this man as from a Fountaine as Sosimus writeth the Christian faith was diffused and dispersed through all France It hath now a strong Castle and is famous for its two Prelates heretofore Honoratus and Hilarius So much concerning the Archiepiscopall Cities of Provence the Episcopall are eleven amongst the which the chiefe is Massiliae the Latines and also some of the Graecians doe call it Masilia Strabo Stephanus and ancient coynes do call it Massalia Ptol. Masalia but now it is commonly called Marseille It was once a Colonie of the Graecian Phocoeans and was built in the 45 Olympiad as Solinus witnesseth in the dayes of King Tarquine as Iustine noteth Lib. 43. Plutarch in the life of Solon writeth that it was built by Protus otherwise Protis Strabo sheweth that it is seated on a rockie place neare the mouth of the River Rhodanus and in a remote part of the Bay as it were in the corner of the Sea as Iustine saith out of Trogus Moreover M. Tullius doth so praise the Common-wealth of the Massilians that speaking in defence of Fontejus before the people of Rome hee durst say that their Citie did exceed not onely Greece but almost all other Nations for discipline and gravitie They reckon and begin the number of their Bishops from Lazarus whom Christ raised from death So much concerning Massilia the other Episcopall Cities are Dine which Ptolemy calls Dinia Grasse Glandeue or Glanate which learned Latine Writers doe call the Citie of Glannatica and some Authors Glamnatena They are deceived who make Mela's and Antoninus his Glanum to be the same with Glannate For Antoninus placeth Glanum betweene Cabellio and Arles from which Glanata is farre distant so that this Glanum is not now knowne Also Sanas or Sanitium a Towne in the Maritime Alpes Vintium a Town not farre from Senas called by Dion Ventiar Apta Iulia which Antoninus calleth corruptly Avia Iulia and Abte-julia for in the Itinerarie table it is called Apta Iulia and is now called Apte Ries or Reius which in the Itinerarie table is written Reis Apolinaris Feriuls which Plancus writing to Cicero calleth Forum Iulij Ptolemy Forum Iulium Augustus coyne Col. Iul. Octav. It is now a Sea or Haven Towne Cisteron which Antoninus and the Itinerarie table calleth Segustero Iosephus Scaliger in his Letters to Merula Cestro and Pliny Cessero But Merula thinketh that Plinyes Cessero is the same with Ptolemies Cessero now called Castres Lastly Tolon which the learned Latine Writers doe call Telonium and Antoninus Telo Martius being a Towne seated within a Bay of the Sea nine leagues from Massilia so much concerning the Episcopall Townes There are also other Townes no lesse famous and ancient as Antibe which Ptolemy calls Antipolis a Towne of Deciati Pliny calls it Oppidum Latinum and it is called a Colonie in the coyne of the Emperour Titus Olbia which is now thought to be that which is called Yeres or Hieres neare the Sea almost three leagues from Telon Over against the Towne lye those famous Ilands which Ptolemy calleth Staechades and Stephanus Ligustidae They are now called the Iles of Yeres or Hieres and the best sort of Corall is gathered there even as good as that in the Ligustick Sea Also S. Maximin which Antoninus in his Itinerarie thinketh to be Tecolata being sixe leagues from Massilia toward the North. Tarascon which Ptolemy calls Taruscon being seated on the left banke of Rhodanus and over against it on the right hand banke Belloquadra commonly called Beaucarie The Townes which have the dignitie of a Countie are Sault S. Gilles and others PICARDIE AND CAMPANIA ALthough the name of Picardie is not very ancient yet no certaine reason can be rendred for it some conjecturing one thing some another Cenalis professes that hee knowes not whether the Picardians borrowed this name from the Bigardian Hereticks however it is manifest saith he that they were of greater antiquitie than the Inhabitants of this Country Some suppose that they were called Picardians because they were the first that used those Lances which are commonly called Pikes On the West that I may make a plain description of the bounds thereof is the Brittish Ocean with some part of Normandie on the North lie those Countries of ancient Belgia which are now called Artesia or Artois and Hannonia or Henegou● on the East lyeth Luxenburg o● Lorraine and lastly on the South Campania and that Country which by a more speciall name is called France It is a most fruitfull Countrie and the Store-house or Granarie of Paris and most parts of France It hath but little wine which proceedeth rather from the sloathfull idlenesse of the Inhabitants than from any defect of the Soyle or Climate Picardie is divided into three parts the true Picardie the Lower and the Higher I will onely speake here of the True Picardie called in French La vraye Picardie It doth containe in it the jurisdictions of Ambiana Corbia and Pequignya the Counties of Veramandois and Retelois and the Dukedome of Tirascha Ambiana or Visdamie d' Amiens was so named from the Citie Ambianum commonly called Amiens Heretofore as the Learned doe thinke it was named Samarobrina and by Ptolemie Samarobriga Antoninus in some of his bookes calls it Samarba●iva and in others Samarabriga Briga in the ancient Spanish language and Bria in the Thracian speech doe signifie a Citie yet some doe write that it was called Somonobriga from its bridge in Dutch called Brug which standeth on the River Somona Ambianum is situated at Somona which divideth it into severall parts whence some suppose that the Emperour Gratian did name it Ambianum quòd aquis ambiatur because it is encompassed with water It is thought to be one of the strongest Townes in all France both for the naturall situation and artificiall fortification thereof it is entrenched with deepe broad ditches and is the key of that part of the Kingdome There is a faire Church in it The Inhabitants are reputed to be very honest and faithfull The Countie of Corduba
Principality came to his Brother Renatus Hee having no issue living made Charles his Brothers Sonne his Heire and he made King Ludovick the 11. his Heire And thus it was annexed to the Crowne of France and continued so united untill Francis the first gave the revenue thereof to his Mother Aloisia ●abande King Charles the 9. gave it to his Brother Henry who was afterward King of Polonia and France The Metropolis or Mother City of the Dukedome is Andegavum Paulus Diacorus calleth it the City of Audegavia it is commonly called Angiers Ptolemy calls it Iuliomagus Andicavarum It is seated THE DVKEDOME OF JANIOV ANIOU on both the bankes of the River Maine which hath a Stone bridge over it It is well governed having a Bishop a Marshall and a Baily and a President It hath a famous University instituted by Ludovick the second Duke of Anjou in the yeere 1389. Francis Baldwine being called thither who professed the Law there This Dukedome hath many faire Townes some whereof are bigger than others I will reckon some Townes according as they are called in French as namely Samur neere Liguris with a Castle also Montrencau Bauge Beaufort Brissac Monstreul-Belay Maleuvrior Ghantoceau Viliers Duretail la Plesche Chasteau-Gontier Segre In this Province there are many Lakes and Rivolets and above 40. Rivers There are also great Fish-pits and an infinite number of Fountaines The chiefe Rivers are Lagures Loire Vigenna called la Vienne Viane and Vignane Meduana now called Mayne Sarta commonly called Sartra and Lorius Beyond the City of Andegavum there are some ancient ruines which are commonly called Grohan Here they say that the Romanes did heretofore build a Theater and some of the Walls doe yet remaine And great store of old coyne is digged forth Besides other Counties Baronnies and Signiories these foure Counties doe Homage and Fealty to this Dukedome Maine Vendosme Beaufort and la Val of which we will entreate in order The County of Maine commonly called Conté de Maine is the first In Ptolemies time the Cenomanians did inhabit this Country And the Province of the Cenomanians was inhabited as soone as any other part of France The bounds thereof were heretofore longer than they are now which may be gathered by that which Livie Polybius and Iustine have deliverd concerning the irruption of the Cemonians into Italy One part of the Country is fruitfull the other barren and the Inhabitants live more by hunted flesh than by bread or wine which yet they doe not altogether want for some parts of this Province are so fruitfull that neither Andegavia nor Tutonia can excell it for good wine or fruits The Soyle is full of Herbage and fit for Pasturing of Cattell But we reade that this Province being comprehended under Aquitania was sometime subject to the Dukes of Aquitania untill the King of France Ludovi●k the 9. and Henry●he ●he 3. King of England did agree that that which belonged to the King of England in Aquitania which was bounded on the North with the River Caranton and on the South with the Pyrenaean Mountaines should for ever belong to Normandy and to the Countries of the Cenomanians and Andegavians in consideration wherof 1500. Crownes were to be paid unto him Iohn King of France gave Andium and the County of the Cenomanians to his second Sonne Ludovick The Letters Patents of this Donation or Guift dated 1360. may bee seene in the Kings Rolles After Ludovick there succeeded Ludovick the second his Sonne and Ludovick the third his Nephew These three were Kings of Naples Ludovick the third dying without issue his Brother Renatus succeeded after him whom Ieane Queene of Naples the second of that name did make her Heire both of the Kingdome of Naples and of the County of Province Renatus had by Isabe●l the daughter of Charles the Bold his Sonne Iohn Duke of Calabria who dyed before his Father Renatus This Iohn had by Mary the Daughter of Cha●●● Duke of Purbor Nicolas Duke of Calabria and Marquesse of Pon●un● who dyed w●thout issue his Grandfather Renatus yet living Ren●●● would not resigne his righ● to the Kingdome of Naples and the County of Pro●●r●t to his Nephew Renatus but left it to his Brother Charles Earle of the Cenomanians who dying a little after did institu●e and make Ludovick the 11. his Heire In former times the whole Country was devided into two parts The City of the Cenomanians belongeth to the King of France but the City Maena or Maine with the Marquiship being now made a Dukedome acknowledgeth the Guises to be Lords thereof The chiefe Towne is by the River Sartra commonly called le Mens At the first it was a Bayliwick and after Henry the second time it had a President and divers Townes did bring their appeales and suites hither The Dukedome of Vend●sme or the Put●he de Vend●sme beginneth at Baugencia●um which is the bounds betweene the two Belsia which are called Sol●nia and Vindocina which stretcheth out farre and wide even to the Sa●tones It is so called from the Towne Vindocinum commonly called Vendosme That which Ptolemy calls Ovindikon for so it is read is a City of the Aulercian Cenomanians in Gallia Lugdunensis We doe affirme nothing For that Ovinatken is perhaps the Towne which is now called le Ma●s which is Scalig●rs opinion also The Earles of Vend●sme are descended from from the Stock of the Burbons We reade that the first Earle hereof was Ludovick Barbonius the Sonne of Iohn Earle of Marc and Clermont after whom there succeeded Lineally Iohn his Sonne and Franci● and Charles his Nephews whom Francis the first King of France did create the first Duke of Vendosme Charles was succeeded by his Sonne Antony who was Duke of Vendosme a Peere of France and in the right of his wife Ieane Albreta King of Navarre of whom came Henry Bu●bon the fourth King of France of that name and the most potent King of Navarre Prince of Bearne Duke of Vendosme c. There are also Beaufort and la Val. THE DVKEDOME OF BITVRICVM THE Dukedome of Bituricum or le Duché de Berry which followeth in our Method on the North looketh toward Solonia the lower part of Belsia from which it is parted by the flowing streames of Caru on the East it looketh toward the Hurepensians Nivernensians and Borbontans being bounderd here with a little Rivalet called la Fay on the South is Lemovicum where the River Croure floweth on the West are the Picts and Turonians from whom it is parted by a little River commonly calld Clery It is fruitfull in Corne Wine and other things necessary for mans life It chiefely aboundeth with Cattell which the Inhabitants doe disperse through all France Here the Biturigians were seated formerly who as Strabo Ptolemie and others doe write were called Cubi For the Biturigians a people of France were heretofore twofold distinguished by their surnames as the Bitu●iges Cubi whose Metropolis was Avaricum in the first
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 in his Epistles Moreover Chamberry hath a Castle and the Dukes of Sabaudia have a House there who have established here a Seate of Justice for the whole Country and
this Lake with a foaming entrance and passing through the still waters thereof doth runne through the middle of it as it were a contrarie element unto it without augmenting or diminishing his owne waters it commeth forth againe retayning the same name and strength which it had before And which is a wonder the Lake is not moved with the violent course of the water nor the hasty River is not stayed with the muddy filth of the Lake as if they could not be mingled together and if it were not seene to runne through the Lake it could not be discerned by the forcible course thereof Moreover the Rivers which water Helvetia are Rhene Rhodarus Adua Ticinus Limagus Byrsa Langarus Sara Taurus commonly call'd Dur Aenus Arola and many others It were needlesse to reckon the Mountaines seeing the names of the Rhetian Mountaines are knowne to all men But least I should seeme too defective herein I will mention some of them The Mountaine of Gothardus is now called the high Alpes after which the Penine Alpes doe follow neere to the Salassians there are the Co●tian Alpes and the Mountaine St●●ius Also the greater and lessers Mountaines of S. ●ernard The Grae●ian Alpes belong to the Lepontians the Mountaine Adulas which the Germanes call the Mountaine der Vegel toucheth the Misacians The Iulian Alpes and the Mountaine Permurna are in the Engadinians Countrie From hence are the Mountaines Val●rius and Brantius neere the Vendanians Rhetico is a Mountaine among the Rhucantians The Mountaine Iurassus hangeth over the Lake Ieman The Mountaines call'd Abnobae are in the confines of the Tulingians And these are the most famous Mountaines of this Countrie But we will speake more largely concerning the Alpes in the description of Italie There are innumerable Woods which are but parts of the Wood Hiercynia which beginneth here although they are called by severall names as the Brigantine Wood the Wood Ryhnwalde Bonwald● and others The Helvetian Commonwealth is a mixt government of the Nobles and the people For some of these People of whom the whole Citie doth consist doe use a Democraticall government where all things are managed by the councell of the Commons as in those Cantons which have no Townes as the Uranians the Suitians the ●uderwaldians the Glarovensians and the Abbatiscellanians and in the same manner are the Tuginians although they have a Towne the other Cantons are govern'd by the Nobles as all the other Cities of Helvetia as Tigurum Berna Lucerna c. But seeing the people have the chiefe power and doe chuse the Magistrates these Commonwealths are mixt and some parts are more Aristocraticall and some parts more popular ZVRICHGOVV AND THE PROVINCE OF BASIL I Have spoken in generall concerning Helvetia the parts doe follow Which Mercator in the three following Chartes doth lively describe In the first are those two Provinces which are called in their speech Zurichgow and Basil in the second Wistispurgergow and in the third Argow is delineated of all which I will make a Chorographicall Description together with the Lake Leman As concerning the former Province which is painted forth in the first Charte it is called in their owne speech Zurichgow and Caesar calleth it Tigurinus Pagus The soyle of this Country and especially by the chiefe City Tigurum is very fruitfull and bringeth forth great store of Wine and Corne yet the Wine for the most part is tart and sharp neither can it come to perfest ripenesse and maturity because the Alpes are so nigh unto it But the Wine ripeneth and groweth more pleasant after it hath beene kept some yeeres in the Vessell The chiefe City of this Province is call'd in Latine Tigrum and of late Thurogum and in their owne speech Zurich It is an ancient City and pleasantly seated at the end of the great Lake which sendeth forth the River Lindmagum commonly called Limmat which not farre from Glarona it receiveth againe and devideth the City into two Cities the greater and the lesser which are joyned together with three faire Bridges on which the Citizens doe often walke It hach a very great Corne-market in which great store of Corne is sold weekely The Lake Tigurine doth furnish the City with great store of Fish There is also a Market for all kinde of Provision and the Lake is convenienter for carrying it to divers places But albeit Tigurum was the fift that joyned it selfe to the Helvetian confederacy yet neverthelesse it is held to bee the chiefe City both for beauty and strength and still it hath the preheminence given it in publike Assemblies in Embassages and other publike actions it hath had many brave famous men as Conradus Pellican who was very skilfull in the Hebrew Chaldean and Arabick tongues also Theodore Bibliandrus Conradus G●sner that most excellent Historian and many other excellent men The Canton Tigurum hath without the City greater and lesser Prefectureships The greater are nine Ryburg a County the Prefectureship of Groeningia also Regensp●●g Vadisvillana Wadis●hwyl Lauffa neere the Catracts of Rheneor Lauffen Andelfignen Grifensce and Egitsow a free Province the lesser are 22. the Townes Vitodurum Winterhur and S●eina doe belong to the Tigurinians yet they have Magistrates of their owne but they are governed by the Tigurinian Edicts and doe serve them in their warres but they beare their owne Colours in the Field The Canton Tugium commonly ZVRICHGOVV ZURICHOU called Zugis reckoned to be in this Province a Towne with a Country of the same name lying Northward neere Su●●ia it is situate betweene a Middow and a Hill planted with Vines neere the fishfull Lake which is called from the City the Tugine Lake which streatcheth Southward toward the Towne Arte●se It hath a soyle fit for Pasturage and it yeeldeth great store of Wine and Corne. The first Inhabitants thereof are said to be the ●uginians but Strabo Lib 7. calleth them the Toygenians who entring into a league with the Tigurians and Cimbrians did oppose themselves against the Romanes See Plutarch in the life of Marius and Eutropius Lib. 5. Tugium was sometime governed by the Nobles but afterward it came to be under the power of the Austrians Those in the Helvetian warre did keep a continuall Garrison there unto the great molestation of the Suitians and Tigurians So that in the yeere 1352. the Tigurinians with foure other Cantons made an expedition against Tugium But the Garrison not trusting to the Fortification of the Towne forsooke it before the Helvetians comming but yet the Citizens to shew their fidelity to the Austrians did hold out the Siege for 15. dayes At last they yeelded it to the Helvetians and tooke an oath of them on this condition that if the Duke of Austria within such a limited time brought an Army to free them from this Siege 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
Paefects did not live as they listed neither did create magistrates out of their owne number but they received them from the Senate or the Emperour But the Canton of Vnderwaldia is divided by the wood Kernwald into two parts namely the higher and the lower yet all the Country neverthelesse is comprehended under the name of Vnderwaldia There remaines Glarona commonly called Glaris a Country of the Helvetian confederacy neere the River Limagus not very large being three Germane miles long and taketh its name from the speciall Towne in this Countrie being three parts of it encompassed with the high Alpes on the South and North it joyneth to the Rhetians on the West to the Vrians and Suitians on the North to a Country called Castra Rhetica or the Rhetian Tents where the River Limagus entereth into the Vale. The jurisdiction of this Countrey and the revennewes thereof was given in the time of S. Fridoline by a certaine Earle to the Monasterie of Seekingense namely in the time of Clodovius the first Christian King of France in the yeare of our Lord 500 who was the first King of France that raigned and governed Rhetia Almania and Helvetia This Land afterward obtained her liberty and her owne jurisdiction and did joyne it selfe in confederacy with the Helvetians in the yeare of our Lord 1252. The Inhabitants doe now live upon milke Cheese butter and flesh Among the straites of the Mountaines there is little ground sowed and few Vines are planted They have Orchards full of fruit and flourishing Meddowes Wine and corne are brought in from other parts The Lakes afford fish and the wooddy Mountaines doe furnish them with fowle and flesh of wild beasts Henry Glareanus and Aegidius Yscudus two learned men were borne in this Countrie To these is joyned the Countie of Hamburg and the Baronie of Humbert and Ringenbereg But Glarona is distributed into 15. parts which they call Tagwan Werdenbergen doth command the Country which they bought Anno 1517. They and the Su●tians doe by turnes send praefects to Vzenacum or V●sn●● and into the Rhetian Tents at Wesome But so much hitherto let us now adde something in generall concerning this part of Helvetia and here the Lakes are first to be considered among which is the miraculous Lake called Pilates Lake which is situated on the broken Mountaine as they call it not farre from Lucerna almost on the top of the Mountaine it standeth solitarily being encompassed on every side with Woods so that none can stirre or provoke it For they report that if any thing be purposely cast into it it will stirre up a great tempest and make it over-flow as many have found by experience but those things that fall in by accident doe occasion no danger at all It is a place fearefull to behold and the water standeth still in the channell of it neither hath it any vent neither doth it receive any River into it neither is it encreased by snow or raine water It is scarsely mooved with the winde but the waters thereof are alwayes blacke and strangers are not permitted to come unto it least they should rashly cast any thing thereinto whereby the neighbouring Country may be endangered Among the other Rivers which doe water this Country there is one called Lamagus which riseth in Glarina and in the middle of the Country it receiveth Sermphius another River which runneth out of another Valley Afterward beneath Vrna which is the name of two Townes above the Laterician bridge for so they call it having borrowed some water out of the Lake Vesenius it parteth and divideth Marcha which was heretofore the boundes betweene the Helvetians and the Rhetians for so the Helvetians call a bound and the Tents of the Rhetians Afterward entring into the Lake Tigurinum at the mouth thereof it divides Tigurum a large Cittie of the Helvetians and from thence it slideth to those waters which the Graecians call Bathes which are so famous for their hot waters And not farre from thence it mingleth it selfe with the two Rivers Vrsa and Arola The River Vrsa which by transposition of the two former letters they commonly call Rusa ariseth on the top of the Alpes which are now called Saint Gotharas Alpes and so runneth straite North-ward when on the other side T●einus arising out of the same Mountaine runneth by the Lepontians Southward first through Vrsula or Vrsella a Rhetian Valley and afterward it commeth to Vria of the Tauriscians the remainder of the French Nation where it mingleth it selfe with the Lake where it watereth the Vrians the Suizians the Silvanians and Lucerinians foure Citties of the Wood for so they call them now Afterward having received the Rivers of Tuginum it glideth by Bremgarte and M●ll●ge which are Townes of Helvetia and so beneath Bruges mingleth it selfe with Arola And at their consluence or meeting together three Rivers of Helvetia Limagus Vrsa and Arola doe discharge themselves into the Rhene But let so much suffice concerning Helvetia and the parts thereof we passe to the Low Countries or lower Germany THE RHETIANS novv called the GRISONES THe Rhetians are accounted an auncient people by the consent of all men For some ages before Christs birth the Tuscians being beaten by the French out of their owne habitations under the conduct of their Captaine Rhetus seated themselves in an Alpine Country which was called from their Captaine Rhetia and they themselves Rhetians But whereas this Countrie was heretofore very large and that the name of the Rhetians for warlike matters grew famous amongst their neighbours so that they were a terrour unto many which Ovid declareth in this verse Rhaetica nunc praebent Thracia ij arma metum The Thracian armes now every where And the Rhaetian doe put us in feare At length being conquered by the Romanes they made two Provinces of it namely the first and the second Rhetia which did not onely containe the Alpine Countries but a great part of Suevia and Bavaria Now by this name we understand those people whom they call Grisones for their grisely habit which was made of their owne Countrie cloth but the Germains at this day doe call them Grauwbuntner who doe inhabite the ancient Alpine Rhaetia neere to the Spring-heads of the River Rhene and Oenus who are perpetually joyned together by a threesold tye of amitie and confaederacie The first confaederacie which is called the higher hath eighteene assemblies in it among which the chiefe heretofore were Disentinus the Abbot the Barons of Rhetia and the Earles of Mis●uicium but those families are long since worne out and extinguished Although they that now possesse the Castle of Rhaetia doe challenge that title from the Plantinian familie The severall conventions or assemblies have one chiefe annual Magistrate whom they cal Ammanus he together with the Iudges chosen by the same assembly judgeth of controversies doth lay mulcts and fines upon offenders The second confaederacy is called the house of God or
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
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 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
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 the Island It is a faire Cittie having many private and publicke edifices being excellently adorned with Bridges Towers and Fortresses both for use and beautie and it is
the chiefe Cittie in all Zeland being also a famous Towne of traffique Heere Paul of Middleburrough THE COVNTIE OF ZELAND ZEELANDIA was borne who was the chiefe Mathematician of his time And also Nicolas Everhard who was first Paesident of the Court of Holland and afterward of Mechlin in which office he dyed in the yeere 1532. He had sonnes that were singular learned men Peter Everhard Doctor of Divinitie Nicolas Everhard Praesident of the Court of Friesland and afterward of Mechlin Adrian Marius and Iohn a Poet. Veria or Campoveria is so called from the passage over which the Zelanders call Veer It was first walled about in the yeere 1357. Afterward it began to be a Mart towne for Scotch merchandize Flushing hath his name and armes from a Flaggon which the Countrimen call een Flessche It is a new Cittie but powerfull and commandeth the Sea and it is full of excellent shipmasters and Pilots Arnemuda is a free Towne belonging to Middleburrough and a safe roade for shippes The second Isle to Wallachria is Zuidbevelandia which some suppose was so called from the trembling and shaking of it we suppose that it was so called from the Bavarians whose arms may be yet seene in the Scutchions of the Island It extendeth it self in a large and pleasant tract towards the coast of Flanders Brabant albeit some few yers ago a great part of it being lost it is now lesser by halfe than it was There is a pretty Citty that stands off the Land called Romerswalia that hath no tilled fields round about it no● no garden places but the sea doth wash it on every side so it subsisteth onely by trading in salt In this Cittie the Earles of Zeland take a solemne oath which when Philip King of Spaine was to doe according to the usuall custome in the yeare 1549. Nicolas de Conflilte in whose house the Prince was entertayned caused these verses to be written over his gate Vidimus adsueto privatum lumine Solem Pallida turbato vidimus astra die Vidimus undantis horrendos aequoris aestus Nos miseros Belgas quum obruit Oceanus Vidimus ast post quam te Gloria nostra Philippe Caesarea proles Semideûmque decus Cuncta refutamus transacti tristia saecli Quod praesens nostrum testificatur opus Sit licet exiguum sit pro ratione voluntas Nil facit ad nostrum parva carina fretum We have seene when as the suns cleere light did faile And in the day time seene the starres looke pale We have seene the fearefull sea tides rising so Till the Oceans did us Belgians overflow But Philip when thee our glory we espy'd Of Caesars stocke and halfe a god beside We made up all our former rents againe And this present worke doth testifie the same Though it be small yet to accept it please For no small ship can sayle upon our Seas Moreover in the Westerne part of this Island the Cittie Goesa is situated at one of the mouths of Scaldis which they call Schenge It is a Cittie not very large but pleasant and rich being the onely Cittie in the Island It hath very civill and curteous Cittizens and a prudent Senate The third Island of Zeland on this side Scaldis toward the West is Northevelandia in which is the Cittie Cortgreene and very many Townes but this Citty was all drowned with water in the yeare 1532 but now it is a little reedified The fourth Island is Wolferdijc as if you should say Wolfords ditch it is very small having onely two Townes in it There are tenne Citties in Zeland and more townes they being about an hundred and more The inhabitants are wittie craftie and provident and of a middle stature But the Annalls doe report that Withelme Bonus Earle of Holland at the solemnity of the marriage of Charles the faire King of France did bring a woman of an unusuall great stature borne in Zeland in comparison of whom the greatest men did seeme but boyes for she was so strong that she would carry two hoggsheads full of wine in both hands and drinke of them which hogsheads did weigh foure hundred Italian pounds and she would carry a beame or piece of timber up and downe which eight men could not lift They are very skifull in the Art of Navigation They boyle blacke course salt which is brought out of the Westerne Countries in great large cauldrons untill they have made it as white as snow They powre salt water on the rude Spanish and Armorican salt and so boyle it and doe make of a hundred weight of Spanish salt an hundred and five and forty weight of pure salt And they sell this salt in France England Denmarke and other parts of Eurpe Besides they reape much profit by their corne and choyse wheate also by their Madder Salt-fish and great plenty of cattell and especially sheepe They keepe their houses very neate and well furnished they are provident and very painfull in merchandising and also bountifull and liberall to the poore The politicke state of Zeland was wont to consist of three members the one whereof was the Prelate who stood for the whole Clergie which was the Abbot of S. Nicolas in Middleburrough and one noble man who was the Marquesse Veria and also of the generalitie of the Citties the chiefe whereof were those above mentioned namely Middleburrough Zirizaea Veria Flushing Tola Martinsdijk Romerswalia and Goesa But let so much suffice concerning Zeland THE DVKEDOME OF GELDERLAND Containing the Countie of ZVTPHANIA and the Lordship of TRANSISILANIA GElderland was so called from the Castell of Gelre which Wichard of Ponthe together with his brother are reported to have built though many doe suppose that it was so called from the Towne Gelduba which Tacitus mentioneth Others doe bring other reasons for this name It hath on the North Friesland and a Bay of the Germaine Sea commonly called Zuyderze● on the East the Dukedome of Cleveland on the South Iuliacum and on the West Brabant and Holland The ayre of this Countrie is pure and wholesome the soyle fruitefull and fit for tillage and especially it hath abundance of Corne it hath fruitefull meddowe● which doe breed up all sorts of Cattell and great droves of Cattell are brought out of the farthest part of Denmarke to be fatted here for there are many faire and flourishing meddowes especially about the bankes of Rhen● Vahalis and Mosa At the first Gelderland was ruled and governed by Praefects and afterward by Princes For Leopold Nephew to Martin governour of Austria or Guidus as some report was governour of these parts After the time of Charles the Great the Lords of Ponthe governed it Afterward Otto Nassovius was Prince thereof in the yeare 1079. if we may credit Labius After whom followed Gerard Henry Otto Reinald 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 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
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 martiall discipline they speake French but corruptly There are few merchants and Tradesmen but a great company of Nobles but such as be either the Princes Bastards or comming
of a base stocke THE COVNTIE OF NAMVRCIVM POntus Huterus Lib. 2. cap. 3. concerning Belgia writeth that the Countie of Namurcium was heretofore inhabited partly by the Advaticans and partly by the Eburonians It is situate betweene Brabant Hannonia and the Dioecesse of Leodium being a small mountainous Territory but very pleasant It is populous in inhabitants who are very much addicted to warfare it hath a sweete and temperate ayre and rivers full of fish the chiefe whereof are Mosa and Sambra it hath also cleare Springs and woods for delight of hunting which are full of wilde beasts It hath also Mines of Iron and Lead and stone Quarries in which divers kinds of Stones are cut forth and especially blacke marble and stones like Iasper and of late they digged forth those stones which are good to burne which assoone as they have taken fire doe kindle by degrees and are quenched with oyle but water makes them burne more hotter they are commonly called Leodian coales the learned doe call them Lithanthracus It is not manifest when this Country was made a Countie We reade of Marquesses and Earles of Namurcium from the yeare of Christ 277 but in broken and interrupted succession but concerning the Princes of this Country Gram●aius well best informe us in his history of Namurcium Namurcium is 10 miles broad and 12 miles long There are foure walled Citties in this Countie and 182 Villages And many Noblemens Castells Also many Abbeys The government of the Common-wealth belongeth to three orders namely the Clergie the Nobility and the Burgesses of Citties Namurcum or Namucum is the chiefe Cittie but it is not knowne from whence the name thereof is derived some derive Namurcum from Nanus a Heathen god famous for delivering of Oracles others from a new wall which the Normanes built Huterus supposeth it to be that which Caesar calleth Nemetoenna This Citty is situated betweene two Mountaines on the left hand banke of Mosa where it receiveth the River Sambra being fortified both by Art and Nature It is rich and hath many faire publicke and private aedifices and buildings In this Citty there is a royall Counsell from whence appeales are brought to the high Court at Mechlin It is also a Bishops seate whose Cathedrall Church is consecrated to S. Albine The Cittizens speake French but corruptly there are a few Merchants and Tradesmen in this Citty but a great company of Nobles Three miles from Namurcum there is the rich towne Audennas in which there is an auncient Nunnery of Noble women built by Begga the daughter of Pipin from whom they were first called Baggine Vestalls Also betweene Namurcum and Dinantum on the mountaine Palvagius there are some ruines of the auncient Cittie Caprimont which was wasted in the Leodiensian warres Foure miles from Namurcum is Bovinae a little Towne by the River Mosella which the Earle Henry walled anno 11●6 In the yeare 1554 in the time of the French warre it was razed downe to ground But afterward the Cittizens did reëdifie it Walcuria which the Dutchmen call Waelhovan is situated 7 miles from Namurcum on the banck of the river Aurca it was first a Castell and afterward about the yeare 910 it was walled about Carlomont was built by Charles the fifth Anno 1555 against the Frenchmen who then possessed Marieburg it hath an impregnable Castell it is situated on the left hand bancke of the River Mosa three miles from Marieburg THE COVNTIE OF MAMVRCIVM NAMURCUM Comitatus THE DVKEDOMF OF LVTZENBVRG THe Dukedome of Lutzenburg is so named from the chiefe Cittie which as some suppose was so called from the River Elza which Antoninus calleth Alesontia From Elza came Elzenburch and from thence Lutzenburg Peter Dinaeus doth give another opinion concerning Lutzenburg in these words It is not to be doubted saith he but that the Leutians did dwell next to the Treverians Mediomatricians and Lingonians their Townes Tullus and Nasium celebrated by Ptolemie doe keepe the names of Toul and Nancy in their owne language I beleeve they were called de Lutzen and had a large command so that the name of the famous Towne of Lutzenburg was derived from them as if you should say der Lutzenburg The Leodians and Namurcians doe bounder this Dutchie on the North on the East Mosella with the Bishopricke of Trevers on the West Mosa with the wood Arden The compasse or circuite of the whole Country is 70 miles Although this Countrie be mountainous and wooddy yet it hath a plenteous and fruitfull soyle It is divided into two parts the one wherof is called Famenna and the other Arduenna Famenna is more fruitfull and hath greater store of corne coyne Arduenna is more rugged but affordeth good hunting and is full of divers excellent kindes of wilde beasts There is Iron Oare not farre from Manderscheid in the Lordships of Keyla Cronenberch and Sleida neere to a vale called Hellenthal In this place there are made Anvills Fornaces and Vices which are sold through all parts of Germany It was but a Countie at the first and so the Emperour Henry the seaventh was Earle of Lutzenburg but not Duke Afterward it was made a Dukedome at it continueth at this day which some doe attribute to Wenceslaus a King of the Romanes and others to Charles the fourth Conradus Vercetius doth asc●●be it to Henry the seaventh who was the first Romaine Emperour of that house Ortelius writeth that he found in auncient Manuscript that Sigifride was the first Earle of this County and that he was the sonne of Tacuinus Duke of Mosella For heretofore Lutzenburg did belong to the Treverians It hath 20 Citties fortified with walls and Rampiers the names whereof are Lutzenburg Arlunum Rodemachera Theonis villa Gravemacherum Vianda Bastonacum Mommedium Novum Castrum Danvillerium Marvilla Roccha Durbis S. Vitiurbs Marza and Sala There are also some Citties whose Walls THE DVKEDOME OF LVTZENBVRG Trier et Lutzōborg are levelled with the ground There are also the Castells of S. Iohn and Manders●he●d which are as bigge as small Citties and have Counties belonging to them The chiefe Cittie is Lutzenburg some call it Lu●emburg and Luceburg Ptolomie calls it Augusta Romandiorum Gu●●●●ar●●● would have it called Lutzenburg as it were Lucisburg that is the Castell of the Sunne as also many other places in this tract may seeme to have beene named from the gods of the Gentiles as Arlu● from the Altar of the Moone Iucis from Iupiter 〈◊〉 from Mars but whether the name be rightly derived from hence let another judge The Cittie is situate most pleasantly part of it on the side of a Mountaine and part of it on plaine ground The River Elza doth water and divideth the higher and lower mountainous part of the Cittie from the lower part There are many faire 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
reckon up C. Iulius Caesar writeth that many kindes of wilde beasts are bred in the Wood Hercynia which are not seene in any other place of which saith hee those that differ most from the rest and are most worthy of remembrance are these there is a kinde of Oxe which is like a Hart which hath in the middle of his forehead one high horne and more straite than usuall from the toppe whereof large Antletts or Tines doe spread forth the male and femall are of one shape and have one as bigge hornes as the other There is also a beast called Alcis which is like unto a ●●ate but it is somewhat bigger and having no hornes at all and their legges are without joynts so that they cannot by any meanes lye downe to their rest or if they fall downe by chance they cannot rise up againe therefore they leane against trees and so they take their rest and when the hunters have found by their footing where they usually haunt they either stub up all the trees or else they cut them halfe downe and so leave them standing So that when the beasts rest against them according to their usuall manner they overthrow the trees with their weight and so fall downe with them The third kind of beasts are those which are called Vri which are almost as bigge as Elephants and like Bulls in shape and colour they are very strong and swift and will prey on men and beasts these they usually take in trappes and so kill them But now I come to the auncient government The sacred Romaine Empire which being divided into the West and Easterne part was much weakned by the excursions of divers Nations and rent by civill dissentions was ready to be ruined by its owne weight having forsooke Italie did seeke defence and strength in no other Countrie but Germanie and chose Charles the Great King of France to be Emperour who as they report was borne at Ingelheimij which is a village Towne two miles from Moguntiacum and built there a famous Pallace whose ruines may be yet seene The Empire remained in Charles his line an hundred yeares and above which afterward failing it was translated to Conrade Duke of Franconia after whom followed Henry Fowler after him the three Ottoes the last whereof when he understood that the Romaines Crescentius being consull did affect and desire the title of the Empire he raysed an army and tooke Rome and obtayned of Pope Gregorie that the Germaines should have right and power to elect the Romaine Emperours But they obtayned it on this condition that he which was elected should be called Caesar and King of the Romaines and afterward having received a Crowne from the Pope he hath the title of Emperour Augustus There are 7 Electors ordained of which three are Archbishops and foure are saecular Princes as they call them where after the decease of Otto the first that was chosen Emperour was Henry surnamed the holy Afterward in processe of time there were divers officers constituted and ordained in Germany for the honour of the Empire concerning which see Mercator Tacitus who was governour of the Belgian● under Vespasian doth commend the Germaines in this short Elogi● thus Nemo bellum Germanis inquit intulit impuné None made warre upon the Germaines but they came by the losse Which three of Augustus Legions found being overcome and beaten by them Also Carbo Cassius Scaurus Aurelius Servilius Coepio Manlius all great Commanders who were slaine and put to flight And there are these auncient verses Welcher im Krieg wil ungluck han Der fang es mit den Deutschen an Iosephus calleth them valiant Dionysius Martiall Arrianus warlike The Germane is couragious fierce at an onset and desirous of warres as Seneca witnesseth in his booke de Ira. Moreover the Country of Germany is now so pleasant and so adorned with faire Citties Castells and Villages that it is not inferior to Italie France and Spaine There are 84 free Citties in it as Colonia Agrippina Wirtemberg Lubek Luneburg Franckfort Breme Lipsick Spires Argentine Friburg Augusta Vindelicorum Tubinga Heidelburg Ratisbone Vienna Prague Buda c. of which hereafter Germany also is watered with so many great Rivers beside Lakes and Marishes of which it hath great stoare that in this respect also it may compare with the chiefest Countries Seneca in his third booke of naturall questions sheweth the cause why it hath so many Rivers At contra ait constat Germaniam Galliamque proximè ab his Italiam abundare R●vis fluminibus quia coelo humido utuntur ne aestate quidem imbribus carent That is But on the contrary saith he it is manifest that Germany and France and Italy which is next unto them have great stoare of Rivers because they have a moyst aye and have often raine in Summer But these Rivers of Germiny are more famous as Danubius Rhene Amasis Moenus Necarus Albis Suevus Visurgis and Vistula That which Ptolomie and others doe call Danubius Plinny and Strabo doe call Ister the one saith that it changeth his name neere the Cataracts thereof the other where it washeth Illyrium Ptolemie saith that it changeth his name neere the Cittie Axipolis Appian neere the confluence and meeting of the River Savus so that the higher part is called Danubius and the lower part Ister Stephanus heretofore called it Matoas also Danubis and Danusis Festus calleth it Addubanus Ancient coynes doe name it Daunvius it is now called Done and Donaw from the noyse and sound of the waters as Althamerus saith Salust writeth that this is the greatest River next to Nile which floweth into the Mediterranian Sea and Arrianus lib. 1. of the acts of Alexander calleth it the greatest River It riseth in the wood Hercynia in the village Don Eschingen where it springeth out of the bowells of the Earth The auncients doe call the Mountaine out of which it riseth Abnoba although as Munster an eye-witnesse writeth there is no mountaine nere it but it falleth with a continual running streame from a little hill which is scarse 15 or 16 foote high He addeth that Tiberius had a desire to see the spring head thereof Herodotus beleeved that it rose out of the Pyrenaean Mountaines whose opinion Aristotle also followed 2. Meteorologicor Maginus placeth those Pyrenaean hills in Germany thereby to excuse the errour of grave writers As soone as it glideth from the fountaine it runneth abroad through Moarish places and afterward it gathers it selfe into a Channell and so being encreased by receiving other Rivers it runneth through many countries as Sucuia Pannonia Dacia Bulgaria untill at last having received 6 navigable Rivers it rowleth into the Sea with five streames or mouthes as Dionysius Strabo and Herodotus doe mention Plinny saith with sixe and Amianus and Solinus with seaven and with such violence so that it runneth with fresh water 40 miles into the sea And as Amian saith Et constat ab ultimis nostri finibus maris agminaum
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
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 Castle and called it Aldenburg But these brothers encreasing both in power and wealth the King made Adolphus a Count and the Countrie a Countie which was called the
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
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 Eberhard Earle of Wirtemberg a Duke Duke Eberhard the second continued but two yeares in his Dukedome but having melted his gold and silver plate he fled first to Vlma
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 of the Empire which was so denominated from the Castle Luchtenberg albeit the Princes of that Territorie doe keepe their Court at Pfriembdt and sometime at Grunsfeld This
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 Italiam quando digressus ab urbe petebam A Duce quae Brenno condita nomen habet Going to Italie that Cittie I did leave Which from Duke Brennus doth her name receive
THE MARQVISHIP and Electorship of BRANDENBVRG MARCA BRANDENBURGENSIS POMERANIA P●merania was called by the first inhabitants in the Vandall speech Pamortza now it is a Dukedome which lyeth by the Balthick sea and it is stretched in a long tract of ground from the borders of Holsatia to the consines of Livonia The Countrie is every where very fruitfull having pleasant Medowes and greene pastures It hath such abundance of Corne Butter Honey Wax Flax Hempe and other such like commodities that the inhabitants make a great benefit of them by transporting them to other Countries The inhabitants also doe gather up Amber by the Sea side but in lesser quantitie than the Borussians There are divers kindes of tame cattell and heards of wilde beasts which runne up and downe in the woods This Countrie had always Lord and inhabitants of its owne which were never conquered nor driven out of their Countrie Heere are many faire Citties The chiefe is Stetimum by the river Viadrus which was heretofore a long fisher Towne seated on the bancke of the River and after it had received the Christian faith the Mart being translated thither it began to encrease so that it is now the Metropolis of Pomerania Gripswald●n is a famous towne for learning and good Arts there was an Vniversitie built there in the yeare 1546. Iulinum accounted heretofore the greatest towne in all Europe was a Mart towne of the Vandalls Stralsundia is a faire Towne on the shore of the Balthick sea having heretofore a Duke thereof Wineta is a very rich sea-faring Towne but it was ruinated by Conradus King of Denmarke There are also other Citties as Neugardia Lemburga Stargardia Bergradum C●menez Publina Grifenburga and by the shoare side there are Colberga Caminum Collinum Sunda Pucka Revecol Lovensburg and Hechel And so much briefely concerning Pomerania Also Mecklenburg or the Dukedome of Magnopolis is contained in this Table There are also in the same Table these Ecclesiastickes the Bishop of Magdeburg Primate of Germanie under whom are the Bishops of Brandenburg in the Marquiship of Brandenburg and the Bishop of Havelburg in Mecklenburg also the Bishop of Swerinium under the Bishop of Bremes in Pomerania there is the Bishop of Camin THE DVKEDOME OF POMERANIA POMERANIA is now a Dukedome it lyeth by the Balthick Sea and reacheth from the confines of Holsatia even to Livonia This Country was called by the first Inhabitants in the Vandals Language Pamorzi and it had alwayes a peculiar people who were never conquered and as Bertius witnesseth unto whom wee are beholden for this discription they were beaten or expulsed out of their owne Country The Country is plaine and hath few Hills but euery where fruitfull and watered with Riuers and Springs having pleasant Meddowes and greene Pastures shadie Woods in which there are divers kinde of wilde Beasts It hath abundance of Cattell as also great store of Corne Butter Honey Waxe Cotten Hempe and other Commodities so that the Inhabitants doe gaine much by transporting them There are many faire Citties in Pomerania The chiefe Citty is Stettinum which is situate by the River Viadrus which is now called Odera it was heretofore a long Fisher Towne by the bancke of the River but now it is the chiefe Metrapolis and Mother Citty of Pomerania Gripswaldum is a Towne famous for learning and humane Arts an University was built here in the yeere of Christ 1556. Here is also the Towne Iulinum which was heretofore the most famous Towne of all Europe and a Mart Towne of the Vandals unto which the Russians the Danes the S●rabians the Saxones the Sarmatians and the Suevians did bring their Commodities and Merchandise The Inhabitants when they perceived that the Christian Religion began to flourish and encrease would not suffer any stranger to mention the new Religion and this was the cause that they received the Christian faith so lately But at last by compulsion they received this Religion about the yeere of Christ 1000. but they reuolting often from their faith and having made a great massacre and slaughter of the Christians in the yeere 1066. did returne to Paganisme untill Otto Bishop of Bamberg began againe to preach the Gospell of Salvation in Pomerania with such good successe that three Brothers who were Princes namely Ratisborus Bugislaus and Suantepolcus were baptized and received the Christian Religion The first Bishop of Iulium was Adelbert but in regard the Citty was still infested by the Danes hee thought good thirty yeeres afterward to translate his seate to Caminum and so the other Citty fell to the ground Stralz●na●a is a faire Towne on the shore of the Balthick Sea which had heretofore a Duke of its owne but now it is subject to the Duke of Pomerania it is supposed to have beene built by the Frenchmen and reedified by Waldemar King of Denmarke about the yeere of Christ 1209. but now it is a strong Towne and is a defence to Denmark and Swethland Wineta is the richest of all the Sea Citties being situate betweene the River Suenus and the Iland Rugia and it was ruinated by Conrado King of Denmarke in the yeere 1030. There are also other Citties as Neugardia Stargardia Camenez Grifenburga and by the shore Colberga Caminum Collinum Sunda Lovensburg and many other THE DVKEDOME OF POMERANIA Brandeburg et Pomerania RVGIA RVGIA is an Iland in that part of the Easterne or Swevian Sea which is properly call'd the Balthick Sea On the North it hath Denmarke and the Chaulkie Iland Mona On the West and South it hath the Citties Pomeranta Bardus Stralesundius Gryphiswaldus and Walgastus This Iland was heretofore farre larger then it is now insomuch that the Iland Ruden was so conjoyned with it that it had nothing but a small Ditch which a man might leap over with a staffe to part it But in the yeere 1309. all that part of it which lyeth betweene Rugia and Ruden was swallowed up and washed away by a violent tempest which did blow downe and overthrow Towers and Houses so that there is now a Channell of halfe a mile breadth which will beare Ships of great burthen and it is now called the new passage Das Neure Si●f oder Shiffart For heretofore great Ships were wont to fall downe to Sea by another way or passage not Eastward but Westward which they call Dan Bellen This Iland is encompassed round about with the Sea and is seven Germane miles both in length and breadth The circumference whereof if it were round according to the rules of the Mathematicks should bee 21. miles But now the circumference of it is not onely distinguished with many Ilands and Peninsulaes some greater and some lesser but also hee that shall diligently note the windings of the Sea into the middle parts 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
Mountaine neere the Citty Aust and hath great store of Salmons There is also Multavia which Ptolemy calleth Cassurgis and the Germanes Molea and the Inhabitants Vltauva there are also the Rivers Egra ●assava Gisera Misa and others some whereof have fine sands of gold and some of them have shells out of which they get Pearles The Mountaines Sud●ta doe encompasse Bohemia on the South and West The Mountaine Pinifer which is so called from the abundance of Pines growing there which riseth in the Mountaines of the Maraniship of Brandenburg betweene Franconia Voitlandia and Bohemia in the compasse of two miles doth send forth foure famous Rivers towards the foure parts of the World namely Moenus in Francia Sala i● 〈◊〉 Nabus in Bavaria and Egra in Bohemia This Mountaine also hath Gold Silver Quick-silver Iron and Brimstone It hath also 〈◊〉 of Precious-stones The whole Country is as it were walled 〈◊〉 with Woods of which that part which lyeth between 〈…〉 West and the North Strabo calleth the Wood Gabreta and Ptolem● 〈…〉 that part which streteheth from the South to Danubius Ptolemy calleth the Moones Wood but now it is called Passavica Silva or De● Passawerwaldt on the West where it joyneth to Moravia it is called Der Scheib The Emperour Charles in the yeere 1361. did devide the Kingdome of Bohemia into 12. Countries which are governed by Captaines and Barons who doe first decide small controversies and secondly if there bee any theeves they may call the Nobility to ayde them in suppressing of those Robbers and at last in time of warres every one repaireth to his owne Captaine I finde that the Burpaviate of Carlstein is in this Kingdome where the Crowne of the Kingdome is kept There are these Countries Lob●●wits Hassenstain Litzkaw Camethaw Passau Melnis Rosenberg Hadretz Dominia Hasenburg Leip Perstain Dobitschaw Walstain R●schatec Dachaw Totsnick Wartenberg Schellenberg Kost Schmirits Lissaw Kunewaldt Dessaw Schonpeck Slawa Grossen Bora Liebenstain Ioppendorff Gradetz and Colourat some of which are Counties also the Baronies of Trachenberg and Millusch Prague was made an Archbishops seate by Charles King of Bohemia and Emperour of Germany and the Bishop of Litomisliens was made his Suffragan I come unto their manners concerning which Iohn Dubravius writeth thus The Bohemians in their manners and habit doe shew a kinde of Lion-like courage under which signe Bohemia lyeth whether you consider the great stature of the Bohemians or their strong broad breasts or neckes coverd with stiffe yellow hayre or their great voice or glistering eyes or their courage and strength Moreover the Lion is wont to swell in contempt of other beasts and cannot be disarmed especially if you set upon him by force Neither doth the Bohemian degenerate from him in this also for he contemneth others both in word deed and sheweth much pride and arrogancy both in his gate and gesture And he is most fierce when he is roughly entreated Moreover he is as bold as a Lion in any enterprise and stout and hardy in the Execution but yet he is ambitious and vaine-glorious And besides he is as hungry and sharpe as a Lion and immoderate in his Dier THE MARQVISHIP OF MORAVIA MORAVIA commonly called Marnhern doth confine on Polonia Westward It is so called from the River Moravia which runneth thorow this Country The Ancients did call it Marcomannia because it did border Germany on that part where Danubiu● glideth towards Pannonia For in the Germane language Marck signifies a limmit or bound and those which dwelt there were called Marcomanni the Inhabitants of the Frontiers or Marches as Dubravius thinketh But Arrianus saith thus The last saith he of these Nations are the Quadians Marcomannians after them the Iazyges or Sarmatians then the Getes and lastly a great part of the Sarmatians And it appeareth manifestly that this Moravia was the Seate of the Marcomannians because neere the River Hana the Husbandmen as they were ploughing did often finde certaine coynes of the ancient Romane Emperours as of M. Antoninus who as Histories doe witnesse did conquer and subdue this Nation There was also mony taken from the enemy as a booty with this Inscription De Marcomannis There are some doe conjecture by the Etymologie of the word that the Marcomannians did possesse that Province of Germany which is commonly called Die Marck or the Marquiship of Brandenburg beyond Albis toward the Ocean for the Inhabitants thereof are called Die Marcker that is Marcomannians as it were Marcmenner some say the Marcomannians were so named from Horses as we call Mareschalcus a Praefect of the Horse and Mar-staller a Master of the Horse for Marrha and Merrhen doe signifie in the Germane language a Horse and a Mare whence they translate Merrhenlandt the Country of Mares But the former reason is more probable Moravia as it is now is bounded on three parts of it with Mountaines Woods Forrests or Rivers on the East from Hu●garia on the West from Bohemia on the North from Silesia For on the South towards Austria it is plaine ground and in some places it is parted from it by the River Thaysa and in other places by a small River The ayre of this Country is gentle and warme and so more subject to corruption And as this Country is populous so it yeeldeth great store of Corne and Wine and all things necessary for mans use It hath also great store of Saffron The inward part of the Country is Champion ground the Fields are of a fat and fruitfull soyle and therefore good for tillage there are Hills crowned with Vineyards and in regard it hath a better soyle for Vines than Bohemia therefore THE MARQVISHIP OF MORAVIA MORAVIA it excelleth it for goodnesse and plenty of Wine It is all tilled so that there is no part left for feeding of Flocks and Cattell unlesse it bee in the Woods and Desarts The Mountaines Sudetae neere the Citty Igla are thought to bee full of Mines Moreover it is wonderfull that there is Frankincense and Myrrh in Moravia which doth not distill out of a sweating Tree as in other parts but is digged out of the ground especially in one place called Gradisco in which there is both male and female Frankincense But of late Venceslaus a Nobleman as he was laying the foundation of the head of a Fish-pond in his owne grounds at Sterenberg found the whole body of a man which was nothing but Myrrhe This Country was heretofore adorned with the title of a Kingdome and it had formerly Kings who governed all Bohemia and Poleland and it was a very large and potent Kingdome About the yeere of Christ 700. Zuantocopius did possesse Moravia Bohemia Silesia and Poleland and the Dukes thereof were subject unto him But hee being proud of his large Territories did deny 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
Senum Italiae in which if a Pitchforke bee left the day before the grasse will cover it over in one nights growth Varro speaking of the endowments of Italy saith that it produceth all things necessary for food Campania doth yeeld Corne Falernus wine Cassinas Oyle Tusculan Figges Tarrentine Honey and Tiber Fish Moreover Pliny witnesseth that Italy is the Mother of all kindes of Trees I will not mention the Vulgar common sort For here are great store of Orange Trees Lemmon Trees and Quince Trees All the Coast as for example Liguria and that which belongeth to Genoa is adorned and beautified with faire Trees and great high Palme Trees which are full of sweet smelling fruit so that it is pleasant both in sight and scent and it hath every where pleasant Gardens to recreate sad mindes and drive away Melancholy And the same may be said of a thousand other places The same Pliny sheweth that there are Pepper trees in Italy The Hydruntine Country hath abundance of Olives so that he that hath not seene the great Woods of Olive trees which are in these parts would thinke it incredible The Barian Fields in Apulia Peucetia doe bring forth great store of Oyle Wine Corne Almonds and Cotton and other fruits The Valley of On●lia in Liguria hath such great store of Oyle that sometimes it yeeldeth 32. and 22. thousand Jarres which the Inhabitants call Barilas There is also Manna in Italy For Manna is gathered neere Altomontium in Brutia which falleth downe like dew by night especially when the skie is serene and cleare after raine It is gathered from the Leaves of certaine Trees Pliny reporteth that it hath the choisest and best Vines so that it excelleth the most odoriferous Nations of the world for there is no scent to be compared with the delicious smell of the sweet budding Vines As the excellent Wines which are so celebrated and praised by ancient Writers doe testifie Pliny doth devide the Wines of Italy into foure sorts He preferreth the Setine Wines before all others which was so called from Setia a Towne of Latium The next he accounteth to be the Falerne Wine The third he reckneth to be the Albanian the Surrentinian the Massuan the Stanonian the Calenian the Fundanian the Vilitertian the Privernatian and the Signinian Wines The fourth sort are the Pretutian the Anconian and the Palmesian Wines But of these things others doe report I passe to the other gifts of Italy and will describe them briefly It is very fruitfull in producing all kinde of hearbes What should I speake of the Mettals Stones and other gifts Pliny saith that it is inferiour unto no Country for Mettals In Forum Iulium there is the River Hydra and not farre from thence a Mine of Quicksilver Great store of Allom was found heretofore among the Etruscians in the Territory of Masla In Campania there are Mines of Brimstone Three miles from Volaterris toward the River Caecina there are some Hills in which there are Salt-pits At Brutia also there are Salt Mines which are hollowed into the inner parts of the Mountaine with digging forth of Salt I omit the Stone Quarries out of which divers Stones are cut I doe not mention the Marble the Alablaster Chrystall and divers sorts of precious Stones nor the Saffron Blue and Rosen And that I may not be tedious in reckoning up the variety of living creatures Aulus Gellius Lib. 11. Noct. Atticar Cap. 1. Timaeus in his History and M. Terentius Varro in Antiquit. doe report that there are great store of Oxen in Italy and that there are many Buffons bred in this Country Lucillius witnesseth that the great strong Lucanian hearbs did graxe here Quem neque Lucanis oriundi montibus Tauri Ducere pro telo validis cervicibus possent Italy besides other Fowle hath Eagles and Vultures which are so often mentioned in the ancient Romane Histories I come now to the ancient Government There is no indubitable certainty concerning the ancient Government of Italie Annius of Viterbium doth speake of Comer who came first into this Country as a stranger also of Chamus Ianus Sabatius Sagus Cranus Aurunus Malotte Tages Ofrides Hercules Tuscus Alteus Ritis Italus Morgetes Roma Romanessus Iasius and others but approoved Historians doe make no mention of them But if we read Dionysius Halicarnassaeus Pompeus Trogus Solinus Polyhistor and other Greeke and Latine Writers that many yeeres before the building of Rome wee shall finde that Italie was governed by divers people as Sicilians the Aboriginians the Ligurians the Umbrians and the Etrurians which at last were all reduced under the government of the Romane Empire Rome at the first was governed by Kings for 245. yeeres together as Dionysius and Livie doe witnesse whom in the Romane History it is best to follow In whom wee may read the order and progresse of their atchievements and it is to be considered that their power did encrease abroad by military Discipline and at home by moderation and Justice and by the order of government Afterward the Kings for their tyranny and lust were expelled which many times had caused many changes and mutations in the Empire The names of the Kings are these Romulus who raigned 38. yeeres Numa who raigned 43. yeeres Tullus Hostilius who raigned 32. yeeres Aneus Martius who raigned 24. yeeres Tarquinius Priscus who raigned 37. yeeres Servius Tullius who raigned 44. yeeres Tarqu●nius Superbus who raigned 25. yeeres He was expelled the Kingdome for his Sons wicked act who ravished Lucretia But when the Kings were expelled the government became Annuall and two Consuls were created The first of which was L. Iunius Brutus unto whom was joyned Sp. Lucretius Tricipitinus and after him M. Horatius Pulvillus Thus Italie was governed by Consuls untill the time of the Emperour Caesar Fl. Momyllus Augustulus whom Odoacer Herulus King of the Gothes did depose and subverted the Country to himselfe and afterward being slaine he left it to Theoderick his Successors I need not set downe a Catalogue of the Romane Consuls and Emperours which are well knowne And we may read in Histories the forme of the first royall government the changes of Lawes and Magistrates the Romanes valour their warres and their many civill dissentions untill Rome had got the Monarchie of the World and how by luxury civill warres and the fatall vicissitude and change of things it lost againe both vertue and Empire I proceed to other matters Italie hath many faire flourishing rich Citties many famous populous Townes and many Villages adorned with Noblemens houses It will not therefore be impertinent to set downe what Thomas Edwards an Englishman hath written concerning the most famous Citties of Italie Rome's holy by the blood of Saints there shed Rich Venice with the Sea 's encompassed Parthenope doth Captaines stout beget Mediolanum pleasant is and great Bononia doth for study much excell Many Citizens in shining Florence dwell Ferraria doth yeeld much Iron Oare Verona hath of all things wondrous store For Law and
great that it seemeth rather a Town than a House there is Xistus Chapell which is as big as a great Church whether when the See is vacant the Cardinals doe meete together to create a Pope which is commonly called the Conclave It would be tedious to mention the other Palaces and therefore we will passe to other matters The government of Italie followeth which is twofold Politicall and Ecclesiasticall Concerning the Politick and Civill government this noble Country is devided into many Signiories Among which beside the Pope the King of Naples and the free Commonwealths as Venice Genoa Lucensis and others the chiefe in the Northerne part are the Princes of Etruria Ferrara Mantua M●diolanum Montis-Feratensis of Parma of Salluzzia and Verona In the Southerne part there are many Nobles which when occasion shall be offerd I will reckon up in their proper places In Ecclesiastick government the Pope is the Hierarch and the head of the Church and hath a great Traine Quoties procedit Gemmis conspicitur ornatus Sericis vestibus tectus Auro vectus Equo albo stipatus Milite circumstrepentibus septus Ministris That is as often as the Pope goes forth hee weareth silke Robes embroidered with Gold and Pearle he rideth on a white Horse and is garded with Souldiers and hath Officers which play on Musick before him The other Priests are here much honoured and have great authority And are more honoured than Noblemen The Cardinals as Peter Messias noteth did succeed in place of the Consuls who heretofore governed the Romane Empire the Archbishops are equall to Dukes the Bishops to Earles their Vicars or Substitutes are as it were Presidents of the Empire the Provosts are as it were Praefects the Arch-priests are in the place of Tribunes of Souldiers and the Chancellors doe represent the Tribunes of the People Moreover Italie hath a threefold Law the Pontificall the Caesarian and the Municipall the first and second are to be knowne other wheres the third consists of Statutes and Lawes which the Citties themselves doe enact and make but let so much suffice I will onely here set downe that which is read in a certaine Manuscript concerning the Counsels of these severall Citties It is written the Mediolanians are excellent in Counsel the Venetians wise the Lucanians rash the Pisanians inconstant the Placentians provident the Florentines slow the Veronians faithfull the Ferrarians wary the Genoans ignorant the Lucensians profitable the Volscians envious the Brutians blockish the Mutinensians acute and ingenious the Perusinians quick and ready the Senenians slow and the Patavians irresolute The Italians doe maintaine cherish and honour Schollers and are good Maecenasses unto them And hence there are so many Universities in Italy as Romana Mediolanum Bononia Patavina Papiensis Naples Perusina Salerne Pisona Ferrara Senensis Florence Veneta Bergomensis Mutinensis and Taurinensis for the Universities of Parma Placentia Anconita and Macerata are for the most part decayed And hence proceedeth that great plenty of Doctors and famous men learned in divers Arts and Disciplines It would be troublesome unto me to reckon up a Catalogue of them and tedious to the Reader Moreover the Italians doe exceed other people for courteous conversation for gentlenesse and for witty conference and discourse They are very ingenious and witty quick of invention and very docible in matters of study and also in learning divers Arts. They have in all ages thirsted after honour and glory and have beene more desirous of praise than any others They are soft and effeminate and given to Venery quenching pleasure with Milke as fire is with Oyle They are very desirous of revenge and they thinke it sweeter than life and doe sometime leave it by Will to their Posterity Moreoover the aforesaid Manuscript doth paint forth the women of divers Citties in this manner the Senensians are faire the Florentines delicate the Perusenians neat the Cajetanians faire the Consentineans obstinate the Beneventanians clownish the Bononians arrogant and proud the Mutinensians bountifull the Cesenatians covetously scraping the Genoans wanton the Cremonians deceitfull the Placentians hard the Lucensians chaste the Pistoriensians loving and tractable The Romans grave the Capuanians proud the Neapolitans carefull the Brundisinians slothfull the Ferratians greedy the Ravennatians courteous the Urbinatians affable the Vincentinians constant the Parmensians coverous the Papiensians desirous of gaine the Mediolanensians witty conceited the Pedemontanians prating and talkative the Venetians wanton the Verronians comely the Brixians diligent the Formianians faire and beautifull the Laudensians superstitious the Cremonensians costly the Tarvisians jealous the Bergomatians crafty the Aretinians saving and the Puteolanians faire The Italians were heretofore sottishly adicted to many superstitions But now they doe all religiously observe the Ceremonies and Rites of the Romane Church but that some few in the Southerne part of Italy do follow the Graecian Rites who are also descended of the Graecians But what a warlike people the Italians have beene the conquest of the world doth declare And the aforesaid Manuscript doth shew which Citties doe exceed others in matter of Warre In warlike affaires the Perusinians are stout the Calabrians rash the Spoletanians crafty the Senensians fortunate the Bononians fierce the Neapolitans couragious the Turentines are mitigators of their enemy the Prarensians sacrilegious the Collensians lustfull the Picenians ravenous the Aemilians inconsiderate the Placentinians cruell the Romanes valiant the Mediolanians undaunted the Vincentinians desirous of revenge the Pistorians bloody the Papiensians firme and constant Their Diet is sober and frugall and they are not curious in furnishing their Tables but when necessity requires They doe not all weare one kinde of habit but they vary according to the time or the quality of the Person and also in the forme and shape of it The Mattoas heretofore did goe with naked armes brests and shoulders and now they cover all with thin Vailes according to the Spanish fashion The Venetians goe civilly and neatly the Florentians the Tuscians the Mediolanians the Aemilians and Ligurians doe goe somewhat bravet But the Romane Courtier doth excell all the rest for long various colour'd Garments but the Romane Citizen goeth more frugally yet hansomely but especially the women who of late did affect the Tuscane dressing Naples hath a habit that is more shining and splendide than costly The Mediolanians in their apparell are gorgious the Genoas neat the Mantuans childish the Neapolitans costly the Venetians magnificent the Florentines ridiculous In revenging of injuries the Lucensians are gentle the Mediolanians are soone reconcil'd the Perusinians are dissemblers the Fulginatians are hot the Mutinensians are placable the Sonensians couragious The Neapolitans are bountifull the Ferrarians stiffe conceited the Venetians crafty the Cremonians plaine and open the Picenians backbiters the Romanes unjust Toward Strangers the Calabrians are inhospitable the Lucensians faithfull the Senensians loving the Venetians faire-spoken the Patavinians hard the Mediolanians unwary the Ferrarians sharpe the Mantuans flatterers the
Placentians severe the Picenians troublesome the Neapolitans bountifull the Florentines profuse and prodigall the Astensians benevolent the Spoletanes rude and rustick the Verronians studious the Papiensians wife the Genoaes in hospitable the Parmensians inconstant the Mutinensians tedious in speech the Novocomians inhumane Lastly the Italians are much given to merchandizing And the same Manuscript sheweth their dispositions in trading and commerce namely the Florentines are crafty the Genoaes tolerable the Mediotanians plaine and open the Lucensians faithfull the Venetians stately and wary THE FIRST TABLE OF LOMBARDY IN VVHICH THE VVESTERNE Alpine part thereof is described and also Valesia which is commonly called Wallis Sedunum is a Bishoprick of Valesia 260.4534 it is subject to Tarentasia also the Archbishoprick of Sabaudia and Augusta likewise 296.454 HItherto wee have described Italie in generall now wee come to describe the severall parts thereof in particular Some have devided Italie divers wayes Augustus as Pliny witnesseth hath devided it into 11. Countries Strabo doth part it into eight Others into more but we omitting them will follow the devision and method which Mercator hath propounded unto us And the first is the Table of Lombardy in which the Westerne part thereof together with Valesia is described It is now Euphoniae gratia or for the sound sake call'd Lombardie in stead of Langbardia which was so called from the Langbardians who came hither out of Germany in the raigne of the Emperour Iustinian who for many yeeres together were seated on both bankes of the River Po. It was called heretofore Gallia Cisalpina Gallia was inhabited by the Frenchmen the Boyans the Senonians the Insubrians the Cenomanians and others who inhabited all that part which is between the foot of the Alpes the River That Rubicon was called Cis-Alpina because it was on this side the Alpes as the ancient Italians and the Romane Writers doe report and the other was that which was inhabited beyond the Alpes This Cis Alpina where it is most Northward and lyeth neerest to the Mountaines Pliny calls Sub Alpina and Caesar calleth it the higher France for the causes before mentioned Ausonius calleth it ancient France Appian calleth it Italia Gallica or Galatiken the Register Booke of the Provinces calleth it the Mediterranean Italie not because it lyeth in the Mediterranean Sea but because it lyeth in the inward part of the Country it is encompassed on the North West and South with the Alpes and the Apennine on the East with the Hadriatick Sea Polybius and Pli●y THE FIRST TABLE OF LOMBARDY Lombardiae alpestris pars occidentalis cū Valesia doe make this Country to have a Triangular forme the top whereof is the Alpes and yet Plutarch in Camillus witnesseth that it is watered with many Rivers Sidonius speaketh elegantly of this Country Campi adeo culti uberes intercedunt de Pado loquitur ut satis constet haud temerè alios repiriri aut natura feraciores aut rebus necessarijs ad hominum vitam instructiores that is The Fields are so rich and fruitfull that doe lye on either side for he speaketh of Padus so that there are none more fertill or that affoord more necessaries for the sustentation of mans life Sigonius afterward addeth that the Ligurians and Etrurians were the ancient Princes thereof afterward the Frenchmen and lastly the Romanes after whom the Gothes succeeded and the Romanes againe after the Gothes and after the Romanes the Langbards as we may see in Sabellicus Lib. Hist Venetae 1. Decade 4. Strabo Pliny and others doe make Gallia Cis Alpina toward the West twofold either Cis-Padana commonly called Lombardia di qua dal Po or Trans-Padana della dal Po because the one is on the hither side the other beyond Po. But here we describe the Westerne part of the Alpine Lumbardy which doth containe a great part of Lombardy Trans-Padana This Country although it be Mountainous and in some places wooddy yet it is enriched with divers naturall gifts for the Valleys and Champion grounds are of a fruitfull soyle having abundance of Corne Wine and other fruits And Hills which beare excellent Vines In the Woods also and the Mountaines there is good hunting of wild beasts Here are many Citties and Townes as Mediolanum Crem● Bergomum Comum Clavenna Luganum c. which may be seene in the Table It hath also more great Lakes than any other parts of Italy among which is that which Pliny and Strabo call Verbanus which the Italians in regard it is greater than the rest doe call Lago majore and the Germanes Lang see Strabo maketh the length of it 300. furlongs and the breadth of it 30. furlongs It is so deepe in most places that it seemes to have no bottome It doth breed excellent Fish especially large Trouts and great Pikes also Perches and others The Lake which Virgil and others call Laris Lacus and Paul Diaconus and Antonius doe call Comacenus from the adjacent Citty the Italians doe now call it Lago di Como and the Germanes Chumer-see it is greater than Benacus and almost equall to Verbanus Strabo writeth that the length of it is 300. furlongs and the breadth 30. furlongs But moderne Writers doe measure it otherwise It runneth Northward unto the South but somewhat bending Eastward But betweene Verbanum and Larium there are some lesser Lakes As the Lakes Luganus Gaviratius Monatius and others These Rivers also doe water this Country Ticinus Adava Serius Tosa Bremba and many others There are also divers Mountaines as Lucumonis Mons commonly called Lucmannier Gothards Mountaine and the greater Alpes of Lepontium also the Rhetian Alpes and many others But so much hitherto now it remaines that we should entreat of Valesia in the other part of this Table VALESIA I Have not yet found whence the name of Valesia is derived which they call Wallis or Walisser Landt But it is supposed that it commeth from the Latine word Vallis which signifies a Vale or from Valeria a Castle of the Citty Sedune Valesia hath on the North the Bernatians Lucernatians and Helvetians on the South the Cottian and Lepontian Alpes on the East the high Rhetian Alpes on the West the Graecian Alpes and the Lake Lemman The length of it from West to East is 5. dayes journey but the breadth is very narrow but that it is somewhat broader neere to Octodurum and Sedunum This Country although it be encompassed with high Mountaines and sharpe Rockes which for the most part are a Germane mile high and many of them are cover'd with continuall Ice and Snow yet it wanteth nothing for the sustentation of mans life for it hath good store of Corne Wine and other kindes of fruits it hath Wheat Barly Oates Beanes Pease Fetches and Mill. Wine beginneth to grow among the Brigentian Dioecese among the Mountaines and 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
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 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 The compasse of it is 7. Miles It hath 12. Gates and Magnificent houses and Noblemens Pallaces The Emperour Theodosius did institute an Universitie here in the yeare 423. Now we come
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
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 Citty Sassaris which hath a pleasant soyle watered with many Springs abounding with divers sorts of fruites but it is weakely fortified Algher is a new small Citty but yet populous
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 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 to bring them up and the lesse hopefull they put forth to Country people in Bursia and Caramania All these are called Azamogla or Iamogla that is innocent Infants that know
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 Archbishop Thebanensis Iorocemensis Castoriensis The Archbishop Athenensis under whom are Thermopylensis Davaliensis Salonensis Nigropontensis Molgarensis Roonensis Eginnensis The Archbishops Corcyrensis and Duracensis MOREA
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 of Barley Millet Vetches Beanes and other Pulse It hath abundance of Ebon wood and Indian Pepper Cinamon and Ginger It hath also great store of Sugar Canes but they know
implore her helpe The Clergie and the Priests are permitted to many as well as the Lay-people And they punish all kinde of Lust and Fornication They have a Patriarke who is President of all their Churches who is a man of approoved honesty grave well learned and ancient in yeeres whose Office it is to keepe the Clergie in concord and union to defend the Ecclesiastick Discipline and to excommunicate rebellious persons The Election and choosing of Bishops and other Ecclesiasticall persons belongeth onely to the King GVINEA VVITH THE ILANDS OF St. THOMAS OF THE Prince and the Good-yeere THE Kingdome of Guinea is in that Country where the Ganginean Aethiopians are whom Orosius and Ethicus doe mention as Ortelius witnesseth The Inhabitants doe call it Ghinui It is the Blackmoores Country The Blackmoores are called the Inhabitants of the Black River which floweth thorow the middle of the Country and like Nilus doth fertilize the Fields round about it This River doth increase as Nilus doth in the moneth of June 40. dayes together all which time you may goe by Boate into Countries neere unto it And the Earth is so dunged with mudde and slime so that it yeeldeth a great increase About the River there are large Plaines but no Mountaines or Hills There are also many woods in the which there are Elephants There are also many Lakes which are caused by the overflowing of the River Niger The Ayre is wholesome in so much that those who are sicke of the Spanish disease if they come unto that Country doe certainely recover their health and grow well These Blackmoores have a divers kinde of speech according to the Soyle and Climate Their religion is also diverse In the Mediterranean parts they are Christians Mahumetans and Heathens But those that dwell by the Sea Coast doe worship Idols There are three Kings of the Blackmoores Tombuti Borni and Gaogae The Gualatians also have a King of their owne They are all Cole-black The Kingdome of Guinea is seated betweene Gualata Tembutum and Melli and it reacheth from the River Niger to the Aethiopian Ocean The Ayre of Guinea is not agreeable to our bodies both in regard of the untemperatenesse of the Climate and by reason of the raine both which doe breed putrifaction and Wormes But it hath abundance of Barley Rice Cotton Gold Ivory also Sheepe and Hens There is also a kinde of Spice which casteth like Pepper which the Portugals call Melegneta And another Spice as strong againe as Calicut Pepper which the aforesaid Portugals doe call Pimiente del Rabo which it is unlawfull to sell l●st they should thereby bring downe the price of common Pepper It hath no fruit but Dates and the Inhabitants are faine to fetch them out of Numidia or Gualata They have great store of Elephants and Apes and Birdes especially Peacocks and Ash-colour Popinjays or Parro●s And they have certaine small Birds which doe curiously ●●ild themselves a nest which hangeth in the boughes of the Trees Th●● have neither Castle Towne nor Citty But they have one great Village in which the Princes Priests Doctors and Merchants doe dwell the others live scatteringly here and there About Caput Lupi Conzalui the Inhabitants doe adore the Sunne the Moone and the Earth upon which to spet they account it a h●inous offence They doe out and launce their flesh and afterward they paint it with a certaine coloured Oyntment which they thinke to bee very comely but to us it seemeth a fearefull spectacle When they salute their Prince they fall downe upon their knees and clap their hands together but in common salutations they cry Fui● Fut● Fui● They doe not drinke all Dinner time but when they have din'd they drinke water or wine that commeth out of the Date Tree But yet this Date Tree doth not beare Dates but is a Tree different from it which sendeth forth a kinde of Juyce at all times of the yeere They cut the body of the Tree and receive the bleeding juyce which distilleth from it into a Vessell and drinke it till they are drunke for it is a liquor that is purer than any Wine it is of an ashie colour and they call it Mignolum This Tree will yeeld but two or three measures in one day This Tree beareth Olives the Oyle whereof hath a threefold vertue it smelleth like a Violet tasteth like an Olive and if it bee powr'd or laide upon meate it dyeth it like Saffron The men and women doe both goe bare-headed some have Hats made of barkes of Trees or of the Indian Nut. Some of them doe bore holes thorow their upper Lippe and their Noses and doe weare pieces of Ivory in them and doe thinke it becomes them very well And some doe weare Ivory and Fishes Shells in their Noses and Lippes They make their Aprons of the Barkes and rindes of Trees and with them they hide and cover their secret parts also they weare the skins of Apes and Monkies which are fastned together with a little Bell. They paint one eye red and the other blue The richer sort of women doe weare great Rings of Iron Copper or Tinne upon their Thighes And they delight very much in their foolish ill-favoured barbarousnesse Their Gold coyne hath no Inscription on it and they use Iron money upon ordinary occasions and for petty matters The Iland of S. THOMAS THE Iland of S. Thomas is next to be described which the Portugals discoverd on S. Thomas day and upon this occasion they called it the Iland of S. Thomas It is situate under the Aequator being almost round The Diameter of it is 60. miles When this Iland was discoverd it was full of great Trees whose boughes did grow upward It hath never any plague the Ayre is warme and wholesome but few Christians doe live here to 50. yeeres of age so that it would be a wonder to see one there with a white beard But the native Inhabitants doe live untill they be an hundred yeeres old The dayes and nights are alwaies equall In the Moneths of March and GVINEA GVINEA IS THOMAE September they have many great showres of raine which doe moisten the ground but in the other moneths the fruits are watered and refresht with the dew that falls upon them This Iland hath a stiffe clommy soile of a red duskish colour It doth not beare Corne Vines or any Tree that hath stone fruit but it beareth Mellons Cowcumbers Gourds Figges and great store of Ginger and especially Sugar for which they doe bring in Wine Cheese Corne Hides and other necessaries But this traffick hath ceased since that certaine wormes began to eate the rootes of the Sugar-canes so that now scarce 6. Ships doe goe from thence loaded with Sugar It hath also great store of Millet Rice 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
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 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
drinke of the water of the other River their hide and haire groweth black There is an arme of the Sea which Livie calleth the Euborian Bay which is a violent Sea and floweth and ebb●th 7. times by day and 7. times by night with such a violent course that no Ship can sayle against it There is also the Mountaine ●apha●●us famous for the Shipwrack of the Graecians as they returned from Tr●y and for the death of Pa●amedes at Troy the Sonne of E●ripides N●●plius King of the Eubaean Iland CERIGO PTOLEMIE calls it Cythera Pliny heretofore called it Porpyris and ●u●●a hius calleth it P●rphyrusa from the great store of Porphirie Marbles which i● in the Mountaines It is now called Cerig●●● is th● first Iland of the Aegaean Sea on the West over-against the La●onick 〈◊〉 It 〈◊〉 it from the shoare of Peloponnesus 5. miles and it is 60. miles in compa●se It hath a Towne of the same name and many Havens which are not safe and secure for there are many Rocks which lye scatteringly round about this Iland RHODES· THERE remaineth in this Table the Iland of Rhodes This as Pliny witnesseth was heretofore called Ophtusa Asteria Aethraea Trin●●hia Corimbia A●abiria and Macarta It is distant from the continent of Asia 20. miles The compasse of it is 140. miles It hath a temperate and gentle Ayre and it was consecrate to the Sunne because there is no day wherein the Sunne doth not shine upon it The soyle is fruitfull and the Meddowes fertile and it hath great store of fruit Trees of which many are alwayes greene It hath now but one strong Citty of the same name which is situate in the Easterne part of the Iland partly on a steepe Hill and partly on the Sea Coast It hath a faire and safe Haven and it is well fortified with a double Wall thirteene high Towers five Castles and other Forts and Bulwarkes And it hath an University which heretofore was as famous as that at Massils Athens Alexandria and ●arsus and it had a brazen Colossus of the Sunne which was seventy Cubits high which after it had stood 56. yeeres it was throwne downe by an Earthquake and when it lay on the ground it was a wonderfull sight to behold For a man of a good stature could not fathome or embrace his Thumb And the Fingers were greater than most Statues and when it was broke his Belly did gape like a great Cave This Colossus was making twelve yeeres and three hundred Talents of Brasse went to the making of it and within there were great stones layd that might make the worke stand firme The Sultan laded 700. Camels with the Brasse of this Statue THE KINGDOME OF PERSIA OR THE EMPIRE OF THE SOPHI THE Persian or Sophian Empire as it was renowned heretofore so now also it is very famous The Inhabitants are Persians They are called also Ayami or Azamij from the Kingdome of Azamia which some thinke was heretofore called Assyria they were called Persians from Persides and Cheselbas from the red Cap or Hatt which they used to weare They were called Sophians from Prince Sophos The Kingdome of Persia is situate betweene the Turkish Empire the Tartarians the Zagatheans the Kingdome of Cambaia and betweene the Hircanian or Caspian Sea and the Persian Bay It hath thereof on the East the Indies and the Kingdome of Cambaja from which it is separated and parted by the Mountaines and Desarts on the North are the Tartars neere the River Albianus or Oxus the rest is enclosed with the Caspian Sea on the West are the Turkes neere the River Tigris and the Lake Giocho on the South it is washed with the Persian Bay and the Indian Sea which is a large space of ground for it containeth 38. degrees of longitude from the East to the West And from the South to the North 20. degrees Concerning the temper of the ayre of Persia Q. Curtius Lib. 5. writeth thus There is no whole-sommer Country in all Asia for the ayre is temperate here a continued shady Mountaine doth qualifie the heate thereof and there it is joyned to the Sea which doth cherish it with a temperate warmth But this Country is not all of one quality nor of one soyle That part which lyeth toward the Persian Bay in regard it is watered with Rivers and also that part toward the Caspian Sea having pleasant Rivers a milde gentle Ayre are both happy and fruitfull and doe yeeld all kindes of fruits and doe breed all kindes of living creatures It hath abundance of Wheate Barley Millet and the like Graine and also Mettals and Pretious Stones and Paulus Venetus witnesseth that it hath great plenty of Wine The other parts are desolate by reason of the heate and drynesse Moreover the Persians were at first an obscure Nation but they grew famous afterward by their King Cyrus who having gotten the Empire Media and Lydia joyned it to Persia and so having conquerd Asia and subdued all the East he left it a faire and flourishing Kingdome Cambyses succeeded his Father who added Aegypt to the Empire after whom Persia continued in one Estate untill Da●ius raigned who being conquerd by Alexa●der of Maced●n lost his life together with his Kingdome It was governed by Kings 230. yeeres as Q. Curtius affirmeth Lib. 4. and the Prophet Ieremiah doth assent unto him at the 9. Chapter of Daniel But now the Persian Empire which is subject to the great ●ophy is accounted one of the most potent Empires of all the East which though it were sometimes oppressed by the Sarazens and sometimes by the Tartars yet it grew up againe in the raigne of King Ismael The Countries which are subject to the Persian Empire are these Media Assyria Susiana Mesopotamia Persis Parthia Hyrcania Marg●a●a Bactriana Par●pamissus Aria Drangiana Gedrosia and Carmania Media is now called Servan which is situate betweene Persia and the Hyrcanian Sea it hath on the East Hyrcania and Parthia on the West the greater Armenia and Assyria It is devided into the greater or the Southerne and the Northerne Atropatia The latter is colder and therefore lesse inhabited The chiefe Citty is Sm●chia there are moreover these Citties Derb●nt Ere 's Sechi and Giavot The greater is more inhabited it hath also the Citty Tauris which is placed at the foote of O●ontis being 8. dayes journey distant from the Caspian Sea The compasse of it is almost 16. miles in which it is supposed that there are 200000. Citizens The Ancients did call it E●batana where the Kings of Persia doe dwell in Summer In the same Country there are Turcomian ●aru Sus●an Nassiva Ardavil and Marant Assyria which is now called Arzerum hath on the East Media on the West Mesopotamia on the North Armenia on the South ●usiana It had 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
now call Cathajo It was so called from the River Tartoro which watereth that part which wee call Magog and the Inhabitants Mo●gull It is situate in the North on the East it hath the most potent Kingdome of China on the South India the Rivers Ganges and Oxus on the West the Caspian Sea and Poland from thence it confineth on Moscovie and on the North the freezing Sea which part is thought to be undiscoverd and unhabited The Ayre and Climate is very intemperate there is such horrid Thunder and Lightning in Summer that many have beene slaine by it now it is very hot and by and by cold so that thick Snowes doe fall downe And there are oftentimes such violent stormes of winde that they will blow men off from their Horses and stay them as they ride and overturne Trees by the rootes and doe much other harme beside It never raineth there in Winter but often in Summer but so sparingly that it doth scarcely moisten the Earth But yeeldeth good store of Wheate Rice and other Fruits it hath abundance of Silke Ginger Cinamon Pepper Cloves Rhucbarb and Sugar also Muske Pitch and in some places Gold and Silver In some places Wine is made but all the Province of Cathaja hath no Wine There is also a black kinde of stone which is digged out of the Mountaines and serveth for Fuell and they are wont to lay them on their fire for want of wood Moreover here are great store of Oxen Goates and Swine and especially an incredible sort of Horses and Cattell We read in the Tartarian Epistles that the Tartarian Emperour doth keep 10000. white Mares whose Milke serveth him for drinke And moreover that he keepeth 20000. Huntsmen and 10000. Falkoners And that this Country is full of Fowle as Pheasants Craues and the like In that part of Tartary which the Zavolhensian Tartarians doe possesse they report that there is a kinde of seed like to the seed of a Mellon or Pompion but not so long which if it bee sow'd a Plant will spring and grow up which they call Boranetz that is the Lambe For it groweth almost three foote high in the figure and shape of a Lambe which it resembleth both for the feete the hoofes the eares and the whole body except the hornes And in stead of horne it hath strange haire like horne It is covered with a thin skin which the Inhabitants TARTARIE TARTARIA doe pluck from it and cover their heads with it They report that the inward pith of it is like the meate of a Crabfish and that if it be wounded or cut blood will runne from it It is very sweet and the root having put forth of the ground will grow up as high as ones middle Beside this is more wonderfull as long as it hath other hearbes growing round about it so long it doth live like a Lambe in a pleasant Pasture but when they are gone it doth wither and dye which hath beene often tryd And which is most strange Wolves and other ravenous beasts doe most desire it In the Citty Quelinfu there are Hens which in stead of Feathers have black haire like Cats but yet they lay excellent Egges They doe call the first Emperour of Tartary who got the Kingdome and established Lawes therein Changius Canes or Cham. Paulus Venetus calleth him Cinchis Hee lived in the yeere of Christ 1202. Before him this Nation lived barbarously without manners lawes or civill government being of no notes in Scythia and living by keeping of Cattell The other Princes descended from this Changius Hee quickly enlarged the Empire from the Country of Syn● and the Ocean even to the Caspian Sea His Sonne was Iocucham who begot Zaincha the third Emperour whence some did call B●thi Hee wasted Russia Poland Silesia Moravia and Hungary Bathi begot the fourth Emperour Temi● Cutlu who was that Tamberlaine who is well knowne in Histories for his extreme Tyranny who wasted all Asia and entred even into Aegypt Hee overcame the Turkish Emperour Bajazet and having tooke him prisoner put golden fetters on him and carryed him in a Cage thorow Asia The fift Emperour begotten by Temir Cutlu was Temir Gzar who fighting against the Christians in Prussia was slaine there The sixt Emperour begotten by Temir Gzar was Macmectzar His Sonne Amectzar was the seventh Emperour He begot Sziachmet the eighth Emperour Tartary is devided into many parts the lesser which lyeth toward Europe betweene Boristhenes and Tanais and containeth the Taurican Chersonesus of which we have spoke in the description of Europe Also Tartaris deserta in which there are many Kine Zagatar which is Scythia within Imaus Cathaja with the Kingdome of Tangut which is the ancient Scythia beyond Ima●s and lastly ancient Tartaria which was unknown to Ptolemy The Metropolis of this Kingdome is Cambalu by the bank of the River Polisangus which is 24. miles in compasse There are 12. Gates and as many Suburbs It is a Mart Towne and very rich in Pearles Gold Silver and Silke They report that every day a thousand Carts loaden with Silkes and brought hither out of China besides other commodities Moreover there are many famous Citties as Samarcauda built by Tamberlaine Caindo is a Citty famous for Merchandizing in the farthest part of Tartary and many others which for brevity sake I omit There are many Lakes in Tartary so that it would be tedious to reckon them but yet we will name some of the chiefest In the Province Caniclu there is a Lake in which there is such store of Pearles that they would be of no esteeme nor nothing worth if every one might carry away as many as he listed Where it is forbidden on paine of death that no man shall presume to fish in this Lake for Pearles without leave and licence from the great Cham. This Lake also is full of fish There is another Lake in the Province Caraim which is very full of Fish being an hundred miles in compasse and others It is watered with many Rivers among which is the great River Pulisachnis This River runneth into the Ocean and many Boates loaden with commodities doe come up it There is also the River Caromora which is so broad and deepe that it hath no Bridge over it but yet it rowleth into the Sea There is also Quiantu which is halfe a mile broad and very deepe and full of fish also Quian which as Paulus Venetus writeth is thought to be one of the greatest Rivers in the world For the breadth of it in some places is 10. miles in others 8. miles and in some 6. miles The length of it is 100. dayes journey I omit other matters and so passe to the publike Workes and Buildings The first is a faire great Marble Palace beautified with Gold which was built by the great Cham 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
And besides the aforesaid Lakes there is a great salt River which runneth into the Sea although it receiveth many Rivers and Fountaines of fresh water IAMAICA· IAMAICA which they call now the Iland of St. Iames lyeth 15. leagues Eastward from Hispaniola and 16. degrees from the Aequinoctiall Line On the North it is neere to Cuba On the South it looketh to St. Bernards Ilands and Carthagena on the West it hath Fordura The compasse of it is 600. miles This Country hath a pleasant temperate ayre also it hath Gold and great store of Sugar and Cotton and also divers kindes of living Creatures It had heretofore great store of Inhabitants but now the Natives are either killed or dead so that there are two Citties onely inhabited the chiefe whereof is Sevill or Hispalis in which there is a Church and an Abbey of which Peter Martyr Anglerius of Mediolanum was Primate a man very diligent in handling the affaires of India The other is called Oristan here are many Rivers and Fishfull Lakes The people doe differ in nothing neither in Lawes Rites nor Customes from those of Hispaniola and Cuba but onely it is reported that they were more cruell St. IOHNS Iland SAint Iohns Iland commonly so called from the rich Haven and heretofore called Borichena or Borica hath on the East the Iland of the holy Crosse and many small Ilands On the West and the North the Iland of S. Dominico on the South the Promontory of the maine Land from whence it is distant 136. miles The Iland lyeth length-wayes and is 12. or 17. mile broad and the greatest breadth of it is 48. Germane Miles It hath abundance of Fruit Cattell and Gold Moreover this Iland is devided into two parts namely the Northerne and Southerne part The Northerne hath great store of Gold the Southerne hath plenty of fruit and Fowle The chiefe Citty in it is St. Iohns Citty which hath a very good Haven Here are some Rivers among which Cairabonus is the greatest which runneth Northward and though they have all golden Sands yet the Northerne side thereof as we said before hath the best Mines The Southerne part hath better Havens and more fruit it produceth Maiz and other things necessary to life MARGARITA THe Iland Margarita or the Iland of Pearles is called by another name Cubagua it is 10. miles in compasse and it lyeth 10. degrees and from the Aequinoctiall Line being every where plaine and barren having neither trees nor water So that they want water so much especially when the winde standeth contrary so that nothing can be brought from Cumana that sometimes a Hogshead of Wine is exchanged for a Hogshead of Water It hath great store of Connies Salt and Fish But especially it hath great store of Pearles The Inhabitants are of a Swart colour thinne hayred and without Beards fierce and cruell They feed on Oysters out of which Pearles are gotten VIRGINIA AND FLORIDA VIRGINIA and Florida doe follow in our method Virginia as some suppose was so called from the Earle Viguinus but hee that sett forth a Journall or Commentary of Sir Francis Drakes Voyage in the West-Indies in the yeere 1584. saith that it was so called from Elizabeth Queene of England The Inhabitants doe call it Wingandocoa It is very fruitfull and beareth plentifully whatsoever is necessary for the sustation and delectation of mans life as Wine Oyle Beanes which the Inhabitants call Okindgere and Pease which they call Wickanzenr also Pompions and Melons which they call Macocquer also divers Hearbes besides Chesnuts Walnuts Straberies and other excellent Fruits also Allome Pitch and Tarre Turpentine Iron Copper Silke Flaxe Cotton Pearles and many other things But especially it hath great store of Virginy Wheate which the Inhabitants doe call Pagatowr and the West-Indians Maiz which is to bee wondred at because they use a meane kinde of Husbandry For they know neither Plough nor Harrow neither doe they make Furrow or plough the ground nor breake the clods after they have sowne the seed as we doe but they turne up the earth with a woodden Shovell or Spade and so in the little Furrowes they set the Graine with a setting sticke as we doe Beanes which being coverd with earth will sprout forth wonderfully In some parts it hath divers kindes of Beasts as Beares Lions Wolves Conies and those which the Inhabitants call Saquenuckot Maquowoc and Squirrels It hath moreover divers Birds as Indian Cocks and Hens Doves Partridges Cranes Swans Geese Parrots Falkons and Hawkes The Townes here are very small containing onely 10. or 12. Houses they build them round with Stakes and Poles set in the Earth with a narrow comming in Princes and Noblemens Houses have a Court-yard and some few Houses round about them The Citties by the Shore side are these Pyshokonnock or the Womens Citty also Chipanum Weopomiock Muscamunge and Mattaquen and Oanoke which the English call'd the blind Citty also Pemeoke Phycoake a great Citty Chowanaoke Sequotam and others The Rivers which water it are Occam Cipo Nomopano Neus and others In foure Moneths of the yeere February March Aprill and May here is good fishing for Sturgeons and Herrings Here are also good Trouts Scate Mullets and Plaise and many other kindes of Fish It hath also Woods which are full of Connies Hares and Fowle But the Woods are not such as be in Bohemia Moscovy or Hyrcania VIRGINIA VIRGINIA et FLORIDA which are barren and doe yeeld nothing but they are full of high tall Cedars Pines Cypresse Trees Mastick Trees and many other odoriferous Trees The Inhabitants are of a middle stature just in their dealing they beleeve the Immortality of the Soule but they delight in dancing and immoderate drinking as the other Americans doe but yet they abstaine from mans flesh They doe hunt wilde beasts every day And their Armes are Bowes and Arrowes They beleeve that there are many Gods whom they call Mant●a● but of divers kindes and degrees and that there is onely one chiefe God that was before all ages who they say when he purposed to create the whole world did first create the other speciall Gods that he might use them as assistants and helpers both in creating and governing the whole World And then hee made the Sunne the Moone and the Statres as the lesser Gods to be assisting to the chiefe Cods They say the waters were first created out of which the Gods did create all kindes of creatures visible and invisible Concerning mankinde they affirme that the woman was first created which by the helpe of one of the Gods did conceive and bring forth children and this they say was the first originall of all mankinde But concerning the manners and nature of the Inhabitants and the other commodities and wonders of 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
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 Voyage made Westward wee have spoken other wheres He on the 24. of August when the winde stood faire weighed Anchor out of S. Iulians Bay where he had laine a long
time being not vexed so much with windes and high Seas as the civell dissentions of the Castellanians and Portugals After hee sayled some dayes Southward hee came to the Promontory of the holy Crosse Here one of his Ships runne a shore but the Men Ordnance and fraight was saved Afterward when he observed that the shore did bend a little from the South Eastward hee began to bee in hope of reaching the Straites And on the 26. of November this narrow passage was discover'd into which Magellan with foure other Ships entred Here they thought good to stay in a certaine Bay and to send 3. Ships before to ●ound the passage and to make discovery One of the Ships in which was Alvarus Meschita having past thorow stood out to Sea againe and so directing their course Northward it was brought first to Aethiopia and afterward to Spaine and 8. moneths after they had left their company Alvarus was brought before Charles King of Castile as a Captive The third Ship made report that it was a straite narrow Sea by observing the flowing and ebbing of the Sea It was the Moneth of November and the night was five houres long the shore on the right hand and the left or the Starbord and Larbord shore was very solitary and no creature to be seene but that on the left side they saw a great fire And this was the cause why they called that Country Terra del Fuego and they supposed that the Inhabitants had discoverd them Magellan having left 2. Ships in this manner he furnished the other according as was fitt for the present occasion and discovering all as he went two and twenty dayes after he entred the Bay or Straite he was brought into another Sea which for the quiet peaceablenesse thereof he called Mar del Zur or Mare P●cificum that is the peaceable Sea But this Straite being environd on every side with high Rocks is 120. miles long or according to others 76. miles the breadth of it is not equall and very different for sometimes it is 2. or 3. miles broad and sometimes 10. or 5. and where it is narrowest it is a mile broad The Northerne Sea on the East side is carried betweene the Straites of either land 70. miles and more where it mingleth with the Southerne Sea on the West side winding thorow those Promontories it meeteth with the Northerne Sea where their Waves meete very violently and with a great noise so that all the Sea is coverd with froth The Southerne Sea doth flow and ebbe more gently for the Westerne part of the Bay being very deepe and broader● affordeth a quieter passage to the Sea when it floweth But the Easterne part of the Straites is full of Flats and Sands and many Ilands which causeth the raging and troublesomenesse of the Seas on either Shore there are high trees Moreover when Magellan had layne halfe a yeere in these Southerne parts hee viewed and discoverd nothing but the shoares but the innermost parts of the Country remained unknowne but yet it is manifest that that part which lyeth Southward is most of it a Mountainous Woodly Country and hath Snow continuall upon it Some say blue Snow hath beene found here which I leave to others judgement Magellan called this Southerne Land del Fugo from the fire or fires for when he discoverd these Straites he saw no mortall creature but he often beheld in the night time many great fires as we said before on the left hand But the Southerne Land on the West side doth looke toward both the Iavas Summatra and the Molucco's on the East it hath Affrick and the Aethiopian Ocean on the North it hath the Straites of the Magellan Bay and the Land of the Patagons The Country on either shore is barren and unfruitful but yet it hath great strange unknowne Trees Here are at all times great store of Pinguines Cormorants and Sea-calfes For the Pinguines come hither in the moneth of September and doe hatch their young ones in October In the Moneth of Aprill they flie to the Sea and after they are gone there commeth great store of Cormorants They are called Pinguines apirguedine from their fatnesse the old one doe weigh 13.14 or 16. pounds the younger 8. or 12. pound They are black on the backe and white on the belly and they have a Milke white circle round about their neck Their backs are like the Sea Calves and as thicke as a Hogge which you cannot pierce with a Speare Their Bill is bigger than a Crowes bill but not crooked Their necke is thicke and short Their bodies are as bigge as a fat Goose but not so broad They have no wings in stead whereof they have two pinnions coverd with feathers which hang downe like wings which doe make them swim wonderfull fast They live by Fish for they are Water-Fowle They goe straite upright with those pinnions hanging downe They have black feete like Geese but not so broad If any pursue them they will cry with a voyce like a man Mergus or the Cormorant is so called by Varro Lib. 4. concerning the Latine tongue because mergendo se in aquam captat escam he getteth his food by diving into the water unto whom Ovid in his Metamor Lib. 11. concerning Aesacus the sonne of Priam doth assent where he singeth thus THE STRAITES OF MAGELLAN· FRETUM Magellani Aequor ama● nomenque manet quia mergitur illi Hee loves the Sea and keepes that name Because he dives into the same And though divers kindes of Water-fowle doe the same yet the ancient Latines did call this kinde of Bird onely Mergus or a Cormorant which the Greekes doe call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Italians Corvo Marino the Germanes Tu●her and the English doe call a Cormorant Turner an Englishman saith that this Bird is as bigge as a Goose of a browne colour having a long Bill and crooked in the end flat footed heavie bodyed the shape of her body when she standeth upright is like a Bird sitting Pliny writeth that she buildeth her Nest in Trees but Aristotle saith upon the Sea Rocks Ovid calleth that Bird which hath long legges and a great throat a Cormorant for he saith Longa internodia crurum Longa manet cervix caput est a corpore longe His Thighs and Neck both long are His Head is from his body farre The Cormorants contrary to all other Birds have their feete under their tayle so that when they stand on the ground they beare their breasts strait upright as men doe as the Author of the Booke of naturall matters writeth Pliny calleth Phoca Phooke and the Sea-calfe Albertus also calleth it the Sea Wolfe and otherwhiles the Sea Dog the Germanes call Ein meer Kalb and the English call it a Seale It doth Bay like a Calfe his tongue is cloven into two parts his teeth are like Sawes and his hinder feete like the tayles of Fishes it hath a small tayle which is coverd
the 510 Parallel to the great circle HASSIA or the Landgraviate of HESSEN HASSIA Landgraviatus Qualis Hyperborcum prospectans Thrasa Booten Gradivi domus ad Rhodopen Hemum que nivalem Circumfusa jacet gelidis assucta pruinis G●gnit in arma viros duratos frigore quique Aut Hebrum Nestum que bibunt aut Strymonis undas Talis ipsa situ talis regione locorum ●t fluvus Silvisque frequens montibus altis Hassia Natura similes creat alma locorum ●eu natos in bella viros quibus omnis in armis Vita placet nonulla juvat sine Marte nec ullam Esse putant vitam quae non assueverit armis Quod si tranquillae vertantur ad ocia pacis Ocia nulla terunt sine magno vana labore Aut duro patrios exercent vomere colles Aequatosque solo campos rimantur aratris Namque planities segetum faecunda patentes Explicat innumeras plena messe colonos Ditat ipsa sibi satis est aut ardua Sylvae Lustra petunt Canibusque feras sectantur odoris Venatu genus assuctum Genus acre virorum Aut leges aut Iura ferunt aut opida condunt Fortia c. As warlike Thrace looking upon the North By Rhodope and Hemus stretcheth forth It selfe and is mur'd to snow and cold Breeding such men as hardy are and bold Who of Hebrus or of Neslus water drinks Or of the River Strimon yet ne're shrinke Such for Situation and Mountaines hie For many woods and Rivers gliding by Is Hassia for the men by nature are Like those and even borne unto the warre Who in the warres alone doe take delight And all their life time are enur'd to fight And if sometime they live in quiet peace From toilesome labour they doe never cease For either they the levell fields doe till Or with the Plough they teare up the hard Hill For this same land hath many fruitfull Plaines Which plenteous harvests doe bring in much gaines Vnto the husbandman or else repaire To the woods to hunt such wilde beasts as there are With Hounds for these same people don't contemne Hunting but are a violent kinde of men For either they make lawes or Townes doe build Which doe not onely strong defence them yeeld In times of Warre but in the times of peace They yeeld delight when as the warres doe cease What should I here the Sacred springs commend The Greenes and valleys which doe even contend With the Aemonian vales which doe excell For fruitfulnesse or what should I declare Those sweete and shady places which even are Fit to be the Muses seates and may right well Become the Goddesses therein to dwell O yee Fountaines of my Countrie cleare and cold And O ye Rivers that were knowne of old O the vales and pleasant Caves which still did use To be most acceptable to my Muse THE COVNTIE OF NASSAW or NASSAVIA NAssavia is called as it were Nass-gavia which word signifies a moist and slimie Country for the Towne which nameth the Country is encompassed on every side with moist and moorish grounds and in the Germaine speech Aw and Gaw doe signifie a Country so Thurgaw signifies a dry Country Rhyn-gaw a Country by the Rhene Otten-gaw a Country abounding with corne and so also Oster-gaw Wester-gaw and Brisgaw But this Countie hath others annexed to it as Weilburg Ideste●nen W●esbaden Dietzen Cattimelibocen Beilstein It is boundered on the South with the Countie of Wiesbaden and Idesteinen on the East with Isenburg Solms and Hassia on the North it is bounded with Westphalia and the Countie of Witgenstein on the West with the Dukedome of Bergen and the Counties Weidan and Seynen It hath many Praefectureships As Frudebergen Sigenen Nephens Hegerana Ebersbacen Dillenburg Hilligenbacke Dringensteinen Lonbergen Herbornen Dridorf Beilsteinen Marenbergen Honstetten Ellerana Cambergen Altenberg Kidorff Nassavia and many others It is one of the freest Counties of the Empire the Lords whereof are subject to none but the Emperour and doe enjoy all the royall priviledges and praerogatives of the Empire as well as other Noble men They have power also to coyne gold or silver or brasse money as appeareth by some peeces of gold which are ye● currant The Landgrave of Hassia and the Earle of Nassavia are Coe-Lords and by a joynt Title doe receive the revennewes of the Countie of Cattimeliboc by a covenant made in the yeere 1557 betweene Phillip Prince of Hassia and the Earle of Nassavia The Countrie in some places is plaine ground and in other places it riseth and swelleth into hills here it hath flourishing Vines as in the Countie of Dietzen and by the bancke of the River Lanus and otherwhere it hath pleasant meddowes and pastures or else fruitefull cornefields It hath also mettall Mines For in the Territorie of Sigen a certaine kind of Iron Mettall is melted out of stone out of which they cast Fornaces Iron Potts Kettles Stithies or Anvills Bulletts and doe make all kind of Iron worke At Frendeberg there is excellent steele made There are also the like Mines in the Countrie of Dillenburg Hegeran and Burback out of which Lead and Copresse are digged as in Ebersback where there is also a Glasse-house The chiefe wood is Westerwalt which is a peece of Hercyni● the lesser woods which are also part of Hercinia are Kalt-Eych Heygerstruth THE COVNTIE OF NASSAW or NASSAVIA NASSOVIA Comitatus Schelderwald● di● Horre der Calemberg in which there is great store of wilde beasts for hunting The chiefe Rivers are ●a●●●● Siega and Dille neere Siega is Sigena neere ●illa is He●gera D●llenburg and Herborn neere Lana are Dietz Nassovium L●●●ste●●●um where ●ane mingleth the river Rhene The Baths at Emsana do belong both to the Earles of Nassavia and the Landgrave of Hassia unto which they come farre and neere in regard of the soveraigne vertue of the water which they finde to bee very wholesome for many diseases There are also Fountaines at Codinga and C●mberga the water whereof being drunke will expell the winde Cholicke M●●●●a and Bertius among others have drawne the Pedegree of the Earles of Nassavia THVRINGIA or the Landgraviate of DVRINGEN The Nobilitie and state of this Countrie are yet unknowne unto me I have onely found out the Countie of Glei●hen 32 50 50 58 c. and I thinke Kranichfelt 34 17 15 26 Also the Bishoprick of Mersburg 34 17 51 26. The Meridians are mutually distant one from another according to the Proportion of the Parallel 510 to the Aequinoctiall THuringia followes after Hassia commonly called Duringen being situated between the two Rivers Sala Werra the latter on the West-side the first on the East-side on the North it hath the wood Hercynia which they call Hartz and on the South the Forrest called Duringer waldt The length 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 the Germanes were originally and aunciently called Germanes as appeares by others writings as also out of Procopius Caesariensis who was a sharpe sighted and judicious writer The first